W2 PLAYER CYOA: Basilio, Koharu, Saber, Wiš'adel

[holyspirits]

Comments

saber and basilio

[sacredpath]

[you are in a dark hallway, lit only by lamps overhead that glow with faint purple light. the light makes it possible for you to see the way ahead of you, but only barely. you are primarily in darkness. and there is also a sense in you that there is a time pressure here.

this place is peaceful right now, and quiet, but you don't think it is empty. you hear the sounds of movement here and there - probably nothing more than vermin, but you can't be sure. and more than that, there's a sense of something disturbed, waking up, beginning to take notice. are you trespassing? or is it?

you don't know. but the hallway you're in, the way deeper into it (or perhaps the way you came from?) is not lit at all, but cast in darkness, and whatever is awake is stronger there. you should probably not head back that way.

before you, in this hallway, are two doors. each door has an inscription carved onto a plaque on the wall beside it. you have both also received information from me about your goals and state of mind, so bear that in mind going forward.]

[berserketype]

[ well. his instincts are flaring that he shouldn’t be lingering around this place, if something is waking up here. but he’s also aware that he has important things to be doing, so as much as he wants to just get it over with he can’t risk rushing into something and making a complete balls up of it.

especially not when he just got here.

anyway, he’s going to squint way too hard at these inscriptions and see if he can’t slowly work out what one of them says. is there anyway someone who’s, oh I don’t know, over 6’6” could take one of those overhead lamps down without too much hassle? so that he can have some more direct Light. ]

[rippled]

[ well. okay.

they are also up, and it takes a few moments to try to adjust to the darkness. is someone who is the complete opposite height of bas going to have any issues with seeing anything.

they glance at bas but don't say anything, instead just walking forward until they reach the doors. what do the inscriptions say yea.... HOW ARE THEY POSITIONED IS SOMEONE KNEELING AND SOMEONE ON THEIR TIP TOES ]

wis'adel and koharu

[sacredpath]

[you are in a dark hallway, lit only by lamps overhead that glow with faint purple light. the light makes it possible for you to see the way ahead of you, but only barely. you are primarily in darkness. and there is also a sense in you that there is a time pressure here.

this place is peaceful right now, and quiet, but you don't think it is empty. you hear the sounds of movement here and there - probably nothing more than vermin, but you can't be sure. and more than that, there's a sense of something disturbed, waking up, beginning to take notice. are you trespassing? or is it?

you don't know. but the hallway you're in, the way deeper into it (or perhaps the way you came from?) is not lit at all, but cast in darkness, and whatever is awake is stronger there. you should probably not head back that way.

before you, in this hallway, are two doors. each door has an inscription carved onto a plaque on the wall beside it. you have both also received information from me about your goals and state of mind, so bear that in mind going forward.]

[cupidsammo]

... Ah.

[ Oh, it's dark. This is really creepy, and she's clearly a little (read: very) nervous about this. Koharu stares down the long hallway for a moment, as if whatever is lurking down that way might lunge for them at any second. Nothing comes, though, and she eventually turns to glance between the two doors. (Are the inscriptions readable?) ]

Should we... check inside these first?

[sarkazm]

Yeah. Let's take a look and keep moving.

[she doesn't seem at all unsettled, but the vibes have her on alert-- whatever is here, they need to make sure they don't get jumped by it.

w also checks out the inscriptions; what are we looking at?]

say hi

[sacredpath]

[let's continue threading it out in the two person threads, but use this top level if you want to talk to each other. say stuff. that way it isn't time sensitive and doesn't need a thread order.]

hewwo

[cupidsammo]

—Ah!



... Hello?

[rippled]

... hello.

[ lifts a hand in a wave. ]

[berserketype]

[ man_standing blinks at new people ]

Hey?

[cupidsammo]

[ watches him for a long moment..... ]

Hey! So, ah... what brings you here?

[sarkazm]

Sup.

[she says, so casually.

before she flings a goddamn bomb at saber and bas.]

OR NOT

[sacredpath]

[well. you waited around too long here in the dark before making progress. i warned you at the beginning of the thread there was a time pressure, didn't i?

you aren't alone in the darkness. there are other creatures skittering in the shadows, following you in the dark. and now, here, in this hallway, as you realize you do not have a second key to use for the elevator, and as you fail to ask the other party to share their key in a timely fashion, the rats emerge from the dark, scurrying towards you, planning to devour you. you have only moments, if you choose, to share your keys and get on that elevator.

...but then, wis'adel throws a runepowder bomb. the thing is, that bomb specifically was designed to level a city block. so wis'adel doesn't so much throw it at saber and basilio as she absolutely destroys this section of the temple entirely.

all of you blow up. it happens so fast that at least it's relativity painless? and as you die, you all remember something.

(because none of you have any memories or any idea why you're here, you all received the same damn instructions from me, something you could have discussed with each other at any point but chose not to because you're all cagey bastards)

basilio, you remember a dream you have had many many times before, although the details are vague. you're a child again. you're in pain. you've been hurt, maybe tortured, maybe trapped. you don't remember where you are, but you know you're trying to escape. you know there's someone who wants to help you, isn't there? and you have to find him, but -

you open your eyes, and you see a woman with cropped pink hair and sharp features. she's trying to do some kind of magic on you, and you're so, so afraid. she's the one who has been hurting you, she must be.

but then there's someone there with you, someone safe. someone who takes you away from all of this pain.

saber, you remember a dream you've had many times before, although the details are vague. you're a child, and you've been abandoned, cast out. you can't remember why. the people who were supposed to care for you didn't, they didn't want you anymore. they thought you were a monster, violent, cruel, even though you did nothing wrong.

you're alone and so, so afraid, but then someone finds you, someone safe. someone who takes you away from all of this pain.

koharu, you remember a dream you've had many times before, although the details are vague. you're a little younger, and you're uncertain, lost, out of place. you're not sure you trust the people you're with. and then someone shoves you. you have no idea why, but you're falling. no one could survive a fall like this, could they? you're falling so fast and so hard, and you can see the pavement coming up to meet you, and you know you're about to die, and you have no idea why you were hated so much that they would do this to you.

but then someone catches you, someone safe. someone who takes you away from all of this pain.

wis'adel, you remember a dream you've had many times before, although the details are vague. you're a child and you're alone on the streets. you're lost and you're afraid. you don't remember why you're here, or why it is that there is no one who cares for you, no one who is looking for you. but you know that you're powerless.

and then before your vision, there's a knife, a weapon. it's hazy, perhaps because you're so afraid, but you know someone is going to stab you with it. someone is going to cut you, hurt you. you can't fight back, you couldn't even try.

but then someone saves you and protects you, someone safe. someone who takes you away from all of this pain.

basilio

[sacredpath]

[you're awake. you had the dream again, the frightening dream about the woman who had tried to kill you.

but you blink your eyes open and you find that you're sitting in front of a shimmering purple mirror. it's beautiful, but hard to look at, and you need to look away from it.

you remember you name is basilio, and you remember the snippets of that dream, and that despite that trauma you were taken somewhere safe, taken in. and you remember feelings. the last moments, when you knew you'd failed, when you knew you'd been too trusting and someone had hurt you, those emotions stick, even though you can't remember the specific events.

but you don't remember anything else, any details about your life. there's a woman standing above you, though she's wearing a hooded robe and a mask, so you can't see what she looks like. but there's a gauntlet covered hand on your shoulder. it's almost a comforting gesture? or maybe one of control.

you're led away from the mirror and into a room. and there's a person in that room, with their arms bound and tied to a chair. there's a bag over their head, so you can't see who it is.]

Are you ready to make up for it?

[failure.]

[berserketype]

[ he’s not entirely sure if he likes the hand on the shoulder. but he doesn’t shove it off, instead he just stands up slowly. he’s taller than most people, so what are the chances this person can keep their hand there? ]

To make up for…?

[ his mind wanders a little sluggishly through everything that happened and the dream he just had. something about— comfort and safety? and someone trying to hurt him, but he doesn’t know why.

it’s a little muddied, all whirred around in his mind like this. ]

saber

[sacredpath]

[you're awake. you had the dream again, the dream where you were exiled, abandoned, lost.

but you blink your eyes open and you find that you're sitting in front of a shimmering purple mirror. it's beautiful, but hard to look at, and you need to look away from it.

you remember you name is saber, and you remember the snippets of that dream, and that despite what happened to you, you were taken somewhere safe, taken in. and you remember feelings. the last moments, when you knew you'd failed. when you hadn't been able to meet your goal, because someone else who wanted the same things you wanted was much, much faster than you were to crush you under their boot. the specific memories are gone, but the feelings stick.

but you don't remember anything else, any details about your life. there's a woman standing above you, though she's wearing a hooded robe and a mask, so you can't see what she looks like. but there's a gauntlet covered hand on your shoulder. it's almost a comforting gesture? or maybe one of control

you're led away from the mirror and into a room. and there's a person in that room, with their arms bound and tied to a chair. there's a bag over their head, so you can't see who it is.]

Are you ready to prove you can do this?

[be stronger than you were.]

[rippled]

[ saber frowns, staring at the individual in the chair. they don't know what's going on, but the feeling is irritating and they do their best to ignore it. ]

... yes. Yes, I am.

[ what else can they do? failing again isn't an option (for some reason?????) so all they can do is try again until they get it right. ]

koharu

[sacredpath]

[you're awake. you had the dream again, the frightening dream where you were pushed and nearly fell to your death.

but you blink your eyes open and you find that you're sitting in front of a shimmering purple mirror. it's beautiful, but hard to look at, and you need to look away from it.

you remember you name is koharu, and you remember the snippets of that dream, and that despite how you were shoved aside, you were taken somewhere safe, taken in. and you remember feelings. the last moments, how you'd been too weak to stand up for yourself or push back, how you were used for your blood, how you were destroyed because you'd given someone the benefit of the doubt and tried to trust rather than saving yourself. you don't remember the specific events, but the feelings stick.

but you don't remember anything else, any details about your life. there's a woman standing above you, though she's wearing a hooded robe and a mask, so you can't see what she looks like. but there's a gauntlet covered hand on your shoulder. it's almost a comforting gesture? or maybe one of control.

you're led away from the mirror and into a room. and there's a person in that room, with their arms bound and tied to a chair. there's a bag over their head, so you can't see who it is.]

We'll teach you to do better next time.

[you need someone to help you.]

[cupidsammo]

Wh... what?

[ Her stomach feels as though it's twisting in on itself, and she couldn't even wholly explain why. Koharu can't even manage to lift her head. ]

What did I— I'm sorry. I don't know why...

wis'adel

[sacredpath]

[you're awake. you had the dream again, the dream where you were abandoned and helpless, nearly killed and unable to defend yourself.

but you blink your eyes open and you find that you're sitting in front of a shimmering purple mirror. it's beautiful, but hard to look at, and you need to look away from it.

you remember you name is wis'adel, and you remember the snippets of that dream, and that despite that trauma you were taken somewhere safe, taken in. and you remember feelings. the last moments, when you decided to prove to two strangers that you were stronger, that you wouldn't let them hurt you before you could hurt them, and in the process killed three people who may have just been standing around trying to work together before you poisoned it. and you remember that despite what you did, it didn't work, it failed. you killed yourself for nothing. the specific events don't stay, but the feelings stick.

but you don't remember anything else, any details about your life. there's a woman standing above you, though she's wearing a hooded robe and a mask, so you can't see what she looks like. but there's a gauntlet covered hand on your shoulder. it's almost a comforting gesture? or maybe one of control.

you're led away from the mirror and into a room. and there's a person in that room, with their arms bound and tied to a chair. there's a bag over their head, so you can't see who it is.]

We'll practice until you can finally get it right.

[you're not good enough.]

[sarkazm]

...fine.

[she shakes it off, tries to set those feelings aside and ignore them, because what good are they to her? what good is anything but the present, when she doesn't know about anything else?

if all that she has is her name and what's right in front of her, the knowledge that whatever she's been doing, it isn't enough... the only thing to do is fix that. even if she doesn't know what she's supposed to practice.

she glances up to the woman, waiting.]

quest: find the nightsong

[sacredpath]

[...




all of you respawn outside the elevator. any items that were in your inventory that you used are still gone. wis'adel does not any longer have a bomb. but everything that i gave you at the start that you haven't used, you still have.

it's as though that last moment where you made a half-hearted attempt to group up and then died was reset. all of you are here, as you were before, with no memories other than your names, sorrowglare, hollowcry, gloomfang, and griefblade, and the fact that you are on a mission. the mission is to find a relic called the nightsong and destroy it. you went through the soft-step trial and the faith-leap trial, and you helped each other to a degree and distrusted each other to a degree, but you're all here.

but something is different. first of all, each of you has a wound, a black, circular, gaping open wound, on your palm, your wrist, your abdomen, or between your shoulder blades. second of all, you do still have other wounds. they all feel hastily healed over, just enough for you to still be able to move and fight, but the soreness and pain from the things you went through are still there to the degree you want them to be. third of all, now and again, memories from what you experienced bubble back up, haunt you similarly to the way those half-remembered dreams of your childhood haunt you, the ones that lack any context but seem to all suspiciously end with you needing someone's protection.

and, as always, even when the memories are gone, the feelings are there. the feelings stick with you, come back to bite you, ache even when you can't remember why. but the positive feelings stick too. the times you were proud of yourself, the times when you knew you'd done what it took to survive, the ones where you refused to obey something a part of you deep down didn't want to obey. the part where at least every once in a while, someone showed you a little kindness, a little friendship and camaraderie. not enough to get you out of there, but enough that you weren't entirely alone.

so now you're back here. but my babies, you do not have to fight each other.

for each of you knows one other thing as well. the nightsong will only be able to be claimed by someone who is worthy of it. maybe you don't think you are worthy. but do these other people seem worthy to you?

the last trial ahead of you is just to get there, through the last door, and be the one to claim it.]

[berserketype]

[ well first of all. ow, fuck, etc. what the hell. he feels like warmed up shite, but he's warmed up shite with a mission so.

he just shakes his head like what the fuck. ]

'right.

It's that elevator or nothin', yeah?

[ yeah. ]

quest complete

[sacredpath]

[you run, leaping across the ruins of the old temple, the rocks, back to a portal that will take you out of this place. free you from the judgment you know is closing in, fast, close behind, a tense feeling of fear. all of you have a small, black circular wound. koharu, it's between your shoulderblade; wis'adel, it's on the back of your hand; saber, it's on your wrist; and basilio, it's right below your heart. a familiar pain blooms there, and flashes of memory bloom as well. the feeling of fear you have is so similar to the knowledge that that woman, in the hood and mask, is standing behind you, and you don't have much longer. you need to get out of here before this fury catches up to you.

but of course, that doesn't mean there isn't time to stop and open a treasure chest that is conveniently sitting on a rock near the portal! it's not even locked, so may as well.

inside, you will find six items, but there is only time for each of you to take one. you don't know what these will do, but oocly you can know:

Ring of Conditional Animal Friendship. Equip this ring, and be able to speak to some animals for ten minutes at a time, but this doesn't apply to any animals the mods don't want it to apply to. Three uses, one per week.

Cap of Incredible Coolness Equip this stylish cap, and be able to catch one projectile out of the air, be it bullet, arrow, or thrown object. Look incredibly cool while doing it, and speak like a cowboy. Three uses, one per week.

Boots of Fuck Around. Wear these boots, and be able to jump around very high and far for ten minutes at a time. But all of your clothing may not jump with you. (Roll for this, or just have fun with it). Three uses, one per week.

Gloves of Find Out. Wear these handsome leather gloves, and for ten minutes when you punch people, your punches will do fire damage. You may also burn your own fingers just a little. Single use.

Cloak of Im'outtie. Wear this cloak and make a sideways peace sign. Your visage will slowly dissolve away, granting you ten minutes of invisibility. Three uses, one per week.

Amulet of Boring Choices. Wear this amulet, which will allow you to cast two healing spells. One minor healing spell, and one healing spell capable of healing a significant wound or damage. So practical! So useful! Why would you even remain injured if you had this? Each spell is one use, but every time you wear it, you imagine a montage of how much fun you could have been having with the other prizes. Look at you, jumping so far! Wearing a cowboy hat and looking so cool! If only you had a heart open to whimsy.

once you've selected your prize, you may exit through the portal, which will deposit you at a random location back in heaven.

but the impact from your journey won't end here. first, you may experience some lingering pain specifically from the black circular wound. of course, you're experiencing pain from everywhere, probably, so that may not be so significant to you. second, your memories come and go. sometimes, you remember nothing but your own name, that is to say, your cool sharran name. sometimes, you remember everything about this adventure, but the time you spent alone being brought between the mirror and the altar again and again is nothing but a blur. sometimes, you just have bits and pieces. it comes and goes. the most important thing is that you always remember your wonderful names. this will last through saturday, though will start to get better over time so the effect will be strongest when you first return.

thank you for joining me!]

[rippled]

[ commenting here to make it official

wis'adel is taking the cloak
basilio is taking the boots
koharu is taking the gloves
saber is taking the cap ]