kenoslogs | 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well.

This is, he supposes, different. And yet somewhat familiar.

He feels like he should know how these footsteps land on the floor, as though on a tether to reality that isn't really there. Maybe some other city, maybe two others. It feels like someone he shared a meal with at the food court of a mall or someone drawing on the sand. And yet.

He doesn't remember doing that, ever.

So the swordsman allows this new presence to approach, quiet, but as though air goes through vocal cords that aren't working, with somewhat loud bated breath.

When he does, he only tilts his head to aim his shades more directly at it, an arched eyebrow.] May I help you?

[ dextera wonders what the best thing to do is. he’s not stupid, he knows that reaching out and touching a stranger’s hand will get him slapped or worse—but he feels like that’s what he should do, compared to his first instinct to commune with others. he doesn’t remember much, but if he closes his eyes and searches, he recalls some advice imparted. morse code, maybe others.

he doesn’t have a name, though, which makes the tenuous feeling of acquaintance beyond distant. ]

…

[ dextera hesitates, but ultimately, he decides that the best way to introduce himself is to see if the connection is remembered. he reaches out, letting his hand hover over mamoru’s—not touching, distinctly not touching, but the warmth of his palm is there. ]

[Nothing about this person seems to be violent, aggressive, or ill-intended. Which in turn, makes the whole proximity even more foreign. He's used to close range attacks, to people getting all in his face to intimidate him, even little girls getting way too close for comfort just because they want the moment to mean 'something' to them. But here, he finds nothing except a slight shift to the air that makes it seem like it's filtered. Like something is off.

It's questioning, too. Instinctively, he lifts his hand from his thigh, and turns his palm up. Is this what this person wants? A hand? To give him something?]

[ as soon as mamoru answers dextera’s hovering offer by upturning his palm, the memories start to fall more meaningfully into place. a cavern, a lodestone, the fact that he never saw mamoru after that. he doesn’t even recall thinking about mamoru outside of that moment and might have written it off as a dream, if not for the distinct deja vu he’s feeling now.

he writes out one message with his finger. ]

Hello.

[A blink, fingers twitching when he feels the fingertip on his palm, and a second as he realizes it's moving and doing so with meaning. It's a message. He looks up at where he hears breathing, somehow finding familiarity in the gesture. In the simple word of greeting. More than instinct, it's as though his memory tells him that this person can't talk.

His shoulders roll down.]

Hello yourself. [A huff of a breath.] Y'wanna sit down or...?

[ that feels like as much as dextera can get from his memories. he’s accustomed to working on little, but this time it really feels like there’s nothing else to recall—from here on out, whatever form the conversation takes, it’s new territory. ]

…

[ he nods, remembers that’s not going to work, and sits down next to mamoru to let the movement speak for him. now that that strange introduction is out of the way, though, dextera uses his shard to commune instead, his soft voice pressing at the edge of mamoru’s consciousness if he’s willing to hear. ]

…I’m sorry.

[Give thanks to your scruffy little hair, Dex. He hears it shake, his ears attuned to the little shifts of strands, the tension of muscles that even a slight little nod can make. The wood underneath them creaks and bends only minutely, but Mamoru still shifts his weight to ensure they're both at a regular distance.]

[And then the voice rings out, presses on his own mind gently as though one tentatively opens a door to see if a room is vacant, and the door is heavy. It still manages to breach through and like a breeze, slips over his own consciousness that he had considered locked tight.

The visceral reaction is unavoidable. Mamoru's breath hitches and his shoulders hunch higher.

He had it locked. His mind is a terrible minefield and he had it locked.]

What the—!

[He turns his head to the newcomer. It's the only variable of all of this. He can't see him, but he can feel him in a sense.]

What— You…?!

I’m sorry!

[ the first apology had been for his own odd introduction, of which he himself was not entirely certain of. this apology is much more straightforward, the realization—the one he had too, some months ago—that having someone suddenly impede your mind is not pleasant.

although mamoru can’t see him, he can likely feel dextera flinch away defensively. ]

I can’t speak. This is…

[ his only option. ]

[He does. The voice in his mind feels muffled as though covered by arms raised, braced up in a defensive position.

Mamoru takes a deep breath. If there are precogs, obviously there would be a next step. Is this the whole thing about this place? Is this why he had that weird dream?

Exhale out through his teeth, his mind, jagged and serrated, slants down, blades flattening away the edge.]

What is this?

[ dextera doesn’t like it much, feeling another person’s mind. just because he’s gotten used to it doesn’t mean he relishes it, and mamoru’s reaction is a good reminder that it is unpleasant even when it isn’t meant to be. ]

Our Shards… we’re speaking through our Shards.

[ he would use mamoru’s hand consistently if he felt it was an option, but it’s good for only a few words at most. ]

Is this the first time…?

Our shar— [He stops talking, mouth immediately opening to say whatever words lodge in his mind like an opinion, and his instincts snapping it shut. He only needs to talk in his mind, like a hypothetical. The rational part of him raises its hackles. This is not supposed to happen.

Unconsciously, he raises his hand to touch at his solar plexus, where he had felt a very uncomfortable and yet, strangely not painful, protuberance. Jagged and definitely not supposed to belong there, he felt no signs of infection, even though he expected them, having deemed it the reason why he died, or came here. Shrapnel. The kind that lingers but doesn't pose a threat.] This?

[What the everloving fuck??]

Y'er kidding me. ['Yes,' in Mamorese. It's his first time.]

[ dextera hadn’t yet thought about what it might be like to feel the shard in his body but not be able to see it. he’s been struck briefly blind before, but it’s never lasted any longer than anything else he’s suffered. with the exception of his voice, everything returns to him eventually, and he’s able to take stock of his body with his eyes in every new life. ]

…they’re “us.” The bodies around them are just projections, shaped by our identities.

[ that’s the way he understands it, anyway. ]

You don’t have to let me in.

TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉

LET'S PLAY A GAME...

CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

FOR OLD PLAYERS:

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