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

[lifespanned]

[ Misa shakes her head, expression going grim. Yes, it would be nice if a kind world was something that could be achieved by willpower alone. But for some, it was impossible for them to become good or kind - they were beyond help, and only caused suffering. Those kinds of people needed to be eradicated from the world. Only then could that lack of kindness in the world truly be dealt with. ]

That's not enough, Abel...

[ She grits that out, letting out a short sigh. ]

I don't want any more people to hurt, ever again. Like I have... [ She doesn't elaborate, not now. There's no time, is there? Only her desires are left, intense and set in stone. ] If there was a way without sacrifice... that would be easy, wouldn't it? But these things, they're not so simple.

[ Is she talking about the past, or the present? It's hard to tell. What's for certain is that she's wholly accepted that to achieve a goal like that— there's a price to be paid. Changing the world is never something as easy as people deciding to do better, and she seems well aware of it. Only understanding kindness when there's a lack of it? To Misa, that's as good as leaving the world as rotten as it is. ]

It can be this way. Really, it can. Trust me.

[inutilis]

[ something has fractured, damaged this girl - and it is no surface-level crack. the fissures run deep, threatening to go right to her core.

what happened to her...? for her to speak with such conviction and determination, not a shred of doubt nor regret in her eyes says more than even those firm, steady words do. she believes in this, and whole-heartedly. he will not be able to sway her with simple words, will he? 'sacrifices are necessary,' she says. just what sacrifices is she willing to make...?

...

his hands lightly shift, cupping both of hers between them to squeeze plaintively. ]

Then come with me, and-- and tell me all about it. Tell me everything, and I swear I will listen to every word, okay? Miss Misa-- I promise. If you come with me... if you come with us, I'll do my best to help you. A kind world is absolutely worth fighting for, and... I want it too. I do.

[ if she goes to the Regent-- if she goes with Xishen...

...why? why, why has it come to this... ]

[lifespanned]

... I can't.

[ She says that with finality, keeping her hand limp between his. No, she can't go. Light would want her to jump at the chance at penning a new world with her own hand - to build it to his specifications. And her loyalty is to him first, the world second. If she could just succeed in this, then maybe, just maybe, she could finally be useful and be loved by him.

Because of that, she can't afford to join any other side than the Kenoma. No price is too high for her, for the chance at being loved. ]

I'm sorry. I want to stay on the same side... but there's no other way to fix everything.

[ Her eyes well with tears, finally realizing that there's probably no way for her to drag him to the other side. What had Xishen said? That they'll be mortal enemies? It shouldn't be a problem, she's had no problems betraying or killing friends in the past. But it feels different somehow, in the moment. Finally, she tries again at tugging herself out of his grip, though without the fervor and comical desperation that she'd had moments before. ]

I'll just escape if you make me go over there, [ She sniffles, not knowing if there's even a way to make this departure peaceful. If he really tried, she's sure she could be made to go on the Pleroma side. But if they're going to part ways, she wants it to be less messy, if at all possible. ] So please don't.

[inutilis]

[ this time, Misa tugs-- and Abel's grip loosens, permitting her fingers to slip between his.

it's obvious that it pains him to do so, but he forces himself to release her none the less, even as a grimace pulls at his lips. whether it's the tears in her eyes that tug at all his all too easily swayed heartstrings or something else - he can't deny that it feels wrong to hold her here, to force her hand, because-- ]

...I won't ever ask you to go against your will. [ because he wants her to want this for herself, as much as it's simply a line he won't cross out of respect for her. and she's right; even if he did drag her through the portal... what difference would it make? even if it meant temporary safety from whatever the Regent and the Kenoma have in store for her, he can't hold her forever. the thought of trying to keep her captive makes his stomach turn; Misa wants this, believes in this. and so...

again, he has to let her go. he has no choice, does he? ]

But I want you to know that I'm here. [ 'here,' sharing this world with her, even if their circumstances force them apart. ] That I want the same thing you do, even... even if we can't see eye-to-eye on how to get there. So I'll be waiting, alright...? I'll wait for you, and I'll be here if you need me.

[ if the worst should happen-- if she should be in danger... if she should change her mind, then...

...the unspoken message is clear, right? 'please find me, and I'll help you.' ]

[lifespanned]

[ He releases her, but she doesn't immediately bolt off, furiously scrubbing at her face as tears begin to fall in earnest. Why is she crying? She shouldn't cry. She barely knows this person! In a few days time, when she's with the Kenoma, she's sure she won't care at all what befalls him. Or, she should make a concerted effort not to care. Yes, that's what she should think about. There's only Light, and his goals. There's only Kira, and Kira's mission. Her own feelings don't factor into the equation. ]

Why would you say something so sad... [ Her idea had been to try to snap off this interaction with as little personal emotions involved as possible, because she truly has nothing encouraging or uplifting to say in return. From her perspective, she's quite certain everyone choosing to flee right now will die sooner or later. So what can she even say in return...? ] I don't think we'll see each other again.

[ Not alive, she thinks. Not in a situation that doesn't make them enemies. And there's a certainness that she has - she has a hunch she'll never leave the Regent's side. Already, she's taking steps back. ]

This is goodbye for real, Abel. I won't tell on you to the others or bring them here... but that's the last time I can help you.

[inutilis]

[ her tears have the furrow at his brow deepening all the further, and Abel looks absolutely wretched as the inevitability of all this settles in further still, til he feels it in his bones. he can barely resist the urge to take a step forward, to try and offer her some kind of comfort-- but he knows he can't.

so he stays still, even if the rigidity in his posture suggests it is a concentrated effort of will that stays his hand. ]

...Is that what you think? That we won't meet again?

[ there's a rueful, sorrowful tug at his lips; strained as it might be, it's there. ]

I'll see that we do, Miss Misa. Who else can I rely on to smile like you do? ...It's just you, so-- please take care 'til then. Don't you go letting anything happen to you. That's the only thing I couldn't forgive, alright?

[ the only thing. as long as she's alive, then the rest...

it will be alright. ]