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

[gardenerofavalon]

How much is sincere and how much is feigned is always a good question with Merlin. Only those who know him well indeed stand much chance of consistently seeing through his acts.

That explanation is enough, at least to start helping Merlin recall. It might take a few more details, but--ah, wait, that's no good at all. In fact, this calls for tapping into his remaining reserves of emotions he's previously fed on, the momentary distant expression as the memory began to come back to him replaced by a slightly amused one.

"Oh, just that it seems I recently recalled you being shown a vision of... a past life, from the looks of it? Much to your protest."

He'll prod for more details to reclaim his own memory in a moment.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Kaiba certainly did not fit into that category. He did not know the other well, nor had he dedicated much time towards accomplishing the task.

Biting back a sigh, he tried to remain patient as the other pondered over what was just conveyed. If it wouldn't have highlighted his irritation he would have taken to pacing among the racks of clothing. What was taking so long? When Merlin's features alter, Kaiba already has an inkling that this will not be anything he wants to hear.

Surprise flashes in his eyes when he realizes this was a two-way street. This must be what was referenced previously, and honestly Merlin was not someone Kaiba wanted delving into his past- fictional or otherwise.

"What you saw was a lie." He stated vehemently, "A fanciful tale constructed by those who would like nothing better than to manipulate me.." Did he know exactly what was being referenced himself? Not a chance, but this is something he'd experienced more than once so he assumed he was on the right track.

[gardenerofavalon]

The mild amusement from before deepens a little at that reaction.

"Is it?" Merlin asks meaningfully. He doesn't wait for an answer before continuing though. "As I recall, you..."

To his credit, his recitation both doesn't skimp on the details, and is fairly well and dramatically told, to boot. Enjoy the show, Kaiba, if you can.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

"Yes." The word delivered in a sharp staccato. Although he hates to be used as someone else's entertainment, he's inviting it inadvertently with his bristly responses.

As the past is related to him, a memory that was better off lost started to return to him. Did it matter what had led him to holding the battle city finals? In his opinion, No. This meeting with Ishizu had also clued him in to the Egyptian God cards he tried so desperately to obtain. This stuff about Egyptian fairytales could have remained locked away in that museum sub basement for all he cared.

"Are you finished" He snarled, blue eyes flashing with malice. "I meant what I said before." Spoken through clenched teeth. "I don't know how you ended up with this information, but you can just pretend like you never heard it. What a load..".

[gardenerofavalon]

Merlin just offers a shrug at that, the amused smile never leaving his face.

"If you say so..."

He's definitely not forgetting it, though. But, speaking of forgetting...

"Ah, but I suppose you should finish telling me the rest of that one of mine. At least, if you don't want to worry about thinking about it anymore, since it seems to bother you so much."

His tone is still mild and cheerful; the emotions he's chosen to project from his reserves firmly in place. Merlin has an inkling that there's something important about this memory, even if he can't currently recall what, and it wouldn't do to let the wrong thing slip.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

The non-committal answer with the shrug is hardly reassuring in any capacity.

"The only thing that bothers me, is that this is someone's idea of a joke." Not entirely true, but mostly. It's not as if anything had been particularly disturbing about the vision, other than the temporary identity crisis it had given him.

Merlin was veiling his emotions more effectively than Kaiba, which was a source of irritation. So he studied the others features and got a wicked idea in his mind. Turning his head aside, he shrugged. "Maybe I won't tell you more than I have." Getting the feeling that having the unknown qualities of the memory dangling over his head might actually get under Merlin's skin. It was mostly a bluff, as Kaiba didn't wish to keep this memory anymore than he'd wanted to regain his own.

[gardenerofavalon]

"Really?" Merlin replies, eyes widening in mock-surprise. The sort that's deliberately obvious, at that. "After everything you said, I didn't think you'd care so much. Does that mean you're secretly a fan after all?"

It's utter nonsense, but two can play at the getting under the other's skin game.