Academy for Rejected Souls (Multiverse, OC)

[TommyGun15]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor )


What I'm doing: Remembering and explaining


"Oh, we just had you sing us a few songs."


James pulled out of the mindscape as he remembered making Why'nn sing old sea shanties in a thick Cherek accent (Think Swedish or Norwegian). He grinned slightly at the memory of Why'nn singing about flirting with another man's wife, and singing farewell to the ladies of Drasnia. Then he focused back on telling Connor about the Mindscape.


"Alright, so the mindscape is this state of deep meditation, that allows one to mentally converse with others who have reached that level. Rarely one might reach it on their own, but the easiest way to reach it is hypnosis."

 

[folclor]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm with: Connor (@KalenNighteyes) and James (@TommyGun15)


What I'm doing: Teaching


"Mmm? But I only know one song..."


"Go into meditation," she murmured, still deep in it herself. "Like in class. Deep breaths. In... Out..." Her voice was even, soft. "Close your eyes. Do not attempt to think on anything. Just relax and breathe." Her breathing was slow, deep. "Listen to me, no one else. Nothing else matters. Just focus on me. Breathe. Relax." She began speaking in his mind. 'Tune everything out. Just you, just me. Breathe. In... and Out...' She continued like this. Her thoughts, like her voice, were soft, gentle.


If he listened to her, if he did as she said, he would find it easier to slip into a meditation. Whether he would slip into a trance beyond that with simply Why'nn's help was unknown. He might need James to guide him the rest of the way.

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm With: Why'nn...was there someone else?


What I'm Doing: Listening to Why'nn's voice


Connor sat there and closed his eyes. He did as she said, listening closely to her voice, concentrating on it. 'Just you and me...I like the sound of that...' Connor smiled and followed her instructions on breathing. Everything faded from his mind, even what happened during the training. All that existed in his mind at that moment was Why'nn. He sat there, enjoying the feeling of her in his mind. 'What do I do now? It's just you and me...'

 

[folclor]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm with: Connor (@KalenNighteyes) and James (@TommyGun15)


What I'm doing: Meditating


"We are going into the ocean." Her voice was different now. As if she was speaking but... not. He would find himself pulled into the ocean of her mind and ending up somewhere entirely foreign. It was a space, a place in the mind. It was a place where multiple minds could meet. It was both like the telepathy and unlike it.


In the vast expanse, Why'nn appeared as a glowing gray orb. There was always something darker shadowing her that both was and wasn't her. "This is the mindscape," she stated. "I hope James will join us momentarily. You see my soul. I see yours. This is... a deeper space than even telepathy can bring us."

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Remembering and explaining


James's voice spoke as his consciousness appeared as a glowing blue orb in the vast ocean of the mind.


"Connor, this is the mindscape. A mental plane at the depths of the human subconscious. Your telepathy allows you to see this plane, to listen and speak to it, but now you can stand here with us. I recommend you distance yourself from Why'nn for now. She is a bit clingy, and I do not know if you are strong enough for your mind to survive a meld."

 

[Grim Wraithe Stjerna]

Location: Outside the school


Who I'm with: Valian (@folclor )


What I'm doing: Talking


Grim squished his clan brother even harder. The otter was very glad to have found Valian, he enjoyed his time with him. And Violet was a second at best. He didn't know how long that would last, his last intimate relationship had ended badly after only a few weeks. His time with Valian had been three years! Only a few years less then he'd spent with his actual brothers. He was the most important person he had, and Violet was second to him.


"Aye, tucked 'er in an came lookin' fer ye." Letting go and sitting next to him looking across the lake. "T'ought yr couldnae swim well." He said with a grin and a side long look.

 

[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: James (@TommyGun15) and Connor (@KalenNighteyes)


What I'm doing: Talking


"I am not clingy!" Why'nn protested. Outwardly she was blushing. "I simply enjoy being close to someone..." Though her soul appeared as if it was trying to decide who to drift toward. "And this is... a... This is a good space to be in. I get to see things as you see them. Is it not good to have closeness?"





Location: Outside of school


Who I'm with: Grim (@Grim Wraithe Stjerna)


What I'm doing: Talking


Valian laughed. "I didn't swim. I floated. Floating is easy. Swimming? Not so much." He sighed and laid back on the grass. "So... do you love her?" It would be a hasty conclusion either way, but he wanted to know. Of course, Grim couldn't read minds and Valian couldn't either. He was trying to feel it out. If Grim really loved her he would call it a night, but likely go to the city and sneak into one of the clubs. He wasn't exactly in his school uniform anymore. He hadn't done that before. Grim wouldn't know where to look for him.

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Common Room


Who I'm With: Why'nn, James


What I'm Doing: Listening


Connor smiled and didn't move away from Why'nn, even take a few steps closer to her. "I don't mind her clinging. I think I can handle it." Connor gave a smile and looked around. It was an interesting place to be in. He was surprised he hadn't learned about this place before. "What do we do while we're here? Is it just a place to come and talk or...?" He seemed genuinely curious about the place, and wanted to know more. He also felt the desire to stay close to Why'nn. They hadn't seen much of each other today and he didn't include the time they spent training.

 

[Grim Wraithe Stjerna]

Location: Outside the school


Who I'm with: Valian (@folclor )


What I'm doing: Talking


The otter kept sitting, but brought his knees up to his chin and hugged them. "Least ye can do dat. Though pups can float, I should teach ye ta swim." He grinned and looked out over the water, thinking about Valian's question for several minutes. "I care fer 'er. Deeply." He let out a sigh, his tail tip swishing a little. He was unsure how he really felt, he did really like her and cafes about her, wanting her to be happy and be a better person. He loved Valian, he was his brother, even if they didn't share blood. "But I love ye," he looked over his shoulder to the human. "Ye be me brot'er. Nary a soul can beat dat." He looked back over the water.

 

[shadowstrikr25]

Location: Headmistress' Office


With: Lord HK-50,(@HK 50 09 ) Headmistress Auros(@folclor )


Doing: Getting sedated


Reagan stood shaking in front of the Headmistress. 'Always cryptic, why can't this make sense?!' Still she knew that this was the only way to consistently access Lord HK-50's workshop, and if she tried running now, the Headmistress could strike her down without a second thought. Reagan steadied herself and looked the Headmistress in the eye. "Let's get this over with." Reagan pulled her goggles down over her eyes before the Headmistress cast her spell.

 

[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: Connor (@KalenNighteyes) and James (@TommyGun15)


What I'm doing: Talking and trying not to cling


"Both of you are so warm! I like soul warmth. It is better than body warmth. Can we all three meld? Is that possible? It would be nice... warm... So many colors and sensations!" Why'nn, in the mindscape, let out a high-pitched squeal and whirled about, circling the blue and green. So excited! New sensations! New colors! It wasn't as good as having them on her own, but she was excited to possibly see them from someone else. She loved James's memories. All the foods, all the animals, places, and people...


Location: Outside the school


Who I'm with: Grim (@Grim Wraithe Stjerna)


What I'm doing: Trying to harden


He wanted to pull away, make it hurt less. The feelings and thoughts from earlier began to surface again and he fought back tears. "Well, I'm glad to hear that." Should he say anything? This was... more than a friendship, no doubt. He did consider Grim a brother and had considered a rite that would cement that relationship in his world but wouldn't try it now. "I won't really expect to see you for a bit. I mean, in classes and all but... I know she'll take up most of your free time. It's okay." But this was good for now. At least his brother cared for him enough right now. It would end soon. It always did. He'd be alone in the end and he knew it.


Location: My office


Who I'm with: The droid (@HK 50 09) and Reagan (@shadowstrikr25)


What I'm doing: Starting the binding


Nishira touched Reagan's forehead, putting the girl under immediately. She then took the girl into the ritual room, strapped her down, and performed the binding. Once the runes stopped glowing and the lights returned to normal the lich waved her hand and a rancor was brought into the room. "Now to wait for her to wake up..."

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Maindscape


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Melding


James thought about it for a moment, and of course that mean that the others could hear him.


"Hmm... I suppose it would be possible to do a 3-way meld. But it's never been tried before. It would probably be safest if one person melded in at a time. So, who wants to do the meld first? Personally, and I mean no offense to you Connor, I think me and Why'nn should meld first, since we've already done it. After that you can meld with us, and together me and Why'nn can work to make sure you are exposed to our combined consciousness slowly, so as not to overload your brain and drive you to insanity."

 

[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: Connor (@KalenNighteyes) and James (@TommyGun15)


What I'm doing: Melding


Why'nn stopped whirling around and slowly brought herself closer to James. Outwardly, again, her body moved over to James and wrapped itself around him. She melded herself - quietly, calmly - with James. That brought contentment. She was truly, completely happy in that moment. To have someone in her very soul was an aim for her. She had achieved it.


"Mmm... so warm... so many colors..."

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm With: Why'nn, James


What I'm Doing: Melding


Connor moved in closer to Why'nn even still. Outwardly, Connor's body moved over to Why'nn and wrapped his arm around her. He melded himself into the two of them with quiet, and calm. The colors were interesting as they weren't really mixing to form a brown. They stayed the same but seemed to be swirling around in sync with one another. He'd never seen anything like this before, and it was amazing to him. He didn't care anymore about the things that had happened earlier. He was only focused on being with his his girlfriend and his friend. Connor could feel the warm and he smiled.


"This is...amazing. This is completely different to what I can do with Telepathy. I had no idea that this existed. It's simply amazing..."

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Maindscape


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Melding


(I'm sorry, I just love this image.)


James could feel the happy thoughts from Why'nn and Connor, and outwardly he smiled.


"Yeah, it is, isn't it?"





As he thought this, various images from his past flooded by. His parents, his friend Thale, the other Sorcerers...


The Sword and the Orb...


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[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: JamesConnor (@TommyGun15 @KalenNighteyes)


What I'm doing: Mmm...


Catacombs. Zombies, vampires, boneyards, liches, necropolitans, demons, devils.


The portal at Delhumide. The slave markets of Eltabbar. The avenues of Bezantur, smelling strongly of incense.


The abomination that was her father. Llysi. Calar and Illn.


Big Sister Tammith...


The experiments, the whippings, the pain. A world of grays, darker blacks, and lighter whites. Color was bad. Color was not hers to have.


Hunting rats as a child in the catacombs. The feeling of blood rushing down her throat, the taste of raw flesh.

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm With: Why'nn and James


What I'm Doing: Melding


A house with a big yard and a dog. A small boy running around playing with the dog...


The boy's mother hugging him as he cried over his broken arm...


An alleyway with a dying entity asking if Connor will accept him and Connor accepting...


Connor's father looming over him, punching him repeatedly for being an "abomination against God"...


Connor being beaten over and over again at school...mocked and ridiculed...


The anger of being cast aside by the ones who loved him...


The anger at being thrown out of his universe...


The anger faded and changed to love as an image of he and Why'nn kissing and how exceptionally happy she made him...

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Maindscape


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Melding


His school, and the Angrak boys who bullied him.


The fire, and the entire building collapsing in on itself.


The trial, and the Nyssian and Tolnedrian jury members taking bribes from the Angraks to vote guilty.


Waiting to die, beheaded by his own father.


Being told that for his own safety, he was being banished to a far away school.


Mistress Imalia... Her lessons, the kindness and care she'd shown for him. Bindings or not, he would die at her command.

 

[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: My favorites (@KalenNighteyes @TommyGun15)


What I'm doing: Melding


The blood fiend Tsagoth.


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The transformation of Mari Agneh into a blood fiend, the murder of Aznar Thrul, the mounting undead armies.


Why'nn began to be uncomfortable, shifting as her memories flowed out and others rushed in. All of the bad and good laid out for all three of their lives. They would be hurt by the gruesome bits to come next.


A small girl stood above a slightly older girl, strapped to a stone slab. Embalming tools lay on the tray beside her.


"No..." Why'nn tried to pull out of the meld. James had seen that but Connor had not. She didn't want him to see, didn't want him to know how much less of a human she was.


She tried to push her thoughts more toward the 'happier' memories. Playing with the spiders.

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm With: Why'nn and James


What I'm Doing: Melding


Connor pulled closer to Why'nn, but then stopped. If there was something she didn't want him to see, he wouldn't push it. He hoped she would feel the respect he had for her choice. However, he did speak to her. "It's okay, Why'nn. There's nothing you can show me that would make me change my opinion of you. I love you... You don't have to show me."





And now both of them would see a glimpse of a hooded, faceless man walking around and laughing. He wasn't in the mindscape with them, but it was almost as if he could see what was going on.


The would see the ritual Nishira performed on him to be able to remember the entity he came to be bound with. The pain he felt from it. The agreement that "Victor" would never take control of Connor.

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Maindscape


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Melding


The others would be able to feel James's sympathy for their suffering, and as Why'nn began to feel afraid, she would be able to sense that he still cared for her... and Connor probably noticed that too.


Then came the Lessons with Nishira. Having spells that caused pain, weakness, fear and bleeding, all cast on him over and over again, with Nishira demanding that he repeat them, or die trying.


Learning to control minds from Imalia... and the odd sense of satisfaction he took in manipulating people... James quickly tried to hide that memory, but he couldn't hide it from Connor and Why'nn. One of the disadvantages of the meld was that it made it impossible to hide any thoughts from those yo melded with. Likely why so many went mad doing this.


Speaking of which, James was still focusing most of his Will on keeping each person's thoughts and memories distinct. It was a bit harder since there were three of them this time.

 

[shadowstrikr25]

Location: A stomach/Headmistress' Office


With: I have no idea/HK-50(@HK 50 09 ) Headmistress Auros(@folclor )


Doing: What smells like Innistrad and spoiled milk?/SURVIVING


Reagan kept mostly still and remain asleep, only stirring after the Rancor had already started swallowing her whole. She let out only a brief shriek before she was swallowed. As she found footing in the beast's stomach, she panicked. "What the hell....why why why why why why..." Reagan moved around in the stomach, the acid burning her legs, as she panicked and tried to find a way out. She didn't even know if she was still in the headmistress' office, so she couldn't blink out. "Help! HK! Headmistress! Why'nn! Connor! Seighart! Anyone! HELP!" As she screamed from inside the beast, a grim certainty came to her mind. She stood in the beasts stomach perfectly still. "No one is coming. No one will save me. I'm going to die." She tried to planeswalk in vain, each attempt only cementing that there was no escape. Tears streamed down her face as she slowly began to accept her fate. "HK... Seighart... Why'nn... Connor... Roland... Mom.... Dad... I'll never see them again..."


As she stood there, being slowly digested, a spark returned to her eyes. "No! I'm NOT going to die on this blasted, Rakdos-approved plane!" The feelings of red mana began to overtake her, in combination with the intellect of blue mana, she began to hatch a plan. It was crazy, but she was Izzet! Crazy is their stock and trade. Reagan took off her pack and removed the mana canister. It was about 82% full. "It'll have to do." Reagan removed the canister and slung her pack back over her shoulders. Then, using her right hand, she began to absorb all the mana stored in the canister into her body. Lightning began arcing around her as the rancor began shaking from the electricity flowing into its body. Patches of her clothes were being vaporized by the electricity Reagan then forced all of the mana into her right hand. Her sleve was vaporized within seconds as she aimed her palm at the farthest point of the stomach she was occupying. The pain surging through her arm was intense, causing her to scream out in agony. This scream continued as she fired a beam of pure, concentrated electricity at the beast's stomach. The rancor lurched, letting out a guttural roar of pain as a beam of lightning glowed against its skin before lancing through, scorching whatever happened to be in front of the beast. Reagan's scream joined the beast's roar as the lightning made its dynamic exit. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"


As the lightning made a hole through the rancor, Reagan took a moment to breathe. She saw the outside and blinked out, hunched over, some of her clothes burned off, her entire right arm and some of the right side of her face covered in burns, her feet and lower legs displaying similar damage all topped off with a healthy layer of saliva and stomach acid. She stood shakily, straightening herself and speaking in a shaking voice. "did... it..." As she finished her brief statement, she collapsed to the floor. She was still raggedly breathing, but showed signs of exhaustion and the obvious extreme burn damage.

 

[folclor]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm with: No, no! (@TommyGun15 @KalenNighteyes)


What I'm doing: He can't see!


The pleasure at manipulation didn't surprise or scare her. That was fine. The hooded figure wasn't red. That was fine.


The little girl, her face wrapped in bandages except for her colorless left eye, stood over someone who looked exactly like Why'nn. A scalpel was chosen and the girl almost began cutting until she remembered something and grabbed a syringe, injecting an orange concoction into her subject's veins. The girl picked up the syringe and cut like she was dissecting an animal.





"You shall tell me how it feels as we go along."





The subject began to sob.





"Crying does not help, you know. The gods hear you no better than when you are clear voiced. Besides, there is no need to be scared." If there hadn't been bandages covering the little girl's mouth (she couldn't be more than 8) one would've seen a smile there. "You are going to your end. Today you meet the Silent Lord, will be judged by the God of the Dead and go on to your eternal home. Well, eternal until Kezef eats you or Dendar comes."


Another sob escaped the subject's mouth as her skin was pinned back and the knife began making swift cuts. The bandaged girl was removing anything she saw as extraneous.





"You have not said a word. Perhaps that is why you ended up here. The Silent Lord wishes to grant worthy ends to all beings. As you are but a slave it is fitting you die as an animal." The girl worked away, taking to sketching a picture of the internal organs as the subject continued crying. "Can you tell me your name? I would rather not trouble my mistress with recovering it after you pass. I must record it, you see."


"Naomi," the subject gasped.





"Surname?" When the subject seemed too agitated to reply, the girl thrust her knife into the subject's right lung. "Surname?" The girls time was still soft, calm.


"Brooks!" the subject cried.





"Mmm... an outlander, then." The girl slit the subject's throat. The girl shivered and her hand shot out, grasping the subject's heart. The features melted off the body, appearing to travel up the girl's arm. After a moment, the body was blank.


"Very good, Why'nn. Now we see if it took." A middle aged bald woman dressed in great robes emerged from the shadows and unwound the bandages from around Why'nn's head. She now bore the dead girl's face.


Why'nn's soul shivered. Outwardly, she let out a whimper.


Location: My office


Who I'm with: The droid (@HK 50 09) and Reagan (@shadowstrikr25)


What I'm doing: Approving





"Very good, girl. Very good. Now that had to happen. We had to see if you would survive. If the droid wishes, he may take you to the infirmary. If not you'll bear those scars for the rest of your days." Nishira smiled brightly, all this said in a very nonchalant manner. Now the plan could move along.

 

[KalenNighteyes]

Location: Mindscape


Who I'm With: Why'nn and James


What I'm Doing: Melding


As Connor watched this memory, he felt a little confused and a little uncomfortable. It was an intense memory that she clearly hadn't wanted him to see. While it made him uncomfortable, she would feel he didn't care, but he did speak up. "J-James. I think that's enough for now. We can do this again at another time. Why'nn is clearly uncomfortable with this now."





Another memory of Connor's began to surface. They looked to be stasis chambers.





"No. James, you need to break this now. For all of our sake. Please..." James would feel Connor's desperation and Connor now tried to pull himself back and away from the others. In the Common Room, Connor's arm slid off of Why'nn. "I'm sorry. I'm just not ready for certain memories of mine to be seen..."

 

[TommyGun15]

Location: Maindscape/Common Room


Who I'm with: Why'nn (@folclor ), Connor (@KalenNighteyes )


What I'm doing: Breaking the meld


James understood, sensing that each of them wanted to hide certain memories before they could be seen. On the mental plane, he used his Will to separate the minds of the others from his own. On the physical plane, he shoved the two of them away from himself in opposite directions. Then he opened his eyes and glared at the two of them. He stood and looked back and forth between Why'nn and Connor, speaking in a stern voice.


"Well, that was melding. And I think I should tell you both something right now. Melding is one of the most intimate things you can do with a person. It bares every thought and emotion to them. It's not a fun little game to play with your friends. If you meld with someone you have to be ready to trust them with every thought, and every dark little secret, even ones that you hide from yourself. I trusted both of you, and the way you two pulled away from me before the meld could complete tells me that you clearly don't trust me in the same way, and I find that a bit offensive. Honestly, the fact that the two of you clearly don't trust me or each other enough to share those secrets proves that you two clearly are not ready for a meld."


James shook his head and started walking towards the men's dorm. He stopped and turned around before reaching the door.


"And before you start getting pissed at me being angry, I'm not angry with either of you. Because of the nature of the meld, I understand why both of you chose to hide your memories. I'm angry at myself for putting myself in this position. I want to trust to two of you, but after this, I'm not sure I can again..."


A few tears began to run down James's face, but he wiped them away and started for the door.