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

[meiren]

[ Something in that determined hovering and the way Wen Kexing is using it to deflect finally snaps what's left of Zhou Zishu's patience. Exasperation flickers through his expression as he reaches out and using one of Wen Kexing's fluttering hands to pull the man in against him, wrapping his other arm around his waist. If they're going to do this, he's going to make his stance clear from the start. ]

Tell me how your ascended your throne, Valley Master.

[ He doesn't sound frightened, or horrified. Mostly just firm and expecting an answer. ]

[yeshou]

[ That question is too pointed to be an accident. Wen Kexing stills instantly, his constant, restless fluttering closing in on itself as an instinctive defense, even though it is too telling. He draws a breath that reaches all the way down, swallowing back the reaction to retreat.

Zhou Zishu was never meant to see that.

He's not ashamed of the past. That revenge was well-deserved, and he has no doubt that the leader of the Tian Chuang is well acquainted with violence, but certain things he never wanted to share. Knowing and seeing are two very different experiences, and part of him selfishly wants to preserve the good memories of Zhou Zishu as clean and better. Someone detached from the horrors of the Valley and his atrocities. He wants to avoid looking at him, but it's already too late for that. ]

You've heard of how ruthless the Valley is. There is only one way to rise up.

[ I'm not sorry. He forces himself to stand still, accepting the conversation as much as he can bear it. ]

They're only ghosts. It doesn't matter if we tear each other apart or even eat each other, right? Only the worst ghost can become the Valley Master.

[meiren]

[ Zhou Zishu just studies him all but unblinkingly, arm locked firmly around Wen Kexing's waist to keep him from wriggling away.

When he finally speaks, his voice is slightly softer. ]

I know. [ What more can he say? Wen Kexing did what he had to. Zhou Zishu had screamed it into the face of an angry immortal and he'd do it again. Does he wish Wen Kexing had never had to, that he hadn't experienced whatever had driven him to that sort of revenge? With all his heart.

But he has enough regrets of his own. Lest Wen Kexing somehow think his hands are any cleaner. ]

Your technique could use work.

[yeshou]

[ His hands tighten under Zhou Zishu's hold, the muscles clenching in anticipation for a war that he knows isn't coming. His body isn't so convinced, trained to react to every threat with the same ruthless energy that he was given. Sometimes it's hard to remember that he's really left the Valley or that the man in front of him isn't someone attempting to take his life, but Wen Kexing has learned to temper those instincts. He stays in Zhou Zishu's grip, fists tight but unmoving. At the last comment, a rough laugh escapes his throat. ]

A man like that didn't deserve to enter the underworld in one piece. If it was sloppy, then at least it was as painful as possible. And when he went, I hope he was unrecognizable.

[ He doesn't try to hide the bloodlust behind his words. Wen Kexing would have preferred that Zhou Zishu never knew the full extent of his deeds in his rise to power, but if he's seen what Wen Kexing has done, then there's nothing he can do. The mess he left the old master as is undeniable.

But if Zhou Zishu really saw that... ]

A-Xu. Are you sure it was me you saw?

[ After all, he hasn't given any details. Could it have been a mistake? There are countless rumors about what Lunatic Wen has done. ]

[meiren]

[ The intensity and bloodlust don't earn much more than a blink--it's nothing he hasn't seen before. At least this time it's directed at someone who most definitely deserves it rather than the all-consuming, directionless rage that had worried him before.

The question, however, earns a mildly wry look. ]

Who else? [ As if he wouldn't recognize his own zhiji, no matter what state he's in. But he shakes his head slightly. ]

That's not something I would imagine. Not of you.

[yeshou]

Of me? [ Wen Kexing can't help but laugh at that comment. It's not quite lacking humor, either. After all, he is still Lunatic Wen. ]

What wouldn't the Ghost Valley Master do? Now you know. There is nothing.

[ He's shaming him. Wen Kexing can't help but feel he's managing to taint another good memory by revealing this side to Zhou Zishu. Whatever the man had imagined him as, seeing it was destroying part of that image. Selfishly, he hates that.

Of course he can't be Zhen Yan again. But is it so much to ask to allow Zhou Zishu to still look at him with hope and belief? He hates that too, but... he wants it. ]

What about you? A-Xu, you wouldn't hide anything from me, right?

[ It's unfair, yes, but he's always unfair. ]

[meiren]

[ One eyebrow lifts slightly, but he still refuses to pull away. If Wen Kexing wants to lash out at him fine, he can take it. ]

Do you think that matters to me?

[ The question is mild, despite the intense focus on his face. He knows who his zhiji is. He's never cared.

And then he finds himself blinking once in genuine surprise. ]

What would I be hiding?

[yeshou]

[ He knows it doesn't matter. Wen Kexing knows, as sure as he knows anything. If Zhou Zishu really cared about who he was, he would have done something about it a long time ago, when they first met. He already knew enough when Wen Kexing scattered the fake glazed armor throughout the jianghu and could have abandoned him then.

But all Wen Kexing can think as he sulks before his zhiji is how unfair it is that this man always manages to shield him at every turn. Even when he isn't looking! ]

When I came to find you at the capital, you had me worried. I thought you were in terrible danger. But actually you handle yourself very well.

[ Instead of the usual rage and madness, Wen Kexing huffs. ]

Why didn't you tell me?

[meiren]

[ The capital? Zhou Zishu stares at him for a long second before something almost visibly clicks behind his eyes. Almost instantly those eyes narrow, laser-focused on Wen Kexing. ]

What did you see?

[ He can't imagine why he'd be bringing it up now otherwise. But there are any number of things that could actually mean, and Zhou Zishu is not in the habit of giving away more than he has to without some basis. Pure habit. ]

What should I have told you? You saw me after. [ Handled himself well perhaps, but he'd still come out of it with a few more holes than he'd started with. ]

[yeshou]

[ Wen Kexing watches as Zhou Zishu's shields go up. He knows what that feels like, living in a paranoid defense for most of his life, and seeing his zhiji become guarded stirs that familiar feeling in him. Wen Kexing frowns, stepping forward as if he fully intends to corner Zhou Zishu like a dog on the hunt, cutting off any retreat. ]

Of course I saw you! I should have killed every last one of your pathetic pursuers. I only refrained because it was your past.

[ It was Zhou Zishu's business what happened to what he left behind, but now Wen Kexing is having some serious regrets. The one time he wasn't impulsive and irrational! ]

A-Xu. You tell me what happened.

[meiren]

You know what happened.

[ There's a thread of exasperation winding into his tone, if only because he doesn't know what Wen Kexing is actually searching for. It's obvious he wants something particular and equally obvious he's going to dance around actually asking it. ]

My cousin and I argued. I crippled him and ended up in the Tian Chuang dungeon for a while.

[ He's still not entirely certain how long it was, not that it likely matters much. ]

[yeshou]

[ Wen Kexing makes a noise in frustration, clicking his tongue and grumbling as he stalks restlessly in front of Zhou Zishu. He turns sharply, taking the other man's arm and pulling him closer, inspecting him for injuries that don't exist. ]

I'll kill him. Why didn't you tell me? I'll kill him for you.

[ He says that darkly, without the exaggerated tone he usually takes. ]

Someone like that shouldn't dare touch you. He shouldn't have spoken to you.

[meiren]

Aish.

[ He lets himself be pulled in without resistance, even if he does roll his eyes extravagantly. Things are starting to make a bit more sense, however. ]

Is that what you're so upset about? That he called me zhiji?

[ It hadn't worked out that well for him, but Wen Kexing will be Wen Kexing. Zhou Zishu will let him fuss for a moment if only because it's an unusual situation.

He's not entirely sure Wen Kexing didn't see what happened in the dungeon, either. That would certainly send him into overprotective mode. ]