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

1

[yesdoubt]

[Momo's gotten in deep enough with the cult that he's doing his intervention in the cult's attempted kidnappings wearing another face, that of a stocky blonde woman in dark clothes. So it's this "stranger" that responds to Berserker's situation, even if she has to take a long look between the person on the ground and the dragon before shaking her head slightly and bending down to assist the unfortunate cultist.]

Must've been some idiot to think they could take on a dragon alone... [She begins to murmur to herself, starting off the healing spell, her hands glowing gently but a few mites of that glow escaping down into the victim. After a few moments, despite the wound knitting, the person passes out - Momo tweaked the spell slightly to favour taking energy from the victim than himself for the heal, because on one hand he doesn't want them dead but on the other he doesn't really want them conscious right now, either.

Once the spell is flowing without the need for incantation, the woman speaks again, her voice smooth and straightforward. Momo made sure to account for that need for a voice change when weaving this illusion.]

Are you alright? You looked pretty spooked.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He doesn't recognize the stranger nor is his ability to sense magic strong enough to sense anything's wrong. She is a stranger, therefore he has no need to be polite nor kind to her -- not that he's either of those things to people he's familiar with most of the time.

Berserker is, however, relieved that the cultist isn't dead, if only because it puts him in less danger of being punished for the death. Their life is unimportant to him, the consequences of taking it are. ]

...I'm fine. It's nothing. [ The metallic taste of panic and anxiety, his still racing heart, and his stiff posture say otherwise. ] It's none of your concern, anyway.

[ A moment later and he decides to at least be grateful. ]

...But your intervention is appreciated.

[yesdoubt]

[Once the cultist is in at least a decent enough condition that they'll be able to stumble themselves home whenever they wake up, the woman wraps up the spell and straightens up, turning towards Berserker. She looks as if she understands the reluctance to talk, though doesn't look very happy with it.]

It's no problem. But still... [She looks around for a moment, thoroughly making sure there's no other cult members hanging around, or people in a position to see her face, before drawing a quick symbol on her wrist and raising a hand to her face, moving it from one side to the other.

It draws away the illusion Momo is using temporarily, just showing his face as it normally would be so it can be identified straight-on, but leaving the rest of the illusion as is so nobody who might show up from another angle can see who he really is. He only met Berserker once, but that doesn't make him less concerned for his current condition.]

I feel a bit like I owe you one, so do you mind if I walk you wherever you were headed?

[The dragon's assistance had been a big help when they'd teamed up during the Dorchacht attack, so he'd rather not leave Berserker alone to potentially savage someone else or encounter a larger group who might be able to take advantage of such a snap response to panic.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The standoffish attitude fades some. Momo...He remembers the witch well. It's better someone he's familiar with than a total stranger, but the offer still isn't exactly welcome. Berserker is touchy when it comes to his traumatic reactions; as much as he'd like to believe he's over what happened, this is proof he's not. It stings so much worse that someone else saw it, another wound to his pride. ]

...Fine. I won't stop you. [ That's his way of saying "yes, please". ] But you don't owe me anything.

[ There's still blood smeared on his face and sleeve, drying slowly on his hands. Not a good look for going around in public, even if it's after dark. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo smiles a bit at that, moving his hand again to let the illusion fall back over his face. He can't risk the cult seeing him at work helping victims of their attack attempts, so though he revealed his identity for the sake of making it slightly less uncomfortable for Berserker to be helped by a "stranger", he's keeping the fake outer layer for the actual helping.]

If you say so. In any case, having someone walk with you might make less people come up asking why you're covered in blood, so there's that. [He pats his pockets - his clothes are the same as what he's wearing under the illusion so it doesn't make things awkward where remembering the difference is concerned, just shifted slightly by the difference in figure between himself and the illusory woman.]

Don't think I have anything to get rid of it with, though, so it might be best to just get wherever you were going. Were you headed home or going out?

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ That's fine. He can handle the illusion now that he knows who's actually behind it. ]

Home. [ Diarmuid's going to have questions about the blood, not to mention the flood of emotions through their bond if he's awake. Berserker is not emotionally prepared to deal with that right now. ] I just got off work when this happened...

[ Which is exactly why it set him off so badly: it was just like the last time, except he didn't have the injuries he did last year. He was prepared to fight back, for better or for worse.

He shakes his head, as if that will stop the flood of memories. This is not what he wanted right now, especially not in front of someone he didn't know well. His body still trembling, Berserker turns away from the cultist. ]

...Let's go.

[yesdoubt]

[That does make things easier, and means at least he'll be able to clean up the blood when they get there. So Momo nods and moves to Berserker's side, barely sparing the still passed-out cultist a glance before turning his back on them for the moment. He's still alert for anyone else around, but he'd hope none of the others are stupid enough to try and front a dragon.]

Is this the first one of them you've seen try to grab someone? [He doesn't know whether Berserker has seen the broader pattern of kidnappings or mostly just this one. He seems rattled, to Momo, but then...well, he doesn't know how long Berserker has been here, but he does know he himself arrived very shortly after some else targeted Mirrorbound for kidnapping last year.

It makes him wonder if Alder is going to earn himself a public execution as well, if it wouldn't turn him into a martyr.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ A dragon who's no longer alone and also visibly bloodied. Someone would have to be actively suicidal to try to take him like this.

Berserker stays silent for a bit longer. It's hard to think straight in the state he's still in and that frustrates him. The question should be easy to answer with a yes or no, yet he can't come up with anything for too long.

A deep breath and he composes himself again. There's no danger, nothing's wrong, no one's going to try to take him away again. ]

...Yes. I haven't seen any others personally. I've heard of them and...after last year, I'm willing to kill them on sight if I see any others.

[ That's probably about as far as he's willing to go; Momo can draw his own conclusions based on Berserker's behavior and the extensive scarring on his wings. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo does glance sidelong at Berserker's wings, because while he arrived after the bulk of all that, he definitely saw people still recovering from it in the weeks after his arrival, so he can take a guess where those scars might've originated if Berserker was there for that previous instance. Though he can't really be clear about that while he's trying to make sure no potential eavesdroppers identify him as another Mirrorbound, he does let out a frustrated sigh.]

I remember seeing that execution. You'd think people would've learned not to fuck around like this after an example like that, but I guess some of them need a refresher.

[There's something of a bitterness to it, and Momo doesn't swear particularly often, but something of this weight feels deserving of it. It's sickening to him that they're having to deal with something like this on a public scale again so relatively soon after the last time.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

They never learn... [ The walk is familiar; the familiarity grounds him in some way. His panic has started to fade along with the flashbacks. It allows him to focus and speak more openly. ] This feels different, though.

[ Berserker grimaces. ]

They reek of the cwyld. They're after something else...Their intent isn't to capture and harvest parts like the last ones. I can't tell you what they're after or what they're doing, just that they're not the same.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo grimaces as well once he mentions the Cwyld, because he's been getting involved in the cult enough to know why that is. There's a sick obsession with it, right up to getting themselves infected with it and showing it off, so he's completely unsurprised to hear the kidnappers reek of it too.]

Considering the people who've been reappearing in the streets recently, I have a feeling they're...experimenting. If the kidnappers smell of Cwyld, and these disappeared people are reappearing horribly infected without remembering what happened to them, Cwyld is the consistent thread between them.

[He can't be too specific about the gross Cwyld obsession within the cult without giving away his position a bit, but he feels that's enough information to say it's Cwyld-related regardless.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Hm...Worthless trash, then.

[ It's enough. He knows Momo has to be careful to not blow his cover, so he doesn't push for anymore. Truth be told, whatever their motivation, he's more interested in eradicating them violently than finding out what makes them tick. That's just how he is, though -- violence is a means to an end. ]

...We're nearly there. You don't have to accompany any further if you don't want to.

[ He can make it the rest of the way himself, though he's still edgy and looking around for further threats. Uneasy, unsettled, unlike himself. He hates it. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo isn't the type to tap out of something before he's seen it through, and especially considering Berserker still looks rather rattled. So he shakes his head - he'll probably go back out on patrol after this, but it is good to make sure none of the kidnappers are getting daring enough to get near the Haven.]

It's fine, I'd rather scope out this area as well. Never know who's going to be stupid enough to try for a well-populated spot like the Haven.

[Even if Mirrorbound aren't being specifically targeted this time, they're sure not being ignored.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ At least he's not going to insist otherwise. Berserker simply accepts Momo's decision and continues on his way. It'd take some time for his lingering anxiety to fully subside and better he not be alone while that's happening. He may be a relative stranger, but at least Momo has proven himself trustworthy enough for Berserker not to be completely dismissive of his presence. He feels particularly weak right now and few get to see that from him. ]

As you say...

[ It's quiet for this time of night, but they aren't the only ones around. The dragon regards each and every face he doesn't recognize with scrutiny -- he needs to get off the streets and fast. He lowers his head and walks with more purpose towards his home. Relief washes over him as he sees the familiar line of houses.

Just a few more steps...He stops on the doorstep with a heavy sigh. ]

...I suppose I owe you for this. If you'd like to come in to rest for a little bit, you're welcome to.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo keeps an eye out around them as well, less overtly scrutinising, but his gaze frequently lingering on people for a few moments before letting them go, as if performing some kind of calculation to each one. Reading people's intentions and likely actions has been a skill of his for some time, so in a situation like this it comes naturally.

Momo follows him to the doorstep, but the idea of being invited in to rest seems to make him hesitate, almost as if in surprise. He does work a little bit on favours and returns back home, but he also only tends to call them in when he really needs them, because otherwise taking care of himself tends to extend strictly to food and activity needs.

So he waves a hand, something slightly self-conscious coming into his manner even with the illusion up.] It's fine, I'm okay. But thank you for the offer. Just wouldn't really feel right doing it when there might be other scum to clean up.

[Momo is one of those people who prioritises bystanders over himself, so he wants to see this through and not risk missing an attack on a local or another Mirrorbound.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ It's probably better they part ways now, anyway. Berserker needs time to get himself under control again. He feels better now that he's home, at least, somewhere safe and familiar. ]

Find me later after this is over. I'll make good on what I owe you.

[ The way he says it leaves little room for argument. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo doesn't really have time to argue the point anyway, so he just nods and offers a bracing smile.]

Will do. Better go out and earn my keep some more, then. Hope your night gets better.

[And with that, unless Berserker has cause to stop him, he and his illusory disguise will be off, back into the night to go and ruin the cult's evening some more.]