etrayalogs | MISSION 005 (part 1)

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: September 13th-September 27th
WHERE: Throughout Etraya
WHAT: Mission Log!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Horror elements, including fear-inducing landscapes, distorted environments, unseen predators, mental/emotional distress, potential body horror, corruption, possession, brainwashing, and compulsion.

⏵ reality bends ⏴
A strange anomaly has overtaken Etraya. The skies, once familiar, now shift unpredictably, cycling through hues of unnatural colors as an eerie hum fills the air. Tension crackles beneath the surface, leaving an unsettling heaviness across the land. Aurora’s mission announcement offers little clarity—more cryptic than comforting—and she remains unavailable for further explanation.

Reality begins to warp, twisting Etraya into a surreal, haunting reflection of its former self.

The hospital deteriorates into a decaying structure, its halls haunted by phantom patients, endless corridors leading to nowhere. Rooms morph into massive white padded cells where characters may find themselves imprisoned, alone with spectral figures who whisper of treatments yet to come. Some of these apparitions seek the attention of those roaming the hospital, warning them of a dire fate: failure in this mission means not just the death of their worlds, but their souls becoming trapped in this fractured reality, far from home, forever.

The forest transforms into a dark and twisted labyrinth. The trees close in, their branches twisting unnaturally as unseen predators howl from the shadows. Narrow pathways wind through the maze, and while some may navigate unscathed, others will be violently pulled into the depths by horrors lurking just out of sight. Within this twisted forest, a small cottage appears, its walls echoing eerie whispers: "little scorpion," "selfish bitch," and "by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."

The rivers, usually calm, have become a dangerous, volatile force. Their waters churn violently, and inky black tendrils rise from the depths, lashing out at anyone who strays too close. These dark appendages drag their victims beneath the surface, where those who resist must battle their way to freedom. But those who surrender will be drawn into an otherworldly dome beneath the water, surrounded by strange fish, far from where they should be. Inside, they will find an eerie stillness, but their earpieces still allow contact with the world above. A large mirror dominates the dome, offering an uncertain way back.

⏵ shadowy haunts ⏴
Those inside the zones come face to face with an echo of fear - a personalized manifestation of what scares them most. It could be an oppressive figure from their past, or something more abstract, such as the feeling of failure, or isolation. These echoes are relentless, feeding off their weaknesses and digging into what makes them most vulnerable.

The Im'mari hungers, and preying on characters' weaknesses appears to be its chosen way of feeding itself. While characters may become stuck in their nightmares by themselves, some of these nightmares are shared between companions. Characters may become trapped within their friends' fears, or strangers'. However, the emotional distress felt by the individual the nightmare belongs to will affect everyone within the nightmare. An emotional prison built to torment those whom it belongs to, these echoes of fears may test the bond between companions, forcing them to face truths they may have rather avoided touching on. Earpieces will still be functional and may prove to be crucial in assisting characters when it comes to escaping their nightmares.

⏵ contamination ⏴
Im'mari may be weaker than before, but it is slowly regaining power, and the creature’s influence is spreading. It infects the wolves, the plants, and even the very essence of Vanessa Ives (and in addition, Aelwyn Abernant), feeding off the deep-seated fears of those around it.

Im'mari thrives in the shadows of fear and darkness, growing stronger with every moment of doubt, pain, and despair. Its presence lingers beyond the edges of awareness, whispering to its victims, urging them to succumb. Through Vanessa and those she has infected, Im'mari extends its reach, turning once-familiar faces into agents of fear, pushing their companions to the brink.

For those who fall under its sway, the transformation is slow, at first nearly undetectable. Perhaps a friend acts off, says something out of character, or expresses sudden, unprovoked anger. But as Im'mari’s power grows, so does the darkness in its agents, until they are no longer themselves—twisted into something monstrous, compelled to spread fear and destruction.

Welcome to your nightmares. We hope you have a pleasant stay.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. We will be utilizing this post throughout the mission - including when we process the next round of applications, so please keep an eye out for new comments! All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Padmé?"

A voice speak, familiar, and its source not far off: Gorgug, who seems to have found himself in this space with the cottage, standing still after speaking out her name. He does take a few tentative steps forward, but without approaching either of the pair, glancing between them.

There are better questions to ask, better actions to surely take, but something about this moment, the twisted dark energy of it...

"What are you afraid of?" He asks--a question that either of them could answer. A piece of Im'mari lurking underneath his skin; a potential aid to the dark Padmé, if he can't keep his thoughts straight.

They answer at the same time, speaking cryptically:

"Losing him."

"Losing myself."

Padmé, the true Padmé, edges her way to Gorgug's side and breaks eye contact with her darker self. She touches her friend's cheek and looks over him worriedly.

"Gorgug, what's happening?" she can feel the twisted energy seeking to manipulate her, to break her and reform her into the woman wearing black and the blood splatter of another.

Edited 2024-09-29 00:45 (UTC)

For Gorgug, the fear spoken carries in it its own scent that's odorless, but strong. If Padme's pushed more, then it'll produce more; if there's more fear, then that's good. He wants to continue the line of reasoning, his mind going a little blank as something else wants to guide his direction.

Except--Padmé's there, right in front of him, touching his cheek and startling his eyes wide with a confusion. He wasn't expecting this. He blinks a couple of times, and suddenly, the fear is in himself; he looks between the two Padmé's, just to glance at the other.

"It's-- Aurora said there'd be a test." He blinks again, then swallows. Shouldn't they do the test? Isn't that what he wants? "You have to...do something..."

Overcome fears, Aurora had said. But that's not what they want. That's not the right way, is it? They should...be scared.

...what must she do? Padmé recalls a similar test earlier - the one involving facing her mirror self. She has a gun on her, but she is loathe to use it. The other Padmé seems to sense her hesitation and her smile grows crueler.

"I'm worried about you." she decides to ignore her other self for the time being, "I have an idea what I should do - or, rather, what they want me to do." and she doesn't approve of it at all, "Fear can be a teacher. As long as you don't let it overwhelm you... As long as you learn from it..."

Her other self laughs.

"Excuses!"

Edited 2024-09-30 10:53 (UTC)

He wants to tell her she doesn't need to worry, but there's not a chance, and the laugh that rings out seems to leave little room for anything but dealing with the issue at hand. And Padmé's words, perhaps meant for the both of them, but the message seems clear: face your fears.

And there's a disgruntled part inside him, the one that knows what Gorgug wants to say, that's telling him that he shouldn't give Padmé anything--that he should let her suffer this at the hardest it can get. It makes him hesitate for a second, but still, even so:

"You're not alone," Gorgug tells her, nodding, the smile on his face awkward but there. "I faced my fears once. You can, too. Just remember it's a test, even if it really sucks."

This is who she fears she will become. Deep down, Padmé understands this dark queen is a possibility. Ever since Anakin told her about what he did for his mother on Tatooine, she has been frightened of the darkness swallowing them both. If she falls to it, she is certain he will follow.

She is afraid he is already on that path...

Gorgug gives her the support she needs and she turns to face herself, unafraid.

"You will never exist. It's my choice and I will never choose you."

Her darker self's smile fades and then she screams, hatred and bitterness echoing in the sound. Lunging forward, the mad, broken woman tries to throttle her, but Padmé pulls out her gun first. All it takes is one shot and the other woman crumples onto the ground at her feet.

"It's my choice." she repeats softly.

Instinctively, he wants to get in front of Padmé when the other version of her lunges--but there's another part of him that keeps him back, before he even sees the gun that comes out that gives him the reason to stay put. His face is a grimace, looking at the dropped Padmé, still looking like the other woman despite everything unlike her in person.

The area around them feels unnervingly quiet after that scream, or at least to Gorgug. He looks at Padmé, a small grimace on his face.

"Are you okay? ...Do you think that's enough?"

The hand holding the gun shakes and Padmé refuses to lower the weapon. Gorgug's question - particularly the last one - brings to light her fear. There is a darkness about her other self and though she isn't a Sith, evil is difficult to kill.

Just as that fear sends a chill to her core, her other self groans and begins to push herself up. There is blood on her lips and hatred in her eyes.

"You can't kill me without killing yourself." she smiles wickedly and pushes herself onto her knees, "Are you expecting him to save you?"

"No. Gorgug, stay behind me." Padmé speaks, forcing herself to be calm, "If a part of me let you exist in any universe, I will take responsibility."

Of course it wouldn't be that easy. As Padmé lets back in her fear, brings with it life back into the body of her doppelgänger, even he feels its effect. The solution is right there. If Padmé wants to get rid of this, then the answer isn't to shoot a fake--

He tries to push the thought down, deep down, more disturbed by how little he is freaked out by it. His feet do move him back though, because he doesn't want to interfere, because Padmé asks. But he can't help but be the voice of doubt, asking anxiously,

"How are you going to get rid of her? You can't shoot her. You can't... shoot yourself." No, she can't. "What are you going to do?"

He sounds more panicked than she does, looking at the back of Padmé's head, but more and more, he looks at the figure of her anxieties. What if they won?

Shouldn't they win?

MISSION 005 (part 1)

Shadowy Haunts

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