Descent into Darkness

[bravenewmods]

As the characters arrive, they will find what appears to be a rather deep cavern. Upon entering, the caverns are quite narrow, with twists and turns everywhere and different tunnels that all seem to be interconnected. As characters travel deeper within the caverns, reality around them will start to warp, they will start to see and hear things that aren’t necessarily there - images of old enemies, past failures, voices of condemnation, visions that strike at the soul and core of the characters. Once this begins, it will only increase in power and volume, demanding it be confronted, lest they be trapped within these caves forever.

[OOC: This event will run for a week. All characters who enter the caves will be subject to some of their deepest fears, darkest demons, and most abject failures. To overcome them, characters must help each other out, finding their purpose through strength of character and resolve to move forward. In general, these visions should require characters to come to grips with themselves. Illusory images and voices can and will appear and can take any number of forms, depending on what is most appropriate to a character. Additionally, characters may thread with each other and are encouraged to help each other out to overcome these personal demons. For those who wish to take part, they are able and encouraged to narrate their own personal demons, which will be on display for everyone who enters their thread. IC threads may be made in this post.]

Comments

OTA.

[miracle_miko]

[ Sanae wasn't one to run away from her past. Since leaving the convent and the great tree, she made a number of good friends. Takuto, and Right, and even Rei lived there, and she was genuinely happy. There was that guilt at times when she thought of home, and the mission she was tasked with, and perhaps that was what the cave--or who or whatever was inside--honed in on.

She watched the scene before her, subdued and surprisingly quiet. A young girl, dressed in ceremonial robes, her face painted up like some kind of doll, was being led by a number of much older priests and priestesses. Her hair was long, closer to a muddy green, and bound halfway down her back; she held some sort of small, ornamental item, likely an offering to some kind of God. She couldn't have been more than five or six years old.

Voices of the past whispered gently. ]

"She's so young! Is it true that she awakened as a Windblessed when she was only three years old?"

"Her mother and father must be so honored."

"She bears a striking resemblance, don't you think? She looks just like she did at that age."

"Maybe she can bring faith back to this place."

"She's too soft. She'll need to be stronger. Much stronger."

[ Sanae will continue to watch the procession, her expression sad. The child eventually stops as the priests and priestesses continue forward. She stares up at the cave wall, where an old painting hangs. A young woman priestess, her hair the same bright color as Sanae's, her expression is severe. Even from the painting, it is clear that she was very severe. ]

[faithfulflame]

[This is a scene that Rei'd be interested in seeing play out if she was significantly removed from it. But she is not. She's uncomfortably close to this, standing a few feet beside Sanae. It's...troubling at best, seeing someone she likes toddling along like some sort of puppet.

The chatter too, that bothers her. And it's that final comment that finally draws her to speak.]

Who is she?

[miracle_miko]

A very powerful priestess who guarded the Great Tree. They say that she lived to be over one-hundred, and that her powers are unmatched.

[faithfulflame]

And you're...supposed to follow in her footsteps? Is that it?

[miracle_miko]

[ Sanae nods slowly. ]

[faithfulflame]

And have you? Is she the person who you respect most, and want to follow? Or was that just expectation?

Re: OTA.

[taudriver]

[Takuto comes up behind Sanae]

This is quite some time ago, isn't it?

[miracle_miko]

[ She nods. ]

Every year we'd pay respects to those who protected the Great Tree in times of calamity.

[taudriver]

And that... is you?

[miracle_miko]

[ Again, Sanae nods. ]

[taudriver]

[He pulls her close]

That looks like it was rough.

[wishingalone]

Ah, Sanae...

[Mami walks up behind Sanae, her arms crossed as she does. She peers at the painting, thoughtfully. It looks familiar to her. She's known Sanae for awhile. But...]

[She didn't know the extent of the expectations on her.]

I recognize this place.

[miracle_miko]

Miss Mami!

[ Sanae turned toward her quickly, looking surprised. She quickly frowns, turning her attention back to the scene. ]

I'm not surprised. The Valkyries guard the Great Tree as well, after all.

[wishingalone]

One of our many duties.

[Mami nods. She walks forward, peering at the painting.]

I always thought she looks like you.

[miracle_miko]

[ Somehow that didn't seem to make her very happy. ]

You're not the first person to tell me that. I don't think we're anything alike.

Apologies for typos, I'm RPing from a pre-reg line like a pro!!

[wishingalone]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult.

[She hesitates, then:]

How do you intend to be different?

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise watches the scene quietly along with Sanae, when she arrives. In some ways it was horrifying, but in others...not really unexpected.]

There's a lot of tradition behind you, huh? Sorry I never really thought to ask about it.

[miracle_miko]

[ When did Rise get here? Somehow Sanae wasn't surprised, glancing at the older teen before looking back upon the scene. ]

I came to Union to get stronger, and spread the faith.

[ From the tone of her voice, she didn't believe that she did either. ]

[celebrity_commentator]

Getting stronger, huh?

[Rise nods.]

I knew a guy who spent most of his time thinking about how to do that, until he realized he didn't know what he meant by it.

[miracle_miko]

[ The younger girl turns toward Rise, blinking a few times. ]

What did he do?

[celebrity_commentator]

He figured out what he wanted it to mean to him.

[lunchleader]

[Right pauses to see the procession, and glances over to see Sanae being...sad?]

Sanae...who is that little girl? She's a little young to be a priestess, ain't she?

[miracle_miko]

Right.

[ She looks surprised, then turns her head back to the scene. ]

That's me.

[lunchleader]

That's you?? But...

[Right looks between bitty!Sanae and the current one.]

Why would anyone make you become a priestess at that young age?

[miracle_miko]

When I was Windblessed, they said my powers were like a great priestess that served the Great Tree many generations ago.

[ There was also the question of a distant relation to her, but that had not been proven, yet. ]

They believe I'm that priestess, reborn in this time.