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
    prizeneck: (11)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-17 10:13 am (UTC)(link)
    [—steady and surprisingly well-coiled tendons on her ankles, grip strength that should not belong in such a lithe figure, walking with her weight skewed so which means her shoulders and hipbone are set slightly slanted to her right side.

    'Is she used to carrying something heavy with ease?'

    So. Maybe he should just let her drag him. Just in case he realizes who the fuck this girl is.

    You gotta keep your enemies close, right?
    ]

    Yeah. Sure. Fates and all that bullshit.
    kabooming: (🎼)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-17 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ he's a man who knows what's good for him, what a rare find!!! Jinx doesn't have any complaints if he's going to play nice, so she's all too eagerly winding her way through the throng on the streets toward The Mysterious Destination.

    dragging him right along behind her by the wrist, of course-- ]


    I'm likin' your mojo, Jojo! [ ,,, ] You're a real go-with-the-flow kinda guy, huh?

    [ it seems like they're heading toward The Coliseum if Mamsy-kins is keeping track, ]
    prizeneck: (33)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-18 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Great, she's talkative.]

    Not as much as you. [He gruffs out, the wrinkle in between his brows deepening. No, not at all; Mamoru tends to plan everything to the utmost degree, analytical to a heartless and cold fault. But life has thrown him nothing but curve balls over the years, so he's learned to adapt and review his plans on the go.

    He can't even tell where she's taking him until he finally picks up on other dialogues in the street, tuning her out. 'Oh this is the twelfth gurney I've seen coming out of the Coliseum today,' 'they've been getting some weird people there'.

    The Coliseum? Something tells him she doesn't just want to go watch…
    ] What are you expecting you'll see there?
    kabooming: (😁)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-18 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ it's probably for the best he tunes her out, because as it turns out, she just kept rattling right along the entire time they were bridging the distance between their meeting point (place of Mams-kidnapping) and their inevitable destination.

    which means she's interrupting herself mid-sentence as he realizes he asked her something, turning around quickly enough that only a man with his impressive reflexes would manage to dodge a collision. ]


    --a knock down, drag out, good ol' fashioned asskicking, what do you mean? There's supposed to be monsters, Mr. Shades, don't tell me you're not curious.
    prizeneck: (67)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-19 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
    [Thankfully for Mamoru (and Jinx, really, you don't want to bump against this useless sack of meat), he is a man with impressive reflexes and, therefore, manages to dodge a collision.

    In fact, it's not much a matter of reflexes; she's erratic, sure, but there's always a telltale sign of how a hipbone and ankle tense before they pivot, especially if as sharply as she does. Like this, he does realize that she's a little thing, but she feels like a livewire snapping and thrashing while seeking a conductor.

    Makes sense that she'd hone in on the Coliseum, of all places.
    ]

    Monsters? ['Mr. Shades'?!] Huh. Definitely curious. Let's go.
    kabooming: (🌬)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-20 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
    Yeah, monsters! The literal type. Big, gross, smash-y? You got those back at home, Mr. Shades?

    [ she's patting his chest like 'good job' (for what? agreeing to join her? not colliding into her? being tall and having shades making for an easy nickname? maybe. you be the judge) before she is tangling her fingers with his and tugging him along like he's on a leash behind her. ]

    You strike me as the kinda guy who's got a story. I can see it in your eyes. [ haha get it bc she can't see his eyes, bc of the Shades... lol lmao so hilarious

    why is he subjecting himself to this again ]
    prizeneck: (67)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-24 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Big, gross and smash-y? Honestly?

    Yeah, he does. A particular part of humankind can be considered as such. He doesn't find that really special.

    He does dip his head low to look at the hand touching his chest, the frown barely visible between the rim of his shades and the mop of his hair, but the pursing of his mouth denouncing it anyway. He doesn't mention it, though, merely steps aside to tug Jinx instead towards the entrance of the building.
    ]

    A story, right. It's here, ain't it?
    kabooming: (😏🥤)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-26 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
    [ does she see that frown?

    yes.

    does it stop her from pat-patting him again? of course it doesn't, ]


    Y'know, that was a perfect segue for you to, like. Tell the story, in case you didn't get the picture.

    [ giving him a look that suggests she is expecting said Story, here, as she slows her footsteps just short of the entrance. ]

    Or are you one of those 'keep it close to the vest' types? Got something in your vest, Shades?

    [ poking... his ribs, now, ]

    Oo! Can I see?
    prizeneck: (5)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-26 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
    [A shrug, with a slight tilt of his head. Anyone else and he would look amused, but honestly, he's just slightly impressed at how at ease (and a bit off her rocker, really) Jinx is. Is she really trying to tickle him or something?] I ain't wearing a vest, am I?

    'Sides, thought you wanted to see some monsters. [If the inflection of his tone is shifting just a little, it's only in Jinx's head. He presses a hand to the large door of the building.] Not having cold feet, are ya?
    kabooming: (👧)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-27 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ well, is he ticklish? ......just wondering, for science.

    hmm; hmmmmm; hmmmmm; she tilts her head one way,

    she tilts her head the other,

    and then she clasps her hands together excitedly. ]


    My feet are warm as they'll ever be, Mr. Shades! Nice 'n toasty, so how 'bout you and I go and have a little monster fun?
    prizeneck: (15)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-28 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Not ticklish per se, only sensitive because he can't see. So he will jerk a little at the poking, but won't start giggling about it.

    Christ, the Mr. Shades again.

    As if his alert sirens weren't already blaring. With a grumble, he opens the door to the building, the warmth and the shouting inside spilling out from the threshold. Good insolation structure, which is good to know. He passes behind the line to buy the tickets and walks right into the entrance. 'HEY! You need to pay to watch the show,' he hears.

    He tilts his head low, ensuring his eyes are visible over the rim of his shades.
    ] Good thing I ain't watchin', then.

    ['O-oh.' The guy gets so shocked by it that he even lets Jinx pass, too. To be fair, he's navigating through the crowd so easily that it's sort of hard to tell that he's blind.]

    Take it you want to go to the highest stands, for a better view?
    kabooming: (😼😈)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-29 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Jinx is following behind Mamsy-kins' shoulder, watching him curiously as they step inside the venue; it's huge, enormous, and clearly a popular spot for Springstar's natives to congregate during non-working hours.

    she doesn't miss a beat when he strolls right on by the ticketmaster - even gives the guy a mature sticking-out of her tongue and makes a face before trotting on quickly to catch up. yeah, that's RIGHT, they're VIP's (??), let 'em on through, people!

    but that question gives her pause, and she's abruptly grabbing his arm to jerk him to a halt before he can move another step forward. ]


    Shades, Shades, Shades. Mind if I call you that? [ she doesn't wait for his response bc she doesn't care tbh, ] I think you've got the wrong idea, here. We didn't come to watch anything.
    prizeneck: (33)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-10-31 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Ah, there it is. The catastrophe announced by all the warning signals in his mind, were he already not a siren to begin with.

    He tilts his head; an eyebrow arched underneath the mop of black hair.
    ]What, you're planning on fighting those things with no weapons?
    kabooming: (🦜)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-10-31 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
    'course I don't plan to fight without weapons.

    [ with a disgusting sweetness that is at odds with the subject matter, she's flashing him a bright smile. ]

    That would be boooooring, come on! So, tell me. What's your fave? Your battle-buddy? You a gun guy? Maybe another sword-guy? --Ooh! Maybe you're a gun-sword guy!
    prizeneck: (40)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-11-01 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    A gun-sword—

    [That's just— Actually, no, he's not even supposed to feel put off by the idea of a gun-sword because he did train with a guy whose weapon was a bouncy ball on a string.

    Yet, he stops in his tracks. Scoffs, painfully aware that he's being dragged into her rhythm.
    ] A sword is fine. Where d'ya think you're getting it?
    kabooming: (😼)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-11-02 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
    [ whatever man, gunswords can exist, don't harsh her vibe alright.

    a bouncy ball on a,

    ......mams are u ok,

    a-anyway, ]


    There's an armory~! [ she is now leading him toward said armory by the arm as if they're besties. as if he is totally on board with this. good ol' Shades. ] And you have to sign up or something; I don't know, I didn't bother with that part last time. Did you know you're not supposed to kill the other guy? [ she makes a face, scoffing. like,

    what the hell ever dude, ]
    prizeneck: (19)

    [personal profile] prizeneck 2022-11-02 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
    [uddup: we hired a military consultant to make things look and sound legit
    also uddup: bulletproof bouncy ball on a string

    Is he ever ok, is the question.
    ]

    I'm going; I'm going. [He grumbles, trying to take his arm off her grasp. No need for pasting yourself around his arm, Jinx. He's also curious about it. He frowns, though, trying to listen in the rules and guidelines to this place.

    He arches an eyebrow.
    ] Where's the fun in killing? Can't control yourself that much? [Killing is easy mode, Jinx. Keep up.]
    kabooming: (🚶‍♀️😉)

    [personal profile] kabooming 2022-11-04 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
    [ A CONSULTING FIRM i'm literally dying goodbye,

    ok yeah true that was a silly question. buddy, champ... hang in there...... Jinx sure isn't making it easier for him is she. at least she lets him wiggle free of her grasp this time, though she gives him one last little pat in the way of farewell before jogging on ahead with a whimsical laugh. ]


    Oooh, don't tell me you're a big stick in the mud goodie-two-shoes...

    [ does she sound like she's prepared to mock him?

    because she is, yeah, ]