Saber

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

"What kind of proving ground? I'm still not entirely sure what's going on, here," Jeriah took his eyes from a particularly faded card depicting a twisted spire beseiged by lightning, closing the book automatically, "it's all kind of...I don't know, surreal?" That was, perhaps, the most mild way he could have phrased it. True, the shock of his death and removal from familiar elements still remained; but there was an eager, nigh voracious curiosity that had crept its way to the forefront.

Rose's gaze had lost its former melancholy, returning to an unreadable placidity. She folded her arms across her stomach, only slightly turning her head to face the Pariah Dream. "The Hollow Egress serves as a kind of nexus, in Navain." Sensing the coming question, she pointed a finger towards the building looming behind them. "Navain, by the way, is the place you're in. The, uh, world you're in." Jeriah nodded, but offered no interruption. "You're takin' all of this pretty well, over all, Jerry. I expect some of the others might be a bit more, uh, intense about the situation." She looked away from him, out over the field. "They're already starting to show up."

Straining his eyes offered no indication that the two of them were anything but alone. The grassy expanse had not changed in the slightest, save for the earlier fleeing of birds. "I guess you're right," he said, sighing afterward, taking a few slow steps toward the concrete monolith, "I should probably be flipping my shit about now, huh?" From the corner of his eye, he saw the Guide smile. "I guess anywhere's better than New Graeline, though. Do you want to explain some of what you're talking about? Or should I just dive into The Hollow Egress?"

She's got a point. You're being awfully chill about all of this. You did kind of die a few minutes ago, right? If that's the case, why does this place feel like a huge relief? It has to do with more than just getting away from that thing, doesn't it?

"No way, that'd be suicide!" Rose turned fully, lifting her right hand to point an accusing finger at him, "It's my job to look after you and the others, so listen up! I'm only gonna run this down, for you, once. Got it?" Jeriah nodded, placing his book-and-chain into the nook of his armpit. The girl waited a moment before finally nodding in return. "Ok, so you're currently in what could be referred to as a disjointed reality. That means that what you're seeing isn't what other people from your world are seeing. This place twists the meaning of 'time and space'. Where you're standing here, at the entrance, there are others who are just now noticing my presence. Soon, I'll be talking to them. However, I'll also, maybe, still be talking to you.

"How does that work...?"

"Well, s'pretty complicated. I'll explain the more nuanced points of that once you've managed to make your way through the Egress. For now, just accept what I'm sayin' for what it is. You're going to need to meet up with the others inside that place, once they've entered, since it seems like you're gonna be the 'first' to go in. When you're in there, you guys are gonna have to cooperate to find your Anchors." Unfolding her arms, she took a few brisk steps towards the entrance. "I can't enter, there, so it's all on you and the other Dreams to figure out exactly how you're gonna accomplish that. You've all been granted Manifestations. Like your book, there. I dunno the specifics of your power, so don't ask. That's for you to discover."

"Right, got it. So why did you call it a 'proving ground'?"

"Ah, yeah, sorry, totally forgot to answer ya on that one. This place, like I said, is a nexus. In there you'll be meeting up with the others. In the center, prolly a ways down, you'll each find something called an Anchor. An Anchor serves to supplement your Manifestation, and your existence in this world; which means that you and your new 'friends' will be able to interact with one another on the same 'plane' of this world, rather than havin' to go it alone, once ya get out. It won't just be you guys in there, though. A place like this attracts all sorts of, uh, 'phantasms' I guess you could call 'em." She paused, looking around for a moment. "I'm not sure how to put it in terms other than 'a bunch of things that want to kill you and steal your existence for themselves'."

What the fuck is she on about? It makes sense, in a few ways...but there's a lot that I'm not being told. Wonder why she can't go in...or what a Dream is. I guess we'll find out, on the way...

"I know, I know, it prolly sounds like I'm avoiding giving you the big picture. I'm not really allowed to tell you a lot of what's going on, at least not until you get your Anchor. On the plus, though, once you do that there'll be a chance for you to go back home!" Jeriah nodded, but his heart felt heavy. Returning home didn't sound nearly as appealing as what the strange girl was telling him. "Of course, all of ya will have to meet up with me, as a group, when you stomp your way outta the Egress. I'll tell ya more, then, ok?" She offered him a look that could only be sympathetic and made a small motion toward the building's entrance.

"Before ya go, though, let me tell ya one more thing, ok?" Rose didn't wait for a response. "Be careful in there. The 'phantasms' aren't your only potential enemy. Pariah Dreams don't always get along. You seem like a nice kid, Jeriah. I don't want ya getting hurt or pushed around; so watch ya back. Once you start making some progress, I can fill you in on the things going on in this world and why you're all here. Ya might even be able to find a Node or two in there to communicate with me. Keep ya eyes open for anything that interests ya. Now, I gotta focus on the others. Which means it's about time for you to get started. Once you're ready, just step through the doorway. Wait around in the 'lobby' for a minute and the others should show up."

"I...yeah, sure, thanks Rose." He didn't know what else to say. Despite all she had said, there were huge gaps in his understanding. Pressing her didn't seem productive, so Jeriah simply did as he was told. Stepping through the shattered maw brought him to something entirely unfamiliar.

It looked like a hospital's waiting room. Detritus of all sorts littered the floor, and a staunch silence permeated the entire area. Jeriah tilted his head, looking back. Through the windows he did not see the grassy field, or anything at all. A shiver rolled up his spine, but the newly appointed Dream fought it down; instead bringing his book before him and opening it gingerly. He would have to familiarize himself with them, should he expect to understand anything about what Rose had called his 'Manifestation'.

That leaves a lot of questions for us, doesn't it? If we survive, maybe we'll get a straight answer out of that weird bitch, yeah? Going 'home', though? ...Don't make me laugh. Better keep sharp, Jeriah. Who the fuck knows what's going to happen, here.

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

Alright, cool, looks like it's my turn. That'd mean everyone has posted and things are, to me, anyway, going super smoothly.

I'll probably be hitting up people for collaborations. I said, in the Discord, sometime yesterday that I'd begin work on my post today. That probably won't happen, given a few things I have to take care of, today.

For the most part, I'll be out and about. If anyone needs me, or anything of the sort, feel free to shoot me a PM. Chances are that will be the easiest way to get a hold of me.

Thinking that I'll start on the post tomorrow. If things go well, though, it may be sometime this evening.

Hope everyone is doing well. Talk to y'all sometime soon. ^^

You rent a shared apartment, and when you go in for the first time, the profile pic above is your new roomate

Looks fairly edible...

That's nice.

What Are You Listening To?

What Are You Listening To?

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

Yeah, the whole posting order idea has pretty much been eliminated through conversation. Sorry for not making that explicitly known to those who weren't present in the Discord. Whoever wants to post, so far as I am concerned, may do so whenever they wish.

So, yeah, feel free to go at it. If anyone wants a greeting from Rose or anything specific, in terms of dialogue with her (or Jeriah) hit me up and we'll do a collab-thing.

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

@Vashonn I'm doing alright, myself. Just got back home and such.

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

Got the intro posted up. Like, uh, last night.

How's everyone, today?

Cracks in The Sky//Core Catastrophe

Contained Corporeal Reality Shard 019.
New Graeline City, Fountain Park.
Jeriah Sciarra.

The fountains continued their steady flow, the sound of sprinkling water a constant contrast to staccato footfalls. Jeriah ran unevenly, clutching at his crimson-weeping side, each step becoming more and more erratic; his balance fading as he made blurry progress deeper into a familiar maze. The night was crisp, the blood leaking through his fingers chilling the digits as the wind pressed against him.

God, no, God, no, God, no, God, no that thought hadn't stopped, the boy on autopilot as he ran for his life. The creature that pursued him was a sleek crystalline thing, with cracked mirror-skin and a void filled caldera serving as its face. It kept a leisurely pace, languidly loping on all four bizarrely elongated limbs behind him, contorting its self to change direction and avoiding collision with a fountain's low rim. Other than the strange scrape of its appendages against smooth stone, it never made a sound. Or, if it did, Jeriah could not hear it over the sound of his own labored breathing.

Glancing over his shoulder, he let his eyes fall on the creature in full. It was taller than he by half and bore a semblance to something human, save for its pointed digits and the thin, segmented tail that seemed to twitch and thrash at the air noiselessly. The void of its face seemed to ripple within its uneven confines, pushing at the air around it. A pressure struck Jeriah in mid stride, sending him into an uneven flip.

The world was upside down, the reflective creature taking the place of the moon in his vision. He had cried out, initially, but the sound was cut short by the strange pressure that had come to encapsulate him. Straining against it was a natural impulse, one he had no choice but to indulge, though the action was ultimately futile. Jeriah felt himself hit the side of a fountain, and could somewhat perceive the pain from it; for a moment. Darkness overtook his left eye, and feeling fled from his body altogether.

What the fuck do you want?! He had wanted to scream out, but only managed a mangled gurgle. Jeriah tried to prop himself upright, using the stone wall, but fell into a graceless heap; staring, for a bare moment, at a star-filled sky. Silver filled his vision, splayed digits clasping onto his head easily and digging in just enough to find purchase against his skull. The weight that surrounded him intensified, pulling the air from his lungs and making his entire body too heavy to move. His fingers twitched uselessly, his legs unmoving as he was lifted upward, a quiet hiss filling his ears...and his mind.

Layered Reality ???
Hollow Egress, Navain.
Jeriah Sciarra//???

The sun kissed his brow and seared his opening eyes. Jeriah drew in a slow breath and rolled in the grass, draping the crook of his arm over his face. What he had seen was more than a relief. He had found himself in a field, strewn with small bushes and lush grass still crowned with dew. The air was untainted by the smells he had become so accustomed to. That mattered little, though.

"I'm alive," he said, his voice soft against the chirping of birds and slow buzzing of nearby insects, "I'm..." Jeriah's voice caught in his throat, but a smile spread across his face. The warmth of the world fell on him in affirming waves. Something rattled as he sat up, something that had been attached to his wrist. Something, he realized upon opening his eyes, that was gigantic and gold; a bracelet, maybe, but it didn't immediately strike him that way. The ring bore a chain, which bore a book; which lay splayed for him to observe. Instead of the landscape, he leaned to closer examine them.

"Yeah, ya sure are," it was loud enough to drive a small flock of birds away, and feminine despite its raucous tone, "what'sya name?" He turned to look, glossing over the few odd flowers scattered amidst the grass to seek the scream-source. She was framed in the doorway of a derelict building, one that looked eaten with age and overwrought with damage. It seemed intensely out of place. Everything seemed intensely out of place, quite suddenly.

She was slender and dark, with a demure, tired cast to her. Strangely, she didn't seem out of place. At least not compared to what Jeriah was used to seeing. The girl wore simple, but modern clothing, all in gray, save for a pair of black rubber sandals; a heavy hoodie and jeans that seemed to have survived more than a night or two. Her drawl he couldn't recognize as Tantian. Her hair was a vibrant shade of pink, he noted, and was cut to neatly frame her face but-

Hold on a second, Jeriah. You're forgetting something.

"How did you hear what I said?" it sprang from his lips, resounding with some volume in her direction. Within a moment he was on his feet, reeling in the book. She regarded him with incredulity, though he could not discern where her gaze was directed; swearing, for a moment, that she glanced at the book. "What is this place?! What happened to me-"

"Because I'm not human, ya mook," the girl yelled in her strange way, waving a hand at him dismissively, "and don't worry, I'm gonna explain everything once all the Dreams are here." Lowering her hand, the girl separated reality in front of her. Or, at least, she opened a portal; disappearing in a subtle distortion of the doorway she had been framed in. The same distortion parted the grass in front of Jeriah. "Name's Rose. You're the Nuncio of Ill Fortune. You're near the Hollow Egress. You should take a minute to look over your cards."

"Are you serious? The what of Ill Fortune? My name is Jeriah..." Regardless, he had already brought the book into his hands and began to pore over the cards. "Wait...what is the Hollow Egress?"

"It's a proving ground. Nice to meet ya, by the way." Rose smiled, along with the words, though there was something sad in the way she looked him over.

What Are You Listening To?