dropoffs | W4 🛸 PLAYER CYOA: CATHOLIC YOUR OWN ADVENTURE (SISI) 🚀 LUCIEN, SHU, AND EUNHYUK

[ mood music

whatever you were doing before this moment becomes irrelevant: one moment, you blink, and the next, you're standing at the top of a long set of stone stairs, in the middle of what looks like a cave. if you turn around, there's nothing to see behind you. if you look forward, light from above shines down at the bottom of the stairs, and you can just see a halo of blue light in the center of what appears to be some sort of dais.

the stone structure of the dais is in the shape of an octagon. you hold a lantern in your hand, and if you make the descent, you might realize you aren't alone - there are three staircases, all leading to the center platform, and three people on this particular adventure.

eunhyuk, lucien, and shu.

as you descend the stairs - assuming that you do, of course - you will find that this place feels quite sacred. it's hard to escape the just slightly oppressive aura of something holy and important that presses down on you as you reach the center of the dais. it isn't a bad feeling. it's warm. comforting, almost, like the hug of an old friend, like recognition of your abilities and your power, like a light in the darkness. in the very center of the dais sits a massive goblet structure: within that, a blue flame flickers, strong and true.

at each point of the octagonal dais stands a stone statue. they are worn with the sands of time, but their faces and poses are visible to you, and at their bases, words have been carved into the stone, readable by lantern light.

AELFRIC THE FLAMEBRINGER. - a bearded man in vestments, carrying a staff.
AEBER, PRINCE OF THIEVES. - a man with flowing hair, wielding a dagger.
ALEPHAN, THE SCHOLARKING. - a wizened man in robes, holding a book.
BIFELGAN, THE TRADER. - a man holding a set of scales.
BRAND, THE THUNDERBLADE. - a man with his hands on the hilt of an austere sword.
DOHTER, THE CHARITABLE. - a woman, holding up a jar
DRAEFENDI, THE HUNTRESS. - a woman with a spear.
SEALTICGE, LADY OF GRACE. - a woman in the midst of a graceful dance.

talk to each other, get your bearings, figure out what's going on...? the statues will become relevant, soon..... . ]

Edited 2024-03-24 23:11 (UTC)

[ mood music

when the blue light fades from your eyes, the three of you find yourselves standing at the base of a town - and it is really cold.

that's the very first thing you notice. (sorry, shu) it is frigid in this place. a sign at the front of the frosty gates of the town indicates that you have found yourselves in stormhail, a northern village buried deep into the heart of the winterlands, tucked against craggy mountain peaks. despite the cold, the sleepy village itself seems to be well active in the daytime. it appears there is a path that carries upwards, past the town itself and into the mountains.

to your left lies a small inn, a provisioner's shop, and a tavern, as well as a few small houses. to your right, you can see a few more things - a massive mansionlike building with a fenced in area next to it, and down the stairs, an armorer. people mill about here and there, and occasionally figures in armor disappear into the mansionlike building's massive doors.

as you are getting settled in and admiring your new outfits (and features?) you may realize the bag that came with your outfit is a little heavy. in your pockets, you currently have...

✨ One medium grape, that you know will heal you slightly if you are injured
✨ One medium healing plum, that will restore magical energy slightly if you need it
✨ 100 gold leaves currency, not actual leaves

additionally, you are each wearing a new item - a small necklace with a crescent moon on it. you get the sense it's pretty important.

and finally, eunhyuk, you have one more item on you - a letter! it's written in neat, girlish handwriting.

My dear Eunhyuk,
I hope that this message finds you well. The three of you are doing me a great service in Stormhail, and I hope that my words can help keep you warm on the cold winterlands nights. I do not envy you for spending so much time in the snow!

If you will recall, I am desperately attempting to find an escaped criminal by the name of Alpates. She recently stole something very precious from the Cathedral of the Order of the Sacred Flame, but before the Inquisitor and I could apprehend her, she fled. We have reason to believe she is somewhere in Stormhail.

We would like to see her brought back alive, but she is very dangerous. I pray that you all say safe.

With love,
Mindt.

hmm! well. it looks like you've got a mission. time to chat amongst yourselves and decide what you want to do, and where you want to explore? ]

[ -- no.

it's a cave, with uneven lighting. it's cold and hot, morning and night, and disorienting as hell. in front of you there are two paths - one dark, and one light. you can't see down the dark path, but the light path is blocked.

you brave your way through the dark, and that seems to be the correct way to do it, as you finally come up to a strangely lit platform. it looks like maybe that there was some sort of puzzle you would've had to solve, but... instead of that, there's a body. a body lies out flat on the ground - blonde hair, dressed in white, face down in a pool of blood.

but before you can approach the body - you see another group of travelers, standing across the way, looking at you like they've seen a ghost.

O: ]

Edited 2024-03-26 21:24 (UTC)

I. THE JOURNEY BEGINS

II. STORMHAIL

III. OCTOPATH TRAVELERS...