(This is a fairly long event scroll, as it is comprised of a few separate scenes. As such, I've cut out all irrelevant text and kept things as relevant to the overarching theme as possible, with a couple of exceptions. Many thanks again to @Drocilla, @Morgfyre and everyone else that took part!)
Unbidden images, enigmatic and alien, pass before your mind's eye, forcing themselves over your own thoughts. Before you know it, you are swimming in the ancient memories of the Enchantress.
An enthralling lament coils through the air, note upon note building upon one another into a Song that rises, warm and painful from the centre of your chest. It is as alive as you, every breath you take fueling the melancholy aria that not only moves those who hear, but pulls at your own heart strings as well.
You are vaguely aware of him beside you, hand at your arm a tender torment with the weight of his awe and approval the only anchor holding you fast as chains. The crimson of his attire and the darkness your song has wrought are the only two colours in existence - the only world there is.
His hands find your arms and he pulls you forward into a longed for embrace whilst you sing just for him. Yet his touch is not tender as you always dreamed, it is forceful. Heedless of your desire to sing on he shakes you like a doll, delicate euphoria of the moment crumbling... crumbling as so much dirt beneath your heels. He shakes you, harder and harder, until you're forced to struggle, to escape his insistence. How dare he! Cold fingers trace your spine, drawing your attention from both he and the song that threatens to break on your lips.
"Cease!" his aggravated hiss pierces the veil your Song has created and he reaches for your mask. The crack of your palm against his face transforms his handsome features in rage, and this time you feel a trill of fear as he reaches again.
Determined fingers catch the side of your mask and a gleam of success fills his eyes only to be extinguished just as quickly. He cries out, drawing away as if bitten, a tracery of frost upon his fingers throbbing with a sickly blue light. Crooning mournfully in unbroken song, you gather him into your arms to soothe his ego and banish that pained expression.
At last yielding to your charms, he sweeps you closer and bends his dark head, lips hovering just above yours. Your song twists in longing, softens to a whisper as his own low susurration mingles there with yours. You cannot hear the words, they have only just formed, and your world shatters violently crimson bleeding through the darkness of your beautiful melody.
Hot lightening flashes, blinding you briefly as you struggle to regain control, grasp at the thin fragments of reality that slowly regain a far faded colour. The storm that rages around the two of you has slicked your gown to naught but wet gold against your body, and your brilliant hair lies plastered to your forehead.
Rain pelts downward, dripping into your eyes as you shiver in his arms, the last notes of the Song creeping reluctantly from your lips. In the silence that follows you cling to him while he removes your mask, no hesitation or fight left in you now that its magic has been dispelled.
The black clouds above slow and disperse, their deluge subsiding to a faint trickle from the havens. You fight for every breath, lungs burning, tears building in your eyes. Now acutely aware of his hawkish gaze, you glance upward, and without a single word he places the lavender mask in your shaking hands. With that, he turns abruptly, making off to inspect the aftermath.
The rain-drenched crystals prick gently at your fingertips, allowing you a measure of focus as you glance toward the others. There Fain is, looming over an indistinct figure being held forcefully to the ground. Something bright catches your eye, a flicker of residual lightening reflected off the gold of a mask. As you turn, you are granted more detail, the mask enameled with a tiger, its wearer ignoring all else save you and his gaze is grim, hungry...
You inhale suddenly, hungrily, your lungs burning from the ensorcellment of the memory that cast all bodily needs aside. The vision is gone and so is Her presence but the scent of blood and spices lingers upon the crisp, autumn air.
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "I have recorded the new vision and will add it to the scroll for others."
(The Evanescent): Miralona says, "I was wondering. Thank you, Aois-Dana."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "I do wonder now... Who bore the tiger mask?"
(The Evanescent): You say, "I was about to make a copy myself, but ok."
(The Evanescent): Miralona says, "Who is the one in the golden mask? I don't remember all of that."
(The Evanescent): Eritheyl says, "The Legion."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "The Lady's mask is golden."
(The Evanescent): Eritheyl says, "The tiger mask was worn by Lord Morgfyre."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "And further... would it be worthwhile for us to attempt a prayer to Lord Fain?"
(The Evanescent): You say, "Lord Masque has been silent for many decades, but it might be prudent..."
(The Evanescent): Miralona says, "It's looking like with each memory, Lord Fain is the one who pulls her from the enthralling power of the mask."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "Aye."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "I think it is worthwhile to attempt. A trip to Lord Fain's Fulcrux perhaps?"
The waning light of the chilly autumn day reflects off the shuttered gas lamp, bringing to mind the glint of gold seen somewhere just before.
You have emoted: Sakaki looks up at the gas lamps, pondering over something.
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "The Maestra and I just shared an experience... remembering the vision. A glint of gold."
(The Evanescent): You say, "As did I."
(The Evanescent): Zarialle says, "I am trying to recall, the gold we saw was Her wet gown... and the mask itself..."
--On a hunch, I decide to pay a visit to @Morgfyre 's fulcrux and seek answers from there.--
--A short trek up Avechna's peak later...--
Cavern surrounded by discordant whispers.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Glittering like the twilight sky, a globe of energy dances chaotically.
You see exits leading east, south, west, and through a swirling, chaotic globe.
You step into a globe of swirling, chaotic energy, and it leaps around your vision and consumes you whole, enveloping you into an abyssal realm of twilight stars and bizarre foreign skies. The vistas of limitless alien horizons in unknown worlds spring into your mind, and are gone just as soon as they enter. After what seems an eternity, but you somehow know is only moments, you emerge from the globe once more, exiting somewhere completely different.
The Fulcrux of Morgfyre.
The eternal worm Ouroboros, a great serpent biting its own tail, floats mystically suspended in the air, forming a dark stone shrine of Morgfyre.
You see a single exit leading through a swirling, chaotic globe.
You have recovered balance on all limbs.
You have emoted: Sakaki steps into the fulcrux, taking the briefest moment to look around at his surroundings, before moving to kneel before the master shrine, bowing his head respectfully.
You say, "Lord Morgfyre, I would respectfully seek Your counsel, should You be attentive and willing to grant my request."
The sound of twilight waters gently lapping against the ruined island is all that greets your request.
The hair at the back of your neck prickles in unease.
Erratic, coloured lights flicker into existence, whirling about madly before converging upon a single point. A crimson and black morass swells amorphously into being, resolving into Athrak, Seer of Bedlam.
Flatly, Athrak, Seer of Bedlam says, "You do not belong in this place, devoted of Drocilla."
You say, "I seek the council of Lord Legion, regarding visions our Order have been receiving pertaining to recent... events concerning Lady Enchantress."
Respectfully, you say, "I shall depart however if I must."
Athrak, Seer of Bedlam flashes a charming smile that never touches his eyes.
Athrak, Seer of Bedlam says, "The Enchantress? How curious."
Eyes swimming with oily colour, Athrak, Seer of Bedlam says, "She is masked, and yet Her intentions laid bare for all. Most disconcerting."
You say, "We can't help but wonder if Her actions are guided by another though. Lord Masque has featured quite prominently in a vision we received, plus one that we think might be none other than Lord Legion, but we can not be certain."
You say, "They were obscured by a mask of gold featuring an image of a tiger upon it."
The brow of Legion creases infinitesimally, the only show of reaction as He manifests from the air before you.
You see the following people here:
Morgfyre, Sakaki.
You kneel before Morgfyre, swearing your allegiance to Him.
Motes of churning colours swim in the air, and a throaty feminine voice says, "Begone, Athrak."
Athrak, Seer of Bedlam brings his fingers together to reverently form the unbroken circle of the Ouroboros.
Athrak, Seer of Bedlam glances up, bemused. Erratic, coloured lights flicker into being around him like a flurry of chromatic wasps, darting in wildly to obscure him from view. When they fade, no trace of him remains.
An august and reserved voice proudly says, "Rise, child of Our kin."
You have emoted: Sakaki stands after a moment, though does not make eye contact until granted permission to do so, out of respect.
A feverish, obsessed voice filled with fervent zeal says, "Speak, then, of this vision."
A mirthful, joyous voice laughingly says, "Pray you do so with great veracity, that We do not smite you where you stand for uttering such contrivances before Our very presence."
Eyes clouding over as memories return to him, you say, "Her memories forced their way into my mind, starting with She plus another, whom ras rather... forceful with her, I still remember as if it was my own body, the feel of hands shaking me until I was forced to struggle in protest..."
You say, "They said something that I could not hear, however they had a profound effect on the song of creation that was being sung by... her? Me? The memories are so vivid, yet also vague..."
A grim, somber voice says, "She was interrupted?"
You say, "Aye. Her mask was removed as its magic was dispelled."
A feverish, obsessed voice filled with fervent zeal says, "And?"
You say, "He returned the mask to her hands, beefore turning to inspect the aftermath of what had transpired. Lord Masque was seen, looming over someone being held forcefully to the ground, where a mask enamled with a tiger was also seen, it's gaze turning towards... me? The gaze was grim, hungering..."
You say, "At this point the vision came to an end, however given that we have also received other visions in the past, we may receive more in future weavings..."
The air about you swims with oilslick colours as Morgfyre's stern demeanour further darkens, the gaze directed at you stunningly reminiscent of that depicted in the vision.
You have emoted: Sakaki gasps in abrupt recognition.
A grim, somber voice says, "Why, then, do you seek Us, if not to speak that which is best forgotten, Sakaki d'Murani?"
Hesitantly, you say, "Lady Enchantress's demeanour has changed dramatically ever since She returned her gaze to the basin, wearing her mask once more and has all but turned a deaf ear to us that follow Her will... there is also an ominous feeling lingering, like things do not bode well... We wonder if there is a connection between Her current... state? and these past visions."
--TO BE CONTINUED--
Comments
Ixion tells you, "// I don't think anyone else had a clue, amazing form."