EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (GREENTRUTH)

[aionmods]

Greentruth

THE FOREST'S PATH

It feels old, that is the first impression most get when entering the forests of Lohkimareen. Saplings and young trees quickly give way to regal, imposing beings that stand like monoliths over the ground. The canopy filters out much of the sunlight, leaving much of the wood bathed in dim green light even midday. Moss, ferns, and other ancient plants can be seen covering the forest floor when it isn't otherwise blanketed in a thick mist.

Travelling through Lohkimareen is dangerous, even to those who know her well.

Your journey won't be an easy one. You will get turned around, unsure of which path to take, as well as having to avoid run-ins with dangerous fauna and flora. And just when you believe this may have been a big mistake all together, an arrow flies overhead. The group is quickly surrounded by archers clad in fur, skin, and rough leathers. They exchange glances as they regard the group, communicating using hand signals. After a tense moment, they tell you that you are to come with them unless you would rather take your chances in the mists.

If you ask where they are taking you, they will be honest: Vihreaus or your death. That all depends on you. All other questions will be met with silence.

Two hours later, they say that you have arrived. But rather than in front of you, one must look up. A series of wooden platforms have been built to sit above the mists and it is up that you must go. The archers lead the way and carry the back, making sure that everyone stays in line.

You are immediately ferried to a hollow in the large tree, carved out of the wood itself and dimly lit with torches. There you are shuffled to the center where an old man meets you. His smile is weak, but a smile nonetheless.

"Show me your shards."

One by one, he will inspect them, never to touch but only to study intently for a moment. After each person has been inspected, his smile turns more genuine as he announces to you weary travelers and locals gathered.

"She speaks the truth. Aions are once again among us!"

The Aions are quickly surrounded, but this time with excitement from the scouts. They will readily share some food and tell the weary travelers that they will be camping here for the night and make their way onto Vihreaus in the morning.

WELCOME TO GREENTRUTH

From the outpost near the forest's edge, the journey to Vihreaus takes several days. Luckily for the Aions they have skilled scouts and the winding paths through the trees are much safer than walking on the forest floor, at least for those that know the way. They will encounter smaller outposts along the way where you will camp out as the scouts exchange the good news with others. This allows you some time to explore the forest further, but you will be cautioned not to stray too far from the campsite. The Regent dares not enter these woods for a reason.

The journey is worth it. The scouts proudly announce once you have arrived on the evening of the fifth day. Ladders of rope and wood are dropped from high platforms on the lowest branches of the largest trees. From there, stairs wind around and around, rising above the mists to reveal a secluded but flourishing settlement in the canopy. Torches lighting community spaces, doorways, and rope bridges twinkle like fireflies in the night. This, you are told, is Vihreaus - "Greentruth" in the common tongue. You are greeted by the locals with a mixture of trepidation and excitement, some more hesitant and disbelieving while others wish to know everything about you.

The settlement itself looks labyrinthian. There are no signs or placards to distinguish between public use and private dwellings, but with some exploration it becomes clear that houses tend to be in clusters along smaller trees and branches while the community buildings and businesses loop the main trunks of the largest trees. It seems that some preparations were made for your arrival as "The Aion of Greentruth" had predicted it. If asked about the Aion, the locals will say that she spends her time between Greentruth and the mountains. Despite heralding your arrival, she had business elsewhere but said she would be back in time to greet her peers.

One of the areas that was previously a community lot carved into the main tree has been converted into temporary housing for the new Aions. Until you establish yourself and find your own housing, you may stay here. Hammocks and straw beds with what leathers and furs that can be spared are given. If you want to wash up you can travel to a tree in the south east that gives access to a waterfall and small lake.

Once you've made yourself as comfortable as possible, you are free to explore the settlement as you wish. During the day there is a good amount of activity as residents are trading and either returning from expeditions or preparing for the next. Though you have been given what supplies can be spared, they make due with little in Greentruth. With your help they may be able to gather more resources for the community and for the resistance effort. Aions can help by performing tasks for NPCs, whether that is assisting with scouting, hunting and gathering, offering any sort of crafting or practical skills, as well as building extensions to the settlement and repairing houses. Those who have made a good impression may be invited to dinner by the locals they're helping or make use of the community style soup kitchen that feeds warriors in the mornings and evenings.

THE LOVER'S FESTIVAL

The Lover's Festival is a celebration of love in all it's forms, whether that be familial, friendship, or romance. It is also a time of year where the peoples of Greentruth can take a moment to forget their struggles against the Regent and their forces and instead indulge in the company of one another. Preparations for the event will take place days before it and you will see extra care taken to cleaning up the amphitheater in the center of town. Garlands made of vines and brightly colored flowers are lovingly hung by at least two people at a time, as is custom. Barrels of fermented honey are rolled out of storage and petals and mosses soften the wood of the trunk.

The festivities begin in the mid-afternoon. All are asked to remove their shoes so that their feet can enjoy the softness of the flower petals and moss, symbolizing how our bonds too can soften our journeys. A large bonfire is lit in the center which is used both for light and warmth but also to cook throughout the evening.

If there is an Aion of the Lover's Legacy in their midst, that person will be a point of interest during the celebration. Learning more about that Aion as a person is important and they may find themselves being called to join people throughout the night to take part in their drinking, feasting, and dancing.

❖ FEASTING
Greentruth regularly goes through periods of a sudden influx in foodstuffs and preparing it for long-term storage in case of a food shortage. But during the Lover's Festival, attendees are encouraged to eat to their heart's content. Meats are abundant thanks to the megafauna that are scavenged and hunted, while an array of fresh and dried fruits and pickled vegetables are also available. Nearly everything seems to be spiced. Fermented honeys and fruits make for the available liquor and a watered down version is available for children or those who would prefer something a little less strong.

❖ SACRED MESI (CW: drug use)
One staple of the Lover's Festival is the drinking of the Sacred Mesi. Throughout the evening, large flowers are passed around, brimming with a glowing liquid in the center. This is what they call the Mesi, nectar of the Mesiya. To drink this is to bond with spirit of Lohkimareen herself. It is completely optional to take part but it is fairly commonplace between adults in the settlement. Aions that choose to partake will immediately feel warm and tingly. Common effects of the mesi are slowed reflexes, blurred vision and seeing colors, a feeling of floating and general "carefree" attitude for the remainder of the evening. It is seen as a state of being unattached to the concerns of the physical world, and said that those who are particularly sensitive to the mesi may hear the voice of the forest.

For Aions in particular, the effects turn out to be more radical. The disconnect from your physical body becomes literal, with your consciousness seeming to transcend confines of your body, free to commune with the spirits of the trees themselves. Everything has a soul, you realize, while looking at the world through this lens, and when looking at other Aions you may see spiritual representations of them, their form appearing in abstract concepts and symbolism rather than a literal body. With how metaphysical the experience can be, it is hard to draw any factual information, so much as a series of emotional impressions. This effect will last for a few hours. Drinking more can prologue the effect, but the mesi can be powerful and those that over indulge may feel unwell the next day.

❖ THE AION
As promised, the Aion who predicted your arrival has made it back to Greentruth in time for the Lover's Festival. She is greeted heartily by the locals and it is not just because of the atmosphere, they appear to hold her in genuine affection and regard. She makes her rounds with a placid smile, but her true interest lies in meeting you. Those who choose not to speak with her directly will hear that she is called "Tehri of the Deep Mists" and that she has been the only Aion in Greentruth for some time. Her legacy is the Visionary and other Visionary Pleroma may feel a special connection to her.

If you would like to speak with Tehri, please tag into the open NPC thread below.

EXPLORATION

On the 20th, after the Lover's Festival and have had time to earn her trust, Tehri will request that they take a walk with her. On the boughs of one of the more secluded trees of the settlement, she will reveal that while the resistance effort has been quiet of late, she is skilled in portal magic. What appears as a tree hollow glows bright and gold as the Aions approach it. This, she explains, is her personal portal to the city of Godsblood. It leads into an an underground space beneath Godsblood, with tunnels that lead out unto a few inns and other businesses that are sympathetic to the resistance cause. They are well hidden, but from there they will be able to seek out the Pleroma that went to Godsblood and show them the way if they are interested.

She will advise that the portal needs to be kept hidden - not all in the settlement know its location. Though only Aions may pass through, the physical barriers of the portals may still be destroyed, rendering it inert.

QUESTIONS

What basic necessities are provided?
In addition to the beds and a roof over their head, Aions will receive clothing which is main mostly with leathers, furs, and animal skins. All will have their own water skin and a carved wooden bowl, handmade soaps that come in a variety of pleasing scents, and a candle. Other essential hand tools and weapons would be temporarily supplied to anyone who assists around the settlement with hunting crafting, etc. They would be expected to be returned at the end of the work day for repair.

My character knows how to make their own weapons or items. Is that allowed?
It is allowed and encouraged! If your character can help craft arrows, make more hand tools, bowls etc. the locals would be very pleased. If you make something of your own will you would be able to keep it as well.

Can my character join the resistance?
Congratulations! By choosing to come to Greentruth they are automatically part of the resistance effort. More information on what that will entail regarding in-game action and missions will be made clear in future events. For now you are safe to assume that helping the other members and locals is just as important.

What megafuana are in the area?
Most creatures in Lohkimareen are reptilian in nature, though more standardized birds and mammals can be found as well. The megafauna are exclusively draconic and dinosaurian in nature, though you will find that they too come in a variety of sizes. They may range from small insect-hunting dragons to forest giants. Predatory dinosaurs and dragons tend to be more aggressive and should be avoided. Dragons tend to be more elusive but can be seen both on the land and in the trees and air. There are rumors that you can plead for your life with a dragon, but not so much with others.

So I can travel back and froth between Greentruth and Godsblood?
You may! But remember that it is important to keep a low profile in Godsblood. Do not draw attention to the location of the portals on either side or else the integrity of the resistance may be at stake.

Comments

[coerthantorment]

Estinien hums in agreement. It's strange, having Cid be one of the people here that he knows. After all, he knows him, but only sort of. One part of an adventure, in a time that feels in the increasingly distant past.

"I'm surprised you didn't go to the city," he says after a moment. "It seems like they'd be more likely to have the tools of your trade."

[youngprodigy]

"I very nearly succumbed to that ritual," he admits with a grimace. "I thought it best I put as much distance between myself and... whatever it is we're up against as possible." He doesn't disagree that from a supplies point of view, the people hiding out in the forest are less likely to have anything an engineer would find particularly useful, but the idea of experiencing anything like that again is just too much.

"Mayhap there's something with defenses I could assist the people of Greentruth with."

[coerthantorment]

Estinien doesn't feel he's well equipped to help Cid with whatever he faced in those caverns - Fury knows he had his own moments where it seemed like it might be over. He can appreciate the feeling, though. He'd been uncomfortable with the idea of going to the city too, and not just because he doesn't like crowds.

"...Well, I'm sure if anyone could make do in the wilderness, it'd be Cid Garlond," he says, with just a bit of cheek. He barely understands how Cid does any of the things he does, but he can probably use non-magitek tools too, right? "You could start by making me a better lance, if you ever feel inspired... this brittle wood is unlikely to survive proper dragoon technique."

The one he has right now is basically just a length of wood with a knife bound to the end. Not ideal.

[youngprodigy]

Now that they've been away from the frightening ritual for some time, Cid has found himself just slightly less on edge. Maybe he'll be doing a bit better by the time they managed to find people properly, and hopefully they can do without running into any of the corrupted for a long while.

"You know, I might just take you up on that," he says sincerely. "I doubt we'll have much in the way of metallurgy at our disposal in the camp, but mayhap I could find a way to make something out of sturdier wood."

He doesn't know much about carpentry, but it would give him something to do. "The settlement is like to know what sort of trees would be study enough to use, I imagine."

[coerthantorment]

"If we ever find a settlement," Estinien sighs. He doesn't mind being in this forest, with or without the killer beasts, so finding it deserted wouldn't necessarily make him regret his choice. At the same time, what he caves more than anything is progress. Finding a rebellion force, no matter how isolated and weak, would help with that.

"Himeka did mention that when she was captured at her shrine, there were bodies of warriors there, dressed in leather and fur. Could be they were bandits in the wrong place at the wrong time, but otherwise..." He trails off and shrugs a shoulder. Cid knows what the alternatives are.

[youngprodigy]

Yes... it certainly is possible they're on a wild dodo chase. They're going to be on the run, likely permanently, and that's... well. It's not a pretty picture if there are no allies to be found.

"That..." Well. He's Garlean; he's pretty sure he knows what happened, and it wasn't bandits falling into traps. "Unless this resistance is well-armed, we're at a severe disadvantage."

He's quiet for a moment, not sure if he should say anything. "We all had visions of the destruction of the star before we awoke, didn't we? But after we escaped, I returned. Events continued on as though I'd never left. I don't know what we were shown, but..." He brings a hand to his face in thought. "Something wanted me back here. I remember that."

[coerthantorment]

Any further comments Estinien had about the rebellion are washed away by what Cid says last. Estinien pauses in his step, looking back at the man, his brow furrowed like he isn't even sure he understands what he said.

"You returned?" He repeats it dumbly, and has to shake off his confusion before asking for details. "What do you mean? What did you see happen?"

[youngprodigy]

He frowns, trying to figure out how to put it in words. "Mayhap it would be best to say what I last remember when we first arrived. The Scions had called upon the Ironworks to help unlock the cure for tempering. Those... towers started appearing all over the world, and the news came out that the Telophoroi were somehow able to temper people in service of Garlemald."

He still can't believe it, knowing what he does now. "When I returned... a couple of moons must have passed at the very least." Despite hardly any time at all passing in the field.

"The Final Days... the news that the civil war had reduced my homeland to naught but rubble... all of you traveling to the end of the universe to stop the entity that caused the Final Days in the days of the Ancients from destroying our star..." He trails off. "There was a voice. Voices? That said 'return' in unison. I found myself here once again shortly after."

[coerthantorment]

Estinien hadn't actually realized that Cid was from a different time than him and Himeka... how does that work, precisely? Then again, Himeka had told him that Emet-Selch only had memories of their time in the First, though even then, he'd thought that might have something to do with his death.

So it seems less that Cid returned to experience a timeline unseen, so much as he caught up with the rest of them. What purpose is there in that? Had Cid simply forgotten the rest during the transferal?

"Return..." Estinien mumbles, trying to sort all of that out. "From my perspective, that was already in the past. I wonder... could you have arrived with an incomplete memory? Or did you truly return to Eitherys for a time?"

He'd like to believe it's the latter, considering the implication. But it's not something that's easy to be sure of.

[youngprodigy]

Cid frowns at that, once again bringing his hand to his mouth in thought. "It didn't feel as though I had suddenly remembered things." Assuming things weren't too chaotic for Estinien at the time to notice, Cid did seem to vanish from the group. "I returned in time to hear of the worsening state of the star."

But given everything that's happened to them, he's still not sure what to make of everything. "I'll admit, I don't know what to make of us appearing here from different points in time. I spoke with Emp— Emet-Selch when we were still in the cave, and he was unaware of his fate. Though admittedly that didn't surprise me."

After all, he'd been killed in a way Ascians can't recover from.

[coerthantorment]

"Aye," he says. "'Tis similar to distortions in time faced by the Scions that went to the First, is it not?" He can't claim to be an expert, but he does know some of them spent years in that realm, despite it feeling like a matter of months on the other side.

"'Tis possible that similar rules apply. Crossing the space between worlds is no small feat."

[youngprodigy]

Cid has only heard the stories secondhand, from Himeka and G'raha Tia, and he can't even pretend to comprehend most of it, but at the very least, he did understand that despite apparently being summoned to the First in fair quick succession, time didn't pass so evenly there. Can souls age separately from the body?

"Aye, that would explain the disconnect between our memories, but not how I managed to return to our supposedly destroyed world."

It leaves him much to think about, and no easy way to get answers.

[coerthantorment]

"...When I first spoke to him, Emet-Selch had no memory of these later events either," he says, after a moment of lingering silence. "I couldn't say if things have changed since the caverns, but... it isn't only you facing these distortions."

He's quiet for another moment and then shakes his head, clearly frustrated.

"Bah! I've no mind for these things. Would that a different Scions were here, one better equipped to parse these mysteries."

Estinien is good at exactly one thing, and while he'd felt comfortable with that in Etheirys, he now feels adrift. It doesn't help that, on some level, he feels that many others should have been given this chance to survive before him.

[youngprodigy]

Well, there's at least some sort of comfort in that. Of course, Emet-Selch succumbed to despair, so it isn't as though Cid could chat with him about it. Not that he particularly wants to to begin with.

"If Nero were here, he'd already have a theory. Or at least claim to have one." The man is an absolute pain in the arse, but he is, unfortunately, as intelligent as he boasts.

Cid's no better than Estinien at these things, really. "Urianger would have theories, I'm sure, but I'll be honest: I can hardly understand a bloody thing that man says."