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

iii

[wolof]

[ She'd been about to speak up, when the voice floated nearby. Akua was "making the rounds", as it were, and as she'd been trying to find the new types that caught her attention. (Needed her guidance, is what she would say, but Akua did not feel the Name of Calamity resounding through her, and therefore could not claim the Title.)

This one was talking -- to someone? some thing? She'd thought they were talking to themselves, but... We ?

As she approached, her eyes caught sight of the glint around the back of their neck, and now that, that piqued her curiosity as well. She slid closer, tall and imposing, and dressed to what could reasonably called "the nines" by a normal person, but she wore it as comfortably as a pair of slacks, before she piped up, to address them. ]

You could, but hiding won't last for long. It's a... reasonable thing, to question who's telling the truth. There's, unfortunately, no way to tell. Yet.

[copeless]

[ They can't help it— the instinctual bolt of fear that runs through them when they abruptly stand and turn to see this imposing woman. She holds all the grace and confidence of all the mighty witches in their life, and she talks like one, too, cleverness and power exuding from her every attribute. Mercifully, the worst of it passes quickly, once they realize how pathetic they're being, and the sudden widening of their eyes and brief, sharp intake of a gasp could perhaps be written off as simple shock at being addressed so suddenly. They hope she writes it off as that. ]

...What do you mean by "won't last for long...?"

[ They question, after a moment to collect themself. Are... are people going to come looking for them, if they stay out of this whole mess? It sounds horrible. That there's no way to tell the truth yet takes a momentary backseat to the more pressing issue that there's no way to fully escape the predicament they've all been thrust into — they want to know, first and foremost, if their hand will be forced in this conflict. ]

[wolof]

What good comes from hiding from a conflict?

[ She asked, her tone not sharp, but... there's an iron in her voice. Those who hid from war... who fought so hard to pretend that a war would not touch their land, and they would be the special individuals who were immune to the attentions of the powers that wreaked havoc on any land. If it was so important for Evil to join in, shouldn't others? But, alas, that was a world away, a place long gone now, but the sentiment still held, knowing that the forces that would bear down on them will not let any remain idle. ]

In the end, if we all fail, we're all... gone. To nothingness. It does not matter if we fight, or we do not, but what we will stand against will come for each and every one of us, if we do not fight.

I don't know about you, but, I would hardly take such a thing sitting down. It would be an insult.

[copeless]

What you stand against...?

[ The Zenites, maybe? This is Springstar, after all, and the woman's attitude has to be the stark opposite of the calm, accepting, almost melancholy nature of those they've met and observed in Highstorm. If this woman believes in the Meridian's message, then it stands to reason that the Zenites would have to... destroy everything, in order to bring about their "new world." It'd paint the nature of that sect in a much more sinister, cruel light.

But up until this point, they've found themself getting more and more convinced of their world being gone. They're the pessimistic, gloomy sort, susceptible to assuming the worst has come to pass - moreover, if they ruminate on it, their circumstances weren't exactly ones they'd long to return to. Did that mean they wanted the whole world to be destroyed? No, but it made the concept of those horrible circumstances being gone easier to swallow. It's difficult, and has always been difficult, for them to muster up the courage to feel hope. So to speak to someone who could stand against the inherent despair of the other side so strongly... she must have a reason. ]

Are you talking about the Zenites? It... it didn't seem like the people here and there were fighting, really... I just didn't want to get in the way.

[ Their desire to hide had been born more out of a simple, learned urge to avoid getting wrapped up in other people's problems— not to escape fighting with such gravity as she seems to imply. The woman said what they stand against would come for them. Are things that hostile? Or is there some other threat they have yet to even learn about? It sounds so grave, when she says it - they can't help but look a little fearful. ]

[wolof]

Hm, I would say, consider it something of a... stalemate, yes? I've had plenty of pleasant conversations with our supposed opponents.

[ She, herself, had her doubts, and her tone says as much. She does not wish to destroy all -- she's done that, and found the act left her wanting. ]

However, there will come a time when we have to...choose. Which side we will fight for. Either we will support the destruction of everything else, or according to the Meridian, we can bring our worlds back.

I do not know if I believe in their promise. However... if I had to choose between destroying it all, and maintaining what we have? I know where I lie. [ It's said with a shrug, as if it was a mere fact. That she looked every part the posh lady, who should reside in palaces and politicians halls meant nothing. ]

The world we were just in -- some of us -- was one of pure strife. However, just because we have peace now, it is something that is very easily broken.

[copeless]

[ They suppose they would have always eventually had to know the state of relations between the two factions, if they're going to live here— but it doesn't make hearing about the tenuous peace any easier on their nerves. It might seem like Springstar, and the room this symposium is taking place in are relatively safe, but to Crona, the more they hear about the inevitability of this ending stalemate, the more and more paranoid they become about their surroundings. Each person walking around could be a potential enemy. And with their sudden loss of all that might have protected them before... their heart thunders away in their chest from anxiety, noticeable in the uncomfortable grimace that drags at their face, even through their attempts to mute it. ]

Then... all the ones who came from that tree... [ Each person they'd seen clawing their way out, each one they'd spoken to at Zenith's meet and greet, and even this woman before them, allegedly, ] Everyone will be on different sides.

[ Indecisive as they are, they can imagine others will have stronger inclinations towards one side. In a great conflict, there's no such thing as being friendly with the other side - that's just a kindness waiting to be taken advantage of. Their lips pull into a thin, taut line, hugging themself tighter. ]

How can you speak to me so easily, then...? [ Or any of the new shard-bearers, for that matter? ] I might not...

[ They might end up her enemy. What would be the point of ever trying to be kind to them, then? ]

[wolof]

Do you think I am not allowed to have cordial relations with someone who might end up an enemy?

[ She asked, and her tone is genuinely curious. She may not know where this person is from, but... how many times had she tried to speak with Catherine, to try to bring her to her side? She had built an entire weaving simply to force Catherine to experience three lives where she would bow to her, and to find herself at her feet. And then...

Well, and then she found herself dead, but Catherine Still spoke to her -- an enemy.

Over, and over. Used her power, used her knowledge, and Akua played along, made little jokes with them, with the Woe, and tried to pretend to be one of them for long enough that she found that she was one of them. She had been pulled into the inexorable power of the Warden's personality, roped into what she offered, and while she could say she had been deceiving them, it was herself just as much.

Her smile was knowing, as she tapped her lip, considering. ]

If I am to convince you to join with us, why would I turn you away, if you have questions? If you become our enemy, how am I to convince you to eventually choose us, if I only attack?

[ A scoff. ] Even Villains are not always so hasty, you know.