annivurtstag, princess lazuli! - hunting down the sources (21st)

[powergamer]

Who: Those who signed up for the event.
What: Hunting down the sources.
When: Redheiss (June) 21st, anytime between morning and late afternoon
Where: Specified below.
Rating: PG, may get higher.

An hour after Ossidia's announcement, the four groups are dispatched to the four sources of the magic cast upon the city of Goldvale. Watch out—the levels of magic here are so intense that there's no telling what might happen next. When the groups arrive at these sources, they'll be met with a surprise. As these sources the cause of the apparitions appearing around town, their magic manages to reach a bit further where it's most concentrated. In each group, one character will be randomly chosen to have an apparition representing a memory appear to stop the group from destroying it. These are complex illusions based on that random character's most traumatic memory and will affect everyone in the group. For example, if a character's most traumatic memory was failing to prevent the death of his wife, the source will recreate where it took place and represent itself as the wife.

Subthreads and descriptions of each location can be found below. Those who have been chosen must describe their character's memories so that everyone can participate.

Comments

TEAM 1

[powergamer]

Location: Fontaine Felix in Ironwall, a fountain made in commemoration of a long-forgotten monarch. It is near the Seven Titans.
Source: The beautiful lady in the middle panel.

Someone's memory will be shown here. Wait for the mod to tag.

TEAM 2

[powergamer]

Location: Swills and Scrolls, an abandoned mage's shop in Platmoor. Not many readable scrolls remain.
Source: A grandfather clock.

Korra's memory will be shown here.

TEAM 3

[powergamer]

Location: Cimetière du Orgonne, a famous cemetery in Vernesse located in Tinwick. Many celebrities, aristocrats and politicians are buried here.
Source: A grave marker that bears the name of King Altain.

Lyn's memory will be shown here.

TEAM 4

[powergamer]

Location: Le Ritter Courageux, a hero's statue in Steelmount. The hero is said to be celebrated for his bravery during a monster invasion 200 years ago.
Source: The statue itself.

Ninian's memory will be shown here.

[afrozendance]

[A hero celebrated for his bravery during a monster invasion 200 years ago... Ninian cannot help but recall the Scourging, the war between dragons and humans that tore Elibe apart when she was just a half-dragon child, and which ultimately drove her and Nils to leave the continent where they were born and spent their first years of life. Many of her memories are gone due to how long she has lived, but she still can somewhat recall how happy she was with her family before everything went from bad to worse.

…Gate… Open…gate…

W-wait! That fateful day... True, it happened not too long ago, and it brought terrible consequences. Several of them surrounding her and Nils, being the ones able to open the Dragon's Gate and unleash destruction on the world at behest of Nergal and the Black Fang. And what happened later brought misery to those attempting to help them, specially Lord Eliwood and his father Lord Elbert...

…Gate… Open…gate…

Ninian bites her lip and forces herself to try blocking the memories out of her mind. This is the worst moment to think of such traumatising events, and she also isn't pleased with the possibility of making this mission about herself rather than those who need help the most. Or even worse, having them learn about what happened to her. So she tries not to give in and keeps checking on her surroundings, attempting not to hear the voice in her mind whispering about the Gate...

She has to stay alert. It's for her partners's sake and her own. So she turns to the person next to her, sighing.]

I haven't found any concrete leads... I apologize. Have you found anything?

((OOC: For the Fire Emblem 7 canon-blind, Ninian's "worst memory" will be this scene. If you need it, here is the game script. Heavy spoilers, obviously.]

[heartofsacae]

[The moment she sets foot in the cemetery, the sight of all those graves triggers a memory of axes and fire, poison, people gagging and moaning and collapsing. Bandits chortling with glee at the carnage they're happily foisting upon the Lorca tribe. It's all she can see, and somewhere in the madness her father's ashen face. A young girl, herself, trying to fight back as she's beaten by the men before they're slain. Father lifts her onto his horse, Mother is already dead. Live, Lyndis, you must live. You must survive. Then he's dead, everyone's dead except her and when she wakes up she's alone. Alone...

Lyn shakes her head and swallows hard, trying to force back the tears threatening to gather in her eyes. No. Focus, she thinks, you're on a mission. She turns to her comrades with a forced smile.]

Is everyone well?

[orderispeace]

Well enough.

[Haytham spoke calmly even if he had tensed in preparation for battle... just in case their group's hiding place was discovered. The connection between the girl whose family they had just witnessed being killed and the young women with him had not been made just yet. All of this looked real enough. There was no reason to suspect that it was some one's memory.]

Can you see, just beyond that group of bandits. There is a slight glow behind that rise. It might be the object we are searching for.

[His companion was given a hard look. She had never seen this level of carnage before? Well... he could understand the hesitation. It was a terrible thing to watch people die.]

They will likely give us trouble on the way over there. I could go ahead and take out that gentleman.

[One of the men was pointed to.]

He seems to be their leader. It might disorganize the rest, make them easier to defeat.

[heartofsacae]

[She flinches upon the realization that everyone else can see this, too, that it's not just her imagination playing cruel tricks on her. But as much as she'd like to fight these bandits off she knows it would be pointless; this isn't just a random attack but an actual memory. Unless...no, it's just a vision.]

I...I'm not sure. I don't think these are any ordinary bandits.

[orderispeace]

What makes you say that?

[They looked real, they acted real, had there been something about them he had missed? The scene was given a second look but there was nothing that really stood out.]

[rebonding]

[Korra joined the fighting teams as soon as the announcement was made, and now she's standing outside Swills and Scrolls with her assigned teammates. She's seen the old shop before, even stepped in a few times to see about looting some Summoner's scrolls that may have been left behind.]

You guys ready?

[She turns to her teammates with a confident smirk, cracking her knuckles as she gets herself psyched up for the fight. It's been a while since she's done any real fighting, especially with her new Summoner abilities, but Korra carefully hides any nervousness she has.

And she is nervous, no longer being the fighting expert she was at home.]

[dogtag]

[ just his luck that he'd be grouped with a bunch of kids and that one guy from the castle. (he's probably already forgotten tieria's name.) nic gives korra a long look without saying a word, the kind that might be taken for hostile if it weren't for his utterly dispassionate expression.

he waves a hand. go on, then. he's ready, at least. ]

guessing the memory isn't being shown visibly yet?

[someonetocarry]

Well, nothin' seems like it's glowing, anyhow. Keep lookin', there's gotta be somethin'.

[Zoe is suspicious. The courtyard is quiet and empty, but for them-- no monsters yet. She doesn't trust that at all. She stalks slowly out across the cobblestones, her shotgun-- the magical one, not the one she brought from home-- held in both hands and at the ready, primed to shoot if anything even suggests that it is about to start glowing or looking magical.]

Unless that magician is wrong, but I wouldn't wanna think 'bout what that might mean for fixin' this jao gao.

[powergamer]

[ Once the team approaches the fountain, the scenery around them shifts to the interior of a dark, dreary dungeon. Only blue and green flames on the wall and a statue of a crowned woman in the center light the circular room. A silhouette of a cloaked aged man stands before the figure, reciting a chant to a ritual with much fervor. ]

Enibobmer, the days of joy.
Nelupsk cüruz, the days of old.
Mother of Time, what we destroy,
Make anew with power you hold!

[ The statue, its surface blackened by age and the elements, begins to surround itself in a golden light. The light spirals around it, removing every last ugly detail and restoring the statue to its former glory. Even the gems that were once set in the crown, eyes and clothes of the statue return, sparkling brightly as they did before.

The man cackles at his own success, his laughter echoing throughout the dungeon. Try as the characters might, but they won't see his face. Focus, however, on the restored statue—although the spell the man cast only lasted for an instant, it still glows with the same bright light.

Anyone who tries to smash the statue will face the man's rage, so beware. He has the abilities of a Summoner. ]

(OOC: The man in this illusion will not speak for the most part — everything he says at this point onward will be another language to the characters. His main goal is to defend himself, but scratching the statue will provoke him. Feel free to NPC the man attacking the team. No NPCS will intervene from this tag onward.

The statue will not topple over unless someone breaks it directly, which will automatically dispel the illusion.)

[buildyourworld]

[He recognized Nic from the castle but he had no idea who the girl was. Eager as she was, he can only hope she wasn't as reckless. He knew he can at least count on Nic. Without another word, he gave Nic a knowing nod and unsheathed his sword to step forward with his shield ready. He was their tanker judging from their classes, and thereby assumed his responsibility.

With that, he went ahead and lead them in, pushing the door open carefully.] Alright, let's go. Stay alert.

It should start being shown now. Go wild with it. =)

[afrozendance]

[The words in her mind are now louder than they used to be, and the fact that it's her own voice makes her more nervous. She knows exactly what will follow, and mentally repeating that it's just the past isn't necessarily helping...

So let's try being being more active. I'll help her clear her mind, she hopes.]

... I understand, Dame Zoe. We cannot just wait until the leads come to us, too many things could happen in between...

[heartofsacae]

[How to explain? They'll probably realize the girl in the scene is her after a while, but she doesn't want to have to say so. They'd pity her, and she'd rather they didn't.]

They just...don't seem it.

[orderispeace]

[Not really a convincing argument.]

If you haven't anything more definite than that to go on then I suggest my plan still stands as our best option. We do have to make our way past these thieves some how.

[heartofsacae]

...if you insist. [she grits her teeth, not wanting to just go along with this but not wanting to explain what's really going on.] Let's go, then.

[rebonding]

[Reckless, unfortunately, is one of the few things one can count on Korra to be. She raises her eyebrows at the less-than-excited response from her teammates. Ah, well. She nods to Purple Hair Guy and pushes the door open.

The old shop's rotting floors creek underfoot. Korra evokes a flame in her hand to illuminate the room.]

There's a loooot of magic floating around in here...

[Korra's voice is low as she kicks aside scattered amulets and scrolls lying on the dusty ground. She's spent enough time around Mages to recognize the feeling of magic by now, and this stuff's powerful. Her eyes catch an ornate grandfather clock, half concealed in shadow, standing in the corner.]

Especially over here...

[Frowning, Korra makes her way across the shop towards the clock.]

[dogtag]

[ nic's not so sure lighting a fire is the best idea with all the dust and wood in the building, but he doesn't protest. they'll probably be fine. right? so rather than comment, he follows korra and tieria into the store before splitting off to investigate the walls.

there's nothing particularly of note in them, so they can't be the cause. besides, he can't sense magic nearly as well as korra can, so he chooses to just trust her judgement with the clock.

he gets up close to it, and prods it with a finger. ]

[redwhiteandhero]

Stick close by. It's gonna be alright. We'll take care of it if they give us any trouble. You just focus on finding this thing and taking it out, alright?

[orderispeace]

[Objection noted. He would at least be careful and take the most secretive way, the one with the most cover, over to the man who appeared to be the leader of these bandits.
Haytham had done this many times. Sneaking up on an adversary was something he had a lot of experience with. They never even knew he was there until he stuck, grabbing the leader figure from behind and shoving his hidden blade into the area of his back that made for an instant kill. ]

[heartofsacae]

[Lyn immediately goes for another bandit, shoving the Mani Katti into his torso. Leader or lackey, a jolt of satisfaction instantly rocks her; how long has she been wanting to do this? To get her revenge on these monsters who killed her entire tribe? She goes for another one, stabbing him in the back of the neck with a shout of anger. This is what you deserve!]

[incendiarism]

[Judar has been quiet for most of this trip, save for snickering to himself every once in a while, but he comes alive during the fight. His spells are still pretty basic stuff, but he uses them with skill, easily knocking down and out any enemies that get close to him or the other members of the party.]

Is that all there is? This isn't even a challenge!

[heartofsacae]

[There were more, Lyn thinks bitterly, at least fifty of those scoundrels. The rest were just busy slaughtering everyone who hadn't died from poisoning yet.]

I suppose so.