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bathymetric) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unknownseas2022-07-03 10:39 am
bathymetric) wrote in unknownseas2022-07-03 10:39 am
Week 4
Good morning, New Rapture. A new day is dawning.
Sunday arrives ahead of schedule again, bringing with it the creeping dread that this is just how this is going to go. Welcome to the murdergame cycle.
At least there's another section of the city available to you! This one even has some things to do without you having to make your own fun. Which also means there's more to find about this place.
There's still over 20 of you alive... maybe that's something to celebrate? It could be worse! But... at least one of you is an attempted killer, apparently. Either way, better keep talking if you want regains!
SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[ ooc: Welcome to the fourth week of Unknown Seas Round 3! Please make sure to mark any investigation toplevels accordingly, post your ac, and you can reach either Mayor Fontaine or Eleanor for conversations! ]
Sunday arrives ahead of schedule again, bringing with it the creeping dread that this is just how this is going to go. Welcome to the murdergame cycle.
At least there's another section of the city available to you! This one even has some things to do without you having to make your own fun. Which also means there's more to find about this place.
There's still over 20 of you alive... maybe that's something to celebrate? It could be worse! But... at least one of you is an attempted killer, apparently. Either way, better keep talking if you want regains!
SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[ ooc: Welcome to the fourth week of Unknown Seas Round 3! Please make sure to mark any investigation toplevels accordingly, post your ac, and you can reach either Mayor Fontaine or Eleanor for conversations! ]
no subject
Mostly, yes. This place is certainly odd, and it likely is hiding something interesting.
[But his gaze strays to a certain symbol for a moment before he shakes his head.]
Though I will admit that isn't solely the reason. I used to be religious, so I suppose a place like this is simply fascinating in its own right.
[We didn't exactly have a proper church in Adai...]
no subject
And brings back memories?
[ He looks thoughtful, wondering if that was before or after the defeat of the Spiral King. ]
What made you stop?
[ His eyes are drawn back and away from the symbol back to Rossiu. He hasn't exactly encountered very many religious people. Though, there are reasons for that. ]
no subject
[Bittersweet ones, certainly, and Vholran's question leads right into that.]
It... wasn't real. The "gods" we worshiped were created by our village's leader, Father Magin. He came up with the religion as a way of ensuring the village remained under his control and followed his rules. A fallen gunman became our idol; we called them Face-Gods.
[you could make a religion out of this!
Despite how goddamn Much all of that is, Rossiu doesn't actually sound upset. Melancholy, certainly, but not genuinely upset or angry about it.]
I was a devout believer, but even I had trouble with some of the things he said. I chose to leave Adai when I learned the truth; I couldn't stand by and watch any longer.
no subject
[ Not like Vholran can be considered any manner of all that put together. But, he calls it like he sees it regardless. ]
I've never heard of anyone who follows any 'god' or 'spirit' as having the best interests of those around them in mind.
[ Not like the people of Pelegion can say the very same about him, honestly. Though he will say he never weaponized faith to control people. Just his power. ]
But, you've come a long way. Only a weakling would linger.
no subject
[Dealing with such a thing for years, though... He likely never will fully understand Father Magin.]
Regardless, I have no regrets. I was able to see far more of the world and able to fight for our freedom - and I am very proud of all we accomplished.
[Sure, Simon carried us, but it's not like he did all the work!!]
I want to believe that there are worlds where religions aren't used in such a way and that those who believe are treated well. But it is a bit difficult to look at it so optimistically after what I've been through.
no subject
He was the one in power, such things didn't matter when in the end it was him against the world. But now, he's in a situation like this. Like a slap in the face. So, here he is, truly fighting for those things. Deep down, he is not sure how he feels about that. ]
What is there to understand in a man like that?
[ He asks, truly curious, even if it is blunt. ]
There must be worlds that are like that. But it will be far beyond our reach. Hardly worth consideration.
no subject
Adai village was... a small, poor village. One that could barely sustain life and did not have the resources to keep its people alive for long. I've heard that before Father Magin became our leader, the situation was even more dire.
He used religion as a tool to guide and control us - but it was in the name of keeping Adai village alive. He decided that Adai could only support fifty people. Any more than that, and our resources would run out. So whenever our population exceeded that number, we would hold a ceremony. Those who picked the marked straws would be sent to the holy realm, the land above. None of them ever returned. It was said to be a great honor, but most of us knew the truth.
[He can't forget the fear in the eyes of every single person present, minus those too young to remember the last time. His shoulders shake for a moment before he gets it under control.]
It was to preserve Adai. It was to keep a smaller number of our people alive so our town would not die out entirely. Sometimes, very difficult decisions need to be made to ensure survival, but...
[He trails off there, gaze drifting back over to the symbol before he straightens up and shakes his head a bit as if to remind himself to focus.]
Regardless, I do agree. There are a vast number of worlds out there, and it's impossible for us to begin to imagine what all of them could contain.
no subject
[ As if to say that apologies are unnecessary, but the man does listen.
Vholran can't say that the actions he's had would ever be held with any semblance of being noble, or well-intentions. Such stories would also normally disinterest him, yet when Rossiu tells the tale...he finds his attention caught. Perhaps that's why also he catches the tremor of his shoulders in that brief moment.
A cue that he's been told something rather personal. It's been a long time (never?) since someone has done such a thing. ]
Sacrifice is often necessary, and without it sometimes there can be no gain. Power, lives... [ And a guess: ] But you wish things had been different. Didn't you?
As for me, I haven't bothered imagining what possibilities there are for worlds beyond the ones that I already know of.
no subject
My mother was one of the sacrifices. Two children were chosen - that was when I finally confronted Father Magin about it, and chose to leave.
[Things would have been very different if Simon and friends hadn't literally crash landed in their lives. Would he have simply let Gimmy and Darry go if they hadn't? Would he have even asked Father Magin for the truth at all, or would he have continued to ignore it? It isn't worth thinking about now, he supposes.]
Thank you for listening. Despite how difficult it was, Adai is my home, so I suppose I'll always have rather complicated feelings on the matter... and by extension, religion as a whole.
no subject
Leaving behind rubbish and a weak man worth less than dirt.
[ As far as he's concerned, anyway. He doesn't say it out of any displeasure towards the man for any moral reasons. But he will quickly move on, like it isn't a big deal. ]
I'll accept your expression of gratitude, as it's not often I bother listening to personal stories. [ Because he simply can't phrase anything like a normal person. ] No one would dare think of approaching me back 'home' with such things. But, all the same not many can be considered an equal.
no subject
I must admit, I am very curious about your situation back home. I've told you quite a bit about mine... but I haven't had the opportunity to ask about your own.
[Mostly because Vholran has a tendency to show up when he's having A Moment... or Vholran asks him for his thoughts and Rossiu cannot possibly be concise.]
Would it be alright if I asked you about it?
no subject
[ Such a thing really isn't so obvious, but he says it like so. He starts with a point that he believes to be simple. ]
Dahna is the world I hail from. It is a world that was conquered by the Renans a long time ago, who enslaved the population to do their bidding.
I don't care about such things, but despite it, I found myself in the position of one of the 'Lords' once my powers were granted to me. Naturally, I did have to remove the previous lord of Ganath Haros from power first.
[ A generous way of saying it, yep. ]
Most of the people are fools. They don't recognize the entity that attempts to pull the strings in this world. But, I will conquer it, and those who have decided to stand in my way.
no subject
I'm not surprised that there are those blind to the true threat. People... have a tendency to want to see only what is right in front of them.
[For good or for ill. This certainly explains Vholran's disdainful attitude, though.]
What is the threat you're facing?
gotta love them late game tales of arise spoilers
I have also considered this threat a stepping stone to my rule, so once that is over and done with...
[ He trails off, and then gets back on track here to actually properly answer the question. ]
The threat is the Great Spirit of Rena. It dwells within the true remains of that Renan Homeworld, which lies beyond Dahna's. You can say that they are one and the same.
It seems to want to steal as much as it can from Dahna—the Astral Energy, to be exact. Not to mention, it dared trying to use me for its plans. I am going to teach it not to make a fool out of me.
[ It is a little ironic that this is truly a threat. Though, Vholran isn't exactly the best at the concept of 'teaming up against a common enemy' and is sadly one of the pettiest men that ever lived, so that is why he perceives he still has two threats instead of one. ]
no subject
I can see why you would want to handle matters personally in that case. How did it try to make use of you? To gather that Astral Energy?
no subject
Correct; my participation in some false competition helped in that, and even what it did with me afterwards. But, first, to give you...perspective, it started this Crown Contest competition some time ago to harvest Astral Energy from Dahna and its people. [ Beat. ] Astral Energy is life energy.
Of course, all it is interested in doing is taking it. Naturally, if it'll keep doing that, there will be nothing for me to rule over. Unless you'd count what was left of the people and a world without it as 'something'.
[ Not exactly the most pretty sight, even if he is probably very immune to gruesome ones. Which, he's seen some shit, but he has also done some terrible shit too.]
no subject
[It isn't judgmental or harsh, just an overview of the situation. While Vholran's wording is often very blunt to the point of sounding almost cold, Rossiu is trying to assume the best here.]
What does it need Astral Energy for? Is it attempting to grow more powerful?
no subject
[ Rossiu you are quite a trooper... ]
It requires Astral Energy to continue surviving. It seems to have all but killed all sources of it on the Renan Homeland...whatever is left must be only a liquid, hollowed state.
You can simply think of it as a creature that only exists to take and take.
[ A parasite in the form of a spirit! Fun times. ]
no subject
[Not that he doubted that much, though Vholran's reasons for it may be more selfish, the fact remains that it is a threat and needs to be eliminated.]
I understand. Thank you for answering my questions - and I do hope that you're able to put an end to it when you return.
no subject
I will. There is no doubt. But, the feeling is mutual. After all, it seems I am not the only one with some sort of...considerable threat to eliminate.
[ He recalls it being vaguely mentioned in a conversation they had weeks ago, of course. Because he bothered to remember it. ]
no subject
Simon is going to face that threat.
[Which is why it was such a problem when he was dragged here!!!]
But assuming that he was returned safely home and everything has gone well... the threat likely should have already been defeated by the time I return.
[That's what he keeps telling himself, anyway, because the alternative is that there won't be a home to return to.]
no subject
Because of how strong he is, hm? He was the previous Supreme Commander, after all.
[ Not a role one can easily wear, as he imagines. ]
I see no reason for you to not continue to hold that belief.
no subject
[He does sound confident in that - though considering any other option is strictly out of the question, he genuinely does believe that they'll be fine. After all, they've overcome incredible odds before. Of course they can do it again.]
Still, it is troubling, so I would like to return as soon as I can.
[lmao good luck with that one.]
no subject
(Though, Vholran is egotistical enough to believe that them leaving this place will happen sooner than later.) ]
Oh, of course you would. Though, try not to earn too many grey hairs while we are in this worthless prison. It would not suit you.
[ As he says this, his eyes flicker over the various other things in here. Thankfully no dedication to the Great Spirit of Rena or something like that. ]
no subject
Unfortunately, I cannot promise anything. But considering what I've dealt with back home, I think I'll be fine.
[If he didn't start going gray from all of that, he can probably manage a murdergame!!!]