The thundering of the waves grew in volume and force. The wind themselves caught flame, showering the sea in billions of yellow-bright sparks. Perception twisted; they were each one another, each echoes of one another, each echoes of echoes. Yourself and the other and the Others and -  towers of death and stars, twisting labyrinths, abyssal pits, dark and cold woods, grand halls, living walls, a sky of swords -

Your consciousnesses were spun into a new physical body within your fief.

Meanwhile, a part of you - not a true body, just part of your mind, remained here. A hearth cheerily warmed by a yellow-bright hearth. Candles covered the edges of the room that had no exit doors, candles gathered in chandeliers above, and candles rested in the middle of scattered low tables with comfortable chairs. Servants only visible in direct candle-light brought refreshments as requested; cocoa, hot cider, coffee.

Eri's doll-body sits slumped in a grand chair atop eleven steps, asleep.

Every dream must have a dreamer, her voice faintly echoed throughout the room. I have become both queen of the lost, and a lost queen.

You may leave this place, or return, by willing so. I would enjoy being a mostly silent party to conversation. You may also hear me - and I may hear you - in any part of the Citadel.

My apologies for the suddenness of all this and the appearance of violence. A Binding is - not exactly a spell, it is a working, one that relies on - authority, and something like 'narrative weight.' Had I left her to her own devices a moment longer, we would have a blade-being that could cut minds, with no humanity to speak of, in our midst. And we would have lost a daughter, a sister, and a - a wife, now.

She sounded exhausted.

[This is a thread for conversing with other players in character. Those familiar with Godhunter would recognize it as a heavily customized "Guild Chat VR Room". No actions requiring GM resolution can be taken here.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:01, Wed 07 Sept 2022.

[Grim] curled up by the hearth purring happily and waiting for the others to arrive.

... So this is the global chat room.

Domonokos joined [Grim] and Eri by the fire.

"This is moving really fast for me... I was alive not long ago, in a foreign land... and then I died, and now I'm... I can't even say for sure I'm alive again. And I've been granted, very graciously I must add, a fief in your domain, and yet I know nothing about you. Are there duties I must carry? Is there a predetermined purpose to me being here?"

Looks up and waves a paw to [Domonokos].

"Sorry, we didn't have much more time then you, so I understand how sudden this is. It is confusing and scary and hard to get used too. We have new bodies some of us not human at all. We will have each other though. So far everyone has risked for each other and that is heartening. Welcome to this all, I will try to help as best I can."

Haloise's form had shifted from the monstrous elemental one to a more humanoid form. While her limbs are the same, her body has shrunk down and plumped out slightly, still obscure by white porcelain. The mask behind had dropped, revealing silvery eyes and ash grey skin. Jet black hair peaks out from under her 'helmet.'

"It didn't hurt." Haloise responds absently as it stands up on it'd two spearpoints, held aloft by a manipulation of the air currents around her combined with her inherent near weightlessness. "I learned a lot, too. It made me more powerful."

"I am glad it didn't hurt." he said before stretching out before circling a few times and curling up again by the warmth of the hearth and settling down to enjoy it.

Light happy purrs coming from him.

Starling frowned a bit as Eri spoke and then Haloise, although nodded as it all came together more.

"Well I'm glad you and Eri are at peace again, but I was super surprised. Like "considered drawing my cloak down" surprised." Starling said.

He looked at Prydwyn.

"Can you tell me more about what exactly happened and what this other intelligence or presence is? And why did you cut some of your humanity off to seal it? Can we not separate it out and return to you what you cut off and then either bind or destroy the invading force?" Starling asked.

[If there was other options, little Starling, I would have taken them. I had less than twenty four milliseconds to make a decision, and that was the best course I could take. It was a move to keep you guys safe, not unlike what Eri did.] Prydwin tilts her head and keeps speaking. [Things are better like this. The danger is sealed away and I didn't lose anything of real value.] There's a small amount of venom in her voice at the second statement.

Starling nodded, and replied,

"Just because you lost something to seal it doesn't mean it's lost forever. Once we grow into our powers a bit more, and me specifically into my magic more, I will do anything I can to try and help you recover your lost piece of self. I think the others feel the same way too. So don't despair...think it is as you're merely setting aside a bit of yourself temporarily. Sort of like an investment. And that eventually, you're gonna come to collect it back."

Sarlot appears and clears their throat.
"Hi. I appear to have somehow been... infected? By Haloises mind-daemon. It can basically shut me down whenever it wants, alter the outcomes of my choices, and potentially  a whole lot more." They turned to look at Starling and Haloise. "So... I don't think your self-sealing worked. Maybe... you don't need to keep that part of you sealed away at all? Maybe there's no longer a point?"

Sarlot's eyes narrowed as they sat down by the hearth.
"Given that it's seeking infection vectors, and given that exosuits use mind-interfaces to function, I'm not comfortable making any gear for anyone until this deamon is exorcised. Or else risk others being infected."

"Also, given that the Ratworks is a reflection of my will, I'll also be quarantining the entire wing until this is addressed."

Sarlot smiled. A terrible, strained, and incredibly sad smile. A verge-of-tears smile. "Sorry for the inconvenience. I was excited to work on everyone's stuff." They rubbed their hands together nervously, and turned back to stare at the hearthfire. "I'm normally pretty good at working collaboratively... but this is... too much. For me."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 10:51, Fri 16 Sept 2022.

Perks up and turns.

"Oh no, we need to deal with this. [Salot] we will put our heads together on this. [Starling] you..." he noticed Starling had no head. His fur poofed out.

"Uhm, [Starling] you, I am sure you must know." [Grim] shook his head, "Stellar magic and Pyromancy is kind of purifying is cleanses. Maybe we could cleanse Sarlot. We need to help him."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:14, Fri 16 Sept 2022.

Suddenly looked to [Eri]

"Eri, what can we do to help our friend [Sarlot] ?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Fri 16 Sept 2022.

Haloise tilts her head once.

[NEGATIVE: Utilization of {Psychosurgery} reveals that you are uninfected by [REDACTED]. That's the power you borrowed from me.] Haloise approaches and lays down on the ground, her three spears starred out in three directions. Her fourth limb is offered out to Salrot.

[Take my hand, whenever you are prepared, Salrot. I will negotiate.] Despite looking like a rug right now, she's as serious as a snake.

Sarolt didn't immediately take Haloise's hand. "What do you mean, 'negotiate'? This entity has already tried to make a deal where it gets to stay in my head and just promise to 'behave'. I don't trust it. It's my head and it's... literally the most precious thing to me. I'll share a lot of things... but not that. It has to go."

Haloise turns cold.

[NEGOTIATE PARAMETERS EX-44-QJFIW9FI... you probably don't understand what it means. I'm gonna ask what it wants, and listen to it. Do not take your anger out on the being: this is an unforseen consequence of an interaction between our powers.] She pauses for a moment.

[In Layman's terms, we may have made a baby, guys. Its basically likr getting mad a newborn for screaming. We can fix this, though - but we NEED to work together.] Her hand is still outstretched, but she hopes the recontextualzation will calm Salrolt, or at least direct his anger away from his Mimic'd Administrator.

Atilla blinked as he appeared in yet another room. This was his... third self? This was becoming a very worrisome trend. He noted that this felt different than the others, not a full self. It was a pleasant enough room? A hearty fire, a nice chandelier, refreshments available. The wolf-man grabbed a cup of hot hot chocolate when it was offered before he seated himself on the steps.

He hadn't been there the whole time so parts of the conversation he had already missed. He did however catch the gist of Sarlot's dilemma. Atilla had no idea what a mind-daemon was, hell he didn't know what a daemon was in this world. He certainly had no desire for something else to compel him to do things. "Perhaps you could make weapons at least? We already have one sentient weapon, the rest can probably have normal non-sentient weapons." He shrugged at his own suggestion, well aware that he had not addressed the actual issue.

Unsure of what else to do he scanned the room and it's inhabitants. His eyes widened as he suddenly recalled something. "Soo, yeah. Maybe you guys should negotiate in the real world. You should do that now. Has anyone tried to not be in this room? Maybe you should try that Sarlot, no specific reason. Just as a favor to me try to see if you can not be here."

Sarolt hesitated. Anyone with the ability to see emotions or intentions might witness a deep distrust forming in their core. A defensive posture that hadn't been there before. Maybe not focused specifically at Haloise or Attila, but a more general feeling. The first beginnings of paranoia. Their eyes narrowed.
"Don't call it a 'baby'. Don't anthropomorphize it like that. Babies don't gaslight and bargain. It might be chronologically young, but it's definitely a fully formed intelligence."

After that, Sarolt turned to Atilla, eyes widening slightly. "Wait... what? Why?" They shook their head, brow furrowing. "And sorry... what? You want me to make weapons? As if none of what's happening now matters? So that's it? I offer to make everyone stuff, and the moment I'm delayed even slightly by a crisis, your first thought is 'well at least they can still be useful some other way'?!"

They took another step back, this time away from both of them. "Oh no... no, no, no... this is not how this works. I'm not some NPC who just spits stuff out for everyone if you feed them mats." They looked back Haloise. "No one gets anything until its gone!" They shuffled back toward her on all-fours, and stuck their hand out, a fierce and challenging look in their eyes. They were placing their trust in her again. But it was a guarded trust.

Haloise sighs internally, but doesn't waste any time as it gets to work inside of it's own Fief. She takes Salrot's hand and reaches out with her own Administrate, sending a handshake to the other presence.

[pinging administrator 2b294azvn - please state your age and purpose for the record.] She projects. Then, after a moment, she tilts her head.

[It might be best if you come to the Hall of Skye, Josh. I have more avenues at my disposal here. The Gate is open.]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Fri 16 Sept 2022.