tabularasa_rp | 003 - Memories of a False History

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003 - Memories of a False History

Memories of a False History State of the World ▲ Locations ▼ Bestiary
OOC ▲ Comments Please refer to the original Event Announcement for more information or to ask any questions you might have! For the disaster prompt, players are not restricted to the versions given, but they are intended to be the most common. Feel free to borrow ideas from the disaster suggestions thread as well!

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The Sound of All Things Bad
The sound comes without warning. What the sound is cannot quite be made out - it is at once artificial and natural, bestial and mechanical, rumbling and roaring and crunching, shattering and crashing and screaming. Everything about it feels like a threat, warning of danger. The cacophony of noise reaches throughout the entire Void, loud and inescapable, the mangling and clashing of different sounds leaving each individual with a different idea of what it could possibly have been. It sounds different to everyone, each person able to pick out a part of the sound that ties to their own fears.

What if...?

How long the sound lasts would depend on how the individual perceives time. It might last for seconds, or it might last for minutes, but once it stops it does not repeat. Where it came from or what it is does not become the slightest bit clearer, and people are left to only speculate.

Disaster
No one can quite be sure what has prompted them to remember that day. It might have been that noise of approaching doom, or perhaps it is seeing the crumbling ruins of Hammerlocke itself. Once a stray memory surfaces, it is easy enough to look into the details and recall in full the vivid memory of Hammerlocke’s destruction - the ‘truth’ of what caused the mountainside city to crumble into ruins, as so many have wondered since their first appearance. Though the memory is clear and detailed, vivid enough to have been witnessed in person, it is out of place and does not belong, and anyone who can recall the events knows it.

Attempting to discuss the matter will soon reveal that while others recall the event with similar clarity, the details vary from person to person. Over time, their own memory changes and adapts, occasionally changing to something new entirely, yet the original is never completely forgotten. Memory is a strange and fickle thing, so easy to influence and manipulate, that the truth is difficult to find.

While memories differ from person to person, there are three particular tales that recur:

From the Sky

Though the sky above did not change from its paper-like blank white, the land grew darker and darker as though cast in shadow. The source of the shadow was clear: above, slowly descending towards the wings of the castle, was... something. Something immense, yet shrouded in crackling storm clouds.

As it continued to grow closer and closer, something in the clouds began to swell. It grew larger and larger, an electric hum of energy in the air, until with a resounding crack it burst and a great shadowy beast fell to the ground, landing with such force that the resulting shockwave shook the earth and tore through the stone buildings, causing so much of the city to tumble in an instant. It moves, and it screeches, raising its head up as the great storm above continues to swell and crackle.

This would not be the only beast.

(Based upon: Meteor, the Lunar Cry, and the Darkest Day)

The Battlefield

It was never clear why the fighting eventually made its way to this defenseless city, but it came without warning. The chaos was heralded only by explosions as the city walls were blasted through by tanks that had somehow made their way along the treacherous and narrow mountain path that simply was not meant for such heavy machines. The thundering explosions and the collapse of buildings could surely be heard for miles, and people and animals alike were quick to flee.

Though they reached Hammerlocke first, the tanks seemed like nothing compared to the enemy. The enormous shadowy monstrosity that swooped in from the sky seemed to be made from far more advanced technology. Even just the one towering machine, as large as the castle falling to ruins beneath its feet as it lands, proves deadly as it fires upon the approaching tanks, blasting them all to pieces within an instant before turning fire on whichever buildings remain standing.

(Based upon: Tanks, and Reapers)

The Mysterious Storm

There had been no way to predict the change in the weather, never mind how destructive it would prove. One moment, everything had been still and quiet, and the next the city was assailed by howling, violent winds and freezing, glittering snow and ice. Though the city was built of stone and had stood the test of time for centuries, it could not stand against these combined forces. The only shelter was underground, for the furious storm was so powerful it could rip through earth, lift up and fling any object in its path with devastating force, shattering windows and toppling buildings.

Propelled by such force, the ice and hail proved destructive in its own right. As the storm froze everything in its path, the hailstones became like bullets and great chunks of ice became missiles. By the time the winds began to grow calm, there was little left standing.

Something about the storm seemed somehow unnatural, but where it came from was anyone’s guess. Some, however, may have spied a vague figure through the tempest, of unclear appearance but its presence somehow threatening.

(Based upon: Weather, El shortage, and Diamond Dust)

Misplaced Memories
Worries about whatever disaster must have befallen the ruined city of Hammerlocke aside, people quickly become aware that memories of the disaster are not the only invasive, foreign memories. How the other memories come to them seems, on the surface, to be very similar: a connected thought occurs, and upon realizing the memory is not theirs, people are compelled to think more about it until the memory is uncovered in full detail. Unlike the memory of the disaster, however, this one quite clearly belongs to someone else. Someone who is here.

On puzzling this out, some might find they have more than one stray memory sitting in their minds. More importantly, however, is the feeling that something from their own memory is missing, and whatever memory is missing feels like it is something important. It could just be their own phone number, or it could be their name, or the face of whoever is most important to them. It could be something small, it could be something big, but all people know is that it’s something important and it’s gone.

There is no clear, immediate answer as to what people can do about their lost memories. With regards to their new memories, however, the path might seem a tiny bit clearer, for surely it seems a bit unfair that they can see into someone’s past in such a manner without their knowing. Perhaps it’s best to talk to them about it?

Although the lost memory is not always the same as the ones borrowed, taking the memory back to its source and prompting them to discuss and think about it proves a great help - as they talk, the invasive memory leaves, a lost memory is restored, and those who succeed are able to tell others the solution.

While the invasive memory is gone, people can still recall having it, and can still recall the details, but they will no longer remember it from the other’s point of view. Perhaps it might change how they see each other from now on?

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code bases by tricklet

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Rex...

[ she mutters his name quietly when cole finishes, a faint itch in the back of her head over that name. it's the only thing that has stuck out so far as important, as much as her own name. soldiers that are brothers - there is familiarity, but it's like trying to grasp at air.

the woman breathes in, then lets go. ]

Your memory is... harder to speak. [ still, she must. it's only right if he's missing it. ] There was a man, and he was trying to hurt you and your friend Rhys. Rhys was trying to help, but the man after you two was stronger. He said awful things, but none of them are true.

[Did that work...? So far it seems like describing the memory helps to "give" it back, which is good, because he's not sure how else he would do that.]

[Rhys he remembers clearly, if not the memory she's describing... the thought of someone trying to hurt Rhys still makes his chest tight, even if things are different now. Her description is vague, but there's something...]

What things did he say?

[That part feels important. Maybe if he hears that, he can remember the rest.]

[ rex, rex, rex. she keeps his name in the forefront of her mind, letting it solidify. maybe then her mind can truly grasp at it.

but while that works, she also keeps herself focused on helping cole. he's also missing parts of himself, though it's hard to say this is a memory he would want back. she closes her eyes, hesitating, knowing what she's about to recount will bring him pain. ]

You were desperate to protect Rhys no matter what the cost. The man after you... he claimed you were a demon, pretending to be real.

[ she says with the sort of distaste that would hopefully indicate she doesn't believe those words. cole did at the end of the memory, but he was confused by the malicious intentions of his attacker. it isn't true. ]

[He waits patiently for her to answer, a little anxious, but as prepared as he can manage to accept whatever he's forgotten.]

[That he was desperate to protect Rhys is familiar enough, and what the man said... You’re just another parasite that’s wormed its way into our world, feeding off all the things you can’t have.<]

Oh.

[It's a winded oh, thick with both quiet realization and pain. But he doesn't seize up or break down, or any of the things he might have done once upon a time, before he had a better understanding of what he is.]

[Still, it's a long moment before he recovers enough to say anything, keeping his head down and tightly squeezing his hands together. It feels strange that he'd forgotten that, the moment he'd learned the truth. The last time Rhys ever saw him.]

Yes. I remember now.

[Not that he's unfamiliar with forgetting things, as Lambert helpfully pointed out.]

Thank you, for saying it wasn't true. But not everything he said was wrong. I was a demon. I forgot I wasn't real.

Now, wait a moment. That isn't true. You are real.

[ he may try to contest, of course, but how can he? he's in front of her, right here and now. that makes him perfectly real to her. besides, why listen to the words of a man so clearly prepared to kill him?

something rings in the back of her head: "without it, we clones wouldn't exist." -- she breathes in, eyes shut, then opens again. ]

You're not a demon and you are real. I'm sure Rhys would agree.

[ even if cole doubts, she saw rhys defend him. ]

You're kind, like Rhys. He thought I was a person- I did too. But we were both wrong.

[Despite his initial reaction to the memory, he doesn't seem as broken up about it as he could be. That was a while ago, and he's learned to be more like a spirit now. He lost everything, but it's better this way, so long as he doesn't make the same mistakes.]

[Whether or not he's a demon, well- he tries not to be what people would call a demon, now. It doesn't mean he isn't still a demon, to some.]

Rhys saw a monster. He wouldn't say those things to defend me anymore.

[She didn't see what came after that memory, the way Rhys lost all will to fight, knowing a demon had deceived him all this time. Not that it matters.]

But it's all right. He won't see me again.

He won't?

[ she repeats, questioning. her teeth bites at the inside of her cheeks gingerly, thinking. ]

If it's because you don't want to see him, because you have doubts, then I don't think that's the right thing to do. You shouldn't let the opinions of someone who tried to kill you have sway.

[ and yes, she saw how the man explained how whatever he used on cole was because he was a demon. doesn't matter, not to her anyway. ]

Not everything he said was right. I didn't make Rhys a murderer. I killed those people. Rhys made me stop.

[He doesn't know for sure if Rhys believed that part or not, though. He'll never know, now.]

He has Evangeline to help keep him safe now, and I killed Seeker Lambert so he can't hurt anyone anymore. It would only hurt Rhys to see me again. I won't let him.

[There's something borderline childish in his insistence. It's simple. This is how things should be. He won't hurt Rhys, and it won't hurt him to learn for himself what Rhys really thinks of him, now.]

I hurt people thinking that I was helping, but I was wrong. I wanted to help, that's what I forgot. Staying away helps. It's better this way.

[ staying away helps.

something deep in her coils when he says that, and again she takes a chance to grasp at what she has lost. it solidifies this time and she breathes in sharp, closing her eyes and clutching her head. a lost fragment takes form, resonating, and...

and she sees rex's face, his tears streaking down his cheeks. she sees what happened before that, and though things are still cut apart she remembers now.

when her eyes open and she breathes again, tears fall from her eyes too. ]

You... You can't say that. Staying away - it only makes things worse Cole! If you aren't there then you can't do anything to help! You can't make it better if you leave.

[Despite her clearly emotional pleas, the sight just makes him wish he could still run away now. He should be able to make her forget him, that old memory too, and then she wouldn't be crying now and he could forget this conversation, too. But he can't. He doesn't know what to do, and some of that shows in the obstinate indignance of his response.]

It is better! Rhys doesn't need my help. Maybe he's forgotten me by now. He should.

[He doesn't want to talk about this anymore. He's very close to just walking away, as that's unfortunately the closest he can get to invisibility here.]

[But he barely manages not to, because he remembers Ahsoka's memory, her insistence on choosing life, the tear that Rex had shed. He should be trying to help her. They should talk about that instead.]

Those soldiers, in your memory. Did you fight them?

[ her breathing turns fast, much faster now that she is so aware of it, and she has to take a moment to recenter. wipe the tears away with the back of her wrist, wishing to swallow down the pain in her chest as easily as the lump in her throat. she too wants to walk away and curl up somewhere no one can see. pride will not let her feet even think of bucking.

instead she tries to get a grip. breathing in sharp through her nose and then out her mouth, then doing it again a couple times. it's what it takes before she can finally answer. ]

I... no. Yes, and no. [ the memory is clearing up, at last her grasp on what was taken away bringing the memory back. ] Rex and I were trying to reach an escape ship - that's why those soldiers were waiting for us. They knew we would have to go through them to make it out alive. The ship was going down, so doing nothing wasn't an option.

[ she sniffs hard, now remembering how they got into that situation. reliving it all over again, she's shocked at how calm she was through it all. who was that woman who could be so composed in grave danger? it isn't her, not right now. ]

Something was done to the minds of the soldiers, and they lost all sense of self. They were ordered to kill me and their orders were more important to them than their lives.

So I fought, but only to protect. Not to kill.

[It's harder to focus on the suffering of others when his own gets louder. He tries to shove it down, back where it doesn't matter anymore. Disappearing from Rhys' life was the best choice. He doesn't want to think about it.]

[He focuses on her voice, the emotion in her expression since he can't sense it anymore. He wishes he could. The quiet here seems loud again after recalling his own pain. He doesn't have much concept of what "ship" actually refers to where she's from, but what was done to those soldiers... his voice is softer now, more or less back to normal.]

Were you able to escape? Both of you?

[That had been a lot of soldiers, and there were only two of them. He doesn't know how strong she is, but by simple numbers he can see how it would be hard to make it out of there, much less without killing anyone.]

[ there is silence to his question at first, as she racks her mind. she recalls a memory returned to her from hornet, a truly miserable scene of dragging bodies into graves, and from there she gets the answer. ]

We did. The other men didn't.

[ it was their bodies she put in those graves, and their helmets she staked onto broken parts of the ship as marking. two memories clicking together no different than a puzzle. ]

I remember now. [ she smiles sadly, the recollection bringing heartache. ] I still don't know why it happened but... something tells me it was my fault. Or that I could have prevented it. I can't be sure.

[She doesn't remember why it happened... maybe she still has more memories to find. It's good that they both escaped, though.]

It wasn't your fault their minds were taken. You had to fight. If they were good like you said, then they wouldn't want you to die by their hands, either.

[He doesn't think she would have been wrong, to kill them. It wouldn't be good, knowing that they're people whose minds have been manipulated, people that Rex called his brothers, but... it's not their fault.]

If I ever lost myself like that, I would want someone to kill me.

[Spoken casually enough, but he means it.]

I wonder if they felt the same. If they could have.

[ she doesn't regret her choice to spare them. rex's anguish look, the pain as he turned his face away to hide, only strengthens that conviction.

although... she still doesn't know why it all happened. there was an order, but to what end? who wanted her dead so badly they would turn a small army against her? it seems she will need to keep hunting her memories down to discover it. ]

Cole, for whatever it may be worth, I wouldn't give up on you either. No matter what you are, or what you think you are - you strike me as a good person. That matters more.

[That's not something he can know, like this. They're still people, he'd want to help them, too. But if he couldn't do that when other lives were in danger, then...]

[It's not a hypothetical he needs to think about; they're dead now, they won't hurt anyone and they can't be manipulated anymore.]

[Her comments on not giving up on him are... not entirely welcome, though.]

I'm not a person. I'm here because I can help. If I ever forget that again, then someone needs to kill me.

[He's very insistent. Cassandra promised she would, but she's not here. And now this place is getting their memories all mixed up and confused... it's worrying.]

[ there he goes again. she doesn't think she can convince him he's wrong, or rather prove to him he's wrong. the woman barely knows herself right now and has to help herself first. though to know this instinct she has to aid him, to know it's hers, gives her relief. she has not lost everything. ]

I won't be the one to do it. That's all I can say.

[ she didn't kill the clones then, and not even knowing their fate would she kill them now. she doesn't need to know cole to know killing is wrong. ]

[That's not what he wants to hear- but it's fine. It doesn't have to be her. It's not a bad thing to not like killing. She really is a kind person. He hopes she won't have to kill anyone.]

[He takes a deep breath and sighs.]

You have that memory back now, right? Is there anything else I can do, to help?

[He still has more memories to "deliver," but he wasn't very good at being attentive to her pain through this conversation.]

[ she smiles and, after taking a step forward, sets a hand down on his shoulder. ]

You've been a big help. Thank you, Cole. [ she'll slide her hand off without letting it linger, unsure if he's ok with so much contact. ] And I hope I've helped you too. Even if I don't agree with your assessment.

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003 - Memories of a False History

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