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Player Plot: The Salvation of Geardagas, Part II
Event Log: February, The Salvation of Geardagas: Part II
Spirited Away, Part 2
Characters who have been kidnapped are being kept in the lower floor of Alder's estate, which is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors. Without exception, the way out is always either locked or heavily guarded. All kidnapped characters have been infected with the Cwyld (sometimes by proximity to botanical materials, sometimes by being directly exposed to the violent Shades they already have imprisoned) and are being used to further the Evergreen Circle's research into the nature of the plague. The details of these tests is expanded on in the plotting post and, needless to say, their capturers have very little interest in their wellbeing. They're needlessly cruel, often pitting victims against each other and forcing them to infect newer arrivals as they turn up. Subjects are allowed a few hours of sleep at a time and a small meal- assuming that they're not being purposefully deprived of either- and are locked together in cramped cells.
|
Initiation
Throughout the first hour or so, Alder himself flits from person to person, congratulating them and making smalltalk, but he seems different somehow. Excitable. Eager. Of course, there are other ways one might get in; while the front entrance is closely monitored, the side one leading through the kitchens isn’t. In the hustle and bustle, you might slip through unnoticed.
Alder takes to the head of the room and, with his signature voice amplifying enchantment, addresses his audience. He greets everyone and gives a fairly standard speech thanking guests and welcoming initiates to the Evergreen Circle proper- and then it happens. Servants begin to wheel in cages and tanks, all containing individuals infected with the Cwyld at various stages. Some look to have been drugged, others are wide awake, but the regulars seem delighted by their presence. They whisper and titter and applaud. Some of the more docile victims are even taken out to be showed off like animals at a fayre. "Tonight, let us enjoy the fruits of our labour! Witness the progress we've made and share our blessings among yourselves! Fear will only blind you to taking the next step. Indulge, open your minds and take the first step towards your salvation!" What he means by this quickly becomes apparent. While they're not discussing or mocking the imprisoned witches and monsters, the other guests are partaking of vice the party has to offer. The drinks flow freely and there's a manic energy in the air. Those with sharp senses might recognise that some of it has been artificially crafted by enchantments. Furthermore, if you're looking for missing loved ones, you'll no doubt spot them among the "test subjects" or servants. Good luck trying to snap the latter back to reality, though: their memories have been tightly sealed and it might take some work. One of the drawing rooms has been half curtained off and a woman at the door skittishly offers the curious an aphrodisiac-laden draught, though some might have accidentally had some already. Within, guests are draped over every surface in varying states of undress, though there are partitions up to allow for more privacy. What better way is there to spread the Cwyld and strengthen bonds than intimacy?
One by one, the least aggressive Cwyld-infected subjects are dragged from their cages and any remaining individuals are brought out, all restrained. One of the bodyguards is carrying a large ceremonial dagger, which he presses to the vampire at the front’s throat. "Rest assured, their deaths with not be in vain: we have learned much and they will make for the perfect offering to the beings who gave us the Cwyld's blessing!" The knife flashes, ready to cut already decaying flesh- - a blood-curdling scream echoes through the room and glass shatters as a Shade breaks free from its prison. It ploughs into the guests, howling with rage as it tears into anyone and everyone that stands in its way, and others soon follow. At some point during the chaos, Alder appears to realise that he’s been caught. He, along with his inner circle, set to work trying to cover up their actions, setting the basement floor alight and using magic to bring down supports to block doorways completely. If you want to gather evidence, it has to be now, else you can focus your efforts on a rescue mission or chasing the cult leader himself down. |
[ ooc: More information about the event can be found on the plotting post along with comments for questions, and an IC vote concerning Alder's fate! ]
no subject
[Alice is with Karin when the pair of them is taken in early Feoveuer. After her near-miss a few nights earlier, Alice had hoped that strength in numbers would discourage further abduction attempts. Unfortunately, that was not the case--both women have been obstructing the Evergreen Circle's progress in their own ways, so the Circle took advantage of the opportunity to eliminate their interference all at once.
The two of them are split up before either of them come to. Something about Alice catches the eye of a member of the Inner Circle, Dimitri Urmanov, and he has her removed from the cage for a memory re-write and service in his home. "She looks so peaceful and beautiful, like a doll..."
As far as Alice is aware she has grown up as a servant in Mr. Umanov's home after the death of her father when she was very young. He treats her well, never abusing her or even scolding her especially harshly when something goes wrong--the only indignity she suffers is the outfits he has her wear. Alice doesn't love it, but she's not in a position to complain. She has fared much, much better than other orphans in this city.]
I. Drink Service
A. Guests (both invited and infiltrators)
[As a dedicated servant to a member of the Inner Circle, Alice is working as a waitress during the festivities. Her hair is down, falling down her back in loose curls, and she's wearing uncharacteristically suggestive attire. The low cut of the dress clearly shows the Evergreen Circle mark tattooed over her left collarbone, which may or may not make clear to others that something is amiss with her.
She moves through the room carrying a tray of beverages, stopping to offer refreshments to guests who appear to be empty-handed.]
Would you care for a glass of champagne for the occasion?
B. Captives
[Between emptying her tray and going back to the kitchens for a fresh one, Alice takes the time to sneak the experiments some water and snacks. She sticks to the ones who seem least likely to lash out and attack her--she's kind, but not stupid--and smiles warmly upon her approach. In a way, they're here as the guests of honor and should be treated as such.
When she speaks, it comes off a bit like she would speak to a beloved pet. But in her scrambled mind, she really does mean well.]
Here you are. It's important to stay hydrated amd keep your energy up, given what an important occasion tonight is.
II. Midnight (Closed to Karin)
[The stroke of midnight brings a dark shift to the proceedings, and despite her allegiance to the order Alice finds herself horrified by it. She tugs on Mr. Urmanov's arm and murmurs a question as to if this is truly necessary, which he responds to by patting her head and giving her empty platitudes. In response to an inquisitive look from another Inner Circle member, he shrugs and responds, "My Alice is too pure of a girl for her own good." The pair chuckle and continue to converse as if nothing at all is amiss.
Some unexplained bit of anger wells up in Alice then. For reasons her mind can't quite put words to, this is unacceptable. She steps slowly backward, disappearing into the crowd where Mr. Urmanov can't find her. She's not sure what she's planning to do, but she cannot stand still and allow this to proceed.
It's then when the Shade barges in, and the tension in the room snaps very suddenly. Circle members and experiments alike are running around in the chaos, and Alice nearly runs smack into an infected harpy with a broken wing.]
Oh, I'm sorry, I--
[Her words end up sticking in her throat as she looks the experiment in the face. Why does she look so familiar? Why does Alice find herself so drawn to her?]
no subject
Let me—
[It's only then that she is able to look down and get a good look at the other person's face, and despite the searing pain from her broken wing and the burning in her veins from the exposure to the Cwyld, she throws her arms around Alice without hesitation, hugging her tightly to her amid the confusion all around them. It's brief; she doesn't want to leave them exposed, but she grabs her bondmate's shoulders with either hand to hold them both steady.]
Alice, you're safe! We have to get out of here, help as many people as we can on the way—
no subject
And why she does she feel a sense of relief wash over her?]
I-I'm sorry, but I don't...
[The rest of the harpy's words snap her out of the fog of her own bewilderment. Right, this place isn't safe. And unlike Mr. Urmanov and the other Circle members, this woman--whoever she is--wants to save people. Alice's instinct tells her to go along with her.]
You're right, we need to go. We need to help.
[She can figure the rest out later.]
no subject
She nods, glad Alice is amenable to the plan, but doesn't let her hold break just yet.]
Are you hurt?
[Karin has no problem going about her intentions while wounded, but she wouldn't ask the same of anyone else. Alice looks alright, all things considered, but it's hard to say.]
If you're good to walk, there are still some cages that have been left locked, we need to break them open!
no subject
But why is she so certain of that?]
I... no, I'm all right. But you're hurt.
[The wing injury is beyond Alice's ability to heal, but she can at least lessen the pain. She closes her eyes and concentrates, pulling on the magic within her and casting a small healing spell. Warm, white light envelops the pair for a moment before fading.]
There. Let's see who else we can help.
no subject
The wing is the least of my worries.
[It's a solemn admission, rather than feeling sorry for herself, but before she can say any more, Alice offers her aid— because of course she does, it was in her nature.]
... thank you. [It does hurt a little less, at least for now, and that will help her to push through. She nods, taking hold of Alice's wrist and beginning to lead her towards the line of cages, not wanting them to get separated in the crowd.] Where have they been keeping you? When I saw you weren't with the experiments, I feared the worst, but I— I knew you were still alive, that you had to be.
[The noise of the crowd threatens to drown out some of her words, but she manages to fire off her questions as she ducks flailing arms and pushes her way through, unwilling to let Alice get taken away from her again after all of this. They need to help the others and get out.]
bombshell dropping in three... two... one...
She doesn't fight when grabbed by the wrist and dragged off, although the questions seem to make less and less sense as they move.]
"They" haven't been keeping me anywhere--I've been at Mr. Urmanov's estate, same as always. And why would I be among the experiments? I'm just a servant girl, I'm not...
["anyone important" is what she means to finish the sentence with, but the words die on her lips for some reason. Maybe because she's clearly so important to this harpy woman?
Which is a fact that begs the question:]
I-I'm sorry. I feel like I should know you, but I really don't. Who are you?
;_;
You're so much more than that, Alice.
[She thinks of what was done to Momo, and she's glad that Alice hasn't suffered far worse. She loosens her hold on Alice's wrist, only to take her hand a moment later.]
You don't remember things at the moment, but we're very good friends. It's my fault that you were captured— but you're not a servant, at least you weren't before the last few weeks.
[It's hard to tell how long they've been here, really.]
They've tampered with your memories... but once we get everyone to safety, my top priority is going to be finding a way to set that right.
tl;dr shit's bad, yo (cw: graphic magical violence, suggestion of old man being a creep)
"They were beaten, tortured and burned alive. It was terrible. Started by people who derived their authority form their religion."
Had she said that at one point? She remembers the words in her own voice, but cannot recall when or why she'd ever say such a thing.
It doesn't matter. The harpy clearly believes in her own truth, but Alice cannot. She grew up in the Circle. She knows this. Regrets and what-ifs can be addressed late.]
I'm sorry, but you have to be mistaken. Maybe this is something that got into your head with the experiments, maybe I remind you of someone. But I know my history, and I know who I am.
[The words come out with far more conviction than she actually feels.
A loud clanging noise nearby interrupts them, and Alice turns toward it to see Mr. Urmanov breaking into a cage holding an listless faun. The relief she feels is instant. There are plenty of crimes that must be answered for by others of the Inner Circle, but it seems that her master and employer is of the same mind as Alice and her newfound partner.]
We'll help Mr. Urmanov free those who are trapped, and then we can clear everything up between the three of us. And we'll help you. I promise.
[With that, Alice removes her hand and begins running to close the distance between herself and the cage. By the time she's standing next to Mr. Urmanov, he's successfully gotten the door to the cage open.]
Mr. Urmanov, I--
[Before he notices Alice's approach, he raises a hand and casts a spell. Concussive force erupts from the faun, blowing it apart and spraying him and Alice both with blood, viscera, and infected ichor.
Alice freezes, her blood running cold in her veins.
She remembers a darkened alleyway in France, covered in blood and the dismembered remains of her father, as she retreats from a well-dressed man in a top hat.
She remembers a train ride in the middle of nowhere headed to parts unknown, soldiers being horribly massacred by magical means as they stand between her and that same man.
She remembers her rescuer, a rude hero in a brown trenchcoat punching his way through throngs of demons and eventually the well-dressed man himself.]
Yuri...
[The name falls from Alice's lips as if from another mind. It catches the attention of Mr. Urmanov, who startles and turns to her. The expression in his eyes is dark in a way she doesn't recognize, a far cry from the loving and sometimes vaguely lecherous gaze he's always given her before. Alice realizes that he has no intention of helping anyone. The fact that he's now focused on her means that she's in danger.
She remembers the harpy.]
Kari--!
[The cry for help is cut short by Mr. Urmanov's hands around her throat, squeezing and heating up quickly with the beginnings of another spell. Alice struggles to break free, but his grip has a surprising amount of strength to it.]
"I wish it didn't have to come to this, my dearest girl. But you're evidence, and we can't leave any evidence behind."
rubs my hands together
You're not going to lay a hand on her!
[Her eyes flare gold, the unbroken wing rising to obscure Alice from view. She doesn't have her sword to fend him off with, but she doesn't need it. Talons will do just as well.]
If you value your eyes, stand down! I won't hesitate to tear them out— and that's just for starters.
Dimitri Urmanov (tag 1/2)
I see. You're the harpy that was brought in with her. How did the testing treat you?
[His voice is cold and even now that he's had a chance to get a hold of himself after Karin's initial grab. It's clear he doesn't really consider Karin worth anything at all. The question is to get a rise out of her, nothing more.]
Believe me, I wish there were another way to handle it. Alice has been a darling, my absolute treasure since she joined my household. I'd happily take her home tonight and keep her hidden away. But people like you exist, insistent on rescuing her, and eventually my doll will begin ask questions and speak her mind. The Circle cannot have that, especially if she speaks to the wrong people.
[He doesn't really consider Alice in human terms, either.]
I have no problem killing you alongside her, if I must.
[He raises his free arm, intent on doing the same to Karin as he had done to the faun earlier.]
Alice (tag 2/2)
'You shut down like this on the train to Fengtian,' a voice from deep within scolds her.
Words are being exchanged between Karin and Mr. Urmanov. Alice doesn't need to listen to understand them--Mr. Urmanov means to kill her, and Karin refuses to allow him. What she can't figure out is why he wants her dead in the first place. Mr. Urmanov practically raised her, kept her in his employ and out of the orphanage after her father got sick and died. Why would he turn on her like this?
'That's not true and you know it, Alice. Come on, you're better than this.'
And why is she suddenly remembering things that can't possibly be true? The violent death of her father. Demons. Monsters. Faces she doesn't recognize that instill all sorts of emotions in her. Everything contradicts the world as she knows it. It's like she doesn't know herself all of a sudden. There's a temptation to let it go rather than face what the implications of this painful dissonance are.
'You didn't let me lose myself, so like hell am I going to let it happen to you. Pull it together!'
It's Yuri. The voice belongs to Yuri. Or, rather, the part of him that burrowed deep within her soul as she fell in love with him over the course of their time together. The part of him that's always with her, even if fate won't allow them to be together.
For a moment, she sees him. He reaches out and brushes his hands through her hair reassuringly. It's most likely a hallucination brought on by the heady drugs still linger in the air, the infection blossoming in her lungs from breathing in the Cwyld for all this time, and the stress her mind and body are under. But it's enough.
Alice forces herself to return to her senses, peeking around Karin to see Mr. Urmanov lifting a hand. She's seen what this gesture means, and she refuses to allow him to do it again.]
No!
[For lack of options, Alice grabs a drink tray that's been discarded nearby and charges. Once she's in range, she whales on Mr. Urmanov with it.]
CW: violence, blood, potential for gore moving forward
How dare he.
Her fingers curl, every muscle in her body tense as she quickly tries to calculate how best to approach this. She’s fast, and strong enough without a weapon to do some serious damage, but she doesn’t know how to account for unknown magic.
It doesn’t matter. What she has available to her will have to be enough. He raises a hand, and Karin prepares to launch herself forward in retaliation before he can loose his spell—
Only for Alice to intervene and smack him with a drink tray instead, causing him to lose his balance. Good girl. Karin nods to her before diving forward, throwing herself at Alice’s captor with all her weight and immediately sending her talons towards his face and letting them sink deep. The others are poised just above his throat, and she has one knee pushed into his stomach as she keeps him pinned to the ground with the other against his chest.]
Apologize to her before I tear your throat out!
[Not “or.” Before.]
sure don't have an angry enough emote for this
Karin tackles Dimitri Urmanov to the ground with her strike, digging her talons in until he screams with pain. Some part of Alice wants to wince and shy away from the violence and agony of it all. It's the part of her, she realizes, that's been brainwashed to react that way--Alice Elliot herself has faced far, far worse than the pained screams of a man on the precipice of his comeuppance. She can't remember much of it, but she knows it to be true.
In response to Karin's threat, Dmitri turns his attention to Alice.]
"Alice, please... have her stand down... I've been so good to you..."
[As if he hadn't just murdered that faun in cold blood. As if he hadn't just tried to kill her, spoke of her like a plaything to be discarded once she's inconvenient. As if he didn't deserve the fury of a woman tortured and pushed to the edge.
He's counting on Alice's false memories to win her back to his side, appealing to the loyalty he'd implanted within her consciousness to be enough to have her pity him and want to help him. Alice is horrified to realize that it kind of works. Her stomach drops and a wave of sympathy for the man who raised her hits her square in the chest. He's always been a kind man, a good man... why would he...?
The horror of it causes something deep inside of her to snap.]
How dare you.
[Even pinned as he is, Dimitri seems to shrink back at the aggressiveness of her response.]
Do you see what suffering your Circle has brought? People lined in cages, terrified and wounded and infected and dying? Do you see Karin? Look at her and tell me you don't notice what's happened to her. [And to Jaskier. And to the faun whose name he probably doesn't even know.] You did this. And now you have the audacity to try and hide behind a woman whose memories you stole.
How dare you. The men I know back home who committed these sorts of atrocities at least had the conviction to fight and die for them.
[Tears are running down Alice's face, rage and pain and sorrow needing some sort of outlet so that they don't consume her. The hallucination of Yuri is gone, but she swears she can hear him say Atta girl, Alice.
She takes a few steadying breaths before turning to Karin. Her voice is quieter, but still shakes the the pressure of her anger.]
He won't apologize.
[It's permission to proceed with the execution. May God have mercy on her for it.]
I don’t either but I re-read this and I sure am crying, this is fine
It turns her stomach, but they both know it to be true. The man pinned beneath her is a coward, desperate to hide behind one of his own victims, and she will not let it stand.
She’s taken lives before. More than she can count, if she’s being honest, in the name of being a soldier, but it was never like this. It was often in self-defense, and perhaps this was, too, but it was more than that— this was a crime of passion, of hurt and of rage that could not be held back.
But he deserves this. She’s not so vain as to think that she can truly say who should live and who should die, that she can make a decision with such finality, but in this case... she’ll make the exception.
He deserves this.
She takes Alice’s permission for what it is and lets her talons sink in deep, tearing flesh, and his screams are quickly silenced as his attempts to call for help are drowned in his own blood before she severs his vocal cords. It only takes a matter of seconds; human life is so much more fragile than any of them ever give it credit for, but his throat is left open and raw, his blood bright against pale flesh as he goes still beneath her, the spray of it falling across her face even so.
She goes still, and her shoulders sag forward as she drops her gaze.
He absolutely deserved this.]
He can’t hurt you anymore, Alice.
[He can’t hurt anyone.]
everything is fine >_> I'm not crying, you're crying
Well... no, it isn't over. The chaos continues around them. But for Alice, it certainly feels over. Dimitri Urmanov is dead. Her world as she thought she knew it has come crashing down in the course of a night. She's covered in blood and infection, and she's filled with pain and fury. Every thought, every memory feels like a betrayal regardless of if it belongs to her or the person the Circle had wanted her to be.
Everything feels real. Everything feels false.
All this time, she's been a victim of the Evergreen Circle's cruelty just as much as the people in the cages. The difference is that she's just now realizing it.
Alice slowly slinks to the floor and lets out a keening sob, the kind of cry she hasn't made since her father died. Her actual father, who actually died horribly in front of her eyes so that she could be spared. The noise is full of grief and trauma and pain and terror, and she feels as small and useless as she did back then. This time, however, she isn't alone hiding in an unknown cellar and screaming into a bag of grain for fear of alerting her enemy to her presence.
Karin is here. Karin is protecting her, saving her, just as she promised Yuri she would. Just as she promised Alice she would.
Alice reaches out for her bonded, burying her face in her shoulder as she continues to cry.]
I am absolutely crying
She pulls Alice against her, ignoring the blood on her own face and hands, sitting back on her heels and resting her chin atop her Bonded's head, her eyes screwed shut.
This isn't over, and it won't be even after they've left this manor, but they're a step closer, and Alice is safe. She's free.]
You're safe.
[The reassurance is soft, Karin's voice hoarse from countless days of her own abuse, and her embrace tightens as she allows Alice to sob into her shoulder. She'll not shush her, or expect her to move— not until she's done, and she can take as long as she likes.]
I have you. And we're going to be fine.
no subject
For the moment, that knowledge is all Alice needs. The rest, they'll handle later. Together.]