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

CYRUS

[kenosnpcs]

After pulling Shard-Bearers out of the Tree of Life's roots (literally), Cyrus will hang around for a bit to chat! He's a man of average height and muscular build, and the smile on his face never falters. He seems genuinely happy that the Shard-Bearers are here and, uh, didn't get eaten by the tree. If you want to speak with him, he'll beckon you over with an easy grin and a welcome.

NOTE: Please tag into this thread no later than Monday, 10/17, if you would like to interact with Cyrus. Loremasters will not be replying to tag-ins that come in after this date in order to accommodate everyone in a timely fashion. Additionally, please only tag Cyrus with the character you are most likely to app if you're trying out multiple. Thank you!

cw: eye stuff

[warmare]

[Hayame has the dubious "pleasure" of being one of the last woken from the clutches of the tree. That, and the fact that removing the roots from a very long jinba spine had left her temporarily twitching and half-paralyzed on the mossy floor spares the man who introduces himself as Cyrus from an immediate interrogation. He can finish his work. But once she's up, once she's ascertained with a confused press of her hand to the side of her head that what she'd thought she'd sacrificed wasn't even gone...

Her hooves sink slightly into the plush moss and roots as she struggles up, a dark eye and an empty socket where an eye should be locked onto their rescuer.]

You-

[Despite having seemingly been "saved" from their fate by this man, Hayame locks on to him as if he were a potential enemy instead, pointing accusingly in his direction, yet unswayed by the easy smile and warmth radiating off him. (The only smile she wanted to see was already-)]

What are you?

pats hayamyams...

[kenosnpcs]

[ Cyrus is careful as Hayame starts to get up, and he even takes an extra step back, since, well, she's just kind of larger than everyone else he's rescued. Plus, he figures she might need or want a little more room for her equine half. Seeing the distrust in her eye, he holds up his hands again disarmingly to show that he means no harm. His smile stays in place, but it shifts to one that's sympathetic briefly, before the question turns it to surprise instead. ]

Uh... Human?

[ Clearly, not the question he was expecting, but he at least moves past it, since he adds without much of a pause: ]

Are you alright? Feeling okay? The vines can really latch on, it looks like.

[warmare]

[Seeing no weapon in a man's hand would be reassuring to her... If this were her world, or one even remotely like it. But if there is one thing Hayame has learned since she had been ripped from the only place that made sense to her... It's that just because she didn't see a blade didn't mean her enemies weren't capable of some strange magic or foul influence on her mind.]

Here.

[Is she weakened by her repeated ordeal in the dryad's lair of tests, or is she always this articulate? He was wise enough to give her space, at least, she is taking a bit longer than some two-legged victims to get her back legs to regain feeling. Her hip slumps suddenly and her flank knocks up against the wall of roots, where she stays for a moment and tries to disguise it as a choice and not clumsy weakness.

She'd already killed one man today, and even if it apparently hadn't been real...]

What are you to this place?

[What was real, then?]

[gravings]

[ Gray isn't especially trusting of people who shine too brightly, having found that they're often hiding things or abnormal thinkers, or both. It goes doubly for leader types, who have little reason to ingratiate themselves to mice like her, Shard or no Shard.

Gray heeds Cyrus's beckoning slowly, carefully, her hooded gaze watchful. She listens to his introduction as closely as her addled brain will allow, weariness settling on her cloaked shoulders.

Though it may not be at all tactful, she asks softly and bluntly: ]

What are we to you?

[kenosnpcs]

[ He doesn't mind the bluntness, since he doesn't think it's unfair. This group isn't the first set of Shard-Bearers he's met (or rescued from the tree, in fact...), and their distrust isn't uncommon. Whether they just crawled their way out of the roots or came from someone else, being distrustful of a stranger is probably the most rational thing. It just gets him to respond with a warm patience. ]

You're Shard-Bearers. Chosen souls that can channel the light of Meridian or the shadow of Zenith. So as the Tribune of Springstar, I'd definitely hope you'd be touched by Meridian's light, but— [ He smiles again, sympathetic ] More than that? You're people that needed help.

[ He looks up at the tree above with a sigh ]

The Tree can be... Possessive? It sounds weird to say it, but that's the best one I can think of.

[ Cyrus looks back to Gray with a shrug that's almost apologetic ]

It's different what it does every time, so I hope this one wasn't too bad.

[gravings]

[ Once again, they're being put between two cosmic forces to be divvied up and used as tools. Maybe it's their fate as "outsiders" wherever they go, continuously pulled in either direction until they inevitably tear in two.

In any case, Cyrus seems nice enough, but there's something about him that continues to keep her at a distance. Maybe it's the dissonance of his status; having him here feels a bit like the Prime Minister answering a 9-9-9 call. If his intentions were purely humanitarian, surely he'd have sent a qualified rescue team. It should be within his means, surely. ]

It asked us to sacrifice something if we wanted to survive. But... um, Mr. Cyrus. What is it that your Meridian Shard-Bearers do for you?

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby's still a little disoriented by the situation as he comes to. He remembers been trapped with a red-haired girl and Emet-Selch, and then... this? Had Cyrus pulled them out already? With a panic he checks the silver pendant around his neck is still there, one he'd had fashioned as a way to carry Cerys's Shard with him, and he breathes an inward sigh of relief to find it unharmed.]

Thank you for the help. [He says to Cyrus, regarding him. The man has a smile that would be a perfect fit for in front of a camera -- in fact, he wouldn't look out of place on HeroTV.] I wasn't aware the tree would do... that.

[thanks for the warning, yima!!]

[kenosnpcs]

You're welcome, of course. The Tree is...

[ He glances to a bundle of roots nearby and sighs, but it comes with a laugh that's a little more incredulous than anything else. No matter how many Shard-Bearers he helps pull away from the Tree, it doesn't get any stranger, and Kenos was his home? The Tree is truly just Like That. ]

Well, it tries to keep its "seeds", so to speak. That's how I've usually thought about it, at least.

[ He shrugs again, but looks back to Barnaby as he does ]

Are you okay, by the way? No lingering...anything? I can use some magic to heal you, if you need it.

[hundredpower]

I'm still a bit queasy from the poison, but I'll be all right.

[Healing magic seems a little excessive, when he thinks it will pass sooner or later now that he's had the antidote. Probably. Hopefully!]

So if I'm understanding correctly, the Tree can-- grow people? [For want of a better word.] Is that different to how Yima can bring peoples' Shards here?

[passio]

[ dextera had done his best to reject yima. it was difficult, it wasn’t what he wanted to do, but he was able to recognize his own weaknesses and attempt to shore up against them. cyrus’ genial offerings have made it a little easier in the aftermath, but that just means it’s truly important to talk to the man himself and understand what exactly they’ve all gotten themselves into. ]

…

[ he’s clutching the bead, but he pries one hand away from it to reach for his shard—old habit, though he at least stops before pulling it out. ]

Can you bring anyone back?

[kenosnpcs]

[ It's a sad question. Cyrus's smile is sympathetic in response, because getting to know Shard-Bearers, it's always a little surprising how many of them have sad questions like these. Even in the oddity that is Kenos, he knows he's lucky. As he reaches back with Communion, the feeling that comes most with it is an earnest sympathy. ]

"Back" can mean a lot of things, so I don't want to assume. Which one do you mean?

[passio]

Back… I mean…

[ the way cyrus introduced the meridian makes it seem as though it’s not just a force to recreate their worlds, but to recreate life. through dextera’s memories, limited as they are, perhaps there’s a way to turn back the hands of time even within the world as he knows it. ]

Someone who’s…

[ already dead, before the world was destroyed. ]

[executory]

[ To be honest, that unwavering smile is kind of creeping her out? No way any guy who's in charge (she thinks he's in charge?) and smiles like that is up to any good. She's been around enough men to know.

Still, she needs answers (the useful kind, not whatever crap those creepy roots had been trying to give) and he's practically begging her to come over. But she's suspicious by nature, especially of men, and while she takes a few cautious steps forward, there's still a wealth of space between them. ]

Hey. Are you the guy in charge?

[ She tries to project her voice so it comes out loud and demanding. It just kind of sounds tired instead. This would all be a lot easier if she had more hiding her figure than the single blanket that kid that given her. ]

[kenosnpcs]

[ It's a big question, and he kind of half-laughs and shrugs, but it's good-natured. ]

In charge might be overselling it, but here around the Tree? Probably closest to it.

[ She's given her distance, so he doesn't encourage her to come any closer than she is. It's a boundary he won't infringe on. ]

I'm Cyrus. Leader of the Meridian and Springstar, to put it simply.

[executory]

[ None of those are familiar names to her despite how far she's traveled through the Star Stream. She grips the edges of her blanket tightly around her, wishing that someone was here with her right now. Maybe Han Sooyoung with her sharp-witted mind, or Yoo Sangah with her calming presence and logical thought process.

No, no, she shouldn't try and rely on them all the time. She won't be able to rely on them all the time. ]

Meridian and Springstar...

[ She mumbles the names to herself even as her eyes stay trained on the man, as though saying them aloud might trigger some flicker of familiarity. Maybe an old forgotten story mentioned in passing. It doesn't. ]

Are you the one that brought us here? The one that trapped us in that room and made us play that crappy game?

[ Her voice rises towards the end, her discontent growing more and more obvious. ]

[lachtara]

He's not exactly part of the parade of new people, so it may be a welcome change of pace for Cyrus to see someone he's spoken to before.

"Ah. The unwitting tour guide graces us with his presence." Emet-Selch says by way of greeting. He yawns and idly rubs the side of his face. "Compelled to make a surprise visit, are we?"

[kenosnpcs]

Emet-Selch is immediately greeted with a grin, since compared to everyone else, it doesn't have to be a conversation that lingers into sad territory. This process is always one he dislikes, because he hates seeing people suffer, and boy, it seems like the Shard-Bearers from Horos really went through it, based on their questions... So a familiar face is more than welcome.

"Compelled makes it sound like I didn't want to do it," he says first, since that's something he feels seriously, but he does follow it with a laugh as he shrugs, "I'm usually not pulling this many people out of the Tree, but it's not like it's the first time I've done it. It's, uh, weird that way."

[lachtara]

"Oh, yes, that is the most strange part of all, I'm sure." The response is thick with sarcasm. There are many instances in his own world which are on par with this, admittedly, but he can overlook that detail if it means baiting his new acquaintance into talking more about his experience.

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn hadn't struggled as Cyrus had pulled her from the tree, but she had retreated into herself for a moment after, lost in thought and considering the things that were going on. Also catching her breath and tamping down on some of her panic...because she'd been stuck in a freaking tree.

When she'd sorted herself, she approached her rescuer, ducking her head in thanks.]

You would be Yima's counterpart, then?

[kenosnpcs]

[ Cyrus bows his head in return, easy and accepting. Her question, though makes him laugh. It's short, but it has humor in it. ]

Wouldn't like to think of myself that way, but... Yeah, essentially.

[ Being her counterpart just feels like a strange comparison, even if it's true... They may be opposed in their beliefs for the future of Kenos, but he still had respect for her. Or maybe just her mystery, especially compared to his own humble background by comparison. ]

I'm Cyrus. I've got a few titles that won't mean much right now, but I'm the leader of the city of Springstar. Meridian's home.

[youngprodigy]

[Though Cid wasn't one of the people pulled out of the tree by Cyrus, he approaches the man all the same. This situation doesn't seem to be anything like Horos, from what he's been able to tell, so surely approaching the header of the opposing faction is a harmless enough action.]

You're Cyrus, correct?

[kenosnpcs]

[ Cid is greeted with a warm smile, as if Cyrus were seeing an old friend rather than a complete stranger. He has his hands resting on his hips at this point, relaxed and at ease, since it seems like people are doing better. ...Relatively speaking, anyways. ]

I am.

[ He laughs a little, then gives a shrug. ]

I could give the full name and title, but it's all a mouthful. So, yeah, just Cyrus. What can I call you?

i hope u don't mind me starting the thread here!!

[comelately]

[ all the time he spent in Horos, and Cyrus is the first person to show him what he's really been looking for: hope. Johnny's a practical man; he believes in what he can touch and see. The sunbeam, and the brief shot into Philadelphia, the first glimpse in months of his only friend in this wide, empty universe - that's enough. When he snaps back to reality, the hands clutching the pearl are almost trembling. ]

That - that was real?

[ it felt real. Part of his mind swears it knows it was real. But he needs the assurance, and he looks up desperately at Cyrus from his wheelchair in search of it. ]

not at all!

[kenosnpcs]

[ Cyrus nods, and his smile is soft and understanding. Part of him wants to reach out as if to say that he's here, he's not alone, but considering the people he's met thus far... He refrains. They've gone through something terrible, so he can tell touch isn't going to be the most comforting. ]

It is. It's Meridian's power to be able to guide you back home.

[ He nods lightly, his eyes on the bead in Johnny's hand. ]

It's why I'm certain the worlds you all came from can be saved. They may be fragile and needing to be repaired, but... As long as one soul longs for home, that seems to be enough.