chasma | WEEK TWO MINGLE

otamo: week 2 mingle

melodies of m̸̜̭̝̥̉̈́̃ë̴̱̪̣́͑̀m̴̫̀̌ǫ̴̝͔̞̉̈͠r̵̭͚̳͑́͋ḭ̶̲̋̇̒̔e̶̬̓̄̅š̷̮̪̙̈́͠ forgotten canals

36 Remain

Waking up this morning will reveal some unfamiliar surroundings. Gone is the ancient city—which many learned had come to be named Krankaz—and its salt-caked, rusted, ruined world. Your beds are more comfortable, your things stored away in much finer rooms where light filters in through stained glass. Did you miss sunlight? Fresh air? There's much of it to be found, here. But there seems to be... music faintly playing from somewhere, at all times? Sometimes, the song changes, but it's always of the same quality. How strange...

You all awaken in your beds—although they aren't the beds that you found yourself falling asleep in previously, and you might not even see the same face as you had the previous night. But one by one, as you filter out, you find yourselves in a dusty mansion, this go around. It's almost eerie, with the music in the background softly playing, but it's easy to tune it out as you begin exploring the new world that you've all found yourselves in.

Much like your previous worlds, this one seems a little sparse, in terms of population. Unlike the last one, though, you'll find other occupants—just not here, with you now. But the bright colors of moss, coral, flora, and fauna are replaced by the bright color of stained glass and greenery, a world filled to the brim with life in a different way. The soft rush of water can be heard everywhere along with the melodies of this city, little water mills constantly running even in the canals, though some of them and the machines here seem to be in a little disrepair. Shall we?

In the foyer of this grand mansion, your Watchers of the week can be found—the Celestials. They're ready to receive you, and hopefully see you through this week more safely than the last two. Good morning!

Baraqiel speaks up first, this time, thick cloak closed around themself completely to conceal their wings, and daemon perched eagle-formed on the banister of the stairs. "We've got a name right off for this one, unlike the last one. City's called Otamo—do all of us and yourselves a favor and don't break anything that actually keeps the lights on. Maintaining a city is hard enough without everyone bringing it down around us."

Daemon on their shoulder in squirrel form, Suriel has a smile and a wave for everyone. "It's a nice place, too! Or it was, once. And the music's great - just like being in a video game! Ah, but try not to break into everything? Or at least try put it back like you found it, please."

Resting on Shamsiel's head is their daemon, and they start the day with a polite smile for everyone. "And like always, we're here to help you however we can. So, please, you know how to reach us should there be anything you'd need."

That seems to be all, but before you're released off to go exploring—Baraqiel has one last thing to add: "They're too nice to say it, but I'm not: stop asking Suriel for anything involving blood, whether it's power-related or for food. If you want that shit, ask a different Watcher, and ask Suriel for something else."

Suriel has some quiet protests to that, but they seem to go ignored.

With the new week, travelers will find that they no longer have minor control of the four major elements. Instead, they'll find that they have an unbreakable connection to another participant, one that reveals something many of you work hard to hide. You feel what they feel, and they feel what you feel, both physically and emotionally. What will you do when faced with the terrifying ordeal of being known? This effect lasts all week.

Additionally, there's an aspect of this world you may want to take note of—around the city, primarily in the canals, are broken panes and shards of glass that are... different. These can be retrieved out of the water, or off the banks, or from broken fixtures to no detriment to yourselves. However, you'll find that interacting with them shares a fragment of a memory from your point of view with those around you, genuine and true. The music of Otamo adapts to each memory, and may drown out any spoken word in the memory (though you may play with the intensity of this, to allow for some dialogue to be audible), but with how most shards are small enough to be held in the hand, they have a transportable potential to them. You may bring your memshare to others, whether by accident or on purpose.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ what is the worst that could happen, ]

[what IS the worst thing that could happen

this local is just sitting and letting the sun hit her face. what's up.]

[ well she looks nonthreatening enough that sche can approach! ]

Excuse me, do you live here?

[ maybe a stupid question but also, you can't be too careful? what if someone else got drawn in against their will?! ]

[she peeks an eye open.]

Yep. I sure do. What's up, homie?

Could you tell me more about this place? Has it always looked like this? How many more people are around? Have you always lived here?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Chillax! That's a lot of questions!

[hands up, like she's surrendering] Uh - no? A few. Not here specifically. In that order.

I'm sorry, there is just so much I want to know. [ she takes a second to simmer down. ]

If you'll allow me to start over, I can ask a more simple question. What is your name?

[well, she can't blame the thirst for knowledge.]

... Sure, okay, why not. It's Lup. [she gets the real name, unlike poor kaeya.] What's yours?

My name is Scheherazade. As you know, I am not from here. Is it common to have... sudden visitors?

Bless you.

[stop]

And uh, no! Not at all, actually. In fact, it's downright weird that you're here, but whatever, who am I to judge.

[ well. she hadn't heard that one before. 5/10 for originality. ]

I see. But you have not always lived here either, correct?

Not at this particular location. We were all underground before it was cool.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, I mean we literally lived underground. Well. Most of us. Some of the babies around here probably don't remember all that much about it.

So that means you must have traveled to the surface recently. Was there an event that made you do so?

[ maybe she should be shocked by this revelation but she's taking it all in stride. ]

I think we mostly just agreed it was safe to come out again.

Out here, anyway. No flipping way I'm going into the city. That place is dead to me.

With the exception of the plant life, most of our surroundings appear to be dead. [ totally deadpan. ]

So there was something that drove you underground, and when that had passed, you returned the surface. What is it about the city that repels you? Is it still not safe? I do not want to die if I go there.

[she looks amused by that first part. ah, yes, a literal one, she likes it.]

Mostly we're just not going to risk it. You're gonna screw things up for the rest of us if you tempt fate, you know, like - I'm not about to be the good kid that doesn't get recess just because one dingus decided to yell fuck during snack time.

[ she's unnerved by that statement. hm. bad! ]

I certainly do not want to cause any hardship, or tempt fate. I would be content avoiding all matters that could lead to my death... I just want to know what I am in for. You have been very helpful in answering my questions, and for that, I appreciate it. I do not want to die, and if there is something in the city that is harmful, I would like to know about it.

There's nothing actively harmful in the city as far as I know. Pretty sure. Don't quote me, there might be wild animals or whatever! I wouldn't know! I haven't been there!

I'm just not going in. None of us will.

That is understandable enough.

I do have one more question. You said you were underground, does that mean there is access to an underground city beneath this one?

There's catacombs. Presumably, unless they collapsed when we left.

That is very interesting information. [ fuckin NOTED ]

You have been very kind in answering all of my questions, Lup. I do not see any reason to burden you further with my questioning, but I will certainly research this further.

[c:]

Sure, sure. You're fine, don't worry about it. You're the most exciting thing to happen around here in a while.

[...] Come back and visit later, I'll make you dinner or something. You bozos look like you've had a rough day.

I would much rather trade for a dull life than the one that I have had.

[ but. ]

Will you be staying around here? I will gladly come back. I do not have much to offer in return for your generosity, but I could tell you some stories, if you're interested.

(no subject)

evocationary - 2021-10-12 00:32 (UTC) - Expand

naqqali - 2021-10-12 00:36 (UTC) - Expand