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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!!
no subject
...rosaria is probably one of the last people he expects.
quietly, he steps aside to let her in, expression the same as usual but his disposition just screams Tired.]
Apologies for the state of my home. [he may have taken out his frustration on his furniture a little.] ...am I right to assume you are here to trade? [he kinda hopes so because he wants this shit to end.]
no subject
She brushes past Diluc as she steps into the house before nodding. ]
Why else would I bother with the long trip? I knew you'd probably itching for the same.
[ It's far more practical than just pestering strangers, not that she hadn't tried. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of their trades hadn't cleansed her of Cyrus and Meridian's influence completely. ]
The faster we get to it, the sooner our mental faculties will be restored. That's what you want too, isn't it?
[ She can't imagine why he'd suddenly want to change sides without the blight's effects dictating it. ]
no subject
[ah, straight to the point. this is what he's always liked about rosaria. no small talk, no pleasantries, just cutting to the chase. he certainly appreciates that quality about her, considering he, too, would rather not participate in such things. it was definitely one of the things he disliked most about being a noble and interacting with other nobles.
he shuts the door behind her, hoping appreciative vibes could be sense through the enhanced communion. normally he wouldn't enjoy having his thoughts and feelings on display, but with someone he trusts, it certainly cuts out any need to voice his thoughts.]
Indeed. I haven't participated in this... process, though. [he's just kinda suffered by himself for a bit. kaeya would be mad at him if he found out.] Have you?
no subject
Twice.
[ Hence her impatience. She doesn't want to have to keep flagging down Meridians just to bleed all over their shards and have their thoughts bleed intimately into hers at the same time. The faster she gets back to her regular state of affairs, the happier she'll be, something she knows Diluc will also appreciate. This whole mess has gone on for far too long, and they're not going to make any strides in their investigations if they're constantly being hampered by an enraged tree. ]
It's no different than healing the blight from the non-shard-bearers of this world. Just a few minor side effects. Is there anything you don't want me to know? You can always consider it confession, although I doubt I have the power to fully absolve you of anything.
[ It's not as though she hasn't harbored a lot of suspicions about Diluc's alter ego already, so it wouldn't be the surprise of the century to have it confirmed. She's also gleaned bits and pieces of his and Kaeya's checkered past from Kaeya himself. Whatever else she manages to learn, Diluc can rest assured she wouldn't tell anyone else, not even Kaeya. ]
no subject
be gentle rosaria it's his first time). he wants this zenith influence out as soon and as efficiently as possible and not fucking up is key to doing just that. side effects be damned he is tired of feeling this way and seeing those awful memories playing over and over in his mind.her question makes him pause in his eagerness to get started, the questions catching him off guard but understanding why it was asked. there's not much he wishes to hide, especially at this point when mondstadt allegedly lays in ashes, but--]
What drove Kaeya and I apart... for his sake, I would like to keep that private if possible. Unless you already know, of course.
[considering the whacky ways in which this place displays their worst moments for others to observe, he wouldn't be surprised if she already did. he's not ashamed of his actions that night - he's already owned up to it to kaeya and he'll own up to it to anyone that knows - but kaeya may not want anyone else to know.]
Other than that, though, I don't care. [a little snort. considering who barbatos actually is, he would have given her that power just for fun. and drunkenly.] Is seeing into my memories one of the side effects you mentioned?
no subject
Some things here and there. Rest assured I'll keep it to myself.
[ Considering how silent and clandestine she is about her own usual nocturnal activities, he should know he can trust her. ]
As for me, probably nothing you already don't suspect.
[ As much as she doesn't like dredging up her own past, there isn't anything all that deeply surprising about it. Most already know she's not a true Mondstadt native and that she's had a more troubled upbringing than most, especially those involved with the Knights of Favonius. Besides, she doubts Diluc would use any of it against her, considering the both of them are quite similar in nature and personality. ]
Now that that's settled, give me your shard.
[ She's already rooting around her own lower back to pry hers loose from its resting place. ]
no subject
he nods. he doesn't like to pry, but he gets the feeling that their memories will likely be shared through this process with or without a desire to actually see them. he had a few thoughts about rosaria and her past before, but nothing he seriously looked into. she protected mondstadt, and that was good enough for him.
he grabs his from his upper arm (it takes a little maneuvering due to his long sleeves, but he gets it in the end without looking too much like an idiot), still feeling a little strange about the whole shard thing even though it's been a couple of months. he hands it over to her without hesitation, which says a lot about the extent of which he trusts her.
also, kaeya and she are besties. and kaeya doesn't trust easily.]
I'm in your debt, Rosaria. I'll bring you a bottle when all this is over.
no subject
[ Her eyes flicker away for a moment– ]
But I wouldn't protest if you brought me a bottle anyway.
[ *hinthint*
Once her shard is pried free, she trades it with Diluc's and grabs her dagger to slice the tip of her index finger so she can press the blood into Diluc's shard and smear it around. She then hands the dagger over to Diluc, expecting him to do the same, hopefully with no fuss. She'd be very surprised if it turned out he had a fear of drawing blood from himself, and she hasn't found that a large amount of it is even needed. ]
The effects shouldn't take too long nor be that disorienting. If anything, you'll find yourself thinking with greater clarity.
[ Minus the barrage of images from whatever lurks in the back of Rosaria's head. She hopes it's something as banal as all her former hymnal chanting sessions with Barabara and the others. ]
no subject
in any case, though, he has a job to do currently. when he sees just how little blood needs to be shed, he mimics her, reaching out to run his finger along the edge of the blade on her hand for a nice shallow cut. she is absolutely correct in guessing that diluc does not have a fear of blood. in certain cases, he relishes in it. for now, though, he just does what's needed.]
Thank you again. Though I assume this cleansing isn't permanent for now.
[considering she's had to do this multiple times... man, why does this city want him to interact with others so badly. he just wants to be a little longer in peace in his quest to get mondstadt back and take care of kaeya.]
How long should this last?
no subject
The only difference is the perspective, making her wonder if Kaeya ever really understood the depth of feeling Diluc held (still holds?) for him. Whatever the case may be, she doesn't want to be a voyeur to any of it, so she tries to ignore what she can and focus on getting back to Highstorm safely. ]
The side effects? Probably a day at most or until your next exchange, if needed. With luck, this will be enough until we find a more permanent way to tame the blight.
[ Otherwise, she can't guarantee others won't use Diluc's own secrets against him, something she doubts Diluc would allow. There aren't many trustworthy faces here, and if any of the more hostile Zeniths were to catch wind that Diluc yet remains close allies to Kaeya and herself, they wouldn't hesitate to tap into that weakness to convert him. ]
Do you plan on remaining here?