Endgame: Discussion

[lifeaftr_mods]

ENDGAME: DISCUSSION

Who: The gods...and you
What: The gods have a discussion with themselves, each other, and all you adventurers
When: May 3rd to May 17th
Where: Primarily Ensō
Warnings: Please mark anything as it comes up!

Keep Me In Your Clouded Mind

So, by now you're probably aware that things have shifted massively in the past few days. The Historian has arrived on LifeAftr's shores to spill a few mountains' worth of beans, and now all of you are stuck having to deal with it. But that doesn't mean that you're going to need to make this discussion alone.

The fate of LifeAftr - and the fate of all of you - is now in your hands. And while all of you decide what you will about how you plan to deal with that, the gods are busy having a long overdue familial argument. Consider this log a catch-all for you to discuss the fate of LifeAftr among yourselves, react to the various revelations, ask the gods questions, or just sit and eat some popcorn while they argue amongst themselves.

Remember - you have until May 10th to come up with any solutions that other player characters can vote on.

So think long and hard about where you want things to end up.

But Now the Stars Have spoken

Of course, you are always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed. You may also use this log for characters to discuss and react to things with each other and argue amongst themselves; consider it a catch-all for IC endgame discussion.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them over on the Questions header on our Endgame Rundown post! If you come up with a solution that enough player characters agree can be voted upon and that is feasible for endgame, be sure to drop it on the Voting header on our Endgame Rundown post once voting opens!

Endgame Timeline

[ ♆ ] May 3rd: Discussion regarding the fate of LifeAftr begins.
[ ♆ ] May 10th: Voting for endgame begins.
[ ♆ ] May 17th: Voting for endgame ends.
[ ♆ ] May 20th: Preparations for endgame begin, and you deal with the fallout of any decisions.
[ ♆ ] May 31st: Endgame begins and lasts into June.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

the storyteller | ota

[story_teller]

[The Storyteller can primarily be found at their temple, pacing nervously inside or just outside it. They currently occupy the shape of a white wolf with a pair of white antlers crooking out from their head.]

[They seem to be waiting for something. But if you approach, they'll respond to any questions or commentary you might have.]

[demonpuppy]

[There's been...talk. Obviously. Both from gods and mortals alike. Chip's voiced a few of their own, which seem to be echoed by a lot of the others, but some questions still remain.]

[Maybe they're not the best one to ask, but...they feel they should at least try.]

[They pause for a moment at the edge of the temple grounds proper, nervous to breach that invisible threshold before they suck in a breath and step across. Still, they keep a respectable distance from the Storyteller when they speak.]

Can you...do you have to just make the same thing again?

[story_teller]

[The wolf's tail swishes. The Storyteller looks away, guiltily. Their tome lies on the ground, blank pages stirring faintly in the wind.]

If I do the same as I always have, then that's what...will happen.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[He wants to be angry. It's so easy to be angry. Anger is the easiest thing, like breathing. But he also remembers the Storyteller, hesitant, upset, pulling no punches in the deep existential-type questions. They haven't been excluded from the effects of what happens. Including forgetting this has happened before.

But they've known, too. They have a reminder, of the things they've done before. This has happened--this has happened who knows how many times, and it keeps circling back to the same result.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY WOULD REGRET LOSING YOU.]

Hey.

[If he had pockets, he'd shove his hands in them. As it is, he just kinda awkwardly stands there.]

Man, you weren't kidding when you said we had good reason to hate you. So this is what you meant. Did some shit you regret, but you didn't remember.

Are the things the Water and the Historian have said true, about this world, how it was made, about the old world and...what keeps happening here?

[story_teller]

Yes.

[The Storyteller's head is lowered, their canid eyes shut. A cluster of pale white blooms dapples their snowy-colored coat, almost invisible against the fur.]

It's all true.

[catpiper]

[It's nice that she doesn't have to try and coerce them out of their temple this time and they're simply here. A small blessing, all things considered, because she really thought they would try and hide. It's a decision she would have supported them on, but-

She's really happy they're here.]

I found you!

[story_teller]

That you did, child.

[The ache of fondness nestles roughly against the contour of whatever a god possesses in lieu of a heart. The words are still threaded through with an inconsolable regret.]

You found me.

[vagabone]

[He shows up eventually too, and finds he doesn't know where to begin. Nowhere to sit either, besides the ground. Which he will. It's sure to be a long conversation.]

So... I take it you know me better than I thought you did.

[story_teller]

A little. I don't remember everything. I mostly remember...thoughts. Feelings.

[They sigh.]

I won't ask for a forgiveness that I know I do not deserve.

[ideismo]

[Alexei has always kept his distance from the Storyteller; he's never been fond of or not-fond of them, he's just kind of a distant person as a rule, and honestly? He had enough of deities a long time ago.

But he'll approach the temple anyway, and he's quiet in doing so, but he'll speak up when he's at a reasonable distance still. No point in startling anyone.]

Might I have a word with you...?

[forwearemany]

Are you willing to speak with us?

(They weren't before. They are uncertain if this has changed.)

[deathfindsaway]

[He has to go. Of course he does. When the information comes out, when it's finally played through, he has to. Out of everyone here, he has always been the final hand by a dying soul; even if he's never had to shepherd the apocalypse of a world, or a god, doesn't mean he isn't going to try.]

Did you... remember us? As it came through again and again. Could you remember anything, turn to turn?

[As is typical, his voice seems resolute, but the tone is soft. Gentle. Full of something that seems almost like his own guilt.]

[burntvideocassette]

[They're not a rabbit this time. He's only ever seen them as a rabbit, but this is their temple, and even though they're on all fours now, with a pair of antlers sprouting from their head, there's still something in their features that's recognizable. He knows it's them.]

[He's only been here a short time, barely managed to scratch the surface of what's going on, but he's heard the others talking. He's heard that massive, pissed-off kaiju talking.]

[They've got a lot to answer for.]

Hey. Hey!

[He doesn't mean to address them like a dog, doesn't mean to scold them like he found them with his lunch or a plastic bag or a rotting carcass in their mouth, but he barely knows them, and the things he's heard haven't exactly been flattering.]

How many times? How many times has this happened?

[How many times did you make him forget, Storyteller?]

[yakyuuman]

[ Jyushimatsu feels like he's going overdrive, his body trembling whole with unnecessary energy he has no outlet to dump on. If Ichimatsu and their wobbledog weren't with him, he might as well get all his frustration out and cause some trouble, but fortunately he's partly quelled by his older brother's presence. He's not really happy about things getting out of control, though - he hates not being able to do much of anything.

He can't bring himself to smile completely when he approaches the Storyteller, and he doesn't even know what to tell them either. His attachment to the creature is not as great as some other people here. But still... they seem more troubled than he is. He can talk a bit with them, though the subject matter is nothing like dog-shaped paper dolls. ]

So, uh... I'm stupid, so correct me if I'm wrong, but this thing about loops... does it mean we've been doing the same things over and over again and we remember none of it everytime you hit reset?

[scourgingstars]

You have impressed me, little one. Good heavens, how I wish I had known of this beforehand. I would say I even owe you an apology.

...Not that I'll give you one. But I'll acknowledge one might be owed to you.

[reflash]

[Yukio doesn't know the Storyteller. He's kept his distance, too tired of demons and fae and gods and huge invisible chess boards to even try to do more than polite acknowledgement of the Storyteller's existence. Maybe he shouldn't have.

It's too late now.

Still, he can try.]

What do you need us to do to help you?

the water | ota

[thankgods]

[The Water can be found on the southwestern shore of Ensō, milling about in their water-dragon shape. Like the Storyteller, they seem to be waiting for something, but they exhibit far less nervous energy. Also like the Storyteller, they will answer any questions you might have.]

[forwearemany]

Greetings.

We desire your perspective. Do you wish for this world to end?

[thermalwind]

[He doesn't know what to say at first but when he sees Water milling about, the words come to him. He walks over to join them as he says softly,]

Well, this is a lot. [He doesn't look to the wolf at his side. Kosmo's snort says a lot too.] But it doesn't change my mind.

CLOSED THREAD - GODLY DISPUTE

[thankgods]

[A catch-all thread for discussion between the Water, the Storyteller, and the Historian. Player characters may speculate, react, or threadjack, but for the most part, the gods will not be paying attention to their questions and will largely focus on arguing amongst themselves. Those who have specific questions for each of the gods after this discussion would be better off contacting them on their top-levels or open posts.]

[You may address the Storyteller here.]
[You may address the Water here.]
[You may address the Historian here.]

[Simply let us know when your character is approaching them.]

[thankgods]

THIS IS WHAT YOUR ATTEMPTS HAVE REDUCED THIS PLACE TO. THIS THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND, NOW, THE INEVITABILITY OF YOUR ACTIONS?

[ In a god closer to how mortals think, the words might be stern, or disapproving. From the Historian, however, it is simply distant. ]

[scourgingstars]

[Well, this was all...certainly happening. Not his first end of the world, but the first one he didn't have a direct hand in for good or ill intentions. An odd feeling, that.]

[Following his discussions with more gods than he cared to think about interacting with, Ardyn returned to the cottage and elected to (perhaps too calmly) sit outside with his back against a large black chocobo curled up around him.]

This is quite the predicament, Hresvelgr. Truth be told, I'm more worried about you making it out of this in one piece than any of us.

[A low and almost questioning waaaark left the bird, beak nudging against Ardyn and knocking his hat crooked. Straightening it back out, he sighed as if answering.]

No, of course I don't know what's to come next. I can imagine we'll likely all die and be wiped from existence, but that's hardly all that pressing an issue for me. Everyone else can choose to think what they do of a good old-fashioned suicide mission, the outcome means little so long as the method involves actually trying however one can.

[Another half-whined chocobo noise, long neck craned to rest her head on Ardyn's shoulder.]

...I know. Things certainly have shifted considerably in the past...how long has it even been? Long enough, apparently.

[He wondered, idly, if 'third time's the charm' applied to a story actually ending.]

[shatteredlenses]

If the 'suicide mission' allows us to take out an annoying and frankly poor excuse for a god at the same time, is it a complete loss?

[It's no surprise to anyone that Ignis eventually wanders out to join Ardyn in his contemplations. What is probably a little more so is that the whole rest of the cottage's animal population is with him, including a long missing one. Nearby, there is a rustle in the branches of a tree and if Ardyn looks quickly enough, he will catch sight of a flash of fire bright wings. Rory never fully returned to Ignis' care after Shion left the island, but she did stay around the cottage watching over it. Wild as she may have become, she too seems to know the end is near.

Ignis settles near Ardyn and gives Hresvelgr a pat on the head as he has done so many times before.]

Perhaps if we give the Storyteller enough power, they will be able to come with us? I don't want to leave any of them behind.

before the final vote

[vagabone]

[So, this is the end.

After all the discussions with the gods, with other islanders, the only real option becomes clear. Tell stories, create a new world. A gamble, to be sure, but it seems to be what the majority want. He can't blame them. It's what he wants for his friends himself, those who have no place kind and safe to return to. A place where they can live together for the rest of their natural lives, free of timeloops and forced revivals.

He's the outlier. The exception. It's not what's best for him. He knows what the right thing to do is, that he should be thinking of everyone else, that for once in his afterlife he needs to not be selfish... it'd be so much worse than his usual shitty behavior--abusing friendships, breaking promises, petty theft, destruction of public property, disturbing the peace, yadda yadda. It would tear friends and families apart, it would even be like murder for quite a few people...

He knows what his vote has to be. And that voting otherwise or abstaining won't make much of a difference, anyway. The clock's ticking, time is running out and he still does nothing. Holes himself away in his cob house, with little energy to do more than feel sorry for himself.

Pretty pathetic, really.]

[onegreeneye]

[It was an easy decision for Ginko - and, he knows, for many others. But not everyone here has so little to go back to. Some people have things to lose that they've been trying to get back for a century.

When he realizes he hasn't seen Hector in a while, Ginko decides some things are worth crossing that goddamn bridge for.

He has no intention, honestly, of trying to convince Hector to vote one way or another; in the end, it'll be Hector's decision. Right now, he just needs to make sure that he's... as okay as he can be.

Ginko knocks on the door as he enters.] Hey, Hector.