Swift's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

((PERCY, RIKU, LAMBDA, GREED, ERIKA: start in front of the carts.

MARINE, SAKUYA, SAYA, ROSE, TSUKIHIKO, ZUKO: start behind them.

Your chan is #wishuponaleaf.))

Comments

plaza: front of carts

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself in the middle of an ostentatious-looking outdoor plaza, on top of a very steep cliff. Sunlight glints off red-and-obsidian tiles, gold railings line the cliff's edge, and there are potted plants--giant Wonderland grasses, anyway--arranged artfully around the edge. You'll notice a distinct lack of anywhere to sit, though.

A few food carts are lined up at the back of the plaza; their colorful displays beckon to you. The food smells pretty good, too. Behind them there's what looks like an enormous fountain, spitting colored jets of water into the air fifty feet high. Amazing!

Re: plaza: front of carts

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Hmm...

[approaching the cliff's edge]

Re: plaza: front of carts

[mythlology]

[ why does your heart basically look like seattle???

Anyway, taking a quick glance at the group that came in on this side, nodding briefly to Riku and Erika, then bounding over to the edge of the fountain and looking in. ]

Re: plaza: front of carts

[inherited]

[heading toward the food carts]

Re: plaza: front of carts

[surefire]

[... okay sure checking out the food]

Re: plaza: front of carts

[alldesires]

[I smell food

checking that out]

Re: plaza: front of carts

[unbalancedscales]

[kicks at the tiles, trying to find any loose ones -- ha ha, as if -- as he moves through the plaza toward the cliff edge]

plaza: behind the carts

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself in the middle of an empty outdoor plaza, surrounded by rows of trees on either side. In the center is a clear reflecting pool--a nice place to sit and think, maybe, and it seems like someone's had the same idea, because there's already a table and chairs pulled up to the edge of the pool, with a meal for two laid out.

If you look behind you, you'll see a row of silver food carts, five in total, blocking your way forward--although you could easily push past them if you wanted. There are also paths to your left and right, leading into the trees . . . .

Re: plaza: behind the carts

[mysong]

[oh gosh food, checking out that meal for two]

Re: plaza: behind the carts

[debossy]

[headed to the table and chairs]

Where are we . . . ?

Re: plaza: behind the carts

[oceansflower]

[goes to look into the pool :O]

Re: plaza: behind the carts

[tsunbender]

[unsure about being inside someone's heart again.

AFTER A FEW SECONDS, he goes to check the pool first, but also glances at the table in case there's anything out of ordinary]

aatherside: the hall of names

[dramatispersonae]

As you wander farther into the forest, the trees grow taller and thicker--it was sunny, out there in the plaza, but not much light makes it through the canopy.

After a while, you find yourself surrounded by high hedges on both sides. Built into the hedges is a cubbyhole-like setup with jeweled covers of different colors, some team-colored, others pure white. Along both hedges are team-colored lanterns, sixteen in total; each of them is lit, although some seem to shine more brightly than others . . . .

If you squint, you can make out a tall gate at the end of the path.

Re: aatherside: the hall of names

[tsunbender]

[moves closer to check the jeweled covers first, and to see which ones of the lights seem brighter than the others.]

legacyside: the hall of names

[dramatispersonae]

As you wander farther into the forest, the trees grow taller and thicker--it was sunny, out there in the plaza, but the light here is thinner and dappled.

After a while, you find yourself surrounded by high hedges on both sides. Built into the hedges is a cubbyhole-like setup with stone covers of different colors--most are clear glass, some are a kind of pink stone . . . there are a few others in still different shades, a clean white, a soft pink, a bright yellow, a deep purple. You may find these match the color of the hanging lanterns along the path.

If you squint, you can make out a tall gate at the end of the path.

Re: legacyside: the hall of names

[debossy]

[before heading down too far, wandering over to brush his wing against one of the bright yellow stones]

aatherside: the revolving doors

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself in a large, circular room, white-walled, white ceilinged . . . everything here is eerily white, actually. There are six doors out, including the one you came in by, which shuts abruptly after you enter. The room begins to whirl . . . .

By the time it comes to a stop, you think you've forgotten which door's which.

Re: aatherside: the revolving doors

[oceansflower]

[give her a second, she's kind of dizzy. '^'a but once she gets over that...

is there anything special about any of the doors? ]

doors: the vine room

[dramatispersonae]

It's not really a room--the walls are made of high green hedges (are those roses?) and if you look up you can see what looks like a stormy sky. The arbor leading out is covered with thick vines, blocking the path.

In the center of the room is a statue of a certain redheaded Persona. She's looking off to the side, and something about her seems tired, maybe even a little sad.

Re: doors: the vine room

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Hmm...

[approaches the statue]

doors: the challenge room

[dramatispersonae]

The door leads to a plain circular platform of stone, surrounded by water as far as the eye can see. The only way out is the way you came.

In the center is a statue of the Lady of the Lake, sitting on a rock, staring out at nothing in particular with a look of befuddlement on her face. There's a large, jeweled chalice by her feet.

Re: doors: the challenge room

[oceansflower]

[WELL UH. OKAY.]

What's this supposed to be?

center: the spyglass rooms

[dramatispersonae]

The path leads to a little stone house--well, at its size, it seems more like a shack, but it's a nice one. The windows out front are shuttered, so that you can't see inside, but the door seems to be ajar. Or you could just walk around, I suppose; it's off the path, but there's hardly anything to stop you.

From the front door, there are two paths leading out, left and right.

Re: center: the spyglass rooms

[mythlology]

More exploring.

[ GOES THROUGH THE DOOR ]

legacyside: the altar

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself standing on a stone platform, made of the same red stone you might have seen out in the plaza, carved with intricate loops and whorls Facing you is a ring of statues, a praying woman (sans urn) in the center, flanked by smaller statues of some very strange-looking figures. There are white candles scattered beside and around them; most of them are lit, although there are a few which seem to have gone out.

There are three paths leading out from here, including the one you just came by.

Re: legacyside: the altar

[inherited]

[LOOK PURPLE WORKED!!!!

LOOKING KIND OF PROUD AS HE WALKS THROUGH]

We should light the candles.

legacyside: the water garden

[dramatispersonae]

You come to the edge of a clear pond, with fish darting in and out, making ripples . There's a few of the carved red stones you might have seen elsewhere poking out of the water, leading out towards the center of the pond; strung on poles along and around them are glass windchimes of all different colors--they swing gently in the breeze . . . .

A young girl stands on the far side of the pond, looking out towards the center, hands folded in front of her. She seems content, doesn't she?

There are three paths, including the one you came by, leading out from here.

Re: legacyside: the water garden

[debossy]

[a real person . . . I don't recognize her . . . a knight?]

Who goes there?

[approaching, slowly, still a little flustered and off from before]

aatherside: the refurbished cabin

[dramatispersonae]

You come upon a small single-story cabin with a Jasper-colored roof . . . it's a little bit banged up and one of the windows is cracked, but someone's obviously tried hard to fix it up! There's even a new coat of paint on the walls.

. . . in the process they seem to have thrown out some furniture, though. An upturned bed is lying on the front lawn, its black sheets tangled around the headboard. There's also a thick tarp covering . . . what might be a statue, maybe? Who knows.

Re: aatherside: the refurbished cabin

[alldesires]

[why is there a bed on the lawn gosh. Checking that out first.]

inner sanctum: the door

[dramatispersonae]

The path leads you to an imposing door, easily twice your height. It's made of the same red stone you've seen around here and there, but something's turned it jet black . . . . There's a key-shaped depression in the door, too, at about eye-height, but that's its only distinguishing feature.

Three paths lead back to a Jasper-roofed cabin, a squat stone house, and a pond.

Re: inner sanctum: the door

[dramatispersonae]

When Azure gets here, he will find a key in his hand.

inner sanctum: the elevator

[dramatispersonae]

The elevator doors ping shut behind you.

You find yourselves in a stone room. In the middle of the room are three stone bowls. (If this setup seems familiar, it should.) One has blood, one has . . . dust, and one has burnt feathers and fur.

On the wall in front of you hangs a hammer and a sword, crossed over one another.

Re: inner sanctum: the elevator

[mysong]

Ivory's not allowed in any of the bowls.

inner sanctum: the sea of tears

[dramatispersonae]

You're swimming in an ocean of black water . . . you feel very cold, and scared, and alone.

What's the point, really? What's the point in going on, when people can die or leave and you can't stop it from happening--when everything is confusing and nothing goes right and nothing ever changes . . . nothing ever changes . . . you might as well close your eyes . . . .

Re: inner sanctum: the sea of tears

[unbalancedscales]

[WOW IT'S JUST LIKE MY CANON]

[JUST LIKE IT]

[yup sinking]

inner sanctum: true heart

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself on a wide, white beach, carried in by the waves, your face pressed in the sand.

If you stand up and look around, you'll find that it's early morning in this heart, and that the sunrise reflected off the waves (clear, no trace of black anywhere) is quite beautiful. You'll also find a tiny, cozy cottage tucked further up the shore.

Re: inner sanctum: true heart

[unbalancedscales]

[blows sand out of his nose and gets up, tugging Saya a little]

Look.