beleos: (Default)
beleos ([personal profile] beleos) wrote in [community profile] kenoslogs2022-10-14 03:08 pm

TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉

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
    epiprocta: (56)

    [personal profile] epiprocta 2022-10-16 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Two can play this game??? Sebastian says all that, his words rife with sarcasm, but Gen follows it up with a totally deadpan, feigned-serious, ]

    Yeah, that's what demons are.

    [ Because that is what they are???

    That said, though he does look for a moment like he's about to spitefully agree to Sebastian going first in lopping off a body part, Gen instead says abruptly: ]


    No. I'm going first.

    [ It's a declaration, rather than asking for any sort of permission. Not out of any consideration, though. Simply because he thinks if he has to look at and smell the blood of Sebastian cutting off one of his fingers first on top of how he's already feeling a touch light-headed, he might hurl. He's definitely looking just a little paler as he looks at his two "teammates," even if he tries to play strong. ]

    You got any objections?
    joyfully: (â™™ Skirmish)

    [personal profile] joyfully 2022-10-16 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
    [It really is like watching a tennis match... back and forth, back and forth. It does an excellent job of cutting through any tension in the air that Morgan might feel--which comes back the moment Gen says he's going first. It's the look on his face more than anything that finally gives Morgan pause; it's all well and good to talk theoreticals and tactics, but when it comes down to it...

    They're still purposefully removing their own fingers.

    So finally, she frowns a little bit, slowly tilting her head.]


    ... Do you have a handkerchief or anything, Mister Dapper Demon...? To help with stopping the bleeding.
    cutlery: (same as it ever... was?)

    [personal profile] cutlery 2022-10-16 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Unsurprisingly (to Gen, at least), the prospect doesn’t have Sebastian looking all that queasy at all. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s lost fingers or limbs, but that’s demons for you. They’re gross cheaters that aren’t bothered by normal things…

    With a small sigh, Sebastian reaches to his breast pocket to grab his pocket square. Right after he pulls it out, he starts to refold it to make it more like a bandage instead of a haphazard piece of cloth. Again, he’s too familiar with this? Don’t worry about it. ]


    Of course. [ He hands it off to Morgan, then starts to remove his outer jacket as well. He’s at least not wearing a tailcoat (that somehow is too much), but still. ] My sleeve garters should suffice as basic tourniquets as well, should that be necessary.

    [ Formalwear being surprisingly practical for emergency first aid. Who knew! ]
    epiprocta: (41)

    [personal profile] epiprocta 2022-10-16 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ So no objections, then.

    As the other two busy themselves making preparations, Gen takes a deep breath. Then another one. Before thumping his fist against the wall of roots beside him with one brief, surly demand: ]


    Knife.

    [ There's the creak of wood as a root extends from around them to offer him forth the summoned blade, which he snatches up with a huff. Gen makes a point of stabbing it into the ground beside him to keep it in place as he unwinds the crude bandages from around his foot, his voice just a little lower with tension when he speaks again. ]

    If it's the same as last time, the knife's ... weird. Not a normal knife. So it'll go fast. [ If that makes a difference in their preparations. Gen, meanwhile, tries not to grimace as he looks at the mangled stub of where he'd already cut off his pinky toe, the edge of the wound left jagged from the shaking of his hand. His brow's furrowed deeply as he visibly deliberates -- which one should he hack off this time? ]
    joyfully: (â™™ Economy of Force)

    [personal profile] joyfully 2022-10-17 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
    Thanks a bunch...!

    [She accepts the makeshift bandage gratefully, and then holds it in preparation for Gen's final plunge. She asked for it for him, after all.

    But she figures the last thing anyone needs is to be crowded at a time like this, so... she'll just wait, though she doesn't turn away or anything. She's seen some limbs get chopped off in her day, though this seems a little more gruesome to her just by merit of them having a lot of time to think about it, instead of a bandit getting a lucky hit on an innocent villager...

    Anyway. Point is, take your time, Gen.]
    cutlery: (isn’t that Prime Directive violation?)

    [personal profile] cutlery 2022-10-17 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ you mortals and your attachments to your limbs... wack ]

    [ Considering Gen had already pointed out what he was so immediately, Sebastian doesn't even make a show of pretending to be concerned. It's not as if Gen would accept it, and so even doing so for Morgan's sake would be quickly debunked, he figures. So instead, he busies himself with the practical.

    He folds his jacket neatly over an arm, then unbuckles his sleeve garters to have them ready, as well as removing his tie, since it may do well for another "bandage" or tourniquet. Dual purpose! He's at least not sassing Gen while he makes his choice, since he'll give him that consideration. ]
    epiprocta: (87)

    [personal profile] epiprocta 2022-10-17 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ At least they won't be kept waiting for too long.

    Because once Gen reluctantly decides on his target (second toe, grudgingly taking in Sebastian's advice about which finger to cut off and extrapolating from there), he moves decisively enough. Acting quick to get this over with before his nerves give out. Tugs up a fold of his shirt so he can bite down on the fabric, touches the knife to the joint where it meets his foot, takes in a deep breath, then raises the blade

    and brings it down in one, hard stab.

    It bleeds ... remarkably little this time, for some reason. not just because some dumbass forgot about some event information beforehand Maybe because his hand had been steadier this time, the cut rendered cleaner.

    Either way, the damage is done. And before his body can start processing that pain, Gen huffs out a hard exhale around that mouthful of fabric, then tosses over the knife. It goes clattering half-heartedly across the ground before coming to a half roughly between where Morgan and Sebastian are.

    Their turn. ]
    joyfully: (pic#)

    [personal profile] joyfully 2022-10-17 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Morgan frowns, still holding the makeshift bandage that Sebastian handed over--and then even if it's not anything he's interested, she still makes her way over to him (scooping up the knife on the way) to gently put it on the ground next to him.

    Then she retreats a few steps, looking at the bloody knife in her hand.

    Phew... phew!!! This isn't anything she ever thought she'd be tackling in her lifetime.]


    I always figured I'd be the de-limber, not the de-limbed...

    [That's just murmured to herself, though, before she shrugs a bit and tries to be as chipper as she can considering the circumstances.]

    I guess every day's a new experience...!

    [... She tugs off the glove from her left hand (no point in ruining perfectly good gloves), takes a deep breath, and in one very smooth motion, slices right through the index finger of her left hand.

    Then she crouches on the ground and makes a little mmmmmmmm! noise because ow? Ow!! Ow!

    Where's Brady when she needs him?!]
    cutlery: (breakout your pirate hat)

    [personal profile] cutlery 2022-10-18 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Even seeing signs that this isn’t Gen’s first time through, Sebastian is honestly a little surprised at how well he takes it. It’s not enough to really change his opinion all that much, since he was still an incredibly rude young man for really no reason, but. It does at least pull out a twinge of begrudging respect from Sebastian. As if Gen would even want it.

    He does note how little the wound actually bleeds, and his brow furrows together in light confusion, but that’s at least for the better overall. It would be troublesome for either of them to bleed overly much, wouldn’t it?

    Of course, the real surprise comes with Morgan, and it’s not really even the finger cutting portion of it. It’s absolutely what she says. That furrow gets all the deeper, because even her saying she was a tactician and a member of an army, the cheerfully macabre humor is unexpected. Also, very casual about de-limbing people? Fascinating. ]


    Here— [ Even if it’s not bleeding overly much, Sebastian offers Morgan his tie as a way to mop up the blood and also take the knife for himself. There’s no preamble on his part. Sebastian simply rolls up both his sleeves slightly and takes off his own glove before bringing the knife to his right index finger and cuts into it without hesitation. His motion of doing so is also suspiciously smooth, but also angles in such a way on its way through to especially clearly cut through muscle and sinew.

    At the very least, it seems to hurt, even if that’s largely just expressed by Sebastian’s face becoming very cold and controlled as his jaw clenches tightly. Once it’s done, he breathes out a sharp noise as he just holds his own finger in the same hand. Yep. Very normal all around, great job team! ]


    What, and now we place them on a pedestal or some such? That seems the sense of humor at play.
    epiprocta: (55)

    [personal profile] epiprocta 2022-10-20 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
    [ It's probably for the best that Gen's too distracted dealing with his own fresh injury to get lippy about how both of his "teammates" are weirdo freaks who are way too casual about lopping off body parts.

    As is, he barely even notices the makeshift bandages that Morgan had kindly left him -- he's entirely focused on just re-winding his pre-existing bandages back into place, gritting his teeth and breathing in short huffs as he tries to ignore the vivid waves of pain lancing through his nerves. It's a difficult task to wrangle with any sort of finesse, especially given he only has one hand, but -- whatever. He manages well enough.

    And once he hastily yanks his boot back on, it's out of sight, out of mind, right? (No.) ]


    Sure, why not. [ He winces as he starts arduously getting back to his feet; it's in his nature to try and act normal as quickly as possible, and he does his best not to let it show how much it hurts to put any weight on his mangled foot. ] Maybe if we make a show of it, it'll actually work this time.

    [ Leaning heavily against the wall behind him, he bends down to scoop up those makeshift bandages and tosses them Morgan's way -- whapping her right in the face with them, sorry not sorry. ]
    joyfully: (â™™ Withdrawal)

    [personal profile] joyfully 2022-10-22 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    [It takes Morgan a minute to fight back the waves of pain long enough to straighten, and then she manages to take a few deep breaths. Okay... okay.

    She looks down at her hand, wrinkles her nose a bit, and gratefully takes the tie to both mop up said blood, and also cover up the remaining stump of finger. No need to look too closely at that...! Trauma is not meant to be addressed, please and thank you.

    Another shaky breath, and then she manages to push herself up.

    ... Anyway, that's when the bandages smack her in the face and she's unsteady enough that it puts her right back on her ass again with a quiet yelp.

    WHOOPS.]
    cutlery: (that's just a sundial with extra steps)

    [personal profile] cutlery 2022-10-23 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
    [ It’s like it’s the first time you’ve lopped off part of yourself or something??? Smh truly ]

    [ No, Sebastian’s judgement is reserved solely for Gen, since when he throws the bandages, he gets a disapproving click of his tongue in response. It’s definitely understating what he’s done, but that’s generally the vibe of this little disaster trio in general. ]


    Come, now. Was that really necessary?

    [ Sebastian huffs as he walks over to Morgan first, since at least having the appearance and manners of a gentleman, he’ll offer a hand to help her back up. It’s the one that’s fine, of course, even if it comes with a small huff. He can add his own sacrifice to the pedestal pile after this, clearly. ]
    epiprocta: (89)

    [personal profile] epiprocta 2022-10-24 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Oh, come on. Morgan goes toppling over, and in response, Gen gives an exasperated roll of the eyes. It makes him look more his age than anything else in this encounter before, honestly. ]

    Why're you giving me shit for it when she was the one who who went falling over. S'not like I threw a book in her face.

    [ It was just not-quite bandages??? And clearly she's in the wrong for being all woozy after removing a body part? They're fine, they should all be fine. He's totally fine.

    Case in point, Gen scowls as he limps forward -- not to help Morgan up, but to snatch up the cut-off portion of her finger so he can deposit both his and her sacrifices on the altar. The movement's quick and rushed, eyes averted, but it does save her the trouble of having to do it, and Gen backs off a few paces from the altar afterward as he uneasily wipes his clammy and blood-flecked hands against his slacks.

    Sebastian's on his own, though. ]