A Game of Gods Season 3: Terminus

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Edited by JustSomeGuy732 on Feb 27th 2019 at 10:00:44 PM

Komachi's tone was one that the young soldier was passing familiar with, and he felt his cheeks flushing slightly at the teasing from the attractive older woman. Still, he didn't shy away, shaking his head lightly. "No, nothing." He lifted the cup he had been returning a little higher. "I was just giving this back, and you seemed lost in thought." A curious look crossed his face, sweeping away the ragged edges behind his eyes. "Who are you?"

Kashira Lavellan - Fifth Floor - Disputer's Court - Keepers of the Lost Lore

Kashira was pleased that Ryo was dealt with without her having to step in. I'd have been more courteous than he deserves. With that out of the way, she had time to appreciate a heartfelt storyteller, and one of some craft. They would never know the whole story of this place, these people, whether because some of it was not for outsiders to hear or simply because there was too much to tell after so long living in this place. One had to pick and choose carefully, tell that which would be understood and appreciated. It was always a pleasure to hear another loremaster speak, though often their words were dark, as here.

These others, those who were here before...could they be involved? Some of them couldn't die of old age. Where could they have gone? Out into a dead world, there to wander until loneliness and time shattered their minds or wore away their bodies? To search the wastes and ruins for something that was so close the whole time? She couldn't shake the feeling that they were involved somehow, or their legacy.

Lucifer's question was one that Kashira herself had sometimes wondered, and come up with the Disputer's answer. It was a wish she herself might have made, that or wishing for an end to the Tower's predations upon the people of all the worlds that were. Perhaps I should wish for knowledge of why this place and its Ruler exist, why they do this, who they are. I still need to think about it.

As for his answer to her own question...she felt tears behind her eyes. War. Isn't it always? Always and ever. Orlais and Ferelden. The Tevinter and the Qunari. Humans and elves. There hasn't been a single Age of the Chantry without two or three wars at least. What is it in the nature of mortals that makes us destroy each other?

What, then, was left to ask?

"In our travels, we haven't found any world free from war," she said softly. "Your people may be wiser than most. If we can obtain the Key, and unlock the way out, and find a world not yet dead...I would try to secure a place there for them, if they want. If not...is there anything I can do? Any way I can help beyond carrying your knowledge with me? Also, these others who came before us...is there anything you could tell us of them? What they looked like, those who were particularly dangerous or clever? Their names, even?"

Guts - Fourth Floor

The deer in the Baron's golden grasp was sized up for a good moment. Guts had inhibitions about these people, yeah, but food was food, and he might as well sustain himself if they were willing to share with a blood-drenched swordsman such as he.

"Thanks."

It was muttered quickly and quietly, almost as if he hoped that the Baron wouldn't hear it before he took up the deer ribs and sank his teeth into it. His jaws worked quickly, clamping themselves around the bones and yanking the flame roasted flesh off of them. It was pretty good.

"Baron."

One would expect that Guts would remain silent after taking up the offered meal, glowering at it and finishing it without another word or expression, like an animal would. Instead, the Black Swordsman had chosen, at that moment, to let out a side of him that hadn't seen the light in a while. If acting cold wouldn't do the trick, maybe this would.

"I know how to show gratitude. I know when it's deserved. You're a regular old fool for sticking so close to someone, that hasn't changed. But I know how to show gratitude. And that's why I can only ask one thing of you."

He lingered on that last note, looking down at his feet. It was as though he wanted the Baron to ask what it was. And if and when he did...

"Stay away from me. It's for your own good, and it's the only kindness I can afford to give you."

Kirito - Fourth Floor, by the Campfire

I stepped forward at KOS-MOS' request, and seeing that the self-claimed android carrying an as of yet unidentified meat alongside the familiar sight of comforting onigiri, grilled to a toasty brown, I regrettably let my guard down and drooled a little.

I accepted the meal, taking the items up in my hands as KOS-MOS inquired the others at the campfire if we could join them. Guess this was an attempt to integrate me into the group. Yeah, seemed like a good idea... I think.

Like a courteous young Japanese boy, I waited for the go-ahead before I sat down and began eating.

Ryo Saeba - With the Disputer

Of course, Ryo was surprised when a mountain of a man began picking him up. But that surprise went away very quickly and he didn't resist at all during the forced transporting of his body. He figured he would suffer the usual comedic violence sooner or later. The big guy would probably smash the sweeper into the ground, or crush his head between his hands. Ryo just hoped he wouldn't attack too close to any of his vital organs. Avoiding important damage like that was a pain. All of this was why the giant putting him back on the ground that gently was much more surprising to the City Hunter.

The rule the japanese man was made aware of was garanteed to be a pain in the ass, tough. They couldn't talk about hooking up in public? Now *that* was something that would cause trouble for the lecherous sweeper. He would need to be more subtle if he didn't want to be clobbered by one of those gorillas. Still, he forced a smile to respond, precisely because he wasn't looking forward to a beating. "Thanks for the warning, big guy! Now, I'm gonna go back to checking out this very well-made android's chassis. I'm a bit of a robotic fanatic, you see!" And after this very lame lie, he then cheerily ran back toward 2B.

Jibril - With Disrupter and others

Value's his life as much as she does? It is not as though Jibril does not find value in her life, but if this god were truly to value his life as much as Jibril did then he would prove to be a troublesome figure. Her life is worth its value in its requirement to achieve the purpose of her existence. Spending that life to achieve her purpose was always on the table, and that meant she could fight without reservations. "Oh, so unfortunate that the Old Dei would not bless you with such knowledge."

Would she be willing to submit to the power of a Dei other than her own to achieve the position of The One True God? This thread of thought bounced around in Jibril's mind and settled in the background undecided. Jibril lowered herself to the ground. "In my world the ones we refer to as Old Dei, Dei, God..." Jibril rattled off a few more words for God in different languages. "... are the embodiements of a concept. The current One True God is known as the God of Games, or the God of Play. Like all gods, he was born due to the belief in the concept of Games and of faith and prayer to him that grants the concept the Ether to form a metaphysical manifestation."

Jibril clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and lowered her wings with her halo moving back. Speaking in Flügel though with the automatic translation it didn't make much difference, "My creator Artosh embodied the concept of War." She then righted herself. opened her eyes, and continued. "So as the foundation of a Dei, knowing the concept they embody can be integral to your strategy in dealing with them. If the opportunity presented itself, surely the Dei that embodied the concept of Nature would eradicate the Ex Machina who corrupt the environment with their weapons."

"So hearing that, do you have an idea of what concept the Ruler might embody? Perhaps it relates directly to his name, in that his concept deals with authority. But I also have other questions. Why was the previous floor locked when we arrived if your group of 'Climbers' already passed by? To your knowledge, what was the floor before this one?"

Edited by StephanReiken on Mar 2nd 2019 at 8:13:47 AM

Kawakaze - Fourth Floor

"I protected... her, I have no loyalty to them... only her, and they corrupted her.... She was supposed to be like cherry blossoms, pure and innocent... instead she's been contaminated by the complications of the world....", Kawakaze returned to Minneapolis, before she approached... hesitated a bit, before snagging the peace of meat, and sat down and began to nibble on it, she then gave a belated nod to the Barron, her ears panning around as she listened to the others around her.... trying to figure out whom was who.

Edited by Imca on Mar 2nd 2019 at 3:43:07 AM

"No one important, boya. Just a woman who spins songs and recites poetry." Chuckling in a merrily yet still politely subdued manner at The Kid's reaction, the languid artist reclined back to watch the others partake in the repast, ranging anywhere from the young to the scantily clad robots and then onto the strapping men full of their testosterone. Quite a selection this was.

"Though if you must know my name, then I am Ono no Komachi. You can simply call me Komachi if that is too much of a mouthful, yes?" Plucking the tea cup back into her possession, the Monster gave a cheerful wink back to the questioner before turning to Kirito. "As for you... please do not hesitate and partake of the meal while you still can. I'd rather you have energy for what is to come rather than to wait up on restrictive etiquette that hinders in the long run." That boy was just too straight laced it seems.

Alisaie - Tallhome, with Locksmith

As the Locksmith waved off Sabrina's apology, Alisaie's eyes widened behind her bangs.

"You mean they just cut you down, knowing you were immortal?" Alisaie's voice rose in shock, her outrage visible in the stiffening of her back and the tightening in her fists. No wonder the Locksmith seemed so... beaten down, sometimes. The previous morning it had been easy to resent him, symbolic of her conscription as he was, but it was growing increasingly clear these feelings were decidedly misguided.

"That's... monstrous." The young mage scowled, nodding slightly to herself as she turned back to walk slowly alongside the old man, still bristling in sympathetic anger. "If I catch any of our band treating you so, there will be hells to pay."

As for her question, it seemed that the Disputer's reputation had preceded him, nothing more. Alisaie hummed softly in thought, putting her fingers to her chin. "That is not... entirely reassuring. Even if the Disputer is not the menacing villain of your rumor mill, there may be another faceless corrupter out there we have yet to meet."

"Even so, You say you have to be truthful to us, but there are ways to be deceptive without telling falsehoods." She pointed out after another moment's thought, sharing a quick glance with Sabrina. "Are you guides allowed to lie to us by omission? Or to colour the truth in other ways?"

As they finally found someone to take them to the gate, Alisaie cocked her head slightly at the Locksmith's last remark.

"... I haven't noticed anything amiss about your speech."

—

2B - Tallhome, Disputer's shrine

As Ryo's hand approached 2B's thigh, a white-gloved hand snapped down like a striking snake and grabbed his wrist, the android turning her head to look down at him with an extra-steely frown. She had just started calculating the best way to discourage him without causing any permanent damage when one of Tallhome's locals took care of the problem for her.

2B gave the robust man a grateful nod as she passed Ryo off to him, and finally turned her attention towards the Disputer's interrogation. His story was not surprising. They had already discovered one failed expedition into the tower, and with everything they knew about how this system was set up 2B was expecting to discover many more.

There was something disquieting about this account, however, something she hadn't thought of before now. She wasn't going to age, and her Black Box would provide her with power indefinitely. Barring combat damage, and with regular self-maintenance, she was functionally immortal. There was the non-zero probability that she would end up in the same position as the last of this expedition's climbers, trapped on some future floor with no way to go home and nothing to do but... exist.

Perhaps it was because of this context that Kashira's words about finding a world untouched by war appealed so strongly to her, in a way that caught 2B off-guard. A world without war. What would that be like? For the first time since she'd woken up inside the Tower, the question of what she would do if she made it to the top crossed her mind - beside returning to 9S, what could she...

Her bout of introspection was interrupted by the sound of footsteps quickly approaching. With a soft sigh, 2B flicked her head over her shoulder, a silent signal to which her Pod bobbed on acknowledgement and zoomed off. Before Ryo could get back within groping range, the boxy robot intercepted him, bobbing side to side to make sure the human couldn't get around him if he tried.

"Information on YoRHa android construction is classified to non-essential personnel."

Meanwhile, 2B just shook her head slowly and stepped up beside Kashira, looking down at the Disputer and folding her arms.

"Is there anything dangerous remaining out there?"

She had pushed her previous line of thought aside. The feelings it came with were... not productive ones, she knew that much. She didn't think she could afford to examine them right now. Just because this world was apparently dead, they couldn't let themselves become complacent.

Edited by LittleMako on Mar 3rd 2019 at 3:49:39 AM

Ryo Saeba - Tallhome, with the Disputer

Crap, Ryo was now being cockblocked by 2B's weird pod-thing. "Oh come on, Can't you do a favor for a friend, little buddy? If we're gonna work together, I think it's essential we know about each other more, don't you think?" He tried to discreetly bypass the thing from its right side before being stopped.

In other news, his current state of not being lifted by a guy twice his size gave him enough concentration left to think about the Disputer's words. The people destroying each other and their world wasn't really that surprising. Humans had a peculiar talent for finding more and more depraved way of killing each other for the flimsiest reason, didn't they? The Sweeper, who was raised in war, knew that more than anyone else. Hell, you could say he never really left the war. All that changed was the people he was killing now and the people who told him to.

Tough he had to admit he never considered the possiblity of having to stay in this tower forever. To have his fellow climbers as his only reminder of a world outside. To never see Shibuya again. To never see Umibozu, Saeko, Miki or...

Or Kaori. Ryo quickly stopped himself from thinking of her. Him dying was always on the table, but this was somewhat different. He would have to live with that tought until the natural end of this day. Somehow it seemed far more hellish. For a second, the City Hunter's face seemed to shift into a sad face.

But he couldn't change anything about either of these fact, could he? All he could do now keep fighting in his personal war and keep smiling. And right now, this meant bypassing the annoying flying robot. And so he keep doing the weird routine of trying to reach 2B by a different angle before being stopped by her always watchful pod.

Edited by Alecoene on Mar 4th 2019 at 10:22:45 AM

Elsa - Disputer's Room, Tallhome

Elsa had followed along in silence, and kept that silence as her fellow Climbers asked the Disputer their questions. She didn't want to overwhelm him by adding more than was reasonable.

Her own question, which was about the whereabouts of the Disputer's own group, was answered in conjunction with another question. They had spent so long here that most had died of age, and those who could not had left. He also spoke of war, constant endless war that deprived the world of resources time and time again until there was nothing left on the planet outside but barren wasteland. The survivors here were descendants of the last civilization, having wiped out the rest in the name of food.

But his answers left Elsa with a question.

First things first, however: the man who had earlier introduced himself as Ryo Saeba was making a nuisance of himself. She had mistaken him for a flirt, but now it was clear that he was a lech.

Which meant she didn't have to feel bad about what she did next.

With a flick of her finger, a burst of magic flew from her fingertip and struck the floor between Ryo and 2B, coating the distance between them in a thin but slippery layer of ice. She made sure to avoid touching any of the precious grass with her frost, chilling only the stonework.

Turning away from the inevitable comedy with a small smile, Elsa looked up at the Disputer.

"Both you and the Locksmith have said the people here have forgotten what the key was. But do you know what it is?" She asked, hoping that they had retained knowledge of it long enough to inform the Disputer of what it was. "I'm only asking because the last floor asked cruelty of us, and I hope that you're not asking the same."

Floor Four - Minneapolis

"Her? Who?" Minneapolis asked Kawakaze suspiciously, but not without hints of curiosity.

And now some destroyer was also asking her for a piece of deer. Or wait, these people weren't ships, so she wasn't a destroyer, she was just a normal schoolgirl.

She cut off a nicely-sized chunk of the deer's loins, the meat by the spine being one of the tenderest cuts you could find on any mammal, so hopefully it would be okay for the girl. Big tough guys could eat whatever part they wanted, she figured they could endure the torture of having to chew a little more, but at least this way she could spare the girl a little trouble.

So, with venison in hand, she approached Sumireko and held out the piece for her.

Floor Five - Anabel

With her footsteps filled with tremendous purpose, Lucario moved swiftly forward on the practiced feet of a martial artist... and then slipped on ice that definitely hadn't been there moments before, resulting on her landing on her rump. Springing to her feet once more, the Pokémon was about to head forward again when Anabel put a hand on her arm. The flying metal box seemed to have the situation contained for the moment. And truth be told, she was wondering how long he would keep at it before finally giving up.

"So the key is just... sitting there, in the shrine to the East?" Anabel remarked. So only those who were climbing the tower were even able to get the keys inside, that was an interesting piece of information to remember. While she couldn't think of how to use it at the moment, you never knew if in the future, it might very well save their lives. Preventing the Locksmith from using a key against their will, or deciding between potential keys by having a local try and carry it into the portal, you who knew.

"That's good for us, at least, but it's a pity that those who came before were unable to recover it." She paused a moment as she mulled over what the Disputer had said. Or rather, what he hadn't said. "The object might be indescribable, as you say, but what about how it was found? What was the thing the previous Climbers overlooked? And how did the people of this floor find it?"

Fourth Floor, Dave

Dave was with the others, sitting around the campfire and eating deer meat. It was pretty good, he supposed. Certainly much better than putting jelly on a hot dog, that's for damn sure. Why did he think of that at that particular moment? That's a mystery for another time.

He sized up the other people present. There were two swordsmen dressed in black. One was incredibly beefy and gruff, the other far less so. There was... a robot girl? Jade used to make those all the time, but they didn't look nearly as human-y. There were a couple girls who looked like they came from Gensokyo, judging by their attire. The presence of the Kid wasn't too surprising. After all, he got dragged into SBURB when he was only 13. The girls claiming to be ships, though? Man, is this what happens when you watch too much anime? They seemed to be serious about it, and frankly at this point in his life, Dave was ready to believe almost literally anything. Anything except that puppets are cool, that kind of bullshit was crossing the line.

There was also... okay, seriously. What is that Baron guy wearing? Would it be weird to say his outfit looked like it came straight out of a blaxploitation movie? Probably, which is why he was glad he wasn't a teenager who just ran off his dumbass mouth anymore. Not that he was one to chastise people for their dress - he once wore a tux made out of puppet felt. By most standards, that wasn't exactly "normal".

So there were a lot of people that Dave didn't know, but he had the feeling he'd need to become well acquainted them for the future. The last thing he needed was for it to turn out there was some intractable difference in morality between them the next time they were asked to make a "sacrifice" by the Ruler.

That was a depressing thought he'd rather not dwell on right now, though. Might be best to actually say some shit instead of just thinking a bunch.

"So hey," he said to no one in particular. "I'm Dave. Kinda just showed up outta nowhere, but I guess people tend to do that a lot here. Sup dudes?"

He was as casual as someone could be, given the absurdity of the situation he was in. It was the only way he really knew how to approach situations like this.

Baron, Oh You, Fourth Floor

Unusually, Guts was showing a softer side of himself. The magnificent opulence of Blacker Baron knew, naturally, that such side existed, but to be shown it just like that was a great honor. And yet, as the Black Swordsman talked, he couldn't help but frown a little. Where has he seen that kind of gruff man before, and why was it upsetting him so?

"Well, ya said it yaself, didn't ya?" Slowly, the golden grin returned on his face. "Regular old foo' like dis Baron ain't da kind to listen to people wen dey tell him to give up, dig? That ain't how dat works. I ain't gonna force ya to stick with others and socialize, 'cause ya ain't dat kinda man. Ya want, ya can try later."

"But Blacker Baron would be a sorry-ass poser if he let any brudda hangin', big or small." He thumped his chest for emphasis. "Ya need help, ya get it."

Edited by FergardStratoavis on Mar 7th 2019 at 2:44:20 PM

"Oh-hoh, hoodlum? No, she wouldn't be that kind of person. Tohch just likes to eat more than her fair share's worth, that's all." He lowered his eyes at the girl, daring her to try and dispute that fact. "Trust her to eat like a man dragged out from the sea after a week afloat, 'cause that's what she's good at!"

"...Nuh-uh," she said, turning away from the man. "It was...not that many times."

"Pffah, you're no good, Tohch." The cook made a point to scoop away some of the ingredients on the counter from her greedy hands, like they'd lash out at any moment to try and fill her gaping maw some more. "You can eat like the rest of us do, or not at all."

"That's the same thing you always say, Uo..."

"Because it's the truth!" He sighed, apparently because he was named Uo instead of something else. "I am sorry to disrespect you, Ascending Ones, but...she's trustworthy, as long as you aren't concerned with your food. She knows this place as well as anyone does. Now, then...I...think I understand what you mean..."

He leaned a lean arm on the counter, and stared at them with inspecting eyes as he rubbed his thin, bare chin. "You're...a visitor. Yeah. What, do you want me to treat you like...hmm..." Uo racked his old mind for answers, and found none. "I'm sorry for being so horribly stupid, but what do you mean by 'treat you like visitors?'"

"Of course! Yeah, yeah, of course I'll be a good friend!" Sumireko nodded enthusiastically, staring not at Komachi but the deer-ly beloved meat she held out. "I know I don't look like much, but I'm still pretty good. I can stand toe to toe with, like, almost everyone in Gensokyo, so I think I can help ya out."

"Oh, hey, thanks."

That last gratitude wasn't directed at her, but at...Minneapolis. Despite the spider handing out perfectly good meat, it seemed like this girl had reached for the one handed to her wordlessly. Was this a conscious choice by Sumireko, to avoid entering into some kind of verbal contract? Did she think this would somehow avail her of any need to be reliable? It was a mystery, but she seemed to be enjoying Minneapolis' offering quite a lot as she took small nibbles from it. Good thing she had gloves on.

Similarly, she definitely enjoyed it when KOS-MOS handed her a freshly prepared, authentic Jelly Doughnut out of the kindness of her heart. "Poor health? Huh, weird, I guess," she remarked offhandedly. "Didn't know she could even end up like that. Anyway...that's great! Ehehe."

Now was the time to munch...at least, in a moment.

She couldn't let these bad vibes get to her.

People like the Baron and Komachi seemed fine, but Guts, those machine-girls, the Kid, they seemed to be...a little down. Reserved. Not talking enough. You could say it was because she knew that a repretoire had to be built if they were ever going to succeed, lest everyone decide they should go it alone like some people have at this point.

But...honestly?

She didn't want to feel like she was eating alone. Like usual.

"...So! I know some of you, but I don't think I really know anything about you all," she said in a loud tone that signalled 'this is for everyone'. "Back home, what's this like? Breakfast, your first meal of the day, whatever you call it. It's definitely not like this for me, you know. Not enough...instant ramen for it to be breakfast where I come from..."

Just as Ryo passed by the juggernaut of a man to go play grabass some more, he looked at him. Hard. Far be it to suggest that a man can clearly communicate entire sentences with just a look, but "Seriously, don't, or I will break your fucking neck" seemed to be etched into his face. It was brief, only lasting for as long as it took for Ryo to run past him as he looked down, but it was a really, really, really, really mean looking face. He meant business.

With the other guide, Kashira's requests got a nod out of the Disputer. "Yes. If you can find a place that'd accept 500 illiterate farmers...with no sense of personal space, and no self-preservation...then that'd make their day. That's exactly what their prophecies say you'll do, even..."

He paused, deep in thought. "...Truly helpful, however? Find them food. We strain already to feed them all."

"Of those who I helped, I'm unsure why you'd want to know that. They're gone. All but a handful would've ran their natural lives out so long ago that not even dust would be left of them. If I had to, though..."

"...Eight of them, in total. As I can assume has happened with you, that number changed constantly as some left, some came, and some only flashed by in an instant. Once they started this unfinished search, they seemed almost stable in that regard. Almost..."

"They were mostly shaped like men such as yourself...or elf, my mistake. A machine, two men, three women, one that I never truly figured out which, and something that looked as it pleased. Of them...ah, why don't you ask my adjutant?"

Like a light had lit up within her, even before the Disputer had finished talking, the dark-haired woman next to him smiled and held open the book in front of her. "She's one who happens to be...the closest thing they have to a priest, I'd say."

And, in a declarative voice, she sang:

^{Of the one who stood above all, the king of those destined to save us,} 

^{Of the mother of many, she who brought with her knowledge of other worlds,} 

^{Of the omnidisciplinarian, a man of another time who fed us and clothed us,} 

^{Of the walking tower, who calls upon an eviscerating lighting,} 

^{Of the one who wielded the sword, the defender, the teacher,} 

^{Of the trickster, a thing without form,} 

^{Of the matron who was so cruelly taken,} 

^{And of the one who so cruelly took.} 

And then she shut the book, and seemed very pleased with her performance.

Moving on, even after that, was not necessarily the easiest part, but damn it all, the Disputer did just that! He clapped for her, and then continued expositing endlessly.

"If I had to guess, angel," he said to Jibril, "he would be...a god of struggling, and insurmountable challenges. You'd understand where I'm coming from with that, right? Eheh...but, no. The floor before this one...just think if it wasn't locked? They got up here easily. The Tower is a strange place, so to think that a room that might be there once may not be here another day may be within the realm of reason."

"...And...of the world before this one...it was a very large volcano. It exploded." He shrugged. "It was very boring, actually."

For the android, who hopefully wasn't being harassed by a very stupid Japanese man, he was quick to say "Nothing living. If there's anything, it would be the old servitors that they made when they still knew how, but almost all of them have fallen to pieces much too long ago."

For the princess, he shook his head. "Cruelty? No. It's just a part to a machine that hasn't worked in ages. They had to destroy that machine to take it, but it hadn't served any purpose in many, many years. It's indescribable to them because they couldn't possibly have something to compare it to...and because it just looks like a metallic sphere. Hardly different from the other thousands of machine hearts."

And, lastly for the detective, "it was found in the heart of a complex of machines. Like everything else in this world still standing. There's nothing separating one grey megastructure from the next, so how could I expect them to find a torso-sized needle in a haystack that spreads across the continent? The people of Tallhome only found it by sending a few generations of searchers into the wastes, building by building, until one was lucky enough to find it in some dilapitated recess. Though...they also overlooked something else."

The old thing's wry smile that he had worn earlier reappeared again, and it was obvious in his tone that he was mocking...someone. "They forgot their goal: to get up the Tower. They decided that improving the lives of these people with what limited resources they had was more important than their own goal, given to them by the Ruler."

He clapped his hands. "Hopefully...you won't make the same mistake, right?"

The elezen's remarks, her promises, were not something unfamiliar to him. The Locksmith slowed his pace for a moment to stand beside her, and quietly said "Ah...perhaps, if you could at least tell your Black Swordsman to give heed to me, or at least to be more prudent with his aim, I would be grateful. Hardly the worst..."

In regards to a guide and his or her lies, the answer took another moment. "...I could see it happening. With all of our disparate worlds, truth is rarely of the same hue in each and every one. That, and surely, some guides have tried to squirm within the inescapable yoke of our durances. Even a slight deceit could become something inoperable, given time to fester...and I am sure someone has understood that."

Then, for someone who had seen it all and even been subjected to it all, Alisaie said a few small words that he wasn't expecting.

He stopped mid-stride, bent over...and laughed. Low, rumbling, very brief and almost pained, but it was genuine laughter. Still bent over, he reached for her shoulder and lightly patted it.

"Good. That is very good. Please, don't change, my friend."

It wasn't long before they were finally at the threshold to the other world.

The man who had walked them along the way gave them a brief bow, and flashed an inscrutable hand signal like the others had earlier before walking away in haste. The only other person there was walking outside with a bundle of cloths under his arms, oblivious to the people behind him or their status as he crossed into the outside.

Similarly to the way they had entered, this place was boxed off by a tall, makeshift wall...and considering that until 10 minutes ago it was the only entrance to Tallhome, it was rightfully more complete.

Unlike the patches of missing material from the other door, this was one complete place. Decorated, too, with dozens of wilted paper things not unlike the talismans that could be seen in the shrines of Gensokyo, or held by the superstitious lot of Kabukicho. Though unlike them, they had no markings, color or even bleach. They were just thin strips of paper, more like tattered streamers than anything ritualistic.

Above it all was a symbol, drawn in a dark red and situated above the door. It was somehow entirely unreadable, its meaning completely hidden to the Climbers (if it had one)...and if they were astute, they'd also notice that this marking was the only one of its kind they had seen so far. Nowhere else in Tallhome had there been so much as a single letter or rune on any building's walls or ceilings.

A machine, rusted to the point where it seemed like it'd fall apart sooner than later, sat beside the door, covered in similar paper strips. Somewhere between a pot-bellied furnace and an ancient representation of a man, it only revealed its true purpose as it moved.

Sputtering to life with the sound of dozens of whirring machines inside it, the golem raised the single arm formerly concealed under dozens of paper tassels and held it out to the Climbers. A single yellow light turned on on its top side, and slowly turned as well. A garbled and piercing sound emanated from it, something that sounded like speech underneath many layers of corruption and noise, before it slowly turned off again.

The door was open, unblocked and ready to be crossed.

"...Here is the end of my aid," the Locksmith said, "at least in body. Do well, Climbers. I will try to guide the others here, as best as I can..."

Dead World.

Sabrina and Alisaie came out onto the top of a hill, and could immediately feel the sting of the elements.

The wind, cold and furious, and the rain, tasting of salt and chilling to the bone, beat mercelessly on their bodies the second they stepped outside. The breeze roared and howled as it ran into the structures around them, and the rain drove against the metal roofs. The only other sound was the crashing waves of the sea, distant against the roar of the storm.

Unlike Tallhome proper the buildings out here seemed more sturdily constructed to survive in the elements, mostly holding low to the ground and curved. Few seemed large enough to be living spaces, but they could see a few lights coming from these huts, especially the ones closer to the water's edge.

The majority of this land was in use, however, by farmland. The greyish-green leaves poking up from the volcanic black ground danced wildly in the weather's embrace, in rows and rows of terraces that extended all around them. Some odd pipes, and odder machinery, sat alongside them and ran through their rows, seemingly only barely staying put on the ground.

There were a few people here, the same kind that had been inside the comfort of the Tower. Aside from the occasional addition of plastic shawls or wide-brimmed hats, they were dressed the same as well. Most held their heads low to the ground to keep the rain out of their eyes, so few noticed the pair as they walked in. Those that did offered a curteous bow, but nothing else.

At the edge of the ocean, a pier could be seen with some boats moored tightly by them. Past that, however, and it became spotty. A thick wall of cloud and fog blocked their sight much past the island, thick enough to where even guessing the sun's position was an educated guess at best. Everything was layered in a dark blue.

If they wanted to talk to each other, they'd have to shout over the storm.

Tallhome Kitchen - Ilya

"Like, umm..." Now it was the Magus' turn to scratch her head. Seeing that they were an isolated community, perhaps visitor was a wrong term to use. "Like... neighbors, I guess? Or maybe co-workers or friends? No wait, we're strangers, so... Hey Mr. Claw, what do you think?" Shamelessly deflecting the question to the pirate, she then focused her attention on Tohch.

So it's less that she's mischievous and more that she's just a glutton. That answers one of Ilya's many mysteries about the place... though the magus had to admit that she found it very odd. You would think someone who enjoys food would have a lot more fat on their body as opposed to the thin figure that her guide is currently sporting. It's almost as if they seem to have problems with food supply...

Ilya took a moment to stare at her bowl of half-finished soup before passing it on to her energetic guide. "Here! You can have mine!" There's probably a lot more people who needed it more than she does, but eh. She kinda liked Tohch. "In exchange, can you show me where you grow and store your food? Kinda curious to know where you get the ingredients from."

Edited by JustSomeGuy732 on Mar 8th 2019 at 3:48:21 AM

Alisaie - Tallhome, with the Locksmith

"The Black Swordsman? Hmph." Alisaie did not seem impressed by the grandiose moniker, narrowing her eyes and setting her jaw stubbornly. "That sounds familiar. Rest assured, Next I see him, I will have words."

The Locksmith continued, and Alisaie nodded slowly in understanding as the trio walked behind their local helper. This was not something she would have thought of - Guides lying not to deceive their charges, but to indulge in a rebellion of sorts against their servitude, however small. The Ruler wanted Climbers for his tower, so perhaps, to a mind deranged by countless years of service, sabotaging an expedition might feel like an act of defiance.

The more she thought on it, the more she loathed the whole terrible system.

Before she could stew in indignation any further, the locksmith doubled up at her comment, and she blinked, startled, reaching to support the collapsing old man. It took her a second to recognize his laughter. Still supporting the Guide, a blush spreading across her pale cheeks, she couldn't help but smile as she helped him stand up straight again. She still wasn't quite sure of how she'd done it, but it felt good to see the Locksmith laughing.

"Ah, well... I will do my best, Ser."

Soon, the exit was upon them, and despite a disconcerting greeting from some sort of ancient automaton, it came with little fanfare. Standing at the threshold, the antechamber thick with clear meaning but utterly incomprehensible, Alisaie turned to give the Locksmith a determined nod.

"Thank you, Locksmith - Take care, and tell the others we'll scout ahead."

—

Alisaie - Dead world, Tower

As she stepped through the door, the rain hit Alisaie like a slap, and the young mage spluttered and threw up one arm to shelter her face, her heavy sleeve already soaked.

"Gods! How does anyone live in this?!" She exclaimed, her words drowned by the crashing of waves and hammering of raindrops, her braid whipping in the wind as she did her best to look around. After the stillness of the Tower, the storm was all the more shocking in its violence. The sturdy huts certainly implied that these storms were common for the people of Tallhome, but Alisaie had to take the sight of those boats moored on the shore to mean otherwise - surely no-one would be mad enough to set sail if this was the norm.

"I don't think we should go far on our own!" She shouted to Sabrina over the maelstrom of noise, leaning in close to the other climber to make herself heard. "Let's - let's get out of this and ask around - before the others trickle out!"

Leaning against the wind, the young elezen made a beeline for the nearest metal hut, watching her footing for mud or slick stone.

Edited by LittleMako on Mar 8th 2019 at 7:25:04 AM

Sabrina, With The Locksmith, Tallhome

"Truthfully, any issue we may have is with the Ruler, not you," Sabrina agreed with Alisaie. "If anything, you are like us and the people of Tallhome... fellow prisoners of the Tower."

Sabrina, The Dead World

Going out right at the moment was a bad idea, Sabrina simply nodded to her fellow Climber and ran right after her followed by Gallade. She also kept an eye on mud or slick stone as she headed into the nearest metal hut with Alisaie. Much as she did, Sabrina also noticed the boats that were moored tightly to the pier. Thankfully, weather like this was just something one got used to as a Pokemon Trainer. She would need to go back for Jynx if she wanted to go further than the huts though.

Haseo- Disruptor, 5th Floor

"... I see." The former epitaph user thought on the Disruptor's words. A key hunt could take years, but this one took even longer. They overthought it, when the answer was in front of them... and they just gave up, even after the found the key. They just... stopped. But this group wasn't going to be like that, right? He sure as hell isn't.

Another thing struck him as odd. After settling down, some just... left. Why? Were they abducted? Did they figure out something the others didn't? The whole thing was, in a word, uncanny.

The world ended with war, and here they were.

It just made him think. Granted, watching Sabea's advances made him think other thoughts, but that was not here or there.

"Yeah, I won't make the same mistake. And, not that I can speak for them, I don't think anyone else here will, either." He reassured the Locksmith

"Alright, thanks." He sat down at the campfire, after giving a sigh and shaking his head at Sumireko (granted, with a bit of a smile), and began cooking his cut of meat.

As he did, there were more people. Namely, what appeared to be a Beastkin (at least, that was his world's term for the whole "humans with animal ears" race) who seems to be at odds with the person with the deer. Another one also pipped up, a chap named Dave.

"Ah, nice to meet ya, Dave. Name's Jubei. And not too much, kinda just got here."

And then, to answer Sumireko's question "Eh, I tend to travel, can't say it's too different to this. Campfire, hunted meat, fish, berries, that kind of stuff. Usually there's less people, though."

Jibril with Disrupter

Jibril listens to the cryptic songs told of the previous climbers and the answer to her own question. It was not terribly informative and he conveniently skipped over the description of the previous floor. But if it was truly insurmountable challenge he embodied, the solution would unlikely be trying to defeat the challenges laid out. "Hmm.."

However, the answer's to Kashira's questions were more puzzling. "None of them had ageless bodies? Of course, even machines are not truly ageless so I suppose it must not be a common trait even among other worlds. Can these people not retreat to the previous floor and reside in that world? It is a world that believes in settling disputes through non-lethal means with a God that enforces that concept, somewhat like my own. Surely these people could bargain for a place to stay within that world before the door closes. Not all of the Climbers even came with us so doubtless the door remains open awaiting the rest to climb. But if the door closes behind the last Climber we should act quickly to have an agent ensure the door stays open, no?"

Claw, Ilya's Yes-Man, Somehow, Tallhome Kitchen

"An apt metaphor, if I've ever heard one." Claw hummed, idly adjusting his hat. A sea? Was that the world ahead they had to visit? No, it wasn't probably the kind of sea he envisioned. For all he knew, it was nothing but blood or acid. Unfortunately, the reminiscence of the cat's favorite element was interrupted by yet another display of religious deference.

"For starters, stop calling us Ascending Ones. Makes me feel like I'm some sort of god." The pirate pointed out with a sour face when the discussion segued off Ilya and onto him, again. "Me and her might not be your folk, but there's nothing that extraordinary about us." Or at least extraordinary enough to warrant claims of reverence. "We eat and breathe, live and die. We might have ended up in this Tower by the doings of a higher power, but that's on him."

"So, for now, I'll just say that Miss Ilya here was right: this is quite a stew you made. Much thanks for feeding us." Here, the pirate offered a nod and a smile, ever so slight.

"Ono...no Ko...machi?" The Kid slowly tried to pronounce the foreign name, rolling it around in his mouth and his head at the same time. The woman looked like an Ura, but didn't sound like one. And her name would have been as foreign to them as it was to him, he thought. Her powers were similarly different. They had been able to somehow move without him seeing it, jumping from place to place in an instant. But nothing like the woman's strange strings.

There was only one other possibility he knew of personally, though with this tower he could easily be wrong. Still, it didn't hurt to know for sure. "Are you a goddess? You can do things normal people can't."

Elsa - Disputer's Room, Tallhome

A piece of a machine. Simple, easy, nothing to fear or kill. It seems like their stay here would be quick, much in contrast to those who came before.

But something the Disputer said rankled her, and she couldn't hold herself back from commenting.

"I'd hardly call it a mistake." Elsa said, her eyes narrowing just a tad. "This Ruler has taken both us and them here without our permission. We don't owe them a completion of this game. If anything, our predecessors sacrificing their chance to go home in order to help these people was the right choice, the noble one. The one I'd hope to be strong enough to make."

So far, it seemed she was alone in this opinion, but she couldn't not voice it.

"Goddess? Nothing of the sort. I am neither one of the heavenly court, the earthly residents, or even the minor eight million. Nay, I am currently just a vagabond artist." Easily denying that cute little question with an amused purr, Komachi drank more from her cup of tea while enjoying the camaraderie (and also penciling a certain psychic girl's name under the mental 'unreliable' list).

"Though I do have stories told of me at the least... and I can weave better than most." Demonstrating by performing the various complex but wholly mundane shapes of cat's cradle to put on a show for the boy, Komachi winked. "Everyone has their own unique talents, ne?~" Already she could tell that it would be a lot of potential amusement from teasing the more uptight members of the group.

It was cold, windy, and wet. A certain angel thought that as soon as she had stepped through the portal area and was buffeted by moisture and gales. Blearily staring at the tempestuous rain and evoking a shining barrier over herself as an impromptu umbrella, Lucifer stared up at the raging heavens for a few moments before harrumphing.

Performing a slight crouch, the blonde then proceeded to launch herself right up into the sky like a missile while hurtling through the cloud layer at breakneck speeds, seeing if it was possible to break through to see what was beyond the grey and gaseous shell that covered what laid beyond from sight.

Floor Four - Kawakaze

"You know very well who, Nagato, our flagship", the destroyer girl replied with a sign, she was unsure how that could be taken as any one else given how close there association was, how she spent most of her time functioning as her guard when she was not being dispatched as a strike unit.... was Eagle intelligence that bad?