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memeisteria2024-07-15 05:51 pm
magisteriamods) wrote in memeisteria2024-07-15 05:51 pm
Magisteria TDM #3
Welcome to a very special edition of Magisteria's TDM! In the first two TDMs, arriving Otherworlders found themselves within a transportation station in High Rise Village, Magisteria's Business District. For this TDM... they will find themselves arriving somewhere quite a bit more unique.
Note: If players prefer to use the set-up/prompts/locations from the first two TDMs, they are free to do so! Mod just gets bored of using the same/very similar material for each TDM, so this is meant to be something entirely new. Current players are highly encouraged to participate, of course! This TDM has ample reward/longterm opportunities for both new and current players.
Mod is currently redoing the pages and adding some pages (Flora/Fauna, The Story So Far), but prospective players are highly encouraged to read The July Plotting Post for information on the details of Magisteria's metaplot which have thus far been revealed! Those details will be alluded to in various parts of this TDM!
Currently, arriving Otherworlders have regained approximately 25% of canon powers. If you have a question as to whether a particular power would work here or be gamebreaking, or HOW a particular power would work in this world, feel free to ask!
For the new arrivals to the world of Medeas and its capital, the island city-state of Magisteria (called “The Eternal City,” and “the greatest city in the multiverse”), this journey begins in the same manner as it has begun for other recent waves of arriving Otherworlders: you see a vision of a tree of life that blazes with colors brighter than any you have seen before. In another moment, or perhaps many moments later, you find yourself within a new world, but there is no sense of upheaval – only peace.
This time, however… it is not a station that you and the others find yourselves within. And the person who greets you all is not a teenage girl.
Is it... in fact, a person, at all?
The Forest Spirit Speaks Thus to All Otherworlders
“Greetings, Otherworlders. Your group, like those who came before you, is invited to view the projection that Minister Brennam has prepared for you all. I have had it downloaded into your aXess Link devices. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a demonstration of those devices, as the groups before you were given, but I expect some of your companions might be along soon.
Those who came before you arrived at one of our city’s transportation stations, but you… you have arrived at a far more sacred location.
I am called Gloambristle, and you all now stand within the Central Gardens at the heart of the city-state of Magisteria, capital of the world of Medeas, the first of all worlds.
Long, long ago… before the two wars… before the Enemies of our world arrived from beyond the dimming stars, Medeas was a world of gods and mystical entities, a world bathed in never-ending, gentle twilight, where the spirits roamed the lands and the seas and the skies.
These Central Gardens, properly known as The Elysian Grove, are the only place on the island where many of these ancient spirits now reside.
Today, the gates of the Grove have opened. The invitation is extended: you may enter our world, the world of the ancient native beings of Medeas, those whose existence preceded the Infinity Corridors and the coming of the human and human-like races. Secluded for millennia, these beings know no fear of Otherworlders. They know no suspicion, no anger, no hatred, and they bear no knowledge of war or conflict.
All that is asked of you is that you treat our sacred ancestors with the respect they are due, for it was many of their brethren who, so long ago, gave up their lives that this world and its peoples might have the quantity of Bios that empowers such a glorious city-state.
Those who behave with disrespect within the Elysian Grove will find themselves teleported back into the urban quarters of the city… and the Gates will close behind you. Possibly forevermore.
That said, treat our beloved Ancestors, our First Peoples, with respect, and you shall be Blessed with enchantments that are agnostic with respect to the magic/tech division, the pure power of the Elder Races that dictates communication and interaction with worlds and beings beyond yourselves and your limited frames of reference.”
Description: One of the more common nature spirits, Lumens tend to congregate in more magically-oriented areas of the island but can be found everywhere. Social and curious by nature, they are only seen at night and provide a natural ambience that illuminates the surrounding area. They have been known to follow people that catch their interest and sometimes even make a light trilling sound to gain the attention of others. It is also a special talent of these spirits to find that which is lost. Though they cannot be caught or tamed, more than one lost child or item has been found by a nosy spirit who decided to intervene.
A Guide to the Blessings of the Elysian Grove
These “Blessings” take no stock of the magic/tech division which dominates powers elsewhere in the city-state. The reason for this is that they are not derived from magic formed by conventional Bios, with its many manifestations, but come directly from the pure spiritual power of the ancients. The bioluminescent Bios of the Elysian Grove is to regular Bios what universal background radiation is to the galaxies and stars born long thereafter: echoes, visions of a world from long ago.
As such, this TDM is a chance for arriving Otherworlders and current players to gain all kinds of interesting powers, some of which even have the potential to grow into ultra-special end-game tier abilities!
How to Qualify for Blessings: Super easy! Reply to a blessing prompt and thread out five (5) comments. [If needed, mod will help players get enough comments for each prompt to ensure everyone qualifies who wants a blessing.] The interactions which acquire the Blessings are quite simple: mostly completing straightforward tasks for the forest spirits.
Each player may thread out/qualify for three (3) blessings! Any player who claims three blessings can add one more thread at the Ceremony (also 5 comments) to receive the Final Blessing, the most powerful blessing of them all. In other words, each player can claim three blessings and add the Final Blessing for a fourth. [20 comments total.]
First Encounter: Nyxaris Sylvantis
A spirit approaches you. It carries a basket of spectral ferns in one hand, and glowing flowers in the other. Around it, there float mystical candles, suspended in mid-air.
“Hello, kind Otherworlders,” the spirit greets you. “I am Nyxaris Sylvantis, the gardener of the Elysian Grove. Tonight, I am picking flowers for our Guardian. You may encounter her, should you venture deep enough within this timeless land. Will you help me with this task, kind Otherworlders?”
Objective: Help Nyxaris Sylvantis gather Glowshade Ferns and Phantom Lilies.
Possible obstacles: Mischievous little forest spirits love to hide or relocate the flowers as a game, and they’re especially excited to play with Otherworlders. Also, the Grove’s pathways are known to shift as one traverses them, which can make the simple task of collecting the flowers a bit more challenging. Characters might also encounter enchanted vines which guard the places where the flowers grow, or confusing and misleading illusions.
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of the Luminous Bloom: The Nyxaris Sylvantis rewards Otherworlders for their help by gifting them with one of the glowing flowers. This is no ordinary Nightglow, but more like the ancestral spirit of the Nightglows of Magisteria. It can restore light to darkened entities, such as the Shadow Creatures of the Agrarian Enclave, or Nightglow flowers which have dimmed. If used on The Fractured, they will simply cease to function, but in a peaceful, painless manner. Its powers counteract whatever these dark [still mysterious] anti-Bios forces are that Otherworlders have begun to encounter. HOWEVER, the Luminous Bloom’s light-gifting powers will deplete if used 4-5 times, so use wisely, Otherworlders!
The Luminous Bloom is also said to be able to light the pathways of Absolute Darkness, the great nether regions of Magisteria wherein dwell things composed of overwhelming, unfathomable darkness that can drive the mind of a human to madness. Otherworlders who acquire this Blessing will want to keep it for possible end-game reasons, as it will be a candle allowing them to traverse the abysses where none can tread without assistance.
The Night Procession: Glimmerpelt, Twinklekin, and Forest Ghosts
As you progress deeper into the Grove, you begin to encounter the night procession of the animal forest spirits. You encounter a Glimmerpelt, the ancestral spirit of Magisteria’s red panda, a group of Twinklekin, and a forest ghost owl sitting atop a forest ghost deer.
The deer and the Glimmerpelt approach in soft, ambling steps to sniff you out, and the Twinklekin jump from their branches and gather around you with a chorus of excited squeaking sounds.
“<< Otherworlders! Otherworlders! >>” the Twinklekin chatter/exclaim. “<< Play with us, Otherworlders! >>”
“Can you tell us a story, kind Otherworlders?” the Glimmerpelt asks. “Can you tell us about the goings-on of our city-state, beyond the walls of the Gardens? Are the animals in Magisteria still loved and well-cared for by the humans? Can you tell us of the animals you have loved, or a story about a heroic animal?”
Finally, the deer and the owl both look at you imploringly: “Kind Otherworlders, we are on a journey to the Heart of the Grove, to re-unite with the Owl Forged By Night and the Quintessence Deer. We are very hungry and crave the golden acorns and the moonlight berries. Will you accompany us on our journey?”
Objective: Entertain the animal spirits! For the Glimmerpelt, Otherworlders who have been within Magisteria for a while can relay any positive information they have learned about the animals within the city-state. New arrivals can simply tell it a good story about an animal, or about any animal(s) they have loved. Current players also have this option, should they choose to go that route. Play with the Twinklekin and entertain them through whatever means. Help the two forest ghosts, owl and deer, collect and consume the golden acorns and the moonlight berries, and perhaps continue to accompany them deeper into the Grove. Their journey will lead to the Heart of the Grove.
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of The Words of the Forest: Positive interactions with the Glimmerpelt, Twinklekin, and/or the two forest ghosts will yield this blessing, which allows for characters to understand animal speech. This will give characters a great edge in some of the upcoming events in Magisteria and possibly allow them to uncover plot secrets ahead of others who cannot ask questions of the creatures of the wild!
The Night Procession Continues: Glimmerhorn, Astral Fox, and Celestial Bird
Deeper, deeper you walk into the forests of the twilight world. Perhaps now you are accompanied by the deer and owl forest ghosts on their journey to the Heart of the Grove.
But now, the night procession of the animals reveals even more fantastic creatures. A deer with a body like the night stars and gleaming antlers, known as a Glimmerhorn, manifests from within the lit evening. It gazes upon you with a keen, piercing intensity, as though peering into your soul. Intuitively, you will realize the Glimmerhorn seeks a trial of Nobility. It wishes to see your most noble aspirations and accomplishments.
Should you open your heart and mind to the spirit, those aspirations, memories, and dreams may manifest as apparitions that are visible for all around you to witness.
The next creature is an Astral Fox. “<< Hello, kind Otherworlders. Will you help me harmonize the sky, the lunar world, and the terrestrial essences? >>”
Otherworlders who engage the Astral Fox will find themselves, in spiritual form, wandering the heavens of the Grove. Their goal is to collect shooting stars, celestial essences, which to their new spirit forms, are tiny enough to hold in the palm of one’s hands. As they collect these essences, they will encounter Sky Bears and Sky Bunnies, who are looking upon them with great curiosity.
Once Otherworlders collect a few shooting stars, they will find themselves back within their bodies, feeling as if they just experienced a dream. They will then need to root out terrestrial sparkseeds. These are little bits of golden glowing light scattered amid the flowers and fungi and general flora of the grove: they are created by creatures called Glowforgers. The Astral Fox will take the shooting stars and the sparkseeds to harmonize them in its celestial/terrestrial workings and thank Otherworlders for assisting it with its duties in maintaining harmony and order between the lunar/celestial realm and this world.
Finally, you encounter the Celestial Bird. The Celestial bird asks you to help it collect notes of music which have been scattered throughout the Grove, that it may make its enchanted song.
Objective: Display your Nobility to the Glimmerhorn via manifestations of your most noble hopes/dreams/wishes/accomplishments. If a character reminisces or simply muses upon their noble aspirations or accomplishments and opens themselves to the Glimmerhorn, the images will manifest naturally as spectral visions within the Grove. Help the Astral Fox collect the celestial and terrestrial essences, and help the Celestial Bird collect the notes of music for its birdsong.
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of the Great Animal Spirits: Characters who acquire this blessing will be guaranteed a special visit, either in person or in a dream, by the animal spirits who represent the gods of Magisteria. If characters/players pursue interactions with the animal spirits who serve as emissaries for the gods, they will then be able to pursue special plots towards finding and interacting with the gods themselves. This will of course be conducted with the mod as a special player plot.
...deeper and deeper into the Twilit World
The Cascadefolk
By now, Otherworlders are entering the very deep places of the Elysian Grove. The pathways continue to shift, becoming more playful, and the illusions continue. Otherworlders may see their dreams and spiritual manifestations of themselves and other beings, like echoes, in this timeless place. However, everything has a sort of pristine beauty and peace that is unique to the primeval world. Edenic, one might say. In the Elysian Grove, it feels as though anything is possible.
Soon, Otherworlders in this deep part of the Grove will begin to see bodies of water: streams and waterfalls. Among these waterways, you glimpse a group of spirits: they introduce themselves as the Cascadefolk.
“Greetings, kind Otherworlders. We are collecting gourds of water to take to the festivities tonight in the Heart of the Grove. We will be bringing the Twilit Water for all the thirsty forest spirits, and we will bring water for all the night-blooming flowers. We will water the grass, so that the Twilit Water may become the morning dew. Will you help us collect the water?”
The waters are full of glistening, pure Bios.
A very important ceremony is happening tonight, you are told. Perhaps it happens every night in the timeless world, or perhaps it only happens once in a hundred years, for time has no meaning within the Grove. But the Guardian is coming: she and her entourage, and all must be prepared within the Heart of the Grove.
“The waters have been whispering to us,” the Cascadefolk tell you. “We’re very concerned about what the waters have seen. A woman, a great magic user, who seeks absolute Authority over all the waters and all the beings of the waters of Magisteria, as well as the creatures of nature, whom she intends to force to become her allies. She leads a group of other magic users… and they seek to take over the city, to make her the Sovereign. Keep your eyes upon the Agrarian Enclave, Otherworlders, and upon the Harbor District and Sacred Nexus. Soon, soon, they will be coming.”
Within the Grove, the Cascadefolk can do nothing about these rogue magic users. But they tell you they will give you a great gift in reward for your help: a gift which can summon the powers of the spirit world to oppose the forces which seek to disturb the peaceful balance of power within Magisteria.
Objective: Help the Cascadefolk collect gourds of the Twilit Water and continue to accompany them and the other spirits towards the heart of the Grove.
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of the Key of Spirit: This is no ordinary key, but a VIP pass to interactions with the supernatural world of Magisteria. Characters who receive this Blessing will be able to qualify for early and special access to supernatural quarters of Magisteria and they will also qualify for specialized interactions with supernatural and spiritual beings in the world. Mod will collaborate further with players who receive this Blessing for special player plots to build off this reward.
Brightshrooms and Luna Mothling
Once you have traversed beyond the waterways, you (and perhaps the owl and deer ghosts, still traveling alongside you) begin to encounter luminous fungi. These are called Brightshrooms, and while most are – illumination aside – seemingly ordinary mushrooms, a few of them have faces and appear to have a kind of sentience.
Amid the Brightshrooms flits the Luna Mothling.
“Everything must be arranged, everything must be arranged!” speaks the Luna Mothling. “The ceremony is occurring in the Grove! Listen, Brightshrooms! Please alert all the moths, the butterflies!”
The Luna Mothling asks Otherworlders to help her sound the bells: it’s time to summon the animal spirits to the Heart of the Grove for the ceremony. The Guardian is coming.
Objective: Help the Luna Mothling chime the flower bells to summon the remaining spirits of the Grove, such as the spectral tapirs and the moonstone spirits, as well as the moths, butterflies, fungi, and any other forest spirits you have encountered, including Lumens.
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of Alignment Shift: Recipients of this Blessing will be able to turn an enemy into an ally. It will only work a certain number of times, and only against certain enemies. Enemies whom the Blessing can work on will be noted as such, and mod will collaborate with players who wish to pursue this ability.
Gem Bears, Shinepuffs, and Leafy Bears
It’s almost time to make the final journey to the Heart of the Grove. However, before you do, there is one more group of spirits which you encounter.
Gem bears peek at your goings-on a bit shyly. Then, as you continue walking, a group of Shinepuffs appear. The Shinepuffs, like the Twinklekin, are excited, wiggly little creatures. When they see you, they come rushing forth, literally tripping over one another and sometimes tumbling over themselves in an excited pile.
“<< Otherworlders! Otherworlders! Love! Love! >>” the Shinepuffs exclaim in little chirping voices.
Finally, a group of spectral Leafy Bears, caught in various states of napping, roll from their leafs and begin to join your group. It is time to move towards the final ceremony. All you have to do is direct this group of your new forest friends towards the ceremony that will commence soon at the Heart of the Grove.
Objective: Accompany the spirits to the site of the great Ceremony. Very straightforward!
🌟 Reward 🌟 Blessing of True Love: The Shinepuffs and the spirits of the Grove value love above all else. It is the one emotion they know and understand. As a reward for treating them kindly (with love), Otherworlders will receive this Blessing. It allows an Otherworlder to revive an ally whom they truly love (either platonic/filial/friendly or romantic, or both) from near death. It will have a one-time use of being able to revive an ally, whom one has loved, who has died: the purest of love.
Finally, you realize you are approaching the deepest part of this timeless realm. You are approaching the Heart of the Grove, where the edges of reality and illusions bend and fade into one another. Around you are swirling mists and bird songs, and from all over the Grove, the spirits you have met are appearing once more, all slowly moving forward into one long gathering and procession of beings. They move with the rhythms of the night. Above, the three remaining moons of Medeas are swollen full and brilliant, aglow with the purest white light. It is a place that feels like all the most beautiful dreams you have ever had.
Before you, you see the image of a deer: made of pure light, like the moonlight. Without being told, you will realize it is the Quintessence Deer, and shortly along comes the Owl Forged by Night. They are the first spirits of their kind, and they join the other animals, the other varied spirits, the flora and the fungi. All are coming to gather in this place.
Before the Ceremony commences and you at last encounter the Guardian of the Elysian Grove, however, one final spirit appears:
“Greetings, Otherworlders. Let me be direct: I am called the Shimmer Warden, and the reason I approach you now is because I have come to tell you about Medeas and Magisteria, about the history of our world. I understand you all have had many questions. There are things I, too, may not be able to speak of or answer, but I will give you as comprehensive of an overview as I can, and perhaps it will give you some insight into… many things. Come, let us walk together, and I shall speak to you: a tale of long ago.”
The Shimmer Warden: A History Lesson of Medeas/Magisteria
“At the beginning of time, there was the Great Dimiourgia. In some worlds, it is known as “The Big Bang.” Bios formed. Beings of pure Bios became the gods and spirits of Medeas/Magisteria.
In the early days, there were many gods. Every aspect of the world or the imagination had its own god. However, three gods became transcendent over Medeas, and these were the first three born after the Great Dimiourgia: Imera-Nychta, the dual goddess of life and death, Magian, god of magic, and Techne, the god of technology. In the early days, Techne was a more minor deity, for the technology of the world was far simpler, but, in accordance with the progress of the world, they are now a member of the Trinity, on par with the other two.
These gods, the Trinity of Magisteria, are the ones still worshipped by the humans and the human-like races. Their shrines can be found in the Sacred Nexus, the Temple District, which you Otherworlders will someday visit.
The spirits you have encountered tonight? They are not related to this core pantheon of deities. Rather, they are the spectral remnants of the various other pantheons: and you will glimpse other remnants of such pantheons as you journey throughout Medeas and Magisteria.
You will have ample time to learn of the great gods, the Trinity, who preside over the Realm of the Gods, and over Magisteria and Medeas. But tonight, I will tell you of the being who seeded the world you see before you.
But first, there before you: Behold, there is the most precious creation of that being -- Our Guardian of the Elysian Grove."
She is not likely to speak to Otherworlders, you are told, due to her great shyness, but she looks at you all with keen curiosity and interest. Around her, all the spirits of the Grove begin to congregate, tipping their heads respectfully. She is accompanied by an entourage of Star Children, dimunitive beings composed of starlight.
Soon, all of the spirits of the Grove begin to lift their voices in a long, haunting melody. There are no words, or if there are words, they are not words you can decipher, but somehow, you know that this song embodies centuries, millennia of memories stored within this place. Even the celestial bodies, the moons and the stars, seem to be listening to the song, as the pulses of their twinkling within the sky intensify. The air is lit with fireflies and dancing Lumens and permeated with the sounds of thousands of animal spirits, from the largest of the terrestrial wildlife to the smallest of the spirits of insects.
The Shimmer Warden Continues: About Our Guardian and the Spirit World
"Is she not lovely, Otherworlders? Her name is Lunatia. She was created, as we all were, by the being whom I alluded to before: its name was The Architect, or, more fully, The Architect of Moons and Butterflies. The Architect breathed life into the spirits of the forest and set the waterfalls and the moons in their places. Yet it especially wished for a daughter. So it imbued one of the moths with a share of its powers, and thus Lunatia was created. Then the Architect realized its daughter would be lonely, so it took a butterfly and imbued the butterfly with celestial essences, and thus Lunatia’s sister, Nocturna, was born.
Ah… but ultimately, The Sundering parted the two sisters… and Nocturna has been gone for centuries, her life relegated to struggles in the human world. She took part in the conflicts of the Unseelie and now rules over a faerie court in the Sacred Nexus district. But that is a story for another time. There is a great sadness in Lunatia’s heart. Though long eons have passed, she has never forgotten her sister… and our hope is that perhaps you Otherworlders may re-unite them: the sister of light and the sister of the darkness. To heal Lunatia’s heart… that she may even speak to strangers once more.
But the story I wish to tell you now concerns The Architect and the history of the wars.
By now, you have heard of the Enemies of Magisteria, the beings who came from the Outer Darkness. As Bios is light and life energy, these beings were composed of something like the opposite: Umbra, we call it. “Anti-Bios.” But, like the dark matter between the stars, it is difficult to define. It is not merely darkness, but the opposite of life itself. Crawling chaos and unfathomable abysses which poison the mind and body and can twist humans and other beings into monstrosities. The Enemies controlled and embodied these powers of Umbra, sowing discord in our peoples and threatening the existence of ourselves, our way of life, and our planet.
The Architect and the gods of Magisteria protected our world, but not without losses.
Then, two-hundred years ago, there came the Great Enemy.
I can barely speak of the Great Enemy… because when I think of it, even now, I shake with fear. We all did and do. Its name is forbidden, and there is only so much I can say. But I will say that its powers were enormous: indeed, there seemed to be nothing it could not do. It could put out the stars, it could take the shapes of people’s loved ones and speak with their voices. It could absorb all information in all the systems of the world and then strategize that information. Most significantly, unlike the Enemies from before, the Great Enemy had the shape and intelligence of a human.
You see, we spirits, and even the gods, are somewhat simple. The cruelty humans inflict upon each other… death, war, conquests, torture, psychological torments… we do not understand such things. In the deathless primeval world, we scarcely have a vocabulary for such things.
But the Great Enemy was calculating and ruthless, and intelligent enough to exploit the weakness of others, to play psychological games and invent ways to create endless torture against those who opposed it.
”Subjugation is the fate of inferior life forms.”
That is what it said. I still remember that cruel smirk on the visage of the humanoid form it took.
Perhaps you have heard that, in the Realm of the Gods, the Trinity guards a sacred object. This object is the source of all Bios, the thing that creates universes. It was that which this being sought. It wished to take hold of the sacred object and remake the multiverse according to its own design. We in Medeas and Magisteria were entrusted with the protection not only of our world, but of all worlds. Yet here, we were up against a most formidable opponent. And we spirits, with our magic, but without the cunning ruthlessness of humans to strategize… we were greatly outmatched in many respects.
That brings me to the final part of my story: The Architect’s sacrifice.”
Before you, the vision of a being appears. It is a memory from the Shimmer Warden.
The Last Story
“This was the form of the Architect. Its appearance was more like that of the Enemies, the Elder Gods from the Outer Darkness, and indeed, the Architect had unique control of the power of Umbra, and it certainly could have used its powers for darkness or corruption or twisting the minds of humans, had it chosen such a path. But instead, it loved light and Bios and this world. It harmonized the darkness of Umbra and the brightness of Bios to build this secluded world, the Elysian Grove, the primeval lands. It filled them with the spirits you have met tonight.
Before the final stand against the Great Enemy, it said to me:
“My friend, if there is one thing you must remember, it is this. Medeas is and will continue to become a world of fantastic magic and technology. Yet what makes Medeas, Magisteria, wonderful, is neither of these things, but rather the ideology of the commitment to solidarity and the belief in the rights of all beings. We must always put first the care for the future generations, for the children who are not born yet. To take care of one another… that is what matters most, and we must never lose sight of that.
Perhaps, when I review my legacy, I may be a failure. I could not re-unite my daughters. I could not rekindle the happiness in Lunatia’s heart. Someday, the Otherworlders with the unique markings will arrive, and they may have the cleverness and ingenuity that I and the other first deities of this world lacked. Please, I ask that you all protect my daughter, and she in turn will protect you.”
And then what do you suppose happened next, Otherworlders? The Architect used much of its power in that war, for it had unique abilities to oppose the Great Enemy. And then, as its power was depleted, it turned its body to stone and sealed itself within another dimension. It is in stasis now… but perhaps you all may yet return the Architect to this world. Someday…
This was Lunatia’s second great heartbreak, and she has never recovered from the loss of her sister and father. Our hope, Otherworlders, is that you will come to love Medeas and Magisteria… as we love it… as Lunatia, our Guardian, loves it… as the Architect loved it…”
This is the product of the Great Ceremony which you all have borne witness to:
A celestial seed, the essence of the cosmos. Though presently dormant, it carries within it the powers of the moons and the stars, the galaxies themselves. Otherworlders who have attained their first three Blessings and made it all the way to this final Blessing may eventually leverage it to gain the powers of the heavenly bodies.
Though it will take some time (as this is end-game level material), Otherworlders will eventually be able to influence and command the moon and stars, such as drawing power/Bios from the stars and using it to enhance their abilities, or even using the stars/moons/cosmic bodies as weapons/magic or drawing Bios/magic from them. Their bodies will become the bodies of gods, impervious to any weapon forged by humans, impervious to the absolute coldness of space or the heat of the volcanoes or the stars.
The Shimmer Warden tells you that only with the Greatest of Powers can you all stand a chance of defeating the Great Enemy… should it and its many minions (all quite powerful) re-appear.
The Final Blessing is forged from Guardian Lunatia’s power, from her love of the Grove, from the feelings of all the spirits of the Grove, and from the hopes and dreams they have inherited from The Architect of Moons and Butterflies. It is the greatest gift to Otherworlders that their divinity creates through this Ceremony, and represents the will to protect Magisteria and the multiverse from the gravest of dangers.
Erichthonios | Final Fantasy XIV
It is a surreal experience, arriving in these lands. Not merely because of how different they are, but also of how much things… seem a little bit the same, like the forest spirit that bears an infinitesimal resemblance to a melanion but is most certainly not a manifestation of the concept. For one, 'tis much too docile. And for another, 'tis well-spoken… and in the tongue of man, no less.
Bewildered as he is, Erichthonios finds himself inclined to listen. And the more he listens, the more he finds things here so very different, and yet so very much the same.
It is only belatedly he realizes another is there. Lifting his head, Erichthonios speaks hastily to make up for his lack of attention. "Apologies. Are we… supposed to go in?"
II. FIRST ENCOUNTER
Again, Erichthonios finds the situation to bear an almost dreamlike familiarity. The flora are none that he recognize, yet their luminescent quality reminds him so strongly of one particular flower that he accepts the request without hesitation.
"I wonder if any special care is needed to tend the blooms so that they may reach their intended recipient unharmed. Mayhap a spell could be used to preserve them…"
Interrupting his own musing, he turns to the nearest person to pose an inquiry.
"Have you seen any flowers like the ones our friend desires in your time here? I fear I know not where to look…"
III. GLIMMERPELT, TWINKLEKIN, AND FOREST GHOSTS
As much as Erichthonios is inclined to lend his aid, there are inevitably one or two things with which he struggles. In this case, his newness to these lands is something of an unfortunate setback.
"Apologies, but I am but recently arrived. I know not of the conditions of the animals that you care for, though I share your hope that they be well."
And the 'animals' he cares for… mayhap speaking of them might bring more distress in this instance than joy, much as he cares for their well-being. Unable to fulfill the request, he instead turns to another nearby.
"Mayhap you are more knowledgeable than I of how the creatures of this star are faring?"
IV. GLIMMERHORN, ASTRAL FOX, AND CELESTIAL BIRD
Ever one to wear his heart upon his sleeve, Erichthonios has no qualms in sharing his aspirations with the Glimmerhorn, though he speaks with an air of humility bordering on self-depreciation.
"I cannot say that I have achieved much on my own. However, with the aid of my friends… we managed to save those that would otherwise have been condemned."
To death, no less. And so, as the images spring forth, they take the form of some dozen or so others dressed in robes much alike the humble, red-eyed man, as they are released from the cages that hold them in captivity, the projected image of himself going to them, helping another, older-looking man in tending to their wounds with healing magicks.
The sight of it brings a small, wistful smile to his lips.
V. THE CASCADEFOLK
The tale told by the spirits of the grove is a worrisome one. Erichthonios contemplates the meaning of it all, though he being new and missing so many pieces of the story to put together, it ends with little more than a frown of anxiety marring his brow.
"Do you… know of what they speak? Of this person who seeks to seize authority by force?"
The whole tale would be surreal, nigh unheard of, if he had not just lived through the upheaval of Pandaemonium.
"Why would they seek to do such a thing?"
VI. THE LAST STORY
Although at first he had listened to each story and tale with rapt attention, by the end of it all, Erichthonios' countenance was one of a heavy heart. Already, there was so much tragedy in this tale without an end. Why was it that the sisters had separated, and had yet to reunite, even though both yet survived? What prevented them from seeing each other, from speaking to each other?
"I don't understand…" he speaks in a quiet murmur. Mayhap he, contrary to the hopes of the spirits here, lacks in cleverness.
Why does one being seek to subjugate others? First the woman spoken of by the Cascadefolk, and now this other entity… Rather, the other way around. But still… why?
"This… magos and this Great Enemy… They both seek to control others? Are they connected, or…"
He trails off, head dipping low. "…has that way of thinking merely spread…"
the cascadefolk
What is he, the Grim Reaper or something? She almost mistakes that mask around his neck for a skull, which would really complete the picture.
Crouched down at the water's edge to fill a gourd of water, Lucy's lips thin as she's asked a question. She flicks a gaze over her new company, impassive, and weighs the pros and cons of informing him. Fuck, she doesn't even know that much herself. He seems like he might genuinely care, but she knows better than most that first impressions don't count for shit.
She'll tell him the basics, she thinks. If he's new, he deserves to be given at least a little bit of guidance. This place can be confusing, being thrown right into the deep end.
"This city is built on cooperation," she replies, after a long moment, gazing down into the glimmering water thoughtfully. "But there's people here who don't like that. We met one a couple months ago: she and her boss wanted to expose something about the government, and... take over the tech here, maybe. Before that, we heard whispers of a woman who wanted to disrupt the city. Now the spirits are talking about a woman who wants to be the authority over all the magic and spirits. I don't know if they're all connected."
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"So... people wish to take over certain aspects of life here? Of technology, and of magick? And to divide them into... fully separate spheres?"
His face draws into an expression ever more perplexed. "'Tis one thing if one were creating different departments for academic study... but an entire city? It's functions. It's people."
Incredulous, he shakes his head. "What could they hope to achieve...?"
A rhetorical question, perhaps, voiced mostly to himself. With a sigh, he bends down, drawing a gourd-full of water. He knows not how much is required, but he feels it best that he does not delay in the task for too long.
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With a full gourd, she stands, and a little spirit flutters around her hands, guiding her to water a nearby night blooming flower bush. With the demeanor of a person who's never cared for a plant in her life, Lucy does so awkwardly.
"It would still cause chaos," she finishes thoughtfully. "This city is so much more peaceful than the one I used to live in. I can't imagine it descending into chaos."
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Little does he know..."Then... let us hope for, and work towards, a future where that does not happen."
Because hopeful as he is, Erichthonios has never been a man to simply hope. He acts. Following, he waters the same plant from the other side, seeking to keep the moisture levels even on either side, lest the plant grow too vigorously one way in search of water, and languish on the other.
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She sneaks a side-glance at her current company.
"You don't seem... surprised by any of this," she ventures. "Is stuff like this normal, where you're from?"
Because it definitely isn't for her.
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Having completed the task of watering this particular shrub, he allows himself a moment to ponder.
"Ours is also a society that values cooperation, as well. 'Tis more strange to me that someone would seek to... hoard control over something. 'Tis frowned upon, where I am from, to delight in disparity. Although... I admit something of the like has happened."
His mood dims suddenly, but he looks up a few seconds later, more determined.
"But you need not worry about that, I think. All was well last I recall. And I am sure it is well still."
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"What, you don't have bad people where you're from?" she cracks, dubious. "Because where I'm from, power is everything. And if you give people even a whiff of it, they'll destroy everything in their path to hoard the power for themselves."
And that's probably putting it lightly. Night City is an ugly place, but it was perfect for hiding in.
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But it has happened before. Of this, he is intimately aware.
"May I ask... why are people so desperate for power, where you are from?" She makes it sound as though many would harm another to obtain it. But why? Why do such a thing? He doesn't understand...
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IV. GLIMMERHORN, ASTRAL FOX, AND CELESTIAL BIRD
Meeting Themis in Magisteria had put Erichthonios back in Rhea'li's thoughts. Though he greatly cherished their friendship born from their brief time together, it had never occurred to him that Erichthonios would look for him when the Final Days came until Athena's recreation of her son mentioned it...
...And by this time, he ought to stop being so surprised when meeting people who are supposed to be dead.
Nevertheless, he's happy to see Erichthonios, so he approaches with a smile. Though mayhaps Rhea'li may be a bit more difficult to recognise when he's dressed in the local style.
"Erichthonios," he says by way of greeting before turning his gaze to the images that are playing before them. It's a little nostalgic, seeing Pandæmonium again. "'Tis good to see you. And rather unexpected that you would wind up here."
Sure! Why not.
Figuratively speaking, of course.
"Rhea'li! 'Tis good to see you, my friend!"
The garments may be strange, but the face and voice he can well recognize. Though their time together had been thus far brief, it had been memorable in ways he did not think he would ever forget.
"How long have you been here? Did you just arrive, too?"
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"Nay, it has been some months since I first set foot upon this star." A flick of his tail as he glances aside. "...My apologies for leaving without giving you a way of sending word."
It's not often he feels bad about simply disappearing from peoples' lives. But...
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"'Tis alright, my friend. I would not expect anyone to anticipate suddenly finding themselves upon another star."
He pauses, thinking over it a little.
"...though mayhap, since we are both here now, that can be changed? Is there a way you would have me contact you?"
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"Aye. You've an aXess Link device, yes?" He holds up his own. "'Tis rather different from aught at home, but I can show you how to contact me."
And if Erichthonios accepts, he'd gladly run through how to do that, patiently explaining anything that needs to be explained, as well as run through other useful features (like the map function!)
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"My thanks for your lessons. I know not how long it would have taken me to understand it all without your guidance."
He pauses, taking a breath as he musters that small amount of courage needed to speak what is on his mind.
"I shall make attempt to contact you on a regular basis, even if only to give my greetings and to see how you are doing... though mayhap something of the happenings here would catch your interest?"
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He blinks in surprise. Once again, he's caught off guard by the expression of intent to keep in touch. He's all too used to breezing in and out of peoples' lives and certainly his friends and companions seem happy to see him when circumstances has them gather once again. But for someone to reach out to simply... talk, regularly? He cannot help but feel a little touched.
A small smile breaks across his face. "Of course. I would like that."
As for the happenings here...
Almost as if summoned the Glimmerpelt approaches, paws raised as it asks, “Can you tell us a story, kind Otherworlders? Can you tell us of the animals you have loved, or a story about a heroic animal?”
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"Though, mayhap my friend here has a tale or two he could tell?" He glances to Rhea'li, at once apologetic and hopeful. He's sorry to disappoint the Glimmerpelt, but mayhap Rhea'li, having come from elsewhere, might have a broader range of experience.
"Have you met any such animals?"
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VI. The last story
"When the world lies in chaos, man naturally seeks order. I suppose 'tis no different for celestial beings either."
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"...I suppose not." Granted, he does not have experience with such beings. Unable to arrive at an answer to his contemplations, he temporarily sets them aside in favor of speaking with his new company. With a soft incline of his head, he broaches the subject in a tentative voice.
"You are... from Etheirys, are you not?"
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"Correct. I am Emet-Selch. And yes, I know I'm not dressed as you expect."
So no need to feel embarrassed for not recognising him, et cetera.
"When did you arrive?"
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"Emet-Selch! I-I... I arrived quite recently, in fact! Just some few moments ago."
He pauses, collecting the scattered fragments of his thoughts. "Are... you here to aid those who live here?"
For a Convocation member to be called out, the troubles here must be even more serious than he imagined!
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He falters. No, he is not here to help the people here. Not in the way that the younger man means.
"I was brought here by happenstance, just like you. I've yet to decide how to proceed."
A tactful enough answer, he thinks.
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"Well... though I know not what I can do to help, I... find myself inclined to try. I cannot imagine turning someone in need away, odd as the circumstances of our arrival are..."
Nearly sinking into his thoughts once more, he belatedly realizes he has yet to properly introduce himself.
"I do not suppose Lahabrea has spoken of me, as focused on the star as he is, but I am Erichthonios."
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"Ah... Erichthonios. I had wondered if you might be him. Lahabrea did speak of you but always sparingly."
The man was all business first and foremost. Occasionally Hythlodaeus might share some gossip he had picked up but Emet-Selch had never actually seen Lahabrea's son before.
"'Tis good to see you well."
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He pauses again, self-consciousness rearing itself within him. He shifts his weight nervously.
"You will... let me know what you decide to do, I trust? If we are here together, I think it would be best to help each other, at the very least."
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