Origin Star Finale: Session 1

[fairwind]

Who: explorers
When: Day 54, morning
Where: The Final Island

[As promised, two hours after the initial announcement, the train shudders slightly as if in preparation for a Trial. On your Chain is a short message:

If you want to deal with this problem, come on out.

Step out of the lounge car and you'll find a cozy but sturdy-looking airship hovering a few inches above the ground. Its only occupant is Thyme himself -- a small young man with many white, feathery wings sprouting from his back and head. He's familiar to some and new to others, but regardless he looks like he's feeling a bit awkward to be here, and rather concerned about the situation in general.]

Before we start, get the idea of slaying the demon out of your head. This is Malice. You're going in to purify. That said, we're detecting three sources of corruption on the small island, so we'll be doing this in three steps. They're likely totems deliberately set by someone, so you'll need to find and deactivate one each trip.

You're probably going to be up against a lot of creatures, but you need to fight them with your feelings more than your weapons. When you find the totem, throw your positivity at it.

Got it? Let's go.

[Board the airship and it'll take off with lightning speed, though somehow the ride is quite smooth. The ship darts over the ocean and around the back of the island, where you get a breathtaking view of the ancient ruin that takes up a large part of it. The airship stops at a small outcrop, dominated by one large stone door, slightly ajar.]

Here you go. Try not to get killed.

Comments

[hot_mess_express]

[As you get closer, the statue appears to shiver. You can hear a faint voice in your head now, not acknowledging your presence consciously but instead as if you're overhearing someone talking to themselves.]

They won't come. It's been so long...

I'm so sorry, Mom! I know you said your necklace would protect me, but I was scared! There were monsters! I... I didn't mean to drop it. Please come back...

[featherbeaned]

[ She keeps moving closer, step by step, listening to … ah … is that their voice? ]

[ She isn't lonely. She keeps that in mind, keeps focusing hard on the simple knowledge that her friends are right there, that they're there together, as she reaches out a tentative paw to touch the statue. ]

[hot_mess_express]

[It's cold. So cold. But it glows faintly where you touch it, and warms a little. The loneliness fades a bit.]

[featherbeaned]

[ Despite the chill, she curls up around — or at least against — the statue as best she can, a low purr beginning to rumble in her chest. ]

We're here for you. You're not alone anymore.

[ Softly, quietly, she begins to sing; a wordless melody that comes right from the heart, like an audible hug. ]

[hot_mess_express]

[It appears to help! The statue is continuing to warm, at least, though the sniffling doesn't stop and the walls don't stop glowing.

Fortunately, the necklace is returned shortly -- you've succeeded!]