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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well on the bright side his fashion won't have to change much. live the hobo chic life now
But they turn their attention to the top and searches for a price tag. The fact that they don't find one might've sent alarm bells ringing for other people who'd know that no price tag means it's likely way too expensive to afford.
Dia, however, doesn't have any idea of the concept of money.] That sounds like a lot. [120,000 of anything seems Too Much.] But I'm afraid I don't know what a yen is? [They smile sheepishly, at least self-aware enough to realize it's a weird thing to not know, probably.] Sorry... There's a lot of differences between this place and where I'm from... Is this one of those, um... 'money' things?
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Yes, that's it. Did you come from a society that doesn't use money? [ The questions start churning in his head immediately. How do they exchange things then? Do they barter? How do they pay for each other's services? Who decides what something is worth? ]
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[They understand giving favors and trading things, exchanges like that. But this whole third element seems unnecessarily complicated.]
why are they talking about this ... incredible
[ It's feasible for, say, a tribe in the woods, but one thing most large, civilized societies have in common in the fact that they have somehow adopted the use of currency. Even when they exist at different sides of the globe, they still manage to have that similarity.
It's kind of funny that they're talking about this in a setting that's essentially his memory, but he has time to kill. Rohan slides up onto a shelf, pushing the displayed clothes aside and crossing his legs. ]
Trading like that is easy on an individual basis, but what if you don't have the capacity to produce something the other person actually wants? How do you entice them to exchange with you?
[ That's what ... money is for. It's something almost everybody wants. Well, Rohan likes to tell himself he doesn't care but he definitely loved being filthy stinkin' rich back home. ]
teach them more about capitalism senpai
[They don't take a seat themselves, but stand with their hands clasps behind their back, looking at him attentively like a student before a teacher. And since there's only about 30 of them, they don't usually run into a problem like what Rohan's describing.]
Hmm... Well, when we're born, Sensei gives us a role we're suited for. We only make what we need and everything else is like, hm... a Hobby? Obsidian makes our weapons, Red Beryl makes our clothes--Both of them love their jobs too much to ever think of denying making something for someone. Hmm, we can make our own paper and pencils, Rutile takes care of anything medical... I'm not sure what we'd need that we couldn't produce ourselves.
And denying it to someone if it's a 'need' just because they don't have something you only 'want' seems, well, cruel, doesn't it?
rohan is like 20 years old what does he even know about anything
If all that's true, your society might be the 'utopia' many have searched for. [ But even in a group of 30, conflicts are sure to arise. He doesn't believe a society can run on clockwork like that, always producing what they need and sharing it for the betterment of the community. ]
But I find it hard to believe your people simply accept this. Surely there's someone who has a thought like 'I make valuable weapons, but that person only makes fabric. It's not fair that I have to work so much harder!' Something like that ... could easily make the whole system fall apart.
he knows...manga??
[Does it really sound that strange?] I think... It might be because we don't get to experience new things very often, and the materials we use or make have much shorter lives than we do, so it's a precious thing we take pride in creating.
[Dia laughs a little and shrugs, looking sheepish] But you'd have to ask the ones who make things more about that. I'm usually on patrol duties and fighting. I don't really have any hobbies like the others like that.
Oh-- [They pause, tilt their head thoughtfully, and adds politely:] I'm Diamond, by the way. I'm sorry, I didn't think to introduce myself earlier!
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Kishibe Rohan. [ 'Diamond' is an interesting name, but in a society of only 30 people it's not at all surprising they have no last name. ]
You all sound utterly devoted to this teacher of yours, almost like he's your creator.
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It isn't so much like that, but... We all love Sensei very much. When we're... born [for lack of a better word] Sensei takes us and refines us, teaches us, and gives us a role. All of us love him very much. [The adoration is clear in their voice, though this definitely makes it sound like some kind of small cult than anything else.]
But as far as I know, we're the only things left on the planet, so... I suppose that kind of devotion is natural.
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Oh? When you say you're the only people left -- This isn't due to the Storm, is it?
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No. Let's see, if I remember my history... Thousands and thousands of years ago, there was an event where a meteor hit the planet for a sixth time. The world was broken up and became six moons, and all that was left was the beach-island we live on now, and all life fled to the ocean. Eventually the only sentient life to come back was, well... Us!
That's what Sensei says, anyhow.
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[ He takes out his sketchbook and starts writing down some pointers, even drawing out what that beach-island could look like. i can't draw for shit but just pretend his drawings are actually quite good. Also, with how he's interested in hearing about their story, the notion that they should find a way out of this Gucci-memory gets put on the back burner for now. ]
But to do the same things, look at the same sights and see the same people for so long, wasn't that depressing? I couldn't handle that, living like a frog in a well.
[ But that's just him. He's insatiably curious and always searching for new things to experience. ]
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It can get a little boring, I suppose... But we always find ways to entertain ourselves. The world changes, little by little, and it's fun to find those little changes.
There's also a group that attacks us and tries to abducts us on the days when it's most sunny, so we're always on patrol for them too. It's always something different, something to keep us on our toes. So we fight a lot, explore, enjoy the peaceful days when we have it.
Being some place like this... It's really much more exciting! There's all sorts of new things to see, and so many different people. While I'm sad the Storm destroyed everything, I'm glad to have this sort of opportunity too.
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Aah, a real pity ... [ Rohan isn't the right person to go for for sympathy. Especially since, after confirming that his family and (very) few friends are indeed safe, he's been taking the destruction of the world like a real champ. A life can be rebuilt; as long as he'll always have things to be inspired about and stories to draw, he's just fine. ]
Why were you being targeted? Did you have something valuable that they wanted?
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The question isn't answered right away, Dia's expression looking amused and puzzled, like they can't believe the question's being asked in the first place. But then they remember--right. Different worlds. Likely Rohan's not from someplace where people are trying to kidnap him every second. ...Hopefully. Maybe?? Who knows with Jojos.]
Yes. Our bodies. [That sounds weird, but Dia isn't aware.] I suppose we're all very pretty, so the Lunarians come and abduct us whenever they can... No one who's been taken by them has ever returned, but... Some day I'm sure we'll see our friends again. But until then we'll just keep fighting. [Dia shrugs lightly as if to say 'what else can you do?' And this isn't...entirely the whole truth, but the real truth doesn't need to be shared anyhow. Dia'll keep to the generally accepted story for now.]
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He actually looks up from his sketchbook now. While he knows that's terrible, he's a bit incapable of saying anything comforting or sympathetic. It just doesn't come naturally to him. ]
I have to ask, otherwise I'm going to assume the worst, but what are you? You're all named after precious stones. I'm getting the impression that that's actually what you're made of.
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They don't seem to mind his lack of sympathy or anything either--the abductions are just a part of life. It's sad, but you move on and try to do better next time so that no one else gets taken. What else was there to do?
It's also always a bit confusing to get asked that, mostly because Diamond just doesn't think to ever explain. They've never really had to before, so it's a bit novel.] Haha, that's right! Diamond is my name, but also my class and the material I'm made up of.
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[ He's definitely putting his sketchbook away now, because he's presented with something far more interesting than anything else this memory has to offer. Rohan gets up and shifts closer, letting his curiosity carry him away as he starts invading Diamond's personal space. ]
I see. So you would be something like a living stone? [ He picks up one of Diamond's arms, feeling the texture of their skin. ] Never thought I'd see a real life example of anthropomorphism! This is definitely catching my interest. [ He run his fingers down their arm once more, nodding to himself. ] Hmm. Feels real.
[ He then brings that hand up and gives their wrist a little sniff. ] And I don't smell any body odour.
[ But now he wants to know if Diamond can get scratched. Diamonds aren't supposed to. ]
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They have a vague understanding of what 'smell' is, but having no sense of it themselves, they don't quite get if it matters. Is that a good thing?? While there's no body odour, there might be the faint smell of the powder from the plants Rutile collects that's spread on them to create the illusion of skin. And despite being very pale, it does look like real enough skin.
They're comprised of solid diamond, however, so their limbs are probably heavier than they look, and colder than normal skin. Their "nails" are really just an uncovered portions of their hand, giving the illusion of nails. Their eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair are made up of diamond as well, but so thin that it seems to mimic real hair as well, moving naturally in the breeze or when Diamond moves their head.
If he does try to scratch them, though, he'll find that nope, they can't be scratched. There might be a curious pinging noise or the sound one might here when, you know, trying to scratch or rub against a hunk of rock, but otherwise Dia'll be fine.]
Rutile--our doctor--would probably be able to answer more than I could, but... I'll do my best? I suppose a 'living stone' is close enough. We don't eat or drink like other living creatures--we get all of our energy and nourishment from the sun, so when it sets we get tired pretty quickly.
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You photosynthesize? Where I come from, only plants do that. [ And Dia doesn't have green skin, so they probably don't do it the same way plants do. Maybe they work more like a solar panel. ] I guess it makes sense, without a digestive system.
[ Now he's going to satisfy his next curiosity. Rohan takes out a key, holding it to the underside of Dia's arm. ] But I have to wonder -- Do you also have the hardness of a diamond? It's common knowledge that diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds.
[ diamond is ... unbreakable ... hahaha
It's a little mean, but he's really wants to know. What's a little scratch, right? That sort of thing heals right back up. It's not like he's trying to kill them or anything. Those are all the excuses that Rohan gives himself, anyway, as he once again puts the well-being of other people underneath his selfish whims.
Digging that key into their skin, he moves it downward, seeing if they will scratch. The zeal in his eyes as he satisfies his curiosity might be unsettling to some.
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[Having a sense of taste must be pretty neat. Dia blinks owlishly, watching him with the key. ?? ????]
Yes, my hardness is a 10, but-- [It doesn't hurt by any means. They can't feel pain or anything like that, but they can still feel its presence and Dia winces a little. All Rohan really succeeds in doing is scratching away the powder overlay, revealing solid diamond beneath it. Aware, at least somewhat, of their own strength compared to humans, Dia refrains from yanking their arm back suddenly since they don't want to risk hurting him.
But their brow furrows and they frown, clearly not very pleased] You could have asked first. [Honestly the only reason they're even allowing this is because they were curious on if a human could hurt them anyhow. So far it didn't see like it, though the powder coming off is a little annoying, even if it's only a thin line.]
Please don't do that much, I don't know if I'll be able to find powder to repair it.
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[ Meaning, it's got to be some magical explanation unique only to Dia's world, that even Rohan knows he wouldn't be able to grasp if explained to him in detail. Curiosity sated, he lets the gem go, pocketing his key. He's also not going to feel sorry for leaving that thin line where the powder's been scraped away. ]
You probably already know this, but on my world, a diamond was nothing but an indestructible, overpriced rock.