October Event: Crystal Clear

[lifeaftr_mods]

OCTOBER EVENT: CRYSTAL CLEAR

Who: Everyone!
What: Your exploration takes a turn.
When: October 20th - 26th
Where: The caverns situated underneath Ensō
Warnings: Character death, body horror, descriptions of illness. Please mark any additional warnings as needed!

Part I: Attack, Attack!
Congratulations! You've successfully gone where no Storyteller has gone or can go, and woken up in the network of subterranean caves buried beneath the island's mass, along with your designated supplies: a miner's cap, a week's worth of food, and both your knapsacks and their collective contents. And the further along you go, the vaster and more sprawling these almost labyrinthian tunnels seem to get. There’s certainly evidence that civilization once thrived here - old buildings hewed from the rock of the cave walls may very well contain old tools, or even salvageable supplies. Careful examination of structures and cavern walls alike will reveal sigils resembling those carved on the doors, each of which will need to be destroyed entirely at the Storyteller's behest. Whatever was down here was advanced enough to dwell without sunlight. But that raises a rather pertinent question...

If there were once people here, where did they all go?

Fortunately, one will soon discover that there's plenty of natural light underground, exhibited by the crystalline growths on the walls. None of them appear to be dangerous, and those attracted to shiny things might even find them useful for picking up or chipping away in order to better light their way. The crystal has about the thickness and hardness of quartz, and bathes its surroundings in a luminous green glow.

The closer you come to the center of the mass, however, the denser the crystalline growths seem to become, until one has to be quite ingenious in navigating them. Eventually, they'll simply be too dense to be squeezed through, even by the smallest and most agile of your number.

That’s when they it will start to become apparent.
Something in the crystal is moving.

Huge chunks of crystal are starting to detach from the center and move slowly, inexorably, toward those unfortunate enough to have explored the caverns. Unmistakably humanoid silhouettes, distorted by awful crystalline growths, most of which have completely swallowed any recognizable features.

...most.

The good news is that the creatures can be shattered, and beaten back. The bad news? Well...

Part II: Retreat, Retreat!
Those who get close enough to the crystalized beasts to get a good look at them will soon make a horrifying discovery - the fact that, underneath those thick layers of luminescent quartz, there was once something that might have been recognizable as human. These quartz monsters aren't native to this region, or indeed, to any region of the island at all. They were formed.

Formed out of the very crystal that you explorers have been touching, picking up, sleeping on, and just generally remaining in prolonged contact with ever since you set foot down here.

Indeed, anyone who has been in contact with the crystal for extended periods of time - sleeping on it or getting dealt a swipe from one of the crystalized monsters, for example - will find that tiny, quartz-like growths have started to sprout on their skin as well. Once the virus has taken root, it will spread rapidly until it has swallowed you whole. Indeed, the unpleasant symptoms will reveal themselves within twenty-four hours of the initial exposure: in addition to clusters of crystalline growths pocking the affected areas, the inflicted will begin to experience intense stabbing pains all over as the crystal begins to grow - both inside and out. The transformation is slow and arduous and painful, and vocalization tends to be one of the first things to go once the crystals sprout in the mouth and throat. Within the span of about three days since the initial exposure, the transformation will have sheathed most of the physical body in crystal entirely, sealing the victim in a humanoid cast of glasslike green.

It has not been confirmed if the inflicted are sentient and aware of their state of being once they are completely consumed. Whatever their intentions, those are easily overridden by the virus's innate desire to spread to as many organisms as possible.

As this is an event with a high risk of death, the Storyteller will impose death penalties for one week only. Additionally, deaths succumbed during the event count towards the character's total. There is no known cure to the virus, but that doesn't mean characters can't or shouldn't try!

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] October 20th: Spelunking begins. Points of interest will be provided.
[ ♆ ] October 22nd: The Quartzalcoatl make their presence known.
[ ♆ ] October 24th: The final sigils are broken, and the Storyteller will return all uninfected to the Islets.
[ ♆ ] October 26th: All deceased will be returned at midday, suffering from a reduced death penalty.

Event Specifics

[ ♆ ] If your character perishes in this event, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] For those who opted out, please see the top-level below!
[ ♆ ] Item claims can be found on the OOC plotting post here!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

Yes.

[The word is almost lost in the gentle sigh that follows it, and Ignis doesn't bother to clarify if he is agreeing with Soma's calming tactics or his later words. He does, however, put honest effort into focusing himself, the soothing touch on his hands reminiscent of Nyx putting Ignis hand on his chest so that he could focus on the man's heartbeat. It had taken some time to calm him considering how overwhelmed he'd been between his recent injury, ending up in this strange place, and attempting to handle the things he'd learned since arriving, but it had eventually worked, just as Soma's touch does now.

The squeeze that comes, then, is not so much because Ignis is being overwhelmed. Instead, it's a gentle 'thank you.']

He was like me once.

[Ignis' voice is soft and hesitant, almost as if he's afraid of the implications behind those words.]

He gave everything he was to his people and still they turned against him. Now, he's forgotten the good that can come from helping others. Forgotten, or at least convinced himself he's forgotten. I...

If death is the only way he can rest now, so be it, but it doesn't have to be like this. Alone. Angry. In pain.

[power_of_dominance]

[Soma listens, and by the time Ignis is done, the teen can't help but pity whoever this tortured healer might be. If there's anything he understands, it's endless, ancient hatred that leads to suffering on both sides.]

If I can help him find peace, however it has to happen, I'll do what I can. No one should suffer like that.

[He squeezes Ignis's hands again, gently.]

And that includes you. You were kind to me when we met, I want to return the favor somehow.

[shatteredlenses]

[He shakes his head slowly, grateful for the offer, but not willing to let others risk themselves when it comes to someone as volatile as Ardyn.]

Your offer is appreciated, but I believe it best if you never have the chance to see behind his pleasant mask. He is quite mad and that makes him dangerous. He has hurt and killed many for no other reason than they were there and he was bored.

[Ignis knows he's risking everything every time he renews the chess match with Ardyn, but if there is even the smallest chance he can learn something that might help him save Noctis, he will continue no matter the risk.

Should his efforts save two souls in the end instead of just one, so be it.]

You are already helping me more than you know, and I thank you for that. My mind is usually calm, but when I find myself overwhelmed, I must have a grounding force of some kind to come back. You're presence is very grounding, much like my old mentor's is.

[power_of_dominance]

My presence, huh?

[There's a hint of something sad, maybe a little bitter, in Soma's tone. His voice is still gentle, though, that negativity not directed at Ignis.]

Most people find my presence intimidating. Maybe it's because you can't see what I look like, but even people who don't look at me think I'm terrifying. Something in my aura, I guess.

[Something, indeed. Soma knows perfectly well what it is, but he's not about to go that far into telling people the truth. Not yet.]

But if I'm really helping, then I'm glad.

[shatteredlenses]

You are and if it's any comfort, people often find me intimidating too. That was even before these.

[Ignis carefully pulls one hand free to motion vaguely at the scars on his face.]

I highly doubt your looks are anywhere nearly as terrifying as mine are now. Perhaps if you stick by me, they will forget you look different at all.

[It's a poor attempt at a joke, but Ignis makes it anyway. There is part of him that is curious to know what it is about Soma's looks that bother people, but in the end, he doesn't ask directly or even suggest the young man let him touch his face.

His hands are shaking too badly for that anyway.]

[power_of_dominance]

[Soma continues to rub Ignis's hands, trying to stop them from shaking. He wishes his touch wasn't so chilly, but there's nothing to be done about that right now, even if the scent of the man's blood is like a siren song.]

Your scars are terrible for the story they tell, that's all. I'm not afraid of you because of them. It's not your fault you were hurt so badly.

[Not that it's Soma's fault for who he is, but he can't shake the feeling that he did something to deserve his destiny. Ignis's scars don't make him a bad person, but Soma's soul is tainted and he knows it.]

As for me? I'm pretty obviously... not human. A monster.

[He coaxes Ignis's fingers to his mouth, baring his fangs and letting the man feel the front surfaces of the long ivory points. There's no mistaking them for normal teeth.]

[shatteredlenses]

[But it was my fault.

The words make it halfway out of Ignis' mouth before they cut off, his voice dying as his throat closes up. Deep inside, his heart aches. It was his fault. He chose to trade his eyesight for Noctis even if he can't remember exactly how the choice came about. He made it; he suffers for it, but he doesn't regret it.

What kind of person makes such a choice? What kind of person gives so much for another without hesitation or regret? What does it say about them?

What do they do when they find out the sacrifice means nothing in the end?

Ignis swallows hard as the last question floats through his mind and tries to curl in farther on himself, but is stopped when Soma takes his hand and lifts it. Wait a minute. How can such a caring young man call himse--

He almost flinches back when he feels the fangs against his fingers, but he resists, staying his ground even as his mind whirls. A faint memory of the dream world floats back to him. Of meeting a girl with fangs too, but she never came to the island, and he can't remember what she'd so proudly called herself.

It doesn't matter really. Ignis pulls his hand back slowly so that Soma doesn't think he's pulling away in disgust or fright.]

Your form doesn't make who you are. It's what is inside of you that is important; it's how you let your values and beliefs guide your actions that counts. From what I have seen so far, you are no more a monster than my friend is the daemonic solider he was originally born to be.

[power_of_dominance]

["It's what is inside of you that is important."

Soma can't help it, the laugh that bubbles up from his lips is bitter and sad, without even a trace of mirth. The words that follow along after are hollow, like a long-dead, rotting log.]

What's inside me, Ignis? That's the monster, a corrupted soul. Do you want to hear a story, before I even give it to the Storyteller? It's not a happy one, but maybe afterwards you'll understand why I have to fight so hard to be the person you think you know.

[shatteredlenses]

[Laughter isn't the reaction that Ignis is expecting. Especially, not such bitter and sad laughter. For a moment, he is reminded of another whose laughter often rings so empty and false, but he pushes that thought away quickly, forcing his mind to focus on Soma who is right in front of him now and obviously in a great deal of pain.

Ignis wants to argue that the monster can't truly be who Soma is inside simply because he is aware enough to feel sadness and grief about the possibility. Still, he is being offered the painful truth as Soma sees it. How can he say no to that and the understanding it may bring with it?]

Please. Tell me.

[His hands blindly seek out Soma's, giving them a comforting squeeze once they are found.]

I'm no stranger to tragic tales and unfair fate. I'll listen.