The Shimmer Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shimmermods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theshimmer2020-08-22 08:30 pm
shimmermods) wrote in theshimmer2020-08-22 08:30 pm
Return
APPREHENSION
The next chamber you'll see isn't a chamber at all; rather, it appears to be the cave opening proper, leading to a view of the mountain proper. The crystallized trees and other flora that have been touched by the Shimmer are burning, those bright white flames reaching skyward, more and more patches of them going up as the fire seems to stretch upwards from the ground, almost as though trying to burn the sky itself.
For the first time in a long time, the sky is dark above you.
It won't take long before it brightens with fire and smoke, but the soft colors of the iridescent aurora that have been marring the sky with the Shimmer's light have gone. The repugnant glow of the Shimmer is dead; from what little can be seen of the foot of the mountain, the boundary no longer exists.
All that's left is this world, and all that belong in it, and you.
You're all marked by your time here, however; all of the changes brought down on you physically are still present, and even those with no drastic physical changes will notice at least one - namely, the irises of everyone's eyes have gone bright and prismatic, ringed with that same iridescence you've just spent the last while destroying.
The Shimmer is dead.
The Shimmer is with you always.
The mountain burns, and you may as well watch it.
And for a time, there's nothing else to do.
You don't know how long you're alone, but eventually, there will come the knowledge that you aren't alone anymore - the relative quiet of the night is broken by the sound of something approaching, something large and mechanical, vehicular in nature. One sound turns into many, and it isn't long at all before you're greeted by a military convoy.
The transport stops just short of you, doors to the back of one of the vehicles slamming open as numerous soldiers emerge, quickly taking their places and aiming their guns at you. Within moments, you're surrounded.
You won't have to wait long for an explanation; two more people emerge from a different vehicle to the first, and the soldiers part to let them through easily. The first is unfamiliar to all but one of you; he's a tall man wearing a military-inspired uniform in all black, one hand glowing with powerful dark magic. The shorter woman beside him is all too familiar, however, someone you likely aren't pleased or surprised to see.
Vitali is here.
She stands before you, straight-backed and formal, dark uniform standing starkly against the flames; her gaze is hard as she looks over the group, and she tips her head to glance at the man beside her.
"They've got fifteen. Better than the last group that came out."
Her attention is returned to the group then; she doesn't smile.
"I have no idea what you guys did, but the boundary's down. We're here to bring you home, and since this little party isn't a democracy, I don't want to hear any whining. Put your weapons down and come quietly. Hubert - make sure they don't do anything too stupid. Either they come with me, or they don't come at all."
You heard the woman.
The doors on the back of the military transport are heavy, when they close and lock behind you; it's dark. But at least you're all being kept together, even if you've been thoroughly disarmed.
You might want to take some time to reflect. To talk. To do whatever it is there is to do back here on the way back down.
After all, there's no telling what will happen next.
For the first time in a long time, the sky is dark above you.
It won't take long before it brightens with fire and smoke, but the soft colors of the iridescent aurora that have been marring the sky with the Shimmer's light have gone. The repugnant glow of the Shimmer is dead; from what little can be seen of the foot of the mountain, the boundary no longer exists.
All that's left is this world, and all that belong in it, and you.
You're all marked by your time here, however; all of the changes brought down on you physically are still present, and even those with no drastic physical changes will notice at least one - namely, the irises of everyone's eyes have gone bright and prismatic, ringed with that same iridescence you've just spent the last while destroying.
The Shimmer is dead.
The Shimmer is with you always.
The mountain burns, and you may as well watch it.
And for a time, there's nothing else to do.
You don't know how long you're alone, but eventually, there will come the knowledge that you aren't alone anymore - the relative quiet of the night is broken by the sound of something approaching, something large and mechanical, vehicular in nature. One sound turns into many, and it isn't long at all before you're greeted by a military convoy.
The transport stops just short of you, doors to the back of one of the vehicles slamming open as numerous soldiers emerge, quickly taking their places and aiming their guns at you. Within moments, you're surrounded.
You won't have to wait long for an explanation; two more people emerge from a different vehicle to the first, and the soldiers part to let them through easily. The first is unfamiliar to all but one of you; he's a tall man wearing a military-inspired uniform in all black, one hand glowing with powerful dark magic. The shorter woman beside him is all too familiar, however, someone you likely aren't pleased or surprised to see.
Vitali is here.
She stands before you, straight-backed and formal, dark uniform standing starkly against the flames; her gaze is hard as she looks over the group, and she tips her head to glance at the man beside her.
"They've got fifteen. Better than the last group that came out."
Her attention is returned to the group then; she doesn't smile.
"I have no idea what you guys did, but the boundary's down. We're here to bring you home, and since this little party isn't a democracy, I don't want to hear any whining. Put your weapons down and come quietly. Hubert - make sure they don't do anything too stupid. Either they come with me, or they don't come at all."
You heard the woman.
The doors on the back of the military transport are heavy, when they close and lock behind you; it's dark. But at least you're all being kept together, even if you've been thoroughly disarmed.
You might want to take some time to reflect. To talk. To do whatever it is there is to do back here on the way back down.
After all, there's no telling what will happen next.