TDM #3

[aionmods]

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.

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.

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!

Comments

kotetsu t. kaburagi • tiger & bunny

[wildrawr]

dreaming .

(703): how can people commit suicide
when things like bagels exist

---

Something is wrong. This isn't the type of dream Kotetsu's mind would ever come up with on its own and it's no doubt an eerie and frightening scenario to be in. The fact he recalls over time the longer he's here what he was last doing before this dream and it not being going to sleep is further disconcerting even if he doesn't quite understand why. Surely he just ate something bad, and this is the nightmarish result of ignoring his partner warning him not to eat that fish that looked a little off at the restaurant because it's fine, no one would just serve their customers questionable food regardless versus tossing it and remaking the dish. Right?

So why does it feel like he's dead, and despite him being the 'dead' one, that his home and his family and friends no longer live or exist, as well? Kotetsu walks, and when he finally reaches the split between the center or the outside, he immediately turns towards the light at the center, not even giving the darkness a moment of his attention. Why should he? If he wants to leave this strange place, clearly the light means its an exit rather than sinking deeper.

Once at the center, however, it's not what he expects. He stands in it, eyes wide as he listens and watches. Things he's known and things he has not. Flashes of familiar faces and events he's been a part of and flashes of those he's never seen before in situations he's never once has had. Despite the welcoming, enveloping, and nurturing feeling of getting him that the light gives off, that sense of oneness and inclusivity makes him suddenly hesitate to say he is off course still alive. Maybe he really is dead? Maybe everyone else had gone in ahead of him, even ...? Although the idea of his world being gone is unacceptable and something he will soon reject as being permanent, for that time in the light it feels as if that doesn't matter. Surely if he's in the light here, then he'll be reunited with the ones most precious to him if they are no longer. Surely, he'll find Tomoe and Kaede waiting for him and everything will be fine—

Without realizing it, tears sting at his eyes, and he jerks back upon blinking and feeling the strange sensation of the liquid running down his cheeks. What... what the hell is really going on here, anyway? Although others around him seem to be in different states of emotion and confidence, none of them give Kotetsu the impression they are any better off understanding what all this is. Nevertheless, he scans every single person until he'll eventually find someone that lacks the sense of obliviousness present him and many others. Even if they look no better with answers, they at least seem much more familiar with the situation at hand.

He'll approach them, his brow creased in slight apprehension. Isn't this a dream? Why is he bothering, it's not going to be information that isn't in his head already, right?

"... Er... excuse me, but do you know what this place is? Haha, I mean, Iiii'mmmmm preettttyyy sure I just ate some... slightly off fish—thatabsolutelywasn'tthecook'sfaultoranything— and I'll wake up sick as a dog soon enough. But...! It couldn't hurt to confirm that by asking a figment of my imagination what's going on, right?"

Ah heh.

---

rebirth champion shrine .

(451): this is a mass text.
does anyone know where I am?

---

The ending to that "dream" was ultimately more like a nightmare to Kotetsu, if anyone would ask him for his opinion about it, but somehow finally waking up isn't the relief it should be. It's not that's he's sick as expected, but apparently experiencing a much crazier situation? Not knowing what's going on or where he is and why, he'll struggle bit by bit to get out. He is nothing but persistent, for better or worse, and so no matter how difficult it is to move, he will continuously try without faltering to escape this strange imprisonment. Again, again, and again never once panicking or wondering if it's hopeless—until the 'cage' he's been imprisoned in gives.

That's why once he breaks out, he gives himself a silent but we'll deserved mental pat on the back (which he would have done physically if he didn't feel so damn weak still) before glancing down to himself dripping in... something unpleasant. Naked isn't great either, but it's definitely second to the sticky goo. A drawn out whine escapes him as he groans and tips over to one side as he attempts to gain his bearings. "Awh, man, what gives? What kind of crazy kidnappers abduct an innocent guy like me and then take all my stuff! I know my fashion sense is awesome, but isn't this overkill?

"And... why the hell am I in a cave like this? What the heck kind of stunt are these crazy hillbilly criminals tryin' to pull!"

He'll just stay there for a few moments now starting in his own annoyance, staring off and frowning at the sight of his crystal cocoon, before finally realizing he may not be alone.

"... Hey. ...Hey! Anyone there? Are you all right? Did they steal your stuff, too? Is this some kind of fashion fiend heist?"

---

return pleroma .

(443): we just walked into this party
and immediately got handed
a grilled cheese sandwich...

---

"This sure is bad..." Kotetsu laments, staring up dumbfounded at the ocean above them. "Like, really reaaaaaalllyyyy baaaadd.... and why isn't anyone else concerned this whole thing might come crashing down on us any minute?! What part of any of this area looks safe for tourists?? There's not even a little bit of standard building safety practices happening up there. Come on, guys, are we trying to get sued here or what?"

Yeah, so. Now that he's somewhat been given the lowdown that they weren't all just kidnapped for their clothes to be stolen for some some nefarious matter plot, Kotetsu doesn't seem very convinced about the whole good vs evil war stuff being anything more than an elaborate tourist attraction.

Still, maybe deep down he felt a tiny sense of doubt in his conclusions because there's no way this can be anything but real, he made sure to pick the tour guide that was obviously going to take him to the 'hero side' of things?

No, it's nothing like that at all. He fights criminals all the time, why would he want to see the bad guys lairs when he has to go to those regularly anyway? This 'Pleroma' (did they need a fancy name like that, can't they just used the tried and true heros and criminals?) was clearly the better side of the attraction—

—and if somehow it actually wasn't?

It's fine, Kotetsu is a professional hero and can submit the proper feedback to make it all better. Piece of cake, that's why he was brought here, right? To give his professional and valued feedback!

He's looking around now, though, wondering when the tour guide is coming back (or maybe he's getting a new one to be gathered into a group tour?).

Either way, he's going to eventually flag someone down.

"Hey ... uh, can I speak to your management team? I've been waiting here almost half an hour for the tour to start, and if my little girl were here right now she'd definitely find this hero base tour really not cool. And you and I both know being in the hero-type business that kids her age always know what they're talking about when it comes to superhero stuff, ahaha. Also, your yelp! reviews are going to be toast if this a sign of things to come. So...!"

Yeah, so what gives with your short staff when it's only a private showing of the attraction on top of the set being a walking safety disaster entry, anyway?

---

wildcard. .

(732): I find it simply astounding
you spelled drunken wrong
but pterodactyl right

---

( anything, anytime, anywhere. ♥

also brackets or prose are equally welcome, I'm just on mobile right now, and it was easier for prose for this tl. I'm really late too and apologize. )

returned

[leicesters]

Claude's been fascinated by the ocean over their heads for his own reasons, but he's much less concerned about anything like tourists (?) or safety regulations (???) so much as the magical theory behind whatever invisible barrier or structure is holding the whole thing up. It's all a bit beyond him, and he's deep in thought when another newbie approaches him.

And starts rambling. And rambling. Claude barely understands half of it, the teenager looking increasingly perplexed, before he finally has to speak up.

"Whoa whoa whoa there, dad guy. I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm literally not in charge of any of this," he says, shaking his head. "Can you, uh-- try to calm down? Deep breaths?"

[wildrawr]

"This is absolutely my calm face, what are you talking about... ...'son guy.'"

No, actually it's a fair observation by the teenager. He is rambling because rambling lets him not have the time to think on things such as how it really actually makes less sense that this whole thing is an elaborate performance rather than actually what it appears to be. It's too out there to be fake; afterall truth is stranger than fiction.

Not to mention the dream and the fact he woke up in a gooey crystal that was like some of those chewy candies back home with liquid sugar in the middle instead of with his head in the toilet. Though he couldn't access his powers back in that shrine, either (a kind of cave he's never seen before, mind you, despite growing up in a rural little town full of forests and mountains and plenty of cave types) it doesn't click with him since he's basically a defunct NEXT with a now usual timer of one minute for his super power—which can also be seen as practically zero.

He's little more than a guy past his prime with a refusal to give up when giving up is probably the best thing to do.

Still, he'll change the subject... sort of, anyway. His real goal is to not keep rambling in order to shake this teen off his scent. Don't perceive him, he's a Mystery with a capital 'M' okay. "Well, if you're not in charge, do you at least know someone who is charge ... of any of this place. Like even a little tiny bit?"

[leicesters]

The 'son guy' comeback makes literally no sense, but he won't point that out, just watching him with a raised eyebrow and an amused glint in his green eyes. OK boomer...

"I don't think anyone is really 'in charge', as such. The group seems to be a loosely organised collection of rebels. But there are some people who have been here longer than you or I, so you should speak to them. For example... a guy called Thoma brought me here. Red hair, makes great rice balls. Nice guy."

Claude would point him out, but people are coming and going all the time with new arrivals or to do more scouting, and he can't pick him out immediately, so...

"Ask around and I'm sure you'll find someone. Just relax."

[wildrawr]

"You got free food? Damn it, I never get the generous ones," he complains, immediately that somehow becoming the momentary focus.

Also, something something about rebels was in there, too. What do rebels have to do with anything?
Oh, right, forget the lack of equal service here, this must be the other taking his star role in this thing really seriously.

"Come on, is this your first day working a LARP attraction that you can't tell the difference in what I'm asking here, kid? I don't need setting details for my custom adventure from a smooth talking fantasy hero protagonist; I need the nonfiction people behind the scenes that are in charge; not 'in character.'"

There's a pause as he assesses the other's reaction, but as soon as as it's obvious it's not clicking, he adds (almost a little desperately) "Come on... you know, like the ones that actually pay you so you can buy that MMORPG on the newest console out there that you based your personal here off of...? And if you're not getting paid, by the way, file a complaint to the labor board right away. Child labor is illegal no matter how 'fun' the job is."

[leicesters]

There's a long stretch of time where Claude just listens to him with an expression that's getting flatter by the second. He still doesn't understand most of that, except for the part about a fantasy protagonist and nonfiction-- ah, right.

"Listen. This isn't a novel, or whatever you're going on about. This is real, okay? The sooner you accept it, the easier this'll go for you."

He kind of feels sorry for him, actually, and his blunt response is coming from a place of sympathy. It's not surprising someone might want to delude themselves in a crazy scenario like this. Claude's only taking it so well because keeping a cool head in a crisis is what makes a leader worth their position; this is the sort of thing he's studied and trained for.

"If you're anything like me, you had a dream, you woke up in a crystal, and then someone brought you here, right? Didn't they have the decency to explain anything to you, or did they just ditch you?"

dreaming

[undertheweight]

The human has brass ones, Wrathion will give him that. The dragon leans his head down to blink crimson eyes at this man, muzzle twitching with the desire to laugh. Bad fish, is he? A figment?

Well. This is a dream. Or so he thinks. Strange enough to him because he does not often sleep, much less dream--that is the realm of his 'aunt' Ysera, and at times, the less he deals with the other Dragonflights, the happier he is. Though there's not the animosity between him and the green flight as there is between him and the Dragonqueen's red one.

But that's neither here nor there.

"I'm not entirely certain. I think it's a dream? But it's unusually vivid and...if I'm honest, concerning. Are you all right?"

Wrathion's noticed the tears, but he'd hate if he cried and someone called him out it, so he'll just...adhere to the code of not noticing until Kaburagi mentions it himself.

1/3

[wildrawr]

Hm.

Yeah, that's a pretty valid answer. A dream most definitely.

Especially when the bad fish is a giant dragon that speaks in a language he can absolutely understand.

2/3

[wildrawr]

—no, okay this is actually a really bad fish because if this was his dream (forget that everything is absolutely foreign with not even a tiny bit of familiarity to the inner recesses of his mind) because obviously he would dream of being informed by a giant winged bunny before coming up with a dragon as the messenger.

"Well, I thought it wasn't a big deal, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe I really should have stopped chewing and spit that fish out like Bunny said. Now I'm never gonna hear the end of it.

"You see...it's just I'm definitely a tiger guy in the whole tiger versus dragon rivalry, you know?"

So this individual he's talking to should be a tiger. Or again, a giant bunny beating him senseless by hopping on him while repeating in a strange variant of Barnaby's voice I told you so.

3/3

[wildrawr]

WAIT.

Could this be not a dream, or at least not one that his head has made up? Like one of be those dream seances perks talk about our something? Aka not a bad fish or even a really bad fish even?

"... Hold it, if you're part of my imagination, why are you asking me if I'm all right? Also, you're not even an Eastern Dragon...! And you're definitely speaking a different language from what I would use in my own dreams."

Uh oh uh oh!!!

[undertheweight]

There's a lot to unpack, there. Luckily for Wrathion, if this is a dream, they've got time.

First, of course: "What's an Eastern dragon? Where I'm from, there are just dragons. East, west, it doesn't matter." (Because, of course, to him, this is the most important.)

Second, with a great deal of amusement: "Tiger/dragon rivalry? Well. You don't look much like a tiger to me. And the fact that there's a rivalry is also news to me. I'm not sure tigers would be on the winning side, if there were." Luckily for Kaburagi, Wrathion's not at all serious, here. Most others in the Black Dragonflight would be. Were they alive to be so, that is. (Ebyssian might still be amused.)

And the third part? Wrathion just arches a brow. Now that he concentrates, he can tell this human isn't speaking a language he's familiar with either, but that doesn't particularly matter to him.

"Perhaps that's because of this place? Does it truly matter? Would you rather I not understand your words, and either leave you in the dark, or mistake you for a snack?"

Really, Wrathion wouldn't do the latter, but it was just the type of thing most expected from dragons in general, and especially those of his flight. Why disappoint?

[wildrawr]

"..."

Hm. This is no good. How is he supposed to explain this succinctly?

Okay, Kotetsu knows he can fix this. First things first!

"Look, give me a minute here and we'll clear this misunderstanding right up." Lucky for them both Kotetsu has a pen and a small notepad to explain this in perfect detail to Wrathion.

He starts scribbling with the pen, and after a few moments flips to the next page and repeats the process. After he's done he holds the pad up so Wrathion can get a good look at the first sheet:


"This here is an Eastern Dragon. Long body, whiskers, antlers, fluffy mane and tail. Floats or flies without wings and is depicted in legends as a benevolent hero type creature and bringers of good fortune."

Kotetsu then flips the sheet up to reveal the one below it in the notepad:


"This is you. A western dragon. Big wings, horns, hard-scaled body, breathes fire and usually seen setting things on fire as well, and also murdering lots of villagers. Western dragons are depicted in legends as downright terrorists and security deposit destroyers."

After another moment he'll lower the pad and look expectantly at Wrathion. "We're good on that part, now, right? So I can answer the next question? Or do you have more questions about this for me?"

[undertheweight]

Wrathion's expression...is no longer amused. He's not precisely pushed over to angry yet (though there is some, bubbling beneath the surface, he has tried so damned hard to not be seen as a stereotype, not be painted with the brush of the entire maddened Black Dragonflight before he personally cleansed it--by murdering his family entire, even! Save for Ebyssian...), but he's no longer jovial. Not by a long shot.

He inhales slowly. It's a calming breath, at least, not a preparation for his breath weapon.

"That is the worst portrait anyone has ever made of me, and the worst rendering of the Pandarian dragons I have ever seen. An accomplishment. To say nothing of the departure from how things actually are, where I'm from..."

Though, okay, before he cleansed it, Wrathion will grant that his dragonflight was no better than Kaburagi has said. Emphasis on the former more than the latter.

rebirth;

[subjugate]

[ Someone somewhere had summoned him from his slumber once more, a being with no intent on showing their face, and rather than spend his time after being awakened piteously searching for them, instead, Ozymandias is examining each shrine for the most adequate one to turn into a temple for himself.

...Thus far, they are all deeply inadequate.

Cold caverns, full of dull crystallized decorations, damp, dark, foul. It would be better to destroy them all and build temples truly reflective of his splendor in their place, but it seems he might eventually have to find said master because his mana is severely lacking at the moment.

Is it this fool who's decided to approach him without prostrating himself? Surely, he would not choose to greet him so recklessly if he values his life. Ozymandias is also certain he'd feel it if there were some deeper connection between the two of them. ]

You dare boldly walk in my line of sight while I'm in the midst of planning my first feat in this new world? Are you so fond of making mistakes that you'd intentionally make this your last one?

[ How else would he learn best not to break Ozymandias' concentration when he's having Deep Thoughts? ]

[wildrawr]

[ oh man, who is this guy with the nice tits making a weird fuss like he's god's gift of the very sun? What is he even saying? None of that is even remotely related to what Kotetsu was asking about, which means Kotetsu kind of just tunes him out. Mostly. ]

Actually, pal, I think you've got it the other way around. I'm pretty sure I've been here in this spot longer than you have been in yours. Which means, I didn't make a mistake because I haven't moved ... So that sounds like a you problem.

... And whaddya mean planning your first feat?

[subjugate]

[ Only one of them is allowed to be loud, brash, and talkative, and it is not Kotetsu. He narrows his eyes before remembering how ill-equipped he is at the moment to show him his might. Being stripped of his magecraft is inconvenient, and even his cane had been absent from his person upon arrival, robbing him of the chance to bring it down on this miscreant's head.

In lieu of that, he has the sheer intensity of his naked aura with which to intimidate this man, which he's sure is manifesting itself around him with overwhelming brilliance as they speak, but he does deign to answer the question because it's an important one. ]

Did you not know that all worlds have rotted at the core? Why else would I be summoned if not to be their savior and their savlation? Destruction and rebirth and destruction and rebirth– this one stands on its last legs, and upon its ashes will I rebuild my new kingdom.

[ It's the only suitable conclusion for why he's here at all. Nothing less than that would require his attention. ]

[wildrawr]

[ big stupid loudmouths: there can only be one. ]

Uh, actually, yeah, I guess I do at least get the feeling something like that is the case, but... you're saying you're here to be a hero?

[ or is it that he's just gonna build a new world after getting rid of the old one. Hard to tell at this point for Kotetsu.

any actual brilliance being had around Ozymandias isn't really clicking as being anything but stage effects, sadly, especially since he can't even possibly sense any powers at all without his NEXT abilities.

It's okay, though, what he can still sense is some real suffocating arrogance. ]

[subjugate]

[ Such a simple-minded creature. Ozymandias can't even fully begrudge him his own ignorance, as it's clear the man was born without the blessing of the gods. ]

Not just a hero. A king! A god amongst men! A guiding light to lead the lost and unfound!

[ By now, every sea, land, and air creature within a certain radius has run away due to the sudden increase of volume in his voice, but Ozymandias had a very important point to make. He would see to it that this man would make no similar error in the future when addressing him. ]

Don't stand there looking so dumbfounded. You may finally bow at last. I do show mercy to the repentant.

[ He'll be waiting. ]

Rebirth

[tohell]

[ Being over seven feet tall, sporting two wings and some massive paws, J isn't always the most silent of creatures. There's bound to be a noise here or there as he makes his way through the shrine of the Champion, towards Kotetsu's own unique brand of racket.

From the sound of things, it seems like he came right in time to try and pick up one of the new recruits. This in mind, the demon plans on making his customary spiel as one of the Kenoma's official Welcome Wagon volunteers. Only to get slapped in the face with that gross accusation.

Hope you enjoy being jump scared by a three-eyed, horned demon, Kotetsu. Because J seemingly pops up out of nowhere from behind him, to lean over the top part of his crystal shell with a dour expression. ]

Well, hello to you too, Mr. Midlife Crisis. [ Since we're giving each other pet-names, there's one for you too. ]

Do you always start slinging rude accusations around, straight off the bat, or do you shake it up sometimes and meet people face-to-face before you start bad-mouthing them? [ Someone took that Hillbilly quip real personally. ]

[wildrawr]

[ ... Did he say hillbilly?

Haha, ha. Clearly he meant .... Something else. Uhm.

Hm.

So, afterall there is an excellent reason for being totally naked, he understands it now. He's glad his kidnappers thought this through.

It's so he doesn't piss his pants after this reveal. Maybe they're really not such bad people at all.

Unfortunately for J (or fortunately?), Kotetsu is absolutely terrified and even goes slightly airborne in an attempt to scramble away despite not even being on his feet. There's a brief scream from the very depths of his soul vocal cords, although that might be more from being totally startled and/or also caught in the buff by someone not suffering the same humiliation. Even if the other had made noise approaching, this is absolutely nothing like he expected to come face to face with. Which was... well, a hillbilly. A small hillbilly. Maybe at worst something like an ewok... but less copyright infringing.

...Oh, wait. He's talking to him still and asking him a question? Kotetsu hasn't been eaten or gotten soul harvested yet? That means he's overreacting, and he's being a sterotypist assuming the worse of J, especially with him already insulted! Clearly...

An awkward and nervous laugh escapes Kotetsu before he jumps straight to tripping over his words courtesy of his mouth. ]

Ahaha! Oh!! T-that?! Y-yeah, wow, that— [ a whistle escapes him as if shocked by his own total dumbassery. ]

You know what, you're absolutely right, my bad. I'm a complete and total jackass, and I am absolutely going to put myself in time out for this when I get home.

In the meantime, let's start over again by your ... erm, very gracious mercy that you clearly have for lowly people like me?

Hi, I'm Kotetsu Kaburagi, and you... you clearly devilishly handsome... demon... are...?

[ aheh...wow, somehow it sounded way more flattering in his head, haha.

Also, maybe he should have said something particularly about the paws? The paws are actually kinda cute. he's not biased ok ]

returned

[dragon_rider]

"Management team...?" Hiccup's response was dubious at best - As if he's rolling the phrase around on his tongue to see if he can suss out the meaning. He can guess, but it's a laughable idea - but then coming from ye olde days where it was so much faster to sort things out with a sword or an axe... Management teams are about as foreign to him as almost everything else Kotetsu was saying. Seriously, what's a yelp and why should he care?

He's not sure he wants to know. Somewhat banged up from his coming-and-going into the shrine, part of him wonders if it's the right thing to do to stop and talk to the man who's clearly. Not all there, probably. "Yeah, okay," Hiccup exhaled, waving a hand before placing them on his hips with a raised brow. "Let's pretend I understand even half of what you're saying —"

"— Welcome to the Lodestone! Your one stop rest-and-relaxation resort after your birthing! You think it's bad? You didn't see the cave and 'management team' us first guys got! Why you're practically in paradise right now," Hiccup starts with all the flourish of an over-enthusiastic tour guide as he spreads his arms, "oh! We've got it all. You want a sight you'll not see anywhere else? Our underwater cavern allows you a birds eyes - or fish eye's - view of the aquatic life. Want to get up close to them? Just step on outside of our little safety bubble and you can swim right out!"

"Swimming isn't for you? Well, that's okay too, the second exit is for the little more adventurous at heart - let's go spelunking! You won't get lost. Probably. Now, we do recommend not running off to the suface - yet. There's food, courtesy of the hardworking resistance fighters of Horos. Some clothes if you're cold. No beds, but who really needs those, right? Take some time, get a load off, talk to some of your fellow new birthers!"

He resettles, arms landing on his hips once more after all the dips-and-waves of his explanation with a certain amount of wariness. "I'm going to regret asking this, but any other questions?"

[wildrawr]

For what it's worth, Kotetsu keeps an entirely straight face through the whole spiel Hiccup goes through, looking very much intent over what he's hearing. There's a moment of quiet once Hiccup finishes, the older man's hand coming to rub his chin thoughtfully to considering if he may indeed have any questions.

Finally, Kotetsu leans in just a little bit, sounding a bit cautious, like he knows this might not be the most polite thing to say to a stranger. Still, he's here to treat this place out, right? It would be wise to keep it to himself and the business endeavor potentially fail once open to the public. "While comprehensive for a resort welcome, don't you think it's just a little on the campy side?"

Apparently the whole preface about Hiccup not having any idea what Kotetsu's talking about went in one ear and out the other.

[dragon_rider]

Hiccup is not sure what he expects from the older man - In the silence that precedes his response it's only filled in the creak of his prosthetic as he shifts his weight. Something told him the man didn't quite get it, maybe in an obtuse way people avoided the reality of the situation. The way he leans in doggedly reminds him of the conspiratorial ways the twins used to do so and that was never a good sign.

He can't help but be more than a touch flabberghasted when Kotetsu does respond. "Wha—?!" Hiccup breathes out the exclamation, moving his arms outward in a gesture that could only be are you kidding me? Before shaking it off. "You do realize this isn't actually some vacation, don't you?" He finally states, quickly, "there are people right now that just arrived, like you. They're in very real danger, we all are."

"Whether you want to or not, that's a fact we all have to accept," he adds in - quieting from exasperation, "so rest up for now, because when we move out there won't be the time for it."

[wildrawr]

Kotetsu leans a little away from Hiccup at his exclamations, glancing off to one side awkwardly as he takes the chastising. Regardless of what is going through his head, he certainly hadn't intended to get the other so worked up and feels guilty now.

Once the boy calms down, he'll look back to him, contemplating what he can say here before speaking once more. This time, he's more hesitant and there's a clear sheepishness to his tone. He also avoids eye contact despite facing Hiccup.

"Uhh... so What exactly do you mean... 'Move out?'"

[dragon_rider]

"We don't actually live here," Hiccup responds just as evenly - In this case, choosing not to apologize for his response moments prior. With the way things are right now they all needed to understand how serious it was - The newbies have the luxury of not receiving the same treatment they did, but it would be too easy for it to have been.

He places his hands on his hips as he glances around. "We were introduced to this place last time new guys started appearing. It's a safe spot, kind of like a pit stop," he added, "I briefly mentioned it already, but once you leave here there's a city nearby - Godsblood. There's also another place, but you'll learn more about it than when you're ready."

He's not about to tell someone about Greentruth just yet - He knows better than that. He pauses, shrugs his shoulders, and lets his arms drop to his side. "No one's going to force you to fight," he advises, "but you need to know once you're up there they will be looking for you."