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[ateratmods]

[The image is clear, and one most will recognize. It's Halcyn and her smiling face, though there is a tiredness in her eyes that belays her demeanor.]

Hello, all. [Her voice is also quieter, though it lacks none of her kindness.] You have my deepest apologies for all you've weathered without us. I have...a confession, but I know not where to begin.

[There's a voice nearby, deep, slightly admonishing, and also familiar: Athony.] The beginning ought to suffice.

Yes, I suppose it is. [She takes a breath before continuing, a weary smile on her face.] We are not who brought you here. The Creator was responsible, but their voice has...gone silent. With no other recourse, Athony and I sought to return you the way you came. It's power was too great for us to control, and now...it is open. It is a portal of sorts, and it cycles open and closed and these cycles...vary.

I believe the beast you've slain, the bear which fed on nightmares, came through the portal. We cannot determine any way to close it permanently, and we have no way of knowing what may make its way through the next time it opens, but we will do whatever it is we can when it happens. I was...injured in its first opening, and this is why we were unavailable through this hardship.

[She places a hand over her heart, bowing her head.]

I am deeply sorry. Athony and I will answer questions as we are able.

[OOC: You are free to ask Athony and Halcyn anything you wish, and also talk amongst yourselves!]

Comments

[madesacrifices]

Do you know why we were brought here?

[ateratmods]

Originally, you were intended to help rebuild our world through energy transference, but...that doesn't seem to be the option any longer.

[madesacrifices]

Bruce is way better at this stuff than I am but are you saying that you were planning on draining our life source to rebuild your city?

[ateratmods]

Nothing so simple, no. Your minds and memories generate energy. Halcyn and I can shape that energy into reality. That's what we were created to do.

[madesacrifices]

And our nightmares? What do they do?

[ other than being a giant pain in the ass ]

[ateratmods]

Harken back to some trauma, I'd wager. They were the fangs and claws of the bear, not our nor the Creator's generation.

[This actually is Athony trying to be helpful.]

[madesacrifices]

Is there nothing that we can do as some sort of defense?

[She does appreciate him trying ]

[ateratmods]

Now that the bear's been killed, its influence should no longer be felt. I'm sure there are defenses for whatever else may come through that portal, but we'll have to take that as it comes.

[skyward_eyes]

What about those of us who don't necessarily want to go home?

[ateratmods]

But...you aren't meant to be here.

[skyward_eyes]

Your point?

[ateratmods]

[Halcyn pauses before she responds, sounding slightly surprised.]

You truly wish to stay? We may never find a way to send you home.

[skyward_eyes]

Listen, this is my third pass on one of these worlds. The first time we were an experiment, a game. The second we were the meat powering a horrible AI’s little game of house. And now Gods playing with our lives.

Really? I don’t care. But I have people here I care about and maybe I don’t want to lose them just yet.

[ateratmods]

[She smiles and looks relieved.]

Then you are welcome to stay.

[skyward_eyes]

[Well, he's relieved to hear that as well. Sure, someday he knows his lover will return to his home, to his duty, to his king... But for now, he can hold on to what he has gotten.]

Hey, next time? Dragon. I hate them more, but they're more satisfying to kill.

[ateratmods]

[She smiles at that.]

If we are given the ability to choose, I'll be sure to find one for you.

[skyward_eyes]

I'd rather nothing more complex than what we have, but I'll accept it.

[orangewayfinder]

So we're stuck here without a way back unless you can learn how these portals work, right?

[ateratmods]

Yes. [She looks down, apologetic.] We will do our best.

[orangewayfinder]

[Terra shook his head.]

It's still not clear what we're supposed to be doing in the meantime, until we go back home.

[ateratmods]

There is nothing to do, Terra, except to live.

[orangewayfinder]

[He still doesn't fully understand.]

But I really don't understand that helps you. I mean..we're here to help you out, right?

[ateratmods]

Your hearts and minds bring life with them. That is help enough. It's an energy of its own.

[orangewayfinder]

[Okay the hearts comment definitely got his attention. And he knows this doesn't feel dangerous like the whole opening and closing of Kingdom Hearts.]

Are people chosen at random to come here? I mean..how does this Creator pick who comes here?

[ateratmods]

That is a mystery which has never been revealed to us.

[orangewayfinder]

Kinda figured that might be the answer.

[ateratmods]

I'm very sorry.

[orangewayfinder]

We'll just have to figure it out ourselves.

[ateratmods]

We will be figuring it out with you.

[orangewayfinder]

[This had Terra temporarily confused but he nodded anyhow.]

Can we come to you if you have updates then?

[ateratmods]

Of course you can. You're always welcome to come to us.

[orangewayfinder]

Alright.

[soulsword]

You should not mess with things you do not understand. [ Idiots. ] What was the bear? It did not feel exactly the same as it should have.

[ateratmods]

[Athony's eyes narrow at her tone, but he doesn't comment.]

Something from elsewhere is the only answer we have for you.

[soulsword]

Then you do not even know what you created?

[ateratmods]

Opened. We didn't create anything.

[soulsword]

Has anyone ever told you how dangerous it is to open random portals? [ She assumes not. What silly aspects these were turning out to be. ] Can you create things?

[ateratmods]

No.

[And there is so much annoyance at her tone and her implications in his voice. Just...so much. Also, he seems to suffice with that one word as a response to both her questions.]

[soulsword]

Ah, well, perhaps you have learned a valuable lesson now. [ She sounds amused. ] And now we know you all are of little use to us. Other than to make things substantially worse.

[ateratmods]

I'll remember that when you need your soul returned to your body.

[hellofishies]

How were you injured? Was it bad?

[ateratmods]

In the explosion of energy from the portal.

[She smiles, reassuring (or at least an attempt at it)]

And it was, but...I've healed some. Thank you for your concern.

[hellofishies]

Oh. I've been hurt like that before. Booms do a lot.

You don't heal fast?

[ateratmods]

Normally yes, but this was...different. I believe the nature of the portal itself had a hand in it.

[hellofishies]

So the portal was stronger than you two?

[ateratmods]

Yes. It was never meant for us to control it.

[hellofishies]

Who was meant to control it?

[ateratmods]

The Creator. They knew-know its function.