003) Abandon Hope, Ye Who Enter Here etc.

[abyssbound]

Who: Asura and YOU
Which: Open Interactive Dream log/mingle
What: A dream of the Abyss drags in a few hapless Dreamwalkers
Warnings: Canon-typical violence, mainly. Will add more if needed.

[In the middle of the night, a few dream lanterns will light up with the telltale glow of a channeled dream. It isn't immediately obvious just who is the source of this dream, but if the viewer leans in just a bit too close to get a better look, they might accidentally find themselves pulled right in, and land in a place that can only be described as 'the darkest pits of Hell.']

A. The Hell of Fire
[True to its name, the Hell of Fire is a cavernous pit with not an ounce of light save for the lava flows that wind slowly through its depths in lethal rivers. There is no water in this place, only lakes of blood. Scattered over the path are bones and piles of sticky viscera, the remains of monsters that met messy ends at the hands of something more ferocious than themselves. All around are the sounds of howling and screams as the denizens of this abyss hunt down and devour one another. In between the inhuman screams, one might occasionally hear a wail of "Lord Mara!" as if beseeching some unseen master for mercy.

Watch your step and be aware of your surroundings at all times lest you run afoul of something with sharp teeth and an insatiable hunger for the flesh of the living...

Somewhere in this labyrinth of lava tubes and monsters grows a single blood-red lotus flower, glowing conspicuously in the darkness. Finding and touching this flower will eject the Dreamwalker from the dream, and free them from the Abyss.]

B. The Hell of Ice
[If you manage to find your way through the labyrinthine Hell of Fire without finding the flower (or just landed here to begin with), you'll find yourself in a place that couldn't be any more different from the Hell of Fire save for how miserable it is--the Hell of Ice.

In contrast to the Hell of Fire, the Hell of Ice is a wide-open frozen wasteland dotted with ice sculptures that, when examined more closely, reveal themselves to be the frozen-solid corpses of demons and marginally more humanoid beings, stuck forever in a snapshot of death. Some of the more ghastly images depict the dead frozen while tearing the skin and flesh from their own bodies. Even those with fire abilities will find themselves struggling to keep warm, as the cold of the Hell of Ice is unnatural, sapping the magic and energy from everything within it. Dreamotion magic is the only thing that can prevent a Dreamwalker from joining the ranks of the ice sculptures that make up the landscape.

As in the Hell of Fire, somewhere in this field of ice grows a single blood-red lotus flower. Finding and touching this flower will free the Dreamwalker and eject them from the dream back into Songerein.]

[Notes: Work together to find your way out of the Abyss and free yourselves from the dream by finding the red lotus flowers hidden within the Hells of Fire and Ice. Though this is Asura's dream, this fact will not be known to those who fall into it, and Asura himself will not appear in any recognizable form within the dream, but they may encounter the dreaded Lord Mara, King of the Abyss, if they are truly unlucky...]

Comments

Asura | OPEN

[abyssbound]

[In the deepest pit of the Abyss Prison sits a throne made of bones, upon which slouches a tall man with long, white hair. He is the Lord Mara that the monsters within the Abyss fear and revere, and to those who somehow managed to find their way here to his throne, he gazes upon with unmistakable irritation.]

You must be extremely lost if you've found your way to me. [He sneers before standing up from his throne and rolling his shoulders to loosen them up, his joints popping loudly in the otherwise silent pit.] Unless you found me intentionally, in which case you must be extremely stupid. Which is it?

[shakra]

[ the lord mara is a familiar face; taishakuten would know him anywhere, from those gleaming red eyes to the molten veins, the crushing weight of his energy. he stops just paces before that immense, majestic throne, looking up at him.

this is a dream, he knows, but whose? he hadn't so much as sensed the lord mara's presence in this world, and yet -- ]

I banished you. Why are you here?

[abyssbound]

[Well, if this isn't a treat. "Lord Mara" chuckles darkly upon seeing who his guest is and he sits back down in a careless slouch, resting his elbow upon the arm of his throne, and his head upon his closed fist.]

Don't recognize where you are? This is the Abyss Prison. Why would I be anywhere else?

[It isn't what Taishakuten is asking and he knows it, but he is just as capable of playing word games as the slipperiest of the nobles of Old Zenken.]

[shakra]

[ abyss prison? no, no, this is farthest thing from it, even though taishakuten feels the crushing, incredible force of his spiritual energy.

he steps forward boldly, tilting his head. ]

This is a realm of your own making.

[ he can feel it -- the lotuses that bloom under his feet as he walks are blood red, and taishakuten stops at the foot of his throne. ] Do you like twisting and turning around my words?

[abyssbound]

[The Mara quirks an eyebrow and stands up again as Taishakuten brazenly approaches him, that smirk of his never fading.]

Of my making, really? Are you so certain this isn't your own? [He raises a hand and points at Taishakuten's chest, and at once the Celestial King will feel the embedded shard of Mara's Spiritual Entity pulse inside him.]

Did you forget about my little souvenir already?

[shakra]

[ taishakuten grimaces, the powerful pulse of the embedded shard making him clench up tight -- this thing that's inside him, an encroachment, an abomination --

-- he grips at it, fingers digging as if he could rip it from his chest (as if he hadn't tried, again and again). ]

I will tear it out of me one day, mark my words, demon king. This place is not for you to corrupt.

[lonelysmiles]

Curiosity! As for stupidity, well, that's a subjective term, isn't it? Could be stupidity, could be madness, could even be both, my good fellow!

[A laugh track plays after Alastor's words as he saunters towards the throne. Throne of bones, scary expression, the screams of the damned...Most would be cowering in terror, but not Alastor. No, he'd been in Hell for far too long for such things to terrify him anymore. Considering some of his fellow overlords like this particular aesthetic, it's familiar to Alastor.]

You've interesting choice in decoration! Been a while since I've seen a whole throne of bones, not just a few used as accents! Are you the jailer or another prisoner? Or both?

[Alastor steps on a stray bone on the floor. He grabs the part not under his shoe and pulls until it snaps. He tsk's as he studies the breakage.]

Brittle and not even a hint of marrow left. Not my taste.

[And he tosses the broken bone over his shoulder as he faces Asura, grin never faltering.]

[abyssbound]

[Though Alastor is a man familiar to Asura, no recognition shows on the Mara's face as he stares him down and tolerates his antics. The bone Alastor tosses echoes loudly off the stone walls, cutting sharply through the relative quiet of the Mara's cell.]

As of now, I am nothing more than the strongest prisoner in this Abyss. [He explains, pointing upward. Though difficult to see in the dark, there is a transparent barrier visible a short distance above the two of them.]

That barrier keeps me sealed here, but it is selectively permeable. It will not prevent you from leaving.

[lonelysmiles]

[Alastor folds his hands behind his back as he tilts his head back to look up at the barrier.]

Oh, I highly doubt that. Unless your prison is willing to overlook certain proclivities of mine.

[He lowers his head to look at Asura, tilting his head to one side.]

So do your bone donors come willingly or are they forced to meet with you?

[abyssbound]

The barrier is attuned to me specifically, you may pass through it unimpeded. [The Abyss depths are a cell for him alone.

The Mara falls gracelessly back into his chair and tosses a half-broken skull down the corridor from which Alastor had entered.]

Willing and foolish. Weak demons with delusions of defeating me to prove themselves stronger.

[His tone reflects weariness and irritation, but the look in his eyes is that of stern warning.]

[lonelysmiles]

[Alastor gives a polite chuckle.]

I'm a man seeking entertainment, not potential erasure. As such I know better than to pick fights that I'm not confident I'll win. If this were my Hell, I might consider the attempt just for a laugh.

No no no no no! I would much rather sit back and watch some other fool make the attempt only to end up having his entrails used as garlands.

(Take a lamb to the slaughter xD)

[thousandcraneswish]

[ Chizuru swallows as she stands before the eerie throne, more alarmed by that image than the sight of the white-haired king. The sneer, however, causes her to stiffen and bring her chin up to face this dream/nightmare. She’s distinctly reminded of someone else back home. She didn't yield to him. she wouldn't to this one, either. ]

I might be lost here, but I am not stupid.

[ This is her first time falling into a dream, and right now, she’s unsure if this is very strange dream she created after the Halloween dreamscape or if she’s wandered into another’s. Theoretically, either is possible. What matters now is to remain calm. ]

Oh nooooo

[abyssbound]

[The Lord Mara lets out an amused "hmph" as he quirks an eyebrow.]

Ignorant then, maybe. [His bare feet don't seem to feel the sharp bone shards beneath them as he steps forward, crushing them beneath.] Do you know whose name it is that the monster-gods wail? Whose name those sinners of the Abyss cry out for the mercy of oblivion?

[thousandcraneswish]

[ Chizuru starts at that sound and takes a step back. She hadn't realized that the ground was covered in bones, too. This is a really creepy setting. But then, her spine stiffens and she stands her ground again. Cowering got her nowhere in the past. It wouldn't help now in her own head. ]

No, but I suppose you're going to tell me. ( She declares in a firm voice. )

[abyssbound]

You didn't hear them as you stumbled your way here? They cry it incessantly. [The mountain of a man stretches out his arms to either side of him and stands still to allow the noises of the Hell of Fire to filter into his "throne room", if it could be called that. It's faint, but the screams of "Lord Mara! The Destroyer!", can just be made out, cutting through the silence once he stops moving. After a few seconds, he drops his arms back to his sides.]

"Lord Mara", they plead, as if invoking my name would grant them a release from the agony that is an Abyssal existence. And yet, some of them have found such a release. [He kicks a cracked, scorched skull toward Chizuru with just enough force for it to come to a stop before her feet.]

A. The Hell of Fire | open

[multidisciplinary]

[ Whether by luck or by accident, Zelda has never been drawn into someone's dream before. But after the month or so she has been in Songerein, Zelda is at least familiar with the phenomenon of Dreamwalkers being pulled into each other's dreams at times. So when she finds herself abruptly standing in the lightless Hell of Fire---when, moments earlier, she had been laying in bed glancing at her lantern---Zelda has an inkling of what just happened to her. ]

[ Unfortunately, knowing she's in a dream isn't enough to keep her calm as she hears the screams of agony all around her, coming from unseen sources hidden in the darkness. The stream of lava to her left only provides enough light for Zelda to see the area around her feet: slick and lumpy with viscera, droplets of blood already splattering her sandaled feet. ]

It's a dream. [ Zelda tries to concentrate, thinking about what she's learned about dreamwalking since her arrival. ] All you have to do is find a way to wake up.

[ Easier said than done in this hellscape. The sickening iron smell of warm blood is cloyingly thick, impossible to ignore. But ignore it, she must. ] It's not that different from the seal.

[ First things first: If she's going to find a way to wake up, she needs light to see. Zelda extends a hand in front of her and a shimmering orb of golden-white light blooms in her palm. It's about the size of a grapefruit, and glows steadily for a few moments, before abruptly shrinking to the size of a pea. The princess grumbles under her breath and closes her eyes, focusing on the light. The orb grows again, to the size of a cherry, then a baseball, then back down to a cherry. ]

[ Doubtless the flickering light is bound to attract attention. But will it be friend or foe who finds the defenseless princess first? ]

[lonelysmiles]

The rivers of lava and lakes of blood are certainly homey! Could use with a bit more light though!

[As if cued, two glowing orbs appear ahead of Zelda, a pair of red eyes over a smiling mouth.]

[Alastor steps calmly through the viscera. This wasn't the first time he'd strolled through the aftermath of a mass slaughter. Quite frankly, he was typically the cause of such things when it wasn't Execution Day.]

Hello there! I saw your little light and got curious! If this is your dream, my dear, you have intriguing taste in nightmares!

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda gasps, startling at the sight of Alastor's glowing eyes in front of her. Her concentration is only broken for a moment, but that's enough for the little light in her palm to shrivel up and vanish. She's left illuminated only by the red glows of the lava and the demon. ]

I-It isn't mine. [ She can't keep a quiver out of her voice, even though she's trying to be brave. ] My lantern woke me and I found myself here.

This isn't your dream either? [ Zelda squints a little. She can't get a very clear look at Alastor, but he certainly looks like he belongs here. ] And if you know this is a dream, you must not be part of it either.

[lonelysmiles]

[Alastor applauds.] Very good, my dear! This isn't my dream either but I've yet to meet our most twisted host!

[He gives a sweeping bow before holding out one hand to her.]

Alastor! Pleasure to meet you, my dear, quite a pleasure!

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda feels a little like she's being patronized, but this is hardly the time or place to bring that up. It wouldn't take a genius to guess that Alastor is probably more than just another trapped dreamwalker and Zelda isn't prepared to risk getting on his bad side (if he has one) over a little wounded pride. ]

[ Zelda places her hand in his and dips in a shallow curtsy. ] Zelda. The pleasure is mine, sir. [ Not that you could tell by her voice. ]

B.

[thousandcraneswish]

[ It’s cold. That’s the first the thing that Chizuru notices when her eyes open in the gloom. She can’t recall what brought her here either, but the shawl wrapped around her shoulders brings some warmth to her. She stumbles up and looks around. It’s barren, empty, but for the statues. She’s never been here before.

A dream then.

Chizuru stumbles to her feet and brings her hands up, trying to warm them. She’s shivering, even with the gloves and shawl. Her eyes droop. She shakes herself and stumbles over to a statue, placing a hand on it.

Is the statue the answer?

Chizuru bites back a scream at the grotesque image of the demon locked inside, tears blurring her eyes at the sight of it tearing at its own skin. How cruel! It reminds her of the Fury Corps, particularly those who lost their humanity. She reaches a hand out to it. ]

I’m sorry….

[ More tears blur her vision and ice creeps through her as the guilt for her father’s sins swamps her. It doesn’t seem to matter that these creatures aren’t from her world. Her sorrow just seems to keep rising in her, threatening to consume her in this landscape of frozen agony.

Maybe it's her bone weary weakness of that terrible grief she's been swallowing back but a hoarse voice croaks out of her soon after. ]

Help....

[topgun_textiles]

[Holy fucking SHIT it's cold!!

It's a cold that ignores every scrap of clothing you wear, every layer and even your skin, scraping against your bones and threatening to pull you down. Kanji figured it was pretty damn early for Reverein to get like this, but one look at his hands- now adorned with the claw-ended gloves- told him that he was definitely dreaming.

He sighed, his breath a cloud of mist, before he took his first steps through the wastes. He just needed to see if anyone else was in here, and then they can work on a way to wake up. At least this time there weren't shitty goblins...]

H-hello...? S'anybody out there?

[The sound was all but swallowed in the wind. Kanji shut his eyes, growled in mild frustration: Dreams. Dreaming. Nothing was real. Even if he awoke from battling goblins with a few bruises and scrapes, maybe if he thought of seriously warm stuff he could beat all this back a bit. Onsens. Hot tea. His mom always made a really good mix-

He paused. Movement. Over there!]

Hey! Hey!!

[Running warmed you up. He'll just... run on over!]

Flipped a coin for running into him or not. xD)

[thousandcraneswish]

[ Chizuru blinks frost off her eyelashes, realizing she’s lost track of time before this terrible statue. Shuddering, she wraps her arms around herself, rubbing her fingers against the shawl for a modicum of warmth. Her feet shuffle in her sandals as she swallows down the urge to fall to the ground.

She can’t stay here…

Her head snaps up as echo rings out somewhere around her. ]

Hello? ( She calls out, voice scratchy. )

[ No one answers. She stumbles back a bit in case she’s hearing things from the frozen victim and a shadow forms in the distance. She narrows her eyes, squinting, her heart galloping at the base of her throat. Is someone actually there? ]

[topgun_textiles]

[Was this someone's memory? Did they live here? Maybe things he could ask later, but right now he had to find some other living being and work more important things out.

He stopped at a figure and got a closer look, recoiled when he found this definitely wasn't someone. ...N-not anymore. Holy shit. That's when he heard a scratchy voice and turned.]

S-somebody's alive in here?!

[Pure, stubborn adrenaline was gonna have to keep powering him. When he moved a bit further his head practically spun- wait, that person moved!]

Shit, there is...!

[And she is not dressed for this. At all. Must've been caught unaware... why did dreams do shit like this? Even he had weird ones like this back home. He threw open his cloak and threw it around her.]

Hey, i-it's gonna be okay! I run kinda hot, so...!

[thousandcraneswish]

[ Although Chizuru attempts to resist the urge to curl into him for the warmth — for the sake propriety — her polite upbringing disappears when the heat of his body hits her. It's warm. Even the breath against her ear is balmy in this forsaken realm. She ducks her head against him with a blush filling her cheeks, not that it would be easy to see in the murky lighting, and grips onto his clothes. ]

I'm- I'm sorry. ( She mumbles. ) Don't - don't get cold for my sake.

[ Her earlier grief slips away in the face of inconveniencing or endangering another. ]