Pluviosa Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pluviosamods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pluviooc2024-01-23 10:00 am
pluviosamods) wrote in pluviooc2024-01-23 10:00 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive 01
TEST DRIVE
Hello, and welcome to the first Pluviosa Test Drive!
Rather than a series of prompts that are set after arrival to the game, this Test Drive is instead more of a soft open for the game. That is to say, not only are Test Drive threads game canon, but the Test Drive should be regarded as the "start" of the game chronologically and contains arrival-related events and information.
Or lack of information, as the case in fact is, because there is no greeting party waiting to reassure characters that everything is fine back in their worlds and that they'll get to go home again. (On the flip side, there's no one telling them that their worlds have been destroyed, either.) There is only the ship, the things inside it, the raging storm outside, and what characters can figure out for themselves.
It is advised that potential players familiarize themselves with the Premise page, the Rules/Session Zero page, and at least the first few paragraphs of the Setting page. As Pluviosa is a horror game, we especially encourage players to be aware of the content warnings that will be major themes of the game.
(cw: minor blood, visions, storm weather)
The first thing you become aware of is the sound of dripping. Your mind is fogged, as though woken from the wrong part of your sleep cycle. In your daze, you're convinced that the sound of dripping is blood. Yours? Someone else's? You can't be sure. It's dripping from somewhere. It's your fault, whichever it is.
Good. One way or another, you'll be free of this nightmare -
And then, in response to the sound of a crack of thunder outside, clarity returns.
Characters come around as though disturbed from a deep sleep. Once they have shaken off the (vision? impression?) of blood, they will find that the dripping sound, at least, was real. Fortunately, it's only water - rainwater, more than likely, judging from the occasional booms of thunder and flashes of lightning overhead. One hell of a storm, quite possibly the worst characters have ever experienced, is raging outside.
Outside where? Well, outside the ship, of course.
As a general rule, characters wake up in a random room of the first level of the ship below the main decks. Theoretically, this should be a relatively safe, dry place - but with the age of the ship, its state of disrepair, and the number of plants above that have dug their roots into the deck above, leaks are plentiful. Thus, the sound of dripping water is a constant even in enclosed areas - and, of course, the outside of the ship is being pounded by rain in shimmering sheets, adding to the cacophony of noise accented by the thunder.
Even the protective bubble over the deck itself and the balconies of the rooms is having trouble working to keep the rain out - the rain isn't terrifying hurricane levels, but it is steady and water floods steadily down the stairs and over the edges of the gap down the center of the ship. The worst of the wind, too, has been kept out, but occasional gusts send ripples through the rain.
There is no power inside the ship right now and barely any light besides the flash of lightning - although characters may arrive while it is nominally day, the clouds stretching from horizon to horizon have blocked out the sun almost completely. The motion of the ship is also far worse than usual due to the storm winds - it's easy to believe that you are in fact at sea, unless you manage to get close enough to the exterior windows or balconies to be able to see the ship's legs in motion through the cascade of water that runs down the exterior.
(cw: hallucinations, thinking things that are real are hallucinations)
In the dark, you have to rely on your other senses - hearing, sound, smell. Smell is giving you the best information to start out with - rain, of course, but also mildew, plants, and old metal. (Is that a whiff of blood at the bottom? No, it's because of that bad dream you had messing with your head.)
No one comes to greet you. No one comes to find you. Instinctively, you know - no one is coming. You'll have to save yourself.
Characters will be fully convinced that they are alone until they actually run into another character. Even things that seem like they should be indicative of another person's presence, such as hearing voices or seeing someone shine a light down a hallway - your character will be convinced that that is just a hallucination until they can definitely lay eyes on another person, hear their voice clearly (ie: not half-drowned-out by the rain) or otherwise be certain of their presence.
That isn't to say that hallucinations aren't occurring. All characters, but especially those who are alone, will periodically hear murmuring voices, smell blood, smoke, and other scents reminiscent of destruction, and see what appear to be the flashes of flashlights, flickering lightbulbs, and the shadows of people walking around. These hallucinations fade in and out in intensity, but they always clear up for at least a little while when a character notices the sound of thunder. Given that the thunder is very frequent during the storm (every few minutes), most hallucinations won't last for long.
For most characters, the voices will be unintelligible murmurs. However, if your character has experienced an event of mass destruction at some point in their life (apocalypse or near-apocalypse, destruction of a city, volcano eruption, being the only survivor of a town that was slaughtered, etc), or has a connection to the dead, they will be able to pick out that the voices of the hallucinations are talking about either attempting to rescue people from something similar (eg: a distant voice shouting "there's someone still alive over here!") or, alternately, talking about how everything is lost, everyone is doomed now, etc. They may hear one type of voice or both at different times, at player discretion.
(cw: dead loved ones, hallucinations/delusions, violence, potential death. THIS PROMPT CONTAINS PVP OPTIONS.)
You're not supposed to be alone. There was someone with you, only a few hours or years or minutes or lifetimes ago. You weren't always alone, and you have to find them.
You'll find them. You do. But not in any kind of condition to keep you company. This lump of flesh is empty now. The plants are already growing over it, reclaiming it. There's blood in the soil, and there's the sound of someone else coming up behind you.
Someone is coming. You'll have to save yourself.
There are various heaps of organic debris that characters can stumble across when wandering around in the dark - piled up leaves, rotted plants, heaps of ferns, moss, and so on. Even solid wood, sometimes - the trunks of small, twisted trees that took root where they might and have grown out from balconies to the exterior or inwards down the jungled crevasse between the two halves of the ship. In the low light, it's easy to literally stumble across them, or mistake them for something else in the brief light of a flash of lightning.
It's the mistaking them for something else that could be a problem. Characters may find themselves absolutely convinced that these heaps of leaves are the body of a loved one - especially if they were wandering around looking for someone in particular. They may or may not accurately perceive leaf cover on the outside of the "body," but unless they dig their hands in enough to be sure of the heap's contents - but who would want to go digging their hands into the body of someone they love? - or they see the shape in clear lighting (which would have to be provided by another character), it will be near impossible to convince them that the pile is just that, and not a corpse.
But that's not the really dangerous part. The dangerous part of all this is that if someone unexpected approaches while the character is in the same room as the 'body,' they may become convinced that the new arrival is responsible for their loved one's death. It doesn't matter how illogical it is on the surface - fear, or rage, or whatever it is that might fuel them will turn on the stranger. And whatever it is that convinces them of this has also turned their fight-or-flight reflex solidly to fight, whether it's for revenge or the last chance at survival for a cornered rat.
Characters so affected will fight until one of the following occurs: If they are led out of sight of the 'body,' they return to their senses (given that they may be inclined to chase the 'perpetrator,' this may be the best non-violent way to resolve the issue). If they are convinced that the 'body' is fake (through physical contact or clear lighting as above), they also return to their senses. And finally, if they kill the 'perpetrator' or are themselves killed or knocked unconscious, the effect ends. In all of these cases, it ends with the sharpness of a rubber band snapped against the skin, and the character is fully aware of their altered mental state and what occurred as a result.
If your character dies as a result of this prompt (and you want that thread to be game canon), please give the mods a heads-up if/when you are accepted into the game. Although this will not count as an 'official' death and will not consume a character's "freebie" revival, there may still be consequences for your character's death.
(cw: worms. many worms. not parasitic. just worms.)
It's easy to take a wrong step in the dark. Of course, tripping and falling isn't the worst thing that can happen.
This isn't the worst thing that could happen, either. That doesn't make it any better in the moment - the split-second when the ground erupts and a writhing mass of something slimy doesn't so much crawl out as jump out - but maybe it will make it better later.
You know how worms come writhing up out of the ground during a rainstorm, when the soil is absolutely saturated?
Well, that's true of the soil on the ship as well, except the worms here aren't just common earthworms anymore. They've learned to climb, the slime that they use to wriggle through the soil modified such that they can cause it to turn sticky and squelch their way up walls, ceilings - and anyone they happen to come across. If you step in the wrong place, an entire cluster of them will respond, by clinging to your clothes and body, squirming upwards in a desperate bid to escape the wet soil and the continuous rivulets of water caused by the storm.
Or perhaps you sat down to rest somewhere and felt them creeping - or didn't, until there was suddenly something wet and cold on your bare skin. Or maybe you encountered the worms not through their climbing, but afterwards, when they drop off the ceiling and fall down on your head as the enzyme that renders their slime sticky wears out. However it happens... worms.
Fortunately, they're harmless - aside from being a bit larger than the earthworms a character is likely to be familiar with, and their strange ability to become sticky, these are largely indistinguishable from normal earthworms. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell that in the dark and the wet - this is their native environment, not yours, and anyone would panic at the sensation of worms trying to crawl up them or into dry places in their clothes.
There is an easy solution to this: Because the worms are fleeing the rain in the soil, they won't climb up anything that's just as wet as the dirt they left behind. All a character has to do to become worm-free is get thoroughly soaked, such as by stepping out into the reduced-but-still-pouring rain on a balcony or deck protected by the ship's bubbles. Unfortunately.... Well, then they're wet. And there doesn't seem to be anywhere to dry off any time soon...
For information on the general shape and state of the ship, please see the setting page. Please note that mods will not be running investigations during the test drive period.
Q: Do our characters still have their powers/items?
Generally speaking, yes. Characters have their powers intact (with certain exceptions, largely for potential-gamebreak reasons) and whatever items they were carrying at their canonpoints. Please see the FAQ for more details.
Q: My character is dead and/or dying at their canonpoint!
Well... Now they aren't. Specifically, dead characters come back as their most recent 'healthy' state of being (unless they're a type of character that is playable while dead, such as a vampire or a Bleach shinigami, in which case they continue as normal for them); they also arrive already soaked through by the rain, regardless of the location they wake up. Characters who are mortally injured find that their wounds have healed; in place of whatever blood was soaking through their clothes/dripping from their bodies/in their mouth from a Cough of Death, they instead find pure water.
Q: Can my character(s) explore the ship?
Your characters are welcome to explore as much as they're willing and capable of doing in the wet and the rain! However, getting between floors is a challenge in the current weather - with the power off, the elevators do not work, and the stairs are consistently flooded by a cascade of rainwater. However, mods will not be running any official, guided explorations until after game opening.
Q: Is there anywhere dry to rest?
Nowhere is completely dry, but the aft portion of the ship is significantly drier than the middle and fore. The reason for this is that there is a series of partial decks (the residential decks) over roughly the last third of the ship. The rain is fully blocked by the roof overhead, in theory, but in practice the wind and the flooding leave this space only sort of dry. It's possible to find your way here on your own and find some place to sleep that doesn't blow mold spores into your face when you sit down, but it's also darker here, since the lightning's light is also blocked out by the roof.
Q: BATHROOMS?
Unfortunately, the lack of water in the pipes means that the toilets (which can be found relatively intact in most suites, though many are full of standing water) are also not running. Characters get to deal with this issue as they see fit, whether that's using the dilapidated toilets or using a more fertilizer-like strategy.
Q: Is there anything from the game's main info pages that doesn't apply to this Test Drive?
Given that the power is currently off, the Ship (as in the entity) cannot be interacted with on the Test Drive (and characters have no reason to think it's there). Anything else that would require power, such as the elevators or water from the faucets, also does not work.
Q: How long does the storm last?
ICly, it begins to lighten up on the evening of the second day after the first characters wake up, though it is still raining steadily with occasional thunder throughout that night. (Characters will continue to trickle in throughout the duration of the storm, though most arrive before the end of the first day.) The characters will be able to see the sun starting on the third morning - which is also planned to be the game's formal opening, so we won't say more until then!
Q: Do our characters receive anything upon arrival?
Not a thing! Nor do they encounter any kind of informational NPC or anything that gives them a solid idea what's going on. The only exception to this is that all characters experience the dripping-blood related vision/dream/impression detailed in the first prompt of the Test Drive. Additionally, characters who have a unique tie to their world (such as Aerith's connection to the Lifestream in FFVII) will be aware that they're not in their own world anymore.
Q: What are our characters eating?
Since the power hasn't come on yet... Whatever they're adventurous and/or knowledgeable enough to find that doesn't kill them! This can include edible plants and limited amounts of things brought from home (please don't have your character bring 99 casseroles even if your game's inventory system allows it), but mods are not tracking this specifically. Most characters will be expected to be hungry and unhappy but not literally starving come game open. At least there's plenty of water.
Q: I have some specific question I need to ask about my specific character on the test drive!
Please post your question in response to the header comment QUESTIONS below!
Rather than a series of prompts that are set after arrival to the game, this Test Drive is instead more of a soft open for the game. That is to say, not only are Test Drive threads game canon, but the Test Drive should be regarded as the "start" of the game chronologically and contains arrival-related events and information.
Or lack of information, as the case in fact is, because there is no greeting party waiting to reassure characters that everything is fine back in their worlds and that they'll get to go home again. (On the flip side, there's no one telling them that their worlds have been destroyed, either.) There is only the ship, the things inside it, the raging storm outside, and what characters can figure out for themselves.
It is advised that potential players familiarize themselves with the Premise page, the Rules/Session Zero page, and at least the first few paragraphs of the Setting page. As Pluviosa is a horror game, we especially encourage players to be aware of the content warnings that will be major themes of the game.
ARRIVAL
(cw: minor blood, visions, storm weather)
The first thing you become aware of is the sound of dripping. Your mind is fogged, as though woken from the wrong part of your sleep cycle. In your daze, you're convinced that the sound of dripping is blood. Yours? Someone else's? You can't be sure. It's dripping from somewhere. It's your fault, whichever it is.
Good. One way or another, you'll be free of this nightmare -
And then, in response to the sound of a crack of thunder outside, clarity returns.
Characters come around as though disturbed from a deep sleep. Once they have shaken off the (vision? impression?) of blood, they will find that the dripping sound, at least, was real. Fortunately, it's only water - rainwater, more than likely, judging from the occasional booms of thunder and flashes of lightning overhead. One hell of a storm, quite possibly the worst characters have ever experienced, is raging outside.
Outside where? Well, outside the ship, of course.
As a general rule, characters wake up in a random room of the first level of the ship below the main decks. Theoretically, this should be a relatively safe, dry place - but with the age of the ship, its state of disrepair, and the number of plants above that have dug their roots into the deck above, leaks are plentiful. Thus, the sound of dripping water is a constant even in enclosed areas - and, of course, the outside of the ship is being pounded by rain in shimmering sheets, adding to the cacophony of noise accented by the thunder.
Even the protective bubble over the deck itself and the balconies of the rooms is having trouble working to keep the rain out - the rain isn't terrifying hurricane levels, but it is steady and water floods steadily down the stairs and over the edges of the gap down the center of the ship. The worst of the wind, too, has been kept out, but occasional gusts send ripples through the rain.
There is no power inside the ship right now and barely any light besides the flash of lightning - although characters may arrive while it is nominally day, the clouds stretching from horizon to horizon have blocked out the sun almost completely. The motion of the ship is also far worse than usual due to the storm winds - it's easy to believe that you are in fact at sea, unless you manage to get close enough to the exterior windows or balconies to be able to see the ship's legs in motion through the cascade of water that runs down the exterior.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
(cw: hallucinations, thinking things that are real are hallucinations)
In the dark, you have to rely on your other senses - hearing, sound, smell. Smell is giving you the best information to start out with - rain, of course, but also mildew, plants, and old metal. (Is that a whiff of blood at the bottom? No, it's because of that bad dream you had messing with your head.)
No one comes to greet you. No one comes to find you. Instinctively, you know - no one is coming. You'll have to save yourself.
Characters will be fully convinced that they are alone until they actually run into another character. Even things that seem like they should be indicative of another person's presence, such as hearing voices or seeing someone shine a light down a hallway - your character will be convinced that that is just a hallucination until they can definitely lay eyes on another person, hear their voice clearly (ie: not half-drowned-out by the rain) or otherwise be certain of their presence.
That isn't to say that hallucinations aren't occurring. All characters, but especially those who are alone, will periodically hear murmuring voices, smell blood, smoke, and other scents reminiscent of destruction, and see what appear to be the flashes of flashlights, flickering lightbulbs, and the shadows of people walking around. These hallucinations fade in and out in intensity, but they always clear up for at least a little while when a character notices the sound of thunder. Given that the thunder is very frequent during the storm (every few minutes), most hallucinations won't last for long.
For most characters, the voices will be unintelligible murmurs. However, if your character has experienced an event of mass destruction at some point in their life (apocalypse or near-apocalypse, destruction of a city, volcano eruption, being the only survivor of a town that was slaughtered, etc), or has a connection to the dead, they will be able to pick out that the voices of the hallucinations are talking about either attempting to rescue people from something similar (eg: a distant voice shouting "there's someone still alive over here!") or, alternately, talking about how everything is lost, everyone is doomed now, etc. They may hear one type of voice or both at different times, at player discretion.
TO RUN ITS COURSE
(cw: dead loved ones, hallucinations/delusions, violence, potential death. THIS PROMPT CONTAINS PVP OPTIONS.)
You're not supposed to be alone. There was someone with you, only a few hours or years or minutes or lifetimes ago. You weren't always alone, and you have to find them.
You'll find them. You do. But not in any kind of condition to keep you company. This lump of flesh is empty now. The plants are already growing over it, reclaiming it. There's blood in the soil, and there's the sound of someone else coming up behind you.
Someone is coming. You'll have to save yourself.
There are various heaps of organic debris that characters can stumble across when wandering around in the dark - piled up leaves, rotted plants, heaps of ferns, moss, and so on. Even solid wood, sometimes - the trunks of small, twisted trees that took root where they might and have grown out from balconies to the exterior or inwards down the jungled crevasse between the two halves of the ship. In the low light, it's easy to literally stumble across them, or mistake them for something else in the brief light of a flash of lightning.
It's the mistaking them for something else that could be a problem. Characters may find themselves absolutely convinced that these heaps of leaves are the body of a loved one - especially if they were wandering around looking for someone in particular. They may or may not accurately perceive leaf cover on the outside of the "body," but unless they dig their hands in enough to be sure of the heap's contents - but who would want to go digging their hands into the body of someone they love? - or they see the shape in clear lighting (which would have to be provided by another character), it will be near impossible to convince them that the pile is just that, and not a corpse.
But that's not the really dangerous part. The dangerous part of all this is that if someone unexpected approaches while the character is in the same room as the 'body,' they may become convinced that the new arrival is responsible for their loved one's death. It doesn't matter how illogical it is on the surface - fear, or rage, or whatever it is that might fuel them will turn on the stranger. And whatever it is that convinces them of this has also turned their fight-or-flight reflex solidly to fight, whether it's for revenge or the last chance at survival for a cornered rat.
Characters so affected will fight until one of the following occurs: If they are led out of sight of the 'body,' they return to their senses (given that they may be inclined to chase the 'perpetrator,' this may be the best non-violent way to resolve the issue). If they are convinced that the 'body' is fake (through physical contact or clear lighting as above), they also return to their senses. And finally, if they kill the 'perpetrator' or are themselves killed or knocked unconscious, the effect ends. In all of these cases, it ends with the sharpness of a rubber band snapped against the skin, and the character is fully aware of their altered mental state and what occurred as a result.
If your character dies as a result of this prompt (and you want that thread to be game canon), please give the mods a heads-up if/when you are accepted into the game. Although this will not count as an 'official' death and will not consume a character's "freebie" revival, there may still be consequences for your character's death.
CONTENTS WORMING
(cw: worms. many worms. not parasitic. just worms.)
It's easy to take a wrong step in the dark. Of course, tripping and falling isn't the worst thing that can happen.
This isn't the worst thing that could happen, either. That doesn't make it any better in the moment - the split-second when the ground erupts and a writhing mass of something slimy doesn't so much crawl out as jump out - but maybe it will make it better later.
You know how worms come writhing up out of the ground during a rainstorm, when the soil is absolutely saturated?
Well, that's true of the soil on the ship as well, except the worms here aren't just common earthworms anymore. They've learned to climb, the slime that they use to wriggle through the soil modified such that they can cause it to turn sticky and squelch their way up walls, ceilings - and anyone they happen to come across. If you step in the wrong place, an entire cluster of them will respond, by clinging to your clothes and body, squirming upwards in a desperate bid to escape the wet soil and the continuous rivulets of water caused by the storm.
Or perhaps you sat down to rest somewhere and felt them creeping - or didn't, until there was suddenly something wet and cold on your bare skin. Or maybe you encountered the worms not through their climbing, but afterwards, when they drop off the ceiling and fall down on your head as the enzyme that renders their slime sticky wears out. However it happens... worms.
Fortunately, they're harmless - aside from being a bit larger than the earthworms a character is likely to be familiar with, and their strange ability to become sticky, these are largely indistinguishable from normal earthworms. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell that in the dark and the wet - this is their native environment, not yours, and anyone would panic at the sensation of worms trying to crawl up them or into dry places in their clothes.
There is an easy solution to this: Because the worms are fleeing the rain in the soil, they won't climb up anything that's just as wet as the dirt they left behind. All a character has to do to become worm-free is get thoroughly soaked, such as by stepping out into the reduced-but-still-pouring rain on a balcony or deck protected by the ship's bubbles. Unfortunately.... Well, then they're wet. And there doesn't seem to be anywhere to dry off any time soon...
FAQ
Q: Do our characters still have their powers/items?
Generally speaking, yes. Characters have their powers intact (with certain exceptions, largely for potential-gamebreak reasons) and whatever items they were carrying at their canonpoints. Please see the FAQ for more details.
Q: My character is dead and/or dying at their canonpoint!
Well... Now they aren't. Specifically, dead characters come back as their most recent 'healthy' state of being (unless they're a type of character that is playable while dead, such as a vampire or a Bleach shinigami, in which case they continue as normal for them); they also arrive already soaked through by the rain, regardless of the location they wake up. Characters who are mortally injured find that their wounds have healed; in place of whatever blood was soaking through their clothes/dripping from their bodies/in their mouth from a Cough of Death, they instead find pure water.
Q: Can my character(s) explore the ship?
Your characters are welcome to explore as much as they're willing and capable of doing in the wet and the rain! However, getting between floors is a challenge in the current weather - with the power off, the elevators do not work, and the stairs are consistently flooded by a cascade of rainwater. However, mods will not be running any official, guided explorations until after game opening.
Q: Is there anywhere dry to rest?
Nowhere is completely dry, but the aft portion of the ship is significantly drier than the middle and fore. The reason for this is that there is a series of partial decks (the residential decks) over roughly the last third of the ship. The rain is fully blocked by the roof overhead, in theory, but in practice the wind and the flooding leave this space only sort of dry. It's possible to find your way here on your own and find some place to sleep that doesn't blow mold spores into your face when you sit down, but it's also darker here, since the lightning's light is also blocked out by the roof.
Q: BATHROOMS?
Unfortunately, the lack of water in the pipes means that the toilets (which can be found relatively intact in most suites, though many are full of standing water) are also not running. Characters get to deal with this issue as they see fit, whether that's using the dilapidated toilets or using a more fertilizer-like strategy.
Q: Is there anything from the game's main info pages that doesn't apply to this Test Drive?
Given that the power is currently off, the Ship (as in the entity) cannot be interacted with on the Test Drive (and characters have no reason to think it's there). Anything else that would require power, such as the elevators or water from the faucets, also does not work.
Q: How long does the storm last?
ICly, it begins to lighten up on the evening of the second day after the first characters wake up, though it is still raining steadily with occasional thunder throughout that night. (Characters will continue to trickle in throughout the duration of the storm, though most arrive before the end of the first day.) The characters will be able to see the sun starting on the third morning - which is also planned to be the game's formal opening, so we won't say more until then!
Q: Do our characters receive anything upon arrival?
Not a thing! Nor do they encounter any kind of informational NPC or anything that gives them a solid idea what's going on. The only exception to this is that all characters experience the dripping-blood related vision/dream/impression detailed in the first prompt of the Test Drive. Additionally, characters who have a unique tie to their world (such as Aerith's connection to the Lifestream in FFVII) will be aware that they're not in their own world anymore.
Q: What are our characters eating?
Since the power hasn't come on yet... Whatever they're adventurous and/or knowledgeable enough to find that doesn't kill them! This can include edible plants and limited amounts of things brought from home (please don't have your character bring 99 casseroles even if your game's inventory system allows it), but mods are not tracking this specifically. Most characters will be expected to be hungry and unhappy but not literally starving come game open. At least there's plenty of water.
Q: I have some specific question I need to ask about my specific character on the test drive!
Please post your question in response to the header comment QUESTIONS below!
no subject
In some ways, it's simpler to be recognized. It certainly cuts down on the time spent on introductions.]
If I had an answer to that question, I would not hesitate to share it.
[He, too, is not here by choice, unless by here you mean out in the rain of the topdeck rather than below.]
However, the only answer in my possession is where we are not - which is anywhere within Teyvat's borders.
no subject
Interesting. Not within Teyvat...
[ This is territory that only the Traveler would have experience in, then. As for who or what could have pulled them here—considering what little he knows about Descenders, this may not be entirely out of the realm of possibility for them. ]
It's one thing for me, a simple vagrant, to be taken by a mysterious force [ it's not ], but you? I can't imagine the panic rippling through Fontaine right now. 'Iudex Vanished? The Archon Answerless'... is what I imagine the headlines are going to look like in a few days. That flashy Archon of yours usually leaves everything to you, doesn't she? Bet she's regretting that just about now.
[ Sorry, he's not sorry. ]
no subject
But Furina is here, and so long as she intends to maintain her deception, he will not be the one to give the game away. He owes her no less.]
I'm afraid Fontaine will have to function without both of us for the time being.
[That is all he says. It is true, because in the Fontaine he left, Furina is no longer a part of the government, and it is true, because Furina is here. There is no lie within his words.
The Iudex of Fontaine does not lie. But this is not the courtroom, and he is not required to tell the whole truth.
Instead, he replies, perhaps a bit pointedly - ]
Besides, no simple vagrant bears a sign of the gods' favor so openly. Circumstances in Fontaine may have been too complex recently for me to spend the time keeping up with the news in other nations, but unless I am much mistaken, you would be the Vahumana candidate from the recent Interdarshan Championship, no?
[Very deliberately, he looks down at the hat held loosely at the young man's side.]
1/2
2/2
Suddenly, he feels far less comfortable provoking the man. He hadn't expected to be recognized at all, and found safety in anonymity, as he usually did. This is new. To be known on his own merit (though he could hardly say it was merit, has anyone seen the absolute state of Vahumana these days? Shameful. They called themselves scholars??) unsettles him more than he'd like to admit. ]
You've made your point, Iudex.
[ Not an apology, but he'll mind his words from now on. ]
So the Hydro Archon is here too? This doesn't bode well for any of us.
no subject
Thus, to Neuvillette's logic, there is no such person who both wields a Vision and who is completely below notice.]
At least thus far, there does not seem to be immediate danger. My concerns are equally divided between those of us present in this place and the state of Fontaine without myself or Furina.
[He pauses, and then adds,]
Actually, if I may ask a strange question without explaining first: What is the date?
[In which we bullshit that Teyvat actually uses a calendar.]
no subject
[ Not that he expects Neuvillette to actually stop, but it's unproductive. He himself is slightly concerned about Sumeru—more specifically, how Nahida is faring with his disappearance—but he also knows she would function just fine without him. He's not necessary to her or Sumeru the way Neuvillette and Furina are to Fontaine. The Iudex is rightfully concerned. ]
It's August 22nd. Four months after the Interdarshan Championship. [ ... ] ...Let me guess. The date is different for you?
no subject
[Yeah, he's not going to do that, and at least he's aware of it? He wouldn't be Neuvillette if he didn't fuss.
Still, he nods firmly.]
The same in December. Furina is from closer to your time period. I noticed the discrepancy when she did not recall certain events, including the Traveler's time in Fontaine.
no subject
Your loss.
[ So there was a time discrepancy between the three of them. Strange. For what reason, exactly? The most logical and plausible reason would be that he and the Hydro Archon had their memories tampered to forget the past several months. But there was nothing guaranteeing that Neuvillette's memory reached the present either.
He can't help but think this is just another element being used to unsettle them. The ship, or its owner, was valiantly trying their best to throw them off-kilter for whatever reason. Either way, he doesn't like this. Having his memory tampered... he's already done enough messing around with his own memories. No one else should be allowed to touch what he has firmly claimed as his. ]
The one in charge here has overstepped their boundaries. If they think they can get away with modifying our memories, they're sorely mistaken.
no subject
[In contrast to the Wanderer's sharp edges, Neuvillette remains calm in the center of the storm. Ever a member of the legal profession, he simply presents his evidence and the flow of his logic, having paused only to let a particularly loud boom of thunder pass.]
Furina carries upon her person a Hydro-aspected curse related to the fulfillment of Fontaine's prophecy. As from my perspective, the prophecy has already played out, if it were simply a matter of modifying our memories, she should no longer bear it, and yet she does.
[To say nothing, of course, of her Vision - but Focalors' curse of immortality is as far into the secrets of Fontaine as he is willing to divulge. Being granted by Neuvillette himself, even in the event Furina's Vision were physically removed from her, he would be able to sense its power. It's his own power, after all.]
I do not believe that this curse could be replicated by an outside force. Therefore, the most logical conclusion is that we are physically from different times.
...Naturally, I ask that you not reveal this information to anyone.
no subject
You sure you should be telling me state secrets? You might know of me, but you don't know me. For all you know, I could be plotting against Fontaine.
[ It's entirely possible Neuvillette knows of his association with Nahida, in which case this is an extension of his trust in the Dendro Archon. He's not sure what the man's game is, and it puts him on edge. ]
no subject
[The words are blunt, and colored by his strong distaste for the heavens - in contrast to everything else he's said, there are actual sharp edges there.
Of course, he also means the second half completely. He is confident in Fontaine's ability to weather the storms that will inevitably come - so long as Celestia does not choose to respond to the loss of the Hydro Archon's Throne by making the nation into a second Khaenri'ah. But from what he knows, Khaenri'ah was permitted to exist for a long time until they overstepped some boundary, which he does not think Fontaine has, yet.]
Besides which, in an unknown place, it is a more valuable approach to treat those one comes across as potential allies than as potential enemies. Such alliances are built as much on trust as necessity; consider it a token of my sincerity.
no subject
It's annoying though, having to try to guess the Iudex's intentions. This is why he's never liked dealing with people in positions of authority. You could never truly trust that they didn't have ulterior motives. Even Nahida had more than two or three reasons to act at any given moment.
Neuvillette seems much the same as her, opting to act for good rather than for ill. He's not nearly as warm or friendly though. ]
Is that so?
[ ...no, it's too early to reveal his affiliation to Nahida. He's not nearly as open and trusting as the Iudex. ]
Well, your sincerity is accepted. For the time being, I am willing to form an alliance with you and the Hydro Archon. I don't have anything as grand as a state secret to offer in return though.
no subject
That's fine; it can hardly be expected that everyone is privy to the secrets of their nation's Archon, after all.
[Most Archons had some sort of familiar or assistant to be their right hand, a role Neuvillette played for Furina and will continue to play, outwardly, until she's comfortable in the alternative. He's never felt a need to advertise himself as the Hydro Dragon; his power over Hydro is more useful here than is typical given the complete unknowns of their circumstances, but thus far, few people have shown any interest in the origin of that power.]
At this point, such an alliance is little more than the exchange of information we have uncovered in any case. The circumstances do not appear to be actively dangerous, at least at the moment.
[That could change at any time, of course. If it were to change, then it would be for the better to have another person who would be at least somewhat inclined to look out for the all-too-human Furina. If Neuvillette has any ulterior motive at all in this, it is her safety.]
I came to the upper decks alone, but I will inform Furina of the arrangement as soon as I return.
no subject
At this point, you know more than me. But if I learn anything important, I'll be sure to pass it onto you. And if you need me to act, just let me know and consider it done.
[ For all the petty sass he had earlier, he's surprisingly genial now. It's one aspect of him that has always shone through his various iterations—an easy compliance to being ordered around. ]
Wonderful. I ought to introduce myself to the Lady Archon at some point, since we're going to be allies.
no subject
The only other item of note that I have is that this storm is unnatural - whatever force lies beyond it is deeply enraged. Unfortunately, Hydro energy carries only the emotions, not the reasons behind them.
[Natural storms of this strength are rare, and given everything else it's not hard to guess that this is not one - but confirmation never hurts.
The mention of Furina brings a faint smile to his face, although, internally, his thoughts are more like please get along.]
Aside from myself and Furina, I haven't encountered anyone else from Teyvat - though there are a number of people from elsewhere, which raises its own set of questions.
no subject
[ But, well, it's good to know nonetheless. That the storm is the result of someone or something's rage, and that Neuvillette can read emotions from Hydro energy. It's something he tucks into the back of his mind as he slowly builds a mental profile of the Iudex. ]
Hm. Perhaps someone as powerful as a Descender is responsible for this. I wouldn't doubt something on this scale is within their capabilities.
[ This is a freebie for Neuvillette, as information about Descenders is not something a regular person, let alone some Vision-holding competitor for a championship should know. It's a bait, dangling in front of the Chief Justice. Something to draw out more information about the man himself. ]
no subject
[Neuvillette is not a complete master at controlling his expression, though typically his expressions are subtle enough that most people would miss them. He can't count on that in this instance, though.
Someone who possesses knowledge of the term 'Descender...' Congratulations, Hat Guy, you have just shot up to the top ten list of 'people to keep an eye on' in Neuvillette's head.]
As for 'Descenders,' it seems you are more knowledgeable in that subject than I. If their abilities are on the same scale as the gods, then yes, that would certainly be a possibility.
[Though, can you call them Descenders when outside Teyvat, really? Regardless, that is a card Neuvillette chooses to play close to his own chest, for now. The knowledge obtained from Skirk is so deeply related to the fulfillment of Fontaine's prophecy that to acknowledge one is to risk the second. Better, therefore, to not acknowledge it at all.]
no subject
He focuses on Neuvillette's reaction to the term Descenders instead. To which, there really isn't any. None that he can reliably tell, though he feels that maybe the Iudex's face shifted slightly at the word. Though he's good at reading people, Neuvillette is like a stone wall in appearance. It's through his voice that one can read him, and it is even and measured right now.
Perhaps not all Archons and their assistants were aware of Descenders. Fontaine had a crisis of its own to manage in the form of that prophecy, so he could chalk Neuvillette's lack of knowledge up to that. Something tells him, however, that that train of thought isn't correct. ]
Ah, if only they were just as powerful as gods and no more. Maybe Teyvat would be a different place if that were the case.
[ The grin on his face is almost accusatory. It's a bluff, of course. He doesn't know if Neuvillette actually has knowledge of Descenders, but the drifter is willing to bet that he does. The fact that he even mentions Dragon Sovereigns when they haven't been relevant since the Archon Wars is particularly curious as well. No, Neuvillette is definitely hiding something, his intuition tells him. ]
no subject
Something more on the order of the Heavenly Principles, then.
[Which, of course, he knew already. If the remains of the Third were the formation of the Gnoses, then that means that the power of the Third Descender divided up was as much a contribution to the power of the gods as their incomplete, stolen Authorities.
But as practiced as the Wanderer is at baiting people, Neuvillette is practiced at not getting hooked. After all, he lives in the nation that invented the tabloid press, and is a notoriously mysterious figure there.]
Teyvat would certainly look very different if they had never interfered, though I doubt humans would much like it. We certainly wouldn't be having this conversation, here or anywhere else.
no subject
He isn't rising to the bait, anyhow, so the drifter decides to drop that line of inquiry. Neuvillette no doubt had a number of secrets he was keeping as the co-leader of a nation. It wasn't necessary for him to weasel them out of the Iudex right now. It would be a betrayal of the trust he's decided to place in the drifter, and he doesn't feel like being a traitor today.
Hopefully he won't have to be one in the future. ]
Well, fortunate then that the past can't be changed. [ And wouldn't he know that. ] Either way, our enemy isn't someone to be trifled with, and I doubt they plan to leave us alone after dragging us here.
no subject
Still, internally, he's glad for the matter of the Descenders to be dropped. The question of who the young man in front of him is to know that term hangs unanswered, but he is patient, for the time being.
Though it seems he may have to read Furina in on that matter, if it's going to be something that comes up with others.]
Agreed. Though it is curious, isn't it? Typically, if one captures or kidnaps someone, even captors who don't immediately make demands restrict their prisoners' movements.
[And yet, other than the barrier between them and the world beyond the ship, there is not much restriction here. Nothing stopping them from moving about or talking to each other.]
no subject
[ Odder, actually— ]
I think a more pertinent question is why they didn't take my Vision away. Surely you wouldn't leave your prisoner with weapons with which they can escape. They must be confident in the prison's strength.
[ Just to prove his point, he launches a wind blade at the sky above them, to see how that barrier would react against his attack. ]
no subject
[That is, however, a tangent he reins in at that point. Instead, Neuvillette turns his head upwards to watch what happens to the wind blade as it clears the tree cover and hits the barrier above.
The whole thing ripples in response to the force, a small wave extending out from the point of impact before it fades. It disturbs the water coating the barrier on the outside, which catches the light of the next lightning flash.]
Interesting.
[Probably a good thing it doesn't break so easily, considering how much worse the storm is outside, but... very interesting.]
My own power is significantly diminished, but I don't believe that to be a function of this place specifically so much as it is one of distance from Fontaine's waters. You've noticed no irregularities?
no subject
[ He might be a tad too sarcastic but. Well, he has a lot to say when it comes to political structures, alright? It's his speciality! And he has thought of the Fortress of Meropide once or twice, when he's come upon another Vahumana scholar's essay on the location. ]
Anyway, you're assuming our warden even cares for my mental wellbeing. I'm no convict with a chance for redemption. I'm just one of the many they kidnapped. Do they need me to be mentally sound?
[ Well, they must have kidnapped him for a reason, so the chances are high that they do need him to be able to function properly. It's definitely not for the reason Neuvillette suggests. ]
Hm. I haven't felt a difference so far. But I haven't exercised my full power yet. Want to test it out?
[ Is that an offer to fight? Maybe. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)