Heart Game: Sol [#02]

[idolpro]

Note: please be as cryptic as possible regarding any specific actions your character takes when discussing them in the game channel to avoid influencing everyone else!

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Level 1

[bluerosestyle]

[bluerosestyle]

[The moment you step through the door, a bright flash of light blinds you.

When your eyes finally adjust to your surroundings, you find yourself standing on a road paved in stones, surrounded by nature. The air is clean but chilly, the sun is bright and shining down on you... but it still doesn’t feel warm. This seems to be an extremely cold Winter day.

If you weren't wearing them before, you find yourself wearing your warmest Taisho clothes.]

[syncintohell]

[ At least this time he isn't freezing to death, needing to be carried back inside. Still, the memory of that experience means that Shu isn't eager to stay out in the cold.

Does the road look like it leads to civilization in either direction? ]

[bluerosestyle]

[The road looks the same in both directions, but you can hear the sound of... branches falling from a high place coming from the right, does that help?]

[syncintohell]

[ it is the sound of something happening, which is better than nothing.

Looking up and walking to the right, bracing to jump out of the way if something is going to fall on him ]

[bluerosestyle]

[You'll be fine, Shu, walking on a paved road doesn't go against the Taboo Index. Probably.

By the time the path takes a turn left, it's clear that the noise comes from somewhere deep inside the forest. However, at this point you can see that this road leads down to a village! Where do you want to go?]

[syncintohell]

[ he got his paranoia back a few days ago, let him live.

weighing how much he wants to get inside versus how irritating it will be to come back out to investigate that later if he needs to.

.......To the noise. ]

[bluerosestyle]

[Good luck, Shu! You try to locate the source of the sound, and your quest leads you into the forest. Thankfully, nature is very kind in this world, so at least you won't have to brush off any mosquitoes or predators or anything of the sort.

You come out to a clearing and find yourself facing...



...a very big, majestic tree. Well, this picture is what you see at first, but then the sight changes even as you look at it; the trunk and its enormous roots take on a deep madder color, and the branches and leaves disappear.

The monstrous tree you first saw is now little more than a gigantic trunk, pruned to exaggeration. It has a couple of branches in moss green and cotton candy pink color, and more than a few in navy blue color. In fact, it looks like the navy blue color is starting to spread onto the trunk.]

[syncintohell]

[ . . . He reaches up to touch the tree, as if that will solidify for him what is truth and what is hallucination.

is the red of the tree the same red as the madder on his uniform, and the others matching respective other units? ]

[bluerosestyle]

[Welcome back to the Church! Yay! The light of the day is completely gone, but that's not the worst of it-- everything has been frozen. There's ice everywhere. Walk slowly and carefully, abuse your ability or roll 1d2 for balance, the choice is yours!

Needless to say, it's cold. It's also eerily silent.]

[syncintohell]

[ he'll walk slowly and carefully, after his experience with the stairs. Is the sword still providing warmth? If so, he'll hold it tightly to him.

Even if it's silent and apparently abanndoned, he won't let that stop him from calling out— in case there is another here, in the cold and the darkness just as he is. ]

What on earth has transpired here? If there is anyone else here, answer me!

[ he does his best to sound authoritative, despite the cold and the eeriness. ]

[bluerosestyle]

[The sword is a small comfort, yes! It's still warm and glowing.

No one answers, and the only sound he can hear is the sound of his own voice.]

[syncintohell]

[ Honestly, then, he won't stop speaking. If his voice is his only company, then it is far better than no company at all.

He attempts to make for the room he had dinner in earlier— where he saw the vision of a younger Sol at dinner, and he ate with the rest of the church's inhabitants— retracing his steps through the church to see what has changed there. ]

Fine, if answers are not provided then I shall seek them myself!

[bluerosestyle]

[There are no traces of food to be seen anywhere-- and of course, no people. But not everything is in its place. It all looks as if the people Shu knew had to run away from there, or had suddenly vanished from existence.

The corridor looks the same as well. No people, no changes. Answers don't seem to be forthcoming.]

[syncintohell]

[ It's just as well that he's never particularly interested in food.

The state of the table is concerning-- he'll check the children's room, and if nothing is there, the room he was put up with. There was a window there, he recalls. He may be able to see the outside world, and if it has been likewise buried in winter. ]

Tch, tch, tch! To think this place has come to this— ah, the world is truly cruel!

[bluerosestyle]

[The children's room is also empty, there are some toys outside of their chests but they look like they're trapped in ice. Hopefully they weren't important to anyone, because they sure look like they're getting ruined like this.

Shu's room is less cold, and the bed seems like it can be used, maybe??? The window shows a very white world out there, apparently devoid of people. There are some steps in the snow, though. They seem recent, and were made by just one pair of feet.]

[syncintohell]

[ !!!

. . . shu is going to jump out the window immediately, is there something I need to roll for that or can he just go ahead ]

Level 2

[bluerosestyle]

[bluerosestyle]

[You seem to be inside a house. There are three children sitting on the floor, looking excitedly at an old man who's sitting on a chair. It’s warm and it smells like someone who knows what they're doing is baking something. You've seen these children before-- it's Sol, the girl who looks a little like Selka and the black-haired boy from earlier.

Sol turns around to look at you, and glances at the other two as if to ask them what to do about you. But they are too interested in the old man’s stories to pay attention, so he gives up and stands up to greet you on his own.]

Who are you? Did you come to hear my grandfather’s stories too?

[syncintohell]

[ This is... Sol's past? ]

I did not come to interrupt them, at any rate.

[bluerosestyle]

[he smiles shyly]

This story is my favorite, but I've heard it before. Many times.

Um, do you need anything?

[syncintohell]

[ An adorable small boy, his weakness. He smiles back. ]

If you do not mind, and I would be no intrusion, perhaps it would be nice to hear a story so fondly treasured.

[bluerosestyle]

[To be fair, child Sol is unfairly adorable.]

Sure! Come sit with us.

[He pulls a chair for him. The black-haired boy glances back at him with suspicion, but Sol waves his hand at him and he shrugs.]

You're an adult, so sit here-- grandpa, can you start again? He wants to hear Bercouli's story too.

[The grandfather nods kindly and begins his story again: “Bercouli and the Northern White Dragon.”

Of all the founders of Rulid, Bercouli was the most skilled with the sword, and he served as the first chief guard of the village. He lived there three hundred years ago, a number of stories about his exploits had been passed down and inflated in the telling. This was one of the most fantastical tales about his exploits.

One midsummer day, Bercouli saw a large transparent stone rising and sinking in the Rul River. He fished out the object and was mystified to learn that it was a hunk of ice. Bercouli followed the river upstream until he reached the End Mountains, the very boundary of the human realm, where the river narrowed down until it met the mouth of a massive cave.

Bercouli made his way inside, pushing against the freezing winds that blew out of the cave, and, after braving many dangers, he arrived at the great chamber in the very deepest part. In it, he found an enormous white dragon, which was said to protect all the borders of the human world. When he saw that the beast was sleeping atop an immeasurable mountain of treasure, Bercouli boldly snuck forward and chose a single beautiful sword from the pile: the Blue Rose sword. He carefully picked up the sword so as not to wake the dragon and was about to scamper off for safety when blue roses grew around his feet and locked them in place. He fell over on the spot, and the dragon woke up...

The children look very interested!! Unlike this, which was written by SAO's author, Sol's grandfather's storytelling is actually good!

...Anyway, Sol has been watching Shu instead of his grandfather for a while now. jiiiiiii]

[syncintohell]

[ The content of the story is such that it could be found in any heroic tale-- but he respects the story-teller's manner and ability to captivate his young audience. And, the Blue Rose sword catches his attention.

Not enough that he's distracted from tiny!Sol, though. Quietly, so not as to talk over his grandfather's story: ]

Your favorite, you said? Is it the story's sword that draws your attention?

[bluerosestyle]

[he speaks quietly too, but full of enthusiasm]

Yes, and Hero Bercouli! I want to be a swordsman too when I grow up. I hope I get that Calling...