prismatica | ❧ Of Gods & Magic [video]

[ It takes a moment for Alphinaud to set up everything just right but once he does, the video feed goes live revealing the faces of elven twins solemnly gazing into the camera. Alphinaud Leveilleur towards the right dressed in blues and whites with his sister Alisaie, dressed in red and khaki, towards the left. They look identical in every way but there are subtle differences that only a keen eye would notice. Nevertheless, Alphinaud takes a moment to clear his throat before finally introducing himself. ]

Greetings & Salutations to All,

I am Alphinaud Leveilleur and this ---[ He gestures to the girl standing at his left. ]-- is my sister Alisaie.

[ Alisaie raises a hand in greeting. She seems to be regarding the device with some skepticism, and so she's a bit more subdued than normal. ]

Greetings to you all.

[ The boy doesn't feel the need to address that they're identical twins since he's certain the audience has eyes. However, if anyone makes any rude comments about their appearance, they'll be promptly blocked. Alphinaud doesn't have much patience for those who make fun of his allegedly girlish looks. ]

We hail from the realm of Hydaelyn, a wondrous world plagued by both strife and great unrest. We are members of a faction known as the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, peacekeepers if you will, who strive in earnest to bring an end to the bloodshed that plagues our world.

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Due to great circumstances, we've been summoned to Prismatica along with all of you, by unknown powers. It has come to my attention that this fantastical realm is chock full of wonders, many of which we Moonblessed fail to comprehend. With that said, I wish to hold a forum regarding these wonders in hopes that we can further understand more about this world.

[ Alisaie leans in a bit more, cutting off Alphinaud from view for the moment. ]

-- We're interested in talking about where the Moonblessings supposedly come from. These beast gods, Sanguis, Iris, and Cordis. It's not the first time we've heard of such things.

[ She glances knowingly over to her brother.]

Not the first time-- [He states looking somewhat remorseful now.] Nor will it be the last, I fear.

[ Alphinaud comes into view again looking rather grim now. This not a light topic meant for the faint of heart. ]

In the region of Eorzea and even beyond her, false deities called “primals” offer succor in the form of blind fanatical servitude promising the moon and stars to all who worship them. Their promises are nothing more than lies told to bewitch their followers into supplying them endless aether in the form of great sacrifice.

The payment---one’s own life.

[ His gaze narrows some as he ponders about the deities of this realm. The more he thinks about these foreign gods, the more they truly sound lime “primals” to him. ]

We know naught if this payment would be the same in regards to the deities here within Prismatica but servitude certainly seems to be one of them.

[ Alisaie speaks up now. ]

Think about it. We are 'blessed' by these gods and they ask that we generate energy in return. Sound similar? The energy itself is benign so far, but then they twist and change our bodies and call it a gift.

[ She shakes her head. ]

I realize the people of this star depend on Chroma, and that it changed their way of life. I also know this life is better for some of you. But we deserve to know why we have been brought here and changed, not just be given some blind venerated explanation.

[ Her voice gets more earnest as she speaks, ending with her slamming her fist down on the surface the video device is propped on. She has to right it after it tilts, and then stills, taking a deep breath. Alphinaud takes over. ]

This is all we ask.

[ He chimes in after a moment of thought. It seems there’s something else on his mind but the boy hesitates to state it. Instead, he directs this introduction to a swift end. ]

We ask to know and understand the meaning behind our arrival here so that in turn, we could perhaps undo what has been done.

[ Alphinaud takes a breath. This is quite the intro and it will surely gain them some scorn. Nevertheless, he’s content. ]

I open up the forum for others to speak.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's a tower on the Iris moon containing a library of ancient texts. One of the scrolls there depicted a number of fantastical and imposing creatures, including Majestas. At the time, the scientists studying them hadn't managed to translate the text, but...under the circumstances, it might be worth checking on their progress.

Just, don't linger too long. The tower is haunted by some sort of spirit that inspires people to caues mischief the longer they stay there, until the librarians have to evict them for the safety of the records.

And as to your other point, the locals seem desperate for all the Chroma we can produce. I think they need all the Moonblessed that arrive here. That's why my current goal is to understand what it is that's preventing the natives from producing Chroma and find a way to change it.

Truly? I'll mention that to Alphinaud. Mayhaps a trip back to the moons may be in order.

[ episode two: alisaie fights a moon. ]

A worthy goal as well. If there's aught either of us could to help, we'd be happy to assist. While I distrust these deities, they do otherwise seem harmless. Restoring the natives' ability to produce chroma would keep that balance.

[ she STILL wants to find out if these guys are primals but that can wait. ]

Another name to be alert for is...Basti. That's the name of the god supposedly responsible for the Calamity.

I think he's still active, as well. Followers of the fox god, Vulpes Astra, received a prophecy claiming that the deaths of a hundred Moonblessed would quell Basti forever, but there are a couple things there that don't make sense.

Basti.

[ she repeats it, committing it to memory. it doesn't sound familiar, but that doesn't mean much to her at this point. all of this is unfamiliar.

of course, the second note about the deaths of a hundred moonblessed and a fox god makes her straighten her shoulders. ]

Ah. That is the kind of thing we were worried about. Perhaps it's not the Moonblessed gods we need worry about but the others.

[ there are examples of benevolent primals in her world... though she's still processing that. ]

I fail to see how killing us would solve anything either!

Nor do I see why making a sacrifice to Vulpes Astra would quiet a god opposed to him. The fox god supposedly carried the survivors of the Calamity to safety, so he's certainly not aligned with Basti.

My going theory right now is that the prophecy was a false one, meant to hurt one of the gods of Cordis by spilling Moonblessed's blood in his name. It's supported by the fact that those of us blessed by Cordis have gained the regular ability to develop traits and powers associated with him during our moon, and most of the intended sacrifice victims gained temporary access to them right after the incident.

Do you think he was trying to make some kind of amends by granting them, then?

[ it's ... definitely more benevolent than eating people or killing them?? ]

As always, even primal beings and gods have some kind of politicking to do against one another.

It's entirely possible. Nothing about the general culture of his followers suggests he's a particularly spiteful god, and the blessings are generally seen as positive.

Particularly given the Amegaharan lifestyle, I doubt he'd register any of the personality shifts as negative. They're...rather hedonistic, to say the least.

Surely not more than the hedonism that's already present here? I can't imagine it getting much more so.

[ oh, honey. ]

I'm...afraid so. They believe in living for the moment, so they have no unfulfilled desires should their lives be cut short by Basti's return.

Twelve preserve us.

[ she raises a hand to rub it against her forehead, an audible sigh following. ]

Then I am full glad I missed the chance to meet these Amegaharans. This place has been enough of an adjustment, and I've spent time in what I already thought was an inequitable den.

[ ul'dah, she's talking about ul'dah, with all its dancing girls. ]

It is a lot of culture shock. It's taken me...most of my time here to even start to get used to the idea that certain things don't have a stigma attacked.

The Amegaharans were fairly pleasant, though, aside from having a bit of a penchant for playful mischief. They're just...very boldly flirtatious.

One does not so easily leave their culture's stigmas behind, admittedly. Though I think some of us may find it easier than others.

[ she is, though goro likely doesn't know, alluding to her brother. and needling him since he's in the same room as her. ]

Bold I can understand, but it has never been my style in the realm of ... romance.

[ that's not really what was going on there but w/e, alisaie can make fun of her brother's conquests all she wants but her own get her skittish. ]

Some people never paid them much attention, to begin with.

[Like a certain leader of a vigilante team he could name...]

But for the rest of us...it took me until my first Cordis to actually tell my first partner I was interested in him that way.

[ she gives a heavy sigh. ]

I want it on record this is not something I'm interested in participating in. But full glad am I to hear that you were able to speak with your partner.

Life here has gotten...much easier since I did. I hope, for multiple reasons, that your home isn't as restrictive about the idea of platonic physical affection as mine is.

[ she raises both hands in a small shrug. ]

I was raised in a home where it was not as restricted as it might be in the Holy See, but neither was it as free as you might find in Ul'dah. I have never been one for dalliances, like my brother, so my experience in both physical and emotional is .. limited. To put it mildly.

[ she messed around with some boys and girls in the studium, but not nearly as prolifically as her sibling. ]

❧ Of Gods & Magic [video]

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