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

[twilightskey]

No, no, no, NO!

[The feral appearance, wide yellow eyes, and bloody claws... they're enough to set Roxas off, the panic and worry he was already feeling roiling through his mind. This... this wasn't Sora. This was another illusion, another trick the cultists were trying to do. Sora would never look like this... this was just another monster. It had to be!]

[He bares his teeth and lashes out with his claws, a growl in his throat. But like his night when he went feral, his snarling bark is higher-pitched with a whine of fear.]

[oathkeeper]

Ahh-!?

[Sora has to jump back when Roxas swipes at him. He hops back and sags a bit although his nerves flare quickly and he tenses. This time he can't just sit on Roxas and bite at his ears or something... What should he do?]

Roxas, it's me! Get a hold of yourself!

[He feels worried and concerned... Reaching out softly with their fresh bond.]

[twilightskey]

[Roxas growls at Sora, but that wave he feels through their freshly-formed Bond -- worry and concern on a wave of sea salt and ocean breeze -- makes him pause, wide eyes staring at Sora.]

S... Sora..?

[His own emotions are a bit of a mess; fear, mistrust, desperation, and buried underneath it all a desire to believe. A desire to live. He grits his teeth, a couple tears forming in his eyes.]

H-How... how do I know..?

[How do I know you're real?]

[oathkeeper]

[He wishes he could reach out and hug Roxas. His heart hurts seeing his bondmate like this. This broken hurt Roxas that didn't deserve this kind of hurt.

... He's so angry...]

Roxas... It's me...

[He's angry but he manages to feel himself sag against the bars. His yellow eyes flickering with worry.]

We've been through a lot together. Don't you remember? We even came to this world together too.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas has been through some hurt, been made to experience awful things. But the feeling of magic between their Bond... the cultists wouldn't know that, would they? They could never replicate that... And it's that small sliver of hope that allows Roxas to briefly close his eyes, listening carefully as a few more tears fall.]

I... I do. We arrived... at the same time.

[He remembers that day. How they both saw each other, the sharp words Roxas had for his other, the relief at finding him... He remembers all that.]

[His ears are still low, but when he opens his eyes and looks at Sora, there's a clarity in his gaze.]

Sora... you came for me...

[oathkeeper]

[Their time together in this world has a lot of memories! Sora remembers the brotherly bickering of their first days, Roxas being so worried... That familiar brotherly worry flickers over their bond too. It's not something that fake cultist magic would ever be able to replicate.

He is still against the bars and he wants to reach out to Roxas.]

Yeah, of course, I did. I couldn't leave you here. We gotta go home. And I'm not leaving without you either...

[twilightskey]

[Roxas grips onto that touch of magic, genuine and real. The cultists could never replace that. And that is what grounds Roxas, despite his anxious nerves and addled mind.]

Home...

[Roxas grips the bars tight and he closes his eyes, body trembling as tears streak down his face.]

I.. I want to go home. Sora, I want to go home...

[oathkeeper]

We're going home right now.

[Sora is gentle and quick to pull Roxas into a hug even with the bars still separating them. He holds on tight and tries to pass over his reassurance through the bond.]

Okay- You just... You just gotta back up a bit, okay? I'm gonna try to get this cage open.

[He loosens his hold on Roxas. Back up into a safe spot because Sora is going to rabbit wreck the heck out of this cage.]

[twilightskey]

[There are bars in the way, but Roxas hugs Sora tightly through them. And those reassurances pushing through their bond help to soothe him, calm his anxious mind and help him to pull away and nod.]

Okay...

[Despite being ready for Sora's actions, he still flinches and scrambles backwards as Sora goes feral on the cage. The door bends and creaks, before bursting open with a bang!]

[oathkeeper]

[His claws are like a can opener on the cage! The noise is loud but without a way to get in through the lock, this is Sora's only choice. At least his heightened anger and worry made his body tense and, in turn, good for this-- Angry bunny is a strong bunny...]

There! Roxas, come on! Hold on to me!

[They've got to go fast because he can hear the chaos getting worse around them. Who knows what other dangers could come their way. These cultists are unpredictable.]

[twilightskey]

[Once Sora has busted through the cage and beckons to Roxas, the turnskin scrambles forward, clinging to Sora with an iron grip as he does. There's chaos all around, but he can focus on Sora as they get away. At least with his Bondmate, he knows there's hope of escape. There's hope of getting out.]

[oathkeeper]

[He's not going to leave without Roxas either. He's going to take him away from this place and never look back. He hugs Roxas tightly as well, his bond with the other boy finally feeling like it's going to stabilize now that they're near each other and touching. He helps the blond to his feet and then looks for the safest direction out...

It's going to take them time to leave this place but when they do get out Sora is sure to take Roxas to the healers nearby first. The people working to break the captured people out are all here to help each other.

At some point, Sora will have to settle things for Vanitas too but one bondmate at a time...]