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My village was destroyed when I was a child. It was burnt down and pillaged during the war. All the villages surrounding mine were burnt down and pillaged during the war. I lived and travelled with a caravan of refugees, and things were very hard for us. We were often hungry and we were often cold.

What I mean to say is, we will be alright despite the ruin has Astoria left behind. The gardens can be sown again.

[ a few hours after the circle arrives back in the temple, a network ping sounds. Most of the time this happens, it is astoria… but this time around, it is the same strange young man you all found passed out in the center of the temple of beginnings. He looks impossibly exhausted, but his eyes are bright and alert. ]

I apologize, for not being able to speak to you immediately, I . . . my abilities are very draining, and it takes some time, to regain consciousness after I use them -- I am fine, but . . . at any rate, I have been looking for all of you.

[ it seems like a nice place to start. But the young man draws a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ]

My name is Kathashun, and I am… where I come from does not matter. It is irrelevant. But I have been traveling through the Rift to find all of you, to try and stop what has been happening, and . . . now that I am here, I am not entirely sure what to say.

[ at least he’s honest? ]

I can try to explain, but first, I have questions, for all of you. How long have you been here? Where is this witch, Astoria? And --

[ he pauses, before pursing his lips together. ]

-- is someone named Jalin, here?

[ inej has never posted on the network, before. indeed, she prefers to just linger in the back, and meet people in person. and when she does use the network, she does so sparingly. to reach out, collect information, and then leave.

but this feels different. and, truly, she is only doing this because kaz won't. and nina and matthias may have made friends here. they deserve to know.

so: ]

Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar are gone.
Back home. If what the Witch says is the truth.

[ saints, this is hard. ]

To those who went outside the city, what have you found so far?
Are you safe?

[ anything to avoid talking about their absence. especially nina. ]

[The feed opens up to Ruby sitting eagerly on the edge of her bed.]

Okay! So I've been meaning to ask this for a little while. But I'm curious to see what sort of weapons everyone here has. We're all from different worlds, right? So we probably don't all use the same sort of stuff when we get into a fight.

I'll start us off.

[She shifts the camera over to show off a very high tech looking red scythe.]

So this is Crescent Rose. She's my baby, I made her myself back at school. She's a Scythe that can change into a sniper rifle. Perfect for short and long range combat.

[And now her face is right back in front of the camera.]

So come on! Don't be shy! Show me what you got!

[ the weather is . . . insane, at the moment, given the sudden shift in every single quadrant of the temple making it spring, summer, winter, and fall simultaneously. roy has steadily been ignoring it, focused instead on collecting information, and preparing for the inevitable next world jump.

that being said: ]

I hope this place picks one season, soon.

[ tiredly, as he shakes the snow out of his hair. someone has recently been through the snowy abyss that is the winter section of the temple. it looks like, from the background, that roy is in the kitchen area. the fire-brick oven is just behind him. ]

At any rate, we've recently lost a slew of members, and we need to regroup, and calculate who is missing, and who is still here. We had a successful trip, for the most part. [ ilde's meltdown excluded. ] Hopefully our good luck continues. I think we've all come to the agreement by now that this place can turn on a dime.

[ roy pauses, again, before his face settles into something a bit more somber. having been here since the very start, roy is used to this song and dance by now. it's only a matter of time before people are sent home, and he runs a hand through his hair, shaking out the last of the snow. ]

So. Who have we lost? And who is still here? And does anyone have any bets on what is coming next?

[ at the very least, roy is here to listen. ]

[Maes sits in the Office/Library he'd started with Barabas, you know, his usual spot. The notes and maps are pushed aside and instead there is a worn, dark green binder sitting in front of him. He looks very serious for all of five seconds as he pulls the binder over, holds it up for the audience (ie you) to see. As soon as he opens it Maes is grinning. The binder is clearly a photo album and you are created with an entire page of baby Elysia pictures.]

Look! Astoria brought me one of my favorite photo albums.

[He proceeds to spend the next few minutes showing you pictures, helpfully describing how cute or precious Elysia is in each one. There are a few of Gracia tucked in there as well and a few other people from his life but clearly those people aren't as important. He looks up after a few pages, unsure if you're still watching. He smiles, glancing down at the photo album a few times as he speaks.]

I have to admit. I was a little afraid when Astoria said she had a present for us, but this actually didn't turn out too bad. Between this and the stuff I was able to bring back from Faerun, I'm a little curious how other people fared. Which reminds me...

[He pauses, digging around in his pocket and pulling out the smooth blue stone, with the symbol of Mirabar etched onto it. He holds it up.]

I was also curious if anyone else ended up with one of these? I don't recall picking up something like this...I'd like to know if there was a pattern.

[His eyes drift back to the photo album, open to a page of Elysia standing on a stool with a little apron. She's got dough on her fingers and is smiling. Maes's serious demeanor immediately flips back to that of the gushing father.]

Oooh~ This was that time Elysia helped her mommy make bread! She's such a big helper~

[Right? What were we talking about?]

[Although she's currently an elf, the one feature of Ikaruga's that's remained completely the same has been her pink hair. When she flips on the network, she's looking rather satisfied with the results of the jobs she's taken.]

Hello, my dear Circle comrades. How are you enjoying your time here? These changes we've all experienced are interesting, are they not?

[She's up for some small talk, although that's not the main reason for her post to the network.]

I've just purchased some quality mead and two pies that I cannot possibly finish myself. Perchance, would anyone care to join me for a drink and some dessert?

Hey! So I'm not the only one that thinks that this is totally just like a video game, right??? Not just what's going on right now, this is just like World of Warcraft and it's really weird and I don't like it!!! But the entire whole 'temple with magical stuff and going off on quests' and all that? What gives? Are we supposed to be some sort of heroes or something? Do we get powerups? I think we should get powerups!

[Please ignore the freneticness, it's just how Tweek is on a daily basis.]

Hello again, it's me- er, Konoha. There's a lot of new people here, so I want to say "I'm the centaur" so you know who I am, but I'm kind of not right now...

[or there's video, honey...]

But I do look the same! From the waist up, I mean. Just, I guess I'm human now... hopefully just for this world, but- A "druid" human!

Anyway, I just wanted to ask, since... Basically everyone else from the temple is usually human or at least has just two legs and it's not like I ever really thought about this kind of thing, and for once we aren't someplace that seems super dangerous, so...

Is there anything only humans can do that I should try before I'm a jinba again?

Hey. So my name is Dr. Nathaniel Heywood, but most people just call me Nate. I'm a historian, not a medical doctor, so if that's something you need, I probably can't help you much there. But if you ever want some good trivia about different period's in Earth's history, I'm your man.

Anyway. That's not this is about. I have a question. So it seems like our powers from home don't work here, and we have cool new powers instead which you know, is cool and all, but say if some of your abilities back home had neutralized a disease you had struggled with most of your life back home -- would you find yourself suffering from it again here?

Just, you know, asking for a hemophiliac friend of mine.

[that hemophiliac friend is himself.]

Any feedback or theories would be appreciated.

[ roy is seated in a secluded area of the temple that many may recognize as maes and barabas’ office. he has a notebook in front of him that a great deal of stuff seems to be written in, but roy himself doesn’t have a pen in hand. those paying careful attention may recognize that the writing in the notebook is, indeed, roy’s handwriting, but it’s certainly not legible.

anyway. roy looks a bit tired, but in relatively good spirits, despite what he suffered on the horologium. he’s been relatively quiet, since coming back to the temple -- focused on recovering, catching up with his closer circle of friends and family, and preparing himself for what he had to do next, which is, incidentally, address the circle.

And so, roy clears his throat. ]

( tl;dr )

Hello?

It looks like tech, but it's apparently magic. That's a new one, even for me. Although the past few days have been nothing BUT "new ones" so I suppose I should just get used to that. Not the point here, let me get to it.

My name's Carmen. I came in with the festival I guess. I'm currently hanging out at the Fighting Ring and was curious if there was anyone who also wanted to blow off some steam or at least work off some of that food.
If not, I guess I'll be giving these dummies a beat down.

[There's a pause and then quickly adds.]

Oh. Or I guess I could finally try to figure out this ability I was supposedly given. After everything else I've seen and heard that one might be the least strange. Unfortunately, I can't test my ability without some help. If you're interested let me know. It could be interesting for the both of us.

See you around.

[Carmen will reply to repsonses here OR you can just go find her at the fighting ring]

So...I was thinking (dangerous, I know)

But don't get me wrong, the Horologium was definitely awful in a lot of ways, but I can't help but feel that we came out of it with some measure of success. At least, more than Akvos?

I guess I'm wondering if there's a way we can figure out what we did differently between the two worlds. Or past worlds, for that matter, but I wasn't around for those.

I think if we know what we've done that works, then we can be ready for the next world. Or at the very least, prevent another Akvos.

If anyone's got any thoughts, I'd like to hear them.

Thanks

It's Yang.

I'm going to cut to the chase: Those of us who died at the Horologium had a shared vision of a woman named "Alcina" (sp?). She specifically said that Astoria made sure that we wouldn't know of her existence, and that she needs our help.

"Search for me. I am not far."

We don't know anything else about her, but she's here. Somewhere. Waiting for us to find her.

So what's it gonna be? Are we in or are we out? Discuss. (Personally, I'm all in.)

You left me to die.

[ Soft with buried rage and spite. ]

[ when the feed comes on, riza's expression is tense. controlled. she's looking straight into the camera. there's an air of professionalism to her as she speaks, but that's to be expected.

she's lived through enough warzones, calamities, and nightmares to know how this goes. ]

My name is Riza Hawkeye. I know some of you, but-

[ not important. she blinks herself out of that. roy was always better at this, wasn't he? okay, breathe. ]

We need to regroup. I'm sure everyone has felt some part of what is going on, but things are getting out of hand. We can't turn on each other at a time like this, not with whatever is happening down below. I know a lot of us are scared, but if we're going to get through this, we need to pull together.

[ a beat, and then she exhales. riza doesn't look fantastic, honestly. she hasn't slept in who knows how long, and with everything going on around the ship?

but she's trying, that has to mean something, right? ]

Anyone who needs help, come find me in the lounge. I know basic first aid and can see what I can do. If anyone has any kind of healing abilities that are working? I can help with those too. I'm trying to collect what supplies we have, but help is appreciated.

I'll be in the Lounge if anyone needs to find me.

[ and then the feed cuts.



ooc timeline wise! this is happening semi-post the event log but pre the wrap-up log! meaning that people who went down in the first log can be back up, but all the dead bodies haven't made it up. she is open for network stuff but also if you just want to action meeting her in the lounge......feel free.

also.....no one has told her about roy yet so. that is open. c: ]

[The camera's at an unnaturally flattering angle of Mettaton's upper body, something only possible for someone with extendable arms or something ridiculous like that. He sits behind a table of some kind, and if he had a stack of papers and a pristine suit it might be reminiscent of a news anchor. But for anyone who has met this showy robot, Mettaton's expression looks a lot more drained than usual. He quickly remedies this and puts forth a pleasant smile, his voice smooth and clear.]

Hello there, beauties and gentlebeauties! It's Mettaton, here at last to deliver the content you've been craving! ...If we weren't under such grim circumstances. You see. I would love for the purpose of this communication to be to serenade you with my dulcet voice. But I have some news for you that is both meaty and fascinating... Like a Steak In The Shape Of My Face, which is both enticing and satiating. So why not compromise and have both?? [He raises a finger.] I've just recovered from connecting to the Horologium itself in an attempt to gather some information by using my robotic talents... At the pleading of Pidge-darling over here. [Who he gestures to, but she's off camera.] And with her assistance. It wasn't easy! Think of it as a token of my dedication to you, my lovely new viewers... Ohhh yes!!

( Read more... )

[ On the video feed today, a tired looking young man appears in the lounge. Miyuki has been going through notebook after notebook, and he's been up again trying to determine what the hell he could be doing. He's finally decided on turning on the watch. ]

Good afternoon. This is Miyuki Shirogane-- apologies if I've been a bit quiet lately. I've been spending a lot of time in the lounge attempting to get my bearings. I've... well, never been in space, and I wanted some time just to take it all in, I guess.

[ It was hard to deny that he had been spending an absurd amount of time stargazing. His childlike dreams come first! ]

That being said, I figured... there may be others who may not know what's been going on so well, so I was wondering if we could consolidate our information. I don't know if that's something we'd want to do through the video feed, or meet up somewhere to do so, but I figured I would put the idea on the table. I'm willing to take notes down, if necessary.

[ A pause. ] I figure as well, it may be good to... check on whether or not there's anyone who may be missing. If there's someone out there that hasn't been accounted for in a while.

Thank you for your time.

(( of course, threadjacking encouraged!! let's spread the joy and the info! ))

[ lotor is in the lounge area, and seems to have found the video games. he's not playing them, but he seems to be considering it, fiddling with one of the controllers as he speaks. and, for someone stuck on an abandoned spaceship, he doesn't seem to be too entirely bothered by the whole stuck thing.

outwardly, anyway. inwardly, lotor is suffering psychologically just like everyone else, but he does a good job at pretending he isn't. he is a professional liar, after all. ]

All of this exploration and chatter, and no one has come together to wonder what is making that noise?

[ he doesn't sound bothered, by the ever-present rumbling underneath their feet, but he does sound curious. like this entire thing is academic, rather than, you know. a dead ship prison. ]

I was born on a space station, and I have to admit, I have never heard something like that. And, as Sheryl has already pointed out, we are not moving. We seem to be stuck in stasis, hanging in nothingness, while something, or someone, is making that dreadful noise.

[ he tosses the controller onto a nearby couch. ]

The closest thing I can think of is that it almost reminds me of the planet destroyers, in my own corner of the universe. Giant creatures that wander space and time, eating dead planets. It is a remarkable function, and interesting to study -- an intergalactic recycling center, ensuring that the universe does not get overly cluttered. Or perhaps it's a malfunction of the mechanical variety, or maybe the noise is simply in our own heads, a figment of our imagination.

[ lotor pauses before shrugging, and inclines his head toward the screen. there is something, in the glint in his eyes. a need to be distracted, a need to talk to someone, a need to not feel trapped on this ship going absolutely nowhere.

being stuck is the thing lotor hates the very most. ]

Does anyone else want to add to the baseless guessing, or would someone like to join me in a game of flight simulation?

ooc: threadjacking is always welcome in my posts. :)

What happens to the people that leave here?

Do they make it back home or... something else? It doesn't seem to make much sense.