[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.

Comments

[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.]

[trademark_skull]

[Sees the shadow. Running might be a good plan right about now.]

[He's hoping the tunnel will lead him right to Sira. But then again, that might be a bad thing if that thing also followed through? Going to hope that doesn't happen.]

[emergensirations]

[The tunnel winds and twists. It sounds like something's getting close. It sounds like something's breaking apart in the hall behind Emizel, crashes and shattering glass.

There's a fork in the path ahead. One to the left and one to the right. From the right is another sound while the left holds more darkness.]

[trademark_skull]

[No turning back. Fantastic. He flies then since it's probably a bit faster than just running it.]

[Sound meant there was something up ahead, but unless he could recognize what it could be there was a chance things could always get worse. ...Left was looking slightly more ideal. Darkness was usually not something that bothered or interfered with a daemon, unless it was Advanced Darkness.]

[emergensirations]

[The sound is that of voices. Young and feminine voices, hushed and whispering but still managing to echo off the walls.

But, with the turn away to the left, the voices fade out.

Going far enough, Emizel may pass a boy standing close to a girl in a pink sari. The pair watches intently as Emizel passes.

If he should go further, there will be more figures.]

[trademark_skull]

[If the other presence had stopped chasing him, he will make a stop here, out of breath.] That was close...

...? [He looks up at the other two kids curiously. Hello...?]

[emergensirations]

[The two kids stare back, both with different hardened stares and stiff postures.

The boy is the first to speak.]

You've run far.

[trademark_skull]

I was being chased!

...Um. [Looks around for anything that might tell where he was now.] Maybe I did go a little too far...

[Can such a thing even happen?]

[emergensirations]

[The boy bears the ghost of a smirk. The little demon has definitely gone far. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell in these caverns of mirrors. Much of it looks the same.]

Did it follow you?

[trademark_skull]

It's not here, so I don't think so.

[More importantly--]

Is Sira nearby?

[emergensirations]

Good. I can actually help you, in that case.

[The boy, despite wearing grungy old clothing and being no older than the demon, speaks with an authoritative voice.]

You passed them. But there's another way. You need to take this corner up ahead then follow it up. My friend can help you to a point. After that, you'll need to speak to your shadow. Give it one true fear and it will take you the rest of the way. Don't stray. Is that clear?

[trademark_skull]

Great.

[That should be...easy to remember. Hopefully.]

[--Wait.]

I have to show it a fear?

[emergensirations]

That is what I said. If you cannot trust your own reflection, how can you expect it to lead you anywhere? You don't need to illustrate it. Only speak it.

Can you do that?

[trademark_skull]

[...Fun.] I guess it can't be that bad.

[Does he really have that much of a choice?]

Where do I have to go?

[emergensirations]

[The boy looks over to the girl and she nods. Her eyes close and she whistles. The sound is soft and echoing, as though coming from far away. Mirrors flash with light and continue down the path around the corner and up.]

It won't last forever. Go on and follow that.

[Once Emizel does, he'll be met with a reflection. It might be a version of he longs to be or one he doesn't want to see. It might just be himself. But it's waiting, looking expectant. Speak your fears, daemon.]