Pulse 001

[ateratmods]

Speaking Crystal

[Mid-morning, a familiar voice rings out over the crystals.]

Good morning, everyone! We trust you've settled in well! We'd like to meet you all formally and invite you to join us in the fountain square this afternoon! We look forward to seeing you there!


Who; The Aspects (Halcyn & Athony) and YOU!
What; The Aspects welcome their new summons to Aterat
Where; The Fountain Square
When; Thursday; Mid-day
Warnings; None I can think of. Will update if necessary



The Fountain square remains unchanged from your arrival, the multiple tiers containing archways all dim save for the one from which Halcyn and her counterpart, Athony, step at the appointed time. Around the fountain, though, have gathered artisans, performers, and salesman as well as recruiters. People are looking for clerks, delivery persons, and people to run small tasks for them. There are leatherworkers interested in hiring intrepid individuals to acquire more exotic skins for their trade and various other ways to earn coin.

And then there is a larger stall built into the back of a large covered wagon pulled by two oxen. It's set off a little ways from the others, either to set itself apart from the vulgus or simply to afford it room. Two people dressed smartly stand a bit apart from it and will encourage any passersby to come speak with the clerk behind the desk. Emblazoned across the side in intricate gold leaf are the letters "MGB" and the callers will inform anyone inquiring they are representatives of the Merchant's Guild Bank, and that they are willing to negotiate investment in any business ventures newcomers may be interested in...for a modest cut, of course. They assure the contract is thoroughly negotiable and urge you to speak with the broker in the carriage.

All business dealings cease when the portal on the highest level of the fountain activates and Halcyn and Athony step through. She is tall, lithe, with flowing red hair and an aura of goodness and life that overrides any attempts to read her mind. He has a darker aura, clad in deep gray armor with a gem-encrusted sword at his hip and a formidable shield strapped to his back. The murk around his mind is just as difficult to pierce, and anyone sensative to the flow of time would sense these two seem to exist as though apart from it.

They descend the dias to stand at ground level, equal to the gathered crowd, but when Halcyn speaks, her soft melodious voice carries as though its amplified, though there seems to be no source of amplification save for a subtle vibration of magic those sensative to it may sense.

"I'm so glad you all came!" She claps her hands together, clasping them before her before spreading her arms wide. "We have so much work to do, as I've told you all already. We have been tasked with the reconstruction of this world, and we simply can't without all of you. The reason why is complicated, but I can assure you we require nothing of any of you that you are not capable of." She motions around at the square and all those gathered here.

"The people of Aterat are eager to welcome you as well, but Athony and myself will remain around should you wish to speak more privatly. Again, thank you all for coming!"

With that, the gathering dispurses into it's former form, though the Aspects remain should anyone wish to speak with them.

Feel free to post top levels to meet and greet your fellow arrivals and to explore the offerings of this strange new city.

Throughout the city, not only today, but at random times, a new rhyme seems to have been picked up by the children at play, skipping rope or playing hopscotch, or dancing in a strange circle. There's a haunting quality to it, but maybe that's only because no one's taken notice of its existence before:

Traveler, traveler, what do you seek?
Riches and fame make oaken souls weap.

Traveler, traveler, watch where you're led.
One turn left, three turns right will take you to bed.

Traveler, traveler, try not to get lost.
The dwellers in the mirk may well be the cost.

Comments

Athony

[ateratmods]

Once given leave from standing guard at Halcyn's side, Athony moves to a strategic position near the entrance to the Square. He has a looming and intimidating presence, but he does turn to anyone who approaches him, giving them his attention, even if he does keep part of it on his warm counterpart.

(OOC: If you would like an interaction with Athony, please respond to this thread as it's being tracked and I'll be more likely to see the notification here.)

[tapestryoftime]

After speaking to Halcyn, Syeira walked over to Athony. She was a little more nervous about talking to the strange dark man but perhaps he could tell her more, either in his answers or in the way he refuses to answer. So far, she has yet to hear him speak.

"Excuse me? Excuse me?" She said it a few times as if the first one hadn't happened or maybe she'd forgotten that she'd already said that.

Syeira's gaze was more unfocused than before, as if she was searching for something that she was blind too. "Are you death?" Wouldn't he be? Death affects the weave of time, is a part of it, but can strike at any moment it wishes. It was a part of time but separate as well. Life and death.

[ateratmods]

He dour man sighs as he turns to her, crossing his arms as he diverts his attention. He doesn't seem surprised at her question, or that its repeated, but he shakes his head.

"No. Death is an event, not a man."

[tapestryoftime]

"Yes, but I was told you were an aspect and I wonder... what is it that you represent. To you and to others? You are shrouded in darkness. The balance to the light. It's just as important but the scales can tip..."

She stops and looks nervous. "I want to hear from you. What is it that you are."

[ateratmods]

"Just as Halcyn is a beginning, I am an end." What he is is diffcult to describe, and Athony isn't one to put effort into something not worthwhile. "I also see to ends, should they occur."

[tapestryoftime]

"There is no end to the weave of time and you are outside of it." Which meant that he tailored the end of the threads while Halcyn began them... It was interesting. Such entities didn't exist on Earth, at least not that Syeira was aware of.

"We can die here?" Her expression grew serious. "What if we have something to do in our own worlds? Will you let us die after taking us from our homes and our purpose?"

[ateratmods]

"All tapestries have ends, and then someone starts a new one. It's the Cycle of Existence. You see no end to your weave, no, but a stalk of corn sees no end to its field."

He nods, once. "I don't let anything happen. Mortals are particularly good at sealing their own fates."

[tapestryoftime]

"But Halcyn said that you needed us to live. If we're dead, we cannot do that. What do you intend to do? This cycle has only just begun, it cannot afford to lose another thread."

Syeira eyed him curiously though she was looking beyond him. "Unless. Your Creator is willing to step in or is that what you and Halcyn are? Parts of the Creator?"

[ateratmods]

He breathed a sigh. "Our 'weave' as you call it ended prematurely, with no one around to spin new threads. The Creator, in their great wisdom, pulled threads from elsewhere and here you are. My duty is to make sure you stay that way."

From the tone in his voice, he doesn't sound particularly pleased with that role, as though he feels it's beneath him.

[tapestryoftime]

"So it is your duty to bring people back from the dead? How do you do that?" It worried her a little bit. The cost of bringing people to life was high and it made her think of her father. Could he be revived and brought here to live? A place where his thread didn't have to end...

[ateratmods]

"Close enough." It was more complicated than that, but he wasn't want to share. "Interested in finding out?"

[forsakenprince]

Uldren wasn't one to give thanks even though the Aspects saved him of certain death - to expect him to be in a good mood would be a mistake. He was surly, crossing his arms across his chest as he stood before Athony. There was a lack of reverence that likely should have existed, and perhaps a foolish lack of even a little bit of healthy fear.

"There is a lot of 'we' being thrown around, but it comes down to you both need us and not the other way around. So what is it that I and the others get from all of this?"

[ateratmods]

Athony, to his credit, doesn't look offended at the tone. It's almost as though he's heard it before. There's also something about the set of his jaw and his blank expression that suggests he deals with this sort of insolence regularly.

"Are you so certain of that?"

[forsakenprince]

Uldren's expression doesn't change. If Athony's cool demeanor upset Uldren more than he already was he certainly didn't show it.

"If it were untrue, would we be here?"

[ateratmods]

"Possibly." He lapses into silence for a moment, as though deciding whether or not to speak the next. At length, he decides it matters little and decides to phrase it in the form of a question. "Why do you believe it was we who brought you here?"

[forsakenprince]

Uldren's eyes narrowed. Did Athony think him simple?

"Halcyn said herself you both couldn't rebuild without us."

[ateratmods]

"Yes." No, he doesn't. He thinks you're thinking too simply, and too small. "What about that suggests we brought you here?"

[forsakenprince]

For once Uldren was quiet. He considered the question carefully and found his mind slipping to the thought of the Traveler. It was a being that held immense power, but could do very little on its own, so it lent its power to the people it chose. On one level he didn't like the answer, as it likened him to guardians, but he also decided he'd prefer it to being brought here by some active force.

He spoke carefully, slowly. "Are you unable to directly interfere with matters here?"

[ateratmods]

That brought the slightest if smirks to Athony's lips. How delightful, you aren't all so thick.

"In a sense, no. We aren't allowed. A world should evolve organically, and should be shaped by mortal hands, et cetera. That's why you all are here."

i have like 3 icons where he isn't pissy i'm so sorry orz

[forsakenprince]

The smirk was noticed, but Uldren wasn't here for any level of approval. However, to his credit, he didn't slide back into his personal brand of aggression.

He did find these kind of 'rules' arbitrary for such powerful beings but he's not some higher being of the multiverse. From what he'd seen from the Traveler it was more that it had no physical extension of itself that could meaningfully interact with the world outside of the explosion of light it sent off to fend off the darkness. These beings... took humanoid forms.

"Was the population brought so low that this was what you had to resort to?"

[ateratmods]

"Yes." And he's returned to being surly, but your perception won't be forgotten, Uldren. "Thankfully, death need not be the end."

[against_descent]

This one...

Cassandra lifted her chin silently as she approached the dour man. More as if she's acknowledging a colleague--one who's superior to her, certainly, but someone vaguely familiar all the same. But it would not be proper to be too familiar. Especially when they're barely acquainted--she is certain that he is quite aware, precisely, who has come here. Been brought here.

"So what I am given to understand--" She'd been listening as the others spoke, after all, concentrating on the conversations with the Aspects, and letting the hum of the tradesmen pass-- "is that your Wheel turned not of its own accord? It was pushed, so to speak?"

And that was so like what had happened to her own world, it left the taste of bitter ashes in her mouth, but Cassandra needed to know. She'd done her best to avert her world's fate when she'd been in it--it made her almost certain that this was why she was here.

[ateratmods]

"Saying the axle had been snapped wouldn't be inaccurate." Athony turned to give more of his attention to this new woman, this mage who specialized in endings. "I'm sure you've noticed what little is left."

[against_descent]

"Snapped." Well. That was very final, was it not? Not that her own world hadn't had something quite like that inflicted upon it.

"I have, and I do understand that we're supposed to help fix this. Although I'm not entirely certain I was the best candidate for that," Cassandra said, clearly bemused. "Though I definitely can cut out what's not going to work."

Literally, if necessary. "Still, I don't want to step on your toes, if that's your business, of course."

[ateratmods]

"There were no candidates." But if he's able to expound upon that revelation, he doesn't seem to be forthcoming. "You're here, and so you help."