Add [ 𝙼𝚊𝚍 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚡 ] (
subtract) wrote in
thenearshore2018-01-03 05:27 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
[CLOSED]
Who: Add, Rin Okumura, Zelda, Oscar, Lenneth... and more TBA!
Where: The depths of Henir's temple
When: October 1st through the 2nd
What: Doing science on the spooky chaos temple core was never a good plan.
Warnings: Various degrees of mind control/manipulation, existential horror, and at least one death. Will update as needed.
Once the formal party is over, Add is already back at his temple making preparations. A pair of messages are sent to his "assistants" to ensure that they're aware of the date—a simple reminder and directions to his temple, along with the slightly ominous "Knock first, I'm not chasing you down if you get lost."
The outside of the temple is looking especially unkempt and overgrown today, but if Add's instructions are followed the door will open up into a wide dark space, blue cubes floating aimlessly about. Star-like lights glitter distantly in the abyss, occasionally blocked out by drifting dark shapes. Even further beyond that is a giant blue orb that never quite seems to stay in the same place. It's hard to miss, at least, but trying to gauge how big or far away it is might give you a headache.
Gravity appears to "stick" to the surface of each cube—any surface—but only as long as you remain in contact with them. So, get used to floating around and jumping between them. The meeting point is at the largest cube near the centre of the cluster, as per Add's directions.
Where: The depths of Henir's temple
When: October 1st through the 2nd
What: Doing science on the spooky chaos temple core was never a good plan.
Warnings: Various degrees of mind control/manipulation, existential horror, and at least one death. Will update as needed.
Once the formal party is over, Add is already back at his temple making preparations. A pair of messages are sent to his "assistants" to ensure that they're aware of the date—a simple reminder and directions to his temple, along with the slightly ominous "Knock first, I'm not chasing you down if you get lost."
The outside of the temple is looking especially unkempt and overgrown today, but if Add's instructions are followed the door will open up into a wide dark space, blue cubes floating aimlessly about. Star-like lights glitter distantly in the abyss, occasionally blocked out by drifting dark shapes. Even further beyond that is a giant blue orb that never quite seems to stay in the same place. It's hard to miss, at least, but trying to gauge how big or far away it is might give you a headache.
Gravity appears to "stick" to the surface of each cube—any surface—but only as long as you remain in contact with them. So, get used to floating around and jumping between them. The meeting point is at the largest cube near the centre of the cluster, as per Add's directions.
no subject
He runs into Dokugakuji the same time he notices the cat. ]
Friend, or foe? [ Nope, never met this guy before. So you know, just to be sure he materializes his druid staff and points it lazily at Doku. No real threat there, more of an alert, and he keeps glancing at the cat because
-- why does it remind him of something? ] If the first, well introductions are in order, if the latter-- I'm busy right now, so I suggest you get lost and keep your life this way.
[ Best First Impression ever ]
no subject
[ He holds up his own sword. He's 6'1" and a lifelong warrior; he's not scared off by such a polite challenge. ]
If you're part of what's causing all of these problems and the ayakashi along with it, then foe.
[ Frankly, it's a pretty damn good first impression where Doku's concerned. Nice and short, to the point. ]
no subject
Quite on the contrary. [ If not for the time constraints going on they could exchange a few blows to better figure each other out, even if it's mostly clear they're on the same side. You know, for a good sport! He's going to dematerialize the staff casually as if the threatening didn't happen. ] I'm here to drag someone out of this mess.
[ And maybe fix this mess too, sure, but that's not as high on a list of his priorities. Which is skewed, yes. He turns back to the cat, that is still watching them though it's hard to gauge if there is any interest or just usual cat apathy. ]
One day a guy trespassed on my temple grounds. He was looking for a black cat- [ And just so it happens that supposedly this guy's temple is around here, yes? That's the part of his musing that he does not voice aloud. ] Wonder if it's the same name on the tag.
[ Here kitty, kitty, here's this guy suddenly moving fast towards you ]
no subject
But it doesn't stay missing for long this time. There's a loud meow from across the shallow river. The cat is now staring at them from a different tree, its tail swaying below it playfully.]
no subject
[He dismisses his sword and walks until he's side by side with the other guy.]
In the name of these Heavens, I've been called on to fight demons and ayakashi and these strange combinations we're faced with today. They're tougher than normal ayakashi, that's for sure. Other than that I don't really care what they think about my temple or how gods should act... but if what I heard from the phone was true, then taking out the problem could be a key in getting some face time with the higher ups.
[He has some questions - like how to get access to a healer than can help his brother.]
no subject
Oh, so they give us rewards for taking care of this mess? [ That's kind of interesting, but he doesn't sound terribly into it. ] If we succeed here, you can take it.
[ He's just here to make sure one (1x) friend makes it out okay of this mess. ]
And, oh, for now, just call me Caster. [ Shouting "hey you" at each other gets boring quickly. And his real name, slash, god-name is kind of too long for now, not to mention probably a pronunciation disaster ]
no subject
The journey continues like this for awhile, moving deeper into the forest and past enormous mushrooms, paths blocked by nets of thick flowering vines, glowing fungi and crystals lightning the way as the shadows grow deeper. Eventually they reach a clearing by a small lake, the moon hanging beautifully above them through the gap in the branches... or it would be, if the sky wasn't cracked open to reveal the void beyond. The core is clearly visible through the crack in the illusion, pulsing ominously.
The cat sits on a high branch above the water, looking down on them as usual. Once it sees that they've followed and they've had a chance to observe the crack, it turns its head to the sky.
Then, it leaps. Cats can leap pretty far, but this one leaps all the way to the giant rift in the sky. Gravity seems to be a bit messed up in this area.
It lands in the void, standing on the face of one of the small floating cubes that are scattered around the space. It's still patiently waiting for them to follow.]
no subject
[He raises a hand in greeting just to get that part out of the way.]
I only care about the reward if it's a face-to-face chat with someone in charge. For now, though... how's your jumping?
[Doku takes a full kneel and then jumps up onto one of the cubes, half-expecting to fall straight through it. His balance isn't impeccable, but it's good enough to get one foot landed on the solid face and then slowly lower his other foot down.]
If this cat belongs to that guy Add then maybe it'll go back to his temple in the center of this swirling mess.
no subject
Any reward it will give is yours to take [ Caster has no reason for a face-to-face chat with a higher-up, he just wants to save a friend. He owes her as much.] I don't need any of this crap.
[ It's said without any meanness or condescending- he simply doesn't care, and making it obvious that they are not competing for anything will only strengthen the temporary alliance, right?
Huh, jumping is good, could be even better if he wrote a speed runes on his legs, but he's avoiding spells unless he will absolutely necessary. Smart spending, etc. He lands on a different cube, and starts following the trail left by the cat that is always, always one step ahead ]
Don't you think it's very convenient we have a guide? [ Cat, what is your game. What are you scheming? Not saying she's leading them into trap... or maybe, yes, that's exactly what he's saying. ]
no subject
And when Caster mentions their totally benevolent and trustworthy guide, the cat meows loudly in his direction as if in response. What, you don't trust the cat??? Clearly he knows where he's going!
After awhile their feline friend stops jumping and resorts to short teleports, still making sure to remain within their sights. It's still going to take awhile more to make it through to the inner depths of the void, though not nearly as long as it's going to take everyone else. Their guide seems to have a knack for navigating this place, and the surrounding space darkens as they draw closer to the chaotic core in record time.
They eventually reach the outskirts of the core—where not even the bizarre and impossible formations of the void drift, leaving only a wide and empty space. Reality itself seems to tremble and quake from the shockwaves of energy emanating from the core. It's enough to make anyone sick.
The cat simply stops on one of the floating rocks at the edge of the barren space, calmly staring at the pulsing core with its tail swaying gently. This is as far as their guide will take them.]
no subject
Not much of a guide if... if we're still not seeing the God of this Temple yet. And more bad shit is happening inside of this place by the feel of it.
[Doku's got some solid endurance but even he's trying hard to make sure he doesn't get... seasick? Airsick? Whatever. Hurl all over this lovely chaos and the cat with it.]
For a reward, at this rate I'll take him - just to figure out how to stop the ayakashi outside.
[But he does manage to keep jumping, trying to aim himself towards where he thinks the shockwaves came from.]
no subject
Aah, I don't like it- but your guy- and my girl- are probably inside this thing.
[ What the hell are you doing here princess? He met Add only twice, and he didn't seem like the type to kidnap someone, and Zelda isn't the type to get kidnapped either, so scratch that. They either planned something or decided to elope producing some weird magical singularity as a side-effect.
Since Caster can't imagine Zelda planning to unleash all those ayakashi on the Far Shore either something went wrong by accident or- Add fucked something up, and she went there to heroically stop him.
All those possibilities, and thinking about them is such a useless waste of time - the only way to learn what's going on is, of course, dive right in!! First, things first, and he turns to the cat- ]
Thanks, buddy- [ Like dogs and cats, he might not trust the feline, but it seems she led them to the right place ] -hope you have other temples to visit for food. We might need to kick the ass of your owner.
[ He's almost regretting not boosting himself with runes a bit, but what's going on inside the core is too much of a mystery, to risk using up the magic too quickly. But they still might need it to reach the core, so as he waits for Doku to get closer to him, he writes few runes into the surface of cube he's standing on. ]
Hey, just a hint. It will be a lot easier to jump up there from here.
[ And with that he lunges towards the core with a jump much faster and much higher than should it be possible, even with the weird gravity thing going on ]
no subject
Even without Caster's runes, their momentum is more than enough to carry them the whole way there. There's no air resistance here, no gravity to push against—at least until they draw closer to the core and it starts to drag them in. There's no turning back now.
Hitting the core is like falling into ice-cold water. There's an instant sensation of numbness, the unstable darkness swirling around them and drawing them deeper into the mass of chaos. Their senses are completely cut off, and it's hard to tell how much time has passed before they regain consciousness. When their eyes finally start to adjust to the strange environment, a flicker of stars and a fading golden light illuminate the space before them...]
no subject
What the hell...?
[He'd jumped in cold water before, but that was something else.]
Like I got hit with some kind of poison...
[And he'd know, having worked with Yaone for so long. That was just her sort of attack. He immediately starts looking himself over for signs of a dart or the leftover remains of spore dust or something... but no, it doesn't look like that at all. So instead he walks over to his traveling companion and kicks him gently at first, prepared to shove his shoulder harder if he doesn't wake.]
Oi. Wake up. We're not out of the woods yet.
no subject
In the end, that's what Caster is a creature more of magic and spirit, the permanent physical form he gained here being some sort of aberration.
The kick is probably the exact kind of stimulus to make him focus on here and now again. On that silly fact, that he maybe has a body, and he's somewhere, and there is a job to do. ]
Thanks- [ He groans as he collects himself- one would think "magic resistance" skill would work better. Or maybe it does work, and that's why he can recover relatively quickly ]
We- have to follow the light. [ Before it fades. The fact that it's fading is the most worrisome. Please, be okay, princess ]