expiationlogs | MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

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MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

IT'S CASINO

What have the five NPCs that split off to work on their special project been doing all this time? Well, they’re ready to unveil it. The new NPCs as well as the locals hand out small pamphlets to invite the Chosen to a Great Unveiling that’s going to be done in the evening on the 21st of August. They encourage them to dress their best, and miraculously, Rin's tailor shop has new clothes for sale! When the time comes and the Chosen have begun to gather, the workers who have prepared this building so diligently cuts a bow up in front as the building flickers to life behind them.

It’s a casino! (Who knows where they got that idea.) Or rather, a new event hall. But right now, it looks like a pretty flashy casino.

Come on in!

ANTE UP!

I. DON'T BET THE HOUSE

Chosen who decide to meander past a grumpy man and into the casino itself are met with an opulent scene before them.

There's a large main hall, full of tables with games run by a surprising combination of fairies and local citizens from Aldrip. Further in, there's a massive space to lounge, socialize, and eat. Here you'll find couches for cozy conversation, tables for dining, and a cash bar on the side.

Rooms in the back offer more serious games--you may find a table of fairies playing poker, for example--but...some attendants may close the door to bar your entry, at least for now. These tables are for only the highest rollers, folks.

The sound of music may lead you further back, where you'll find a stage and musicians playing a plethora of music from different worlds that have gathered here, and a space to dance as well. For those who aren't the gambling sort, it seems as if there are still plenty of things to do.

Party away!

II. PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT

There is a grumpy-looking man in a small, dark room off the main hall of the Casino. He’s drumming his fingers on the table, and, if approached, is rather rude about it. He’ll try to chase onlookers out of the room, and then start groaning about how someone is “taking too long” and “not respecting his valuable time, for goodness sake!”

Shortly, some of the NPCs from the desert approach the room with giant sacks and lots of apologies. The tinkerer pulls tablets and cords out of the bags (some half-fixed thanks to industrious Chosen), throws his tools onto the table, and gets to work. He has tools to fix cracked screens and inner parts of the tablet to make them…work? Interesting.

For now, this tinkerer is not interactive, but he has some choice remarks for those brave–or brazen–enough to try socializing with him. Don’t just stand there! Hand me that screwdriver! or take this out to the dumpster around back, will ya? or even the occasional grab me a drink! It’s stuffier than an armpit in summer back here...though if you’re planning to run errands for him, be aware that his tab is not in good standing. If he wants you to run errands for him, you’re probably going to have to pick up the tab, either with coin or with work.

If someone were to look over his shoulder as he's doing his tinkering, they might see the words CYCLE 15 on the loading screen. Otherwise, it's just a lot of blue and black maintenance screens as he's essentially having to do a system restore of the tablets.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

The tables in the main room are where the more adventurous Chosen may go to gamble. Currently, NPCs are running the roulette and blackjack tables, but if someone wants to be the one to run these games, they won’t say no! There’s also slot machines from the sounds of the bells in the distance, so there’s plenty of ways to test your luck. Just be aware that there may be… consequences, whether your character does well or poorly at the games.

Below, there will be a comment section for players who may want the mod team to choose their luck for them. There are three options that you may choose:

You comment with a heads or tails, and we’ll roll the dice for the corresponding “good” or “bad” scenarios.

You comment with whether you want “good luck” or “bad luck” to happen to your character, and then we’ll roll for their consequences.

If you want to put your character's fate in our hands, you can just comment that you want us to rng it all!

SPOILERS: if you want bad effects to be a surprise, don't peek!

The “bad effects” are as follows: memory loss, temporarily loss of taste, can’t speak certain words for a couple of days, feel compelled to follow orders to the person they lost to (kind of like a King's Game), forced honesty, bad luck (which is entirely up to you, the player, on how to interpret this), and temporarily losing one ability of your choice for the next event.

If you want to participate and there’s something you’re not cool with us landing on for the bad effects, just let us know which ones you’re not comfortable with and we’ll leave it out of the rng pool!

A Note: The “good” and “bad” effects won here may have some mild influences on your character for the next event. Nothing life threatening or incapacitating, but just keep in mind if you want us to roll for your bad effects. If you want to just say you had shit luck in the slots and you don’t want your character to have any effects at all, this is fine. It’s not mandatory to have either effect happen to your character to have a good time playing in the casino.

WILDCARD

Go wild! This is a casino after all, and there’s supplies to play pretty much any gambling or card game laying around. If you can’t easily find it, an NPC would be more than happy to help a Chosen find the items they need to play the game they want. Want to play Go Fish while you drink your cocktail? That’s fine too. Anything goes!

A Note: This casino is going to be available in full capabilities until the end of the month. After that, the mod team will explain what’s going to become of it then and in the future!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. Make way for the King

[So this place could actually have a good time, could it? And here he had been given initial impression that it was a backwater minimalist kind of place. Now he was proven pleasantly wrong, and it tugged Aldrip up in his mind as a place to potentially settle permanently to gather people up to provide a far more secure future.

Silco walked into the casino with its bright lights and opulence as if he owned the place. While he was in his attire, there was a distinct cleanliness to the outfit. The white of his neck scarf was very white and the gold trim seemed to glimmer more than it should. He drank in the atmosphere and decided to make the most of it. He didn’t have a lot, but he knew gambling well.

Even better, Silco had been blessed with luck for this little venture. It almost felt like certain parts of Zaun when he decided to walk to streets. Employees and guests alike seemed to follow his move, and he had already been handed a drink without asking. Now, how far to push it?]

That’s nice. Can I see it? [He gestured at a random item on a person.]

II. Play your cards right

[After wandering the casino to get a lay of the land and watch what other Chosen while also pausing to examine what gambling was occurring, he noticed the impatient tinkerer. It was so out of place that he casually made his exploration rounds closer as the apparent ‘goods’ showed up for the man to work on.

Those devices seemed similar to the ones that had grabbed for Jinx to try to fix or take down for scrap parts. Now what would this man need to do with them that would require services inside of a casino. Surveillance perhaps? Data collection?

While he kept his distance to not get wrapped up in the situation, he was watching. When he noticed someone else potentially as curious – and gullible – of the scene as well, he folded his arms behind his back and stepped up to them.]

Now what do you suppose a non-Chosen is doing with those devices?

III. Hit me

[Silco had settled himself down at one of the many blackjack tables, testing his luck when it came to cards. It turned out that he had plenty of luck on his side this night, and it didn’t even require active cheating on his part. While there were other people had joined on the table and some even egged on for another hit to try his luck further than necessary, he ignored them.

This was between himself and the dealer after all.

As his wins began to mount, other people began to notice. A crowd began to gather, many of them a few too many cups in and cheering a tad loudly. His fingers played with some of the small mountain of chips, letting them slip through his fingers over and over with soft clacking.

With a tap of his finger to his two cards, the dealer produces a six, bringing his number to twenty. He placed his hand over the cards to stop the addition of another card.

The house drew an nineteen.

Behind him, a cheer erupted and a drunk woman suddenly leaned on his back and gave him a peck on his right cheek. He pulled his winnings over the growing pile and glanced over at another Chosen.]

Hmmm, must be my lucky night. Care to join the table for a round? Let's see how your hand is dealt, hmm?

[Elidibus hadn't even been drinking, but all the crowds and chaos have taken its toll on him, and so he's retreated to the lounge area, leaning forward and looking at a small colorless crystal that fits neatly in the palm of his hand. He seems to be fidgeting with it on occasion, rolling it back and forth in his fingers and only glancing up occasionally to keep an eye on his surroundings.

Silco catches him when he's looking the other way, but his head quickly turns to face him when he asks after the crystal.]

This? Whatever do you need to see it for?

[He's hesitant to comply.]

[He stopped by the distracted and dare he say it overwhelmed young man. The light and sounds were oppressive at this stage of the evening, and he had come fashionably late so that some which may take issue with his presence should hopefully be content between themselves.

He tilted his head curiously at the question.]

Need? Nothing, I expect. It reminded me of an item from home, so I was hoping to look at it.

[Elidibus quirks a brow and smiles, quietly feigning ignorance. He's unconvinced.]

Were you hoping to ascertain its properties? It's a crystal containing memories, that's all. Nothing anyone from another realm should be particularly interested in.

And what kind of memories can be held in gemstone? That's not a technique I've seen in my realm, as you put it.

[It wasn't hextech or anything that he would know some about then. It was still a nice looking stone, though it seemed not all blessings here came with a reward. That was good information to have.]

It is quite a common practice in mine, though this one had a special purpose.

[He pauses, frowns, looks down at the crystal again. Turns it over once more in his fingers.]

Our world was on the brink, you see. A calamity like none we had ever seen before had swept across the land, blighting everything it touched and twisting our magicks into uncontrollable abominations. Those of us that survived to the end placed our memories of ourselves and our brethren within these crystals, that we may refer back to them in case anything happened to us.

[And for most of them, something did happen. He sighs.]

It is... a long story. Very long.

[Based on the story weaved, it was apparent why this one was so reluctant to let him handle the gem in question. Doubtless, he wouldn't have the ability to access those memories even if he happened to lay a hand on it.]

In my world, magic is already considered an abomination that nearly destroyed everything. It seems like a more common story than I would have expected.

[He folded his hands together behind his back.]

If you have time to tell your story, I have time to listen. The choice is yours.

Well...

[Elidibus leans back in his seat, sighing. Now, how to condense such a story? It would be of interest to hear the opinions of someone not of their world, admittedly... Someone with a fresh look on their dilemma.]

As I said, the fabric of our star began to fray, and it became evident we needed decisive action to survive. Eventually, we decided upon something unprecedented -- we were to summon a god to serve as the will of the star, to set things right again. It came at a great price, however; about half the population offered themselves up in sacrifice, their lives serving to power this god, whom we called Zodiark. Then, another half of the remainder offered themselves to Zodiark to restore balance to the star, that life may begin again anew.

Alas, then we hit an impasse. As newborn lives began to spring forth once more, some of us then wanted to sacrifice them in turn to restore the lives that were lost to bring Zodiark forth. Others believed that the star should belong to the newly born, to leave well enough alone. It was those from the latter half that gave rise to Hydaelyn, a woman who ascended to godhood when She smote him so powerfully it tore the very foundations of our star into pieces -- a Source, and thirteen reflections, each possessed of a shard of Zodiark. The people upon it, too, were divided, thinned out, barely even able to be called men anymore, with only three exceptions. I was one of them.

So those of us who remained set about trying to put it all back together. The crystals came into play in the aftermath, as we Unsundered recorded our memories of our comrades who were lost within them, that they might join us in our desire to see the world returned to its former state.

[He pauses, gripping the crystal tighter now.]

Of course, the story continues, but I am curious to hear your thoughts so far. Does it seem to you that either side of the conflict bore the original sin, I wonder? Though I understand you are missing a great deal of context, and have only my word to go on, I would hear what you think anyway, from an unbiased perspective.

[Silco inclined his head slightly as he listened, drinking in the details despite the lack of context. This world was clearly something with a strong magical basis, which played well into the old songs and tales that came about before he was born.

Yet, he found himself considering the tale of survival and the extremes that a population had to consider to succeed in such a simple goal. The gods of old were long gone as far as he could tell, so he thought of the curiosity of creating one to meld the decay. What people would do for survival. Sometimes any sacrifice was worthwhile.]

Sacrifice for survival is something I know well enough about, especially in the face of unspeakable odds. However, if you sacrifice your children, then there is no future to exist for.

[At one time, he would have sacrificed everyone in Zaun for freedom, but the experience of fatherhood had forced him to realize - as he died no less - that his purpose was to deliver a future that their children could survive in. He'd give Vander that, but it was the old guard's purpose to put everything on the line for the future they would never see or at least not for long.]

Whatever sins were created, both bear responsibility for it. From what it sounds like, all agreed that sacrifice was necessary, but the extreme of it divided you. Once I believed any sacrifice is warranted, but I have since revised my opinion slightly.

Would that it had not come at such a great cost... The sacrifices went willingly, one and all, but they were still our friends, our family. People we loved.

[But perhaps he's right. Perhaps they were too reliant on Zodiark to make it all better after the first wave of sacrifices. It became a need for more and more blood at the altar of their faith just to put their lives back together -- blood there was simply not enough of. He turns the crystal around in his hands, fidgeting.]

I was the one chosen to be used as Zodiark's core, His heart. But even from my place within Zodiark in the aftermath, I could see the strife unfolding, and so I withdrew from Him, that I might fulfill my duty to them. It seems like no sooner had I done that than the sundering occurred, however... though I do not remember the exact timeline.

Those of us who had carried out the summoning ended up tempered, a phenomenon that occurs when one's aether is corrupted. We could not but work towards Zodiark's ends, as His tempered servants; we had our free will, yes, but defiance was not possible. And I, as His heart, was the only one who had an inkling of what his ends were. To rejoin those worlds at any cost, once we knew it was possible, no matter how many eons it took. And then, once complete, we were to sacrifice the remaining residents of the singular Source to bring back our brethren.

We did not finish our task before one particular Source denizen grew strong enough to topple us after seven rejoinings. But in death, I have been cleared of that tempering, and some of my memories of the past, once lost to Zodiark's influence, have returned. I can see now why we might have been considered morally bankrupt for it... and also that there were no other paths we could have taken.

[Elidibus sighs, turns to look at Silco properly now from where he'd been staring at his hands for most of the story.]

I apologize. It is a very long and complicated story.

Revolution requests sacrifice. Survival requires sacrifice. It's up to every society how much they are willing to give, how much they are willing to fight.

[There were plenty of the tale where the context and concepts had no relation to him, and he desired little expansion of those concepts right at this present moment. No, he was taking his time to digest the tale itself. There was a lot to unpack, but the basic concepts of sacrifice and being a slave to the very weapon necessary to bring about a certain level of freedom was something he could relate to.]

It seems to me that you took a path that not everyone agreed with for the betterment of your own kind, and in your case, the revolution that followed against you ended up destroying you.

[He could better understand why this one wouldn't so readily hand over the gem full of memories. One needed to be chained to certain parts of their past to remind themselves of what they had sacrificed to achieve the better end for others.]

It is. It seems pointless to apologize for telling your own tale. May I sit? [He gestured at the chair across the table.]

Please, go ahead.

[He gestures amicably to the seat across from him.]

There was one of our number who was particularly distraught over the summoning idea. A coworker, and a friend of mine. They defected from the Convocation and left the city, though to what end, I've no idea; I never saw them again after that. If they wanted to find another way to stabilize the star without Zodiark's assistance, I'm afraid it didn't come soon enough.

[For the first time since he started relaying the tale, he makes an expression deeper than a grimace, more of a disappointed frown instead.]

They were branded a traitor, and their seat eliminated from the governing table completely. I also thought for the longest time that they were a traitor to our cause, that perhaps the price being too high for them was a mark of cowardice, of unwillingness to give their all for the sake of the star.

[The betrayal still stings, even though it's only on the fringe of his memories at best. He leans forward, contemplative.]

We had no time to stop and wait for another solution to fall into our lap. People were dying with every passing day, and still more having to be mercifully put down because they were afflicted with a mind-bending terror that could not be expunged. But once I regained my memories, I began to wonder if they were really the backstabber we made them out to be.

[Silco pulled out the chair and eased himself down into it, crossing one leg over the other and folding his hands into his lap. He tilted his head towards Elidibus to show that he was continuing to listen intently to details being provided, nodding every once in a while.

How painful it must be the lay out one's personal story to a complete stranger. Perhaps this man was lonely and seeking connection. He supposed being bound to a destructive entity with no will to rebel would leave considerable mental scars and moral questions, now wouldn't it?]

It sounds to me that you're trying to convince yourself of your choices when they are already made, and there is no room to regret the significance of them. Decisiveness is a valuable asset, though no doubt that there are lessons to be learned from the past.

[He offered a small shrug of his shoulders.]

Everyone has a different means of seeking a path of survival. Unless he actively attempted to sabotage your plans, I wouldn't consider going out to seek other solutions backstabbing.

That these things are already done and over with, I don't disagree. If I were made to go back and start from the beginning, or repeat my choice a second time, there is nothing I could -- or would -- change.

But... I cannot say in good conscience the defection did not feel like salt in an existing wound. Even if they meant well, it was a brazen decision to make with silence alone. Though, truth be told, if I were to direct anger at any one person, it would be the woman who destroyed our world and saddled us with this burden, first and foremost.

[He pockets the crystal and clasps his hands together.]

Yet the people I speak of are dead now, and justice matters not to the dead. Still, seeing how little respect this place already has for the dead staying dead, it makes me wonder how much of this I need to consider for the future. If either of them were to end up here as well... I fear those of us who knew them may have a problem on our hands.

Have you considered that this individual might have felt the same for your staunch acceptance of the choices that you made? [He tilted his head, gesturing with a hand to show his continued interest in the topic.] Who is this woman you speak of who managed to destroy your world?

[Most of the people that he would consider of value were inaccessible, and some of them were even dead as well. He made a soft 'hmm' noise at the comment about the dead, and he would have to disagree with that.]

As I'm dead where I'm from, I happen to appreciate the opportunity to continue with my existence. That being said, you should guard yourself against the possibility and make contingency plans on what you will do if anyone you happen to dislike appears here.

In passing, yes, but note that the vast majority were in favor of this plan, for lack of any better ideas. They must have known full well they'd be acting alone, and that the fallout would be irreconcilable. None of us had any way of knowing what would happen next, though... it's likely they thought there would be something left to salvage later on, however little it may have been.

To your question, that was the work of Hydaelyn. Though perhaps "destroyed" is not the proper term, it certainly destroyed the star we knew and loved. I think I would speak for all of us who remained to see it to say we have yet to truly forgive her, but it doesn't help not knowing whatever justification she might've had...

[Which cannot be obtained short of talking to her, if she ever shows up. Hm.]

I suppose most would, wouldn't they. But the place I called home, the people I loved, all are by and large not here. I would've been full happy to fade away and rejoin them, but...

Then it sounds like you and your kin had no choice but to prioritize survival, and there will always be a few voices that are critics. The best case scenario in such situations often comes with devastating outcomes anyway.

[Destroyed was destroyed where he was from. That they couldn't rebuild what was taken and had to act in complete survival mode for their species indicated the devastation that her actions had caused them. On a minor scale, that's what Hextech was doing to the Undercity. No longer though. He wouldn't allow his city to be left behind any longer.]

But you're here. A second chance. Don't waste it.

[ "Curious" might be a bit of an overstatement ─ but Ragna has, in fact, stopped by to take a look at the weirdo tinkering with the tablets. He wasn't interested in those when he came across them in the desert, and he isn't particularly interested in them now, but he has to wonder why a bunch of broken electronics were considered so important that not only were they brought back to the town, but are now getting all this attention from that weirdo.

He's about to move on with his life and forget all about that when he's approached by some old guy that, judging by his question, is also one of the so-called Chosen. ]

Fuck if I know. Play tetris or some shit?

[ The man shrugs nonchalantly, making it rather obvious he hasn't given it much thought. ]

[He knew more than a few people in the Undercity and beyond who acted similarly, so it was the kind of familiarity that kept his attention for the time being. In his experiences, tinkerers usually had something of use to off sooner than later, and this one did seem to have a similar wait with technology as Jinx and the boy.

The silver-hair that he approached didn't seem to be particularly interested. He also had no frame of reference for what 'tetris' was, but it likely was a puzzle or game that could be engaged in with such technology.]

And what happens to be tetris?

[ True, Ragna has little reason to care about what the tablets business is all about; technology isn't his strongest suit, and this kind of thing is considered outdated and obsolete in his world and time, anyway. But even his limited knowledge means he's aware of some basic stuff, and he counts the existence of tetris as a part of that, which is why he gives the older man a somewhat confused, questioning look. ]

A puzzle game.

[ Apparently he considers that to be a sufficient answer, since he doesn't elaborate further. Ragna makes a short pause, crossing his arms on his chest, and follows it up with this absolute gem of a comment: ]

You're like what, several centuries old? You'd think a fossil like you would know something so old school.

[Silco turned his mismatched eyes on the younger man with a flat look, though he also raised the only eyebrow that he possessed. Now this was a good first meeting; it had been such a long time that someone decided to insult him without actually knowing nothing about who he was and what he had done. It was actually rather refreshing.

Practically back in Zaun already where insults could be as close to greetings as one could earn from someone else.]

There was no formal education where I'm from, least of all time for many puzzle games. We're a bit too lawless of a bunch that tend to either fight for a living or work in the mines until we die.

[He returned his gaze back to the tinkerer.]

I don't expect anyone so young and wet behind the ears to understand that kind of oppression.

[ Ragna rolls his (likewise mismatched) eyes in response, having no desire to listen to what he perceives as some old fart's sob story. Everyone's got their own tragic past, but you don't see him making his one everyone else's business. ]

If you're trying to impress me, it's not working.

[ First Jinx makes fun of him for being "old", and now this guy decides to criticize his youth and supposed inexperience? What is it with people finding new and exciting ways to crap on him for his age? ]

Keep talking shit and I'll show you some oppression.

[ What does he mean by this? Not... much, because while he tends to run his mouth threatening people, he doesn't think ahead far enough to figure out what he actually wants to do about it. ]

[Heterochromia was uncommon, but it wasn't rare. His version wasn't natural, and he had long grown used to not caring what people thought of it. The mutation - as Singed would call it - was interesting all the same in a wholly appearance way.]

Why would I waste my time bothering impressing you, boy?

[Silco was used to people in the Undercity calling him old, Jinx especially. Ageism was fine, especially given the high mortality rate of the population. The lucky ones stuck around long enough to raise their children to being functional people, but most stepped out of the picture for one reason or another long before that.]

Go right ahead, boy. You wouldn't be the first or last to step on another man's throat over an introductory conversation.

[He wasn't looking for a fight, but neither would he back down from one. Bowing one's head was a good way to get a shattered skull.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

MINGLE LOG: AUGUST

Silco | Arcane

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I am so sorry for the infodumps lmao

All good!

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