The Shimmer Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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theshimmer2020-08-21 01:45 am
shimmermods) wrote in theshimmer2020-08-21 01:45 am
Visions.
LANDSCAPES.
The further in you go, the thicker the calcification becomes.
The crystals on the walls are difficult to make out now, having been encased entirely by thick white growths encompassing the walls like spider veins, like roots; their energy, however, can still be felt if you wander too close to the walls, or if you spend too long recovering yourself after something sufficiently stressful has come into your line of view. This may be more for a problem for some of you than it is for others; some of you are holding up surprisingly well, all things considered.
It isn't a failing on your part, when it hits you.
It's hard to say precisely what "it" is - a sudden fatigue, a seizure, an abrupt swirling of the world beneath your feet; all you know is that you're here, and then you aren't anywhere, and it takes a moment to place what brought the feeling on, or even what the feeling itself is. It will come to you eventually, however, once your eyes refocus and the cavern comes into view again for you properly - it feels like that first week you were here. Like reawakening after a long stint asleep; like being disoriented after realizing that you're not where you should be.
The difference this time is that you are, for all intents and purposes, still where you should be.
You don't seem to have gone anywhere; it doesn't feel like you've lost that much time, even, if you've lost any at all. But the fact of the matter is that something feels different, and it feels wrong, and placing how proves to be difficult.
There's a bend in the path, and suddenly it becomes all too clear.
You aren't supposed to be here, are you?
This place can be anything and everything - the hallway in the upper floor of your house, the bar you frequent, that place where all your comrades are buried. What matters is that it's somewhere you weren't sure you would see again, but the fact of it is that you're seeing it here, and you're seeing it now, and perhaps some of the others with you are seeing it too. Perhaps there are others here, those that have been on your mind for the past few days; perhaps you're all alone outside of whomever is questionably fortunate enough to be experiencing this with you.
Whatever you're seeing, however, something remains present in your mind, driving you onward and encouraging you to move through this, and quickly.
You don't belong here.
You need to leave.
[OOC: Welcome to the first half of our week 5 event! For this portion of the event, the hallucinations you've experienced up until now have become far more thoroughly immersive, and can be seen or experienced by others in something akin to a shared dream-state. These visions are likely to delict something from your world that you would find familiar and would have some sort of attachment to, whether that attachment is positive or negative. Monsters or other people from your world can be present here and interacted with, to deal with as you see fit; fighting them or speaking to them are both fair game. Conversely, your personal experience may be exploring or revisiting an area of your world that may or may not be how you remember it...
Please note that the mods will not be NPCing any characters in your visions or answering questions specific to the environments that you create. However, you are free to create as you see fit; time and space have very little meaning here, and your only limitations to your character's personal illusion/dreamscapes are your own creativity. Feel free to post any prompts you may want to play with, and to tag out to others to experience whatever they want to show you. (However, it is worth noting that any physical items you find in the visions will not remain in their possession afterwards.) As always, if you have any more questions about how works, let us know!]
The crystals on the walls are difficult to make out now, having been encased entirely by thick white growths encompassing the walls like spider veins, like roots; their energy, however, can still be felt if you wander too close to the walls, or if you spend too long recovering yourself after something sufficiently stressful has come into your line of view. This may be more for a problem for some of you than it is for others; some of you are holding up surprisingly well, all things considered.
It isn't a failing on your part, when it hits you.
It's hard to say precisely what "it" is - a sudden fatigue, a seizure, an abrupt swirling of the world beneath your feet; all you know is that you're here, and then you aren't anywhere, and it takes a moment to place what brought the feeling on, or even what the feeling itself is. It will come to you eventually, however, once your eyes refocus and the cavern comes into view again for you properly - it feels like that first week you were here. Like reawakening after a long stint asleep; like being disoriented after realizing that you're not where you should be.
The difference this time is that you are, for all intents and purposes, still where you should be.
You don't seem to have gone anywhere; it doesn't feel like you've lost that much time, even, if you've lost any at all. But the fact of the matter is that something feels different, and it feels wrong, and placing how proves to be difficult.
There's a bend in the path, and suddenly it becomes all too clear.
You aren't supposed to be here, are you?
This place can be anything and everything - the hallway in the upper floor of your house, the bar you frequent, that place where all your comrades are buried. What matters is that it's somewhere you weren't sure you would see again, but the fact of it is that you're seeing it here, and you're seeing it now, and perhaps some of the others with you are seeing it too. Perhaps there are others here, those that have been on your mind for the past few days; perhaps you're all alone outside of whomever is questionably fortunate enough to be experiencing this with you.
Whatever you're seeing, however, something remains present in your mind, driving you onward and encouraging you to move through this, and quickly.
You don't belong here.
You need to leave.
[OOC: Welcome to the first half of our week 5 event! For this portion of the event, the hallucinations you've experienced up until now have become far more thoroughly immersive, and can be seen or experienced by others in something akin to a shared dream-state. These visions are likely to delict something from your world that you would find familiar and would have some sort of attachment to, whether that attachment is positive or negative. Monsters or other people from your world can be present here and interacted with, to deal with as you see fit; fighting them or speaking to them are both fair game. Conversely, your personal experience may be exploring or revisiting an area of your world that may or may not be how you remember it...
Please note that the mods will not be NPCing any characters in your visions or answering questions specific to the environments that you create. However, you are free to create as you see fit; time and space have very little meaning here, and your only limitations to your character's personal illusion/dreamscapes are your own creativity. Feel free to post any prompts you may want to play with, and to tag out to others to experience whatever they want to show you. (However, it is worth noting that any physical items you find in the visions will not remain in their possession afterwards.) As always, if you have any more questions about how works, let us know!]
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Things only become more ominous as soon as you take your tentative first steps. The entire landscape seems to distort and shift under your feet, disorienting you enough to threaten your stability. But as you begin to process the situation, you realize you can walk perfectly fine. This is but an illusion within an illusion.
As you venture through the dimly-lit halls, you hear the first sign that you're not alone in here. Voices echo from in the distance- one of them recognizable to you. It's Heinwald.]
...and that is the condensed version of it.
[Who is he talking to? As you follow his voice and round a corner, you'll find out. But it might not be what you're expecting.
The first thing that comes into view is a massive dragon...or something making an attempt at shaping itself into one, at any rate. It speaks to Heinwald, who is still out of your view but likely just beyond it.]
One abyss could not satiate you.
So you sought another.
Quandaries upon quandaries.
[Its voice rumbles through the library, though it would be more accurate to say voices. It is as though multiple people are speaking in monotone unison...all of them entirely too familiar to you for one reason or another.]
A prismatic force beyond the stars.
Not of Us. Not of the Ancient One.
...
Previously.
I figured as such. If only I had the time to spend scouring your...
[Heinwald's voice trails off as the dragon shifts to stare you down. Or it would, if it had eyes. But it is very much aware of you.]
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I, uh, I'm not interrupting anything, am I?
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Another visitor from realms beyond.
You should not be here.
Of which we are both well aware. [Heinwald butts in, appearing from the other side of the dragon's massive form.] Grace. I take it you lost consciousness in those caverns as well?
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Is that what this is? A mass hallucination?
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A subconscious existence,
held at bay by the prismatic force.
This is no longer my cage, but yours.
[Heinwald offers a small shrug.]
No cage has managed to hold me for very long. We will find a way out. We must, lest we fail our mission.
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Nyarlathotep. You're kidding me.
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You are aware of it?
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[How does she explain this without potentially offending the dragon? Maybe this Nyarlathotep isn't evil?]
He's... an ancient god, and a shapeshifter. It could just be a really huge coincidence.
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A rather striking coincidence, if I may say so. This Nyarlathotep certainly fits the bill.
This form is but one of infinite.
Nyarlathotep is also but one of many names,
Given to Us to define the indefinable.
And you said it is...grounded in fiction in your world, Grace?
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...Well let's be honest, you may very well hear Felicia before she shows up because that illusion is absolutely making her eat shit on one of the tables--]
Ow--what on--
[Grumble, grumble, let's...get up and go follow a familiar voice, and the...mish-mash of voices, ones that seem entirely too familiar, and she's...
Well, not expecting to see this. Much less watching the dragon shift to...stare her down? Gesture towards her??? Felicia isn't sure, and she yelps a bit when the dragon does that much--]
W-wait, I'm sorry, I mean no harm! I just...thought I heard a friend here.
[...HI, HEINWALD, SORRY ABOUT THIS. But also, hello, she...supposes...]
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It's true, though. Heinwald's chat with the dragon is cut short in this instance due to the sudden noise from somewhere in the library. By the time Felicia makes it out into the chamber with the dragon, Heinwald is already circling around to meet her.]
An associate of the abyss?
[The dragon inquires, to which Heinwald speaks up before Felicia can answer.]
Are you quite all right, Felicia? I heard your stumbling around back there. [Just instantly call her out, Heinwald...] How did you find yourself here?
[Never mind the fact that he doesn't even know how he found himself here, but at least he seems familiar with the place...and the scary dragon that's still sightlessly staring her down.]
no subject
I'm okay! Just, uh. Kind of wasn't expecting the room to spin all around like that... [Felicia rubs the back of her head at that.] All I remember is feeling...really tired, and I guess I kind of stumbled into this place by accident.
[At any rate, uh. ...Dragonfriend you are highly intimidating and why do you keep staring. Good gods. She'll at least try to speak to it, hoping it'll lower the intimidation factor--]
I'm, um, sorry if I intruded! I didn't mean to make such a racket...
no subject
[Which would be a lovely thought, considering how the dragon was apparently just chilling around here. Imagine running into it without Heinwald nearby.
Speaking of the dragon, it tips its head in acknowledgment of Felicia's apology.]
We care not of your noise.
You needn't fear it, Felicia. It will not attack us. [He motions toward the dragon.] You recall my stories of Nyarlathotep, yes? This is another of its incarnations- previously tasked with overseeing the Library Obscura.
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[she would rather not imagine that!! it would involve screaming, and lots of it!!]
Ah-- [It takes a couple of seconds, at least, but Felicia does remember that much.] Oh! Oh, of course I remember! It's, ah, nice to meet you, Nyarlathotep! I can't say I expected that we'd ever meet.
[No need to not be polite, at any rate.]
I can certainly see why no one would want to mess with the library, with someone like it defending it. Ah, what were you two talking about? If I can be a bit nosy.
no subject
Intruders were unlikely, until this one released the seal.
["This one" being Heinwald of course, to which Heinwald shrugs.]
I doubt it would have attacked you regardless. It did not protect the library so much as resided in it. It had been sealed away with the library, but I opened it in order to solve the case that brought Lathna into our lives.
The Emissary.
She is an emissary no longer.
[He's quick to correct the dragon on that. Lathna is Lathna, not whatever Nyarlathotep used her form for.]
Anyway... We were discussing the Shimmer, and the group's journey thus far. Nyarlathotep is mostly unfamiliar with it, but it is able to sense its presence here. Further proof that this instance of the Library Obscura is a construct, I suppose, not that I needed more.
no subject
...And Felicia's cheeks do puff up at the mention of 'The Emissary'. Rude!! The girl has a name dammit!]
...I see. I suppose it would make sense to see if you could gather information; it's a shame you weren't able to get much, but I suppose it is good to know that much.
[Still, there's...]
...If it's a construct, though...we probably shouldn't stay here long, should we?
no subject
The girl speaks true.
Chaos crawls in the deepest corners.
You should not have come.
It was hardly our choice, dragon. You know that as well as we do.
[He...sure doesn't like the sound of that, though. What else is lurking in this false library?]
I trust you shall not take part in our departure.
We are observers.
...Of course. Best of luck finding your own way out. [He looks to Felicia, readying his staff.] Let's be off, then. But keep your wits about you.
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Of course, the horrible giant talking dragon has definitely noticed Yeager, so he holds up a hand in greeting. It can probably sense him, at least so this is... probably fine.......]
Hello! My apologies for interrupting, it wasn't my intention. I seem to have ended up here somehow.
no subject
A bold presentation in the wake of the unknown.
Truths obscured by a closely-guarded mask.
[While the dragon doesn't seem intent on attacking for Yeager's interruption, it seems to think it can see through that cheery facade.]
I'll have you not insult my friend here, Nyarlathotep.
[Ah, there's Heinwald! He's sitting at a table near the massive dragon—Nyarlathotep—with a stack of books at his side. Was he just having a friendly chat with this thing...?
After scolding the eldritch dragon, he turns his attention to Yeager.]
I do hope you haven't been trapped here for terribly long.
no subject
Ah, Heinwald! There you are, I thought I heard you.
[So he's just going to pointedly ignore the dragon's words and pretend he has no idea what the dragon was getting at!! A flawless and masterful plan.]
I haven't been here long, no. What is this place? And who is your... friend?
[...is this massive dragon your friend.]
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[He's spoken of the Ancient One before in relation to Akasha, so that should clear up a few things. The dragon, on the other hand...]
"Friend" is a bit of a stretch, but we are acquaintances.
He who sought Our knowledge,
Who fathoms Our meanings.
He who rendered Us unfettered from Our obsidian cage.
He seeks Us out once more.
This is but one instance of a being known as Nyarlathotep. It was once bound to this library, but I have since permitted it freedom. It seems as though it has come back for one reason or another...
It is your doing.
You should not have come.
[Heinwald waves that off. He knows this must be a construct, especially now that Yeager is here. What has intrigued him more is the dragon's apparent awareness of it.]
You will have to take that up with the prismatic one of which I spoke. [Anyway, to finish answering Yeager:] Since I found myself here with Nyarlathotep, I thought to ask it if it knows anything about the Shimmer.
no subject
Ah, I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nyarlathotep.
[Well, not exactly, but close enough.]
Have you learned anything new?
no subject
Yeager.
[Wow.
Heinwald frowns as he leans against the table.]
Not as much as I would have hoped. Nyarlathotep is aware that this is some sort of construct formed from my subconscious. It would not be in the Library Obscura right now otherwise. It has not crossed paths with the Shimmer prior to this, but it is able to sense it now that it is here.
A prismatic force from beyond the stars.
All become one under its touch.
A symbiotic existence.
Symbiotic in one way or another, I suppose... Not a very pleasant one, however. [He taps at the stack of books that he presumably grabbed.] It is possible that there is a spell with which to quell its advance in these tomes, but I am afraid we haven't the time to locate it. Even Nyarlathotep can sense that.
You should not be here.
[It repeats, which is apparently its way of agreeing. This may be the Library Obscura, but it's not the genuine article. Something isn't right here.]
no subject
I see. With enough time, it's possible to find something that could possibly help us, but considering that this does seem to be the Shimmer's doing... well, it's likely you won't be able to find anything all that useful.
[And both Heinwald and Nyarlathotep are aware of that.]
Well, if you plan to continue looking, I'm not entirely sure I'll be all that useful. Not that I'm opposed to attempting to help, of course!
[look he's a nerd, but not in the "sit in libraries and study all day" sort of way. give him a ruin to explore or blastia to excavate, not dusty old books!!]
no subject
Only falsities inhabit these shelves.
[Well at least it's giving Yeager credit where it's due?!
Heinwald's face scrunches up with displeasure. He knows it's a construct, and yet he'd allowed himself to think he could do some reading in here. He's going to be cursing the Shimmer for a while after this.]
If only I had the luxury of perusing the genuine article!
What if you already did?
...Ah. Fair enough.
[His other self. Right. Though he doesn't seem entirely placated by that. After all, that Heinwald is the one finding truths, not him.
He mumbles to himself and stands up from the table.]
I believe our time would be better spent looking for a way out of here. Our business is elsewhere, is it not?
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