Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

Introduction.

[beautifulknight]

[ The road to the palace isn't exactly the most easiest. Perhaps some may come with the intention to break through to enter the area, but get lost, and find themselves elsewhere.

But, eventually thirteen individuals (Fray, Izou, Aerith, McGillis, Maika, Sayaka, Kirumi, Céleste, Elijah, Mafuyu, Falin, Richard, and Aaron) find themselves together, with a sense that where each one notices each one happens to be going in the same direction. It isn't known for sure if it is the right one, but sometimes intuition is the feeling that speaks the loudest.

All at once, the surroundings turn to something else, the environment paradoxically feeling bright and at the same time foreboding, particularly with the ruins of a town that may have, at one point, thrived. Fog hovers ominously in the air, concealing most places of exit, except the path forward. Plants seem to already overtake the building's structures, foliage daringly peeking through the cracks in the land, though there is also the telltale scent of burnt material, and craters should anyone stop to look around. There are shadows that linger as well, but they appear to be slumped, unmoving in their spots, and hard to see, their conditions unknown.

Either way, the way ahead is clear, even if more dilapidated buildings await them.

Soon enough, all will notice that a brilliant light shines towards a certain point ahead. And lo! Thereupon entering the center of town is a stone dais where that radiance from above rests, illuminating 13 circular positions etched upon the stone that people will feel drawn to stand upon.

And if they should all compile themselves upon it, the area will automatically raise like a platform gently flying upwards, until it reaches a floating piece of land in the sky. Right atop this floating piece of land is a castle, and upon ascension, a dark, starry sky rushes overhead, illuminating the fathomless pitch-black night of the star ocean.

It's time to enter. But, first, there appears to be something else to contend with. That is a a locked gate, and from it, a strange, hollow voice rings out to ask everyone: ]

What still remains beautiful after it has been tarnished?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Castle, melodramatic question...

Yeah, this is definitely Tin Can.

Eli has remained remarkedly silent during the trek up here, apart from being momentarily startled to see everyone show up in the same spot after being separated to wander the ruins. Then again, that's just how the Nekyia is, isn't it?

There's a moment of hesitance to jump onto the platform with the glowing spots — couldn't it be a trap? — but when others do, he has to follow suit of be left behind. In any case, here he is now, at the gate, and he's about to open his big, stupid mouth. ]

Oxidized copper. [ How does he even know what oxidized is, what... ] That's it, right? It's still pretty damn gorgeous even after it's gone all green!

[goei]

[Izou was silent on the trek up mostly because he also assumed this had to be Casa Argenti and well. No reason to deliberate. They are here to punch him back to normal.]

Huh? You think a rusted hunk of metal is beautiful? Are you stupid?

[cirquedesang]

[...Well, he's not wrong?]

In that case, it would be silver, no?

[We're 'yes, but-'ing the answer. The riddle was 'tarnished', not 'oxidized', Eli!]

[chimken]

What an interesting answer...do you work with metals regularly?

[ Leave it to Falin to try to get to know her party members. ]

[kandata]

Fine china.

[Probably not the right answer, Kirumi]

[chimken]

What a good answer. [ Falin claps only slightly. ]

I would have never thought of that.

[imperiosity]

[After walking through the destroyed town (with more goddamn fog!!!), Aaron is hardly in the best mood once they reach the main entrance. And it really doesn't look like it's improving any time soon with the way their path forward is barred by the gate.]

...I'm guessin' that smashing through this thing won't work.

[Just give him a moment, he'll actually bother thinking of potential answers to this after he's had some time to complain.]

[bloodweapon]

Considering where we are, that seems likely.

[Not that he wasn't considering anyway...!! Fray's already not in a great mood and now we're being faced with a riddle?? Fantastic. Off to a great start.]

[bloodandstars]

We could try that first.

[ Argenti would understand. Argenti knows the people here, probably. This is practically an invitation to solving the problem with something semi-explosive. ]

[goei]

What about climbing it?

[As if one circumventing would work but another wouldn't]

[chimken]

Typically, in my experience, smashing through only leads to something more dangerous.

[ Falin still smiles slightly. ]

But I am positive your time will come to smash through something.

[fullmoonmutt]

If only... The guy likes to talk. A lot. This place is probably going to be full of monologues about beauty, so chances are we gotta give the gate a monologue of our own.

[bloodandstars]

[ She's beginning to adjust to the idea that — unfortunately — these places don't always offer the prospects of an immediate battle. Or even an appropriately ominous target to turn her suspicion towards. But the walk through the ruins is almost disconcertingly quiet, with Maika glaring in random directions half expecting to feel eyes on them at any moment.

It's almost going too smoothly, isn't it? A light that tells them where to go, and all of them following meekly into what would be the world's easiest trap. But apparently what awaits them is far more sinister. ]

...Is this a riddle, or philosophy?

[ She's honestly making both of them sound like swear words as she glances around at the others. If she had a concept of TV shows, she'd be asking to use her lifeline here. Someone else please... ]

[kandata]

I believe it might be more aimed to philosophy than to a true riddle. We may be asked to justify our answer.

[kirumi better start thinking how to justify her answer of 'fine china' because really girl that was not the best answer ever]

[goei]

I mean it's Red, didn't he say something before about bein' a "Knight of Beauty" or some shit?

[A lot of what Argenti says feels like white noise but he's pretty sure there was that.]

[gardenful]

[ There is no doubt that this is Argenti. It's plain and obvious, and so Aerith starts to think.

What would Argenti answer? After their discussions regarding what is beautiful and what beauty means, she thinks she has some ideas, but...

She'll go with what she feels right now, what calls out to her most. ]

The heart.

[bloodandstars]

[ That's such a sentimental answer. Way too sweet for reality or practicality.

But Maika gives her a long measuring look. ]

...I think he'd agree with that one.

[ Thanks Argenti; she can foist off all sentimentality blame onto you in absentia. Good man. ]

[ledbythewind]

[There's a brief moment of panic as the area lifts itself into the sky - are they going beyond the sky? He's never been this high up before - before he realizes exactly what's going on. Another palace, clearly, one suiting the nature of its owner... hmm.

And then that strange voice asks them a question, and Richard lifts a hand to his chin, considering.]

It seems clear we won't be allowed in until we give a satisfactory answer.

[Unfortunately, Richard himself does not know what that answer may be. Is this a serious question, or some sort of brain teaser? That could make the potential answers very different...]

[chimken]

With such a broad question, what do you think is a satisfactory answer?

[ Falin tilts her head slightly, her feathery neck fluffing up a little bit over her shirt. ]

[chimken]

[ Falin listens to the answers; all of them are good and honestly, correct. It was a broad question that could have many answers, much like Atem's question when they first arrived here. Holding her staff close, she looked up to the door.

Might as well try to give an answer: ]

Human beings.

[cirquedesang]

[...Definitely Argenti, yep.

Palaces being what they are, it isn't terribly surprising they all end up back together, or that there's some odd probably-trap they're being drawn to, but, well.

Such is the way of things.

So onto the platform and up to the gate and of course there's an esoteric riddle...

Considering this is Argenti, and if the fact he has a palace indicates he has some deep darkness in his heart he's been hiding... Well, he might be asking to be smote down with this answer, but it's worth a guess. Hopefully he doesn't have to justify it!]

Idrila?

Re: Introduction.

[beathollow]

After being tarnished...

I don't know.

( its spoken softly, more like a confession. those who recognize her struggles will surely know its the truth, too. )

[goei]

[Izou has heard someone suggest everyone has to answer, so;]

This is probably stupid, but what if the answer is just like "Argenti"? He got "tarnished" when he killed what's his face but that didn't stop him from pursuing his Knight of Beauty schtick.

[destage]

[This place feels both beautiful and foreboding; Sayaka isn't sure what the hell to think of it, but there's no doubt in her mind who this place belongs to. This is Argenti's all the way, and that makes her more determined than ever to save him.

Even so, the question makes Sayaka pause. She...doesn't know the first thing about anything like that--most of her life has been spent being obsessed with vanity, in becoming beautiful so that the world wouldn't forget her, but this is...

She has to think, long and hard about this. Wracking her brain over it a bit. Does he want an honest answer, or does he want to hear something that he thinks is beautiful?

...

She's not sure, but she decides to try honesty. It's the best policy, right?]

I think...roses, maybe, if you're asking for something personal. They're beautiful in bloom, and even dried out, the petals still have a beautiful color that still makes them look lovely.

[It's a bit of a shallow answer, but it's hers!!!]