❧ Of Gods & Magic [video]

[leveilleur]

[ 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.

Comments

video ➤ un: academician

[leveilleur]

[Alphinaud blinks his eyes owlishly when this young woman suddenly appears upon his screen. It's clear that they've met before somewhere judging from the hint of familiarity in her gaze but Alphinaud doesn't seem to remember. If anything, the boy looks oddly puzzled as he leans a bit closer. He keeps searching the young woman's face for answers but he can't seem to find anything. It's then that he realizes he gawking at her.]

Oh, my apologies! [A faint chuckle escapes him as he leans back a bit.] I could've sworn you were someone I knew---

[The boy briefly clears his throat to offset the awkwardness before replying.]

A fellow native of Hydaelyn? Goodness, there seems to be quite a few of us scattered throughout the masses.

[That's a good thing in his opinion but also quite worrying.]

Feel free to speak. The floor is yours, madam.

[He graces her with a rather kind smile.]

[castcure]

[The intensity of that look is something of a surprise, and she cannot manage to keep that surprise from her expression. What was it that Alphinaud could be seeking? He didn't seem to recognize her, but...]

...someone you knew? [For a moment, her voice grows soft. Hopeful.] How so?

[But he wishes to hear her thoughts. Thoughts on a subject far more important, in the overall reckoning of things. She leans back as well, speaking more firmly and brightly once again.]

While I think others have said many of the same things that I've to say, perhaps they bear repeating. While there are certainly beings in this world that are regarded as gods, or might regard themselves as such, I'd hesitate to compare them so directly to Primals. However similar Chroma may be, in some respects, to Aether, there are enough differences that... that I feel our worries here are of a different sort.

[leveilleur]

I-It's of no importance!

[While he hesitates to say it, Alphinaud cannot help but see a faint likeness between her and a dear associate of his. However, he doesn't think he should voice it.]

I apologize for alarming you.

[Quick to sweep this conversation under the metaphorical rug, Alphinaud focuses on listening to her account instead.]

Mayhaps I was a bit hasty in my judgment regarding the situation here upon this world. I admit here and now that I might possess some bias against so-called deities thanks to my journeys thus far. That much I can confess but I do find this world's dependency on chroma to be similar to that of Hydaelyn's dependency on aether.

[He nods in agreement to that bit.]

However, what are these other worries that we should concern ourselves? After narrowly escaping King Majestas's onslaught with my dignity intact, I fear that he's the least of our worries.

[castcure]

[And now he stammers! What is he seeing in her that has him so shaken? She can hazard a guess, but how should she even bring such a thing up?]

I'm... it's quite alright?

[He's so eager to continue right along, Dakki can't help but go along with him to the more important subject of conversation.]

It's not an unreasonable bias, given the things you've... you've no doubt seen! This world's need for Chroma is the issue that worries me more. Chroma is similar enough to Aether that I... that is...

[Her hands drift upwards, into the shot, and she absently fusses with them as she tries to pull her thoughts together properly.]

...something made the world this way. It wasn't always this way, in desperate need of having its life force restored. And I don't know if our lack of information is because of ignorance or malice, but that is what worries me the most. Because I suspect our presence, and the Chroma we've brought to this place, might be reawakening things.

[leveilleur]

[Alphinaud watches her intently with a touch of surprise and mild amusement. The woman before him certainly reminds him of someone who knows very well. However, she seems so different at the same time. It's an oddity he cannot put into words. Nevertheless, he listens to her with a smile despite the controversial subject matter.]

According to another, Prismatica faced a terrible calamity that ruined its ability to forge life. Its dependency upon Chroma is a result of that calamity caused by one of their deities. With that known, I cannot help but see more startling parallels between our world and this one.

[That bothers him quite a bit. Hydaelyn has faced several calamities over the long decades, the last being the most catastrophic of them all.]

Rewakening of things...? [Alphinaud arches his brow a little.] What exactly do you mean?

[castcure]

I saw the same parallels, when I first heard about Basti... Mm, and that reminds me of the earliest thing that I can recall that might've been due to us Moonblessed...

[She shifts a little, both making herself more comfortable as she settles in for a longer conversation, and moving a little closer to the device.]

To start... not long after I arrived here, there was a ceremony performed by Queen Elara. The... um... the 'Encircling of the Three Moons', I believe? It's a ritual that was last performed thirty years ago, and... and not much out of the ordinary was expected of it? It's meant to move the mechanisms of this city, to bring it in alignment with all three moons. I'd heard from the crowd that it had barely managed a half-circle the last time the dance was performed but... this time, the city made a full rotation. And all three moons went full at once.

[She stops and takes a breath, eyes turning upwards in not entirely positive remembrance.]

It was chaos. Everyone just... transformed. All at once, no matter their Moonblessing. And with the city now in this new position, there's always a short period each month where the same happens. It's not quite as mad, now that we know to prepare, but... mm, maybe other things had changed between the last dance and this one, but I can't help but suspect the Chroma we'd produced had helped very old mechanisms along.