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]

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.]