prologue, friday, post investigation w/ fane

[alchemenace]

[ so that was an adventure. let's say they go back to the dorm to talk privately. also because varian needs to be far away from corpses in glass cases for personal reasons. ]

That's... one way to start the off the day. [ a bad one. ] I, I want to talk about the ink stain you found. Or. Well, I think we should? They said we'd have a "trial" tomorrow [ whatever that is. @ corona's justice system what are you ] and I want-- I need to know who did this, and those footsteps are obviously a clue.

Comments

[alchemenace]

[ fANE ]

You did not.

[faceripper]

Hm. Well, in that case, I'm going to become Divine.

[ so there you go!!!

but no, thankfully, he does explain slightly more ]

It's not what I expected in pursuing answers, but... If it leads me to them, it's well enough. Lady Amadia laid out the plight of the world and begged me to fix it. So conveniently for both myself and well, all mortals, I'll do just that.

[ actually maybe that explanation is worse than none ]

[alchemenace]

[ he feels like he somehow understands less than when he asked ]

Um. So, so wait, you're just going to become God for everyone and that will...save the world? How?

[faceripper]

[ He laughs, which is probably a surprising reaction ]

Ah, yes, I had the very same question! It's just proof of how badly mortals have fouled things up that this would even happen, as it would certainly never have been so for the Eternals, but... There is our world, and there is the Void, and they're separated by the Veil—which was my discovery, I'd like to note. Apparently in the time since I was cast to sleep, that barrier has weakened considerably, and creatures from the Void have been crossing over. As they consume Source, that's quite bad news, since it is life itself. Not even the Gods of this era are immune to that.

[ He nods ]

So one of them chose me to be her Champion. The Divine has a unique position in that when they ascend, they can properly battle the Void and repair the damage done to the Veil, most likely. As I am the one that discovered it, and I imagine it was my former King that started this mess... It is quite fitting that I be the one to ascend.

[alchemenace]

[ two details stood out to him in there, so, first, very important: ]

Heh. Kings, amirite? [ it's said with a bit of a scoff but then he moves on to the actual important details for REAL MOBILE LET ME LIVE ] If only one of them chose you, what, um, what are the rest of them doing?

[faceripper]

Kings...

[ He sighs out the word with annoyance, but it's definitely one of camaraderie. fuck the system!! ]

Oh, choosing their own champions. The rest of them are all gods affiliated with particular races of this world, so they've all picked accordingly. I don't know all of them, but I am—was—traveling with the other Godwoken.

[ Which would seem like a conflict waiting to happen, since presumably, there can only be one Divine, and yet Fane doesn't seem to be bothered by their presence. ]

They're... mortal, which says a lot in itself, but they're not bad companions to travel with. More importantly, they're all quite capable fighters. Even I could hardly take on a horde of Voidwoken single-handed. [ translation: they're friends ]

[alchemenace]

[ awwww, fane. Varian smirks a bit ]

So, so you guys are all working together on this adventure? I guess you can get along with some mortals.

[faceripper]

Well, surviving a ship being torn apart by a massive sea creature and escaping a prison whose ultimate sentence may as well be death does bolster one's camaraderie.

[ He crosses his arms and shrugs ]

Though it's short-lived, I'm sure. When it comes time for us to ascend, there will be the somewhat... awkward problem that it can only be one of us. [ He sighs ] Why, I fully expect them to not realize that I'm the ideal choice, and we shall have to fight to the death.

[alchemenace]

[ well. that's a bummer. ]

Do you really think so? I guess I can see the appeal in trying to become Divine, and I don't know the rest of them, but it seems an obvious choice for it to be you, since you're [ a skeleton ] ... since you've got more, more experience? And you know Source more than anyone.

[faceripper]

That's my argument.

[ But he's also definitely not presenting everyone else's. This is at least partially because he doesn't fully understand all of them, since especially in the Prince's case, it's steeped in a culture that he doesn't understand. ]

Ah, well. Time well tell on that matter, since first, I must escape this prison. Considering I can't even hear Lady Amadia's voice or feel her presence, I can hardly ascend so long as I'm here.

[alchemenace]

How did they manage that, anyway? Everyone with any kind of special ability has had their power taken, but the source of those is different for everyone. Blocking all of that at once is... Well, impressive, if not for the fact that the ones doing it kidnapped like forty people for this.

[faceripper]

I've no idea.

[ He says with a heavy sigh, since he does find that quite frustrating. ]

Clearly, they're quite powerful, but using such talent for this... It's nonsensical.

[alchemenace]

They're powerful enough they shouldn't need us for, for whatever this is.

[ Varian goes off to pace the room as he talks ]

It's, I don't understand what they could get out of this. We can't have been picked at random, but there's no discernable pattern I can see. They say it's a battle of good vs evil, but how do they tell if it's just-- killing people and then catching them or not? What are they trying to prove?

[faceripper]

Or they're so powerful that this is simply entertainment. That seems to be a common theme with mortals that have too much power. They go absolutely batty with it.

[ Fane watches the pacing, but doesn't comment on it, since, like, mood ]

...Personally, I believe it's all an inane farce. It's a wholly unsatisfying answer, but it's the one that makes most sense.

[alchemenace]

[ deadpan: ]

They do own a castle.

[ is. is that commentary on something. a mystery. varian gives up on pacing to just sit on the bed. ]

... You're right, but it's... it's messed up, that that's what someone here killed for. That that's what they expect all of us to kill for.

[faceripper]

...Ah, well. That part doesn't surprise me nearly as much. I've seen people murdered for far less.

[ ...And also killed people himself for far less, but. He'll keep that bit to himself.

ha ha jk he doesn't even consider it they were so inconsequential w h o o p s ]

[alchemenace]

... I guess people die all the time. [ :/ ] But. But it's not like they'd get anything out of it here, that's what I don't understand. We're all stuck in the same situation right now. Was Gi-gan really killed just for... for fun?