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

[lotus_of_rage]

[He knew he was vicious in fighting so even though he was sure that he wouldn't have developed something to basically strangle someone... he wouldn't chance it. If he was wrong, he was dead and that wasn't how he wanted this to go.

Drat, the metal pole wasn't getting any closer. He was still going to have to dive for it as of this moment and he wasn't so desperate to get that pole away that he would do something so obvious]

I was going to say. Let's not say... concerned so much. Just that people who really do something like this as "just business" really need something to do their lives. Most people get something out of it in one way or another.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo just shrugs rather broadly at that, unashamed and more amused than anything at the remark. Unfortunately, his work back home means he was already used to letting opinions roll off his back, so the result laying brainwashing on top of it is that he's even harder to incite than usual, especially since this has considerably narrowed the scope of people he cares about and might get angry over.]

Some people's life is their work, as they say. You might get a little bit of the experience of it, giving up the rest of your life for our work. It depends how long you last, though I guess you must be able to take a beating if you're this hamfistedly trying to piss off the other staff.

[Under normal circumstances, Momo isn't as open with his hand on being able to see right through most people, but in this case when it's someone he figures is going to die anyway by the end of all this experimentation, he cares somewhat less.]

[lotus_of_rage]

Living for my work? Hmph. [He couldn't help but smirk] I intend to, even with all of this. I didn't survive everything else in my life to die in a basement in front of a brainwashed fool.

[Or maybe he has a death wish?]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo pouts in an intentional, exaggerated way for a moment at that, a shadow of his normal personality that's spoiled a bit by the vague air of sadistic amusement that still remains in his whole bearing. For whatever reason, possibly because he doesn't think it's being used outright literally, the "brainwashed" comment doesn't seem to gain any purchase or even particular notice at all.]

Aww, if you're going to call me names, can't you at least come up with something original? You've got an awfully limited vocabulary for someone who likes calling other people stupid so much.

[As he says that, his expression slowly creeps back to the unpleasant smile he's been wearing for most of the conversation. It seems Momo doesn't have any interest in beating him up - but then, if someone's trying to get themselves beaten up, then the prospect of doing something else nasty to them tends to become more appealing than giving them what they want.]

[lotus_of_rage]

[Boy, he really wasn't in there if there wasn't even any acknowledgment to the fact that Jiang Cheng had said he was brainwashed. It just completely went unnoticed... or unacknowledged]

Why dress it up when saying it the simple way gets the point across? You are a fool to not realize how wrong you actually are.

[He would have claimed that this wasn't Momo. He felt that he knew him well enough to claim that, but Momo himself quite clearly seemed to believe that it was. But he was wrong and Jiang Cheng was willing to bet money if he survived that he would realize it later if this was undone]

[yesdoubt]

Well, it's not like you've got anything better to do with your time right now than dress it up. [Momo just shrugs, bringing the bar back up to rest across his shoulders with that sharp smile remaining intact. But as much as exchanging barbs might be mildly amusing, he did come here for a reason, and he dangles the bag of food in a way reminiscent of someone offering something to a dog. Though, at the moment, it's still out of arm's reach.]

Anyway, that aside, are you going to be a good boy and eat today? Or are we going to have to do this the hard way?

[He doesn't specify what the hard way is, but Momo is a Witch who's been here for a while, so he might well have more than one potential "hard way" to make someone eat.]

[lotus_of_rage]

So I should take the opportunity to practice new ways to insult people? Well, since I have your permission, I'll be sure to have something more elaborate for when you come through again.

[Jiang Cheng eyed the bag suspiciously. He was fairly certain the contents of that bag either going to be rotted or infected or both]

I'm not hungry. A strong cultivator does not need to eat as much as someone who isn't one.

[Never mind that his cultivator abilities didn't work here. He would still use that as an excuse]

[yesdoubt]

That's the spirit. [Momo says it in an almost sickly sort of voice, a mockery of the situation they're in. As if he should be throwing himself into the experience of being kidnapped with everything he's got.

And as for the second remark...Momo's brows arch in an almost disappointed sort of amusement, as if he wishes he'd tried harder.]

Please. Everyone knows Mirrorbound lose their abilities coming through the mirrors. [Do they? Well, he knows, so it must be common knowledge.] If you want to be free to starve to death, then you'll have to make yourself useful first. I can always organise some experiments for you instead of a nice food break, if you're that eager to do something else.

[lotus_of_rage]

[It really was a mockery, but he would certainly come up with more ways to insult him. Apparently being called a fool wasn't good enough for him... in more ways than one]

Ever met a cultivator before when we come through the mirror? Well, aside from me and my family? [He scoffed as though amused by the fact that he didn't know any others. Which was really only because none of them had arrived here... but po-tay-to, po-tah-toh]

Well, now, it depends. Is what is that bag more interesting than the experiments?

[Neither sounded amusing, but let's draw this out a little longer at least]

[yesdoubt]

Whatever you are before coming through the mirror doesn't concern me. It's not like it's stopped you from being put in the position of bug under someone's heel, is it?

[Whatever pride he might have in his position back home, Momo doesn't really care for considering his lack of power in the moment. He's no more at an advantage than anyone else here, fancy title or not, and he's more than happy to prove it to him if it comes to that.]

You tell me. I guess it depends on how much you like pain, unless you're wanting me to end up force-feeding you what's in the bag. In that case, they're both going to be painful.

[It's said in the tone of someone entirely prepared to do that if it comes down to it. Maybe the experimenting would almost be preferable.]

[lotus_of_rage]

Funny. I could say the same to you.

[As long as he was still willing to sass them, he didn't see himself as the level of a bug. A bug wouldn't fight back. He was still doing something, even if it was rather ineffective at the moment.

He didn't really want to spread whatever this was more and he certainly didn't want to be force fed]

Fine. Give me the bag.

[yesdoubt]

Ah, less and less effort with your insults...I can't believe we've reached "I know you are, but what am I".

[There's an almost theatrical faux drama to Momo's amusement there, a bit more reflective of his normal personality, if more subdued and obviously malicious in comparison.

Since Momo is on fairly strict orders to not bring any Cwyld home until there's more consistent results, rather than pass the bag over, he takes a moment to survey the distance and then throws it at just about exactly the right height to either be caught or hit Jiang Cheng's middle and just fall on the floor.]

Good choice. For now. [Depends on if he actually follows through with eating it.]

[lotus_of_rage]

Well, you haven't given me time to consider new ones. I'll have something better the next time you come around.

[Still. It was true and he would stand by it even if it wasn't the most exciting insult.

As Momo threw the bag into the cell, Jiang Cheng did reach out to grab it, not exactly wanting to wear whatever it was]

[yesdoubt]

I'll look forward to it, then.

[There's something of a dry amusement to the way he says that, as if this is nothing more than a mild exchange of barbs as opposed to an exchange between captive and torturer. The bag, when it's picked up, appears to be full of some kind of unidentifiable minced meat mixture - there's nothing overtly wrong with it, but that might be because everything that's in it has been minced well beyond recognition.]

Well, get to eating. Otherwise I'll have to be a little more persuasive.

[lotus_of_rage]

[...Lovely. Not something that Jiang Cheng would eat or even has much of an appetite for, even with as little as he's eaten recently. Funny how that was]

I'll eat in my own time.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo raises his brows at that, as if amused that Jiang Cheng thinks he has a choice in the matter.]

I didn't spend all this time getting you to take it so you could palm it off for later. Unless you want me to have to shove it down your throat.

[Apparently Momo doesn't intend to walk away until his job is actually done, in part because he suspects if he didn't keep an eye on the cage in doing so, he'd end up with the food bag lobbed at him.]

[lotus_of_rage]

[Jiang Cheng gave him a skeptical look at the other man]

You really have so little to do that you are going to stand there and watch someone eat?

[yesdoubt]

Considering you've been refusing food for a while? Yes, I'm going to do my job and make sure you eat it instead of turning your nose up like a spoilt child.

[Momo rests the metal bar under his hands like a cane, as if to put a finer point on the fact that he's not letting Jiang Cheng just toss it out as soon as his back is turned or something along those lines.]

[lotus_of_rage]

[Well, there really did seem to be only two options: eat it himself or have Momo force him to eat it. As much as he didn't want either of those options, he didn't have the luxury of the option to throw the bag at him as he walked away... which he really would like right now.

So the lesser of the two evils in his head was eating it under his own power. So he would do just that, even though he didn't look further at what he was eating - easier that way - choosing instead to stare at Momo.

There. Happy now?]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo watches the proceedings mildly enough, though there is a certain level of self-satisfaction on his face by the end, considering how much trouble others seemed to be having trying to get him to eat.]

That wasn't so hard, was it? And now you can be useful for a little longer.

[His tone very much implies that regardless of Jiang Cheng's pride, he wouldn't expect him to have held up to experimentation particularly well while starving himself.]

[lotus_of_rage]

Glad to be of help to you. [This was clearly said sarcastically. There was really not much else that he could do at this point in time. He eyed that stick again. Maybe he'd be able to try for it next time when he - hopefully - he had a bit more strength... provided he hadn't just poisoned himself with cwyld]

[yesdoubt]

For however long that lasts. [With an enigmatic sort of smile and an almost mocking wave of the stick - deliberately out of reach, because it's been hard to miss Jiang Cheng's eying it off every so often - Momo takes his leave, moving on to the other cages to continue his rounds.]