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

[darer]

It makes a hypocrite out of him to even argue. After all these years, Thorin still blames himself for Frerin's death. For not having been there. For not having found something, anything that might have saved him. In that way, he feels like a failure of an older brother, and perhaps he always will, but this is another matter.

He shakes his head, with what little room there is between them, pulls away from his sobbing nephew and the cold, heavy body that he too has to keep reminding himself isn't real.

"Fili. Look at me."

Even if he has no idea how, he has to get through to him.

[bornofstone]

Fili is startled by Thorin pulling away, his brain telling him that Thorin is ashamed of him, disgusted by his behavior.

He tries to calm down, to quiet the sobs, and it takes a moment before tear-filled blue eyes finally rise to meet his uncle's.

[darer]

It hurts to see. All that loss, all that pain he never wanted his nephews to have to face. All the harm he wanted to keep them from but has no right to, no chance to.

"I need you to listen to me." Thorin holds his nephew's gaze, steady as he can be, and keeps his hand on Fili's shoulder.

"This place... or whatever is down here shows us what we fear most. What will hurt us the most. But it is not real."

[bornofstone]

Fili swallows hard, trying to relax. His heart is beating fast, a lump in his throat, and Thorin's words take a moment or two to process.

He can't breathe.

"Not...not real...?" He looks down at Kili, heavy and cold and too still. He should be wriggling around. Laughing. Generally being a pest.