[ENSŌ] - THE TEMPEST NEVER DIES

[thankgods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The final player enters the field
When: April 30th and onward
Where: On the coast of Ensō
Warnings: Nothing of note!

For the past several months, you've seen it on the horizon. A dark shape, at first, like a distant landmass getting closer and closer. It's continued to draw close, until it becomes apparent that for all it might look like a fragmented chunk of land, overgrown with moss and decaying vegetation, it is far from it.

It's a living being.

And by April 30th, it will have made landfall. A rush of seawater surges up over the beaches of Ensō as the beast settles along the northwestern shore, hulking and massive and rivaling even the great dragon Ahidalgo in sheer size.

When they nestle down against the edge of Ensō, they will lift their heavy head, rocky and streaming water, and open a set of six small, glowing eyes. They do not appear hostile. They regard any who might come near them with a seeming impassivity, though given how much they dwarf all of you, it might be awfully hard to read this creature's demeanor.

At least until they speak aloud.

"SO. THIS IS WHAT YOUR HISTORY HAS WROUGHT."
They're not going away anytime soon, either. It's only a matter of time before the other two gods in the area realize what's happening and reach out.

If you want answers, better talk to them now.

Comments

[scourgingstars]

[Happy birthday, Ardyn. Apparently, your gift this year is a violent flashback to the last time you spoke to a towering and impassive god.]

[(He'd like a refund, but such is life.)]

Meaning...what, exactly?

[thankgods]

MEANING I SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING.

[Those small eyes roll down to take him in.]

YOU.
YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE.

[scourgingstars]

Funny, that--you're far from the first god to offer me unhelpful observations. It isn't as though I came here by choice.

[agathokakological]

[Well, this wasn't really any more terrifying than any other celestial being Crowley has known, but the fact that he's been thoroughly de-powered and made vulnerable does make him just a bit nervous around this island's ancient beings.]

We are using the 'royal you', right?

[thankgods]

I KNOW WHO IS AT FAULT HERE.
DO YOU?

[littlemhigan]

[Oh good, another Not-A-Primal. Castor has to make an actual effort to tamp down her warring impulses - first to flee, second to start punching and not stop - but as time passes and it doesn't make any overtly hostile actions, she picks her way closer, curiosity finally beginning to override fear.]

Some history, if all we've te show for it is a handful've ruins, a bigger handful've headaches and more coconuts than any've us know what te do with. Whats it to ye, anyways?

[thankgods]

IT IS BECAUSE THIS WORLD HAS OUTLIVED ITS HISTORY.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT APPEARS TO LIE IN RUINS?
BECAUSE THAT IS ALL IT IS.
RUINS OF WHAT WAS.

[forwearemany]

(They stare up at the god, all their ancient vastness.

They chatter.)

Elaborate.

[thankgods]

THIS WORLD SHOULD HAVE ENDED.
INSTEAD, IT PERSISTS IN A WARPED MOCKERY OF WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

[vagabone]

[Big god. Gigantic god. Island in their own right. Maybe size means power. Maybe they can get him the fuck away from this place.

But... boy, what a loud voice. He can't help flinching back.]

Wasn't really my fault, I don't want to be here.

[thankgods]

YOU ARE FAR FROM AT FAULT.
YOU OUGHT TO BE SENT BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG.

[ideismo]

[Ohhhh, he does not like this at all.]

...You would hold us responsible for this, or are we merely an unfortunate byproduct that you intend to dispose of?

[thankgods]

THE LATTER.
YOU DID NOT ASK TO COME HERE.
AND I INTEND TO RETURN YOU TO WHERE YOU CAME.

[thermalwind]

Yeah, it has. Which one are you?

[He keeps his voice neutral. Score one for him and his development over time. It's his wary expression that could use the work. His eyes spark, like he's waiting for a challenge.]

[thankgods]

I AM STORI.
I AM THE HISTORIAN.
I AM THIS WORLD'S HISTORY, ITS BEGINNING AND ITS END.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[If there is a rather persistent sound, it's the sound escaping Church. It's not unlike a scream! Just an aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa kind of noise. Just...just give him a minute. You're very Large.]

--aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa jesus christ what the fuck are you?!

[thankgods]

[By contrast, the creature's response is blunt and unflinching.]

I AM THE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD.
I HAVE BEEN WAYLAID FOR TOO LONG.

[devilstongue]

Well, if what you said to the others is true, then finally.

[ His friends can go home. ]

...what will happen to those that don't exist in the world they were taken from?

[ Molly cannot. ]

[thankgods]

[The words are spoken with the same finality that appears characteristic of the Historian, devoid of much in the way of easily perceptible emotion.]

THEY WILL BE RETURNED TO WHERE AND WHEN THEY CAME.
WHAT HAPPENS OR HAPPENED TO THEM IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS WORLD'S FATE.

[reflash]

[Here it is, the answer to the question that's been rolling underneath the surface of the world.

The question that Yukio's been ignoring, in favor of grabbing at shreds of possibility and it's not a surprise that it's about to just disintegrate in his hands.

He listens to other conversations, and waits. And hates it.]

Is this how it always ends?

[He's quiet, and polite, and not accusing any god of anything.

He wants to rip this god apart with his teeth.]

[thankgods]

SOMETIMES.
THIS IS THE FIRST ENDING I HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY PRESENT FOR.

[barberian]

(They're big, and many-eyed, but the way that they rumble and roar reminds Yasha of thunder. That, and there's something... familiar about the shape of them as they approach, the rigid spines. She squints, and tips her head back. Their eyes swivel to focus on her, but Yasha doesn't feel any fear.)

I... think I dreamt about you.

[thankgods]

[Those small, bright eyes swivel down to regard Yasha with...some distant, impenetrable emotion.]

DID YOU, NOW?

[deathfindsaway]

[HAHA, OKAY, THIS SURE IS HAPPENING, ALRIGHT,,,

He arrives with his weapon, because he's not walking anywhere without it these days. But this is... unexpected. More than unexpected.]

Our history? I would assume this is everyone as a collective.

[thankgods]

ASSUME WHAT YOU LIKE.
THIS WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME.