MISSION 005 PT 2 & ARRIVALS

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: September 27th-???
WHERE: Throughout Etraya
WHAT: New Arrivals! With a side of mission 005.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Horror elements, including fear-inducing landscapes, distorted environments, unseen predators, mental/emotional distress, potential body horror, corruption, possession, brainwashing, and compulsion.

⏵ disrupted arrival ⏴ Your arrival does not go as anticipated. Aurora, the AI that keeps Etraya in order, had been overtaken by the Im'mari earlier in the month, her systems corrupted by its influence. While efforts have been made to save her from succumbing to it, much of the city is still in disrepair. New arrivals will not awaken in pristine hospital rooms, but will instead awaken within the Dhaliwal-to-wall Bookstore. Cots are laid on the ground surrounded by books. Kneeling beside them is a woman - or rather, Aurora, with her new body that is vaguely similar to the makeup of those from Connor's world. Her features are strangely serene, with light hair framing her face. Those capable may recognize that she is machine, rather than flesh and blood. Beside her, a vital monitor thrums as it monitors the newcomers, checking them over for any abnormalities that may require her attention. Those who may have arrived injured will find their wounds well-tended to. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." Her voice is steady, tinged with something almost apologetic. She offers a slight smile, looking over her charges. "We are in the midst of a mission that has... gotten out of hand. My name is Aurora. You have been chosen to protect your home world, and I am here to assist you in achieving that goal. The multiverse has begun to fall apart, and Echo will only be able to protect some of them. You are here to show them the importance of protecting your world." She will remain to answer questions for those who respond to her politely in turn. For those who opt to be unkind, Aurora will simply shake her head in disappointment and pull herself up to her feet, moving to check on her next charge, if any remain. Otherwise, she has other matters to attend to. Each newcomer is given an earpiece to connect them to the others residing on Etraya before they exit the bookstore. Welcome to your new home. ⏵ into the fractured city ⏴ Once the initial shock of arrival wears off, they're left with the daunting reality that is Etraya: a collection of islands teetering on the edge of collapse, still reeling under the influence of the Im'mari. The streets outside are eerily quiet, but signs of life and activity are scattered throughout the city. Aurora provides a moment to gather their bearings, but the weight of her words hangs in the air: there is no time for complacency here. Etraya may be fractured, but it is still home. For now. Whispers of Im'mari's influence linger in the city, and numerous individuals who have been drafted have become infected by it. Faint shadows seem to move just beyond sight, strange echoes sound in the empty alleys of Nova City, the hospital appears to be temporarily taken over by something otherworldly, and while many within the city are beginning to figure out their next steps in taking care of what's happening, others are left reeling, consumed by the fears that haunt them. It may be wise to scout out a few safe zones among the untouched areas of Etraya. Ramsey Farm seems to remain... mostly peaceful, outside of the havoc caused by Mena the goat. The catacombs under the city proper also seem to have escaped Im'mari's notice - for now. And while it may be covered in snow and cold, the Wolf Cove also seems to be relatively peaceful. Outside of safe zones, others who have been present in the city for long may provide useful information, if one were to seek them out. There are strange objects imbued with dark magic hidden throughout Etraya by Gorgug and placed strategically to affect those who come into contact with them. Those who are perceptive enough may be able to find and neutralize these objects before they spread further terror. With enough effort, perhaps things will return to normal. ⏵ whispered influence ⏴ The air in Etraya is charged with tension, thick with the weight of something ancient and malevolent. Whatever it is has already begun warping the landscape, but what lurks behind the shifting reality is far worse. Im'mari, a fragment of the cosmic horror that ravaged Moorecroft through the night, managed to follow those who returned to Etraya on their journey back home. Its insidious presence creeps through the city like a shadow that refuses to lift. This isn't just a fight against fear. It's a slow devouring, a feeding on the darkness that lingers in every corner of your mind. Im'mari is not a distant beast; its very essence has embedded itself into the heart of Etraya, infecting wolves, plants, and even a few of those who currently call Etraya home. Its influence spreads like a whisper in the night, quiet at first, almost imperceptible. But with each passing moment, with each shudder that goes through one's spine as they face their fears, it grows stronger. The more one struggles, the more it feeds. Can you feel it? The weight of it pressing in? ⏵ through the veil ⏴ The whispers grow louder. Perhaps you see it in your friends. A little shift in their tone, the way they hesitate before speaking. Or perhaps it's something deeper--subtle changes, things you'd never normally question. Maybe they seem more irritable or doubt themselves in a way that feels foreign. You wonder: is this just the strain of the mission? Or is it something darker? "It's easier if you just give in." And the more you listen, the more your world bends. You swear you hear something--a voice, someone calling out to you. Or was it just the wind? The scent of blood hangs in the air, though when you search, you can't find its source. Suddenly you see it on the walls--a message, a memory from your past--something that grips you with a cold fear. It settles deep in your gut, but it's too late. The image lingers at the edges of your vision. Your mind is playing tricks on you, isn't it? Or is it something else? The longer you linger in the halls of the apartment complex, marketplace, or the hospital, the more the world twists around you. Objects shift in your peripheral vision - did that lamp just move? Did that thing lingering just at the edge of your peripheral vision just speak your name? Im'mari is everywhere now, its influence seeping into the very walls. While Aurora has been freed from its web and continues to work to regain control of her city, Im'mari tightens its grip, refusing to give in. The stairs creep beneath your feet, the scent of rot clings to the food in the diner, and the hospital's medical rooms are empty... or are they? Was that a scalpel, or something else? Paranoia begins to creep in, the lines between reality and illusion blurring the longer Im'mari maintains control. And grows bolder. Words, sounds, and images warp the world around you. Faces appear in the shadows. Scents that shouldn't exist hang in the air, triggering memories you'd long since buried. Blood, ocean waves, familiar voices fading in and out. The longer you stay in these places, the more paranoia seeps in, eroding your defenses and wearing you down. Many objects may seem harmless, but Gorgug's magic has imbued them with dark energy. As you pass them, the whispers begin. A stair creaks underfoot and suddenly you're back within a memory. A stone shifts, and you catch a glimpse of something that shouldn't be there. These objects are traps, set to trigger the worst within you. Each time a memory comes to life, it seems to warp the world around you - the hallways stretch, the lights flicker out, and you're certain someone is following you. The paranoia builds, a creeping dread that won't leave. You have to find the source. Break the spell, or endure it continuing to spread. ⏵ cottage in the woods ⏴ As you travel deeper into the twisted forest, the air grows heavier, more oppressive. The scorpions that guard the way to the cottage scuttle through the trees, their pincers sharp as they block your path. Vanessa lingers there, her appearance changed, eyes glowing a fiery red. Black veins pulse beneath her skin with the same dark energy that courses through the Im'mari. Along with her are her guardians, ready to fight to defend her. The closer you get to her, the more distorted the forest becomes. Light blinks in and out, disorienting you. You're not sure which way is forward, and the scorpions hiss from the shadows, attempting to lead you away. But you must keep going. Vanessa stands at the heart of it all - broken, feral, lashing out at anyone who dares to approach. If you get too close, you'll hear the whispers. "They see evil in you. You're no different." If confronted, she may call upon her magic, using Verbis Diablo. But if you act fast, you can attempt to stop her before the words take hold. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ There is a header for new arrivals if they wish to talk with Aurora! For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. Please keep an eye out for new comments, as we have many new characters and players arriving! All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[maximumlegend]

[ Stuck together. Well - there is a truth in that. If he hadn't punched Gorgug on the first day of school, then where would they be now? Fabian would have gotten detention either way because Daybreak and the other guys at Bloodrush were being huge assholes, but Gorgug likely wouldn't have. Gorgug wouldn't have died in the cafetaria. He might have joined another party entirely. Maybe they never would have interacted again.

But none of that matters. Because Fabian did punch him, and Gorgug did end up part of their party, and Fabian doesn't think any of his words right now are true. Maybe he would have been willing to believe them a little more a few weeks or months ago, but this is clearly not the Gorgug who promised him to stick by him, who seemed so careful about not hurting Fabian's feelings in that regard again.

This is just something inside of Gorgug looking for something to weaponize. ]

Sorry, but it's entirely too late to try and quit our friendship now.

[ It's a little less serious, a touchy of something more like Fabian's usual cockiness in it, but he's--

He's thinking, actually. He's thinking of what to do here. He's heard talk going around of what's wrong with people when they turn like this. Something like an infection, something about cutting it out, but-- where is he supposed to find that on Gorgug? He certainly won't find it standing on this side of the counter, he has to get closer to the other, but that means getting into axe range.

God, if it wasn't for the fact that Shadowheart seems just as far gone as Gorgug, he should've brought her along. At least hold person might have helped here for once.

The hope that he can convince Gorgug to voluntarily let Fabian help him is very, very small, given the state of things and the other's growing aggression, but this feels like the only time Fabian has left to try and pull it out of the other. If Gorgug full on goes into a rage, it'll be too late. ]

You can say whatever you want, but I know the truth. You like being friends with me. And you don't like being like this. So why don't we end that here?

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug's limbs twitch, a sound catching in his throat that's nearly a grunt, but also something almost spoken before it's cut off. His gaze doesn't move off from Fabian, although it seems like it wants to, with the way the muscles of his face fight against some expression, or some direction, that he can't agree with in himself.

It just upsets Gorgug further, and he takes another step--then skids against the oil that's ringed around his feet. He tries to catch his balance, slaps his hand down on the table to grab it, but falls anyway into an awkward, kneeling topple when his axe keeps the blade upright until the last second. He disappears out of sight where he falls, and he hisses out a sound of annoyance--less from any pains suffered, and more from his position. More because of Fabian there, his words still in Gorgug's head, and how he just wants him to-- ]

Shut up... [ He puts a hand against the floor, feels the oil slick reach even by his knees. Grabs at the shelving under the table, knocking off metal bowls, not finding any good purchase. ] Shut up. You don't know what I like. I'll be an asshole if I have to be-- I'm sick of this place. I'm sick of everything in it!

[ If only he can get up, put his hand up higher to use the table to support him before he falls again. If Fabian comes around to the kitchen side, he might have a chance to do something: with Gorgug's axe bent in a position that points its handle out towards the direction he comes in from, and Gorgug down on his knees. And he's distracted by his frustration, not still yet a rage.

There's a gamble to be had--and is Fabian a gambling man? ]

[maximumlegend]

[ It's not even a matter of whether he is one or not - though, let's be real, Fabian is and always will be a gambling man - when there's no choice here. He can't just leave Gorgug like this. That thing that's going around the place has clearly gotten to Gorgug, and if Fabian doesn't do something about it now, then who will? Would Gorgug just have to keep on going like this until there's some bigger solution to the entire situation?

Fabian can't wait for that. Not when it's his friend's wellbeing on the line. Not when Gorgug could go after more people on top of it.

So he does move around the counter. Fabian is already thinking as he does, realizing the biggest problem here is the axe. Not that Gorgug still doesn't win out in strength even without a weapon, but Fabian is a little more confident in his ability to do something against the rest of Gorgug's physique than about that axe. Not much he can do after he's split in two by it.

He moves over closer, initially careful of the oil to avoid ending up in the same position as Gorgug. The half-elf is headed directly for the axe, wrapping both of his hands around the handle - look, maybe some people can lift this thing one-handed, but those people aren't named Fabian Aramais Seacaster who uses a sword that's based on dexterity rather than strength - and with a little bit of help from Gorgug's oily and slippery hands it doesn't take too much to lodge the thing out of the other's slight grip and just.. chuck it.

Fabian doesn't even look to see where it's going. It takes enough of his strength to just get it out of here, he can't waste the extra effort that it takes to actually decide where it goes. Just getting it away from here is good enough.

The weapon smashes through the glass as it flies out into the main part of the diner, sliding across the ground until it's stopped by a table somewhere near the exit. Considering Fabian is still standing, he's not quite as shielded from the glass as Gorgug is, but he doesn't even pay mind to the piece of glass he can feel cut his cheek as it flies past, drawing a thin line of blood there. His attention is still on Gorgug, because getting his weapon away from him is only step one of this plan.

Step two is doing something about Gorgug's condition. Fabian has heard people say something about whatever is changing people being visible somewhere on him, but Fabian can't see a thing but the usual green skin. Is it hidden somewhere? Does he have to look for it?

.. this feels a little ridiculous, but if it's what he has to do for a friend--

Then Fabian moves downwards, flying at Gorgug like he's attempting to tackle the other fully to the ground. He's just accepting the fate of being stuck in this frying oil spill together with his friend. It's fine, he just-- He has to find the mark, cut it out, then it'll all be fine. They can just recount this much later as some ridiculous tale, and it'll be fine.

So the moment they're on the ground together, Fabian attempting to straddle Gorgug to keep him from getting up, he's also shoving his hands right underneath Gorgug's hoodie in an attempt to lift it up.

This is all very normal. Don't question it. No one question it. This is an important emergency operation!! ]

[tinflower]

[ The disorientation, the buzzing in his head, makes the axe handle slip far easier than it should from his hand, making it drop to the ground. He swears at this, the fuck! far from subtle, the threat of a rage from the way it comes out of his throat: like he's done with this, he can't take it. But he still has to deal with his current position as well, and so Gorgug scrambles to at least put his weight on his knees, thoughts of tackling Fabian, grabbing him, becoming like a need in his head.

Unfortunately for him, Fabian gets to it first.

It pushes back more than Gorgug's body, his head slamming into the tiling with the rest of him. Any rage, the cacophony of its music, fizzles against the shooting pain that floods his head instead. ]

What.... Fabi...

[ Skin meets skin in an unnatural place, and Gorgug breathes in sharply as his gut wants to withdraw from the accidental touch, a small moan releasing--from the dull sensation inside his head, not knowing what's going on. But he reorients, sees Fabian's figure above and on him, and he sucks in a breath before kicking up one of his legs to push Fabian's weight forward just an inch.

It does nothing to stop Fabian, although the fact that Gorgug is now on his back and pinning his own hoodie won't let him hitch it up farther than around his stomach. And there's the fact that Gorgug still has control of his arms, and he just needs to grab Fabian somewhere, anywhere--the sleeve of an arm, a fistful of his shirt at his chest--to yank Fabian forward, pulling him down on top of him. So that risen leg bent at the knee can draw in more, make it harder for Fabian to move back.

All so that Gorgug can grab some part of his face, clutch at it or at his hair to have them look face to face--just long enough for Gorgug to spit right at him. ]

[maximumlegend]

[ Fabian does feel guilty when he hears the sound of Gorgug slamming against the hard ground like that. Sure, Gorgug is strong, and sure, he takes way less damage than any of them, but that doesn't mean Fabian feels great about having to be a little rough here and hurting his friend in the process.

There's no time to think about it though. No time to apologize. Fabian is far too busy trying to lift up Gorgug's hoodie to see if he can spot what he's looking for underneath there - a task that isn't made much easier by Fabian attempting to keep the other pinned down to the ground at the same time, but these are just the circumstances he's working with.

Of course Gorgug isn't just letting it happen though. Of course not even a single thing can be easy for Fabian here, and before the guy knows it he's already pulled off-balance by the other, pulled down against him, and then there's a wetness in his face that Fabian immediately recognizes despite the chaotic nature of the situation, despite how quickly everything is happening. ]

Seriously?! [ Despite how serious all of this is, there's a bit of a whine in the question, a bit of offense, because-- out of all things Gorgug could be thinking of right now, he's mimicking their spar?! ] Just-- Just stop! Hold still! If you hold still for just a minute or two, I can make everything you're dealing with end!

[ He does manage to shake off the other's hold on his face, quickly wiping with an arm at his face to get the spit off, but trying to sit back up is way more difficult with how Gorgug is intentionally trying to stop him from doing so.

Fabian is still going to attempt to do so though. And if he can't, then he's just hoping that maybe the thing he's looking for along Gorgug's skin isn't something that can only be seen, but also something that can be felt - because he's still going to further move his hands up under the other's clothes, feeling up the skin underneath to see if he can just find it. That's all he has to do. He just has to find it, and then everything will be okay. Riz won't get hurt anymore, Gorgug will go back to normal, he just-- Fabian just has to make it work. ]

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug, for his part, barks a laugh at Fabian's disbelief; a sound that's short and choked, because he isn't just laying back and taking any of this. Fabian wants to wrestle to get his hands under Gorgug's layers to find what he wants, but Gorgug smacks back his arms and traps them against Fabian himself, pinning them, though not in a way that Fabian can't ease them out and then try again to do what he wants.

But maybe Fabian should care more about what his other arm is doing, or the fact that he's so closed in, that it's easy for Gorgug to reach around the back of Fabian's head and to grab a fistful of his hair, gripping in and doing the most logical action in this scenario:

Smashing Fabian's face right against Gorgug's own.

It's not kind (what kindness is there in smashing one's face into anything?). Their foreheads are the targets, but the force of it smashes their noses together, the impact ringing through Gorgug's teeth and the pain blossoming across his face. Even he chokes on a sob from it, unable to initially let out any other sound from his senses become dizzied. But he hasn't let go of Fabian's mess of hair, and he drags his head back with a trembling limb, his motor skills not entirely lined from the shake he gave his brain. He gasps with the separation, but that too is short--he closes his mouth up quickly.

Because he does it a second time. Like he wants to smash both of their skulls in. Like this is what the anger gripping him--or the madness that that attacked Riz, and sent Fabian to Gorgug--has decided it wants, even with the blood vessels bursting in Gorgug's own nose.

And he even starts to laugh, as he brings Fabian's head back a second time. Fabian might want to try and get loose before he does it again, the grip on his hair tight, but his mobility with his arm itself not as rigid. ]

[maximumlegend]

[ When Fabian started growing out his hair, he mostly thought of it as an aesthetics thing - especially when he it feels like he started reinventing himself midway through sophomore year, after he started to dance. It only felt appropriate to adjust his look a little bit to go along with it.

In the process he apparently never stopped to think about how it could be used against him. Like so, for example. It probably would've been less painful if Gorgug just grabbed his head to smash their foreheads together. Sure, it would have hurt like hell still, but at least Fabian wouldn't have the sharp pain of his hair getting yanked around on top of it.

The world is spinning after the initial smash, but Fabian isn't going to let it stop him. Or he's going to try to, anyway. If one smash of their heads is enough to do this, he doesn't want to sit here and think about what a second one could do. He can already feel some blood dripping out of his nose as-is.

But escaping isn't so easy when your half-orc friend whose strength easily beats yours is trying to hold onto you in so many ways, is it.

So Fabian is forced to do something he really didn't want to do here. He didn't come here with the intention of hurting Gorgug, but-- what use is it if he doesn't fight back? If he just lets this happen? Even more so when Riz is so weak right now, when he needs Fabian.

He manages to wriggle one arm free, holds it out in the direction of Gorgug's face - thankfully not close enough to his own yet for a second headsmash - and casts Pyrotechnics, releasing a stream of exploding fireworks from his hand.

Fabian is definitely going for 'not close enough for it to destroy Gorgug's face, but close enough to be disorienting', but-- you know. Head spinning and all. Who knows how accurately he can aim right now, even though he's really doing his best to not let it hurt Gorgug too much. ]

[tinflower]

[ The attack does what it's meant to, and perhaps more than intended; because Gorgug opens his eyes just a squint to keep their heads aligned, and so for that level of care in the smashing of heads: fireworks blow off in his eyes.

And that does get Gorgug to not go for a second headbutting round. But with Gorgug's grip in Fabian's hair as tight as it is, he still yanks at it, pulling the other sideways some inches before his hand manages to get free, and Gorgug rolls himself over, covering his arm over the side of his face. It stings more than anything to his head, his bones, a different kind of pain that shoots through him with the damage to his cornea.

It hurts, and a painful cry can be heard under the muffled space he's got himself in. It sounds genuine, real. It is.

...but he starts to laugh through it again, picking up from where he left off; like he truly finds something about this funny. The upset hasn't completely left from his voice; he chokes on it, sounded dazed and so out of it, as he starts to lift his upper body up by his arms. Using one to put a hand over his injured eye, because it hurts to have opened to any light.

And still: ]

Hahaha, hahaha--....! Fabian... How about we kill each other? Do you think you can kill me first? Do you know, haha!, I told Riz I'd kill him dead! I'd kill him so... they could never bring him back!

I'm gonna kill him...! I'm gonna kill him if you don't stop me!

[ He speaks, all the while deciding to use his concentration on moving to get his legs under him, and he stays there for a moment, hunched up after his confession. Giggles erupting from his throat, ending on another choke that sounds close to a sob.

And then his head starts making small lurching motions, like the start of throwing up. But all he brings up are sounds, miserable cries, as he slowly shakes his head side to side, as his shoulders start to tremble. He slams down the hand covering over his eye to the ground, a half-opened slap, that then gets harder and harder with each consecutive thunk, thunk, thunk into the ground. His sounds become more guttural, more of a yell, as his knuckles start to break apart the floor tiling into cracks and into splinters.

As he starts going into an undeniable rage. ]

[maximumlegend]

[ Fabian feels bad.

He does. Sure, he's been taught all his life that violence is the answer to pretty much all your problems, and there's no doubt that he has internalized at least part of that, but it doesn't feel right at all here. No matter what, Fabian has never wanted to hurt a friend. He doesn't want to hear those pained sounds from Gorgug, and yet.. he needed it. He needed it, because this distraction is the only way Gorgug is finally letting go of him, it's the only way Fabian can manage to drag himself to his feet.

His own head still hurts too. It's a pounding pain, like a terrible migraine, and it's only the fact that he's so naturally nimble that renders him able to stand up on his feet and move at all, even though it feels like he's on a ship with the way the world tilts back and forth.

He opens his mouth, wanting to speak. Wanting to tell Gorgug he didn't mean to hurt him, that he doesn't want this, that he just wanted to help. He still wants to help, but the more Gorgug speaks, the more Fabian realizes he's lost his chance. There's no reasoning with this Gorgug. If he stays here, then it'll just mean Gorgug will hurt him more - and hurt himself more too in the process. It won't help anyone.

The only thing he can do in this moment to protect both of his friends is to stay away from Gorgug for the moment, and to protect Riz.

It still doesn't feel good. Fabian isn't sure if it's the dizziness causing the nausea, or just all the bad feelings from this encounter, but something really makes him feel like he has to throw up. He manages to keep it in, but he can feel his stomach burn when he leaves the diner without saying a word, hearing the sounds of an enraged Gorgug somewhere behind him.

Fabian hardly even remembers getting onto the Hangman and driving away. His memory of all this will only become clearer later - when he's gotten some painkillers against this massive headache, and when he's vowed to keep an eye on a terrified Riz, not allowing Gorgug to get anywhere near him for the time being while Fabian tries to figure out a different plan to help his half-orc friend. ]