[Closed] Player Plot: Desire Demon Possession

[dragoon_pride]

WHO: Kain Highwind, Inessa, Anders, Rydia, Bruce Not-Banner and James Norrington
WHAT: Backstabbing, temptation, demon-slaying and bad endings. Kain has come back to the area and brought a “friend”! OOC information is here
WHEN: Forward-dated to September/Kingsway 8th
WHERE: Mountains outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Contains violence, betrayal, eventual character death. Also, there’s no need to keep a specific tagging order, just keep things moving and jump in whenever! :)

It had been a good month so far. Kain had explored a great deal, seen some incredible lands and creatures, and overall gotten closer to clearing his head. He’d started even somewhat enjoying himself as he camped by night and traveled by day, unburdened by other responsibilities. But, eventually, he had to return. He had sworn his loyalty to the Inquisition, after all. He still had his redemption to work toward. So he’d started heading back in the direction of Skyhold.

Unfortunately, he’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time when a rift erupted. He’d started dealing with it… only to get overpowered by a desire demon. The creature remembered him from his trip to the Fade and was ready with temptations that overwhelmed him. Kain couldn’t stop it, not when the demon reminded him of what he truly wanted, deep down… to be stronger than Cecil, to be better overall, well admired and respected… and to have Rosa, all to himself. It was the Rosa illusion that really broke him. His love for her had been his downfall once before, and now it is again, in the worst possible way.

Claiming Kain was all too easy for the demon after that. All it had to do was dive in and take over the reigns. Kain’s mind was weak from his past experiences, all too open to being controlled by another. From there… the demon started testing out the limits of its new form, forcing Kain to do its will, exploiting his abilities alongside its own.

Comments

[dragoon_pride]

Struggling, gasping for air, all Kain can do for a moment is fight to keep breathing. It seems he's always fighting in some way, even now as his life is ending. He's trying to hold on as much as he can, but as every moment passes, it's getting harder. He feels so weak, and light-headed. He shakes his head to Inessa, not even sure who he most needs to talk to most at the moment. "Just... that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't return, and share in the battles ahead to come." He'd intended to stay with the Inquisition until the very end, whenever that may be. He would have liked to be part of Corypheus' defeat. Kain turns his eyes to look at them each. "I hope you succeed in those battles."

"And my... stupid parrot... he'll care for himself, but keep an eye out..."

"Rydia..." His voice is getting shaky and quiet, he can barely speak, but he has to say something to her before it's too late. He just wishes he could reassure her, tell her it'll be fine. She still has that spark in her, that will to keep fighting, even at a time like this. He's always appreciated that about her, even if he never showed it much. There's so much he wants to say to her now and... not enough time for it. He regrets that he never got closer to her. "You've always been a good ally. A good person. If you see our friends... I'm sorry. I should have treated them better. They deserve... to be happy... You do as well..."

Kain's voice trails off and he moans. There's still considerable pain. It's also really sinking in that he's not going back home. He'll never see Rosa again, or Cecil or any of their friends, never see the mountains or Baron Castle... He's dying so far away from home, from anything or anyone he knows. It hurts more than he would have expected.

[amygdalae]

Fuck, fuck. Bruce isn't one to swear but maker, none of this was good. All of them were trying their best but this time their best was apparently not enough. It was clear that Highwind was not going to pull through at this point.

But still--

"You're going to be fine," he grits out even as sweat pours down from his brow. He's trying to pull out whatever he can and he can feel the exertion eating inside of him. Still, he needs to push on. He has to. Times like these were why he joined the Inquisition in the first place. "Just stay focused. You'll get to see your dracolisk and anything else you want soon enough."

Fuck. Why couldn't he do more?

[circleprodigy]

Listening to Rydia, the elven Warden stares downward with a sigh. "Healing magic can only do so much. I wish it were otherwise, believe me...." But they had a Spirit Healer with them and if he couldn't save Kain, there there wasn't anything else to be done, as awful as it is. "You will be in our thoughts during those future battles, Kain. We won't forget."

[justice_is_blond]

He gives Bruce a very concerned look. He can feel the strain, and for any mage that's dangerous enough. For Bruce? That's dangerous to everyone. But what can Anders say here? Stop trying? He can't. Not in front of Kain or Rydia.

"We'll keep an eye out for your dracolisk, though I refuse to feed him any parts of me." It's hard to joke, but that's when it's most important. "And if I see your parrot, I'll try to teach him better insults. He's far from creative. We'll work on that."

[dragoon_pride]

Kain tries to take in their reassurances... that he'll see Zephyr and yes, even Bastard again... that he'll be fine, just fine. He knows better but he knows they're doing all they can to help as the life drains out of him. It's distressing, though... very soon, he'll be only a memory. A thought. Gone. He's deeply envious of the others, that they get to keep living and existing. Why him? Why now?

He chokes out something that's half a laugh and half a sob at Anders' remark in particular. "...thank you..." He's grateful for the moments he's shared with everyone here, whether training or dracolisk bonding or otherwise... Too bad he can't quite manage to say any of that right now. He tries to, but finds it impossible to draw enough breath to speak. It's hard to even concentrate on any of their faces anymore, everything just feels... distant.

To die without redemption, without atoning for what he's done is unthinkable. He's taking this concern literally to his grave. There's regret and a brief flash of fear in his expression, before it's pushed back once again. No. He may have failed, but he cannot be weak now. He'll face this as bravely as a dragoon ought to, though none of it is fair. His breath is rattling in his chest, and his pulse is slower, his body failing worse than even moments ago. Some pain is still there, but even it's getting more distant as well somehow. He looks up toward the sky, tearful because he won't even get a chance to return up for one more jump.

[judgemewhole]

James knelt down to the ground, keeping his hand to his side as he kept his balance by leaning on his sword. He looked on, with pain, before he quietly began to speak a prayer, his voice soft.

Praying for the Maker to preserve this man's life - and yet - if he had to be taken - that he found the comfort in his own Gods once more.

[blessedmaiden]

She wants to scream, to be angry, to tell him how cruel it is to leave her when they just started to talk to each others like friends, but all words die before leaving her lips. Death is something she doesn't know too well, raised by immortals and isolated in a small village, whenever one of their friends sacrificed themselves they always returned and this... how is she supposed to handle this, dragoon? But, as much as she'd love to snap at the elven woman and yell her to shut up, as much as she'd beg Anders to try again... it'd be useless, wouldn't it?

"You've always been a good ally as well, Kain. And you deserve some happiness too... how... why..." The summoner stops to look at the others, almost expecting them to come out with a final, miracolous solution but, of course, none comes. He is fading away and she is completely powerless, she didn't even try to help during the fight because things were supposed to go well but... he's dying.

"I will..." Oh, there's little she can say to give him comfort, the man will soon be buried in the ground and nothing will change that. Or, perhaps... "Kain..." She kneels at his side, tears blurring her vision, and whispers to his ears as low as she can "I can't tell anyone but you're not dying, you're going home. I'm..." She stops, sobbing and then biting her lips to control herself and proceed "I'm from the future, our future, and I've seen you... older, stronger, a beautiful man." It sounds so much like a lie, especially keeping in mind she still looks like the young woman who helped him fight Zeromus "You will see everyone again, I promise." Yes, it definitely sounds like a made up story, espexially considering she hid it from him since they mey the first time.

"I... I'm sorry." A gentle kiss on his forehead and she steps back, fighting with every fiber of her being the urge to cry.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain shakes his head in disbelief, he can't possibly... it can't possibly be true. Even if what she's saying is somehow real, and not some means to comfort him in his final moments... even then it just can't. After all, where and when he's from... it's already about to change forever, isn't it? What he's experienced is already changed, just by him having come here in his time. He'll be gone from his timeline, from his friends' lives. He's struggling to face the notion that he'll be gone, that he won't even be able to return from his quest for redemption. He wishes he could believe the lie, but he just can't. He's never been much of an optimist, though. But that kiss, that kind gesture... he appreciates it more than he can say.

He hears James praying, prayers he's vaguely heard at times when he's had to go get his parrot out of the chapel. They may not be of his world, but there's still something comforting in their sound now.

There's a grimace and a few quiet moans, as his breathing gets more harsh and less frequent, and everything starts to blur around him. He can't just accept this, and it's his instinct to keep fighting even when he's losing ground fast.

[circleprodigy]

James' prayer in the background is comforting to Inessa, who sighs and bows her head. Even though Kain isn't Andrastian, she'd like to think that the Maker would look kindly on what he's done and take him to his side, if he can't go home. Rydia's whispered words about the future don't reach her ears, but it doesn't matter. If Kain is comforted in any way by them, then that's what matters at this point.

Blinking back tears as that breathing lessens, she spares a little more of her healing energy not in the hopes that he can be saved at this point, but to provide him with some relief. Anders is drained enough, and it shouldn't be all on him anyway. After that, though, she's too drained to do more than remain on her knees, supported by Garahel, who whines and presses his muzzle against Kain, letting him know it's okay to finally let go.

[amygdalae]

Bruce doesn't stop trying. If anything he keeps going despite the fact that ultimately, he knows that it's of no use. But still he tries, because its only people like himself who should be given up on. But for the Rifters, who didn't even have a choice--he couldn't just leave it like this. Not like this.

So he tries. Again and again, no matter how foolish it may be. He pulls out whatever he can, anything within that returns to him he draws out again, unwilling to stop, to give in. Helping people is what he came to the Inquisition to do in the first place and if he even failed at that--

"Don't give up now," he grits out, his own words and breathing harsh now. "C'mon. You're going to make it." All he needed to do was to breathe.

[dragoon_pride]

Never. He's never one to give up. He won't. He refuses. Except it's all fading away too fast for Kain, as he takes in each ragged breath, his expression filled with agony. It's beyond his control. He clenches his fists weakly for a moment, a sign he's listening, trying to fight as much as he can. There's so much he has left unfinished, so much he needs to live for... But he knows all too well he can't. He still doesn't want this, still regrets everything he's done... regrets more than ever that he won't ever again jump into the sky or feel the wind on his face. He won't even see Skyhold again let alone go home.

He knows the end is approaching within moments, an end he desperately wishes weren't here. He never did like to rest, to lay still and idle. Now he has no choice, it's all his future holds. He wants to tell them to spare their magic, it won't save him. Though it's held off some pain... that and Garahel's nuzzling are a comfort right now.

"...f...forgive... me......" The whispered apology is barely audible, and it's the last thing he says. He takes just a few more shaky breaths, chest rising and falling... rising... falling... rising... and then falling, to never rise again.

As the breath leaves Kain's body, his erratic heartbeat stops, and his eyes grow unfocused and fixed, face relaxing. He's far beyond pain now. His mind falls away into blackness and silence, his body more still and at peace than it's ever been.

[justice_is_blond]

Anders reaches up and gently closes Kain's eyes when his breathing ceases and everything is gone and done.

"May whatever or whomever you believe in welcome you home," he says quietly. There's nothing else, really, to say. He's exhausted. Bruce is dangerously exhausted. No one else really looks to be in much better shape, all injured and worn out. Anders finds the strength to push himself up with his staff and look around.

"I'm sorry. We're going to need to use bandages for the rest of us for a time."

[circleprodigy]

"You are forgiven. Farewell, Kain." With that last breath of Kain's, Inessa's shoulders slump. He's free now, free of the toll possession has taken, free of a world he was brought to against his will. His body at peace is all she needs to see to know that much. They can do no more for him, save give him a pyre. And despite the exhaustion and pain, she'll exert herself a bit more for that purpose, though Anders has a point. She wearily nods, unable to argue give the ache that's seeped into her body.

"...will we bring him back with us, or honor him here?" It must be done either way, and focusing on that topic gives her the chance to come to terms with her emotions in her own time. She won't take away from the grief of one who knew him far better.

[amygdalae]

Bruce can feel the moment his heart stops, when his life slips away and sees the last breath leaving his body. It's all too soon and without warning and Bruce--well, he doesn't want to accept it, but he's not that stubborn as to fight against such certainty. Highwind is dead. There's... no doubt about that.

He lets his healing fade away, and without that focus now the exhaustion rushes up to him. His head spins, and Bruce tilts over to the side, managing to catch himself before he falls over entirely. Vaguely he hears people saying stuff but he's too drained to process it right on the spot.