MARCH TDM + SETTING UPDATES

[beleos]

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.

TWO CITIES, ALIKE IN DIGNITY

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.

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 typical 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.

However, those who have attended the forum in the past or simply have a sharp eye may notice: food doesn’t flow as freely in a feast-like setting as before. It’s more subdued in presentation and portion because as you may hear, the Blight (see below) is an affliction that’s been affecting the food stores of Springstar and Highstorm both. The Meri are nervous about this and blame it on the Zenites since they had won the Oracle on the Scorching Isles (January's event) and with it, punished the Meridian, even if unintentionally. As such, those who are notable Zenites or who wear their allegiance openly may not be treated as kindly. The military also seems to be more present at the forum. These two things are related, as it turns out, because only a few days after the new Shard-Bearers arrive, an invasion will begin.

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Eternally in opposition, Highstorm provides the Manor's courtyard as the setting for their informational meeting. Formality is of utmost importance here, 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.

The mood of Highstorm is subdued as always, but still seems to be pleasant and joyous thanks to claiming the Oracle in the Scorching Isles. The Blight may be affecting the city and causing plants and the like to die, but there’s admittedly not much of it to be seen with Highstorm’s harsh winters. Maybe they’re not hit as badly as Springstar, or maybe they just haven’t noticed yet. Only time will tell. But regardless, notable Meri or those that wear their allegiance more openly will be treated politely, but perhaps with a little condescension. Highstorm is one step closer to winning than Springstar, after all.

para bellum (the occupation of alenroux)

A few days after new Shard-Bearers arrive, the word spreads quickly as the campaign begins: Meridian is invading Alenroux.

To those who have Harmonized with Meridian, they’ll be contacted by Cyrus through Communion 48 hours before the invasion begins. As he explains, Springstar is a city that depends on Alenroux far more than Highstorm (because of its much larger population), and with Alenroux currently under Zenite control, it’s imperative that they make sure that Zenith isn’t able to cut off access and cause a famine for Springstar. Zenith won’t be denied access to Alenroux or its bounty either, he makes that clear. This is just a matter of being proactive in their defense to protect their people. For the Meridian, their goals in supporting this effort are clear:

• Create secure outposts. Well-built, defensible outposts are needed, so anyone who can assist with building efforts, and quickly are appreciated.
• Defend the outposts and the Meri soldiers at large. Alenroux is still dangerous because of the monsters, and soldiers will be staying overnight. Fighting off monsters is something that will also eventually make Alenroux inhabitable.
• Prevent Zenith interference. Highstorm surely won’t be happy about this, so make sure that the soldiers and the outposts are protected from Zenites just as much as from the monsters that roam the lands.

And indeed, the invasion and occupation does come as a surprise to Highstorm. While they had noted the increased training of Springstar’s military, it was assumed to be in preparation for the intensified tensions of losing the first Oracle, not something as bold as an open act of war like this.

It takes some time for Yima to learn more about the events herself, but Zenith will also be contacted through Communion. With the air of a disappointed mother, she’ll explain that Meridian’s choice is regrettable since she thought they would be better than this. Yima explains that there’s no need to turn Alenroux into an open warzone and cut off both cities from their breadbasket. Instead, she lays out the following direction to gently break Meridian’s spirit first before turning to open hostilities:

• Collect information. Where are the outposts, how many soldiers are assigned to them, and what are their general movements. Scouting and spying will be valuable. Learning more about the Meri Shard-Bearers’ capabilities while they’re fighting creatures rather than Zenites is also useful.
• Create dissent. The people that work and visit Alenroux regularly have mixed feelings about the occupation unless they’re Meridian loyalists. Making the campaign unpopular with the people can push Meridian back without needing to raise a finger.
• Sabotage. But don’t get caught doing it, at least for now. Whether breaking defenses or leading more powerful monsters to the encampments, it’s best to break morale before needing to fight back openly.

If you’re unharmonized when all of this begins, then you’ll be finding out about it with the general populace. However, it’s a good opportunity to learn what a faction is about in a more hands-on way. Though you may not be privy to their private, factional discussions, both sides will still welcome the help of those still yet to decide.

SETTING UPDATES

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 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. As Shard-Bearers new and old take in their cities, they'll all see it change throughout the month...

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 playerbase, and these are some of the wider reaching effects of various player plots and actions.

THE BLIGHT

During the events of the Scorching Isles, Shard-Bearers encountered an affliction upon the island and unintentionally brought it back to Highstorm and Springstar with them. Known simply as “the Blight,” this condition steals time from the things it infects. It most frequently infects inanimate objects and will cause them to rot or degrade rapidly (such as a piece of metal rusting within hours) but is able to infect living things as well. Most notably, the Blight is infecting plants and animals in the two cities. Plants both decorative and necessary will wither and die, and small animals grow sick and die seemingly of old age. This has been seen in small amounts throughout the past month OOC but is greatly increased in frequency in March and beyond.

FURTHER DETAILS

• Within the NPC populace, there’s a low-grade fear of the Blight intensifying and being able to infect larger animals/the people. There’s no evidence of this yet, but Shard-Bearers that were on the Scorching Isles will know this is possible.
• Some characters will be aware that the rare, blue flowers that grow in the barren portions of World’s End (February’s event location) seem to reduce the effects of the detrimental effects of the Oracle and the Blight. Because of some drops of characters that knew this information, you can assume that characters are able to learn this information if they’re interested enough to dig into it.
• Dr. Julia Melnik of Springstar is openly researching cures for the Blight and will recruit anyone interested to be research assistants to test formulations of cures on afflicted plants/creatures. You can handwave these interactions and use them for prompt(s), if you’d like!
• Finally, if curing the Blight is something your character would specifically be interested in, please note it in your Character Survey so that the Loremasters will be able to help you pursue this organically.

THE OCCUPATION OF ALENROUX

As mentioned above, Meridian has launched a surprise invasion and occupation of Alenroux. Because Meridian was able to successfully keep their efforts a secret throughout the months (!) they’ve been planning this, Zenith will not be able to repel their advances… Immediately, at least. After roughly a week OOC from this log’s posting, the Meridian outposts in Alenroux will be stable and will change the island in the following ways:

FURTHER DETAILS

• Outposts have been established in well-chosen, defensible locations throughout the island of Alenroux. They’re clustered more heavily closer to the Cornerstone and are non-existent in the more dangerous Northern portion of the island where little farming is done anyways.
• Meridian soldiers will be always staying in the camps and outposts. For now, they’re a more supervisory force that are protecting the farmlands of Alenroux. During the day cycle, the military will respond with hostility to anyone that threatens the farms. If your character would antagonize or outright fight Meridian military, please contact a Loremaster, since this will have repercussions! Otherwise, the soldiers will assist workers and visitors to Alenroux in a professional manner.
• During the night cycle, the military will defend their outposts from monsters and make occasional offensive excursions to reduce the threat of monsters. The secondary goal of the Meridian military is also to make Alenroux a place that people can live, though this is a longer term effort.
• Meridian Shard-Bearers will be strongly encouraged to assist with the effort. “Assist” is purposefully defined broadly so that characters can help in whatever way suits them. Scouting, building, monster killing, or just morale improving are all valid ways that will gain favor with their faction and may lead to further opportunity. For now, abstaining will not have consequences, but may in the future.
• Zenith Shard-Bearers will be treated with suspicion in Alenroux and are not allowed to approach any of the Meridian outposts, or at least not without triggering a fight. The military will not outright attack Zenites (unless provoked) and essentially encouraged to move along. However, they may wish to gather information about the outposts and Meridian forces to attempt to push back against the occupation.
• Unharmonized Shard-Bearers are not treated with hostility, but similar to Zeniths will not be allowed to enter any of the encampments.
• If your character has an interest in continuing or stopping the occupation, please note it in your Character Survey so that Loremasters will be able to help you pursue this organically.

If Zenith would like to repel these advances, this is a response that will be purely in player hands (but will be assisted by Zenite NPCs, of course!). If they want to reclaim Alenroux, they can, or they can simply let Meridian continue. It’s up to you! This is something that Zenite players should discuss both IC and OOC, and if this plot develops further, Loremasters will help facilitate the ongoing conflict as a part of our changing game environment.

SMALLER CHANGES

HIGHSTORM: GREENWOOD YARDS

Considering the affliction that threatens the well-being of flora and small fauna alike, the greenhouses are far more discerning with those who are permitted inside its gates, afraid of the contagion affecting the precious, invaluable greenery of long-dead worlds. After the occupation of Alenroux, Meridian will be outright turned away, and while Zenith possesses no formal military or police, the greenskeepers appear to be prepared to defend their property with physical force should it come to that. Unharmonized are still allowed inside. The rest of the Yard beyond the greenhouses are still open to all factions.

And though it may seem an odd place for such a gathering, the indoor bathhouse at the far end of the Yards appears to be gaining popularity for mysterious reasons; if asked, none of the locals will explain the abrupt uptick in visitation. But should you investigate yourself, the reason why becomes apparent through experience: the tea served by the attendants here has changed properties. Should you be a Zenite, you will be served a cup that decreases your body's natural need for food and drink for 24 hours - an effort to test a concoction to relieve the need to deplete resources and lessen the city's reliance on Alenroux. Should you be a Meridian, the tea you're served will increase your appetite a considerable degree even if you normally do not require sustenance, and you will find yourself unfulfilled even if you are unwise and eat yourself to the point of illness; this lasts for 24 hours. The Unharmonized will find the tea might make them vaguely woozy, and either cause mild increase or decrease in appetite.

KOWLOON: DRAUMAHOL (cw: drugs)

Those that frequent Kowloon may have heard about the sudden disappearance of the former owner and operator of the drug den Draumahol, though it was only really noted because of the business being closed for a few days. Practically unheard of, since the desperate of Highstorm and Springstar come to Draumahol for their various fixes that are a little more taboo on the surface. But, never fear. After a brief closure, Draumahol reopens.

While it may not be obvious early in the month, it'll be increasingly so that Draumahol is under new management. Those that frequent the business enough will be able to figure out that the new owner is Silco (or, if you personally know him, it's fairly obvious). If you would like to plot anything regarding Draumahol, we encourage reaching out to Silco's player, Jill!

SPRINGSTAR: THE CHURCH

After the loss of the first Oracle, the Church of Heliopolis has been busy tending to its flock as the numbers coming to seek comfort swell. The gatherings aren't formal "services" so much as they're chances for people to come together and inspire each other with their homes and dreams of home. One formal process that does stick out though is that with each "service" one member will tap into the world shown in their sunbeam and open their minds to Communion. Anyone that wishes to can also experience this member's home, see their friends, loved ones, and the sights. It's a intimate bonding activity, but seems to be very cathartic for those that partake.

Additionally, those that come by the Church frequently enough to be known faces at the "services" may also be approached by priests and priestesses and invited to join in smaller ceremonies. Always taking place during Springstar's dawn or dusk, these ceremonies have a markedly different vibe and are lead by Hieropoios Natalia herself. Attending these ceremonies is an exclusive honor that will reduce attendees' Discord and has a subtly addictive quality that will encourage them to return. Hm!

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need an invite to apply to 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 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.

As a note primarily for current players, closed toplevels/prompts are not allowed in this log. If you would like to interact with the setting changes in a way that isn't open to all characters (new and old), we ask that you instead make a log in kenoslogs.

As a general reminder, any new characters that choose Zenith will receive a bonus 2 AC token reward, which is a purely OOC incentive. Our factions are a bit imbalanced at the moment, so we'd appreciate more Zenites!

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, they may be wearing their normal clothes or 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 about which Faction they'd be drawn to.

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 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 Navigation page and check out the locations!

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

Comments

I

[sterngaze]

[It’s impossible to linger for long at Meridian’s forum without noticing the pall that falls over those gathered in the wake of a certain young man. Even in recent weeks, in the wake of a loss against Zenith and the appearance of a crop-withering blight, Springstar’s people tend naturally towards warmth and community. The awkwardness that follows this ordinary teenager sticks out like a sore thumb.

Liem’s hearing is quite good. He does not need to approach overly close to hear the end of Stiles’s rant — but although he has not yet fallen into the young man’s sights, he doesn’t take this opportunity to escape. He has enough experience being bullied by troubled teenagers that the prospect no longer holds any dread for him; Liem strolls closer instead.

At a glance, he’s well put-together, a couple inches shorter than Stiles, garbed in a perfectly tailored suit patterned in various shades of blue. Dark, round sunglasses perch on his aquiline nose. The face wearing them, however, is pale and haggard, bone white tinged faintly with grey. His illness makes it difficult to pin down his age, but the grey in his hair suggests he isn’t young. The contents of his drink glass are obviously water.

It takes him a pensive moment to answer Stiles’s question. At this distance, he’s finally able to make out the tiny clods of dirt still clinging to his clothes. It’s not the look, he thinks, of someone who has his shit together.]

You came straight here, didn’t you.

[He can’t imagine the Zenites being pleased to welcome someone looking like this into one of their gatherings.]

I wasn’t ready for any parties after my own arrival. Can I assist you?

[mensrea]

[The observation, seemingly apropos of nothing, serves to bewilder Stiles; the hard, unfriendly look darkening his expression fades as clear confusion sets in. After a moment—when the stranger continues, helpfully mentioning his own arrival—the teenager connects the dots. An abrupt silence descends upon the lonesome pair as he contends with a surprisingly strong sense of embarrassment. While no one would ever mistake Stiles as a vain individual, he does make a consistent, committed effort to maintain his appearance. Judging by the opted tone of voice, this guy didn’t comment on said appearance to be an asshole. But even knowing that…

Body stiff with shame, Stiles turns to the side so his left profile is out of view before hauling the filthy hoodie off over his head. He shakes the article out to the best of his ability, then smacks it against a knee for good measure. A haze of dust, dirt, and grit clouds the air. Soil stains still smear the fabric in places. There’s little he can do about those, so he sucks it up and drags the hoodie on again. Only after the hood has been drawn up over his ears, concealing his neck, does he face Liem.]

Uh. Hi. [His smart, glib tongue has been severed by chagrin—an occurrence that does not happen often for Stiles Stilinski.] Actually, I… Yeah. I came straight here.

[A small lie; he managed a cursory tour of both cities, learned about the two informational sessions, and then came straight here.]

It’s…a lot to take in, [he admits, honesty peeking through the blinds uncertainly. Stiles doesn’t easily let down his guard around strangers; the fact that he’s displayed this much vulnerability in the short span of a few minutes is a testament to how much Liem’s remark threw him.] I’m trying to get a better idea of what’s going on in this dimension. If you’re actually willing to be legit with me, let’s chat. Otherwise, no—you probably can’t assist me.

[sterngaze]

[Liem watches belligerence melt into confusion, and then shift to brittle embarrassment as the meaning behind his observation sinks in. He doesn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow as the young man turns, strips off his sweater, and proceeds to shake the worst of the dirt from it. It would probably be worse, he thinks, for him to acknowledge the sudden awareness Stiles seems to gain for the state of his clothes. Liem had assumed that he must already have known the kind of state he was in, but perhaps he’d been underestimating how frazzled the young man was.

Certainly the switch in focus has had a marked effect on his demeanour. Liem’s intention hadn’t really been to get him on the back foot, but he does prefer this to being a convenient target on which the teen might blunt his temper.]

I can give you some context. This is the second world I’ve been brought to that’s been perched on the edge of existence, so I’ve some experience, even if I have been here less than half a year.

[He doesn’t have the same experience with Kenos as Springstar locals who have lived here all their lives, but perhaps that’s a blessing in this circumstance.]

What are you wishing to know?

[mensrea]

[“This is the second world I’ve been brought to…”

And just like that, his countenance shifts—pained humiliation giving way rapidly to rapt curiosity. Stiles draws closer almost in spite of himself, warmed whiskey-brown eyes now studying Liem with a vivid interest that might be offensive in how blatantly it was absent beforehand. An alarmingly accurate and almost preternatural intuition, despite his human nature, insists that there’s something off about the man. Equipped with nothing but these instincts, the teen maintains his open scrutiny. However, Stiles doesn’t manage to put his finger on what’s bothering him. Yet. Mouth flat with frustration, he picks up the conversation again.]

How about everything? [A hint of dry humor punctuates his response.] I wanna ask you more about, uh…y’know, the fact this isn’t your first rodeo. Let’s circle back to that, though.

[He pauses, once again staring. The sunglasses? They’re not technically suspicious—especially not on an island boasting two suns. Still, Stiles squints at them closely, trying to abuse the few inches of height he has on Liem to see behind them. Tone somewhat distracted, he continues.]

How about we start with the whole “perched on the edge of existence” business. [Maybe it’s the freakishly stark pallor that’s tripping the alarms in his head. Is the guy sick? Possibly. The idea fails to satisfy the itch crawling over his skin.] All I’ve heard is that we’re—

[Stiles falters, gaze suddenly dropping to their feet. Finally, it occurs to him what’s wrong. When he looks back up at Liem, his expression is alive with a sharp, morbid fascination.

Quietly:] You don’t cast a shadow.

[sterngaze]

[The artlessness with which Stiles scrutinizes Liem might be amusing in how unabashedly he peers at him, if it were not also uncomfortably familiar. Typically the curious do at least attempt to be a little more circumspect, but he has weathered many a suspicious stare over the years from people who are just a little too perceptive for his own good. He resists the impulse to frown in the face of it, sipping at his water as the young man attempts to decide which question he wants to ask first.

The topic on which he ultimately settles manages to wind the ever-present tension in Liem’s shoulders just a little tighter.]

Nor have I ever, [he says stiffly.] At this point I think it might set me ill at ease, to be stalked by one wherever I went.

[He can imagine himself forever catching sight of it from the corner of his eye, startling at movement when he’d thought himself alone. It would be a difficult thing to get used to after over a century without one.

He moves on briskly.]

You have heard already, I’m sure, that those drawn here are plucked from dying worlds. Certainly these islands are said to have come from whole worlds of their own, before they ended up here. I have heard that Springstar is a little piece of a place called “Greece.”

[mensrea]

[Forever contrary—even when he may know far less on a subject than his opponent—Stiles parts his lips to protest. How can it be possible for someone to have never cast a shadow? The chance to pursue an interrogation is denied him, however; the stranger redirects the conversation. Mouth closing begrudgingly, he studies Liem in silence with a mutinous scowl that expresses an obstinate intention to return to the subject, later. And now, despite the man discussing the general situation on Kenos, Stiles remains visibly preoccupied. Brown eyes search Liem for any small, seemingly insignificant details that may offer him clues. Unraveling the mysteries of the supernatural world isn’t just his personal wheelhouse, after all. It’s also an obsession.]

Yeah, the architecture is similar, [he admits, arms crossing over his chest.] I’ve never been to Greece myself, but the country is featured in Hollywood enough that—

[A pause. Judging by Liem’s wording, he’s unfamiliar with Greece. With that in mind, there’s a good chance that he might also be unfamiliar with “Hollywood.” Stiles blows out a heavy breath—one stemming less from frustration and more from marvel. The culture shock is both overwhelming and fascinating.]

Never mind. The point is, I have recognized bits and pieces from my world. “Earth,” for the record.

[His mind is even now caught—hook, line, and sinker—on the lack of shadow. Stiles assumes the man must be some vampire-adjacent creature, though he has little firsthand experience to compare. An impressive variety of nonhumans have plagued Beacon Hills…with the exception of vampires. Was it Stoker who popularized the idea that vampires cast no shadow? Well, it’s entirely possible that Stoker drew inspiration from real-world folklore, passed down by hunters like the Argent family. Still, this guy here claims to have never had a shadow. If he is vampire-adjacent, wouldn’t that imply he wasn’t “created” in the traditional way? That is to say: born a human (presumably one with a shadow) and then turned undead by another vampire. Maybe he’s a vampire…prime. Or whatever the hell Dracula was meant to be (Stiles is acutely ashamed that he didn’t read the novel).

Racking his brain, the teen settles on another hypothesis. The stranger could be a dhampir. Unfortunately, Stiles can barely recall any pertinent information on the hybrid species; he researched vampires and their ilk with his usual neurotic, monomaniacal focus years ago when Scott first started displaying symptoms of lycanthropy. There hasn’t been reason to investigate vampires since.]

Okay, uh, [Stiles struggles to return to the discussion, thoughts scattered.] Keep going. I’m listening.

[For the most part.]

[sterngaze]

Ah, you're familiar, then.

[Stiles would be right to assume that Liem is unfamiliar with Greece, Hollywood, and the world they both hailed from. He's learned some things about Earth from others in Kenos who came from there, but his knowledge of it is piecemeal, stitched together with large gaps where the most mundane, unremarkable swathes of culture would be. It doesn't help that the people he's met from there have all hailed from different time periods.

He does his best to ignore the intense scrutiny he's still receiving from his conversational partner. Liem can't entirely shut down inquiries about his less-human nature as being only his business; after all, it's not unreasonable for people to want to know if one of their colleagues is a man-eating vampire. Still, he's desperate to steer the conversation away from himself as much as he can. Little good has ever come of him telling others more about himself.]

When I was first pulled from my world, before I emerged into the next, I had a… vision, or a dream — and in it, I saw… all of Creation dying. Worlds upon worlds winking out, crumbling to nothing. It felt very real… but it wasn't really proof, and I refused to take it as such, even if everyone who came to that land had the same dream.

[It hadn't stopped him from embracing that destruction after all, at least for the time he'd been there, but that was an entirely different story, and not one of any great relevance now. He moves on.]

Then I was brought here, and I was told essentially the same thing: that our worlds are all ending, are maybe fated to end. And here, it's easier to see how that might be true.

The people here, the places — they're all cast-offs from somewhere else, or the descendants of them, drifting in the void. You might find relics from other worlds in the libraries here, but as far as everyone in Kenos is concerned, this is all that's left.

That is what I mean when I say that this place is perched on the edge of existence. It is made up of the dregs of other places, and other cultures — and even those who were born here are enthusiastic in their desire to one day set foot on living soil, whether it's a treasured homeworld or a new one altogether.