The Watchers of Night (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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daybreakacademy2020-05-20 05:47 pm
thewatchers) wrote in daybreakacademy2020-05-20 05:47 pm
Entry tags:
Into the Depths
INTO THE DEPTHS
Log Comm | Network Comm | OOC Comm | Navigation
Something was riding, an omen of great things to come. Focusing on this lead, the Academy sent a team to follow the Dullahan on it's ride.
A. Descent
The Dullahan was persistent, and the more observant that followed would realize that the Fae was intentionally leading them through the thin veil into the Outlands. The surroundings get gradually less and less normal, less familiar until they’re fully into a place that doesn’t feel touched by humanity at all. The air has a strange, salty tinge that can be tasted on the tongue as strangely bare, bleach-white trees reach up into the sky, reedy tendril-like grass crunches under the feet, with bizarre flat and fan-like protrusions rising up and jabbing into the air. Be warned, however; careless contact with any of these features draws blood, they’re all rough-textured and sharp.
Here and there, more and more as the dullahan proceeds, bodies are scattered across the ground and the trees. None are human; in many cases, some aren’t even approaching humans. But they are all dead, without doubt, their pieces torn and scattered across what must have been homes once and are now broken craters, like wounds in the world.
B. Ambush
The unnatural horse suddenly halts, all four hooves planted in the muddy ground, snorting heavily. The headless rider does not try to force his steed on- instead, he readies his weapon.
“Thy mulish persistence begins to become tiresome.”
Utultar’s presence warps the world around him, like a cloak. His eye gleams red, and the sky itself seems to darken. The Dullahan’s horse screams a challenge and charges.
“Begone from my sight, insects.”
His assault is sudden and terrifying; a series of blasts that seem to tear apart the world, hungry and malevolent. The force of their deployment alone, not to mention the impact, is enough to throw people around like dolls, scattering them far and wide.
C. Aftermath
The light was blinding, and it felt as though you were lucky to be alive after it - let alone being able to stand. The strange bleach-white forest seems to stretch on forever, somehow looking dark and gloomy despite their stark color and the lack of foliage. On the pearl-white mud rose small trickles of a blue-black inky liquid that seem to roll rivets into a trail. Perhaps it will guide you to the others who have been separated - it’s better to find someone quick, as it’s unlikely that the Herald is the only threat in this place.
At points, the strange fluid suddenly stops, forming a small puddle before solidifying, lightening in color and warping, leaving a mask behind, and a soft whisper swims in the briny air, the opening to every story known, a promise of power and safety. Without the mask, the strange air makes it hard to breathe, and even harder to think; eventually, the pull will be too strong to resist.
Wearing a mask makes things seem brighter and more colorful; the physical world wavers, to be replaced by strange patterns and symbols and the sense that you’re inside a dream, or a storybook - a place both real and unreal. Following them will lead you to your fellow travelers, whose masks and minds have created colorful storyscapes in which you can easily slip into.
D. Water?
Eventually, as you walk through your own stories and each other’s, you’ll come to the edge of a vast, blue sea. Something as large as an island, imprisoned by three massive chains biting into the ground, wallows uncomfortably, making pained calls that echo across that vast space. Even from a distance, it’s clear to see: it bleeds the same deep, dark blue as the ‘water’ that surrounds it.
It wants to be free, that much is clear. And for those who look closely at the scraps and ruins that litter this vast shore, they may find clear hints to this being’s true nature, and the benefits to freeing it:
-A great deal of Utultar’s power to make and maintain a large library of contracts comes from bleeding this creature and bathing in - and drinking - a regular, fresh supply of its blood. Freeing it will weaken him significantly, setting back his progress to usher in Nightfall.
-The creature is a primordial fae called Nammu-Ninsiku, and was the first to Contract a being on Earth. It has the ability to change or nullify one condition of any contract and will grant one such ‘wish’ to the ones who have a direct hand in freeing it by putting on the masks. This wish can be transferred to a willing recipient if both parties are amenable and the original bearer doesn’t want the responsibility. This wish may have an additional price, depending on the magnitude of the wish; the fae will inform the wisher if this is the case. It will never be anything fatal or too high to pay, but it may well be significant.
-The dead Outlands beings scattered among the coral forest were attempting to free Nammu-Ninsiku, and paid for it with their lives. The dullahan was just one of many of these beings and has been looking for an appropriate way to dispense revenge since the initial slaughter.
Of course, you might just want to free it for being a creature in pain. It’s up to you.)
((OOC Post is over Here for questions or planning))
Chains are first come, first served! If you want to volunteer your character for a mask, reply to the relevant toplevel in whatever way suits your character best and treat it as a starter you can jump off of.
no subject
[The man holds the severed head of a green dragon by the horns high above the crowds, who in turn cheer in appreciation and victory. Lowering the head, the king continues:] Let us toast in honor of our brave dragonslayer, who saved our kingdom!
[A toast is given, and the feast commences. The dragonslayer, known only by the helmet concealing her face, is unable to enjoy the feast held in her honor until she finds her younger sister. She hurries about, searching high and low for her. Eventually, she begins approaching people and asking,]
Have you seen my sister? She has long, blue hair.
[Nobody says anything helpful in response. When she approaches you, the spectator of her tale, you may feel a strong compulsion to reply with, "I saw her enter the Enchanted Forest." But it is up to you to give into the urge, or fight it.]
no subject
He only moves when he's spoken to, when the dragonslayer comes close; he sees no reason not to continue the tale, and give her the answer she seeks. ]
The one you seek entered the enchanted forest. But since I am a magician, and I know about such things, I would ask that I be allowed to come with you. [ Even through his faceless, red mask, his gaze can be felt. ] Not everything can be slain by steel alone, you see.
no subject
Do as you wish. I cannot guarantee your safety, as I am only interested in killing dragons. Anything else is not worth my time.
[With a slight nod of the head indicating that she is to be followed, the Dragonslayer leaves the bustling castle for the edge of the Forest...]
no subject
The Enchanted Forest, of course.
[Of course. It seems so cliché. But haven't they all been?
And maybe there's another player on the stage to be found.]
Would you like someone to accompany you?
no subject
It seems you are confident in your reply, Sir Raven. [Many talking creatures make their homes in the Enchanted Forest, so this corvid may certainly know more than any human here.] I will not stop you if you wish to follow. Time is of the essence, as you likely know well the dangers of the Forest.
[The red eyes piercing through the tiny gap in her helmet seem to burn brightly before the Dragonslayer turns around and heads out of the castle towards the edge of the Forest.]
The Enchanted Forest | still OTA | CW: blood
At the entrance to the Forest stands a young blue-scaled dragon. Upon seeing it, the Dragonslayer immediately rushes into battle against the creature. Nothing can hold her back from her duty. Her first attack is one meant to end the monster: a skilled sword strike straight to the throat. She carves a gash into its shoulder that curves into its throat, causing a fine red mist of blood to disseminate into the air and cover the Dragonslayer's armor. The dragon has been slain and the threat neutralized, and so the Dragonslayer finishes slicing its head off as another trophy to add to the collection.
It is at this moment that the Dragonslayer dips her gauntlet-clad hands into the pool of blood welling up in the carcass's open wound where the dragon's head once was, and begins smearing gobs of the red liquid over her armor and helmet. She lets it sink in until the metal takes on a ruddy sheen, and she laughs in delight.]
Now I am untouchable! [She turns to her companions, the observers.] It is told that bathing in dragon's blood gives one invincibility against conventional weaponry. This victory will be proudly displayed on my armor for all time.
[The dragon's corpse is simply left laying where it fell as the Dragonslayer prepares to enter the Forest, still in search of her sister. While she continues to feel giddy over her great deed, any companions will immediately feel a sense of unease at the events that had just transpired. The sister had blue hair, and that dragon had blue scales... Further investigation of the dead dragon may reveal more.]
no subject
This is a story. Everything is placed here for a reason. He inspects the corpse with a keen eye, looking for any discrepancy to sate his uneasiness. ]
no subject
[Perched in a nearby tree, the Raven stares down at the dragon's corpse, his eyes narrowed, the gears of his mind turning and turning away.
Weren't we supposed to be searching for your sister?
[Something's not right. And judging from the way the man in red examines the corpse, he isn't the only one who has his doubts.
His stomachs sinks heavy as a stone, but he doesn't dare voice his suspicions. Not yet.]
She... didn't happen to say anything to you before she disappeared, did she?
no subject
[The Dragonslayer notices the man in red looking over the corpse, and the Raven watching from above. In response to the bird's questioning, she tersely responds,]
She went into the Enchanted Forest, did she not? I will enter to look for her once I prepare myself.
[She stops wiping her sword clean in order to think upon the Raven's next question.] I do not remember her saying much to me today. She smiled and gave a congratulations, then told me she was going to give me a surprise during the feast. [She turns her head to look into the darkened woods. As the sun has nearly set for the evening, they're very foreboding and nearly pitch black.] But what could she be looking for within the Enchanted Forest? [The only thing that comes to mind is the tale of a magical spring within the heart of the woods that produces the purest water in the land, but why...?]
[Fireflies begin emerging into the twilit sky. Among their numerous yellow glows, one particular blue glow begins to hover near the dragon carcass. If there is a way to catch or speak to a loose spirit, that may lead to some answers...]
no subject
Does something trouble you, restless spirit?
no subject
Her blood... for mine...
[Saying just that little bit causes the spirit to fade dangerously close to disappearing completely. It seems that it needs strength somehow in order to continue talking.]
[The Dragonslayer, on the other hand, isn't even aware of the spirit's presence, let alone that it mentioned her blood.]
no subject
He takes a knife from under his cloak, cutting into his own arm. Something almost like blood flows out; the dead have no blood to speak of, but there's something there regardless, an ethereal life force. It collects in a haze, trickling down his hand.
He offers his arm, raising it to the spirit's level. ]
I can offer naught but this. Will it be enough to sate your desires?
no subject
[The Dragonslayer has noticed that something is happening between the man and something flickering. She comes over and sees that he has a fresh wound on his arm.] Why are you bleeding, Sir? This will not do. Now you cannot join my search in the Forest for fear of catching an infection.
[While the woman fumes, the spirit says weakly,] Blood for blood...
[It flies up towards the Dragonslayer, grabbing her attention away from her scowling, and causing her to ask:] Is that creature speaking? Are you able to interpret, Sir? What does it want from us?
no subject
[The raven frowns down at them.]
It's looking for blood in return for blood spilled. I don't know why the man's wasn't enough, but...
[It's a little disconcerting, to tell the truth.]
cw: self-mutilation, blood
If the man is bleeding and the orb still wants more, then she should offer her own blood as well. The only problem is that she is now impervious to weaponry due to the dragon blood. No, wait. There is one spot that did not get covered by the blood, as it should always be protected by her helmet.
The Dragonslayer sheathes the sword that had been in her hand and draws a dagger to replace it. Lifting her helmet ever so slightly in order to expose the creamy whiteness of her neck, she cuts a slender but long gash across the exposed skin. She did not mean to cut as deeply as she did, and it stings in the open air. It will certainly leave a scar, but that is a small price to pay in order to receive this spirit's blessing. Perhaps it will even lead her to her missing sister.
She offers the blood dripping off of the blade to the spirit. It lands on the tip and glows brightly, finally having been repaid blood for blood. The Dragonslayer watches it grow stronger, and wincing, she asks,] Spirit, have you seen a woman with blue hair enter the Enchanted Forest?
[It replies in a soft tinkle, but the Dragonslayer cannot hear it over the pounding of her pulse in her neck. How must she staunch the bleeding?]
no subject
[ The man in red reaches out, the spark of magic on his fingers as he seals the injury, keeping it from bleeding further.
It does, of course, leave a scar. It's the story, after all. ]
no subject
[It was likely the sudden blood loss and use of magic on her wound, but her mind drifts off towards the possibility that she's being infected by the mysterious flowers in the Forest, the ones that cause their victims to fall into a deep enchanted sleep. Rumors even go so far to say that they can transform bodies into other forms... Scaly, monstrous forms...
She tries to fight it, but she cannot. The Dragonslayer lies down on the grassy earth below her and closes her eyes. She will just have to trust the others with watching for threats.]
[The blue spirit, on the other hand, must have realized that it cannot speak with the Dragonslayer, so it attempts to speak with the others present. In a chime-like whisper, it says,] I came to the Enchanted Forest to obtain some of the purifying water on her behalf. I wanted to scrub her wounds and wash her clean from her bloodlust and anger. But it seems that I fell asleep and woke up in a dragon's body.
[It pauses, and floats down and hovers over the Dragonslayer as she rests. The Dragonslayer herself cannot hear this conversation, but the orb continues:] This may be for the better, because it is doubtful she would have ever felt true peace. Her destiny is to fight, and if I could give my blood to protect her, then that is my destiny as well. It is the most tangible way I could express my love to her, my dear sister. [It floats a moment more.] Sirs, please promise me that you will relay these words to her when she wakes.
no subject
Are you certain this is what you want to be told? Her grief at your loss may change her deeply.
no subject
It must be told. I know my sister, and she will search without end until she finds me. If I can spare her this pointless endeavor and give her the facts now, she can move on and focus her efforts elsewhere. As much as I wish it were not so, this is all destiny. [The blue glow begins to grow faint.] My time is nearly complete. I must return to the stars. I thank them that they led you here to us. Farewell, Sir. May you also live up to your destiny.
[As the orb dissipates, the Dragonslayer begins to stir. She remains groggily dizzy, and takes her time lifting her heavy helmeted head off of the ground.] Please forgive me. A wave of sleepiness caught me off-guard and the only way to overcome it was to momentarily give in. [It's getting very dark now, to the point where the fireflies themselves are ending their flights for the night. Only drunkards and fools are outside the castle town's walls at this hour.] I still need to find my sister...