HEARTFORGE - avante en garde (Session 4)

[idolpro]

You are in the heart of a massive forge. In front of you are tools, and your objective is clear - to use them to channel the strength of your heart and create.

What are you creating? Who can say. Only you - and only you'll know if - and when, it's good enough. The stories before you are not yours right now, but you'll make them yours soon enough.

And you will survive.

Comments

ROUND 2

[idolpro]

STORY

[idolpro]

[ The townsfolk outside scream in terror - they are under attack! No matter how strong the item you made before was, it could never prevent the forces arrayed against this land from descending as a violent maelstrom...but all hope is not lost. With what you've made, they can fight. They need only one thing from you - an item of protection to guard against the weapon of hearts that has been brandished against them.

This time, they do not just tell you a story. They also tell you what you are facing. What you must overcome. What you must protect them - and yourself from. If your hearts are not strong enough...

...You will suffer. ]

Once upon a time, there was young, determined child who saw all the horrors of the world every day. The child had to see them, you see. Because that was their role - to be the witness. So every day, they were trapped, born into a cage and forced only to dream of freedom and could do nothing about it.

Eventually, they grew tired. Tired of sitting and watching and waiting while everyone around them was suffering, despairing, and isolated. And one day, the child stood up.

Others stood with them, and before long they revolted. Those behind the horrors laughed, though. The child didn't understand why. Why would they be laughing, when they'd lost?

In the end, it turned out they knew what would happen - their plan was that it would happen when they were most ready for it. They knew the child would never have been able to just witness, and they knew those subject to being locked up and never able to go outside would eventually fight for their freedom. So the trap was sprung, and one by one those who followed the child were destroyed. And the child, having proven to be the greatest weapon of both the oppressed and their oppressors, lie on the ground with nothing left but broken wings, dreams, and hope.

This is Hopehope, a legendary sword. It is forged from a heart of great determination and determination and hope and hope and hope and hope and hope and hope. It menaces with spikes of blood and briarthorn. It is engraved with an image of an idol desperately wishing to be free. It is encrusted with gold. It exudes a depressing aura, haunted by an entrapped spirit.

TURN-IN

[idolpro]

ANTI-DETERMINATION (1)

[worthathousand]

Re: ANTI-DETERMINATION (1)

[unbr8kable]

[Despite her better judgement, Nemesis attempts purchasing a new memory, on the off chance it might be relevant. And as a change of pace, it actually is--a gentle and aimless New Years--no assignments, no responsibilities, nothing but good friends and hopeful public and a general feeling of good will]

[After all the despair gauntlet, it's welcome, and she smiles, tired but gentle]

ANTI-DETERMINATION (2)

[worthathousand]

Re: ANTI-DETERMINATION (2)

[snowbirds]

[Does a memory from >this current game count?

"I am willing to participate although I wonder how this experience will be."

"Anyways--you don't gotta do nothing you don't feel comfortable with...other than being here in the first place, I guess. You're still new, so it's our job to take care of you."

"You do not need to worry about me too much, honestly. In fact, if you have been here for a long time then that means you should be first to rest."

[Although in a game, you should have determination for victory, it seems as if both of them seem to care more about each other's wellbeings more so. They both insist to hold back and not force themselves instead of pushing each other to do the best they can within the rules of the game.]

DESPAIR (1)

[worthathousand]

Re: DESPAIR (1)

[worthathousand]

[ (cont.)
This time, as she speaks, she begins heating the iron for the next weapon. ]

I have not spoken of it much, because... the Hades who is here is not the same man as Miura Hiroto.

[ there's a desire to believe that, though it's not entirely backed with conviction. ]

When he arrived in our dorm, I was ready to kill him. But Cardinal did not want me to treat him as that man. And, in that, they were right, as they so often were.

But there was a different Miura Hiroto here, once. That Miura had all his memories. I think, perhaps, he even wanted me to kill him... when he told me he did not believe he could ever do enough to atone. Because he had killed me. The whole village.

[ a soft, bleak laugh ] And every last one of my children.

[ there should be more than enough despair in that. it comes off her in waves, despite the fact that she only really intends her audience for this to be Nemesis. ]

DESPAIR (2)

[worthathousand]

DESPAIR (3)

[worthathousand]

DESPAIR (4)

[worthathousand]

DESPAIR (5)

[worthathousand]

DESPAIR (6)

[worthathousand]

PEACE / HEALING

[worthathousand]

FREEDOM (1)

[worthathousand]

FREEDOM (2)

[worthathousand]

FROST

[worthathousand]

ANTI-GOLD

[worthathousand]

THE WEAPON

[unbr8kable]

[Once all the team's feelings have been infused into the materials, the final item of protection is forged: a frost kusarigama to be wielded by Fearbane as it protects the town.

Kusarigama are specialised for countering swords, while this one is specially made to go up against Hopehope: a keen, curved blade forged with calmness to counter the sword's determination; chains formed from seemingly unending wells of icy despair to catch the blade's hopes in favor of Avante's own--chill the blood and make the briarthorn too brittle to hurt others, and the understanding and peace and feelings of freedom are enough to slice through the gold and perhaps even shatter the so-called legendary sword itself, freeing the spirit trapped inside.]

Re: RESULT

[idolpro]

This is Lifeslurps, a legendary kusarigama. It is forged from a heart of great despair and despair and despair and despair and despair and despair and despair. It is engraved with an image of hesitant idols tending to doves. It is encrusted with frost. It exudes a calming aura, haunted by a spirit of despair and peace and peace.

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[worthathousand]

...I think this tale might come from sensitIV.

[ oh no. oh no she didn't consider that. ]

Re: DISCUSSION

[snowbirds]

[There's a bit of forlorn sadness mixed in listening to the tale. There's extra pangs of sadness when it comes to the parts speaking of those trapped, but all-in-all it is just a lot of sad acceptance.]

It seems unfortunate that we have to try and break such a weapon of protection... but it would be nice if we can break the child free from such a story.

Re: DISCUSSION

[worthathousand]

[ a bit later ]

I am... making a list of what it seems we need. That is, memories or displays of emotion about:
- choosing to give something up, or stop fighting
- a second instance of choosing to give something up or stop fighting
- despair
- a second despair
- a third despair
- a fourth despair
- a fifth despair
- a sixth despair

- either choosing peace, or healing wounds

- being released from confinement, or freedom in general
- another about being released from confinement, or freedom in general

- something to counter briarthorn
- ...and something that is the opposite of gold?

I'm not sure about that last one. In Creation, gold is associated with journeys. You could also say it is the symbol of the Solar ah— the Solar Exalted. So... perhaps Hades and I could talk about our feelings on Wyld Hunts?