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

Illyana Rasputina || OTA

[soulsword]

There was nothing about this that Illyana trusted. Perhaps it was just a reflection of her own personal experiences with other dimensional kidnapping. Being taken from your family to a hell dimension at the tender age of six would probably leave anyone less than trusting of a repeat situation. Still, she came to the fountain square to hear what would be said. All in all it was certainly a bit lackluster. A pointless speech that gave no information. How typical. She let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes at the closing comments.

"And I am certain they would tell us so much more in private," she muttered under her breath.

That wasn't to say she wasn't curious as to what they might say if someone actually were to interact with either of them. She was curious, but not quite enough to waste her own time on it. At least not yet. Instead she lingered around where Halcyn and Athony were located and waited to see if anyone else approached them first. If someone else did and she could overhear what was said then she could judge if she wanted to approach them herself. Something told her they would be vague, but one could hope for the chance at more answers.

Beyond lingering and trying to eavesdrop Illyana could be found standing in front of a group of children singing their strange rhyme as they played. She inclined her head as she watched them with her arms folded over her chest.

"I wonder, where did these children learn such an ominous rhyme?"

[whereishe]

"Do you think they're talking about us?" Yuna had been passing by both Illyana and the children when she'd heard the song. It was growing in popularity around the city and it was unnerving. Perhaps because it was children who were singing the song.

"It isn't very clear."

It also made it sound like there was something living outside of the city, something dangerous. It was curious and Yuna's curiosity had a way of getting her in trouble.

[soulsword]

"Most folk rhymes are not very clear," she replied with a casual shrug. "After all they were made to frighten little children so they would behave. Something clear would hardly be frightening." There was a hint of something sinister in her tone with the explanation. Perhaps that was just a jaded view from a little girl who had grown up with frequent folk rhymes to teach her how to properly behave.

"I imagine they are speaking of us. What else would they be talking about?"

[whereishe]

"Really?" Her head tilted to the side. "But it isn't about little children." It was about them. The people traveling to this new world. They hadn't been given a choice and if this song was any indication, this wasn't the first time that people were brought here like this.

"I don't know. Maybe others who visit this city? It might be us but if we are the travelers then who are the dwellers?"

[soulsword]

"It doesn't always have to be about them to teach them something," she replied and then shrugged again. "But perhaps it is not meant to teach them. Perhaps...perhaps you are more correct in thinking it is meant to teach us something." Or tell them something.

"Dwellers in the mirk...creatures maybe?" There were dwellers where she was from. Creatures that only she dared challenge in Limbo. "Could they mean there are creatures somewhere?"

[whereishe]

"I don't know. It's a little new for me, you know? We didn't have any songs like that in Spira." Of course, people in Spira hadn't lived that long... not until recently. There was only Yevon and you did whatever Yevon told you to do.

"Maybe. I want to go searching outside the city soon. Maybe I'll run into some there." Hopefully she didn't get lost...

The song was really creepy.

[soulsword]

"How lucky for you. It must be quite wholesome," there was a tinge of jealousy in her voice at that. "Though, I must admit some curiosity to what your Spira was like then." Surely it could not be as innocent of a world as that one comment made it seem.

"If you go, I will go with you." It was not like she had anything else to do.

[whereishe]

Yuna blinked. "What do you mean?" She didn't understand. "Spira doesn't have much in the way of entertainment. Even songs. Within the last two years, we've been able too, so it might exist now but there hadn't been much of a chance to do anything until Sin was finally defeated." Sin and the hold that Yevon held over the entire world.

"Will you? I hope to go soon, once I create a way to log the information I find out there." Which she was hoping Jagger and those here could help her with.

[soulsword]

"What is Sin in your world? A demon or a god?" The mention of something specific with a name like sin peaked her interest slightly. There was always a certain amount of curiosity to be found in the mention of familiar things. Especially if the familiar things happened to be something Illyana held a confusing relationship with. Demons and even sin had become so muddled in her life that she had no idea how she actually felt about the words. Sometimes she accept that they were simply a part of who she was now, but other times...other times a bitterness slipped through. For now though she was just curious about what Yuna's Sin was.

"Log?" the hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "I have a teammate who is fond of logging everything. It was tied to his power."

[whereishe]

"A little of both but... neither. Sin was..." Yuna paused and tried to think of the best way to explain. "He was created a thousand years ago, in Spira's history. We don't know a lot but it was because of a war. In order to end the war and protect their home... a monster was created but they lost control. A man named Yu Yevon became corrupt and it was then that Sin was born. Whenever there was a large gathering of people, he would come. Towns didn't get very big and there were groups who did what they could to keep Sin at bay but no one could defeat him because they didn't know where he was from. With the help of my friends, we found a way. Spira's only just being reborn again now... or was, before I woke up here." She hoped that everyone was okay.

Yuna smiled a little wistfully. "Me too though it wasn't a power. Shinra was a real wiz kid. His inventions were always fun to try out. I'm not good with that sort of thing myself. I always jump into trouble and fight my way out but that's why it's good to have people around you with different strengths, you know?"

"That's why I wanted to create the Gullwings here."

[asthecroweflies]

Jagger attended, who wouldn't when a couple of supposed gods invited you to hang out, but that didn't mean he was pleased. It seemed someone else had the same idea he had, too, as he made his way over to see what he could hear of other peoples' conversations while splitting his attention with the others gathered here and the natives.

He realized the question was directed at him specifically, but he responded all the same. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was contrived."

[soulsword]

Illyana slowly turned her head to the man that had spoken and tilted her head. It made sense to think that in all honesty. All rhyme's like these had some lesson that someone meant to taught.

"More than likely," she said with a somewhat amused tone to her voice. "But who started it and for what reason?" That was the true question. What did it mean and what was it trying to tell them?

[asthecroweflies]

"I don't know." It was something he was trying to puzzle out, and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he looked back to the square where the self-proclaimed 'Aspects' were speaking with others.

"What's your take on them?"

[soulsword]

She pauses at his question and tilts her head back and forth as she listens to the children repeating the rhyme again.

"I imagine much of what they say will only be half-truths." There's firmness in her response, as if she herself has had some sort of experience with similar situations. She has. In fact, Illyana had been on both sides of the equation. She'd been the one brought somewhere and given only half-truths and she'd been the one to bring people somewhere and give them only half-truths.

"They know far more than they are telling us." That much was probably obvious to anyone. "Why would they not explain from the start what destroyed their world?" She turned to watch the 'Aspects' as they spoke with some of the others and shook her head. "Why do they not want us to know what caused it?" Was it because they had contributed? Or..."Do they not want us to realize they are much less powerful than their titles would lead us to believe?"

[asthecroweflies]

With some of the answers he'd overheard, he couldn't help but agree. It was painfully obvious they didn't know much or that they knew far more than they were willing to say on the subject. He also got the distinct impression Halcyn knew more than Athony, or cared more at the very least.

"Either way, it's blows for us." He was thoughtful for a moment before adding, "Do you think they're half-truths because they're hiding something they know, or half-truths because that's all they know and they don't want us to catch wise?"

[soulsword]

"Oh something they know," she replied with something that resembled a strange half smirk. The smirk came from someone who had some degree of familiarity with keeping secrets from people one needed help with. It was clear there was a lot more going on in this place than what they were letting on.

"Perhaps I will ask them a few questions eventually. Halcyn seems...more agreeable." Or at least more likely to slip up and give some useful information. The nicer ones usually were. "What do you think?"

[asthecroweflies]

He crossed his arms at the question, turning toward the center of the fountain square and watching the proceedings. Halcyn was all smiles and gentle words that he had difficulty catching over the din of people and the gurgling of the fountain. She was either a horridly innocent or a damned good salesman. Athony, in contrast, didn't do anything to mask his annoyance at the crowd and seemed to be watching them as much as they were watching him, glowering.

"She might be more agreeable, but Athony might get pissed off enough to slip up."

[soulsword]

"Is that your plan then? To attempt to anger him enough to slip up?" The amusement in her voice was hard to cover up. Now that would be something she would be curious to watch. Not that she expected Athony would really slip up.

"Do you know enough about him to know what would annoy him?" Said with the tone of someone who had a bit too much familiarity with picking up on someone's weakness and exploiting it. Perhaps that just came with the territory of having a bit of your soul missing. Or maybe it was just how her personality had developed after growing up in a hell dimension. Either way, there was no denying she found a certain amount of fun in it.

[asthecroweflies]

He smirked slightly at the question, crossing his arms and rolling his shoulders in a slight shrug. "I poke around where I'm not wanted all the time. I'm pretty skilled pissing people off." Especially when he got close to things they didn't want him to know.

He looked back toward the gathered crowd, chuckling slightly. "From the look of it, asking him questions gets him pretty irritated in the first place. Might be a place to start."

[provokedultimatum]

Athala cant help the snort that slips out as she hears Illyana's comment about the nursery rhyme.

"For our sakes let's hope it's a load of bollocks." The blue haired woman's unimpressed words revealing a strong accent that would have identified her as Lancastrian if she had been from Earth. "It'll probably be true knowing Sod'd Law."

[soulsword]

"It seems to be too specific to be bollocks," she said with a shrug. "Most of these rhyme's have some basis in fact, something they are making an attempt to teach." At least that was how she saw the situation. In her opinion there was clearly something more to this rhyme that was spreading than just innocent children playing.

"I wonder if it is a new rhyme or something that has existed here far before we were brought."

[provokedultimatum]

Atha scowls at that, "True," She grunts and shifts causing her plate mail to clink and thud, "Seems too familiar to them to be a recent rhyme..."

Atha side eyes Illyana, noting the lack of any recognisable weapons or armour, "You thinking of lookin' into it, you don't look much like an Adventurer?"

[soulsword]

"It seems they mention us, so I am unsure of how old it could be," she said with a half shrug. All Illyana could think of was that the 'traveler' mentioned had to be them. Unless they were not the first people to be brought to this world.

"Do Adventurer's only have one appearance where you are from?" She let out a tiny chuckle and shook her head. "I see no point in wearing armor when there is no battle."

[provokedultimatum]

"No 'course not. But that's no Glamour and you're not wearing mage wear either. It's foolish to not wear protection in a strange place, you never know what dangers are about." As blunt and gruff as Atha is, her tone does a poor job at disguising her genuine confusion that Illyana doesn't appear to be protecting herself.

"And just because the rhyme apparently mentions us doesn't mean it ain't old. You not have fortune telling where you're from?"

[soulsword]

"Ah, but can a good mage not simply summon their protection when in need?" Her tone remained vaguely amused as she asked her question. A small smile touches the edges of her lips as she tilts her head. "How would you know if this was or was not a glamour? Is it an ability of yours to detect illusions?" If so, that would be good information to know about this person. After all, there were times where Illyana actually wondered if the form she held now was her true form or if the demon had become the real her. Now that was a topic she was not going to let her thoughts linger on for too long.

"There are a few mutants whose abilities allow them to tell the future," she responded with a half shrug. "Though some do not always see all paths that can be taken."