Preface to the preface: Goodness, my internet connection has been terrible. Sorry for the wait everyone, I've had no internet for a couple of days. I still hope everything goes well.
Well, my sickness has mostly blown over and I am able to type this out with at least a semblance of competence now. Hopefully, this won't be too bad. You must forgive me for leaving this shorter than normal, however; schoolwork bearing down on me and fatigue does nothing to help me relax and do some writing.
That said, I hope you enjoy the update. I do plan to make them shorter and quicker without losing the amount of detail contained within them. However, that also relies on the trust that everyone will be able to get their turns sent in within a reasonable amount of time. I'm more than happy to wait longer for people to enter their turns and to write the updates longer; it's all really up to how you guys and girls want it to be. I'm really flexible with how I get this done.
Well, provided that my mental abilities prove to be sufficient for writing of this caliber at the time.
Have a great day and enjoy the update,
Artemis.
Is it possible to see into the past of a different universe, one that is not on the timeline of your own? By our understanding of logic, perhaps not in a direct manner.
Then again, this realm is not one that abides by the empirical world's rules.
In this universe, things may not be as they appear.
People may not be as they appear. It is a masquerade on an unimaginable scale. And, indeed, some of these people may be images of their past that was never realized.
As our journey progresses, be wary of inconsistencies. Certain things will not line up with one another. Certain objects and people will appear different depending on the light that you view them under. Some might not exist at all. Some may be figments of your imagination.
Such is the way of the
Medium.
ROLL TO MEDIUM: RECURSION [CHAPTER FIVE]
TURN FORTY: WAKE UP
LirianYou shift to your right side unconsciously, trying to get yourself in a more comfortable position. You notice that there's something odd underneath your right hand, but you don't worry about it. Sleep is more important right now. There's not much need to worry.
..Wait. No, sleep is not more important. You open your eyes and look around, scanning for anything that might be a threat. You can't really see much above you, as your small, handmade shelter blocks the view above you. How did you get back here again? Last time you were awake, you remember that you were smacked by some ugly beast before Artemis took it down. And then Artemis started to walk toward you. Did he do anything to you? You do a cursory check of your body to make sure you're not injured or missing any gear. You reach the middle of your right leg and wince, letting out a small sound of pain. A small area around your knee throbs with pain, the area being inflamed. However, you notice that there seems to be some sort of brace made of a black synthetic fiber attached to your knee. As far as you can tell, it doesn't seem to be harming you right now, but you also have no idea how you acquired it.
With that completed, you reach to your right side and find what was under your hand before: a small paper note bound by a thin, purple string. You have a feeling that you know where this note came from. It's easy enough to unbind it and unroll it. With this, you begin reading:
This is your place, right? Nice home. If not, you can find your way home.
Town is to the southeastish.
Injury to the knee, brace should help. Don't walk around too much.
You have all of your gear, with a bit of extra stuff. Don't waste it all.
The vial numbs your pain. Use it when you need it.
We'll meet again. You are interesting.
~A.D.The note ends there. You didn't notice any extra gear on your person, so you look around your little shelter. In the corner, you find a small cloth bag, wrapped yet again by a purple thread. You open it away from your person and dump the contents out on the ground, wary of any tricks that he might play. You find thirteen silver-colored coins with a fractal pattern printed on one side and an outline of Survatas printed on the other. Along with those, you find a small bottle of water, a vial with a blue, translucent liquid, and finally a Delta Cross pendant hanging off of a single silver chain, the metallic, purple pendant only a small bit bigger than your thumb and reflecting with a violet glow when held in the light.
Suffice to say, this is an odd parting gift, but you'll keep it in mind for now. Crawling out of the shelter, you scan the perimeter, looking for anything out of the usual. However, there's nothing that you can really tell apart for any sort of strangeness. The sun shines its rays through the branches above you and the air whispers around you, entertaining itself with stories of harsh weather. Other than the chirp of the morning birds, the morning seems relatively quiet.
Head out the door of the bus then enter the orphanage when inside check in and head to my room meanwhile trying to estimate how long it will be till dinner time
Jack WeaslyThe orphanage never looked as destitute as it does now. Although the outside holds up fine, the inside still contains that odd, rotting smell that you remember first experiencing about four months ago. It's much less of an orphanage and more of an abandoned building that had been repurposed for stuffing homeless kids in there. After the kids grow old enough, they're kicked out into the streets if they can't find a job that can pay for proper housing. Thankfully, you still have a few more years until you are old enough to be evicted. Well, that is if you survive that long in the mines.
There's no guarantee for your future, no certainty but a life in the mines.
Your group of orphans files into the building. Behind you, you hear the creaking of a gate coming to a close. Of course, it wouldn't be in the favor of the public to have orphans running around the streets, so you are corralled here instead. One by one, the entire group is logged in for the day and you are all dismissed to your rooms. You walk the empty corridors, observing the disheartening wallpaper and the kids within each room. Everyone has found something to do here - at least, the ones who are still alive. Some draw on the walls or on old pads of paper. Others collect every newspaper or every abandoned book they can find and savor every word they can read. Still, some people make a habit out of harassing others for their own entertainment - the archetypal playground bullies. Overall, there's a feeling of loneliness and emptiness in this isolated community.
Eventually you come to your room, which has a broken label that reads "BLUE 38." Inside is a bed with a thin, wearing mattress, and a rather uncomfortable pillow. There is a table on the right side of the room that serves as your improvised dresser. Other than a few various objects that serve as your possessions, the room keeps in line with the general theme of "emptiness."
Aneita Metter lives in the wing on the opposite side of the building, where the girls are. Jack Olias is one corridor down, in the "GOLD" hallway. You know a couple of others in the building, but you generally keep to yourself. The orphanage workers seem to discourage serious interpersonal communication.
Warren Drake
"Oh. Oh yes. It does help a lot. Thanks. I'll be back in a bit, I think. And I'll not tell anyone about you, either, so don't worry."
To the human grounds.
Warren DrakeDeciding that you're ready for a bit of actual social interaction with another civilized human, you begin your walk down through the thick forest. You wonder if you'll ever see Darzenis again, though to be fair, you kinda don't want him to show up again. Maybe all of those encounters were just hallucinations caused by lack of hydration or food.
Then again, you also have the creeping suspicion that it's all real and that you're in for a real treat coming soon.
Trudging through the heavy vegetation, you seek out this "human settlement" that the girl was talking about. You take note of the fact that the plantlife seems to be progressing from light spring plants to something that resembles a rainforest. You also notice that you seem to be perspiring at a greater rate than before. The sounds of the forest are starting to become busy, with more insects and birds and all kinds of wildlife filling the air with a melody of nature's tones.
As you walk forward, you begin to hear a thumping noise. It slowly becomes louder and louder, and you notice that it is not consistent. Drawing closer to the source of the sound, you begin to hear the crash of something falling down. Faint yelling can be heard, most likely of the human variety. It doesn't seem very anxious, however. Perhaps this is what you're looking for?
As you move ever-so-closer to the source of the sounds, you consider how you should approach this. It would be in your favor not to startle anyone so soon.
Eh Ah
"It was a particular Aecrocian fellow who lived with the Atisi, Dennis Kothir was his name, he's married into the Atisi tribal structure - definitely an asset on lore, and a very prominent link between the Atisi and less insular folk, so it would probably be best if he is handled with care. I am saying this largely because I know of no other person among the Atisi who is likely to tell me or any imperial authority much more than he, and I suspect there is much he might know if appropriately questioned. I was in a bit of a rush in asking him questions, and perhaps a bit unfocused in my approach for fear of alienating him."
"As for confidentiality, Your Majesty need not worry about that. Though I may be long-winded, I try not to pour out all my secrets to just any stranger, and I find that anybody I might know better on this island is likely very much dead by now. I wish you good luck in dealing with the administrative issues at hand, and will not take up more of your time. Instead, I think I shall investigate more and report any further findings at a later time."
If that'll be all, head over to the volcano if it looks at least semi-safe.
Eh AhThe Empress sighs, exhausted.
"Right, well.. good day then, Mr. Eh Ah," she says, waving you off with her hand. You bow respectfully and walk down the stairs and past the guards. You receive more than a few strange glances from some of the guards and the administrative parties of the Empress, though you keep your eyes ahead and walk out without problems. The glass doors shut behind you with a
clack, reminding you that this island has changed. There's some new leadership around here, and you're not sure just yet if you like it all or not.
You walk the cracked roads of Aecrocia, looking at all of the people who are going about the recovery of the island. Fortunately, things have been proceeding in a timely manner. You watch as men and women from both Aecrocia and the Theyin Empire discuss plans for repairing the structures around Aecrocia. Kids wander around and play in the streets, avoiding the holes and the craters and the rubble that mar the walkways. People haul equipment and materials from one location to another. It lightens your heart to see something going well for once.
That still begs the question: who is really at fault for the destruction of Atis? Is it the Empress, or is it the Council that she mentioned earlier? Maybe the political ties run deeper than two entities. You hope to find the answer to that question soon.
You keep on walking, moving farther and farther away from the center of the city. As you walk, you begin to notice the scorched earth that once held the forest at the edge of the city. Speaking of the edge of the city, you begin to see partially destroyed houses and scorch marks which denote the flow of the lava. Above the ashen fields, you see the volcano billowing smoke. There are newly-formed igneous rock flows that leave permanent landmarks for the mysterious eruption.
So this is the volcano that assisted the destruction of Atis. Maybe you should take a closer look.
Alex would stay silent. He knew it was now or never. He would attempt to take in air and make it extremely cold. If the doctor were to stand up, he would send the burst of frozen air at him. He doubted it would have combat effectiveness, but it would be a good distraction to grab a scalpel and take the doctor hostage.
Alex Raman((Well, not
technically a bad roll, so it's a start...))
The time is now. If you don't act, you will lose your opportunity to be free. You haven't noticed much moisture in the air, but you hope that you'll be able to work something with the air and create weapons from the elements in the air. You close your eyes and take a deep breath, focusing your mind on relaxing your body and putting energy toward manipulating your environment. Slowly, you exhale and direct the air with your lips, hoping to use the moisture in the air to create some frost. Faster and faster, you let the air out, sensing the room become colder and colder. As far as you can tell, it's working...
...but not as much as you would've hoped for. Despite the amount of energy you put into it, you can't get the air to be cold enough to see any frost form. Maybe there's not enough moisture in the air. Maybe your mind or body is too weak at this point to fully enact your powers. That would explain your recent failing streak.
The doctor turns his head around and inspects the room.
"Hmm," he begins.
"It's awfully cold in here, don't you think? Heh, even for me, and I've been here my whole life. Could you please tell your partner to keep the doors shut?" The guard rolls his eyes and sighs, calling out to his partner.
"Oi, Parnas! Doc says he needs the doors shut to do his work, it's too cold!" A few moments go by before his partner responds.
"The doors are shut. What are you talking about?"The guard behind you shakes his head and relays this to the doctor, saying,
"Must be a stray draft. Is he ready to go yet, doc? I don't like being away from the 'racks too long."The doctor looks back to you and assesses you.
"Well, he doesn't have any foreign objects within the wound, so I'll sanitize and dress his wound. It should clean up within a few days." With that, he begins preparing a wrap for you to wear.
Looks like your opportunity is about to leave once again. You need to find a place with moisture, something that can give you water that you can turn to ice...
..But what is that thing?
Eleri blinked a bit to clear out the night fugue as she recalled at an instant her surroundings--only a bit more lighted due to the time of day and scrambled over to the boy's side.
She distinctly wondered if the voice she heard was...the person in front of her. That dream was something else.
"Are you awake? Please, keep your eyes closed and rest." she hurriedly said, remembering how...different she was from the boy as her tail swished behind her legs. "You're in a safe place. My home, actually, near the beach. Just keep your eyes closed and I'll tend to you--I found you near the spring."
Eleri went to the side of the young man and checked him up close.
Status report?
EleriYou put your full attention on the boy, observing him for anything new up front. The first thing that you notice is that his hair is not sky-blue anymore. You could've sworn that, last night, he had oddly-colored hair. How did the color disappear so quickly? This puzzles you, but you decide not to bring it up for now. You don't see anything that would suggest serious damage to him just yet, though you would still have to take a closer look, just to make sure. So far, he's still in one piece and alive, which you are happy for already. Knowing that he might be freaked out by you once he sees you, you instruct him to keep his eyes closed and to relax, letting him know that you found him and that he should be safe for now.
He freezes in place and draws back instinctively, wincing as the sudden movement makes his body protest against him.
"Wait, who are... oh. The monsters... you saved me from them. I thought.. I-I thought.." He shakes his head and slumps back against the wall, complying with your instructions. His voice, although a bit shaky, seems much fuller when compared to his voice from yesterday. You take this as a good sign and draw close to him, telling him to move when necessary to allow you to assess his physical state.
The first thing you check for is for any signs of bleeding or infection. As far as you can tell, he has an impressive recovery rate. Most of his wounds have scabbed over, callused, or are healing in some other ways. He doesn't seem to be in any imminent danger of bleeding or any infection taking him out. He does have a slight amount of inflammation in his right lower arm, though he doesn't seem to be complaining about it. Still, you'll keep an eye on it just to make sure. Overall, he is healing pretty fast, though he does let you know that he's quite thirsty and hungry. You expected that; after all, the body does not heal magically. The moss bandage that you fashioned for him seems to have dried up for the most part. It served well for its purpose, but it might not be as effective after one night of being held against his person.
"So, um.. I want to thank - ow - thank you for, uh, saving me. I-I'm sorry for being a.. burden," he manages to say while you palpate him for injuries.
"Uh, well... my name's Flynn, by the way," he mentions.
"Uh, so.. ow.. why do I h-have to keep my eyes c-closed?"
I will visit the library, to see how my star student is doing in her quest to learn the ways of Paradox
Cat SchrodingerSince you have some time to relax during the day, you decide that you will see if Reyna is still at the library. She is quickly becoming one of your favorite students, as she is genuinely interested in the concepts that you profess in your class and always arrives eagerly to your class. However, she's still a bit too energetic, and needs to learn how to calm herself down. She tries to go through things way too fast, and that may prove to be detrimental to her in the future.
It doesn't take you long to get to the public library. It's a rather modern and aesthetically pleasing building, with smooth glass and steel framework giving it a "place of the future" kind of vibe. Students and adults and all kinds of people enter and exit the building, going on to do their own things in their lives. You push through the glass doors and look around. The building is quite typical of a library on the inside, having shelfs lining the curved walls of the interior that hold a wide variety of reading materials for anyone to browse at their leisure. From the center and extending outward is a spaced ring of tables for people to read and discuss various topics with one another. In the back of the building are some study rooms that are closed off, so as to allow people to be in peace while they go about their day.
You don't see Reyna anywhere within the expanding ring of tables, which leads your next best guess to be one of the study rooms. As you approach the rooms, you can see that one of them has a light on in the inside, even with the darkened glass that allows the occupants some sort of privacy and solitude. Going ahead, you knock on the glass door and ask if Reyna is there. At first, you don't hear anything, but then somebody moves around inside and opens the door wide for you.
"Hel- oh, Professor! What's up, why are you here?" she asks, both confused and happy to have an unexpected visitor. She stands in the doorway and leans on the wall. You have the slightest hint that she may have been sleeping in there due to the uncertainty of her voice and the droopiness of her eyes.
It certainly seems as if Reyna has been making good use of her time here.
Cecil G. PalmerYou wake up.
You're lying on your stomach inside of a container. It's empty and completely dark, save for a few rays of light coming in from one end of the container. You groan, feeling tired all over your body. Knowing that you can't just stay inside of here forever, you pick yourself up off of the floor and peer cautiously through the only opening to the outside. The light disorients you for a few moments, but it's not long before you are able to see clearly once again.
As you look outside, you understand where you are and why you're here. You're back in the same container that you ventured into, trying to seek a place of refuge from those strange nightmares. Now, you're looking into the Information Commons once again, recognizing all of the oddly-suspended shelf-boxes and the twisting staircases. Below you, you can see people milling around, reading different books, magazines or other pieces of writing. As far as you can tell, it is around the middle of the day, maybe earlier.
A bunch of questions begin popping up in your mind. Did nobody else notice the strange things happening on the dock that night? Did nobody see the eerie glow coming from the container in the morning? How long has it been since you entered the container? Was it all just some strange dream or hallucination? So many things remain unanswered, even with the cryptic advice that the strange woman gave you.
With this in mind, you feel along the surface of the door to the container, hoping to find some sort of latch to open the door and get out. Your hands find some sort of small handle on the right side of the door, which you pull on to get the door opened. The container creaks as you pull the door open, audibly announcing its age. Finally, you stumble outside and onto the catwalks and transparent floors of the Commons.
That was an odd experience, but you feel as if things will be a bit clearer soon. At the very least, you might be able to find whether or not all of this is truly real.
For the sake of your sanity, you hope that it is not real.
Cromwell JacksonYou toss and turn in your bed, trying to ward away the frightful nightmares that are stuck inside of your mind. All night, you have been experiencing nightmares where these silhouetted creatures chase after you, and hound at you, but never kill you. They cut you up and make your skin feel like acid was poured on it, but they don't ever let you die. Your arms and legs keep functioning beyond the point that they should, and you keep running despite the pain. You know that they're coming for you, and there's nothing that you could do to stop them. They are incessant and lusting for a poor soul to feast upon. You run down cobblestone steps and between houses, climbing up fences and through the trees. You try to hide in caves and in the branches of trees. You attempt to find someone or something that will help you, but to no avail. You are completely alone with your thoughts and the pain of the silhouettes that keep scratching away at your body.
You slow down unconsciously, no longer thinking about the consequences. Let them take you, it won't matter. You fall to your knees and sob, letting them crawl over you and eat your body away slowly. The pain begins to whiten out. You let out a sigh of relief as you have finally let go, the pressure having been released. Slowly, your vision whites out also. Maybe this is what it feels like to die.
"Hello, are you awake? It's time for breakfast!"Your eyes fly open. You look around, finding that you are back in the guest room of the Kito Complex. Sighing, you try to put the memory of that awful nightmare to the back of your mind for now. You sit up and rub your eyes before you hear a tiny "mew." Ah yes, your kitten is still around here. The only thing missing here is... Lirian. Lirian is not here. Wait, wasn't she in the forest yesterday? It's hard for you to refresh your memory, but you recall her refusing to come back inside the Complex, and that the white cat told you something about the Night of the Shadows. Maybe that's what your nightmares were about. At any rate, you should probably check up on her sometime soon. Strange things were happening yesterday, and you don't want anyone getting hurt so soon. Besides, you still have to tell her about the rest of the stuff that the cat knows. She might be able to make some sense out of-
"Um, Mr. Jack? Are you awake?"Well, looks like you might as well get ready for the morning then. Time doesn't stop for you or your thoughts.
((I will PM you the conversation with the cat soon. If you want, I could put it in this thread instead.))
Author's Note: Still some PM'ing to do, and I still have to get the Compendium finished. Ah well, everything in due time, I guess. It doesn't help that sickness knocked me out for a good week and a half. Everything should be good from here on out, however. Once again, please do get your turns in as soon as possible. It's not required, but I really want to get these updates out quicker for you guys and girls, so that it doesn't take as long and the story doesn't stagnate in the meantime.
As always, having a wonderful week and I hope the update was decent for you,
Artemis.
Author
Topic: Roll To Medium: Awakening [Chapter VI] (Read 146502 times)