Event Log: Dreamwalker the Second

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Dreamwalker part 2 event
Where: In your dreams
When: October 14th-20th (the second log will go up on Oct 23rd, please keep the two weeks of the event separate!)
Warnings: All different kinds of dreams falling under the umbrella of Delight, Rage, Sorrow, and Hope.

This time, the weird stuff doesn't happen when you're awake- as a matter of fact, your waking hours are the normal ones. That's because you're forced to sleep by some unknown entity, getting more and more exhausted by the moment as night falls. Better make sure you're always around a soft pillow.

Once asleep, it doesn't get any less weird- your dreams will be influenced by one of the four gods that make up the first week. Something to make you smile, something to make you angry- or something that reminds you of your deepest regret or most vulnerable hope, they're all things that you're dreaming about now for some reason, no matter how hard you may try to pull away from them.

To make matters more complicated, there are others intruding on your dreams who definitely don't belong there, and while they may seem like manifestations at first, it becomes clear that these others are actually the consciousness of other members of Hadriel, getting some top quality exposure to your angriest, happiest, most sorrowful moments. Hope it doesn't get awkward when you see them tomorrow...

► This log covers October 14th-20th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you die in dreams you don't die in real life, but if you somehow die in real life anyway, please let us know here.

Comments

[puzzlingly]

「The creature, creatures finally take one shape, and in all honesty, Atem can only stare in awe.

Some people never know what they keep deep inside, some can be ghastly monsters, and some can be extremely beautiful creatures. While it certainly doesn't look like a monster and more like a spirit, they cannot deny the predominant darkness that lingers in it. But perhaps... there is some hope for this one yet.

For a moment, the young Pharaoh wishes he could see what this spirit can do, to summon it under his command and test it, bend it to his will.

But the view lasts only for so long before Priest Seto encloses the Ka into a stone slab.」

Great Pharaoh, shall we dispose of the garbage?

「It is a no brainer to know what he's talking about. Atem leans back on the throne, and... seems to think about his answer, his eyes do not leaving the prisoner. This is the part that he hates the most. Let them live, or let them die?」


(ooc: that was awesome i love this! thank you!)

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is still on his knees. When he stops gasping from the pain, he looks up and sees the enchanting beings that represent his soul. And a little, tender smile comes to his lips. He recognizes them. They belong to him. He is responsible for them.

And thus, he starts to struggle in his chains when the lovely images are impressed upon the stone. ]

What are you doing????? Do not harm them!!!! Let them go! They are innocent! They did not choose to reflect my soul, it was imposed upon them without their consent!

[ And he responds with a snarl to Seto when the priest refers to him -- or perhaps his ka -- as garbage. ] Oh, the priestly garbage is going to dispose of the Elvish garbage, eh? You have as mean a spirit as I do. I wonder what your ka would look like? Would you care to bring it out and show it to us all?

[ OOC: I'm really glad you liked the images! XD ]

[puzzlingly]

Enough.

「Atem finally speaks and the room goes basically silent, maybe it's just the dream effect or something that would have happened in reality. Seto does not dare to speak up again, even if his face shows otherwise.」

Your Ka is safe, but your mouth is not helping you at staying alive. You have clearly committed terrible crimes, but we are not blind, there is light in you yet. Tell me what you've done and that you repent of your sins and you may walk as free person again.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ His mouth is his first and last defense -- sometimes a good weapon, and sometimes a very bad one. Curufin laughs a little, desperate laugh. ] You would allow one such as I to go free? Amazing!

[ But he does want to live. Most of the time, anyway. ] I have waylaid the highways of your kingdom; I have robbed and killed your subjects. I was once a smith, and I made many beautiful and useful things, but. . . oh, the story is too long to tell. Suffice it to say that my family and my country fell into chaos as a result of using our remarkable skills for what turned out to be very evil purposes. And when I found myself in your country, I knew only how to wreak destruction. And so I continued to do so.

Yes, I regret it. Much as I hate to say so.

[puzzlingly]

「Is it sarcasm or is he being real? It is a little hard to tell. Maybe he could settle for slave... But that big mouth...

Why must he decide on these people's fate? For as much as he loves his country, his people, this job sucks sometimes. But it didn't use to back then, it was easier, then why is it so hard now? Maybe it is because everything in here is nothing but his own memories acting up, he's playing in his mind alone, his Priest are not there, he's alone.

It doesn't matter. It never truly mattered.」

Tell me one reason why I should let you live. You admit having killed, it will not be me who will judge the weight of you soul, I can only give you more time.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin does have a big mouth, and he was being sarcastic, but truth and bitter humor are not incompatible, at least not in the mind of this dark-souled Elf. ]

I don't know if there is a reason you should let me live. Give me a few minutes to think of one. Yes, I have killed and I have murdered. [ There being a distinction, as the first is in war and therefore has at least a minimal justification, whereas the second is a transgression of the laws of any civilized society. ]

What do you mean, you will not judge me? Who will, then?

[puzzlingly]

「The fact that he asks is a little strange to Atem, how come he doesn't know these things?」

Osiris... god of Duat, the underworld? He shall decide if you reach eternal rest or not.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Something to do with having lost the habit of asking questions while hanging out with the other robbers and murderers. But at least he has the bare facts, since shady characters who swear a lot tend to swear by Osiris. That is, they exclaim, "By Osiris, I'll kill you if you say that again!" Followed by much laugher and more irreligious cursing and swearing. ]

God of the underworld? But he is not here. How shall he judge me unless you first send me to him?

[puzzlingly]

Precisely, I would have to sentence you to death first, do you want that?

「Who is this guy even... He's starting to wonder.」

Or would you prefer just shut your pretty mouth and make up for your sins?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Scratches his head. Considers the dim and sorrowful underworld as described by the profane mouths of the robbers. ] Ah. . . not really.

[ Atem is not the only one who wonders! -- even Curufin sometimes has no idea who he himself might be. But it is not because he has forgotten his history -- that he knows well. ]

[ Grin. ] You like my mouth? Oh, thank you! I do love a compliment. [ Refrains from batting his dark eyelashes, just to be funny, though he's tempted. ]

I don't know if sins like mine can ever be made up for. But I suppose I could go back to smithing. When I travel through the poorer communities of your country, I often see people who do not have the basics because they cannot afford them. I used to do much of my work without asking for pay, and I could do so again. I could forge shovels, picks, hoes, and plowshares out of iron, so that your farmers may break the soil with better tools than wooden ones. I could make iron shoes for your traders' horses, so that they might travel farther and gather better goods for your people's use. And I could make iron wheels for their wagons, so that agains, the traders could journey farther, and so that the farmers could cart more goods to market with fewer breakdowns. I could make iron fences for the townspeople, to keep out the thieves. And I could hire the thieves and train them for a useful profession -- a good blacksmith generally makes a better living than the average thief, and lives a longer life.

[puzzlingly]

What can I say. It reminded me of someone I know.

「He might or not be glancing at certain Priest...

But Atem listens and, he's actually marveled, he wasn't expecting anything of the sort. He could indeed be useful, he could also be lying but the way he reacted to the way his spirit was being treated might be telling. There is certainly light there, entwined with his darkness, they make him whole.」

Does this good blacksmith have a name?

[so_dark_a_road]

Then perhaps you have a soft spot in your heart for loudmouths. [ Smile. ]

[ He didn't actually have much hope that Atem was going to take him up on his offer. And so it surprises him to be asked who he is. ]

My name is Curufin Fëanorion. [ Which of course means Curufin son of Fëanor. ]

[puzzlingly]

Don't let anyone know. 「What is this, winking to a prisoner... His priests seem a little appalled, but the gonna have to deal.」

Free this man off the chains. 「The guards that initially dragged him into the room do as told, lifting him to his feet afterwards.」

Come, Curufin Fëanorion, kneel before me. 「Just a excuse so they talk a little closer without having the entire room hear the conversation. Meanwhile, Rage is frustrated at this dream, unable to influence it further. What can we say? Atem does what he wants.」

[so_dark_a_road]

They won't hear it from me! [ He winks back. ]

[ He allows the guards to remove his chains and pull him to his feet. He doesn't think they are any too pleased to do so, but what the heck. ]

Very well. [ A prince of the Noldor kneeling before a ruler of this foreign country? . . well, perhaps Curufin's pride isn't worth his life. Maybe there are more important things. Maybe there is a future. Rage can shove it -- she's had enough fine dining on Curufin's chronic anger. He rubs his shackle-scored wrists, and then some to the foot of the throne. He kneels. ]

[puzzlingly]

「Atem leans forward and places his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. From that closer perspective and his loosened pose, he may just look like the young boy he is and not like the solemn king he's supposed to be. 」

If you pledge yourself to me, I'll make sure to find you a place in the palace. A good blacksmith is always welcomed. I will also gladly give you what you need to help those you wish to help. Would you like that, Curufin?

「 The only one that may be hearing what he says is his Vizier, never leaving Atem's side while on the throne room, but he doesn't seem to mind, he trusts him with his life, all of them, but this is between Curufin and Atem.」

[so_dark_a_road]

[ And indeed, from this perspective, the pharaoh does look young! A young prince striving to manage the difficult tasks of leadership, trying to follow the best he knows, even when he doesn't really know and he must use his intuition in the end. And in the end, the responsibility is on him, and the results are on his head. Regardless that he's a king. ]

I will agree to that.

If I pledge myself to you, than what pledge will you accept? Shall I make my promise in my own words? And how should I name you in my pledge?

[puzzlingly]

「Atem takes off one of his many golden rings and gives it to him.」

Show it to anyone and they will know your loyalty belongs to the Pharaoh, be careful of our enemies. And, I'm sure that anything that comes from your heart will be acceptable.

「And a little more off the record.」

But just so you know who are you are giving your loyalty to, my name is Atem. 「A little smile.」 I'm trusting it to you, please be kind with it, Curufin.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin takes the ring and snaps it onto a fine chain that hangs around his neck, and then tucks the chain back into his shirt. That way, it won't be a temptation to the thieves of the city, but it will be available if needed to prove his credentials. ]

Thank you, Pharaoh.

And this will be my pledge: You have shown mercy and furthermore, friendship, to one who would have been seen by anyone else as simply an enemy to be destroyed. I will not forget it. You will have my loyalty, and I will strive to use my skills to meet the needs of your people. If there is ever anything you need from me and it is within my power to give it, you have only to ask. I, Curufin, swear this.

[ And he smiles back. ] Atem. Your name is safe with me. I will treasure it.

[puzzlingly]

「The young Pharaoh merely gives him a nod, his smile intact all the time, acknowledging his words.

It is always a good day when he doesn't need to send someone to the their death, Atem will treasure this dream for as long as he can after he wakes.」

Go, Curufin. And don't make me regret my choice.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin will treasure this dream, too. He smiles back. ]

I'l go now. And you won't be sorry you chose as you did.

[ He gives Atem a deep nod of respect, and then he turns and goes from the throne room -- off to start a new life. ]