THE (SHARD)BEACH EPISODE 🌊🛹

[lavenfallen]

After a grueling two weeks filled to the brim with pain and suffering, a break is more than deserved. So while Gyles is far from a planner of activities, he'll make sure everyone (even the NPCs. stares directly at Redd.) knows about a world he accidentally stumbled upon. As far as he knows, it doesn't have a name, but do the details really matter???? Absolutely not.

What matters is that this is a beautiful beach by the ocean. The sun's shining, the water's warm enough to swim in, and there's plenty of critters and shells to find among the tide pools and beneath the waves. If you're brave enough, you could even take a boat out on the water! ... but maybe don't do that alone?

Don't have a swimsuit? No problem! There's a beach shack with all the swimwear and beach-goer attire you could possibly want, along with things like sunscreen, fishing gear, inflatable beach toys, and snorkels. Basically if you want it, it's there, I'm sure as hell not gonna stop you. The shack also sells whatever cold treats and snacks your heart desires.

There's also a fire pit, perfect for late night s'mores and stories around a bonfire, and a charcoal barbeque for the cooks among the group. The nearby convenience store doesn't have as wide a selection as W*lmart, but there's a decent selection of meats, veggies, and drinks to choose from.

If you're not one for the sand, then a very short walk away from the shore is surely the biggest skate park anyone's ever seen. If you didn't bring your skateboard or hoverboard with you, that's a-okay because there are plenty that're free to borrow. There's also some rollerskates, if that's more your style.

Relax, unwind, and enjoy the (shard)beach episode, Shardbearers.

Comments

skeching;

[divinevoid]

[ Well, there's a lot to find surprised about, apparently - first, to tilt their head ever so slightly when they locate More as he is now. After a secondary bit of observation to ascertain they are seeing who they think they are (and they're the ones who happened to be called bold!), their eyes are then drawn to what he's drawing. ]

Hmm...what is this I spot with my eyes~? I hadn't known that you were an artist.

[ Exactly the truth! But, now they know? ]

Where did you get your inspiration behind these drawings?

[akademise]

[ More looks up at Void Archives with a thin smile. He looks tired and not as bright as just a week ago, but he's got that friendliness in him again. ]

These? Ah, these are the features of the variety of tribes that exist in my world.

[ He points to a woman with wings on her lower back. ] This is an ishkia.

[ Then to a man with impossibly large irises, filling almost his entire eye, and slightly pointed ears. ] This man is a nidia.

And so on. I was sketching absentmindedly so it wound up being familiar motives.

[ Inspiration for it being a whole lot of lovingly rendered tits and ass meanwhile: he likes tits and ass, sue him. ]

[divinevoid]

[ Hmm...that sure is some fatigue they have taken notice of. Is the man growing weary from their struggles?

Void Archives is the last to judge anyone here for liking tits and ass. They are no monk, and they certainly have eyes. If anything, they always do think that anyone who represents an aspect of daring or an element of boldness should be praised. ]

Well, well...I was thinking I would hear the common word "elf", or something, but perhaps not? I presume the first ones you've pointed out are the tribes that simply first came to mind?

...Speaking of which, you must be one yourself, no? What are you, exactly?

[ Void Archives you can't just ask somebody what they are- ]

[akademise]

[ More, at least, takes no offense to the question. It's warranted all, all things considered. ]

I'm of the clemar tribe. It's the most populous out of the tribes that make up my world's society.

There are no "humans" where I am from, not in the way you know them here. The word "human" denotes a type of terrifying beast threatening all who come across it.

[ ... ]

There are no 'elves' here, but from what I have seen of that 'movie' the closest equivalent would be the roussainte tribe with their long knife-ears.

[divinevoid]

[ ...They haven't heard of any place that has any humans who could be described as a literal beast, but the worlds beyond this one are certainly many, and within them are contained a myriad differences. Nothing is impossible, as shocking as it is. ]

Hmm. I can't say I have ever witnessed a "human" in the way you've spoken of before - but I imagine meeting the ones here who are far normal than beast must have been quite shocking.

I don't suppose everyone happens to get along with their differences? Such as...are there any that would be considered to be outcasts?

[akademise]

[ It's a reasonable question, and as astute as More has come to expect from Void Archives by now. His face still falls. ]

Indeed, there are. Tribal differences make up for much of my world's problem and they reach through every area of life. To begin with, the common vernacular already conceives of 'lesser' tribes. Paripus struggle finding work, eugief and mustari live either in seclusion or endure extreme discrimination, and nidia likewise are blighted with harsh stereotypes that are far too often taken for gospel about their kind.

And even beyond that... We do have a tribe that looks just like your version of 'humans' does. That'd be the elda tribe, of which only very few remain. [ He pauses for a second, as if to compose himself. ] The Church claims them to be harbingers of doom, and they are not even counted among the 'eight tribes' in officer writing.

[divinevoid]

[ It must be quite the sore spot for the man - which they aren't exactly surprised given the nature of him thus far. ]

...Hmm. Explaining like that, I can understand it all with ease. It's easy to discriminate based upon even the littlest and simplest of differences or details in one's entire being.

[ They ran afoul of the one certain paripus here immediately, and had no idea that there may have been potential connotations behind their actions, but now they at least have context. Ah well. ]

Though, I do wonder what it is that compels them to look so harshly upon the elda? Is it because they resemble 'normal' humans...?

[akademise]

Until recently, I would have responded that my world has no concept of 'normal' humans to begin with. I was ready to dismiss the homophone naming as a strange coincidence.

[ But he's had a few weeks to really sit with this, and to remember some things. "Coincidence" would be far too convenient, when all other language perfectly maps onto the terms he is also familiar with. ]

The Church claims that the elda have inherited a 'heretical ancient magic' of some kind, which renders them tainted. Though this is doubtlessly propaganda twisted almost beyond recognition from the truth, I am beginning to believe there might be a link between the elda and 'humans' of whatever kind.

[divinevoid]

Hmm...

[ Void Archives considers the subject carefully; though they can't say that they would know much about the history of the 'elda', either, they know that whenever some organization runs around calling a group of people "tainted" or whatnot, there's a deeper story to it. ]

...You said 'until recently'. I suppose that you suspect that changed due to your observations between the appearances of elda and a "normal human" resembling one another? And therefore that also being the basis of what you suspect there to be a link between both kinds?

[akademise]

Yes, essentially. It feels like too great a coincidence to assume that we have a tribe that is virtually identical to your idea of a 'human' and a type of beast that is known as 'human' in everyday language.

There is much the church would like to keep concealed - I myself have been a victim of their censorship, as we know.

[ ... and also an agent of the censorship, as he now remembers, but he'll drop that bomb on VA another time... ]

When I wrote my utopic novel, I envisioned a world with a single tribe, quite like the worlds of 'humans' as you know them. I would not have thought to call them 'human', but the details match up remarkably. I recall that I wrote my novel based on my travels, though the precise inspirations still escape me... but I am beginning to understand that there may have been even more reasons to ban it than initially assumed.

[divinevoid]

Certainly so. Noting even such similarities must disabuse the notion that they're unrelated, at the least~

And since your church seems to be married to the idea of keeping people ignorant, yet from what I can tell, they are allso the ones who are at the forefront of the propaganda against elda, it would make sense if they knew something as well.

[ Where is a stream of logic, it makes sense that it should be followed. They do believe that the commonalities are possible, without a doubt. What does it mean in regards to the history and those little details, though? They have no clue. ]

A utopic novel, hm?

When you say that you're beginning to understand that there may have been more reasons...do you have any idea of what those reasons are? Or are you simply distantly aware that the possibility of there being more behind it is highly likely?

[akademise]

There's a truth about the world here that the Church would prefer remain buried... I surmised that I must have come close to something uncomfortable, but I might have already found it.

[ More reaches for his forehead, as if channeling energy into his head might be able to stir lost memories. ]

Something... something buried beneath the foundations of our current day society...

[divinevoid]

[ Hard for Void Archives not to notice, though they wonder if him trying to concentrate so hard will deliver the conclusions he seeks - whatever they so happen to be. ]

...But it isn't something you have managed to recall, perhaps?

I do recall you mentioning that you had amnesia from the start. While pondering upon it will eventually reveal those truths, if you had unearthed them before, does it truly benefit you to strain yourself too hard as of this very moment?

[akademise]

[ That makes More blink in surprise. That almost sounded like concern...?!

Whether or not it was... More is touched. ]

... you're right. There's nothing to be done for it now. My memories have been trickling back bit by bit, with the various strange influences on our minds. I will know in due time.

[divinevoid]

[ ...Potential character development (they totally got called out on it in week four, at the least, though.)

However, right now? They're going to be looking smug at being listened to. ]

Exactly. I had a feeling that you would see it my way.

[akademise]

[ ... that's a lot of smugness. But maybe it's warranted. More smiles. ]

Well, you have become quite skilled at cheering me up.

[divinevoid]

[ Cheering up...? When did they start doing such things? They shake their head at the thought, chuckling to themselves, but are grinning too now, entirely very pleased to hear that. ]

Hah...have I? I suppose it's hard to deny it if you're pointing it out like that.

After all, it's a matter of course I'd be skilled at anything I do~

[akademise]

[ Who knew that Void Archives could be so cute....

This thread feels concluded but just know that More is having this thought. ]