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Entry tags:
- !event,
- baroque: koriel xii (dextera),
- bastard!!: dark schneider,
- black butler: sebastian michaelis,
- ennead: set,
- expanse (the): amos burton,
- fire emblem: byleth eisner,
- fire emblem: claude von riegan,
- fire emblem: dimitri a. blaiddyd,
- genshin impact: tartaglia (childe),
- genshin impact: zhongli,
- granblue fantasy: eustace,
- jinba: hayame,
- legend of zelda (the): link,
- made in abyss: bondrewd,
- magnus archives (the): the archivist,
- marvel: gamora,
- oc: liem talbott,
- star wars: cassian andor,
- star wars: jyn erso,
- trigun maximum: vash the stampede
The Seeds of Unrest: the Iconoclast Oracle
RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK
The situation is bleak.
The Blight - and the massive labyrinth of roots tearing both cities asunder, spreading deadly flowers wherever they penetrate - have progressed to a point beyond catastrophe. People are dying in rapid numbers. Bearers are having difficulty keeping up with the spread of infection - even among one another. The collapse of Kenos seems inevitable; a cure will not come in time. You can do nothing but watch as each new day brings further disaster, ticking down the seconds until it all falls apart.
And then, you feel something seize your Shard. As if physical fingers have wrapped around it, as if it is being clutched through you by invisible hands, you feel invaded. You feel wronged. But before you can panic, a voice enters your mind through Communion.
“Excuse the dramatics, but there isn’t much time for pleasantries. The Trees are about to hit the point of no return. But there's still work to be done. The Tree of Life will take you where you can find it: the Oracle and the creature causing all this mess. Fix this when you find them. However you'd like.”
Have you heard Aetos’ voice before? Perhaps it is the first time; perhaps it is familiar to you. Either way, the last thing you will remember is a confusing jumble: a spell of immense and incredible power, one utilizing the Tree’s strength to shelter you. The sensation of every cell in your body coming alive, yet seeming to break apart and render you into billions and billions of tiny pieces, all hovering in different times and places across all the different iterations, timelines, and realities in which you have ever existed. A voice that speaks not through words asking your forgiveness, unspeakably sad.
And then, there is nothing.
The Blight - and the massive labyrinth of roots tearing both cities asunder, spreading deadly flowers wherever they penetrate - have progressed to a point beyond catastrophe. People are dying in rapid numbers. Bearers are having difficulty keeping up with the spread of infection - even among one another. The collapse of Kenos seems inevitable; a cure will not come in time. You can do nothing but watch as each new day brings further disaster, ticking down the seconds until it all falls apart.
And then, you feel something seize your Shard. As if physical fingers have wrapped around it, as if it is being clutched through you by invisible hands, you feel invaded. You feel wronged. But before you can panic, a voice enters your mind through Communion.
“Excuse the dramatics, but there isn’t much time for pleasantries. The Trees are about to hit the point of no return. But there's still work to be done. The Tree of Life will take you where you can find it: the Oracle and the creature causing all this mess. Fix this when you find them. However you'd like.”
Have you heard Aetos’ voice before? Perhaps it is the first time; perhaps it is familiar to you. Either way, the last thing you will remember is a confusing jumble: a spell of immense and incredible power, one utilizing the Tree’s strength to shelter you. The sensation of every cell in your body coming alive, yet seeming to break apart and render you into billions and billions of tiny pieces, all hovering in different times and places across all the different iterations, timelines, and realities in which you have ever existed. A voice that speaks not through words asking your forgiveness, unspeakably sad.
And then, there is nothing.
AWAKENING
Your eyes open, gritty with the feeling of a long, deep slumber.
Perhaps it takes a moment to shake off the heavy veil of exhaustion, to recollect what you were doing before you fell into this state of hibernation - but as soon as you do, you feel an immediate sense of foreboding around you. It is thick in the air, oppressive and pervasive, and you aren’t left long to wonder at its source. You lay beneath the branches of the Tree of Life, but as your bleary eyes focus… you see it. The Tree is all but bereft of life. Its bark has withered down to gnarled wood, the soft lichen dried up, and the grass that should be alive beneath you is long dead and gone. There is not so much as a single leaf on its decaying branches.
It has been this way for a long, long time... you realize this with a feeling of intense dread as you see it - the beautiful expanse of stars, of the cosmos, of universes scattered like starlight above the tree's boughs, gone. In its place hangs a sickly, ominously low-hanging, and dying sun ready to sing the end of everything.
You can't help but wonder how long Kenos has been in this state, but a sense of gratitude fills you as you realize that the Tree expended the last of its energies to protect you, the Bearers, during your state of rest. Had Aetos worked with the tree to see you sent here?
The next question comes quickly: how much time do you have left…? And can you find the Oracle before that time expires?
Perhaps it takes a moment to shake off the heavy veil of exhaustion, to recollect what you were doing before you fell into this state of hibernation - but as soon as you do, you feel an immediate sense of foreboding around you. It is thick in the air, oppressive and pervasive, and you aren’t left long to wonder at its source. You lay beneath the branches of the Tree of Life, but as your bleary eyes focus… you see it. The Tree is all but bereft of life. Its bark has withered down to gnarled wood, the soft lichen dried up, and the grass that should be alive beneath you is long dead and gone. There is not so much as a single leaf on its decaying branches.
It has been this way for a long, long time... you realize this with a feeling of intense dread as you see it - the beautiful expanse of stars, of the cosmos, of universes scattered like starlight above the tree's boughs, gone. In its place hangs a sickly, ominously low-hanging, and dying sun ready to sing the end of everything.
You can't help but wonder how long Kenos has been in this state, but a sense of gratitude fills you as you realize that the Tree expended the last of its energies to protect you, the Bearers, during your state of rest. Had Aetos worked with the tree to see you sent here?
The next question comes quickly: how much time do you have left…? And can you find the Oracle before that time expires?
ABANDON HOPE (DAYS 1 & 2)
The cornerstones are still active and will take you to whichever city you wish to see.
Highstorm and Springstar sit like empty monuments to the cities that were once filled with life - yet the first thing you will notice is they are strangely absent the signs of the Tree’s overgrown roots, the Blight, the catastrophic damage that you can recall all too easily. Instead, each city sits as those they were summarily abandoned overnight, leaving nothing but their shells behind. There is a stillness in the air that is unnatural and unsettling. Despite the lack of any sign of the citizens of either city, you cannot help but feel… watched.
Something terrible happened here. Best you find the Oracle before something terrible finds you, instead.
The burning of a dying sun beats down on you wherever you go, unbearable heat sending waves off the aged cobblestone streets. Perhaps it is your instinct to seek refuge in the shade - but linger too long about the shadows and that feeling of eyes on your back, of being unable to breathe, of your world closing in around you will grow untenable and drive you back into the light. If you hope to explore the ghostly shell of your city in search of the Oracle - or to sate your curiosity, some problem-solving might be in order.
And while you acclimate yourself to your circumstances, you cannot help but note you feel wrong inside, somehow…
Highstorm and Springstar sit like empty monuments to the cities that were once filled with life - yet the first thing you will notice is they are strangely absent the signs of the Tree’s overgrown roots, the Blight, the catastrophic damage that you can recall all too easily. Instead, each city sits as those they were summarily abandoned overnight, leaving nothing but their shells behind. There is a stillness in the air that is unnatural and unsettling. Despite the lack of any sign of the citizens of either city, you cannot help but feel… watched.
Something terrible happened here. Best you find the Oracle before something terrible finds you, instead.
The burning of a dying sun beats down on you wherever you go, unbearable heat sending waves off the aged cobblestone streets. Perhaps it is your instinct to seek refuge in the shade - but linger too long about the shadows and that feeling of eyes on your back, of being unable to breathe, of your world closing in around you will grow untenable and drive you back into the light. If you hope to explore the ghostly shell of your city in search of the Oracle - or to sate your curiosity, some problem-solving might be in order.
And while you acclimate yourself to your circumstances, you cannot help but note you feel wrong inside, somehow…
EXPLORATION
- If your characters choose to explore previously unreachable areas, please use THIS TOPLEVEL to report when they get there in the thread! We will get back to you with what is discoverable in that location.
- The following areas are off limits for exploration: below Yima’s Manor; below the Church of Heliopolis; Alenroux; Kowloon.
- The Great Trees of both Highstorm and Springstar are in a similar state to the Tree of Life and will not respond to Communion.
- Generally speaking, items will be of poor quality. Most will look as though they’ve aged thousands of years. Others will be in half-decent shape, but sparingly so. Oddly enough, it doesn’t seem like the whole city has aged at the same rate, so especially diligent rummagers can find worthwhile supplies. Please consider this should be rare and don’t go overboard!
NOTES
Here are some prompt reminders - see the full thing at the OOC Summary!- Characters will have a diluted connection to the Zenith or Meridian.
- There will be periods powers are weakened or non-functional during days 1-2 (up to player discretion).
- The sunlight results in scorching; the shadows cause claustrophobia and fear while outdoors.
THE RITUAL (DAYS 2+)
The place you started your journey to Kenos is also where it seems it will end. As soon as the first Bearer makes contact with the Iconoclast effigy, you are collectively drawn to the roots beneath the Tree - like a pang sent through your Shard. Your objective has been found. The Oracle awaits.
Trusting Aetos seems like a fool's errand, but you must put your hope in the Tree. What choice do you have left? It's time to find what lies at the end of this.
Bearers descend, your steps echoing in the dark, cavernous space. Once brimming with life and vitality, the roots are now dried and brittle like the bones of some ancient leviathan that died long ago. As you make their way deeper into the earth, the deadened roots twist, leading you to a vast chamber deep within it; the air here is thick with the smell of decay, and the faint glow of luminescent fungi and mosses barely illuminates the space.
To your left, the Bearers will notice what has drawn them here - and the object of their search.
An effigy sits on the ground between two darkened tunnels. The effigy is made of gnarled, dead branches woven together in a humanoid shape; its hollow, empty eyes are sightless, yet you cannot help but feel it is watching your every move. Branded on its forehead is the Iconoclast symbol carved into the rough wood.
Once all Bearers are present, the Ritual will begin. Your means of exit have been sealed off, and you are trapped, slowly deteriorating together…
Trusting Aetos seems like a fool's errand, but you must put your hope in the Tree. What choice do you have left? It's time to find what lies at the end of this.
Bearers descend, your steps echoing in the dark, cavernous space. Once brimming with life and vitality, the roots are now dried and brittle like the bones of some ancient leviathan that died long ago. As you make their way deeper into the earth, the deadened roots twist, leading you to a vast chamber deep within it; the air here is thick with the smell of decay, and the faint glow of luminescent fungi and mosses barely illuminates the space.
To your left, the Bearers will notice what has drawn them here - and the object of their search.
An effigy sits on the ground between two darkened tunnels. The effigy is made of gnarled, dead branches woven together in a humanoid shape; its hollow, empty eyes are sightless, yet you cannot help but feel it is watching your every move. Branded on its forehead is the Iconoclast symbol carved into the rough wood.
Once all Bearers are present, the Ritual will begin. Your means of exit have been sealed off, and you are trapped, slowly deteriorating together…
NOTES
- Bearers will have access to the Ritual Chamber which is a very wide, open space with the effigy situated against the far wall from the entrance. Several smaller tunnels off-shoot from the Ritual Chamber. They all run to dead ends; some are very small or narrow. This may afford you meager privacy away from the group.
- Once a Bearer steps into the Chamber, they can no longer head back out the way they came. They’ll find themselves automatically walking back into the Chamber as if of their own volition.
- For brevity’s sake we won’t list them out again here, but the complete description of effects Bearers will experience days 2+ is available in the OOC Summary.
- The effigy is impervious to damage.
- It Is Watching You.
- In a dead-end root tunnel attached to the Iconoclast’s Chamber is the Blighted statue of an Otter that may be familiar to some… Please see THIS TOPLEVEL for more information!
THE PURGE (DAYS 5+)
The sap has festered in your veins for what feels like days. It’s impossible to tell how much time has passed; this place has no sunlight. The effigy watches as you remain trapped, huddled together around it, unable to leave as you find yourself sick with the affliction of the Meridian, Zenith - or both.
And then… something finally gives.
Though it does not move and speaks no words, you feel the effigy offering you guidance. Knowledge. Much like the Tree speaks to you in impressions and feelings, you are conveyed wisdom you did not have before: a way to take what you want and rid yourself of what you do not. A way to make your convictions known to all who would hear them. A way to be known. To write your path in blood, be it yours… or theirs.
When all is said and done, only one force - Zenith or Meridian - will gain its favor.
Show it who you are. Show it what resolve looks like to you - and what you are willing to do to attain it.
And then… something finally gives.
Though it does not move and speaks no words, you feel the effigy offering you guidance. Knowledge. Much like the Tree speaks to you in impressions and feelings, you are conveyed wisdom you did not have before: a way to take what you want and rid yourself of what you do not. A way to make your convictions known to all who would hear them. A way to be known. To write your path in blood, be it yours… or theirs.
When all is said and done, only one force - Zenith or Meridian - will gain its favor.
Show it who you are. Show it what resolve looks like to you - and what you are willing to do to attain it.
NOTES
Here are some prompt reminders - see the full thing at the OOC Summary!- You can Purge your alignment through various methods: Trading, Corrupting, or using the Effigy itself.
- All characters will understand the end goal is for everyone to Harmonize; the alignment with the higher rate of Harmonized Bearers alive when time’s up wins the Oracle’s favor.
NOTES
- A reminder that the Harmonization tally will take place on Friday, the 19th and be open through Monday, the 29th. The results will be released on Wednesday, the 31st OOCly.
- Don’t forget to submit any deaths to the Death Tracker, with a gentle reminder characters will remain dead until the event conclusion!
- Reminder to fill out the SETTING POLL ASAP if you haven't already!
- Have some MUSIC if you'd like. LYRICS here!
- HAVE FUN!!
iii
a hand takes him by the bicep, tight and insistent. he must turn himself into the grasp to do anything about it, and he has raised his elbow to prepare to remove this new parasite; ultimately, the retaliatory, jutting joint freezes.
this close, voryn is easily able to meet sullen eyes.)
I know your voice... I have heard it before. (a chimer's memory is long—voryn's is longer. the elbow lowers but the arm stays between them. his forearm will act as the bar keeping gen away.) You wish to speak with someone you called a villain? I find this difficult to believe, boy.
no subject
[ His memories are still hazy, but he does recall enough. The strange, grandiose way this man had spoken, along with his insistence on acting noble. And also -- his seemingly steadfast belief in Meridian.
Sure, he can work with this.
The corners of Gen's lips rise in a lopsided, wolfish smirk as he slowly eases himself forth another half-step to crowd into Voryn's personal space; that grip on the other's arm doesn't relent, even knowing he'd come close to being struck. His voice is low with a note of something conspiratorial when he drawls, ]
Well -- what was it you said back then? You gotta be there to protect the weak Meridian, or something? You're sooo noble and cool. But you're not in any state to do that right now, are you? [ A meaningful pause before he continues. ] I can help you get there, you know.
no subject
nihilism is dangerously attractive.
gen steps closer to him and voryn's arm allows it because he is curious. they have never before spoken in the flesh and now they speak too near to one another. it would strike him as darkly comedic if he were not suffering intense hunger, thirst, and a desire to pass on the sap inside of him. this young human is an outlet as much as he is an ally, but that would cost them.)
Do you not belong to Meridian? (the hand on his arm is flexed against to test its strength. voryn could break free from him but chooses instead to lean into the hold. he examines gen's face in great detail at this proximity, eyes narrow.) If I recall, your name is one that I was provided as a member of the Church of Helios. You are Meridian.
(as he continues, his voice becomes dangerously low.) And you offer me now a trade? ... You are not yourself.
no subject
And what do you know about me, huh?
[ He keeps his movements slow and deliberate as he slides his grip on Voryn's arm down, down, towards his wrist. With his other hand, he reaches for the hand that acts as a bar to maintain some distance between them -- talking the whole time, to keep Voryn's focus away from his movements, and instead on his words. ]
Yeah, I was with Meridian, but -- what d'you know about me other than that, hm? Other than that I could've been a useful soldier. Maybe you know I was one more pawn to move around to help protect all the worlds for people who wants to go back home. Not even a good pawn, just a pawn. -- but you don't know me other than that. And that's fine.
[ Those slow, controlled movements abruptly snap into place -- Gen grabs at Voryn's forearm to jerk it out from between them. And with one wrist in each hand, he surges forth, aiming to slam Voryn back against the wall. Not to hurt, but just to make a point as he leans in close. ]
'Cause I'm offering you a nice chance to get me out of your hair. And in return, you'll be one step closer to being back to how you're supposed to be -- the big, strong, noble Meridian leader who doesn't have to put up with bullshit like this. It's a win-win, isn't it? [ If Voryn will just give him what he wants -- that little extra push towards Zenith. ]
no subject
voryn's arm is pulled away and driven against the cavern wall. because he has been focusing on gen's words and not on the method he would use to pin him, this is an effective tactic against a diplomat who wishes first to talk. can this be called a mistake in judgement? to anyone else, yes. vain, voryn instead considers the momentary loss of control a boon.)
No, it isn't, (he insists, tensionless in gen's grasp. the boy's eyes are dark and cold. they remind him of veterans' eyes, distant, damaged, and ultimately unknowable.) It is the path of the Zenite nihilist that I refuse to let you walk without a fight. We need you, muhrjul—soldier or civilian.
(for the first time since his arrival, voryn apologizes.)
You were not afforded the support promised to you by Meridian—by me. For that, I am truly sorry.
(it would be too vain to guess at who gen is, but he can make assumptions based on his own maze-like feelings. lost often, what enables him to choose the correct direction is people. alone, angry, and frightened, without the backing of similarly devoted meri, what would have become of him? perhaps he would be gen, sucking at long-abandoned scraps of zenith sap.
through the limp fringe of long hair, voryn watches gen, unblinking.)
Did your world abandon you?
no subject
How can you be abandoned by something that never accepted you in the first place?
[ (Because he never had, not really. He’d pretended. But given what he is, he knows he never stood a chance — he would have always been something warped, barely tolerated.)
— that was far more vulnerability than he’d allow himself to show to a stranger, though, and his temper flares hot once he realized what he’s said. That grip around Voryn’s arms doubles down tighter, nails digging into his skin, and Gen surges closer. So close Voryn must be able to feel the way Gen’s chest swells with each breath. ]
And who said I wanted anything from your side, anyway? Support? Don’t make me laugh. [ His lip curls with scorn with that word, canine ears flicking when he cants his head. ] The only thing I want from you now is going to help you, too. Get that Zenith out if your system. Aren’t I generous.
[ Said at a humorless deadpan. Something about dealing with Voryn makes his stomach curl with unease; he wants this transaction over as quickly as possible. Because looking at the expression on Voryn’s face gives him the discomforting sensation that he’s more likely to be put on the back foot the longer this conversation goes. ]
So hand it over. Now.
no subject
perhaps gen has been forsaken too many times for him to immediately embrace someone willing to help.)
You poor wretch... In life, I was unsympathetic to boys like you. (translated bluntly from ald chimeris, the words are harsh though pitying.) I know now that I should have had patience. If there were any doubt in your mind that Zenith had what you desired, I would anchor you to Meridian and give you talents to hone. Those defiant eyes... You would have made a capable soldier.
(standing this close, it's a simple matter to draw gen against him. his arms come from behind, not trying to be secretive in their raising. there is no parental instinct in him to guide him into holding him like he would a dagoth child; he never had the desire to marry and to rear something that would clone the foulest parts of him. but guilty and missing his family, voryn embraces gen as a regretful older brother.)
But I will do as you ask. You are a weak ally to Springstar while I must become a stronger one—this makes sense. I wish that it didn't, but you are right.
(communion opens a moment in, and in a forceful transfer, zenite sap fills gen's veins. red eyes that look out beyond gen lower to focus instead on an area along the boy's shoulder. then they close, and his voice becomes soft.)
One day, you will wake up from this sad dream. You will be in a place that feels like home. And you will feel wanted there. And you will feel satisfied with that.