I. Shambhala [ No matter how you look at it, Shambhala is an underground city to every sense of the word: darkness is omnipresent, not a stray ray of sunlight peeking through cracks, with only artificial neon beams lighting up a path along the walls. Even the air itself is heavy, in more ways than just one; though one's lungs may quickly get used to lower oxygen levels, the sinister and somewhat macabre atmosphere won't be as easy to dismiss.
But if you're here, it means darkness has chosen you, deemed you worthy of its power. Every local will make sure you don't forget that.
A. For one, the impromptu magic lessons offered throughout the city are primarily Reason-oriented, with a focus on black magic. There are simple offensive spells to master, but for some of their more advanced tricks, one may need more than just tapping into the depths of their corrupted hearts, a little extra fuel to draw ominous energy from. Death makes for a very good source, you see-- but don't worry, they're not out to kill you! They just... happen to have a nice, cold body readily available for a practical demonstration!! All the student is required to do it-- ]
Wait, you want me to transfer my soul over and reanimate that dead body? Like that's just a cool and totally normal thing to do?!
[ Whoever these people are, it sounds like they'd be good buddies with Aetos... ]
[ B. But if you thought playing with the children in the town square would be a more light-hearted sort of experience? Well, think again! Because while it is true the kids are about as rambunctious and full of energy -- if considerably lacking in vitamin D -- as expected, their idea of play is to reenact acts of violence and war! Pay no mind to their cries of "slaying the false Goddess" and "reclaiming their world from those beasts" it's all very inconsequential!
Until they need an unsuspecting soul to play the role of the evil Goddess, of course. Do they make (oddly glow-in-dark) doe eyes at you? Grab you by the hands and try to tug you along? Whatever the case, Shez will step aside and let present company step up to the challenge! ]
Guess you're up, buddy. C'mon, what kind of heartless monster would say no to a bunch of kids?
II. Shangri-la [ Coming from fantasy medieval Europe means space is awfully uncharted territory for Shez-- or it should be, but there's something about this vast expanse and overwhelming darkness that feels... familiar, in a way. Not so unlike the Void he was once abducted to, by someone he used to think of as a close friend.
In all truth, he still does. So one may catch him leaning over a large window, one hand pressed on the glass panel and eyes lost in thought.
... Pretty stupid thought, that is, considering how quickly one of the psychic crew members invades his mind with a reprimand, to which he reacts with a frown and a loud, protesting: ]
Geez, that was an honest question! Stop yelling in my head..!
[ Somehow this is familiar, too. ]
III. Lungmen [ Is that dubstep part two: electric boogaloo? Why that strange kind of music style keep chasing Shez down is beyond his comprehension, but it's become evident that a nightclub might not be the best place to look for clues as to the location of this world's Shard... or to make conversation of any kind. It's reminiscent of a good ol' tavern in Fodlan, a place to socialize and let loose with heavy drinking, except the music is louder and the hands are friskier. He may be an easygoing guy, but there's a limit to his friendliness!
Alas, the packed crowd makes it hard to move without bumping shoulders, and his newly grown serpent tail is unfortunately an easy target for stomping and accidental(?) yanking. Whatever the case, he startles with a shriek-- one that's uncharacteristically shrill, and he'll slap a hand over his mouth like he doesn't recognize his own (high) pitch anymore. ]
Hey, watch your step! That hurt!
[ ... he's. Not usually this delicate, what the hell. ]
Shez | Meridian | Advocate
[ No matter how you look at it, Shambhala is an underground city to every sense of the word: darkness is omnipresent, not a stray ray of sunlight peeking through cracks, with only artificial neon beams lighting up a path along the walls. Even the air itself is heavy, in more ways than just one; though one's lungs may quickly get used to lower oxygen levels, the sinister and somewhat macabre atmosphere won't be as easy to dismiss.
But if you're here, it means darkness has chosen you, deemed you worthy of its power. Every local will make sure you don't forget that.
A. For one, the impromptu magic lessons offered throughout the city are primarily Reason-oriented, with a focus on black magic. There are simple offensive spells to master, but for some of their more advanced tricks, one may need more than just tapping into the depths of their corrupted hearts, a little extra fuel to draw ominous energy from. Death makes for a very good source, you see-- but don't worry, they're not out to kill you! They just... happen to have a nice, cold body readily available for a practical demonstration!! All the student is required to do it-- ]
Wait, you want me to transfer my soul over and reanimate that dead body? Like that's just a cool and totally normal thing to do?!
[ Whoever these people are, it sounds like they'd be good buddies with Aetos... ]
[ B. But if you thought playing with the children in the town square would be a more light-hearted sort of experience? Well, think again! Because while it is true the kids are about as rambunctious and full of energy -- if considerably lacking in vitamin D -- as expected, their idea of play is to reenact acts of violence and war! Pay no mind to their cries of "slaying the false Goddess" and "reclaiming their world from those beasts" it's all very inconsequential!
Until they need an unsuspecting soul to play the role of the evil Goddess, of course. Do they make (oddly glow-in-dark) doe eyes at you? Grab you by the hands and try to tug you along? Whatever the case, Shez will step aside and let present company step up to the challenge! ]
Guess you're up, buddy. C'mon, what kind of heartless monster would say no to a bunch of kids?
II. Shangri-la
[ Coming from fantasy medieval Europe means space is awfully uncharted territory for Shez-- or it should be, but there's something about this vast expanse and overwhelming darkness that feels... familiar, in a way. Not so unlike the Void he was once abducted to, by someone he used to think of as a close friend.
In all truth, he still does. So one may catch him leaning over a large window, one hand pressed on the glass panel and eyes lost in thought.
... Pretty stupid thought, that is, considering how quickly one of the psychic crew members invades his mind with a reprimand, to which he reacts with a frown and a loud, protesting: ]
Geez, that was an honest question! Stop yelling in my head..!
[ Somehow this is familiar, too. ]
III. Lungmen
[ Is that dubstep part two: electric boogaloo? Why that strange kind of music style keep chasing Shez down is beyond his comprehension, but it's become evident that a nightclub might not be the best place to look for clues as to the location of this world's Shard... or to make conversation of any kind. It's reminiscent of a good ol' tavern in Fodlan, a place to socialize and let loose with heavy drinking, except the music is louder and the hands are friskier. He may be an easygoing guy, but there's a limit to his friendliness!
Alas, the packed crowd makes it hard to move without bumping shoulders, and his newly grown serpent tail is unfortunately an easy target for stomping and accidental(?) yanking. Whatever the case, he startles with a shriek-- one that's uncharacteristically shrill, and he'll slap a hand over his mouth like he doesn't recognize his own (high) pitch anymore. ]
Hey, watch your step! That hurt!
[ ... he's. Not usually this delicate, what the hell. ]
IV. Wildcard
[ For anything else! ]