[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]

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.