Lunar Interlude 3

[balancemod]

What a mess. NAVIGATION 1. NEW RECLAIMERS A. WELCOME WAGON For the 14 of you who will be arriving today, the story is the same: though you may not remember it, there was a moment where you were living out your life, at home or wherever you were ... and then there was the moment the Hunger came. And amid the television static that is your memory of that moment, a hand reached out to you, beckoning your escape as the tendrils of darkness destroyed everything that ever existed about your world. "Would you hurry this up, please? Your world no longer stands a chance. Come with me, we are the last bastions of hope for all universes everywhere. And we're going to need you." And then, unceremoniously, you are dragged through the universal wringer and plopped down on the soft, though not quite cushioned, grass of the Moon Base Quad. You're not alone, either. Along with the newest members of the Bureau, in a fashion probably not unlike this, there are people waiting here for you. People who wanted to see the heroes the Director has managed to bring in this time. People who are excited to see what you're capable of. You have a few minutes to talk with each other — or maybe lob a few questions at the impromptu welcoming committee, or any of the older Reclaimers who may happen to be nearby. But before long, you're whisked away to a different area of the Moon Base. B. THE VOIDFISH The 14 of you are quickly divided into three groups, and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed. And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself. After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding. You may notice a melody, someone playing the violin. It's a bard, on his third round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish. When he's finished, he pulls out a few pieces of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it. And suddenly, it seems you've forgotten everything that may have been ironic about that melody. If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it. "Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man." You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite. "Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way. So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything." The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip. Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the song this bard played a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers. Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it. 2. THE TEST OF INITIATION With your new knowledge on the Bureau of Balance and your purpose here in tow, you are led without hesitation to the Arena, where the final phase of your initiation into the Bureau will be held. You are partnered up, whether it is with someone you drank the ichor of the Voidfish with, or perhaps even a veteran Reclaimer, who either stopped by to help, or simply out of curiosity. After the proctor confiscates your weapons for the test, the room you are placed in is stark white — it sort of gives off the vibe that it was supposed to do something other than look so sterile once upon a time, but for whatever reason, that function is lost. With a sound similar to an airlock, the door is shut behind you, and the outline disappears, the lines of the door frame magically filled in with the rest of the wall. Your task here is to escape. You are provided with the following tools: ○ A small flatware set from the café. Two forks, two spoons, two butter knives ○ A popular Faerun children's toy: "It's Elementary, My Dear Brewer: Chemist Set for the Discerning Beginner." It's essentially a simple chemistry set. ○ An inflatable hammer that plays one progressive note of a jingle a lot of you probably hate by now with every hit. ○ A wooden toy sword. ○ A plate of spaghetti — hear us out, though. Thanks to a Reclaimer who came before you, and thanks to the robot that's making your food, it's the kind of spaghetti that grants you extra strength for an hour after eating. ○ A crowbar, with a note attached to it: "DO NOT USE CROWBAR." Seriously, don't use the crowbar — the purpose of this test is to assess your ability to find a solution outside of the most obvious one. The purpose of this test is to determine if you are capable of resisting the call of a Grand Relic. Use your wits. Use the path actions granted to you when you arrived. Use any ideas your partner has. But do not use the crowbar. 3. NEWBIES AND VETERANS, AROUND THE MOONBASE A. I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN The Reclaimers were already sort of elevated to a certain level in the Bureau, as The Director's chosen few, the ones who were ultimately tasked with saving everyone, and the ones the rest of the Moon base is charged with assisting. And now that the Reclaimers have successfully brought home two Grand Relics, they're ... starting to become something of household names. Moon Base names? The next time you wander into town — an old Reclaimer veteran or a brand new face — you may very well be accosted by a well-meaning, if curious admirer. And they have questions: Did you get to hold the Grand Relic? Is it true that you took out a sandworm by tricking it into tying itself in a knot? Can they see your weapon? Would you spar with them sometime? Maybe they're not quite this annoying. But still annoying. You may need the assistance of another Reclaimer to escape from this wholesome new Adoring Fan of yours. B. MALFUNCTION Resting on the Moon Base is your time to catch up. Maybe there's someone you didn't spend a lot of time with in the Netheril. Maybe you're new, and you're still working on meeting as many of your fellow Reclaimers as possible. Which is fair. These are the people you will have to cooperate with for the foreseeable future, so it's best that you get to know them as well as possible, right? And then, one day, your Bracer buzzes with a message: Hello! Not all that curiously, the message appears to come from a username that you recognize. Whoever it is, it's another Reclaimer — one that you know well. Much more curiously, the message is followed by an odd beeping, and a perhaps familiar two-toned sound of something shutting down. And when you try to message your friend back, you may find that: For the next 24 hours, your bracer's translator feature is broken. You will not be able to understand Common — and when you speak, you won't be translated into Common. Have fun with that! And yeah, that probably wasn't actually your friend messaging you. Add another mystery to your list of weird phenomena that needs addressing. C. POWERING DOWN This is meant to be a few weeks of rest while the rest of the Bureau prepares for your next mission. The Director, however, believes that this free time should be used to better oneself however they might see fit, and she certainly won't stop anybody who'd like to spend time in the areas they've visited previously — and any new Reclaimers who would like to learn a little more about Faerun. Grab a pal and try these options, both on the Moon Base and beyond, on for size: ○ Stop Dying 101: Also known as Fatalistic Fauna, and Danger Sense to channel your inner barbarian. This is a class that was introduced after the first field mission that offers instruction on basic survival strategies when up against the more inhospitable areas of Faerun. The class is open to everyone, but if you have died at least once during the course of Balance, attendance is mandatory (Unless you're an old bird who was talked into teaching a class instead). Yes, that means you, Komaeda! Curiously, the simulators for this class seem to be working just fine. Neither the Director nor the instructor are going to question it. The monster of the month you'll be facing is the Tarrasque (scaled down to size, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying) — are you cunning enough to escape the simulation? Or are you going to go against the point of the class and try to fight it? ○ Winding down room: A small room filled with the kotatsus brought back from Vista Virs, board games, books, and other quiet activities for one of the days where you're feeling a little more restful. At the front of the room, a keyboard and other instruments are waiting — unnamed Bureau members will offer a few quiet, soothing performances throughout the day, but you're welcome to play as well. ○ Visiting New New Aspen: You may have noticed that there's an enormous tree (You say Christmas, we say Candlenights) jutting out past the atmosphere, nearly touching the Moon Base itself. This was the site of the first field mission, and the tree stands as a monument to the Reclaimers first success in recapturing a Grand Relic. At the bottom of the tree, a peaceful town that cherishes the ornaments it makes sits. The mayor of New New Aspen, Matthew, will greet you warmly, and invite you to any number of ornament carving classes, or to dinner with his Aunt Laurel (She's a giant spider, by the way), or to even just spend some time with the giant cats that protect the town. Perhaps worringly, though, the cat captain of the guard, Bread, is missing. ○ Visiting Vista Virs: A town in the middle of an unforgiving desert that was left completely destroyed. If you choose to return, expect to be put to work — you'll be gathering supplies, helping rebuild homes, or just comforting the Needlers, a race of catcus people who inhabited the town, who have lost everything. D. THE MOON IS YOUR SPACE OYSTER (WILDCARD) There are plenty of other locations around the Moon Base that you can explore at your own discretion. Feel free to refer to the Settings page for more ideas on what shenanigans you can get into. Additionally, we'll be fielding Bender rolls again this month! If a food item was destroyed in a failed roll previously, you may roll to try to fix it. Bear in mind, of course, that you may make it worse. Successful food rolls will stay in place at this time, and can be utilized how you like. Keep in mind that only one magical effect can be in place at a time. blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

[rancori]

[Huh. Cute idea.

Mushy, even.]

Sounds to me like you've got a hell of a lot to pick from, then. [She rests her chin on one hand, frowning in thought.] A cat's journey through reincarnation though? He just really into cats or what?

[She's never heard any stories like that, okay!!]

[grakraka]

[He can't help snorting out a laugh, grinning.]

He does but he also is a cat. He can communicate purely based in stares, I swear.

[rancori]

[She raises her eyebrows at him, until his meaning sinks in. Then she's letting out a laugh of her own.]

Oh, gotcha. [She snorts.] So he really wanted you to get to know him.

So you got any animals you can show him books of, too? Or are you a cat kinda guy, too?

[grakraka]

[His smile widens for a moment as he laughs as well before answering.]

Well... I've always liked cats well enough but I suppose I've grown more fond of them these days. I've always wanted a dog, though.

[rancori]

Shit, I guess the book did work.

[She's teasing. Honest!]

Read one about a cat and a dog with him?

[She shrugs. Little does she know how many like that exist.] Sorry, kid, I know fuck-all about a lot of books. But if he started out with cats, he can't complain if you do that.

[grakraka]

[That teasing might have made him blush a little, mostly because they wound up petting each other like cats and look...

But he smiles and shakes his head.]

I'll figure it out but thank you. I might just pick something about dogs. If you like fairytales and folklore and things of that nature, though, I'd be happy to recommend some.

[He can only judge her tastes by her choosing a storybook.]

[rancori]

[She snorts again.]

Good luck with that! Pick a real good one for the two of you, huh?

Yeah, she won't comment on that blush beyond that. This time, anyway.

Instead, she looks down at her book and lets out a sigh.]

You know what, kid? Go ahead. I've got nowhere to start with.

[grakraka]

[Thankfully she did not notice! Clearly! He's safe.

Still he smiles.]

I'm not sure what sort of stories you like but let's see. Robin Hood is a nice one. It's a legend of a man who took to living in the woods, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He's a very popular one for obvious reasons and had all kinds of legends told about his fight against the evil sheriff and corrupt king.

[rancori]

[She shrugs. She doesn't know what stories she likes in books either.

That's certainly a story she's never heard of before though and, as he describes it, she can't help just the slightest smile at it. Even if it just a touch bitter.]

All right, you got me. I can see why it's popular.

It's a real nice fantasy, huh? Stick it to the rich assholes?

[She laughs. Probably even gets to stick it to them without turning around and becoming one of the rich assholes himself.]

[grakraka]

[He smiles. Naturally, he's glad she likes the idea of Robin Hood for very personal reasons but he's also just glad she seems to like it at all.]

It's ideal. Of course, it's unlikely someone like him really existed. Or, if he did, he was probably a much different person. But you can't blame people for dreaming of a hero to tell off all the assholes ruining their lives. I admit I'm fond of heroes like that.

[rancori]

Hm, yeah, guess so.

[She remembers what he told her before, of course, and... It's not surprising, really, that he'd think like that. Once, she thinks she might have even believed in heroes like that.

She bites the inside of her cheek.]

It usually goes pretty badly for 'em in real life anyway, huh? And that just makes for some real fucking depressing stories.

You telling me there's more stories like this though? 'Cause, honestly, I think I could do with some more assholes getting knocked down a few pegs.

[grakraka]

[That is very true. Real life heroes might exist but they're torn down so easily. It wasn't hard to manipulate public opinion against the Phantom Thieves. No matter how good they had done in the eyes of the people, the second they slipped up they were condemned.

Well, of course, he experienced it as well, though it was also planned. He wonders sometimes what happened after. He could ask Akira but he doesn't really want to know the answer.

That world is gone anyway; no point in lingering on it.]

Yes! Let's see... Ishikawa Goemon is a similar figure from my own country's mythology. The Pope Joan might be a pleasantly interesting one if you haven't heard of it. A woman that tricked her way through the papal hierarchy to try to cause change for women everywhere. [He does remember her background, though he isn't very good at time periods, so he doesn't know if that was her time or not.] Ah, Zorro would be a fun adventure to read as well. He was a hero of the common people. The Three Musketeers is also a fun story with a great deal of drama and scheming but often focuses on the corrupt officials and those who wish to tear them down or change things for the better.

[Futaba's were... no, no those are rather difficult to recommend in this category of story. And Ann's were, well, not bad from what he recalls but again, not quite this. He makes a note to try recommending them later, though.]

[rancori]

[Her eyes widen slightly at that second one, though she stays silent until he finishes speaking.

They all sound interesting, of course. The kid somehow managed to tap into exactly what she hadn't realized she wanted to read with just that first one and he's done a good job keeping it up. Taking down corrupt officials sure sounds fun, after all, if a little close to home.

But hmmm.]

You had yourselves a female pope in your world? Or is it just a story?

[...That wasn't actually what she meant to lead with, but. She's curious and she can ask about the others in a second, anyway.

She'll blame it on the orphanage.]

'Cause that... [She grins.] ...Sure sounds like the biggest 'fuck you' to the church I could think of.

[grakraka]

[He thought it might interest her, so he grins.]

Naturally, the church says she never really existed. On the other hand, historical records suggest she really did. It's quite a tale. Even if they tried to erase her, her story has persisted.

[rancori]

[She snorts.]

Of course they fucking do. Wouldn't look real good for 'em if she slipped past.

Kick-ass, but I don't think I ever heard about anyone like her in my world. News traveled slow in my world though.

[Hell, she can't even remember who the pope was by the time she died and that's something that would have spread quickly. But anyone past Barnier and... well, him seemed so far away sometimes, when she never had any reason to leave the city, much less care.]

How about I start with that one, huh? Then maybe I can check out that one from your country.

[The prospect of reading about stories in other (!!) countries (!!) is more exciting than she's willing to admit, actually.]

[grakraka]

[It really is hard to imagine past times. Even here, he can check his bracer and see the latest posts people make if he wants or send a message instantly just like he could back home. He's gotten quite used to the internet age.

He brightens up, though, when she makes her decision. He was hoping she would be interested in some of them. Even if it's a little silly, it feels like a way of passing on the memory of the lost Phantom Thieves, if only in some distant way. Maybe someday he should find a better way to make peace with those feelings but definitely not today.]

Wonderful! Of course, I did read a lot of stories from my country. [Though, he wonders what it says that his Personas were English and Norse?] As you figure out your tastes, I can help you find more things to interest you.

[rancori]

[She nods, smiling a little wider.

Goro's a good kid, she decides. Morgana might have even gotten along with him. (Ceren would have loved him, but she loved just about everyone, didn't she?)

Ugh, but that's just a train of thought that'll make her disgustingly sentimental. Best to set it aside for now.]

...Hey. Thanks. That's real nice of you.

You mind telling me more about those stories from your country sometime? Think I kinda wanna stay away from stories from my country for a while.

[grakraka]

[Smile softening, he nods. It's strange but he still feels so disconnected from it all. Other people miss their homes but he really can't think of anything he misses that would match up to the same feelings as others have. Well, that probably makes sense. 'Throw away children' wouldn't have much attachment to a country that gave them such a name. Even if he had some feelings like that in the past, working with Shido would have erased them all.

Seeing the way people like him viewed others and their 'country', why would he care if it's gone? He only misses comforting familiarity and even that isn't much to miss.]

I understand. I quite like stories we had. I don't mind keeping those alive, at least. Ah, well, the library here probably has plenty of them on record, so it isn't really an issue...

[But still, isn't it nice to share like this? He enjoys it more than he would have guessed.]

[rancori]

[It's funny. If she tries to think back to any stories from back home, Maria... honestly feels no inclination to try to hold on to them.

Maybe she just needs some space. She doesn't know.]

Yeah? That's convenient for me, then. I'll take you up on any help you wanna give me there.

[A pause.]

...Uh. Seriously, thanks, Goro. [She crosses her arms and sighs. Yeah, she needs someone to yell at later.] I know you've read a hell of a lot more than I have. I appreciate it.

[grakraka]

[It surprises him to be thanked like this but he smiles.]

Ah, don't worry... It was only because books were usually the last things left over. I could take a book and run off to hide somewhere reading it, too. It did develop into a genuine interest in reading but it didn't start as anything intellectual.

[He doesn't mind admitting that to her, nor does he mind sounding, well, average to her.]

[rancori]

[She lets out a quiet laugh.]

Ah, I get it. Guess the other kids didn't like the books as much?

[Weird. She knows it's just because of how different their worlds were--no one was going to teach some scruffy orphan how to read where she grew up, after all, nuns or no nuns--but it still somehow manages to catch her off-guard.

Yeah. Of course his orphanage would've been real fucking different from hers.

She shrugs.]

Hey, I ain't trying to be an intellectual or anything here, don't worry about it. Your reason's good, too, you know.

[grakraka]

[Contrary to what some might assume, Akechi doesn't value academic intelligence over any other kind. There were those types in Shido's circles; businessmen that could quote Sun Tzu freely, programmers who followed Searle, old money who indulged in Kant. Academic intelligence meant very little to the sort of person you became, let alone if you were smart or not. Someone like Maria strikes him as the type who could certainly give her own worldview produce something intriguing from it, even if others would dismiss it as lower class nattering.]

To tell you the truth, book smarts aren't everything. I'm sure you know that. [Although he's still unclear on her time period exactly, he understands enough to know only the nobility would have access to them most of the time. And since when did they make smart decisions?] But the reason I like books so much, aside from their availability to me and my own desire for them, is just that... I like stories. Even dense books are telling a story in some way. It just might not be a very fun one.

[rancori]

Yeah, I think I do. [Book smarts... Yeah... Not like she really knew anyone but one person who could have claimed to have that. Everyone else got along just fine, as far as she's concerned.

But there she goes again, focusing on things she doesn't really want to think about.

She crosses her arms, looking up at the ceiling briefly.]

Even if it's not a very fun story? I gotta admit, I hadn't... really heard anyone put it that way before. Not that I got to talk to a hell of a lot of people who could read before, y'know, but...

[She huffs out a laugh now, shaking her head. Shit, she's gotten too damn comfortable in this room.] Well, forget that. It's a good way of looking at it. Maybe I'll even look for some of those stories, too.

[grakraka]

[Ah, as he thought. From the way she talks, literacy is uncommon in her circles, so it stands to reason that she chose an easy book to practice with. Can he help her learn? Reading is quite important. It opens doors and worlds. But more important than any of that, it's just fun.]

If you need assistance with, ah, anything at all, you're free to ask me anytime. I've always been an avid reader. [That aside, he imagines it must be difficult to be surrounded by people who make her feel out of her depth—boy does he know that feeling—so he smiles and continues past it.] Though, don't feel limited to that. If there are other things you wish to study, I'm sure they're available here.

[rancori]

[Well, that's...

Unexpected. That's what it is. It's not like she really had any help when she was trying to learn, after all. Or like she even told anyone.

So at any other time, she might bristle at the offer, but... Ugh, he sounds sincere.]

...Thanks. [She sighs.] You know what, I'll remember that. And I appreciate it.

Dunno what else I could study though. I kinda... wanted to study numbers once, I guess? But I don't have a reason for that anymore, so fuck that.