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

[bridge_princess]

That's good. I'm glad, not that I'm surprised. You didn't seem that bedraggled when we showed up in the first place. ... So, you were trapped out in that void for a while, before you were rescued.

[She sighed to herself, looking over at her with a little sympathy. She was holding up pretty well against all that.]

Weirdly very eventful for as quiet as it is, the memory's got a lot going on doesn't it? You...ok?

[pinwheels]

[ It's a little embarrassing; Rinoa likes to think that she's the one who tends to look out for Parsee, but now Parsee is checking in on her, on how she's doing, and she can't help but feel bad. She doesn't want the other to feel that she needs to worry about her, especially over something so far in the past. ]

Yeah. I'm okay. It was a while ago now.

[ For a moment, she thinks about explaining further. After all, Parsee is one of the few people here who knows about her natural magical abilities. But she's let the conversation get too focused on her, when her whole goal had been to enjoy a nice moment with the other. ]

Did it help? Whenever Yuugi came to you.

[bridge_princess]

[A nod. time healed wounds. It kept one from being in pain or fear from the thing much longer than necessary. Parsee didn't press much, mostly because it wasn't something she wanted to know too deeply about, not right then.]

What? The Oni? She usually gives me something to focus on, and she's pretty close to immune to what I am as drunk as she usually is. I mean drunks get jealous but if you're drunk as a skunk you're jealous but you don't actually care, if that makes sense?

So she'd just... keep me busy until I was calmed down. She did it a lot.

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa nods - but the truth is, she has no idea. She's rarely had alcohol, let alone enough of it to get drunk. She's only recently of age, after all. Still, it's something she's heard enough times that it makes sense. If you're drunk enough, you're not meant to really care about anything. ]

It sounds like she was a really good friend for you.

[ It's said with a sympathetic smile. Missing your friends... that's something that no one should ever feel jealous about, right? It's a horrible feeling.

They shouldn't dwell, though. Instead, Rinoa uncaps the bottle, pours a small amount into each other their cups. ]

Let's drink in her name, then?

[bridge_princess]

[A little could make it so much worse. A lot just sort of numbed the brain and body. Like the oni always ways, which kept her in turn in control.]

She's something alright. Being a good friend kind of came with her job, but I guess maybe she meant it on he own. She wasn't the sort to go through the motions.

[She took the cup and looked it over before smirking.]

Yeah, a drink in Yuugi's name'd be appropriate, though she'd probably have snatched your bottle by now, heh. Damned lush.

[pinwheels]

[ She laughs in response to that. From the way the oni acted in the memory, Parsee's words don't surprise her at all. Yeah, Yuugi definitely seems like the type to just do what she wants to, Rinoa thinks. Especially if it'll make someone else smile.

With a grin of her own, she raises her cup. ]

Then, to Yuugi, and friends who help us through the worst of times.

[ She pauses before drinking, just in case Parsee wants to add anything to the toast. ]

[bridge_princess]

[Well... Yuugi wasn't really 'that' nice. She'd do anything if it made herself smile. But if it made Parsee smile too, or someone she actually liked, it was an added bonus. Parsee clinked her glass and took a nice long gulp before exhaling softly.]

Ngh... kinda almost wish the idiot was here, but she'd be bored out of her damned mind, and a bored Oni's dangerous, heh.

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa, for her part, sips at her drink, smiling fondly at Parsee. It makes sense that she'd want her friend to be here. They're alike in that regard, despite being different in so many other ways. ]

What is an Oni, anyway?

[ It's information she didn't quite manage to get from the memory, just that Yuugi was one. ]

[bridge_princess]

Oh, it's a demon. They're horned spirits who get drunk all the time, preside over whatever interests them most and generally like throwing their weight around. Yuugi's one of the bigger ones out there, I guess? There's a group of four who are really powerful.

[pinwheels]

[ She can't help but laugh at that. That fits with the image she has in her mind of Yuugi, although the term that Parsee uses is a little confusing on its own. ]

I feel like we have really different meanings in our worlds of "demon"... She doesn't look or act like any of the demons I've come across back home. [ Squall's cursed lamp, with its demonic inhabitant, comes to mind. Yuugi seems far less intimidating. ] Do they get scary at times? She seemed so friendly, you know?

[bridge_princess]

Well most of our monsters and humans have a kinda human form? But you're seeing her drunk. She's usually easy enough to get along with while she's sober and a bit on the 'prone to piking fights side.'

[She smirked and shrugged a little bit.]

But if they ever get sober, all the anger they keep down with booze kinda just bubbles up and it's a bad time.

[pinwheels]

[ It sounds scary, if she's honest. Monsters that hide their anger behind the joy that comes with alcohol. But that raises a question all of its own, and her head tilts, a curious expression crossing her features. ]

Their anger probably wouldn't be as bad if they let it out, you know? Pushing it down makes it worse, so if it bubbles up...

[ Then everyone's in for a bad time. ]

[bridge_princess]

Yeaaah, that works for humans. When an Oni gets too angry, they start levelling mountains. They're like fountains of rage. It's why they carry sake cups and gourds that fill magically with more alcohol.

They're to rage what I am to envy, only... well... they were never human, so they are more beholden to it. I mean, I think Yuugi'd agree with you in principle? She's better than most of them. But it's better if she tamps it down a little and just lets her steam off once in a while while tipsy.

[pinwheels]

Magical alcohol?

[ It would be impressive, if it weren't basically a method of survival. (And survival it is, she thinks - surely an oni who let his or her rage free one too many times would be hated and feared. Maybe they're feared in general, if they have powers like that.)

She doesn't say that though, just grins at Parsee. ]

Kind of like some of the food here, then.

[bridge_princess]

[Yep. Feared like nobody else. Most of the great oni had a reputation because of crap they did while sober in the old days, so it was kind of a universal survival thing.]

A little. Suika had a gourd and Yuugi had a big sake cup. They'd fill up whenever they wanted a drink. Kinda handy, but I couldn't handle that much booze myself, so I never got too jealous of that.

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa can't help but laugh at that, the smile still warm on her lips. ]

It makes sense that you're friends, then. I'm sure it's easier for you to be friends with someone you're not as jealous of, right?

[ She assumes, anyway. In reality, she's not really a jealous person, apart from the occasional pangs here and there. ]

[bridge_princess]

Hah. Oh, I'm plenty jealous of Yuugi. But in her case it's easier for us to get along because she just doesn't care. She... accepts me as the jealous little witch I am.

Most people don't accept that as easily as they do.