The Powers That Be ([personal profile] powersthatbe) wrote in [community profile] synodiporia_ooc2018-12-29 06:06 pm
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Test Drive #26

Welcome to the Synodiporia Test Drive Meme! Below the cuts there are two new prompts, and here are the prompts from previous test-drives, which you’re still welcome to use in this post. When you comment, be sure you specify what prompt you want to play with, and please put up your own threadstarter—it makes for a much more friendly environment than a forest of bare toplevels! OCs are especially welcome! Please take a quick look at our Directory & familiarize yourself with the concept and setting of the game before you jump in.

Our upcoming app round will run from January 1-8. Our next Jaunt will be Market of the Vanities, a political-ish thriller in a Purgatory still reeling from the Travelers’ last visit there. The accompanying walkabout, Brockengard, is a talking-animals adventure a la Redwall.

Prompt #66 is set in Liminal Space, reflecting a recent player-driven plot event.
Prompt #67 is a preview of events that may come to pass in the upcoming jaunt (or maybe not, who knows).

Prompt #66

Liminal Space is a flowered field under a clear sky - perfectly pleasant, if rimed with frost. It’s also a bowling alley. The lanes are made of flattened, lacquered holly; the balls and pins are flowers encased in ice; the ball returns are lined with pine garlands, and spit the balls out of lions’ heads. Knocked-over pins are reset by invisible machines.

Just behind the lanes is a figure-eight of more lacquered holly, lined with both doors to various Traveler-created rooms, and tables and chairs that look like stone but feel like vinyl and plastic to the touch.

And then there’s the shoe rental area.

Drawn upon the floor in white chalk is the outline of a fifteen-foot figure, who as far as can be told by the silhouette seems to be mostly a cloak with two pairs of limbs. At the foot of the outlined figure is a door. Imposing, gothic, dark walnut with wailing faces patterned in the wood grain, a sword, wand, trumpet, and crown are engraved on the panels. Crime scene tape decorates it in arcs and ruffles the way a string of fairy lights might usually, and the locking mechanism is a clock, with multiple ticking hands moving different directions and speed on ratchet-mounted dials that can be slid out or pressed in.

If any Traveler should touch the door and fail to open it, or step within the chalk outline, the sky overhead immediately darkens, as though a storm is imminent. Balls bowled down the lanes while the sky is darkened produce actual thunder; strikes call up lightning, sparking upward from the ground at a random point along the edge of the chalk outline. This lasts for a couple of minutes before the sky clears and the more peaceful mood reasserts itself.

Prompt #67

Every now and again in the Market of Tech Duinn, an angel or a demon oversteps their bounds where the Old Man of the Market can hear. Even in Purgatory, each is used to wielding supreme moral authority, and of course, they have the military power, while the inhabitants of Purgatory don’t.

The old man’s response is always the same. “By the power of Dhuosnos invested in Tech Duinn, by the Compact of Purgatory and the law of Desmesnes, I deprive you of the communion of the market and the fellowship of the hearth, I exclude you and all your brethren of the Tiers and Choirs of the Freedom of the Market, I deliver you into the Asphodel Meadows to wander unroofed and far from home, from this moment to the next verse of the Eschaton! So be it! So be it! So mote it be!”

With the tolling of a bell, the slamming shut of a book, and the dashing of a candle against the ground, wind carries his commands - for every angel or demon in the market, a page of parchment with letters writ upon it in fire flies to them, interposing between them and the center of the market, and pushing out steadily in a ring until every angel or demon is left beyond the outermost ring of tents, banished until the next day.

There’s something both ominous and comic about the way the pages herd them and pursue them from the middle of their conversations and transactions - but to the natives of the Market, half-fallen angels of the Sithen, ageless and magically undying once-human Immortali, or grey-fleshed lost souls of the Peregrines, there’s another meaning, and another mad scramble.

In that hubbub and commotion, it’s an absolute guarantee that at least some of the banished angels and demons dropped something valuable. Whether it be a burning sword, a forbidden text with teeth between its covers, a flower made of glass, a fruit of paradise, a vial of Sin or Virtue bottled for sale and spell, or any other rare and magical thing, it’s fair game, and the ragged opportunists of the Market miss very few chances to enrich themselves.

Afterwards, they might wander to the outskirts of the Market - to resume their conversations with angels and demons, maybe, or maybe to sell them back their own lost goods at a mark-up.
keepcalmcookon: (1 adjusting glasses)

[personal profile] keepcalmcookon 2019-01-14 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Ignis is going to grip Noct's shoulder a little bit harder, but not much.

"Piñara is telling the truth," Ignis will use that name, thank you. "That particular process is involuntary; I've heard similar from another Warrior of Light." He looks to Piñara. "The gods of Eos, whom we were created in the image of, and their messengers share some names with the primals of Hydaelyn, but they protect Eos, and summoning them does not drain Eos of aether--it only drains Noct and not permanently."

A pause. "I can see how this misunderstanding happened...."
levelthreehooligan: (Pouty angery)

[personal profile] levelthreehooligan 2019-01-17 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
“Yes, yes, I am now shockingly aware that we aren’t from the same planet, thanks,” she pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to shake off the last of the Echo’s hold. “It is entirely unbidden, the method of which Hydaelyn usually communicates with us has carried over into this space, in times of great emotions or importance we are ‘Blessed’ with a vision of the past,” she explains, but the sarcastic exaggeration on ‘blessed’ is not to be missed.

“My entire job is finding Primals and killing them, and for you to have just come out with that? Regardless, it was a gross exaggeration on my part and for that, I apologise,” she manages. “That your Asrals share the same name and likeness is a coincidence that I don’t know I want to explore,” Though she knows it’ll be bugging her for approximately forever. This is the second such world to carry likeness.

“Which does beg the question, just how did you get that Garb? It’s too close to be anything but genuine. Those patterns are wide-spread in Eorzea, especially.”
prince_of_pain: (why)

[personal profile] prince_of_pain 2019-01-20 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Ignis holding him back was probably a big reason of him calming down, but he was still on edge and glaring at the tiny person. She did just punch him in the face!

"Like I've been saying all day, a girl with cat ears somehow got into our world and gave it to me as a reward for beating Garuda. YOUR Garuda," Noct said, rather flatly. "I'm 'blessed' enough by the presence of the astrals, I don't need yours on top of that."
keepcalmcookon: (1 adjusting glasses)

[personal profile] keepcalmcookon 2019-01-20 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
Truthfully, it's fair to be annoyed after being punched in the face. Pretty standard reaction, even. Ignis will give him that.

Ignis is quiet again now that he's settled most of the confusion--although Noct needed that explanation more than Pinya did, it seems. He'll step in again if he needs to.
levelthreehooligan: (ding eyes)

[personal profile] levelthreehooligan 2019-01-21 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"Fucking... It was Allag tech, wasn't it? Trice damned Allags still managing to break things some five thousand years after their fall," she groans to herself.

"I am thankful that Garuda is the only one that made it across to your Realm, she at least is one of the less powerful Primals as of late. It must have been your link to the Astrals that kept you from being tempered. One who is already claimed by a God cannot be bound to another so easily." It's definitely not as simple as that, but oh well. She dusts herself off, looking at how Noct is having to be held back.

"You look like you want to talk about this with your fists, Sire," a grin blooms across her face. "That can be arranged should you wish. And, if your friend allows," she nods to Ignis.
prince_of_pain: (noct you have like one expression)

[personal profile] prince_of_pain 2019-01-22 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
She was absolutely not helping Noct's already sour mood, but it was mostly Ignis that was stopping him from straight up fighting again. "Yeah. Claimed by the gods. It's such a blessing. And what about my other friends? They didn't get chosen by shit and were still fine."

He couldn't really care less about this 'allegan' technology, as the whole god thing was kind of preoccupying him. "I'm sure I would've loved to fight your world's version of Ifrit, he's already a jackass in our world."

At least that's what all the legends say. Despite being chosen, he really didn't have much desire for either him or Luna to talk to the fire god.
keepcalmcookon: (1 arms crossed)

[personal profile] keepcalmcookon 2019-01-24 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, he won't," Ignis states bluntly; he's not going to let Noct fight for a stupid reason.

But he'll finally move his hand from Noct's shoulder, fairly certain that Noct won't burst into action without warning. He has some sensibilities. Sometimes Noct simply chooses not to use them.

Otherwise, he's letting this conversation simply continue.
levelthreehooligan: (git gud)

[personal profile] levelthreehooligan 2019-02-07 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Your loss," she shrugs, "But keep it in mind, you know, if you need to blow off some steam."

"As for your friends, they are under your protection are they not? You share with them your power, allow them to partake of your magic. That is a bond to yourself stronger than those that have been Tempered."

"And yeah, Ifrit's an Ass. Susano, though, he's pretty great. I feel bad when we have to put him down because he's a riot to fight," she grins, a little bit more manic than she intended to, but oh well.