EVENT #7: THE SIGHT

[abraxasmods]

Event #7 - The Sight

go to the OOC event info and plotting post

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The night before APRIL 18, your dreams are disrupted by a vivid image of the same eclipse that occurred last month. The black sun seems to be an endless void in the sky, growing ever darker - until it suddenly opens into an eye that stares straight at you.

When you wake up, much of your night seems a blur except for the vivid dream of that eye. Whether you find it unsettling or try to ignore it, the image is something you cannot get out of your mind. If you ask, you will discover that none of the locals of your faction saw another eclipse. Speak with your fellow Summoned, however, and you may learn that while there was no eclipse that formed over the world, you were not the only one who had this dream.

Of course, dreams don't need to mean anything. You can't feel or see any immediate effects, and nearly everyone around you is going about their day as usual. Maybe you should do the same.

The Awakening

It might happen that very morning or a day or two later. You could be discussing the dream with a fellow Summoned or perhaps you simply brush shoulders with them as you walk by. Whatever it is, as soon as you make brief physical contact, one of you is struck with a sharp pain in your temple that grows into a terrible headache. It's disorienting and painful as the world around you shifts to someplace you may or may not recognize. Like an old film reel, you watch the events of the past play out before you: the past of the other Summmoned. It might be something they would rather hide, a moment of failure or despair, or something they are immensely proud of and brings them great joy - or even a jumble of several images over the course of a person's life. But you see it as if it were real and right in front of you all the same. When you come to, you'll likely find yourself on the ground or bent over, possibly with one or more people around you to see if you're okay. It'll take you a bit to gather your bearings, and the subsequent pounding in your head could last from minutes to hours.

Or, maybe you aren't the one who receives the vision. Instead, as you watch, another Summoned might grasp their head and crumble in front of you. They may go silent or groan in pain. They'll be impossible to shake out of their stupor until it's over. If you ask what happened, they may be inclined to tell you the truth - that you, you were what happened to them.

Or, if your Arcana signs happen to line up in a specific way, you'll see each other in the shared memory itself. You may also find that for certain Summoned, you can help soothe the effects, calm their emotions, or help draw them out of the memory before it consumes them for too long. It's not entirely clear what determines which effect, but one thing is for certain - within each memory, every Summoned as they appear in the past seems to wear the mark of their Arcana somewhere on their person.

For some, they might experience this only once. For others, they might experience it multiple times: with the same person, with several other Summoned, or with a different memory each time. Over the next 7 days, you'll find the Summoned around you are all receiving a glimpse into each other's past, as if the Singularity has awoken an eye within each of you.

Flee for the safety of the Horizon if you want, but you'll find that in there, it's much the same. In fact, inside the Horizon, the other Summoned don't even need to be anywhere near you - just existing in the Horizon space itself together will be enough to possibly set off a headache-inducing vision.

The Factions

What has occurred between the Summoned will not go unnoticed within the factions. While it's difficult to say how faction officials have picked up what's happening, it'll be obvious they do know.

In THORNE, characters will be asked to remain in the castle walls until further notice. Characters will not be allowed to leave the castle grounds, not even to go into the surrounding city, and anyone who is already outside will be requested to not leave again as soon as they return. If asked, they will be told it's for their own safety, given the Singularity is behaving unpredictably and the Summoned have a unique connection to it. Soothing potions and healers are on hand to offer assistance, if anyone is particularly suffering from ill effects.

In the FREE CITIES, characters will find the army by the outposts show more activity than usual. A higher number of guards will patrol the streets throughout the event, particularly in areas frequented by the Summoned. Anyone who publicly and visibly experiences the effects of the memory share (pain, doubling over, etc.) will be offered assistance by the guards. They are generally there to help, but they are also there to maintain order and ensure anyone behaving erratically due to this incident is properly contained. This might include confinement for a day or two if anyone is especially posing a risk, but no one will be punished except in the most extreme cases, as the locals are aware this is not within the control of the Summoned.

In SOLVUNN, the locals will be watching what's happening with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity. Host families and neighbors will be on hand to help with charms meant to offer protection, as well as general care and assistance (soup, blankets, and so on) if your character seems to be especially under the weather or afflicted by the event. Towards the end of the event, more elders and mages will be out and about to check up on the Summoned to make sure they're doing okay. If asked, the mages will say they aren't sure what's going on, but that they are currently divining with the gods and hope to have a definitive answer soon in the upcoming days.

None of the factions appear to be doing much more than keep a watchful eye on the situation - but as the week comes to a close, officials will start making a decision as to what they want to do and how to handle the Summoned who have demonstrated this unforeseen connection to the Singularity.

Comments

Memory | A request | for Himeka.

[lackingtalent]

[When Himeka enters Hythlodaeus' memory, she would find herself looking at a masked woman, clad in the black robes of Amaurot. The woman may be familiar to her, or she may not. She may evoke a strange sensation of knowing... or she may not.

For how much of Himeka's soul recognizes this scene was a question that could be answered by her, and her alone.

Regardless, Himeka would be an observer for this phantom moment. It is a moment vivid with detail- taking place on a beach of all things. The sand (volcanic, of course.) is black as soot, yet with an odd shimmer. It is as if all of the figures involved walk on crushed obsidian; yet with a distinct, pleasing crunch underneath their feet which can only indicate sand.

The sky is brilliant. It fairly glows a bright and vivid blue, reflected so perfectly in the rolling waves of the sea behind them that one would wonder if there were two skies were one caught between them. The horizon is framed- prettily- by verdant and lush greenery in the form of varying tropical fauna. Palms stand tall and unbent against ferns, lichens, mosses, wild orchids and bromeliads. Were Himeka to move her head all around, she would find the island upon which they stand covered in beautiful, vibrant green.

Amongst it all, a dark blue within the distance, lies a large mound. And there is smoke- ugly black smoke at that, pouring out and up from within. She should note Hythlodaeus walking toward the woman, some large sheet of vellum held in both hands, behind his back, a somewhat playful saunter in his step.

And his tone.
If she had noticed him as overly affable during her own conversations with him prior, she would surely notice a difference here. Because this- this is different. It is with pure affection that he speaks now. As if he were addressing someone very dear indeed- family, even- after a very long time.

And as for what he says, as alone as he seems to think they are...]

Hemera!
...Oh, do forgive me. Azem.

You'll be pleased to know, I've brought it. And if I do say so myself, using this one is somewhat inspired. As far as thwarting heavily planned, approved, and scheduled pyrotechnics go, of course.

[Using this one? This what? Himeka might find herself wondering. And for what? The former of her questions, at least, maybe close to being answered. The woman seems to ask something. And...]

...Our mutual friend is still at the Capitol, yes. Unaware, and quite unimplicated.

[Something else is said. The woman, masked as she is, seems to be in thought. She tilts her head, brings her hand to her face in a contemplative motion, and...]

Ah. You told Elidibus... Well, I daresay this is about to get doubly exciting.

[Almost immediately, a swirl of darkness forms. Himeka may have to move and quickly at that, for it is almost atop her. And out of it comes a familiar man. Unfamiliar, given the fact he is not the Emet-Selch she well knows, barefaced and prone to slouch. This man is masked. He stands straight as the darkness ebbs and then flows away around his form.

But his voice...
Like the mask on his face, she should know very well the identity of the man from that. As well as the tirade he goes into, almost immediately. The pointed finger, as well as utter indignance in his tone.]

Oh, don't be like that! I'm here as emotional support. Precious little else!

[Spoken as he's inching his way, with a series of sidesteps, toward Hemera, handing over the vellum to her behind his back. Until he is caught. He freezes, mid-handover, but there is a hint of playfulness in his tone.]

If you feel so strongly about it, will you not lend your own talents to the task at hand? I'd certainly feel happier about the entire thing knowing the both of you will assist each other.

[aquaveiled]

[ The woman's face is one she's seen before, if only because she wore if for a while. Back when she had first entered Horizon, bereft of her sense of self, something deep inside her conjured up who she once was. It had unsettled her after, trying to rationalize the change. Though she had never had confirmation of the theory, this memory is, if anything, just that.

But the mood of it leaves Himeka less and less time to dwell on her own insecurities--whether or not she measures up to another standard that she could not have imagined. The way that Hemera and Hythlodaeus interact just seems so...friendly. They're at ease despite the fact that there is very clearly an active volcano nearby.

He's brought something for her...apparently much to the chagrin of their mutual friend. There's a conspiratory tone to the whole ordeal and both are complicit and remorseless. When Emet-Selch--for she would recognize that voice anywhere now--makes his appearance, it seems they are caught in the act. Undeterred all the same.

Emet-Selch is clearly annoyed, but...

It almost feels as if he's in on this too. Albeit unwittingly. Like this is just an old hat for dealing with these two...



When the memory conclude, Himeka finds herself buckled over in Horizon, holding her head as the splitting migraine pounds in full. They're getting worse, she's finding, but leaves that unsaid. No one should be getting these many visions in rapid succession is her guess, but she never thought they would be just as strong in Horizon.

Reaches out to--something, someone, to try and steady herself, the last images of what she'd seen still fresh in her mind. ]

[lackingtalent]

[Revisiting the scene, for Hythlodaeus, was something somewhat bittersweet. He remembers that time well. Recalls it fondly, as well as the before- the sudden communication, the hasty explanation, his assent, subsequent idea (and a small spot of theft...), and the after- of showing being instructed to wait on the beach and looking up into the sky for any signal of what was to transpire.

Looking upward confidently, of course. His dearest friends tended to inspire nothing short of that. And some hours later, when the pair of them had descended the volcano fair coated in soot and ash (Emet-Selch, strangely, seemed plastered in it to a far worse degree than Hemera...) they had spent the night on the beach. The remaining people of the isle had come out in droves. There was music, dancing. Food. Drink. There was laughter, celebration, and Hemera...

She was basking in it all. Positively so.
By the time the food had been eaten, the people had retired to their little houses within the jungle, and their music had surrendered to the crashing of waves- when it was just the three of them lying on the beach, together... She was glowing as she spoke. Even as her words slowed and sleep finally took her, her soul was still shimmering.

A beautiful memory it was, the first time he had seen where exactly the seat of Azem took her, and for what reason she hardly ever returned to the capital. Now, it was still beautiful. Yet something oddly sad. More of a eulogy than a memory, a dull ache pervading it. The knowledge that Hemera, for all of her adventures, so many lifetimes lived learning and discovering and understanding, was gone.

...Yes. Quite an ache.
He finds himself snapped from his somewhat unhappy reverie by something- someone roughly knee-height, suddenly latching onto his robe. He inlines his head downward, and Himeka, he's sure, would recognize him in the shaded form he tended to favour within the Horizon.

And, in Amaurotine:]

You as well...

[Perplexing. When he had first started to view memories- his own, other people's- as if they were truly happening, he thought it a quirk of being deceased.]

I encourage you to be still, and to breathe deeply. It will pass.

[And as he kneels (carefully, to not crush her should she veer to the right or the left suddenly...)]

For what it is worth, I apologize. I had not thought I was transmitting.

[aquaveiled]

[ It's all so...strangely normal. It shouldn't be surprising--they may be ancient beings, but at the end of the day they were all just people. Emet-Selch may call it the "days of paradise" or some such, but this glimpse makes it seem like the sort of shenanigans that she and her friends would get up to in this day in age.

She realizes she's been holding onto Hythlodaeus' robe and his current form takes her right back to the shadows of Amaurot. That Emet-Selch do his personality such justice does tell her how well they did know each other and the memory only serves to prove that.

She takes his advice, taking a few deep breaths as she calms herself. Though her head may ache her heart feels...a mix of light and heavy. There's a jovial look on those ancient faces (well, except Emet-Selch, but there's the distinct feeling that he may be putting on).

Once Himeka has regained her composure, she shakes her head, offering this much larger version of Hythlodaeus a strained smile. ]

It's going around a bit, isn't it?

[lackingtalent]

One cannot help but wonder the cause. Something similar to the events prior, the singularity, or...?

[And really- he can't help but wonder. Was this caused by something out of balance, as flawed this world seems to be- or some residual effect from someone just so flawed.

But- ah. Perhaps that should not be the subject of discussion. His head tilts, and;]

Himeka- I would see you out of harm's way. Should this place be any part of the singularity that attuned itself to me when I first arrived, it is a danger. I would rather no harm to come to you. Even inadvertent.

[It is not that Himeka is anything close to a weakling that needs to be coddled. She, to his recollection, seemed just as talented in matters of violence as Hemera ever was. Lahabrea, Elidibus and Emet-Selch's demises were testament to that. Just as to his recollection, she felled the shell of Zodiark. Yet...

He is faintly concerned. Especially given the fact she is very clearly unwell. It would not take much, when his horizon is whole again, for her to be set upon by the creatures that roam the lunar subterrane.]

If you have no objection, I will see you to the exit and meet with you within Solvunn.

[One of his arms, gigantic, lowers itself from where it was folded upon his lap, and moves toward her. His palm is outstretched. It would not appear that Himeka would fit within it. He isn't that big by comparison, but it does seem that she would fit quite cozily within them...

Or even upon his shoulder, if she so desired.]

[aquaveiled]

[ She has an answer to that--one that she doesn't want to give. How aware Hythlodaeus may be of this "blessing of light" isn't something she knows, but after all that's transpired, she wants him to leave with a more positive impression of her. That isn't too selfish, is it?

His concern isn't misplaced, but it still feels surprising. Mayhaps because she's so used to experiencing other people's memories that she feels she can handle almost any of them at this point, but it's what he says after that really sticks with her--

"It is a danger". ]

...No, that's fine.

[ She won't argue even if she's now much more curious.

The offered hand does make her raise her brows but, well...she's ridden stranger things, right? So it's only with a moment of hesitation that she moves forward to climb onto it. ]

[lackingtalent]

[And she is up- nestled between the folds of the robe covering his arms quite securely and quite safely. If he in this form- the approximation of a person more than anything, more a gentle kind of gloam than flesh and blood- could smile, he would have. Perhaps it even feels like he is, even though he has no facial features to convey as such.

Yet even then, the melancholy remains.

Should Himeka decide to hold onto any of the folds of the robe that covers his arms for extra security, she would find that the gloom that it is formed from is very much a solid object. Yet it can be manipulated, coaxed into swirls of darkness that resemble smoke for but a brief moment before resettling.]

You saw all of what was recalled, I presume.

[He begins to walk, in a long stride, keeping his steps light. Should Himeka look around them, she would see the beginnings of a vast array of multicolored lights- stars, so many of them- beginning to form all around them. There are no clouds. There is no wind. There is no sound either- not of distant birdcalls, or anything, actually.

Should she look downward, she would see a faintly shimmering kind of dirt beneath the folds of Hythlodaeus' robe, spreading out unto all directions from the nothingness he traverses- forming land, of a sort, in his wake- no doubt, unlike anything Himeka has sofar seen. Perhaps it is reminiscent of the Empty of the First, the Burn of the Source, or the very bottom of the Ruby Sea. Yet even those places have, or had, myriad life within. This land, wherever they are, has never supported life of its own making. Not even once.]

I apologize if it was something that disconcerted you. ...It was something dear to me, you understand. And it brought comfort to me.

[Especially here, in the silence. A few more steps, and...]

Do you have memories you tend to turn to?