As you settle in for the night, you go through your new items. 10,000 gold, a lock pick set, and a spell scroll: Polymorph. And you have two pieces of a Threshold Crest. One more … one more step.
You realize, however, the night before no one had kept watch. You were so … distracted. With everything. But something - some creature or person - had come in the night. You have no food or supplies. You will have to go hungry. You killed your sweet little dream baby and your punishment is no dinner.
Since it is Nighttime you’ll get to pick TWO ACTIONS as a group: - Prepare yourselves. - Keep watch No need. You can see all that is coming. - Take care of Equipment Study the journ̷a̸l̴ (Learn.) - Study the j̵̨̧̦̻͓̤͔̭̺͔̙̜̠̓͒̄̇͝o̷͈͚͉̟̝̠̜̤̝̰͖͗̅̔̈͛̀̓̎́̿̽͊͘͜͝͝͠ư̶̬͔̎͛̉́̾̍̚̕r̵͖͈͙̙͚͉̅̆́̋̐̋̀̎͊ņ̵̳̜͇͚̳̟̥͔͚̘̤̾ͅͅà̸̧̛̰̝͙͌̒̓̋̊̀̀ͅļ̷̧̧̢̛̯̺͙͎̗̟͓̭͉̘͖̮̾̅̇̽̐̑̄̐̈́̇̑̚͝ (Learn.) ]
[well. once they rest, i figure she doesn't want anything to do with the journal, but after a while starts thinking about how they're already in this deep and there's a lot of danger ahead of them. maybe they need to learn more about the journal so they'll be prepared. what happened earlier was scary, though. she doesn't need to be the one responsible for the journal. we can study it together as a group and prepare for the next day. she's tired, anyway.]
Let's all look at it. I won't hold onto it myself anymore, we should just all know what we're dealing with.
[ You study the journal, together. As friends on this journey. Aw. I don't think anything bad at all will happen, actually.
The journal continues.
This is the fruit of a once barren tree. Now we come to it. Now I see it clear. Cognouza. That which was promised. The marks upon my body that I once mistrusted I now see as proof of the promise - all that the nine philosophers worked to achieve, I am one of their masterpieces. Nonagon.
The Astral Sea, that was their goal.
They were wise. They saw the disastrous outcomes of the Calamity, and their elegant solution was not submission or defeat, but to avoid annihilation altogether. A grand exodus.
Matter. Matter could be molded and shifted at will, dreams made manifest, no limitation but that one one’s own imagination. The mind as architect, unrestrained. It is almost painful to conceive of such freedom, and yet, I must possess it.
Once the Threshold Crests are recovered, the Astral Sea can be reached, and from there: Cognouza returned. Fastidian! Ira! Vigilant! Do not abandon me. Luctus! Elatis! Culpasi! Please, I bet for you wisdom, your sight. Timorei! Mirumus, Gaudius! I weep. I weep to hear you.
I must not fear the change. Transmutation. I will take my rightful place. Chosen. Nonagon. Long may I reign.
You find yourselves slipping into dreams, waking.
Margaret:
You have a terrible nightmare. The Somnovem are so close to their goal. You’re almost there - you just need a little more time. The last piece of the Threshold Crest is within reach, and then you’ll only need to bring it to them. In the Astral Sea. And then the real work can begin - not a failure, not an experiment, but the power of dreams untold. A true dream, one untainted.
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You had control. You were channeling it, the summoning, but they tainted it. They want the journal. They envy your power, your control. Margaret, you’re strong, a willful leader. A leader needs to make decisions.
You need to get rid of them.
… Of course, you could always falter. Think of your feelings for them. But you are well aware that in the cutthroat world of corporate power, if you don’t do it, they will find someone who will. You can always hire them back on once you’re in charge.
Owner:
You have a terrible nightmare. The Somnovem are so close to their goal. You’re almost there - you just need a little more time. The last piece of the Threshold Crest is within reach, and then you’ll only need to bring it to them. In the Astral Sea. And then the real work can begin - not a failure, not an experiment, but the power of dreams untold. A true dream, one untainted.
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You know what it is like to have to help people. You’ve helped so many other wayward souls along the way, all without ever receiving the most simple reward of all: helping yourself. You deserve that. You deserve some peace and understanding.
You see, if you take it, you’ll know exactly what you are. Whatever you want to be. That could even be nothing, if you wanted. But the others won’t see it the same way. Their selfish desires - their selfish ties keep you bound here. You merely have to free them of their delusions. Once you have the power, you can bring them back. Happier than ever. Fixed. Perfect.
But if you don’t, well. They’ll find someone who will.
Sidon:
You have a terrible nightmare. The Somnovem are so close to their goal. You’re almost there - you just need a little more time. The last piece of the Threshold Crest is within reach, and then you’ll only need to bring it to them. In the Astral Sea. And then the real work can begin - not a failure, not an experiment, but the power of dreams untold. A true dream, one untainted.
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You are a ruler-in-waiting. Your vision is so much bigger than the rest of them. You understand what truly matters, what is actually important for the good of the world, and it isn’t just one person. It’s everyone. You have to work for the greater good, for the whole, for the future.
You need to get rid of them.
… Of course, you could always falter. Think of your feelings for them. But a Prince - no, a King has to know how to make decisions. And you know if you don’t do it, they will find someone who will. You can bring them back, when you have ascended. Long may you reign.
Guy:
You have a terrible nightmare. The Somnovem are so close to their goal. You’re almost there - you just need a little more time. The last piece of the Threshold Crest is within reach, and then you’ll only need to bring it to them. In the Astral Sea. And then the real work can begin - not a failure, not an experiment, but the power of dreams untold. A true dream, one untainted.
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. They don’t understand it, really. How everything marches in lockstep exactly as it should. The Score keeps the score. You could do more than get rid of it. You could write it. You could ensure they had nothing but peace and happiness for the rest of their days.
You need to help them. Help them understand. Bring them peace.
But if you won’t, then they’ll just have to find someone else. Replace you.
you all awaken, refreshed and feeling fucking terrible. headaches pound through your skull and you find ... no matter the number of eyes you had the day before, you have more now. If you search your body, you can find nine. The number of the Somnovem.
You have been granted gifts. Margaret - You can see into the future, just far enough to know the next hit, the next blow. Or what someone is about to say before they say it. Sidon - You can control the mind of another, weaker-willed individual beneath your own. If only for a moment, they will obey your commands. Guy - You can rend the minds of others with merely a touch - tearing their psyche apart so they are wracked with pain and bleed from every hole in their face. owner - Polymorph, but for cars. ]
[ah, very well, then. she wakes up in the morning, hungry and sore. where exactly is the journal? she realized, during the night, after her dream, that she still needs it. she lost her nerve last night, but she can't do it again. she needs to be the one who'll be tough, if the rest of them can't.
but i rolled for it and she no longer has it, so who does?]
[ well. i rolled that guy has it, so if sipp is fine with that.
either way, when he awakens, owner just immediately goes to get all his stuff ready, not bothering to speak to the others. despite the bad night of sleep, and the hunger, there is so much clarity in what needs to be done. he isn't even sure how he didn't realize this sooner. ]
[ the night before, a thought had crossed his mind. it's not too late to get rid of it, the woman with a boulder-caved face had told him in a gentle whisper. he hadn't understood when she said it, but in all the pain and weariness, he'd considered maybe—maybe she meant the journal.
just a passing thought though, and a foolish one. by morning he has clarity, ignoring his headache and getting his pack with bright resolve. ]
[ guy has the journal for safekeeping now even though he can't read. but if he has to protect them from themselves, so be it. he has it in with his stuff now, after flipping through it to read it, himself ]
[ despite his nightmares and rough night, he regards them all with a small, reassuring smile ]
Are you all ready? Don't push yourselves too hard.
[ I love the direction you’ve all taken with this which is that you’re best friends again. discussing charles and arthur all the way to the end.
guy has the journal and all feel incredible jealousy clawing at the inside of your skull - but maybe it has ceased to matter. You no longer need it for your connection to the Somnovem. It, along with everything else of this mortal world (your possessions, your body, your loved ones) will not be a tether, tying you to the ground like an animal.
There’s a couple of directions available to go: First is back to the Disease Lab you’d discovered yesterday. Apart from that, exiting this area are two doorways, though you didn’t have time to study the map. You don’t know where they lead, but you do feel the tug and draw of a Threshold Crest in either direction. The past or the future, gang. ]
[yep! we're all best friends again. she smiles at guy. she wants that journal back, but she doesn't need it. and she isn't physically strong enough to win the fight that will ensue if she tries to take it from him.
it doesn't matter, anyway. the somnovem want someone intelligent in charge, they want a leader. that isn't guy and it never will be. she just needs to show them that and it's all going to be fine.]
So, what's on the agenda today? Someone might want to take a look at those laboratories. Though I might like to keep moving on ahead.
I believe Sidon had said he wanted to check those out, so perhaps we can split up? We can return here at the end of the day to regroup, if that is fine?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
As you settle in for the night, you go through your new items. 10,000 gold, a lock pick set, and a spell scroll: Polymorph. And you have two pieces of a Threshold Crest. One more … one more step.
You realize, however, the night before no one had kept watch. You were so … distracted. With everything. But something - some creature or person - had come in the night. You have no food or supplies. You will have to go hungry. You killed your sweet little dream baby and your punishment is no dinner.
Since it is Nighttime you’ll get to pick TWO ACTIONS as a group:
- Prepare yourselves.
-
Keep watchNo need. You can see all that is coming.-
Take care of EquipmentStudy the journ̷a̸l̴ (Learn.)- Study the j̵̨̧̦̻͓̤͔̭̺͔̙̜̠̓͒̄̇͝o̷͈͚͉̟̝̠̜̤̝̰͖͗̅̔̈͛̀̓̎́̿̽͊͘͜͝͝͠ư̶̬͔̎͛̉́̾̍̚̕r̵͖͈͙̙͚͉̅̆́̋̐̋̀̎͊ņ̵̳̜͇͚̳̟̥͔͚̘̤̾ͅͅà̸̧̛̰̝͙͌̒̓̋̊̀̀ͅļ̷̧̧̢̛̯̺͙͎̗̟͓̭͉̘͖̮̾̅̇̽̐̑̄̐̈́̇̑̚͝ (Learn.) ]
no subject
Let's all look at it. I won't hold onto it myself anymore, we should just all know what we're dealing with.
[study journal.]
no subject
The journal continues.
This is the fruit of a once barren tree. Now we come to it. Now I see it clear. Cognouza. That which was promised. The marks upon my body that I once mistrusted I now see as proof of the promise - all that the nine philosophers worked to achieve, I am one of their masterpieces. Nonagon.
The Astral Sea, that was their goal.
They were wise. They saw the disastrous outcomes of the Calamity, and their elegant solution was not submission or defeat, but to avoid annihilation altogether. A grand exodus.
Matter. Matter could be molded and shifted at will, dreams made manifest, no limitation but that one one’s own imagination. The mind as architect, unrestrained. It is almost painful to conceive of such freedom, and yet, I must possess it.
Once the Threshold Crests are recovered, the Astral Sea can be reached, and from there: Cognouza returned. Fastidian! Ira! Vigilant! Do not abandon me. Luctus! Elatis! Culpasi! Please, I bet for you wisdom, your sight. Timorei! Mirumus, Gaudius! I weep. I weep to hear you.
I must not fear the change. Transmutation. I will take my rightful place. Chosen. Nonagon. Long may I reign.
You find yourselves slipping into dreams, waking.
Margaret:
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You had control. You were channeling it, the summoning, but they tainted it. They want the journal. They envy your power, your control. Margaret, you’re strong, a willful leader. A leader needs to make decisions.
You need to get rid of them.
… Of course, you could always falter. Think of your feelings for them. But you are well aware that in the cutthroat world of corporate power, if you don’t do it, they will find someone who will. You can always hire them back on once you’re in charge.
Owner:
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You know what it is like to have to help people. You’ve helped so many other wayward souls along the way, all without ever receiving the most simple reward of all: helping yourself. You deserve that. You deserve some peace and understanding.
You see, if you take it, you’ll know exactly what you are. Whatever you want to be. That could even be nothing, if you wanted. But the others won’t see it the same way. Their selfish desires - their selfish ties keep you bound here. You merely have to free them of their delusions. Once you have the power, you can bring them back. Happier than ever. Fixed. Perfect.
But if you don’t, well. They’ll find someone who will.
Sidon:
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. You are a ruler-in-waiting. Your vision is so much bigger than the rest of them. You understand what truly matters, what is actually important for the good of the world, and it isn’t just one person. It’s everyone. You have to work for the greater good, for the whole, for the future.
You need to get rid of them.
… Of course, you could always falter. Think of your feelings for them. But a Prince - no, a King has to know how to make decisions. And you know if you don’t do it, they will find someone who will. You can bring them back, when you have ascended. Long may you reign.
Guy:
But that was always the problem, wasn’t it? The others. They don’t understand it, really. How everything marches in lockstep exactly as it should. The Score keeps the score. You could do more than get rid of it. You could write it. You could ensure they had nothing but peace and happiness for the rest of their days.
You need to help them. Help them understand. Bring them peace.
But if you won’t, then they’ll just have to find someone else. Replace you.
DAY 3
you all awaken, refreshed and feeling fucking terrible. headaches pound through your skull and you find ... no matter the number of eyes you had the day before, you have more now. If you search your body, you can find nine. The number of the Somnovem.
You have been granted gifts.
Margaret - You can see into the future, just far enough to know the next hit, the next blow. Or what someone is about to say before they say it.
Sidon - You can control the mind of another, weaker-willed individual beneath your own. If only for a moment, they will obey your commands.
Guy - You can rend the minds of others with merely a touch - tearing their psyche apart so they are wracked with pain and bleed from every hole in their face.
owner - Polymorph, but for cars. ]
no subject
but i rolled for it and she no longer has it, so who does?]
no subject
either way, when he awakens, owner just immediately goes to get all his stuff ready, not bothering to speak to the others. despite the bad night of sleep, and the hunger, there is so much clarity in what needs to be done. he isn't even sure how he didn't realize this sooner. ]
We should get moving immediately.
no subject
just a passing thought though, and a foolish one. by morning he has clarity, ignoring his headache and getting his pack with bright resolve. ]
Yes, no time to waste!
no subject
[ despite his nightmares and rough night, he regards them all with a small, reassuring smile ]
Are you all ready? Don't push yourselves too hard.
no subject
guy has the journal and all feel incredible jealousy clawing at the inside of your skull - but maybe it has ceased to matter. You no longer need it for your connection to the Somnovem. It, along with everything else of this mortal world (your possessions, your body, your loved ones) will not be a tether, tying you to the ground like an animal.
There’s a couple of directions available to go:
First is back to the Disease Lab you’d discovered yesterday. Apart from that, exiting this area are two doorways, though you didn’t have time to study the map. You don’t know where they lead, but you do feel the tug and draw of a Threshold Crest in either direction. The past or the future, gang. ]
no subject
it doesn't matter, anyway. the somnovem want someone intelligent in charge, they want a leader. that isn't guy and it never will be. she just needs to show them that and it's all going to be fine.]
So, what's on the agenda today? Someone might want to take a look at those laboratories. Though I might like to keep moving on ahead.
no subject
[ he looks between them all, smiling. ]
What is your preference?
no subject
he nods at the two of them. ]
In that case, Guy and I can go explore together.
[ and they can all regroup later, yay. ]
no subject
[ but he's fine to go with sidon! they are friends :) and sidon seemed to be dealing with something earlier ]
Sounds good to me, Sidon.