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

[exsoldier]

[ A friend? Zack blinks a few times and studies the man's face. For a moment the fog that's in his brain makes it difficult to process, because he's pretty sure he's never met this person. But on the other hand, how well can he trust his memory?

Ultimately, he gathers the stranger's meaning, which is that he's here to actually help rather than just gawk and admire them in equal measure. At the question, Zack finds the strength to push himself up into a proper sitting position, coughing as he readjusts before finally getting a hold of his own tongue again. ]

Are you a Mirrorbound?

[ Some of the light returns to his eyes as he looks around. This area isn't too busy right now, so they have at least a short period of time to speak freely. ]

There's got to be others here too, right? People looking for their Bonded? How did you get inside?

[claritatis]

I'm accustomed to making myself appear to belong in places I shouldn't be.

[Specifically higher-class places, but that was neither here nor there when it was all he had needed to be able to use. He balances with his forearms braced lightly against his knees, and he mirrors Zack's quick check of their surroundings.

They're relatively safe, for now.]

But you're correct, I am, and there are others. I'm trying to gather information. We're going to get all of you out. [It's a risk, talking to the ones in the cages. He's seen the brainwashed individuals milling about, serving drinks with vapid smiles and blank expressions, and how would he know if the same wasn't true of those captured? He's had to trust his instincts, hoping they can still be relied upon in such an unfamiliar situation.]

Try to concentrate. Is there anything you can tell me?

[exsoldier]

[ That isn't much of an answer. This guy really just got in by acting like he belonged here? Could it really be that simple? Zack knows the details don't matter too much, except for the part where this could be a trick. Or some sort of hallucination.

He doesn't think that's the case, though. He takes a moment to clench his fist, digging his nails into the palm of his hand to ground himself, and nothing around him shifts or changes. All right, pretty sure this is real. ]

We're not normally up here... uhh, wherever here is.

[ Zack shakes his head, but that's a bad idea, causing a dizzy sensation that has his stomach churning. He sucks in a breath and holds it, to calm himself. ]

If you can't get us out now, they're gonna take us down below. There's a whole bunch of cells down there. That's where... they're doing the experiments...

[ He cuts off then. It's been a while since he's spoken this much, and his lungs are still infested with Cwyld. He coughs again, drawing his arm up to shield it as best he can. ]

[claritatis]

[It most assuredly isn't simple, but it certainly sounds it when he says it so casually. Ignis has had a lot of practice at bluffing.

Something he's noticed in talking to the caged people here is they all react in similar ways when he speaks to them. Nothing to give too much thought to now, but perhaps later when he fully intends to look more into exactly how the Cwyld affects people. Not expecting many people will want to talk about it then, he makes a point of making private observations now.]

Experiments. [Ignis echoes with a small frown. As if it wasn't enough that they were forcibly infecting people.]

That's enough. I can see this is difficult.

[exsoldier]

[ The coughing isn't something he can stop, and Zack just has to let it take its course. Eventually it does let up, and he can draw in a shaky breath, though his chest is burning from the infection. If it's worked its way that deep into his system, is he past the point of no return? He hasn't been afflicted with the urge to spread the infection yet, and so that must be some kind of good sign.

Maybe. He hopes.

This being difficult is sort of an understatement, but Zack isn't going to launch into a laundry list of what his time here has been like. No, he's always been the type to downplay that kind of thing. Instead he cranes his neck up, doing his best to meet the stranger's eyes. ]

Do you have a plan?

[ Zack knows that it would be risky for this guy to try and spring him free now, but knowing that he's got something in mind would set some of his worries at ease. ]

[claritatis]

[Hm. A plan.]

Not as much of one as I'd normally like to have.

[Ignis was always the prepared one. Always the one who had to scope out the weaknesses of the enemy, or the place, and come up with the best strategy to infiltrate it. Here, that hadn't been an option. Though many of them were here, he doesn't think that many had come together to agree on any kind of plan.

But let it never be said that Ignis doesn't know how to improvise.]

Someone mentioned that there is something planned later for. Something I believe we can use to our advantage.

[If they're fast enough.]

[exsoldier]

[ They've exchanged only a few words so far, and in very strange circumstances, but Zack doesn't find it hard to believe that this guy is the type who likes to be prepared, to come into a situation with a whole plan already set up in his mind. It's something about the way he dresses, how he does his hair. No thread or strand out of place.

Something planned later? A possible opening? Some light seems to return to Zack's golden eyes as he struggles to push himself up into a sitting position. He leans his back up against the side of the cage to support him, but this makes it easier to talk. ]

You mind elaborating? Not sure how much I can do from this end, but if there's anything... I wanna help.

[ Zack lifts a hand to his mouth, coughing into his palm a few times, but he finally seems to dislodge whatever was irritating his lungs. He drops his hand and offers the stranger the weariest of smiles. ]

[claritatis]

[It's true that being here has made it a little more difficult to keep himself as put together as he'd want to be, but he's still very much the kind of person who would prefer to go into a situation with a plan. The fact he's here without one is discomforting, but not entirely unusual.

'Get in there and kill them all' is a plan too, after all.

Ignis gives a slight smile in return, keeping the warning someone else had given him clear in his mind - don't trust anyone or anything here. With that in mind, he's wary of divulging too much of any plan he has in mind, but since the man asked...]

There will come a point in the night where we're able to break you free. If you're able to fight then, you're welcome to. But... [He's infected. It could be dangerous.]

I'd suggest getting yourself out of here as quickly as possible.

[exsoldier]

[ No, that's not a whole lot of detail. Zack's gone into dangerous situations with even less of a plan, though, and this is a situation where the dangerous part has already happened. He isn't going to give this guy too hard of a time for being tight-lipped, especially when people could be listening in. The walls could have ears, for all they know.

Still, it's some kind of promise that there will be a chance to get out of here tonight, and Zack is going to seize on that if at all possible. Whether he'll be able to fight or not is harder to say. Probably only if it's an actual necessity. ]

No arguments here.

[ He knows his limits, and they've been overtaxed and then some. This Cwyld stuff is no joke. ]

All right, I'll be ready. And... what's your name? [ It feels important to know. He manages to lightly brush his thumb over his own chest. ] I'm Zack.

[claritatis]

Ignis.

[Almost like a reflection of Zack's gesture, he touches a hand to his chest in turn and manages the faintest of smiles. Can't look to be treated those in the cages too kindly, at least not openly, but he's managed to gather more information than he expected to from the ones he's managed to speak to.

The fact that it is consistent lends weight to it, and to the idea that the Cwyld-infected Mirrorbound aren't lying. At least, they aren't lying knowingly.]

My name is Ignis Scientia. When this is over, I hope we can have a more pleasant coversation.

[He locks gazes with Zack for a moment, hoping that the determination to free them all from here shows well enough, then he stands up and straightens his jacket.]

When the time comes, you'll know. Watch out for it.

[exsoldier]

[ Ignis Scientia. An interesting name, but one that Zack will make sure to remember. With the state of his life right now, it feels like he needs to grasp onto any lifeline he can, even if it's something as simple as the name of a stranger who may or may not be right about there being a light at the end of the tunnel.

There's something about that smile, faint as it is, and the straight line of Ignis' shoulders. Zack finds himself believing him, whether or not that's a good thing.

Some hope, no matter how small, is better than none. Isn't it? ]

I'll hold you to that.

[ To both things. A nicer conversation, and the chance to even have one — once these horrible few weeks become a distant memory. ]