Player Plot: The Salvation of Geardagas, Part 1

[faileas]

Event Log: January, The Salvation of Geardagas: Part 1

The Evergreen Circle Something is happening in Aefenglom. A rash of disappearances has finally caught the attention of the authorities, but only thanks to a strange twist: a handful of the missing individuals are starting to turn up again, and not as they should be. It began with a harpy. After a week of nothing she returned, fully transformed into a Shade and too far gone to save. The same happened with a trader the next day. And the next with a witch. All three were infected, albeit to varying degrees, and only one of them was able to be brought back from the brink. Naturally, this is a huge cause for concern. There's little sign that the Bright Wall is damaged and none of the victims were known to have left the city. Questioning the survivor, Owain, doesn't produce any leads either as he can't remember anything before his disappearance. It's only after he's had some time to recover that he notices something off. As the blackening of the Cwyld fades, a small tattoo on his palm that wasn't there before becomes visible. To the concern of the Coven, it's a symbol that's familiar to them as the emblem of a rising spiritual movement favoured by the wealthy called the Evergreen Circle, led by a witch called Cillian Alder. Their purpose, he claims, is to provide hope through interrogating the Cwyld from a scholarly and philosophical perspective. In spite of this, Alder has developed more of a cult-like following than anything. Mirrorbound of standing (business owners, members of parliament, public figures, etc) might have already received one of their pamphlets. Naturally, it's an incredibly sensitive subject. The Evergreen Circle has been entirely peaceful up until now, and with such influential and powerful figures among its numbers, the Coven is reluctant to make any outright accusations. Instead, the task of investigating them has been covertly passed to the Mirrorbound. As outsiders, they stand less of a chance of causing political unrest. However, they explicitly warn against taking any hostile actions for the time being: this is an information-gathering request, nothing more. They can provide basic information about the Evergreen Circle meetings but that's about it. a. Preaching to the Choir (Every Friday Evening, Mid-Ieneuer to Early Feoveuer) Cillian Alder Art by Rachel The hall is buzzing. Though there aren't even enough people here to fill the place, everyone seems to be bubbling with excitement, exchanging loud greetings and introductions. They're particularly friendly to newcomers and are quick to offer up their experiences with the group: "Cillian is a truly free thinker!" "I haven't felt so positive about our future for a long time." "There’s a real sense of hope and community here in the Circle." The meeting convenes at 8 o’clock sharp and silence descends upon the room as a figure takes the stage. With his commanding presence and charismatic smile there's no doubt about who this is: Cillian Alder. A man in his late fifties with greying hair, he speaks with an accent crisp as cut glass and a strong voice, no doubt amplified by some kind of spell to reach around the room. He's hypnotising, those cool blue eyes of his impossible to look away from and piercing in their intensity. "How wonderful to see you all tonight, both familiar and unfamiliar faces alike! You are all welcome. I have only one request." He brings his hands together with a smile. "That you keep your hearts open. How else might our minds grow Evergreen?" Alder's speech is nothing if not passionate. He paces and proselytises, responding to the audience's interruptions and cheers with enormous enthusiasm. Throughout, his message is clear. "Who are we to immediately decry the Cwyld as a curse? Fear of the unknown, of what we have yet to control, can only hold us back! We must instead seek to understand it and be at peace with its presence! This is a test of our conviction! Our will to survive!" It goes on for the better part of an hour and, afterwards, he descends into the audience to receive their praise and questions with the gracious smile of a beloved king. He might even turn that magnanimous presence on you, affording you a few crucial moments of conversation (limited to 2 RNG characters). Will you stick around to find out more or try and slip backstage while everyone is distracted? For such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, there seems to be a lot of security around the doors leading back there so it might take some quick thinking to get through without conflict. Those who are caught will have to face the consequences, but the results might be… unfavorable. b. Spirited Away (late-Ieneuer to mid Feoveuer) Those less inclined to subterfuge won't have any problems finding trouble to get into either. As the month goes on, more and more people disappear, and that might even include Mirrorbound. Whether you're intercepting a kidnapping or fighting off your own, you're more likely to get caught up in it the longer the month goes on. It's easy enough to fight off the attackers but nigh impossible to actually catch or identify one: each is dressed in black and smells of the tell-tale decay of the Cwyld. But even assuming you do manage to apprehend one, they will refuse to talk in anything but vague, confusing comments about salvation and new beginnings. c. Cast Out (mid-Ieneuer to early Feoveuer) Likewise, the number of locals who have been abducted and released continues to rise. The victims, anywhere from badly infected to fully transformed into Shades, require subduing, healing and, in the most dire of circumstances, permanently dealt with before they can hurt anyone. Without exception, they're aggressive, reacting violently to attempts to heal as well as harm them and there are no discernable patterns when it comes to victims. However, the eagle-eyed might spot the Evergreen Circle's symbol on some of their palms if they're not too heavily corrupted.

[ ooc: More information about the event can be found on the plotting post along with comments for questions, and RNG sign-ups for directly interacting with Alder! ]

Comments

2

[quintessent]

[If Keith looks out of place, then Allura balances him out by dressing too formally. Looking every bit like the intergalactic diplomat that she was, with only her hair pulled back into a neat bun to suggest she's prepared for any sort of trouble tonight. Perhaps in that way they balance each other out from any prying eyes inspecting them too closely.

Allura's face is rapt with attention during the long meeting, and it's only Keith's voice that pulls her attention away from Cillian once the noise starts to pick up again.]

What? [Her eyes follow Keith's gaze, and narrow. That is a lot of security.] A place for trusted members to talk freely, perhaps? But if the followers are out here now then there would be no reason to have armed guards.

[A beat,] Remember we're only here to observe the meeting.

[She doesn't need a bond to know what Keith's already thinking.]

[marmoron]

[ Keith blinks. Had he really been so obvious about his intentions? Putting that question aside to puzzle over later, Keith only looks a little sheepish for a second before he turns away from the guarded area in some attempt to achieve greater subtlety. ]

I know that's the official mission, but don't you think this is worth investigating?

[ Though he keeps his voice low to avoid being overheard, he drops it down to whisper tones and leans closer to her ear. ]

We could act like we're interested in helping out with security. Worst comes to worst, I can put a guard under the thrall.

[quintessent]

[He's only obvious because her mind already went there. Her face screws into a frown, looking between where Cillian is milling in the crowd and the guarded doors. Obviously going through the logistics of the best use of time here. It doesn't help that it doesn't feel like they've gained anything from listening to the prepared speech.

The mention of Keith's thrall is enough to tip her resolve,]

Alright. [She relents easily. Who let these two go on a mission that requires restraint together? Her voice goes immediately into business-mode.] This might be our best chance, while everyone is out here and distracted. We should wait until one of the guards is on their own, then you can enthrall them to let us pass.

[marmoron]

[ On the contrary, this kind of impulsiveness is exactly why they should always go on missions together. Keith certainly doesn't see any issues here at any rate. He grins as he glances back at the guards. ]

Worst comes to worst, if someone gets mad we can always invent some excuse for why we were there. Big fans of the talkative guy, wanted to get his autograph in private or something.

[ ...It'd help if he actually remembered Alder's name, clearly. He adds more seriously: ]

There are three of them right now. Think two of them might leave if they got wine or something splashed on them accidentally?

[quintessent]

Any guard worth their salt shouldn't leave his post for something like that.

[But her mouth curls into a smile. One that is especially mischievous for her.]

But a small fire on one of the tables may be enough. [A beat. Then she flusters a little, realizing how the suggestion sounds.] A very small one! I don't want to endanger anyone! Just create a distraction.

[marmoron]

[ Keith practically lights up at her suggestion, accompanied by a small surge of affection Allura may be able to feel through their bond. It's not that he's eager to set the place on fire or anything, but it hardly seems like much of a risk when there are other witches around to put fires out quickly. ]

Mhm. Would be a real shame if they didn't have a place to have these weird meetings at.

[ He nudges her side with his elbow playfully, then clears his throat. ]

But that should definitely get their attention. [ A beat. ] It might also be less conspicuous if it looks like just one of us are moving around. Do you have a pocket I can hide in?

[quintessent]

We are not going to burn the building down.

[She huffs, although smiling. She's not a pyromaniac, Keith!

But it's good to see they're on the same page and she nods.]

This dress has a pocket that should be big enough for you. [Dresses with pockets are amazing, even for space princesses!] Do you think you can transform without drawing any suspicion?

[In a world of monsters and witches it shouldn't be too weird, but even then she casually moves towards one of the corners of the room, trying to look like she's just milling around.]

[marmoron]

[ As Allura steers them towards a quiet corner, Keith takes another glance around the room. Cilian is commanding most of the attention at least, and the guards are seemingly focused on making sure their leader is safe. That and making sure nobody gets past them of course. ]

I doubt that'll be a problem.

[ Once they reach the corner, Keith bends down to the ground like he's dropped something and from behind Allura's cover turns into a small bat. He peers up at her from the floor. ]

Discreet enough?

[quintessent]

[Her dress makes a nice cover for when Keith poofs into his smaller form, and she makes a show of straightening out her skirts, hoping any movement would help disguise him. If anyone noticed, nobody makes any fuss about it, and she nods.]

As discreet as a human turning into a bat can be.

[Said affectionately and she stoops down, holding a hand out to him like she does her mice.]

My pocket may be a little small, but I will try to move fast.

[marmoron]

[ He half flaps, half crawls onto her open hand. Bats can't really smile, but she can feel that it's there all the same. ]

Hey. Being careful's more important. You don't have to worry that it'll be cramped.

[ Wrapping his wings tight around himself, he makes a point to make himself as small as possible so she can transfer him to said pocket. ]

[quintessent]

I'm always careful.

[Just like when they both ran away from the ship and wound up in the middle of space.

She's ever so careful as she deposits Keith into the pocket on the front of her dress, and she peeks down at him once before her expression turns serious and she's on the move. It's only a handful of paces to find a table near the entrance to the back - one that was set up for guests to sit and chat. Or perhaps it was meant to interview new inductees. Whatever it's purpose, she's happy to see it's decorated with candles. All the more easy to excuse a fire.]

Okay, here we go.

[She whispers, before focusing on her spell. Subtly, quietly, a small ball of fire pops into existence on the table beside one of the candles. It's subtle at first, but it doesn't need much effort for it to spread to a nearby parchment - she hopes whatever is written on it isn't too important.]

Oh- Oh! I think there has been an accident! [Okay, so her acting isn't that great. Dramatically, she gestures to the guards standing nearby, using all of her authority to drive them to action before questioning how.] Someone, quick! Find some water before it spreads further!

[Keith will hear the sound of footsteps, and a swish of her dress later, she fishes in her pocket, pulling him out and holding him up for the single remaining guard. Just as planned.]

I think my little friend was injured, would you look at him please?

[marmoron]

[ There will be zero commentary on Allura's acting skills, but know that it has been witnessed. From the sounds of it things are going well enough, and when he's hoisted out of her pocket again, it's to stare down a perplexed looking guard.

With a burst of magic, he focuses the hypnotic thrall on the guard and speaks. ]

Relax. Let us through. Don't tell anyone we were here.

[ The guard's eyes glaze over, lulled into doing as told. Keith twists slightly to nod at Allura to go ahead. ]

Let's make it quick

[quintessent]

[It's the first time she's seen Keith's thrall in action like this, and it might be chilling if she didn't trust Keith implicitly. But it is a reminder that he's not the only person in the city capable of such a thing.

But there's no time to ruminate on that for long, and when she gets a bat-nod, she quickly makes her way behind the guard - sparing one glance around before slipping through a cracked door and closing it behind her.

The back room is deadly silent in comparison to the hall, the sounds of talking muffled through the doors and her eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the dark. In the meantime, she holds a hand out, letting Keith swoop down if he chooses.]

That went easily. I don't think we raised suspicion, but we should act quickly.

[marmoron]

[ And swoop down he does, landing on a nearby table. His own bat eyes are slightly bettter adjusted to dark, but echolocation would help him make better sense of the room's layout. But that said, he doesn't do it on the off chance that the high frequency noise might catch the attention of a turnskin cult member. At least regualr frequencies of human conversation shouldn't stand out as much. ]

It looks like a conference room.

[ He looks this way and that, squinting around at the walls. ]

Looks like a few bookshelves over there. [ A beat. ] No dead bodies. You see anything?

[quintessent]

[She doesn't dare turn on a light, for fear of being found. There is dim moonlight coming from some small windows high up on the walls, helping her eyes adjust as Keith explains the layout.]

Why would there be any dead bodies? [It's a reactionary question more than genuine and the thought makes her shiver. It's not like they're investigating this cult because of all of the goodwill they're known for.]

Oh, I think I see some papers. Over there on the conference table. But it's too dark to read.

[marmoron]

You never know. A cult obsessed with the plague can't have rainbows and sunshine hidden away in the closets.

[ Despite the flippant nature of the response though, it does keep Keith on his toes. Who knows what these guys are prepared to do? He creeps a little closer to the papers. ]

Try taking a picture of it. We can try and decipher this stuff later.

[quintessent]

Right...

[She forgot about her device, and quietly she pulls it up, holding it above the papers as she takes a picture, one page at a time. The flash makes her nervous and she glances toward the door each time she does, but as the noises on the outside continue and there's no sign of them getting caught, she starts to relax.]

It's a little less flashy than stealing data from the Galra, isn't it? [Said with a small, nervous laugh. It's not often that she thinks too much of home these days, but being on a mission, tense and ready for action, has her feeling nostalgic, in a way.]