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

[faithlikeaseed]

[Myr and L's Bond is almost a textbook example of "opposites attract"--to outside observers, at least. Myr can certainly name more similarities than differences between them...but L's, ah, casual ways with the truth and lack of forthrightness was definitely one he knows about.

He frowns at Niles' words, his own ears flattening a little. It's hard not to react instinctively to the idea he's put himself in danger, even when he knows very well that he has, and Niles isn't saying anything untrue. (Complicated, always complicated, this idea of how much he can do alone and without help. But anyone would need someone watching his back here, right?)]

"Cults like that," [he repeats. He's had a feeling--from listening to L and Light, from overhearing other Mirrorbound--that his idea of a cult is...a little different from theirs.

He'll come back to that.] Both my other Bonded, [though Viren was--compromised, he's fairly sure by now,] and Hector. And I'd wager a quarter of the folk showing up at meetings are Mirrorbound now. I've weekly meetings with Linden, [even knowing Niles knows L's actual name, Myr's stubborn in his habits,] as well. To make sure they haven't suborned either of us.

[He pauses, echoing Niles' gesture of earlier with a slow scan of his head to listen to their surroundings.] What kind of "cult" are you taking it to be?

[cyclopticsadist]

[Niles nods as Myr lists his allies, remembering after a beat to add an acknowledging hum.]

Quick-fix cults centered on one loudly charming man with profit and power as his true motives. [In most circumstances he'd feel fairly safe in dismissing it as a con, but in a world where mind tampering magic is always a lurking threat, any cult is suddenly more potent.]

I'll remind you that Mirrorbound does not mean trustworthy. [He tilts his head to one side, tail flicking as he considers a few of the others he's known. Then a bit of a wince] Or smart enough not to fall for Alder's nonsense.

[faithlikeaseed]

[Myr's ears twitch at Niles' description, and so does a corner of his mouth.]

A "quick-fix" scam? If Alder were only asking for handouts and Parliament votes from his loyal followers--with or without the charm magic--we'd be a lot better off than we are, I think.

[He then sighs.] Likewise if falling for what he was offering was only a matter of being too dim to see through it. The man's quite sincere, Niles, and he's offering something these folk hardly get otherwise. [Quietly, then,] The smartest ones are the best at rationalizing their involvement.

[Smartest and most damaged; let him not dwell too long on what particular flaw in Viren's personality they'd exploited through their mind control. That hurt to think about.

Likewise untrustworthiness among the Mirrorbound.]

[cyclopticsadist]

[His ears pin back, and his tail goes stiff. He feels like he needs to spit out some black feathers here. For all his dismissive phrasing, he approached Myr out of concern. Thoughts on Alder's message aside, they were in agreement about the danger he posed.]

Well I meant- [He bows his head, one hand coming up to scratch at an ear before he continues.] 'The infection is good actually' as their pitch. It's...'let's give up on fixing this' but presented as a solution. Your worries gone overnight, no need to do anything but listen to me. [He sighs, long and suddenly much more weary that he'd sounded a moment ago.] And frankly, I was thinking about Henry. [Maybe him leaving was a blessing in disguise. If he were here he'd probably be on Alder's lap after two meetings. He shakes his head, it's irrelevant. He's gone.] Point is, I don't like how much muscle they just have on hand. Know that you have some on your side too.

[faithlikeaseed]

[Myr's silent a long, long moment after Niles' reply; the sporadic twitching of his tail stills as he realizes his rebuke...might've stung more than it was meant to.

Niles was right in his opener: They're not friends, and a part of that's been Myr's inability to forgive the Chimera. Not for L's sake--L and Niles already seem to have come to a separate peace--but for the sake of the Faun's own wounded pride. He knows he hadn't been Niles' intended target, but that knowledge was a vast gulf away from the feeling the attack had been partway meant to rub his nose in his own utter uselessness at protecting his Bonded.

Attempting to forcibly bridge that gap hadn't worked. It wasn't a problem he could think his way around, and all his appeals to Andraste to aid him seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

Or...perhaps they hadn't.

At length, he clears his throat and reaches a hand out in Niles' direction, at what he hopes is shoulder height.]

He would've been in real trouble with them, wouldn't he. [He hadn't known Henry for long, but the younger man had fit into a type Myr's all-too-familiar with. Which see:] I'm...afraid they have gotten to Viren.

[Which means one of his Bonded couldn't be relied on, and--] So it...does make it better. Knowing you've got my back.

[A pause.] Thank you for that. And-- [...oh, perhaps he shouldn't ask this, but the thought occurs to him so splendidly and full-formed that he wonders if it isn't the inspiration he's been asking for.

Partly because the very idea of asking Niles for this kind of help makes him squirm, which feels much more like something divinely inspired than his own inclination to just hide from the issue.] --and I...there's something I'd like your help with. After this is over, or when we've got more time.

[cyclopticsadist]

[Niles obligingly leans in so that Myr's guess finds its mark. At his confession about his other bonded, (his significantly less examined relationship), Niles sucks in a short breath through his teeth. As much as he's fond of being caustic to hostile people, he's not intentionally rubbing salt in his wounds despite all appearances.]

Do you want me to follow him? See what he's up to and who he's seeing? [It might not be the most tactful offer, but it is something they both know he's good at. At his question, Niles tilts his head, ears staying cocked, one towards Myr, one to the street outside his vision.]

Yeah? What's that?

[faithlikeaseed]

[It's this--this fundamental decency that Niles has that's always so disarming. Myr can hear how the Chimera shifts to meet his reaching, and that knowledge lends a little extra strength to how he squeezes the shoulder he finds under his grip. Gratitude to go with the reassurance.

They may not be on the best of terms but they are on the same side and their side will make it through this.]

...Please, [he says, after a scant moment's consideration.] I can't stay with him all the time.

[Though he would, if he could, the chagrin in his expression seems to say. He should be able to protect his Bonded.

Though even he knows it's not fair to expect he could keep an unsleeping overwatch on one of them and also not neglect the other two. (Thus his downfall in protecting L, a nasty little part of him whispers.)]

I need to relearn how to fight. As-- [A hand lifts toward his face.] As I am now. I've been keeping in practice on my forms but I know it's not enough.

[The set of his ears shows exactly how hard it is to say this. But at least Niles already knows how incapable he is, which makes it oddly easier.]

[cyclopticsadist]

Just let me know when and where and I'll tag in.

[When he realizes what Myr's asking for, what Myr's admitting with this request he reciprocates the gesture. Being sure to keep his claws retracted, he brings his own hand up to squeeze Myr's shoulder in an attempt at something like comfort.]

I'd be happy to. [He's not familiar with the staff forms that existed in his own world, much less whatever Myr's had, but combat is combat and there are transitive skills in everything.] But I don't think we should wait. [He removes his hand from Myr's shoulder and takes a step back, reclaiming his personal space while he thinks about logistics.] Next time we meet, I'll tell you what Viren's been up to, and you can show me those forms. Deal?