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hugtopia_logs2022-07-15 07:28 pm
hugtopiamods) wrote in hugtopia_logs2022-07-15 07:28 pm
♥ July (Lasdia) Event Log
July (Lasdia) Event Log
Ah, the height of summer! The days are long and sunny, and while the nights remain almost as hot as the daytime, the clear starry skies are a wonderful invitation for a stroll once the sun goes down. The bright days of summer are the perfect time to be out and about in town, even if the warmer weather makes being in close contact a little more impractical.
❥ PROMPT I: Treeson's Greetings
At the beginning of the month, a very slight change starts to occur in the botanical gardens; the sprouting of a willowy tree sapling, breaking through the ground with little warning. Strangely, it begins to grow with multicolored strips of paper already hung from its thin branches. Though it looks like the ornamentation once had notes written upon them, time has faded it so much as to be illegible.
Upon discovery of this new arrival, the natives begin to brighten up with excitement. They remember that in the distant past, a tree would grow for one month a year, and a legend suggested that it held the power to grant wishes tied to its branches. The reappearance of the tree for the first time in untold centuries has the population beginning to get excited, often talking animatedly amongst themselves as they attempt to remember the legend in question.
As for the tree itself, in the early days of Lasdia it seems to be having trouble; some leaves wilt and curl, and its growth appears to be slow going for an ostensibly magically appearing tree. Maybe it just needs some careful tending from the hand of an offworlder–or two, or more, perhaps even working in pairs. Another thing that might help would be to remove the raggedy old strips of paper and what appears to be leftover decorations from its struggling branches. Just be careful when cutting or pulling them off that you don’t take away anymore of the tree’s surviving leaves!
Upon discovery of this new arrival, the natives begin to brighten up with excitement. They remember that in the distant past, a tree would grow for one month a year, and a legend suggested that it held the power to grant wishes tied to its branches. The reappearance of the tree for the first time in untold centuries has the population beginning to get excited, often talking animatedly amongst themselves as they attempt to remember the legend in question.
As for the tree itself, in the early days of Lasdia it seems to be having trouble; some leaves wilt and curl, and its growth appears to be slow going for an ostensibly magically appearing tree. Maybe it just needs some careful tending from the hand of an offworlder–or two, or more, perhaps even working in pairs. Another thing that might help would be to remove the raggedy old strips of paper and what appears to be leftover decorations from its struggling branches. Just be careful when cutting or pulling them off that you don’t take away anymore of the tree’s surviving leaves!
❥ PROMPT II: Performance Art
The natives’ excitement over the tree and the legend of its power has everyone abuzz with anticipation. And no one is more excited than the historians of the Archives. While the building itself is still closed, the Archivists are out in little groups, interviewing anyone they can think of to try to find more information on the legend of this tree. It would seem they’re having trouble as they also come to the offworlders for help. Throughout the month, Archivist robots - clearly demarcated by a sash with the symbol of glowing books worn on their chassis - will be going around to different offworlders with a request for help. Their numbers are still so few that they can’t cover the city adequately, but they think that if more people heard the tidbits of the legend that they’ve gathered so far, it might help jog peoples’ memory banks and thus bring the entire legend together.
And you know what would be even better? If the offworlders were to act out the parts they have! What better way to remember something than to see it performed with great passion and gusto, right?
Participants will be rewarded with Dora, naturally, so put on your best face and go out there to recover history!
Archivist Ell: Long ago, the world was bursting with life and high above flew The Winged Lord. Before His Great Battle with the Crawling One, before the Fall and the Sorrow, all was right. In that time a single scale from His Lord fell to Aellyn and planted Itself into our soil. From that scale, a single tree so beautiful that it glowed with the Light of the Winged Lord Himself. This tree stood for millenia, even long after the Lord Himself was Lost, and knew that its Light was needed. So it traveled and brought with it the promise of the Lord’s Light, until it found a pair of lovers who would need it more than anyone else in all of Aellyn.
Archivist Sweh: A pair of lovers, their love so deep and true that they had eyes only for one another since the moment of their meeting. Fair and intelligent Quil, born too low in this world and surviving as a woodcutter and carver. He toiled day and night creating beautiful things, useful things, amazing things from wood. His wares traveled far beyond where his own feet could take him. Delicate and aspiring Alyr, born to royalty with hands so skilled in weaving and embroidery that she created gifts given to the Gods themselves. True love sprang between them when they chanced to meet beneath a Glowing Tree, a flame that grew within their hearts as they passed one another each day. The Carver to the market to sell his wares, the Weaver to the Temples to give her offerings. Each touch, each glance, every breath shared was fuel for their love…and their downfall.
Archivist Pria: Their families noticed their love flowering and forbade them from meeting. A lowborn carver and a highborn weaver could never make a match, they said. The Carver’s wares were taken to market by his siblings and he was kept in his workshop. The Weaver’s fine cloth was paraded to the temples by servants, and she was locked in her tower. But, once a year, the Festival of the Winged Lord would give them a chance to leave their homes and on that day, they would slip away and meet, embrace, and tell each other of all the things they’d done and thought for the year. Bittersweet though it was, that one day a year was enough to sustain their love, and so they met year after year, beneath the Glowing Tree which first sparked their hearts aflame.
Archivist Noru: But one year, a servant caught the Weaver and the Carver beneath the Glowing Tree, planning to run away together. The servant, afraid of the consequences, quickly told the Weaver’s parents, who told the Carver’s parents. In a rage at being disobeyed, the families ran to the tree and tore the lovers apart.
They wept as they were pulled from one another’s arms, grasping at anything to keep them together. Alas! They were not strong enough, but as they were pulled away, each lover grabbed a leaf from the Glowing Tree. They wept and wailed and their families sent them to opposite ends of the world, never to be brought home again. The Glowing Tree felt their sorrow, drank their tears and their bitterness, and withered away in sorrow itself.
Archivist Hemb: The lovers, now thrown to the ends of Aellyn, would weep and wish for one last chance to see their beloved every day. They would wake with tears and sleep with tears, and pray to the stars for one more day. Their prayers lifted to the Heavens, and their tears soaked into the soil, and for one year, this was how they lived. Then, on the anniversary of their greatest sorrow - a great light burst forth from the ground. The Glowing Tree grew tall one more where the lovers once met, and two doorways appeared - one for the Carver and one for the Weaver. Overjoyed, they each stepped through and wept for joy as they embraced again, telling each other of all the wishes they’d made in the year, yearning for the other.
For one night, they were together. For one night, the Glowing Tree glowed bright. And when the morning broke, no lover, no tree, no wishes remained. Where they went, no one knows, but their legend continues and once a year, the Tree returns to listen to the wishes of those who can find it. Where the Tree goes, no one knows, but perhaps if we wish as hard as Quil and Alyr, the Glowing Tree, our Wishing Tree, will listen to us as well.
And you know what would be even better? If the offworlders were to act out the parts they have! What better way to remember something than to see it performed with great passion and gusto, right?
Participants will be rewarded with Dora, naturally, so put on your best face and go out there to recover history!
OOC: Click here! Each Archivist has a different section of the legend that they have found.
Characters are asked to elaborate and go wild with how they act out the information in their part of the legend. Look below to see the different tidbits you can try.Archivist Ell: Long ago, the world was bursting with life and high above flew The Winged Lord. Before His Great Battle with the Crawling One, before the Fall and the Sorrow, all was right. In that time a single scale from His Lord fell to Aellyn and planted Itself into our soil. From that scale, a single tree so beautiful that it glowed with the Light of the Winged Lord Himself. This tree stood for millenia, even long after the Lord Himself was Lost, and knew that its Light was needed. So it traveled and brought with it the promise of the Lord’s Light, until it found a pair of lovers who would need it more than anyone else in all of Aellyn.
Archivist Sweh: A pair of lovers, their love so deep and true that they had eyes only for one another since the moment of their meeting. Fair and intelligent Quil, born too low in this world and surviving as a woodcutter and carver. He toiled day and night creating beautiful things, useful things, amazing things from wood. His wares traveled far beyond where his own feet could take him. Delicate and aspiring Alyr, born to royalty with hands so skilled in weaving and embroidery that she created gifts given to the Gods themselves. True love sprang between them when they chanced to meet beneath a Glowing Tree, a flame that grew within their hearts as they passed one another each day. The Carver to the market to sell his wares, the Weaver to the Temples to give her offerings. Each touch, each glance, every breath shared was fuel for their love…and their downfall.
Archivist Pria: Their families noticed their love flowering and forbade them from meeting. A lowborn carver and a highborn weaver could never make a match, they said. The Carver’s wares were taken to market by his siblings and he was kept in his workshop. The Weaver’s fine cloth was paraded to the temples by servants, and she was locked in her tower. But, once a year, the Festival of the Winged Lord would give them a chance to leave their homes and on that day, they would slip away and meet, embrace, and tell each other of all the things they’d done and thought for the year. Bittersweet though it was, that one day a year was enough to sustain their love, and so they met year after year, beneath the Glowing Tree which first sparked their hearts aflame.
Archivist Noru: But one year, a servant caught the Weaver and the Carver beneath the Glowing Tree, planning to run away together. The servant, afraid of the consequences, quickly told the Weaver’s parents, who told the Carver’s parents. In a rage at being disobeyed, the families ran to the tree and tore the lovers apart.
They wept as they were pulled from one another’s arms, grasping at anything to keep them together. Alas! They were not strong enough, but as they were pulled away, each lover grabbed a leaf from the Glowing Tree. They wept and wailed and their families sent them to opposite ends of the world, never to be brought home again. The Glowing Tree felt their sorrow, drank their tears and their bitterness, and withered away in sorrow itself.
Archivist Hemb: The lovers, now thrown to the ends of Aellyn, would weep and wish for one last chance to see their beloved every day. They would wake with tears and sleep with tears, and pray to the stars for one more day. Their prayers lifted to the Heavens, and their tears soaked into the soil, and for one year, this was how they lived. Then, on the anniversary of their greatest sorrow - a great light burst forth from the ground. The Glowing Tree grew tall one more where the lovers once met, and two doorways appeared - one for the Carver and one for the Weaver. Overjoyed, they each stepped through and wept for joy as they embraced again, telling each other of all the wishes they’d made in the year, yearning for the other.
For one night, they were together. For one night, the Glowing Tree glowed bright. And when the morning broke, no lover, no tree, no wishes remained. Where they went, no one knows, but their legend continues and once a year, the Tree returns to listen to the wishes of those who can find it. Where the Tree goes, no one knows, but perhaps if we wish as hard as Quil and Alyr, the Glowing Tree, our Wishing Tree, will listen to us as well.
❥ PROMPT III: Charming Charms
By the end of Lasdia, with the help of natives and offworlders alike, the willowy tree has grown nearly a story tall. Its silvery bark feels soft of the touch and its leaves glow with a soft opalescent hue no matter the time of day. It’s not hard to see why people thought this tree was magical. With the legend spreading and natives recalling more about the Wishing Tree itself, they've decided it's an excellent time for another festival! With the previous decorations gone, they start putting up booths around town to encourage all of Havenwell's citizens to make new ones. Once decorations have been made, natives will instruct offworlders on how to hang them from the Wishing Tree in the botanical garden with care.
The decorations booths are as follows:
Light-up Doorways: Characters can put together and decorate small aluminum frame doorways with paint, flowers, or other natural themes. The doorways are around 8 inches (20cm) tall and 4 inches (10cm) wide. Once finished, the doorways will be lined with LED lights so they light up like in the legend. For those who have a special someone in mind, you can program the lights to spell out a person's name. If you're lucky, maybe they'll write your name too and the gods will bless your union.
Ribbon chains and Streamers: The ever-popular decoration of the city has always been ribbons. This festival is no different and many booths are set up with the supplies so you can make ribbon chains - much like paper chains - out of loops of colorful ribbons. The synthetic fabric for these ribbons is a little stiffer than usual and maintain their shape in a chain loop surprisingly well for how soft they feel. The ribbons come in a variety of colors and sizes, so feel free to get creative! The booths also have supplies available in case you want to turn the ribbons into streamers instead; gathering them up and weaving them into anything from simple braids to more elaborate roses and flower shapes.
Wood Carvings: While wood still isn’t widely available for arts and crafts, the natives have crafted a synthetic soft wood that is surprisingly light and easy to carve. The pieces of wood for carving vary in size from the palm of your hand to as large as an encyclopedia volume, but they’re all lightweight enough to hang on the Wishing Tree’s delicate branches if you like. Different stations have different patterns available to carve into the wood for those who don’t have much experience with the skill - ranging in type from flowers to names, to star patterns and more. Those who are more advanced are welcomed to show off their creativity and carve whatever they like out of the wood pieces. Once someone has finished their project, they’ll be strung up for them and given to the carver so they can either take it home or put it upon the tree.
Light Scales: A few booths have a more delicate craft available for those who have the patience and skill to do it. Resin molds are available to create small glowing scales like the one that supposedly birthed the Wishing Tree. Ranging in size from the size of your hand to the size of your thumbnail, crafty folk can choose decorations to put inside the scale and then pour resin into the mold. It takes some time to make sure there aren’t any air bubbles inside as well, but once you’ve got it right, the end result can be beautiful. Glitter, flowers, synth-paper stars, ribbon, anything can go inside so long as it’s not so thick that it’ll stick out from the scale (so no wrenches, sadly, as many a native will lament). The resin needs to be set with a UV lamp once your decorating is done, and that does take a while, so you may want to come with a friend to chat as you wait. Maybe, if you’re particularly friendly with one another, the process will take less time than usual.
Woven Pinecones: To tie all three of the main themes of the festival together, some booths have several machines lined up for people to try making free-standing lace patterns! While Alyr was an embroidery master, the natives know not everyone here has that sort of time or ability, so they’ve engineered a few machines that can do the work for you. Select a pattern - pinecones are especially popular, but so are flowers, hearts, doorways, and stars - or draw your own pattern on the provided pattern sheets, then set a stabilizer fabric into the provided ring. Insert your pattern into the machine and sit back to let it do the work for you. You can choose the color threads you want to be in which part of the pattern and add in decoration like flowers, shiny glitter or ribbon, beads, anything at all! Once the machine has finished weaving the pinecone for you, just rinse away the stabilizer fabric and you have a beautiful woven ornament to display. It does take a while for the machine to do its work, but it seems that if you’re there with another person, a little bit of physical contact makes the machine go faster.
Miniature Wishing Trees: Several booths around town have been selling miniature synthetic figurines of the Wishing Tree itself. For a small Dora fee, you can take home a 1/16th miniature of the tree to decorate at home. The tree figure artificially lights up and glows with a soft opalescent hue reminiscent of the real deal. It's perfect as a nightlight or a centerpiece of a romantic dinner (wink wink). They also sell premade miniatures of all the decorations available in town, or you can buy everything as an all-inclusive set! Get your name engraved on the tree's decorative base for a great memory of Havenwell's first wishing festival in ages!
Wishes: The main event! Write your wish on a colorful piece of synthetic paper to be hung on the tree. The papers are around 2 inches wide (5cm) and 5 inches long (13cm), and attached with a string at one end. People can choose any color of the rainbow for their paper and if they need help writing a wish, the native running the booth has a few from memory or from other natives who wrote some to help. People are encouraged to write their truest heart’s desire down, but are asked to only write one. Of course, nothing is there to stop you from just going to another booth and writing another wish, but you may want to vary your handwriting so no one figures you out. You can put your wish(es) up on the tree at any time until the end of the month, when the natives say legend has it that the tree and the wishes will disappear, taken up to the gods.
(If your character hangs a wish on the tree, comment to this thread with what they've written (ICly). After all, the gods may well be listening.)
The decorations booths are as follows:
Light-up Doorways: Characters can put together and decorate small aluminum frame doorways with paint, flowers, or other natural themes. The doorways are around 8 inches (20cm) tall and 4 inches (10cm) wide. Once finished, the doorways will be lined with LED lights so they light up like in the legend. For those who have a special someone in mind, you can program the lights to spell out a person's name. If you're lucky, maybe they'll write your name too and the gods will bless your union.
Ribbon chains and Streamers: The ever-popular decoration of the city has always been ribbons. This festival is no different and many booths are set up with the supplies so you can make ribbon chains - much like paper chains - out of loops of colorful ribbons. The synthetic fabric for these ribbons is a little stiffer than usual and maintain their shape in a chain loop surprisingly well for how soft they feel. The ribbons come in a variety of colors and sizes, so feel free to get creative! The booths also have supplies available in case you want to turn the ribbons into streamers instead; gathering them up and weaving them into anything from simple braids to more elaborate roses and flower shapes.
Wood Carvings: While wood still isn’t widely available for arts and crafts, the natives have crafted a synthetic soft wood that is surprisingly light and easy to carve. The pieces of wood for carving vary in size from the palm of your hand to as large as an encyclopedia volume, but they’re all lightweight enough to hang on the Wishing Tree’s delicate branches if you like. Different stations have different patterns available to carve into the wood for those who don’t have much experience with the skill - ranging in type from flowers to names, to star patterns and more. Those who are more advanced are welcomed to show off their creativity and carve whatever they like out of the wood pieces. Once someone has finished their project, they’ll be strung up for them and given to the carver so they can either take it home or put it upon the tree.
Light Scales: A few booths have a more delicate craft available for those who have the patience and skill to do it. Resin molds are available to create small glowing scales like the one that supposedly birthed the Wishing Tree. Ranging in size from the size of your hand to the size of your thumbnail, crafty folk can choose decorations to put inside the scale and then pour resin into the mold. It takes some time to make sure there aren’t any air bubbles inside as well, but once you’ve got it right, the end result can be beautiful. Glitter, flowers, synth-paper stars, ribbon, anything can go inside so long as it’s not so thick that it’ll stick out from the scale (so no wrenches, sadly, as many a native will lament). The resin needs to be set with a UV lamp once your decorating is done, and that does take a while, so you may want to come with a friend to chat as you wait. Maybe, if you’re particularly friendly with one another, the process will take less time than usual.
Woven Pinecones: To tie all three of the main themes of the festival together, some booths have several machines lined up for people to try making free-standing lace patterns! While Alyr was an embroidery master, the natives know not everyone here has that sort of time or ability, so they’ve engineered a few machines that can do the work for you. Select a pattern - pinecones are especially popular, but so are flowers, hearts, doorways, and stars - or draw your own pattern on the provided pattern sheets, then set a stabilizer fabric into the provided ring. Insert your pattern into the machine and sit back to let it do the work for you. You can choose the color threads you want to be in which part of the pattern and add in decoration like flowers, shiny glitter or ribbon, beads, anything at all! Once the machine has finished weaving the pinecone for you, just rinse away the stabilizer fabric and you have a beautiful woven ornament to display. It does take a while for the machine to do its work, but it seems that if you’re there with another person, a little bit of physical contact makes the machine go faster.
Miniature Wishing Trees: Several booths around town have been selling miniature synthetic figurines of the Wishing Tree itself. For a small Dora fee, you can take home a 1/16th miniature of the tree to decorate at home. The tree figure artificially lights up and glows with a soft opalescent hue reminiscent of the real deal. It's perfect as a nightlight or a centerpiece of a romantic dinner (wink wink). They also sell premade miniatures of all the decorations available in town, or you can buy everything as an all-inclusive set! Get your name engraved on the tree's decorative base for a great memory of Havenwell's first wishing festival in ages!
Wishes: The main event! Write your wish on a colorful piece of synthetic paper to be hung on the tree. The papers are around 2 inches wide (5cm) and 5 inches long (13cm), and attached with a string at one end. People can choose any color of the rainbow for their paper and if they need help writing a wish, the native running the booth has a few from memory or from other natives who wrote some to help. People are encouraged to write their truest heart’s desire down, but are asked to only write one. Of course, nothing is there to stop you from just going to another booth and writing another wish, but you may want to vary your handwriting so no one figures you out. You can put your wish(es) up on the tree at any time until the end of the month, when the natives say legend has it that the tree and the wishes will disappear, taken up to the gods.
(If your character hangs a wish on the tree, comment to this thread with what they've written (ICly). After all, the gods may well be listening.)
This event will run from July 15th to July 31st. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread. You can also use the Havenwell Status page or the General Plotting Comment to give you other ideas for original prompts!
Wish
You're welcome. How much of a chance do you think this has of actually working?
[He's torn himself. Part of him thinks it's rather silly to think the gods of this place could reach so far, but at the same time, if there is any chance of his wish coming true, he's willing to act on that chance. Something tells him Machina's response will be something similar, but he is only getting to know the young man, so it is best not to assume.]
no subject
In their previous conversation, this man had mentioned having some power from his gods, being gifted a ring, and a Crystal in his world. The same crystalline blue is something he's seen another wield by another in Havenwell-- Prompto-- when he had called a potion into his hand.... Which means they must be from the same world, and that blue magic is not just ordinary magic, but something far more powerful. ]
...Not...sure. [ He replies, but he fails to curb the distractedness in his tone. ] Are wishes actual prayers granted in your world?
no subject
I think it might depend on who you are and who you ask. With our link to the Crystal and Bahamut through it, one might think my family could ask for anything we wish and have it granted, but that's not how it works.
[If that was the case, the war would have been over long ago.]
On the other hand, some say that the Oracle with her ability to speak to the Astrals should be able to have any of her prayers answered, but while she may be able to heal those stricken by the scourge and carry the worries of the people to the Astrals, the Astrals still don't grant all prayers that come to their ears.
no subject
But in response to Regis' answer, Machina tilts his head. ]
So, Bahamut in your world is a god...? In addition to your world's Crystal.
no subject
[There is a brief pause and then Regis recites something it is obvious he has had memorized for a very long time.]
Titan, the Archaean, steadfast as stone.
Ramuh, the Fulgurian, sharp as lightning.
Shiva, the Glacian, gentle as snow.
Leviathan, the Hydraean, relentless as tides.
Bahamut, the Draconian, unbending as iron.
Ifrit, the Infernian, fickle as fire.
Since time immemorial, they have watched over Eos.
[Once done, he adds one more thing.]
I don't know that any would call the Crystal a god, though. It is more correctly considered the heart and will of the planet itself.
no subject
That’s… interesting. [ He comments, quietly, and then clarifies: ] All of those are eidolons in my world— powerful summons, but you have to sacrifice a life to call them. Long ago they were once worshiped as gods… at least, until reverence for the Crystals became more popular. [ What a coincidence?? That they have these similarities. ]
There are a few other gods, too, but like our Crystals, there’s, uh, not really any communication.
no subject
I can see why there is so little communication if a life is demanded each time they are called to aid someone. It is such a steep price considering death on your world leads to lost memory.
[While such a steep price guarantees that a call is not made on a whim, it also opens up a terrible can of worms should someone with more power than care for human life take it into their head to make that call.]
no subject
[ They’re terribly powerful, but when one can only summon them by human sacrifice (aside from one exception), it’s not as if they can be easily utilized— and only with immense discretion, should the battle call for it. …Except more and more often, it seems sacrifices are becoming more and more necessary. ]
The other gods of our world— Diva and… [ Up until this, his expression has been mostly neutral. Now a slight frown tugs at his lips, and his brow lowers, as if he’s pulling a name out of a distant memory. ] …Etro.
….Got either of them?
no subject
Diva is not a name I know, but Etro seems familiar.
[He is quite for a moment longer searching his memory before things finally click into place.]
Ah yes! Etro is the name of a Messenger from the days of old. Messengers are beings who delver the will of the Astrals to the people. As the Oracle's line can speak with the Astrals to deliver the people's wishes to them, the Messengers often work with the Oracles. It seems once more, my world has more lines of communication than yours does.
no subject
When Regis finishes speaking, he lowers his hand and nods, refocusing. ] Right… [ So the similarities continue. ] So your eidolons— sorry— your Astrals… Are you able to, uh, summon them at all without sacrifice? What about the power you get from your Crystal or ring?
no subject
That is a hard question to answer mainly because no one has summoned them in recent times as they have all been deeply asleep. The Chosen King will summon them when the time for the Prophecy's fulfillment comes, but the details of that are for the future to decide.
[While Noctis will die, it will do none of them any good if he dies while gathering the Astral's strength, so it is obvious their summoning will not require a direct sacrifice, especially if he has Lunafreya's help.]
For the rest of us in the line, the power of the ring is a more general thing. It grants us magical power, but no one I know of has attempted to use it in relation to the Astrals.
[They are gods, after all. It doesn't matter if their family was gifted power by them. They still have to fight their own battles and protect those who rely on them with their own strength.]
no subject
Machina almost can’t fathom it. Must be nice.
And… ]
This may be a strange question, but… Does your world’s Crystal work though you? Are you [ He appears to struggle as he thinks of appropriate terms. ] still… you?
no subject
And yet, despite the roles his family has had to play--including Ardyn--it is obvious that they were left to fill those roles in their own ways. Were that not so, they would not have suffered so much pain, struggle, and anger over the years. Were that not so, neither he nor Noctis would have had to fight so much to accept the fates that had been handed to them. The Astrals would not have had to reach out to them; the Lucii would not have had to either.]
I can assure you that every member of my family from beginning to end has been no other than themselves.
[After all, had he not told Somnus that the Prophecy may have painted a general picture of how the future would go, but it would be Noctis who filled in the final details of its fulfillment? If that did not show they had free will over their fates despite all that was aligned against them, then nothing would.]
no subject
That's good.
[ A pause, and then he adds: ] It's both similar and different in my world. The ones who are chosen by the Crystals-- the l'Cie... They're granted functional immortality. [ They can be killed, but otherwise they live forever. ] The Crystal works through them, and they only obey the Crystal. When they don't, or they fail the Crystal's Focus, they are either turned to monsters or struck down on the spot.
no subject
Why would your Crystals allow their chosen to maintain free will, but punish them for exercising it? It makes no sense.
[And he felt like he was being smothered by how forces were pushing him toward one fate. Being one of these l'Cie would be even worse.]
no subject
[ Flight, teleportation, power unimaginable, able to wipe out a whole city in seconds... The difference between him and a Primus l'Cie is as great as the distance between earth and moon. There's no comparison; they operate on an entirely different level. ]
But you're not... wrong. The l'Cie must retain some amount of "self" and will, otherwise why would there be a punishment? Maybe any deterrent is so that those who do become a l'Cie don't abuse their power themselves-- they're supposed to follow the Crystal's will first and foremost.
no subject
[Could it really happen? All Regis has to do is think of what happened to Ifrit to know it's possible, at least on Eos. It seems as if nothing is safe from the Scourge's touch. Could it have even affected the Crystal itself given time?]
It sounds as if your demigods would become tyrants unable to make the right choice lest it cost them their life.
[And if they are dead, who would be left to fight that corrupt power?]
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...No one can control the Crystals. [ He states flatly, pausing once, then shakes his head. To insinuate that it's possible bewilders him. ] And while we're not always sure what the "will" of our Crystals are... we can guess they want to protect our domain and their own safety. For that, they give us their blessing. They choose their l'Cie.
[ At least, that's the impression he's under. ]
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He bows his head slightly in apology.]
Forgive me if I have upset you. I am merely thinking of how one of the Astrals, Ifrit, was recently controlled by another on my world, and one would usually expect that gods are beyond that kind of thing, much like you believe of your Crystals to be.
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You mentioned that before. [ Something about needing to fight one of his gods because they were corrupted. Still, he can't picture that happening to the Crystals. ] Was your Crystal harmed by that, too?
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[Though, Noctis would be the one to know for certain considering he was within it for so long.]
I believe I also mentioned that we consider our Crystal as the heart of the planet, correct? I have been told there is a period of time where the Scourge that plagues our world--the very thing that allowed that person to control Ifrit--will run wild and devour the planet and all upon it. If this plague was not stopped when it was, could the Crystal have also been corrupted? I am blessed to know this is a question that will never have to be answered for I am certain that would have meant the final death for my world and all upon it.
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I’d like to imagine any Crystal, yours or ours, are stronger than that. But… [ Reluctantly, because it’s hard to admit that there could possible be something fallible about divine entities, Crystal, gods, or otherwise: ] I get it. Better to be cautious, and that’s why we try so hard to protect ours, too. We soldiers give everything we can to do just that. We won’t let it fall to the Empire.
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Just be aware that sometimes your all is not enough. Ruin can come in the guise of a friendly face.
[Hate. Sometimes doing all you can is still not enough to overwhelm it. Not when it hides so deep in one's heart.
Drautos.]
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Being just a soldier himself, he can't think of anyone who would turn against Rubrum, especially from Class Zero. But... ] I'm not high-ranking enough to know much more. Gonna guess that if there are any spies, they're closer to the Crystal itself.
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Spies, perhaps, but I don't think a traitor necessarily would need to be in the very center of things to cause harm. Sometimes spreading rumors and lies in the ears of those supporting the upper echelon can cause just as much, if not more, damage.
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