The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Orange

[voidtreckermods]

The Towertop

Hopefully by the ninth day those exploring the towers will have found their way up and through the final puzzle in the tower of their choosing.

Once they enter the top-most floor they will for a moment see a domed chamber of smooth, solid stone. There are four arched frames carved on the wall where windows would be, except they are each filled with stone with a raised metalwork sigil. Sat slumped opposite each 'window' is a robed person, still and silent.

All of this only for a moment before they find themselves somewhere else. Somewhere they long to be. It might be their home, it might be a beautiful forest, a meadow, or the seaside. It might be the streets of a familiar city. Wherever it is is different for whoever is seeing it, deeply personal to them. The sigils are here too, perhaps carved on a building or a tree or even hanging suspended in the air. The spaces are devoid of people, except for the four monks, each bound with shadowy chains.

For those able to sense spiritual energy: it is clear that the sigils are very low on energy, close to their power flickering out entirely. Spiritual or magical energy sent into these sigils will make them glow and eventually hum with power.

For those who try to affect the chains: it seems the chains can be attacked, though doing so appears to bring pain to the monks bound inside. They will need to work quickly and efficiently to break them and do as little harm to the monks as possible.

However, why would they want to? This is a peaceful place they have ended up, a place they know and love. Surely it's best just to sit and rest. Any Voidtreckers who are immune to mind-influencing effects will not see the illusion or feel the compulsion. The compulsion is easier to shake than the illusion, they just need to keep focussed on the task at hand or have a non-affected friend close to hand to shake them out of it. However for those that do succumb to it, they will find shadowy chains begin to take hold of them, making the urge to give in harder to fight off.

Comments

Lan Xichen | East tower

[lanxichen]

Xichen blinks when the illusion comes over. It is a very different place suddenly. One he knows so well, and he knows exactly what will happen next - da ge and A-Yao will come in, and he will play the music that eases the downward spiral of--

No. This is not right. It is not real. Xichen frowns slightly - again with the illusions, and walks towards the sigils to examine them while focusing on his inner energy to hopefully clear his mind, as it did with the city outside.

Their energy feels... clear, and right in a way. After a moment, he raises his hand, attempting to transfer spiritual energy to one of them...

Which does work, and Xichen's eyebrows rise a little at the soft glow, the tower room slowly coming back into focus.

"Watch out!"

Just in time to see someone begin to be wrapped in the shadowy chains.

[ayao]

The illusion tries to ensnare him too and he stands before a smiling Nie Mingjue and then, in a blink, a smiling Lan Xichen. For him, the Unclean Realm merges with the Cloud Recesses so that the pair become, simply, home. His heart aches and he sucks in a sharp breath, focusing on his energy to dispel his dream. He must.

Lan Xichen is before him. Real and not some figment. With a mighty shove, he frees himself of the web and staggers towards the other man.

Just in time to see the chains too. He brings out his sword and nods, prepared.

"The chains... They must be the cause of it."

[lanxichen]

"Or part of it," Xichen offers quietly as he does reach out to catch the younger man's stagger. There may be tears in his eyes but they won't fall.

With Meng Yao here, as opposed to Jin Guangyao, the illusion shatters completely.

"Be careful."

Meanwhile, Xichen will take out the xiao and fight in a different way, helping strengthen anyone resisting the illusion with a song of clarity. Not the one he taught, of course not, but one powerful all the same.

[ayao]

Encountering solid warmth helps him push away the rest of the spell. He leans against the other man's side for a moment, using the proximity to strengthen himself. But he isn't completely greedy: Xichen will likely feeling a healing flow of energy passing between them.

"I'm here with you, Zewu-Jun."

Always. He smiles at the song and nods encouragingly. While the notes help defeat the illusion, Meng Yao strikes out with his sword at the chains.

[lanxichen]

Xichen... was about to pass spiritual energy himself, when the flow goes in instead and his eyes widen helplessly before he breathes out.

"Thank you." Soft, and heartfelt. Before he moves the xiao back to his lips and times the music with Meng Yao's motions without too much effort - the rhythm familiar even if it is still raw.

Though by the time they get to the monks, he might change the music slightly, or ... even use the xiao as a weapon to help strike at the constructs. Not as good as a sword, but better than no weapon at all.

[sciencegirl]

The South Towertop

Up until this moment it's been a delight for Entrapta. Sure, a little creepy, but everything had reminded her of home just enough that the challenge felt good. That is until it was too much like home. Until the walls of a solid stone room turned to purple hued brick, and she was trapped in there with an unfamiliar monk who she could barely register as not belonging.

It didn't feel like she was trapped, though? It had been homey? But this felt and looked like home.

Her little castle away from everything! Where it was just her and her robots. Where it was quiet outside of the noises she wanted, where she could always predict the food she would have and everything was always where she'd remember. There wouldn't be that terribly abrasive situation of using the wrong thing for the wrong job.

A million little irritations she muscled through but couldn't name lifted off her shoulders. Her sensitivities soothed like cold skin in a warm bath. It was nice here, and something was taking root in her even as she struggled to update people on the situation. But she couldn't do much here, could she? These sigils? They looked as tired as the monk.

She at least has the mind to use her scanner on them.

[blue_ice]

Another plunge through the darkness brings Kaiba close to the top. He's been chattering on the comms the whole way, mindless things. But his goal here is to try to keep Entrapta's attention and keep her from falling into whatever illusion is running up here.

He steps through, and his vision shifts: he sees the familiar sweeping windows of his office at the top of the city. His seat of power, his reminder that some things are best accomplished alone. For a moment, he's drawn to the familiar big chair---but an odd sight gives him pause. Large pink hair. That can only be...

"Entrapta!" He calls to her and steps into her line of vision, clearly worried.

[sciencegirl]

She looks at Kaiba with cold, dull eyes. Holds up the scanner to where he can see it.

"Hi, Kaiba," she offers weakly despite having been talking to him not too long again. "He's weak. The sigils are running out of energy."

She has the presence of mind to tell him that, to show him, before she starts to tear up. "I'm sorry, I try to be good enough, but it knows I can't keep up." Emotionally, attentively, the compulsion keeps telling her that the familiar is what she can handle. The unfamiliar she's bad at, that she'll do everything wrong.

She wipes her eyes again then, but doesn't open them. Maybe if she doesn't look right away, it won't be so bad. It won't feel so bad.

[blue_ice]

Those words keep him focused. He has to fight the illusion---there's a job to do, they can't just stay here. Words spill out, gruff at first. But even he can't be rude when facing her fears.

"You can keep up and you will. You're part of our team, and I'm not leaving you behind"

[sciencegirl]

That phrase. He's not leaving her behind. Isn't that what Bow promised, back then, on Beast Island?

Kaiba's not going to leave her behind, either. They're not just going to leave her here, no matter how much everything is telling her that they should.

She gets up with effort, scrubbing at an eye with the heel of her gloved hand, and it's almost funny how she suddenly whips a tiny buzzsaw out of her hair. Maybe it is, in sort of a pathetic-girl-still-does-nonsense way. Sniffing, she offers it to Kaiba.

"I brought some tools. If we need to set the monk free."

Masumi Sera | Orange Guest | West Tower | OTA

[tactlesstantei]

[It's the top of the tower, and Masumi has barely a moment to notice her surroundings - the unconscious monks, the domed room - before the illusion comes over her. It's a beach, and even without the crowds of people it's a familiar one, the one she'd visited with her family ten years ago.

She knows this is wrong, that this can't be right, that it's probably some sort of illusion, but at the same time it's hard to fight off the urge to just sit down in the sand on the floor, she knows it's a floor, and rest from everything so far.

And, since she has no resistance to this, the urge is winning, so anyone unaffected will see Masumi's initial alarm quickly softening into calm as she falls victim to the illusions.]

Do you mind a Taiki and Kaiba combo?

[longforgottenpromise]

[Without the shield it was harder to fight off the illusions, but he could do it. He just had to focus. Domed room, monks, sigils. That was real. The flashes of Tai... they were not. He had to focus. People needed help.

He approaches her cautiously.] Can you hear me? Whatever you are seeing... It's not real... Sorry...

That's fine!

[tactlesstantei]

[She turns to face Taiki, but by the look in her eyes she's well and truly caught in the illusion by now.]

It feels real, though. I just need to sit down, just for a moment, then we'll get going again.

[Deep down, she knows it isn't real, but it's still tough to shake the compulsion to just give in, even with help. The fact that there's chains slowly starting to coil around her legs probably isn't helping either.]

shows up late

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba is focused in his mission to save the group now that he's had a moment. He approaches, uncharacteristically quiet. ]

It's not real. It wants you to think it is. Fight it---a real home wouldn't be like this, would it? You'd have your people with you.

Re: shows up late

[longforgottenpromise]

I know it's hard. [He let Kaiba do the majority of the speaking, he was better at it. Better at explaining, better at proving that the illusions people were seeing weren't real.

He reached out for her hand, hoping touch would help anchor her. Keep her in the moment.]

kaiba | west tower

[blue_ice]

It's not real. None of this is real. Don't fall for it.

Kaiba repeats that in his head again and again, the mantra serving as a lifeline. The illusions are dangerous. The monk is likely the only other real being in this room---they were told before landing to seek them out. He takes a step toward this person, and the world shifts.

Shimmering glass windows. A tall, imposing chair. The highest view of the city. His windows now bear strange sigils, but that's...fine. Improving the decor. His old life awaits, all that's missing is Mokuba bursting through the door. He lifts his head to the door in a moment of weakness and lets himself hope, but no one comes.

It's not...real...

The office isn't real. But the loneliness is. It's familiar, like a friend, and he finds himself drawn toward the window, face solemn and lost. Supposedly under the guise of inspecting this nonsense, but the chains start to sneak toward his ankles.

[longforgottenpromise]

He's been aware that what he sees, when he looks on the world, when he looks upon the city is different than what the others see.

The first night, when he had put down the shield he had seen the city like Ran had described it, beautiful and whole. But he had fought it, forced his mind to see the truth.

Here on this tower top it has happened again, whatever he is seeing, it isn't the same as what the others are.

He spots Kaiba, he doesn't know him well but he can tell that something is up, he is still, staring out into nothing.

"Seto Kaiba?" His voice was soft, he doesn't want to startle him.

[blue_ice]

That voice catches his attention, if only because it's rare for anyone to address him by his full name. He turns his head slightly, and it takes a moment for him to recognize the person.

"Taiki...right?"

There's something he needs to be doing. Something feels wrong and he knows it. But this fortress of solitude is calling him, and his voice is unusually dull when he speaks again.

"What brings you here?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes..." He nodded, stepping a little closer and trying to keep his confusion at the question off his face.

"I... We are here to help the monks." Kaiba's voice was dull and that was worrying.

"I'm helping the orange team this time..."

Zelda | North Tower

[wisdominshadows]

There's something wrong in this room.

Zelda's felt some strange presence through these last few levels of the tower, something growing ever stronger as she ascends. But here it clings to her as though it hopes to swamp her senses the moment she lets her guard down, pull her down through the shadows and send her to sleep.

She has no intention of letting it do so. Instead she steels herself, examining the domed roof and the carved arches until her eyes fall on the still and shriveled figure on the other side of the room.

And oh, she wants to get a better look at those sigils when she has the chance- but not now, not when before her is a man in need of aid. So Zelda makes her way across the room, careful always of setting off the magic she can feel hovering at the edges of her mind.

When she reaches the monk, she kneels and bows her head before him. "Greetings, venerable one," she begins, raising her eyes just enough to watch the man's face. "Your brethren's towers are remarkable creations."

There's no response; the monk just continues to sag against the wall. And yet-

There. Did she just see his eyes focus?

Ken Ichijouji (& Wormmon) | North tower

[ourtomorrow]

Ken and Wormmon pause to listen before entering the top floor; when they don't hear anything that sounds demonic (or otherwise suspicious - some of the things Ken's been hearing on the comms are very perturbing) they bust in.

And freeze.

[ Ken ]

This is, frankly, not possible. It's not possible, but....Ken's shoulders relax all the same.

"This is....."

It's a bedroom, but it's not his bedroom. That doesn't matter. What matters is the soft light filtering through the curtains, the extra futon spread on the floor. The pajamas, less-than-neatly folded but awaiting him all the same, on the spare futon. Ken hadn't realized just how much this place had engraved itself into his heart until he finds himself suddenly there. After a tumultuous train ride, full of that same acceptance, but still, the roller-coaster of navigating new friendships, he's where he knows he can expect to find...

Tears spring to his eyes. "Motomiya."

This is the first place he'd ever stayed over at a friend's house. This is the first place he'd ever woken up and felt completely, totally at peace. Other people in the room but he felt so at ease. He felt wanted. He felt treasured.

As that same sense of acceptance washes over him now, he notices that the room looks rather like a hurricane has blown through it. Again. Rather than being concerned, this just makes him smile, kneel, and begin cleaning it up. He re-folds the pajamas. He straightens the futons.

The trash can is right near where the entrance to the tower had been. So please excuse him, random sudden person here. Ken has to get past you to toss away his friend's empty snack bags.

[ Wormmon ]

"Ken-chan?"

Wormmon waddles in a circle. At first glance, this desert doesn't look like it should be welcoming, comforting, or anything of the sort - but he knows this place, it's precious to him, and out of pure happenstance. This isn't just a desert, full of swirling sand and oddly pixelated sky. This is the place where a dust cloud had passed and, on the other side, all alone and crying, he had discovered:

"Ken-chan?"

But Ken-chan isn't here. Because this is the past. This is the past, and they need to live in the present!

Wormmon is now crawling around at random, scrunching up his face like he had when Entrapta helped him see the truth of the city. They have things to do, his partner needs him, and he's ALL ALONE!

A feeling whispers to him that it's okay, that he can relax here. He shrugs it off. It's not true. How could it be?

The only special, precious place to Wormmon....

....is wherever Ken-chan happens to be!!!

POTATO | WEST TOWER

[philosopherspotato]

[They Got the Wrong Guy Officer]

[Quite a while back, and Potato was tossed into a pit. She did not appear to come back out.

What actually happened, is that Potato proceeded to land at the ground floor, make her way up again, and then instead of being faced with the stair-well, was met with the tower top. Which was all very great! There was some fiddling with chains and things, tapping on sigils, and then, inevitably, some boredom.

When others start coming into the tower themselves, Potato herself seems to be alternating between getting chained up and not.] Hiii!! I made it..!!

Mnhh, but even though it seems like it's nice up here, it's really boring...

[The chains, it seems, have been having a rough time going against the incredible power of not wanting to sit still. Might be good to just blast them off her.]

[Like a AA, or maybe just one A,]

[Well, once she's definitely free of chain nonsense, Potato goes back to tapping at the sigils, occasionally rubbing her paws over it.] It's cool, [she says, nodding.] Like a summoning circle, but different!

[Which, to be fair, it's not a summoning circle in the slightest.]

battery...

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba is searching the top of the tower as usual, to try to pull people out of the illusions. It's slow work, but the biggest pause happens when he spots a small...teammate inspecting the sigils. ]

You think they're trying to summon something?

[philosopherspotato]

[There's a rather exaggerated shrug. Though it might not be exaggerated on her part.] I don't know, it just looks like all the summoning stuff from home!

[She continues to tap over it.] Last time, ummm... I made a summon circle work because I ran around it, but I don't think any of that's working...

[blue_ice]

[ This is definitely not Kaiba's strong suit. He stares at it all, perplexed and watching it. ]

The magic seems to be flickering. You think you could...add to it, somehow? Cast on it? I don't know how any of those powers work, but it needs more.