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

[begetblue]

[ It was flippant enough for Turing to do a double take, that was for sure. They were very fortunate to realize there was something else behind those words instead of blurting something out in return. Hmm. It...didn't seem like they were being belittled. Probably. The expression on Leo's face was just ambiguous enough that they couldn't quite decide. The glissando was a lucky interruption, and it prompted a tiny smile from Turing instead of anything that was poorly thought out. Words were indeed hard. It was one thing to say words, but it was entirely another to say the correct ones at the correct times. ]

Then perhaps I should say something cheesy as well? Would that make it better?

[ Turing knew what the word "cheesy" meant. They had been expanding their knowledge of colloquialisms at a steady pace for a while now, and that effort wasn't for nothing! That smile turned into a grin as they decided on exactly what to say. ]

I will keep you company if those little pangs of something else become difficult to deal with!

[ ...Well, they said it was going to be cheesy. ]

[bachagain]

[ turing........ despite being whisked away to some unknown world away from mostly everybody he knows, leo finds himself a little lucky to interact with people like this. sure, turing's a little blue robot, but... details. they're tiny and sweet in leo's eyes and that's all that matters.

it's hard not to be endeared when they're returning his words like this, after all, earnestly and genuinely?

so... he can only pause a little to mull over it, finding a similar warmth here like when he had with suo. maybe it's just always nice to have someone tell you there's a place to go when you think there might be none. ]

Wahaha! You saw my memory, right? Y'know it helps when you say pretty stuff like that...! [ a fond smile. ] I'll take that offer, sure, as long as you get it's not just there for me -- it's out there for you too.

[ so much cheese. but turing really is as welcome to seek out leo, just as welcome as turing is... making leo feel.

mmm... ]

Speaking of giving what we get... Let's seal this deal to keep the pang pangs away with a swap! You gave me something important back, so now I gotta give you something important back! Y'ready, Turi? I liked this one!

[begetblue]

[ Turing nodded to show they understood, and the cheery look on their face showed no sign of fading. True, they couldn't say that didn't realize on some level that it was something Leo might like to hear, but it also seemed like something he needed to hear. And, well, there was no disguising the amount of sincerity Turing had put into those words, not that they had actually tried. After all, why hide happy feelings that always felt so light?

Heavier ones, like being or even feeling alone in the world were harder. Seeing that same kind of loneliness threaten to take hold of someone else was something they couldn't allow. Especially not for someone as bright as Leo. Maybe it was because of their small size, or their cuteness (and Turing wasn't so oblivious that they didn't recognize that they were perceived that way), but they were usually the one being protected. Even if it was just this once, they wanted to protect someone too. Maybe, just maybe, they could protect others in the same way. ]

I'm ready! I'm glad I didn't give you an unpleasant memory.

[ They certainly had a good handful of those, unfortunately. ]

[bachagain]

[ well, leo can't be too surprised that turing's gone through some painful things. they're all alive, after all, and sometimes life was just that way -- it was a fact he's become intimately aware of in recent years, but even then he understands there's stuff like the memory he has in his head now, too.

pleasant things like cats and finding a place to belong, or finding your creativity in painting... ]

Even if you did, I wouldn't mind. It'd suck to give it back, kinda like I'm hurting you myself, but it'd still be something new I learned about you. That's not bad, I think.

[ personal experience on the first part. but he really doesn't think it'd be a bad thing.

now... leo knows where the memory sits in his mind will change when he returns it, so his retelling starts not with words, but with his hands on the piano keys. he starts a small little tune he'd composed upon seeing the flashes of turing's life in his mind -- a song for them, of what he's seen. light, pretty, warm. maybe a little confused at the beginning, but that seems intentional.

and as he plays: ]

You were painting, Turi! I think it was your... first time maybe? You were struggling on how to hold the stuff with your hands, but once you got going it wasn't too bad! It wasn't like anything I'd make, that's for sure.

[ leo is. way more abstract than bob ross. ]

Did you ever end up making a painting where the trees were purple? Where the sky's the ground and the ground's the sky, maybe...? I like those ones the best!

[begetblue]

[ It didn't escape Turing's notice that Leo was concerned about them getting hurt, but not at all about themselves. They definitely didn't like that! Even if Leo didn't mind, Turing certainly did. Leo had done a lot for them already, and it wouldn't do to make extra trouble for him when they didn't have to.

The music helped soothe those immediate worries. Turing wondered what song it could be; they didn't recognize it, and the idea of their memory inspiring it didn't even begin to cross their mind. They almost asked, but that would mean interrupting the performance.

Painting for the first time. Trouble holding things. Purple trees. Slowly but surely all of those puzzle pieces began to fit together into a shape they could understand.

...Ah! ]

I did! I've been wanting to paint the trees here as well, but I don't have my paints and canvasses with me.

[ It had been so long since they painted last. Too long! Their preferred style had changed quite a bit since that memory, but painting a landscape every so often was nice too. ]

I haven't painted the ground as the sky and vice versa yet. ...If I made a painting like that, would you be interested in seeing it? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[bachagain]

[ right, right. it is difficult to make a painting without paints, huh... just like it was kind of difficult to make this kind of sound without an instrument, so that's a good point that leo absolutely forgot about.

he's still playing as he speaks, the song not finished yet, but he continues to pay earnest attention to turing's question. that's an easy one. the easiest one he's had to answer all day (whatever a day is in this place), actually. ]

Don’t ask, don’t ask, just show me! [ obviously he would, ] You don't needa do that idea just 'cause I said it, though. Paint whaaaatever -- whether it's a regular old scene or how you see the world in your mind's eye. I love taking a peek into other people's creativity -- or, mm, just when people are creative in general? It's fun to see!

[ especially when it’s people he knows. it’s like… he’s getting to know new sides? it's nice-- ]

[begetblue]

[ If Leo heard Turing humming quietly along with the music as he played, well, he wouldn't be imagining things. Listening to a recording was one thing, but experiencing music as it was being played was...different. It was more special somehow, and that was even before knowing what inspired the song in the first place.

If they couldn't paint for the time being, maybe it would be fun to give music a try instead. ]

Okay, I'll only show you when it's done so it can be a surprise. No peeking!

[ Turing grinned. Honestly, it would be a surprise for them as well in a way; painting had always been a relaxing and safe way of expressing their feelings. Not having that outlet made things a little tough. A little overwhelming, even. ]