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guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 03:36 pm
guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 03:36 pm
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[you wake up on a ship.
not one in the ocean, but one in the sky. it has a brilliant silver hull, and it's about the size of a medium-sized yacht. it's enough to house seven people and their supplies for a long journey. there's a long open deck at the top of an elevated bridge that houses the helm, near the center of the deck, and that deck has sort of a field around it that can sort of support life during your travels. the most notable thing about this ship is the engine that powers it, however. it is this large, shimmering white ring about twelve feet in diameter that is sort of suspended and tethered to the back of the deck by some unseen force. it is constantly silently rotating behind the ship.
the thing you know intrinsically about this ship is that it has been your home for sixty-four years. you are coming in on a new world, today, at the start of the sixty-fifth.
the world below you — it looks cruel. there’s an expansive land mass here with little defining features, long stretches of ash grey rock. there’s almost no rivers or lakes below. you see these small settlements of like ramshackle tents, built around bonfires that are giving off these black columns of smoke, and you see some figures below in those settlements and you can’t imagine how they live in these places. but past that - there's a place that breaks up the monotony.
there is a city of white marble, and it’s built in the center of this massive blue lake, and from above, you can see into the city, you see these verdant lawns, and mansions, and a towering college, and a municipal building surrounded by a botanical garden... it looks idyllic. it looks like textbook utopian—save for a bizarre feature right in the very center of this city. the core of the city is surrounded by this tall, circular stone wall, and kneeling within that circle are four humanoid figures—statues. they are twenty, maybe thirty stories tall, and they’re all facing each other in this kneeling position casting shadows over everything else in the city.
for now, you are just... on this ship! on the deck, specifically. the deck has a table with a few papers and maps on it, and some chairs around that table, but not much else. the ship itself seems to be flying a little closer to that white marble city.
what would you like to do?]
not one in the ocean, but one in the sky. it has a brilliant silver hull, and it's about the size of a medium-sized yacht. it's enough to house seven people and their supplies for a long journey. there's a long open deck at the top of an elevated bridge that houses the helm, near the center of the deck, and that deck has sort of a field around it that can sort of support life during your travels. the most notable thing about this ship is the engine that powers it, however. it is this large, shimmering white ring about twelve feet in diameter that is sort of suspended and tethered to the back of the deck by some unseen force. it is constantly silently rotating behind the ship.
the thing you know intrinsically about this ship is that it has been your home for sixty-four years. you are coming in on a new world, today, at the start of the sixty-fifth.
the world below you — it looks cruel. there’s an expansive land mass here with little defining features, long stretches of ash grey rock. there’s almost no rivers or lakes below. you see these small settlements of like ramshackle tents, built around bonfires that are giving off these black columns of smoke, and you see some figures below in those settlements and you can’t imagine how they live in these places. but past that - there's a place that breaks up the monotony.
there is a city of white marble, and it’s built in the center of this massive blue lake, and from above, you can see into the city, you see these verdant lawns, and mansions, and a towering college, and a municipal building surrounded by a botanical garden... it looks idyllic. it looks like textbook utopian—save for a bizarre feature right in the very center of this city. the core of the city is surrounded by this tall, circular stone wall, and kneeling within that circle are four humanoid figures—statues. they are twenty, maybe thirty stories tall, and they’re all facing each other in this kneeling position casting shadows over everything else in the city.
for now, you are just... on this ship! on the deck, specifically. the deck has a table with a few papers and maps on it, and some chairs around that table, but not much else. the ship itself seems to be flying a little closer to that white marble city.
what would you like to do?]
[ okay first of all.
EXCUSE ME?
but yeah sylvain is surprised while being not-surprised, because he remembers being here for... a very long time... somehow. he looks to diluc and estelle with a slightly baffled frown. ]
Oh no, is this another one of... those.
[ things! thursday excursions! trouble!
anyway. greetings aside he'll check out the deck. what are the names on those maps and where are they headed? what do the papers say? ]
EXCUSE ME?
but yeah sylvain is surprised while being not-surprised, because he remembers being here for... a very long time... somehow. he looks to diluc and estelle with a slightly baffled frown. ]
Oh no, is this another one of... those.
[ things! thursday excursions! trouble!
anyway. greetings aside he'll check out the deck. what are the names on those maps and where are they headed? what do the papers say? ]
[They're in the sky! ... No, they've been on this vessel for a long time...? Estelle's looking around with curiosity and mild confusion before she turns to see the other two. Then she tilts her head to look around some more.]
Huh...?
I think I've been here before...
[...... déjà vu? Hmm.
She comes over to Sylvain's side and looks around him to also peek at those papers.]
Huh...?
I think I've been here before...
[...... déjà vu? Hmm.
She comes over to Sylvain's side and looks around him to also peek at those papers.]
[ joing the confusion train, diluc blinks, looking around the ship. he does not recall ever having been here before, yet he knows he has been...and for quite some time it seems. his eyes land on the other two. ]
This must be one of those adventures...it's been some time since I've experienced one.
[ he frowns, looking to estelle with a questioning look. ]
You've been here before? What do you mean by that?
[ might as well join them in looking at these papers!! surely there's a name for this place they're hovering over. maybe even a name for the ship their on or a sign of their own identities? anything to explain what's going on here. ]
This must be one of those adventures...it's been some time since I've experienced one.
[ he frowns, looking to estelle with a questioning look. ]
You've been here before? What do you mean by that?
[ might as well join them in looking at these papers!! surely there's a name for this place they're hovering over. maybe even a name for the ship their on or a sign of their own identities? anything to explain what's going on here. ]
[you remember, vaguely, that you've been on this ship for sixty-five years, traveling from one world to the next, every year. you haven't aged - in fact, you are always reset to the same age you started out as, when the year changes. you can't remember the other worlds very well, but you do know that you've never been to this one before. it is unfamiliar to you.
they all make their way over to the papers! there's no name for the place they're hovering over, but there is some documentation here.
a pamphlet advertising the IPRE (that's the Institute of Planar Research and Exploration) and their latest new exploration endeavor. Seven brave explorers (listed as Lucretia, Magnus Burnsides, Taako, Merle Highchurch, Davenport, Barry Bluejeans and ... a scribbled out name that seems to fill your brain with static when you try to read it) set out to explore the planar system with the use of the Starblaster. That seems to be the name of the ship that you're on. It runs on bonds, which... you don't know what those are, but they sound important!
a couple of maps seem to be outlining a triangulated area in a place called faerun. there's a big red circle around a place called wave echo cove, with a question mark attached to it. you get a sense of despair from these maps. weird.]
they all make their way over to the papers! there's no name for the place they're hovering over, but there is some documentation here.
a pamphlet advertising the IPRE (that's the Institute of Planar Research and Exploration) and their latest new exploration endeavor. Seven brave explorers (listed as Lucretia, Magnus Burnsides, Taako, Merle Highchurch, Davenport, Barry Bluejeans and ... a scribbled out name that seems to fill your brain with static when you try to read it) set out to explore the planar system with the use of the Starblaster. That seems to be the name of the ship that you're on. It runs on bonds, which... you don't know what those are, but they sound important!
a couple of maps seem to be outlining a triangulated area in a place called faerun. there's a big red circle around a place called wave echo cove, with a question mark attached to it. you get a sense of despair from these maps. weird.]
[ frowning intensifies ]
Taako... Where have I heard that name before...
[ nope, he's not able to make the connection. looking at the markings on the maps, ]
Is that where we're headed? 'Wave Echo Cove'...?
[ then looking ove at estelle, ] What do you remember of this place? Did you see it in [ static, static, more static, ] ...someone's memories?
[ whose.... WHOMSt ]
Taako... Where have I heard that name before...
[ nope, he's not able to make the connection. looking at the markings on the maps, ]
Is that where we're headed? 'Wave Echo Cove'...?
[ then looking ove at estelle, ] What do you remember of this place? Did you see it in [ static, static, more static, ] ...someone's memories?
[ whose.... WHOMSt ]
I saw this same ship in the simulation room... I was there with ███...
[...? She looks a little startled.]
Are we... here to explore this place? On a sort of research expedition?
... Are any of those other explorers here? [She looks around again. Any signs of activity besides the three of them on this deck?]
[...? She looks a little startled.]
Are we... here to explore this place? On a sort of research expedition?
... Are any of those other explorers here? [She looks around again. Any signs of activity besides the three of them on this deck?]
Lucretia...I swear that's a name I've heard before.
[ much like sylvain, his brain is only static, as he tries to recall from where or who, he's heard that name before. he frowns.
startled by estelle's response, he looks to her, confused. ]
What was that, Estelle? I couldn't understand that last part...
Strange...anyways, are these marked places here? On this world that we've just come to?
[ he just continues to frown, that wave of despair very puzzling...hm.
as estelle looks around for signs of other crew, he's going to go to the window and look out at the place they've just arrived to. can he see anything else, from here? other than what was described in the beginning, that is! ]
[ much like sylvain, his brain is only static, as he tries to recall from where or who, he's heard that name before. he frowns.
startled by estelle's response, he looks to her, confused. ]
What was that, Estelle? I couldn't understand that last part...
Strange...anyways, are these marked places here? On this world that we've just come to?
[ he just continues to frown, that wave of despair very puzzling...hm.
as estelle looks around for signs of other crew, he's going to go to the window and look out at the place they've just arrived to. can he see anything else, from here? other than what was described in the beginning, that is! ]
[there doesn't seem to be any other people that they can see, weirdly enough. the ship is supposed to have seven people on it, but there's only you three. as they look over the map and try to match it to the place they're in, it doesn't look like the same area at all. it's strange. almost like the maps are out of place.
anyway, diluc makes his way over to look out over the horizon. which is great!
in a sense. because he gets to see a beam of light shoot right for the ship.
there’s a flash of light, and a feeling of heat against your face, and a thunder clap. and just like that - the starblaster abruptly starts to fall. you are falling, and you are going to crash into the earth below.]
anyway, diluc makes his way over to look out over the horizon. which is great!
in a sense. because he gets to see a beam of light shoot right for the ship.
there’s a flash of light, and a feeling of heat against your face, and a thunder clap. and just like that - the starblaster abruptly starts to fall. you are falling, and you are going to crash into the earth below.]
[ not good not good not good
once sylvain isn't so disoriented from the sudden plummet, he scrambles to find anything that resembles a control station. he's been in a tram before—points to eyes points to pazu—and has a vague understanding of how vehicles work...
...but does he have any idea how to steer a ship like this? hell no! but maybe it is in their fake memories. they should probably try something before they crash and die. ]
Any ideas, guys?!
once sylvain isn't so disoriented from the sudden plummet, he scrambles to find anything that resembles a control station. he's been in a tram before—points to eyes points to pazu—and has a vague understanding of how vehicles work...
...but does he have any idea how to steer a ship like this? hell no! but maybe it is in their fake memories. they should probably try something before they crash and die. ]
Any ideas, guys?!
[Estelle's looking around for other people, but she turns back to chime in,]
Oh, Lucretia, she's --
[Never mind, we're getting blasted out of the sky. She stumbles with a panicked yelp, and scrambles to find something solid to hold on to.]
I... I don't know! Are there... life boats? Can an airship have those?
Oh, Lucretia, she's --
[Never mind, we're getting blasted out of the sky. She stumbles with a panicked yelp, and scrambles to find something solid to hold on to.]
I... I don't know! Are there... life boats? Can an airship have those?
[ what a beautiful view, he can't help but wonder what it's like down there on the surface...well he doesn't have time to keep thinking about it, because here comes a beam of light and
ow. he gets knocked back as the ship is hit, fumbling to catch himself on something, anything. if/when he does, his eyes immediately go looking for the other two. ]
There has to be an emergency protocol in place for things like this, yes!?
[ are there alarms and things going off as they begin to crash?? he'll try and get himself over to estelle, reaching for her. ]
Sylvain try to prevent us from crashing head first into the earth...! [ sure?? he guesses?? IDK. ] Brace yourselves!!
ow. he gets knocked back as the ship is hit, fumbling to catch himself on something, anything. if/when he does, his eyes immediately go looking for the other two. ]
There has to be an emergency protocol in place for things like this, yes!?
[ are there alarms and things going off as they begin to crash?? he'll try and get himself over to estelle, reaching for her. ]
Sylvain try to prevent us from crashing head first into the earth...! [ sure?? he guesses?? IDK. ] Brace yourselves!!
[you get the sense that maybe there would be a way to stop the ship from crashing if you knew how to fly it - but none of you do. none of you are the captain of this vessel, and so you just watch, as the ship crashes to the ground, and you brace yourselves --
and then you are unconscious.
when you come to, your hands are bound behind your back, and you are on your knees on a hard, stone platform. wherever you are, it is extremely dusty in here. you’re breathing in this grit that’s clinging to your mouth with every breath.
this space you find yourself in is a large circular clearing. there’s a twenty-foot sandstone wall running around the perimeter of this place. there's no ceiling, but despite that, it's still very dark. the sky is exposed - it’s just a pale, sunless gray. and perhaps most notable above you are the forms of those statues from before, hundreds of feet tall, just looming over this area.
you get the impression that perhaps you are now in that marble city.
and as you are kneeling here, bound, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching. a shadowy figure stands in front of a podium, and faces you. you can't see their face clearly - it's covered by a veil, weirdly enough. there's a pause, and then they speak:]
Hewwo.
and then you are unconscious.
when you come to, your hands are bound behind your back, and you are on your knees on a hard, stone platform. wherever you are, it is extremely dusty in here. you’re breathing in this grit that’s clinging to your mouth with every breath.
this space you find yourself in is a large circular clearing. there’s a twenty-foot sandstone wall running around the perimeter of this place. there's no ceiling, but despite that, it's still very dark. the sky is exposed - it’s just a pale, sunless gray. and perhaps most notable above you are the forms of those statues from before, hundreds of feet tall, just looming over this area.
you get the impression that perhaps you are now in that marble city.
and as you are kneeling here, bound, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching. a shadowy figure stands in front of a podium, and faces you. you can't see their face clearly - it's covered by a veil, weirdly enough. there's a pause, and then they speak:]
Hewwo.
[ the first thing sylvain does is to make sure estelle and diluc are still with him. he then struggles in his binds, trying to test if there's any give or way to break free.
the texture in his mouth is awful, but he ignores it best he can to make sense of their new surroundings. he'll shift himself closer to the other two as much as possible. ]
...
[ he doesn't say anything at first, waiting to see what information their captor might offer up. but he does exchange glances with diluc and estelle that read, are you okay? ]
the texture in his mouth is awful, but he ignores it best he can to make sense of their new surroundings. he'll shift himself closer to the other two as much as possible. ]
...
[ he doesn't say anything at first, waiting to see what information their captor might offer up. but he does exchange glances with diluc and estelle that read, are you okay? ]
[Estelle remembers Diluc reaching for her, and she remembers reaching back. But the rest is a blur. Until she awakens.
She lifts her head to look up at the statues -- can she make anything out about them? -- before looking to the others, and then the veiled figure.]
... H, hello.
[She tries to reciprocate the greeting, though there's uncertainty in her voice.]
I'm sorry... The crash was an accident. We didn't mean any harm.
[She doesn't know what happened to their vessel. Did it crash into the city? Were people hurt? Is that why they've been taken prisoner?]
She lifts her head to look up at the statues -- can she make anything out about them? -- before looking to the others, and then the veiled figure.]
... H, hello.
[She tries to reciprocate the greeting, though there's uncertainty in her voice.]
I'm sorry... The crash was an accident. We didn't mean any harm.
[She doesn't know what happened to their vessel. Did it crash into the city? Were people hurt? Is that why they've been taken prisoner?]
[ his head hurts and the taste in his mouth is horrible, but he focuses his eyes. he looks for the others, relieved to see they're both okay. pretty sure they're all banged up from that crash, but that's not important right now.
diluc looks around the clearing, trying to seek out any detail or sign of where they might be, what kind of place this is.
upon hearing the voice, he looks to the others, struggling against the restraints and then looks to the podium. ]
Hello...[ his eyes focus on the figure, trying to take in their other features, aside from the veiled face. ] What is this place?
diluc looks around the clearing, trying to seek out any detail or sign of where they might be, what kind of place this is.
upon hearing the voice, he looks to the others, struggling against the restraints and then looks to the podium. ]
Hello...[ his eyes focus on the figure, trying to take in their other features, aside from the veiled face. ] What is this place?
[the statues are vaguely humanoid. think just like one of those figure posing dolls artists use, but statues that are twenty to thirty feet tall.
the bindings are impossible to break free of - you try, but they almost seem to tighten a little in response. the veiled figure watches them impassively for a moment, and then clears their throat.]
I'm quite sure. [they say, dryly, in response to estelle. as for diluc's question:] You are at the Judgement Hall. The three of you are being tried for... let's see. [there's this sort of crunchy texture, to their voice? like a severely compressed file.] Interloping, malicious intent, and violation of a no-fly zone ordinance. Those are, of course, only the preliminary charges. The Justices will see what else must be done.
[they shuffle a few papers.] You are... Sylvain Jose Gautier, Estellise Sidos Heurassein, and Diluc Ragnvindr, yes? Do I have your names correct?
the bindings are impossible to break free of - you try, but they almost seem to tighten a little in response. the veiled figure watches them impassively for a moment, and then clears their throat.]
I'm quite sure. [they say, dryly, in response to estelle. as for diluc's question:] You are at the Judgement Hall. The three of you are being tried for... let's see. [there's this sort of crunchy texture, to their voice? like a severely compressed file.] Interloping, malicious intent, and violation of a no-fly zone ordinance. Those are, of course, only the preliminary charges. The Justices will see what else must be done.
[they shuffle a few papers.] You are... Sylvain Jose Gautier, Estellise Sidos Heurassein, and Diluc Ragnvindr, yes? Do I have your names correct?
[ okay... so they're being charged for crimes... that he doesn't quite remember them doing... (or does he? does this have to do with the world-hopping?)
he finally speaks up. ]
Your... honor. [ not sure what the correct term is here ] There was no malicious intent involved. The captain of our vessel went missing after they'd already plotted a course. We weren't able to correct it ourselves.
[ he imagines his words will fall on deaf ears, but, he says them anyway. ]
...I'm Sylvain Jose Gautier, yes.
he finally speaks up. ]
Your... honor. [ not sure what the correct term is here ] There was no malicious intent involved. The captain of our vessel went missing after they'd already plotted a course. We weren't able to correct it ourselves.
[ he imagines his words will fall on deaf ears, but, he says them anyway. ]
...I'm Sylvain Jose Gautier, yes.
[Estelle nods as Sylvain speaks.]
We didn't know about the ordinance... I know that may be no excuse, but I swear, we didn't mean to cause trouble.
... How do you know our names?
We didn't know about the ordinance... I know that may be no excuse, but I swear, we didn't mean to cause trouble.
... How do you know our names?
[ yeah, diluc has no idea what this person is talking about, so he just kind of stares blankly at them. he does eventually nod though, heaving a heavy sigh. ]
Those are our names, yes. And what the other two said is correct, we were merely following what was laid out for us. We aren't even sure what this planet is or what it's called.
[ his brain feels fuzzy, caught between knowing and not...it's hard when you seem to have memories of something you've never experienced. not a fun or fresh feeling. ]
I have a feeling you know much more, than just our names.
Those are our names, yes. And what the other two said is correct, we were merely following what was laid out for us. We aren't even sure what this planet is or what it's called.
[ his brain feels fuzzy, caught between knowing and not...it's hard when you seem to have memories of something you've never experienced. not a fun or fresh feeling. ]
I have a feeling you know much more, than just our names.
I know whatever is here.
[the figure says, tapping the files in front of them. and then they make this... motion. not that any of you would recognize it icly, necessarily.] No need to address me as Your Honor. I am not the Judge, here. You are not appealing to me. You are appealing to the Justices, and they know much more than just what is on paper.
[the figure takes a step back, and above you - you hear four voices. booming, thunderous voices, coming from the statues themselves.]
You’re a long way from home, from your journey’s beginning. And still a way from your journey’s end, aren’t you?
[and then another:] The truth of this matter is already known. Speak it openly.
[and then another:] Piety will be rewarded, corruption will be punished.
[and then a last:] None of your deeds will be kept from our divine providence. The measure of your words and deeds throughout the fullness of your lives will be considered and weighed.
[a pause, and all four at once:]
Are you ready to begin?
[the figure says, tapping the files in front of them. and then they make this... motion. not that any of you would recognize it icly, necessarily.] No need to address me as Your Honor. I am not the Judge, here. You are not appealing to me. You are appealing to the Justices, and they know much more than just what is on paper.
[the figure takes a step back, and above you - you hear four voices. booming, thunderous voices, coming from the statues themselves.]
You’re a long way from home, from your journey’s beginning. And still a way from your journey’s end, aren’t you?
[and then another:] The truth of this matter is already known. Speak it openly.
[and then another:] Piety will be rewarded, corruption will be punished.
[and then a last:] None of your deeds will be kept from our divine providence. The measure of your words and deeds throughout the fullness of your lives will be considered and weighed.
[a pause, and all four at once:]
Are you ready to begin?
[ wow okay, those statues are talking. great! just great. he looks around in bewilderment. ]
Do we have a choice? Will you at least untie us first?
[ what the hell are they gonna be made to do?? ]
Do we have a choice? Will you at least untie us first?
[ what the hell are they gonna be made to do?? ]
[Estelle lifts her head, gazing up at the statues, a little fearfully.]
Our lives...? I-isn't this supposed to be about today's events?
Our lives...? I-isn't this supposed to be about today's events?
[ he looks up at the statues, hating everything about this, but he looks to estelle and sylvain. ]
Stay true to yourselves and do not waver.
[ he nods and looks forward. he believes in the three of them, they'll pass this test and make it out of here. they have to make it to the end... ]
Ready.
Stay true to yourselves and do not waver.
[ he nods and looks forward. he believes in the three of them, they'll pass this test and make it out of here. they have to make it to the end... ]
Ready.
[poor estelle and sylvain get ignored by the statues - they seem to brush past the questions like they're unimportant. beneath them.
there's the sound of marble grinding against itself, a horrible noise that rings through the little clearing. and then a voice speaks.]
Sylvain Jose Gautier. We will begin with you.
[and for the moment, the other two, estelle and diluc, will feel that grit in their mouth get... solid. like the stuff they put in your mouth to get a mold of your teeth in the dentist's office? it makes it very hard to speak. the voice continues, addressing sylvain with a voice loud enough to cause headaches.]
You have spent your life searching for real love when none was given to you. You have hurt countless people with your inability to offer commitment, and your easy dismissal of every woman who has shown interest you as Crest chasers has caused many a broken heart. Furthermore, that insatiable search cuts ties and loyalties with people you have known since you were children. You have allowed the rot of jealousy to overwhelm you, ignoring the sincerity of those who love you to wallow in your sorrows.
Your sins are Lust, Envy, and Despair. How do you plead?
there's the sound of marble grinding against itself, a horrible noise that rings through the little clearing. and then a voice speaks.]
Sylvain Jose Gautier. We will begin with you.
[and for the moment, the other two, estelle and diluc, will feel that grit in their mouth get... solid. like the stuff they put in your mouth to get a mold of your teeth in the dentist's office? it makes it very hard to speak. the voice continues, addressing sylvain with a voice loud enough to cause headaches.]
You have spent your life searching for real love when none was given to you. You have hurt countless people with your inability to offer commitment, and your easy dismissal of every woman who has shown interest you as Crest chasers has caused many a broken heart. Furthermore, that insatiable search cuts ties and loyalties with people you have known since you were children. You have allowed the rot of jealousy to overwhelm you, ignoring the sincerity of those who love you to wallow in your sorrows.
Your sins are Lust, Envy, and Despair. How do you plead?
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