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

[bleeding_heart]

He must not have been a very good husband to have ended up like that.

[victimlessdetails]

[He laughs, which is a horrible sight when blood is pouring out of someone's throat.]

She didn't think so. She had me killed.

Still a lie.

Deny it all you want, but this is what happens to anyone who tries to get close to you. You stab them in the back before they can do the same to you.

Shut up, would you?

[bleeding_heart]

[Okay, even Merrill has to wince at that.]

Isabela... what really happened between you?

[victimlessdetails]

[Isabela grits her teeth, but if anyone could hear her life story and not hate her, it was probably Merrill.]

When I was young, I was basically sold off into marriage. Mother had a lot of problems with me, and with money. Luis here was a rich merchant. Bought me lots of things. Kept me where he could see me.

[She sighs.]

I got...bored with him. I hated him and the things he made me do, too, but mostly I hated being stuck. I wanted out. A handsome fellow with sharp knives hired by one of his rivals gave me the chance, and I helped him. And then thanked him, repeatedly, on a nightly basis for several nights.

[At about this point, the specter of Luis disappears. His role in her story is done.]

And after that, I swore I'd never let myself be tied again. Not to a person, not to a place, not to an idea. Just...me. Alone. Free.

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill listens, slowly nodding and waiting for her to finish before responding.]

...But you've been in Union an awfully long time, haven't you? And you aren't alone here at all.

[Yes, that is what she got out of all of that.]

[victimlessdetails]

Exactly! What am I even doing? I might as well lock myself up in a bloody cell. With nice curtains on the windows, or some other metaphor for you being legitimately nice.

[bleeding_heart]

Why would you do something like that?

[Most of that metaphor went over her head.]

[victimlessdetails]

I don't know!

I don't know why I stay here when I swore to myself I wouldn't. Waking up every day in the same place, getting dirt on my feet instead of sand and wood splinters...it's bloody unnatural.

[bleeding_heart]

The sand sounds nice, but why would you want splinters in your feet? I had one once that I couldn't get out for days.

[victimlessdetails]

[Isabela's voice takes on an intensely neutral tone.]

Merrill.

I'm going to make a confession here.

I am in serious trouble, so I'm going to cut out all figurative language at this point so you can understand where I'm coming from.

I. Want. To. Be. Free. No connections to anyone or anywhere. I promised that to myself and now I can't choose between that and having friends.

Savvy?

[bleeding_heart]

...Oh. Yes. Yes, I understand.

[She nods, still not entirely sure what that means for their friendship or for Isabela's life in the moment, so she waits for more.]