[center][hider=Variance]The taste of copper stuck to every tooth; creeping down to pool along uneven surfaces, before it touched tender and tortured tongue. Above, though through tightly clamped lids, spots of green and yellow invaded the fading darkness of recently inflicted unconsciousness. August Archer knew that he had lost, simply because victory never came with the leaden cloak of pain pulled tightly about his throat.

[color=00FF7F]"August, you ok?"[/color] his Shroud asked from whatever Abyssal Pocket she currently inhabited, sounding only mildly concerned. [color=00FF7F]"Messing around with Peace is fine, and all, but we gotta save the world, buddy!"[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]"Shu'up Pomona..."[/color] Hands were on him, light hands, weaving a healing aura that pushed ugly azure alongside undulating green and spastic yellow. His weapon had dematerialized, along with his Oracle Emblem. [color=CD5C5C]"I didn't want to fight her, anyway."[/color]

[color=00FF7F]"Least it's out of the way, now, right?"[/color] Pomona sounded closer. Like she was whispering with her lips lingering just beyond his ears. [color=00FF7F]"Events from here on out fall into a strange category!"[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]"Peace Lunarmada and August Archer can't be friends in this world, can they?"[/color] He didn't open his eyes. After all, Pomona was very near; even if no one else could sense the Shroud. Her eyes, yellow and restless...a too-wide smile beneath; all aimed at him. Waiting. [color=CD5C5C]"Because if Peace doesn't die tonight, the Hourglass manifests..."[/color]

So much more went unsaid. Pomoma nodded, placing a hand on August's cheek. Ethereal and tinged with a warmth that made no sense to the waking mind, she was gentle.

[color=00FF7F]"Killing Peace, tonight, gives us access to the Prismatic Hourglass."[/color] Excitement. Unusual for a Shroud. [color=00FF7F]"We can change it all!"[/color] Fingers laced through August's, invisible and all too weightless. [color=00FF7F]"All you have to do is..."[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]"Kill the heart of this world."[/color] He nodded. Peace hadn't seen his Honest Blade, just the strange boon of his Oracle Emblem. [color=CD5C5C]"Change everything by using me..."[/color] August felt Pomona's laughter, and the shake of her head. [color=CD5C5C]"Fine. We change everything, using each other."[/color]

That was the way of it. 

Shroud and Seeker. 

Honest Blade and Honorable Rival.

Yet, here he was; plotting to kill a girl who had done nothing wrong. 

Peace Lunarmada, host of the Prismatic Hourglass...would die, again, tonight. [/hider][/center]

[center][b]
☆
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Ok, thanks a lot for reading through that. I'm gonna do my best to explain a few things.

[B]Shrouds? Seekers?[/B]

[I]Yes.[/i]

Shrouds are the sworn protectors and guides of those who can be called Seekers. Perhaps it is more accurate to think of them as phantoms. Each Shroud in existence is dead, lending their powers to a chosen candidate.

A Seeker is someone who is either chosen by a specific Shroud to inherit their Oracle Emblem, or someone who is a Seeked Aspirant; one who has yet to obtain an Oracle Emblem. An Oracle Emblem is a small token kept on the body, usually a trinket or something personal to the Seeker, imbued by the Shroud. An Oracle Emblem grants a Seeker with the abilities once possessed by the Shroud.

Alongside the Oracle Emblem is the Honest Blade, a weapon said to be crafted and empowered by the Seeker's soul. An Honest Blade also offers a unique ability, when utilized. These weapons are often kept secret by Seekers, as their use will cause any nearby Oracle Emblems to begin emitting a Resonance.

[B]Ok. Resonance?[/b]

[I]Resonance is magic. As such it is divided into five main categories. This is a key difference between the world of Prismatic Hourglass and our own. 

Resonance can be found in all things, but to varying degrees. This includes humans and their capacity for storing and maintaining control over Resonance. 

Resonance Sickness is caused by overloading the Resonance Pathways in one's body. A dangerous state that can lead to crippling exhaustion and other ill effects. Eventually, casting while in such a state can turn one into a Shroud.[/I]

(In the event of Seeker death, you may use your current Seeker as a Shroud.)

[I]While they may physically recover in hours, or days, a Seeker places tremendous strain on their Resonance Pathways when they summon their Honest Blade.[/I]

[B]Elemental Demense[/B]: 

The Grand House of Resonance usage, the Elemental Demenses are wildly varied and used to mark the directions of a compass. [b]Volatile is Fire, and thus holds Cardinal South[/b]. [b]Tempestuous is Wind and Cardinal West[/b]. [b]Flowing is Water and Cardinal North[/b]. [b]Steadfast is Earth and holds Cardinal East[/b].

(Since these are just Elemental magics, I won't waste a lot of time on them. Each Seeker can have their own proficiency in a Cardinal, as well as that of their Shroud. The Honest Blade produced by a Seeker always matches their original Cardinal.)

[B]Data[/b]: Manipulation of the surrounding world through exertion of Resonance, without falling into an Elemental Demense, while managing to change the parameters of its target. Data Resonance is incredibly difficult to master, but surprisingly common. Central Cardinal is the domain of Data Resonance.

[i]Examples[/i]: 1) Changing the solidity, size or shape of an object. 2) Forcing Resonance Overload via an opposing spell. 3) Creating a Contained Space.

(Examples will be 1-3. 1 is early game, 2 is mid, 3 is end.)

[B]This still doesn't explain where we'll be, or why![/B]

[I]With good cause! We will be playing the roles of Seekers. Displaced Seekers at that; those called to a strange reality by the Prismatic Hourglass. Here, they seem to be experiencing a sort of 'Reset'. While the Seekers are aware of their own situation, they may not yet know of other Seekers. Shrouds may come and go as they wish, capable of anonymous communication between themselves.

Peace Lunarmada, highschool student and The Prism, is at the heart of this matter; though she is not yet aware. Execution will cause the Prismatic Hourglass to coalesce within Cardinal City. From there, it is to be a fairly straightforward attempt to acquire the prize.

However, this game has been tampered with.[/I]

[B]What does the Prismatic Hourglass do?[/B]

[I]It gives the user their heart's desire. That's all. Seekers, at least those in this scenario, will be aware of the staggering potential of The Prismatic Hourglass.[/I]

[b]☆[/b] 

I think that's all I'll do, for now. Let me know what you think. I'll post up Character Sheets once they're done.

Thanks for dropping in. Questions are welcome.

[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/179122-prismatic-hourglass-scenario-1/ooc]OOC[/url] is up☆!