Player Plot: The Salvation of Geardagas, Part II

[faileas]

Event Log: February, The Salvation of Geardagas: Part II



CW: This plot has a general content warning for kidnapping, torture, experimentation, violence, drug use (incl. aphro), infection/disease and potential death. This is entirely opt-in.

Spirited Away, Part 2 i. Hypothesis One moment, you were free. The next, you wake up in a cold, dark room with eyes on you and the cloying smell of decay all around you. 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. ii. Alternative Theory Some characters, however, escape this particular cruelty in favour of something else just as dehumanising. If a member of the inner circle has taken a liking to someone, they'll take them out of the pool of tests subjects and move them into their households. Servitude is ensured by a strong enchantment that scrambles memories and replaces them with the false knowledge that they've been working there all along. These brainwashed servants might also be forced to participate in the torture and testing of the others.

Initiation The night of the initiation party is here. If you've managed to ingratiate yourself with the cult- or at least a member of rank- you'll have already received an elegant envelope with an invitation and all the details. Or maybe you stole one or put together a convincing forgery. Alder's estate is handsome, with a small courtyard lit up with strings of lights and servants at the double doors to greet guests. Inside is just as grand. The hall and ballroom are impressive spaces with vaulted ceilings painted with elaborate star maps and broken up with marble columns that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. Drinks tables are lined up against the walls and there are several smaller drawing rooms off to the side, all of which are full of guests. 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. i. Cavorting and Cruelty It isn't long before things take a turn. 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? ii. Midnight Show Things reach a fever pitch around midnight. Once more, Alder calls for everyone's attention. "There's one more thing. I know all of you are loyal, true believers- but everyone must be tested," he says, gesturing to several larger bodyguards, "and we have to protect ourselves. There are those who don't understand us and seek to undo our work. Therefore, we need to tie up loose ends." 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! ]

Comments

[al_bhed]

[That's all the encouragement Rikku needs.

She notices the approaching cultists and moves quickly, approaching one and swinging a leg low to knock him off his feet. He loosens his grip on his knife as he falls backward onto the floor, which allows Rikku to snatch it and stab it unceremoniously into his shoulder. Unsurprisingly, he screams.]

Don't expect me to feel bad for you now.

[Focusing on the one is enough for her to score first blood and gain a weapon, but it has its downsides. Namely, the other cultists having an opening on her.]

[oathkeeper]

[Whoa- Rikku is surprisingly savage.

Sora doesn't have time to comment, though. He's doing almost the exact same thing as one of the cultists comes at her with a morning star. Sora dodges to the right and leaps up into the air with remarkable speed and comes down on the man's shoulders with a rip of his claws. Blood splatters and the man falls.]

Did you hear that? [Sora's voice is growly.] There's cages somewhere. We gotta get through these guys, quick-!

[al_bhed]

[You don't survive as a guardian if you aren't willing to go full force. Especially given the trouble that Yunie got them all into.

That said, Sora's own behavior does give her the slightest of pauses. He really is furious about all of this in a way she's never seen him be before. She makes a mental note to debrief with him after all of this is over and they can breathe easier.]

Right!

[Rikku spins and slashes at another approaching cultist, mimicking how she moves when armed with a claw, and draws a deep gash into his side. He crumbles.]

Let's move!

[oathkeeper]

[Usually Sora is such a sweet and happy boy. But right now there is worry heavy in his heart and his eyes. It probably shows the wear on his face. When there are people that he cares about that are being hurt he tends to go full throttle as well. Even if it costs him. It's kind of bad--

Right now he's really not thinking of anything aside from finding their friends. But if a cultist gets too close to Rikku too he'll rip into them without remorse. His monster side might be giving into his rage a bit here...

Another splatter of blood and they make their way towards the cages that are being kept at the back.]

There! Do you see them?!

[al_bhed]

[Rikku is the absolute last person to criticize Sora for caring so much that he's going too far. She's done so herself, more than once.

As they approach, Rikku starts looking more closely at the figures inside the cage to see if there's a face among them she recognizes. It's awful. These poor people and monsters have clearly been tortured and mistreated, some hardly even responsive despite the chaos.]

Not yet. But they have to be among the people here somewhere.

[An approaching cultist dives for her while she's distracted, grabbing her from behind. She whips around to try and throw him off.]

[oathkeeper]

[It's absolutely heartbreaking. Sora has his own trauma of being kidnapped some time ago but there is something so much more broken about all of this. Seeing the others in the cages looking so torn and hurt. Sora's heart aches.]

Rikku!

[When she's attacked Sora is as quick as one would expect a rabbit boy to be. He snaps into the air and grabs at the man's face with his claws and with an inhuman growl rips him from the girl. Yeah, no touching his friend!]

[al_bhed]

[Rikku sure doesn't envy that guy right now. That looks like it had to have hurt.]

Thanks, Sora!

[The cultist tries to get up despite having his face ripped up, so Rikku kicks him in the head for good measure. Insult to injury, but also the last thing she wants is for him to jump Sora or anyone else.

He goes down again and, wisely, stays there.]

Should we just start going from cage to cage?

[oathkeeper]

Yeah, I think so.

[Sora's nose wrinkles. He looks like he has a bit of a headache.]

I can't even tell where my bondmates are. It's like there's something blocking everything out.

[Usually he can tell what they're feeling or going through. Everything is blank right now and that worries Sora more than ever. So he flicks some blood off his hands and starts for the cages.]

Let's start with these ones!

[al_bhed]

[Rikku can't exactly blame him for the headache--she has a bit of one herself. They've been pumping who-knows-what into the air all night, and it's clearly having an effect on them. Not to mention everything else that's going on right now.]

Okay!

[She follows Sora to the cages, stopping at the first one to see who's inside of it. It's not someone she recognizes, and after she nudges the figure with her foot through the bars she realizes the person isn't even alive. Poor thing.

Rikku swallows the miserable feeling in her stomach and sticks to the mission for now.]

Not in this one. How about yours?

[oathkeeper]

[It's about the same for Sora's cage too. Bodies in the cages. It makes a rock of dread in his stomach.]

Not here either... This can't be real...

[He's not giving up, though. Sora sniffs the air.]

Let's keep checking. And break out who we can too.

[Sora goes to another cage where the monster is still alive. And he starts to jangle the lock before he starts to crack at it with his claws.]

[al_bhed]

[As Sora is moving from cage to cage, so is Rikku. The next one she reaches is empty--whoever occupied it broke out or was broken out--but the one after that has an infected young woman curled up in the corner.]

Hey there, give me a sec to get this open for you.

[The woman nods blankly as Rikku gets to picking the lock. As she works, she calls over to Sora.]

Not ours, but a survivor here!

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lifts his head and then rushes over to Rikku's side. The woman looks so blank in the face. It's so disheartening.]

Good job, Rikku. Come on, Let's try to get her somewhere safer than this...

[He moves to go gently help her up. He'll carry her too if needed. It's just in his heart to try and help as many people as they can too. Just wait for them, bondmates and friends...]

[al_bhed]

[The woman flinches a bit at the assistance, but she allows Sora to help her up and out of the cage. She looks at the two of them in turn, eyes welling with tears.]

"Thank you both. Good luck."

[And she runs off, presumably to put as much space between her and this place as possible. Rikku watches her go, a bittersweet feeling overtaking her. At least they were able to save her, whoever she is. Hopefully she'll be all right.]

Onto the next?

[oathkeeper]

[He watches the woman run off to safety and he hopes that she's the one with the luck. It's still dangerous out there but Rikku and Sora have to keep going.

He does stop for a second, looking at Rikku.]

Yeah- but... Are you doing okay?

[He still feels like he needs to watch out for her too. They're in this together. And they've done so much without a breather yet.]

[al_bhed]

[Rikku blinks in surprise at the question.]

Me? I'm... not okay with all of this, but okay enough to keep going. We still have people to save, you know?

How about you? Are you holding up all right?

[oathkeeper]

[Maybe they do need just a little breather.]

I'm not okay either... I still have to find Vanitas.

[His expression looks tired and worried.]

But, we're here and safe when we're together. We can do this and we're gonna make sure everyone's safe. Hold on tight, okay?

[al_bhed]

I will if you will.

[Despite everything, she gives him a smile to try and reassure him.]

We're in this together, you know? We'll find Vanitas and Leanne and everyone. I promise.

[oathkeeper]

Yeah, that's right. We're gonna do this.

[With that they set off again. Breaking into the crowds and doing what they can to help the caged people and escape with their bondmates.

At some point, they do have to separate in order to cover more ground. But he knows he'll still watch for Rikku where he can. And hopefully, they both get out safely.]