While your conversation with Shadow may have shed light on a few things... it's obvious he doesn't think you all are up to the task of saving the universe from Eggman. Which also means that now you're dealing with his test, starting immediately. Some of you may be whisked away with no time to even blink, while others may find themselves wandering the Void aimlessly. Regardless, it seems this week won't be a particularly easy one.
THE VOID
Nothing has changed in the Void. Nothing ever changes in the Void. It's impossible to track the passage of time in here, and your only escape are the rings... though you should be careful with them, as there's far fewer this week. You're free to travel between worlds as you see fit - Shadow won't stop you - but you can be snatched up from wherever you are at any given moment and pulled back into the Void. Maybe don't plan on spending to long anywhere else, because it won't end well for you if you do.
The hexagonal shards will still show you visions of other worlds... but this time they all show the same thing. You'll see worlds - maybe even your own - taken over by robots and Eggman's chroma, reduced to smoldering ashes or being rebuilt in Eggman's image. Your friends, allies, and enemies may even be going about their lives just as listlessly and dutifully, heedless of their surroundings. You may even see alternate versions of yourself among them. Regardless, it seems all these shards have to show you this week are all the possibilities of failure - that other versions of shardbearers in other timelines have already lost.
MINDSCAPES
Shadow's usage of the Phantom Ruby and his own fake Chaos Emerald shard have caused quite the problem for you all - namely, you'll find yourselves traversing each other's innermost thoughts and dreams. Exactly how this mindscape manifests depends on the individual, but one thing will always remain true: you won't be able to find the owner of the mindscape easily.
As a reflection of these inner thoughts, mindscapes can be any sort of place. Perhaps they are a reflection of the owner's inner demons and fear, or perhaps they showcase a bright future they want to work towards. Regardless, this is a dream and one the owner must be awoken from... which means finding them and bringing them back to reality. That's easier said than done when traversing through this dream-like state, where the rules are made up by the owner and you're a foreign being that the dream recognizes as a threat (even if you aren't).
You may encounter familiar places or people within these mindscapes. You may not. You may end up fighting for your life in here... or you may not. Each one is individual, and the experience can vary wildly from person to person. No matter what you face, you must find the owner of the mindscape and bring them back. You must ensure you're strong enough to support them... and protect yourself.
Curiously, you can activate your shared shard power with the owner of the mindscape at any time - or bolster your own power if you share shard colors - even without them being present. Will this make it easier or harder to help bring them back? It depends on the person, your bond, and the mindscape itself...
Waking them up is as simple as convincing them that they're dreaming - that this isn't real and that they still have things to return to - but that may be easier said than done depending on the person... or the mindscape itself. There's no telling what you'll encounter, after all.
SHARDS
You'll find you're capable of more now than you were before. You're really adapting to using your shard powers and fighting with others. Those of you who share shard colors will feel the strength of your shards increasing even more when working together.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
Given that your allies are being pulled into mindscapes and are unable to break free of their own, your task this week is to help your friends. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are off dealing with their own mindscapes, but whenever they are around, they're adamant about the importance of making sure everyone is freed and prepared for whatever comes next.
ENEMIES
Like last week, you will not encounter any of Eggman's robots. The Void is still free of enemies, though other worlds may possess their own threats. Mindscapes are a bit of a different beast; each one varies, and you may or may not encounter threats of any sort in them. Best be on your guard.
In The Void [ More is around. He's recovered considerably from the state of turbo depression he's been in at the start of last week. After a period of isolation, he's no longer deliberately keeping to himself!! In fact, he might be striking up a conversation with you: ]
Are you holding up alright, confined to this space?
[ He's got some unfortunate experience being trapped outside of timespace, let him mentor you.
Alternatively you may find him doing any of the following: watching visions of other worlds thoughtfully, drawing (nude figure drawings, sketches of Chicago, images of the void itself - your pick), or... trying to train his physical strength by doing basic exercises. He's hating the exercises by the way. What do you mean he needs to do sports here?? ]
Mindscape - will contain Metaphor endgame spoilers [ Welcome to Akademeia, the novelists' study. It's a large single room library with a ground floor and a second floor walkway. There is a giant statue in the room, most often covering your view of the stained glass window behind it. On the ground floor there is a desk area with a cluttered desk. Near the desk, there's a side table with an ominous scroll on it, and on the other end of the desk is a celestial globe. In the armchair nearby, there's a sleeping cat.
The room is entirely quiet. Aside from the cat gently breathing in his sleep, there is no sign of life here. More is certainly nowhere to be seen. With no threat or urgency, you are free to explore as you like. What do you wish to look at?
(Literally every detail, whether from my flavor text or from the linked reference images themselves is free to be examined and may drag you into a variety of side locations from More's life!) ]
[As he had been forced to get used to and chose not to examine in any deeper psychological sense, dreams led Viktor to lose his mechanical shell--the crutch under his arm clicked against the floor as he looked around slowly, unsure what to make of anything. The library itself was a familiar enough atmosphere for a scholar, but strange enough that it led him to move cautiously.]
[...Not so cautiously that he didn't go to investigate the cluttered desk, of course. We're scientists here.]
[ The desk features the following: a pot of tea that is steaming gently, a lamp, a magnifying glass and a lot of books. They all look aged, and if Viktor opens them, he'll find that the majority of them deal with a magic known as 'Archetypes'. Behind the desk is a hand-drawn map, scattered with hand-written notes and one notepad that is just a little sketch of the kitty peacefully snoring in the room.
>Look at the map? >Read some of the books? >Examine something else or elsewhere? ]
[ Bless you, Viktor. He'll be able to gain a whole lot of information, so let's summarize it:
Archetypes are a kind of magic that is called forth when the user faces their anxiety. It physically transforms the user into a suit of armor capable of using powerful magic spells and a variety of abilities, based on which Heroic Embodiment it is. All Archetypes are based around some kind of culturally-understood beacon of virtue, so they're called things like 'the General', 'the Thief', 'the Seeker', 'the Mage' and so on.
The texts that are placed on this desk aren't super concerned with listing the abilities of known Archetypes already. Instead they keep circling back to an Archetype that so far exists only in hypothesis: the Prince Archetype.
The prince would be a leader, expected to protect his people, but what abilities he'd hold and whether it is possible to summon him at all remains a mystery.
On some of the pages, More has underlined the word 'prince' in shaky lines, suggesting he was trembling as he did so. ]
[Sensible enough, perhaps, if these Archetypes were--well, archetypal that one would be some form of idealized leader. But what was so upsetting about that? Viktor flippedd through the pages like there was some answer to that, doubting he would find anything conclusive.]
[ Gyles is not a smart guy. And he's sure as hell not been any place with quite this many books. Honestly, it's a bit daunting!
Which is why his attention falls to something - or perhaps someone? - potentially easier to understand: that cat. He squats next to the armchair, waiting to see if his movements disturbed his slumber before taking a closer look at... whatever it is hanging around his neck. ]
[ Bothering the cat is an excellent choice. Plateau even raises his head, and gives a sleepy 'mrrooow!!' as he looks at the stranger that has infiltrated his home. At least he's not skittish around unfamiliar people...
Around his neck is what appears to be a metal plaque inscribed what a symbol that looks like a stylized hourglass.
Plateau is slowly waking up, tail swishing slightly as he observes Gyles. What's your move? ]
[ He'll give Plateau a few pets before looking again at the plaque. Is there a name on the other side of it, maybe? Or does the symbol match anything immediately obvious in the room? ]
[ There is neither a name, nor is there anything else in the room that seems immediately related to the hourglass... as far as Gyles has time to try and tell anyway. Touching the plaque is a near-instant trigger to a shift in the environment.
Gyles is now in a courtyard. At a glance, it's immediately apparent that this is the inside of a castle. Every plant is carefully maintained, and there are several gazebos within his direct line of fight.
The good news is, Plateau the cat is still with him and looking entirely unimpressed by what just transpired.
From behind, there are male voices discussing something. What do? ]
[ More looks a little embarrassed to be approached, slightly sweaty and exhausted as he is from trying to build up stamina and reflexes... He feels unsightly... ]
It's... certainly not a walk in the park. And to think I did use to receive training in swordplay and the like... I have forgotten all about it.
Well, your muscles atrophy if you do not use them. It is not a failing so much as it is a fact of life; I found myself having to work double to make sure I did not fall behind when I was following a more academic course of study.
It does become easier as you work at it, at the very least.
[ That all makes sense but... consider this: he doesn't want to work out..... ]
Yes, that is certainly my hope. Between a gently veiled complaint from our healer and the dramatic speech from our new hedgehog ally... I have come to realize I truly can't afford to sit idly.
[Well okay. As far as Fukuda is concerned, this place rules? What a cool library/study. First things first, he has to be polite to the one extant resident. He approaches the cat, holding out his upturned hand to be sniffed.]
Hello, little one. I don't suppose you can talk, can you?
[ This looks a lot like what he'd imagined a real study would look like, library and all. Lark figures he shouldn't disturb the cat until he has to, purely out of strength of habit, so instead he goes to examine the celestial globe first. ]
[Wow, isn't this place grand and magnificent? Raven can't help but feel a little insignificant in the presence of that huge statue.
After doing a bit of poking around in an attempt to figure out who this room belongs to, he makes his way up to the second floor and observes the stained-glass window. Huh. Wonder who this pretty lady is?]
[Turo's something of an academic himself, or at least a recreation of one. His first instinct is to go inspect the documents on the desk, and he does take several steps in that direction...before getting entirely sidetracked by the presence of an animal he has not seen before!]
Oh, hello! I didn't see you there. [He hasn't fully realized the futility of talking to animals.]
[ Plateau the cat blinks twice, yawns, stretches and jumps off his chair.
Hi, Turo. This is More's mindspace, which means the Plateau in More's heart likes you quite a bit. Hes rubbing his little head against your legs, purring.
It's not an answer, exactly, but it is a greeting! ]
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[ More is around. He's recovered considerably from the state of turbo depression he's been in at the start of last week. After a period of isolation, he's no longer deliberately keeping to himself!! In fact, he might be striking up a conversation with you: ]
Are you holding up alright, confined to this space?
[ He's got some unfortunate experience being trapped outside of timespace, let him mentor you.
Alternatively you may find him doing any of the following: watching visions of other worlds thoughtfully, drawing (nude figure drawings, sketches of Chicago, images of the void itself - your pick), or... trying to train his physical strength by doing basic exercises. He's hating the exercises by the way. What do you mean he needs to do sports here?? ]
Mindscape - will contain Metaphor endgame spoilers
[ Welcome to Akademeia, the novelists' study. It's a large single room library with a ground floor and a second floor walkway. There is a giant statue in the room, most often covering your view of the stained glass window behind it. On the ground floor there is a desk area with a cluttered desk. Near the desk, there's a side table with an ominous scroll on it, and on the other end of the desk is a celestial globe. In the armchair nearby, there's a sleeping cat.
The room is entirely quiet. Aside from the cat gently breathing in his sleep, there is no sign of life here. More is certainly nowhere to be seen. With no threat or urgency, you are free to explore as you like. What do you wish to look at?
(Literally every detail, whether from my flavor text or from the linked reference images themselves is free to be examined and may drag you into a variety of side locations from More's life!) ]
mindscape
[...Not so cautiously that he didn't go to investigate the cluttered desk, of course. We're scientists here.]
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>Look at the map?
>Read some of the books?
>Examine something else or elsewhere? ]
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[...So he's going to steal More's chair and immediately do exactly that. Scientists.]
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Archetypes are a kind of magic that is called forth when the user faces their anxiety. It physically transforms the user into a suit of armor capable of using powerful magic spells and a variety of abilities, based on which Heroic Embodiment it is. All Archetypes are based around some kind of culturally-understood beacon of virtue, so they're called things like 'the General', 'the Thief', 'the Seeker', 'the Mage' and so on.
The texts that are placed on this desk aren't super concerned with listing the abilities of known Archetypes already. Instead they keep circling back to an Archetype that so far exists only in hypothesis: the Prince Archetype.
The prince would be a leader, expected to protect his people, but what abilities he'd hold and whether it is possible to summon him at all remains a mystery.
On some of the pages, More has underlined the word 'prince' in shaky lines, suggesting he was trembling as he did so. ]
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[Sensible enough, perhaps, if these Archetypes were--well, archetypal that one would be some form of idealized leader. But what was so upsetting about that? Viktor flippedd through the pages like there was some answer to that, doubting he would find anything conclusive.]
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more metaphor spoilers than usually, baby
boy howdy
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mindscape (types this tag as a break from getting my ass handed to me by tower bosses 😔)
Which is why his attention falls to something - or perhaps someone? - potentially easier to understand: that cat. He squats next to the armchair, waiting to see if his movements disturbed his slumber before taking a closer look at... whatever it is hanging around his neck. ]
fucking tower quests...
Around his neck is what appears to be a metal plaque inscribed what a symbol that looks like a stylized hourglass.
Plateau is slowly waking up, tail swishing slightly as he observes Gyles. What's your move? ]
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[ He'll give Plateau a few pets before looking again at the plaque. Is there a name on the other side of it, maybe? Or does the symbol match anything immediately obvious in the room? ]
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Gyles is now in a courtyard. At a glance, it's immediately apparent that this is the inside of a castle. Every plant is carefully maintained, and there are several gazebos within his direct line of fight.
The good news is, Plateau the cat is still with him and looking entirely unimpressed by what just transpired.
From behind, there are male voices discussing something. What do? ]
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alternatively, exercising...
It can be difficult going from something more academic to something more physically rigorous.
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It's... certainly not a walk in the park. And to think I did use to receive training in swordplay and the like... I have forgotten all about it.
[ And this time it's not amnesia's fault. ]
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It does become easier as you work at it, at the very least.
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Yes, that is certainly my hope. Between a gently veiled complaint from our healer and the dramatic speech from our new hedgehog ally... I have come to realize I truly can't afford to sit idly.
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Mindscape
Hello, little one. I don't suppose you can talk, can you?
[It's a dream so he has to check.]
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And then he rubs his little head against Fukuda's hand for good measure. Sniff test passed!
But Plateau the cat does remain fully silent. ]
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So the next place to look seems to Fukuda like it'd be the desk. What can he find on the desk that'll tell him whose office this is?]
Mindscape
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Is Lark just looking or also going to touch it? ]
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But after a moment, he reaches out to touch it, intending to get a closer looks at all these unknown-to-him constellations. ]
mindscape
After doing a bit of poking around in an attempt to figure out who this room belongs to, he makes his way up to the second floor and observes the stained-glass window. Huh. Wonder who this pretty lady is?]
mindscape
[Turo's something of an academic himself, or at least a recreation of one. His first instinct is to go inspect the documents on the desk, and he does take several steps in that direction...before getting entirely sidetracked by the presence of an animal he has not seen before!]
Oh, hello! I didn't see you there. [He hasn't fully realized the futility of talking to animals.]
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Hi, Turo. This is More's mindspace, which means the Plateau in More's heart likes you quite a bit. Hes rubbing his little head against your legs, purring.
It's not an answer, exactly, but it is a greeting! ]
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[He crouches down to pet the cat! He's never met an animal that wasn't brainwashed before!]
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For as much as he's here to guide Turo towards his master, surely a moment of indulgence is fine...
He flops down and rolls over on the floor. Turo.... do you fall into the tummy trap.....? ]
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