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

[sonnestark]

[She swallows hard as he lifts her chin upwards, meeting his gaze with her own and curling her fingers into tight fists at her sides to keep herself stalwart.]

Not particularly. And what difference would it make? They're not torturing us for information.

[Though there has certainly been torture, given the screams— her own, and those of others. The experiments were hardly gentle. She knows he's threatening her, but some misplaced courage still manages to swell up within her, and she refuses to flinch or look away.]

They're not planning on letting us out of here, and the experiments will happen no matter what. What do threats earn you?

[yesdoubt]

[Unfortunately, the brainwashing hasn't lessened Momo's abilities to read even more subtle body language, and the reactions seem to amuse him even more. At least he can credit her with not looking away, though that's another one of those things that only tends to last so long when push comes to shove.]

A reaction, apparently. But surely you know there's people who've escaped, or been let back out less their memories. There's a difference between the experiments that you'll recover from eventually and the ones where you'll probably end up as one of the Shades we're pitting new captives against. Wouldn't that be a way to end your existence?

[He asks that directly to her face, given the refusal to look away, and the fact that his pole is still under her chin. In this state, something about him seems positively enthralled at the prospect of seeing someone wanting to protect others end up as a creature who'd only attack them mindlessly until they too were beyond help or until being put down.]

[sonnestark]

[There's a perverse sort of interest in his gaze, the intensity of it making him utterly unrecognizable to her, but she still refuses to bend, even with the cold point of that pole pressed against delicate skin.]

You might have had better luck with someone who actually had a future.

[As far as getting a reaction, anyways, though it would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid at all. There is fear, of course, regarding what could be done to her, but... it was still better her than someone else.]

I don't have long to live, anyway.

[She'd never told him that before— the real him, that is— nor was it something she spoke of often, but it has weighed on her every single day since she's learned of it.

She'd made her peace with dying young months ago.]

[yesdoubt]

[He's not sure why that makes his skin crawl momentarily - why should he be concerned for the life of anyone down here, when he knows most of them are probably going to die anyway? He shakes it off without an external reaction, putting it aside as more of a response to the sudden turning of the topic.]

Is that so? I suppose that means we should do our best to make your last bit of life memorable, then. Wouldn't want you to go out with a whimper. [In other words, he's fairly certain there's ways he can make even the life of someone heading towards imminent death far more unpleasant than it otherwise would be.]

You don't look ill to me, though, so I wonder what it is that's eating you.

[sonnestark]

Do your worst. I won't give you the satisfaction you're looking for.

[No matter how bad it gets, she'll swallow down every scream until she physically can't any longer. It's dangerous to make such bold, sweeping statements, she knows— she's practically begging him to do whatever he pleases, but maybe if she eggs him on closely enough, the real Momo within will wake up and protest.

Maybe. It's a vain hope, most likely.

As for the rest:]

Not everyone facing a terminal sentence is sick. [Though the Cwyld is certainly involved, now.] People talk about knowing their future being some kind of incredible gift, but it's not.

[It's a curse, knowing exactly what's ahead of you. It takes away so much from the time that's left until then.]

[yesdoubt]

That depends on what you think I need from you to be satisfied.

[There's a half-shrug and a grin that bares his pointed teeth, enigmatic in the worst of ways. He doesn't necessarily need a reaction to be satisfied - he's been enjoying seeing people picked apart and trying to hang onto those promises their mouths have written enough on its own.

But he lets that topic pass through their fingers for the moment, a morbid sort of curiosity in his expression at her situation.]

My my. Did someone have an appointment with a divination specialist that they weren't prepared for? Or is this something that happened wherever it was you came from?

[Some part of him notes that she's probably had time to reconcile with it, given the way she said it, but his knowledge of Mirrorbound is...spotty at the moment. He seems to know more than he should in some respects, but there's odd holes in that in others, as if bits and pieces have been grabbed out. He assumes it's just forgetfulness from a lack of having dealt with them much before now.]