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

[weatherscience]

[ with how much she tends to avoid fighting and leave it to others, it is not many in aefenglom who know just how capable she actually is... but she's one of the straw hats. and the straw hats are at their best when fighting for those they love.

his reprimand simply makes her smile — it's so very much like him... and it shows that he cares, which is far sweeter than anything else. ]

Don't worry, it'll take more than that for some sickness to get to me!

[ but she does step back, only to examine him carefully. her expression turns more worried. ]

How badly hurt are you? Can you walk well? We need to get you out of here and to a hospital. [ the more time they spend here, the worse his condition will get... and the more chance there is of the cultists turning on them. to get away in the chaos is their best bet. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[He certainly knew that she was capable even before this. This was just icing on the cake really]

Good.

[He would certainly hope that it would take more. As his arms were currently still restrained it was hard to see at the moment, there was an obvious trail of darkened veins on one arm as it tried to infect him more]

I can walk, but I might need help long distances. [He hadn't eaten anything for a bit after all] I can cover my face and don't touch my other arm.

[She should be fine that way if she were close to him. Or at least it wouldn't be bad and it could be handled quickly]

[weatherscience]

[ all the precautions just make her frown... but she knows he's right. she may have purposefully risked infection just then — but any more than that is not advisable. she wants to get him to an infirmary and get treatment for the cwyld, not become a hindrance to that.

quickly, nami nods. ]

Right. That's how we'll do it, then. I could enchant us so that we seem invisible... but I think that'd be more dangerous than useful. People would try to run through us. [ she grips her clima-tact, turning to where she knows the closest exit to be. ]

If you can stay close to me while we get out of here... I'll defeat whoever tries to stop us! And once we're outside, I'll help you to the hospital. But before that — can I break the restraints without touching your arm?

[lotus_of_rage]

[He nodded his head in agreement] Yes, invisibility may not be the best right this moment.

[As much as he would like to smack a few of them upside the head right now, it wasn't the best time]

I'll stay close. [His clothes were damaged, but he was willing to damage them more to cover his nose and mouth to limit her chances of getting it just while they were heading over] You should be able to cut it if you have a knife.

[He'd been trying to figure that out when she and others and burst in]

[weatherscience]

Of course! What kind of an infiltration would this be if I didn't have one?

[ while she usually relies on either her clima-tact or, here, her magic... sometimes sharp weapons are essential. it's a pocket knife that she has, and she's quick to dig it from her pocket. careful not to touch his arms, she cuts through the rope. ]

There! Now you can at least move easier —

[ only, while she'd been doing that, one of the shades decided to target them, and as she straightens again it's to the sight of it coming at them. ]

Oh no you don't! Gust sword!

[ a blast of air knocks the shade back and nami exhales. ]

Right, let's go.

[lotus_of_rage]

I was hoping, but sometimes people forget the necessities until it's too late.

[He glanced slightly back over his shoulder as she cut through the rope binding his hand, deliberately pulling the rope taut by keeping his arms as far apart as they would go. Easier to avoid touching the cwyld on his arm that way.

It also helped that when the rope was cut, his bad arm moved away from her so that she didn't get touched.

He was rather quickly in the process of tearing a strip or two from his robes so that he could cover his hands and his nose and mouth so that way he limited the chance of infecting her when he heard the sound of the shade coming at them. He looked up in time to see her knock it away. He nodded his head. He'd work on the cloth once they were outside. Too dangerous here.

[weatherscience]

[ luckily, she's not one of those people — something left over from the many years when it was just her, taking care of herself. she never forgets anything essential that might be the difference between living and dying.

she checks that he's following her, and then she starts moving towards where she knows the exit is. the cultists who try to stop them end up either electrocuted, or quite simply knocked down by her; when someone gets close, she's quick to kick them away, parrying blows with the clima-tact, directing the fight away from jiang cheng.

she may be breathing rather heavily when they get to the exit... but at least they've made it. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[As much as he would love to join her in the fight - and under normal circumstances, he would have - but he was still weak from avoiding the food that they had provided to him, afraid that it might have been laced with more cwyld in an attempt to make him sicker. So he had no choice, but to let her take the lead.

He followed after her, avoiding the gaze of the cultists who were trying to attack them, but also not losing track of where they were so that he could fight them if he had no other choice. Good thing that it wasn't needed]

Thank you.

[He said as she tore a strip from his robes and used it to wrap around his hand to keep the cwyld hidden and, hopefully, less likely to spread.

[weatherscience]

[ it's okay, surely they will eventually run into trouble in the future where he'll get to fight, too!

once they're outside, and the worst of his infection is covered up, she sighs, shoulders slumping slightly out of sheer exhaustion. ]

Whew. Now... we just have to make it to the hospital, to get you treated.

[ she pauses as she waits to see if he can walk, or if he needs support now that she's able to give it. and asks, ]

But A-Cheng, how did you get caught? I wouldn't think even a couple of cultists would be much of a match for you.

[lotus_of_rage]

[He would certainly be willing to fight these cultists. There were even a few of them who were on his hit list and he wouldn't mind having the chance to smack around]

Yes, that is probably where we should of first.

[Considering he doesn't want to die from this]

I don't even know. I just woke up and I had been captured. I'm not sure how they managed it.

[weatherscience]

[ she certainly doesn't want him to die either! so they're of a mind, in this. ]

They might have drugged you... but I wonder why they targeted you. [ she looks up as they walk, wondering. ] Do you know anyone who might have wanted to to be captured? That's the only thing I can think of... that someone tipped them off.

[ why else would they have got him like that? when he hadn't had any contact with any cultists... or perhaps they simply struck at random. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[He didn't even have to think for a long time about it. Two names almost immediately come out]

Jin Guangyao is one of them. But he seemed surprised I was there. And Momo was brainwashed by them. Either of them could have said my name.

[weatherscience]

Momo-chan??

[ her eyes widen and her tone takes on surprised horror; oh no, poor momo... she must check on him after this. hopefully someone has broken his mind control, or whatever the brainwashing is. ]

Oh no, I had no idea. When he comes to his senses, he must be devastated.

[ but the other name... she taps her cheek, wondering, ]

Jin Guangyao...? Why does that sound familiar? [ and then, gasping, ] Oh! He's the one who needed shelter from the cold! [ frowning, she looks at jiang cheng. ] Why would he have told them your name? He seemed very polite... he even played with Tangerine.

[lotus_of_rage]

[In his mind, he knew it wasn't really Momo, but it was hard to not be bitter about it. Perhaps, in time, he will regain himself, but right now he's rather pissed at Momo...]

He probably will be. All the things that he was doing.

[And he's always pissed at Jin Guangyao]

Because he is from my world and we do not get along. He would prefer that I not go around telling everyone what he did. The only reason I wouldn't tell everyone is that I'd be there all day if I were to list everything.

[weatherscience]

Wait...

[ there's anger like she's never before heard from him in his voice, tight and controlled, but very real. he truly must hate jin guangyao. and she thinks back to when she saw his memories, thinks back to the culprit was caught and dealt with, thinks back to never actually receiving the name of the man who'd done all the horrible things that had resulted in yanli-chan and jin zixuan's deaths.

it isn't too hard to suspect. ]

Is he — did he... everything that happened back in your world, is he the one behind it?

[lotus_of_rage]

[Well, it wasn't hard to fool her. Which was good. That meant she was smart and Jiang Cheng liked being around people who knew how to think]

Yes, he is.

[weatherscience]

[ she falls silent, worrying her lower lip; the man had seemed so... nice. but that, she supposes, must be a part of the problem.

in any case, ]

You can tell me more about that later... if you want. For now, it's best we don't talk about it more. If you get angry, your blood pressure goes up, and we don't know what that'll do to the infection.

[ would it spread more? she doesn't know, but she doesn't want to take the risk. some poisons work like that, after all. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[He scoffed, but honestly, that was probably for the best that he didn't get angry about Jin Guangyao here. Especially since it was out in the open. If he overheard, he might be more likely to do something in retaliation and he didn't have the strength to fight back against that right now]

Fine. We should get to the hospital to get this treated.

[weatherscience]

Mm. Your health comes first.

[ his health, his safety; she doesn't really care about much else, at the moment. luckily, they'd covered a good distance already, and the hospital isn't far. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

Hmm... Thank you.

[After a moment, he asked]

You weren't hurt, were you?

[weatherscience]

[ sighing, she looks at him; of course, he'd take the time to worry about her too, when he's in danger of actually dying... ]

No — well, not aside from a few cuts and bruises. It's nothing I can't handle!

[lotus_of_rage]

[He's been in danger of actually dying before, it's nothing new... just not here and not from this]

Good. I don't want you to get hurt on my account.

[weatherscience]

I know, [ she responds softly, mostly because she feels the exact same about him; she's used to people having to defend her, she's used to her crew getting hurt in battles... but him being hurt is terrible enough without it being her fault.

at least this time, it isn't... but it doesn't really make her feel any better about it. ]

[lotus_of_rage]

[No it wasn't her fault and he would have protested bitterly if she had attempted to claim that it was. So it was good that she hadn't said that]

It is not far?

[Everything was catching up to him and he was finding himself feeling rather tired, but he didn't want to lean on her, for risk of giving it to her]

[weatherscience]

Not far at all, [ she answers softly, pointing to where a building can be seen over the trees. ]

It's right over there. Just lean on me until we get there. [ she moves so that she's next to his uninjured arm; a risk? yes, perhaps, but less so. and it's a risk she's willing to take. ]