kenosooc | timeskip information extravaganza

IN SUMMARY...

The Advocate Oracle had all of the dear Shard-Bearers drifting off to sleep... And a deep sleep, as it turned out. As characters ventured through 31 worlds, time continued along without them, but much more than they might have expected. While the characters have the impression that they spent 15 and a half days venturing through these places and making their decisions that culminated in Zenith claiming the Advocate, when they awake in Kenos, 114 years have past...

So, obviously, there's been some changes.

The Advocate Oracle has gone to Zenith. (click me!)

Presented with the choice of preserving a dying world or releasing it, the predominant choice was "preserve" — the option that allowed the worlds to exist until their natural end. And an end it was, no matter the validation that these worlds had a chance to survive, or change their fate. The Advocate explains that what was observed by Shard-Bearers was the end, difficult and final as that was and that neither offered option correlated with "Meridian" or "Zenith". Instead, it sought to observe the reasoning behind those choices, and found that the principles of Zenith strongly backed both forms of vote. That the majority of participating Shard-Bearers sought a future for these worlds, at the core of their rationale.

However, the vote itself remains "preserve", and thus the worlds are left to their natural end. Uninformed and existing in their enclosed microcosm, not one world is able to stand against the appearance of Oblivion — and held in the embrace of the Advocate, the Shard-Bearers of Generation Sessu are able to finally see what must have happened to their own worlds. The tendrils of darkness that slither and pierce, crumbling fragmentary worlds into further fragments, into dust and debris and the remnants of life that quickly, mercilessly are snuffed out. Starlight winks out of the deep dark of space, as if large bites have been taken out of existence by a great maw. Preserved, the worlds become food for Oblivion.

Held aside, even the Advocate trembles around the Shard-Bearers it tests, as the darkness within the darkness twists its head and looks upon the distant Shard-Bearers. A great, spindly-limbed entity without expression or familiar shape slithers through reality, pursuing what it needs to sate its endless appetite — and against the lightless backdrop of its existence, the familiar shape of Cyrus Kokkinos stands atop an endless, black sea. His once-warm smile has emptied of its warmth, expression mild and cold as the depths of space as the thing wearing his form speaks: To those of You who sought to p̶̌͛r̸̈̋e̶͌̚ṡ̸̀e̵̾̑r̶̺͒v̵̛̾e̶̺͌, We t̶̄͊ĥ̴͐a̸̋nk you, . You have given Us a gift, a meal. The natural order continues, no matter what You do to deny it, change it, escape it, save anyone from it. What curious a̵̎́l̴̅̌ḽ̷͝î̵̈́ê̷̳s̴͒̕ you were, this time — normally, You resist and You destroy. It says, neutral of tone despite the words of intrigue. What does it mean, "resist" and "destroy"? The shape of Cyrus lifts a hand, and with that motion, the great void of Oblivion raises one spindly limb as if to reach out, to engulf the Advocate and all awaiting Shard-Bearers in the endless span of that palm — only, you wake up.

As stated, 114 years have passed in Kenos — and this isn't the first instance of time-based magic that some Shard-Bearers have come across. Some pertinent world lore that plays into this is the following:

The premise of the Iconoclast Oracle was, at its core, an alternative "ending" to Kenos: one where the Blight had developed unhindered by the combined power of Meridian and Zenith, resulting in the death of Kenos itself.
Upon the conclusion of this Oracle, the participating Shard-Bearers were returned to a period of time several months prior to the Blight's catastrophic spread, and several Shard-Bearers were swept into a past timeline on the Scorching Isles, wherein Aetós enclosed them in a time loop that allowed them to develop a cure.
Following the Blight's eradication, a new wave of alarm sweeps through Kenos in the form of nightmares, and the presence of the past. These effects increased tenfold in intensity and strength over the following months, culminating with the death of Cyrus and the subsequent admittance of Some Thing into Kenos-Proper.
Aetós has made public mention of the Timestream ( a good reference for that is here ), a force known to be what Cetina and Kathova use to both draw gifts from worlds-gone,, as well as the fact that "Shards can be used as a lens to focus the Timestream". Among many, many other things.
The Advocate Oracle, recently concluded, featured a glimpse into this practice, as it revealed the endings of many, many worlds, many of which were alternate worlds belonging to alternate participating Shard-Bearers.
The Timestream and the individual "time" of all living people was thus directly impacted, once, by the Blight — a sickness that "rotted" and stole the time of both animate/living and inanimate/nonliving things.
With the conclusion of the Advocate Oracle, 114 years have passed outside of the slumber that overtook the Shard-Bearers. This is what the rest of the world looks like, and has changed into, while they were busy!

This post serves as an overview of the changes that have taken place in Kenos while characters were snoozing away. This will give you the largest beats of the changes and what characters can now expect, but you'll also find links to new wiki articles throughout. For more in-depth detail, we recommend giving these a read. However, this post should be enough for you to dive back in!

WHEN YOU WAKE...

Characters will wake feeling delightfully well-rested, but there are some opt-in effects that they may notice to clue them in on just how long they’ve been sleeping:

Hunger/Thirst. Characters were magically sustained so that they didn’t wither away, but they might be exceptionally hungry and/or parched when they wake. It’s been a long time, so your stomach is very empty!
Rapunzelification. Depending on the preferences of your Caretaker (see below), they may not have opted to cut characters’ hair and/or shave them as they slept. What if you didn’t like it when you woke up, after all? That would suck.
Loyal Companions. If your character had any pets that might not have lived through the timeskip and you would like them to, good news! You will find them either cuddled up or otherwise sleeping somewhere nearby, having been affected by the same sort of magic that kept you preserved in your sleep. But they might need some de-fluffification of their own too.

shrine to your character

Resting Rooms

(save for Amos, who very specifically has Adelfoúla watching over him)

toplevel on this post

You can find a timeline of events here.

HIGHSTORM & ZENITH

Following the attack on the Manor and the slumber of the Shard-Bearers, Highstorm began to withdraw and focus its attentions on the world ahead under the guidance of Florence Deshayes, since the Matron has yet to return... Florence says that Lady Yima is still with us… And she will return when the time is right.

The reflecting pools around the manor flooded and overflowed, creating two distinct districts of the city with distinctly different methods to navigate them. The area surrounding the Manor is now called “Yima’s Tears”, as the streets have all completely flooded and require skiffs to navigate a la Venice, Italy.

Otherwise, the city seems to have recovered very well. Those areas once ruined by the Blight have been repaired, and characters will find new sights on the streets outside of the flooded district—trolleys and scooters are now frequently used to navigate the city, and other innovations like phonographs and photography abound, all called "Zenitec".

However, where navigation of the city may be easier for Zenites, that is not the case for Meri that visit the moonlit city. While Tier 1 Meri are allowed to explore the city somewhat freely, those of any higher Tier will require a Zenite chaperone… Or to be sneaky and avoid being detected as a higher Tier. That can be difficult, however, since there are fae spies will report rulebreakers to Florence.

For a full description of changes to Highstorm, see its new wiki page and associated new articles therein. However, as a bullet-points summary:

The Manor still lays in partial ruin, waiting for its mother to return, but is now called The Mausoleum. It is city's center for remembrance and is treated like a holy site.
Small boats are required to navigate Yima's Tears because the waters are not safe to tread. Those that fall into the water rarely emerge from the depths.
While Highstorm still doesn't possess a formal police or military force, defense of the city is now much more important to the people. Zenites protect their own, and more shunned or monstrous people find an easier home within Highstorm taking up their skills for defense. Many former Kowloonites have flocked to the city.
The energy of Zenith is used for magical technology and has led to large innovations in scientific study. Efforts are largely focused on what could be used to make the new world as ideal a place as possible. Technology is roughly in line with the 1920s, with some outliers that are rare/cutting edge. Rare technology would only be accessible to Tier 3 or higher Zenites or require subterfuge.

Common new technology includes: Vacuum tubes, magically powered vehicles, phonographs, home electricity, photography
Rare new technology includes: particle detectors, punch-card computers, radio

And what about Zenite-aligned NPCs? Well… (click me!)
- Dr. Du Tousaing passed of natural causes.
- Florence Deshayes has taken up the leadership position in Zenith. She doesn’t seem to have aged a day since the Bearers fell asleep, but she’s united Zenites under a stronger vision. The world ahead is what Zenith must strive for, at any cost.
- Kathova continues to preside over the day-to-day matters concerning Shard-Bearers. However, it’s known that he holds a private, daily vigil at the Mausoleum where he places a single, purple flower at its base.
- Yura Szczepański was murdered during “The Uplifting” (see below). His Shard is openly kept as a trophy within Heliopolis.
- There are also some new, notable faces within Zenite ranks:

SPRINGSTAR (FORMERLY) & MERIDIAN

Following Cyrus’s assassination and the slumber of the Shard-Bearers, the election for the next Tribune quickly took place so that Meridian could find a new leader. Agapitos Voreen was chosen by a large margin, and with his experience with the commerce of the city, quickly began to lead the city in a bold new direction. Anti-Zenite sentiment quickly rose, and to deal with the problems of Kowloon’s continued attacks on the city, Agapitos secretly began working with the most brilliant mind in Kenos to find a solution.

Using the power of Shimmer and their own innovations, Aetós emerged from the shadows to work for the 35th Tribune and solve the menace of Kowloon in the years following the beginning of the slumber. In an event simply called “The Uplifting”, Springstar was brought closer to the holy suns as sections of the city were very literally lifted into the air. Now truly protected from any Zenite interlopers, the city in the clouds was named Skysong, leaving the remains of Springstar and Kowloon far below it.

Just over a century has passed since the Uplifting, and Aetós and Tribune Voreen are both praised as heroes that saved the city and led Meridian into a new era. The city is now significantly larger and more spread out, with new floating structures constantly being built. The people of Skysong are happy and prosperous. However, this prosperity comes at a cost. The military police of Skysong are extremely strict and guard the peace of their city fiercely.

Breaking the rules of Skysong carries one punishment: banishment to Old Springstar below. Cornerstones are strictly controlled within Skysong, with each official Cornerstone acting as a checkpoint guarded by the military. Zenites and the banished are allowed in the city, but are given a badge they must wear at all times to mark them. Higher Tier Zenites may be denied entry outright or must find a secret Cornerstone to enter.

For a full description of changes, see the wiki pages for Skysong and Old Springstar. However, as a bullet points summary:

If Skysong reminds you of Bioshock Infinite’s Columbia, yep, basically that. Just without the absolutely godawful social commentary, we promise.
Skysong is composed of many, many small islands that float high in the sky. These islands will connect on a very reliable schedule, but if you need to make it to other islands sooner, never fear! There are dirigibles that act as public transportation , solar surfers, and other small, steampunk-flavored vehicles.
Which, speaking of! Where Zenith has favored magical innovation, Meridian has favored the mechanical. Technology is roughly in line with the 1920s, but with a distinctly steampunk or dieselpunk flavor. Rare technology would only be accessible to Tier 3 or higher Meri or require subterfuge.

Common new technology includes: prosthetics, pistols, movies and television (with 1920s era tech). As an additional note, prosthetics are in fact very popular, and you’ll see NPCs voluntarily get them to enhance their abilities! These can be purchased with AC tokens.
Rare new technology includes: automatic weapons, jetpacks, personal mech suits. There’s a definite military focus here.

Military and police presence is highly increased. If your character is being naughty while in Skysong by breaking laws, you might want to reach out to a mod!
And what about Meridian-aligned NPCs? Well… (Click me!)
- Agapitos Voreen still rules as Skysong’s 35th Tribune. There’s more gray in his hair, but less than you’d expect, considering as far as anyone knew, he was human…
- Aetós is the hero of Skysong, and many banners are decorated with images of their namesake. They still remain masked and reclusive, and they have a floating island in Skysong for their personal use.
- Cetina launched a small military assault on Zenith's capital, seeking those who assassinated her childhood friend - resulting in her death. Later investigation by the Tribune into her behavior uncovered the fact that she was lured into acting rashly by Zenite loyalists, who sought to honor Yima by following in their Shard-Bearer idols' footsteps.
- Cyrus is still dead, alas, but is honored with golden statues throughout Skysong as a martyr.
- Desmond Ó Ruadháin passed of natural causes.
- General Zaman is now an old woman, and is living out a quiet retirement in Alenroux as a warm, doting grandmother.
- Dr. Julia Melnik passed due to complications of early forays into prosthetics.
- The Madam Dee that Shard-Bearers knew has long since passed, but hey, who’s going to give up a brand name? The moniker has now been passed to another.
- Hieropoios Natalia still oversees the Church of Helios with the same tireless devotion that she’s known for. The church’s splendor has grown since the Uplifting, but Natalia herself remains a humble, warm mainstay.
- Victor Dupuis was a critic of the Uplifting when it was announced, and was banished to Old Springstar not long after. Presumed dead, since he was human.
- There are also some new, notable faces within Zenite ranks:

KOWLOON (+ OLD SPRINGSTAR)

Kowloon, like Springstar, has also become divided: both physically and ideologically. In the wake of Heliopolis's ascension, portions of Kowloon's people have taken to the surface to claim the craters and live alongside the Springstar people who chose to remain alongside them. Considered part of the Great Independence Movement, there are now two "Kowloons" — the Site of Old Springstar, consisting of "Uptowners" and the original Kowloon, or "Downtowners", and there is a great deal of tension between the two locations, reflecting the divide in their philosophies, and their visions for the future of Kowloon. Will one side dominate over the other, or will the divide continue to split the two for the remainder of the conflict?

Uptown Kowloon consists of everything from the Last Dance to certain Springstar establishments that were left on the surface level to cultivate a relationship with their new neighbors. They consider themselves independent of Springstar and Highstorm, while also being elevated enough to command respect and acknowledgment as a "third city" to both. The population of Old Springstar consists of a combination of Kowloonites sick of living underground, individuals banished from Skysong, and those who have moved to the city for an independent, metropolitan experience, such as those who are tired of the pastoral life of Alenroux.

Uptown Kowloonites have made homes within the craters left behind by the ascension of parts of Springstar's districts; networks of metal catwalks, remnants of broken buildings and other precarious structures have been pulled down and cobbled together like a hive — and apparently, its made more real estate for the large population to live in!

Downtown Kowloon remains the underground, original foundations of Kowloon. They consider themselves the truly independent Kowloon, reliant on neither Springstar or Highstorm for meaning or purpose, and at ideological odds with Uptown for betraying the intent of their dream. Downtowners reflect the dark, depraved, and original “vision” of Kowloon, where vice and crime are an export as much as anything else. You can find anything for sale in Downtown Kowloon, and that is, and has always been, by design.

And what about Kowloon-aligned NPCs? Well… (Click me!)

Yura Szczepański has been dissipated and his shard is now in the hands of the administration of Heliopolis, and displayed as a trophy!
Haruna Konishi, the leader of the Unseen, has died of natural causes.
Arjun, owner of the Cache, now spends most of their time in Old Springstar, in the Viomichanikós District. Hooray for Industry!
Coalbrand is still running the Crown. Devilish Immortality at its finest!
There are also some new, notable faces:

Gulilai Amit is the new leader of the Unseen. A Mô͘-sîn-á, she seeks to consolidate power as the Unseen spreads throughout the entirety of the Below.
Maya Shatterspire, the leader of a new gang in Old Springstar called the Scepter.
Cardinal Calix a member of the Meridian church, seeking redemption for the banished souls of Old Springstar.

ALENROUX

And Alenroux is… largely unchanged!

Alenroux still serves its crucial role as the breadbasket for the cities, though both of them have now found new, innovative ways to not have to rely on the pastoral island nearly so much. This has left it largely free from conflict in the century since, and it’s been given time to quietly grow and prosper. Thanks to the efforts of Shard-Bearers, a decently sized village has now formed around its Cornerstone.

The allegiances of the village have waxed and waned over the years, sometimes favoring Zenith more, sometimes Meridian, but there’s currently a slight bias against Zenith because of a (relatively small, at least) crop failure last year that was blamed on Zenitec experiments. Whether that’s true or not isn’t clear at all, but in a way, it doesn’t matter. That’s where the blame went.

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Resting Room Location: Dimitri has stayed in his small, humble cottage in Springstar - or Old Springstar, rather. The part of the city he was in remained behind and no one has moved him since.

Description: Dimitri is poised in his sitting room in a chair, appearing fast asleep, with his great lance Areadbhar set on the wall. Otherwise, the house is very much as it was when he fell asleep - it's been kept up over the last century or so by a variety of people

Purpose: The visitors are an interesting mix - people from Old Springstar who have heard stories about Dimitri's helping hands in and around the city when he as active and some Legionaries who have heard stories about Dimitri's dedication to the cause and the strength of his lance. As such, he's become sort of a representation of hard work, kindness, strength, and some degree of forthrightness. The soldiers who do come down from Skysong are hoping he'll awaken again and sometimes ask for his advice on certain things. The civilians mostly ask for help with the little things - chores, cleaning, and offer wishes of kindness and hope for a brighter future. He is not deified as much as others - but he is seen as a good luck charm in a lot of ways and although the neighborhood has grown and changed over the century, especially with the movement of Skysong, the house itself (and its garden) are protected and kept up for his return.

Caretaker(s): At first, most of the visitors were friends and followers Dimitri had made during his time leading a group of Legionaries. Many of them were tied into the military and had deep ties to Springstar. Also among them were various people who Dimitri had helped during his long time living in the city and in the neighborhood. He was known, after all, for being willing to do just about anything to help out. The caretakers in the modern day are a mix of the neighborhood locals, who tend to view Dimitri as "their" guardian and good luck charm and visiting descendants of his original legionaries who want to be in touch with the stories their grandparents and parents have told them. This has expanded a bit - his unit was quite fond of him, so there's certainly a small tradition of groups of soldiers coming down to check in on the place. So far, there hasn't been much friction between the soldiers and the locals... but it's not exactly cordial.

Still, they figure Dimitri wouldn't want them squabbling about that kind of thing, so it's mostly under wraps.

timeskip information extravaganza

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd | Meridian