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

[londonbound]

He doesn't look up until Kylo says his name, leaning toward him. Rhy opens his mouth to warn him, surprised to find him so close with everything that's been happening to the Summoned that has drawn even the castle guards' attention by now, but it is too late. The clothing, it seems, is not enough.

Rhy's memories tumble unbidden into Kylo's mind. The worst night of his life.

They are in an enormous, lavishly furnished personal room that sprawls into two parts, half bedroom with four-poster bed and half sitting room with sofa, chairs and fireplace. The drapes are the color of a golden dawn; the floor is inlaid marble cushioned with jewel-toned rugs as fine as any found in Castle Thorne.

Through the open door is visible a balcony, where a young woman in a black mask and coat stands. In the middle of the room opposite it are Kell and Rhy, facing one another, the crumpled bodies of two helmeted guards unconscious somewhere near the bed.

"Astrid, please," whispers Kell, his voice trembling.

Rhy's hand presses the tip of a dagger into his own chest, blood starting to stain his front. His lips are drawn into a wide, twisted smile, as unnatural as the words that come out in his voice and entirely the wrong cadence and tone, "You are mine, Kell, and I will break you. Starting with your heart."

The dagger sinks all the way in.

The room tumbles, tilts sideways nauseatingly. The scene shifts. This time, it coalesces again through Rhy's eyes.

Kell is above him, hands bloody. He is sobbing a healing incantation and trying to staunch the wound, but Rhy's vision is fading. Blood is filling his lungs, coming up past his lips when he coughs, when he whispers to Kell he is sorry, over and over again. At some point, Kell drags him to his feet. Voices, urgently speaking nearby -- Kell's and Lila's -- but Rhy isn't able to make out the words. He is being dragged from one room to another, vision going dark, everything a blur.

And then, at some point, it just stops. The memory doesn't fade out so much as end, abruptly, plunging into a final nothingness.

[photophobic]

When Kylo comes to, he finds himself crumpled to his knees, heaving with the strain of the foreign memory boring its way through his mind. He's gasping, clutching at Rhy as if he's the only anchor steady enough, hauling himself out of the metaphysical quicksand one ragged breath at a time.

It seems the connection doesn't require skin to skin contact after all, and for this once Kylo Ren is the one floundering in weakness.

A curse in a language left behind in the galaxy far far away hisses past Kylo's lips as he attempts a blinded, agonised stagger to his feet.

[londonbound]

When he attempts to stand, Kylo will find himself slightly trapped, Rhy's arms around him bracing his shoulders, one hand around the back of his neck. He's scooted forward with knees angled down, like he was trying to get off the bench and join Kylo on the grass, but has ended up instead awkwardly cradling the larger man in his lap. He just didn't want Kylo to fall.

"Kylo?"

Rhy's grip loosens upon realizing he's come out of it. If Kylo wants to break free, he easily can, though Rhy tries to convince him to take a rest, knowing how taxing the visions are.

"Wait-- sit for a minute. Are you all right?"

[photophobic]

Perhaps more unnerving than seeing Kylo Ren incapacitated is watching him actually accept advice. Shakily, he drags himself upright enough to slump onto the bench, irritably defeated by his temporary weakness.

"Unpleasant," he comments after a moment, his voice lacking its usual timbre. "Form and content."

Warily, he lifts his head and turns his face to meet Rhy's eyes.

"I think... I saw you die, Rhy."

[londonbound]

Rhy scoots over on the bench, giving Kylo space. He knows that touch triggers these episodes, and at the same time he knows that oftentimes touch also seems to alleviate the side effects (which just seems unfair, honestly), so he reaches out hesitantly with the intention of placing his hand on Kylo's knee.

It doesn't quite make it there. Rhy flinches in surprise, reflexively drawing his hand back to his chest. His eyes are wide, fixed on Kylo, as he sits speechless for a moment.

Then, he seems to... wilt, shoulders drooping, his hands falling into his lap. It isn't exactly a secret; he just doesn't like talking about it. He doesn't like the idea that Kylo saw.

"...yes," he agrees quietly, lips twisting at the memory, bitterness mixed in with the discomfort.

"How much did you see?"

[photophobic]

"Your body... it wasn't under your control," Kylo murmurs, his tone similarly hushed. "I watched you drive a dagger into your own chest, then fell with you to the ground. I saw them try to save you..."

He lets the rest pass unsaid, more concerned with watching the trepidation and discomfort twisting Rhy's face.

"You're ashamed. Even now. Why? What is it you feel you could you have done?"

[londonbound]

He's glad he didn't have to see it again. Living it was more than enough. Seeing it with Ronan had been torment. At least he didn't have to watch Kell crying over him another time.

Rhy slumps, elbows on his knees, pressing his forehead to his palms.

He could leave. He could refuse to answer Kylo's questions and walk away. It might even be the smart thing to do, considering a casual touch could get them into trouble again. But in truth, it feels like more effort to run at this point than to just admit what an idiot he is. Kylo may as well know.

"It was my own fault," he mumbles. Takes a breath. Forces himself to lift his head. At the very least, he can be man enough to look up at Kylo when he admits his greatest mistake.

"I took the necklace."

Kylo will have seen it in the memory: a frosted-glass pendant with scarlet edges, like it had been dipped in blood. He will have seen not-Rhy holding it, and at the very last moment when he was stabbed, throwing it somewhere the real Rhy hadn't quite been able to follow as he fell.

"From a man I never should have trusted. For selfish reasons."

There is, unfortunately, a lot to explain that he's not proud of.

[photophobic]

Kylo considers Rhy's answer for a moment. There's no judgement in the steady hold of his gaze, only the faint pinch of curiosity between his brows as he studies Rhy's face, the remnant of his earlier disorientation melting away.

"Selfish enough that you deserved what I saw? No. You can regret putting your trust in the hands of a man who sought to use you, Rhy, but you didn't choose to suffer or cause suffering. Did you."

[londonbound]

Maybe it's unfair; Kylo's largely been kind to him, especially after they'd... all come to an arrangement. Still, for some reason he hadn't expected a response like that. Not only understanding, but a show of faith in him.

Rhy's lip trembles.

"N-no. Of course not."

But he had. So many people had died just because he'd been weak. His people, people he was meant to rule over and protect. He'd failed his whole city.

"I wanted--" It feels like an excuse when it spills out, and maybe it is, but it just feels like something he needs to say. As if to make sure Kylo doesn't try to absolve him too soon, before he understands why Rhy had done what he'd done, and how foolish it had been.

Rhy takes a breath and tries again, this time attempting to provide context. "He brought the necklace from another world. Transferring objects between worlds is forbidden. I knew that, and still I accepted the gift. Because he told me it would make me stronger. Give me magic."

[photophobic]

"And you wanted that for yourself," he prompts, his tone questioning. Certainly, he believes there's more to it than the crime Rhy suggests. "Power, at any cost."

His mouth pulls into a wry curve. He continues past the rhetorical before Rhy can protest or correct him:

"Even if you had taken the gift for all the worst reasons you can imagine... what further punishment could you deserve? What punishment would you set another who had fallen into the same trap?"

[londonbound]

Rhy shakes his head, a desperate edge to it. No. Not at any cost-- but he hadn't known the cost. He hadn't realized. He'd been naive and stupid; above all else, that is what he's ashamed of, how he should have known better and fell for it anyway.

But Kylo pushes on, and the protestations stick in Rhy's throat. It's probably meant as a kindness, but Kylo doesn't understand.

"Another wouldn't have been the crown prince of Arnes proving himself utterly unsuited for the title," he snaps. In his lap, his fists are curled so tight, he can feel the bite of his own fingernails. He is shaking. It just all tumbles out.

"It's not a question of punishment, but of atonement. There was nothing I could do for the fallen. But taking my responsibilities more seriously--"

He swallows the rest, shaking his head.

"It matters not, at this point. Not here."

Perhaps he was never meant to be king; being here is better than being dead, but for those left behind, the result is the same. He can't imagine the pain he's causing his parents. Alucard. It hurts too much to think about.