video transmission

[ateratmods]

[The video cuts on to a dimly lit study. From the angle of the camera, floor to ceiling bookcases can be seen, stuffed to the brim with tomes and scrolls, all layered thickly with dust and cobwebs. The light becomes a little brighter when a small lantern is placed near the video source, and one of the creatures from those wanted posters (or your own encounters) hobbles slowly into view.

Little can be read in its face, though the corners of its mouth, just visible beneath it's strange snout, twitch upward in a vague sort of smile.

And then it speaks. The voice is high, feminine, and far more cultured than the savagery of these creatures suggested it would be.]

Oh yes yes this will do nicely! [The yellow orbs that pass for its (her?) eyes seem to pivot and turn to face the feed.] Hello, Outlanders. I wanted to thank you personally for restoring what souls were not lost to our bodies.

[She pauses here for a moment, small body swaying as though deep in thought.]

I realize this may not have been your intention, but that is what's happened all the same. Well...those of us whose bodies could still carry us at the least. We were consumed and it couldn't be helped. If we harmed any of you, I am deeply sorry. The Voidcryst shard housed here did quite a number of us when it exploded. I'm sure you all have questions, and I'll do my best to answer them, though be warned my memory is a tad fuzzy, what with having my soul trapped away from my body for a time and all that. I remember enough to know I was an authority figure here at the academy and that we were researching viable uses from the shard collected from the Voidcryst.

There was and from my preliminary tests still is a failsafe in place in the event something of the magnitude that occurred...occurred, and that means this place is not safe for anyone who wasn't present at the time of the explosion until it's dealt with. In the central spire is housed an apparatus that can be used to deactivate the containment field in the basement. I should warn you, once it is deactivated, whatever may have come through the portal created by the explosion of the Cryst will need to be handled before it escapes. I would suggest a tandem operation. [And then she grins, if it can be called that.] Your questions are welcome!

(OOC: She has not identified herself, but she is open for tagging! Note: All threads are viewable/listenable/readable to everyone else, and tagging others to discuss is encouraged!)

Comments

audio;

[soulsword]

Is everything that happened in this world the result of you all testing things you didn't fully understand?

audio;

[ateratmods]

An interesting question! I suppose it could be connected, or at least seen as a catalyst. Among many things, the Void does seem to unravel matter and spirit, but it also pulls it together once it's been unraveled.

Now, I can understand how you may want to blame curiosity for our current situation, but how are things ever deciphered? Risks and rewards, right? Can you honestly say you've never made a sacrifice to find an answer?

Re: audio;

[soulsword]

What was the answer you were looking for? Whether or not you could control the power of this Void?

Re: audio;

[ateratmods]

Ultimately, yes. The Voidcryst was used to create this place, and unmake it, and recreate it multiple times. Our leader took a small piece of it in order to understand the method. There were unforeseen consequences.

[soulsword]

This place, do you mean the world in general? [ Interesting. ] What happened to your leader?

[ateratmods]

To be honest we're not really sure. He was in the laboratory (she says it as "lab-or-a-tory) at the time of the incident and since I was reawakened I've found no trace of him.

My thanks for that, by the way. Terribly sorry for all the the trouble we caused you.

[soulsword]

Then dead, more than likely? Or transplanted somewhere else. [ Sometimes portals did things like that. ]

I haven't done anything for you.

[ateratmods]

More than likely, yes. At least one could hope, but perhaps I speak too harshly of him. He was a brilliant man, if a little ambitious. Luckily the failsafe seems to have confined the damage to the academy and its surroundings.

Was it not you who destroyed the outer barrier? My mistake. Please send my regards on to them.

[soulsword]

Too bad, I would have liked to ask him more about what he wanted this power for. Delusions of grandeur maybe?

[ Awkward.... ]I put a few things in place to try to put something back up.

[ateratmods]

How rude! I'm sure it was nothing so base as that. If your world was remade on an endless cycle, wouldn't you want it to stop?

And we are most grateful! It isn't safe here just yet.

[soulsword]

Why is your world on a cycle like that?

[ateratmods]

I don't rightly know. It has always been this way, or at least a version of it. I believe our leader wanted to understand as well.

[soulsword]

Is there anything more you do know you could share?

[ateratmods]

I know our leader was seeking to stop the cycle. Your presence here tells me he wasn't successful.

[soulsword]

Your leader brought is the one who brought us here originally?

[ateratmods]

OH, no! You're mistaken. My leader sought to master the Voidcryst to...tragic ends. He was the Headmaster of the Academy, once upon a time.

voice

[bufus]

Hello, [ a brief pause, what...does she call it? Her? Oh dear... ] I'm afraid you didn't give us a name. [ And she feels it's a bit rude to not actually have one, but she can at least introduce herself. ] I'm Mitsuru Kirijo, I haven't been here very long, so much of what you've said is a bit...confusing. [ Though she gets that it sounds like a very pressing matter. But...she has a very specific question. ]

Since you're welcoming questions, does this...Voidcryst have anything to do with the Calamity that I've heard mention of? Does it have anything to do with why we're all here in the first place?

voice

[ateratmods]

Oh my, no, I haven't, have I? My name is Athalia and I am...was the headmistress of this academy. It's been ages since I've been of my right mind, please forgive me, Miss Kirijo.

Oh yes. We know quite a bit about what the Voidcryst does. Our knowledge is merely lacking on the how of it. It causes calamities, once it's been decided the world is in need of rebirth, every few millennia. It goes into a state of, I suppose you could call it...entropy. During this time, it has a sort of...etheric gravity that pulls things toward it. Given how...incomplete the world seems to be, I would postulate the Cryst is in that particular state.

[bufus]

Given your situation that's quite understandable, Athalia. We highly appreciate you speaking with us at all.

I see. That's...rather alarming news. Does that mean this location is in danger itself? How was it spared?

[ateratmods]

Oh, no. The shard was destroyed in the explosion a...well at least what I believe to be a very long time ago.

As for the rest of Aterat, well, it's always in some form of danger, so long as the Voidcryst exists.

[bufus]

Is there anything we can do about this Voidcryst?

[ateratmods]

It's difficult to say. We originally acquired the sample at great cost and we only had a shard.

[bufus]

Where is it located?

[ateratmods]

I...don't rightly know. In the last iteration of this world, it was deep within a subterranean temple, far in the western mountains. It radiates a sense of power, and more primitive races tend to take to worshipping the thing. We had to wrest it from the hands of very angry mountain trolls.

It's likely been moved in this iteration of the world.

[bufus]

Mountain trolls? [ No, that wasn't particularly important right now. ] I see. Well, I thank you very much for the information you have given me. It's a lot to think on.

[ateratmods]

Yes, just so! I do wonder what's taken to worshipping it this go 'round.

I hope you can do something with it, dear. It was my pleasure.

Text

[blindpuppet]

What exactly is the voidcryst? The way you talk about it suggests that it is a containment of energy but what kind of energy and how was it harnessed to make it explode? Was it naturally unstable?

Text

[ateratmods]

A tool, put simply. It can be used to focus the energies of creation and destruction to remake worlds, primarily this one. I wasn't privy to our leaders' intentions, but I believe he meant to stop it.

Text

[blindpuppet]

Are there notes that we will have access too?

Text

[ateratmods]

There may well be, yes. This was a school, after all, but it much too dangerous to find out at the moment.

Text

[blindpuppet]

We will handle the danger.
I need to simply confirm that it is worth the effort.
Perhaps you'll offer more, be it information or a monetary item, for our assistance.

Text

[ateratmods]

Knowledge is greater than power, isn't it? The full breadth of the Academy will be at your disposal, after all.

Text

[blindpuppet]

Alright.
Hopefully, it's better than the "knowledge" at the library.