003 - Memories of a False History

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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

[obscurus_phantasma]

There's a soft huff as she closes her eyes, nodding at the recollection. "Phobos." His name is whispered while Mel keeps eyes shut, and though nothing trails down cheeks, those purple orbs are wet from the sadness felt at knowing she has no family here.

Licking her lips, she laughs something a little louder. "Does it say something that we exchanged sex dreams?"

[gardenerofavalon]

Merlin gives a shrug at that.

"Who can say? There doesn't seem to be much pattern to the memories taken."

That is, other than the memories typically being signification, or at least memorable.

[obscurus_phantasma]

She hums, lips gathering to one side and pursing for a moment. Melinoë speaks with pride when she says, "I wasn't the only one benefiting from the holiday. Between Hallowe'en and my birthday, I was just on this high." Mel grabs the front of her gown and scrunches the fabric, eyes closing in pleasure. She looks at Merlin again, releasing her dress. "There's no taboo in sleeping with certain members of the family where divine beings are concerned. And the twins, well. Fear, Panic, and Nightmares make quite the team."

[gardenerofavalon]

"So I saw."

He no longer remembers it as if he'd experienced it firsthand, but he does still recall what happened. And he does have a certain fondness for mischief.

"Though if that's what you do for fun, remind me never to make you angry!"

He says it like a joke but, well, if she knows anything much about the legends surrounding him, it's probably fair to guess that he's all too familiar with having pissed off a powerful woman before.

[obscurus_phantasma]

With a smile that can only be described as wicked, she draws herself up. "Though I may be gracious when guiding, I am utterly ghoulish when living up to my other responsibilities. It's only a shame I didn't see the other side of you, though nothing is stopping you from sharing a favorite experience?" Mel ends it in a question, opening the way for Merlin to do exactly that, should he feel inclined.

[gardenerofavalon]

Merlin raises an eyebrow at the question.

"Which other side do you mean?"

It's partly a joking protest of innocence, and partly wondering what in particular she has in mind. She's seen him blending in with humans, at least when they first met, and that memory she saw featured quite a bit of his incubus nature... Is she asking after the kinds of mischief he's gotten up to?

Because oh, does he have stories to tell indeed on that.

[obscurus_phantasma]

"The Marvelous Mischievous Merlin." Her tone adds the 'of course' and the emphasis indicates she's giving gravitas to the adjectives. "You mentioned dreams and nightmares before. Add another chapter in your book for me, per favore."

Maybe Mel will even throw in a reward afterwards?

[gardenerofavalon]

"Is that so..."

He lets the remark trail off thoughtfully, but not so much out of a need to think about it as simply building things up a bit. The anticipation is important, after all!

"Well, I suppose there was that time Arturia kept trying to get into some treats I'd been keeping for myself in my workshop, so I enchanted them to, well, let's just say she thought twice before touching things without permission after that!"

That's certainly not the only little prank he's pulled, not by a long shot, but it's still a good one, in his opinion. In fact, there might even be a touch of... fondness, perhaps? in his tone and expression, at least briefly.

[obscurus_phantasma]

And she is anticipatory, biting her lower lip and shifting her weight.

Delightful as the prank is, Melinoë finds one part particularly curious, if only for the manner in which it differs from the things she's heard. "Arturia...is that Arthur? Is the king a queen in your world?"

[gardenerofavalon]

"Oh, she was still known as King Arthur to both her subjects and history, who generally believed her to be a man, but she was born a woman."

Merlin hadn't seen any issue with this, obviously, as it was other characteristics that were more important in the ideal king he helped create than the matter of her sex.

*prank

[obscurus_phantasma]

Melinoë is comfortable with or without genders, and so she beams at his explanation, as fascinated as she is accepting of the fact. "What did you do to her, then, with this scherzo* of yours?"

Whatever reproving tone she tones is done so out of the continued teasing.

Re: *prank

[gardenerofavalon]

"Nothing much, just a bit of indigestion."

By which he means that's probably a gross understatement. It took some doing to make her think twice when it came to food, after all.

[obscurus_phantasma]

One brow curves upward. He makes it sound so nonchalant, if not mild, but he's Merlin. Surely it was far from mild. "Were there repercussions?"

[gardenerofavalon]

"Beyond learning a somewhat uncomfortable lesson? No."

He's smarter than that, he'd never do something to truly jeopardize his king's image or position. Not intentionally, at least.

"And I rather doubt she ever told many people about it, either."

[obscurus_phantasma]

"Not even as a tale of caution? Hm. Though, I suppose that, depending on the timeline, such warnings would be rather moot, all things considered.

"Tell me one of your favorite moments relating to dreams."

[gardenerofavalon]

"Some lessons are best taught on a more strictly individual basis."

Read: that way he can mess with each new person who's bold and/or stupid enough to cause trouble in his workshop. Not that word wouldn't get around anyway, though.

"Dreams?" Merlin blinks at the question. It's, well, a rather broad topic, after all. "Unless you're more specific than that, we'd probably be here all day."

[obscurus_phantasma]

She looks about with the utmost scrutiny, up and down, left and right, even moves in a circle. "Do you see an end to this not day?"

Serious face is dropped and Melinoë giggles. "A time you interfered, be it through a dream or nightmare."

[gardenerofavalon]

"Hmmm...."

That's still pretty broad, given the sort of things he's undoubtedly gotten up to over the centuries spent in his tower, so Merlin has to consider for a moment. The occasional wandering into a particularly... sensual dream is doubtless a given, and he prefers good dreams to nightmares, but...

"Well, at the time of that memory you saw, I was actually keeping Tiamat--who had become a Beast--trapped within a dream. It was no small undertaking, as you can imagine."

He might be bragging a little.

[obscurus_phantasma]

"Fantastico, a feat no less, her being ancient and all. How the hell did you pull that off? Was she pissed afterwards?"

Though the chaotic Goddess may not have been present at the academy during Mel's stay, she did still exist in Mel's world. It's worth bragging about, being nothing less than impressive.

[gardenerofavalon]

"Illusions and dreams are something of a specialty of mine." Yeah, he's definitely bragging. "She hadn't yet fully awakened at the time I arrived, so I trapped her within a dream in deep sleep, where her mind would be fully unconscious."

As opposed to other phases of sleep, like REM, where the sleeper's consciousness has some awareness of what's going on, and thus an ability to fight back.

"Though once outside forces caused her to begin to wake up, well, she didn't waste any time eliminating me, so I suppose she may have been a bit annoyed. Or maybe just a poor sport at having been bested like that for so many months!"

Needless to say, the abrupt destruction of Merlin's self in the dream hadn't done him any real harm, or else he probably wouldn't be speaking of it so lightly. More just a poorly-timed inconvenience.

[obscurus_phantasma]

"Ind-- Madonna santa, did you just say months?" Mel goes from smiling adoringly and nodding to jaw hanging loosely and eyes more akin to tea cups. It's fucking impressive, and that hardly begins to covers it properly, him not being divine and all. Any questions that arose during the retelling are temporarily set aside to bask in his glory.

Already attracted to Merlin for numerous reasons and enough to frequent his bed on the would-be almost daily, hearing this accelerates the liking that much more. Were they in Melinoë's universe, she'd seek Merlin for a mate in the very least. Dreams and nightmares, they go hand-in-hand, do they not?

[gardenerofavalon]

There technically is a bit more to the story than that... But on the other hand, no matter how one looks at it, Merlin really is incredibly powerful. Being a thousand plus years old halfbreed can do that.

Though, honestly, Merlin's a little bit surprised at the praise. Not because he doesn't think it's impressive, but because it's uncommon for people who've known him for long to actually stroke his ego like that. Needless to say, he looks almost downright smug as he basks in the attention.

"Well, someone had to do it." Granted, the Beast had been more or less slumbering to begin with, which had it easy for Merlin to get a foothold at the start, but even so.

[obscurus_phantasma]

"I have half a mind to ravish you before hearing any more," she purrs, licking lips and giving Merlin a lusty look. But she draws in a deep breath and persists. "You said eliminate; take it that means the Goddess expelled you from the dream versus killing you?"

It's mostly rhetorical, the mage being immortal and all. And it's a way to keep him talking.

[gardenerofavalon]

"Only half?" Merlin teases right back. The attention and praise has definitely done wonders for his mood.

"Oh, no, she destroyed my manifestation there." It had been quite inconvenient, really. But by no means permanent. "Fujimaru and the others were apparently rather shocked at the time, and I had run all the way back from Avalon to continue aiding them."

[obscurus_phantasma]

---

A bit of tongue is stuck out in his direction, sans raspberry sound. "Considering that a majority of our time is spent naked, sì, my darling."

If it weren't for the whole memory collection like eggs in Easter baskets, Mel would have indulged in her lover, but there would be time enough indeed for that later.

"What was the battle over?" Regale her with this tale.