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

[lunchleader]

Broke it? You mean...he was just an illusion? I just thought he was one of those Magi that liked to have underground libraries.

[But Right is also looking around. Is the library, at least, real? Or is this another illusion as well?]

[untalented]

You're not exactly wrong on that.

[Waver sighed, and shook his head.]

He's one of the senior faculty at the academy, and a powerful Magus of the traditional schools. He's not someone you want to anger-- and I may have done a few things that had the potential to.

[There was no shame in his tone or demeanor. He was merely stating the facts, as if they were written out in a textbook for anyone to study.]

[lunchleader]

So why would some high ranking Magus want to mess with an Earthkin like you?

[Because he remembered how disappointed he personally felt to be told that Waver wasn't a Magus himself.]

[untalented]

[Waver glanced away, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.]

Because I can pick up skills the same way a Magus can. But my family has only had any kind of power for a few generations, and not even selling everything we had after my parents passed away was enough to get me into the academy.

[lunchleader]

--Ohhhhh. Oh, man; I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you lost your family...

[His condolences were as honest as they were immediate.]

...but is it really that expensive, attending that academy? I know there's Brentwood Academy for all the noble kids and young eggheads back home, but I don't think they're that expensive...

[untalented]

It's been a few years, now; don't worry about it.

[At least they passed from an illness, and at least it was relatively quick. He was grateful for that much.

He shrugged, and cast Right a weary look.]

I think half of the price is so they can weed out people like me. They prefer to keep their friends close, enemies closer, and anyone else is a potential liability for....whatever it is they do in those towers.

[lunchleader]

[Right rudely grimaces at that last bit.] I never can get why people in power don't want other people to join them. I mean, it's not as much fun if you're doing everything by yourself, or with not enough people to help do certain things.

And what if they don't have any family to pass on their magic works? What then? wouldn't they want more people becoming Magi just in case something like that happens?

[untalented]

I imagine they find someone within their circles to adopt. [He sighed.] But, I'm not exactly a good source on these matters either.

But, in seriousness, some of the ideas do make sense from a certain standpoint. They don't want to change long standing traditions... and I'm sure you've heard a similar adage, but 'absolute power corrupts absolutely.' They don't want to risk decentralizing their control.