Aurora Express Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trainmasters) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
auroraexpress2020-01-03 06:51 pm
trainmasters) wrote in auroraexpress2020-01-03 06:51 pm
Entry tags:
Event: Worldhop #1
Who: E V E R Y O N E
When: Day 54 all-day
Where: E V E R Y W H E R E
This morning, just after dawn, you're awoken by a wail so deep and loud it makes your chest rumble. An eerie noise that feels supernaturally wrong, it's like a roar and a screech intertwined, multiple voices lashing out in anger and pain all at once. The sound last several long seconds, before facing into a distant hum.
Should you follow the noise towards the beach, you'll see that the corrupted island across the water is surrounded in a black miasma, floating into a sky that appears to be stained with bruise-like purple. For a little while it remains contained, but after a few minutes, there's a heart-beat like pulse.
Once
Twice
Thrice...
And the darkness rolls across the sky, bringing with it air filled with black dust motes that smell of mildew. The jungle is quiet, its wildlife in hiding from the Malice encroaching upon it, but you swear you can hear whispers out there. They're too quiet to understand, but you just know they're temping you:
Just let go. You don't need anyone but yourself. Everyone else should just go away.
Fortunately, as long as you stay inside the Aurora, the whispers won't actually cause you to act differently. They'll just be unsettling. Head outside, however, and you'll find yourself growing slowly more irritable and likely to say something nasty.
It takes a few minutes, but eventually everyone receives a message on their Chain, from The Construct. The same message is also aired in a robotic voice over the intercom.
The announcement will prove quite true: periodically throughout the day, monsters common in corrupted areas of this Star may appear around the Aurora. They will appear one at a time and may be driven off -- it seems the overall purification of the jungle has made them weaker than they were before, but they're still dangerous!
It's time to wrap things up in this part of the universe -- good luck!
[NOTES: Please use this post to mingle freely, make IC plans, and general deal with the overall day of the event! To go and purify the island, there will be three sessions of mod-guided exploradora: 3pm PST & 7pm PST on Saturday, and 6pm PST on Sunday! Sessions happen sequentially ICly, so you can go to as few or as many as you like. If you intend to play, please to go sign up in this toplevel just so the mods have a rough idea of numbers. You can play even if you don't sign up, though!
Also, please check out this toplevel to leave your submissions for your new team bond! Submissions must be in by 6pm on the 6th, or the mods will pick a second bond for you. Thank you very much!]
When: Day 54 all-day
Where: E V E R Y W H E R E
This morning, just after dawn, you're awoken by a wail so deep and loud it makes your chest rumble. An eerie noise that feels supernaturally wrong, it's like a roar and a screech intertwined, multiple voices lashing out in anger and pain all at once. The sound last several long seconds, before facing into a distant hum.
Should you follow the noise towards the beach, you'll see that the corrupted island across the water is surrounded in a black miasma, floating into a sky that appears to be stained with bruise-like purple. For a little while it remains contained, but after a few minutes, there's a heart-beat like pulse.
Once
Twice
Thrice...
And the darkness rolls across the sky, bringing with it air filled with black dust motes that smell of mildew. The jungle is quiet, its wildlife in hiding from the Malice encroaching upon it, but you swear you can hear whispers out there. They're too quiet to understand, but you just know they're temping you:
Just let go. You don't need anyone but yourself. Everyone else should just go away.
Fortunately, as long as you stay inside the Aurora, the whispers won't actually cause you to act differently. They'll just be unsettling. Head outside, however, and you'll find yourself growing slowly more irritable and likely to say something nasty.
It takes a few minutes, but eventually everyone receives a message on their Chain, from The Construct. The same message is also aired in a robotic voice over the intercom.
Systems have detected imminent danger. Due to progression of purification, it appears the primary source of Malice on this Star has become enraged. This creature must be purified in order to complete Prism restoration.
Heroes willing to venture into the creature's lair, please make preparations and assemble in the lounge in two hours. A guide will be sent to transport you to your target location and aid your search. Please do not attempt to approach on your own.
Be aware, there is an increased likelihood of malicious creatures approaching at this time. It is advised that you remain inside the train as much as possible.
And remember: Stay Positive! The fate of the universe depends on your healthy bonds.
The announcement will prove quite true: periodically throughout the day, monsters common in corrupted areas of this Star may appear around the Aurora. They will appear one at a time and may be driven off -- it seems the overall purification of the jungle has made them weaker than they were before, but they're still dangerous!
It's time to wrap things up in this part of the universe -- good luck!
[NOTES: Please use this post to mingle freely, make IC plans, and general deal with the overall day of the event! To go and purify the island, there will be three sessions of mod-guided exploradora: 3pm PST & 7pm PST on Saturday, and 6pm PST on Sunday! Sessions happen sequentially ICly, so you can go to as few or as many as you like. If you intend to play, please to go sign up in this toplevel just so the mods have a rough idea of numbers. You can play even if you don't sign up, though!
Also, please check out this toplevel to leave your submissions for your new team bond! Submissions must be in by 6pm on the 6th, or the mods will pick a second bond for you. Thank you very much!]
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[It's kind of like those baits on a string thing. As soon as he gets close, she flings it into another direction, hopping it along towards the train.]
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[He doesn't emerge. Instead, after a few moments, comes a scream. Wordless rage and pain.]
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[And once he's inside, she closes the door and moves a big boulder in front of it.]
[She's HOPING being inside will help him get his mind together, but it might take time. So she can at least exhaust with a tug of war over a rock.]
[.....]
[At least until that happens.]
Loki? You sane again? [Calling out.]
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Solar. You were right.
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[Okay, with how he was acting, admittance probably means he's good.]
[Boulder away and she'll come inside, shaking her head.]
This place likes it's mind whammies. I think I have a natural resistance to them, but... [Rubbing at her forehead and looking him over worriedly.]
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I thought I could resist. Because of my past experiences with mental manipulation. I thought- I would know, if something tried to put their thoughts in my head.
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[She moves over to him, sitting down beside him. Close enough for him to feel her body heat, but not quiiiite touching him in case that's too much.]
The way to become an alicorn is to make a unique magic. Something....something no other pony had done, something that would in theory be impossible for another.
The empathy telepathy thing I do, that's connected to my wings. Connected to what makes me a potential pony god.
I'm only resistant. With enough force, the mental manipulations of this place overpowers what lets me retain my sanity. That's what happened with the snake's game. I was fine until the moment Isuzu was gone, then the force was too much.
If I finished the ascension, I'd be a god of the mind. I'm geared specifically to handle things like that and it's not enough.
It's still terrifying to have something manipulating your mind, I understand that, but....it's not because you, in particular, are weak. It's just the force we're dealing with is that strong.
Which is why I wanted to come with you.
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I did not notice any new thoughts in my mind because there were none. Everything I thought- everything I said- they are things I have been thinking since I arrived. They are always on my mind.
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But two, yeah. This place likes to play with emotions. Nothing so far has been new thoughts. It's been manipulating baser, more generic things. Hunger, anger, protectiveness.
The enemy, whoever they are, isn't a puppeteer, with precise movements and nudges. They're going for a sledge hammer.
Push one thing that will make US act to the extreme. They don't care what that extreme is, as long as it's bad.
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Just because I am called the Silvertongue does not mean all of my words will be sweet.
[And a rueful sigh.]
That- still sounds very familiar. Thanos is much the same. I should have recognized it- but I did not. When I no longer had reasons to stay in my head along with the ones to leave, I thought it was merely that I had made up my mind.
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Do you usually not talk to people about your decisions without it turning into a fight?
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[He has to think about that.]
Most of those I discuss my decisions with are not the type who would fight with me over them. Others, I avoid.
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[Will tug a table cloth off a table and float it over.] Might want to clean your dagger. I figured getting it dirty would make it easier to figure out any illusionary tricks if you were able to think clearly enough. I'm pretty sure that fight would have been a lot messier if you were.
Might be a good idea to have a few people like that here. Just so you don't go for 'fight' so fast when someone is trying to help. Especially when the disagreement was 'hey, let me watch your back.'
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[He accepts the cloth and yanks the dagger out of the wall.]
I did not even consider that, nor of using my illusions to trick you. All I thought was to get away and keep you from pursuing, and to not let you steal what was mine.
[He sighs and almost leans into Solar's flank before pulling away.]
I would not mind if one of them were to arrive. I doubt any would. They would be glad to see me, and to assist in saving worlds, and I am sure the other residents of the train would appreciate their help and company.
Bond
But I can certainly appreciate it from others.
I thought as much. It was not the kind of fight I would have pegged you for at all. I was pretty much waiting for an invisible you to come up from behind at any moment. That's like illusion 101, let alone a master. Though that did help me confirm my own rise in anger was not my own. It was too quick and you being messed with meant I most likely was as well.
[She catches that movement from the corner of her eye.]
[So she's going to shift to the side and lean against his side. Make it so he's technically not the one seeking comfort.]
Hmmm, oooor you can find new ones here. I mean, I'd love for my friends to show up, especially since they're extremely friendly, but it doesn't seem likely.
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[He shakes his head ruefully.] Even my brother would have considered that fight sloppy, and he takes after the hammer he wields.
[He stiffens slightly at the contact.] Are you certain that is wise? I would hate to set off your powers by accident.
Well, they are my family, and very hard to replace. But Mother has told me that I should connect more with others.
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It was pretty bad. Probably didn't help you thought I was gonna be a lot more aggressive than I was.
I'm not going to be afraid to touch people. And I think a part of it is 'lack too much information to deal with the situation.' Because I've touched people before after high stress, high emotional times to no affect, but I basically knew what I needed to deal with the situation. But I touch someone when asking about scars in a casual conversation and there's trauma, and then suddenly there's memories. Since I know enough to deal with this situation, in theory it shouldn't go off. Hasn't yet.
People have said that. About family. But friends are pretty good.
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I do appreciate you not being so aggressive, now that I can properly reflect on it.
[He drapes an arm over Solar's neck, though he keeps his bare hand away from her, just in case. By his spreading smile, it feels good.]
I have not had many friends. Most who have called themselves such were friends of my brother first. [Can you hear the bitterness in his voice?]
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Said you'd thank me. [Teasing.] But yeah, I thought precision was better than overwhelming force. Especially since I don't know my upper limit of raw power, that could have backfired.
[Pony cuddles are always good for people.]
Well, the mortal talk doesn't do you any favors. [Teasing.]
[she definitely does hear that bitterness.] On one hand, kind of bites to feel like second fiddle. On the other hand, you are extremely guarded, and I would not be surprised if part of it is because you like clever people but clever people will definitely notice the poking and prodding of how smart they are and how easy they are to sway. [Mister devil's advocate.] If your views aren't already aligned, it can get hackles raised, start their own defensiveness and then it could easily become a vicious cycle. Does stuff like that happen?
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Would you accept help in determining your limits as appropriate thanks?
[You're lucky he likes you, Solar, and right now he's feeling particularly grateful. So he just bristles a bit initially before going thoughtful.]
You might be surprised. Quite a few mortals are fond of me, though they are largely ones who have only had minimal contact, if any. The ones who I have spent time with... they do tend to find me... much as you say. Though a few have said I am not so bad once they get used to me. And, well, most don't have the time to get used to me. I rarely stay anywhere for very long.
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At least he's going in the right direction.
Sure. Though for raw power, I just need space, but I'll probably need help back.
[Noticing that bristle.] I'm not judging you, just making an observation. People who might observe your prodding may not be emotionally perceptive, those are two different skills. I believe you hold no malice for me so anything you might do might be something I disagree with, but not meant to be harmful. That means fixable if things happen. But without that, with my own....tentative ability to trust, it could have easily become a problem. Because I know when I'm being manipulated, but wouldn't know your motives. And people hate being used.
So time probably is your biggest barrier. People need time to get what's motivating you. Or at least not motivating you. Take the fear out of possible machinations, because you do seem the type to do lots of machinations.
I have no problem with how you are. I rather like how clever you are, clever is just double edged.