TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉

[beleos]

Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment

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. MORAL HAZARD

There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.

The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.

Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.

Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.

---

LET'S PLAY A GAME...

As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.

Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.

• Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
• Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
• Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
• Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.

The following is OOC knowledge that will not be known IC: The consequences of this game are about intent, and thus are not real. When characters are freed from the tree’s thrall, they’ll have their memories/body parts/life intact.

This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in 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 October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…

When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.

III. DREAMING OF HOME

You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.

Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.

As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.

Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.

And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!

---

CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE

Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:

Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.

Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.

That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.

To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.

III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.

It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.

Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.

IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.

Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.

Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥

NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.

Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.

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:

New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!

When they 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! 🌈

FOR OLD PLAYERS:

Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!

General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.

CODING

Comments

[exhound]

[Vander listens with silent attention as they make their way over to the shop. He fixes his gaze on another of the lanterns on display, a small hand-held one that boasted a rather ornate, wrought iron handle. Yet as Sebastian continues his description of the city, Vander quickly finds himself turning his full attention back to the man. It is uncanny, how much of what he describes has a somewhat familiar ring to it.]

Funny thing, there. From the way you tell it, London doesn’t sound terribly far off from what my own home is like. At least in the broad strokes.

[Certainly not the crown of an empire, but the description of the city itself? Shockingly close enough to describe the home he’d known all his life. He laughs, something that’s perhaps more out of amused, almost-disbelief, rather than real humor.]

Piltover styles itself as a city of innovation, but it’s all built on the backs of us living in the undercity. It’s practically a city of it’s own, our Zaun. Got our own culture and customs, a stark difference from those in Piltover with their clean air and clean streets, hoarding all the wealth.

[There’s bitterness clear in his voice, but it’s… tired. The kind of bitterness that just gets brittle with age.]

We make due in our dim streets down in the fissures, grown used to the mines and the factories polluting our air… Tried our damnedest to seize any amount of independence, to make things better, but topside wouldn’t have any of that from us.

[Nothing like that ever is easy, is it?]

So I wouldn’t say it’s what most would call cheerful. [He shifts a shoulder in something of a shrug, a more easy-going motion than he rightly feels, talking about it like this.] But it’s ours and we make the best of it.

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian’s cool smile turns pensive as Vander admits that there’s similarity between them, but it does lighten briefly into recognition as Vander says “Piltover”. He softens the surprise, but that’s absolutely something he’ll circle back to. It’s interesting and ironic that he would run into people from Silco’s world now, but delightfully so. ]

It may be a rather depressing thought, but I suppose people are people with all their strengths and flaws, no matter the world. Greed is difficult to escape, and with power, it always crushes those underfoot.

[ His tone is reflective, but it’s also in a way that might hit Vander’s ear as slightly odd. He speaks about it with confidence, but there’s a dispassionate distance compared to Vander’s bitterness. After all, Sebastian knows the phenomenon well. The greed of humans was the vice he preyed on most, so he’s witnessed this cycle in localized scale countless times. Being what he is, there’s no sentiment about it on his side, though.

His tone does rewarm, though, so it might just come off as a coolness from how dim a topic it is. Sebastian gives a friendly smile, and as he moves the topic away from dim reflections on the nature of man, a bit of humor comes with it. ]

Though I have met people from your world, so I have heard a bit about it, I realize! Clearly fate must have a fondness for the two cities. [ A gentle laugh ] I did not get her surname, so please pardon my rudeness, but I had a conversation with a Detective Caitlyn at the Tomes just the other day where we spoke a bit of the two.

[ And, of course, the reason it came up at all is what he’s more interested in. If Caitlyn had such things to say about Silco, he’s of course very curious what someone from Silco’s city would have to say about him. He’ll surely get more than he bargained for there. ]

And I am acquainted with a man by the name of Mr. Silco as well. He certainly spoke of the cities more similarly to you, I must admit. [ ha… ha ]

[exhound]

[It’s an unfortunate truth, what Sebastian speaks so confidently of greed being an inescapable part of human nature. He’d seen it all his life, navigated around it in situations big and small. His own expression cools, carefully measured outside of the furrowing of his brows. When he’d learned of the countless worlds the people here have all come from, he’d hoped that some of them could have escaped such cruel inequity. Perhaps it wasn’t a surprise to learn, but still… it’s disappointing.

It is with some relief that Vander wouldn’t be too keen to admit, then, that he welcomes the shift in tone and topic when Sebastian pivots. And surprise too, as it turns out, when he reveals that he’s met with others from his home. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been so surprising—with him and the girls, there were four people from the cities that he knows of here in Kenos. Not outlandish to think they’d eventually cross paths with some of the same people.

Vander nods in recognition at Caitlyn’s name, the coolness from moments ago making way for something a little brighter. An odd thought, that, to be thinking fondly of an Enforcer who wasn’t Grayson.

He’s halfway to making a remark about the detective when Sebastian reveals the real surprise in this conversation.]

Silco is here?

[It would be hard to miss the way Vander tenses at the mere mention of the name. His expression hardens, eyes narrowing and muscles along his jaw going taut. He realizes a little too late that perhaps he shouldn’t be letting himself react so strongly to the mere mention of the man in front of someone who is barely more than a stranger, but he can’t help remembering those final moments he’d had back in his own world. Silco’s cruel and smug face from the other side of the walkway as he ordered his thugs to attack him and the kids.

He forces himself to relax a little, rubbing at his beard with a little embarrassment.]

He and I… were comrades, once upon a time. [He sighs.] More than that, really. We were practically brothers. Worked side by side for a long time to build a better life for ourselves, but eventually things changed. I changed. It didn’t end on the best of terms, as you can imagine.

[ha... ha...]

[cutlery]

[ Vander not being pleased to hear Silco’s name isn’t a surprise. It’s clear enough from everything Sebastian has heard about Silco’s activities back home that he wouldn’t be popular. Caitlyn had been diplomatic in describing it, but he could read between the lines enough. In a different world, Silco is absolutely the sort of person that would have been brought to heel by the Queen’s Watchdog.

As Sebastian’s outward expression is one of light surprise, he notices the tension in Vander’s frame and how his expression darkens. That’s more than he expected. That feels personal, and as Vander explains, it’s clear that it is, deeply. It’s also rings familiar.

In Yima’s basement, Sebastian and Silco had spoken of power and of conviction. Silco had told him a story that was lacking in detail but was overflowing with emotion. Twisted, vicious emotion, because it was a tale of someone who had faltered and chosen peace over bloodshed. Someone who Silco felt had faltered at building a better life, wasn’t it?

He wants to laugh, because it’s delightful coincidence if he is indeed standing before the man that had pulled out so much ire. It’s beautiful and vicious irony that he couldn’t have planned better if he had tried, because just from how Silco had called that person weak… Sebastian knew that it’s what would push him into accepting a devil’s deal.

Outwardly, there’s none of that, of course. His smile tilts towards apologetic, just as it should. ]

My apologies for bringing up something rather painful, in that case, as I had no idea. Mr. Silco had not made mention of it, but I imagine that will not surprise you, by the sound of it. Perhaps it is good I gave you warning?

[ He does joke a little with a soft laugh, but his voice is gently sympathetic as he continues. ]

It is tragic to lose a brother, though, no matter how. I take it from your tone it is not something that could be reconciled even here, so… You have my sympathies, Mr. Vander. For whatever they may be worth.

[exhound]

[His shared history with Silco isn’t something he enjoyed dwelling on, and it’s an odd feeling to be explaining it, even with only scant detail, to someone now. He’s used to being surrounded by people who knew the score. The Black Lanes had been built from the ground up by the two of them, after all, and by necessity their falling out had been just about everyone’s business. No need to broach the subject, and no one foolish enough to dig it up and earn his ire.

And frankly, until this moment, he thought it may have been well and truly behind him, at least as long as he remained in this world. So the thought that he would have to confront it all over again, now with the added wrinkle of exactly what Silco had done in those moments before Vander had been swept away to this place…

He forces it from his mind.]

Well, the sentiment’s appreciated. [He shakes his head, a brief flash of half of a conciliatory smile pulling at his lips.] But no need to apologize. Not like you could have known, right?

[Still, he can’t help but sigh a bit as he straightens up. It’s a force of habit to adapt a relaxed posture when he feels that familiar stir of agitation. Had to learn to think about setting a good example, you see, and it’s a philosophy that carries over here.]

Better to have the heads up, I suppose. Maybe if we’re lucky, we won’t run into each other for a while. Big place here and all, and I sure as hell know we’ll need that distance.

[lol. lmao.]

[cutlery]

[ His smile stays lightly apologetic, but he nods agreeably ]

May you have that good luck, then. Truly with any luck, it should not be so hard, since Mr. Silco did not strike me as the most sociable, admittedly…

[ If Sebastian’s guess is correct about who Vander is in the story that he’s piecing together, he does agree that it’s likely best if they stayed apart for a while, though he’s still underestimating the scale of the grudge at the moment. He imagines it just being two men coming to blows, so it’ll be quite the surprise later for it to turn to immediate murder. Good for them, though, since unsurprisingly the resident demon is all for that kind of escalation.

He has enough of interest about Silco already, so there’s no need to dig further within this conversation, he feels. So, as he’s brought down the mood a bit more than he expected, he also puts effort back into lightening it again. The apologetic smile shifts to one that’s a warmer. ]

Well, as home offers rather dour points of conversation, let us look to the present and future instead, hm? [ He nods as he looks back to the lanterns before them, and now that the conversation is lightening a bit, he does reach out to inspect them, since he is curious. Most are fairly typical, made for fire or gas, but a few are made to hold magical enchantments instead, and those catch his eye more. ]

Rude awakening aside, how have you find the two cities? Have you found you prefer one to the other so far?

[exhound]

[He’ll take all the luck he can get, in that regard. And even if he doesn’t get it right away, goodness knows he’ll be needing it later when things escalate.

So while he’s glad for the conversational pivot, a little bit of that tension still lingers in the back of his mind. It’s hard to completely stem the tide of the feelings that were stirred back to life at the mere mention of Silco’s name. It’s an old wound reopened, raw and inflamed and angry. To his credit, Vander does a well enough job masking it, now that he’s aware.

Thankfully, it is an easy enough ask to keep his focus on considering the merits of the two cities. While he hasn’t had much time to really get down and explore them both, it has been long enough to at least give him a feel for what the two very opposite places are generally like. Vander glances back over his shoulder at the pensive shoppers milling about the market.]

Compared to how quiet things are around here, the bustle out in Springstar is more my speed, I think. Comfort in familiarity, and all. [He shrugs, and his attention returns to Sebastian.] Dunno what I think of that constant daylight over there, though. Might have to invest in a nice pair of sunglasses if I stick around there.

[He grins.]

[cutlery]

[ It’s something Sebastian has no problem moving on from, since (for now, at least) his investment in this is mostly in the realm of it being a curiosity. Plus, how people perceive the two cities is also interesting to him, albeit for slightly ulterior motives. He imagines that the city you prefer relates rather heavily to which faction calls to you, which is information he finds useful to know.

…But it is also just informative on peoples’ preferences and aesthetics. They’re honestly weighted pretty close to the same in his mind… ]

Ah, so indeed! I do enjoy the tranquility of Highstorm for the most part, but… [ He laughs gently as he shakes his head ] Well, it may be obvious, but I do greatly enjoy meeting new people or a good conversation. My chances are much better in Springstar for that without question.

[ Aesthetically, though, Highstorm all the way, and that’s probably fairly obvious too. Just from how he’s dressed and carries himself, he fits in with the character of Zenith’s stronghold far better. ]

…Though if it makes you feel any better, I have certainly invested in a better pair of reading glasses for here in Highstorm for similar reasons! The low light may be lovely, but when you are farsighted, reading is terrible. You cannot with either city in that respect!

[exhound]

Ha, I suppose not. Guess we’ve all got a little adjusting to do here, huh?

[“A little,” as if they weren’t all contending with the complete upheaval of their lives here. But Vander likes to try to keep things on the optimistic side. No use letting himself flounder against a situation they couldn’t really change, so it’s best to keep his sights set on what’s in front of them here and now.

It’ll work as long as he keeps telling himself that.]

Well, at least getting from one city to the other ain’t too bad. Easy enough to take a little trip for a change of pace.

[And for Vander in particular it’s a bit of an ironic twist to find himself in a position where he was welcome in traveling between to starkly different cities. It makes the homesickness he’s been quietly contending with feel almost… burdensome probably isn’t the right word, but it feels close.]

[cutlery]

Indeed. It is quite nice, considering— Well, I do not know if you have heard of a place called Horos yet, but it is a place that a few of the Shard-Bearers here resided in before we were brought here to Kenos.

[ Silco included, but Sebastian leaves that up to implication. No need to rile Vander up again, especially when it wouldn’t add much to the conversation. ]

Travel was not so easy there. I only ever saw the city that was the stronghold of that world’s rough equivalent of Zenith, and it was a much more dour, oppressive place than Highstorm. So needless to say, I am very glad that Lady Yima is a better politician than my previous leader! Though admittedly, I did arrive rather late to the conflict of Horos…

[ He shakes his head with a little shrug ]

Well, no matter. I am rather glad to leave that particular world behind as a memory.

[exhound]

[Ah, there’s that name again—Horos. Quite a few shard-bearers had the misfortune of finding themselves in that place, it seems.]

I’ve only heard a bit about it, and none of it really good.

[No one who had spoken of that place thus far had been eager at all to get into the details of it, and Vander was wise enough to know better than to push such a subject. But every mention of that place provided another piece of the overall picture, and he’s starting to get a pretty good idea of what things must have been like.]

Must be hell getting dragged from one world to another more than once, but from the sound of it, maybe it’s for the best if it got you folks out of that situation.

[He summons up a more encouraging smile.]

Much better prospects out here.

i'm not saying i got the two threads mixed up but, perhaps,

[cutlery]

[ the vibe being tOTALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS CASE ]

[ Sebastian nods in gentle agreement, and his smile softens to one more pensive. It’s not quite dour and it doesn’t give the impression that he had a difficult time (at least compared to most), though. ]

Indeed. The ruler of the group I served in Horos did not so much ask for your fealty as demanded it. [ It doesn’t sound great, but he just gives a little shrug and a more mischievous smile in response to Vander’s encouraging one. ] So, more extreme, but I shall admit it is not all that different from my employers prior to Horos, at least in their manners… Give anyone a bit of power and they are very demanding of any they consider their lesser, in my experience!