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TEST DRIVE MEME #7
TEST DRIVE MEME
Considering apping to EACHDRAIDH? Why not give the setting a test run here! OPTIONAL SCENARIOS 01. ARRIVING IN THE DRABWURLD. The Seelie and Unseelie courts welcome you not with mirthful revelry, this time around dear friends. There is a seriousness in the air, though the food is still hearty and the imps still mischievous. After you have been briefed on your purpose here, you will find an endless feast and a night filled with entertainment to placate your concerns. Mingle with new arrivals, sneak down the castle halls and make sure your eyes are always on your glass; fairies and imps have no bias when it comes to tricks! 02. THE STATION. Looking for a little slice of home? The Station gives you all that and more. Take advantage of the wifi, have a cup of fairy-brewed coffee (the one they didn't spit in) or sit back and relax on the patio. You can even move your things into one of the available rooms! 03. WILDCARD. Your own scenario! Explore the Drabwurld or simply take advantage of your Locket! Be mindful, though -- the monarchs are watching and cross court communication should be done with the utmost secrecy. |
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His expression seems to brighten a little at those ideals -- an echo of words he's heard before and said to new SOLDIER recruits. He thinks it's funny, but not in a bad way. ]
You would have gotten along pretty well with my teacher, I think.
[ Despite all the terrible things that happened, he still has fond memories of Angeal and those formative years.
The "when I originally lived" comment makes him tilt his head, though. ]
You were summoned?
[ He's seen great creatures, forces of nature in their own right called forth by magic, but not the spirits of people.
Smiling a bit at Diarmuid's appraisal of the Buster, he grasps the hilt and lifts it up with one hand. A great weapon to match the heart of its wielder. ]
It was my teacher's. When he passed, he gave it to me.
[ He looks at Diarmuid again. ]
What's Moralltach?
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[A curious look enters Diarmuid's eyes. He loves learning about other people's worlds, especially when that other person seems so strangely like him.]
Yes, summoned. On my world, there is a mystical device that records the souls of heroes when they die. It is so that they can be summoned back into the world to protect it if they are needed. I am one of those souls and I was summoned back into the world to fight in a war before I was brought here.
[Going from one war to another, though somehow this one seems so much more important than the Holy Grail War now. He supposes that is because if they lose, then there will be no Holy Grail War to go back to.]
It was your teacher's, hu? Now I really want to know more about him...
[A fond look crosses Diarmuid's face as he starts to talk about his sword.]
When I proved myself worthy to carry them, my father gifted me four magical weapons that had been made by the hands of the gods. Gae Dearg and Gae Buidhe are my spears and the weapons I have here with me. Moralltach and Beagalltach were the names of the swords I was given, but don't currently have access to. Moralltach was the greater of the two swords. A hand and a half sword that could end any battle in one swing. That one has it beaten for size though. By quite a bit.
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[ Among other things, of course.
His expression growing more pensive (almost solemn) as Diarmuid explains the basics of the Holy Grail War, Zack wonders at the criteria this "mystical device" has in recording the souls of heroes. There's no such thing where he's from, that much he is sure of. ]
I see.
[ Part of him wants to ask, but in a way, he also doesn't. It doesn't sound like a fate he would want, being summoned to the distant future for a war he knew nothing about.
As for Angeal...well. Zack lowers his blade and smiles faintly - sad. ]
He was a patient man, not really prone to fits of anger or anything like that. When I was young, I had a little too much drive and not enough focus to go with it so he spent a lot of time reigning me in.
He used to tell people to embrace their dreams. That to be a hero, you had to have dreams and honor.
[ Zack hums quietly. ]
He inspired a lot of people in our division.
[ Going quiet again, Zack listens with interest as Diarmuid names his weapons. He can't help but huff a quite laugh at the reference to the Buster's size. ]
You have one up on me, then. The Buster is just what it looks like - a sword.
I can use magic, but it isn't part of the blade.
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He...really does sound like me. Dreams and honor are very important. Dreams make sure you have something to keep fighting for during hard times and honor makes sure you don't lose yourself when you are reaching for those dreams. I also am very slow to anger.
[A sheepish look crosses his face.]
Do you know I have never felt rage or hate? It seems impossible, doesn't it? How can a warrior live without knowing those feelings? Yet, I have.
[He has seen them plenty of times, but feeling them himself is a different matter.]
You can do magic? Then I would call us even. No matter now much I wished to learn magic as a child, I had no talent for it.
[A hopeful look fills his eyes.]
Would you mind showing me what you can do?
[Magic is still magic no matter if it is focused through a weapon or not.]
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Zack smiles faintly, but it's sad, in a way. Ideals like theirs -- they're difficult to carry because the world doesn't look kindly on such idealism. Diarmuid claims to have never felt rage and hate, and honestly, Zack thinks that's something of a miracle. ]
I don't feel them often, but...I've seen plenty of things that make me angry.
[ Never for long periods, and it was mostly when he was younger and more of a hothead. He could be bitter about his fate, but for some reason, he isn't.
At the look on Diarmuid's face, his own expression lightens up a little. ]
It's really not anything special. Most anyone from my world can us magic, but- [ He slips a small, round object out of his pocket -- what seems to be a green marble for all intents and purposes -- and shows it to Diarmuid. ] You have to have one of these.
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Anger is different than rage. Anger, I have felt.
[It's not something he ever liked feeling, but anger is something he does know.]
Wait, anyone on your world can use magic?
[Forget talk of anger, hatred and rage. The little green marble Zack pulls out suddenly has Diarmuid's full attention.]
That little thing lets you do magic? Does the color mean anything special? What is it called?
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Letting the more negative subjects drop, Zack nods once and offers the "marble" to Diarmuid. He can look at it if he wants to. ]
Everyone can, yes. Not everyone is good at it or can do a whole lot of casting, but it's kind of like any skill -- the more you try to do, the more you can do.
[ Or such has been his experience, at least. ]
We call those Materia. They occur in nature, though it is possible to fuse certain ones together with technology and combine effects.
That one is a healing spell. The colors are usually different depending on what they are. A lot of them are tied to the elements, but others aren't.
It depends a lot on what you can find.
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That makes sense. Everything requires practice. Practice to learn the skill. Practice to become in tune with the energy. Practice to learn how to wield the spell...
[His attention shifts from Zack back to the orb in his hand. What he wouldn't give to be able to use something like this to heal. Or really, to do any kind of magic. Even as an adult, he still dreams of being able to use magic.]
Is this the only one they let you keep?
[He knows the monarchs have a habit of limiting people's abilities and he can't help but wonder how much they stripped back Zack's.]
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Something like that, yes.
[ As for the magic he does have, Zack shakes his head and smiles a little. ]
I have a few more, but I'm missing some of the more powerful ones I had.
[ Granted, he could have lost them in that last battle, but he doesn't actually remember. ]
Materia are generally magic spells, but others can allow you to summon powerful creatures -- demigods of our world, I guess you could say.
[ A beat, then- ]
Do things normally get taken away here?
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[Kind of like summoning a Servant, but in a much easier manner. After looking at the Materia for a few more moments, Diarmuid hands it back to Zack.]
I wonder if I would be able to activate it and use it... Maybe we can try sometime when you are more settled in?
[He certainly won't ask now. Zack has enough on his mind right now as it is.]
Sadly, it is not an uncommon thing. I was lucky enough to arrive with my abilities mostly unlimited, but others have not been so lucky. Apparently, the monarchs limit our powers because it gives us a reason to do things for them and be loyal because by doing those things, you can earn back those missing abilities.
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[ He is a little disappointed that particular ability is lost to him, but he is perfectly able to defend himself without them.
Zack nods once at the question and takes the Materia back. ]
I don't see why not.
[ He's not sure if it'll work considering the way magic works in their world is tied to the world itself. It couldn't hurt, though, and he doesn't mind letting Diarmuid try.
He lets out a soft hum. ]
What are they like? The monarchs.
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[As Diarmuid watches Zack take the Materia back, he ponders the newcomer's question.]
The monarchs are...
[Oh man, how to be truthful, but not get himself into a lot of trouble with said monarchs? At least, they are outside. That might help keep this conversation between the two of them.]
They are devoted and loyal to their cause. They are also very powerful. I don't know if you have Fae on the world that you come from, but they are even more powerful than the most powerful Fae I have ever heard of. In someways, they are like gods, though they are gods that can die.
[His voice drops, then, eyes becoming distant and a small frown turning down his lips.]
Like many people truly devoted to a cause, though, they also are somewhat blinded by that cause. There are things they order, things they require of us, that make me as a knight very uncomfortable at times.
[Which is why he is fighting so hard to find another path.]
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Pay me back with a spar sometime, and I'll consider it even.
[ Diarmuid may be missing an arm (a fact that Zack has noticed), but that doesn't mean he would be any less dangerous in a fight. Besides which, Zack can't help but be curious about the skill of a hero summoned into a future age.
Listening quietly, Diarmuid's description of the monarchs is....honestly, about what he expected. They must be powerful indeed to bring all of them here from other world, especially considering how close he was to dying. He didn't think it was possible for him to live after all that, even with the best healing magic, but they managed to patch him up somehow.
His expression turns a bit thoughtful - serious, as he contemplates what he's been told. ]
We don't have Fae where I'm from, no.
[ Just the Cetra, and besides Aerith, they're long gone. ]
That's the case with most people in power, isn't it?
[ Anything to win or stay in power, regardless of honor. ]
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[Diarmuid doesn't hesitate to agree. He loves sparring with others, plus Zack's offer makes it clear that the other man doesn't see his missing arm as a handicap. That means a lot to Diarmuid after all the work he has done to build himself back up after losing it.]
The Fae of my world are magical beings of all kinds. Some are nature spirits. Some are legitimately gods and goddesses. Some are dark beings that live for no other reason than to bring pain and misfortune to others and some are the unfortunates who cannot pass to the other side for whatever reason.
[There is a great variety of them and a great range of power that they hold. To say the monarchs are the most powerful he has ever run into is saying a lot.]
That is true, sadly. However, more rides on these two sets of rulers than rides on the shoulders of most kings and queens. Has anyone explained to you what exactly each side is fighting for?
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Zack shakes his head. ]
There are monsters that roam the world where I'm from, but nothing like that.
[ As for what this war is really about...well. Zack's expression sobers. ]
Gilgamesh explained some of it to me. About the Void and what the Seelie and Unseelie want.
[ It's a lot to swallow, and he's still not sure how much of it he believes. ]
It sounds like a lot.
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[An intelligent monster is just as dangerous as one of the Fae any day.]
It is a lot and the worst thing is that so many don't even know what is really at stake in this battle...
[He pauses suddenly and then shakes his head.]
No, that is wrong. The worst thing is that so many insist on seeing this battle in black and white. The first thing I learned here, though, is that this place is gray. Why does it have to be the Seelie path or the Unseelie path? Why can't there be another way?