kenosooc | APRIL TDM - TIME AFTER TIME

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APRIL TDM - TIME AFTER TIME

BEARING FRUIT (NEW CHARACTERS ONLY)

It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.

And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looked down, and they spilled forth as if the sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes. Their bodies jerk, and convulse, as if controlled by puppet strings, reaching out to try to grip your hand, your shoulder, your wrist, but you know you should pull away. Something iswrong. If fingers or appendages meet your skin, there is a chill, that runs up your body, from the tips of your toes, up your spine, a full-body experience of wrongness. Would your loved ones feel like this, when they reach out?

So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. It's coming for you, it will not stop, it will not relent, and there is nothing that can be done. What a fool you were, for ever thinking you could escape. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then – The Darkness grasps you first, and you feel something deep in you, a searing pain, as if it is trying to consume you, the beast’s hungry maw wants to take and take, and you can feel it burning a mark into you, and then –

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently, weakly, as if over a long distance.

I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.

As consciousness slowly returns, time becomes a blur as you remain inert, feeling as though you're battling against an obstructive force hindering your gentle regrowth. Despite the struggle, a chilling darkness gradually recedes from your being as your form takes shape. Protected by an unseen presence, you sense the presence of others nearby, all undergoing a collective process of regeneration. A groaning, creaky voice hums in your ear, with breaths that thrum and hum, like a gentle summer breeze through the leaves, and it tells you: Try to reach them. Welcome their calls. Can you hear them? Through Communion, your emotions are laid bare in this space. Time seems to stretch out, and how long you have been growing can vary, and the only company you have is these other fellow Bearers, growing in their own pods, alone, as if they are struggling to rouse as well.

After what feels like an eternity, you awaken abruptly, enveloped in soft foliage and the scent of honey and iron. Cradled within the leaves, your attention is drawn to a warm, familiar crystal hovering above, compelling you to grasp it. Instinctively, you understand its significance and extract it from its leafy perch, feeling an unspoken imperative to hold onto it as you emerge from your cocoon of regrowth.

The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air, and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.

From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.

And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW

With the new Shard-Bearers present or en route, it is Kathova and Delphyne who approach the established Bearers, requesting that they form mentorships with the new souls to assist them with the integration process. To this end, they have both provided a centralized zone in both Highstorm and Skysong for small, seemingly casual gatherings. They establish a schedule of holding them semi-frequently, so there is plenty of opportunity to attend both (or neither) and they will continue as long as new Bearers filter into Kenos.

For those established Bearers of the opposite faction, however, your faces are known amongst the populations of our sister cities, especially the administrators of both Meridian and Zenith. If you try to attend the parties of either city, you will be turned away outright, no matter your tier. New Bearers are free to notice if someone tries! It seems you've stumbled your way into what is a nearly full-on war.

SKYSONG, τραγούδι του ουρανού

In Skysong, the city itself floats among the clouds. Skysong is filled with Meridian’s light, and the sun-soaked islands are even brighter, and the city is more resilient than ever to the dangers that Kenos posed to them before.

In the heart of Skysong lies Heliopolis, surrounded by island that circle like satellites. Dominating the landscape are the grand structures of the Church of Meridian and the Seat of the Tribune, both adorned with marble and statues, basking in the gentle light filtering through lush vegetation. Amidst the festivities, trays of delicacies and drinks are served while the Great Tree's leaves transform into fiery hues and helicopter seeds lazily fall.

The Legionary, Springstar's military, vigilantly guards the event, eyeing even the Unharmonized with suspicion... After all, they could become Zenites. Agapitos Voreen gives an impassioned speech to all that emphasizes their duty to extinguish darkness with Meridian's light and be the beacon that guides the people home, all under the approving gaze of Hieropoios Natalia Theodora Vaso Helios, observing silently from the church balcony.
The streets feature propaganda-focused posters with messages such as to work hard and work for the future or to look out and watch for threats from below. The streets of Skysong are filled with people who drink and celebrate the return of their Bearers and heroes, while they also bemoan their recent loss of the Advocate Oracle. The Psychagogía District is filled to the brim in people who mill in the streets, drinking, eating, and otherwise engaging in entertainment.

Small mopeds artfully dive through the cobbled streets, dodging individuals and carts alike. Some individuals sport or show off their altered bodies, and will challenge new Bearers to a fight, excited to show off their new stronger limbs, or legs, or even reinforced bodies. Or, if you're especially daring, take a solar sail for a spin and soar and surf the clouds and currents of the city in the sky.
The church welcomes all who wish to come and worship under Meridian’s light. Hieropoios Natalia Theodora Vaso Helios leads sermons daily, and the high stained windows allow light to filter into runic patterns on the ground of the church. If asked, a deacon or other attendant will state that they are of protection for Skysong, as the last attack had been so devastating to their people, that when they lifted the city from Springstar’s original site, they made sure it would not be attacked again from beneath. Those who come and worship will feel a tingling of Meridian’s presence, promising them revival, and the return of worlds. It’s like being welcomed by an old friend, a promise to visit once again, now that you have reconnected with them.
One place that does seem to be slightly off-limits for those who are exploring Skysong, is Aetós’ island, which is only slightly away from Heliopolis. Plumes of violet smoke that match the varied technologies found in Skysong billow from multiple exhaust sites, and every now and then, one can hear the cry of a beast from within. Aetós is well respected by the people of Skysong, but with that healthy respect comes a measure of distance. After all, nobody would dare bother them from their work.

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

The city of eternal night, Highstorm, still rests on its original island. The rubble of Yima’s manor is no more, and instead, the gardens surrounding the tree have spread to a vast memorial. The standing remains of the manor have been transformed into a humble hostel for new Bearers.

Amidst a landscape adorned with cold-hardy plants and evergreen trees, a modest sepulcher marks the presumed chambers of Yima. Florence Deshayes hosts welcoming ceremonies beneath the grand Highstorm tree, where large tables offer diverse culinary delights and a live band fills the air with music. Grateful for Bearers' perseverance during the Oracle, Florence welcomes newcomers with reassurance, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of Yima's vision and the support of her cult, the Waru. With the Advocate aligning with Zenith, Florence sees hope for a shift in the conflict and pledges unwavering support to new Bearers, guiding them towards self-discovery through the Reflecting Pool's manifested memories.
Specials are live at Bloody Marie’s and Benny’s. The Gilden Academy of Medical Sciences has also opened its doors in the form of a science day, to welcome all Bearers to explore the new inventions and cures developed by the most brilliant of Highstorm’s minds. A great spread of developing inventions is on display, such as electrified gloves, boots that seem to flash and affix to the walls, and even a small craft in a pool, that if boarded, will allow a bearer to take off and offer a leisurely glide around the academy grounds. Thalissa Brightspark watches over all of it and will encourage Bearers to try any number of inventions out. (And feel free to make up your own Zenitec inventions! The possibilities – as Thalissa would say – are endless!)
An area that seems to be struggling is the Tomes, where Bearers can find that the large stacks of books and libraries have to carefully maintain the paper tomes, and prevent them from absorbing too much moisture from the chill air. The building itself is dry, but now if you wish to leave with a book, they will demand that you pay for it, if only because some of these books may be priceless, and they’ve had too many accidental droppings to just loan any books outside of the building. A small floating gondola travels around the tome area, something of a whimsical pop-up from a certain café on the corner. They will hand out drinks, and new characters may find that they will take one look at your shard, before offering you a drink unique do you. It can taste like whatever you like, but your fortune will be at the bottom of the cup.
And of course, there is the Theater, long in disrepair after the blight, while Bearers were gone the Theater was not only rebuilt, it has begun to thrive under the control of its owner, Khojin, who presides over it with pride. After all, this was a dream of hers to have the theater reopened, and with the new Bearers, the Theater has been running dramatic retellings of several incidents from Kenos’s history, one in which Khojin was convinced to star in herself, about the Twilight Strike, and the revenge sought by Meridian for the death of their leader. Missing, of course, is any implication that Zenite loyalists have been involved, and if asked on the subject, Khojin will say that whatever a fringe foolishly tried to do, she did her duty to Zenith, and defended Highstorm. What they did was not of concern to her, just what she did herself.

ALENROUX

Alenroux is a pastoral land, though the village there has expanded to something of a bustling town.

The vast fields of farmland, the deep forests where monsters lurk during the night, and the odd 48-hour days mean that Alenroux is rife for exploration during the day, and monster hunting at night. Bearers have helped stave off the monster threat from overtaking Alenroux, and they are no longer required to leave at night. The garrisons of Meridian and Zenith also keep things relatively calm. The people in Alenroux are generally friendly, open, and happy to speak to Bearers about their homes, and their favorite foods, or even share their own local delicacies with you! Some are from scattered worlds and may be able to share with you something new and unique that you’ve never seen before!
While the Garrisons have done their best, there are plenty of dangerous creatures that stalk the woods, and gobble up any Alenroux natives that may skulk into the forests at night, desperate for acclaim. It's become something of a sport to hunt down monsters, and small groups of young Kenosians take off in small vehicles (think steampunk ATVs) in packs to hunt them down, and they will encourage Bearers to do the same if they want some notoriety. Though the city of Alenroux itself is relatively safe, the monsters still lurk in the woods and will attack not even a mile outside of the walls of Alenroux. (Some examples of monsters: 1; 2; and 3 – but please feel free to make whatever you want! Live out your monster hunter fantasies!) The citizens of Alenroux’s hamlet would be endlessly grateful if you handled the creature pestering their pastures, or the one that stalks the path between two distant neighbors. They may even thank you with a home-cooked feast, and a restful bed for the rest of the night.

KOWLOON/OLD SPRINGSTAR

In the site of what used to be Springstar, Bearers will find the bustling city of Old Springstar, also called Uptown by locals. The city is a series of leftover districts from the Uplifting, coupled with large craters where the population has built up and turned into massive pits of housing and commerce.

Old Springstar is a sprawling mix of remaining buildings, shacks, and structures erected in the craters. It is not uncommon to see teens on small magic-powered sleds take to “surfing” down the sides of the craters to raucous laughter under the light of Meridian’s sun. The entrances to the Below are no longer sewer pipes, but instead excavated openings, where travel is freely maintained. While the tunnels between Uptown and Downtown are certainly no less maze-like than they were before, the path between the two is much more worn and obvious, and large transport mechanisms drive supplies from one to the other via mechanical sleds, to bring food, mechanical materials, new inventions, and of course – Kowloon's primary export these days: certain drugs into the world at large.
The underground city is awash with lights both magical and powered, organic-looking wires spread everywhere within Kowloon, and the high walls of Kowloon’s caverns have now been filled with various pop ups or small holes where vagrants have moved in. Real-estate is rare in Kowloon, and they have learned to adapt to this circumstance, even as somehow the population grows. After all, it's a place for those who turn away from society to thrive. There are gambling dens where you bet with more than your coin, brothels to satisfy any degenerate fantasy, and even Arjun’s Cache has become more of a franchise, with locations both Downtown and Uptown, where you can find nearly any invention you can dream of, and if you can’t – tell one of Arjun’s attendants, and who knows, maybe Arjun will get word of what you seek, and next time you visit, there will be something new.
Beware, however, for these neutral locations are as dangerous as they are free. Gangs run the streets of both locations and those with unusual appetites (such as cannibals and vampires) roam the streets of both Downtown and Uptown openly. Disappearances and murders happen frequently, and Skysong’s military enforcement does not look down below, so the citizens of Downtown and Uptown are truly on their own.

SETTING UPDATES

For new players, this post is the first after a large timeskip in which Shard-Bearers have been asleep for a whopping 114 years! If you would like to read more about this, you can find the information on this post, but it is not required. More just helpful information or directions for some things that have changed in the setting!

As new shard-Bearers take in the city over the month, they’ll notice there is an electric air, as Bearers have returned after a long, long absence. Old Bearers will feel something like new Bearers again, as they are reintroduced to cities that have changed while they slept.

OOC, these are all updates to the setting at large that players both new and old are free to interact with as little or as much as they wish! Feel free to use them as prompts on this post, in your characters' on-going lives and arcs, or just let them go "That's none of my business" and ignore it. The world of Kenos is shaped by our player base, and these are some of the wider-reaching effects of various player plots and actions.

CULT OF PERSONALITY

Old Bearers were kept in remarkably good condition as they slept during the last Oracle event. Those who did not die were left in what amounted to public viewing spaces. Some left gifts, effigies, or even food or baked goods that were distributed to locals in need in the name of the Bearers while they were gone. We leave what was left and how their cult/fandom grew fully in the hands of players! For new Bearers, on the other hand, you may quickly find that you're gaining a fanbase. The Shard-Bearers are the heroes that will lead people to their foretold home, so you're treated as a celebrity and a hero once you're known as a Shard-Bearer.

A CRACK IN THE SLAB

Now that Springstar has fully lifted from the ground, and spread into the sky, Kowloon has spread itself further into the remains of Springstar. Many of Kowloon’s establishments have made their way to the surface, including Draumahol, the Last Dance, and CACHE has a second franchise on the surface. What is now called “Old Kowloon”, features the poorer or criminal elements of the city, including many experimental minds and inventors, looking for an avenue into discoveries that are not sanctioned by either Meridian or Zenith, since they still have ready need of bodies and desperate souls. It's a perfect place to find trouble or stop trouble, if that's what you're looking for. Or maybe you're just in the market for something a little less than legal...?

CAST A LONG SHADOW

After the waking of the Bearers the attention of the darkness beyond seems to have reawakened with them... Oblivion has returned to hungrily look back upon Kenos, now that it has greedily feasted on so many worlds. The darkness seeps into Kenos at every corner. The dark waters that look just a touch too deep, the shadows that you cannot quite peer into, and the dark forests of Alenroux and the Beyond are all rife places for the darkness to creep in. There are some whispers of fear, as while the Bearers had slept, Oblivion had seemingly turned away from the land, but now it returns in full force – stronger than ever – thanks to the choices of Bearers and even now, it still hungers, insatiable as it turns its wide maw upon Kenos, ready to c̷̨̨̻͕̞̭̼͈̣̮̖̤̣̗̱͂̾̿͛́̏͆͠o̵̻̲͍̟͌n̴̞͈͈̙̻̗͖̗͎͇͈̦͆͆̐́̈́̑̐̽s̶̡̢̨̬̞͙̩̳̝͈͚̟̱̹̻̍ṵ̵̹͚͚̬̜͚̈́̍͆̐̓͒̋̈́̉́m̶̛͍͎̠͔͕͉̭͖̞͉̈͂̃͑̋̆͗̏̋͘̚ë̸̞̜̩͇͖̮̒̏̀̅̄̆. Encountering the darkness can come with some of the following effects:

Physical weakness, fatigue, and lethargy due to drained vitality
Weakened immune systems and increased susceptibility to illnesses
Premature aging or potential death from chronic exposure Mental effects including despair, hopelessness, and depression
Distorted perceptions, hallucinations, and erosion of mental resilience
Spread of fear, distrust, and paranoia within communities

LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN

As mentioned, Bearers both new and old have stumbled onto a Kenos that is far different than the world it once was! There are new faces, new locations, and the cities have changed drastically – time has skipped forward by 114 years since the last event. Bearers will be required to explore this new landscape as much as possible to get their bearings in a new world. Why not rope in a new person to join you as you explore the new Kenos, and you can discover it together?

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need to submit a request, and proceed through player screening to apply to the game. Apps are always open, but at this time we are only accepting characters that will be choosing Zenith as their faction. Please keep this in mind when submitting your Application!

This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Agapitos or Florence are asked, they’ll explain that this sometimes happens since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They may return to Kenos one day, but for now, weren’t able to make the full journey.

This TDM is intended to welcome new players. If you are a current player, we ask that you refrain from top-leveling in this log. If you would like to interact with the setting changes, we ask that you instead make a log in

kenoslogs.

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, they may be wearing their normal clothes or nude. Up to you! Some may also show up with a dark mark that looks like teeth marks on their person. The marks are pitch black and seem to absorb all light.

At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision about which Faction they'd be drawn to.

When meeting with either Delphyna or Kathova, along with their shard or sunbeam, they will be given a Kenotebook! Think of this as your text-based comm. (This is also opt-out, so if you want it to not be ready/lost, go for it!) Any AC with the Kenotebook must be doubled, so make sure you are aware of that!

As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!

For the As Above, So Below prompts, all locations will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are freed from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Locations section of our Wiki!

New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM until they Harmonize, AKA make a choice of which faction they choose to support. For some characters, this may be an easy decision, but it make take others time. We just ask you keep this in mind!

CODING

Threaded | Flat

Since this TDM is meant to be used over the period of a few months and mods don't have notifications on for the post...! Let us know if you post a toplevel! We have a channel in our Discord dedicated to sharing new posts and toplevels, so we'll share it to make sure our players can welcome you!

Edited 2024-04-01 21:41 (UTC)

[ ooc: Frieren will harmonize as Zenith, eventually, and some of the later prompts are written with that in mind. ]

I. Awake

[ Frieren's sleep is not usually disturbed by dreams. Maybe that's what makes this one all the more visceral and horrifying. She has been pinned in place by the power of a great enemy before, but that memory fades into nothing compared to the vision she has of destruction and the great thing that seems to want nothing more than to devour her. It has been a long, long time since Frieren felt really afraid of anything - and yet this thing scares her. And then - then it's over.

She's almost floating, feeling emotions, seeing flickers of memories and visions and it takes a moment, a long moment it seems, for her to reach out and take hold of that crystal. But what is a moment to someone who has lived a thousand years? What is a moment to someone to whom ten years is the flicker of an eye? It is a moment. Nothing more.

And then she has to break the surface. Frieren surfaces with a great gasp of air, suddenly aware of where she is wand what she feels - and what she doesn't feel as the earth sloughs off of her and she emerges into the light of this strange world. The flow of mana, her natural sense of the flow of magic seems to be gone - and it is almost like she has lost the use of her eyes. It has been with her for a thousand years or more and now - now it is gone.

Frieren breathes deep and tries to catch her bearings, trying to rationalize what's happened.

And then she reaches to the hand she sees breaking the soil and she pulls.

Admittedly, not very effectively, but still. ]

II. Skysong

[ A floating city.

She has heard of less fanciful things.

Frieren still feels as if she's stumbling in the dark, still trying to find her way without the magic she has had at her fingertips for so much of her life. It is not the power itself that bothers her. It is the loss of the ability to do all of the spells she has spent her long, long lifetime collecting. The knowledge is there. The gestures and words ingrained on her memory, able to do them practically in her sleep - but the mana simply isn't there. Or maybe her ability to manipulate it has gone. She doesn't know. Regardless, she explores the floating islands of Skysong, a small, lithe figure with flowing white hair and dressed simply. She peers into alleyways and walks into shops.

She examines the guards with a detached expression. Considers the posters.

It's a bit overwrought, isn't it?

The speech catches her interest for a little while, but it sounds much like other speeches she's heard in other kingdoms and cities. Duty and devotion to the cause. She wanders away.

Where she might be found most of all is on the edge of the one of the islands, leaning against the railing and staring out at the mysterious island of the wizard - Aetos. ]

They say he's a wizard. [ Her comment to someone who might be in earshot. ]

Is that true? I can't sense these things like I might have been able to before.

II. Highstorm

[ Another city. Another welcome. It's clear to her now that she is being vied for. Courted. She's received another dream and it makes her wonder what it is comes next. A war - she does not care about a war or fighting other people for the sake of someone's cause. They are not causes she believes in - nor does she find the thought of being in an army, however informal, particularly appealing. But there is something to be said about moving forward. About finding something new. About creating. Her heart aches, she knows, even if she doesn't weep.

Fern deserved better, especially. How unfair for her already short life to be suddenly extinguished; for her to simply be gone.

In Highstorm, though, the somewhat party atmosphere is an interesting bit of information. They've won something - one of the Oracles she's heard about. So much so that there's food and drink practically overflowing in the streets.

Well. She's never been one to pass it up. ]

Excuse me. [ There's a tug or gentle touch. ]

I'd like to get some cake. [ Sorry, whoever you are. You're in the way.

It's the Tomes that get her attention, though. The vast collection of books and information has her like a moth to a flame and she spends a day (or two or three) simply poring through the stacks, taking books to one of the reading desks and then returning them. She doesn't leave. She barely sleeps. It's questionable whether she eats. There are fragments of spells and tidbits of information and she devours all of it. Maybe one of the staff have asked you to check up on their new guest.

Or maybe you've just found her passed out with her face in a book. Help? ]

IV. Alenroux

[ Monster-hunting. Helping people. That's something she's capable of doing without much trouble, now that her shard is filled with the power of Zenith and her sense of the magic and mana of the world seems to have come back with it. It's a bit of a relief to have that.

Even if she doesn't have her staff. That's a mild annoyance at this point.

There's another shard, held close to her, that she'll guard with her life.

And for now, there are monsters to hunt.

She might not look like much - a small, pale figure, with flowing hair, but she can be found steadily walking the roads outside of Alenroux, as if on patrol - or maybe simply wandering, as if she's not aware of the danger. That is, until- ]

Look out. [ It's not a yell. Or a shout. Just a small phrase and then there's a searing beam of light that goes flashing past to essentially vaporize a monster in mid-leap. ]

V. Wildcard

[ Make something up or drop me a line. We can figure something out. ]

SKYSONG;

[It might seem a little much to say Mai doesn't care about the frivolities and party up here in Skysong but she doesn't. She's been through enough lavish parties that all the delicacies in the world couldn't soothe her in the moment.

That and she's not hungry. She's not sure if she'll ever be hungry again even if she knows she physically will be. She's not interested in being welcomed or seeing the sights or anything half so stupid. Because all she has in her hand is some dumb bead after a dream full of talk of dying worlds and offers of power, Aspects and Meridian versus Zenith and she doesn't care.

She's come out here where she can look over to Aetós' Island and seethe for a bit. Whoever she runs into here gets a long glance from her and then she sighs out.]

So do you give a damn about any of this or are we all just playing along here?

[She sounds bland but looks tired. Exhausted even.]

HIGHSTORM;

[By the time Mai makes it to Highstorm she's in a vaguely better mood. It's like saying the storm went from a five to a four but at least she's not giving anyone dry, heavily displeased looks now. It's more of that bland, tired look again like she can't be bothered to show an ounce more interest. The moment Florence starts yammering about a cult is the moment she checks out of that gathering and just ends up wandering off altogether.

The gondolas are kind of nice though? She's never been in a town with them and most of her boat traveling has been far more lavish. When they come near the cafe boasting about it's fortune cups Mai doesn't have to say a word before a drink is popped into her hand. She raises a brow but takes a sip of it and notes with the first faint little smile she's had in days now:]

Sort of tastes like a fruit tart.

[Of course once she finishes the drink she snorts at the fortune.]

"Because of your melodic nature, the moonlight never misses an appointment." Melodic nature, huh.

[Yeah right.]

OLD SPRINGSTAR;

[Somehow this is where Mai might feel most comfortable. It's nothing like the Capital City of the Fire Nation at home and that makes it a fitting place for her. The last thing she wants at the moment after aligning herself with Zenith and gaining Zuko's shard in the bargain is a reminder of how much he would hate her decision. She's not naive enough (or maybe strong enough?) to believe in Meridian's fairytale anymore than she's tempted by the power and dreams Zenith offered her.

A chance to save just one of the most important people to her? He'll never forgive her for neglecting their world but he can hate her all he wants if she can keep him alive.

She ends up perusing through The Last Dance and can be found in one of the taverns there not drinking a damn thing. Or well she's drinking but none of it alcohol and all of it intolerably spicy to most people. Which she'll prove if you happen to come her way, nudging her glass your way with little introduction. She mostly wants to be entertained by what kind of face someone will end up making.

Eventually though she does go to the Cache. It's mostly out of curiosity since she's not exactly wealthy at the moment but a particular dagger catches her eyes.]

Hey. Let me see that one.

[She taps at the case the dagger is in and once it's held out to her she seems to weigh it in her hand with a critical eye. Her expression stays neutral through it all, even as she legitimately flips the dagger in her hand -- throws it up into the air, catches it, all that.]

... Not bad.

WILDCARD;

[Feel free to hit me up via plurk (goodluckstarfighter) or Discord (goodluckstarfighter) for any plotting. You can also just drop a prompt here if you like -- Mai doesn't have any weapons but she'll be happy to fight if you give her something.]

Edited 2024-04-02 05:54 (UTC)

❥ Bearing fruit.

While Rosie tends to lean into the floral imagery associated with her name more than she doesn't, actually popping out of the ground like a daisy is taking it a bit too far. Okay, so- She isn't even as graceful as a daisy. In fact, she might instead conjure forth the imagery of a Cuscata - more commonly known as Witches' hair or strangleweed - as she claws her way out of the dirt and shakes off excess foliage.

"Agh!" she shouts, shivering from her head to her toes as she tries to escape the creepy crawly feeling of dirt and dead leaves on her bare skin. She is, unlike some might be, completely naked though it doesn't seem to concern her much. What does is the subtle sensations of soil shifting nearby and the appearance of fingers poking out of the ground there.

"Oh, what the fuck," she can't help but huff even as she crawls over to the spot. "Hold on, I've got ya'," she'll speak to whoever is buried. It might be muffled - or downright inaudible - but it's the thought that counts, right? They're all in this weird bizarre people garden together, she guesses.

❥ Skysong.

Wherever the party is, she's absolutely there. The people of Skysong really know how to welcome folks, she thinks, and partakes in the festivities as much as she's able to. Drinking and dancing in the streets? Amazing. A full ten out of ten, would recommend it, and she wants to do it again and again.

Though if they have laws about drinking and driving here in Skysong, Rosie certainly isn't following them. Some poor local she flirted her way into convincing let her to drive their moped might come to regret it. Actually, you might come to regret it as tires squeal and she gives a loud squeak at the sudden jolting halt of her vehicle.

Blond curls are a windswept mess in front of her face that she blows a part in to see who she almost just ran over. Her eyes gleam with mischievous delight that might make her following apology seem a little less genuine, but-! She is sorry, honest.

She's also grinning, giggly, and very tipsy when she says: "So sorry, oh my gosh. These things are, like, so much faster than I expected? Super fun, but might need to dial it down to like a five instead an eleven on the throttle with how crowded it is around here."

❥ Highstorm.

Although a contrast to the bright and cheery exultation in Skysong, Rosie appreciates the arts almost more than anything. Even a drunken good time! It's for that reason she gravitates to the theatre and the stories being told there of Kenos' history. A way to learn about what she can and also in a format she more easily understands. What's not to enjoy?

Since she's so new, it wouldn't do to voice her skepticism immediately though about the lack of involvement from the Zenite loyalists in Meridan's leader's demise. She knows this song and dance too well to leave it be though; there is information they are withholding to try and write their own histories. She'll have to find out through other means where that might be resting.

Instead of dwelling on it though, she opts to ask someone: "Do you think they do open auditions ever? I always wanted to try my hand at being an actress. Now seems as good a time as any! I already have some fans and everything!"

She has """fans""" in the sense of some of that cultish behavior being noticed by Rosie as a new Bearer. It's not anything she's actually a strange to, being admired, and if she can use it to her advantage? Why not!

❥ Alenroux.

"What- Excuse me?" comes an indignant sounding snap. The source is the very petite blond woman squaring up against a guard nearly twice her size. She's holding a weapon - sort of, it's a big broken stick, don't worry about it! - and gripping it tight as she glares up (and up and up) at the person trying to stop her from venturing into the woods.

"I'm fine! I want to see these 'monsters' for myself. I can handle it," she says, which sounds exactly like something someone who can't handle it at all would say.

"You!" she barks, at anyone who happens to be close, "Tell this dude that you can't judge a book by its cover or, I don't know, something!" Defend her honor, stranger! Her opinion of you (which likely doesn't mean anything, oops) is depending on it!

❥ Wildcard.

(( hi hi, it's Chai! I'm bringing you my hot mess of an OC lady, Rosie! tl;dr, she's 1) a yokai masquerading as human for Reasons and 2) an informant/spy via work as a courtesan so will absolutely use her looks and charm to her advantage whenever possible. she also is a traumatized hypersexual disaster because of it and can be very forward about her interest but I can tone it down if you lmk!

I'll match format but usually default to prose these days. you can reach me anywhere @ tentameance (discord, plurk, etc.) or PM this journal if you wanna' hash things out or have any other ideas. I look forward to playing with you all! ))

A. Awakening:
[Anakin stirs and shifts, his dreams at once alien and familiar. Visions of light and love covered in despoiling gloom, then the devouring darkness that had come to haunt his dreams in recent weeks. Fear, anger, and the intense desire to hold what he's certain he will lose become a tempest in his mind. His emotions a storm, he reaches for the chorus of voices drifting through his mind, demanding answers. Where am I? What is this place? Where is Padme? Obi-Wan, why can I not sense you? and other calls reverberate in his mind.

He thrashes as he wakes, eyes snapping open within his leafy cocoon. Without thinking twice, Anakin snatches the crystal and begins to seek an exit. Hands reaching, he hauls on a root and begins to scrabble free of the earth's grasp. The strange absense of the Force registers dimly through his thoughts, but he sets that aside as he works his way clear. Focus on one problem at at time, Anakin he can almost hear in Obi-Wan's voice. Eventually his hand punches through to a root and he pulls, hauling himself free with great effort. As he emerges, he gulps in air and mumbles to himself.]

Never thought I'd find out what it's like to be a tree.

[Once he's clear of the hole, he settles down to consider his next move, scanning the area and trying to sense something. The Force continues to elude him, a worry he shoves down in favor of simply using his eyes. It's then that he spots more soil moving a few feet away. Someone else is down in the ground? Anakin rushes over, beginning to pull aside more dirt and dig with his hands.]

Hold on! Just keep digging!

B. Skysong

[Anakin Skywalker loved the sky, he loved the clouds, and he loved sunlight...but Heliopolis he did not love. Having spent much time in the megalopolis of Coruscant immediately to the outbreak of the Clone Wars, he knew a city on the verge of war. He'd never liked being in a city caught quite so deep in the grip of suspicion as this, and Heliopolis reminded him of the worst aspects of those dark days. The military giving him side-eyes and the emphasis on looking out for threats from without were familiar, and he rankled at the notion of "worshipping" anything. It didn't help that it seemed as though this faction was the one promising everything he might want, while banging what sounded like the louder drums of war.

Still, he was determined to hear them out. That was what anyone with any sense would do, in his estimation. So Anakin stood at the edges of one of the gatherings, listening to Agapitos Voreen's oration with his arms folded. Anyone watching him would have no trouble picking up that he was listening intently and didn't really like what he was hearing. His brows furrowed, his eyes periodically flicked up to the balcony to who seemed to be the leader of the church, and he clapped only half-heartedly when the speech came to an end and the festivities restart.

Perhaps you want to sway him? Or maybe you feel likewise. Either way, he's not seeming to be in any hurry to join the festival.]

C. Highstorm

[Highstorm's general vibe is less preferable to Anakin than Skysong, but even he has to admit that the city is pleasant and the atmosphere is much improved. It reminds him a little of Theed by night, with its gardens and gentle moonlight. A city constructed in the name of some dead visionary, he's gathered. The name Yima is meaningless to him, but he recognizes and respects something done in memorium. Especially something as useful as a hostel and as beautiful as a garden.

Florence's reassurances and promises of support find more welcome ears than the harsher suspicions and religious undertones he'd noted in Heliopolos. It seemed more neutral, and it also tracked a little better with his own experiences. Still, he held himself apart from the group during the gathering, waiting for others to approach him as he sat nursing a mug of something he assumed was tea.

He can also be found walking through some of the gardens, arms clasped behind him as he strolled along. Walking, moving, not sitting still...those were things that always helped him center himself and even cut off from the Force, Anakin was always going to need an outlet for his boundless energy. Perfect time for a chat, like as not.!]

D. Wildcard

[Want to do something else? Let me know at

intercession and let's plot. Anakin is going to commit to Zenith, I've decided!]

Bearing Fruit

[ In her dream, Jinx rides in an airship. Not a cargo vessel like the countless she has raided but a passenger ship, designed for a level of comfort that amounts to obscene luxury. She stands at the window and watches the world below and she knows, somehow, that she is on her way to something better. Behind her, the voices of loved ones, close enough to know that although she can't see them, she is not alone. Guilt, doubt, and pain are all behind her; there is nothing ahead but possibility.

Then, abrupt silence as black overtakes the horizon. She turns around not to familiar faces but to cold, black eyes and stiff, unnatural movement. And even as she backs away reflexively, a part of her just knows that this devouring darkness feels closer to true than anything that came before. If she deserves anything, this all-consuming emptiness is it.

Jinx accepts the pain; she has earned it. What she can't accept is the peace, and she begins struggling as soon as she is physically able. Distress rolls off of her in powerful waves, overwhelming a communion channel she doesn't yet know to block.

When she finally breaks the surface, she reaches for a weapon, any weapon. Finding none on her person pulls a frustrated scream out of her. The more she takes in of the surrounding area, the less she recognizes.

Her voice cracks on the only question in her mind: ] Is this real?

Skysong

[ Jinx doesn't stick around Skysong for long. In fact, she makes it through maybe five minutes of Agapitos Voreen's cheeseball speech before rolling her eyes and walking off. Scowling as she walks past propaganda poster after propaganda poster, she decides to do some vandalism on her way out. She works primarily in vibrant neons to cover motivational messages with doodles of various animals wearing menacing expressions. When she is finished, she stands back and admires her own work: an improvement the city should thank her for, in her humble opinion. ]

Highstorm

[ In Jinx's estimation, the Gilden Academy of Medical Sciences is a great big bore. Too heavy on the medical, not enough on the science (at least not the science that interests her). A waste of her time salvaged only when she comes across the Zenitec inventions. She tests a couple just to get a feeling for the technology, then takes her time looking the inventions over to learn what she can about how they work. She wishes she could just take them apart and see the insides. Would anyone notice if she pried off this panel?

Later, she wanders the Tomes in search of reference books that can teach her how to make her own Zenitec. At the corner cafe, her shard buys her a drink that tastes of spun sugar with a salty aftertaste. Her fortune at the bottom of the cup reads: You learn from your mistakes... You will learn a lot today.

It doesn't move her, one way or the other. She already made her worst mistake.

She discards the ceramic mug over her shoulder, unaware and unconcerned of anyone it could hit. ]

Wildcard

[ For any other location/scenario. PM journal or howlites @ Discord to plot. ]

i → skysong

[If somebody wants to fight, Yusuke will fight them. That's just, like, the guiding law of his existence.

Bonus points that he's got some frustration to vent: stupid tree, stupid dream, stupid blowhards trying to schmooze him with stupid speeches. He did try to listen. It just wasn't that long before he dipped to go looking for something better to do. That a fight found him means that the day might actually still be salvageable.

If someone did happen to have caught a glimpse of him during the celebration, they'll find that he's in a much better mood now than he was then. It's fully the cliche of a light going on inside of someone; his body language is loose and cheerful, and he bounces eagerly on his toes even as he starts to attract a semi-circle of rabble-rousing around him.

He hasn't yet realized that whatever's locking up his energies is more than a temporary internal issue, and he's revelling a bit in the nostalgic freedom of it. Sometimes he really does just need an ordinary fight; no ancient, passed-down techniques or meticulously manipulated ki, just him and some random(s) on the street, guts against guts.

Still, the fight's not exactly fair. It's two-on-one, after all.]

C'moooon. [He yawns performatively as he ducks under the wide swing of one's augmented left hook, and then sweeps a leg out to knock the other to the ground.] What about four-on-one, huh? Then I might actually get a workout in.

ii → highstorm

[Ostensibly Yusuke seems as moved by this welcome reception as he had the other one: that is, not at all. His mood is obviously sour, and after a minute or so of listening to Florence's appeal, he turns his back on it with a scoff, just like he did Agapitos'.

Notably, though: this time he doesn't leave. He might not be impressed, but he could always tune back in later. If he felt like it.]

Blah blah blah. [He is not whispering or, like, even making a nominal attempt to affect fake politeness.] Same shit, different asshole. [If there is a line for food, he's elbowing his way into the middle of it and making a gesture at a plate of something starchy that's caught his attention.] Yo, you eating that or what?

[This is rhetorical, he's taking it whether you like it or not.]

iii → the crown

[He's having a weird week. Maybe that means he's indulging an old vice or two (or three, he's having a great time getting free cigarettes off of people who want to treat him like a hero for no reason). Whatever, he might be extra-triple-dog-dead or something at this point, so if he wants to lose what little money he's got, that's his business.

He's currently losing it playing slots. For better or worse, he's not the type of guy to mix strategy with his gambling.]

Damn! This game sucks, man. [Because he wouldn't lose if it were pachinko, right? Sure. He starts rifling through his own pockets.] What else do I got...

[Best if you quit while you're ahead, babe.]

iv → wildcard

[follow your dreams, besties. catch me here or @ pineappamatic on discord]

[In all likelihood, Ianchus will be Zenith! Also, will match style~]

I. Bearing Fruit

He's not a stranger to clambering and clawing his way out of the lurid swirl between nightmare and dream, but this one's fangs drag at him after awakening in a way he's not used to. Ianchus chokes as the dirt coats his throat, hardly noticing the strange burn at the base of his neck, his shoulders tensing against it--that feels right, and so it's not what's at the forefront of his mind. Only the gauntlet.

He doesn't even mark his digging himself out until he's sitting up, hair and dirt plastered to his face by cold sweat.

Ianchus hardly has a chance to take in his surroundings when he hears movement, scraping--fingers poking through soil a few feet away like so many little mushrooms. It clears his mind like a whiff of salts so wholly that he doesn't even have the capacity to be grateful for it. He pulls his lower half out of the little pit (grave) he's made for himself, scrambling over to help whoever's down there out, one hand clearing away the soil as the other grasps the groping hand.

II. Skysong

Oh, but he hates this place. The light hits the buildings so pretty, reminding him of Carrah. The speeches too, grand and meaningless, words he doesn't trust, the festivities that seem as empty and saccharine as sugar fish. At least the food is good, but the atmosphere turns his stomach...

...Until he sees those fantastic little sky-sails! Like what youths in the inner Cephean islands would amuse themselves with. Not something Ianchus had had much experience with, considering Carrah's sharp cliffs, and he'd always preferred something with a hull, but he'd tried his hand at the little sailboards once or twice in his youth. But these! Miracle of miracles, gifts of gifts! If his hosts insist, how could he not!

His disdain and malaise is briefly forgotten as he dips, sweeps--whether on a Cephean schooner or the larger ships that had traveled through the Cephea's waterways, a sail was a sail, and more so an old friend.

...But sky is not sea, and and the air does not pull the same way the greedy waves do, and as is eventual, Ianchus ends up overcorrecting, sending himself toppling through the air and landing hard--hopefully on something soft, or at least the ground, and not on a person. Ahh, man overboard! His noble stead seems to have slipped away!

II. Highstorm

...No, this isn't much better. More empty, simpering words, except this time with the moon throwing its sickly glow over it all. Ianchus escapes the area by the tree as quickly as he can, this time not even partaking in the food. Appeals, appeals, wherever he goes--would that they were wine so he could drown himself and find some use for them.

He does find wine in Bloody Marie's (what a name--but apt, considering the sharp tang of danger in the air), and then much more. Several glasses in Ianchus doesn't know whether he wants to fight or fuck or prostrate himself in one of those back rooms with the iron smell and let chance roll the dice. The indecision is maddening--he doesn't know what to do with himself, so he simply drinks more. The decision will come eventually, and Ianchus welcomes it--anything not to think.

Through his feverish, alcohol-soaked haze, he notices a table--he drags himself up, stumbles over with his glass, and taps it down on the table before the person sitting there.

"T--T. To your health!" He totally means it too! A toast to you!

III. Old Springstar

This feels the most comfortable to him--the most human (though he's canny enough to see that humanity may not be as bountiful here, all things considered). He's reminded of every port he's been in, establishments crowding each other for a perch, shady dealings in shady alleys, a microcosm of emotion and vice in every doorway.
He slips into the Crown, breathing in the smell of smoke as if it were the sweetest air. No one beckoning to him, telling him of hopes, or new futures, or deals. It's others' futures he gets to watch, others' deals.

He moves behind a player, leaning over them, eyeing their cards with a slight smile...this is...not good manners for a casino, oops.

IV. Wildcard
[Fancy something else? Hit me up in DMs or

vaderetro!]

Edited 2024-04-16 17:04 (UTC)

a. highstorm - baubles and shiny things

[It's the antiques and baubles market that catches Altria's attention first, as she drifts along like a ghost. She can't really help herself; it's frivolous, she knows, but...

... Everything is so beautiful, so clearly crafted with stunning care that she finds herself agog.

It's enough to make her forget herself, as she turns to the nearest person, pointing at one of the pieces of stained glass art enthusiastically:]

Look, look at that! Isn't it incredible? I wonder how they temper the glass like that without it breaking...

[Ector never taught her this...!!]

b. not this shit again

[She just wanted to take a look around. She just wanted to get her bearings, figure out more about this weird world she ended up in, and... maybe... enjoy it a little?

Listen. It's fine.

What isn't fine is the way that people take one look at her, at the shard buried in the base of her collarbone that her clothing doesn't quite completely hide, and are suddenly obsessed with her. ("Oh, a shard-bearer! Oh, a hero! One of the heroes who will save us all!")

Not again, she can't help but think.

Altria freezes like a deer in the headlights any time she's noticed by anyone who turns that shining look her way, and then, because she has absolutely no idea what to do, she flees.

Potentially right into you, honestly, if you're nearby, or you might see a girl running as if she's being chased by a ghost, ducking into any hiding place she can find.]

c. skysong - do u love the color of the sky

[Honestly, Altria can be found pretty much wherever, having wandered to and fro, but just staring at the sky. She's absolutely in the way. Whatever you were trying to do? She's in the way now.

Sorry.]

d. WILDCARD ME

[I'm easy, hit me with whatever and I'll roll with it!]

i. naked in the garden, back at the beginning (arrival)

In the initial peace of waking, as she reaches for the crystal and pulls it to her chest like one would a warm cup of tea, a kitten, a helping hand, she thinks, When you're born, you should be screaming. It's not supposed to be a pleasant.

And as is so often the case, it's like she summons her own ruin with that one thought. This leafy womb suddenly becomes a collapsing grave, peace becomes panic, and she stops thinking anything except dig. Escape. Kick at death and live.

Johanna Constantine emerges into the light streaked with dirt, naked, and gasping for breath.

"Fuck!"

So that's rebirth. Mixed bag, if you ask her. She looks around, wild-eyed, unsure what she's even looking for. Clothes? Companions? Danger?

ii. angel, he called me, does he know that i'm falling (Skysong)

After the initial shock of arrival has been compartmentalized away to be dealt with never, Johanna accepts temporary housing in Florence's mansion and then starts exploring. What else is one to do when one's old world has been destroyed, after all? May as well see what the new one has to offer.

At one of the gatherings in Skysong, Jo sips a drink and eyes the mingling Meridian Bearers with a mixture of curiosity and dry amusement. When someone catches her eye and gives her a nod, she smiles crookedly.

"So, do you buy it? The whole 'save the world' bit?"

Another day, she can be found leaning against a wall that gives her a view of Aetós' island, frowning thoughtfully. "What do you suppose they're doing in there?" she mutters -- to herself, to the air, or to anyone who may be passing by.

Johanna does also attend the church one day, staying behind in the space after the actual service has ended. Partly it's curiosity, sure, an interest in the runes projected onto the floor from the stained glass -- that's where her attention seems to be focused. But in an unguarded moment, she looks up into the colored light with an expression of deep melancholy, as if some kind of homesickness has washed over her.

ii. devil, you called me, but seem to be enjoying (Highstorm)

The "you could be my family" attitude of citizens in Skysong grates on Johanna, but the "you could be my new god" attitude towards Bearers in Highstorm isn't much better. This doesn't stop her from accepting free stuff in either place, of course -- never turn down a free pint, right? Still, she's antsy at the Highstorm gathering, eyeing the Zenith bearers with a calculating gaze.

When someone catches her eye, she lifts her drink in a wry toast and asks, "All right, then. What're you asking for?"

She also turns up at the Tomes more than once; in fact, there's a decent chance that if you're not watching closely, you'll trip over her sitting in the middle of one of the aisles with a book across her lap ~~like a teen in the Borders manga section in 2005~~. "Oi, careful there," she says, looking up in annoyance, "these things are expensive."

johanna girl you have a drink on the floor next to you who is being uncareful with these books exactly

Anyway, at Bloody Marie's, you might also hear her in conversation with a local when she snorts loudly. "Mate, I already came from the most surveilled city in the bloody world. I'm not bothered about Florence's elves on the shelves."

iv. and i will tell you now that i'm not even singing (cult of personality)

One thing that draws Johanna's attention no matter which location she's in are the shrines and memorials to the Shard-Bearers that sprang up during the Repose. Every time she sees one, she detours to examine it, looking over the offerings or decorations with undisguised curiosity. Is she in front of yours, or your friend's?

v. wildcard me captain!

[ooc: Got something else in mind? Want to introduce Johanna to a specific spot I didn't mention? Communion hijinks? HMU via PM or at AdivaCalandia! Johanna is ICly undecided on faction and will actively try to get people to sell her on their side.]

Edited 2024-05-07 20:23 (UTC)

I. ARRIVAL; (tree of life)

A ▶ [ the mind that awakens beneath the roots of the Tree is as tranquil as still water. any alarm or confusion is quietly set aside and replaced by determination, the sharp edge of a steel blade. and then a calloused hand breaks through the soil, a young man hauling himself up to the surface by whatever roots he can reach. only one sound escapes him, his voice rasping out a word: ]

Saber—

[ no. he remembers the dream. Saber isn't in this place. and even Kaya...

the Communion shivers, something dark and violent. ]

B ▶ [ despite the lingering disorientation, Iori stays to help others. any hand that claws its way free of the dark is taken in a firm grasp and carefully, gently, the new Shard-Bearer is unearthed. they're met by a young man with a calm expression; he is unclothed, his dark hair falls down the back of his neck, and at first glance, there seems to be a—hole in the middle of his chest?

but it catches the light: a Shard. a fist-sized gem nestled at the base of his sternum that is concave and black as pitch, its surface dull unless seen at certain angles. ]

Are you alright?

[ his voice is quiet. though he doesn't seem to have the most comforting manner, it's not unkind. ]

II. TWO CITIES; (highstorm or skysong)

A ▶ [ at gatherings in the name of Meridian or Zenith, Iori can be found in silent attendance. perhaps you recognise him from a forum held in the opposing faction, or from a similar meeting just the other week. no matter where he goes, the young man has a clear, steady gaze that seems to hide no darker thoughts or ill intent; it isn't warm, but nor is it an icy stare. he just seems to be... listening to whoever speaks. paying close, careful attention.

when the time comes to mingle, he's hardly a social butterfly, but nor does he shy away or shun others coldly. if he's approached, or if he sees someone who isn't in conversation with another, he'll engage them with a question and that sharp, striking attentiveness he wields: ]

I wonder... How much is it expected of you to align fully with the ideals of your chosen side? From the way people speak interchangeably about what their faction stands for and the outcome they desire, it feels more like you're choosing a warrior code to abide by...

[ which isn't a problem, necessarily. it's just an entirely different matter than "restore your world" or "create a new world." ]

B ▶ [ whether on the streets of Skysong or Highstorm, Iori certainly feels out of place. this is nothing like anywhere in Edo, to the point that it's almost overwhelming. is this how Saber felt when they were summoned as a Servant for the Waxing Moon Ritual? he's managed to get clothes he feels comfortable in, at least, a plain-looking kimono and hakama to match. the absent weight of the katana that should be at his hip prevents him from fully being at ease, though.

on top of that, it seems like he must stand out somehow, because more than one person has correctly identified him as a Shard-Bearer. could it be so obvious he's unfamiliar with this world? or perhaps they're simply aware that he's a new face? not that it changes things, no matter the answer. they ask him about himself, about his alignments, request his aid as though he were a soldier and not a lost ronin.

and, well... ]

Excuse me. [ you're flagged down by a young man; his Shard isn't visible, but the Aspect tattoo of a Harbinger stands out on the back of his left hand, marked in a vibrant red. and the vague sense of Communion resonates between you. ] Have you seen a white cat anywhere around here? It has a blue collar.

[ he's doing side quests. ]

III. FAIR TRADE; (old springstar)

[ eventually, Iori will have to choose a side. not for himself, but the choice that is best suited to the Path of Peace. he's well aware of this, and has devoted most of his time to understanding the people of each faction so that he can make a decision. in the meantime, though, he has no particular loyalties aside from himself and what is best for Kaya – which is why he doesn't hesitate to bargain with a merchant in Skysong to acquire a pair of katana for himself.

given his meagre amount of money to spare, the merchant makes him a deal: go to Old Springstar below and fetch some vital keepsakes and other items from the family home he had to leave behind when they chose to become citizens of Skysong. in return, the blades will be his.

which finds Iori standing outside a locked door down in Old Springstar, feeling somewhat at a loss. ]

Saber would have done this easily... [ he sighs, scratching idly at the back of his neck. without waiting for the person he can sense approaching him to announce themselves, he glances over his shoulder and asks: ] Do you happen to know how to pick locks?

[ after the words leave his mouth, Iori pauses. that steady countenance of his falters just slightly; he seems a little flustered as he adds— ]

Wait, this isn't what it looks like. I'm not some common thief. A former resident asked me to retrieve some things...

( ooc notes | hihi it's isa and my guy here comes with a warning for potential fate/samurai remnant spoilers, so let me know if you want me to keep a lid on those! there are certain types of characters in particular who might receive vague spoilers on sight, and i'll put those behind a drop-down/details tag if they appear. )

Edited 2024-05-14 06:53 (UTC)

A: Not Suspicious at All (Skysong)

[Akira has seen a lot in his eighteen years of life, but even for him, floating islands in the sky is a new one. Though a city bathed in eternal night is definitely more his speed, aesthetically, there's something drawing him toward the Meridian side of the land, and Akira has learned that it's best to follow where his heart takes him. That's what leads him to walking the streets of Skysong.

He's about the most unassuming kid you can meet. Black polo shirt. Slacks. Dark-rimmed fashion glasses that he doesn't actually need to see. Messy hair that he never bothers to do anything with. Another face in the crowd, really. Which suits him just fine.

Currently, he's standing in the shadows of an alley, leaning casually against the wall of a cafe. If you don't look too close, it seems like he's just resting there, minding his own business. Look closer, though, and you might notice...

Is he... eavesdropping on the people at the outdoor tables?]

B: Joke's on Me (Kowloon)

[Of course as soon as Akira learns of the underground city he has to go check it out.

He looks as unassuming here as he did up on the surface, same basic clothes, same fashion glasses. He keeps his hands in his pockets and walks with his shoulders slightly hunched.

It's not enough to keep eyes off him here, though, and when he turns down the wrong street, someone approaches.

"Hey kid, got any money?"

Akira hesitates, then gives a quick shake of his head. He tries to move past, but the man is persistent, blocking his way.

"I asked for your money, kid!" he snaps, and Akira is abruptly shoved to the ground. His glasses go flying off when he lands, his palms scraped on the stone where he catches himself.

The man has a knife out now, as he looms over Akira.

"Now, you better cooperate or... Hm?"

The man stops, staring down at Akira's face. What does he see? It may be hard to tell for anyone behind Akira.

Do you intervene? Or see where this goes?]

Peek into My Mind (Communion)

[Akira's communion is... kind of odd. At first it doesn't really seem like there's anything particularly special about it. At first brush, it might seem like this kid doesn't have much going on in his head at all, really; he's calm and quiet and not full of much color or emotion.

But those that pay more attention will feel that there's something swirling and shifting under the surface, like what's immediately visible is only one part of a much larger whole. And fellow Exalts will feel something else: a strong core of defiance, built of battle-tested willpower.

That said...]

Is there anywhere to get good curry around here?

Also... is anyone hiring?

[He's a man of few words. #silentprotaglife]