VOICETEST

[crystallinelore]

INEVITABLE SPOILERS WITHIN, LOOK UPON AT YOUR OWN RISK

in any case we can do like, game aus, or "exarch summoned your character from another fuckin dimension", or THERE'S A WEIRD TOWER MADE OF CRYSTAL HERE NOW, WTF, or maybe it's been there as long as anyone can remember, or,

look feel free to comment with a pitch or make me pick or just make a starter, we can do whatever

Comments

u have summoned ssr lancer estinien good job

[dragoonage]

[ why is he here. he doesn't want to be here. someone called him an "elf" and he's never heard that word in his life? ]

You have a good explanation for this, no?

damnit estinien he's whaling for someone specific

[crystallinelore]

[is the hooded man a touch dismayed? seems like it. but he's still answering smoothly, since the song and dance of the exarch's misfires strange guests is familiar enough to him at this point.]

That I do. Though I still offer you my apologies, as I seem to have fired wide of my mark once again. I trust you came to no harm before finding your way safely into the walls of the Crystarium?

spooked...

[dragoonage]

[ you can AT LEAST PRETEND to be happy to see him!

well no he would be annoyed by that, so. ]

I've had worse. [ ... time to make fun of him, even though he still has. little idea of what is going on. that's the way to handle things. ] Your aim must be truly unfortunate to reach me. Perhaps you should take up bow practice before firing again.

desire sensor is bullying exarch

[crystallinelore]

[hey. why are you like this.

not that he isn't somewhat aware of that.]

Would that skill as a marksman, however dusty, were of any help in this endeavor.

[looking him over though like you implied an injury my man]

So many spoilers, beware!

[firstworldproblem]

[Coming back to reality from the black pitch of unconsciousness was unpleasant to say the least. Joints creaked, his eyes couldn't focus, and that nasty gunshot wound in the back stung like nothing else. The Crystal Exarch should count himself lucky that he isn't bleeding out.

When the room does stop spinning he'll find himself on a couch in a vast room. The walls and floor are made of polished wood trimmed here and there in designs of gold and black. Large windows don't let in much light, but are nearly floor to ceiling. Speaking of the couch, it was really high off the floor and two times too large. He'd nearly have to jump down to reach the ground below. After some inspection it seems all the furnishings in this room are the same size --- two times too large. Who lived here? A race of incredibly tall hyurs?

He'll be able to feel that he is far, far away from the Crystal Tower. That'll make things difficult. Well, up and at 'em, Exarch. No time for napping!]

SOOOO MANY

[crystallinelore]

[The bullet had struck crystal, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, his actual organs didn't take (much) piercing damage. On the other hand, the crystal that blunted the blow very much cracked, and that crack has spidered through much of the parts of him that are crystal, and that feels terrible. Kind of like he'll shake apart if he moves too much.

Not that refraining from moving is really one of his options. It doesn't take long for him to work out an idea of what must have happened, although his memories stop at the sharp crack and sudden burst of pain that faded into unconsciousness near instantly. There are really only so many things that could have happened, and any of them mean he doesn't have the luxury of sitting still.

The height is intimidating, but he starts to carefully ease himself off the edge of the too-large couch, bracing himself for a jarring landing when he slips off entirely.]

[firstworldproblem]

[The floor has a little give under his feet, not much but enough to soften the impact by just a fraction. No one else is in the room. There are double doors and a pair of windows as the only visible exit to this place.

If he listens carefully, he can hear footsteps in the hallway beyond.]

So many spoilers

[beleaving]

So the top level will be the next comment so it has a chance of collapsing away.

[beleaving]

[Turns out the first summoning had... great??? Timing? ...?


Anyway don't ask me how this works but there's an elf bleeding aether out on the Exarch's floor.]

[crystallinelore]

[Thal's balls! He hasn't thought that particular bit of rudeness in decades at least, but the situation calls for it.

There's no time to wonder what went wrong, to do anything but ply what healing magics he knows and all but flood the dying man with them. And also shouting for help.]

There's an injured man here, call for aid from the Spagyrics! Chessamile if you can find her!

[for all the guards at the tower's doors have never been called on in this way before, they don't hesitate to scramble off in search of help.]

[crystallinelore]

[he succeeds. he succeeds and takes the light and pitches himself with it into the space between worlds. he expects to die there. he expects to become a monster and self destruct into eternity itself, maybe even die of distance from the tower before his transformation even completes. the tower has other ideas.

he never quite realized the degree to which his fusion with the tower runs both ways. when the light begins to taint him, so too does it encroach upon the tower. as it does, the tower's systems fight back, pushing for dominance both within the tower itself and also within G'raha's body. crystal consumes more of him, even as the crystal itself is compromised, shot through with impurities of white, quartz-like crystal. his hair and fur finish bleaching white, take on a feathery sort of appearance, and his skin shades much paler as well, before an equilibrium is reached.

but that's all negligible as far as he's concerned. his worry stands with the tower having joined him in the void, and with watching how the light that hasn't corrupted him disperses. the last thing he wants is for the light to all flood into another shard. eventually, in that place between time and space, he curls up in the tower and once again sleeps, not expecting to ever really wake again.

he certainly doesn't expect the tower to crash-land on an Erebonian highway while he sleeps. he doesn't even wake. which will probably be awkward when the ashen chevalier is ordered to investigate the strange blue and white crystal tower that appeared out of fucking nowhere, entirely too reminiscent of the tree in crossbell.

Rean and company also get to fight through Syrcus Tower: sin eaterish edition, while they're at it. the tower's defenses reset under the assault of light, and g'raha had no reason to disable them again. but once they're through, they'll find g'raha asleep on xande's light-tainted throne, half-crystal and radiating that sense of deadly beauty that the sin eaters they waded through also possessed.]

[awakenerd]

[Everyone has a different idea how to approach this ethereally beautiful cat creature. Millium wants to smash him, Rean wants to wake him up, eventually Gaius comes up with a solution that won't get them too close without comprehending the dangers. Holy magic to shield Rean, with a side of adamantite shield and crescent mirror from Jusis, and they allow Rean to approach the sleeping potentially final boss.]

Hey. Are you alive?

[There have been voices near G'raha for a few minutes now, for the first time in who knows how long, but this one is right in front of him.]

[crystallinelore]

[being addressed directly does the trick. g'raha stirs, slowly, eyes fluttering open to display that vivid red-- far less rare and alarming in this world, but still striking.

he regards Rean drowsily for a moment, slides his gaze calmly over the others, then-- startles as it sinks in. sitting up fast, ears flattening.]

Wait-- where am I?!

[awakenerd]

[One of the Exarch's early attempts went very very far afield indeed. Not to the source, but to the 13th.

And from that ruined star it pulled one of the only souls left not entirely a monster. Half a monster surely, with the black corruption of the void spreading on his chest and gleaming, unnatural red and yellow eyes, but otherwise an almost normal looking Hyur from a place inhabited only by monsters.

He seems as startled as the Exarch to find himself on the tower floor in front of him, hissing in surprise and reaching for a weapon that didn't make it across the rift with him. His clothes didn't either, he realizes a second later, and torn between embarrassment and alarm he tries to cover himself.]

What are you?

[It's always a what, after all, where he is from.]

[crystallinelore]

[I'm an idiot sandwich]

...I must admit, I am not entirely sure where to begin answering that question.

[he's backing up a little, trying to give the man some space.]

[awakenerd]

[That's... not a normal answer, at least.]

What?

[crystallinelore]

[It's about what G'raha may expect. The Exarch didn't specifically summon him here, but since when has he succeeded in grabbing who he wanted? This may be the first time, however.

In any case, a certain someone is being dumped naked in Lakeland. What a lovely wakeup. Good luck! A guard patrol can find and take him in before he gets eaten or something.]

[goodknightdaddy]

[He's freaking out. Sure he expected to wake up maybe centuries in the future, so he didn't expect Mor Dhona to be the same but the change... isn't that. The light from the sky is wrong. People are calling him a mystel??? Whatever that is. He's NAKED. And he's NOT in the tower rising over the land.

The patrol that brings a very freaked out cat back to the crystarium at least lent him a cloak which he's got wrapped around himself like a toga but everyone already thinks he's really nuts with all his obvious questions.]

[crystallinelore]

[buddy you need to think like the wol and not say jack shit until you have an idea of what is happening or are asked a direct question!! yeesh

at some point in the middle of being questioned by a deeply suspicious Lyna a small dark shape is sprinting down the road toward the little group. the guards notice him one by one and salute, practically ignoring G'raha as the small form skids to a stop.]

Pray forgive me for not warning you! This is a guest of mine from my homeland.

[his eyes may not be visible but he sure is making WORK WITH ME HERE eyes at him.]

[crystalbody]

[listen

you know what lakeland looks like

this is all familiar to you

but you really shouldn't be naked out here]

[crystallinelore]

[YEAH UH HEY WHAT THE FUCK?

he reads enough reports to know which parts of lakeland are relatively lower risk, so he hauls his naked kitty ass to one of those spots to get his bearings.]

[crystalbody]

[Mayhaps you remember the return of the night sky? Of your Warrior of Darkness bringing an end to Emet-Selch and ridding themselves of the taint of Light?

Alas, here, it seems, the Light is all too prevalent. It's piercingly bright, which can only mean the danger is worse than you could hope for. But perhaps you'll be lucky and have someone come running quickly enough from the Crystarium.]

[crystalbody]

[it's been a long day of doing a new round of rearranging workers for those who want to run off into the sunset to become the new Warriors of Light (no small amount of thanks to Elidibus for his interference). Lyna had protested your involvement, seeing as you were busy working towards your Very Personal Project, but Urianger and Beq Lugg had both sent you for an enforced rest as they did further research into their current failures and the distraction was welcome.

but now that was done, Lyna having hushed you away, and Urianger and Beq Lugg have shut the door on you... well, at least there's your desk? perhaps some reading of paperwork or somesuch will be good?

except after a moment or two of sitting and reading, suddenly a hand slides up your thigh from under your desk]

[crystallinelore]

[he squeaks. he can't help it! he's tired, okay. not tired enough to rest, of course, but tired enough to have his guard a little down in his own office.

but there's really only one possibility when it comes to who would do this, so he doesn't panic more than that, only looking down.]

...Tyri'a.

[crystalbody]

[friendly cheerful but as ever nonverbal chirp as out from under the desk his head pops out. as does a yawn that has him stretching his ears some.

but now both hands are pushing G'raha's robe up]