subtract: you lose your mind (I-0013)
Add [ 𝙼𝚊𝚍 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚡 ] ([personal profile] subtract) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2018-01-03 05:27 pm

[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.
sageprincess: (Royal authority)

[personal profile] sageprincess 2018-01-23 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[His words break Zelda's heart.

That's the portal? That swirling, incoherent mass that sets her every instinct aflame? That's supposed to be their way home?

... She should have known better, she thinks, fleetingly. She should have known it could never be this easy. But she was blinded by her desire, her desperation... just as she had been seven years ago. How truly, truly foolish of her. She allows herself a moment of mourning for the hope she held, then swallows her resolve.

It's time to end this.]


... Ancient creators of Hyrule!

[Her voice rings out across the void like a bell, clear and commanding for all who might hear it. The light of her magic, once concentrated at a point on the back of her hand, now radiates from her entire being as she prays, shining brighter and more ardently with every passing second, as if her body can barely contain it now that she's decided to unseal it.]

Hear the prayer of your chosen! Hear the prayer of the blood of the White Goddess! I beseech you, lend me your power!

[She burns like a sun against the darkness of the core, for that brief moment its equal and opposite in every way. There's no way to tell if the Golden Goddesses hear her desperate plea, so far removed she is from their sacred land, but as she lifts her hand, the symbol of the Triforce is emblazoned onto the nothingness above her, glowing a molten gold in stark contrast to the pitch blackness that surrounds them all.]

Now, Kageki!

[Then-- she begins to move, pushing towards the edge of the void with as much speed as Oscar can muster. And with a cry, she concentrates her power into a beam much like the one she blasted the core with when they were still on this outside, this one obviously a much more potent force than the previous. Before, she still had hope of being able to control and contain the core's energy, but now...

If she breaks the damn thing, so be it. She only has one chance at this.

This power is hers to wield as she chooses.]
hellskitchen: (pic#8046663)

[personal profile] hellskitchen 2018-01-24 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ If the situation didn't seem so bad before, now Rin's convinced that shit is getting out of control! Panic courses through the shinki's body, making Rin very antsy. Rin tries to fight against the force that keeps Lenneth and him from being lured into the gravitation pull of the orb, but it seems useless. The exponential growth of that orb just sets alarms off in the teen's mind. It doesn't relieve him that Add wants to keep going. How can Rin believe Add, when he says, "there's nothing to fear"? Things look pretty fuckin' scary from where he's standing!

Zelda must have presumed the same thing. He sees that brilliant light consume her, and it cuts throw the darkness like a knife. Yet, she focuses her power to the outer parts of the orb. Maybe she's abandoned the plan, and decided to bore a way out of the core? If their predicament has come to this, then...was it the right time to use that override code, or was it already too late? There's no time to debate, Rin just shouts it out.]


Dynamo! Code: Paladin!
nibelungvalesti: (what?!)

[personal profile] nibelungvalesti 2018-01-25 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[She accepts it all placidly, because she is damaged. Where the others feel fear, she feels only raw emptiness, flat dullness. The metaphorical blood her soul has shed now lies in a cooling layer across it, smothering everything else that might otherwise claw its way out.]

[The sudden gathering of power behind her draws her attention, and she turns slightly to see what in Asgard's name is going on back there.]


...Is she resisting?
sageprincess: (Pushing forward)

[personal profile] sageprincess 2018-01-26 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's working-- it's working, her body feels like its on fire channeling this much power, like a wire carrying an electrical current too strong for it to handle, but it's working, she's broken through, she just has to push a little more and they can find help--

All her hopeful thoughts are cut off by sudden and excruciating pain. Zelda screams, wordlessly, in abject agony as the shadows pry at her mind, her soul, her very existence, her light sputtering and flickering as she struggles against the icy bite of the core's wrath. It's only because she's so self-disciplined that she's able to maintain any kind of focus at all, that her light isn't extinguished then and there. This is the kind of pain that leaves men hollow shells of themselves, she imagines.

It stops, eventually, after what feels like an eternity, and Zelda does indeed takes the chance to breathe. Something... is happening down there, between Rin and Add, but she can't quite comprehend what exactly, her nerves too overcome with relief that, for however briefly, the pain has stopped. She runs a mental checklist on herself instead as she recovers; she can still feel her fingers, her toes-- she can still see, for whatever value seeing has in this place, and--]


Os... car?

[Something's missing. She can't-- she can't hear Oscar's voice, she can't sense his feelings... He's still alive, she's sure of it, somehow, but she can't--]

Where... [Her voice is hoarse from her crying, but her tone is still one that demands an answer.] Where have you taken him...?
hellskitchen: (pic#8046589)

[personal profile] hellskitchen 2018-01-28 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ Add isn't in the right state of mind. Rin gets that when he goes after Zelda, and stops her from trying to escape. Add wields the darkness as if it's an extension of his hand, and it feeds on his desperation to succeed. Now he's pissed at him from shutting down most of his dynamos, but it does nothing to stop the orbs growth as a whole.

Rin cringes as the darkness around him start to tighten. It's not enough to do damage, but it did make it that much harder to breathe and relax. His adrenaline already surging with the events happening around him. Now the void is squeezing Lenneth of her power, and it makes him even more restless. Rin has nothing else on his arsenal to use against Add. The only thing was trying to reason with his god.]


I don't understand how you feel, but this isn't how you want to do this! You don't want to hurt anyone! But everyone is in pain, don't you see that?

[ This isn't Add. It's not the same person who was so unwilling for him to go, because Rin could potentially lose his life.]

This isn't worth the sacrifice of your friends, you know that!
nibelungvalesti: (hands clasped)

[personal profile] nibelungvalesti 2018-01-30 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Her voice is uncharacteristically soft. Not because of the power drain, which she permits without complaint, nor because of her troubles and pains and bleeding soul, which she barely registers. She is quiet because she must admit that perhaps she had misjudged.]

...Is there still a chance?
sageprincess: (Distressing damsel)

[personal profile] sageprincess 2018-01-30 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

Her light flickers like a firefly's between the pulses of pain that course through her body, just barely enough to keep herself from being completely caught up in the void's clutches. As she thought, she won't be able to pull off that stunt again. Despair curls around the edges of her mind, thoughts of surrender gently tempting her to give in, let go, why bother fighting anymore when you've already lost? It would be so much easier. It would make the pain stop.

She can't.

She can't.

She can't.]


He's... lost his mind...

[But what can she do? What can any of them do, when the very space around them is their enemy?

She finds her thoughts drifting to Link.

Zelda prays.]
hellskitchen: (strangeprogam @ lj)

[personal profile] hellskitchen 2018-01-31 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Rin realizes that his words have no impact on Add.Trying to reason with his god only gives Rin uncertainty in return. The doubt starts eating away at him, making his mind more susceptible to the infiltration by the darkness.

It's true, after all. He doesn't know Add very well. It's possible this was his god's intention the whole time.Maybe, Add's showing his true colors now?

Of course, he's simply a tool. What value does someone, who doesn't remember their past, and has already died, have? He should just give up, right? There's no use fighting anymore.

As the void squeezes around his form, the resistant spirit that Rin possesses, begins to yield. The mental strain of the core paralyzes him. He closes his eyes, feeling weaken by the abyss's influence. His consciousness slips with the numb coldness of the core trying to consume him.]
nibelungvalesti: (this will not stand)

[personal profile] nibelungvalesti 2018-01-31 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[She has no objections at being a tool. That is her purpose. That is her duty. That is her existence, her reason for being. Had she not engaged in all this with the hope of returning to her proper full duty? To once again serve Lord Odin in her full capacity.]

[And yet, she lifts her head, then one hand, stretching it out to lay it on Add's shoulder. Not in comfort, solidarity, or support, but as a reminder she exists, and perhaps as a threat. Under assault she might be, but her body is her will, and her nature is divine. She cannot weaken until she breaks, and she is not yet broken -- which means her full strength still lurks in her muscles, waiting to be applied.]


You did not answer my question.
futhark: made by <user name="nogoodansuz"> (22)

[personal profile] futhark 2018-02-02 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Reaching the core was the first step. Apparently the easiest one. Now for the second.

That second step one wasn't very precisely defined to start with. Locate Zelda and make run for it, but once they dive into the core he realizes-- the "run" part might be harder than expected. The magic in the air tastes sour, and the darkness becomes encompassing in a sense much different than just lack of light. This thing- this place gets into your head. In a different situation, he'd be properly equipped to shake this off- natural magic resistance, willpower, that kind of things- with a good, strong Master backing him up. But no one like that is here, and he has to manage his resources carefully. ]


Eh, you really overdid yourself this time. [ That's no praise, Add, just a statement ]

[ The strange hole in the middle of the core, whatever it is, Caster feels a repulsion at the sight of it. For a second he wonders if it's "worse" or "just as bad", as the thing that spilled in the doomed city he was summoned to. But such musings are unnecessary right now and he tries to locate how many people are around- or rather locate one very specific person. ]

Princess-!

[ She's too far away, and with this whole- no gravity thing going on it's not easy to move. He pulls three acorns from the sash attached to his belt. Sure he could probably write a nice and long spell, one boosting the resistance against this darkness, making him stronger, faster, who knows maybe even luckier. But what does it matter if he can't freaking move?

Resource management, right.

He throws the acorns away, wondering how much can he manage right now. A hand, or if he's lucky, maybe even a whole arm? The acorns burst into flame but don't turn into ash- they twist and grow, and form a massive wooden - wicker - hand. First hand, then part of the arm, as long as it's formed past an elbow it can move-

And it's so large, Caster can now comfortably stand on it. If Doku is nearby at this point, he gets his own spot by proxy too, free of charge.

The good old trick of summoning just parts of the giant, instead of the whole thing. The arm stops growing and never reaches the full form, but there's enough of it to move and reach forward. It can also be a good jumping off point, to gain some momentum in the otherwise zero gravity space. ]


Time to get out of here.

[ While his main target is Zelda, he's not going to deny anyone who's close enough to grab it for a ride- and a possible way of escape. Because maybe, just maybe, they can also escape with this, if he can keep the construct materialized for long enough- Here's hoping for the best!! ]
royaltyloyalty: (speaking)

[personal profile] royaltyloyalty 2018-02-09 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
[The sound is definitely what gets Dokugakuji's attention more than anything else, along with realizing that Caster moved ahead. Not that he's mad, just watching the ensuing trouble brewing as some familiar faces clash with some unknown ones. He looks around at the Core, at Add, at everyone trying to deal with what's going on.

He takes advantage of Caster's free ride but jumps after Caster when he finds it convenient, landing as close to Add as he can get.]


In case you all haven't noticed - there's an army of Noise Ayakashi outside tearing the Far Shore apart, Gods and Shinki alike. So whatever it is that you're doing here, Add, it's gone too far. The least you could have done was some more tests like the scientist you're supposed to be.

[He narrows his eyes.]

I even told you I was willing to use my powers that move between Purgatory and the Far Shore. Seems as if Chikusa was right for once when he said you were the cause of all of this.

[He gestures towards the Portal.]

Did you bring these strange ayakashi through there?
Edited 2018-02-09 04:30 (UTC)
sageprincess: (Kept secrets)

[personal profile] sageprincess 2018-02-09 01:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[It hurts... and then it doesn't. Then she feels absolutely nothing, hears absolutely nothing, sees absolutely nothing. It's a relief, almost, from the painful pull of the orb's gravity and the icy grip of the shadows, and Zelda briefly, idly wonders if this it what it's like to die.

But her senses come back gradually, or so she thinks because she no longer feels the pain that had strained her body just moments before. And... there's light. Impossible, silver light that has nothing to do with her own power, and for a second as her eyes struggle to focus she almost dares to hope that her prayers had been answered, delivering her the gleaming shine of the Blade of Evil's Bane and the Hero of Time who wields it.

She's wrong, of course, but she still stares with wide eyes and a slackened jaw at the twinkling light at the core's center, realization washing over her like the dawn.]


Is... Is that...?

[It... worked? It actually worked? Her Hyrule is nearly in reach? ... But what is this dread she feels in the pit of her stomach, like the portal is something terrible and wrong--

She's distracted by another voice, one that doesn't belong to anyone on this star-crossed expedition, and the warmth of fire in this frigid dark realm.]


... Caster? [And someone else she doesn't recognize, who quickly begins lecturing Add about things her mind is too frazzled to understand. Her focus remains on the man she knows instead.] What... What are you doing here?

[Despite her words, she reaches out to the wicker giant's arm, some part of her deep down seeing it for the rescue that it is.]
hellskitchen: (pic#11941643)

[personal profile] hellskitchen 2018-02-12 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Something happened.

Rin isn't sure what it is, but he starts to regain his consciousness. While he was out, he could tell that the atmosphere has changed. The void doesn't seem as intense as it was before. He opens his eyes. Feeling groggy as if he's waking up from a deep sleep. With his blurry vision, it's hard to miss the thing in the center of the core.

Rin's eyes widen as his sight clears. Is he really seeing this? There a large hole within the space. So that must mean that Add was able to open the portal. Rin quickly looks around, noticing there's two other occupants in the core. When did this happen? He recognize both of them, although he's only met each of them on one occasion. It seems Caster is helping Zelda, while Doku is confronting Add.

Though he can only act as a spectator to how the next events will unfold. He's powerless to do anything with the portal, or even try to break out of there.]
nibelungvalesti: (what?!)

[personal profile] nibelungvalesti 2018-02-13 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
No. No.

[She recognizes the feeling better than most. A goddess, a creature of spirit more than matter, she possesses physical form only by her own will.]

[That will is no longer entirely her own. She can feel that truth in her core, as they draw closer to their goal. Power coursing through her slowly being stripped away as they try to leave behind those who have faith in them. Her very spirit seeming to erode...]

[She reaches out to grab Add once more, not out of anger but in fear and growing horror.]


Do you not feel that? You must -- if we continue forward, we are in danger. The path may be open, but we cannot survive walking it!
futhark: (16)

[personal profile] futhark 2018-02-17 11:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Damn you Add, damn you and your crazied ways - the guy didn't seem this way the few times they had spoken, but ah, surprise. But truly, even your cat is silently judging your life choices. ]

No!!!

[ He feels the same as Valkyrie about the portal, she can just put it so much better into words than he ever could. Oh right- words. What else are runes if not a writing system, what else do you them for if not to write words and weave them into commands, requests, stories. Words have power, an ancient truth.

There's a spell written in the air with glowing runes- was this possibility always there, or is it something given to him? It doesn't seem to be affected by his low magical energy reserves, but it's not something he pays mind to. It's maybe a crazed idea, really, but there are objects- spells, curses, that can impose, that can write reality of an event to happen even before it actually does. The result happening first, the heart has been pierced, even before the Gáe Bolg lance was thrust-- or the result trumps the other, the mortal blow didn't kill because wielder of Fragarach always strikes first.

Both similar, and familiar concepts, both weapons related to him, but all they do is change and alter the reality as simply as erasing the previously written line and writing a new one. It's that easy

"Easy" hah ]


I am the wielder of eldest Odin's runes, taught by Queen of the Land of Shadows herself! --I will not allow this to happen!

[ But spells like these, always come with a price. Rewriting reality itself requires much more of power, skill, knowledge much more to take in consideration, more nuance than any mortal or previous-mortal could muster up. It's arguable if a god could do it- and even here, isn't what's writing the reality of gods a collective will of thousands, millions of their followers?

Yeah, can't compete with that. Can't rewrite the whole scene unfolding.

If the spell is centered around Zelda, if the spell makes her "not fall for her death into the portal" that means someone else has to fall. And it's really a headache inducing view, because the shadows does shove Zelda into the portal and she falls- but at the same it doesn't happen, because Caster teleports and pushes her away - sending her into the relative safety of what's left from the wicker arm. But that makes him the one to take that fall.

As said: a price. One that he doesn't really mind paying.

Everyone here have a place they want to return to- duties they have to fullfil. But him- there's nowhere to really place to return to. If there is someone that has nothing to lose, no real stake in this game, aside from keeping his friends alive, then, yeah, that's him.

Zelda might not be a queen yet, but that's her destiny, so she's going to be. She cannot fail and die here, that would be a shitty ending to this story, one that should not be allowed to happen. When the time is right, you will return to your home princess, and this will be one of the many experiences to shape your rule.

It was quite fun being here though, meeting all those crazy kids, and yeah, he wouldn't mind tagging along a little bit longer- it would probably look much better if he got here and defeated the crazied darkness overlord or whatever else Add decided to become. Reap the spoils, probably... make her angry, oh princess would be pissed off again. But alas, they had to get him here as a Caster ]
royaltyloyalty: (confused)

[personal profile] royaltyloyalty 2018-03-09 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Dokugakuji was likewise on hand to reach for Zelda, but he was startled by the last-second switchup. He'd absolutely not seen that coming, and he's got his streak a mile wide that devotes itself to protecting women at all costs. So he was midstride by the time that Caster's magic worked.

He was also brazen enough to think he could tap into those new god powers he'd been relying on for so long now. He figured he could reach her and immediately teleport away, back up to where the group was standing, and then whup Add for sending Zelda in. Once Caster became the one falling, he didn't change his course at all; the guy had at least been a fine traveling companion on the way here. No reason to abort when it was a matter of split seconds choice he had.

So he does manage to reach Caster's hand and grab him, turning back up to face the group and focusing his teleport powers in that general direction...

Only to discover they don't work. There's some kind of pull that's overcoming his efforts.

He then tries to craft one of those doorways to Limbo, casting his hand out with a grunt of frustration. What happened after that, he doesn't know, because the Void swept the both of them away and Dokugakuji last remembers feeling like he might suffocate to death. Whether his power helped or hurt at that point, he doesn't know; maybe the doorway got sucked into the Void too, maybe it exploded and made things worse. He'd been scrambling at the last minute and hadn't thought that far ahead.]