dramatispersonae | Swift's Heart

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!

Edited 2012-09-15 21:50 (UTC)

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 . . . .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Edited 2012-09-15 22:47 (UTC)

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.

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.

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.

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

[headed to the table and chairs]

Where are we . . . ?

Hmm...

[approaching the cliff's edge]

[goes to look into the pool :O]

The table's set for two. In the center you'll find a plate of mussels in a spicy sauce, a pot of hot tea, and what looks like a key lime pie. Everything smells delicious.

[ 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. ]

[heading toward the food carts]

They're a pretty plain wooden table and chairs--no unusual markings or anything.

The table's set for two. In the center you'll find a plate of mussels in a spicy sauce, a pot of hot tea, and what looks like a key lime pie. Everything smells delicious.

[hmm, pouring the tea into the two teacups, curiously, mostly trying to make sure it is actually tea]

How odd. Is this a game?

It's a very deep pool. You can't really see the bottom, but as you look into it, your reflection stares intently back.

[hmmmm...]

[noming a slice of key lime pie!]

You can see the lights of a small village far below . . . not too clearly, though, and it's a long way down.

[waves at the reflection??

and then pokes at the water.]

Swift's Heart

plaza: front of carts

plaza: behind the carts

aatherside: the hall of names

legacyside: the hall of names

aatherside: the revolving doors

doors: the vine room

doors: the challenge room

center: the spyglass rooms

legacyside: the altar

legacyside: the water garden

aatherside: the refurbished cabin

inner sanctum: the door

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