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the boy is back in town [diplomanon conclusion]
Who: Manon, the Shard-Bearers, and special surprise guest(s)!
What: Manon has been revived, and there are questions to be asked
Where: The Tree of Life
When: March 3rd
CODING
What: Manon has been revived, and there are questions to be asked
Where: The Tree of Life
When: March 3rd
MANON'S REVIVAL
A few days prior, Manon’s Shard had been planted at the Tree of Life (Tier 2 Meridian and/or those involved with the purification process would know it was by the Tribune himself), and as promised, his revival is providing a neutral ground in which to meet and talk to the man. The Meridian involved in purifying him have been given some basic clothing for Manon, including an eyepatch since just like every other Shard-Bearer who has suffered dissipation, he’ll be hatching from a cocoon the tree weaves. It’s at least a little dignity to be given as a belated “apology” for his revival being a spectacle.
Indeed, when he frees himself from the cocoon, he won’t be ready to be questioned. He’s weak and shaky on his feet, but he’s still rather quick to collect himself and get dressed. Surprisingly, with no apparent shame over being that spectacle!
Some people have “met” Manon already by Communing with his Shard, but otherwise, this is the first that most will be able to see the man causing all of this fuss. He’s short with rust-colored hair and one eye completely covered by the eyepatch he’d been given. He doesn’t exactly seem pleased to be here, though. He looks like he’d much rather be anywhere else. But he’s eventually ready to talk. Best to get this over with.
Indeed, when he frees himself from the cocoon, he won’t be ready to be questioned. He’s weak and shaky on his feet, but he’s still rather quick to collect himself and get dressed. Surprisingly, with no apparent shame over being that spectacle!
Some people have “met” Manon already by Communing with his Shard, but otherwise, this is the first that most will be able to see the man causing all of this fuss. He’s short with rust-colored hair and one eye completely covered by the eyepatch he’d been given. He doesn’t exactly seem pleased to be here, though. He looks like he’d much rather be anywhere else. But he’s eventually ready to talk. Best to get this over with.
INTERRUPTIONS
People are given their chances to question Manon and ask him whatever they wish, but not for long.
Quite suddenly and with no more preamble than a strange, crackling feeling throughout everyone’s Shards, a portal suddenly opens behind all of them. First, out steps a small, slight looking girl whose eyes immediately fall on Manon. But a much larger, more monstrous figure steps out behind her with odd, misshapen hands plodding onto the ground and gripping the roots.
A massive creature plods out, and the flowers that surround the skull ripple as if alive. Both the petals of the flower and the very human hair that drift on the creature’s neck are lavender. A very specific shade of it, in fact. And it howls in a way that would be deafening, were it heard with your ears. No, this scream tears through your very Shards in a way that’s almost paralyzing, and as the portal starts to close, other, smaller creatures skitter out along the larger ones’ feet. It seems someone doesn’t want Manon to talk at all.
And for one of the Shard-Bearers among you, that scream digs deeper. Like a poison into their Shard, it pulls out something vicious, something feral, something they had long wished was left behind—But the past isn't always the past.
Quite suddenly and with no more preamble than a strange, crackling feeling throughout everyone’s Shards, a portal suddenly opens behind all of them. First, out steps a small, slight looking girl whose eyes immediately fall on Manon. But a much larger, more monstrous figure steps out behind her with odd, misshapen hands plodding onto the ground and gripping the roots.
A massive creature plods out, and the flowers that surround the skull ripple as if alive. Both the petals of the flower and the very human hair that drift on the creature’s neck are lavender. A very specific shade of it, in fact. And it howls in a way that would be deafening, were it heard with your ears. No, this scream tears through your very Shards in a way that’s almost paralyzing, and as the portal starts to close, other, smaller creatures skitter out along the larger ones’ feet. It seems someone doesn’t want Manon to talk at all.
And for one of the Shard-Bearers among you, that scream digs deeper. Like a poison into their Shard, it pulls out something vicious, something feral, something they had long wished was left behind—But the past isn't always the past.
OOC NOTES
This portion of the log is divided into four portions because the majority are limited for the mods’ sake. With the exception of number four (which is not limited), you may only sign up for one of these sections or to chase Manon (see next section) because these are all taking place essentially simultaneously.- Vander ; Vander (
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exhound, played by Thirteen) has entered a berserker state and will attack friend and foe without being able to solidly distinguish between the two. Vander can be injured (even severely), but this thread will end with Vander’s capture by Aetós. You can find this toplevel here.
- The Girl (Adelfoúla) ; This is a NPC who will be played by Prince, and is limited to a group of no more than three characters. This thread will end with Adelfoúla’s capture since she will be interrogated to find and rescue Vander. You can find this toplevel here.
- The Creature (Aeternae) ; Is limited to a group of no more than three characters, but will be controlled by these players a la a PvE encounter. The Creature is able to attack with psychic powers (similar to the Force in Star Wars or biotic powers in Mass Effect) and is otherwise very large (
Hayame-sizedthe size of a very large horse) and strong, but not overly so. It will regenerate from all attacks unless the skull is smashed, and it can close the petals of the flower to temporarily protect itself. You can find this toplevel here.
All characters that participate in this thread will also be given psychic information about what happened to create the creature, so comment here to note your participation so I can give you that info! The Creature will also subject everyone present to opt-in effects, which are not limited to only the thread participants.
- Smaller Creatures ; Are not limited encounters, and are controlled by the players a la a PvE encounter. These are smaller, more easily killed monsters that are able to use minor psychic attacks as well as poison when someone is clawed or bitten if you want to go a combat route or can cause more temporary versions of the Aeternae's effects as listed. You can also make up your own style of lil' skullbeast! This is free for players to get creative with and create a fun encounter however you see fit. All characters that participate in this kind of thread will also be given psychic information about what happened to create the creature, so comment here to note your participation so I can give you that info! In addition, please place all threads to engage the smaller creatures here.
GIVING CHASE
As soon as the chaos breaks out, the first to take advantage is… Manon. Though weakened from just hatching from the Tree of Life, Manon immediately runs into the labyrinthine maze of roots that make up the Tree of Life. He’s not so honorable as to stay and fight, and this may be his only chance to actually escape. However, it does also leave him without the protection he was promised…
We encourage discussion of which characters will be participating in this portion of the post in the associated Discord Thread for this plot since the factional makeup of this team is likely very tied to Manon’s fate. As Loremasters, we’re truly cool with whatever, so we encourage players discuss how to make a satisfying narrative and future plot opportunities out of Manon’s overall fate rather than trying to “win” the encounter. Also to note, Manon is weakened, but will be attacking anyone that attacks him assuming (probably correctly) that they’re trying to kill him. There is a risk of dissipation in this encounter!
If a conclusion to this thread is not reached by Wednesday, March 8th, Christy will reach out to all thread participants, and we’ll come to an OOC conclusion for Manon’s overall fate to prepare for the Setting Updates that Friday! We can obviously continue to thread it, though! The toplevel for this chase can be found here.
OOC NOTES
This section is limited to a maximum of three characters from each faction, and they will not be able to participate in the previous section. Manon is fleeing immediately, so giving chase means that these characters similarly will not be sticking around to witness what happens.We encourage discussion of which characters will be participating in this portion of the post in the associated Discord Thread for this plot since the factional makeup of this team is likely very tied to Manon’s fate. As Loremasters, we’re truly cool with whatever, so we encourage players discuss how to make a satisfying narrative and future plot opportunities out of Manon’s overall fate rather than trying to “win” the encounter. Also to note, Manon is weakened, but will be attacking anyone that attacks him assuming (probably correctly) that they’re trying to kill him. There is a risk of dissipation in this encounter!
If a conclusion to this thread is not reached by Wednesday, March 8th, Christy will reach out to all thread participants, and we’ll come to an OOC conclusion for Manon’s overall fate to prepare for the Setting Updates that Friday! We can obviously continue to thread it, though! The toplevel for this chase can be found here.
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All at once, his priorities shift. Manon isn't someone lead astray, he wasn't tortured into insanity. He's a traitor. Ateos can have him, for all Cid cares.
Rooted to the spot, he isn't able to react in time to bring up his shield. Would he even have been able to move in time, to cast the spell...? It hardly matters. He runs to John's side.]
Seven hells, that looks bad.
[He doesn't think it will do anything at all, but he brings a hand up all the same, trying to cast the one healing spell he knows. Unfortunately, it does absolutely nothing for the wound.]
Any attempt to remove it is likely to make your wound even worse. But I will try, should we be presented with an opening.
[It's said quietly, given just how outnumbered they are.
Even a surface-level glance at Cid would give John knowledge that he's incredibly built, though by how he lagged behind, it's obvious he's no warrior.
Still, he stays where he is. His loyalty lies with his faction, and naught else.]
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Manon's demand earns him a penetrating stare from Liem. At the movement and commotion in his peripherals, however, he fits a bolt to his crossbow in an unnaturally swift motion and turns to regard the scene unfolding in the wake of Hayame's shot.
Magic shimmers, briefly, in his eyes as he regards the man now pinned like an insect to the cavern wall.]
Mr. Sims speaks truly.
[Though he doesn't turn back to Manon, the words are meant for him. Still, Liem's grip on his weapon is alert, ready to flick up and shoot in an instant.]
Come no closer, if you don't wish to be treated as an enemy.
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he didn’t want this to go there for john, either, but since dextera has no say over what the others do, he decides it’s better to stay out of it and pretend that it didn’t happen. defending it will cause trouble, and in-fighting looks bad. so, he ignores it, his attention on manon with the assumption that hayame and liem will take care of any enemies from behind. ]
…
[ his feet slide forward, allowing manon and everyone else to see that he’s moving closer while giving them the time to warn him to stop moving if they feel the need to. now that manon has come to a stop, they all need to be as cautious as if they were dealing with a wild animal. ]
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An old familiar instinct roils within him - to listen to the call of the quieted earth once more, to shield, and to protect. (Old welcomed habits would be so easy to fall back upon.) But Zhongli is no novice to the bow, and he sees the absolute precision and control that Hayame exerts when she lets the arrow fly. It appears not to be aimed as a lethal shot, and so he pushes down those thoughts. Not here. At least, not now unless it became necessary. Such a heavy agreement made in the heat of the moment was not how he wanted to do this.
There is the start of a motion to go to John's side as well, but Cid is there almost instantly with the familiar thrum of healing energies in the air. Good. If there were time, he would show his gratitude for his quick reactions but of greater importance is to ensure that this does not escalate any further. So Zhongli stays where he is a few paces off to one side of Cid and John, hands help up in a gesture to show that he holds no weapon and does not plan to attack or approach further. ]
Your wariness is understandable. But there was an agreement between all that questions were to be answered from Manon himself. Answers that very well could have importance to everyone here regardless of affiliation. I have come to see that agreement fulfilled.
[ He gestures to John, the weight of the man's previous words still hanging heavily in the air. ]
It appears this individual has come for the same purpose as well.
If you need further assurances, speak them. If we are not to approach, then ask the questions in our stead. Further confrontation serves naught but to assist in Aetós' chaos.
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…Fine.
[ He says that first, quietly, and it’s the most tenuous of promises that he won’t leave, but. It’s what they get. ]
But whatever truth you want about whatever I saw, I can’t tell you, not fully, anyways. I don’t know if it’s— [ He pauses, grimaces ] What that freak did. Or, you Harmonize enough, you can start messing up peoples’ memories. In case you didn’t know, since you’re all new, more or less.
[ tier 3 spellbook sneak preview, winks ]
So, there’ll be… patches. I just need all of you to know that.
no subject
( and while cid's healing spell can't do much about the bolt currently spearing all the way through his shoulder (not much to be done about that until it's removed), it actually does alleviate some of the pain and helps staunch the bleeding. ) Thank you, ( he continues in undertone, tone fervent. his dark gaze flickers between manon, his flanking meridian, where cid and zhongli stand closer to where he's pinned. ) If - ( he's already hating the idea of what he's about to say, but it's the quickest way he can see out of this, ) if you can snap off the rest of the arrow here, ( his left hand marks a place in blood a few inches from where it protrudes out of his shoulder, ) I can probably - pull myself off the rest of it.
( God, it's going to hurt like bloody hell, but there's not really a path out of this situation that won't.
it is, at least, a welcome snap of relief from somewhere deep in his chest when manon agrees. some of the non-injury related tension eases from john's expression, and he nods his assent a little too eagerly. ) Yes - of course. ( he's read enough statements of those who had fallen victim to the Spiral to know that what actually happened is sometimes far less important than what the individual believes they experienced. or, well, it is to him as far as his gnawing hunger is concerned. it would likely be less useful for them in getting to the heart of this problem between Zenith, Meridian, and Aetós, but they can cross that bridge when they get to it.
he's... definitely filing away that little tidbit about memory alteration for later, but for now, he continues, ) Whatever it is you can remember. Whatever it might be - it's important, what you went through, how you felt, ( it's back again. that restless, ravening undercurrent to his words, but there's actually no compulsion accompanying it this time. manon had agreed to tell them, and he's trying to respect his agency in that. so instead he lends as much of the borrowed power of Beholding as he can, bolstering what pieces of memory he might have left to him, entreating insidiously for what details of fear and pain the Eye could feast on. ) Tell us all that you can.
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But she doesn't.
Her expression is somehow as cold as ice while her one eye remaining eye burns with rage. She stays silent, though, with her gaze constantly flicking between the Zenites, the one unharmonized (potential Zenite) amongst them, Manon, and Liem. She doesn't seem to care much for the blood or the pain experienced by the man pinned by her attack. Dextera she gestures closer with a short jerk of her head- he was a weakling in the mind but hopefully strong enough in a fight. At the very least, she doesn't want him to end up a hostage if things go south. Liem, she shares a meaningful look that probably means "use that same sense for lies on Manon" with, and the rest...
Is them all waiting at a standstill, waiting to hear what Manon has to say.]
no subject
I know some of you have seen the creatures in Alenroux. There’s ones in the Beyond in Highstorm too, but there’s not really much out there. There’s not as much of a reason to go out, so people simply don’t. But what I found, I know it’s something to do with those creatures. They… were. Or are something. I don’t know how they’re different from what I got made into, but I know Aetos made them. Some of them. And Zenith is connected to it, somehow. I think Meridian too, but not Cyrus? That part of things, that’s where it gets muddled. I don’t even know how much of it was real or maybe something one of those other Shards I was with learned or maybe something all of us made up. The way it just was, being one of those things, it doesn’t help make things clearer.
[ He makes a noise of frustration, then continues. The rest he remembers more clearly. ]
But I remember, I went down to Kowloon to try and find Aetos myself, but I don’t remember why because that seems like a stupid thing to do on my own now. I guess I thought I could take him? But I think I started getting closer than he wanted, because that’s when someone tried to kill me the first time. It was an old friend of mine. That’s when I started going to talk to Cyrus, because I realized I’d found out something worse than I thought. If Zenites were trying to kill me, then my best bet was to get in good graces with the Tribune. He’s stupid, but he has power.
Being down in Kowloon all that time tracking down leads and trying to avoid getting stabbed, it’s not good for your Discord when you’re Zenith, though. It… got bad. I don’t know how much of it was real or not, but I was seeing enemies around every corner. And eventually, I killed someone. Someone innocent.
[ He crosses his arms tightly at this point ]
I’d heard about what happens to you when your Discord gets high enough, but I’d never seen it myself. You just….start to become wrong. The way Lady Yima explained it, your soul starts to fracture, and it shapes what you are. If you think of yourself as a normal person, that’s how it makes you. If you think of yourself as a monster… It’s the same. I remember waking up after I killed that person, and roots were growing out of my Shard. I could see my bone underneath, but I didn’t feel anything. I couldn’t even take out my Shard anymore, so… That’s when I left for Alenroux on my own. I’d heard that Aetos had a Cornerstone out there, so I’d either find it or die trying. He found me first.
[ His expression tightens again, since it again gets fuzzy, but for different reasons. It doesn’t feel like the same modification of memory, but a haze of trauma and drugs. ]
I remember being pinned to a table. He was talking about Shards, that mine would be a “base”. Something about creating a new one. But it seemed like he was just welding them onto me. Like trying to sew someone else’s arm onto yours or something. He said something about creating new Shards, but… After that, it got drowned out when the other person got stuck to me. It’s like Communion you can’t leave, and all three of us were just… Dying, I think. That’s the only way I can think to describe it.
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when he wants to go, dextera will let him go. ]
…
[ the only thing he tries to do is seek eye contact with his fellow meris, just to make sure they’ve all heard the same things. ]
no subject
As before, during the main body of the questioning, Manon clearly struggles to recount some aspects of his experience. Liem does not dare to speak, concerned that if he is interrupted he may not be able to delve back into his memories again. Instead, he watches and listens, taking note of some things he hadn't known before: the possibility of Meridian involvement without the Tribune's participation; Manon's low opinion of Cyrus; some details about Discord that he hadn't previously heard.
The information about the monsters in Alenroux is not entirely unsurprising, given Aetós's use of similar creatures above, where the others presumably remain.
But although the man is clearly on edge, Liem senses no description from him. He seems simply like he's been under pressure for far too long, and how he just wants to escape. There is one thing, however, that Liem does not understand.]
Why is it that you were willing to go to the Tribune with your information, even though you thought Meridian may also be involved in this matter?
no subject
[ The question is answered with one in return first, but Manon sighs and shrugs as he continues. ]
I thought I could use him. I'm assuming most of you know what I wrote in my journal, so... Shouldn't be a surprise that I'd be underhanded if I need to, I hope. I figured if the Tribune thought he could get something out of me, he'd make sure it was harder for Zenith to off me. I guess I was right, but I also didn't expect it to become all of this.
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Her arrowhead remains leveled, unshaking, unyielding, at those she has labeled her potential enemies, at those Manon has requested be kept at bay in exchange for his testimony. She moves her gaze only briefly to Liem, just long enough to get the nod from him that the newly revived man wasn't lying, before it's back on the others... and she speaks, though she does not turn her head Manon's way.]
Where else indeed?
There is still much we need speak about, and much to be seen if you can recall with time. So we will escort you to Heliopolis, where the Zenites and this Aeteos will not dare be so bold.
[Her voice has an intensity to it that tends to make everything she says sound like it has already been decided, and now... is no different.]
no subject
for the entirety of the account, he doesn't blink. there is only the dark intensity of his stare, so focused and eerie that it can cause gooseflesh to prickle at the back of one's neck — a gravitational void into which the experience flows, toppling, before disappearing.
he comes back to himself with a shudder; his eyelids flicker and then close into a blink, opening once more with a sharp intake of breath to focus on the arrow once more, as if suddenly remembering that he's impaled through the shoulder and pinned to the wall like, like — the sympathetic experience of taking a statement from someone in person still swims in the forefront of his mind, so for the moment it makes him feel like manon had felt, pinned to a table, helpless against whatever it was that his captor planned to do with what made up his soul. his breath rattles out of him unevenly, fear thrilling through every vein.
it feels dreadful. and it feels — fantastic. even in the state he is, having lost as much blood as he has, john suddenly looks haler than anyone might have seen him since he arrived in kenos; the sickly sort of pallor to his expression and vague shakiness to his limbs had vanished with the satisfaction he found in this fear. it's as if every moment he's struggled through up until this moment had been one in a half-conscious state, but now he's awake. he's alive.
he mentally sorts through everything he'd heard as liem asks a rather salient question that had occurred to him as well. the answer... is satisfactory, though john still has his own thoughts on the matter. they are not meant for the present mixed company.
he swallows, then he says, ) ...Thank you. ( and for all the world it sounds like a guest thanking their host for a delicious meal. a small sound of pain scrapes out of the back of his throat as he very slightly readjusts his position. ) Even if we wished to stop you, ( which john, content with this statement, personally doesn't care to, ) we're certainly not in any position to try.
( he thinks for a moment to chastise the meridian here present for speaking and acting as they have without any real show of violence or threat from the Zenites either here present or back up above, but... it feels like it would be a pointless waste of breath (and possibly enough to gain him another arrow). so he goes tensely silent, a thick and aggrieved sort of judgment emanating from his gaze. )
If there are no further questions that need to be answered, ( he glances to cid and zhongli, ) The Meridian can leave with Manon. Once you've departed, ( he exhales, flinches — are they still fighting those horrible monsters back the way they came? ) ...we will make our own way back.
no subject
Yima had said that whatever information Manon can give to Meridian doesn't matter, and he has no reason to doubt her.
He also doubts Cyrus is a fool, but that's Manon's problem for underestimating the man.
Nevertheless, Cid doesn't move from his spot, whispering to John once more.]
My... connection to Zenith has grown. I'll be able to heal you completely once the arrow is removed.
[Just in case his words can be heard, he doesn't say anything else.]
no subject
And so Zhongli inclines his head politely: ]
I too offer my thanks, Manon, and wish you a safe journey back to Heliopolis.
I do have one final question, however. The person who tried to kill you when you went after Aetos - an old friend, you said. Would you be willing to tell us who that is?
[ If so, it would be one more thread to add to the ever growing conspiracy board as they try to unravel the mysteries behind what they learned today. ]