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

[firstworldproblem]

Not for very long I must admit. You should be really proud of yourself to kept it a secret for so such a time. And I wonder how events would have unfolded had you been forthright with our hero. It surely would have made my plans and schemes more difficult.

But you didn't, so here we are.

Tell me, Exarch. How did you do it? How did you trick time to bend to your will?

[crystallinelore]

[Even with his hood, he's always been fairly expressive. Without it, the flinch is undeniable, and his ears flatten. It's true that his strategy clearly didn't pan out.]

I'm afraid that isn't my story to tell. To you least of all.

[firstworldproblem]

Don't be so difficult. You completed a feat nigh thought impossible.

[Walking up to where the Exarch is sitting until they are about four feet apart.]

You should be proud. Truly, you should. But make no mistake, I will learn how you achieved this feat.

[crystallinelore]

[mmmMMMMMM not moving.]

It's... passing strange, hearing praise from you. But I won't aid you in turning such a feat to your own ends.

[firstworldproblem]

[Kneeling then.]

I had only the highest expectations from you, all of you. Though you did let me down in the end. It really can't be helped, being as broken and fragmented as you are.

Tell me, what do you think I would do with such knowledge? I've told you my motives and my aspirations. It shouldn't be too difficult to puzzle out.

[crystallinelore]

Naught that won't be helped by turning back the hands of time, surely.

[he sighs. it's not unreasonable, but the Exarch just seems... tired.]

I've seen the results of Light's victory here, you know. You desire such a Rejoining, and I cannot allow it to come to pass once more.

[firstworldproblem]

You think too small, Exarch, too small indeed.

Your words do ring true. I do desire a Rejoining --- of this world and all the others until our task is complete. However...

... what if the paradise was never to be sundered in the first place? What if your life was never fractured into ten and four pieces? Then you could spare the sufferings of not only the First but of all other Rejoinings prior.

Would that not be a result to strive for?

[crystallinelore]

[that's... a concept. he pauses, seriously considers it. he feels like he's failed and he's been fucking shot and undoing everything seems monstrously unfair but also was exactly his aim in a much smaller scale anyway, so is it really going much further to stretch it to such extremes?]

...It sounds like a dream. What steps would need be taken, to avoid the sundering in the first place?

[firstworldproblem]

[Considers this for a moment. Look, time travel brings up a lot of possibilities.]

It was Hydalean who split the star. Prevent her manifestation, and the world will never know being sundered.

[crystallinelore]

She was summoned to counter your god, correct? What was the reason for his summoning, then?

[firstworldproblem]

To combat the annihilation of our star. In order for us to survive we had to write the laws of reality anew. No magic we employed could stem the chaos that was unleashed. Only by summoning Zodiark, by His Grace, was the fate of our people saved.

[Ah, if he was not Tempered he could suggest stopping the source of the destruction of Amaurot. Though even they did not know the source. But Zodiark would demand not to write out his existence from time.]

[crystallinelore]

...Then, wouldn't finding a way to circumvent the problem in the first place be more effective? Getting gods involved always makes a fine mess, and clearly Zodiark was not uniquely unproblematic.

[firstworldproblem]

The Convocation of Fourteen could not find a solution to the chaos without Zodiark. And try, we did. Sequestering ourselves and formulating plan after plan. Our only path to salvation lies with Him.

[crystallinelore]

Then I fail to see what good turning back the hand of time would do you.

[us? you.]

Preventing Hydaelyn's manifestation is one thing, but the situation that drove those who summoned her into it... They didn't agree that Zodiark was their salvation. They can't have. And that sort of desperation leads to primals every time.

[firstworldproblem]

Then it is a chance to try again. A chance to see if we can truly see eye to eye. They are my kin and can be reasoned with.

[Or maybe just temper the whole lot of them kicking and screaming.]

Primals can be handled. Can be dealt with one after another. So long as it isn't Hydaelyn and Her wretched ability to enervate.

[crystallinelore]

Forgive me if I'm unconvinced. Not that I disbelieve that your kin could be reasoned with. Rather the opposite, really. You are Tempered, are you not?

[firstworldproblem]

This is an answer you already know. Yes, I am tempered. There was no avoiding such an outcome.

You fear I will make a poor decision. Going further back is not a plausible solution. Without Zodiark and his abilities to write the laws anew, our star dies. In such an event both of us lose.

[crystallinelore]

What was the cost of his salvation?

We're talking about turning back the hands of time. Alternative option exist. I said even preventing the creation of Hydaelyn would result in gods being summoned, because alternative gods would be created. The possibility of a primal who would exact a lesser cost being summoned in Zodiark's stead is a valid strategy.

1/2

[firstworldproblem]

[firstworldproblem]

[Walking over and offering a hand.]

If I may be allowed to give you a more visual representation. In this case, words can not paint the picture I'm trying to tell.

[crystallinelore]

[hhhhhesitates. but.

takes his hand.]

[firstworldproblem]

[He helps the Crystal Exarch to his feet and then raises a hand, snapping his fingers as purple and black clouds engulf them for just a moment. When it clears they are in another vaulted room with a set of heavy wooden doors set before them.]

How much do you remember of what I told your Hero?

[crystallinelore]

[he very bravely doesn't make any pained noises as they get him on his feet, standing as steadily as he can.

dryly:]

After you shot me? Or before?

[firstworldproblem]

In your Crystal Tower. I had assumed you were all but dead to the world after I shot you. You have been rather cooperative all things considered.

[crystallinelore]

I wouldn't really expect a more considerate way of stopping me to work. Nor that you wouldn't have tried to stop me. If anything I'm irritated you were watching quite that closely.

But yes, I was listening when you were on my home turf.