Let's do the Test Drive Again

[wolof]

I. 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 looking down, and they spill forth as if 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.

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. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.

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

You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.

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.

II. BOUGH-BREAKER, ROOT-QUAKER

There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that their elders return to the Tree to greet them, to bring them forth and answer their questions. She warns that it will be unlike the last time, for the Dryad's presence has gone -- the root-caverns of the Tree are damaged, the previous actions of some of the Shard-Bearers have left it injured, blackened by ill intent. Be careful, Commune where you must, but be aware that the Tree has reacted to its injury and will seek out the space within your Communions to make its agonies known.

All will experience the consequences to the actions of the few.

Whether awakening within or descending once more into the cavernous, root layer of the Tree of life is precarious; passages are maze-like, with claustrophobic squeezes and sudden chasms. Worse yet, is the miasma that hovers in the atmosphere. It leaches into your eyes, your skin, the space below your fingernails and drags through your lungs with every inhalation. Images of explosions, of fire and the sensation of shrapnel tearing through you begin to spark like fireworks within your mind. The pain builds, souring as it does.

The ambiance here is revolting. Great chasms have opened in the environment, threatening to pour inattentive Shard-Bearers into the Tree's deeper underbelly. The cloying, dark vapors around everyone dull the senses, until those you may have entered with are gone, or perhaps new bodies have joined you in the rancid space. The miasma urges you towards your baser desires, your desperate violence, and even as the Tree's pain evokes a sense of desperate self-defense, your Shard warms upon your body.

Somehow, the Tree still seeks to Commune with all -- pressing its need upon you: a single flame. A roaring pyre. A chilled ember.

THE GAME IS AFOOT

The Tree of Life cannot communicate but in abstract images and sounds, but the general gist of its need is eventually grasped by all Shard-Bearers: the miasma present is the result of an attack upon the Dryad that once lived among the roots of the Tree. Actions taken by other Shard-Bearers have left the Tree in dire straits, deeply wounded and unable to prevent itself from naturally lashing out in its own defense as it dies. It cannot let go of those it has imprisoned, until they have revealed their nature to it - until it knows it can finally, finally let go.

Characters can decide amongst themselves how to deal with the threat of miasma. It's easy to figure out, as your shards will naturally want to absorb what's similar to discord within your shards, but just like with discord, holding hands, or joining together in some way will allow the pain to be shared amongst everyone in the group. There's no such thing as failure, but if a character decides for the group, there may be the opportunity for intervention…

• Characters may choose to take on the role of a martyr, accepting the Tree's miasma ( its pain ) upon themselves as the sole sufferant. They will experience excruciating pain and lasting effects, but will spare others from this trauma.
• Characters may also choose to share the pain among themselves, though doing so will require Communion to be shared between all parties -- this will result in the temporary collapse of boundaries and barricades, and emotions and memories may flow against their will into others.
• Characters may also decide to do nothing at all, whereupon their decision to take no action will result in the miasma growing stronger, denser and more cloying until they are rendered unconscious and ejected from the roots of the tree.
• Have you a choice unique to your character that wasn't mentioned? Might you try to heal the tree's pain, or perhaps harm it further? If you're making the attempt, make sure your group is aware and submit your record of action to the link included below!

This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and three is a recommendation - if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get into philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until JANUARY 9TH, after which a tally will be taken of decision and filed away for later, devious uses.

III. TWO CITIES, ALIKE IN DIGNITY BUT WE ALL KNOW YIMOMMY'S WHERE IT'S AT

Having just celebrated the dual-natured festivities known as the Year's End Festival and Qiasu, Springstar and Highstorm ( respectively ) are wrapping up the period of time where Kenos a celebrates unity and togetherness, coming together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time. While the core festivities are over, many of the residents of Kenos are still caught up in the celebratory mood; those who are not, have begun to fret and whisper about a rumor that has spread throughout both cities.

( Many more residents are attempting to get rid of their excess stock, and may attempt to pawn off kitschy goods and, strangely, unclaimed gifts for people they claim they have no memory of, or simply do not exist. )

With the new Shard-Bearers present or en route, it is Kathova and Cetina that approach the established ones, 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 Springstar for a small, casual meet-and-greet to be held before the new Shard-Bearers are unleashed upon Kenos as a whole.

Additionally, as Springstar and Highstorm are holding their events on different days, it is possible for the knowledge-hungry to participate in both informational sessions -- the tones and opinions held by both cities are doubtless to differ, and some Shard-Bearers who have chosen to harmonize with either faction may even find their way to the opposing faction's session as well. After all, the year's end is still lingering in the air, and cooperation is the current name of the game.

SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

In Springstar, the seat of the Tribune becomes available for such a forum. While a section of the building itself has been reserved for the meeting between fresh faces and experienced Shard-Bearers alike, the hustle and bustle of Heliopolis continues around them -- acolytes still gather their robes and tomes, hurrying from their quarters to lessons. A score of young militants march in step across the yard to the training grounds.

Tables draped in white-and-gold-trimmed fabrics fare filled with fare common to Springstar's warmer climate -- fruits and wines, savory smoked meats and roasted vegetables, a series of meze platters and souvlaki skewers have been lain out to encourage forum participants to snack as they speak. The atmosphere is light, ambient with informality and friendliness, though topics will inevitably stray towards philosophic, Springstar's meeting grounds are decorated with handsome chaise lounges and slouching klismos chairs in small, intimate groupings.

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Eternally in opposition, Highstorm provides the Manor's courtyard as the setting for their informational meeting. Here, formality is of utmost importance, with attending Zenith loyalists and residents dressed in beautiful, albeit austere attire -- they are, after all, standing before Lady Yima's home. A buffet-style luncheon is spread alongside one of the largest reflecting pools, wherein you may gaze and find your memories revealed in retrospect upon the water's surface.

There are few places to be seated in the Manor's courtyard, resulting in a milling of bodies as they flow and ebb between smaller gatherings, clustering in small-to-large groups with small platters and shimmering flutes of drink held in their hands.

RUMOR MILL

In both locations information passes between all in a forum, spread and disseminated among the masses - it's a good opportunity for city residents, faction loyalists and interested new parties to share and share alike. Once the meet-and-greet has concluded, twin missives from both of the faction leads are read out -- invitations for all present to explore the cities to their heart's content, and warnings about stumbling ill-prepared ( or at all ) into the Below, or worse yet, the Beyond.

No matter how conversations between player characters go, everyone will walk away with the following knowledge to ensure new players do not feel "behind" in terms of what has previously happened on Kenos TV.

• Cyrus, the head of the Meridian faction is a native aristocrat of Springstar, who provides characters with an iliachtida, or sunbeam. This item tethers a character to their world, ensuring it does not fully disappear. His stance involves the idea that, using Meridian's light, worlds can be restored and you may return home.
• In contrast, the head of the Zenith faction is Yima, who has been the head of Highstorm since - arguably - its inception. She provides characters with a Shard of that they love most, to protect and hold. Yima believes former worlds to be lost, and looks to the future instead.
• While Harmonization occurs as the characters' Shard ( literally the manifestation of a character's soul! ) accrues the natural energies generated by Meridian or Zenith, Discord is also as natural an occurrence -- a symptom, in fact, of that process. Discord is best reduced by someone from the opposite faction, and is also influenced by the Aspect of one's character.
• Cyrus likes enchiladas.
• Many individuals recommend the following locations to new arrivals, as a means of enjoyment, involvement or further information-seeking: Highstorm's Court at Yima's Manor remains a great area for reflection and self-discovery, while the Tomes - a series of libraries - possess a magnitude of amassed knowledge, both foreign and relative to yourself. Heliopolis, the capital of Springstar, is the core of government and administration, and houses many avenues towards involvement in the goings-on of the city. Likewise, the Psychagogía District is the beating heart of entertainment within an island known for its passions.
• Rumors of past exploits linger on the lips of many. Did you know that one of Meridian's Harmonized slew one of Zenith's before the eyes of countless bystanders? That there was an expedition of Meri and Zenite Shard-Bearers dispatched to Alenroux, and some came back brutalized! Did you hear that the Shard of a Zenite is being held hostage by the Meridians?
• The new marking that has appeared upon your character's body is known as their sign of Aspect, and supposedly correlates to the fundamental truths of their soul. A Shard also exists, and is known as the characters' soul itself.

NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need an invite to play in the game, which are now open.

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

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 Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved 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 Navigation page and check out the locations!

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!

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 in which Faction they'd be drawn to.

New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.

Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈

CODING

Comments

tyki mikk | d.gray-man

[joyd]

I. BEARING FRUIT

[It's an ugly and undignified thing, to be ripped from the dirt like a weed. His clothes are ruined by the process, formalwear tattered and dirt-stained, opposite of the polished white dream beginning to fade from his mind. He understands where he is — but it doesn't mean he will like it, or truly comprehend why him when it means he must be separated from his family, from his duty.

Still, the fact of his presence is reassuring. His soul is one piece of many; if he lives, so can they. Eventually.

Out of the ground, Tyki hauls himself unaided, where he stands and begins to brush off his clothes with a well-worn sigh. If there is anyone in proximity, he'll say:] Couldn't there be a better way? I get the symbolism, trust me. New beginnings and all that. But it's just so... primitive.

[However, if he should chance upon another hand grasping into the light, Tyki will take it by the wrist and haul them to salvation with a powerful yank. Still looking annoyed, filthy, and tired.] Don't thank me for it yet. How do you feel about the end of the world? It's a rude awakening for sure.

II. BOUGH-BREAKER, ROOT-QUAKER

[This is really not an ideal situation, somehow getting worse every minute. The miasma is toxic; Tyki isn't used to such a corrosive smell, shielding his mouth and nose against it as he trespasses through that cavernous place. And all the while the Noah in his mind is growing louder, like a ringing black bell — it isn't as if he's denied himself violence in the past. But this clearly is not the time or place. Without his abilities, as Tyki had noticed immediately, anything he does won't even be satisfying. Or so he tells himself.]

What is the purpose of this 'Tree of Life' again? Do we really need to save it? We ought to be on our way, I think, for our own sakes.

III. HIGHSTORM

[The choice is obvious, and Tyki does not spend much longer agonizing in the end. Perhaps he will change his mind at a later time. He isn't resolved against this — but he sees no reason to bring back a world full of God, and Innocence, and troublesome little Exorcists stepping on his toes. A new world is what the Earl had in mind for them to begin with, in those three days of darkness. If Tyki is here, then the Noah will be resurrected just the same. So there is no issue at all. Wipe the slate entirely clean.

He is avoiding the reflection pool, however, after he had crossed it by accident and witnessed an unpleasant memory of a sword slicing through him. (REF: 1, 2.) There were strangers nearby; he can only hope they did not witness it too.

At one of the tables, picking over a plate of fancy hors d'oeuvres, Tyki makes small talk with his company.]

So, what happens if that little crystal is destroyed? The 'Shard', was it?

IV. COMMUNION/WILDCARD

A. [The images received through Communion are senseless and overwhelming — twisted mangled bodies, death and war, chaos, countered at odds with sentiments of warmth and compassion, an evocative enjoyment that pervades everything. Somewhere within this reel of countless lifetimes comes a question. It is not spoken in words, but somehow solidifies in the recipient's mind all the same.

Do you believe in God?]


B. [A more normal Communion this time, please ignore that other thing.]

Does anyone know where I might be able to find some new clothes? I'm afraid these are beyond repair.

[And a brief image of his filthy suit.]

[ooc: Open to other ideas or scenarios! Hit me up at magisterium if you want to plot, I have no plans for team stuff, I am wingin' it. Also pretend I didn't change my character plans at the last second.]

iii

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian has been doing his part throughout the little gathering to chat and mingle. He’s talkative by nature, but the conversations here in Kenos were also just inherently more interesting to be had. Though he had hardly grown bored of the human realm he was summoned to, the possibilities of infinitely more were simply fascinating.

So, as a seat had opened up at the table, Sebastian had taken it for nothing more than whim and conversation. He doesn’t have a plate of food, just a glass of wine. It tastes barely better than the food to his tongue, but it would be strange to have nothing, he figured. He’s looking out into the crowd with idle interest when Tyki asks his question, and Sebastian turns his attention back. ]

Ah, are you one of our new arrivals, in that case? [ It’s a slightly rhetorical question since he only pauses for a moment to give a slightly apologetic shrug. ] Well, it may be a bit alarming, but you die. Technically, it is more than dying, as it destroys your soul.

[ It’s rather blunt, sure, but considering the stakes, he felt it was better to just be straightforward about that much. ]

They are decently sturdy, though. I can at least assure you that you shan't be breaking it by accident, at the very least.

[joyd]

[At first glance, he can appreciate the stranger's sense of decorum, well-dressed enough to suit the manor's courtyard. Tyki feels right at home entertaining the idle conversation — and the macabre nature of the topic doesn't seem to faze him, nor does he appear at all alarmed at the prospect of death by Shard-shattering.

His poker face is excellent. The destruction of his body means nothing but an irritating inconvenience; the destruction of his soul, and possibly the last remnant of the Noah currently in existence, is something else. We'll sweat that out later.]

You clocked that quickly. I have some catching up to do on how this place functions, it seems. [Tyki selects a canapé from one of the trays, but doesn't move to eat it right away.] Now did you learn this by experience, or were you told? I'm curious if anyone's faced such a fate just yet.

III

[zauneyete]

Oh, that's easy.

[ Said someone lurking nearby, who came with the wafting air of foulness from the cheap, vile cigars he smoked. If Tyki had noticed him earlier, he's likely to notice that the man had spent most of this time either smoking, drinking from his over-filled glass of whiskey, or had looked on the entire affair with such loathing that it's a really a question as to why this man with a dualtoned gaze was even here.

He didn't appear to have a shard, but maybe that's because he's dressed from neck to toe, even his hands are covered these days with fine velvet gloves, so it's honestly hard to tell if he's not a shard-bearer or not at first. His lips quirked into a sarcastic (albeit somewhat nasty) smile, when he finally finished the statement. ]

You die. Permanently. As long as that little crystal remains...

[ A twitch on the one eye that moved, and that smile turned down. Gee, almost like he's experienced that recently. ] You'll be able to come back from...nearly anything.

[joyd]

[Silco, you look just like a man he'd find in a seedy drug den with his miner buddies, he's immediately keen.

Showing no sign that he's bothered by the pervasive scent of whiskey or cigar smoke, Tyki hums thoughtfully. The part of him squirming at the idea of his soul's destruction — the Noah, certainly, in preservation of its millennial existence — is masked by an artful composure.]

'Nearly anything', the man says. Well. Good to know. It'd be nice to have some more specifics, but beggars can't be choosers, eh? [He drifts toward one of the tables laden with alcohol and pours himself his own glass of throat-scorching whiskey.] Guess I'll have to be careful not to let anyone get their hands on it. I've noticed it can be taken out of the body, but that's about the extent of my own experimentation.

What are your thoughts on all this?

i.

[catfident]

[ Her knight in shining armor. ❤️

Just kidding, he's streaked with dirt as she also is, though the difference between them is that he at least has fabric to cover his modesty, while all she has is her curtain of hair, tangled from her escape from her impromptu grave. Well, not like nudity has ever bothered her anyway. She's had too many centuries to grow out of shame and embarrassment.

Tyki's left with no answer as Yoruichi coughs out the dust in her lungs, a grimace on her face as her free hand presses against her thigh and she catches her breath. What a hell of a greeting. ]

Not my thing.

[ She's used to many 'ends' - the end of a human life, the end of her tenure as a member of Soul Society - but each end had always been part of a natural order, the continuation of two worlds held in delicate balance.

Glancing up, she catches a glimpse of the scuffled up suit and the sober expression on his (handsome) face. ]

Are you here to welcome me into some sort of afterlife? [ Extremely funny and ironic, if so. ] Sorry, but I'll have to pass if that's the case.

[joyd]

[If there's any shock to find the woman entirely in the nude, Tyki doesn't show it, only shifting to remove the tailored coat from broad shoulders to offer it out in a pair of hands, white gloves darkened by soil now.]

Here, have this. It isn't much, but better than going without, I'd think.

[A woman should retain her modesty if possible. He is, at least, a gentleman among all of other less moral qualities.]

Unfortunately, I'm not. I woke up just the same, but I suppose you can consider me a welcome party. One as equally disappointed by this whole affair as yourself. Doing all right?

[Tyki looks around, taking in their surroundings for what might be the best way out. They're on their own now, it seems.]

Tyki Mikk, by the way. What's your name?

iv-a;

[hurricaneofblood]

[ His eyebrows furrow at the question. He can't help but give the sensation of tilting his head, like a dog hearing an noise that they've not encountered before. It's in response, however, to the question rather than the sights that came before it.

In fact, Flamebringer offers feelings of peace and excitement at the sight of blood and the chaos of war. But now he is asked about 'god' and presses his lips together into a thin, confused line. Eventually, he decides to just ask. ]

What do you mean?

[joyd]

[Oh, boy. He had meant to telegraph that query as a way of scoping out whether there were any Exorcists present in this place, like a shark scenting blood in the water, but it seems he's overshot.

Time to play it cool. Tyki isn't necessarily hiding who and what he is; he just understands the disadvantage it could place him at until he's regained his strength and gathered his bearings.]

I apologize. [These words translate less intensely, calmer than before.] Just a little curiosity. I know different cultures have unique perspectives on God and God's place in their lives, so I wanted to see what others thought here in Kenos. It must be quite varied.

iii, that's right, we're wearing this prompt out hard

[sharaska]

[ This stranger witnessed it.

Ocelot, now dressed following an inconvenient and somewhat undignified arrival sans clothing, has chosen to blend into his surroundings by donning both the garb and mannerisms of the Highstorm residents here to provide aid to any new arrivals. So well has he managed this, in fact, that his positioning near the pool (though at such a calculated angle that his own reflection doesn't appear in its surface) could seem entirely coincidental.

He's in motion so as not to outstay his welcome, however, when Tyki speaks – the food had been calling his name but now so too does a little questioning. ]

Entertaining a few dangerous ideas? Are you asking for yourself or for somebody else?

bunch of morally grey death-obsessed weirdos

[joyd]

[Of course he did.

For his own part, Tyki will not bring it up unless asked, though he doesn't shy from the current questioning. He is not that keen on hiding himself; there's no real reason to, given how this place collects other worlds and he suspects most will not know of the millennium war between God and Adam. Still, neither will he advertise himself. Survival is important. He doesn't know what his own death will do to the reincarnation of Noah.]

For myself. [What do you think he is, a murderer?????? Shut up.] It seems significant, doesn't it? That little Shard. If its destruction comes with any ill effects, well... Of course I'd like to know ahead of time.

You seem to fit in right at home here. What are your thoughts on Zenith?

iv a.

[pyojeol]

I was in the middle of eating, asshole!

[the words are sharp, but there's no real heat to her anger -- just annoyance -- like a meal interrupted, or a foot randomly tread on.

and it's not even deserved, since Sooyoung goes right back to eating anyway.]

And yeah, sure, they're out there somewhere, doing whatever boring things gods do, I guess.

[joyd]

Whoops. Sorry about that. Hope I didn't ruin your meal.

[Lesson learned, don't send weird eldritch messages on the live telepathic mind channel — but at least he'll be able to weed out any individuals of interest a little easier now.

Evidently, not this person.]

That has to be the first time I've ever heard someone call a god boring, though. Not much for spirituality?

iv-a!

[bloodsugar]

[ oh, good sir, how fortuitous a question to be asking a priest!! haha. ha,

Abel is a Meridian-aligned spirit and one who welcomes this Stranger's Voice with open arms; Tyki will feel as much - along with a little friendly trickle that serves in place of the usual 'hello' that would come with normal verbal conversation.

in answer, Tyki gets this in reply, chipper and high-energy:

I most certainly hope so, or I think I might very well be out of a job, sir...! But this is quite the icebreaker, I have to say! Are you sure you want to start with so heavy a topic, my friend? Bold, yes, very bold of you, but... Um. Say, don't you don't want to ask something like, 'oh, Father Abel, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?' or, 'do you prefer coffee or tea?', or, you know. Something of that ilk? Mm? Sir?

wow it's like he completely missed all the extremely disturbing imagery at the beginning of this Communion or something! maybe it passed through a hole in his swiss cheese brain; who knows.

anyway, time for a totally normal conversation between a very friendly man asking about God and a priest who is just SO enthused to help him!!!! ]

oh my god please stay away from him forever abel, save yourself

[joyd]

[Did he just get telepathically tickled.

Father Abel. The Noah's response in him is immediate, a surge of volatile hatred he thankfully manages to keep from communicating back, twisting bitterly within himself. Tyki, unseen, gives a particularly nasty smile.

His own response remains composed, idle, thoughtful.

Isn't this the best way to go to know someone? After all, if I hadn't asked that question, I never would have known you were a man of the Church. How interesting. Is that an occupation you carried in your previous life, prior to our arrival here?

What's your location, I just wanna talk.]

IV-A

[sharmat]

(another breach in voryn's mind, though allowed by him, makes him a bit Hysterical.)

Hah-hah-hah.

Gods exist, and however many there actually are in the infinite planes beyond our own, they are each of them as cruel as the first and last. They interfere with the mortal world to gratify and entertain themselves with our woes.

Liberate yourself from the divine if you fear it; gods are powerful, but they are not all-powerful.

poor voryn time to meditate to get away from these peons

[joyd]

[Compared to the other varied responses he's received, and the one priest he's definitely going to have to kill at some point, this one is quite compelling.]

Not a particularly keen outlook. I'm very intrigued, though, that you'd say they aren't all-powerful. Is that speaking from experience?

Have you met many gods?

IV b!!

[oomfies]

[ Usually, Lottie makes it a point to not get involved in anyone's business but her own. And, usually, Lottie's brain isn't assaulted with weird jargon and images about God!! So for once she decides to do the opposite, ]

Yikes..

[ There's sympathy, just palpable enough to be felt, along with her reply. ]

Where are you at?

[joyd]

[He appreciates the sympathy. It wouldn't have bothered him, in another context, but here and now he shouldn't be anything less than put-together. So he's suffering, and the lamentation is evident through Communion in response.]

Over in Highstorm, the Manor's courtyard. I was going to join everyone for lunch, but I'd rather get cleaned up first. Think you can help a poor man out? I don't mind traveling elsewhere with directions.

iv-a.

[subsist]

[ Archons. That sure isn't the sort of image he'd like to be receiving this early in the morning, but that was his fault for accepting the Communion in the first place.

When he replies, there's a bitterly cold presence that filters through. ]

Is this your idea of an ice-breaker? It's quite evocative, I'll give you that.

[joyd]

[Oh, cold. Like frost across his thoughts, chilling to the core. That's an interesting first impression.]

Sorry about that. I'm still getting the hang of this as you can see. I hope I didn't bother you too much?

iv-a

[goldendeceiver]

[ Ah... that sure was some kind of deeply unpleasant slideshow presentation there. Kind of hard to figure out what to make of all of that. ]

Something troubling your mind...?

[ Because it sure seems that way with all of that mixed up into that particular question. ]

[joyd]

[I'm so sorry, forgive him and please ignore it, just the 7,000-year-old eldritch creature in him showing its ass.]

Sorry, I think I made a mistake with this Communion thing. It's all very new to me. Nothing wrong, just some idle thoughts. Hope it wasn't too disturbing?

iv.a

[regression]

[ In response to the visions being sent is a cold numbness to it all, as if the scenes are normal. Expected. Inevitable. There's some annoyance like this is an inconvenience.

I believe they're killable. Dramatic?? But unyielding. That is the most important part about gods to Joonghyuk, personally. ]

hi julia it's time ( iv-a im gross )

[redsoil]

[ As ripples will inevitably be cast back upon their origin, Tyki receives the rush in return: the cries of defiance and pain, the clash of weapons and flesh; a child torn from the arms of a screaming mother, a man choking on himself as he is pierced through and through again, there is a distinct sense of comprehension that flows through it. Meaning, purpose. Something entirely inhuman in thought and view of battle, war and death. Bloodlust tangles with divine severity.

Above it all, the redhead'd god of war arches a brow. Larger than life, in Communion, with blood sleek upon his bare feet and the desert flowing free from the ends of his hair. Does he believe in god? He is such a thing, precisely woven into the shape of Tyki's memories? insensate thoughts? ]