Event Log: Senses Fail

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Senses Fail event
Where: All over the city
When: May 14th-May 20th
Warnings: None

You wake up on the 14th, and something is different. Maybe it's something small - you can't smell anything, or your hearing on one side seems to be on the fritz. Or it could be something large and impossible to miss - you've gone completely blind, or you seem to be missing a leg. You've lost something, and no matter what you do, you can't seem to fix it.

Will you ever get it back? Probably, but it's impossible to be sure. And even if you're thoroughly convinced that this is temporary, that still means you have to figure out how to live like this for the next week. Even small things can be huge difficulties. Your sense of taste doesn't seem that important, until you accidentally eat something that'll make you sick. And sure, maybe you can figure out how to live without one hand, but what about when you wake up three days from now and you've also lost your magic?

Do your best to keep yourself calm, but remember: it can always get worse.

► This log covers May 14th-May 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 your lost sense turns out to have been essential to your survival, please let us know here.

Comments

[fadeling]

You hurt people so you think you're nothing. Why did you hurt them?

[bythewaves]

[ Light, is the answer, Light older than Moon or Sun, and somehow both of them at once, Living Light, gold and silver blended into one.

Three gems, crafted by the hand of the greatest craftsman the elves have ever known, hallowed by the Star-kindler Herself.

Silmarils, whose light reveals all things as they truly are, draws all eyes to them, and destroys evil, the last memory of the Light before Moon and Sun.

Shadow comes, and takes them. Kills the King, and drives the Prince mad with grief and fury.

And they swore an oath which none shall break, and none should take, by the name even of Ilúvatar, calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not

There is no light, anymore, for the Trees are dead, and the Silmarils taken. No light but firelight, and by that light, the Prince, now the King, swears an Oath that shivers the air, every word laden with promise and power, writing his will upon the world. One by one, his seven sons stand and swear it with him, and the torchlight makes their swords gleam red.

Be he foe or friend, be he foul or clean
Brood of Morgoth or bright Vala,
Elda or Maia or Aftercomer,
Neither law, nor love, nor league of swords,
Dread nor danger, not Doom itself
Shall defend him from Fëanáro, and Fëanáro's kin,
Whoso hideth or hoardeth, or in hand taketh,
Finding keepeth or afar casteth
A Silmaril. This swear we all...
Death we will deal him ere Day's ending,
Woe unto world's end! Our word hear thou,
Eru Allfather! To the everlasting
Darkness doom us if our deed faileth...
On the holy mountain hear in witness
and our vow remember,
Manwë and Varda!

They bind themselves with chains unbreakable, and lead their people to war, even against their own kindred. ]

[fadeling]

[He in't really sure what to make of that at first and he's quiet for a few long moments, trying to make sense of the feelings that sound like words, songs that taste like emotions. Different than usual, but still the same, too. He draws his knees into his chest, hiding his face underneath his hat before he starts speaking, softly.]

I was a ghost, once, in a tower. It shimmered, shining with the magic of the mages and the spirits they called with it. They kept them there. But no one could see me.

Some of them wanted to die. They could see me then. I tried to help but I only knew to hurt them when they wanted it so badly but only for a moment. It hurt them and I knew it did but I thought it was what they wanted. Rhys told me it was different, made me see what I should have seen. And I stopped hurting them because they didn't know it got better. But I still did. That won't go away.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor considers the tale he's told, and then reaches over to lay a hand on Cole's and squeeze in comfort, before returning to the harp.

Hurt caused from care, it says Not hurt caused from rage. Better ]

[fadeling]

I killed them. I knew. It's not better because I thought it helped.

[bythewaves]

[ Yes the harp agrees.

But meant well. Not like me ]

[fadeling]

You tried. You thought it was right.

[bythewaves]

[ I knew it was wrong. The harp says sadly. But I couldn't see a way to make it right. I had sworn. And Father needed me. And then later Maedhros needed me. ]

[fadeling]

You tried. That's more than most.

[bythewaves]

[ Should have tried harder. Should have seen... ]

[fadeling]

You know better now but then you didn't. You tried. It counts.

[bythewaves]

[ Tell that to my dead. The harp sobs bitterly ]

[fadeling]

There's always someone dead. [It sounds cruel, but it's the truth.]

I could help you forget, If it hurts too much. When I'm real again.

[bythewaves]

[ The harp stops, and Maglor reaches over to squeeze Cole's hand in thanks, and shake his head firmly.

No.

I will not dishonor their memory that way the harp says, simple, and proud. Defiant, almost ]

[fadeling]

Even if it's stuck?

[bythewaves]

[ Someone must remember the harp says soft but firm. They deserve to be remembered. Who better than I? ]

[fadeling]

Someone else. Someone who doesn't hurt for it.

[bythewaves]

[ No one is left the harp says simply. I am the last. It must be me ]

[fadeling]

There's never no one. Even if you think there is.

[bythewaves]

[ I am the last. The others are all dead or Sailed. On this side of the Sea, I am the last. ]

[fadeling]

All of them?

[bythewaves]

[ Softly, softly, the harp remembers - war, and death, and grief.

Tears unnumbered shall ye shed

One after another, the elven kingdoms fall, and their lords and princes with them, fighting to the last for their people, and then, later, fighting each other. One by one, the bright stars of Maglor's family wink out, smothered by the shadow until only a few scant lights remain.

Maglor himself wanders by the sea. Celebrimbor pays for his mistake in trusting Sauron with his life. Galadriel grows more and more tired, holding back the Dark. Elrond's eyes grow ever sadder, as everything he loves is wrenched away from him.

A white ship sails away, turning west to seek the Straight Road to Elevenhome, and with it, go the last of Maglor's family. They have won, but the cost is too high. The Elves are fading. Galadriel turns back, one last time - perhaps she sensed Maglor watching them, high on the cliff. But Elrond does not - his children are behind him, but Elladan and Elrohir must make their own choices, and Arwen already has.

There is no one else left. ]

[fadeling]

[It's a sad and awful story, and hearing the song of it affects him far more than it would if he'd had his usual abilities listening to it. He can't even forget.

It takes another several long moments before he can answer, and his voice is even quieter than usual. He doesn't seem to notice that he's started crying.]

You don't have to stay alone.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor reaches across to dry Cole's tears with gentle hands, presses a fond kiss to his brow.

Thank you for caring.

But he doesn't say anything about that statement. He is the last, and he accepts his penance. ]

[fadeling]

You need someone to care.