Name: Hokko Tarumae (u/StarOfTomakomai)
Preferred Name: Taruchi
Cursed Technique: >!Star Rage!<
Mask: Seashell Mask
Evil Smart Falcon (u/Evil_SmartFalco)
Sweep Tosho/Nyarlathotep (u/GreatWitchSweepy)
// Wall of Text Warning
Asat Pramad descended upon Tracen, his hands clasped behind his back and his hat placed firmly on his head, covering the Dice when viewed from the front.
Asat: Greetings. I have come for a simple purpose, but I have not come here for battle, the is you shall not worry. I like educational facilities after all, hahaha...
Asat: I have arrived to announce the commencement, of something I have been planning for quite some time...
Do you know of the Phantasmoon Games?
It is the name of one out of hundreds of similar games created to appease the Aeon of Elation, Aha. At least that's the cover story, in truth the game is but a facade, it's purpose is to generate fuel, energy to feed a husk of Voracity using the power of the Abundance. And the reward for winning this "game"?
One minute of Aeonhood.
The victor of the Phantasmoon Games receive an Audience with the Aeon of Elation THEMSELVES, allowed to use the boundless power within the Elation's Path to grant them, one wish.
Some asked to share this Divinity to grant the wishes of others (Digital Maven)
Some fame (Adrian Spencer Smith)
Some asked to cure a familial curse (Murata Hiro)
Some only asked to see Aha
And some even asked to kill Aha, only to end their own life because of a loophole.
A glorious game where true Elation was eventually lost.
Planarcadia, a land blessed by The Elation, but also a land who have violently, endlessly tainted Aha's Elation.
They spend their time in idle satiety, then peck each other bloody in online arguments over insignificant issues.
People never leave their homes, but online they are angry, crying, and cheerful. Their eyes are glued to tragedies unfolding across the cosmos, treating others' struggles for life as seasoning for their meals, then turning around to tip the clowns who make them laugh.
On the other side of the cosmos, millions die in wars shed by the IPC, huddling in ruins without a single drop of clean drinking water, trembling as they wait to see whether tomorrow or death comes for them first.
In this universe, the contrast between luck and misfortune is too dazzling. Like Akivili the Trailblaze, I once believed that exploring and connecting could create understanding, and understanding could remove division. That the newly discovered worlds could shelter those whose own homes were ravaged by war and hunger.
But all Trailblaze does is spread naivete and hope across a land destined to be destroyed. Across the cosmic ocean, all civilizations meet a strikingly similar end: Having climbed to brilliance, they collapse under their own stupidity, avarice, or sheer chance. The path of Akivili only postpones the inevitable, but it cannot change its nature.
Finally, the Blemished One showed me another path: Destruction. On THEIR Path, the gluttonous and the hungry, the brave and the weak... all inequalities come to an equal end. Only when people realize that destruction is imminent do they resist meaningfully, and make their existence worth something....
The rising sun shines on ice sculptures, melts them as if they were never there, even though humans carved them so beautifully, yes?
Asat: But I'm getting off track.
After taking over the authority of Elation for THEM, I have started to wonder.
What if I made my own Phantasmoon Games?
Asat: So I am proud to introduce to you...
The Cullmoon Games
Asat: I'm sure you recognize where the name came from... Hahaha, that's right. The Culling Games. A death match between hundreds of sorcerers, like a game of battle royale, it's quite my style, I like it!
Asat: So I made some changes to the Phantasmoon Games in inspiration of the Culling Games.
Asat: And of course, no game is complete without some... Referee or a Game Master.
Planarcadia's Phantasmoon Games is governed by a branch stolen by Aha from Shuhu the Abundance, an immortal being known as The Planarch Elwood.
But she is rebellious and could defy me any moment. So I had to make some changes to her.
Asat: What did I do exactly? Hahaha... You will see.
Asat: Moving on! The Rules...
Rule 1 - Participation
Eight "Elation Masks" will be placed all around the perimeter of Tracen, wearing one of these masks immediately qualifies and adds the name of the wearer to the list as a Player. Only Eight Players can exist.
Players who already participated within any prior Phantasmoon Games cannot participate within The Cullmoon Games. Culling Game participants are allowed to enter without restrictions as long as a mask is obtained.
Those without an Elation Mask will be seen as Non-Players
Rule 2 - Zones
There shall be eight total Zones, corresponding to the amount of Players. Each Zone is connected to at least one other Zone.
Players who entered any Zone cannot exit the perimeter of the Zone unless it is to enter another Zone, this shall be judged by the Referee for fouls. This does not apply to Non-Players
Rule 3 - Points
Players may gain Points through participating in events, quests and other activities. Killing is forbidden during the duration of the game, groups of Players caught attempting to avoid this rule through Non-Players and NPCs will also be judged.
Total Points earned by a team of players and non players will not be increased, but will be split depending on the number of Players in the group.
Rule 4 - Lives
Players have 3 Lives within the game.
Defeated Players must submit 75% of their points to the victor, if no valid Player is found to be the victor, the 75% is lost. This awarding applies to Rule 3 as well.
Rule 5 - Deadlines
After a certain amount of time, the two players with the least points lose one life each. This shall occur until only two players remain in the game.
Rule 6 - Information
Every Player possesses a visible hud showing information about the Player themselves. This includes: current amount of Points; the Player leaderboard; their abilities (if needed) and, number of rules suggested.
This information is also available to be viewed by other players to a limit.
Rule 7 - Point Economy
Players shall begin with 10 Points. Stores in the Zones grant food, essentials and materials for Points.
Accumulating 100 Points allows a Player to propose a new rule or to change an existing rule's specifications. Rules cannot be removed.
The Referee will reject any unacceptable changes in the rules if criteria is met. Points used for rejected rules will not be refunded.
Rule 8 - Combat Ability
Players who join with no Cursed Technique shall receive a Cursed Technique Awakening upon wearing the mask. Players with no Cursed Technique available to be awakened will receive other forms of compensation.
Asat: Now with all of that said... I will take my leave. I shall announce the participants soon...
// this is a private game for now, I will pick out who plays
// wall of text over
Passing by an alleyway, your eye catches a strange sight.
A doll, one as big as a young child, it's joints clearly visible, it's skin perfectly pristine and hard and hair so real it is surreal. The doll seemed lifeless, a few cracks spreader across it's face.
// I prefer if anyone else just interacts and leaves the puppet there
Location: Within Scepter δ-me13 (Amphoreus), 2158 AE
Two geniuses arrive at the heart of the Amphoreus simulation, looking around almost in sync, analysing every single object in their view.
Herta: Is it just me, or does this Demiurge Matrix... Feel completely dead? It's nothing like how the Memokeeper described it.
Screwllum: The environmental readings are all wrong. Conclusion: this must be what the "kernel" actually looks like in the real world.
Herta: What did Zandar do to the Scepter...?
Screwllum: ... "At the end of light, there must be silence. Certain, pure, and absolute darkness."
Herta smacked the intellitron with the back of her hand lightly.
Herta: Not the time to quote the Lord of Silence. Bad omen. Either way, we have to press on... Until we uncover the truth behind the 13th Titan.
Screwllum: The buried past is the key to stopping Irontomb. That is, if it even exists.
Herta: Zandar says the Demiurge never existed. Who actually buys that? You can erase the records, but not the truth. It vanished too cleanly. No traces, like someone yelling, "Look! There's nothing here!"
Herta lets out a smug chuckle.
Herta: Too bad I'm the type who can't resist digging deeper. Looks like I'll be counting on you again, Screwy. Let's tear this system inside out.
Screwllum: Always happy to help. But as your academic partner, I have to ask...
Screwllum: Herta, what if we fail?
Herta: ...
Screwllum: Let's say the Demiurge really doesn't exist. Do you have a backup plan?
Herta spoke up, shrugging.
Herta: Backup plan? Of course. If we can't find the key...
Herta: We turn the "lock" into the key.
Screwllum stood quiet, his eyes held still as he calculated.
Screwllum: That plan's cost... is incalculable. It shouldn't even be on the table.
Herta: Then let's hope we never have to use it. There's no point worrying about the end just yet. One step at a time. Let's go. We don't want to leave that boy waiting any longer.
Later
Herta: I thought we were done with that conversation.
Screwllum: Unfortunately, current conditions won't let me ignore any variables. Especially the most important one... Your will. Irontomb never stops, it is evolving faster than any of our worst projections.
Screwllum: Every Instant in the Aron's calculation is like a sword hanging over the cosmos. Every move humanity makes could speed up its arrival.
Herta: Which is exactly why we can't mess this up. Herta: And now Droudhead wants to hand down judgment to the poor cosmos again, Borderstar Trade War, Emperor's War, Rupert's death... every time THEIR Instant arrived, it meant another bloodbath for humanity.
Screwllum: But in this ultimate battle of Erudition, you and I are supposed to be players, not pawns. If you choose to burn yourself out as a "resource," then everything we've worked for means nothing. Herta, the cosmos won't just stand by and let a genius throw their life away...
Screwllum: And neither will I.
Herta: No need to kill the mood. This is why we're here, isn't it? We need to find the Demiurge and that lost key. I'm not here to be some "Deliverer" or a hero. I just want to beat Zandar and Droidhead.
Herta: Right now, I just need to know: are you with me?
Screwllum ...
Screwllum: Of course.
Herta: Let's tidy this place up and see what this "Demiurge" really is.
Later
...
...
...
Herta: This couldn't have gone any worse. Tsk to think that boy would give up so quickly. Right before we arrived too...
Screwllum: Herta...
Herta: Damn it. What's the assimilation status of the Demiurge and Irontomb?
Screwllum: I'm unsure, they've been in a tug of war for 30 system minutes, neither refuse to budge. Conclusion: This stalemate will likely last quite a while.
Herta: You're stating the obvious.
Herta stood quietly, clenching her hands.
Herta: Backup plan it is.
Screwllum: Herta, don't. This is the way.
Herta: There is no other way. At any moment, Irontomb would be born into reality, with no one to stop it. If I can just hold it back from within... I can buy some time.
Screwllum: This is not a solution.
Herta: But it's our only choice now.
L4π3®...
...
...
...
Herta: Dang it...
Herta: Screwy...
The Lord Ravaged clenched down harder, Herta felt as if her head is being ripped off as she reached out to Screwllum, who stood down below.
Herta: Call Ruan Mei... N-No... Tell her... I'm sorry...
Connection Terminated
Interuniversal Travel Success Rate --- 3356/3356 --- 100% Success...
Proceeding With Self Praise --- Playing Vocal Recording...
[Absolutely Perfect, is there anything I can't do? Of course not!]
Playback Complete...
Unidentified Lifeform Detected, Scanning...
Approach me with one of your deepest questions, the more difficult to answer the better!
W-What? I'm not doing this to slack off, totally not! 💦
// if your character has any arcs in mind for the divination, do tell in dms, if it involves angst and recovery from it, you can choose a specific part of it or just let me ball the arc's general idea 👍
// not sure how many people would come along, hm... 🤔
Current Location: Planarcadia, ??? Station
​
The space twisted with a low gurgling noise, sounding as if flesh and bone grinded against each other, a disgusting and moist sound.
​
Yao Guang, Welt and Dan Heng stood in an arched line, all facing towards a single individual-
​
​
The silence between them lasted for what felt like eternity, Asat stood still, his stance calm and nonchalant, fixing his tie and collar.
​
Yao Guang: Lord Ravager Asat Pramad, how bold of you to show yourself, placing yourself, a mastermind best fit for behind the curtain, on the main stage?
​
Asat Pramad laughed
​
Asat Pramad: Apologies. Do not underestimate me, General of the Yuque, cause against you three... Even a fraction of my power...
​
Welt: Stay focused.
​
Asat Pramad: Is enough.
​
Asat suddenly raised own arm, his finger preparing to snap, Dan Heng and Welt reacting immediately as water burst from the tip of Dan Here's spear, forming into the shape of a dragon, crashing towards the Lord Ravager.
​
Welt tilted his cane, a powerful suction pulling Asat Pramad into the attack range of Dan Heng.
​
Asat Pramad: A pathetic attempt.
​
As Asat snapped his fingers, the black hole shattered, Asat batting the dragon away with his wrist easily as he stepped forward towards Yao Guang.
​
Asat Pramad: You as well. A Strategist like you...
​
Asat placed a hand on Yao Guang's head, pushing her over the edge of the platform and towards the abyss below.
​
Asat Pramad: Should have stayed in the backstage.
​
Current Location: Xianzhou Yuque, Divination Commission
​
Qingque sighed, laying on the table lazily.
​
Qingque: Urgh...
​
The attendant beside Qingque looked at Qingque, her expression covered in confusion.
​
Attendant: Lady Qingque, this is the 32nd time you sighed since getting here, is everything okay? Are you in need of anything?
​
Qingque looked at the attendant helplessly.
​
Qingque: I want to play Celestial Jade now...
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Attendant: Right...
​
Current Location: Planarcadia, ??? Station
​
Three golden colored dragons flew towards Asat Pramad, two becoming caught in his hands as the third brushed passed him, diving down towards Yao Guang.
​
Dan Heng rushed forward, thrusting his spear towards Asat Pramad.
​
Asat Pramad: A power borrowed from Amphoreus, how tragically unreliable.
​
With ease, the dragons shattered, Asat lowering his hand as he caught the spear between his fingers, pointing his other hand towards Dan Heng, purple energy forming at the tips.
​
Asat Pramad: Oh?
​
Asat Pramad turned, his hand now aiming at Welt.
​
Asat Pramad: How interesting, that power is new to even me.
​
A beam of energy shot from Asat's hand, flying at incredible speeds as it exploded in a cloud of smoke as it stoked a target. The smoke clears, a giant metallic shield blocking the way.
​
Yao Guang: Unfortunate for you, Lord Ravager. Unlike you, I always involve myself on the stage.
​
Current Location: Xianzhou Yuque, Divination Commission
​
Qingque: Hey, what's your name?
​
Attendant: You may call me Baique.
​
Qingque: Huh... What a coincidence? Anyway could you tell me somethin'?
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Baique: What is it, Lady Qingque?
​
Qingque: Aren't you like, weirdly good at Celestial Jade?
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Baique: It's a hobby of sorts.
​
Qingque: Even more of a coincidence then!
​
Another attendant rushed into the room, panicked, catching the attention of everyone in the room.
​
Attendant: I-I bring news from Lady Tingyun... Madam Yao... Has been caught in an incident costing her life...
​
Modern Day
​
Qingque woke up, sitting up straight on her table covered in paperwork, she rubbed her eyes, yawning.
​
Qingque: That dream again, eh?
​
She leaned back, picking up her Jade Abacus.
​
Qingque: I still wonder... How did Madam Yao die that day...?
​
// image source, I made small changes tho
Scuse me, comin' thru!
Qingque rushes by, holding a bag of items as a photo drops down
Ah! I dropped something didn't I?
It's a photo of Qingque, with someone in the background who doesn't seem very happy. Though this Qingque's appearance is the same as the photo's you somehow tell it is an older photo
// HSR knowledge required to mostly understand. Also minor monologue
Qingque paces around her quarters, two cloud knights stood at the entrance, remaining quiet as the Arbiter General, always so lazy and never showing up for work, was finally at her table again.
Pinching her hand, a streak of green and golden light emerged as she traced it, projecting a rough timeline.
I've met those that came from the cosmos of this world... Affected by the same cosmic forces... The same Aeons...
Yet...
Their fates completely deviates from my world...
She traces her hand across the timeline, six nodes appearing.
Kayan is an external variable...
Though his presence is not present in other timelines I've seen, the locations visited by the Astral Express still remains the same... And their experiences there also doesn't deviate much...
The Stellaron Hunters cast down a dice, in Herta Space Station...
The host of the Stellaron, Stelle...
That was when I believe the jade tiles were dealt...
The first node lights up green, text displaying the words "Herta Space Station" appearing.
Next is Belobog, the world of snow and ice...
It doesn't seem to be a variable... Even in those worlds without Stelle in the Express Crew, it still ended the same as before...
The second node turned yellow, the text "Jarillo-6, Belobog" appearing.
Then there was the Luofu...
It seems to go on the same in every universe...
The third node turned yellow as well, displaying "Xianzhou Alliance, Xianzhou Luofu".
Penacony...
She paused.
That's where most deviations arrive...
Those timelines where neither Stelle nor Caelus joined the Express...
Sunday would succeed in creating a sweet dream for the entirety of Asdana...
But those deviations are meaningless. As Sunday never attempted to reach further through the cosmos...
The fourth node turned red, displaying "Asdana, Penacony" below it.
Qingque sighed.
The fifth destination of the Astral Express...
Varies...
Amphoreus... Lushaka... Melustanin and Patrevia...
Of the four options...
Patrevia led the Express to a cruel death, yet had minor influence to the universe...
Melustanin would lead to the birth of the Lord Ravager who used Propagation to slay the Abundance... All to bring the Destruction's doomsday closer...
Amphoreus was the only path that led to a longer life for the cosmos... Yet still remained difficult to predict...
As for our timeline... The Express chose possibly the worst option of the four destinations...
Qingque looked away from the fifth node as she said that, looking at the last of the nodes.
Planarcadia...
She chuckled.
Do you know what duty you pushed onto me... General Yaoguang?
// for those bad with remembering HSR lore, here ya go and see what Lushaka does :3
A scroll falls on the ground as you see Qingqur holding a large stack of books and scrolls
Help me out would ya?
A lone starskiff lands dramatically in the center of Tracen, a short statured girl steps out, wearing sunglasses, followed by several assistants
In practiced motions, the assistants arranged a set of tables and chairs as the girl sat down, taking off her sunglasses
Tracen Academy, how long has it been since I last returned here...?
An assistant rushed to her side, pouring some tea in a cup for her as she took a sip
Oof. We messed up on the taste a bit...