lifeaftr | December Event: No Rest for the Wicked

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December Event: No Rest for the Wicked

DECEMBER EVENT: NO REST FOR THE WICKED

Who: Anyone and everyone
What: Your trials by fire
When: December 15th - 18th
Where: On Maati and Ensō
Warnings: Character deaths and violence are both likely - please mark as you go!

The Trials: Only Then Can We Begin

As noted in the OOC info post, your Trials will all begin on December 15th. As many of you will not be deposited into your trials with food and water (or any items of your own at all, in most cases), the Trials will last only as long as December 18th. If you've failed to complete your Trial by this deadline but have not used up all the deaths allotted to you, you will awaken by Maati's mana pool at the event's conclusion. If you have not failed your Trial by using up all your deaths, this will not count as a character death, and you will not need to submit for a penalty; you simply won't be able to obtain the reward you would get if you had succeeded!

When your character wakes in their allotted Trial, they will discover that their starting chamber has been inscribed with the name of the Trial, the names of those participating, and the number of deaths they have remaining - though the latter aren't labeled in any way. You'll simply have to learn it the hard way; every time your character suffers a death, the number will go down by one. If it wasn't obvious what those numbers stood for at first, by the time the dying starts properly, it certainly will be. And you probably don't want to see it go all the way down to zero...

Should you reach the end of your Trial, you will step out onto the rocky cliffs of Maati, exiting from one of the seven doors set into the cliffs at the seven points of the island's star shape. You see, those doors you discovered earlier weren't the entrances to the Trials at all. They were the exits. And set into the towering cliffs...why, those house the winding mazes that comprise the Trials themselves.

There will be a top-level below for each Trial. Remember to plan with your groups and communicate with your thread partners! Whether you choose to do mingle-style threads or lengthier group threads is up to you.

Once you know the outcome of your Trial, success OR failure, please do let us know so that we can ensure your character gets the reward that befits their triumph...or lackthereof.

Remember also to let us know if your character uses up ALL their deaths during this event. While death penalties will not be inflicted during Trial deaths, if you use up all the deaths allotted to you and die for real, your death penalty will NOT be reduced.

The Water: Don't Let Them Get Away

The rest of you have plenty to contend with as well, of course. If you've opted out of this month's event, be advise that the waters creeping across shores of Ensō, along with the rest of the island, aren't going to take evasion kindly. They'll seek you out, spread along every inch of the island if they can, until they can find you.

There is a top-level below, if you're intrigued! Though if you end up top-leveling yourself, we may very well reach out and find you anyway...

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] December 15th: The Trials on Maati begin, and the water begins to rise.
[ ♆ ] December 18th: The Trials reach their end.
[ ♆ ] December 19th: Those who have "perma"-died in their Trials are revived.
[ ♆ ] December 20th: The monthly Storytelling occurs.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

♟ empathy struggles: ren.

[ They start out together, and for that, Mira is thankfully. She's still recovering from the run-in with the Oolick, so her reflexes are a little off. She's still getting over the overstimulation of everything--particularly in regards to her empathy. She hasn't told anyone here about it, and there's always that fear that someone will find out, someone will be angry at her, someone will--

Allura's here. Her expression is... guarded, closed-off, suspicious. It's so unlike what she's used to seeing from Allura that it makes her stumble a little. ]

Allura-- [ she starts to say, but the princess's eyes narrow.

How could I let a monster like you trick me? the vision says, and it's so harsh that Mira's breath catches. Her hand shakes, and with it, the sword in her hand. She steps in front of Ren, and she can't fight... but she can protect her.

Or she can try. ]

✿ overgrowth: héctor.

[ By the time she comes across Héctor, she's already died twice to the thing in front of her. She's tired, emotionally and mentally and physically. She just wants this to end, she doesn't want to see Lance like this ever again. It's bad enough seeing it in her dreams but...

It's real. Too real. And Lance is advancing toward her once again. ]

✖ hostility & departures: open.

[ Honestly, she's had about enough of this. Mira's tired, tired of dying and coming back just to face what she fears most. Again and again, a loop of pain and stress. She wants to get out, check on the others and make sure they're okay. Because if she's involved in something like this... maybe her other friends are, too.

She misses them so much it's an ache in her chest. She hopes they're okay, but then again, they're strong. Stronger than she is, at any rate.

Mira takes a moment to catch her breath, several times throughout the maze. She's ready to just lay down and sleep, but she needs to press on. She looks up, if someone approaches, and she offers a weak smile. ]

Are you doing alright?

★ wildcard.

[ plop a starter here, or hit me up on the plotting discord! plotting comment, for reference. ]

[This whole situation has her on edge. Every sound in this unfamiliar maze makes her tense up so much it's almost hard to walk. The sword and torch are both heavy in her hands and she wishes Mira could wield both or that she had left it behind at the entrance. Weapons aren't for her, but she can at least work as a living, breathing inventory pack in case something happens to Mira's sword.

When another person appears, she takes a step back. The flicker of scientist's out of the corner of her eye have made her wary of anyone's appearance and this woman's words-

They're cruel.

Mira seems to recognize her, but Ren can't say the same. It's confusing. It's a mess. She hates to see the look on her friend's face, the shiver in her hand, at those mean things and tries to combat it with quiet words of her own.]

Mira's not a monster. She's not scary at all.

[ "Allura's" eyes narrow, and she looks to Ren. Immediately, Mira steps closer to Ren. She grips the sword harder, and she reaches behind her to touch Ren's shoulder. To squeeze it gently. Everything is alright, she wants to say, but her voice has escaped her. She's scared, because Ren doesn't know.

Mira doesn't want her to know.

"Allura" begins to speak again, and Mira stiffens. ]

Don't-- [ she says, but it's drowned out by the princess.

You have no idea what she is capable of, do you? ]

Stop it, she doesn't have to know! [ Mira says. And it's selfish, so terribly selfish; Ren has every right to know, doesn't she? She should know just what she's dealing with. But... ]

[The surge of fear that hits her is hard to distinguish from her own, but it's cold and scary and smacks into her like a wave. Not that the origins matter, when it all mixes together and keeps her frozen in place.]

I already know-

[The words tumble out, despite her trembling voice. Speaking to mean people in dark, unfamiliar mazes armed with nothing but the bare minimum and the hand of someone you're lucky enough to wake up near isn't ideal. She definitely hates it.]

She's 'capable' of very good things. That's what her good heart is like.

[And she's too scared to say more than that, knowing that this specter is someone they need to get away from. Maybe they can go around? Maybe they don't need to fight? Maybe they can just go back the way they came and hope another path reveals itself, but-

Her feet won't move and she can only hope this person vanishes on their own.]

[ She knows? She isn't sure if Ren knows what she's talking about. She's kept it locked tight, out of fear and anxiety and if someone knows she's been intruding on their feelings-- ]

Ren...

[ Her good heart. Her throat feels tight. Ren is saying such kind things to her, and if she knew...

The thought terrifies her, because Ren believes so much in her and Mira's going to have to hurt her with the truth. The fear is ice in her veins, leaching the color from her face. Mira tries to calm her pounding heart, tries to focus on breathing. But it's hard to, when "Allura" is staring cold daggers at her. Those blue eyes are piercing, haunting, and Mira hates the lack of warmth in them.

Do you truly want to defend someone who manipulates others around her? Who is capable of not only feeling their emotions-- ]

Don't--!

[ --but influences them when she feels like it?

It feels like a slap in the face. She hasn't done that. But the ability to do so is still there... and isn't that just as bad? ]

[There's a split second where fear turns to confusion, as she tries to absorb the startling confession and suddenly-

She really listens. Not to the sound of whatever fake apparition is causing Mira so much distress, but to her friend's heart, her feelings, the terror at being 'found out'- as if that's bad.

As if Ren wouldn't look at her face and, for the first time in a long while, understand what's happening. Emotional manipulation may be a subset of empathy in her world-maybe doctors put that in her for a reason, but Ren doesn't see it as bad. It's not bad to be this way and she lets the sword clatter to the ground, reaching out to grasp Mira's arm.

And if she looks back, there's a smile on her face. And if she listens, Ren's own feelings push through. Something gentle. Warm. An attempt to offer some kind of solace-an emotional blanket for all the panic coursing through her. Ren doesn't have manipulation powers, but she hopes that she can still feel them, despite the barricade around her heart.

Because there's another person like her and she couldn't be happier.]

It's okay. Nothing in your heart-nothing inside it is scary at all. I'm good at telling things like that.

[She grips her arm tighter, hoping she'll turn and look at her.]

I'll defend you-you can hide and listen to my heart for a long time. Until you're not scared anymore.

[She can't defend her in a physical way. Is unable to gather the courage to pick up the sword and fight, but she can allow someone to shut their eyes, offer silent, soothing emotions to calm her spirit and-]

I'll be your Ren armor.

[ She's shaking. She feels sick from fear and worry, but when Ren's hand touches her arm... she doesn't flinch. Because she can feel that warmth an kindness and it's so genuine it nearly knocks the breath from her. Mira likes at Ren with wide eyes, and she sees that smile.

Ren keeps her focus. The apparition is talking, but Mira doesn't hear it. What matters right now, in this moment, is the pure and unyielding affection and acceptance that she feels from Ren. Mira hiccups quietly, and she turns to her. The apparition doesn't matter. She's scared--scared of what the real Allura will think, because she's decided right now to tell her--but how much Ren cares is enough to blot that out.

Mira hugs Ren close, not too tight. She's warm and real and solid, and Mira is happier than she's been in a very long time. ]

Thank you, Ren.

[The thank you is unnecessary and while it's impossible to take her eyes fully off the terrifying stranger, she tries to concentrate on Mira in this moment. She returns the hug-tighter than how Mira is clutching her, to prove that she's there. She's not going anywhere and she'll let those feelings rush into her, for however long it takes to prove that she's not a monster. That she hasn't done anything wrong. That empathy-

It's not something to be ashamed of.]

[ She wants to thank her... but. Carefully, gently, she lets her gratitude be felt. Mira hugs her close, and drops a kiss to the top of Ren's head. She feels how tight Ren is holding onto her, and it anchors her. It gives her strength.

Maybe she is stronger than she thinks. It's not her fault she has this power. And, maybe... it can be used to help people. She hopes so, at least.

She pulls away from Ren. ]

... I'm going to get rid of the phantom... okay? You don't have to watch.

[Mira's gratitude is powerful and it fuels something in her-she doesn't want to let go, wants to keep her tight against her body and wait for the apparition to vanish, because that's what's going to happen, right? It's fine if they ignore it-leave the person be and just wait it out.

But before she can react, Mira's pulling away to-

Get rid of it. The person before them that Mira recognizes. Maybe someone she cares about. Maybe a person she knew in the past. Maybe someone she knows now and-

There's a moment where she reaches out to grab her hand, lightly touching the back of it and pulling back. The happiness in her quickly being replaced with concern and worry and all she can do is-

Shut her eyes. She doesn't want to see what happens next.]

[ She doesn't want to see, either. But... being brave is about facing the hard things. Still, that doesn't mean Ren has to watch. Mira nearly drops a kiss to the top of her head, again, but the phantom of Allura is gazing heat into Mira's back.

She needs to work quickly. If not, she thinks things could get bad. She's not sure if these things can hurt other people, after all. If Ren got hurt, Mira could never forgive herself.

Her grip tightens on the handle of the sword, and she steps forward. Her hands shake, and she feels downright sick about doing this. Because it's Allura--or someone close to Allura, and she hates this. She hates that she has to do this. The more she ruminates on what she has to do, the more she hates herself.

She closes the distance and drives the sword home. It takes only the one stab to rid the labyrinth of the phantom, and Mira lets out a choked sob. It's quiet, but just loud enough that Ren might be able to hear. ]

It's okay. You can look now, Ren, [ she says, and it'd be useless to pretend like she's okay. She doesn't stop her voice from trembling. ]

[Her eyes are so tightly shut that she's seeing lights and spots in that darkness, but she's listening. For any sign that something's going wrong in Mira's battle to face the demons she had been hiding from for so long.

The sob makes her hands involuntarily twitch, as she resists the urge to press her hands against her ears. She wants to look, wants to look, wants to look and doesn't want to see, what might be, a crumpled body in front of her and-

The trembling voice gives her the okay slowly open her eyes, adjusting from one pitch black vision to another and-

She takes a step, then another, then however many more it takes to get back to Mira, wrapping her arms around her friend's body and pressing her face into her back with a-]

You did it.

[Yes, there he is, hard bone feet loud against the floor. A pretty sorry excuse for a hero. The sword provided for him is more of a hindrance than anything--it's heavy and hard to keep balanced. After all, he's never had a reason to pick one up before, and... he's a half-faded skeleton. Exercise isn't going to give him muscle, no matter how hard he tries.

He doesn't like what he sees any more than Mira does. Not again, damn you, Foster.]

Hey! What are you doing here? Stop it!

[Step one, yelling at the flowery walking corpse. Complete!]

[ Oh. Mira stiffens, worried for him more than herself. And yet, she's frozen in place, muscles pulled tight and tense. She doesn't want Héctor to get hurt because of the thing staring her down... and, luckily, it doesn't seem to pay much mind to Héctor.

It just turns its head to look at him, then back to Mira. ]

Y-- [ Her voice sticks tight in her throat, and she takes a sharp breath. ] You should leave, Héctor, I don't want him to hurt you!

[ Because even if it's not shambling toward Héctor, it's still very capable of violence. ]

Are you kidding?

[Sure, get killed so the dead guy lives, makes perfect sense! ...Speaking of, it's probably a good idea for him not to let himself get distracted right now. He steps towards the other dead guy, swinging the torch instead of the sword. It's not so heavy and hey, plants are flammable, right?]

Not really!

[ Even if he is a skeleton, she assumes he can get hurt. And the--truthfully, she hates thinking of it as Lance, because she knows he'd never hurt her, right?--phantom in front of her's killed her twice already. ]

I-I'll be fine! [ liar ] Really, it's okay! [ She was never good at lying; her voice cracks, shatters like brittle glass. ] I can handle this, just--

[ The lie is so unconvincing, it's almost laughable. ]

No, turn around! There has to be another way out!

[It doesn't seem to notice him. He may as well not be here, even after waving flames in its face. He's invisible. So... he circles around the Lance-thing, shoving hard at its back. It might give her a few seconds to make a run for it.]

Come on, I know where there's something that won't fight you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

December Event: No Rest for the Wicked

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