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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
[ he says, not meaning the words at all, but Set would expect that. ] I've never seen anything like it in Kowloon thus far.
[ He answers, more honestly. Though Silco would suspect, that given where it goes to, and where it leads... That it is likely a point of contact between the church and something deep below. If he had to wager a guess, it would be... well. An associate that Silco has not told Set that he has a connection to, or why he'd wanted information on Meridian's movements toward. He tipped his head, and looked at the tube again.]
I would suspect chemical runoff, or bodies. Both are unpleasant to run underground. [ He says, having experience in this particular avenue.
Though Silco is looking toward the Foreman's office now, since... it's him, and that is where he would be spending his time, if he were here during business hours. He starts to make his way there, albeit slow. He isn't going to be rushing on ahead without them, but he makes his intention known, though its' slow enough for the two of them to fully investigate the tube. ]
no subject
Which, as Silco starts to head towards the foreman’s office, Sebastian stands and shakes his head. ]
Flesh, certainly, and something else that I do not recognize.
[ It’s not entirely surprising after long enough in Kenos. It’s still frequent enough that he comes across something completely new or different to what he’s used to. So, even his sharp senses can only go so far as his knowledge. ]
Nor do I know what kind of flesh, I should say. When reduced to ash, it is all the same.
[ He shrugs, since he doesn’t expect they’ll have a problem with that elaboration. They’re both their own brands of Terrible to not really care why that’s something Sebastian is aware of. ]
no subject
And rather than fight him on it, Set had enjoyed his victory and sated himself on the spoils.
Now, to see the two of them without pretense or obscurity, he is satisfied. He knows in which direction matters will flow, where Sebastian's actions will largely skew, and how Silco ( "powerless", wretched Silco ) has claimed as much as he had in the time allotted him. What a delightful pair, to have found one another. And how good, that he had managed to become someone on their "good side", at that.
Silco doesn't mean what he says at all, but Set smiles. Indulgent, over his shoulder. ]
I would hope you do. Kowloon is located directly below us, after all.
[ A reminder, perhaps. Silco wouldn't want to have to start over a THIRD time from scratch, would he? Springstar may resonate with Piltover, but Kowloon is no Zaun that seems to seek its demise ( yet ). Destruction in any capacity might be catastrophic to Silco's own powerbase, long before he is ready to bring the city of the sun down atop it all. ]
Flesh, eugh.
[ Back to business!
He abandons the machine for the moment, interested instead in following his two ~favorites~ and ridding himself of the scent of acrid immolation. ]
no subject
[ He responds. It's a knowing tone, that he levels at Set, but he does not speak of plans that Sebastian has carefully already been instructed to start laying the foundation for, or the fact that it very well may be a touch closer to that dynamic, at least if Silco has his way of manipulating the situation at hand. He certainly wouldn't mind if Springstar started to force its boot down on the neck of Kowloon, only to watch the effects shudder, and watch the ties that bound Springstar and Kowloon start to crumble slowly, ever so slowly.
Though instead of addressing that, he does look back at Sebastian, and tipped his head, one real eyebrow knit together in something that could only be described as surprise. ]
You can't recognize the other thing?
[ He asked, curious.
What could that mean? Certainly, there were plenty of things in this world that were beyond him, and perhaps even beyond Sebastian in some ways. Perhaps that was possible, but even so... it's significant, that Sebastian cannot notice a trace of it. ]
Perhaps the foreman's office will offer us answers then. Chemical compounds, or something of that nature.
[ He turned to finish the way up, before he tried the door, to find that it was locked once again. Go figure. ]
Would anyone like to do the honors?
no subject
[ Sebastian trails off thoughtfully as he considers it. Because it’s something new to him, he’s also not quite sure if he’d be mapping the tastes accurately when his sense of it is so different from humans’ (and, presumably, Set’s), but he’s at least reasonably sure that he’d be close. He never would have guessed that Ciel’s strict standards would have been helpful in this way… ]
Sweet, oddly? Like an overripe fruit on the verge of decay, but there is a metallic tang to it as well. By approximation, at least.
[ Now that they come to another locked door as Sebastian trails off in his description, he nods and steps forward. ]
Allow me. If we find a third, it is clearly yours to handle, Mr. Silco.
[ Teasing, as usual. But since Set went with a kick to simply buckle the first door (which is Sebastian’s first instinct as well), he’ll go for something a little different for door number two. Sebastian grabs the knobs as if he were simply going to just turn it, but with a jerk of his hand upward and a crack of metal, the doorknob simply comes off into his hand. There’s a clang of metal as the other half of the knob falls on the other side of the door, and Sebastian reaches into the hole to just remove the latch from where it’s still embedded in the door. He waves it playfully, but it’s at least as he opens the door for them to go inside. ]
There we are. Quick and easy.
no subject
[ For all that Set files away what people do say, he also makes note of what is not said, or how someone says it. Not an idiot in the least, however foolhardy and bold he may be at times. He'll have to entice someone into investigating the Below themselves, to seek out the origin of the scent, where it might be coming from — and maybe, perhaps, get their fingers involved in fucking around with Silco as well. Not Sebastian, though.
Fucking with Sebastian is his thing. ]
Mister Silco.
[ Oh, he snickers. Laughs a little, uproarious at the realization that now that he knows the bond between them, Sebastian is going to speak more deferentially to his master. It's so funny to hear, it really is. Of all the things to catch the ear of the war god, it is Mister Silco that brings him the greatest mirth, and allows him to potentially slip under the radar with his own attentiveness. Acting the chaotic beast had its perks, just as being purely diplomatic. ]
Mister Silco, fxck that's good. [ He mumbles on, bringing up the rear as Sebastian deals with the door.
He sweeps up behind Silco, pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him, immediately, to frogmarch him through the door with a joyous knock knock! to whom or whatever might be left within. He's also quick to drop the man, too, and make the most disgruntled sound at the bullshit nothing but decaying paperwork to be found inside. ]
Pick a corner, boys, looks like we have some research to do. And you probably thought I was not going to let you have any fun!
no subject
Mind, he didn't make a habit of doing so, but he knew the myriad of smells, and could imagine how certain chemicals tasted based on that but --
He was not paying attention to Set, or Sebastian, and so he's not expecting it, when Set unceremoniously picked him up, and started frogmarching him through the door -- his annoyed grunt only met with Set dropping him, before he talked about starting to look through papers. Silco's lip curled, and he brushed himself off, before he turned his back to the two, and started shuffling through a pile of papers. ]
I can walk perfectly well on my own, Set.
[ He said, his tone acid. ]
no subject
However, Sebastian’s confusion is quickly cut off into the fussiest version of distress as Set hoists Silco up to walk him through the door. He’s not actually worried about Set manhandling his master, but there’s still a token disapproval as he trails after them. ]
Is that really necessary…
[ Is this a disapproving babysitter vibe? Yes, absolutely. Tenderizing his meal is his job, thank you Set.
No, at least the papers give something to refocus his attention on. With a little huff (as Silco is clearly fine), Sebastian heads over to another stack and starts to read them. His gaze quickly becomes sharp and focused, and at the very least, they can have confidence that these documents won’t be forgotten. With Sebastian’s perfect memory, he’ll be able to recreate everything they find here, which will quickly prove to be an interesting prospect. The first page is dull, but by the second, Sebastian makes a noise of interest. ]
Oh? It seems the Church is getting up to— [ He starts, but with a hiss of pain he looks away from the paper sharply as he gets to the name of the other half of the letter. His first assumption is that it’s something against him personally (anti-demon magic is reasonable enough), so he holds it out to someone else to try. ] Ugh… Magic. What an annoying thing.