{ haunted carnival | test drive #08 - october 2022 }

[dreamposts]

HAUNTED CARNIVAL

Full details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in October and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of October 25 through 31 (this log is forward dated to the 25th). However, outside characters can only thread within this log, so for those seriously considering the game, you are welcome to use non-festival prompts for your toplevels. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count October as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual as people randomly disappear already, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Tuesday, October 25th and Applications will open on November 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until January.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view; updated 10/28)

American McGee's Alice - Alice Liddell
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula
BlazBlue - Noel Vermillion
Case Study of Vanitas - Vanitas
Dangan Ronpa - Chiaki Nanami
Devil May Cry - Lady
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Genshin Impact - Albedo
Genshin Impact - Eula Lawrence
Genshin Impact - Kaeya
Genshin Impact - Razor
Great Ace Attorney - Ryunosuke Naruhodo
Helluva Boss - Blitzø
Helluva Boss - Octavia
Jujutsu Kaisen - Fushiguro Megumi
Kaze Hikaru - Okita Souji
Library of Ruina - Angela
Mikagura School Suite - Yuto Akama
My Hero Academia - Bakugo Katsuki
Octopath Traveler - Ophilia
Original Character - Kate Galloway (Jigoku CRAU)
Original Character - Marie Daenthelm
Original Character - Pauline Bonheur
Persona 3 - Ken Amada
Promare - Lio Fotia
Shadow Hearts: Covenant - Yuri Hyuga
Tales of Berseria - Magilou
Tales of Berseria - Rokurou Rangetsu
Tales of Berseria - Velvet Crowe
Tales of Hearts - Chalcedony Akerman
Tales of Hearts - Hisui Hearts (Aefenglom CRAU)
Tales of the Rays - Baldr
Touken Ranbu - Hizen Tadahiro
Touken Ranbu - Ichimonji Norimune
Transformers IDW - Soundwave
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel

I. CARNIVAL FUN

The moment a guest enters the carnival grounds, there is a high chance (read: optional) they will find themselves changed in some way to fit the spooky, haunted atmosphere. Instead of just wearing a vampire costume, the character will actually turn into one. Of course, how much of a transformation varies between complete to partial changes. It should be noted that this is only a cosmetic and ability change—no matter what someone changes into, they won't have any personality changes…unless one of the carnival attendants cast a small enchantment to make it so. Of course this is by chance as well (read: optional).

A. Haunted Food. While there is some standard fare carnival food around, the Haunted Carnival has some unique items with even more interesting effects:

Caramel Apples: Tart green apples dipped in caramel and decorated with chocolate to look like they’re covered in spiders and spider webs. Eating one of these will have the dreamer feeling crafty and industrious, just like spiders themselves often are. Also, the idea of eating bugs (or even other spiders?!) suddenly seems strangely appealing…
Cherry Blood Popcorn: Popcorn drenched in cherry syrup and decorated with candy bones. The combination of sugar and dreamotion energy leaves the eater feeling giddy and cheerful, somewhat in contrast to the gruesome appearance of the treat itself.
Funnel "Brain" Cakes: Funnel cakes colored to look like brains when served. Comes in regular or zombie brain varieties. Eating one makes you feel lethargic and hungry, like the only thing that matters is your next snack fix, but you’re not willing to do much more than shamble toward it.
Mummies in a Blanket: Small hot dogs wrapped in biscuit dough and decorated to look like mummies. After eating this, you may or may not want to wrap yourself into a blanket and take a nap—ideally somewhere dark and spooky.

B. FUN AND GAMES. Mixed in with the food vendors are several booths advertising a variety of carnival games, including but not limited to the ones below.. The prizes you win may or may not be cursed. Best of luck!

NERF Gun Shooting Gallery: Use dreamotion to shoot foam darts from a gun at various ghostly and ghouly targets lined up on a platform. Advanced players may want to try their hand at making the guns shoot other objects. Water? Fire? Glitter bombs? The only limit is one’s imagination.
Ring Toss: A series of witch hats are lined up, and the objective is to toss rings on the hats for points. Did something just peek up from under one of the hats? It’s probably nothing to worry about.
Potion Bottles: A variation of the milk bottles game wherein you throw balls to knock over flasks and beakers filled with strangely-colored liquid. In most cases, the spilled potion is totally harmless. Once in a while, however, it may have some interesting effects on the player and/or the booth itself.
Slime Pit: There’s a giant pit of slime with a sign next to it: prizes within for those willing to get a bit messy! Said prizes range from giant candy bars to random silly toys to skeletal limbs…? Oh that belongs to the skeleton having fun in the pit, they might want it back.

II. ATTRACTIONS

A. Hall of Mirrors. A classic maze of mirrors that are usually filled with special effects to make one's reflection look distorted. In the beginning the distortions are more humorous, making one look super skinny or extremely curvy. However, the deeper one goes, the reflections begin to look a bit…strange. The mirrors begin to reflect the "worst" side of an individual, but in a more embarrassing manner. When they first wake up in the morning, having a bad hair day, dressed poorly, being lazy on the couch—mostly benign things that would be embarrassing to show others. But there are some that may reveal one's darker self they wish to hide from others and are forced to face—especially when the reflections will step out and follow the original until the end of the maze. They won't do anything, just follow silently like a shadow, but even that may be taxing for anyone, especially if others see. The reflection must either be pushed back into an empty mirror, or it will disappear on its own when exiting the building.

B. Wild Carousel. The creatures on this carousel are not just colorful painted steeds but are more frightening in nature and looking more undead than living. Skeletal horses, direwolves, fanged deer with bloody horns. What makes this ride truly terrifying, however, is that the creatures are alive, restrained only by the pole stuck through them. But there are times when they manage to break free, causing havoc as they run through the park. The only good news is they don't attack, instead aiming for the carnival food as if hungry. Either hang on or help capture them back!

C. Cirque du Souleil. Near the center of the carnival is a large circus tent, and it boasts a variety of shows that are death defying, terrorific, and guaranteed to make everyone scream in fright and awe. The usual acts are available to see: acrobatics, musical performances, theatrical skits, and using ghostly steeds to ride through the large arena. But what makes this circus unique is that all the performers are capable of separating their soul from their physical body, similar to astral projecting or dreamwalking outside of dreams and being visible to all. And now they're asking for volunteer pairs to either participate in a more simple act such as an acrobatic stunt on the swings or tight rope…or eat a special candy that will allow them to have an out of body experience via dreamwalking outside. The only "flaw" is their dreamwalking form will tend to float up to the top of the tent, so their partner who hasn't eaten the candy has to tether them via dreamotion to get through some simple obstacles. No worries, the professionals will help return the soul if they get lost.

D. Spinning Bumper Cups. A combination of the classic bumper cars and spinning cups rides, this attraction has its riders in skull shaped bumper cars that will randomly spin. Riders have the ability to fire off "pumpkin bombs" at the others, which will splatter pumpkin goop to slow down their car. It will also make the car spin for a few rotations. Dreamotion will also help boost the speed, stabilize a spinning car faster, and make the pumpkin bombs more explosive. Just be careful—the barrier around the arena is made of bones and therefore quite brittle. It's not unusual to see a car spin out and lose control driving through the carnival grounds. Stop the runaway car and bring it back! Or shoot people with pumpkin bombs.

E. Ferris Wheel. Ah, the ferris wheel, a gentle ride that elevates one high in the air to allow them to see the sights below, in this case the entire carnival grounds and the surrounding areas like the bordering forests, the Observatory, and the edge of Reverein. However, as with everything in this carnival, the ride is not always so gentle. There are times when the entire ride accelerates to a faster pace, causing the (fortunately) enclosed cabins to rock dangerously as it rotates around. There are times when it keeps going, not letting anyone off until three rotations. And then there are times when the top half of the cabin disappears, exposing the riders to the cooler winds. Fortunately handle bars will appear they can hold onto, but no seat belts. Enjoy the view?

F. Other Rides. There are plenty of rides and attractions at the carnival, too many to list all of them here. A roller coaster, tower drop, gravitron, bungee jumps, pendulum ship—whatever one might think exists, it's there in all its twisted nightmare glory. One thing they all have in common is the more fear and thrill and screams generated, the faster they go. Just hope the ride doesn't stall and get stuck…

III. HAUNTING CLUES

Although the main purpose for these prompts is to find the clues, anyone is free to use them for general use and not focus on getting the clue. For those who do participate, we'll be asking for thread during our Activity Check! Those who are TDMing regardless of application can also have their threads counted by commenting to this thread and following the directions.

#1. Haunted Dollhouse. There is a special building called the Haunted Dollhouse. It's similar to a haunted house, however this attraction is filled with moving porcelain dolls that will try to scare and chase those who enter (it's quite likely some members of the newly added Porcelain Town have volunteered to help). Sometimes, those who enter are cursed into a doll and are now vulnerable. They are also not always able to move on their own will. This is not great as sometimes the dolls kind of…malfunction and will actually become aggressive. The weapons they wield are also not props, so that's a problem. However, they are small and can only inflict minor wounds and can be easily taken out.

The main clue here is "Villains!' I shrieked. 'Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!" To help both those who have turned into dolls as well as get the clue, everyone has to find the right place where some candied hearts are hidden. Fortunately the "blood trail" (it's raspberry syrup) will help lead them to the right place.

#2. Abandoned House. A little away from the main attractions there is a run down house surrounded by trees…and a lot of ravens. A raven with red eyes will guide those who dare or wish to face a lost loved one to the house. Inside it's just filled with faceless busts and empty paintings, but soon they are filled with the images of those lost ones. It could be a person, pet, thing, but they are there, just staring. Only the eyes and mouths move, and what the person hears are their insecurities and fears related to how they lost whatever they see. Anyone else will either see the original blanks or their own personalized images.

The main clue is "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting // On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door // Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning // Shall be lifted – nevermore". To get out of this house, they have to first look for the bust that has the red eyed raven on it. This will be tricky as there will be many ravens with different colored eyes. Once they do, there will be a small picture frame. They must manifest one or more of the images they are seeing and capture it into the frame. This is simply done by waving it like a net, but the manifestation can move around. This can be as easy or difficult as a player wants, and how affected the character is from what they see and hear can also be a factor. The more affected they are, the easier it is to manifest but difficult to capture. The less affected, it will be more difficult to manifest as they have to tap into that raw fear, but will be easier to capture.

#3. Hay Bale Maze. Just outside of the circus tent is a large hay bale maze with the hay…looking as if it's seen much better days. It's filled with spooks that like to jump scare maze goers or bodiless limbs that reach out to grab, but aside from that it's harmless. Except for one particular figure.

The main clue is "Who dares?" he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood near him --"who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? Seize him and unmask him --that we may know whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the battlements!" There is a red clad figure wearing a skull mask. He will randomly bust through the hay walls and engage maze goers into a fight. Those who are incapable will flee in terror while the figure will chase, which will be a pretty good clue as to where he is. Once engaged, any weapon and dreamotion can be used at their disposal and the challenge is to just simply best him in a fight (not to the death). Striking the figure even once will earn a victory and the skull mask will be granted.

#4. Musical Catacombs. For a bit more lighthearted fun, there is an underground catacombs that is filled with tombs. Some of them have actual skeletons and ghosts sleeping in them, but they won't harm anyone if bothered. Just be a bit cranky, maybe throw a bone. At someone's head. Down here it's quite lively, filled with music, dancing, and a lot of alcohol. Minors will only get sparkling juice.

The main clue is "'Ha! ha! ha! — he! he! he! — a very good joke, indeed — an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo — he! he! he! — over our wine — he! he! he!' // 'The Amontillado!' I said." One of the games is a dancing game where the tombs will light up a certain color and participants have to properly hit the correct corresponding floor panel (basically a music rhythm/DDR themed game). Should they make a perfect score, one of the tombs will open and have a crusty wine bottle in it. It has competitor and co-op mode.

Comments

abandoned house

[flamekthunder]

[Having had to deal with the whole "lost loved ones" enough times in this place and not wanting to risk seeing a particular someone, Eustace had no desire to enter the Abandoned House upon hearing what its challenges were. Perhaps it would have been a good..."exercise" to try and harden himself again, but it was still too soon.

But all his personal misgivings go out the window when he sees Trahearne enter the house.

For a moment, he considers walking on, trusting the sylvari to be able to handle himself. But an uneasy feeling starts to form as he stares at the dark windows and closed door of the "attraction."

...A quick to check to make sure he's able to get through wouldn't hurt.

So pushing aside his own personal wariness, Eustace enters the door—only to be puzzled when he sees Trahearne standing stricken. What is he seeing...? Ignoring the flickers of his own family and friends lost in his childhood, he reaches out to him.]

Trahearne.

[pactmarshal]

[ "You left me to die."
"Your decisions were all made in haste."
"Not once did you ever think for yourself. You let your commander make all your decisions for you."

All of his insecurities, guilt, and regrets, things Trahearne had never dared voice aloud, come pouring out of the statues and portraits. As they speak to him he recalls their faces, remembering the last time he sent them on a scouting mission, when he sent them to battle, when they boarded the airships in the ill-fated mission to Maguuma.

It is relentless.

But Eustace's voice suddenly pierces the noise, and they all fall silent. The busts and portraits still stare down at him hard, but their lips no longer move. In bewilderment, Trahearne whips his head around to see his erune friend. His thoughts are moving so rapidly in his mind that he doesn't register exactly who he's looking at at first. ]

...Eustace? [ His jaw unclenches--he hadn't even realized he was doing that--as he turns to face him fully. ] What are you doing here?

[flamekthunder]

[He can only observe Trahearne's facial expression...one that he himself has become familiar with because of what happened recently. He then recalls the dream, or rather nightmare, Trahearne had before, and he wonders if what the sylvari sees is related. It would make sense if so...]

I saw you enter and knowing what this place is supposed to do, I thought to check to see how you were doing. Given how you seem, looks like I made the right call.

[pactmarshal]

I--

[ For a moment, Trahearne is going to insist that he's all right. That he can forge through and get to the end and find the raven.

But his eyes drift upward and settle on a portrait of a norn, one he recognizes as Apatia. She stares down hard at him, and Trahearne feels his jaw setting again. If this is what's awaiting him for the rest of the house, then perhaps he'll need the company. ]

Thank you.

[ He looks back down at Eustace and gives a firm, appreciative nod. ]

I don't know what you can see, but we cannot let what they say get to us. Let's keep moving.

[ He whirls on his heel and makes his way towards the door at the far end of the room, willfully ignoring the murmuring as the busts and portraits spring to life again. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He only glances at the busts, the images of his lost friends and family staring back at him. The whispers of how he had left them alone, the lone survivor...

But he just shakes it off.]

Fake ghosts, that's all.

[Before this might have gotten to him, but now... He knows that's not what they would think, least of all his family. Besides, he can't let himself be shaken when Trahearne is clearly having more trouble, so he follows along after him.]

It's supposed to be a red-eyed raven isn't it...? [He spots one, but he notices how the eyes are yellow and frowns. Further down the hall he sees more perched on various places.] It won't be easy.

[pactmarshal]

[ It's a good thing Eustace is here, because Trahearne is trying very hard to pretend like it isn't getting to him, but the tension in his shoulders says otherwise. ]

Yes. Find the raven.

[ He says this mostly to himself to keep himself on track--no matter what raven he looks at, the bust or portrait upon which it perches begins to speak to him. And he hates that. ]

I don't think it's here. [ Why would it be in the front hall when they have another door to go through? He turns his attention to the sturdy-looking wooden door on the wall opposite the front door. ] Let's keep going.

[ Though he's not too keen to find out what's behind that door, it isn't like he has much of a choice, he thinks. He whirls on his heel without waiting for Eustace's response and marches off. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace watches Trahearne's back for a moment before he steps after him and remains silent for several strides before he speaks up.]

What are you seeing?

[Although he has a fairly good guess.]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne comes to pause several paces before the door into the next room, his head craning as the bust of one particular Priory scholar--a curious mind, a brilliant soul, his sister, and mentor to his second-in-command--peers down at him in turn.

"I would not have lost my life had you only acted sooner."

His chest aches. They say these things to wear him down, he knows this, but she's right, in a way. His own inaction brought the end to lives beyond his counting. ]

People who died because of my choices, be it as Pact Marshal or scholar of corruption beyond our comprehension.

[ His lips draw into a thin line as Sieran continues to criticize him. But he can't let her get to him. He doesn't know if Eustace can see the sheer amount of busts and portraits that decorate this room, nor does he know if his erune friend can see their faces. But he wonders if the way his own body tenses and the nervous tone of his voice gives it away.

Still, they're all lives he would have saved if he'd known how.

Without another word, he grabs the doorknob and flings the door open into the next room. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace only eyes him, his suspicions confirmed, and quietly follows. Even if he can't see the images, the number of busts and painting is enough to tell him that the number will wear the sylvari down.

It's in this moment, that he sees a different figure in front of him.]

The ones from your dream.

[He may not know the whole story, but he knew enough to get an idea. A dragon who encompassed an entire jungle, corrupting Trahearne's own race...and then his own fall.]

[pactmarshal]

And more.

[ Many, many more. The assault on Orr, the airship crash... There were too many to count. Too many lives in his hands.

Regardless, he marches through the open doorway, which leads into a sparsely populated gallery room. On one wall hangs a portrait of Riel, Gixx, and Almorra--leaders of each of the orders, co-workers of his in the Pact. On the opposite wall hangs a portrait of Rytlock, Zojja, Logan, and Eir--Destiny's Edge, the guild whose goals aligned with his.

There are eleven busts that line the path to the other side of the room, six on each side. Trahearne doesn't look long enough to know exactly who they are. His firstborn siblings.

Ravens nestle in the branches of the grand marble statue at the far end of the room--a tree carved of pure white, seemingly growing from the floorboards beneath it. His vision briefly scans the birds, but none of them have red eyes. And that can only mean there are more rooms. ]

...I'm scared.

[ He whispers this, frozen in his spot. These are the people that knew him. He's terrified of what they're going to say to him, because he knows they'll be right.. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace continues to silently walk alongside Trahearne, unable to witness what he sees...but can get a general idea. For him, he sees the ghosts of his family, old friends, and villagers flickering over the busts and mirrors. He's able to be more resilient, having had had to experience similar a few times, including his own dreams. He can only be grateful that one certain voice hasn't appeared, since she's at least still alive and not "lost."

So when Trahearne stops at the line of busts, Eustace takes one more step forward... And then turns to stand right in front of him, breaking the sylvari's line of sight of whatever is in his view.]

What do you see?

[Making Trahearne voice everything—sounds cruel at this point, but he has his reasons.]

Their names, their relationship to you—what were they?

[pactmarshal]

[ Preemptively, though no one has started speaking yet, Trahearne can hear the criticisms. He can hear the order leaders disparaging him, blaming him for being unqualified for his position. He can hear Destiny's Edge blaming him for ripping them apart when they'd just gotten back together. He can hear all of his brothers and sisters tell him precisely why he was such an awful brother--

Thankfully, he snaps out of it as Eustace steps into view, commanding him to speak. For a moment, he's bewildered, but it's enough for his rational mind to kick in.

It's also enough, though he doesn't notice, for the mold that had started to spread under his arms to quickly dissipate. ]

Ah-- [ He swallows, suddenly aware how hoarse his voice feels.

Concentrate. ]

That portrait-- [ He points to the painting on the left. ] --is of General Soulkeeper of the Vigil, Steward Gixx of the Durmand Priory, and the Master of Secrets, leader of the Order of Whispers. [ As he speaks, he feels calm coming back to him. Eustace is onto something, but he isn't sure what. ] They lead the orders that make up the Pact. Their people are under my command, and we were equals in leadership.

[ Not dwelling on them for too long, or in his failures as marshal, he turns to point to the portrait on the opposite side of the room. ]

That portrait is of four of the members that make up Destiny's Edge, an adventuring guild whose goals aligned with the Pact. [ He points to each member in turn. ] Rytlock, Zojja, Logan, Eir. I would readily call them my friends.

[ Especially after what he, Zojja, and Logan went through together. ]

The fifth member of Destiny's Edge-- [ He turns to the center, pointing at a bust past Eustace's shoulder. ] --is Caithe. One of my firstborn siblings. All of these busts, in fact, are the other eleven that make up the first generation of sylvari: Riannoc, Faolain, Niamh, Malomedies, Kahedins...

[ He lists them in turn, and as he does so, each bust turns their attention to him. It's unsettling, and he braces himself as he reaches the far end. His finger settles on the marble tree in the distance. One raven caws, the sound ominously echoing through the room. ]

And that...is our mother.

[ Of all those present, he is most terrified of what she has to say. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Good, he's focusing more on him than on the apparitions. And as Trahearne speaks, Eustace listens carefully—not so much so he can remember all those names, but to get the general idea of what these people mean to him and guess at what he's hearing.

At the mention of his mother, he turns his head slightly to catch a glimpse of the tree. ...?]

Your mother is a tree?

[Honestly he never thought about how Trahearne's race came to be, so he's a little curious. But not so much that he would ask for the finer details right now. Rather the real purpose of his question is to keep Trahearne talking.]

[pactmarshal]

[ For a second, Trahearne looks at Eustace, then back to the tree beyond him. It is no organic thing, but the details carved into the marble make it seem so lifelike. ]

Yes. She is mother to all sylvari. [ He speaks quietly before slipping past Eustace to walk down the rows of busts staring him down. It's obvious how he tenses, how he draws his shoulders up to protect himself from the inevitable deluge of criticism from his firstborn siblings...

...But they never say anything.

Why aren't they speaking?

The suspense hurts more than anything, knowing they should be saying something. But...they don't.

Their stone gazes pierce him as he walks through them. The absence of doors any of the other walls means the next room is beyond the tree, and he has no choice but to stand before her smaller replica.

He comes to a halt, and he scarcely takes a breath before her voice comes.

"You did not protect me."
"Your vengeance did nothing but cause you to lose your own life."
"And once again, my thorn is lost."
"Our downfall is your doing."

It had only been a brief moment that he said nothing, but it seems that didn't matter. Whatever forces were controlling this house had taken the opportunity to start again. Trahearne's chest clenches, and his head droops. She's right, though.

Light patches of mold start encroaching on the back of his neck and on his shoulders, but he doesn't feel anything. Or notice. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace gives him space at first...but with the silence and seeing the change on him, he frowns and steps up to him, a heavy hand on his shoulder to turn him away from the sculpture.]

Whatever you're hearing, do you really believe that's something she would say?

[The whispers of his own family seep in, but he just mentally shakes it off, his belief and conviction firmed up by the decades of having to deal with this alone.]

What you see, what they're telling you—you know these people. You know how they truly are. Whatever they're saying—let me guess, guilt and shame. Can you really imagine them saying such things?

Or are you hearing your own voice instead?

[pactmarshal]

[ Eustace's touch causes the mold to immediately retreat, like insects retreating into the darkness. Trahearne seems dazed when he first whirls around to see Eustace; his eyes are out of focus, and distress is written all over his face.

Logically, he understands what his friend is telling him, but he's having a hard time believing it. Though his mother has no eyes, he can still feel her attention boring through the back of his head.

Or perhaps it's the ravens. ]

But it's all true. Had I been ready when she was attacked, had I managed my anger better, all those people would not have--

[ He grits his teeth, casting his eyes downward. If it is his own voice, he does not have the wits about himself to tell. Maybe in his nightmares he's heard the Pale Tree say the same things to him, and it is so ingrained in his memory that he can't differentiate his own voice from hers anymore.

He shakes his head, trying rid his mind of the thoughts and the voices. ]

We need to keep going.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace can only narrow his eyes before releasing a small breath. Maybe moving on would be better for now. It would be difficult to really have this kind of discussion with all the noise... Should he destroy the busts?]

Here.

[He steps forward and opens the door, which leads to a long, dark hallway.]

[pactmarshal]

[ Without another word, Trahearne steps through the door and into the hallway. He marches forward, trusting Eustace will follow, thankful for the darkness. At least now he can have a moment to collect himself before the inevitable final room. What he's assuming to be the final room, that is.

Even if what they say is true, he can't let them get to him. They're here for one reason, and he's going to see his objective to completion.

When he speaks to Eustace, he doesn't bother looking behind him. ]

You're strong, Eustace.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace only takes a few steps in silence before he finally answers.]

Rather than strength... I've had twenty years. Their voices used to haunt me, and I blamed myself a lot in the first few.

Survivor's guilt.

[He just speaks calmly, as if telling any other story.]

But I had someone to point out how I was wrong and redirect it to something else. It still took a long time...and I still hear those voices. But I remind myself that's not their thoughts but my own guilt.

I've also witnessed others in similar positions of yourself handle the guilt of losing their subordinates, taking that responsibility. I can't say I understand completely, but I can see the similarities between you and them.

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne's gaze drops to the floor, taking in what Eustace tells him. A small part of him is touched--he knows his friend isn't much to talk about himself, so for him to offer a brief glimpse into his past like this is an honor. ]

I'm so sorry, Eustace. Twenty years is a long time. I hope...things are easier for you now.

[ His wounds are still fresh, just barely beginning to scar in comparison. And it's only because he was lucky enough to have found himself here in Songerein that he's getting the chance to heal. Would he have spent oblivion in pain if not?

But Eustace is right, in a way. Trahearne understood the weight of his role and the weight of the lives of his soldiers, and only now with the time to reflect, he sees the cracks in the mirror. The face on the other side telling him these things is still himself. ]

Thank you.

[ It should, he thinks, prepare him for what comes next.

Trahearne flings open the door at the end of the hallway, revealing a room mostly bare. Besides the rich blue of the wallpaper on the wall, the only other decoration in here is the life-size marble statue of the Pact Commander, regal features perfectly preserved in stone. On his shoulder is perched the red-eyed raven.

Trahearne smiles. He had his own raven, didn't he? It looks so...natural. ]

[flamekthunder]

They are. [Of course, when he redirected his emotions, it ended up with him closing himself off and focus on revenge, but he's also passed that point now. Calmer. More at peace.] Now I only feel contempt towards anything that tries to take advantage of my past and corrupt their image.

They deserve better than this mockery.

[And it's because of that that when he hears the voice and the images, he can ignore it. Sometimes it still pricks at him, and had this been a few years ago, likely affected him more. But not now.

Once they're through the door, he remains at Trahearne's side. For him...for a very real moment, it actually flickers as Tifa. One of the reasons why he wanted to avoid entering this place is the uncertainty of whether it would include her or not, and it seems his suspicions are right. However, although he feels that hot prick, he just closes eyes and shakes his head. She's alive now, it doesn't matter.

And he has to keep his wits about him for Trahearne.

So after that momentary distraction, he turns away from the statue to up the raven, staring at it before looking back at Trahearne. At least they finally managed to find it... But how is Trahearne doing?]

[pactmarshal]

[ Maybe one day...Trahearne will be able to face these horrors with the same calm. If only he could afford the mental luxury of contempt, but now, he only finds self-loathing. And he thinks himself pathetic for falling for it, every time.

Most of his apprehensions melt away, though, as he stands before the statue. Deep down he knows it's just an image. Eustace can't see it. He knows it won't be long before this realm uses him against him--again. But he still can't help the little spark of joy in his chest.

And so when Eustace looks over, he'll see him smiling, a nostalgic hue on his face. ]

He had his own raven. He said her name was Beep. [ He steps forward, chuckling a bit at the memory. ] I thought it was an odd name. When I asked why he named her that, he--

[ "I hate you."

The words pierce like a lance through his chest, and he freezes in place. The smile melts away, a lock of shock and sadness replacing it. ]

[flamekthunder]

[At first there's a bit of relief at seeing Trahearne's expression. Whoever it is, it must be someone close to him...and they must not be dead at least or he would be filled with more pain. But then that expression falls away, and he can only guess that whatever he heard, it was what he feared most.]

Trahearne.

[pactmarshal]

[ "I'm so glad I got to be the one to kill you."
"I'm going to be a much better marshal than you ever were. Thanks for the opportunity."
"Gods, all you ever did was talk. Did you ever hear yourself? I hated every moment I worked under you."

Eustace's voice falls on deaf ears. Trahearne only stares up at the statue as it glowers down at him from its pedestal.

His throat constricts. It's different this time, and not because of who's talking. This isn't his guilt finding a voice through another. This is a nightmare.

His head droops, tears spilling from his eyes as he blinks. And as his eyes cast to the floor, he sees a small picture frame has somehow manifested in his hands. But he's much too distraught to think about how that happened at the moment. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Dammit—]

Trahearne!

[A rough grab of his shoulders as he gives him a hard shake.]

Snap out of it, it's not real!