Encounterlogs
Ritsukas Odd Encounter Sr Edith 250402
In the serene ambiance of Tsubaki no Tetsu's garden, Ritsuka enjoys a moment of tranquility before an urgent message disrupts the peace. The message brings a dark challenge: to cure a priestess's insanity caused by the Hollow Bloom's dark tendrils. Ritsuka, bound by duty, opts to confront this challenge head-on. With the weight of this task on her shoulders, she proceeds to enter the troubled mind of the priestess, a daunting journey shadowed by the omnipresence of Kin'yoko, the deity intertwined with the sanctuary's well-being. This spiritual voyage is not just about confronting the priestess’s madness but also about untangling the dark enchantments laced around her mind.
The venture into the dream realm reveals a twisted narrative fueled by dark magic aiming to shatter the priestess's sanity by making her believe in the distortions of her worth and role. The presence of an ethereal Empress entwined with the priestess's psyche adds a layer of complexity, unfolding as a tragic tale of belief, power, and manipulation. Guided by Kin'yoko's light and faced with the necessity of confronting the source of this malevolence, Ritsuka awakens with a resolved spirit. The realization dawns that the chaos is rooted not within the priestess's mind but in the material realm, perpetuated by a devious fae. With the help of Kin'yoko and Tsubaki No Tetsu operatives, Ritsuka confronts and eradicates this threat, symbolized by the Hollow Bloom. This act of valor not only saves the priestess but also restores balance, celebrating the victory of light over the shadows that sought to overrun the sanctuary.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SREdith):SREdith)
[Fri Mar 21 2025]
In the Bedroom of Room 102 at Hotel Antlers
Stepping beyond the outer paths, the inner gardens of the Tsubaki no Tetsu
compound unfold like a hidden realm untouched by the outside world. Here,
the hum of the distant city is nothing but a ghost, swallowed by the soft
rustling of camellia trees and the rhythmic trickle of water from unseen
streams. The air is thick with the scent of flowers, a mixture of sweet
camellia, night-blooming jasmine, and the faintest touch of incense drifting
from the nearby shrine.
A winding stone path weaves through the garden, flanked by pruned shrubs
and flowering trees. Willow branches dip low over a koi-filled pond, their
emerald tendrils brushing against the waters surface. Occasionally, the
koi break the stillness, their golden and crimson forms flashing beneath
the rippling water and small, discreet wooden bridges arch over narrow streams.
Amidst the foliage, fox statues of varying sizes sit nestled in pockets
of moss and stone, some standing guard, others half-buried as if left to
be reclaimed by nature. Stone lanterns line the pathways, their soft glow
flickering to life at dusk, casting long, dancing shadows across the
gardens heart.
Despite its tranquility, the garden breathes with something more than nature
- a subtle pulse of presence, a sense that unseen eyes linger just beyond
sight, watching, listening. It is a sanctuary, but one that belongs to
Kin'Yoko's will alone.
It is dawn, about 52F(11C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky.
(Your target and their allies have been tasked with helping to cure someone's insanity by delving into their mind with dream invading to solve the issues keeping them from sanity.
)
Today was truly no more than a very quiet day. Whether things were soon to happen or not, whether she would find ascension, well, she would find it. The question is only how long, and there was a simple impulse today, and that is to just take a walk through the Tsubaki gardens at Headquarter. Nothing grand, nothing special Ritsuka was doing just a simple walk.
As Ritsuka walks the winding stone path observed by Kin'yoko' spiritual manifestation, the cool morning air wraps around Ritsuka like a comforting, gentle shroud, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp moss-- Due from the night's rain-- and the sweet floral notes of camellia and jasmine that flows around the entire Tsubaki district thanks to the Japanese inspired decoration of the area. The soft rustling of the leaves overhead dances with the whispers of the awakening garden this morning, Kin'yoko' very existance bringing it to life in a beautiful, eligant way as the sunrise empowers the god-fae and eidolon both, creating a symphony of tranquility that calms Ritsuka's spirit-- Much needed after yesterday's dealings with the Dynasty-- if only for a moment. The sun, a hesitant wraith haunting the dark grey storm clouds, casts a muted light that filters through the branches of the Haven forest, piercing the mists that slowly rise, creating a patchwork of shadows on the ground that stretch out and shrink back, dancing with the interplay of light and shadow created by the shadows of dawn's light thrust back by Ritsuka's passing and the preasance of Kin'yoko' The atmosphere is thick, sluggish, more like a summer than spring's most early days, as if the very air is holding its breath. The koi in the pond, their scales glimmering like jewels, glide gracefully beneath the surface, their movements almost hypnotic in the stillness of the place-- Small splashes and plops, the spray of water around them glimmering in dawn's fresh new light. But there is something else today--a subtle undercurrent that disrupts the serenity... More than Haven's mists, it is a weight in the air. It is the memory of the Hollow Bloom in Ritsuka's mind, and the pressure around it which holds Ritsuka's attention. The flickering shadows cast by the stone lanterns seem to stretch and twist, as if echoing a silent warning, still being shoved back, though as the mist twists, they prance playfully, an impending threat of Ritsuka's peace to be broken sooner than not. The fox statues; guardians of the garden, appear to watch Ritsuka with knowing eyes, their presence a reminder that this sanctuary is bound to forces both benevolent and powerful-- Kin'yoko' herself, naturally. As Ritsuka draws deeper into the heart of the Tsubaki No Tetsu compound, the peace and tranquility is shattered by the insistent buzz of Ritsuka's phone-- The jarring sound feels out of place in this sanctuary of peace, a terrible reminder of the urgency that has intruded upon Ritsuka's reverie. Ritsuka pulls her phone from her pocket, the screen illuminated with a message that sends an annoyance down Ritsuka's spine-- So too might it send a protective instinct, that is only for Ritsuka to decide, though Kin'yoko' protects her own. The Hollow Blooms dark tendrils are spreading, reaching out like the gnarled fingers of a malevolent spirit, siphoning the life force of Kin'yoko' devoted Iron Camellia. Ritsuka can feel the weight of their suffering, a palpable energy that penetrates the tranquil facade of the garden. The air grows heavy, the sweet scent of the flowers tinged with something darker, a lingering trace of dread that weaves itself into the fabric of the morning. And then there is the priestess-- a figure grounded in faith now, according to the text, lost to madness, ensnared in a web of nightmarish visions that emonate from the bloom itself. It is suggedsted by the experts that the only way to recover her is to enter into her dreams. The Bloom didn't mean this, but dark magic is dark magic, after all... The thought of entering her dreams-- a plunge into the depths of her tormented mind, sends a shiver down Ritsuka's spine. Such things are always dangerous, but is it something Ritsuka herself should do? Kin'yoko' priestesses are loyal, but dreams and dream worlds are hazardous to anyone with their strange rules and alien mindsets. Ritsuka knows that to retrieve her is to confront the darkness that has taken root within her soul-- a darkness tied to the very essence of the Hollow Bloom. With every heartbeat, the garden pulses in response to Ritsuka's inner turmoil, the gentle trickle of water and the soft rustling of leaves a haunting pressure-- the balance teetering on the brink of chaos. Ritsuka is a guardian in a realm of enchantment, but now that enchantment feels ominously threatened by the very nature of dark magic. The tranquility Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' sought becomes a backdrop to the storm brewing within and the only cure is to slay the loyal priestess, or to rescue her from her own incipid nightmares. What will Ritsuka do?
There is an annoyed roll of her eyes, as, look at that, yet another thing that Ritsuka needs to fix. Bound by duty, by responsibility, she could look away, could just walk the other way, but that would be no good. It is too early for others to know the fullness of what the Hollow Bloom will bring and do, though the one thing she does know is that she will need to drink from it. And that will be a horrendously unpleasant experience as it is to her anyway, perhaps this can at least fulfill the practical purpose to find out, and to prepare. She takes a deep breathe in, glancing around the garden before she does make herself over to find Kin'Yoko's priestess. There had been a silent struggle, too. As Ritsuka had been building some force here, so had Kin'Yoko spread her influence in other places, and it does bring by a question of leadership that summarizes down to, can she manage a force to be reliable or not? Gather enough on her lone with who she has, and by the looks of it, no. But that is as ever the price of power, and everything will be as it will need to be.
She puts on a lighter coat and then makes on her way over to the loyal priestess, to delve into the dream.
As Ritsuka approaches the medical facility, leaving Kin'yoko' garden, the air thickens with that tension of conflict-- power for power as both Ritsuka dn Kin'yoko' know it, almost a weight that seems to cling to Ritsuka's skin. The scent of antiseptic in the medical wing battles with an underlying miasma-- the the Hollow Bloom's dark magical forces at play within the walls of the Tsubaki security building, the Iron Camellia making their ways around in this morning crawl, protective of the area, their sisters and Ritsuka. Dimly lit, the medical room pulses with a cold, flickering light that casts elongated shadows that dance across the sterile white and chromed surfaces. When Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' see her, the priestess is bound to the bed, her body writhing in a torment that transcends the physical; her eyes are wild, somehow blank pupils dilated with fear and mania, as if she is caught in a tempest-- A spiritual maelstrom. Ritsuka can sense the presence of the Empress, an ethereal, eligant figure draped in an aura of regal despair, coiling around the priestess like a second skin-- The priestess is her, she is the priestess and the robes of the noble and the robes of the priestess blend together as one, only to part as both struggle against what ever spiritual demented bonds that chain them. Her essence is both a rich silk scarf and a suffocating death shroud, whispering secrets of a past steeped in anguish-- That pain that Ritsuka knows from research into the Hollow Bloom, and the reason for its creation and placement into the shrine beneath palace back near the Tsubaki foothold in Japan. The Empress's features, usually painfully serene, now twist in an expression of deep sorrow and fear-- She suffers. She feels the pain that recovering the Hollow Bloom should have stopped-- memories of a time when power was her shield but also her prison flooding her consciousness. Her whispers, urgent and fragmented, twine with the priestesss cries, creating a horrifying, beguilingly hideous aria of torment that echoes in the corners of the room as though the shadows themselves whisper, where not even Kin'yoko' sunlight existance can break. As the Tsubaki medic administers the concoction to Ritsuka, Kin'yoko' slipps into Ritsuka, riding her for the duration-- The air grows thick with the scent of mandrake and alchemical fumes, weaving through Ritsuka and now Kin'yoko' blended senses; A sirens call. Ritsuka chooses to surrender to the hypnotic embrace, feeling the world around Ritsuka dissolve and collapse inward, a spiral into the dream realm of the priestess. It is nothing and everything, chaos and order, but here, in this liminal space, Kin'yoko' envelops Ritsuka, a protective golden sunlit talisman against the chaos of wild dark magic that threatens to consume Ritsuka's sanity along with that of the Empress and the priestess. The dream realm bursts forth-- a maelstrom of shadows and vivid, nightmarish imagery. Ethereal light flickers like dying stars, casting grotesque silhouettes that writhe and twist, clawing at the very fabric of Ritsuka's Kin'yoko' protected being. Ritsuka feels the heartbeat-- Yours? The priestess? That of dark magic? coursing through the untamed, unbound, unreasoning atmosphere, a rhythmic thrum that resonates with the untamed spirits dancing on the fringes of Ritsuka's perception. The mist from Havens forest weaves through the chaos, curling into the facility like tendrils of a restless beast, reacting to the insanity that permeates the air and driving it deeper, then Ritsuka, with Kin'yoko' protecting her are in the priestess's dream domain. In an instant, Ritsuka blink,s and the transition stretches into an eternity, leaving Ritsuka breathless and dizzy, caught between the worlds. Ritsuka finds herself standing beside the priestess, her spirit intertwined with that of the Empress. The brutal memories of past betrayals and violence manifest as specters that loom over them-- men in bright, japanese robes, faces twisted by hatred, their voices a cacophony of accusations-- The Empress has failed Japan. It is because she is a woman-- It is because she has no man guiding her-- It is because she is incapable. If only she had a son or a husband to rule for her. The priestess trembles, a reflection of the Empress's own fears, as the echoes of the past claw at her mind, the source of that insanity and neither she or the Empress can break free. Both as one let out an anguished scream. The insanity, Kin'yoko' can see and shares with Ritsuka is that the dark magic is trying to make the Empress believe these things, and by extention, so does the priestess-- Insidious evil from the gates twisting the divine artifact to its own evil means, and the dream must be shattered to overcome this struggle. The scene unfolds like a tragic ballet, the men condemning the priestess for witchcraft as the specter of the Empress watches in helpless despair, her eyes filled with tears, her shoulders shaking, bowed, her hands ringing as her sobs flow over Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' via the priestess-- Help me, they seem to beg. Tell me this isn't true.... Around Ritsuka, the echoes of a ravaged land-- Japan-- seep into the dream, the cries of a Japan torn apart by the ambitions of the Dynastys agents ringing in Ritsuka's ears, a haunting reminder of the devastation that lingers in the air. Kin'yoko' ever-present, shields Ritsuka from the worst of the emotional onslaught, yet Ritsuka feels the weight of their intertwined anguish layed across her shoulders-- a burden that threatens to fracture Ritsuka's own sanity. WithIn this dream-like nightmarish realm of despair, comfort seems a fleeting illusion, a mirage that dances just beyond reach. The melding of their minds amplifies the priestesss crazed thrashing in the real world and in the dream, each echo of fear and pain feeding into the other, forging a bond that is both beautiful and tragic, a deathly pale garment
(Part 2 reposted for better context for you) Ritsuka finds herself standing beside the priestess, her spirit intertwined with that of the Empress. The brutal memories of past betrayals and violence manifest as specters that loom over them-- men in bright, japanese robes, faces twisted by hatred, their voices a cacophony of accusations-- The Empress has failed Japan. It is because she is a woman-- It is because she has no man guiding her-- It is because she is incapable. If only she had a son or a husband to rule for her. The priestess trembles, a reflection of the Empress's own fears, as the echoes of the past claw at her mind, the source of that insanity and neither she or the Empress can break free. Both as one let out an anguished scream. The insanity, Kin'yoko' can see and shares with Ritsuka is that the dark magic is trying to make the Empress believe these things, and by extention, so does the priestess-- Insidious evil from the gates twisting the divine artifact to its own evil means, and the dream must be shattered to overcome this struggle. The scene unfolds like a tragic ballet, the men condemning the priestess for witchcraft as the specter of the Empress watches in helpless despair, her eyes filled with tears, her shoulders shaking, bowed, her hands ringing as her sobs flow over Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' via the priestess-- Help me, they seem to beg. Tell me this isn't true.... Around Ritsuka, the echoes of a ravaged land-- Japan-- seep into the dream, the cries of a Japan torn apart by the ambitions of the Dynastys agents ringing in Ritsuka's ears, a haunting reminder of the devastation that lingers in the air. Kin'yoko' ever-present, shields Ritsuka from the worst of the emotional onslaught, yet Ritsuka feels the weight of their intertwined anguish layed across her shoulders-- a burden that threatens to fracture Ritsuka's own sanity. WithIn this dream-like nightmarish realm of despair, comfort seems a fleeting illusion, a mirage that dances just beyond reach. The melding of their minds amplifies the priestesss crazed thrashing in the real world and in the dream, each echo of fear and pain feeding into the other, forging a bond that is both beautiful and tragic, a deathly pale garment woven from the threads of suffering. There is something dark, evil, fae playing here, and it has decided a game to be played with Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' priestess. The necromantic energy is of the Other, and the mist has drawn something through, which threatens the sanity of any near the Hollow Bloom. Here, protected by Kin'yoko' Ritsuka senses that the problem isn't in the dream, but by the bloom itself. Something is with it-- Something evil. Something dark that wishes to ruin Ritsuka's plans. It notices Ritsuka, Ritsuka notices it, and Kin'yoko' traces the power to the Hollow Bloom. Killing the fae will stop this.
Indeed, it is mainly Kin'Yoko who wards Ritsuka's mind. When she possesses someone, it is not dread or warmth that begins to bloom within someone, it is the dawn, the light in the darkness. Hope that unfurls its petals and takes root within someone. There is a deep breathe in, as Ritsuka tries to wake - she knows what she needs, now is the time to find the pesky fae, maybe murder some of its minions if it brought any, though killing a fae entirely would not be simple. They tend to run away, to escape, and it always needs at least a couple of highly trained soldiers to do it. But that is the thing. Ritsuka has that available, a few highly trained military people that have found their places between the Operatives. Now she only must wake, and they are in the security building, so acquiring armor and a weapon would be no trouble, and even then, she could shift.
The dream is clawing and the priestess and the Empress make it hard for Ritsuka or Kin'yoko' to move. They cling anc claw, they grasp and tug; A spiritual sensation more than physical, and it is slow... Dreadfully slow. Kin'yoko' dawn flower opens, the pettles seek the sun. The shadows thrust back from the interminable gloom, and in a flash, Ritsuka waves. Kin'yoko' message has made its way through to the other operatives of Tsubaki No Tetsu and as Ritsuka sits up from the medical bed beside the still thrashing priestess and her wild eyes and painfully terrible screams, Ritsuka sees that the Iron Camellia are already moving for the hidden location of the Hollow Bloom. The day continues to come forth, and in that, Ritsuka feels the warmth; Kin'yoko' warmth, yes. But more than that, a heavenly warmth of a fresh new day. Ritsuka rises. She finds a weapon and armor and rushes with her well trained soldiers. She passes through the district, Haven's mists rising, the dark energy sapping her strength, though Kin'yoko' protects her from the worst of it-- And then, once she bursts in with her specialists, she sees it; It's no archfae or faechild. It's a little man. He stands at perhapse four foot in height, his clothing green and his hat flopping. He is in the middle of a ritual, the Hollow Bloom in the center. He looks shocked. His eyes are wide-- How did anyone know he was there? His lip curles as he sees Ritsuka, apparently seeing Kin'yoko' within her, and he doesn't run. It's pathetic, really. Ritsuka's operatives know how to handle fae-- Blam! Blam! Blam! iron casings patter across the floor, and the little man's expression is shocked... How was he stopped? His plan was perfection. He distracted and beguiled. His illusion magic had the priestess trapped in the dream. The Empress was bound to the priestess. It was flawless-- Then the top of his head explodes, an iron bullet spraying his brains across the room, his lifeless corpse falling, the Hollow Bloom's magic consumes what he was, the tendrals of dark arcane power sucking at what life force remained and animating the now dead fae thing as a new guardian to protect it. Ritsuka's phone buzzes again. It's the medic. The priestess has awoken. The Empress drifts through the wall to sand before Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' both. She bows, becomes invisible, and all is once more silent. The mist begins to drift and thin. The sun begins to shine, its lambent glow not penetrating here, though Kin'yoko' light does, and the Hollow Bloom is saved.
The venture into the dream realm reveals a twisted narrative fueled by dark magic aiming to shatter the priestess's sanity by making her believe in the distortions of her worth and role. The presence of an ethereal Empress entwined with the priestess's psyche adds a layer of complexity, unfolding as a tragic tale of belief, power, and manipulation. Guided by Kin'yoko's light and faced with the necessity of confronting the source of this malevolence, Ritsuka awakens with a resolved spirit. The realization dawns that the chaos is rooted not within the priestess's mind but in the material realm, perpetuated by a devious fae. With the help of Kin'yoko and Tsubaki No Tetsu operatives, Ritsuka confronts and eradicates this threat, symbolized by the Hollow Bloom. This act of valor not only saves the priestess but also restores balance, celebrating the victory of light over the shadows that sought to overrun the sanctuary.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SREdith):SREdith)
[Fri Mar 21 2025]
In the Bedroom of Room 102 at Hotel Antlers
Stepping beyond the outer paths, the inner gardens of the Tsubaki no Tetsu
compound unfold like a hidden realm untouched by the outside world. Here,
the hum of the distant city is nothing but a ghost, swallowed by the soft
rustling of camellia trees and the rhythmic trickle of water from unseen
streams. The air is thick with the scent of flowers, a mixture of sweet
camellia, night-blooming jasmine, and the faintest touch of incense drifting
from the nearby shrine.
A winding stone path weaves through the garden, flanked by pruned shrubs
and flowering trees. Willow branches dip low over a koi-filled pond, their
emerald tendrils brushing against the waters surface. Occasionally, the
koi break the stillness, their golden and crimson forms flashing beneath
the rippling water and small, discreet wooden bridges arch over narrow streams.
Amidst the foliage, fox statues of varying sizes sit nestled in pockets
of moss and stone, some standing guard, others half-buried as if left to
be reclaimed by nature. Stone lanterns line the pathways, their soft glow
flickering to life at dusk, casting long, dancing shadows across the
gardens heart.
Despite its tranquility, the garden breathes with something more than nature
- a subtle pulse of presence, a sense that unseen eyes linger just beyond
sight, watching, listening. It is a sanctuary, but one that belongs to
Kin'Yoko's will alone.
It is dawn, about 52F(11C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky.
(Your target and their allies have been tasked with helping to cure someone's insanity by delving into their mind with dream invading to solve the issues keeping them from sanity.
)
Today was truly no more than a very quiet day. Whether things were soon to happen or not, whether she would find ascension, well, she would find it. The question is only how long, and there was a simple impulse today, and that is to just take a walk through the Tsubaki gardens at Headquarter. Nothing grand, nothing special Ritsuka was doing just a simple walk.
As Ritsuka walks the winding stone path observed by Kin'yoko' spiritual manifestation, the cool morning air wraps around Ritsuka like a comforting, gentle shroud, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp moss-- Due from the night's rain-- and the sweet floral notes of camellia and jasmine that flows around the entire Tsubaki district thanks to the Japanese inspired decoration of the area. The soft rustling of the leaves overhead dances with the whispers of the awakening garden this morning, Kin'yoko' very existance bringing it to life in a beautiful, eligant way as the sunrise empowers the god-fae and eidolon both, creating a symphony of tranquility that calms Ritsuka's spirit-- Much needed after yesterday's dealings with the Dynasty-- if only for a moment. The sun, a hesitant wraith haunting the dark grey storm clouds, casts a muted light that filters through the branches of the Haven forest, piercing the mists that slowly rise, creating a patchwork of shadows on the ground that stretch out and shrink back, dancing with the interplay of light and shadow created by the shadows of dawn's light thrust back by Ritsuka's passing and the preasance of Kin'yoko' The atmosphere is thick, sluggish, more like a summer than spring's most early days, as if the very air is holding its breath. The koi in the pond, their scales glimmering like jewels, glide gracefully beneath the surface, their movements almost hypnotic in the stillness of the place-- Small splashes and plops, the spray of water around them glimmering in dawn's fresh new light. But there is something else today--a subtle undercurrent that disrupts the serenity... More than Haven's mists, it is a weight in the air. It is the memory of the Hollow Bloom in Ritsuka's mind, and the pressure around it which holds Ritsuka's attention. The flickering shadows cast by the stone lanterns seem to stretch and twist, as if echoing a silent warning, still being shoved back, though as the mist twists, they prance playfully, an impending threat of Ritsuka's peace to be broken sooner than not. The fox statues; guardians of the garden, appear to watch Ritsuka with knowing eyes, their presence a reminder that this sanctuary is bound to forces both benevolent and powerful-- Kin'yoko' herself, naturally. As Ritsuka draws deeper into the heart of the Tsubaki No Tetsu compound, the peace and tranquility is shattered by the insistent buzz of Ritsuka's phone-- The jarring sound feels out of place in this sanctuary of peace, a terrible reminder of the urgency that has intruded upon Ritsuka's reverie. Ritsuka pulls her phone from her pocket, the screen illuminated with a message that sends an annoyance down Ritsuka's spine-- So too might it send a protective instinct, that is only for Ritsuka to decide, though Kin'yoko' protects her own. The Hollow Blooms dark tendrils are spreading, reaching out like the gnarled fingers of a malevolent spirit, siphoning the life force of Kin'yoko' devoted Iron Camellia. Ritsuka can feel the weight of their suffering, a palpable energy that penetrates the tranquil facade of the garden. The air grows heavy, the sweet scent of the flowers tinged with something darker, a lingering trace of dread that weaves itself into the fabric of the morning. And then there is the priestess-- a figure grounded in faith now, according to the text, lost to madness, ensnared in a web of nightmarish visions that emonate from the bloom itself. It is suggedsted by the experts that the only way to recover her is to enter into her dreams. The Bloom didn't mean this, but dark magic is dark magic, after all... The thought of entering her dreams-- a plunge into the depths of her tormented mind, sends a shiver down Ritsuka's spine. Such things are always dangerous, but is it something Ritsuka herself should do? Kin'yoko' priestesses are loyal, but dreams and dream worlds are hazardous to anyone with their strange rules and alien mindsets. Ritsuka knows that to retrieve her is to confront the darkness that has taken root within her soul-- a darkness tied to the very essence of the Hollow Bloom. With every heartbeat, the garden pulses in response to Ritsuka's inner turmoil, the gentle trickle of water and the soft rustling of leaves a haunting pressure-- the balance teetering on the brink of chaos. Ritsuka is a guardian in a realm of enchantment, but now that enchantment feels ominously threatened by the very nature of dark magic. The tranquility Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' sought becomes a backdrop to the storm brewing within and the only cure is to slay the loyal priestess, or to rescue her from her own incipid nightmares. What will Ritsuka do?
There is an annoyed roll of her eyes, as, look at that, yet another thing that Ritsuka needs to fix. Bound by duty, by responsibility, she could look away, could just walk the other way, but that would be no good. It is too early for others to know the fullness of what the Hollow Bloom will bring and do, though the one thing she does know is that she will need to drink from it. And that will be a horrendously unpleasant experience as it is to her anyway, perhaps this can at least fulfill the practical purpose to find out, and to prepare. She takes a deep breathe in, glancing around the garden before she does make herself over to find Kin'Yoko's priestess. There had been a silent struggle, too. As Ritsuka had been building some force here, so had Kin'Yoko spread her influence in other places, and it does bring by a question of leadership that summarizes down to, can she manage a force to be reliable or not? Gather enough on her lone with who she has, and by the looks of it, no. But that is as ever the price of power, and everything will be as it will need to be.
She puts on a lighter coat and then makes on her way over to the loyal priestess, to delve into the dream.
As Ritsuka approaches the medical facility, leaving Kin'yoko' garden, the air thickens with that tension of conflict-- power for power as both Ritsuka dn Kin'yoko' know it, almost a weight that seems to cling to Ritsuka's skin. The scent of antiseptic in the medical wing battles with an underlying miasma-- the the Hollow Bloom's dark magical forces at play within the walls of the Tsubaki security building, the Iron Camellia making their ways around in this morning crawl, protective of the area, their sisters and Ritsuka. Dimly lit, the medical room pulses with a cold, flickering light that casts elongated shadows that dance across the sterile white and chromed surfaces. When Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' see her, the priestess is bound to the bed, her body writhing in a torment that transcends the physical; her eyes are wild, somehow blank pupils dilated with fear and mania, as if she is caught in a tempest-- A spiritual maelstrom. Ritsuka can sense the presence of the Empress, an ethereal, eligant figure draped in an aura of regal despair, coiling around the priestess like a second skin-- The priestess is her, she is the priestess and the robes of the noble and the robes of the priestess blend together as one, only to part as both struggle against what ever spiritual demented bonds that chain them. Her essence is both a rich silk scarf and a suffocating death shroud, whispering secrets of a past steeped in anguish-- That pain that Ritsuka knows from research into the Hollow Bloom, and the reason for its creation and placement into the shrine beneath palace back near the Tsubaki foothold in Japan. The Empress's features, usually painfully serene, now twist in an expression of deep sorrow and fear-- She suffers. She feels the pain that recovering the Hollow Bloom should have stopped-- memories of a time when power was her shield but also her prison flooding her consciousness. Her whispers, urgent and fragmented, twine with the priestesss cries, creating a horrifying, beguilingly hideous aria of torment that echoes in the corners of the room as though the shadows themselves whisper, where not even Kin'yoko' sunlight existance can break. As the Tsubaki medic administers the concoction to Ritsuka, Kin'yoko' slipps into Ritsuka, riding her for the duration-- The air grows thick with the scent of mandrake and alchemical fumes, weaving through Ritsuka and now Kin'yoko' blended senses; A sirens call. Ritsuka chooses to surrender to the hypnotic embrace, feeling the world around Ritsuka dissolve and collapse inward, a spiral into the dream realm of the priestess. It is nothing and everything, chaos and order, but here, in this liminal space, Kin'yoko' envelops Ritsuka, a protective golden sunlit talisman against the chaos of wild dark magic that threatens to consume Ritsuka's sanity along with that of the Empress and the priestess. The dream realm bursts forth-- a maelstrom of shadows and vivid, nightmarish imagery. Ethereal light flickers like dying stars, casting grotesque silhouettes that writhe and twist, clawing at the very fabric of Ritsuka's Kin'yoko' protected being. Ritsuka feels the heartbeat-- Yours? The priestess? That of dark magic? coursing through the untamed, unbound, unreasoning atmosphere, a rhythmic thrum that resonates with the untamed spirits dancing on the fringes of Ritsuka's perception. The mist from Havens forest weaves through the chaos, curling into the facility like tendrils of a restless beast, reacting to the insanity that permeates the air and driving it deeper, then Ritsuka, with Kin'yoko' protecting her are in the priestess's dream domain. In an instant, Ritsuka blink,s and the transition stretches into an eternity, leaving Ritsuka breathless and dizzy, caught between the worlds. Ritsuka finds herself standing beside the priestess, her spirit intertwined with that of the Empress. The brutal memories of past betrayals and violence manifest as specters that loom over them-- men in bright, japanese robes, faces twisted by hatred, their voices a cacophony of accusations-- The Empress has failed Japan. It is because she is a woman-- It is because she has no man guiding her-- It is because she is incapable. If only she had a son or a husband to rule for her. The priestess trembles, a reflection of the Empress's own fears, as the echoes of the past claw at her mind, the source of that insanity and neither she or the Empress can break free. Both as one let out an anguished scream. The insanity, Kin'yoko' can see and shares with Ritsuka is that the dark magic is trying to make the Empress believe these things, and by extention, so does the priestess-- Insidious evil from the gates twisting the divine artifact to its own evil means, and the dream must be shattered to overcome this struggle. The scene unfolds like a tragic ballet, the men condemning the priestess for witchcraft as the specter of the Empress watches in helpless despair, her eyes filled with tears, her shoulders shaking, bowed, her hands ringing as her sobs flow over Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' via the priestess-- Help me, they seem to beg. Tell me this isn't true.... Around Ritsuka, the echoes of a ravaged land-- Japan-- seep into the dream, the cries of a Japan torn apart by the ambitions of the Dynastys agents ringing in Ritsuka's ears, a haunting reminder of the devastation that lingers in the air. Kin'yoko' ever-present, shields Ritsuka from the worst of the emotional onslaught, yet Ritsuka feels the weight of their intertwined anguish layed across her shoulders-- a burden that threatens to fracture Ritsuka's own sanity. WithIn this dream-like nightmarish realm of despair, comfort seems a fleeting illusion, a mirage that dances just beyond reach. The melding of their minds amplifies the priestesss crazed thrashing in the real world and in the dream, each echo of fear and pain feeding into the other, forging a bond that is both beautiful and tragic, a deathly pale garment
(Part 2 reposted for better context for you) Ritsuka finds herself standing beside the priestess, her spirit intertwined with that of the Empress. The brutal memories of past betrayals and violence manifest as specters that loom over them-- men in bright, japanese robes, faces twisted by hatred, their voices a cacophony of accusations-- The Empress has failed Japan. It is because she is a woman-- It is because she has no man guiding her-- It is because she is incapable. If only she had a son or a husband to rule for her. The priestess trembles, a reflection of the Empress's own fears, as the echoes of the past claw at her mind, the source of that insanity and neither she or the Empress can break free. Both as one let out an anguished scream. The insanity, Kin'yoko' can see and shares with Ritsuka is that the dark magic is trying to make the Empress believe these things, and by extention, so does the priestess-- Insidious evil from the gates twisting the divine artifact to its own evil means, and the dream must be shattered to overcome this struggle. The scene unfolds like a tragic ballet, the men condemning the priestess for witchcraft as the specter of the Empress watches in helpless despair, her eyes filled with tears, her shoulders shaking, bowed, her hands ringing as her sobs flow over Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' via the priestess-- Help me, they seem to beg. Tell me this isn't true.... Around Ritsuka, the echoes of a ravaged land-- Japan-- seep into the dream, the cries of a Japan torn apart by the ambitions of the Dynastys agents ringing in Ritsuka's ears, a haunting reminder of the devastation that lingers in the air. Kin'yoko' ever-present, shields Ritsuka from the worst of the emotional onslaught, yet Ritsuka feels the weight of their intertwined anguish layed across her shoulders-- a burden that threatens to fracture Ritsuka's own sanity. WithIn this dream-like nightmarish realm of despair, comfort seems a fleeting illusion, a mirage that dances just beyond reach. The melding of their minds amplifies the priestesss crazed thrashing in the real world and in the dream, each echo of fear and pain feeding into the other, forging a bond that is both beautiful and tragic, a deathly pale garment woven from the threads of suffering. There is something dark, evil, fae playing here, and it has decided a game to be played with Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' priestess. The necromantic energy is of the Other, and the mist has drawn something through, which threatens the sanity of any near the Hollow Bloom. Here, protected by Kin'yoko' Ritsuka senses that the problem isn't in the dream, but by the bloom itself. Something is with it-- Something evil. Something dark that wishes to ruin Ritsuka's plans. It notices Ritsuka, Ritsuka notices it, and Kin'yoko' traces the power to the Hollow Bloom. Killing the fae will stop this.
Indeed, it is mainly Kin'Yoko who wards Ritsuka's mind. When she possesses someone, it is not dread or warmth that begins to bloom within someone, it is the dawn, the light in the darkness. Hope that unfurls its petals and takes root within someone. There is a deep breathe in, as Ritsuka tries to wake - she knows what she needs, now is the time to find the pesky fae, maybe murder some of its minions if it brought any, though killing a fae entirely would not be simple. They tend to run away, to escape, and it always needs at least a couple of highly trained soldiers to do it. But that is the thing. Ritsuka has that available, a few highly trained military people that have found their places between the Operatives. Now she only must wake, and they are in the security building, so acquiring armor and a weapon would be no trouble, and even then, she could shift.
The dream is clawing and the priestess and the Empress make it hard for Ritsuka or Kin'yoko' to move. They cling anc claw, they grasp and tug; A spiritual sensation more than physical, and it is slow... Dreadfully slow. Kin'yoko' dawn flower opens, the pettles seek the sun. The shadows thrust back from the interminable gloom, and in a flash, Ritsuka waves. Kin'yoko' message has made its way through to the other operatives of Tsubaki No Tetsu and as Ritsuka sits up from the medical bed beside the still thrashing priestess and her wild eyes and painfully terrible screams, Ritsuka sees that the Iron Camellia are already moving for the hidden location of the Hollow Bloom. The day continues to come forth, and in that, Ritsuka feels the warmth; Kin'yoko' warmth, yes. But more than that, a heavenly warmth of a fresh new day. Ritsuka rises. She finds a weapon and armor and rushes with her well trained soldiers. She passes through the district, Haven's mists rising, the dark energy sapping her strength, though Kin'yoko' protects her from the worst of it-- And then, once she bursts in with her specialists, she sees it; It's no archfae or faechild. It's a little man. He stands at perhapse four foot in height, his clothing green and his hat flopping. He is in the middle of a ritual, the Hollow Bloom in the center. He looks shocked. His eyes are wide-- How did anyone know he was there? His lip curles as he sees Ritsuka, apparently seeing Kin'yoko' within her, and he doesn't run. It's pathetic, really. Ritsuka's operatives know how to handle fae-- Blam! Blam! Blam! iron casings patter across the floor, and the little man's expression is shocked... How was he stopped? His plan was perfection. He distracted and beguiled. His illusion magic had the priestess trapped in the dream. The Empress was bound to the priestess. It was flawless-- Then the top of his head explodes, an iron bullet spraying his brains across the room, his lifeless corpse falling, the Hollow Bloom's magic consumes what he was, the tendrals of dark arcane power sucking at what life force remained and animating the now dead fae thing as a new guardian to protect it. Ritsuka's phone buzzes again. It's the medic. The priestess has awoken. The Empress drifts through the wall to sand before Ritsuka and Kin'yoko' both. She bows, becomes invisible, and all is once more silent. The mist begins to drift and thin. The sun begins to shine, its lambent glow not penetrating here, though Kin'yoko' light does, and the Hollow Bloom is saved.