Event: The Reveal Glass

[indigo_league]

Across the Pokémon world, characters may have spotted a falling star last night. Or at least, one would think that's what it was: a naturally occurring phenomenon, rather than a legendary artifact. Specifically, the Reveal Glass fell to earth during a fight among a group of legendaries started by the return of a long-lost family member. But it's probably best to leave them to handle all that themselves, while your characters deal with other consequences.

The Reveal Glass shattered upon impact, and the shards scattered throughout Kanto, Johto, and the Sevii Islands… And made their way into the hearts of your characters. But bleeding isn't the concern here. Instead, the impact will hit when a character first looks into any reflective service. An eerie feeling hits them as they're transported to the Mirror Dimension.

While this realm can be many different things for different characters, one thing is always true: It is a place of honesty, where true selves are revealed. Those struck by a shard will find themselves facing truths they are no longer able to hide, and now must accept. Fortunately enough, even those who haven't been struck will be able to enter the Mirror Dimension during this event via a reflective surface to offer help. By the end of the 29th, things will return to normal. Characters will be back in the usual Pokémon world and their hearts will be rid of the shards, but time is strange in the Mirror Dimension, and the experience may feel like it goes on far longer than a day. Or, maybe that's just the emotional exhaustion.

The Reveal Glass plot is here. You can swing by the event info post for additional details and FAQ, and play out your characters’ enforced therapy on this post. As with most VR events, this plot is entirely optional and your characters don't need to take part at all.

Comments

Adaine Abernant | OTA

[furiousfists]

[ As far as Adaine has experienced, her stay in this world has been relatively normal. Without her magic and forced into the body of a human, but otherwise normal. Sure, Riz has told her bits and pieces about strange weekends where she might be her true self again, but he said they seemed to happen on a set schedule, so she's not expecting to be transported into an alternate dimension when she looks in the bathroom mirror in the morning!

Anyone who comes into Adaine's corner of the Mirror Dimension will find themselves in a dense forest. Or, rather, they will find themselves in the burnt remains of what was once a forest. Ash covers the ground, some of it still lazily falling from the skies. In all directions, the withered husks of trees lay flat and shattered on the ground, as though they have been blasted outwards from a central point. Should anyone feel brave enough to approach the center of the blast, they will find Adaine, her shoulder length blonde hair floating about her as she radiates raw arcane power. Her ears are their normal long, pointy selves. To most people, she might look the same age as she does normally— a regular sixteen year old girl. But to anyone who recognizes the slowed aging of elves, it will be clear that she is some years older. Older and, it would seem, much stronger.

Before she even turns to make eye contact with whoever is approaching, she will call out to them in an angry, impatient tone. ]

What do you want? I'm busy.

[ OOC: will match prose or brackets! CWs for this thread will include patricide, matricide, emotional abuse, mentions of physical and psychological torture, systemic abuse, wanton destruction and murder. ]

[sinningtree]

The smell was familiar enough to catch his attention before anything else. He follows it to the center point cautiously, aware of his own limits here. The limits that they were all subject to, or so he thinks. Even the sight is not unfamiliar to him, a different method for sure, but he was no stranger to the way this destruction all came from that one center focal point. He'd done it himself enough times.

Adaine's raw power borders on fascinating. It's the first he's seen anyone here capable of anything beyond their human limits, and he can recognize that they might be more alike than he'd first imagined. Having that kind of power, those abilities, contained inside a human body as they were - it was one thing to discuss on the network, but another to see firsthand like this. Still, he's not trying to anger her further.

Kurama halts in his approach, tone neutral as he speaks. "My apologies, I hadn't realized anyone else was out here." Originally, at least. "Are you alright?"

[furiousfists]

Adaine seethes at the question. Her hands are balled into fists, elbows cocked as though she's ready to wind back throw a punch. But she takes in a deep, measured breath in through her nose, then out through her mouth-- just the way Jawbone taught her-- and lowes her hand. She's still clearly furious, but the anger has cooled to a low simmer instead of a roiling boil.

"I would be doing better if I could find who I came here for."

The forest of Sylvaire has never been a straightforward place, but Adaine had hoped that leveling it would make tracking down her mother a bit easier.

[sinningtree]

The deep breath is reassuring, she's maintained some control, at least. Kurama is familiar enough with the sight before him in a different context, he's seen it with others and lived it himself, but he doesn't know Adaine and can't predict how she'll behave next. Every response is a measured and calculated risk.

"Perhaps I can help. That is, if you'll allow me to."

[furiousfists]

She turns, considering him. She remembers speaking to him before, over the gear. He had helpful advice then. Maybe he will be of use now. Brusquely, she nods, stepping out of the blasted ground towards him.

"We're looking for an elven woman. Blonde, like me, but older. You'll notice a family resemblance."

She doesn't stop walking when she reaches him, instead continuing past his shoulder, expecting him to follow.

"She may or may not be followed by a van with hands instead of wheels."

[sinningtree]

"That will make searching easier." He knows what Adaine smells like and can only imagine that the family resemblance will work in his favor that way. Kurama didn't fully realize what that meant for his own powers yet, only that it means he can better assist in her search.

A van with hands is certainly a visual that will stand out, at least.

"This woman, is she in danger?"

He asks the question, even though he's afraid that he already knows the answer. She may not be now, but she will be when they get to her.

[furiousfists]

Adaine's only answer to the question of whether her mother is in danger is a cryptic, "Not yet."

However, she does realize how that makes her sound, so she pauses in her stride to turn and look back at Shuichi over her shoulder.

"Whatever I'm going to do when I find her... Just believe me when I tell you she deserves it."

[pennyloafer]

[It's not all that weird for Louie when he goes from trudging into the bathroom to brush his teeth first thing in the afternoon, freshly (and only halfway) awake, to this place that seems constantly shifting. Sure, it's not an ordinary occurrence these days, but when you're part of the Duck family? These things just happen.

He's also a duck again, so that's a thing. More something to note for possible context than anything else, as the difference doesn't feel so big by now. The big thing is walking-- duck feet and human feet are so different, after all, and he generally only has duck feet again twice a year. To a degree, it's like riding a bike, but Louie definitely has to focus less on where he's going and more on getting their without stumbling.

That's how Louie ends up finding Adaine. Not a matter of courage, in this case, but rather a rare case of him not being attentive. And when she addresses him, and he first fully clocks the destruction of where he's ended up, that's when the situation goes from a strange inconvenience to actually scary. Angry magic is the scariest magic, in his experience. Louie takes a very careful step back - he really doesn't want to trip and fall now - with his hands held up in front of him.]

No, that's-- I didn't notice, that's my bad. Don't let me interrupt. [Although... He feels it'd be dumb not to get some read on things here.] Although, uh, busy with what, exactly? It just seems like you already made good work of things here.

[furiousfists]

[ Finally, Adaine turns to face the newcomer. An aarakocra? Something close enough to one, anyway. She's vaguely aware, in the part of her mind which still has one foot in Saffron City, that the way people look there isn't the way they're supposed to look. This duck's voice strikes her as familiar, but not familiar enough to make a connection that overrides the unknown appearance. ]

Busy with revenge.

[ She takes a deep breath, and straightens her spine a bit. Casting a Locate Creature spell, a silvery blue glow overlays her eyes for a moment as she scans the barren horizon. ]

I've been looking for my mother.

[pennyloafer]

Ohhh.

[Well, that's intense. This isn't something he can relate to, but it's not exactly the first time he's come across this concept, either. The blue-ish glow of Adaine's magic makes the mental comparison he can't help but draw to Lena all the stronger in his mind. So, after his moment of being stunned - okay, a couple moments' worth of being stunned at least - Louie simply nods.]

I've seen a bad mom situation or two. [May and June may even be more of a case of it, he figures. And sure, he doesn't know with any certainty that the person in front of him wasn't the "bad" here, but that's just the thing, she is the front of him right now. With clearly powerful magic!] It's messed up.

cw patricide/matricide

[furiousfists]

[ With a frown, the light fades from Adaine's eyes. Her mother isn't within 1000 feet. The spell didn't fail, but it didn't give her the information she wanted, and therefore she is displeased. ]

It is messed up. She messed us up. But I will make things right, once I find her and kill her, like I did my father.

[pennyloafer]

[Yeah, that's really intense. But the intention of a second murder isn't the only thing that stands out to Louie. He tilts his head with a frown.]

Us? Do you need to find her to save someone?

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine's expression falters for a moment, shifting from determined rage to something a bit softer, more regretful. She thinks for a moment, giving the question proper time to mull over, before finally she shakes her head. ]

Not quite. My sister is already safe. My mum's magic has been taken from her, so she isn't a threat to us anymore.

[ That said... ]

I just— [ Adaine hesitates, because as much as she longs to give into her rage, she still has some fear inside her at the prospect.

Not enough fear to stop her. Just enough to make her falter for a moment. ]

I just want to make her pay for what she did.

[nightyorb]

[Riz is one of the few people in this world who might have been able to recognise this place as The Nightmare King's Forest, but even for him, it's impossible to do so. The Forest he remembers was dark and heavy with shadows, filled with twisted trees and sharp brambles and an ever present sense of unease. This place is just a blighted and destroyed wasteland and if there is any feeling that lingers here, it's one of rage and anger.

He approaches the center of the forest cautiously, not even sure where he is. He remembers waking up to what had seemed just an ordinary day (if a slightly unordinary date) but one glance in the mirror and suddenly he had been here and a goblin again. Another plane shift? Perhaps someone had broken whatever magics kept them prisoner, except this doesn't look much like home either.

He creeps and creeps until he spots a familiar figure. He recognises Adaine instantly, and cannot help but feel a burst of relief. Adaine was sure to have some answers, or at least, some magical means of getting answers. He quickens his pace to close the distance between them, raising a hand to call out to her in greeting before he's cut off by her curt words.

He's not stung though. This situation is strange and tense and for all he knows, Adaine is concentrating on a spell. Or is in the middle of dealing with something or someone.]

It's me. Do you need help?

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine's eyes are alight with silvery blue light, but it fades as soon as she learns from her Locate Creature spell that Arianwen is not within one thousand feet. When she finally turns to greet Riz, it's not without recognition or relief. Even here, where she's abandoned all pretense and given in to her most wrathful desires, Riz is still one of her closest friends.

And, more than that, he's useful to her. ]

Riz, thank gods you're here. You can help me find her.

[ She abandons her spot at the center of the clearing to join Riz's side. ]

We need to search for tracks. Footsteps, followed by a multitude of handprints.

[nightyorb]

Okay.

[Riz doesn't need to think about that answer. Any of the Bad Kids could wake him up in the middle of the night --or, more likely, tear him away from his case boards-- and solicit his help, and he would give it. Certainly, there would be some questions, but those would be to help him figure out how to help, not whether or not he will.]

Who are we looking for exactly?

[Had Adaine, perhaps, found out who had been behind their abduction to the strange pokemon world?]

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine looks at Riz for a moment, sidelong. It's not like him to ask stupid questions. So either he's been hit by a Feeblemind spell, or he somehow actually doesn't know.

She doesn't have time for this. ]

Do keep up, Riz. We're looking for my mother. I want to finish her off like I did my dad.

[nightyorb]

[Riz's eyes go wide, both at what Adaine is saying, and at her sharp tone. It's one he has heard before, but never with him as the recipient.]

Your mother? Wait, what does she have to do with all of this?

[Had she been behind the whole pokemon world experience? Riz knew she was a powerful wizard, certainly powerful enough to planeshift individuals if needed, but somehow it doesn't seem to track. From what little he knew of Adaine and Aelwyn's mother, she never did anything that didn't personally benefit her and how could she benefit from Adaine and him being in a world of cute animals?

Plus, wasn't her magic gone?]

[furiousfists]

What doesn't she have to do with it? With everything?

[ Riz may be able to infer at this point that Adaine isn't really thinking about their current predicament, here in the Pokemon world. The Adaine that is present here is concerned only with the wrongs that were done to her back in Spyre. ]

I need to find her and make her pay for what she did to me, and to Aelwyn. And after I make her pay, I'll make the rest of Fallinel pay, for supporting her.

[shiningkindness]

[ It had been the appearance of what looked to be a burned down forest that had first caught Fluttershy's attention, and the urge to see if anyone - people or animals - needed any help that draws her further in. And it isn't long before she comes across the figure; while she doesn't think she recognizes the girl herself, Fluttershy is by now far more used to the sight of someone overcome with magic than she was maybe comfortable with.

And while the harsh tone does make her flinch, instinctually hesitating and stepping back a moment, seeing the energy radiating from her has her more concerned than anything. ]

I-I...I'm sorry, I...didn't mean to intrude. But...if you need some help...

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine doesn't respond for a moment, instead going back to casting the Locate Creature spell she had been in the middle of the incantation for when this new person approached. The spell winds up being fruitless, which only serves to heighten Adaine's barely contained rage even more.

Through gritted teeth, she finally speaks up. ]

Unless you know of a way to summon a very specific someone to this area, then no, I don't believe you can be of any help to me.

[shiningkindness]

[ Fluttershy hesitates a moment. Everything in her head is screaming at her to go, to not get involved. But she finds that she is unable to move, and she can't tell whether it's because of fear or something else. ]

N...N-No, I don't...s-sorry. But um...who are you looking for? Maybe I could...help look for them.

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine looks this girl over. She looks soft. Delicate. A Mumple person for sure.

She shakes her head. ]

No. You wouldn't want to find my mother. She would destroy you.

[ She already destroyed Adaine and her sister Aelwyn, albeit in less direct ways. But Adaine has to imagine that Arianwen's cruelty has only increased since they stripped her of her magic and left her to fend for herself in the Nightmare King's forest. ]

[shiningkindness]

O-Oh...

[ As terrible as that sounds, Fluttershy can't say she's too surprised. She's met a lot of people who would try to destroy her. It's getting to be a bit too common back home. ]

There's...a chance she might not be here anyway. I'm not sure if this place has brought any other people from our worlds.

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine blinks and shakes her head, like she's trying to rectify two conflicting sets of information that don't make sense when put together, and it's giving her a headache. ]

This is Sylvaire. The forest of the Nightmare King. If my mother is anywhere, it would be here.