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Entry tags:
TDM #2
TDM #2
DREAMING (new characters)
At first, there is nothing. You are nothing. Whatever existed before ceases to be if for a moment. Then, bit by bit, you start to become aware. Where there was not even darkness now is a dim haze, gentle and almost mist-like. You have limbs again and beneath your feet lays a path of light reaching out like limbs of a great tree beneath you, twisting and climbing out into the horizon.You take a step forward for what else is there to do? As you walk you begin to remember what it was you were doing before the nothingness; maybe something as simple as chatting with a loved one or close friend. Maybe you were just beginning a great journey or facing off against an old foe. Whatever it was, you get the distinct feeling that wherever and whenever that was, it is not here. Not now.
The path of light twists off into different directions. When you look up you can see that it is not a sky above you but the sky of everything, a grand cosmic tapestry littered with not mere stars but galaxies and clusters of galaxies that gleam like crystals against the velvety backdrop of space. Admire it for a moment, if you will. You don't know how long you will drift here, but you are not alone. Other wanderers will come and go as you bask together in the vastness of creation.
It seems to you that there are two paths to walk in this place, the light and dark beckoning in turn.
❖ THE LIGHT AT THE CENTER
One leads you to the center, splintered fragments folding together and colliding until only one thing remains: a light that speaks to you with the voice of all there is and has ever been. It greets you simultaneously as an old friend and as a lost child, both rejoicing in and mourning your arrival. You remember it too, somehow, with a feeling of complex nostalgia, as if returning to a place recalled from your distant childhood.
You’ll feel the same of the other wanderers that join you in the light; you know their faces, their voices, and as you reflect upon the world of your birth, you may witness fragments of theirs as well. You feel a comradery, then, a synchronicity of thought and emotion. Are the lives of others truly so different from your own? Or are you simply two hands of the same, greater being? Though some individualistic part of you may resist, the longer you spend in the light, the more you will find yourself becoming one with it.
Despite this welcoming call, no matter how eagerly your pursue its embrace, before you can fully submerge yourself in this oneness you will find yourself being torn away. As if seized by the impossibly long, cold arm of a creature unseen, you are plucked from the edge of fulfillment. The last thing you will remember is the sensation of your world, and all the others your experienced here, collapsing into nothingness.
❖ THE DARK OUTSIDE (CW: deep despair, ego death)
The other leads towards the outside, where the splintering becomes so great that the vestiges of reality can do nothing but collapse back into the abyss at the end of everything. As you wander to these barren outskirts, your thoughts will not be drawn to familiarity and oneness, but instead to memories of discontent and waste. The darker the path becomes, the more you find yourself dwelling on life’s disappointments and injustices, of the things about yourself and your world you find wanting.
If you see others here, at first they will feel frightening or contemptible, as if representing to you the worst experiences in your life. Even if they are someone you’re certain you know, that familiarity and affection will be stripped away in the face of the great emptiness before you. In the end, you were all the same. In the end, none of this was worth it. If you approach the end together, you may even form a kind of kinship around this acknowledgment, as the need for paranoia and hatred fades.
Slowly, the darkness encroaches, and you can see it devouring all the things you once knew. Memories of your home, of those you loved, dissolve into nothing, and you can only reflect on the barren emptiness in your heart as you see it happen. In your final moments, though, you feel peace with it all, knowing that there was no other way. You step from the edge of the last dwindling fragment of being and are greeted by silence.
❖ THE END
No matter which way you go, you are left with a single impression: you feel the world you came from die. It's a realization that transcends logic or sense; it weighs on your heart and leaves the vestiges of dark memories dancing in your thoughts like motes of ash. It's a memory of your home crumbling away into nothing as if consumed from within by rot. Returned to the void, all that's left to you is to be reborn.
REBIRTH (new characters)
In a new time and place, you awaken. Stirring within a capsule of warmth and isolation your senses will slowly return, only to observe that you are trapped. Your body, as it wakes, is tangled in close, yours eyes unable to open, as if still within the womb. You are held tight in the embrace of something unyielding, so smothering that at first you only have the strength to struggle for moments at a time. Yet, as you persist, the pressure begins to relent in turn; it may take hours, but eventually you will find the purchase to push, to claw, to fight, and it will all give way.The chrysalis surrounding you bends like flesh and cracks like glass. It tears as you force your fingers through, finding liberation one inch at a time, until finally you have emerged. As if having undergone metamorphosis, you feel old and new all at once. You are weak, piteously so, but the markings and scars of your previous life remain. As you slump down upon the smooth cavern stone, you realize that you've just wrenched yourself free of gigantic crystal, though its hollow, shimmering form is now in pieces on account of your passing. Somewhere on your body, a shard of similar material remains embedded.
The cave itself looks almost like the inside of a geode, the walls and ceiling bedazzled with greyish crystal that shines with all the colors of the rainbow. While they vary wildly in size and shape, only a few have grown large enough to hold a form like yours, and you can see the one you just escaped isn't the only one bearing a passenger within. They may have already hatched, or they may still be lingering in stasis. Either way, there's enough time that you may have a chance to speak to yours unexpected peers, or to perhaps to struggle to find something to cover your naked body with. You feel the chill of the open air against your moisture laden skin, a distant light trickling in through the cavern's opening.
Make the most of this time. It won't be long before you're interrupted.
[Mod Note: If you don't want to deal with your character being naked in front of the others at that location, feel free to assume they emerge at a different time than the others of their legacy. Characters will be 'hatching' over a period of several hours.]
DREAMING (OLD CHARACTERS)
For those already in Horos, they will find themselves in the same dreamscape as the new arrivals, only, this time, it's familiar. You'll feel more cognizant of your surroundings as you reawaken in this psychedelic realm, more in control of your emotions. What's more, you recognize that light at the center and the darkness at the edge: it's the Pleroma and Kenoma respectively. The one you are attuned to will call our to your soul, and though you are technically free to wander as you please, the closer you get to the force of your opposite sect, the more it will grate against you spiritually. Pleroma attuned nearing the Kenoma will feel as if its presence is desperately trying to tear them apart, and Kenoma attuned nearing the Pleroma will feel as if its light is burning them from the inside out.
More importantly, you notice that entirely new souls are wandering here with faces you didn't see in the cavern. It gradually becomes clear that they are Aions in the same state you were prior to your rebirth, lost and wandering this stretch of the cosmos with no idea what's to come. Maybe this is your chance to ease the confusion of their arrival, or maybe you'd simply like to scope out what kind of people are on their way. It's also possible for you to run into Aions already in Horos, wandering just like you are. Unfortunately, things are a lot less neutral than they are the last time you shared this realm.
No matter what you do, eventually the cosmos above will begin to burn out, just as it did the first time you were here. As darkness swallows reality itself, you will wake with the visceral memory of your world corrupting and breaking apart.
More importantly, you notice that entirely new souls are wandering here with faces you didn't see in the cavern. It gradually becomes clear that they are Aions in the same state you were prior to your rebirth, lost and wandering this stretch of the cosmos with no idea what's to come. Maybe this is your chance to ease the confusion of their arrival, or maybe you'd simply like to scope out what kind of people are on their way. It's also possible for you to run into Aions already in Horos, wandering just like you are. Unfortunately, things are a lot less neutral than they are the last time you shared this realm.
No matter what you do, eventually the cosmos above will begin to burn out, just as it did the first time you were here. As darkness swallows reality itself, you will wake with the visceral memory of your world corrupting and breaking apart.
SEARCHING (OLD CHARACTERS)
Soon after the dreams begin, it will become clear that the Aion NPCs of either sect are also aware of what's happening. For those in Achamoth and Greentruth, the imminent arrival of new Aions will become a matter of official discussion. All able Aions will be called upon for their aid, in whatever way they can offer. Getting to the shrines themselves will be easily accomplished via teleportation. What's would be more complicated is ferrying any new arrivals back to a secure location. Thankfully, it seems this is something both sects have already prepared for. All characters will have the opportunity to acquire a 'returning stone'. In all cases, this will amount to an amulet made of the same shimmering material as the shrine monuments, though the stylization differs between the Pleroma and the Kenoma. While regular Aion teleportation can bring you to any of the shrines you know the sigil and location of, a returning stone is magically programmed to bring its wearer back to a specific destination to which it is attuned. Normally, these stones will only be able to store enough energy for one 'return' a month, but it turns out that the ambient power created by the shrines being active will temporarily super charge them. Though it's not guaranteed, this means they may generate enough energy to perform multiple returns for TDM purposes.
Spare returning stones will be issued to all Aions so that they can be used to bring back anyone they collect, as it's possible to bring someone alongside you if they are also wearing a returning stone. Where your stone leads will depend on your sect.
❖ PLEROMA
Tehri will be the one to supply returning stones, based out of Greentruth. She will not travel to Godsblood to deliver returning stones to those that have not visited Greentruth, but it can be assumed that Greentruth's visitors can pass them along to anyone who has been staying in the city. The returning stones are apparently set to bring them to a secure location beneath the water of Godsblood's coast. From there, new arrivals will have to be allowed to rest and then brought up into the city when they're ready.
Greentruth is limited in its resources, but it will attempt to send troops to the Innocent, Seeker, Wanderer, and Firebrand shrines, all of which are close to the forest. Meanwhile, while no formal affiliation with the new Aions has been made, bands of guerilla fighters, most likely from Godsblood, will turn up at the Artisan and Sovereign shrines. Whether they have any affiliation with Greentruth will not be clear, but they do seem to have a beef against the Achamites. These reinforcements will struggle against powered Aions, but they might be able to delay any troops sent by Achamoth.
❖ KENOMA
Xishen will be handing out returning stones to all Kenoma the day after the dreams begin. She'll explain how to use them, and state that the Regent expects for them to head to the shrines once they become fully active. The Kenoma will have whatever mundane weapons or supplies they need at their disposal for this mission, along with some modest Achamite reinforcements. She'll warn not to rely too heavily on them however; after all, only the Aions are able to quickly move between the shrines and at the Citadel. The Achamites will have to be deployed by river or by land, and mobilizing them will take time. They will feasible be able to reach all of the shrines to some degree or another, but will more easily populate the shrines of the Martyr, Celebrant, Lover, Champion, Visionary, Sovereign, and Firebrand.
The Hylicians will apparently not be helping this time around, as the capture and holding of the first batch of Aions was already a lengthy venture. Xishen herself says she will be travelling to the shrines, however, while another Aion named Dionys remains in Achamoth to 'keep watch'. All Kenoma Aions will be given a familiar vial of black sludge, and are instructed to feed it to any Aions they capture at the shrines. It will cause the same effects it did in the cavern, though it will resolve in a few days rather than a week.
RETURNED (ALL CHARACTERS)
New characters that are found a the shrines will be brought back to one of two lodestones, depending on which sect they are taken by. This will be accomplished by their escort putting a 'returning stone' around their neck that will enable them to be teleported to a secure area in their sect's territory. It is advised for your character to be taken by whichever sect you'd like them to end up in.
❖ TO THE PLEROMA
In a dazzling flash of psychedelic light, you will find yourself brought to the Pleroma's lodestone: a monolithic rock set in the center of temple-like ruins. The entire cavern is hidden away beneath the ocean waves, just outside of Godsblood, and the ceiling itself is comprised of nothing but a barrier of water, as if held back from filling the space by some unknown force. The waters surrounding the lodestone are exactly body temperature, with swarms of tiny, violently iridescent fish darting through it. Crabs that look as if they're made of pure, clear crystal wander the sparkling, sandy shores.
There isn't much here in the way of accommodations, but it's comfortable enough that the new arrivals brought in by the Pleroma can take a moment to catch their breath. Some relatively plain but assorted new clothing will have been brought to the cavern to make sure they are actually clothed, as well as blankets and basic food items. It's a good time to ask your questions, or if you are an established Pleroma, to help out your freshly arrived peers. After all, their welcome at the shrine may have been a confusing one.
New arrivals will be permitted to leave the lodestone's temple when they are ready. Unfortunately, the only ways out of these place are through your choice of either swimming through pockets of water that eventually lead to the surface, or by spelunking through a series of tunnels to make your way the cliff faces near the city of Godsblood. More information about the city itself can be found on the setting page, though it would be preferable to keep TDM interactions to the lodestone area. As characters emerging from the shrines will start our as Untouched (more info about attunements here) they will not be permitted entry into Greentruth until they have attuned to Pleroma.
❖ TO THE KENOMA
As your returning stone activates, you will feel yourself thrust into a suffocating void, only to emerge just as quickly somewhere else. The most pressing thing on the minds of anyone taken by the Kenoma will be the vial of pitch black sludge they are forced to drink, whether it is before or after their arrival. Maybe their 'escort' from the shrine gave it to them, or perhaps another Kenoma does soon after they arrive. If not, one of the Achamite cultists wandering around definitely will. Dedicated servants to the Regent's will as they are, they are not afraid to gang up on the vulnerable new arrivals and force it down their throats.
Once in your mouth, the potion will slither down your throat as if it's a living thing. The effect takes hold quickly: as this darkness creeps through your insides, it will embolden your darkest and most despair inducing emotions, plaguing your thoughts with the worst sorrows of your life. What's worst, it simultaneously seems to awaken some form of enhanced psychic empathy within you, both projecting your thoughts for others to hear, and allowing you to receive those of the others around you in kind. Black ooze will begin to seep from orifices, or the space around your shard. The effects of this contamination bring out your worst, and its recipients will be forced to live with these effects until they accept the force corrupting them into their souls.
This world is not good enough, a voice speaks to your through the Kenoma. This suffering you feel, the cruelty that has birthed this darkness in you... it is simply the rot that is consuming this existence. A better universe awaits, one forged by your own hand, and all you need do is first bring about this broken reality's end.
How long this goes on will depend on how long the characters is able to fight it. Acceptance of the Kenoma can come as quickly as immediately, if your character is inclined towards it, or it could be drawn out to take a few days. In the meantime, they will have to stay in the barren halls surrounding the Regent's lodestone, and will not be permitted to exit into the greater Citadel as the current Kenoma are. All that will immediately be offered to them down there are stone slabs that can be used as beds and formless white robes that reach down past their knees.
Of course, that doesn't mean the characters that are already of the Kenoma can't do something about that. If they desire it, they will be able to bring food or other supplies to those suffering with their Kenoma infections, and it will be equally within their power to try anything from bullying them into accepting to lovebombing them. Once a character accepts the Kenoma and attunes to it, they will be permitted to leave, but for the sake of the TDM interactions should be kept to the lodestone area.
❖ TO THE PLEROMAIn a dazzling flash of psychedelic light, you will find yourself brought to the Pleroma's lodestone: a monolithic rock set in the center of temple-like ruins. The entire cavern is hidden away beneath the ocean waves, just outside of Godsblood, and the ceiling itself is comprised of nothing but a barrier of water, as if held back from filling the space by some unknown force. The waters surrounding the lodestone are exactly body temperature, with swarms of tiny, violently iridescent fish darting through it. Crabs that look as if they're made of pure, clear crystal wander the sparkling, sandy shores.
There isn't much here in the way of accommodations, but it's comfortable enough that the new arrivals brought in by the Pleroma can take a moment to catch their breath. Some relatively plain but assorted new clothing will have been brought to the cavern to make sure they are actually clothed, as well as blankets and basic food items. It's a good time to ask your questions, or if you are an established Pleroma, to help out your freshly arrived peers. After all, their welcome at the shrine may have been a confusing one.
New arrivals will be permitted to leave the lodestone's temple when they are ready. Unfortunately, the only ways out of these place are through your choice of either swimming through pockets of water that eventually lead to the surface, or by spelunking through a series of tunnels to make your way the cliff faces near the city of Godsblood. More information about the city itself can be found on the setting page, though it would be preferable to keep TDM interactions to the lodestone area. As characters emerging from the shrines will start our as Untouched (more info about attunements here) they will not be permitted entry into Greentruth until they have attuned to Pleroma.
❖ TO THE KENOMAAs your returning stone activates, you will feel yourself thrust into a suffocating void, only to emerge just as quickly somewhere else. The most pressing thing on the minds of anyone taken by the Kenoma will be the vial of pitch black sludge they are forced to drink, whether it is before or after their arrival. Maybe their 'escort' from the shrine gave it to them, or perhaps another Kenoma does soon after they arrive. If not, one of the Achamite cultists wandering around definitely will. Dedicated servants to the Regent's will as they are, they are not afraid to gang up on the vulnerable new arrivals and force it down their throats.
Once in your mouth, the potion will slither down your throat as if it's a living thing. The effect takes hold quickly: as this darkness creeps through your insides, it will embolden your darkest and most despair inducing emotions, plaguing your thoughts with the worst sorrows of your life. What's worst, it simultaneously seems to awaken some form of enhanced psychic empathy within you, both projecting your thoughts for others to hear, and allowing you to receive those of the others around you in kind. Black ooze will begin to seep from orifices, or the space around your shard. The effects of this contamination bring out your worst, and its recipients will be forced to live with these effects until they accept the force corrupting them into their souls.
This world is not good enough, a voice speaks to your through the Kenoma. This suffering you feel, the cruelty that has birthed this darkness in you... it is simply the rot that is consuming this existence. A better universe awaits, one forged by your own hand, and all you need do is first bring about this broken reality's end.
How long this goes on will depend on how long the characters is able to fight it. Acceptance of the Kenoma can come as quickly as immediately, if your character is inclined towards it, or it could be drawn out to take a few days. In the meantime, they will have to stay in the barren halls surrounding the Regent's lodestone, and will not be permitted to exit into the greater Citadel as the current Kenoma are. All that will immediately be offered to them down there are stone slabs that can be used as beds and formless white robes that reach down past their knees.
Of course, that doesn't mean the characters that are already of the Kenoma can't do something about that. If they desire it, they will be able to bring food or other supplies to those suffering with their Kenoma infections, and it will be equally within their power to try anything from bullying them into accepting to lovebombing them. Once a character accepts the Kenoma and attunes to it, they will be permitted to leave, but for the sake of the TDM interactions should be kept to the lodestone area.
QUESTIONS
Is this TDM canon?
Mostly! It's part of an in-game event. However, only threads with new players that app and are accepted will be considered game canon. Threads between old characters will all be canon, but threads involving new characters that don't apply or aren't accepted will either need to be tweaked to remove their involvement or made non-canon. New characters will also be able to decide TDM threads aren't canon if they end up changing directions.
Who can toplevel on this post?
Anyone, whether they are a new character or a current one. However, we do ask for current players to do their best to tag new characters. If you are bringing in a new character and want a current character to bring them into your sect of choice, post your request here! ICly, current characters are fighting to claim new arrivals, but it's up to the player of new characters where they ultimately end up going.
When is this TDM taking place chronologically?
The last few days of April. The shrines will be active and forming Aions during that time. The dreams will start around the 24th. All current Aions will be able to sense when it's time for the new arrivals to start emerging.
What are the shrines like?
Every shrine is comprised of the crystal-filled cavern character emerge inside and then the massive statue symbolizing the relevant Legacy built on top. More information about each shrine can be found in the "Aion Shrine" section of the setting page.
Are everyone's homeworlds really gone?
That's a complicated issue, and while the fate of their world is not without hope, they may certainly get the impression its been destroyed from the dream they had. Alternatively, they may refuse to believe what they felt and attempt to dismiss it as only a vision. More about this situation will be revealed as the game goes on.
Can I only experience one end of the dream sequence prompt?
New characters may experience one ending, both endings, or neither. If they experience both they will struggle to recall which came first or which feels the most 'true' to them, as both will simultaneously be the thought they are reborn with. If your character refuses to pursue either path they can simply linger in the middle until the infinite worlds above them start being extinguished one by one, eventually expelling them into darkness in a similar style to the light prompt. Which dreams they experience will not dictate their initial sect affiliation.
Is it possible to pull another character back from the end of the light or darkness dreams?
Yes! If your character is able to resist the pull of either end, they will have the chance to try to pull another character back from the edge of the abyss or the edge of oneness. Whether or not they succeed is entirely up to the other character, though.
Do you come out of the chrysalis wet?
For most intents and purposes it's the same experience as hatching out of a real butterfly chrysalis, so yes, a bit.
How does attunement to the Pleroma or Kenoma work for new characters?
More information about sect attunements can be read on their dedicated info page, but in summary: when new characters are brought to Horos, they will be in the state of being "Untouched" meaning they are not attuned to either sect. By the end of their first month in game it is expected they will either attune to Pleroma or Kenoma, though for those taken by the Kenoma's forces, the transition will be forced within the first few days. If taken in by the Pleroma, it may take then some time to attune to Pleroma, depending on the strength of their spirit, but it could also happen almost instantly if they are allowed to. How quickly it happens will depend on how strongly they align with the Pleroma's traits. Characters who have been taken by the Pleroma but that remain Untouched will not be allowed into Greentruth until their attunement to Pleroma is complete.
Can a character taken by one side end up attuning to the sect of the opposite one?
This is theoretically possible, yes: a person taken by the Kenoma could potentially resist the Kenoma's call, and someone taken by the Pleroma could end up falling to the Kenoma while staying with them. Generally, though, we recommend that you have your character be taken by whichever sect you want to end up in, as doing a switcheroo will cause narrative complications that might bog their introduction down in plotting that will need to be done with the mods. It can happen, but it is not to be done lightly!
Mostly! It's part of an in-game event. However, only threads with new players that app and are accepted will be considered game canon. Threads between old characters will all be canon, but threads involving new characters that don't apply or aren't accepted will either need to be tweaked to remove their involvement or made non-canon. New characters will also be able to decide TDM threads aren't canon if they end up changing directions.
Who can toplevel on this post?
Anyone, whether they are a new character or a current one. However, we do ask for current players to do their best to tag new characters. If you are bringing in a new character and want a current character to bring them into your sect of choice, post your request here! ICly, current characters are fighting to claim new arrivals, but it's up to the player of new characters where they ultimately end up going.
When is this TDM taking place chronologically?
The last few days of April. The shrines will be active and forming Aions during that time. The dreams will start around the 24th. All current Aions will be able to sense when it's time for the new arrivals to start emerging.
What are the shrines like?
Every shrine is comprised of the crystal-filled cavern character emerge inside and then the massive statue symbolizing the relevant Legacy built on top. More information about each shrine can be found in the "Aion Shrine" section of the setting page.
Are everyone's homeworlds really gone?
That's a complicated issue, and while the fate of their world is not without hope, they may certainly get the impression its been destroyed from the dream they had. Alternatively, they may refuse to believe what they felt and attempt to dismiss it as only a vision. More about this situation will be revealed as the game goes on.
Can I only experience one end of the dream sequence prompt?
New characters may experience one ending, both endings, or neither. If they experience both they will struggle to recall which came first or which feels the most 'true' to them, as both will simultaneously be the thought they are reborn with. If your character refuses to pursue either path they can simply linger in the middle until the infinite worlds above them start being extinguished one by one, eventually expelling them into darkness in a similar style to the light prompt. Which dreams they experience will not dictate their initial sect affiliation.
Is it possible to pull another character back from the end of the light or darkness dreams?
Yes! If your character is able to resist the pull of either end, they will have the chance to try to pull another character back from the edge of the abyss or the edge of oneness. Whether or not they succeed is entirely up to the other character, though.
Do you come out of the chrysalis wet?
For most intents and purposes it's the same experience as hatching out of a real butterfly chrysalis, so yes, a bit.
How does attunement to the Pleroma or Kenoma work for new characters?
More information about sect attunements can be read on their dedicated info page, but in summary: when new characters are brought to Horos, they will be in the state of being "Untouched" meaning they are not attuned to either sect. By the end of their first month in game it is expected they will either attune to Pleroma or Kenoma, though for those taken by the Kenoma's forces, the transition will be forced within the first few days. If taken in by the Pleroma, it may take then some time to attune to Pleroma, depending on the strength of their spirit, but it could also happen almost instantly if they are allowed to. How quickly it happens will depend on how strongly they align with the Pleroma's traits. Characters who have been taken by the Pleroma but that remain Untouched will not be allowed into Greentruth until their attunement to Pleroma is complete.
Can a character taken by one side end up attuning to the sect of the opposite one?
This is theoretically possible, yes: a person taken by the Kenoma could potentially resist the Kenoma's call, and someone taken by the Pleroma could end up falling to the Kenoma while staying with them. Generally, though, we recommend that you have your character be taken by whichever sect you want to end up in, as doing a switcheroo will cause narrative complications that might bog their introduction down in plotting that will need to be done with the mods. It can happen, but it is not to be done lightly!
no subject
She thinks optimistically that he could be addressing any of the other Naked and Afraid individuals hiding out amongst the crystals — though her body feels thoroughly pessimistic in that it's frozen up like a trembling rabbit trying to melt into the dirt.
In the end, the venn diagram of her body and mind settle peaceably on her quietly staying put behind a chunk of crystal. She doesn't know where she is or why anyone would want to collect her, but when in doubt, stranger danger. ]
no subject
Too bad for Gray, the person on her trail isn't so easily dissuaded. There might be no sound now but the cave isn't that large. There's time enough to make a quick circuit around all the geodes scattered throughout, some broken and others intact. His shoes click against the stone floor as he sweeps his gaze left and right. Most of them are empty, surrounded by nothing by shards of crystalline glass. One of them, however...
He looks down at the small body tucked behind the last one, and then averts his gaze, because sometimes he can show a single ounce of courtesy. ]
I'm not here to hurt you. [ Hopefully. Depends on how she reacts. ] I'm here to take you someplace [ hmmmmmmmmm is safer really the right word to use ] warmer. With food and clothes.
[ Technically not a lie. ]
no subject
She remains quietly hunkered down, hoping that the man will give up, and inches quietly around her large chunk of crystal in an attempt to keep herself out of his line of sight. But inevitably, the footsteps make their way to her hiding spot; she's holding her breath when the man's voice suddenly comes from above, and she flinches at the sound even as she automatically turns her face away, not even managing to glimpse the man's face.
She should be grateful that he isn't trying to forcefully handle her. Despite his blunt wording, it would seem he's genuinely trying to assist her. Her cognition of that fact has nothing to do with the simple truth that she isn't very good with strangers in the best of times, let alone this especially bad time. She struggles to manage a soft reply. ]
Why...? Who are you?
[ She knows well not to trust that people are well-intentioned... Not that she'll have much say in the current matter either way. ]
no subject
It leaves a bad taste in his mouth, though he'd be lying if he said anything he's done for the Regent leaves him feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Slowly, he crouches down, putting himself more at eye level with her as he rummages through the pack he'd brought before pulling out a cloak and offering it to her, trying to temper his voice as he does so. ]
Here. Put something on before you catch a cold. I'll answer your questions as much as I can after that.
[ Notably, he has not answered the first two questions she's asked of him. ]
no subject
After numbly finding the edges of the material, she throws the cloak over herself, immediately drawing its hood as low as it will go on her head. He's already seen her face, so trying to conceal it now will make little difference; at this point, it's an action purely for her own benefit.
After a stretch of silence to give her nerves a chance to cool and the cloth to warm her body, she finally hazards a look at her savior(?). Her immediate impression... is that he looks shady. But the fact that he's thought to lower himself to match her meager five feet in height suggests that he's trying in his own way. Though... his eye(s) being in such a direct line of sight makes her uncomfortable in a different way.
Next she notices the massive pair of fluffy ears on his head, her eyes widening as they linger there for a bit longer. But she's seen all kinds of strange people with strange features, so she refrains from commenting. ]
... Thank you.
[ Her hood bobs gently with gratitude, and she finally straightens to not-quite her full height. ]
Are you... part of a rescue group?
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Eustace is probably the worst choice out of every Kenoma in existence to put on a PR recruitment team, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He doesn't have the charm to sugarcoat his words or even the desire to lie outright, which means that trying to convince anyone to join a mysterious ruler with dubious goals is a monumental uphill battle.
There's always brute force, but he would really prefer not to go that route if at all possible.
He's quiet for a moment as he contemplates a reply, hands busy with lifting up his pack though he doesn't sling it back onto his shoulder just yet. ]
Something like that.
[ Shady. ]
The Regent [ double shady ] has sent us out in search of new Aions. [ That's you, Gray! ] I'm here to escort you back to the Citadel, where you can rest and get settled in.
[ And drink some black goo but uhhhhhh let's save that part for later. ]
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Anyway that all sounds like a bunch of gibberish to her, so he's actually the worst at this welcoming newcomers thing, but the gist of it is that he's meant to take her to a place that isn't here. Her options are limited, so she doesn't see much reason to refuse. On Earth, when you get stranded in the middle of nowhere, you head for the nearest sign of civilization. It only follows that she should do the same here. ]
... Okay. Thank you for taking care of me.
[ She's trusting you on this bro!! She looks up at him attentively, ready to follow when he's ready. ]
And by Aion, you mean...?
[ She's thinking of "aeon," a word she's heard in passing at the Clock Tower. It doesn't make much sense in this context though, surely(!!). ]
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Still, he can recognize an opportunity when handed to him on a silver platter like this one, and he knows better than to dump it in the trash despite his misgivings. Is there a possibility that this is all an act, a ploy to get him to lower his guard so she can knock him out later and make a run for it? Sure, but he wants to believe otherwise.
With a small nod of his head towards the cave entrance, a silent follow me, he leads the way out, legs moving slower than normal to afford her the chance to keep up. ]
It's what you and I are, now. [ He still doesn't understand the full specifics of it himself, but he offers up what he can. ] Not quite human anymore [ if she even was one to begin with ] and with the potential to gain new skills and abilities. There should be a piece of crystal somewhere on your body. That's what marks you as an Aion.
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It does occur to her to check for the crystal he speaks of. Her cloak flutters amorphously as she pats herself down underneath — and indeed manages to find a small crystal harmlessly embedded in her skin. She leaves it there for now because ?? is something going to happen if she pulls it out? ]
If you were sent to find new Aions like me... then am I correct in thinking that the Regent intends to use us for our new abilities?
[ She was ignorant of this until only a short while ago, but she's now aware of the danger in the word politics. If a regent is looking to accumulate powerful individuals, then she can only assume it isn't to offer them free food and housing and cheerfully send them on their way. ]
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The least he can do is prepare her for it. ]
Yes. [ Sorry, Gray. ] But you'll be provided with every necessity you'll need and freedom to do as you please, as long you follow the Regent's orders when asked.
[ The one catch to an otherwise decent deal.
It's not a long trek past the entrance of the cave and to an empty patch of field, dotted with flowers. He crouches down, pulling out the necessary materials required for the teleportation spell, along with a small pendant that he tosses to her. Catch!
Conversation is absolutely not his strong suit, as we all know, but they've got ten minutes before the spell finishes charging, and he's not keen on leaving her with the impression that all she is now is a weapon to be used as part of this ongoing war. (Even if, again, that's kind of what they all are.)
Maybe he can try to #relate. Somehow. ]
What's your name?
[
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She blinks at the scenery before them as they emerge from the cave, greenery and flowers all around. The atmosphere is remarkably tranquil in a way that reminds her of a church or shrine, but without the suffusive magical energy. And then realizing that she's paused for too long, she trots to catch up with the big-eared man.
When he throws the pendant at her, she catches it with perhaps surprising deftness and examines it curiously. Unaware that he's even trying to make an attempt at relating to her, she answers his question thoughtlessly. ]
... Gray.
[ Which is probably like naming your blonde child Yellow or your black-haired child Black, but she doesn't make the rules. And seeing how Eustace is the Leader at the moment, she doesn't ask for his name, not presuming that this is supposed to be a conversation rather than a necessary step in preparation for whatever it is he's doing over there. ]
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But, sure, fine, Gray it is for now. The proper thing to do in this scenario would be to give his name back like a nice normal polite person, but she didn't ask for it so unfortunately here we are. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Grabbing a nearby stick, he draws a small sigil in the dirt. ]
What did you do before this?
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I was... an apprentice to a teacher at a certain school. And also... I was a gravekeeper.
[ She still is one, she supposes, even if the all-important tool she needs for the work is now gone. Her mentor defined her role as an apprentice and Add defined her as a gravekeeper; absent them both, what's left of her? ]
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Rising to his feet, he scans the perimeter, trying to see if he can spot any movement that doesn't belong to a stray bird or a food-hungry squirrel. ]
Did you enjoy it?
[ The apprenticeship? The gravekeeping?? Who knows. ]
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As for his question, she assumes he means the gravekeeping since she said it last?? ]
... I've been a gravekeeper for as long as I can remember, so I can't say if it's enjoyable or not. Though I don't think I would call it particularly fun...
[ Who would? Gravekeeping may in fact be the exact opposite of a fun time. ]
Um, if I may ask, sir... Do you believe in ghosts?
[ If he is in fact engaged with magecraft, then she imagines he must. If not, then maybe this marking in the dirt serves some other purpose...? ]
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Truthfully her answer sounds like kind of a copout. Surely a person should know if they enjoy something or not, even if they've been doing it their entire lives? Not that it really matters now; there'll be plenty of time for her to explore new opportunities, for better or worse.
At least her question is easy to answer. ]
I do. I traveled with one briefly.
[ Though he'd never personally spoken to her before and had only snooped on her (very kawaii) ghosty pets.... ]
Why?
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[ It's a very soft shout... but for her, it's an extraordinary outburst.
Immediately reddening with regret and embarrassment, she ducks her head under her hood. The reason for her shock is more of a personal one, in that she could never personally imagine spending that much time with a ghost... because she's terrified of them.
Of course, admitting that right after saying she's a gravekeeper would be the height of shamefulness. Her hood gently wavers left then right as she flounders for a detour around that particular admission. ]
W-Well, not everyone believes that ghosts exist, so that makes it easier to explain... but an important aspect of gravekeeping is the management of ghosts. That is... their extermination.
[ Sorry, kawaii ghosty pets... ]
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He stares at Gray with some skepticism, brows pulling together as his ears twitch violently at the (not really) shout. Is she alarmed because ghosts aren't meant to be real, or for some other reason entirely? Hard to tell when she keeps her whole body curled in as she does. ]
For a short time.
[ In truth, he'd barely gotten more than two glimpses of the ghost that supposedly travels aboard the Grandcypher, too busy with his own work to mingle with the rest of the crew. And he definitely hasn't seen any ghosts in Achamoth yet, though he's never been attuned to that sort of thing to start with. Maybe this girl will be able to spot them once they get back. Or maybe it's for the best if she doesn't? She doesn't seem all that enthused about....extermination. ]
You won't need to exterminate any ghosts here. [ Just people, nbd. ] Though if you're inclined to continue your gravekeeping work, I'm sure you could find a position.
[ Does she like it? Does she not??? Should he find a flower and pick off its petals for an answer (no)? ]
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After a somewhat awkward pause, she decides to change the subject....... ]
... What is the Regent like?
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It's fine though, and truthfully the silence isn't so awkward. After ten years of awkward silences they start to feel comforting. If nothing else, they're a way to pass the time before the teleportation spell finishes.
Her (awkward) pause is met by his (thoughtful) pause as he mulls over how to best describe the Regent. His gazes bores into the ground, seeing the Regent in his mind instead of the actual dirt in front of him. ]
....Unpredictable. Generous. Impenetrable. [ He is doing such a good job of describing Gray's soon-to-be boss. ] As long as you don't anger them and do as you're told, you shouldn't run into any trouble with them.
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And if you do anger them?
[ Not that she plans on ever doing so, but sometimes you mess up in spite of your best intentions. ]
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Given the near god-like tier everyone in Achamoth seems to place the Regent on, he really would have expected worse. ]
It depends on the severity and their mood at the time.
[ He glances her way momentarily, frowning. ]
You shouldn't be in any danger though.
[ Trying to imagine this meek girl angering the Regent is like imagining a small field mouse scampering up to him and then swallowing him whole. Possible, but highly unlikely. But he supposes he'll find out once they arrive. Which, judging from the looks of things, should be soon. Standing back up, he adjusts the pack more tightly onto his shoulders. ]
We're be heading to the Citadel now.
[ .......
..............................
................... ]
Have you done any sort of teleportation before?
[ Does she need her hand (literally) held? ]
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She stands there placidly after Eustace's announcement that they're headed to the Citadel, waiting for some mysterious transportation to show up or for him to start hiking out to lead the way... so when he suddenly mentions teleportation, she startles and looks wide-eyed at him. ]
Eh? Teleportation? But that's...
[ Impossible, she wants to say. According to what little she's learned at the Clock Tower, teleportation is in the realm of true magic and therefore impossible for mages of the current era. But, she chastises herself, it's not like this is the world she knows. She may have to start from zero and rethink all of what she thinks she knows... yet again.
Her hood shakes from side to side. ]
No, never. I'm not a magus, so...
[ She trails off as if that's self-explanatory....... maybe it is, maybe it isn't. ]
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He's not sure what being a magus has to do with teleportation specifically, but the denial's all that matters to him at the moment. All this magic stuff he can ask about later, if everything else goes smoothly. For now, he takes in the bow of her head and the hand still clutched around the cloak.
There's a prolonged moment of heated internal debate before he sticks out one hand towards her, palm facing up. ]
Here.
[ Now the question is, will she actually understand his meaning and take his hand? (Who would understand a request phrased like that, tbh.) Please do not make him ask to hold her hand out loud. ]
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Hopefully that's enough contact for the spell....... ]
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