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

𝓡𝓾𝓵𝓮𝓼

[beautifulknight]

General & Combat-specific Note(s):

🌹 Characters will be free to explore and interact with various things to an extent throughout the exploration phase.
🌹 Please bold your actions as that will be most helpful.


🌹 For combat-related matters, roll 1d20 to see if attack hits; 1-10 attack will miss, 11-20 the attack will hit with higher hit values landing more damage (20 being a critical)
🌹 No support spells or normal actions (helping people up, etc.) need rolling, ever (buffs + healing)
🌹 Using a debuff will be considered a whole entire action at this time (so no debuff + healing & no debuff + attacking), and debuff spells will insta-clear unless otherwise noted.
🌹 Party-wide buffs/spells will be applied to max four characters, with the caster included as one of the "four" for buffs (caster will always be included with multi-target positive buffing/spells no matter what)

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!

[kandata]

Fine china.

[Probably not the right answer, Kirumi]

[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.]

[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... ]

[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.]

[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.

[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?

[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. ]

[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]

[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...]

[fullmoonmutt]

Wh... hey! Have you even seen the stuff? It turns this real pretty green!

[ no izou you are the stupid one??? ]

[bloodandstars]

[ Yeah, girl, on that note... ]

So... what were you thinking with that one?

[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]

[...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!]

[imperiosity]

[hi5s Fray in spirit]

Dammit, why's he gotta be such a pain in the ass... You got any bright ideas for this one?

[chimken]

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

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

[goei]

What about climbing it?

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

[fullmoonmutt]

Huh? Silver? I mean, uh. Maybe? But doesn't the copper thing count, too?

[ledbythewind]

Tarnished silver does have a uniquely attractive appearance...

[He can't even argue this.]

[goei]

Yeah but it's got a gross texture! There ain't nothing pretty about that!

[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. ]

[kandata]

It is to narrow down the purpose of the question. Objectively, it is close to Argenti's rational of beauty, in a material sense. If it does not cause any reaction, then the answer it seeks is more metaphorical.

[And in Kirumi's opinion, this is likelier to work on this sense than 'oxidized copper', sorry Eli!

can you tell i pulled this all out of thin air like four seconds ago

maybe i am decent at improvising after all]

[fullmoonmutt]

Eh, not really, but I've done a lot of scavenging runs for the R&D guys, and this one dude was obsessed with copper pieces.