[Open] The Mark of the Herald

[thewatchers]

Mark of the Herald Part I
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Despite certain disruptive events and ominous visions in the preceding month, August is seemingly still free of any problems.

That’s quick to change, however. Starting from the third of the month, strange, circular marks begin to appear on human students around the school - and, indeed, humans around the world. Those affected begin to feel incurably drowsy, something that no magical or mundane solution can seem to cure or relieve; eventually, they’ll fall asleep entirely, whether they want to or not, and enter a state of magical stasis. Not even nonhumans are immune, though whether they’re marked seems to be much more erratic.

Those who remain awake or are otherwise spared by the mark are free to do as they wish - the Academy won’t ask them to do more than keep themselves safe. But where each marked person falls in slumber, a portal will form; a strange tear in reality, offering glimpses of a surreal, nightmarish plane that differs vastly from individual to individual. One thing is certain; the cause of a victim’s seemingly endless sleep and these portals are linked somehow, and the only way to find out exactly how is to go through...and the only ones capable of doing so are those who are still awake.

This log can be used as a catch-all for event-related threads. The information for this event is here.

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[emergensirations]

[The right seems to wind and twist. Valvatorez will pass an older man in a fine vaguely victorian suit, a straight back turned to the mirror as he flips through some old tome, muttering.

He'll pass another man, far more modern, wearing a business suit. This man has none of the composure of the form, tugging along his case, hurrying between the panes and looking every which way, as though in fear. Every now and again the man stops, kneels, rocks, puts his hands through his hair, and then continues again.

There's an older teenage girl, hair dyed at the tips, her expression twisted between sneer and snarl. She speaks.]

Oh, another demon. And looking so lost. How cute.

[Just as she says this, there's a noise like claws scraping from somewhere behind.]

[arcadianvampire]

[Valvatorez is quickly aware of the sound of talons scratching away at something behind him, be it the ground or the walls, or... something else. His sword still in his hand, he looked unfazed.]

If this is an attempt to intimidate me, you'll have to try much harder.

[His own face remains mostly stoic, but focused. He's ready to protect himself at a moment's notice, but doesn't lean into offense just yet.]

Who might you be, then?

[emergensirations]

[The girl fixes a look right back, as if bored. Her arms fold and her eyes roll back.]

Does it matter? You're not finding what you're looking for here.

[She glances off to the side, mouth pressing. Then she heaves a sigh.]

Maddy.

[She looks back, still sullen.]

What do you want here?

[arcadianvampire]

[Well, talking. This was good, and ideally better than throwing down in a fight rather unprovoked. The vampire eased his stance somewhat, though he didn't drop his guard.]

Maddy, then. My name is Valvatorez.

[He figured, if nothing else, an introduction might keep matters... civil enough.]

It seems there are many more people here than I expected. I am seeking Sira, or whomever controls this... dimension. I believe they, and perhaps others here, might be in danger.

[emergensirations]

[The girl lets out a surprises yet still haughty laugh.]

Ya think?

[Her words drip with sarcasm. But she does reign it in.]

Sira is everywhere. Didn't you know? But specifically, they're probably where they always are.

[She examines her nails, then gestures out.]

Look for the mirror that isn't a mirror. And try not to get killed on your way there. If you do...

....When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall and down will go baby into its jaws...

[arcadianvampire]

It'll take more than a growling, clawed thing to kill me.

[How very cryptic. But at the same time, 'cryptic' is the only real way to describe this entire place. A mirror that isn't a mirror. Interesting.]

A mirror that isn't a mirror. A reflection that is not a reflection. Hm. Very well. I will see to finding this. Thank you.

Will you be safe here?

[emergensirations]

[She hums and smiles, as though vaguely amused by that answer, and even the gratitude. She doesn't suggest that he's welcome. It's too weird.

Once again, she finds herself barking a laugh.]

Oh, that's so funny. Safe? You're a demon. Don't you know better? Safe doesn't exist.

[But with that, she reaches into a pocket. She pulls out a bit of metal, quickly revealing it to be a switchblade.]

Besides... I'm not the one you should be worrying about. No one here really matters. Not anymore.

[In that instance, there's a scream from far back. It's strangled and cut off quick. Her gaze goes to it then trails back to Valvatorez, seemingly unphased.]

Better get going. You don't want to see what will happen if that thing catches up to the pretty girl in your reflection. She won't be pretty very long.

[The only thing betraying her is the tension with which she holds herself and the slight shake in her fist.]

[arcadianvampire]

[The daemon's eyes narrowed a little, listening back to the scream. ...A familiar din. Part of him wondered if it would make more sense to take the monster head on. ...But the realm of dreams was rarely as straightforward as "use sword on enemy" to fix the core problem.]

I'm a daemon, yes. And as such, I do not play by any rules I do not agree with. I forge my own way, and I will not be denied.

[Dark strength welled up deep within. A powerful, overwhelming magic, harnessed with purpose, with drive.]

And as I have seen... I believe everyone here matters, or they would not be. ...Nor would fear hold any sway on you in the first place.

[He sees the tension, the subtle shake of one's hand. He was once to be the King of Fear. Reading it... was a specialty. But yet, his words did not pass any sort of judgement. Rather, an odd appreciation that she had it, and how human that was.]

I will preserve whoever I can by putting an end to this nightmare. Stay strong, and endure.

[There wasn't time to waste. Too many reflections in here, and he couldn't exactly remove a mirror from causality with him. With that, his cape burst open and flapped backward like a pair of wings, rocketing him forward through the halls, moving with an alacrity and purpose decidedly inhuman. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for paths, oddities, or anything that might resemble the cryptic riddle Maddy left him with. He had to move fast, before others were consumed.]

[emergensirations]

[Maddy notes that aura of power. She straightens her back and lifts her chin as if instinctively trying to show she won't be cowed. But it's not her that Valvatorez is seeking to intimidate.

Her mouth twitches, bitterly amused, knowing, as he talks of what matters and preservation. She opens her mouth to speak. He's already gone.

The world blurs around Valvatorez. The speed at which he moves puts him far from the growls, but in exchange, he sees more and more face flying by. A running child wearing embroidered winter furs, a girl and boy whispering to each other with no other similarity between them, a sad-eyed woman and another in victorian wear whose mouth is pinched in a scowl. More face are between in fashions from all over in the past hundred years or so. There's one figure, a man's, tall and skinny, whose form seems to flicker in and out. He's almost familiar, but his form is too indistinct to parse and soon he's gone too.

Then are the mirrors splattered in red. Some have spider cracks going through them. It's as though something inside them is trying to get free.

Down one long stretch of hall is a figure he saw before, a reflection of "himself", soft smile and pink hair, her blue eyes fixed. She waits there at the end.]