Week 4

[bathymetric]

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! ]

Comments

[vholran]

[ ... The implication is there that his mother did not survive, from what he understands. In a situation like that, he supposes he's hardly surprised. ]

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.

[onemillion]

[Rossiu nods at that. Though his feelings on Father Magin are best classified as "Complicated", his actions were entirely unacceptable.]

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?

[vholran]

Of course.

[ 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.

[onemillion]

[Some of this certainly checks out with Vholran's profile - which of course Rossiu remembers, given that he's made a point of studying all of them. But there's more to it than that. That's been his experience with Vholran every time so far, after all - the man is full of surprises.]

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

[vholran]

Hence why someone strong is needed to rule.

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. ]

[onemillion]

[plot twist: vholran gets character development here and goes back home to be a proper party member who appreciates his allies in his own weird and aggressive way.]

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?

[vholran]

[ Things that would be amazing to happen for 500 points— ]

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.]

[onemillion]

I see... Yes, in order to have a kingdom to rule and people to follow your orders, it would need to be eliminated - though that's to say nothing of it using you for its own gain.

[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?

[vholran]

Correct. And it will fall by my hands.

[ 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. ]

[onemillion]

Like a parasite, then... Something that needs to be put down.

[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.

[vholran]

[ Funny how things work, huh... ]

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. ]

[onemillion]

[Right, that. Rossiu hesitates for a moment, then nods.]

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.]

[vholran]

[ ...That's right, he had more or less voiced that concern as well. ]

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.

[onemillion]

Yes. He left with most of the people who helped defeat Lordgenome - the Spiral King - as well, so I have faith that all of them will be fine.

[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.]

[vholran]

[ If this was a sitcom there would probably be audience laughter.

(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. ]

[onemillion]

[It gets a smile out of him, though one that looks wry.]

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!!!]