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.
[...So someone had caught him by chance in the midst of all this. Seen his state, as empty and broken as it was, taken a strange sort of pity on him, and offered him a very risky second chance.
And the name... this is where that had come from?
...
His expression tightens as he pushes his way through the stone and humidity. How desperate Raven must have been for an out, if he'd outright asked someone to take his life in such a way. No longer wanting understanding, only an end that felt deserved.
...]
I wish this is not something we shared, my friend. I am sorry.
[As Vakama ventures further in, the pulsations of topaz energy grow more frequent. So too do the glimpses into the double life of Schwann Oltorain of the Imperial Knights and Raven of the guilds.
He sees Raven's first days working for Don Whitehorse- the man who named him and took him under his wing. He sees him go back to Alexei some months later to report on his findings. Alexei tells him to continue his work in Dahngrest to keep tabs on the guilds, and so becomes a regular routine of switching identities to suit his purposes. Sometimes he even forgets which mask he's supposed to be wearing.
Vakama lays witness to the man's growth into the Raven he knows today- and just how much he's bonded with the Don, now seeing him like a second father. After having known Raven for years now, the Don is disappointed in Raven's continued listlessness. Life feels more free as Raven, but at the end of the day he's just the shell of a dead man wandering through life. What point is there in dreaming for something more?
One fateful day, Raven meets a young man named Yuri Lowell and everything changes. Vakama watches as Raven integrates himself into Yuri's group- primarily because Alexei wants him to keep tabs on Estelle. The kids are rightfully wary of him, considering he used them as bait to get past some guards on one of his missions, but over time he truly becomes one of the group. Even the Don can see a spark of life in Raven's eyes for the first time since they've known each other and encourages him to work with them. He's truly come to find something worth living for in traveling with these kids.
...but the other shoe has to drop sometime.
Deep darkness begins to set in and Vakama is forced to navigate without light as an oppressive atmosphere pushes down on him.]
A dangerous game, indeed. And to mix the young alongside...
There's relief that this seems to be where something started getting through to Raven... but with it comes a deep ache, one that only worsens when the surroundings seem to double down and grow thick around him. It feels like watching the wrecking of an airship in slow motion, just waiting for a moment of impact that seems almost guaranteed to come.
The lack of light might have made him panic as a younger Toa, grasping for his elemental powers. But it is not the first time he's been forced to remember his time as a Hordika ever since being turned back. Ironic, to use them here in Raven's similar reflections.
So he lets out a deep breath, closes his eyes, and lets sound alone guide him. Careful, cautious, aware of every detail as he slinks closer to the ground. It may not give him a direction right away, or at all, but if there's something else in the room... he would rather not be taken by surprise.]
It all starts with a visit to Belius, the leader of the independent guild Palestralle and an Entelexeia- an ancient race of monsters that fought against humanity in the Great War. A peaceful meeting between her and Brave Vesperia breaks into chaos as another guild attacks, commissioned by none other than Harry Whitehorse. In the ensuing fight, Belius is injured and Estelle attempts to heal her...which leads to the unintended outcome of her going berserk. She begs for Brave Vesperia to kill her before she can cause any harm to her people.
With Belius's death, Palestralle is going to demand retribution against the Union. An eye for an eye. It's an absolute nightmare scenario, made worse by the fact that Harry was tricked into doing what he did by none other than Yeager of Leviathan's Claw.
The scene shifts to a massive gathering in front of the Union headquarters where the Don awaits punishment. While he was not responsible for what happened to Belius, he intends to take the full brunt of his grandson's transgression, much to the shock and horror of everyone. They know it's the most honorable thing to do, but it's the Don- the leader of the Union. Everyone respects him and looks up to him. What will they do once he's gone?
Raven is there, of course, and Vakama will be able to feel every bit of grief and uncertainty he is facing in this moment. He will feel the emotional agony as Yuri Lowell steps forth to be the Don's second and how Raven knows it should be him up instead. He'll feel something break inside of him as the Don gives an emotional, empowering speech for the guilds to tough up and look after one another in his absence before taking his own life.
He'll feel Raven's overwhelming desire to die as he reads Alexei's letter to him explaining that his time as Raven is over now that the Don is out of the picture.
Alexei had intended for this all along, after all. One way or another, he got rid of one of the few people standing in the way of his plans.
Somewhere in the deep darkness, Vakama will see a faint flicker of light.
[Oh. Hello, jumpscare Yeager. It's hard to piece together intention in amidst the shifting scenes, but that's kind of a brutally unforgiving point to associate with someone. How in the world was Raven not at this man's throat?
...
Though as things play out, he believes he has enough of an answer to that hypothetical question. To start to have hope again, only to have it ripped out piece by piece. A tragedy, a cruelty. How empty, how pointless, it must have felt at such a new low.
The light stands out with how oppressive the surroundings now press, but Vakama keeps his approach careful. He knows the letter from Alexei had insisted otherwise, that Schwann would likely protest.
But he uses that discarded name, regardless. Unlike his first name, this was not one Schwann had chosen himself to get rid of. Alexei had enough pull... there was no point to acknowledge any more of it.]
...Raven. [It's clear and biting towards the familiar figure in shadow.]
[Visual fractures occur as Vakama enters the final chamber. A glimpse of Sonic approaching Raven at his lowest shatters into the sight of Alexei furiously gripping onto Schwann's jaw.]
"Don't forget I am the one who created you." [He snaps, tightening his grip.] "You are mine. Do not act by your own will."
[Schwann doesn't even flinch. His deadened eyes stare right through Alexei.]
I am Schwann Oltorain. I am your subordinate.
[The scene fades to the final stage. Rows of lanterns illuminate the room. It seems to be a ceremonial chamber of sorts, though it hasn't served its purpose in decades. At the other end of the room stands Schwann Oltorain, sword at the ready.]
Raven isn't here. You are speaking to Schwann Oltorain.
[Schwann's expression tightens. If there's something he wants to say, he purposefully holds back. Raven did mean something to him, but there's nothing he can do now. What was the point of even hoping at all?]
I'm not here to listen to you. Alexei sees you as a threat, so it falls to me to eliminate you.
[With that, Schwann rushes in to close the distance before Vakama can act, taking a ferocious swing at the Toa with his blade (13).]
[Though he tries to dodge, his size does him no favors here and the blade slices down hard (11). He hisses in a breath as he scrambles backwards enough to slam the back of his disc launcher against Schwann's neck, trying to regain some distance (14).]
If he sees me as such a threat, he can come deal with me himself.
You cannot enslave someone and then expect their obedience to be loyalty. Cruel words do not change that he does not have you by choice, he has you by force.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
cw: suicidal ideation
And the name... this is where that had come from?
...
His expression tightens as he pushes his way through the stone and humidity. How desperate Raven must have been for an out, if he'd outright asked someone to take his life in such a way. No longer wanting understanding, only an end that felt deserved.
...]
I wish this is not something we shared, my friend. I am sorry.
[A quiet muttering as he keeps on going.]
no subject
He sees Raven's first days working for Don Whitehorse- the man who named him and took him under his wing. He sees him go back to Alexei some months later to report on his findings. Alexei tells him to continue his work in Dahngrest to keep tabs on the guilds, and so becomes a regular routine of switching identities to suit his purposes. Sometimes he even forgets which mask he's supposed to be wearing.
Vakama lays witness to the man's growth into the Raven he knows today- and just how much he's bonded with the Don, now seeing him like a second father. After having known Raven for years now, the Don is disappointed in Raven's continued listlessness. Life feels more free as Raven, but at the end of the day he's just the shell of a dead man wandering through life. What point is there in dreaming for something more?
One fateful day, Raven meets a young man named Yuri Lowell and everything changes. Vakama watches as Raven integrates himself into Yuri's group- primarily because Alexei wants him to keep tabs on Estelle. The kids are rightfully wary of him, considering he used them as bait to get past some guards on one of his missions, but over time he truly becomes one of the group. Even the Don can see a spark of life in Raven's eyes for the first time since they've known each other and encourages him to work with them. He's truly come to find something worth living for in traveling with these kids.
...but the other shoe has to drop sometime.
Deep darkness begins to set in and Vakama is forced to navigate without light as an oppressive atmosphere pushes down on him.]
no subject
A dangerous game, indeed. And to mix the young alongside...
There's relief that this seems to be where something started getting through to Raven... but with it comes a deep ache, one that only worsens when the surroundings seem to double down and grow thick around him. It feels like watching the wrecking of an airship in slow motion, just waiting for a moment of impact that seems almost guaranteed to come.
The lack of light might have made him panic as a younger Toa, grasping for his elemental powers. But it is not the first time he's been forced to remember his time as a Hordika ever since being turned back. Ironic, to use them here in Raven's similar reflections.
So he lets out a deep breath, closes his eyes, and lets sound alone guide him. Careful, cautious, aware of every detail as he slinks closer to the ground. It may not give him a direction right away, or at all, but if there's something else in the room... he would rather not be taken by surprise.]
cw: suicide, suicidal ideation
It all starts with a visit to Belius, the leader of the independent guild Palestralle and an Entelexeia- an ancient race of monsters that fought against humanity in the Great War. A peaceful meeting between her and Brave Vesperia breaks into chaos as another guild attacks, commissioned by none other than Harry Whitehorse. In the ensuing fight, Belius is injured and Estelle attempts to heal her...which leads to the unintended outcome of her going berserk. She begs for Brave Vesperia to kill her before she can cause any harm to her people.
With Belius's death, Palestralle is going to demand retribution against the Union. An eye for an eye. It's an absolute nightmare scenario, made worse by the fact that Harry was tricked into doing what he did by none other than Yeager of Leviathan's Claw.
The scene shifts to a massive gathering in front of the Union headquarters where the Don awaits punishment. While he was not responsible for what happened to Belius, he intends to take the full brunt of his grandson's transgression, much to the shock and horror of everyone. They know it's the most honorable thing to do, but it's the Don- the leader of the Union. Everyone respects him and looks up to him. What will they do once he's gone?
Raven is there, of course, and Vakama will be able to feel every bit of grief and uncertainty he is facing in this moment. He will feel the emotional agony as Yuri Lowell steps forth to be the Don's second and how Raven knows it should be him up instead. He'll feel something break inside of him as the Don gives an emotional, empowering speech for the guilds to tough up and look after one another in his absence before taking his own life.
He'll feel Raven's overwhelming desire to die as he reads Alexei's letter to him explaining that his time as Raven is over now that the Don is out of the picture.
Alexei had intended for this all along, after all. One way or another, he got rid of one of the few people standing in the way of his plans.
Somewhere in the deep darkness, Vakama will see a faint flicker of light.
Schwann is just up ahead.]
no subject
...
Though as things play out, he believes he has enough of an answer to that hypothetical question. To start to have hope again, only to have it ripped out piece by piece. A tragedy, a cruelty. How empty, how pointless, it must have felt at such a new low.
The light stands out with how oppressive the surroundings now press, but Vakama keeps his approach careful. He knows the letter from Alexei had insisted otherwise, that Schwann would likely protest.
But he uses that discarded name, regardless. Unlike his first name, this was not one Schwann had chosen himself to get rid of. Alexei had enough pull... there was no point to acknowledge any more of it.]
...Raven. [It's clear and biting towards the familiar figure in shadow.]
Are you going to keep running?
no subject
"Don't forget I am the one who created you." [He snaps, tightening his grip.] "You are mine. Do not act by your own will."
[Schwann doesn't even flinch. His deadened eyes stare right through Alexei.]
I am Schwann Oltorain. I am your subordinate.
[The scene fades to the final stage. Rows of lanterns illuminate the room. It seems to be a ceremonial chamber of sorts, though it hasn't served its purpose in decades. At the other end of the room stands Schwann Oltorain, sword at the ready.]
Raven isn't here. You are speaking to Schwann Oltorain.
[The question...goes unanswered for now.]
no subject
It's a painful sort of echoing of his own words, trapped so deeply in Roodaka's clutches.]
I won't use some title that someone else insists.
Raven meant something to you once. It still does. Whatever has been ripped away from you does not change that.
[His weapon stays primed at the ready at his side, carefully watching. Ranged against melee means he will be at a disadvantage if he cannot be quick.]
You are no mindless beast for him. Does that hope you clung to mean nothing?
no subject
I'm not here to listen to you. Alexei sees you as a threat, so it falls to me to eliminate you.
[With that, Schwann rushes in to close the distance before Vakama can act, taking a ferocious swing at the Toa with his blade (13).]
no subject
If he sees me as such a threat, he can come deal with me himself.
You cannot enslave someone and then expect their obedience to be loyalty. Cruel words do not change that he does not have you by choice, he has you by force.