[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 man lifts a brow.]

And you take it upon yourself to go through every door that appears open to you?

[Two can play at the smartass game. He doesn't expect an answer, for he moves along.]

Do you have a purpose?

[trademark_skull]

Not...always.

[There had been a reason. If these portals are linked to waking people up, then it was important to walk in them right?]

[As for why Emizel is doing this...good question.]

[He made a quiet but slightly annoyed noise, while glancing deeper into the cave.] ...Where does this tunnel lead?

[emergensirations]

[The man continues with his flat mildly judgemental stare. He's fully noticed that the important question went unanswered.]

Where does it lead? Why, to Wonderland of course.

[The sarcasm is drier than a dustbowl.]

It leads where you will it. You might find yourself turned about or treading ahead. There is no exact end, however. Not if you simply follow the path as it's been lain out for you.

[trademark_skull]

[...Right.]

[He glances back and thinks back to the noise he heard earlier.]

Does anyone else live here? I think I am supposed to find someone in particular.

["Someone" that could very possibly be where the noise came from. Being a little more optimistic than that for the moment.]

[emergensirations]

I don't truly believe anyone lives here. Live is a very particular word, boy. You might wish to mind that.

[The man straightens and tugs at his lapels, resetting them in place.]

Have you no further specifics at all?

[trademark_skull]

Well I doubt saying that I'm looking for a plush doll is going to help much either.

[But this guy does bring up a good point. How is he going to know when he finds what he's looking for? Emizel pauses again, hand on chin as he looks up and thinks to self.]

...Come to think of it, I have never really seen what they actually look like without it.

[emergensirations]

Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

[It is the faintest possible note of approval, but it is some manner of approval.]

It really has been some time. I'm almost certain they'll be looking far different now than what I remember...

[That old man strokes his chin.]

Though, thinking about it, I would be surprised if they chose to look like themself at all if you weren't someone they had already shown themself to. That's the trick then. You'll want to find what appears to be a pair of twins. One of them will be the right one.

[trademark_skull]

...Have they looked like other things too? [Somehow, this question should have been obvious, yes. Perhaps more specifically, what other forms has this guy seen?]

[Although, it's fine. Emizel had another thought, while staring down at the tunnel again. ..."Leads to where you will it", huh?]

So I could force this to take me right to them.

[Seems way easier than blindly wandering around.]

[emergensirations]

It means that this path leads to others and you may choose differently than what you've been advised. If you hold them in mind as someone you truly seek, indeed, you could find your steps taking you there. But certainly, you could also go smashing through the place.

[The man waves a hand dismissively.]

As for what they look like... [The man sighs.] They are a collective. They look like who they've taken to themself. Which, naturally, changes. Though, here, I do wonder if they wouldn't favor the one they seek most too...

[trademark_skull]

[Nah, brute forcing seems like it might lead to other potential problems. Besides, he should save that energy for later. ...Just in case.]

..."Seek most?"

[emergensirations]

[At this, the man looks tired. Not in the way of being annoyed, but a deeper weariness.]

Have you never lost someone boy? Have you missed or chased after no one?

[trademark_skull]

...Not exactly.

But it is someone in particular they are looking for?

[emergensirations]

Yes... and no.

[The man does not say it to be cryptic. This time.]

That person is dead. They will never be found, except here, and thus have likely been found already

[trademark_skull]

...Death does prevent that kind of thing. [That's how the rules work, unfortunately.]

While visiting a memory is fine, they can't stay here forever.

[emergensirations]

Indeed.

[The older man has no argument there. He says it with a nod.]

They are better. Usually. We have never stopped, not once. This... situation has put us in quite a position. I have my concern they would simply miss the passing time.

[trademark_skull]

[Quite. Chasing and living in something that's not quite real is never really a good thing. Even excluding the situation now, which only makes things even more urgent.] ...

I don't know if I'm gonna get them to listen, but I can try something.

[They came this far already, after all.]

[emergensirations]

[The man nods.]

An attempt at all is still progress. I hope you manage.

[A growl, once distant, grows closer.]

Though, I would advise haste as you move ahead.

[trademark_skull]

[Yeah it was bound to come back sooner or later.] --What is that thing anyway?

[emergensirations]

A shadow of the past and the future.

[And it seems the man is back to being cryptic.]

Have you any family, little daemon?

[trademark_skull]

[Why does it sound like he should be even more worried.]

My father is one of the greatest daemons there is.

[At least he's just humble enough to say 'one of'. Or perhaps he's not quite that stupid. No other siblings though. Does not even remember own mother that well either.]

[emergensirations]

[He gives the daemon an unimpressed look, a single brow raised. That is not only the response of a daemon, but of a child. My dad can beat up your dad! However, it seems a moot point to bring attention to it.]

And what, pray tell, makes a daemon great, boy?

[He gives a moment for Emizel to answer.]

[trademark_skull]

[Well Emizel certainly is both of those things. But as for an answer...]

...Daemons need to have enough strength to carry themselves.

[It was, maybe not a very profound answer. Didn't really need to be.]

But how they get it can come from many different ways.

[Some ways were also much more frowned upon than others.]

[emergensirations]

Self-sufficiency. An interesting answer. I would think that to make many daemons "great".

[Not entirely what he'd expected but still apt.]

And thus, any child of said great daemons cannot yet be great themselves. And why should they be? What use has a great daemon for a great child? I cannot, of course, answer for you, but I can answer for them.

[The man leans in.]

Power.

You asked what that creature is. That is the full answer. Sira may choose to become that creature or they will be consumed by it. They will either take that power or that power will take theirs. It is a give and take, like any contract, and Sira's contract for living, for being born, is that one day they will face that "great" daemon.

Now, you best run. It would be more than happy to consume you as well.

[trademark_skull]

[--Wait what daemon eats their own child? ...Perhaps Emizel wasn't the poorest excuse for a son after all, if he somehow managed to avoid that.]

[But uh...yeah now he really wants to get away from it. That growl from earlier already sounded close enough. Aims for the tunnel.]

[Actually, one second.]

--If Sira becomes that, won't they just eat everyone instead?

[Same instinct, same cycle. Repeated.]

[emergensirations]

[The man straightens and fixes the tie at his throat, no longer looking.]

I am a figment of the past, not the future. You will have to ask another or else see for yourself.

[Along the hall, a great shadow of a chimera rises.]