thebastion | And in to the third day... [Day 145]

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And in to the third day... [Day 145]

Who: Everyone
Open: Open
When: Day 145
Where: All over the Bastion
What: Day 3 of the festival
Format: Any
Warnings: None

Day 3 - Day of Pleasure and Purpose

The next lamp appears in the Bastion, this time with mirrors on one side. And of course a certain Ura gets to light it.

Oddly enough, there seem to be roses everywhere in the Bastion, almost completely obscuring any of the previous decorations. They're still there, just... buried. Behind bushes, next to vases, under mounds of rose petals. You can't escape it! They won't do anything bad to you, of course, but you might start finding rose petals in your hair, in your pockets, or lingering on your clothes as the day goes by. Mirrors also join the decorations, but besides that, all reflective surfaces (windows and mirrors) will suddenly have clearer reflections, and be decorated in rose borders. Unfortunately this means looking through actual windows will be a mite difficult as you'll see reflections more than you'll see the other side of them.

Today will also be a day of blindfold games! Guess the object! Guess how many are in this box! Place this thing in that thing! All without looking! Prizes will be given out to those who get through these blindfold games - another charm for your bracelet, and maybe two or three shards per win.

Along with these games, there's one big challenge in the center of the Bastion - a giant thorny maze. Should you brave this mess, you'll find twists, turns, awkward corners and areas just barely big enough to walk through. However if you make it to the center, you'll be rewarded with a rose ring. And not just any rose ring. This thing is special! It will allow a user to call upon rose thorn vines that will attack an enemy at will. It is restricted to three times a day on the Skyway, but it will come in very handy, especially for those with no real defensive or offensive capabilities. (That said, if your character manages to get this item and doesn't need it for whatever reason, please be kind and give it to some one who can.)

As day winds in to night, another torch appears, this time with roses. Roses going wild on this lamp. It makes it a little difficult to light, though. And oddly enough, near the gear symbol on this lamp... the roses seem to be withered. Huh.

Dinner gives way in to a sort of "desert" for the evening, a huge selection of cookies in various flavors on tables all over the place, along with tubs of rose petal ice cream that don't seem to melt no matter how long they stay out.

But those cookies are not just any cookies - they are hollow ones. They're backed with a thin indented line down the center of them, and snapping them at this point will reveal that there is paper tucked inside. It will give advice to your character that is shockingly accurate to this person, some how. Regardless of who gets it, the advice will be pertinent to them and really only them. From there you'll be encouraged to take a second piece of paper, write your fears, weaknesses or secrets that you don't wish to tell anyone yet wish to get off your chest and then drop them in a strange mirror-decorated box sitting near the monument. If you do so, you'll find yourself oddly sleeping easier tonight...

This night closes out the same as the previous ones, with stories for the children as the adults relax in to the wee hours of the morning.

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Okay. Pay attention, alright?

[He knows Colin is well enough, but this is still a story for Anna at the end of it all. A deep breath, and then the story starts.]

At the very beginning of everything, there were only the stars. Nothing else yet existed. Not the Tazal Terminals, not the Rippling Wall, not even the Wilds. Yet there were the stars, and soon from their light was born a maiden. Her skin was just as pale as those same stars she had been created from, and her hair was dark as the night sky. This was Micia, still young and not yet the Mother of us all.

That title would come soon, however, for Micia looked upon so much emptiness and longed for something more. For she only had herself to use, she reached into herself and took from her very chest her own heart. She set it down and began to pull and form it. With her will, her heart became the very land. It was a start, but Micia was still not satisfied. It was then that she noticed a part of the land still struggled, still beat. With firm hands, she shaped this part of the land until it was its own separate thing. It had become a creature, in fact.

This was Pyth. In his first awakening, he was wild for he had never known anthing such as a life of his own until that very moment. Yet all it took was a light touch from Micia for him to calm. He know who was responsible for his life, after all, and he felt much love for Micia. No longer alone, they accompanied one another to explore the land she had created. Pyth's birth had given Micia an idea, however. Soon, she came to a stop and bid him to do so also. So full of longing as she was, she wanted to share this land with more of her children. Just as she had with Pyth, she began to craft children from the earth which had once been her heart.

However, none of them lasted. They did not know how to tap into the kind of power that Pyth had found all on his own. The land was still too desolate for her children, and they knew nothing of oaths or hope or pleasure. They knew nothing of many things that they needed. Even with Micia's care, they were not able to stay for long. Thus she earned her title of the Lorn Mother, and could not bear to go on. Pyth did his best to rise her spirits. He made the bodies of her other children vanish so that the sight of them did not distress her. He worked and sweat until he could make a tree grow that might shelter her from the harsh sun. Any other beast that tried to approach her was viciously chased away.

With Pyth protecting her, Micia was able to mourn for a long time. The tears that fell from her dark eyes formed the rivers and oceans we know today, that is how long she mourned for her poor fallen children. Pyth had just started to give up all hope that his poor mother would ever recover. Yet finally she rose and laid her hand between his horns. With a gentle tone, she said, "You have all the thanks I can give, my dear horned son. I know I have caused much pain to you yet not once did you leave my side. You kept order while I could not, and raised commotion to keep me safe. Thus, I will leave such matters in that realm to you."

Pyth felt much honor and love at that, and told her so. Then he offered a suggestion- perhaps they did not need more children. Pyth was quite happy as a single child, and he would never be lost like those who had fallen. He promised Micia he would stay with her forever. The Lorn Mother could only shake her head with a sad smile upon her face. Yes, she had experienced great loss and it had hurt her. Still, feeling such loss made her long twice as much. Now, at least, she knew what she had to do.

With her next children, she took much care. Pyth offered all the help he was able. Instead of many, she focused only on two so that she would be aware of every details. Already Micia had given her heart for the land. Still she gave as much power as she could. Their bones were given all the strength of metal and their eyes as sharp as the sun. Lemaign and Acobi were born when Micia breathed some of her life into them, second eldest amongst Micia's children. She told them that they were born of a part of herself that she kept in mind after the last she had birthed children- hope that she would bring more of a family into the world, and an oath to herself that she would not fail anymore in the future.

Both Lemaign and Acobi were healthy and strong, so Micia was emboldened even as she started to feel her hands falter. She began to bring into the world another pair, two sons. These would be Jevel and Garmuth. In the beginning, both were crafted well. Yet Micia ended up using too much of herself and too much of her strength placing stars for Jevel's eyes and could only give Garmuth eyes of pale pearl- beautiful yet sightless. Micia was a God, yes, but she was a God without her heart. She would need another.

All her children clamored to know how they might help her, for they could not bear to see their precious Mother so weak. It took a very long time to convince Micia. She had just born her children. It felt too soon to send them off when they were still so young in her eyes. Yet finally she told them of the only heart that would do, the one she wanted- the brightest star in all the sky.

The young Gods spoke with one another, and came to a decision. Garmuth volunteered himself to stay with the Lorn Mother. For all her weakness, he would take it into himself so that she might stay with them all the longer until her heart could be retrieved. Lemaign, strong of shoulder and protective, stayed as well so that he would keep her safe. From the hope she had given him, he crafted his hammer. With it, he would create things to defend her and battle any beasts that might come after her.

That left Pyth, Acobi, and Jevel to travel into the night sky. Confident of himself, Pyth offered his back to his siblings so that they might travel all the quicker. Indeed, for a good portion of their journey, Pyth did as he had promised them. Yet halfway through their journey, the stars threw their light into his eyes and he panicked. He was still a being of earth and stone, after all, and such strong light was unfamiliar to him. He went wild, raising a commotion and throwing his siblings from his back.

Now back in those days, Jevel was young and healthy and swift of foot. Neither Olak or Yudrig had been born, so, amongst all the Gods, Jevel was the quickest. Acobi knew this, so she begged him to run as quick as he could the rest of the way while she held off their wild brother. Jevel took off quick as he could. At the same time, Pyth charged after but Acobi got in his way. With her bare hands, she grabbed his horns and dug her feet in. From between grit teeth, she told him, "Brother, I care for you deeply. Yet our mother has tasked me with oaths, and it is oaths you have broken! For the good of her and your own good, I must punish you, dear Pyth." So Pyth and Acobi fought, and their battle brought much chaos to the night sky. That is why the stars are scattered so, signs of their scuffle.

While that was happening, Jevel was running as fast and hard as he could. Being so young, he had much energy to spare. Yet the closer he got to the bright star that was to be Micia's heart, the more he hesitated. This was a heart of creation, the only one left that had been part of Micia's own birth. Still, because of his love for the Mother, he pressed on. With one hand, he reached forward for the star and took it. It began to drain the energy from him, leaving skin wrinkled and flesh clinging to bone. Even though Jevel was tired and the star took ever more from him, he still turned back to run to Micia. By the time he returned to her, he was as we now know him today: half a youth and half an old man.

He handed the star to Micia, who set it inside her gaping chest. Immediately, she was full of energy once more. Unlike Pyth and Jevel, unlike all her children, she had been born completely of stars so it only did good for her. She kissed both sides of Jevel's face, and honored his dedication by making his realm that of health and atrophy. For Garmuth, who had wisely known who was best for which task, she gave him the realm of Purpose and Folly. Weak no longer, she searched for her two wayward children. Just as when he had first been born, Micia quieted him with a touch of her fingertips. Acobi was greatly tired and injured from her dealing with Pyth, and her brothers all took to watching her. With all of her children accounted for and safe, Micia went back to creating.

The other Gods were born, and the Lorn Mother faltered no long with her heart burning strong. Hense, Roathus, and Olak were all brought into the world. For the children who had fallen so long ago, Micia hunted down their wandering souls and escorted them to the edge of the night sky so that they could shine and guide the future generations.

Together, the Pantheon made more and more of the world. Finally, Micia was confident once more. Her eldest children had realms which would both bring joy to those who would come soon, and realms which would teach them lessons so they might grow. So she took a star and ground it into the finest powder. Very carefully, she mixed just a fraction of that star into some earth, turning it bright white. She crafted them with the greatest of care while her eldest watched with great anticipation.

Finally, when all her work was done, she breathed life into them also. These new children took their first breaths and opened their eyes. They had pale skin, just like this- [Zulf smiles as he holds his hand out besides Anna's, fingers spread and showing off the faint skin tone typical to their people even after the Caelondian sun has had its effect on them.] -and when they looked upon the Pantheon, it was shown they had large dark eyes... just like yours. [And he taps her cheek.] And much joy was had in the Pantheon, Acobi herself filled with such gladness that she gave into abandon and lifted up both Lemaign and Garmuth from her excitement.

And those that Micia had just brought into that still young world... were the first Ura.

[Floette starts tugging at AZ's hair as she spots a story being told, and he follows along obligingly, sitting down a little ways so that he can hear but not disturb the others.]

[When the story is done, he claps, and Floette coos appreciatively.]

[Zulf smiles at the applause, and gives a slight nod to the two of them. It's obvious he doesn't quite know how to approach the Floette, but... Well, he supposes treating it (her?) as a person is a good enough start.]

I'm glad the two of you enjoyed it.

... She likes stories.

[Floette floats over to him and gives a sort of curtsy to him, before happily chirping and returning to her friend.]

Well, I like sharing them so I believe your friend and I will get along quite well.

[He gives a slight bow at the waist in turn to her curtsy.]

I've never seen anyone quite like her.

Her name is Floette. She's a Pokemon - creatures unique to my world, it seems. There are a few others besides me who have Pokemon with them.

I believe I've seen a few of them, but I had no idea they were so diverse. It's truly impressive.

I have three others with me, but I've known her the longest.

It's good that you've brought some company, then. That can help, considering...

[Well, he doesn't exactly have to say it.]

... We can find a way to rebuild.

That's really the only thing we can do right now. Getting the Bastion fully functional is vital to that.

... You sound like you know a lot about it.

Ah- [Craaaaaap] -I suppose I do. I knew the man who was responsible for building the Bastion. Zia no doubt knows much more than I, since their relationship was better.

[Well. That's interesting.]

He wouldn't happen to be here, would he?

[That would just be too lucky.]

[AZ is right, that would be, and Zulf looks away while his jaw tightens.]

I'm afraid not. Zia and I managed to find one another immediately after the Calamity struck, but we had no idea where Rucks was at the time when everything fell apart. If it's been this long and he still hasn't arrived to the Bastion...

[Well. Zulf doesn't have to say it.]

... I see.

[Probably best not to push it. He doesn't even really know this person.]

At least you made it. I'm sure your friend is glad for that.

Yes, we were both relieved to find each other right away. It's better to arrive here with a friend than alone.

I'm... glad that all of my Pokemon made it here with me.

[Even the newest of them he's had for decades.]

Well, we'll do our best to make sure you're safe here.

[What do you mean he's only just arrived]

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And in to the third day... [Day 145]

Story 4: Micia and Creation

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