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

[cutlery]

[ With a gracious smile, he returns the gesture to take her hand. He’s wearing formal dress gloves, oddly, but his handshake is firm and confident, and doesn’t linger any longer than necessary. ]

It is a pleasure, Miss Caitlyn. Sebastian Michaelis.

[ And he adds another detail that he’s been largely forgoing in Horos and now Kenos, but considering his own area of interest at the moment, he feels that it’s a relevant detail for once. ]

Formerly the head butler of the Earl of Phantomhive, but clearly, such a distinction no longer matters very much in Kenos.

[superbshot]

And you as well, Sebastian.

[She's a bit less formal. But only a bit.

Still, the detail isn't lost on her. It's good to know at the least.]

I was a Lieutenant in the Piltover Enforcers where I'm from. A detective. Nothing quite so distinguished, but I would say that titles matter a bit. They tell you more about what a person does, and what they find important.

[cutlery]

[ His genial smile stays perfectly in place, at least until she says "Piltover Enforcers," where his expression lightens to one of surprised, interested recognition. Potentially from that alone, Caitlyn might be able to make a guess at where it comes from, since there weren't exactly many options in their world-hopping situation... ]

Oh, yes, they certainly do. [ He'll at least speak to what she says first, since even if his interest is caught, it feels rude to not respond to her words. ] Though I would say a detective does feel a bit more distinguished to I! My work of serving excellent tea and managing a noble household is certainly not so important, at least.

[ He laughs a little as he bows his head, playful in his self-deprecation. But, to that recognition— ]

Pardon my surprise, by the way. "Piltover" is simply an unusual term, at least to my ear... Would you happen to be a Shard-Bearer as well, by any chance? It was from another I heard the term.

[ His interest is light and curious, but underneath the surface, it's far more than that. It's a sharp interest, because Silco was very guarded about where he came from and what he did. It was to the point that Sebastian almost considers the fact that he'd mentioned as much as "Enforcers" to be a slip that Sebastian had drawn out of him. And for someone Sebastian had considerations for at the moment... Well. It was to his benefit to try and draw out a little more, wasn't it? ]

This has not been a great tag week sorry friendo.

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn chuckles to herself, but she notes every shift and change in Sebastian's demeanor. Her own friendly attitude doesn't vanish, but she does straighten up slightly.]

You would have heard it from Silco, I suspect?

[She's got a very, very strong hunch.]

But you would be correct. I am a Shard-Bearer, one of the unfortunates that came from Horos. [Which means he probably was, too.]

Piltover is a city on Runeterra, the world I was born on.

no worries!! <3

[cutlery]

[ In truth, he’s not surprised at all to see her straighten up. Silco’s explanation when the Kenoma had been sharing information had been spirited in a way that made him assume that there was a bit more than Horos behind it, and indeed, the more he got to know Silco, it was easy to simply guess. He can’t imagine Silco having a positive relationship with any kind of police force.

Those thoughts are absolutely kept to himself, though. With a slightly sheepish, but understanding smile, he nods. ]

Ah, yes, indeed I did. Mr. Silco was one of the first to offer a welcome to Achamoth, as it were. [ So by that, he doesn’t feel he needs to elaborate that he did indeed come from Horos, as well as the fact that he had allied with the Kenoma. However, he does add lightly: ] I had only just arrived with the most recent group before, well…

[ He gestures generally to the area around them. Clearly, Horos was a thing of the past, though not all its troubles were left behind. ]

He had mentioned Piltover in passing, so do pardon me. It is unusual enough that it stuck out... I can hardly say I am surprised, as the Kenoma did draw a certain sort, from my notice, but I take it he was not the most— Ah, reputable, shall we say?

[superbshot]

[Oh, yes. It was quite a bit more than Horos. She'd barely interacted with Silco on Horos, save to punch him in the face for stealing food from the starving. Caitlyn has no tolerance for the selfish.

Her eyes drift away from Sebastian as he talks, fingers drumming slightly on the table. Absorbing this information isn't too hard, and it is to be expected. If he was from Horos, then there was no way he was a Pleroma. She knew all of them by sight, and she'd been fairly involved in the resistance efforts. But that was set aside. She had no real quarrel with the Kenoma unless they had a problem with her. So far? That just seemed to be Silco.]

No, quite the opposite, I'm afraid. It is a little tragic, as he's quite clever...but he devoted his time and intellect towards personal gain at the expense of others. Silco is one of the chem-barons within Piltover's undercity, Zaun. A drug dealer, to use a more general term.

[She turns back to the man across from her.]

I suppose it's obvious that the two of us are enemies. I'll spare you my opinions on the man if you'd prefer.

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian makes a light sound of understanding as he nods, since that all fits with what little pieces he had picked up from Silco’s stories. It wasn’t that he thought Silco would lie, exactly, but it was obvious that he was a private man. Even when Sebastian had managed to pull out more passion and detail, it was always still clipped and careful. It’s the smart thing to do, of course. It just also makes him curious. ]

Well, I would be surprised if you had a good relationship, hearing this. [ There’s a little humor and lightness in his voice as he says it. There were certain elements of London’s less than reputable business that enjoyed a cordial relationship with the police, so long as they behaved, after all. But clearly, Caitlyn is the sort that would be troubled by that, or so he assumes. ]

But, no, if there is something you believe is worth knowing, I would hardly object. We are but acquaintances, after all, so opinions of character are good to know.

[ Very much so, in fact. It’s unlikely to change Sebastian’s opinions, but considering the offer that he’s planning to give Silco, it’s exceptionally useful to know more about him. ]

[superbshot]

[Yes, Caitlyn was definitely the kind of cop that would object to any sort of cordial relationship between drug-dealers and police. But she was less worried about the odd smuggler, or anything like that. Her objections were...specific, directed mostly at people who do great harm, over those that merely break petty laws.]

Very well. [She folds her fingers together and shrugs. He asked.]

Silco is a drug-dealer. He's poisoned the people that he claims to be fighting for, and he's more or less destroyed Zaun as it was over the course of only a few years. The introduction of highly addictive substances destabilized the tenuous peace between our cities and turned an already suffering people's plight for the worse. Moreover, he's literally destroying the bodies of those who take his drugs, as Shimmer ravages the body when one comes down from the high.

[A pause.]

He'll doubtless blame Piltover for the suffering of his city's, and he isn't wholly wrong. Piltover has done wrong there, exploiting the impoverished as sources of cheap labor, among other terrible colonialist crimes. [Basically the same thing the British Empire did] However by preying upon the desperate, or having his thugs and dealers do so, he's actively making a bad situation worse, for the love of money. If you seek to work with him, I'd simply caution you that he will betray you if he sees personal gain in it.

Also, you should understand that Silco does consider me to be a symbol of a people he hates, and I would appreciate anything he has to say about me being taken with the same grain of salt you should take when considering what I've said on him. He's not wrong to hate Piltover, as I should reiterate. My forebears have done great evil, and they are not blameless, but I would say that he's done more individual harm than any single Piltovan citizen.

[cutlery]

[ As Caitlyn explains, Sebastian’s expression turns serious, but thoughtful. He’s listening intently as she explains, and there’s a sharpness in his gaze that speaks to the fact that he’s not only taking it in, but mulling it over as well. And indeed, it’s all interesting information. It adds to the profile of Silco that Sebastian has been building up in more seriously lately. There’s nothing here that’s really surprising, as it was all the sorts of details Sebastian had simply assumed, but it was all valuable. After all, his guesses were only that.

It's interesting, though. He’s no stranger to the kind of world that Silco deals in, and in fact, had been rather intimately involved in it when he was at Ciel’s beck and call. The politics of it that Caitlyn describes were entirely different, but still. Drug dealers did tend to have very particular, narrow goals, and indeed, money was chief among them. But a simple drug dealer wouldn’t be enthralled with creating monsters. Nor would they catch Sebastian’s attention in enough for him to consider a “What if…”

These, of course, are thoughts Sebastian keeps to himself. Instead, he offers stories of an old master in lieu of one that may come. ]

The situation of your world of course could not compare to my own perfectly, but… I do understand, mostly. I worked for a young man who kept the most notable criminal elements of our city in check, so to speak. I am not unfamiliar with the sort of person Mr. Silco is, and that is indeed why your candor is appreciated. I may have my own experiences with those who hold power in less than desirable circles, but some are extremely honorable folk, while others are not. It is a valuable thing to know about someone in such circles.

[ Not… that he genuinely thought Silco was all that honorable. He’d gotten that impression at Silco’s muted gratitude to Sebastian certainly saving his life from [redacted]. It was a pragmatic choice, so it was nothing Sebastian was concerned with personally, but it said enough. As he continues, Sebastian’s serious expression and tone lightens a bit as he smiles, since there’s a bit of wry humor he can give for the rest. ]

I admit, I did hear of an Enforcer that I presume was you, but I do not know if I should take it with a grain of salt. As it was practical matters, I heard that you were an excellent shot, in fact. Everything else said I would consider more of a positive with this perspective, really.

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn takes in the information with the same quiet seriousness that she does basically everything. The shift in tone, the admission of connections to the underworld, and the muted appreciation all are noted.

She manages a wry smile as he offers a compliment, and shakes her head.]

I am an excellent shot. That much is true. [However...] I confess that I had people on the Kenoma side of the conflict tell me Silco was offering a less positive portrayal, but perhaps that was before you arrived.

Regardless, that's all behind us now, as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully we'll be able to all find a solution to our current quandary together.

[cutlery]

[ Her confidence inspires a little look of interest, but it’s kept purposefully muted. In truth, he’s very tempted to ask for a demonstration, if not to learn from her outright, but… It feels like a bit of an ask from a stranger, and especially one that he’s likely to still be opposed to. It’s nothing personal to him, but his own standards hardly apply to, well. Anyone else. ]

Oh, I do not mean it to say he was kind, necessarily. [ Not… at all… But Sebastian laughs gently. ] More that with perspective, I would interpret his statements through a different lens. You come from a place with a rather complex political situation, clearly.

[ It’s something he means, as well. His perspective on people tended to be more objective just because of how long he had lived and how long he had observed human conflicts. It makes him a truly neutral force in such things, for better and for worse. So he nods agreeably as he gives a warm, easy smile. ]

But I do think the same, genuinely. Granted, I may have a bit more ease in saying so, considering I was not a part of the Regent’s conflict long… But it is certainly far better to not have to cross blades, so to speak.

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn is content to move on from talking about Silco and home. It's honestly just better that way. She has little more to say about the man that would be considered polite, and she's trying very much to keep her biases in check.]

Agreed. I was there from the beginning, and saw plenty of the Regent's cruelties, and it's much nicer here already. To not have to fight to simply survive is already a vast improvement, and there are...perks...here.

[Cait shakes her head, smiling a little more brightly.]

Like this fine facility.

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian looks surprised when Caitlyn mentions that she was in the first batch of arrivals to Horos, but he doesn’t comment on it. It’s interesting, since he just hadn’t heard much of what that process was like, but… It’s also irrelevant at this point, isn’t it? It’s little more than a curiosity left behind of having only part of a story, so he’s content to move past it. And indeed, his smile blooms into one that’s much warmer. ]

So indeed. I do not know if I have seen a finer library. [ He glances to one of the nearby shelves with a fond smile ] The diversity of subjects alone is far, far beyond any I have been to. I suppose it is a natural benefit to having people from worlds over, but still, it is a delight.

[ He looks back to Caitlyn, then gestures to her generally ]

If I may, what has caught your interest?

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn is content to focus on lighter things, really. She's not intending to dwell on the bad, instead preferring Progress. The Piltovan way.

Lifting the book she'd been reading up, she tilts it so he can see it.]

Histories of Springstar, just now. I'd like to understand just what shaped this place and its people. That seems as good a use of the time as any, if we're to be here for a while.

[cutlery]

Very practical. It is probably what I should be researching myself, but… [ He laughs as he looks at his own books and shrugs ] Well, I could not resist diving into a hobby first. The cookbooks are certainly far more instructive than they were where I was from.

[ cookbooks of old were largely one paragraph and very “draw the rest of the fucking owl” in terms of instruction, so. ]

Have you found anything interesting?

I'm assuming she's mostly finding out like, obvious stuff to a local.

[superbshot]

Cooking is certainly a worthy thing to look up, though. A culture's food can tell you about them too.

[Armchair anthropology is a hobby, apparently.]

As for me...just some basics. Nothing too exciting, but interesting enough. Gives the city a little more context.