⬣//A Mirage, Exposed - 11/12

[cccorp]

Who: █████████
What: Deception, revelation.
When: 11/12
Where: Root Town Of Unknown Origin
Warnings: Death, violence, others to be added as needed.





Overnight, the Root Town without a name explodes into a cacophony of noise. There’s a rhythmic one-two-three of hammers, but looking for the source proves to be fruitless, as if something - someone? - is hiding the construction site from view. The noise lasts for hours, and so the sense of foreboding only seems to grow stronger and stronger. It’s the third week, so by now it might be natural to wonder.

Is this going to be where we meet yet another advancement of the Wave?

Eventually, the noise stops. The islands go quiet beyond the whistling wind that never stops. Minutes pass, hours pass, and then there’s a scream.

Finding the source of the scream isn’t all that difficult - at the end of a rickety bridge there’s a pale, crumpled shape on the ground. Gray hair, ivory robes, ghostly skin that’s even paler than usual - the only color is the bright red blood that covers his face and stains his robes.

Owen is dead.

A bloody trail can be followed across the bridge, to a large amphitheater that wasn’t there the day before. Rows of seating lead down to a raised stage covered by curved arches holding up a roof large enough to keep the stage dry and hide lights and the mechanisms for the curtain. A deep blue curtain hangs, closed and hiding the stage from view. An orchestra pit sits in front of the stage, seats empty.

Someone stands in front of the curtains, a scythe in hand. Their blue cloak and hair almost blend into the curtain, but the dull, yellow eyes are unmistakable.

It’s strange, isn’t it? How long has it been since you’ve seen Anaido…?

Comments

[insinning]

[ ...

He leans down to touch the remnants of the doll, his brow furrowing.

It was like with Gorre but...

Where was Owen? Oriade? Had Innis really disappeared?]

[sicklysweet]

[+1 Chipped Porcelain is added to Sinclair's inventory.]

[insinning]

[ why does he keep getting these boss souvenirs...

is it possible at all to put the porcelain pieces back together?

Taking out the piece]

...did anyone get these in their inventory?

[selfconcept]

Everyone should have one.

[ Hien has all the different boss drops so far... don't ask him how he got the others. ]

[insinning]

So...Innis is gone then.

[ Sinclair will go back under the stage then, into the storage. Is there anyone there???]

[sicklysweet]

[With the props cleared up and placed on stage, it’s easier to notice when something is out of place…

There’s a lump on the ground, that looks suspiciously like a body, by where Fuurin found all the prop flowers.]

[insinning]

Ah...

[Even in the dark, he notices that. He runs in to check on the body, turning over to see who it is]

[sicklysweet]

[It’s dim under the stage, but even with the limited lighting Sinclair can tell that whoever it is has darker hair than Owen did…

But Owen didn’t alter his face itself from how he looks in real life, so he’s still recognizable. He’s motionless, but still breathing.]

[insinning]

[ Oh. That's...Sinclair closes his eyes in relief and calls out to everyone from under stage]

I found Owen!

[Checking Owen again - does he have any injuries? If not, Sinclair will move him outside into the light. If so, he'll wait for one of the healers to come down to help]

[sicklysweet]

[Well, there’s nothing as dramatic as a pool of blood underneath him or anything, but checking his health bar?

Yeah.

Owen is at 1%, so he could probably use some healing.]

[insinning]

[ Ah... he'll just gently pull Owen over his shoulder and carry him out to set him down again gently in the light. No more dark for you sir!]

I need a healer down here!

[calling out again. As soon as Owen gets healed up normally, he's taking him to the infirmary too]

[secondthoughts]

[ Hector whirls around the moment he hears Sinclair call. ]

I'm here!

[ He rushes in the direction of the sound of his voice, and it's hard to deny the relief that washes over him when he sees Owen's limp body in his arms.

He doesn't say anything, or slow down as he gets closer. He practically skids to his knees when he gets there, vibrant grasses and flowers blooming from where he sits all around him as he silently casts Nature's Gift, which will replenish both Owen's and Sinclair's HP.

To Sinclair— ]

Is he okay? Where did you find him?

[insinning]

Under the stage. I think we need to get him to the infirmary once you get his health stable.

[ Sinclair kneels down, setting Owen down gently to get the most of Nature's Gift.]

[secondthoughts]

[ When Sinclair sets him down, Hector supports Owen's back with an arm, keeping him somewhat upright (also he just wants to touch him................. not that he'll say it out loud). Hector's gaze scans him, professionally, to check for injuries, but he quickly looks back up and gives the other a nod. ]

Thanks, Vogel. I don't think Owen would say it himself, but...

[ heh. ]

He'll be fine. We can take him there in a sec.

[insinning]

...yeah. [ Nodding and stepping back to give them both space]

...I wonder where Oriade was taken...

[sicklysweet]

[Owen’s health will start to tick back up, and eventually he’ll shift, eyes opening and squinting up at the sun.

They’re not red and gold anymore - one is blue and the other brown, but it’s a shame they won’t be familiar to Hector.]

…

[Ah. This is awkward. Can he just get knocked back out…]

[secondthoughts]

[ Oh, and he's awake.

Sorry Owen, you get a stupid grin beaming down at you, just like the sun. ]

Hey.

[ Hector was RIGHT. ]

[sicklysweet]

[A h.

His cheeks go pink, and he’s quick to look down and away. Is now really the time to be embarrassed? Yeah. Yeah, it is.]

…Hello.

[Maybe Michel or Noe will save him… If he hopes hard enough, surely they will.]

[justonezero]

[Yay he's alive!!

...

It's a really good thing he never told Deto who dunked him.

He'll just be on standby to make sure no additional healing is needed.]

[userunfriendly]

[ He's just making his way over to Sinclair quietly to keep an eye on everything. His core is useless without an enemy to drain from, but he has potions, and he can help carry. Mostly: he can keep watch. ]

Well done.

[insinning]

[He looks up at Michel and smiles]

...I didn't do anything though. Everyone else was able to reach out to him better than I could.

[ He'll craft some drums to replace the ones ruined later. Sorry Owen...]

[userunfriendly]

You did, with the lights.

[ And the not blinding everyone... He may have been too distracted to notice drum crimes. ]

But it's fortunate there was someone here who could.

[bleatingedge]

[Leo hurries over, baby goat following close behind.]

I'm here-oh. Oh!

[Brandishing his staff, he casts a few Ul Repths to assist Hector with his healing. The goat rushes over to Owen and nuzzles against his face.]

I knew you'd make it out alive. I knew it.

[sicklysweet]

Ugh. You don’t have to be so smug about it.

[Is it really smugness…

But he can’t be too mad or sulky with a baby goat, and the attitude is mostly for show anyways.]

[bleatingedge]

I'm not being smug. I'm just glad I was right!

[Leo plops down cross-legged as he dismisses his staff. The baby goat crawls into his lap once it finishes its nuzzle-fest against Owen.]

Let me know if you need anything, anything at all, and I'll be there.