[D8, EN] Lights in the Dark (Open)

Corrine, clad in a dark cloak, her face bare and pale, wanders into the Wheel Tower like someone in a daze. Despite her rationalisation of her nightmare, it still troubles her, playing over and over in her mind.

Loreia enters the tower, following the cape - or cloak? - dogging her mind. Water sloshes as it falls over wood, turning the massive wooden wheel. Repetition, clear, cold water, a respite from fire and ruin, but a lulling trickle down into deep dreaming. Dim light from a torch reveals what she's been chasing: the familiar shape of Corrine Marsten. Had it been her at the edge of the Coldbrook pavilion? Or did Loreia's strength of will appease the haunting presence as someone "
worthy"
of guidance? Ghosts and spirits like to play by their own, touched rules.

"
Lady Marsten?"

Corrine turns toward the voice, her own a little distracted;


"
Oh, hello Loreia. I just came out here for some respite. Bad dream. Is the night troubling you also?"

"
Yes,"
she answers, somewhat guarded. "
I can't shake the feelin' that somethin's...just here. A fair number of our soldiers have been feeling restless as well. Few come out and say that it's dreams, but I believe that's the case for everyone."


"
I'm glad I found you, though,"
she adds with a barely passing smile. "
It probably wasn't smart to go off into the dark alone."

"
Yes, I suppose you are right,"
Corrine concedes, her tone a little apologetic. "
I wasn't thinking. It was restless at the Marsten camp too. It's eerie, isn't it."


She shivers a little, not from the cold, but from her memory of the nightmare.

"
I'm still quite shaken from the dream. It was like it knew all the things of which I am afraid. I haven't had a nightmare for years. I don't want to sound superstitious, as I'm sure there's a rationale behind so many people having nightmares and feeling disturbance, but I can't help but feel like this is some sort of foreboding. Perhaps you are right, and something is among us. What would it be, though?"

"
I can't say what, m'lady. A ghost or spirit, maybe?"
she guesses, having been more focused on defying it than study or conjecture over what it might be. "
Maybe we aren't meant to know, but I'm sure the gods do. Whatever it is, it should pass in the morning. Even real ghosts tend to avoid sunlight like the plague, but the night'll be easier to get through with people you trust keepin' you company. And some light."

"
I did try to soothe some who were in distress at our camp, after I awoke. Some are far more afraid than I. Afraid of a real and present threat. It can be difficult to reason with someone in such a panic. I needed a bit of quiet, and I have a good memory of this place. I thought it might ground me somewhat."


Corrine looks at the water wheel as she speaks.

"
Might I ask about your dream?"

"
It's a bit hazy now,"
she wonders. "
There were people I once knew, and people I know now. It feels like I traveled through pictures of my life. Then it all fell into war and chaos - I'll spare you the details. I think it followed me and just got worse until I woke up. Does any of that sound like what you dreamed?"


The wheel turns on and on, unmoved and none more curious of the conversation. If someone came by and stuck a branch into it, would it break, or just stop turning?

"
Somewhat,"
Corrine replies. "
I had the faces of people I know, railing against me and telling me my faults and cursing my future. Then shadowy hands peeled my skin off."


Her voice quavers a little, belying how disturbed she is, though she holds her composure.

"
No matter how much I rationalise that it was but a bad dream, the things said were hurtful enough that they prey on my mind still. This nightmare-bringing ghost knew which threads to tug upon to upset me,"
she adds dryly.

"
You must have a lot on your mind, m'lady. The less on your mind, the less, I think, this presence can do to taunt you. I'd be happy to listen if you feel like sharin', but maybe see the septon if you want sage advice."


Perhaps whatever haunts the night takes an interest in some, but it felt more likely that Loreia hadn't been asleep for very long, and she now worried that it was just waiting for her to bed and drift into its web.

Robed for the night, Yoren still has an urge to go for a walk. It quickly leads him to the two women huddling together. Recognising them both he approaches: "
Now, which sinister plots are you two hatching?"
He asks with mirth in his eyes.

Corrine glances up, surprised, but, once she recognises Yoren, gives him a little smile and a nod;


"
My lord Yoren. No scheming, I assure you. Merely taking the air. This night is rather disturbed. Did you have a nightmare too?"

Yoren nods: "
it is strange. Walking through camp I heard many men, hardened veterans, plagued by dreams. All on the same night. This cannot be a coincidence, so what is happening?"
Yoren looks troubled at the thought.

Corrine shrugs;


"
I'm afraid I don't know. Loreia suggested perhaps a spirit of some sort. Do you believe in such things?"

Yoren nods again, shooting the big woman a glance:
"
I do. The question is if spirits are manifestations of human thoughts, a brainchild of our imagination, or a fully sentient being in its own right. This I do not know..."

With a look of concern he sits down
"
Was your one bad? You look a little dishevelled, anything you'd like to talk about?"

Corrine fidgets with a lock of her black hair, tousled from sleep, siddenly conscious of her apearance;


"
A disturbing dream, yes. It awoke me, and that is when I noticed the unrest throughout the pavilions. I came up here because it is peaceful and I thought it would calm me."

OOC: waiting, in case Loreia has something to say, better safe then sorry!

"
And I hope I've been able to help,"
Loreia assuages.

"
Together, we three can guard each other against this evil,"
she continues playfully, the company appearing to do her good, and trying to project that into the others. "
Yoren is no stranger to these terrors in the night, so protected by the Lord of Light. That protection extends to us as well, I hope? Friends of His loyal devotees?"


She says all this with some dramatic flair, mimicking theatrical presentation. The real trouble however, is that it may not leave until dawn, and Loreia and company will have to return to their beds eventually...

OOC: She likes plays or "
show"
/mummer antics... I'm keeping that.
Achievement unlocked: "
We need to go deeper"

Developed a new character quirk!

Yoren smiles assuringly and nods: "
The fear of a thing is often greater than the thing itself. Terror is like money, the more you believe in it the more real it becomes. Terror only bites as hard as you let it, and friendly faces often renders your skin impervious to terror."

Yoren, seeing Loreias display of theatrics does his own to impress the ladies. Deepening his voice he says:"
R'hllor aid thine humble servants! The night is dark and full of terrors, protect us by thine fire! By thine power, light a fire to burn our fears, and scare the dreads that plague this night!"
Lighting a good campfire he looks at Loreia: "
To be honest, all the preamble was really not necessary, but dramatic effects can be just as efficient a tool as the effect in itself. There is real power in illusions."



[url=Let there be light][/url]: 6d6k5 21

"
You have helped, Loreia, yes,"
Corrine replies with a smile. "
While I would not wish such nightmares upon those I like, it is heartening to know one is not alone, and to remember the real world."


She pats the cool wall of the tower, as though emphasising it's realness for herself.

"
Rousing speech, Yoren. Your God seems to lend himself well to fighting shadows."

Loreia actually jumps back, eyes narrow, ill at ease by the sudden conjuring of fire.

"
Rousing speech, Yoren. Your God seems to lend himself well to fighting shadows."

"
Put it out. Someone might come runnin' or raise a false alarm,"
she edges.

"
Hmm, Loreia is right, Yoren. It's impressive, but it might alarm someone and cause more of a stir than there already is,"
Corrine agrees, though her tone to Yoren is a little apologetic, as though sorry for having to dampen his display.

Yoren seems satisfied with his work, so when they ask him to quench the fire, he pauses for a moment before doing so.
"
My work has been done, and undone with my own hands. What man destroys what he has himself built? When i quench the fire i quench my soul, all for the benefit of the ladies."

He nods to them before saying: "
Sorry, forgot to think about the risks before I made it."
His shulders slumping slightly.

"
It is alright, no harm done. Would it be less problematic if one of us put it out? Is there a way to do this that will not be troublesome for you? Although your faith is not mine, I wish to respect it and you."

Quicly quenching the fire Yoren tells her: "
no, no, it's not religious, it's simply that I enjoy watching the dance of the flame."
Yoren gives a rogueish smile: "
The fire in you twos soul must be my comfort until dawn."