⏳ THE SCORCHING ISLE: Oracle Event One ⏳

[beleos]

ARRIVAL

All Bearers have heard whispers of them - the Oracles. Mysterious and unknown entities of an abstract nature, they serve as the heart of each faction’s cause - both as a means to an end and a very real stepping stone in achieving their objectives. To claim an Oracle means growing ever closer to victory: to see your homes restored as they were, or to herald in a new one of your making.

So you go.

A Cornerstone has been set up for each faction; one for the Zenith and one for the Meridian in Yima’s manor and Heliopolis, respectively. They warn you that upon transportation, your safety cannot be guaranteed and there is no telling what waits for you beyond - to be prepared. To make sure you have whatever you deem necessary with you before you go, as there is no telling when - or how - you will be coming back. CONTINUED HERE...

NOTES

Upon your arrival, you woke up with an HOURGLASS NECKLACE. Please refer to the Time Mechanics on the OOC Summary and bottom of this post for details on its usage.

The COURTYARD is frozen in time. Player Characters and the Great Tree are the only signs of moving, free life in the courtyard. During the intro, time magic does not work.

Characters are free to investigate but cannot move beyond the courtyard if you choose a prompt during the intro. You may mingle among your fellow Bearers or speak with [MR. TIBBS] if you so choose. (Also? LOOK AT HIM HELP)

Iconoclasts and Stargazers will notice Aspect benefits/detriments now.

All characters will be weak for the 24 hours - think like mild flu - and unable to leave until Mr. Tibbs has dispersed them. This is the time in which any threads with the NPC will be carried out.

The INTRO concludes with said dispersal of PC’s once interactions concluded. They will be sent to a location around the castle of your choosing; they are free to move about freely from here. Your prompts can start with you waking alone or in the presence of others - whatever you’d like!

Your character will innately understand how to use time magic from this point forward. It will come naturally to them, like a skill they were born with.

CASTLE: OVERVIEW (p a s t)

The Scorching Isles is home to the Atirat, a people of sea-dwellers who have the ability to walk on land. (Think mermaids with the ability to shift back and forth between human and mermaid forms.) As such, much of the Scorching Isles is covered in large bodies of blue water and glistening pieces of ice to accommodate their lifestyle.

THE CASTLE, however, is what dominates the landscape and it's where the Shard-Bearers will be spending their time. The white castle with colorful glass windows is obscured by a thick layer of clouds and fog. Nearly every location on the island has a thin layer of fog that rolls through it, which gives the entire Island an inescapable chill. The castle has artfully built rooms with a CAVALCADE OF DECORATIVE ICE, lavish mirrors, and white plants accented with blue decorations. Several portions of the castle are submerged due to the aquatic nature of the native residents.

And everywhere you go, you find them - STATUESQUE BODIES FROZEN mid-movement. They are haunting reminders of the power in your Hourglass - the very real power to decide their fates.

The castle has many winding paths to explore, as castles often do. There are sleeping quarters, HALLWAYS, a wine cellar, and a few large rooms presumably for diplomatic affairs. Players can use these rooms at their own leisure for whatever purposes they see fit. (Exploration, combat, or supply gathering.)

However, many of these rooms will require some strategy to access their full potential! Atirat were much more comfortable being underwater than many Kenosians may be. Therefore, rooms of higher importance may be COMPLETELY SUBMERGED or require swimming through an underwater pathway to reach them. Very minimal supplies will be kept out in the open for all to reach. More desirable supplies - such as warm clothing, small weapons, treasure, and the like - will be located past or within one of these flooded areas.

Players may gather supplies within and preserve their Sand or use their Sand to make other rooms accessible and gather whatever lies within! The larger the asset you attempt to unfreeze, the more Sand it costs - and the more drained/vulnerable you will be as a consequence, so choose your path ahead wisely.

Currently, a pervasive fog is preventing you from wandering beyond the Castle's limits. Should you try to venture past it, your Sand will rapidly be stolen and you will find yourself suffering the same fate as the islanders if you don't move back to safety quickly... However, if you ask Mr. Tibbs what lays beyond the mist - he will tell you about the thriving farmland, the once-bustling village surrounding the castle, and the beautiful coral reefs beneath it. Sadly, they're beyond your reach - but maybe if the Bearers decide to unfreeze them when the week is up...

LIBRARY (s a f e z o n e)

The ROYAL LIBRARY - A treasure trove of knowledge, history, and glimpses of a fractured past scattered throughout. The lower floor of the Library is void of much reading material and contains several intricate-looking art pieces on decorative pedestals.

A spiral staircase dominates the center of the room, with its once delicate structure overtaken by sheets of formidable ice; it leads you toward the upper levels where a sea of books awaits. There are isles and isles of books, most perched on intricately carved shelves. Many books lay in piles or are discarded onto the floor, and scattered papers are common throughout.

Curious Kenosians may pick out books from the shelves and read on various topics, but players may also pass through this room on their way elsewhere. This area will function as a safe haven where violence and the taking of others' Sand is not allowed; do not disturb the books or Mr. Tibbs won’t be happy!

NOTES

Characters who wish to receive a book with lore specific to the island may comment [HERE]. You will be RNGed a book from a pre-written list of topics. The books may give you a deeper look into the island, its inhabitants, and its history! (Only 1 book per player! Please assume all other books they read are about commonly-available topics.)

THE EATING PARLOR (p a s t)

There are no basic amenities on the island. No hot water, no warm beds, and no salacious magazines (that you know of. heh heh). That would make the Eating Parlour a wise stop for anyone. After all, this could be the perfect chance to procure some provisions!

The EATING PARLOUR has all the equipment one would need for meal preparation. Dried plants hang from the ceiling, and the walls are lined with mason jars filled with every strange manner of presumably edible thing (Is that a head over there? Hmm… maybe you should check).

The parlour also comes with a garden under a massive windowed dome so that the inhabitants could have fresh produce at hand. Many plants have withered, but there are some salvageable plants if you know how to look for them. But beware… Some of the plants have a strange blue glow. These plants can spell potential disaster.

If someone should make contact with these glowing plants, they will crumble into glass shards - glass that will quickly burrow its way under the skin and curse that person with Blight. Blight will make all resources within that person's vicinity slowly age and eventually crumble to dust. (Which I relate to on a personal level tbh.) Iconoclasts will be immune to its effects.

NOTES

Please see the "Blight" section below for more information on its effects.

TREASURE ROOM (f u t u r e)

Faint singing can be heard coming from this room. Once you hear the song, it dulls your senses and leaves you in a haze. There is no stopping your feet from guiding you to it through the doors and into the Treasure room. The door slams shut at your back, sealed with a wall of ice and magic.

Players will find themselves lured to an icy chamber bordered by a ring of cold blue fire. There is a deep pond that surrounds the platform you’ve found yourself standing on. Beyond its glassy surface and crystal clear water, one can glimpse all manner of treasures - from crowns, jewels, ornate statues in various statues of repair, scepters, spears, and books that seem impervious to the water's cold chill.

As you come to your senses, you will find yourself frozen in place and at the mercy of a large statuesque being before you. This beautiful and horrifying figure in a perpetual song is the SIREN, the only Atirat you’ve seen in person. She measures nearly 20 feet (6 meters) from her head to the tip of her long-finned tail. She cradles an icy shard in her arms, singing to it as if it were a child.

She sits serenely in front of a large hourglass filled with white sand, which is bordered by a spear and a lance. Emblazoned in faint text at the base of where she sits reads: “The future lies in our hands.”

NOTES

Welcome to the Siren’s Chamber! Players must use their wit, charisma, or some good ol' fashioned elbow grease to escape the room or break the Siren’s magic. The Shard that the Siren holds contains dormant time magic that players may activate by using the Sand within their necklace. Players can access the future in 5-second intervals and use whatever they find in that time period to escape their predicament.

For example, if they activate the shard by using their time magic, that shard will begin to glow blue. The room around them will shift, and it could change to a point in the future where there is a sword nearby. If you can grab it, now you have a weapon! When the 5 seconds are up and time returns to the present, you will still have that weapon on your person. You may also try verbal communication if you’d like. If your character is someone who would try and talk their way out of a situation diplomatically, they may give it a try!

It is up to player discretion/creativity to think of a scenario you’d like. Each “future" does not have to be the same across player encounters! What one group experiences may be tailored to the player wants (because branching timelines exist). Let your imagination run free!

HALL OF MIRRORS (p r e s e n t)

Should you reach the rightmost wing of the massive castle Library, you will find a door hidden in the very back of one aisle against a wall; it looks as though the door used to be concealed by magicks that have since dissolved.

The stairwell leads down and into darkness. Once you reach the bottom, shimmering light cast from an unknown source beneath sheets of glistening ice will illuminate your new surroundings; you are in a maze of mirror-like ice. This labyrinth is silent save for the quiet creaking of shifting ice that may disquiet you and leave you uneasy regarding the stability of this area… but it holds beneath your feet.

Mr. Tibbs had told you that the “Kaleidoscope” - where your Sand is counted - rests through here, so eventually, you must brave the journey. Is it a trick of the light? Maybe the product of an especially active imagination…?

Did you just see one of your reflections move without you?

NOTES

Please refer to the OOC Summary for details on the Hall of Mirrors!

THE BLIGHT and TIME MECHANICS

BLIGHT

Blight is an infliction that will age supplies and infect people with a creeping disease that steals their Sand. For objects, this includes weapons, food, and items like cloth. It will take a few days to deteriorate things beyond use - so watching your supplies and acting accordingly is in your best interest. Generally, it will make it more difficult for PC's to get by given that their already scarce resources will dwindle and deteriorate - especially since it's 'contagious' through touch.

The Blight will not act quickly enough to severely hamper infected persons, but repeated exposure will cause effects to a person's body - notedly protruding VEINS in the face and extremities, a lower body temperature, and increased agitation. These effects start out mild and grow more severe with each 'dose.'

Characters must touch an object/person that is Blighted to become inflicted with Blight themselves. When that happens, it will become easily identifiable as Blighted from the faint blue, shimmering outline around the infected subject, as well as the WITHERED, FROSTBITTEN or ashy appearance it takes as it progresses.

However, there is one single perk with Blight. (Or is it a perk?) Players will feel reduced impact by the cold surroundings, making the climate around them somewhat more hospitable. Beware of falling victim to a chill you can't feel...

TIME

To use your Sand, each character is granted access to and innate knowledge of a spell they channel from their Shard that automatically manipulates their Hourglass. This allows the remote control of Sand (aka gathering and dispersing), as well as the ability to pull Fragments of time from Shards.

Fragments are literal pieces of you taken from your Shard. They manifest as memories or images displayed on little shards of broken glass (think of the memory being played out in real-time on the mirror's surface), and can be crushed to convert into Sand automatically, either voluntarily or by force. The only stipulation is that the parties must be close to one another, and the Fragment must be exchanged while both Bearers are still. This means someone has to give it to you, or you need to immobilize them before you take it - one way or another.

Once the Fragment is crushed, the memory and associated time of that person's life is lost and your character will suffer amnesia until the Oracle is claimed. How deep this goes is up to you; they could lose a large chunk of time - even all their memories surrounding a person or place for a big payload of Sand, or they could lose very little for a meager net gain.

Sand is automatically gathered or distributed by your Hourglass and added/subtracted to your running total. No need to micromanage. Convenient!

Please note that using Sand to unfreeze anything (resources, a door which can be then opened, etc) is an unpleasant experience. Each time you use Sand in this way, your character will be left feeling weakened and flu-like for an hour or two, which will leave them vulnerable. This effect stacks and scales up to outright KO-ing them for a few hours if they go crazy, so unfreezing too large of an area is off the table!

NOTES

• An OOC POST will be coming shortly explaining how Sand is going to be tallied and the Oracle claimed.
• Should your character attempt to unfreeze any NPC's, please respond [HERE]. NOTE: unfreezing NPC's may result in physical violence with CW's for severe mental instability/illness and a potential reference to self-harm.
• HAVE FUN!!!

CODING

Comments

cw casual victim blaming??

[redsoil]

[ When he travels with Ruby, he carries on at one speed: his own.

That afternoon, he brings her along with him as he investigates the castle walls. It is a structure he is largely unfamiliar with in theory, but the sheer size and composition of it evokes memories within him of the great temples at Helipolis. His Heliopolis, not the one located in Springstar, mocking him with the use of such an illustrious name -- homage to Ra, who rose as the sun from the primordial sea.

There is a door in one of the walls, giving way to a tight stairwell that leads to a guard post; there is no Atirat figure there, so it is Set who looks out beyond the ramparts to the land enshrouded in fog. He points to the small desk, to the scattered papers and logs upon it. ]

We'll check these.

[ The implication being that he expects Ruby to spend her Sand upon it, not him. ]

Whether I perform the work or you do, we will reach the same conclusion. Checking the information written down by observers may provide helpful; someone may have recorded what happened, moments before all of this went down. If it was an even that occurred outside of the castle, at least.

[ In the small nook, he settles his hip along the creaking wood of the spiraling stair, elegant trident held loose between the fold of his arms as he, in turn, observes her. Little cowardly thing, flinching and shrinking and desperate to be used. She was exactly what he had seen women become, under his rule; she was precisely what he'd imagined humans to be, at their core.

For the gods to utilize, in any way they saw fit. Even now, he knows he is falling into old habit, yet Ruby makes it so easy to. ]

[glowup]

[homie you are killing him. you're killing your healer.]

You know, I don't think they were too keen on magic here, all things considered. Han Sooyoung found a bit about "accursed magic" somewhere, which is never a good sign.

Calling it "accursed," I mean.

You've been talking to a wizard from the past? Is he still talking to you?

[liuli]

[ please sense the deadpan of this communed sentence ]

He ran out of paper.





[ Help. ]

[exhound]

Funny you should ask. [He shrugs the pack he is wearing off one shoulder and swings it around to dig through its contents, and after a moment pulls out a tightly wrapped bundle of rope.] Figured it might come in handy, so got my hands on some before we headed out from Springstar.

[He’d made sure to pack it when considering what might be useful on the mission, with the idea of bundling up supplies (or… enemies…) in mind, but a purpose like this would do just as well.]

As long as the passage down there isn’t too long, it should do a decent job.

[oomfies]

No..

[ Is her immediate answer. ]

I figured out where the thermos with the water was [ It was in the third or so suitcase they stuff their things into, as it turns out! ] and I kinda made some coffee and went on a walk.

[ A walk where? Throughout the very suspicious castle, that's where. She cradles the meticulously packed lunch, feeling up her pants for said thermos. It's warm beneath her palm and she grins for a moment, looking down at it before swinging back up to stare at him. ]

Can you not have coffee, too? Is it bad if you have it??

[glowup]

[there is a very long pause




okay]

We're in a library.

ii, PLAY BALL

[sharmat]

(it's been silent in the hall of mirrors until the amos' arrival, which does not bode well for any one of them. voryn knows that his doppelganger is prowling silently in search of him—occasionally, the chime of a bell too near to his ear will force him to move before the mirror he hides behind is liquefied by the force of a fire spell. and with the addition of a third and fourth element, this situation has become infinitely more complex.

another mirror bursts, this time sending a large man through to slide past his feet, and with his position compromised by the clamour, voryn escapes into the main aisle.

such an instinctual thrill zaps up the length of his spine at amos' sudden appearance, doubling as the moment in which he first wonders after arriving on kenos what the hell is the matter with this place. it's not strange to him, only startling in that it's unexpected. there are four of them locked in this place with each other now, the hall taking on the qualities of an arena the longer they exist within it. but there's no time to cast judgement on their situation, not when amos' doppelganger returns to prove a point to its reflection who casts a stronger image, and voryn's own steps leisurely into view to wait and watch.

a shimmer of energy precedes the first casting of a spell. voryn, hands empty, recognizes which one, and reacts with wide eyes and a sudden rear back.) Duck! (he shouts, slamming his foot into the side of amos' doppelganger's temple. in no way does this dislodge the fake, but it temporarily disorients it as he throws himself to the ground beneath the trajectory of a streaking fireball.

it burns the ends of still-settling hair, and that's not all. amos' reflection has been caught too, though only barely; it's enough to force it off-balance so that amos can do the rest. too close, voryn thinks, immediately rolling to the side to rise to a knee with his own momentum.)

Rise; we fight together!

[shisho]

[ Well, now. That is something. Watching the way Amos's eyes keep tracking back to the heap of young Atirat in the corner, half-draped in blankets like it's going to keep their frozen figures warm -- like keeping them warm matters, whether they're aware or not of their circumstances -- Reigen keeps his own on Amos. He sees how his eyes wander, but he's good enough not to take his eyes off the man to let him know that he sees.

With the pot finally placed on the ground, he rummages in his pockets for the stack of soup bowls and miniature basins he'd also pilfered along with his supplies. One of them, he thumbs free from the stack, and offers it at arm's length to Amos. ]

No, I'm not. [ Doing anything wrong. Worried about himself. Fucking around. His face does crease briefly, when he's ordered around. 'Quit fucking around', like what he's doing isn't important to the Grand Goals of Zenith, Hail The Almighty New World. Like nothing matters, but getting to the goal.

With that, he points back. To the kids. ]

They're what's valuable to me. Look at them. They're just kids. Are you going to try to proselytize at me on the importance of a Zenith win, or are you going to help me feed these kids when I wake them up? 'Cause I'm waking them up.

[subsist]

[ He almost feels sorry for the information overload, but there's really no way around it. ]

This is only a guess, but it was most likely a monetary donation. You know how churches are. As for the child, they held a ceremony for him at Heliopolis. [ So yeah, it all goes back to the Church of Helios. ] I don't know for certain if the Jade Crows and the Church are working together, but all I know for sure is that whatever the Church is doing, I'll find the answers I'm looking for at the Below.

Even the one who messed with Manon's Shard— he goes by the name "Aetós," which is a small bird of prey that is common to Springstar. And since the Jade Crows are known for the experimentations...

[ It's not concrete proof that the two are connected. He knows that. He isn't even sure if what happened to Manon has anything to do with whatever the Church is up to either, but— ]

I've just been chasing the leads as they come up.

[ And now Heine is pretty much caught up to what he knows. ]

[oomfies]

[ God. They are. They are extremely in right now in Highstorm and it kinda pisses Lottie off she's even saying it.. And that she's right. Instead of agreeing, she just frowns profusely, tries to not roll her eyes because Caren is ultimately doing her a favor and —

— oh?? What the fuck, ] Ow! [ She tries to stop the way her body instinctually backs away from her touch, only managing to succeed after the first couple moments or so. Just in time for Caren to bring up fashion and how lacking it is here. Her hands grip the edges of the chair she sits on, sweat beading at her temple. After some examination, she'll find there's nothing broken! Just some extremely bruised pride and an extremely bruised rib. ]

I mean.. It always is. [ Is her joking around at the lack of cute outfits here a good sign? Unsure™. ] Everyone's dressed like they came to fight or something.

i care he

[shisho]

You even talk like a freaking kid. Give me those!

[ Swinging his arms wildly, he goes in for the kill grab. The cigarette isn't healthy for a kid. Who's looking out for Gen here? Who's telling him to brush his teeth and put deoderant on and go to Kenos High and just, be a kid. Not this prickly pseudo-adult, but someone who can throw the responsibility on the proper adults and expect just to be cared for. Like adults are supposed to do.

He thinks of the repressed and mostly-maladjusted teens often swarming him, and knows Gen for one that wouldn't quite fit in. He's angry, where the others are scared or lonely. Ritsu was angry, but in the way of someone frustrated and seeking acknowledgement. This kid is -- he's a whole DELINQUENT. ]

Hey, I'm here giving it to you now, don't be such a brat about it! Ossan, wow. I'm not that old, [ nearly thirty and feeling the stabbing pain of being called OLD MAN by some dog-eared teenager. Jesus Wept.

Mid-attempt at snatching the cigarette, he pauses: ] Who the hell told you there was a ranking system of Things To Care about, huh? You think it goes 'ooh neat magic', then 'ooh wait i could die' and then dead last is 'there's some punk kid with a goofy attitude freezing in a chair, eh, why bother'? That's messed up, man.

[ Instead of going for the cigarette, he uses his momentum to strip his coat off. Nice and fat with down, warm from where he's had it on him; it goes over Gen, over the blankets he's already under. Pressed around him very briefly, as Reigen's not entirely touchy-feely. Especially with strange kids who might try to bring a lawsuit down on him. ]

Whoever made you learn a lesson like that isn't worth the memory of it.

[subsist]

[ Kaeya can understand the frustration.

After all, they received very little direction from the Matron of Zenith, but perhaps that just comes with the territory nowadays. The fact that they're being made to play a game is downright ridiculous. If only there was a way to speed-run it, then Kaeya will be helping Silco along with it.

Alas, it seems they're stuck at the beginning for now. ]

Oh? Do you find yourself wondering if there's a point to all of this?

[ Really... If they didn't get Mr. Tibbs as the game host, maybe he would be feeling differently towards everything. But. Whoops. ]

[copeless]

[ Slowly, they nod in response to the other's proposal, setting their collection of strange things on the countertop shortly thereafter. Among the collection is a jar of dried jerky they found — which they don't even particularly like the taste of — and while their motions are less smooth, more hesitant than their companion's, they also make short work of unfreezing the jar (with their free, not currently peach holding hand). ]

Then, here... [ They make the same motion, drawing a mark down the middle of the jar. ] Your sand. You shouldn't pay for it alone...

[ Their first thought, of course, had been to just nod their head and take what was offered to them. It was free, after all, and up until just recently, it's been in their responsibility list to capitalize on the kindness of others. But in this strange world, even if it's only for this one interaction... they'd like to do something other than that, for a change. It might be nice to share something back. ]

oh my god i'm so sorry for the 400 typos in my last tag i promise i can type...

[copeless]

[ If anything, hearing that does make them feel better. As they're also not feeling that competing for the Oracle is particularly important... it feels like a game they've gotten drafted into where they don't know the rules, but are expected to pick a team to play for. Just being in the presence of someone else with a similar mindset is a comfort, in these trying times. ]

Oh, um... no.

[ They admit, meekly. Instinctually, their hand goes to cover the gash at their upper arm, seeming somewhat ashamed of the inky appearance of the wound itself. A part of them wants to tell him that it's fine — that it was their own doing, for the sake of defeating the siren — but then, they start wondering if that is even a moderately normal thing to say. Is that weird? Is that cringe??? ]

I wanted to find... a weapon, first. That's why I'm...

[ Sopping wet, they mean, but don't say. ]

[copeless]

[ They chance a quick look out of the corner of their eye after he says all that, before they return their gaze forward. In that brief bit of time, they can see his gaze isn't so hard as they imagined it would be — not that they would blame him at all if it was. They, too, know the importance of physical space, especially when you're dangerous to be around. His reaction is a natural one, as far as they see it, so it was them that was in the wrong.

After a moment of contemplation, they hug their knees a bit tighter to their chest, trying to - as carefully as they can - see if there's anything else in the room they can use. ]

W... We might be able to neutralize it. The sound.

[ It's how soul wavelengths work, after all, and how their own ability functions, so they're fairly confident that it's "hearing" the sound that causes the freezing effect. Then, the way to combat that is — ]

Making enough noise so that we can't "hear" it. If it's drowned out, you'll be able to move even during the song.... probably. Then you could... [ You know, go over there and rip her throat out, which they don't really have an objection to. In a strange turn of events, they feel a little more at ease talking about battle and fighting — though their voice still trembles a bit around the edges. This is what they're most used to doing. Fighting a weird siren would be much easier than talking to a stranger on any given day for Crona. ] There's... two of us, and one of her, so....

[ It's possible? They turn back forward, feeling the creeping knowledge of he future within these four walls. Maybe there's more at their disposal than they think. ]

If we could find... a blade, I could help more with it.

[ now what do a blade and making noise have in common... only time will tell, ]

[copeless]

[ In their mind, you'd have to be a total maniac to start cooking during these conditions, but also, maybe this guy is like a British Masterchef™? Maybe it's normal for him, and therefore not hard for him to cook even when there's a "war" going on around him? As ever, they assume they're the one that doesn't know anything and is clueless, so while their initial reaction is one of confusion, they're quick to file it under 'what do I know, who am I to judge.'

Besides, if people are more concerned with cooking and the nutrition levels of their foods... maybe this whole shebang won't be so bad after all? Maybe people are less focused on fighting than they thought. ]

Most people seem like they're taking things... so, the longer we're here... the harder it might be. T... To make something.

[ If people are thinking anything like they are, they'll try to hoard things - either for themselves or for their "side." But anyway, they'll try to be helpful, even if they're sure the man has already come to that conclusion on his own... it's the only thing they can think of, to try to maintain amicable relations with both sides throughout the remainder of this trial. Outside of running away, of course. ]

Not that I know if it's possible...! I don't know anything about cooking...

[ They add that on hurriedly, like they're worried they might be asked a follow up question on the possibility of cheffing it up in this kitchen. They're not even sure if this place is functional, really.... ]

[copeless]

[ They're startled by even that single syllable - but at least it's muted, nothing more than a widening of their eyes, as they're addressed. ]

Er.... yes?

[ It takes them a second, but they're able to tie the man's voice to the communion from before, too - which does make them feel a sliver of dread, as they can't imagine they've left all too positive of an impression on the person before them. But they're prepared to take responsibility for their partner's actions, so they lift their gaze to meet his, wondering what it is that he might want. ]

[copeless]

[ Oh, they hadn't even recognized him in their startle. What a relief. Well, relief? They suppose Flamebringer hasn't given them any reason to doubt he'd go back on his promise... his eccentricity just throws them off. Still, his face is one they're gladder to see than most in these trying times - because at least they have a reassurance, no matter how faint, that this guy won't off them. The threats of killing people aside, he's actually pretty kind, and that's more than they can say for a lot of the people around. ]

Oh, um... I remember...

[ They want to assure him of that, that they hadn't irresponsibly forgotten his promise, at the very least. With a shake of their head, they obediently do as he gestures for them to do, looking around for a brief second for one of the many marble benches that adorn these icy halls. ]

The competition for the Oracle is... w-well, I'm sure you know... and the Siren... [ It's fierce. People are willing to fight and steal from others, which they don't really blame anyone for doing, even if it is unfortunate to be on the receiving end of such treatment. ] I... It's fine, though. This was my own doing...

[ Their hand leaves their upper arm, where the only semi-serious injury lays - a deep gash that cuts horizontally through the skin there. The bleeding seems to have mostly stopped, but it's stained everything black, and not just with time - the blood itself is inky in color, sullying the palm of their hand when they draw it away from the wound. ]

CLOSED TO KAEYA.

[ragou]

[ Open a locked door, and find something forbidden inside.

The journey down from Library to Hall is almost template. Darkness, stairs, a labyrinthine passー for all the curveballs that The Scorching Isles (what a misnomer) have decided to throw, this one is pleasantly predictable. Textbook hidden area, with the ominous echoes of his own footsteps as background music.

For once, Douman finds the banality comforting.

What's less banal, however, is the sound of shifting cloth, the presence of another human tucked somewhere in the vast expanse of mirrors and frost that he's found himself in. Eventually, when Douman happens upon the source of the noise, he almost misses the stranger in the glimmer of light and ice; Kaeya is blue and silver and black, a wintry addition to the pale, muted colors of their surroundings.

He almost seems to belong here, him and his reflection against polished glassー

ーif not for the strange behavior of the stranger's doppelgänger. Furious, caustic, accusatory. ]

Hmm, [ Douman finally hums, breaking his silence and alerting Kaeya to his presence. ] You seem to be talking to yourself.

[glowup]

[Ah- well, he's less helpful in this area, unfortunately, frowning lightly before he turns to rifle through his small hoard of preserved foodstuffs. On some level he's sure the other Meridians would be irritated with him for sharing his supplies and his help without an in-depth interview of where strangers' loyalties lie, but on some other level: if the most insane Zenites think he's useful, maybe no one will try to murder him if he walks down the wrong hallway.

So let him find some snacks; he's not even going to ask the question about sides.]

I could give you something to eat? If you're suffering that strange fatigue, like the other day— that is magical in nature, I think, and not a lock I have the means to pick.

[Here... is... some kind of jerky? He's pretty sure it's a jerky, as he holds it out in offering.]

But a quick heal might give you a boost, however temporary. If you were interested.

[glowup]

[anders' patience meter going wild like a metronome having a panic attack

But oh: sword, okay. That'll do, he hopes. He rocks back from his crouch and stands, though not without scooping up the hairpin again first. Maybe someone who knows how to pick locks can use this, somewhere else.]

Try not to blow the whole thing to pieces. We're all very impressed already.

[Him and the frozen duo, that is. So impressed. Now-- actually, this is going to look a little silly of him, but since he's holding the pin he might as well use it to center an ice spell in lieu of a proper staff; his hand and the pin in it glow icy blue a moment before the spell fires out and connects with the front of the chest. It's not super focused, leaving more of the chest frozen than he'd intended, and ah... more frozen things... ahem:]

Well, now I'm part of the problem, aren't I? Ow— [ow, frozen fingers and frozen pin; he drops it again, where it simply cracks in half on the floor from the stress of the spell. Anders blows on his cold fingers and nods at the chest; you're up, bud.]

[glowup]

Really.

[For Real, and everything. Being cordial arguably makes it worse, because Anders knows in his paranoid mage bones that there are definitely people here who are too ignorant and easily taken in by cordial to realize demons are bad news!! So actually, that's bad, too. There's no winning.

But is this not resting... He gives Sebastian's whole sitting in a chair looking tired routine a raised-eyebrow once-over, and:]

What are you doing right now? [Looks like REST... got em!!] Are you tired?

[He's seen without knowing what it is the Stargazer debuff a handful of times by now, and so he must assume Sebastian also has the sleepy disease if he's bothering to loiter around here and bother Anders at the clinic. But of course, this time it's funny.]

[glowup]

[Us?? Spirit world, us?? Hello?

Anders demonstrates an herculean amount of self control to not immediately be invasive and weird about spirit world and us in the same sentence; he may literally be biting his tongue. Okay. Be normal, Anders. Start with the collective.]

...No. No, I think you're right— that's too much power for an individual to hold. [The amount of power that leads to frozen castle tragedies and mages getting a bad reputation, specifically; he can't think of a reason a single mage should hold the power to access- and presumably, manipulate- something like the collective unconscious, if it is indeed akin to wrangling the whole Fade at once.

Who would do that. It would be like ripping the Veil in half or something. Truly maddening.

ANYway,] You said "see us"— you're a spirit? You've been a spirit this whole time?

[This is an accusatory question in the way that "you planned a surprise party for me??" is an accusatory question. Spirit friend...]

[exhound]

[It takes Vander a moment before he realizes that the twinge of fear he feels isn’t quite his own. It's an odd thing to come from his normally unflappable companion, but truth be told, this whole ordeal is worrying him too. How do you fight something that can so easily freeze you in place?

But she can’t do it indefinitely, that much is clear from the reprieve that allowed the two of them to take refuge back here. And two against one gives them better odds of coming up with something that’ll get them out of this mess.

She sure as hell doesn’t sound happy about them trying to conspire, though. They’re gonna have to come up with something quick. He doesn’t dare move from behind that pillar just yet, but he’s keeping an eye off to the side just in case she starts moving.]

That sword might be able to get us in close if we play our cards right.

[Moving around is gonna be the difficult part here, but that does give them a nice little ace up their sleeve.]

But you're right, I think something like that’s gonna be our best bet. Though… [He pauses for a moment, turns his attention back to Amos with brows furrowed in thought.] If she’s using some kind of time magic, maybe all this Sand we’ve been scrambling for could help?

CLOSED TO REIGEN.

[ragou]

[ The unhinged Blight option. Reigen should be so lucky to run into a six foot whatever behemoth with a literal plague as a halo; in another context, the blue shimmer might've been angelicー otherworldly, evenー but cast around the already-ominous bruise-black outline of Douman's everything, he just looks

evil. Like, more than usual.

In the pallid, muted lighting of the Eating Parlour, Douman inspires images of specters, of ghosts, of death. There's a delightful pretension about it all, the flowing robes and the garish hair, the unearthly chime of bells as he sweeps a palm over a dirty washcloth and watches it crumble, slowly, into dust.

Maybe Douman's enjoying it a little. Destructive, and self-destructive. When Reigen steps into the room (which I am assuming, unless Reigen has been here the entire time, in which case, RIP), there's a moment of silence where Douman turns, looks, and

smiles, carnivorous. Posture relaxed, sifting dust onto the floor. ]

Good day.

[ is it???? is it really a good day anymore???? ]