003 - Memories of a False History

[tabularasa_mods]

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

Comments

[halloflamer]

Haha, man, are we really "residents" now? I guess so....

[Bluses muses to himself aloud as he grabs a mug and sticks it under the faucet, pouring up a cool glass of whatever brew Tifa'd had on-tap. He lifts it up onto the counter and pushes it towards Zack, before reaching for a second glass.]

Weird to think of it that way, but I guess by now that we've been in this place for a while. Hard to really know, with no days or nights..... Then again, I didn't think there'd be anyone "new", either.

[He lifts the second glass and places it beside the first, then leans on the counter with his chin in hand to smile at Zack. This guy's weird clothes looked familiar, like he'd seen them worn by someone else....]

So, Zack, found anyone else you know around here?

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack reaches for the frothy mug as it's slid over to him. And for a second he puts a hand up so he can take a long chug of it. He drinks a good portion of the mug, letting the cold burn its way down his throat before he pulls back with a hearty sigh. He gets a satisfied look on his face as he lets out a content huff.]

Damn... This is exactly what I needed right now.

[He gives Blue a smile before he shrugs his shoulders.]

New as I am I'm kinda glad to say that yeah, I have met a few faces that I know around here. Some old friends and an old flame, too. I haven't seen them in years so they're not exactly happy reunions.

[Ahh- But he doesn't mean to sound like such a downer.]

You up and ghost a couple of people and it's all downhill when you show up again, you know?

[halloflamer]

Guess you really were thirsty, [Blue laughs, watching as he chugs down.] Feel free to drink up; we don''t charge here, so they only limit is your own! ...And even then, not my place to judge if you wanna go past that.

[Certainly, Blue was the last person who should judge when it came to overdrinking.... He's happy to sit by and listen to Zack talk about his reunions, though- happy and otherwise. Blue raises a brow.]

An old flame, huh~? Sounds rough. [He seems interested to hear more about that, though he at least has enough tact not to come out and ask.] Well, life happens, right? You should have plenty of time to catch up, here.

I have a lotta friends from home here, too. [Blue pulls over a small glass to pour himself a drink, too, juice with a splash of liquor from the back shelf.] It seems weird- some people dunno anyone here, some of us have a whole bunch of people we know. And most people are from all kindsa different places...

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack does raise an eyebrow that all this alcohol is free because that can be fairly dangerous. None the less Zack likes the burn the alcohol gives him. Maybe enough of these and he can make the burn in his chest go away too.]

Yeah, I've noticed. Even the people I know are older or don't remember the same things I do. How do you get used to it all?

[It's kind of wild. Zack watches Blue with a bit of curiosity.]

I figure I've just gotta take all of this one day at a time and see how it all pans out. But it's nice to meet a nice face.

[You know! Once that isn't upset or confused to see him!!]

[halloflamer]

[Certainly no less dangerous for the bartender himself! Why Tifa thought giving the partyboy the keys to the bar was a good idea is anyone's guess, but at least he's doing his job- letting everyone else in the void forget their problems, too.]

Huh... You too? [Blue seems surprised by that- not because he doesn't believe him, but because he hasn't heard the problem being so widespread.] ...Well, I guess you won't be as surprised to hear, but my-- a friend of mine [How the heck does he describe Lance, anyway??] is way younger than he should be.... Seems like I'm still a brat, back as far as he knew.

Weird, huh?

[Blue stirs his glass and takes a slow sip, leaning on the counter to continue chatting. He grins coyly at Zack's "compliment", lowering the glass from his lips and slowly running his tongue along them. Just to pick up the extra juice, yanno.] Just doing my job, I guess- there's gotta be someone providing bright spots in this weird, gloomy place.

[activatingcombatmode]

[In Zack's opinion Tifa's ability to see the good and worth in people is top tier. She probably had a good reason to give the partyboy the bar. Somewhere under that charming smile and lick of his lips against the glass is probably a pretty good person.

No, he's not staring appreciatively. Too much.]

You're doing a good job so far from the looks of it. [Zack's eyes moving from the glass to Blue's eyes. He grins.] Things are feeling less weird by the minute. Is that because of you or the alcohol?

[halloflamer]

[Tifa may have had good reason to leave Blue in charge of the bar, but that didn't mean either his intent or his execution was... squeaky clean, either. Although, probably, she should have expected that, considering how often she was serving Blue drinks.]

[At least he's good at the job, apparently! He beams back, the playful and teasing light in his eyes reaching from his smile, and he carefully dangles the glass in his fingertips before setting it carefully back on the bartop between them.]

Hmmm..... Sometimes the booze kicks in, sometimes it doesn't.... Like everything else around here, it kinda does what it feels like doing.

Well, I do what I feel like, too, so it could be either one of us. Always happy to help a newbie feel welcome.

[He's... starting to think of some other ways he could accomplish that.]

[activatingcombatmode]

[It might be stupid but there's something about vaguely flirty exchanges that just makes Zack feel better. It washes away some of the tension that aches up in his shoulders. Or hey, maybe it's the beers.

Either way, Zack is giving Blue another curious grin.]

Yeah, and what else do you usually feel like doing around here? Everything aside-- this place is a big white boring void.

[halloflamer]

[por que no los dos!!]

I've got my hobbies, [Blue muses, leaning chin in hand as he drapes over the counter beside Zack. Is he kind of.... close? Maybe.] Did you notice the bird-like creatures roosting on the roof of the bar? They're Pidgey, a kind of creature called 'Pokémon', from my world. I'm a trainer, someone who raises and battles with Pokémon.

So, most of my hobbies around here, I guess, revolve around exploring around and seeing all the weird new Pokémon they've got in this place, just like back home. If you need any pointers.... [Blue's eyes drag their way up Zack's considerable arm muscles] ...don't be afraid to ask.

[activatingcombatmode]

[His smile is still in place although it does get a bit more wolfish the moment Blue offers himself for any pointers. If he's close enough Zack is going to flex one arm muscle or two just for show. Yeah, keep looking. He works hard for a reason.]

So they're called Pokémon, huh? I think I saw the flying fish things down at the beach too.

[He eyes Blue.]

Are any of these beasts ever hard to handle? Any of them ever get the better of you or top you?

[This is a real tag.]

Got any pointers for that...?

[halloflamer]

[He is 👀 looking]

[Blue grins wider, not hiding his glance whatsoever as he listens, then slides his eyes back to meet Zack's. This is going well, right??]

Oh? You mean the Magikarp? Back home, they're pretty docile lil' things, but you had better watch yourself around them here. They're pretty... nippy.

[He can't help but lift a brow at that ...........phrasing, but he chuckles softly, fingertips dancing across the bartop to flick away the unruly piece of bangs from Zack's face.]

No 'beast' ever gets the better of me. I can be pretty nippy, too.

[If that's what you like, Zack.....]

[activatingcombatmode]

[It was stupid phrasing but he's stupid and muscular, what can he do!?

At least the hint is taken and Zack looks at ease under the reaction he gets.]

That so? I'd like to see that sometime.

[halloflamer]

[He’s a dumb himbo and Blue is totally falling for it.]

[His eyes slide towards the remainder of Zack’s beer, then back towards him- he sweeps it up and tilts back, finishing it off with a few hearty gulps, gasping a sigh and dropping the mug into the sink behind the counter.]

You can see it now, buster. [He tilts his chin up with a jerk.] Wanna come upstairs?

[activatingcombatmode]

[A little quick to the punch, is he? Zack smiles.]

Hey now, maybe after a few more drinks and a few dates with you and those pokemon of yours?