You have spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Perhaps you've made some friends (or maybe an enemy or two). Either way, you aren't expected to spend all of your time on the Station. El Nysa needs you, after all, and you promised you'd help the planet thrive. Are you ready?
Submit an AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 OLYMPIA REP POINTS OR 2 WYVER REP POINTS, respectively, HERE or HERE. THESA STATION
All refugees on the station are called to the hangar where a large-scale teleporter has been set up; everyone will be sent to the planet together. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait. Before they depart, all new refugees will be given a starter kit!
 You may have heard about earlier technical difficulties, but don't worry. I promise everything is in perfect working order this time. I'd say I tested it myself, but since that's not exactly possible, you'll just have to trust me! (Please.)
The older refugees will also be there to guide you to ensure no one is left confused... or behind. Make sure you wait for them — I've been detecting something odd so I'll be having them meet you at the landing site. Good luck, refugees! Not that you'll be needing it or anything...
The arrays begin to hum and glow, quickly building into a brilliant wash of light. It creates a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa. With the night sky as a canvas, the beam can be seen all the way from Olympia and Wyver — a view that has the natives whispering of blessings.
As a sudden but beautiful aurora splays across the sky, the refugees down on the planet receive a message asking them to travel to the landing site — and warning them to prepare for what may come of the strange readings Zasere's gotten from the teleport itself.
Traveling through the light leaves the impression of blinding starlight, a strange sense of weightlessness, and a disorienting moment of total sensory deprivation. The radiance of your teleport hangs bright in the sky above you, a shimmering aurora that reflects off the calm waters below, visible for miles all around.
You've landed on a peninsula to the east of the South Outpost. There's little here — scattered trees on spring-barren plains, with a few overgrown, dilapidated structures poking out of the brush. All is quiet save for the keening of animals and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. This lonely desolation is hardly the bustling cities and vibrant cultures you were promised back on the station...
BY CAMPFIRE'S GLOW. But waiting for you is a group of your predecessors, and with them, a veritable tent city, with portable stoves, coolers of food and drink, comfortable bedrolls, and cheerful rings of bonfires — all that you need to make merry of the night, courtesy of Overseer Voss, who has, thanks to his interest in blessed meteorological phenomena and refugees, decided to make a holy expedition of the affair.
Settle in, meet new comrades, and enjoy yourself, for you've safely completed your journey. But don't wander too far from the fires — the dark is closing in, and there's a strange, electric feeling in the air, the scent of ozone drifting on the breeze. And what were those odd readings Zasere mentioned?
A SHEPHERD OVER THE FLOCK. The spring sun dawns on a grey morning, already burning away the fog rolling in off the sea. It quickly becomes apparent that Voss and his entourage of acolytes have been up for hours, hard at work. They've set up a brightly-draped stage and a travel pulpit, magically enchanted to amplify his voice, and as the sun breaks over the horizon, Voss is all set to do what he does best: proselytize.
 As our Goddess has sent Her blessing once before to herald the coming of those touched by Her light, so She has done once again! Here you see them, those surrounded by the light of our Goddess, each of them bearing the mark upon their skin of Her holiest of hands! Do you not see? Do none among you bear witness to the righteousness of Her message? Perhaps this is why our people have shamed themselves in front of our Goddess—
[ He continues for another 15 minutes... ]
Nevertheless. See you them before us now! See them as they are, coming to our gates with Her reminder, that these people must be treated with the utmost respect and care. Thesa's divinity is not to be treated with such flagrant disregard! Those who She chooses are not ours to use as mindless fodder, to hurt, to torture — shame upon those who allowed such deeds to shame us under Her watchful gaze!
To those of you who have just arrived here on our doorstep, be not afraid! The Temples of Thesa welcome you to our home with hearts and minds open! Should you ever find yourself in need of solace, seek out the Temples, as there are no greater allies to you than those of us within the Temple walls. You are welcome all to Olympia!
As he steps away from the enchanted podium, he can be heard saying aside to an acolyte, "How was that? Heavy on the shame, but I think it went well!" While he will not leave the area immediately, his acolytes will politely turn away attempts to speak with him and remind anyone interested that they can leave a message at the Temples.
Despite going off without hitch, the new refugees' arrival isn't entirely without incident. It seems that the "blessed" beam of light that brought the refugees down to El Nysa brought something else along with it — a sliver of the Storm. At least the beam was short enough that only a small fraction managed to squeeze through.
But it's enough to wreak a little havoc around the landing site and along the road back toward Olympia and Wyver — and even, for a few days, in the cities themselves.
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. The Storm is an undeniably destructive force, and that's proven with this small sliver's effect as it ripples across the continent. While there's no visible sign of its presence, strange phenomena soon begin to appear, corresponding with Zasere's odd readings.
They're innocuous little things at first. A sudden silence, animals going quiet, insects stilling. All technology, no matter how advanced, ceases working. You discover when you check with a friend, the clock on your phone is twelve minutes slow even though you'd swear only a minute had passed — time missing. Walking through the woods takes longer than it should when brushing past one bush leads to brushing past that same bush again — and again, and again, the area looping on itself. It keeps you trapped, going in circles for minutes, even hours, before finally releasing you in a random direction.
Or perhaps you'll feel a sense of deja vu, like you've walked down this road, taken this turn, seen that bird fly from this branch before. This is the second time that cat has crossed your path. The person you're meeting, you already know their name; you're certain you've already met.
WE GOT COWS. The Storm sliver also ushers in sudden, localized weather anomalies — heavy storms, blizzards, strong winds, and more. Affected areas range from just a few feet wide to nearly half a mile. One minute, the sky may be sunny and clear, but the next dark storm clouds roll in, unleashing torrential rain. Small tornadoes surge along the road, kicking up winds strong enough to knock people over and carry objects away. Hail hurtles down from the sky, but only in a ten foot radius. Temperatures fluctuate wildly between one extreme and the next, from heat waves to cold snaps. Soupy fog blankets the area, thick enough that you can barely see your hand in front of your face. Good luck finding your way!
FORGETTING IS SO LONG. The visions come on suddenly and with very little warning. One second, you're carrying on as normal — but the next, you blink and find yourself (and anyone near you) somewhere else completely. You may recognize this place as a moment from the past, one that you lived through. It's a memory, your memory, and it now replays around you in exceptional detail, unnervingly lifelike. Or you may not recognize it at all. It might belong to the person next to you, or to someone else entirely — a memory that the Storm has swallowed up.
Either way, the scene plays out just as it once did, and there's nothing you can do to stop it — or escape it. The memory surrounds you to no end: every door you open leads nowhere, every hallway you turn down continues on forever, every horizon you flee toward hangs just out of reach. And linger too long or turn the wrong corner, and you may find yourself abruptly stuck in a completely different memory. It's almost tempting, then, to give up, to let the past sweep you away...
But this isn't the full might of the Storm. Look closely, and you can see that in the walls of this trap, there are minute, hairline cracks, a facade of fractured glass. Imperfections in the memory where the real world is breaking through. It seems the only way to escape these memories is to find those cracks and break through them — by force, by will, or by some other method entirely.
The time is coming to make a choice — perhaps not a permanent choice, but unless you want to spend the rest of your nights out under the stars, you'll need to pick which city you will initially spend your time in. On the horizon, you will see that people have arrived to help you make that decision...
A FORK IN THE ROAD. Refugees and the hyper-religious wishing to hear Voss speak are not the only ones out and about under the light of the aurora. Citizens of both Olympia and Wyver have flocked to a point on the road midway between the cities and where the refugees have appeared, and they all have the same goal in mind: convincing the newcomers who have just descended in the blessed light of Thesa to come to their city and not the other.
They've come with bribes — that is, examples of what their cities have to offer. If you spent much time at the exhibition up on Thesa Station, you might recognize some of what's being shown off, though the offerings here are markedly more tangible, and shown off by hawkers wearing substantially fewer clothes.
A herd of pegasi accompanies the Olympians, while a line of flying serpents is stabled at a tent bearing Wyver colors. Refugees are given the chance to experience solo flights and are told that if they prove their loyalty, they may have the privilege of owning such fine beasts one day themselves. The Olympians have also brought couture clothing, jewelry, and makeup to offer a taste of Olympian splendor, while the Wyver delegation has brought along fine weapons, sense-enhancing jungle plants, and small vials of diluted dragon’s blood (drinking confers a temporary boost in strength) to demonstrate their might. The Olympians speak proudly of the glory of the Temples of Thesa; the Wyverns speak of the Volkkran Pact and inform newcomers that they can make a pilgrimage to the summit of Namarak Mountain at the next full moon.
This is as good a time as any to compare your plans with others around you and exchange contact information before going your separate ways with people who are going to the city you are not. When you’re ready to go, don’t worry about safe passage — the natives of each city will gladly escort you there in luxury.
OF WHITE AND GOLD. The people of Olympia are ecstatic that you’ve come to join them... So much so that they’ve prepared a grand tour of the city for the new arrivals. You will be introduced to the major businesses in the city, including businesses that they are proud to point out were founded by refugees.
Refugees who have been here for some time already are encouraged to pair up with newcomers to introduce them to the parts of the city they like best. To facilitate this, they’ve made arrangements with many of the business owners: new refugees who visit their shops (and older refugees who escort them) are given discounts!
Just a few examples of many: the Wyvernest offers free desserts to first time visitors with the purchase of a drink, refugees who visit the Silk Wyrms can have one custom (though not exceedingly expensive) outfit made for them for free, and visitors to Shades Darker are offered a half-hour session with one of the prostitutes at half price… or access to a private room, if they seem to have taken a shine to one of their companions on the tour.
Lastly, tour guides will point out that over the course of the next week, the train to Flona Cove will allow new refugees to board for free so that they can experience the seaside for themselves. With the weather finally starting to warm, this is as good a time as any for a visit to the beach, isn’t it?
OF RED AND BLACK. Life in Wyver is typically a sink-or-swim sort of experience — but in light of the valor recently displayed by their predecessors, the natives are now more willing to assist in getting newcomers settled. The entire journey here they have been talking up the virtues of their city… and now is the time to show everything that's on offer.
The well-known businesses in the city are prepared for the influx of newcomers. Some are giving out discounted samples of their products while others are offering a more hands-on experience: in exchange for working a few hours, they will give training in whatever task is being performed.
At the Forged, newcomers can learn the basics of crafting simple weapons (and take one of their successes home), while visitors to spas near the lagoons are trained in the art of massage. Those who wander to Falmi’s Ring can learn the art of pugilism or how to keep (and fix) books if they're more inclined to the gambling that goes on. Newcomers interested in Wyver's dragons can get hands-on experience at the Fields of the Exalted's nursery. While they walk from place to place, a guide may point out a job posting from Highwind Hires, noting that refugees can make a name for themselves outside official channels.
The last stop on the tour is the Undergrowth. The guides speak of the jungle in reverent tones and caution new refugees not to wander too far in. They warn never to explore alone, but also urge refugees to take time to familiarize themselves with it; after all, the jungle is an important part of life in Wyver, and those who are going to be living here should understand it as well as they do.
You've chosen your path, refugee, but that doesn't necessarily make it a permanent one. Watch out for the strange effects of the Storm, which linger still in the two cities and everywhere in between for the next few days before dissipating just as mysteriously as they came, but otherwise enjoy the welcome and make yourself at home — after all, this is home now.
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x'rhun tia | ffxiv | ota
A ♦ the Fall of the Crimson Duelists
B ♦ With Heart and Steel
C ♦ Wildcard
a!! gimme dat sad history lesson
The scene is decidedly horrific, but it snaps him out of things when he hears X'rhun's voice. It's almost a comfort to hear a familiar voice in this setting, and it proves that the younger man he's seeing is in fact him.
His voice is somber when he speaks, careful. ] I have an inkling of what may transpire, then.
[ What might ... happen. Nothing here is leading to anything good. ]
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Has Alisaie told you much of red magic? Or of me?
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But he shakes his head. ]
Nay, I know very little.
[ All he knows is what X'rhun's told him about himself, and he knows a few spells Alisaie is capable of but not the nitty gritty of the job. ]
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[ He inclines his head towards the figure of his younger self, stopped to inspect a body of a fallen Ala Mhigan soldier. ] It is on this night that his treachery becomes known, and I... I become the last of the Duelists.
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There are a lot of things he could wonder about or even ask about in terms of the historical events (and people) he mentioned, but ... he thinks it would be unkind to do so, especially right now.
Instead, he turns his gaze to the younger version of his companion, a slightly grim expression on his face. ]
So that is what we are witnessing. [ He speaks solemnly. ] I ... apologize. This must be deeply personal, and for me to be seeing it ...
[ Not to mention how unenjoyable it must be for X'rhun to see it. But it almost feels like ... an overstepping of bounds, for Alphinaud to even be here. ]
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A
The smoke is oily, and it reminds him of Niflheim; their mechanical creations that added to the might of their army, the groan of metal against metal, the robotic way the magitek troopers moved in their formations. The hum of drop ships and the scent of the ozone as they drifted through the sky. But this is different, what he sees. These are the corpses of great airships, the dead shells of armored suits. And there’s more than that, something far more easily broken than clockwork and steel. Children, dotting the landscape. Bloodied and still.
It smells like war. He knows it well; he stood at the helm of one, a mighty nation clashing into the other to leave it battered and dying. This is something that settles familiar in him, reminding him of the fall of Insomnia. Reminding him of the darkness that overcame the capital city, years later.
The crunch of dirt underfoot, as Ardyn steps forward next to X’rhun. He spots another — a younger one, it would seem — slinking in the shadows at a distance.]
Do I seem like the squeamish sort?
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No, I suppose not.
You recall my story, yes? About the fate of my comrades?
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[Stories of betrayal resonate with Ardyn, and will remain with him for a long time. Even in passing. He did not forget X’rhun’s so easily.]
Is this what I’m witnessing, then?
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[ His younger self has a bit of a way to go yet, delayed by a body among a pile of rubble, a soldier of Ala Mhigo, clad in a charred uniform of earthy greens and browns. X’rhun of the past kneels over the still form, looks it over for some sort of identifying information, and finding none, takes a moment to offer a small prayer for a fallen brother.
Even now, X’rhun remembers the man’s face. ]
For whatever it may be worth, welcome to my homeland.
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But if he were ever to see them like this? He does wonder how well he would take to it -- if at all.
But he is not the subject today. It is his companion's, and his eyes continue to follow the figure of the other. He gestures out in his direction, idly.]
A homeland ravaged by war is most unflattering, indeed. I shall not hold it against yours. [A beat.] You seem rather calm, watching all of this unfold again.
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b!
So: he's looking for the person whose memory this is. He's guessing it's the man watching, and not participating.
When he gets close enough, he realizes he's seen him before, but only at a distance. Lifeless, the first time, and then later, checking up on those removed from the tower - assured to be revived in the station.
Seems it really did happen. ]
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Hello, my friend. You look as though you’ve just seen a ghost.
[ He means, of course, the ghouls and strange creatures lurking around the ruins, not himself. ]
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Is this anything we need to worry about immediately?
[ The levels of immersion, the danger things can pose, seems to vary from person to person. ]
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They may hold the visage of specters and demons, but their physical forms are solid enough. If you’ve a weapon, then you can harm it. However, I doubt they have taken notice of us.
[ Indeed, as past-X’rhun and his companion begin to carve their way through roaming packs of voidsent, the nearby creatures are drawn by the cries of their brothers to converge on the two red mages. ]
I must say, this is quite the way to make someone’s acquaintance. My name is X’rhun Tia, and you find yourself in my past, for better or worse.
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A beat of silence, and then he looks properly at X'rhun. ] I've seen you before, though you won't remember. I was a part of the group that extracted the abductees from the tower.
[ That should sound awkward. We met when you were dead. But Jim manages a calm sort of professionalism. ]
I'm glad you see you up.
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b
She steps up beside him, and puts her hand on his shoulder briefly, in greeting. She feels like she's intruding on the privacy of anyone whose memory she walks through, but there's not much to be done for it.
Ahead of them, the younger X'rhun and his companion are busy cutting a bloody swath through all manner of creatures. It's impressive. She feels like she's stepped into some kind of fantasy adventure - even seeing it in person, it's hard to believe that this was his life. ]
Who's your friend?
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He hears her approach, and almost tenses, expecting an approaching voidsent or another creature, but instead he finds a friend. His expression softens, and he nods to her in greeting. ]
One of my pupils. The hero of a nation, if you can believe it.
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[ She has to wonder how that happened. Not a hero of the nation, but the hero. She almost feels sorry for them. ]
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[ He waves a hand at their surroundings, cold gray stone and strangely glowing light. ]
Welcome to the once grand City of Mhach, formerly home to practitioners of Black magic some thousands of years ago, and ruined by war. My pupil and I came to this place to rescue their fellow student from the clutches of a Voidsent queen.
I THOUGHT I HAD REPLIED TO THIS sorry friend
I SEE HOW IT IS jk ilu
;A;
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walks in late with sbux and a wildcard
The calm moment they spend chatting under the shade of a tree (this one completely normal, unlike the first time they met) is jarringly interrupted, with a complete shift in scenery. They're suddenly indoors, in a building that isn't like any on El Nysa.
No, 76 knows this place. It's one of the Overwatch facilities. It's a place that no longer exists, in a time that's long passed. It has to be a hallucination, but it feels as real as if he'd traveled back in time. They're in a nondescript hallway, but it still fills him with equal parts nostalgia and queasiness.
It takes him a few seconds to realize he isn't alone. Somehow, X'rhun got transported with him. That only makes the urgent need to get away from this place that much worse. ]
Come on. We need to get out of here.
[ Without any further explanation, he starts down the hall at a brisk pace, heading for the exit. Of course, it's going to take them a while to get out, and he's not sure what they might run into on the way. ]
i'll take a venti tragic backstory pls
The way his friend is suddenly on high alert is enough to set him on edge, as if the sudden change in locale were not enough to do that in the first place. X’rhun trails after 76 quickly, eyes and ears open as they go. ]
Do you know this place?
coming right up
Instead there's this, whatever's going on here. X'rhun seems to be perceiving everything the same way that he is, which means that it's probably some kind of shared hallucination. 76 has no idea what would have triggered it, or why it's a place from his past that they've ended up in.
He pauses at the question, half-tempted to lie, but there's really no wriggling out of this one. ] Yeah. [ It's the only explanation he provides for now, though he knows there are probably more questions coming.
As they're walking, though, he hears some voices coming down the hall from the opposite direction. Both of them are familiar, one because it's his, and the other -- well, it's almost enough to make him stop in his tracks. He instead looks for somewhere to hide, but there isn't time, and soon enough two men are walking toward them.
One might seem familiar, if without the visor or the scars, and younger, though not by so much -- he's blond yet graying. The other will be a complete stranger, with a severe expression and a beanie pulled over his shaved head. Even though 76 and X'rhun are standing right in front of them, the men seem to have no idea that they're there. Of course not, because none of this is real.
It is something that happened, though. 76 remembers this, though he can barely seem to bring himself to look at the pair. ]
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