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

[al_bhed]

Rikku Al Bhed.

[She accepts the handshake and gives Light a smile.

It still feels weird to introduce herself that way--surnames aren't really a thing in Spira, and it's not like the Al Bhed take on the Ronso or Guado habit of adding race to their name. But Rikku has learned that such names are common in many other worlds and more or less expected here, so she's taken on the habit of taking it on so she doesn't sound like a weirdo.]

That's good that they're being so patient about this kind of thing. I've dealt with religious types who are very 'it's my way or the highway,' so I figured that's what they'd do here.

[worldcleansing]

Is it okay if I call you Rikku?

[ Names and introductions can be a bit odd when talking to people from different words. In Japan, someone who isn't family calling him 'Light' would be odd, but he's adjusted easily enough. It's just best to make sure others have, too. ]

I've heard of the same types. Even if you believe, if you don't believe enough, they're not satisfied. It'd make our decision here a lot easier. I personally wouldn't want to join someone who was so inflexible.

[ Light doesn't actually plan to join at all, but he has to keep up the illusion. ]

You don't seem to want to, either. So, why are you here if you think they'd be so harsh?

[al_bhed]

Yeah, of course!

[Rikku would feel too weird if he just started calling her "Al Bhed," so she's glad to give him permission to address her as she would be addressed back home.

His question - a fair one - catches her a bit flat footed. She can't come out and say 'because I'm spying on them,' but that's really the only reason she has. At no point did she ever entertain any notion of joining their inner circle.

After a pause, she finally manages a coherent answer.]

I was curious. I've been hearing a lot about them lately, and I wanted to know what's up.

[It's not a lie!]

For the most part, they seem like normal people. They just really, really believe in this stuff.

[worldcleansing]

I would give you a line about how dangerous curiosity can be, but I'm here too. They're firm in their beliefs.

[ Which sounds more horrifying than inviting but like Rikku, Light has to be careful. Even if they're likely both here for the same reason, they can't be sure either won't turn. If that happens, the shared secret might becomes dangerous. ]

It's actually a little worrisome how quickly a lot of this began to sound normal. Not the possession, but magic. My world doesn't have any, and now I'm sitting here believing everything they say is possible. The question is if it's for me.

[al_bhed]

[Rikku nods along with agreement at most of Light's statement. It is worrying how firm they are and how quickly it sounds kind of normal. But something he says catches her attention.]

Your world doesn't have magic at all? [It hadn't occurred to her that such a thing was possible, honestly.] I can't imagine how weird everything here must be, then. Are you adjusting okay?

I guess all of this sounds just as crazy to you as everything else here.

[worldcleansing]

It was odd at first, but I'm curious by nature so I took to learning magic well and it feels almost like second nature now. For all the drawbacks of being pulled away from our homes, it's been really interesting learning the different spells.

[ A small orb of ice barely larger than a quarter appears beside him before disappearing. ]

I never thought I'd be conjuring things out of thin air. By your surprise, it sounds like magic is more native to your home? Does it relate to the pushy religion?

[al_bhed]

[Rikku watches the ice orb with the appropriate degree of appreciation. For someone without a background in magic, conjuring something like that can't be an easy feat.]

It looks like you've been working really hard at it. I've been focusing on alchemy, mostly, because it's similar to what I did back home.

Magic's really common where I come from, and for the most part it's available to everybody. [The only exception she can think of is summoning, and she's not 100% sure that counts as magic.] Anyone can learn it, and it's encouraged because it's a really good way to defend yourself. I never really took to it--I did just fine mixing things and getting effects that way--but a lot of my friends and family have.

[worldcleansing]

[ It's a very, very small example of what magic can do, and Light doesn't think it's appropriate to freeze the church, but it's also a very common ability here. Nonetheless, while he's been able to delve into the supernatural a bit at home, this is the kind of power he never imagined possible.

Rikku is unique in that most other witches he's met have favored pure magic over alchemy. Since Light does eventually want to learn all there is to learn which adds more to his curiosity. ]

You're the first alchemy user I've met.

[ At least the first who focuses on alchemy. ]

There are stories of alchemy in my world, but they're usually considered false. [ A chuckle proceeds his next words. ] And even then, alchemists were old men who hid away in their homes, not young girls found in churches.

[al_bhed]

That's not too surprising. I haven't noticed a big demand in it among other Mirrorbound, you know?

[Rikku realizes that she's fairly unique in focusing almost exclusively in alchemy, but it's comforting to stick to what she understands most easily. She's been meaning to branch out, but hasn't exactly been terribly motivated to actually follow through with that thought.]

Really? That's strange. We don't really use the word "alchemy" back home, but the idea is kind of the same. Combine the right ingredients and hopefully you get the right effect!

I wonder why it was usually old men and not everyone where you're from...

[worldcleansing]

The reason it's more magic than science is the same reason cooking or chemistry isn't alchemy. Alchemy would take out all of the steps and combine them through some unexplained means, like pressing a tree and a piece of fabric together and creating a chair without all the necessary steps in between.

And it's not real in my world, which is why it's not used. If it was, it'd be a lot more popular, but it's just a fictional story. The reason old men tend to be the stars is because it's a very science-heavy ability. Age is connected to knowledge and back when the stories originated, women weren't acknowledged for their intelligence. So, they defaulted to old men with a lot of books.

[ So, the very opposite of Rikku. ]

If I keep going, you'll start to suspect I'm trying to explain unimportant things on purpose to make the sermons seem more enjoyable. But, if you're free, I would like to hear your take on alchemy. Like I said, it's not used very often, even here where it's real.

[al_bhed]

I see. That's really interesting!

[And she means that--even after the months she's been here, Rikku is still so fascinated by how all of these other worlds work. Plus she's happy to talk about pretty much anything beyond these Evergreen Circle people.]

As best as I can tell the big difference between alchemy and other kinds of spells is that you're using your magic to change something that's already there rather than using your magic to make something totally new, you know? And that's the appeal. I like to tinker and play with things to see what they'll do, so alchemy works right into that.

Sometimes it blows up in your faces and burns your eyebrows off, but usually it turns out pretty good.

[No, she's not speaking from experience on that one at all.]

[worldcleansing]

I don't think about my eyebrows too often, but I do prefer they stay where they are.

[ His voice is teasing a little, but his tone is obviously joking as well. ]

What do you find the advantages of alchemy over Evocation or Conjuration? Is it just because of your own interest in changing things?

[ If so, there won't be an attempt to convince her to switch to a different style so much as Light's curious. He wants to make the best choices in his studies, and alchemy has been one area he hasn't focused on overly much. The need for items seems like a deterrent when other forms of magic can create something from nothing. ]

[al_bhed]

It's amazing how much more you think about your eyebrows when they aren't there.

[Her response is equally light--no harm, no foul.]

I think it's just because it's what feels most familiar to me, you know? I definitely prefer to manage stuff over just plain magic.

I've been told more than once I should look into black magic. Or I guess evocation is what it's called here. But it's the same idea--it's good to be able to have magic to defend yourself if you aren't carrying the right regents or weapons. I just... never got around to it.

[She shrugs.]

You like evocation, though? It's treating you okay?

[worldcleansing]

It's a lot to learn when coming from a background without magic, but I think so. Being able to control the elements is pretty amazing. I don't know the history of your world, but the ability to create fire was a pretty big step for civilization in my world, and now I can call it whenever I want.

If you're ever interested in learning and don't mind showing me some tricks you've learned in alchemy, I don't mind playing the teacher. I haven't been here 6 months yet, but I'm a really quick study so you shouldn't let that hold you back.

[al_bhed]

I'm interested! We should definitely get together sometime and exchange magic techniques.

[She's only about as experienced in alchemy as he is in evocation, so it balances out.]

I'd love to teach and learn more about how it works in this place.