EVENT #1: THE EMPTY THRONE (PT 2)

[aionmods]

The Empty Throne Pt 2

ESCAPE

As more and more of the prisoners awaken to the Pleroma's power, it soon becomes clear that conflict is inevitable. Strength that was locked away blossoms once again, and simply waiting is no longer an option; those that remain in the cavern have made their choice, and they will not be kept there so easily.

By means that may not be immediately apparent, the Pleroma have found themselves able to cast a spell that will ensure their freedom... but only if they can last the half hour it may take to complete. Whatever this power, Xishen, the Aion orchestrator of the Kenoma's ritual, seems able to sense it. As it begins, she will appear at each of the Kenoma's sides.

"The Pleroma has taken hold of them," she says. "Stop them now, or when you see them again, it will be as your mortal enemies. If you believe in the Kenoma's promise, take a stand. The Regent is watching."

For those that heed her, it will not be hard to find the congregation of Pleroma, the first seeds of their teleportation magic taking form. What's more, the fires of their hope have been stoked by this new chance at survival, granted them a surge of energy born of the Pleroma, compensating for the poor state of their bodies. The tension comes to a head, between those that would follow the Regent's path towards a better universe, and those that would seize the wild power of the Pleroma to escape.

Whatever violence ensues, eventually it will come to an end. Despite the Kenoma's efforts, the teleportation spell will come to fruition, enveloping the Pleroma in a sea of light and warmth. The Kenoma can only watch as fractals of blinding color whisk the Pleroma away.

VALLEY OF INNOCENCE

You will find yourself at the Shrine of the Innocent, surrounded by a valley of flourishing wildflowers. As you step from the shade of the monument, you will find your arrived here just in time to enjoy a warm spring spring morning, the sound of birds and gentle breezes tickling your ears. The sun slowly drifts past the horizon, its rays reaching out to you, as if in comfort. The air itself is alight with a strange aura of peace, as if committing violence here would be a sacrilege. There are no man made structures as far as your eyes can see.

Flowers of all shapes and sizes can be found here, and so can fresh water and various fruits and berries. All of them are safe to eat, and seemingly grow in abundance. There are animals here as well, all the common types one would expect from a place like Earth, with the occasional odd addition. While you can try to hunt them, you will find yourself unable to follow through on any attempts to hurt the creatures here. In turn, they regard you as familiar, and will fearlessly wander close as they inspect these new arrivals. In the distance, you may even catch sight of what appears to be a unicorn, only for its ephemeral shape to disappear from sight just as quickly.

The Pleroma will find safety and comfort here for a time, before they recover enough to travel onward. At some point during the afternoon of the first day, they may spot the occasional humanoid figure moving in the distance; when attempting to move in their direction, they will find an assortment of clothing set out across the grass as if in offering. It will come in many sizes but in mostly plain colors, fitting a general aesthetic of 'things a fantasy peasant might wear'. There will also be some blankets, wrapped cheese, jams, jerky, and bread left alongside them.

While there are trees and brush enough to find shelter, the Pleroma will find they hardly need to while resting here. The weather will be picturesque, a comfortable temperature even at night, and there will be no disruptive rain or aggressive wind. Of course, nothing lasts forever, and even though there could stay here for days, what if the Regent's forces are on their way? Once again, they must find the strength to carry on.

THE TRIWATER

As the Pleroma vanish, those claimed by the Kenoma are left in the darkness of the throne room. The Hylician soldiers are clearly agitated by the fighting, but Xishen herself seems unflustered. She will only sigh before quietly coming to the aid of any Kenoma that still need it, providing some light healing magics and explaining that their work here is over. With the Pleroma gone, all that's left to do is to return to Achamoth.

Things move quickly from there. The camp grounds are packed up, and soon enough the Kenoma will be ushered towards the river at the edge of the forest, to board a particularly large river vessel. As the Hylician soldiers prepare to go their separate ways, you will be told that you are to take the Triwater river to the capital city of Achamoth, where you will finally meet your new master, the Regent. The vessel is big enough for all of you, and it will set off the moment everyone is boarded. Suddenly, the world of entrapment and ruins you've been living in since your arrival will be left behind, leaving you to ponder the nature of your future.

The boat itself is well equipped and comfortable for what it is. A variety of colorful hammocks are hung in the lower decks and are open to be claimed for the journey back, which will take a day or two. The Kenoma will be offered a change of clothes of a similar style to what they already have if necessary, and there are plenty of blankets and cushions available to make life in the hold more comfortable. There are dice available for games of chance as well as some mystifying decks of cards that seems to have twelve suits with five cards each, themed around the Legacies. The twelfth suit is for the Regent.

Though the sailors controlling the vessel will mostly keep to themselves and leave the Kenoma alone, one of them will occasionally play harp music on the deck. Though they probably don't actually need help running the ship, they will let the Kenoma help them with chores and ship running tasks if they are so inclined; generally speaking, these sailors just seem like normal people, albeit a bit shy of their passengers. If you're polite to them, they may even gives you a river tour of Horos. On this ride alone, you'll get to see several magnificent bridges spanning the Triwater's width. At night, you are treated to a clear spring sky filled with stars.

As you make it closer to Achamoth, you'll notice the landscape shift, becoming mountainous and dotted with more and more military watch posts. The land becomes increasingly lifeless in a way that's hard to put your finger on, nature giving way to man-made creations of impressive architectural prowess. Soon, you will meet the person behind it all.

QUESTIONS

Can my Kenoma character fight against other Kenoma and/or help the Pleroma?
Yes, though if you do this you must describe what your character has done in a reply to the "Committed Actions" top-level below. This way, the mods can be aware of what happened and have your character treated accordingly. They are unlikely to receive immediate consequences if they don't hurt their fellow Kenoma, but their choices will follow them into Achamoth. If a Kenoma vs Kenoma conflict escalates into serious violence (attempted or successful) committed by the Kenoma rebel, Xishen will intervene and consequences will happen immediately which may restrict their actions until the next event post.

Can our characters leave the valley?
They can, yes, but really this event is just meant to cover the day or two they spend recovering before finding a more permanent place to go. You are free to have your character investigate the valley and probe the spaces beyond it, but please save any plans for large scale travel to the next event, which will be happening on April 2nd. The game will move into a 1:1 time ratio as of then.

Can our characters leave the boat?
Technically yes, but any Kenoma who wander too far will get in trouble. You are expected to report to the Regent, and behaving as if you are considering doing otherwise will not make an good impression.

Does the hope-based Pleroma boost last into the valley?
The boost to Pleroma characters will fade shortly after arriving in the valley, like coming down from a high. They'll have to recover the normal way from there.

Comments

[baltimores]

[ Hell, he feels that exact same kinship. It's tiny — neither of them has been to the other's hometown, and judging by her use of the word astronaut, he might be a couple of centuries ahead of her — but you take what you can get.

Especially here.

He nods at her greeting, settled in and perfectly at ease. He's not the type to get excited; doesn't mind at all when others do, though. ]

Yeah, whole thing here is kinda weird, huh? I mean, I knew there was a lot out there, but I didn't know it'd be this much. [ A small frown as he recalls that first dream he'd had before waking up in a crystal, like he was among everything. And then it's gone, replaced by that small smile again almost immediately. ] Never really saw a whole lot of Earth. I know I met someone else from Japan after he got out of the cavern, but that might've been about it. I might be even more in the dark than you.

[ It's said with no inflection, no self-deprecation — just facts. He's yet to meet anyone from his neck of the woods around here. ... Or space. He hasn't met anyone from space, either. ]

All this stuff with magic and spiritual shit — now that's completely new to me. Got no idea what to do with any of that. Guess we're finding out soon, though.

[ Finally. Hopefully. ]

[lifespanned]

Yeah, it looks like they're gonna explain it all when we get there. I mean, they have to, right?

[ If they're gonna expect them all to help out, then they must need some sort of crash course in all of that ritual business, and the strange signs they've all been branded with... what little information they've been given, Misa has certainly failed to understand and retain. So she's flying by the seat of her pants at present. ]

Because not all of us have crazy superpowers. I thought I was gonna get a fireball thrown at me or something back there. How did you stay out of it without getting hurt?

[ She asks, genuinely curious since he says he's totally normal. She is too, for the most part. ]

[baltimores]

[ Shit, it's a good thing she didn't get hurt, isn't it? She's tiny. Amos wonders how in the hell Misa would have been expected to fight — especially if she doesn't have superpowers of her own. ]

Just hung back, mostly. As long as you don't draw attention to yourself and keep an eye on your surroundings it's pretty easy to stay out of things.

[ A beat as he frowns. ]

I mean, not like I don't fight. I will. But I don't care what that lady said; it wasn't my fight. Didn't want to get involved, so I didn't. [ And then he exhales a soft huff, just slightly annoyed. ] Not like I can throw fireballs, either. Bringing fists to a magic fight seems kinda stupid. Yeah, they're gonna have to explain some things to us if we're gonna be useful.

... Or at least give me a gun. I'll take that too.

[lifespanned]

[ She gets that angle— it's true that it basically wasn't their fight. Big promises aside, normal people like them had very little reason to put their lives on the line in the skirmish. A person without superpowers would have to be crazy to jump in the ring with some of the people that were on the other side. ]

Ooh, so you can fire a gun? That's cool. I wonder if that kind of thing is useful on people who know magic...?

[ ...bullets are still bullets, aren't they? It seems fine to talk about this when it's all hypothetical anyway— fighting with the other side again. ]

In my case, I'm not really sure what they expect me to do, but, well, I believe in creating a new world, so I'll find some way to help. Even if it's not doing magic or fighting so much.

[ She naturally assumes everyone on the boat is in on it, and besides, she feels 0 shame for these ideals anyway, and has no problem admitting to it. ]

[baltimores]

I mean, if you aren't faster than a bullet, I dunno how magic's supposed to help you.

[ Amos takes a second to mime pointing a gun at his own head, a twist of his fingers as though he's shot himself. There's a light smile on his face, like the idea's kinda funny. ]

Maybe it won't kill you, somehow, but gotta think it'll at least slow someone down. And you pump someone full of enough lead regardless, maybe they just won't get back up at all.

[ This is all totally hypothetical, though. He's yet to see a gun here. He figures they've gotta be around somewhere, even if the tech level around them is kinda lacking by his standards.

Amos shifts, turns around so he can rest his elbows on the railing and look out at the water around them, the distant shores. A new world. He nods. ]

But yeah. I didn't even think a new world could be possible. If it is, then you gotta, right? [ He's right on the same page as her. ] And I don't think we'd be here if there wasn't some way for us to help out.

[ He isn't the type to build at all, but in some way, it's being asked of him. He's almost mystified by the concept as he looks back up at Misa. ]

I mean, I dunno about you, but I feel like there's gotta be more to come. I felt so different once I accepted it. Better. [ A light sigh. ] Who knows what's gonna be possible for us.

[lifespanned]

Right? I felt... stronger. And sure of myself.

[ Maybe accepting the Regent was designed to be that way, but she doesn't think of it in those terms - she's only thinking that it felt right to be on this side. And that's enough. ]

I thought everyone would want to change the world if they had the chance to. Most of those that left that I could talk to... [ She trails off, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It's best not to think of those people for long. ] ...well, it seemed like they thought it was impossible. But how would you know if you didn't try?

[ With a shrug, she widens her smile, feeling at ease with someone who can share her point of view - especially after spending the better part of an entire day arguing and defending her position. ]

We'll have to become more powerful if that's what they're aiming for. I'm sure of it. Maybe we'll get superpowers based off these tattoos...?

[ The legacy markings... she doesn't know what else to call them. ]

[baltimores]

[ There is something so refreshing — in ways he never could have imagined before — about being around people who intrinsically get it, who are on the exact same page as him. It's never happened before. The few times he's come close, it's been a bad thing. People shouldn't be able to relate to him; he can't relate to other people.

He and Misa are on the same wavelength, and there's something wonderful about that, after all. ]

I tried telling some of 'em that. That they'd get it if they accepted it, that it wasn't so bad. They really didn't want to, though. [ He gives a small shrug of his own. ] Can't do a whole lot with that.

[ And because there's nothing to be done there, Amos' own smile widens that little bit more in response to hers. He really isn't a guy who smiles a lot, but meeting Misa, finding out they're on the same page, being in a pretty good place after all of that has him feeling pretty good.

He glances at the back of his right hand in response, where he'd been cut. ]

Don't think these are tattoos. If they are, then they're nothing like I've ever had before. [ And he's got a handful up and down his arms, so he figures he'd know. ] I dunno what cutting us was supposed to do, though. Maybe it was in what they made us drink. Or this stone thing I woke up with.

[ Though his shard may not be evident, hidden under his shirt, over the top of his heart. ]

[lifespanned]

If they were smart, they'd realize all they had to do was keep their head down on this side, even if they didn't agree with it. But oh, well....

[ She seems vaguely annoyed over this - mostly because she thinks a few of the people she actually genuinely liked that went to the Pleroma could avoid a horrible death if they stopped being huge babies and came to this side instead. Really, she doesn't care if not everyone wants to see the world remade. So long as they don't get in the way of it actually getting done.

Anyway, she shouldn't be in too sour of a mood, because she's finally spending time with someone that actually seems to get the situation like she does. Someone who's at ease despite all the chaos, because they understand what they want and understand that the Regent is their best way of getting that done. Geez! It's so tiring being around all these worry-warts, she's glad to be near his energy instead. ]

Anyways, the shards, right? Yeah, I guess it does kind of make me feel special. Like a magical girl. [ Living her best Sailor Moon fantasy, tbh. Misa leans on the railing more, staring out to the sea. ] I'm kind of hoping they'll explain it to us more. The more I look at it, the more it looks like it should hurt that it's in me, but... it doesn't, at all. It kinda feels like it's always been there?

[baltimores]

[ He tilts his head to the side slightly at her annoyance. It's not something he shares at all; he doesn't think there was a way for anyone to play along with the Kenoma if they didn't want to fully embrace it. At least, that's the experience he had. And it feels like a lot of others, too.

Either way, they all made their choices, and that's what was most important to him. If the Pleroma die a horrible death later, then they die a horrible death later. No skin off his nose.

Though it is much nicer being around Misa; being around someone who isn't going to try to argue against him and what's the obvious solution. Turns out like calling to like is much more pleasant.

He glances down at where his own shard lies. ]

Hadn't thought of it that way before. Maybe. [ In truth, he really doesn't know what to think about these things. ] I think they gotta explain them. We don't have magic where I'm from. Or... anything like this.

[ Amos pauses, slipping deeper into thought as he looks back down at where he knows his is. He doesn't look back up when he speaks again. ]

I think I know what you mean, about it always being there. I just... never thought I'd have something like this, is all.

[ And he doesn't mean that in the literal sense; of course nobody would ever expect to have a rock embedded in them. He means it in the sense she's talking about — something that's always been there on a deeper level, the level that gets to their very existence. Something he genuinely thought he'd always lacked, an empty shell of a person. Having a shard seems to contradict that, and he doesn't know what to make of it. ]

[lifespanned]

[ Her head tilts in curiosity at his words, looking over at him despite his continued stare at his own hidden shard. ]

Something magical? Or, well, something that feels grounding like this, maybe...

[ Truthfully, she can't really understand what he actually means by that. But her ears are open regardless, hanging her arms over the railing to feel the breeze travel through her fingers. It's really not her style to stress the details, so she hasn't applied much care to what the shard must signify for her or her allies - in the moment, she only cares about understanding where he's coming from emotionally. ]

You know, in comics and TV shows and stuff, heroes are always stumbling across some life changing power out of nowhere. Or it gets given to them, by a stroke of fate. And even from something so sudden, they end up feeling like they were given a new purpose. [ It's... too early, to be open about her own situation, she thinks. So whether her confidence in that matter comes from a place of experience or simply from a willingness to chalk this all up to fate remains unclear. ] It's normal to not expect it to ever happen! No one ever does, I think.

[baltimores]

[ Her not fully understanding where he's coming from is more than fine by Amos; it's not like he entirely gets it, either, let alone how to word it. He looks back up at her as she continues, though, trading in pensiveness for curiosity. And maybe something that'd even be considered hope. ]

You think we're heroes?

[ It's a real question. Heroic is never an adjective he'd have given himself, but combining everything Misa's saying with where they're headed, and... maybe he is a hero now, stumbling across this opportunity. It doesn't feel right that it should be happening to him, but it is, so why argue it?

He turns to mimic her posture, hanging his arms over the railing. He looks out across the water a moment longer before turning back to her, and there's something like a smile on his face, his body language more self-assured. ]

Maybe we are, huh? I like this. Having a purpose.

[ That's what the people he'd respected, liked, maybe even loved the most back home always seemed to have. He'd follow their leads, because it seemed like the right thing to do, but couldn't always feel it himself. Now that he can? Guess they are heroes, after all. ]