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TDM #3
TDM #3
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, this is something both sects have already prepared for. All characters will have the opportunity to acquire a 'returning stone' if they don't already have one. 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. More information about returning stones can be found on the powers page.
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 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. Compared to the last attempt, these troops are a bit better armored. Meanwhile, bolstered by recent events in Godsblood, bands of Resistance members and guerrilla fighters will turn up at the Artisan and Sovereign shrines. The Resistance members will work willingly alongside with the Pleroma Aions, but the guerrilla fighters seem to have their own priorities and that is mostly that they have a beef with the Achamites. These reinforcements will struggle against powered Aions, but they might be able to delay any troops sent by Achamoth or Hylici.
❖ KENOMA
Xishen will be handing out returning stones to all Kenoma the day after the dreams begin for the Aions that don't already have one. 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 minimal Achamite reinforcements. Due to injuries and death in both Godsblood and Venera, many are in recovery or on their return to Achamoth. She'll reiterate not to rely too heavily on them; after all, only the Aions are able to quickly move between the shrines and at the Citadel. The regular troops 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 be called to fill in the ranks of the diminished Achamite troops. They follow the orders that they are given but are very standoffish otherwise, even more than usual for them. Xishen herself says she will be traveling to the shrines and the Kenoma will be expected to communicate their movements to her as they work. 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 beginning of August. The shrines will be active and forming Aions during that time. The dreams will start around the 29th of July. 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 beginning of August. The shrines will be active and forming Aions during that time. The dreams will start around the 29th of July. 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
It's quite tempting to ask if Ryunosuke has a bottle of "pleroma" to give him by comparison, but he decides to keep his recognition to himself for now. It'll do much better for the two of them to explain than for him to make assumptions. ]
That is quite the accusation. [ He looks back to Kaeya with a small shrug ] I must admit, a slaver to a tyrant would certainly have much more reason to lie, would they not?
[ Though from his tone, he doesn't sound particularly convinced either way just yet. ]
So, if I may, what is "acclimating" supposed to mean, precisely?
no subject
without missing a beat, he addresses the most important thing first as he lifts his shoulders in a shrug: ]
What can I say? I love the name 'Sebastian'. If that's a crime, then you're more than welcome to put me in my place, Ryunosuke. Be my guest.
[ he knows ryunosuke enjoyed all those times he was made to call out kaeya's name as sebastian instead, because it definitely added to the whole drama of the encounter. it's too bad he can't have more fun with it anymore, but all good things must come to end, and even he can recognize that there are far more important things right now. ]
In any case, Ryunosuke has a penchant for dramatics. It's hard to be a slave to a tyrant when I chose to drink this vial myself. [ he levels ryunosuke with a steady gaze, as if daring him to ask for confirmation. ] It was my decision to become a part of the Kenoma.
[ this is the cold hard truth. ]
Ask anyone from the Pleroma and they'll all tell you that the Kenoma is going to give you nothing but pain, but it doesn't have to be that way. Accept it, and it simply becomes another source of strength. There's no need to go through all that agony if you don't resist.
no subject
Part of Ryunosuke DOES kind of want to take Kaeya up on his 'kind offer' and retaliate; a very, very fed up part of him that would like to give the guy just one firm punch to the jaw, just to give him something back for the trouble he's caused... But he won't. He's not going to risk starting a full on fight. Not after what happened last time.
Ryunosuke is notably much less reactive than he usually is, too, glaring stone-faced while Kaeya continues his little villain speech... Which is maybe going to be no fun at all for Kaeya, but them's the breaks, really. If you're going to constantly mess with a guy during every possible interaction you have with him, he's going to start catching on and stop giving you the reactions you want.
That, or maybe he's just really not in the mood to fuck around today.
The fact that Kaeya partook of the Kenoma of his own free will is... Well it's news to him, assuming that it's true. Which is a toss up really, Ryu doesn't know WHAT to believe with this guy anymore. It wouldn't have been much of a choice, after all, if he hadn't been given a better option at the time.
But this newcomer... He should at least be allowed to know what he's in for ahead of time.]
...It's strength that won't really be yours, though, will it? Because you'll be at the Regent's beck and call. You'll be made to terrorize innocent people and their families, and forced to do things you will have never dreamed of doing. [He shakes his head.] I'm not sure if I believe that the Kenoma is a force that's inherently evil at it's base, but something I do know... Is that as long as the Regent is in charge? It will only ever be used to do terrible things. Inflicting the very same suffering that they claim to wish to stop.
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Though it does make his being here feel all the stranger. If this Regent wanted his loyal service, he simply could have asked. Properly summoning him would have certainly given them much more than what he is at the moment, and he doubts that simply accepting the vial would bring him to heel more than a Contract would. Though in part, he can't really be that surprised. A proper summoning was costly, and anyone that knew that also tended to be the sort that would do whatever they could to try and get out of paying the fare. It's a little impressive that something had managed it, actually. ]
...I see.
[ He sounds suitably grave, then shakes his head as he looks between them, but his attention ends up settling more on Kaeya. He had chosen it, after all. ]
Then what does this Regent want? Did you accept their will for strength alone?
(1/2)
once the other is done talking, he just has to clap his hands. he knows it'll annoy him. ]
Bravo. I couldn't have said it better myself.
(2/2)
what does the regent want, exactly? he says it as plainly as he can: ]
... To remake the universe, because this, and all else, are beyond saving. Whatever suffering that happens to come along with that is an unfortunate consequence. While others will be quick to call the Regent a tyrant because of their methods, I see them as more... a pragmatic individual. The end, more often than not, justifies the means.
As for why I came to accept their will, [ despite all his misgivings, despite his ambivalence towards everything he just said prior, ] it wasn't because of the strength they offered. It was the guaranteed outcome. It simply made more sense to me to bet on what will inevitably lead to a result.
[ it doesn't matter if that outcome is the death of this universe either. ]
That, and I don't exactly get along with that guy.
[ sorry, ryu, but it's the truth. :) ]
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However, Ryunosuke actually keeps half his attention on Sebastian while Kaeya talks, and GOSH is it going to take him a while to get over his annoyance on hearing or thinking about that name, sorry Sebastian. He's observing mainly so he can kind of gauge the man's reactions to what the Kenoma is saying, since that's often more telling to him than the actual words being spoken. Stupid Kaeya drags his focus back 100% to him again by the end, though.]
...So glad to know that your personal dislike for me is such an important factor in your decision making.
[The tip of his tail keeps flicking back and forth like the pendulum of a clock, as he levels a weary look at Sebastian.]
Again, he's not misleading you on that... That is indeed the purported goal that the Regent has seen fit to drag everything and everyone into oblivion over. Although if I can offer my opinion, I have my doubts that they actually want to create anything once the destruction is done. [He looks pointedly at Kaeya again at this next point, though he's still addressing Sebastian:] My sense is that they've simply grown tired of existing, and in a despicable act of arrogance they've decided everyone else must go down with them.
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But also, he decides that he won't keep his preconceptions to himself after all. That goal is quite a bit grander that what he was expecting, but it also fits the concept as well. A bit too much for him to think of the name of the substance as just fanciful. ]
And if I may guess, there is a pleroma that seeks the opposite? At least with the interpretations I remember, it would likely be something along the lines of creating "heaven," or life eternal. The concepts go hand in hand, if nothing else.
[ He really is just guessing, considering he doesn't say "pleroma" like it's a proper noun (and honestly probably pronounces it a bit differently than they might expect). Of course a demon finds more than a little entertainment in being quite well-versed in religion. He'd call it a professional interest, really. It's also a useful one, since if he's right, honestly... What a bother. Being embroiled in such a conflict feels a little cliché, doesn't it? ]
...What sort of creature is this Regent? Who are they administering for?
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that said, his expression shifts into one of interest when it seems like sebastian knows more about the concepts than he originally assumed. ]
Ah, so you're aware of the Pleroma and the Kenoma? As I understand it, your interpretations of the Pleroma are correct; it stands for the renewal of life, for preservation. [ he knows ryunosuke will interject if he has anything to add. ] The two forces have been in opposition for as long as the cosmos has existed, but now the cycle has been disrupted, so the Regent seeks to correct its course.
[ he pauses, wondering how best to answer sebastian's follow-up question. ]
As for that, I'm afraid mere words will never be enough to encapsulate what sort of being the Regent is. It would be much better to meet them and see for yourself.
[ ... ]
Of course, that's something I'll leave up to you to decide. [ he glances at ryunosuke, and then at sebastian once more. ] What do you think? I'd say that's fair, right?
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The lack of alarm on Sebastian's face regarding any of the information shared about the Regent has him pretty worried. He'd kind of been banking on the inherent, well... Goodness of the newcomer to help make the pitch for him, but he's not really picking up any particularly strong feelings in either direction. And apathy is certainly more a Kenoma trademark, isn't it? Maybe he's relying too much on a hunch, but he just... Has a bad feeling about this.
Honestly, he feels sick to his stomach right now. Sick of hearing Kaeya talk about the Regent in such lofty and praising terms, sick of the assumptions being made... And he can't stop thinking about Abel and Himeka, and how they're probably suffering horribly while the three of them are standing here talking like this. If Estinien were here in his place, he wouldn't let this newcomer have a choice. He'd just take Kaeya out again and either the newcomer would leave willingly, or he'd take his shard back.
Ryunosuke has neither the power nor the will to take that tactic.
He ignores Kaeya's question for the moment and looks at Sebastian very seriously, putting every ounce of conviction he's got behind his words:]
The Pleroma just want to live. Personally speaking, I'd like to see this world last at least long enough that I can uncover the full truth of what's going on here, but beyond that... There aren't any lofty goals in mind such as what you've suggested. And if I can properly contextualize one of Mr. Kaeya's points: the Regent claims there is a cycle that has been disrupted, and that they're merely making a correction to it through their actions. But rather conveniently, no one else other than the Regent seems to have any idea what that actually means, or how true it actually is. Because they alone seem to have a stranglehold on all the relevant information regarding this world.
[He sighs again.]
It is your choice, sir. I... I won't interfere. I only ask you be aware that everything this fellow tells you is based off a carefully cultivated trickle of information that's been provided by a despot who has every reason to lie to their servants. If you value being able to think for yourself... I'd steer far clear of the Regent and their Citadel.
1/2... again...
[ He's really only familiar with them because he had been alive to read the original texts before they were destroyed for being heretical... He's suddenly quite glad that he had been bored enough in the 3rd century (or whenever, he actually doesn't quite remember exactly when) to flip through some of it.
Though naturally, trying to piece together more is set aside as Ryunosuke makes his plea, and for what it's worth, Sebastian listens quite seriously. He's certainly more calm than anyone should be in the face of such information, but it doesn't seem to be given any less attention or weight. It's information, after all, and that's valuable. It's why he looks a little surprised in the face of the clear conviction in Ryunosuke's words, as if he's guessed the assumption behind them, but it's incorrect. ]
...Why, I would like to know the full truth myself, naturally. I hope I did not give off an impression otherwise? There is much I need to learn, clearly, and so I am quite grateful for your perspective. My being here at all is an impossibility, so I have every reason to want to discover the truth myself.
[ It's said quite earnestly, and also exceedingly politely. ]
and SORRY????
So, please, do not take it personally. Your kindness is simply quite misplaced.
[ Sebastian looks back to Kaeya and gives a light nod that makes it clear that he's agreeing to the terms. He'd hold out his hand to take the vial, but considering the tension here, he feels that it might be unwise. His attention at least turns back to Ryunosuke, since by his own personal standards, he feels the good manners are at least worthy of being rewarded with an explanation, at least in part. ]
I would prefer it have been done properly, since skipping out on a bill is quite rude... But only shadow and darkness could ever call to me. If it asks me to be its slave and serve a despot, well.
[ He shrugs almost lazily, far too casually for what he's admitting. ]
It would not be the first time, to put it plainly.
sebastian is so good 😳
recruitment isn't finalized until the contents of the vial have been consumed, after all.
while the smile that graces his lips can come across as smug, it's more neutral than anything else. he finds it difficult to call this one a victory when it seems like sebastian would have chosen the kenoma either way, but he'll take his wins where he can. ]
Lovely. Then, I shall bring you back to the Citadel at once.
[ it would be easier to have sebastian drink the abyssal liquid now before returning, but considering ryunosuke is still here, then he'll spare the other man the trouble of witnessing what will happen next. he does, at the very least, send him a smile and a shrug, as if quietly saying, better luck next time, before offering sebastian a particular amulet. ]
If I can trouble you to put this on...
[ while the newcomer does that, he will keep an eye on the pleroma. just in case. he doubts ryunosuke is going to try his luck, but it never hurts to be too careful. ]
He is and lol RYU DID HIS BEST....
If this were a court case-- and let's be honest, he's kind of been approaching this as one, in a sense-- if they were coming up on a grim looking ending like this, he'd raise an objection. He'd keep fighting tooth and nail to keep the trial going until he managed to turn things around.
But they're not in court, are they? And he'd already given his word that he wouldn't interfere with Sebastian's choice, no matter what the man decided.
It's not like he has the power to intervene here anyway.
It would be wiser to just leave now, and he does consider doing just that for a moment. But, he's a 'see things through to the bitter end' sort of guy. He'll just stand here and frown with vague disapproval and worry, until they both vanish from sight.]
the curse of playing a shithead is that I FEEL SO BAD U DID GREAT RYU
And do pardon my manners, by the way. I've your name, so it is only fair you have mine.
[ He brings a hand to his chest as if in a gesture of sincerity, but it's more whim than anything else. Even though he could hardly call himself a butler anymore, he still found that the social rules of the position suited him. ]
Sebastian Michaelis. It is a pleasure, despite the circumstances.
[ But he truly had only wanted to give his name. Whatever he was choosing to follow, it would certainly make them enemies of a sort, wouldn't it? So for being fair or for his own amusement, it would be interesting to him either way. ]
[ ooc ; just to put it out there, I'm down to continue the thread with Sebastian and
""Sebastian""Kaeya if they would chat more or end it here, since it seems like a good stopping point! BUT THANK YALL EITHER WAY this was excellent and I'm honored by such a good thread on my humble lil tdm 🧎 ]