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Let's do the Test Drive Again
I. BEARING FRUIT (NEW CHARACTERS ONLY)
It starts out as a pleasant dream. Youāre in your favorite place, with your favorite people. Itās 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, theyāre not stars. Youāre certain. Theyāre 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 youāre with, but theyāre frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you wonāt 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. Thereās agony as if youāre being ripped apart, and thenā
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a womanās voice speaks gently.
Iām sorry it couldnāt be saved. But, come, itās 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, itās odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, itās warm. Familiar. Important. You donāt 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 youāre 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 donāt 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 youāre born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once youāve 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.
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, theyāre not stars. Youāre certain. Theyāre 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 youāre with, but theyāre frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you wonāt 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. Thereās agony as if youāre being ripped apart, and thenā
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a womanās voice speaks gently.
Iām sorry it couldnāt be saved. But, come, itās 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, itās odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, itās warm. Familiar. Important. You donāt 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 youāre 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 donāt 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 youāre born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once youāve 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.
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 interventionā¦
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 interventionā¦
- 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!
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 oneās wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and oneās 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.
( 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, Ī±Ī¹ĻĪ½Ī¹ĪæĻ Ī®Ī»Ī¹ĪæĻ
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.
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, Š»ŃŠ½Ń-Š±Š»ŠøŠ·Š½ŠµŃŃ
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.
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.
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 PsychagogĆa 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
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[ It may have been mumbled, but as if Sebastian would miss a chance to be Too Intense about cats? Though actually, this one is much more normal, a wry little statement. Thereās plenty to touch on otherwise. But he might return to the topic of cats later, who can know. Anyways, ]
Well, I have more certainty on the tether than the future of things here, I admitā¦
[ He brings a hand to his chin thoughtfully, though itās only as he considers which part to get into first. Theyāre both a bitā¦complicated, to put it lightly, but this man doesnāt seem to be opposed to what could potentially be a long conversation. He decides to start with the one that, unbeknownst to him, may make it a much shorter conversation since Sebastian feels like it helps to explain his view on the latter. ]
I may as well start with that. Technically speaking, I came from two worlds. One realm is my true home, and one is where I am summoned. I have ties to both that run deeply. It is not impossible that my tie to the latter could be severed, and so in truth, I cannot be certain about the fate of that world. But the former? No, if it were still there, I would know. I likely could not be here at all, were that the case, as I would have been pulled back to it.
[ Itās all a bit vague, which Sebastian dislikes in terms of an explanation since he feels it may just be more confusingā¦ But itās also the best way to state it broadly without getting into the specificities of Hell and demon summoning and the like, which are irrelevant to the point he means to get at. Itās an explanation given in a perfectly conversational way, as if he were explaining some technical aspect of the weather. He hardly keeps what he is secret at this point, after all.
Which, lmao, ]
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Or: thanks, that gets him to laugh briefly before Sebastian starts in with his Explanation, which may or may not be the very last time Anders expresses a pleasant emotion around this guy, who can say! It is a vague explanation, but it's vague in the exact kind of way that makes sense to Anders, given it's exactly the kind of situation that he and Justice has been in, isn't it? A spirit from the Fade tethered into the "real" world through, of course, a willing host...
Which. Would mean.
Hold on,] What do you mean, "summoned"?
[Keep it cool Anders, keep it casual, don't accuse some guy you just met of being a demon, he's probably too well-dressed to be a demon? But he's definitely not a spirit? Unless he's taken over this well-dressed body, which isn't a great sign either...
He is keeping it so casual. What Do You Mean Summoned.]
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Well, there are all sorts in Kenos. I am sure you have likely seen a few already since there are some people that stand out more than others! There are many people who are not human here—if you will pardon my assumption that this is what you are—myself included.
[ He gestures towards himself gently as he gets to the explanation with a demeanor much more fitting to a patient teacher than, well. Anders is about to find out. ]
I will not bore you with the details of it, but where I came from, it was not possible for me to exist in the human realm without being summoned there. I am a demon, if you are familiar with them? [ lmao ] Though, if you are, I can at least give an assurance that I am not very much like what stories tend to say of us.
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Or: Anders is, somehow, foolishly, expecting to be pleasantly surprised. They've had a perfectly normal conversation, all things considered- this guy even likes cats- so he's holding out with the last pitiful drops of optimism he has left that there's something else that would be summoned from one realm to another.
But no, of course not, because that would be easy. He hears "I am a demon" and he almost doesn't hear the rest, and his hands twitch, wishing desperately he had a staff to reach for or a spark of magic to forcefully pull through whatever's been stopping it. That other man, the little one with the glasses, had said it has to do with harmonization, and what if he just popped away real quick to do that so he can come back with a fireball—
He takes a step back, haltingly, and then another. If the wariness wasn't already evident in every taut line of him, the way his otherwise pleasant expression has twisted into a grimace probably helps. Wow! Actually, fuck this!]
If you know the stories, you should already know I won't believe you at all. What are you really doing wandering around here? What business does a demon have at a-- a garden party?
[So meeting demons is going great.]
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[ Itās a single, curious sound as Anders steps back. Itās not the first time heās been met with a negative reaction, but this isthe most immediately sour. Heās been met with wariness and distrust, and he would hardly begrudge either. Stories about demon and their ilk were widespread and never flattering. For good reason, of course.
Sebastianās smile stays in place, though the warmth in it does diminish by a fraction. It wouldnāt do to come off as overly saccharine. ]
Well, I do not know if I would call it business, reallyā¦ It merely seemed like an ideal place to meet those who are newly arrived. [ In this case, thatās really all it was, so he shrugs. ] It is fascinating to chat with people from truly all sorts of places, after all! I enjoy a good conversation.
[ Which, it does seem that this conversation has taken a turn, hasnāt it? He cants his head lightly, and thereās a friendly curiosity in his tone as he asks: ]
Why, are you familiar with my kind, sir?
no subject
coming soon: Anders' demon type headcanons]
Unfortunately. I don't know what I expected, trying to get a straight answer out of a demon.
[It was a perfectly fine answer, but he's already applied the It's A Lie filter, so oops... He continues to just take more and more steps back, culminating in pointing dramatically at Sebastian here in this public square. He can never come back to this town, the shame of it.]
You'd be wise to keep your distance, scourge. This is your first and only warning!
[It's cringe that he has to give warnings instead of going straight to Fireball, and nothing else is cringe at all. He's just going to, like... skedaddle... before he gets possessed, or worse, remembers they are in public.]
no subject
Itās precisely the right thing to do for the type of demon that Anders is used to. But for Sebastian? Itās a reaction that very firmly puts Anders in the unfortunate category of being interesting to the demon. He also suspects that it may be the second case where his mere presence may have edged someone just a tad closer to Meridian than Zenithā¦ Ah, well.
Heāll definitely make sure to run into that man again. ]