INSIDE THE STORY (RUN TWO)

[dramatispersonae]

[You find yourself standing on a circular stone stage, in an open-air theater in the round. You’re at the edge of the stage looking toward its centre; a massive tree is growing up through the stone there, taking up most of your view. Surrounding the stage are tiered seats of gemstones and silver, in Aather team colors. The seats, like the stage, are being overtaken by riotous plantlife; thorny rose vines climb between them here and there, along with patches of moss, glowing flowers, and multicolored morning glories. A few of the seats look like they are in need of serious repair.

Around the stage you will notice that there are seven exits, all equidistant from one another. They are all different shapes, sizes and styles, but it’s oddly hard to pin down specifics from here; you’ll have to step off of the stage in order to differentiate them from each other.

In the seats, though you can't see your audience, you can hear the faint whisper of voices, waiting to see what move you make. You’ll also find two objects in your hand: a fine quill pen, and a crystalline hope seed.]

Comments

CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[You get a sense that the quill pen can be used to rewrite things in this place, and the hope seed can be used to create drastic new growth. There is a hot current of power in both objects, resonant with the key around your neck.]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[mirroredvalue]

[...Oh, I have a pen again. I guess the Story actually really liked that Pen thing? But hmm, that hope seed seems pretty important...

Well, let's check out the exits, first.]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[There are seven in all.

-A pair of large wooden double doors that look like they belong on a castle.
-A rose-covered trellis; a curtain of ivy obscures what’s on the other side.
-An open archway made of ice; cold mist obscures what’s on the other side.
-A villa doorway, pitted and crusted with sand.
-A translucent marble door, its carvings softened and water-worn into illegibility.
-A door patterned in black and white squares; its proportions are cartoonishly off, and the knob looks a little like a grinning face.
-A pair of carved folding doors.

Head through one, or investigate this area further?]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[mirroredvalue]

[Then, we'll investigate further for now. Let's check out the Jasper seating section.

Like there was any chance I wouldn't check that out.]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[The jasper seats are covered in various kinds of climbing plants; almost all of the seats are cracked and broken, with vines curling up through them and flower buds just beginning to bloom.]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[heteronormative]

Huh. Lil like Three, back when.

[checking out that hooj tree]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[mirroredvalue]

[Then, I'll give some key energy to those flower buds, and.. Yes, let's move on to the main attraction: The tree.]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[oedipuswreck]

[gasps, turning around quickly, breath catching]

This—this is . . .

[hesitantly looking at the pen, moving it around in his fingertips . . . then approaching the tree, reaching out to touch it]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[justaking]

[hmmm]

[checks out the broken seats, if he can]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[The flower buds glow softly, drinking in the energy, but they'll take time to bloom.

As you approach the tree, the silhouettes of a group of women flicker into life beneath it--a shadowy chorus, familiar to some of Aather’s older hands. They sing, in unison:]

“Once upon a time there was a world that was only a world, until the Darkness threatened it and all other worlds. To hold the Darkness until it could be defeated, a great book was opened, and turned the world and its people into a story. So were Aather and its Dramatis Personae written, and so was the Darkness trapped, by being written as the ultimate villain to be overcome. Heroes and knights were brought from other worlds, to eventually defeat it and save all . . .

But the Story is being unmade now, by its own heroes. It pages are torn, and the Darkness is hungry.”

[They extend their hands towards you: an accusation? An entreaty? You can’t tell which.]

“Have you come to finish the unmaking, or reverse it? What are you looking for? Why have you come here?”

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[As you approach the tree, the silhouettes of a group of women flicker into life beneath it--a shadowy chorus, familiar to some of Aather’s older hands. They sing, in unison:]

“Once upon a time there was a world that was only a world, until the Darkness threatened it and all other worlds. To hold the Darkness until it could be defeated, a great book was opened, and turned the world and its people into a story. So were Aather and its Dramatis Personae written, and so was the Darkness trapped, by being written as the ultimate villain to be overcome. Heroes and knights were brought from other worlds, to eventually defeat it and save all . . .

But the Story is being unmade now, by its own heroes. It pages are torn, and the Darkness is hungry.”

[They extend their hands towards you: an accusation? An entreaty? You can’t tell which.]

“Have you come to finish the unmaking, or reverse it? What are you looking for? Why have you come here?”

[virtuallyroyalty]

... I'm just going to say what everyone's thinking. These doors symbolise realms, right?

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[As you approach the tree, the silhouettes of a group of women flicker into life beneath it--a shadowy chorus, familiar to some of Aather’s older hands. You could pass by them to touch it, but it might not be a good idea until they're finished. They sing, in unison:]

“Once upon a time there was a world that was only a world, until the Darkness threatened it and all other worlds. To hold the Darkness until it could be defeated, a great book was opened, and turned the world and its people into a story. So were Aather and its Dramatis Personae written, and so was the Darkness trapped, by being written as the ultimate villain to be overcome. Heroes and knights were brought from other worlds, to eventually defeat it and save all . . .

But the Story is being unmade now, by its own heroes. It pages are torn, and the Darkness is hungry.”

[They extend their hands towards you: an accusation? An entreaty? You can’t tell which.]

“Have you come to finish the unmaking, or reverse it? What are you looking for? Why have you come here?”

[mirroredvalue]

...Have there really been seven realms already?

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[heteronormative]

UH whoa I dunno. I want to help?

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[You can, but there isn't anything in particular that stands out about them--aside from the fact that they're made out of gemstone and silver. The closest damaged seat to you is a row of ruby benches, cracked through by grapevines that are slowly making their way over to the jasper seats.]

[virtuallyroyalty]

That sounds about right, yeah!

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[mirroredvalue]

...Would it be weird if Star said "both"? Don't want to completely destroy the Story, but need to help it change... What Star's looking for is a way to let things change without hurting things too much.

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[justaking]

[frowns thoughtfully, but tucks that bit of info away and checks out the exits]

[mirroredvalue]

Let's see... Beauty's place, Cove, Wonderland, Camelot, some Forest... what else was there?

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[The shadows bend closer together, blending for a moment before moving back into their original positions]

"Then there are many paths that you can take."

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[oedipuswreck]

[freezes up]

I . . . I don't know . . .

[virtuallyroyalty]

Uh. I arrived to Aather while the cove was in full swing, so I really only know about stuff since then and Beauty's place myself.

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[theriverlethe]

[ Acheron takes a moment to look dubiously at the pen before examining the exits. ]

Re: CENTER STAGE (Dramatis Personae)

[motifated]

[There are seven in all.

-A pair of large wooden double doors that look like they belong on a castle.
-A rose-covered trellis; a curtain of ivy obscures what’s on the other side.
-An open archway made of ice; cold mist obscures what’s on the other side.
-A villa doorway, pitted and crusted with sand.
-A translucent marble door, its carvings softened and water-worn into illegibility.
-A door patterned in black and white squares; its proportions are cartoonishly off, and the knob looks a little like a grinning face.
-A pair of carved folding doors.

Head through one, or investigate this area further?]