FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

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[bloodweapon]

[The seven stained glass windows that lie before you will call out to each of you, whether you intended to investigate them or not. Though they do not speak in words, you will feel the tug to investigate a certain stained glass window, and you will feel its accompanying emotion.

First is a stained glass window bearing a design of a shield. You can't make out the emblem on the shield, as it has certainly seen better days; the shield itself bears a hole through the middle. You will feel the tug of grief and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Second is the image of a kingly-looking figure. He holds a massive sword aloft. You will feel the tug of rage; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

The third stained glass window is a bit odd, as this one seems to depict a flying vegetable? It looks like a weird leafy cabbage being. This one fills you with guilt; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

The fourth is a bit harder to make out. It seems to be a stack of crates absolutely covered in red - blood, perhaps? You will feel irritation upon looking at it, and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Fifth bears a strange beast that looks half-machine, half-monster, with a centaur-like design and glowing red parts that catch the setting sun. Those of you associated with conceit will feel drawn to this one.

The sixth stained glass window simply bears a golden chalice. There's no other indication of what this might hold. You will feel a chill run down your spine regardless and the tug of fear; those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Finally, the seventh bears the design of four swords. They are all identical and all point downward together. Looking at it makes you feel reckless, and those susceptible to it will find it hard to pull away.

Go on, then. You know what you must do. Reach out for the stained glass window that calls to you. Though you can resist the tug and emotion to investigate any window of your choosing.]

[destage]

[Sayaka will reach for the third, without even a thought. She's not even sure why, really; the absurdity of it is perhaps enough, though the strange feeling of guilt resonates with her actions.]

[bloodweapon]

[For Sayaka - and the others who join her in investigating this window - she'll find herself whisked away suddenly, as though she's been teleported somewhere else.

The cool, dark area she finds herself in seems to be some sort of underground hallway. There is only one path forward, but it branches out further down. The place is dimly lit, allowing her to only see a few feet in front of her. The feeling of guilt continues, and somehow you innately know that this place is safe. This is a place you find familiar, despite never having seen it before. It is something almost like home.

And yet something in the air today is wrong.

Proceed?]

[beautifulknight]

[ Well, Argenti hesitates between the first and the sixth, because both of them feel equally compelling.

Yet...the sixth one is the stained glass that draws him closer even if the shield is certainly one that beckons. What does the golden chalice hold? ]

[bloodweapon]

[You find yourself in a regal bedchamber - sitting before you is a small young woman. You recognize her as the Sultana, a leader. She is eagerly talking about her plans for the future of Ul'dah and how she hopes to get rid of her position to better help her people.

The two of you are sitting at a table taking tea together and all seems to be well. That feeling of fear still creeps up your spine, regardless of how nonsensical it seems right now. You aren't afraid of Nanamo, after all. She's someone you could consider a friend, even.

And yet the reason for that fear suddenly becomes very apparent after she takes a sip of her drink, contained in a golden chalice. Her eyes go wide and she falls backwards - poison, you realize far too late.]

[supherb]

[Perhaps it's because the grief in his own life that he hasn't quite finished processing, but Arven finds himself pulled toward the first window.]

[bloodweapon]

[You find yourself standing on a long bridge. Behind you is a door and some people you've never seen before, but recognize as your friends. Before you is an airship and some other unfamiliar people - but the sight of them fills you with determination. You know you must stop the old man in the long white robes. If you don't... well, something will happen, though you're not sure what.

Beside you is a friendly knight. You recognize him - his name is Haurchefant, and he is your dear friend.

Together the two of you will stop Thordan.

...Won't you? That grief still tugs at you, after all.]

[vogelfrei]

[ There's barely any question to what pulls to McGillis here - the fourth window is basically hypnotic to him, who has lived in anger. ]

[cirquedesang]

[They really have to stop meeting up like this... And yet, if it means having someone reliable at his back? It's... fine. We can continue to ignore similarities in public.]

[gardenful]

[ And Aerith is reaching for the first window, pulled in by that ever so familiar ache of grief. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Come join Arven, then.]

[ledbythewind]

[Oh... there's something painfully familiar about the second window in more ways than one. For a brief moment, he's almost reminded of the form of his uncle gripping a sword (the blade covered in blood, so much blood), and a surge of anger flares in his heart as he steps forward to get a better look at it.]

[bloodweapon]

[Before you stands King Thordan and his knights.

You recognize them, of course. They took someone precious to you. They are responsible for this person's death. Your rage threatens to boil over and you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it will come to blows. Not solely because of what you've lost, but because if you don't stop him, the world will be in danger.

You have the first move. What will you do?]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang reaches for the third stained glass window. He can be rational and assume the veggie is an Abnormality; those can have a strong influence on emotions present. Rational thought aside, guilt pulling you in isn't the greatest feeling. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Come join Sayaka in investigating it.]

[moonshaded]

[It's the second window that pulls her in immediately, instinctive and flaring like the sound of an old friend's voice.

But Kainé is stubborn and has lived with hate in her for a very long time and also I put this in my sign-up. Maybe that's what gives her enough emotional resistance to rather hardheadedly turn her gaze away to examine the seventh window.]

[bloodweapon]

[Before you stands Ravana. You recognize him as a Primal, a being made of the prayers of his fervent believers - a being you must put a stop to.

But he's also a being you want to fight. After all, haven't you fought Primals before? Haven't you enjoyed every single fight? Nothing pushes your limits further than facing off against god-like creatures intent on destroying you.

So what will you do? He yields the first strike to you.]

[imperiosity]

[He only really has a moment to glance at the other stained glass windows before his feet lead him to the second window. It's not a pleasant feeling, but it's a familiar one as he looks up at that figure.]

[bloodweapon]

[Come join Richard.]

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile is drawn to and reaches for the fourth window, the familiar spark of irritation lighting in him when he sees the design on the stained glass. Really hard to resist not just. punching straight through the window... ]

[bloodweapon]

[Join McGillis and Celeste, then.]

[cleansewithfire]

[ When you're so used to feeling guilt that you don't even think twice about investigating the third window: ]

[bloodweapon]

[Then you should join Sayaka.]

[kandata]

[Having failed to find the source of all the staring, Kirumi carefully approaches. One look...and she ends up drawn towards the fifth one. That's such a bizarre window...]

[bloodweapon]

[The thing that stands before you is the Ultima Weapon. You know that if you don't stop it, it will conquer the world. You know that there is no other option but to fight it.

Yet it towers over you, and it has killed three Primals, god-like beings summoned by prayer of their believers. You know this too, and yet...

And yet you can't help but feel excited at the idea of facing an even greater threat.

You can do this.

You can do this... can't you?]