ph_logs | September Mini - Ghost of the Past

September Mini - Ghost of the Past

GHOSTS

THE

PAST

The Visitor's Center

Just where the sands of Tawny Beach begin to fade into soil, grass, and cobbled roads, there is a new building. Much like the House of Cards, it seems to have appeared from nowhere overnight. A large and round structure of tastefully stacked stone, it seems to fit perfectly in between the town and the marina, with an exterior door facing each side and at both entrances. It reads, "VISITOR'S CENTER," in bold letters.

In mailboxes throughout town, there are flyers, advertising "offworlder visitation" running from September 6th to 19th. "Make appointment today!" it advertises cheerfully.

Regardless of which side you enter, the same receptionist sits at the desk on either side--- a pretty-faced young man with braided black hair, wearing dozens of pieces of delicate golden jewelry. He is working hard on some sort of paperwork or taking some phone call when you come in, but he quickly sets it aside to welcome you. "Hello! Welcome to the visitor's center! Would you like to make an appointment?"

Your host artfully dances around questions regarding the place, its abrupt construction, its purpose, and what your appointment actually entails, assuring you it's "self-explanatory." He'll gladly inform you that "people you know" are here for a visit, but won't say who or why or for how long. But you'll sign up for your appointment anyway, for one reason or another. Perhaps you don't even really know.

At the time of your appointment, you are sat down in a tasteful meeting space of your choosing (the options are listed below) and your guest is brought in. But it is not who you expect. In fact, in all likelihood, you do not know this person at all. But don't worry, they've been briefed, and they'll pass the information along to you if asked.

You see, you are not here to meet someone from your own past, at least not at first---- you're here to meet someone close to one of your friends or neighbors. And they're here to speak about that person to you.

Take as long as you need. The Visitor's Center does not close.

How It Works

Visitors.
Each offworlder on the island can have up to 2 "ghosts of their past." This is not meant to be literal, as these so-called ghosts will generally be no more dead than any other offworlder. Your ghost can be anyone who "haunts" you in some way, which can mean whatever makes sense to you. It does not necessarily need to be someone with a negative opinion of you--- it can be someone who loves you very much! This person can be from any point in your timeline, including after the incident that brought you to Pumpkin Hollow. It can also be a past version of yourself. Regardless, your own visitor is not actually the person you are here to meet. Your visitor will be meeting with one of your friends or loved ones from the island, and you will be meeting with someone else's "ghost."

When speaking to a "ghost", you will notice a few things about them. The first is that they do have a sense of where they are and what they're doing---- they know that they're here temporarily, and that they've been asked to speak about or on behalf of someone they know. They're aware of who the person is that they've come to speak about as well, and they seem to have all of their memories intact aside from being a little fuzzy on the actual process of getting here. The second is that in most cases, they seem to have regular needs like any living person. The upper floors of the visitor's center have hostel-like sleeping areas, bathrooms, a cafe, everything a person might need. The third is that they seem to be weirdly forthcoming when asked questions. Perhaps you're not familiar enough with the individual to notice such things at first, but it becomes evident that they're pretty open about the person they're there to speak about even when they don't seem to want to be.

Want to speak to your own visitor? That can be arranged--- but your ghost must speak to someone else first. But not to worry, there's plenty of time. (Despite the IC dates, OOCly this can be backtagged as long as desired!)

Locations.
There are plenty of places to meet with visitors within the Visitor's Center. If you'd prefer a more public meeting space, some lounge areas have been set up on the beach, or the cafe or recreation area within the center are all available. The beach meeting spaces consist of clusters of folding beach chairs or picnic blankets, and while swimming season is largely over, the view from the beach continues to be stunning this month. The cafe is a quaint bistro on the rooftop of the center with a round serving station in the middle and outdoor tables around the outer walls, which feels both spacious and intimate at the same time somehow. And the recreation room is an interior space on the second floor full of spaces for communal games, some of which are too modern to be there. (Not electronics, but definitely Cards Against Humanity.)

If you'd prefer a more private space, there are a number of tasteful meeting rooms, including those with tables as if for a more formal meeting or those with couches or chairs. One of the latter sort even has a fireplace!

However, visitors are not able to go further afield than the beach. If they attempt to go into town, their feet will plant themselves firmly to the ground outside. They will not be able to be pushed or lifted to get around this, and anyone who attempts to force it will be summarily accosted by the staff and their appointment will end immediately. They may not be eligible for another.

Rules.
As far as OOC rules go, there are a few perks and limitations worth knowing. Any "ghosts" that you write are eligible for AC bonuses for the characters they are attached to. If you are writing a ghost for another player's character, you may decide where the AC bonus goes, but please make a note on your activity check indicating what you're doing. You may write your ghost from your existing journal (with or without a unique icon for that ghost, just as long as you make it clear), or create an independent journal for the character. As mentioned before, you can absolutely play a ghost for someone else. If you would like to have a non-member friend drop by to play your ghost, you may absolutely do so if you clear it with a mod, preferably by having said friend send the mod journal a PM. Be aware that if you recruit an outside player to write a ghost for you, you are responsible for their behavior, and any AC-length threads on their end will not be eligible for transfer because that will just kill Drake probably.

Characters appearing from Ghosts of the Past can also appear in the Villain's Lounge or be apped in later as permanent characters (but not both, as the two are mutually exclusive) and will have some unique lore from entering the game this way!

Ghosts are not capable of lying and will generally feel more compelled to be forthcoming when speaking to anyone OTHER than the person they're here to represent. However, they cannot be forced to meet with anyone they do not want to see or to answer questions they adamantly do not wish to answer. The compulsions are relatively subtle. They also do not have to volunteer information they weren't asked for if they don't want to. None of these compulsions are present if they speak to the person they are there to see. Their memories are generally accurate to whatever point you bring them from, meaning that they can be whatever you want.

If you're visiting with your own ghost, please be aware that threads between two characters played by the same person are never eligible for AC and this is still the case in this instance.

Staff.
Last but not least, there's a chance that you may encounter the staff of the Visitor's Center around. There are two men and two women--- Daanon, Caspian, Reyelle, and Nephera, respectively. Those here in February may recognize them from Merrymeet. They look fairly normal, generally appearing as humans (or an elf, in Nephera's case), but in reality they are the members of the Court of Betrayal. Whenever they speak about their "Manager," they are referring to Eligos. However, this is not immediately obvious, especially to those not familiar with these particular demons. If you know, you know! [ I will be keeping my demon thread load super light, so please feel free to handwave interactions with them as you see fit! If you want a demon thread, please reach out to me for plotting. -Rose ]

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Her hand pauses, but that's more from the passing desire to throw a spell at his head than any real confusion. But he's guarded, he's potentially unnerved, and she wants to pry under his armor until he's exposed and vulnerable.

"She doesn't, on both counts. It's rather appalling how you throw that name about as if you actually have the right to speak it."

It makes her want to be sick.

"Does she know you're here?"

"I do have a right to speak it, because she gave it to me."

The presence of someone that looks so much like his friend and yet doesn't seem like her at all is unnerving, but he's not about to back down. His friend, Fever, warned him against this already but like he told her, he's too stubborn for his own good some days.

"Yes. She said talking to you would be dangerous. Not saying I disagree, but I'm here to take the risk. So. I'll hear you out. Why is your name so sacred to you?"

"A name is a powerful thing, stranger. In the hands of your enemies, it can become a curse. It is a thing to know you, to track you, to undo you. For many reasons, my name is a private thing. I do not appreciate having it spoken freely."

It also does more to invoke fear if she has no name given but the one she wants to bestow. She becomes an entity, a force, rather than a woman.

"All right, well, if you don't want me using that, what do you want me to use?" Oh, he is holding himself back so hard, because it would be easy to just start calling her Chicken Pox or something like that. But he's trying to hear her out seriously.

"If you would refer to me at all, you should refer to me as the Dark Urge."

She's utterly serious. If he makes fun of this, the interview is over, since she can't light him on fire for it.

Wow. She really means that. Hm. He wonders if Fever (his Fever) will know why.

"Okay, Dark Urge, you can call me Crichton. Are you willing to answer some questions for me? About yourself?"

"That depends on your questions, Crichton. Ask away."

She's been testing these mental bonds she's under, and found that if she wills herself strongly enough to not answer, they cannot shake her loose.

"I want to know about you," he says, and despite the palpable fear coming off of him, that much is sincere.

"Where do you come from? Who were you born to?"

"I come from the city of Baldur's Gate. One of the largest on the western coast of Faerûn, a lynchpin of commerce where anyone could come and dwell."

Despite her attitude, there is a slight edge of pride. Being a Baldurian for so long, one naturally got a bit connected to it.

"And I was not born. I was created, from my father's flesh and blood." The truth spells woven into this place compel that much from her, though he is not of her congregation. Hm. They irritate her every time. "I am his pureblood scion."

He notes that edge of pride quietly and wonders if the Fever he knows feels the same. Maybe there's someone still living there who would know her...

That thought train derails completely with the next revelation. His mouth drops open in surprise before he can remember to school his face. She was created. Is that why she can't remember? Is that why she's having headaches all the time? Did something go wrong? (It never crosses his mind to be appalled by this alternate lineage. So what? Lieutenant Tayrey was born in a big fancy tube complete with genetic modifications and he doesn't think any different of her.)

"What were you created for?"

"To be his dread prophet and divine instrument. To grow and lead his forces against the world, and change it in our image. That is what it means to be the heir."

That the world being changed involves wholescale slaughter of every life in the planes, she'll keep to herself. Nothing says she has to give details.

Okay. None of that sounds great, or particularly like what his Fever is interested in. As far as he knows.

"Are you happy with that? Sounds like you didn't get much of a choice."

"No one gets a choice in being created, Crichton. Did you, when you were brought into life?"

That's not his question, she knows, but she's seizing control over this conversation immediately.

"It is a gift given to the creation, a responsibility over the creator's shoulders, and a new demand on the world."

"That's not what I asked and you know it." Well, well. Looks like he struck a nerve. Only an idiot would strike it harder. So.

"I got to decide for myself what I did with my life. I ended up walking the same path as my father, but that was my choice. What you got doesn't sound like a gift, it sounds like an obligation. What would have happened if you said no and walked away?"

For a moment, she just looks at him, eyebrow lifting. Confusion. That's the right expression to wear. And then she scoffs, as if she's mocking him, as if a child could answer better than him.

"That's a foolish question, because it would never happen."

Tone of certainty. Absolute confidence and faith. You don't say no to a blessing. You don't say no to a call in your blood. Father guides her hands, when mortality creeps in and creates stumbling blocks. All she needs to do is breathe.

A little softer. Kinder. Something meant to draw a soul in. And without her knowing, it's closer to the tones Crichton knows much better.

"Tell me something, Crichton. The path you walk, the path of your father - what is your purpose, in it? Is there meaning to the actions you take? Do you know why you take them?" And before he can respond, she'll keep going, to let the questions linger. "I know the answers to all of these. I know who I am. So many people are uncertain of themselves, but not I."

"It did happen." Crichton says, and this time he doesn't have to bluff.

Admittedly, her voice softening to the tone he's more used to hearing does throw him for a moment, but he gathers his wits and reminds himself this is not his friend. This is the past she left behind. This woman is lost luggage.

"There's meaning in everything, you just have to look for it. You may think you have everything figured out now, but you're like a teenager. They always think they're right, that they have it all figured out. You don't. But the woman I know now is on the right path. She doesn't remember you or the bloody purpose you think you have. She's starting from scratch. And she's happier than you are."

In a single heartbeat, she's drawn closer to him, red eyes glass sharp and unflinching. She doesn't blink, barely breathes - like an automaton with too tight springs, and the sense that she's ready to pull a knife on him is only stronger.

"What do you mean, she doesn't remember?"

Elaborate. She'll pin him down and force the information out if she has to. Somehow. She'll fight every devil's spell if she has to.

He'd like to stay he didn't flinch when she's very suddenly in his face but, yes, he did. Still, that's all it is. He doesn't let himself shrink back from her. No, he stares right down into her bloody eyes.

"She has amnesia. She doesn't remember much about her life as you. And, no, I don't know how or why that happened. I just know that it did."

Staring at him, she's looking for deceit, and finds none lurking there.

"...I need to see her."

Everything's at a white hot point, new forged daggers and branding irons, and if she could tear herself out of the limits of this place, she'd be off in a moment. Pulling back now, her arms fold, and she shakes her head slightly.

"No memory, no Sceleritas, no wonder she's been so strange. Crichton, bring her to me."

"No Sceleri-what-a?" he asks, with no sense of urgency.

"Sorry, Dark Urge, but I'm not gonna do that. If you want me to bring her a message, though, that I'll do."

"You're not? Are you somehow physically incapable of it?"

Her eyebrow raises, and she seems only half irritated, the rest of her still processing amnesia.

"If you're capable, you have no reason to refuse me."

"Could I drag you anywhere you didn't want to go?" he asks pointedly. With how full of herself she is, he's banking on her answer being a resounding 'no.'

"It's not up to me. It's up to her."

Her eyes roll.

"If you got them to let me out, I'd go anywhere on this isle. I'm penned in, like everyone else. Just tell her something that'll make her come here. I'm sure you can think of an interesting reason."

"Did you miss the part where she's my friend and you aren't? I don't lie to my friends."

And, like hell, is he letting her off the leash. How stupid does she think he is? (Don't answer that.)

"You get a message delivered by me to her. Take it or leave it."

For a second, she seems to lock up, an unnatural motion, frustration-

Before she breathes out, slow. Fine. Fine.

"There's a flaw in your reasoning, Crichton. I'm her. She is me. Therefore, if she's your friend, so am I. But if I'm not, then she isn't either."

It doesn't work like that, and she knows that. But she wants to tear him down so badly, wants to wear his skin and escape from this place. Anything, anything to get out. Away from these fucking people. She doesn't want to talk to them, breathe the same air as them.

"Tell her that my memory is intact. But it won't be around forever."

The tension is only building under her skin, higher and higher.

"And ask yourself, when you look at her - is she really happier, as you claim? Would you know if she wasn't?"

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bg3 durge spoilers.

Re: bg3 durge spoilers.

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