festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

[beleos]

COMMUNION WITH YIMA

After given some time for recovery and for Yima to hear reports of what transpired at the Tree of Life last month, a Communion message gently flows through the minds of each Shard-Bearer. They will have to choose to accept this message, and once they do, they will be greeted by Yima’s voice resonating pleasantly in their heads. She first apologizes for their harrowing experience with the Dryad, and that she hadn’t anticipated such a violent reaction from the Tree; she believes that their experiences point to an imbalance within the Tree itself, most likely brought about by the soon-to-come arrival of the Oracles.

She has spoken with Cyrus, and they have jointly decided that an investigation into the matter - and potentially the destruction of the Dryad - may be required to purge its influence from the Tree. Yima requests that any who would willingly seek out the Dryad volunteer to do so and will be outfitted with a ward against any tampering to prevent them from falling into the creature’s clutches a second time. It will take her a bit to fashion enough of these wards - but she anticipates being ready toward the end of the month.

She concludes her message with another heartfelt apology for your suffering, that she would not have sent any into such a situation she believed were truly dangerous. That being said, she takes responsibility for your ordeal and asks that if there is anything she can do in recompense, you have but to ask.

Yima will be available for Communion chatter here!

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE - HIGHSTORM

Takiltu is a month cycle the natives of Kenos regard with some amount of reverence and a hearty helping of excitement: the first part of the month (November) is spent reflecting on and celebrating the differing cultures and worlds each Kenosian represents. The second part of the month (December) is spent celebrating unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time.

Each city celebrates differently, the flavor of their festivals a reflection of their people.

In Highstorm, the first thirty days of Takiltu are spent in Remembrance. The city is decorated with string lights, paper lanterns, candles, and torches to illuminate the streets in beautiful colors and shimmering magical illusory shapes. The focal point of the festival takes place in The Court, where the reflecting pool has been especially decorated with arrangements of flowers and lights. Festival stands erected around the Courtyard peddle paper lanterns as well as refreshments, fanciful decorative items, and enchanted jewelry that is said to make one’s recollections of the past temporarily clearer.

The pool itself is the main attraction, here; citizens who approach its waters and gaze into its depths will find its normal abilities to reflect memories enhanced. The images are surreal for their clarity, vivid - and normally, one is requested to look into the eyes of those most precious to them whose souls remain lost, to pay homage to their memory and sacrifices, and to wish them rebirth in the new world to come. A purchased lantern is then lit and sent skyward where it floats into the moonlight, joining the others hovering above.

But this year, there is an addition to the usual fanfare. Emet-Selch has been asked to assist with the festival; as long as he is given permission, he can recreate the memory displayed in the reflecting pool. Yima has granted him a temporary blessing which enhances his natural creation abilities - a gift for their people she is grateful for. Your character can choose what it is they see in the water - whether it’s a place, a person, or the feelings of a certain point and time, he will temporarily recreate it around you. Everyone will be able to see this conjuring and interact with it while it is functional. It will last between 15 to 30 minutes before dissolving into beads of light that slowly trickle skyward before disappearing. You’ll be told to light a lantern, send it adrift, and that this will give peace to the part of you and your Shard that surely aches. But does it…?

Elsewhere in Highstorm, the High Theater has been painstakingly decorated and aglow with magical floating motes of light; the interior has been transformed into something of an Art Gallery. The pieces within are dedications to parts of worlds long gone, as well as the people in them; some are beautifully painted landscapes of exquisite, far-away places beyond the imagination. Some are more mundane and familiar snapshots of life in a home world not too different from your own. There are portraits of families, loved ones, and those the Zenites long for most. This is their time to mourn, to grieve, and to appreciate their pasts - the pasts that will lead them to a brighter future, one day. They must move on into the future, but treasuring that which came before is equally important to them.

Should you touch any of the motes of light that are around the art pieces decorating the Gallery, you will find yourself able to feel, hear, see, and taste a piece of the world the piece represents. Some of these are warm gatherings over a dinner table with family; others are heart-wrenching expressions of loss and bitterness and pain. Be cautious which you choose. Oh, and do be careful not to stand too closely with someone else when you touch one, or one accidentally touches you - the experience is absolutely contagious through Communion.

CELEBRATION OF CHERISHMENT - SPRINGSTAR

While Highstorm’s Festival of Remembrance is a more demure and reflective time, Springstar takes a much different approach to the season. In true Meri nature, the Celebration of Cherishment encapsulates celebrating life in all forms - and that means parties! The Psychagogía is the main hub of excitement considering, but festivities can be found in almost every single district of Springstar. Wherever you go, something is happening and someone is trying to rope you into having a good time.

The city has been decorated with bright and colorful multi-purpose magical ivy-like vines that sprouts buds that bloom over the course of the month into gorgeous flowers. These flowers are considered sacred, and their blooming is a momentous time of joy and good fortune. Each flower is left intact; disturbing one is tantamount to a war crime by the natives, so don’t get observed if you try to pluck one!

The Psychagogía is incredibly lively, teeming with people and events; almost every venue is peddling some kind of ‘Cherishment’ celebratory sale or discount. The first portion of the month includes what the locals call “the meri-ment” (and seem quite chuffed about that pun), in which Kenosians are encouraged to go bar hopping and taste the wide variety of specialty ales and liquor unkegged only around this time of year. Participants are highly encouraged to share stories of their worlds and cultures, to tell those they mingle with tales of the worlds they will one day return to and why they’re special, unique - to celebrate their one-day return.

Alongside this comes a great deal of outdoor grilling, fresh meats and vegetables sending tantalizing scents everywhere you go once the evening hours arrive. Some of these food and drinks can cause… interesting… effects if you consume them in excess, especially at the Emotional Damage - so try to show restraint. It would be a bit embarrassing to find yourself strangely infatuated with the first person you lay eyes on after your fifth night out on the town, or feeling compelled to express warm feelings aloud you wouldn’t normally commit to another. Luckily, it only lasts a short period of time - but beware the wicked hangover afterward. Strangely enough, if you’re suffering, you feel oddly compelled to seek out a little TLC from someone else - someone with whom you might have some unresolved feelings toward, positive or negative. Is it longing? Anger? Jealousy? Unspoken affections? Love? Whatever it is, you're more likely to seek them out for some care.

At the Coliseum, nightly brawls between Meris take place and the usual assortment of monsters are temporarily taken out of offer. This part of the festivities is one where each Kenosian is encouraged to settle any differences or misgivings with others and to get it out of their system, cleansing them of bad mojo - “leave it in the ring,” as it were. Despite beating each other bloody at times, most combatants willingly stop before it gets too serious and fighting to the death is not permitted. You must embrace your adversary before you leave, and your ‘bad blood’ will be considered purged and settled so you can start anew.

The Empório district is celebrating consumerism, because of course it is! All the usual goods are on a considerable discount, and for a brief time, gardening tools and supplies are free! The reason for this is that Springstar’s citizens are encouraged to plant one seedling in the gardens in Katoikitikós once the flowers lining the city have gone into full bloom. It is said this honors gods across cultures and time as well as invites good fortune. You are encouraged to plant a seedling in a group or pairing, as space is limited - and there are superstitions regarding this togetherness resulting in more favorable results. Should you plant a seedling with someone else, you might indeed find that something is beginning to blossom between you… Based on your Aspects, you might find yourselves feeling closer and more connected - or repulsed depending on your compatibility. This effect will last through the month after planting. Should you check on the seedling later, its health will be reflected in the state of your relationship. Friends will find the little plant thriving; enemies will find it is sickly and dying.

For those Shard-Bearers who have already harmonized with the Meridian or who have quarters in Heliopolis, you will find the communal meals much more lavish and indulgent than usual. There may even be a taste of home waiting for you among the spreads on offer, or some comfort food you haven’t had in a while. It is encouraged to share anything to your taste - or even to share why it is meaningful to you via Communion. Or you can just eat. You do you, man.

Once the flowers have bloomed and the festivities reach their peak, one might find the city loud and boisterous and sleep a little more difficult to come by. Springstar is absolutely thriving and alive - and you, too, feel more invigorated and energetic despite any lack of zzz’s. Should you leave the city, however, this effect will vanish and you might find yourself unnaturally fatigued and in need of more rest than is customary. Returning to Springstar will slowly build up your stamina again. This effect lasts until the end of the month.

THE MYSTERY OF ALENROUX

Once celebrations are in full-swing in the cities, some characters (i.e., any characters that choose to participate in this prompt) will be contacted by Cyrus or Yima, depending on their faction or whichever they feel a stronger inclination towards if they are currently Unharmonized. Both will explain that there’s something that they’d like you to investigate, but also to prepare and be careful, since this request doesn’t come without danger… A Shard has been lost in Alenroux, and they both hope you’ll be able to retrieve it.

MERIDIAN

“I’ve gotten word that a Zenith Shard-Bearer was sent to Alenroux a little bit before you arrived, and they haven’t come back yet. Normally, none of our business, but based on what some of the farmers have been saying, I think they’ve gotten hit by Discord. If it gets high enough, well… You don’t really have your mind anymore. We can help them through Purification. Even if it’s just for long enough to calm them down, it’s better than them being trapped in madness. It might be easier to dissipate them first, though, then Purify their Shard. They were last seen heading to the Northern forests. Let me know what I can give you to help, and make sure to help each other. Good luck.”

ZENITH

"Please heed my request, though I do not ask this of you lightly... One of the Zenith's children has been lost among the fields of Alenroux come nightfall and I fear the worst has befallen them. There are dangerous elements attracted to the presence of a soul, and the likelihood our brethren has been lost... it is great. Seek out the Shard - and if you are able to retrieve it, please do so. If it has suffered corruption too great to be saved or would place you in too great a danger to take back, then... I trust you to make the merciful choice. I place this in your hands and will give you whatever you require to see it through. Look out for your fellow Zenith and work together, as I do not want to lose more of you. Be well."

Both factions will offer their recruits access to standard weaponry and armor/protective clothing. If a character asks for more, they’ll be given a weapon or a piece of armor with minor magical properties which would normally cost 1 AC token to purchase. Magical weapons are on loan however. If your character takes these and/or chooses to keep it, please note this in your Committed Actions! If they choose to keep standard weaponry, Cyrus/Yima will just be disappointed in your dishonesty. :(

When you arrive during the day cycle, you’ll also find horses and magic hoverboards to use (they go the same speed tbh), because heading North to the forests is a bit of a trek, and you might not make it there in time on foot! As the sun starts to set, you’ll see the people in Alenroux start to leave, going clearly your opposite direction. Once night falls (Nov. 9th OOC), it doesn’t take long for things to change.

There’s just a sliver of a crescent moon in the sky, which makes the rolling hills and forests much more ominous than they were during the day. And as the stories say, it only takes an hour or two before you start to run into strange creatures. Closer to the Cornerstone, there are indeed strange creatures, and while they may not all look scary, they might present different kinds of dangers such as…

• A light in the dark looks like a fairy, but stare at it too long and you’ll find yourself hypnotized by a ghastly fish will lead you to a body of water to drown you.
• An innocuous puddle may form up into a mass of corrosive goo, complete with the bones and items of the last person it came across. When you slice it, it simply creates a copy of itself, so hopefully you realize this before you’re surrounded.
• A strange straw poppet (sans pins, of course) that possesses you once you touch it and will use your body to try and fight anyone else while your consciousness is trapped inside the doll. To be freed, you only have to destroy the doll, but you’ll feel the pain of how its destroyed even if you don’t bear any injuries from it.

However, as you get closer to the Northern forests, they become significantly more fearsome…

• With a roar, a massive, multiheaded beast descends, and each of its mouths is perfectly capable of taking a bite out of you. Watch out for the snake’s head in particular, since its venom will cause you to hallucinate your worst fears.
• As you come face to face with an odd creature, bioluminescence lights up on its skin, and the spins on its back quiver with a sound like a rattlesnake’s. As the spines quiver, you find it exceptionally difficult to take your eyes off them and move as it stalks closer slowly. You can fight blind, right?
• Diving in and out of larger shadows like its water is a slimy beast that’s incredibly fast. Its teeth may be small, but its tail is a razor-sharp whip that could remove a limb if you’re not careful.

These are just examples, however. There are many creatures lurking the wilds of Alenroux, so feel free to create your own monsters with unique effects.

It's a difficult trek North, and you may be tired from hours of running, fighting, or both… But eventually, a few people do find what they were looking for. They might have even missed it, if not for how their Shards suddenly felt like they were burning. From the shadows, a twisted creature of roots and lights which what looks like many crystals in a glowing mass appears and one of its eyes locks on you. It looks like now is your chance.

NOTES

Weather summary for the first 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

Highstorm is in late fall, early winter season. Some flurries may occasionally fall and it is getting considerably cold out there! Bundle up!

Springstar is in the throes of early summer; the weather is climate and pleasantly warm for outdoor celebrations (but not sweltering). There are occasional afternoon showers, but they don’t last very long.

Notable city changes:

If you wander the Markets in Highstorm, you might notice some of the peddlers seem a bit wary of you. Hm, guess something happened around here! Probably totally unrelated, but Silco and Vander (or anyone with them) will be treated with nervous suspicion.

Similarly, if you're traveling with Set (or you're Set) in Springstar, you might occasionally find yourself getting strange looks. Ask Set why.

Faction updates:

There are no explicit changes in faction behavior at this time. This will be a staple in all future event write-ups to catalogue the fluidity of the conflict as it progresses, though, so we're including it here for posterity!

Event Notes:

The Reflecting Pool in the Courts of Highstorm can be observed normally with no addtional effects or can bring your memory to vivid life thanks to the help of Emet-Selch (and Yima). If you grant him permission (which can be handwaved), he will breathe life into whichever memory you have chosen to view! If this includes any NPC’s or interactive elements, you will be responsible for playing them out in any tags until they disappear. Please see Emet’s toplevel for any interactions you’d like to thread out with him as a part of this.

For the Gallery in Highstorm, the art depicted in and scenes experienced through the pieces are up to you to create! Feel free to go wild with any associated NPC's in the scene and worldbuild as you see fit. Highstorm holds a variety of citizens from across the multiverse, so you could feasibly go fantastical places, or experience something distinctly profound and beyond your imagination...

The drinks and refreshments in Springstar can be enchanted in just about any way you’d like, including bringing upon minor physical changes of the cute, fun, and flirty variety! Feel free to get creative (as long as you get permission from your thread partner), the Meris would also merrily insist growing extra fluffy, scaly, etc bits during the celebration will only help you party harder! 🥳

As reminders for Alenroux, once night falls, a character is not able to leave until sunrise, which is 24 hours later. If your character is dissipated, you can have a PC retrieve their Shard or the respective Faction they're allied with will send out a search party to find it. Remember to report character deaths!

CODING

Comments

kaeya alberich ◆ advocate ◆ undecided

[subsist]

( ooc. there will be closed starters here. gomen abt me. feel free to pm if you'd like smth with kaeya! )

ᴇᴍᴇᴛ-sᴇʟᴄʜ.

[subsist]

[ Somehow, he isn't surprised that it didn't take long for the other shoe to drop.

The peacefulness, while greatly appreciated and sorely needed, is something he isn't quite used to after how things were progressing in Horos. It felt strange to go from a frenetic energy to almost a complete flatline, so it feels nice to finally have something to do that isn't just exploring the islands, learning what could be out there.

(There's something else weighing heavily on his mind, but he tries not to think about it for now. He has to focus.)

The weight of the sword he'd borrowed from Zenith's armoury feels light, just the perfect one for someone of his stature. It sits prettily within its sheath, unused and safe, but he knows it won't stay that long. Alenroux is said to be a dangerous place once the sun sets, and both he and Emet-Selch are making their way further towards the North.

He walks in front of the other man out of knightly habit, too used to taking point for ventures such as this because he was once a Captain. At least it seems they will have time for idle chatter for the time being. ]

Any word on just how far we need to go before we start encountering monsters?

[ Not that he's in a hurry to meet one, but. It's really, really, really quiet to the point that it's unnerving. ]

[lachtara]

[ Emet-Selch casually looks around the area. They should take stock of where they are going just as much as where they've been. The last thing they need is to be lost out here.

But all the same, they have a task to complete. One not given to them with much instruction, although he did get some concerning details from Yima. ]

As far as I understand, there are no limits to where the monsters may be. We should stay on guard. [ Or rather, his trusty bodyguard should stay on guard. He will be more than happy to trail behind. ]

The soul we seek is some distance in... [ He raises a finger and stops to look around as if he's looking for something. The shard is the embodiment of a soul. It would allow him to vaguely sense its location.

Emet'Selch points to the North. ]

...that direction. Let's not tarry.

[subsist]

[ Luckily for Emet-Selch, Kaeya isn't the type to slack around even though he goes to great lengths in making it appear that this is the case. He takes his role as the bodyguard rather seriously, and while it might look like he isn't paying attention, he already has a mental map of where they've been to make it easier for when they need to head back.

Part of his focus is also centred around their surroundings, paying careful attention to any and all signs of life, no matter how minuscule. ]

North it is, then.

[ And so they head North, following the trees and wherever they may lead them. The faint rustling of leaves causes Kaeya to place a hand over the hilt of his sword, but he remains at ease from the outside. ]

Can your little trick tell us more about the soul we're in search for?

[ Or is it just a tracking device... Still useful, though. ]

[lachtara]

Not at this distance.

[ It depends on distance and being able to see the soul clearly. Details could be observed when he is close enough, not that he's willing to divulge what those "details" are. Perhaps it would even be something useful in their case. ]

However, I can see enough to know what is over there is not the creature we seek.

[ That doesn't mean it's free of potential danger, though. ]

[subsist]

[ Well. The little trick proves to be useful in the tracking aspect, even if isn't the creature they were looking for. A low growl accompanies Emet-Selch's announcement, prompting Kaeya to draw his sword out with a flourish. He slides into a stance that will allow him to charge straight at whatever's coming for them, but he waits until he can see what they're up against.

That turns out to be his first mistake.

What they see first is the bioluminescent lights on its skin, its full form only visible once it steps into the moonlight. Its spine begins to quiver, rattling ominously to break the silence. ]

Oh? You've finally come to say hello.

[ He readies himself for an attack, but as the creature's spine continues to shake, he... is having some trouble getting his body to move. Uh. This could be a problem. ]

[lachtara]

[ Unlike his escort, Emet-Selch does not draw a weapon or even seem to make ready once the creature makes itself known. He examines it and its quiver but has enough sense to raise a sleeve to cover his nose and mouth. Is it powder...or something else? ]

As eager as I am for the polite decorum of introductions, I would suggest landing the first blow.

[ He looks over to Kaeya. Is something wrong? ]

[subsist]

[ Luckily, the creature isn't in a huge rush to charge at them— it takes its time, much like a cat that simply wants to play with its food. Kaeya can only manage to tighten his grip around the hilt of his sword and not much else. ]

As much as I'd love to, I can't.

[ He keeps his gaze locked on the creature's, hastily going through the possibilities of what could be happening. ]

Did it release something into the air...?

[ Spores? Some kind of scent? What is he missing here? ]

for mamoru.

[passio]

[ this is dextera’s chance to prove that he’s not dead weight to the cause. the archangel has gotten into his head, made him think and feel that all he brings is suffering—and here comes opportunity, timed perfectly for dextera to get back on his feet in an unfamiliar world. he’s armed himself as much as he’s capable, though for the first time he acknowledges that his sword was left behind in horos. he hopes that, in time, it’ll find his way back to him; but for now, he’s okay with a regular blade, enhanced by his own power. it feels strange to actually set out for something and feel prepared.

prepared may be a strong word for how far he’s gotten, though.

he can fight and he knows that, but surviving in the wilderness is something of a different matter. while other search parties seem to have buddied up in anticipation of a long day and possibly a longer night, dextera is alone, and his supplies are thusly cut down by what one person can carry. this doesn’t really bother him—at least not until he thinks about what a burden he would be if he were to die out here in looking for someone else.

most people, strangers, he’s unwilling to burden, but there’s a familiar face that he knows to be reliable despite the blindness. ]

It’s me.

[ a warning, gently impressed upon mamoru’s shard. ]

Are you going too?

[prizeneck]

[Jesus H Christ, scare the shit outta him, Dextera.

Touching absently at his chest, he opens his eyes to find nothing. Mamoru is glad that most of his sleep is dreamless, no matter how long he does sleep.

The kid. Or at least, the very soft footed person who had a sort of nimbleness to him. He's at least careful, and Mamoru can appreciate that.]

Did it seem like we had much of a choice?

[passio]

[ well, no. dextera can see that on either side of their branching paths, the leaders have a need to see this shard retrieved in one way or another. it’s easier for dextera, however, to keep his head down and listen rather than question how much of a choice he’s really making in taking what’s offered to him.

it makes sense to him, what he does next; in lieu of standing there where his presence is physically seen, he reaches out to place a hand on mamoru’s arm. his touch is light but insistent, not moving once he’s made his spot. ]

I wanted to go.

[prizeneck]

[The good thing about sleeping (or pretending to) every now and then, in small bouts and in random places is that he can actually feel the people move around without considering his presence.

That this kid picks him out of everyone is somewhat intriguing.

With a tilt of his head, he silos all his thoughts into this one:]

You want to save the shard or are you just curious?

[passio]

[ it’s not curiosity, at the very least. dextera’s fingers tighten moderately on mamoru’s sleeve, a subconscious sign of thought although the connection remains open in his silence. ]

I feel like… I have to. I would go even if I was the only one.

[ but he’s not. there are others; mamoru might be willing to go with him, among them all. ]

[prizeneck]

[Huh. This kid is part of his own Faction, which means that he probably has the same amount and type of information he has.

Granted, he's been here in this shithole longer, but.

Mamoru tilts his head curiously.]

Got it. [Someone please tell him that's not very clear how that's him accepting a half-request.] You got a plan?

[passio]

…

[ dextera doesn’t have to say anything to that. he clearly doesn’t, and his body language makes that clear even before he shakes his head. ]

I was just… going to go.

caren hortensia | advocate | unharmonized (zenith leaning)

[consolation]

a. highstorm - reflecting pools;

[There is nothing for her to see here.

Not for herself, anyway. The muted acceptance Caren has already attained may have been rushed and not entirely organic, but what good will come of questioning the why of her selection? There are other mysteries that need answering—though there isn’t a true order to service the bidding of now. Any vocation pursued now must come from a different calling.

For what feels like half of the endless Highstorm night but what is surely really only a couple of hours, she’s waited on the outskirts of the reflecting magic’s creations, watching the results as they take hold in their witnesses, relief and suffering alike. She stays near the landing where the lanterns are released, watching the melancholy lights take their flight. (For a shattered second, she wonders if they’ll hit the limits of the eternal night sky. It’s a sensation that has no grounding. An anomaly, gone as quickly as she first felt it.)

Another lantern is being lit beside her. She might have missed the vision being played out around the pools entirely, making its contents a meaning to her. The lost opportunity to observe this one only serves to fan the flames of her interest, and she scans the face of the lighter for what remains there, like tears or the ghost of laughter. By the time the glow is flickering in the lantern, she’s made her mere inches from the one who lit the flame.]

I imagine it will take some time to meet its destination. [If the emotions surfaced by the memory still bear a heavy weight, that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually lift as promised.] Were you able to release what was burdening you completely?

[Perhaps it isn’t the spectacle of visions that matters to her in the first place. There may be something to see here after all.]

b. highstorm - the high theater;

I’ve recently found myself contemplating what it is that she gives. [ To these people. To the shard-bearers who have arrived recently and already found their kinship with the Zenites.] Or maybe, putting it more accurately – what is it that they’ve asked her for. If a prayer is guaranteed an answer, what brings a man to his knees the fastest?

[Yima’s contrition and offer of recompense, both of which seemed earnest enough, have exerted a heavier weight on her than the task of surrounding herself with remembrance. Caren is much more troubled by a future in Zenith than its past. How can one raised to ignore secular pursuits have any incentive to choose desires of her own? Until now, she’s been happy with that state of existence. But if she had to accept, framing it not as selfishness but tribute, than the answer would be—what?

This is how she’s come to stand, hands clasped halfway to prayer in front of her, observing this portrait in the makeshift art gallery—a reflection of someone’s family traditions, perhaps, warm and foreign—sharing her analysis the way strangers sometimes do in galleries. What did the madness of Van Gogh feel like in the paints? What do shard-bearers take from the open promise of Yima’s extended hand?

Used to being the one approached by those in need, Caren is disarmed by the vulnerability of her own sharing. She’s careless in where she’s standing, and a ghostly mote of light entangles itself in her hair before she can notice. Her proximity to whoever’s been on the receiving end of her musings is going to be their joint damnation as the channels of Communion wrench open forcibly to share the experiences and emotion carried by the glowing bead.

And nothing about families is ever without its weight.]

c. springstar, where we can be both your hurt and your comfort;

[If the channeling of past toward future desires in Highstorm was challenging, then the sensory overload of Springstar’s own traditions is like soaking in a baptismal of acid. Still recovering from the discord that plagued her following the Dryad’s intrusive disruption and still nursing her uncertainty from Yima’s Communion, Caren is even more susceptible to the effects of lingering too long in the island city. Even her comparatively conservative, neutral clothing marks her out of place, nice as it is but little more than functional and modest. She could be a ghost in these streets.

Even with no intention of spending money, she’s briefly tempted by the price slashes and bargains luring trade into the Empório and Psychagogia. Even with such tantalizing discounts, it’s never been the spending of money that served as the greatest seduction. And yet…it’s a little exciting to think about how far a coin can stretch under such circumstances.

She’s mulling over a potential purchase with a single free snack clutched in hand when she happens to run into you, the poor affected reveler rebounding from the effects of much more than one free handout. The collision is probably literal, depending on the amount of indulgence and intoxicated stumbling or the desperate hungover lurching for something just out of reach.]

You look sorely affected, [Caren observes as she recovers from the impact, which she treats as if it never happened at all no matter how hard she stumbled.] Overindulging at this time of day? You should be looking for safety lest you find yourself taken advantage of by the vultures. Come here, let me take a closer look.

ciel;

[consolation]

[She got too close to this one.

Caren has, as earlier, been lingering near the pools, receiving those who need the extra vent to their emotions following the release of their memories. In her lurking, she didn’t intend to come close enough to bear witness to the illusions themselves, only their results.

Despite eschewing the opportunity to revisit a specter of her own, however, she’s tricked into involving herself when she sees something familiar. Unless called to work, she did not leave Citeaux since being entrusted to them. There are many sects and orders she knows only by their deeds or names, and so, she isn’t immediately familiar with this particular grand cathedral, but she recognizes it all the same. Slow, short footsteps bring her closer to the projection and then fully within it. The Holy Church is unmistakable, even a fractured universe away.]

Ah… I hadn’t expected such a sight, in this world that apparently has so many gods at its call.

[For a split second, she marvels at the grandness, then wonders if there’s a certain measure of pride in showing this magnificence rather than a humbler nave. Well, it’s something she can bring up with the proprietor, once they’ve met. They shouldn’t be too hard to find, given they’re the source of that dour man’s illusion. Perhaps Caren was lacking kinship more than she thought; she seeks the witness out immediately, leaving whatever else is to manifest in this vision to play out in front of her as she does so.]

[expiera]

[To be completely honest? Ciel didn't want to do this.

But she does owe Emet-Selch one, plus this is apparently an event that the Zenite locals highly looked forward to. It doesn't hurt to build goodwill regardless of which faction she belongs to, so even if she hasn't harmonized just yet (though she's very close to deciding), if it's within her power to conjure up a memory worth showing to the natives, then might as well. The folks of Highstorm love grandiosity and quality, right? What better to put on display then than one of Earth's greatest churches, an architectural wonder none can dispute? The Victorian/Gothic flair should be a bonus too, considering the overarching style of Highstorm.

But this isn't just a 'normal' Church for worshipping God in, no. There is order and discipline here that's almost... militant, and it's not just the visitor's imagination. Monks with fists wrapped in bandages, Brothers and Sisters wearing gloves and boots that seem to have... something to them; it may be difficult to tell, until one makes their way to a courtyard outside. There, under the vigilant gaze of a beautiful statue sculpted to the Virgin Mary's images, Executors are training.

And a small distance away from them is a woman with short blue hair, who... Blends right in with everyone else: she dons the habit of a Sister, but is not doing anything other than observing the mirages at work. Whether the distance they keep from her is native to the memory or it's simply her picking a corner they happen to not look at is anyone's guess, but one may get a sense that she's not looking to be noticed. Which may work against a less observant visitor, but to a fellow Shard Bearer affiliated with the Holy Church and an Advocate who shares in her Aspect to boot, there's no fooling Caren.

...

But may as well play dumb until called out for real, maybe? (No?) The blue-haired woman continues keeping her silent vigil on the training grounds, don't mind the training puppets behind her with nail-like swords sticking out of vital areas. Just another prop in the display reel, that's all!]

[consolation]

[It's an easy illusion to hide within, given the grandiosity of it. It would be easy, even being slightly more corporeal than the rest of the recreation, to hide. From most others, Ciel would be completely invisible, but it seems that even here Caren has some use in detecting the unusual. In this case, it's the soft and resonant thrum of her soul pulsing quietly and calling out to touch another. It's a pleasant detection, this glimmer of kinship like an energetic thread that wants to connect to another of its kind. So the blood in the water has already been scented, but Caren plays it casual, walking reverently through to the courtyard.

She was not - never will be - ordained in the ways of an Executor; her constitution and level of autonomy preclude it. They are mobile in a way she's never known how to long for, their comings and goings drawn in a less rigid ink. Yet even now, surrounded by their strict practice and discipline, she feels no envy. There is nothing to envy.

(There may be another specter haunting this experience, one invisible to everyone and not of Ciel's addition. A different man, who once wielded those keys and thought nothing of others. There are questions that might be asked here, but Caren won't seek those answers.)]

Good evening, Sister. [It might be late afternoon, still. But here it is always night, which makes everything feel slightly more truthful. Caren is dressed in the style of the nation, conservative and dark, but she quickly adopts a demure posture suited to being in the house of God. Arriving naked in the Tree's cradle came with less severe consequences than simply facing the dryad. She has not yet taken the chance to sew new vestments, a delay that seems a bit shameful now beside another priestess.]

This is a bold display. [In more ways than one, but only for someone familiar enough to know what she was looking at.] You might even use this brief opportunity for a little extra training.

[expiera]

[There's no point keeping up the charade the moment she's called out, the niggling recognition of a fellow soul that shares in one's Aspect may also play a part in how quickly Ciel gives up any pretense of blending in with the memory itself. That she's a stranger is a good thing too, Bearers who knew her better for other facets of her personality would make this a lot more troublesome to explain.

More importantly, this white-haired girl acts as if the setting isn't new to her, she also conducts herself with humbleness and piety befitting of it. Is she...?

A small nod of greeting is offered in turn, and Ciel sticks to the topic offered at hand.]

Something like this seemed befitting of Highstorm. [The mood, the architecture, everything, really.] I could potentially simulate an active session if someone is interested to test their mettle against Executors, but it would be impolite to impose further on Emet-Selch.

[That said.]

You seem familiar with all this, miss. It may be bold of me to presume, but that term was not new to you, was it?

['Executor'. Then again, she already knows Gray. Still, what are the odds?]

[consolation]

[The odds are - astronomical, aren't they? An incalculable and miraculous outcome in this nexus of the lost. Perhaps even here, there's some purpose that unites them. Or Ciel, like Caren, has already wondered how it was her soul and not another that was pulled through time and space, and for what reason.

She looks at the grand illusion again, its fidelity and aura inspiring a mix of awe and unease that quickly neutralize.]

Really? [The question is asked mildly, but she doesn't sound surprised.] That man's power is astounding [In a different life, they would not indulge him the way Ciel does now. It isn't anything beyond comprehension - not yet - but it is jarring to so tepidly accept it as a public display.

But the knife cuts both ways. There's no need for clandestine words between them, either. She can let her honesty also be a sign of good faith, and it's much easier to speak plainly in the shadow of the Church, even if it is an illusion.] It is bold, but how else would we meet?

I'm obviously no Executor. [To Ciel, her lack of suitable constitution must be quite obvious, doubly so when she's dressed as she is now in civilian clothing.] I served with the Cistercians, in exorcism. [A counterpart, in some ways - hunting within where the Executors operated without.]

[expiera]

Kenos seems capable of all sorts of unusual and unexpected things. As a 'world at the end of all worlds', there may be plenty of other possibilities.

[Ciel certainly would not make light of this meeting, but this much may bear clarifying. She does have more experience with worlds that collect from other worlds than she'd like, for what it's worth.

Caren's admission is met with a nod. Being pale is one thing, but the white-haired girl of delicate build also carries herself with... a lack of physical weight. Blue eyes do shine back with recognition at the term though, she has heard of the various branches even if they're in different departments, so to speak. Citeaux was in France, too.]

Faith truly persists anywhere civilization does. [This is probably a good time to say something cheesy like it was God's will for them to meet, but...

...]

Ciel, though I confess I haven't been called 'Sister' in some time. There is not much need for Executors, in places like these. [She offers her name coolly, being social had never been part of her work persona. It's a purely professional aloofness though, and she can't help but wonder a bit if this Sister in exorcism had much experience with her kind. The Burial Agent bit she'll keep to herself. What kind of human goes around admitting to being monsters to people they're meeting for the first time?]

b which might as well be sebastian-bait

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian loves art. It’s something he considers beautifully, uniquely human, because the sort of creativity that comes with it is something demons are uniquely lacking in. It’s what drew him to the theater even with the motes of light being explained. Communion was something he was close to hating at this point, though it was because of that empathic bond it forced. Others emotions just felt far too strong to him. But in this case, the allure of art is enough to tempt him to suffer through it.

He drifts over to the same painting that Caren is looking at and regards it with clinical interest. The composition is fine, the colors pleasing, though the scene itself is the sort that he’s truly disconnected from. When the young lady starts to speak, he expects it to be on those family traditions being displayed, but his cool, polite look of interest quickly warms to a more genuine one. The topic isn’t what he expected, so he’s surprised, but also amused. Coincidentally, he’s probably the exact person to pose that kind of question to. ]

…I do not know if there is one answer. One heart’s deepest desire may be considered trivial to another. But I do believe few people would have nothing to ask for, were they given such a miracle.

[ He sees the twinkle of light drift towards her, and in that, he simply steels himself for whatever might come. With that kind of question, he’s willing to put up with a little feeling. ]

[consolation]

It's a little grandiose spent for me, [she begins, and it isn't meant self-deprecatingly, as if she's undeserving of the gift, but rather as if she truly does not comprehend why she should ask for and receive it. A small fortune would feel less amassed if obtained that way, regardless of whether she put it to use afterward or simply buried it beneath the earth. Should she, as she believes others have, ask for a dormant shard? A soul that does not exist that she doesn't remember the shape of, or the soul of a man she would want only to obtain so she could shatter it in her own hand?]

But you speak like someone who knew precisely what his heart longed for. [She suspects him of being a Zenite, though she hasn't confirmed that suspicion just yet. Before any invasive questions about what exactly it was that called to his desires, the memory bursts like a swollen balloon, bringing its emotions with it.

Happy families are all alike, it was once written, but what's captured here is likely something the originator saw as a unique tradition. In secret, they've taken at least one thing they admire about one another and submitted it anonymously on slips of paper in a glass jar. At the end of the year, the slips are read aloud, a thousand small compliments concentrated in a single moment.

The emotions wrapped in the mote of light are cloyingly loving. They're the kind of belonging that comes from feeling truly known and appreciated, the kind of love that makes someone want to freeze a single moment.

From Caren herself...there's little recognition. Neither the sight nor the Communion spark any sympathetic memories or emotions within herself.]

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian cants his head with curiosity at her response, since he’s surprised at the humility of her answer. It’s slightly different from what he’d said, not quite a lack of desire, but it’s an interesting piece that’s adjacent to it. He nods to affirm that he did indeed know, but before he elaborates further, the memory sneaks its way in first.

It turns his curiosity towards the memory instead, and his reaction is very similar to hers. He recognizes the scene here and knows what it would draw forth, but it’s no different when experienced through Communion than it was looking at the painting. They’re sentiments he’s completely divorced from but observes them with cool neutrality. There’s certainly no recognition for the familial portion of it. He’s never had such a thing, nor has he ever longed for it.

But there is discomfort. The warmth of the feeling is almost unpleasant in its intensity, but that he at least expected. Really, he must ask Lady Yima if there’s a way to dull emotions being forced at him… It draws his attention back to the painting as if to pick out more from the scene, but his answer comes smoothly. ]

I did, yes. The Shard of someone important to me is all I had asked for.

[ And yet, even with saying that, there’s no warm feeling Communed back. It’s just as cool and even. ]