now with 100% fewer homicidal robots

[kingincognito]

Who: Joshua + anyone involved in the portal project!
What: The portal is finally ready!
When: Mid-May
Where: The center of the Grove
Warnings: idk it's portal shenanigans, I'll add warnings if we need them!

[ It's taken a couple of months, but with the combined effort of a few good brains, the portal is finally as ready as it's going to be. Calculations have been made, plans have been formed, and now all they have to do is put the sun and moon stones in place, and pray.

Literally, because it's been in his notes that faith could have some power in helping them get where they need to go. Hopefully.

Midway through the month, Joshua puts out a message through the netbooks. ]

To everyone that has helped with the portal:

Our efforts are ready to bear fruit. I would like to try activating it tomorrow. Let us meet in the center of the Grove at noon, when the sun is at its brightest.

We know not what awaits us should the portal be successful, so I would prefer to err on the side of caution. If you can fight, please come prepared to do so. Also, we will certainly need hands to relay anything we might want to bring back. If you are Corrupted, however, I am afraid I must ask you not to be involved as a matter of safety and security. My apologies.

[ And, come late morning the following day, Joshua is there, umbrella in hand to protect himself from the sunlight. He has gathered boxes and crates for any potential recovery of items, should the portal work properly, as well as basic medical supplies just in case. Small bouquets of flowers are placed around the base of the portal, in what might be a startling abundance. Better to have more than needed than not enough. ]

Comments

4, 12 I should have used trader-

[kingincognito]

Joshua iiiis going to investigate the books closest to ground level first, since Ain is flying to the top!

Re: 4, 12 I should have used trader-

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Joshua finds himself in a section dedicated entirely to Tales of the Gods. Unlike other sections, this is a solitary room with the shelves lining the walls while a mural of the Golden Sun, Crimson Sun and Silver Moon shines above. This room seems almost- ceremonial? Flowers hang from planters, ribbons and draped shimmering clothes adorn the windows and banisters, and it's serene.

Love echoes in this room.

Propped open on displays are three books, gold, crimson and silver.

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It doesn't take much for Joshua to realize that this room feels different. It's almost like walking into the apodytery again, and he pauses for a moment, taking it all in. This place had been the Fallen Sun's before... well. Falling. The love put into this room is palpable.

It makes his chest ache, in an odd way.

His eyes eventually settle on the books, and the significance of each color is not lost to him. It's there, painted directly above his head, but it would be clear even without that.

His fingers itch to take them all. And he might, eventually. But for now, his hand moves to the crimson book.

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The book does not move from the podium right now, but perhaps if he asks the attendants later they may help.

Onyx is Suri, but before that he was Crimson. Before that he had another name, but it was scratched out. If he investigates closely (rolls an 18 or higher) he may make it out... but it's very hard.

He reads.

It was the Crimson Sun who oversaw life grow. Who taught beavers and burrowers and diggers how to do so, and let them thrive. Who, when humans began to rise, gave them shelter and fire. It was he who guided humanity to medicine, to farming, to cultivation.

He wrote magic into the world, and the Stars spread it to mankind. He watched over philosophers and poets and teachers, and did so with great fondness.

Man and Guardian alike turned to him for advice and guidance, and his guile trapped many a monster, ensnaring them for the safety of others.

Kings begged for his wisdom and love.

Flowers bloomed from his blood spilled on the ground, and when tragedy struck he wept for all lost.

And then something shifted.

7

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Joshua squints at the scratched out letters, but eventually huffs out a sigh. Just as unreadable as the damaged tapestries of the Circle of Malius. Perhaps he will ask Beiwe later...

But for now, he reads on. And his heart aches for the loss of the man that had once been, the more that he takes in. For him to have once so adored humanity, only for him to hate humanity so much now... What had happened?

His fingers move to try to turn the page.

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It turns with ease!

The pages after contain more specific tales of his deeds and antics- even gods of knowledge get up to shit, especially when it's just been him and his sister until they found Ourania.

Is there anything he'd like to find in particular?

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As close siblings do. It reminds him of himself and Clive in their youth, to some extent, and he smiles at the pages softly, fondly.

He pays close attention to the words, looking for anything that might give a clue as to what went wrong. Even if it's just little things building up.

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The stories say he withdrew from Humanity, and even from his Sisters. He vanished for a year, the second sun in the sky drew away, and then-

He returned, haunted.

Questioning. But none can tell what answers he sought, not even this book.

...

What do you seek, son of flame?

[kingincognito]

No concrete answers. At least, not so easily determined. But Joshua has roamed Valisthea for years, digging up the secrets of a god. This setback doesn't dissuade him in the slightest.

But he does sigh softly, does stroke the page gently with his fingertips. Had he seen, perhaps experienced something that had shaken his view of humanity so badly? Or was there an outside influence? Could the corrupter have been, himself, corrupted?

All things to consider. He frowns at the words, then at the cover of the book as he closes it. His eyes linger on it for a moment.

"What happened to you...?"

But he knows the tome will not answer. Thus, he reaches for the book that he knows to belong to Ourania. Perhaps her tale can shed some light.

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Something hums a little in the background of the room, but vanishes just as quickly. It seems that Suri isn't the only Son of Flame, but whatever was questioning Joshua will wait for now.

Ourania's starts like a fairy tale, several pages long:

Once upon a time, there was a girl on the moon. It was dark, and bright, and radiant, and terrifying. But it was her, as she and the lunar forests, the sea of craters, the endless desert under the starlit sky were the same. It was she, and she was it. For a time, she remembered her name, and her manners. She remembered how to read and write, but not who taught her these things. But forever is a very long time to be alone, and as there was no one to use these manners with, she put them away in a tight box to learn how to hunt and swim and run.

She cast away her clothes and her humanity, and became something more like a beast. And she was happy, maybe, when she speared rabbits and ate them raw, but she was also very sad.

Then one day, two brilliant lights came- and they introduced her to 'day' to begin with! She could not speak, but she hissed and growled and spat Go Away!- but the brilliant lights did no such thing. They came by every "day" and offered food and water and drink, blankets and furs. And they sat beneath her trees, waited at her den, and tried to get her to approach.

Eventually, she did. And as they shared meals with her- she did not remember meat tasting good when hot!- and let her lie with them- she did not remember the warmth of a hug!- and sang songs for her, she let them closer in.

The Golden Sun wrapped her in clothes after she bathed her, and brought her in close. She swore that she would take care of her forever, that she would never be alone again.

The Crimson Sun wrapped her in furs to protect her and her pretty clothes from cold, and hugged her protectively. He swore to her that he would never let her forget who she was again.

Hands entwined, the three stepped back into the Realm of the Gods, and she was given a new name: Ourania, the Silver Moon.

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The hum catches his attention, now that he isn't preoccupied with the book in his hands. Joshua pauses, turning to look over his shoulder, but he doesn't see anything. Maybe just his imagination...

Ourania's story is charming, though. A family. Two siblings and a third that might as well be. If Beiwe and her brother reminded him of himself and Clive, then Ourania reminds him of Jill. Elegant, beautiful, and just as much a part of them. A unit, together through thick and thin.

Except something went horribly wrong. Frowning thoughtfully, he turns to look through other pages, in the hopes that he might come across new information. Something helpful, perhaps. Ourania is so ill...

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The books don't seem to mention any illness! Nothing at all. Ourania was notoriously a wild child even as she grew into grace- barefoot and hunting, the wilderness to her dear wife and brother's civilizations.

... Ah, but wait- something scratches itself on the last page, in ruby-red ink:

And so, a scholar of Aldric's Grove by the name of Stanford Pines did offer a suggestion, unknowing of the damage he would do: Should we need an anchor to other realms, it would stand to reason that every universe has a moon. If we tie our gate to the moon while we can still see it, our souls can be free. And though it was... far-fetched and dangerous, those who could, agreed.

They knew not that they were tearing the Goddess of the Moon's chest open when they triggered their escape from Darkest Light, nor the damage it would do. They did not know.

This One wonders if she truly forgives. But This One does not question that she loves them still.

...

And then there's a click like a quill is being put away.

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Like the Fallen Sun's book, Joshua is very nearly convinced that this one holds only warm, beloved tales of a time long past. Priceless in their own right, but not the information that he's looking for.

And then the writing begins, red ink crawling across the page almost like fire or blood. He sucks in a breath, eyes widening in surprise, but his hands remain firm on the binding. And what he reads...

Stanford Pines. But... how? This reads like a record of what has already happened. Is this part of what happened in the past, then? What has led to Ourania being so ill now? That she is still suffering from this fate today... How many years has it been? Hundreds? Thousands?

The clicking sound that he recognizes oh so well makes him pull his eyes from the page, turning to look around him. A book writing itself isn't out of the question, but combined with the humming he thought he heard a moment ago, he has to wonder.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

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...

Yes. And no. I am here, and there, and everywhere. I am nowhere.

What am I?

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A riddle, then. Joshua hums softly, thoughtfully, closing Ourania's book.

"Well, I don't suppose you're air, are you?"

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A chuckle-

Close. ... But perhaps that is all I am now.

I will not tell you who I am. I will be clear about this now. ... But I can... try to help how I can.

[kingincognito]

A mysterious benefactor, then. Considering whose library this is, Joshua has a moment of wondering whether this voice can be trusted. But this had been his library long before he'd fallen, hadn't it?

He will be cautious. For now. But his mind goes back to the words scrawled in red ink, and his eyes shift to the book bound in crimson.

Hmm.

"I appreciate any assistance you might give. Thank you."

Joshua moves one hand, gesturing to the crimson book.

"I wish to understand what happened to him. Might you have any insight that isn't already inscribed here?"

[sticksandbonesmods]

... Yes.

Darkest Light sought answers to existence. His and his Sisters' that is- mortals exist for they were full of love, and that love became mankind. But what created them? What did they spring from?

He went mad searching for answers, for kinship.





He found... Nothing.

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Nothing.

All he'd wanted was to know where he'd come from, and he found nothing.

Joshua's expression, momentarily surprised, softens into contemplative concern, his eyes unfocusing though they're still aimed toward the book. One hand lifts to his chin, but this time his fingers move to cover his lips. To not know where you've come from is one thing, but to find nothing at all...

"That's... impossible. Isn't it? Surely everything has to come from something."

But what could make a god? Had Ultima had a creator? It leaves him with more questions than answers.

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The world beyond our stars is vast, and dark, and it is empty. And he could not handle this anguish. Anguish became envy. Envy became hatred. Hatred became sadism.

Sadism, became darkness. All that he was, twisted.


... He probably really would have been better off if he had just spoken to someone about this.

[kingincognito]

... his anguish had corrupted him. Twisted him into the embodiment of cruelty that he is today. And the entire time, he had light and love and warmth beside him in Beiwe and Ourania, and he didn't turn to it.

Joshua cannot comprehend the way that the Fallen Sun responded to such a startling revelation. Were he alone, perhaps, but he wasn't.

"Yes, I... I suppose he would have been."

His brow knits together in thought.

"And why didn't he? He had Beiwe and Ourania with him, did he not? He was not alone in the emptiness."

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If this person speaking to him was tangible, visible, Joshua might get the sense that they are shrugging dramatically.

Pride. No eldest sibling wants to rely on those they are supposed to care for. ... And... Darkest Light felt that... if this was bringing him such pain, how would they react? Beiwe, who had been alone with him, and Ourania, left entirely alone? Even he couldn't predict the future, so to him, only one heart had to break.



Presumably.

[kingincognito]

Ah. Suddenly, it all makes sense. He recalls that day on the cliff in Ash, when he'd confronted Clive about taking on things alone. An eldest sibling thing, indeed. Joshua pulls in a soft breath, and then lets it out in a sigh.

"No one can take on everything alone. Not even a god."

He still can't forgive the Fallen Sun for what he'd done. But Joshua can understand his side of the story. Not from his perspective, but from the perspective of a highly perceptive younger brother. His heart aches for all of them - for the pain of an elder brother succumbing to madness and trying to contain the blast, for the grief of the younger sister losing her brother to darkness. For Ourania, designated to suffer for years upon years because of it all.

"... his book contained what I can only assume was a name that had been scratched out. You wouldn't happen to know...?"

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Not even a God, no. But mortals often do not understand that, and even Gods have pressures upon their shoulders, especially with none to guide them, and everyone looking to them to guide...

...

... Names... have power. It was removed from history so none could invoke it, and to give him that power back. ... But he's accepted a new name- ah... perhaps...

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"My brother is much the same, so I understand all too well. We may not be gods ourselves, but Lady Beiwe and Lady Ourania seem no different than anyone we might know. It stands to reason that he would be the same."

Far more human than Ultima had been, for sure. It had been a relief to experience.

"I thought that perhaps using his true name might help to draw him away from the darkness... though, I do not wish to risk further empowering him, either."