Futuristic The Predestiny Query

[Varie]

Picking up the amulet, the eighth child turned it over and around in her hands. She walked over to the bucket she was painting with earlier and with her free hand, grabbed a wisp of Void slowly out. It flowed from her finger in a sticky manner this time, as if knowing her intentions. Connecting the amulet to her covered fingers, the eighth child plucked a length of Void out from the bucket and connected the other end to the amulet as well, forming a necklace. Beaming and proud, she carefully put it over her head. Unfortunately, it was a bit long so it hung down near her waist.


Looking over at the others, she made a face at her sibling with the hammer. What would she need it for other than to cause trouble?

 

[Nico]

The Sixth child moved towards the colorful cloak. The colors attracted her naturally. She picked it up and wrapped it around herself and twirled, it fit like a glove. She put the hood over her head and looked to her father. "I want this one." she spoke up and smiled. She noticed her other siblings and gotten their artifacts other then one.

 

[Snek]

@AcornEye02 @Nico @Nostradomuas @Tictacguy123 @Syrrus @Peaceswore @Varie


The third child chose to let everyone else claim theirs first, content to accept whatever artifact was left. As it so happened, the one that was left was the exact one that she was meant to choose all along. She lifted the elegant crown from the table, nodding in approval at the quality of the item. "I suppose this will be mine then, Father?"


She was eager to learn why they were here, the anxiety in having to wait for the answer was overwhelming. The Vigil nodded to her, and took a spot standing in the center of the chamber.


"Has everyone chosen? It seems so. Now you will all learn of your Destiny, your power, and the journey on which you will all soon embark. Each of you naturally possesses the gift of cosmic and quantum manipulation, and though you may be inexperienced with these abilities, your Artifacts will assist you greatly in your endeavors as you slowly master your control over the very fabric of spacetime."


The Vigil turned to the first child and approached her, giving a curt nod.


"You, my first creation, are the Dutiful. You are hard-working and reliable, and respond well to authority. As the eldest child, you will no doubt assume the largest burden of work and contribution to the group effort of you and your siblings. You will eschew mental faculties in exchange for great physical prowess. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - The Judgement Hammer."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-37-12.jpeg.8b2d9f932e9a0677c0b5f198e257d406.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43775" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-37-12.jpeg.8b2d9f932e9a0677c0b5f198e257d406.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"This spectacular item, you will find, is very straightforward and simple - much like you. It functions primarily as a combat Artifact. To use it, simply proclaim a one-word command you wish the hammer to perform, and then use it to strike the desired target of the effect. Allow me to demonstrate."


The Vigil gently picked up the hammer and clutched the handle of the mallet (the handle of which was nearly four feet long). He spoke boldly and pronounced, to make sure his words were comprehensible, and stated, "EVISCERATE." Using only one arm to wield the normally two-handed hammer, he heaved the weapon towards the door and struck it dead on. The door shuddered, and immediately crumbled into several cleanly-cut slices of metal. He then returned the artifact to his first child.


"For now, you may only give one-word commands, but perhaps later on, if you grow proficient, two- or even three-word commands may be utilized. To achieve the desired affects, one must be very precise with one's choice of words when issuing commands. If your vocabulary is vague, you may not get the results you had hoped for. Additionally, the artifact only has so much power to grant your desires, so do not expect everything to die if you issue "KILL" commands left and right. You will have to conserve power as best as you can, at least while you are inexperienced with the Hammer.


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, obedient child?"


He nodded when the daughter chose her name, and proceeded to his second child.


"You, second-eldest, are the Executive. Your strength lies in achieving your ends through other people. Though you may not be as productive or efficient on your own, in a group you can weave miracles and ensure victory. You will eschew personal skill for charisma and cunning. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - The Dominion Ring."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-37-31.jpeg.5d835a38c50b9e5cd2a3c3b2691c33e4.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43776" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-37-31.jpeg.5d835a38c50b9e5cd2a3c3b2691c33e4.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"The Dominion Ring is utilized chiefly as a support Artifact, although some might not see it that way. Simply put, the ring allows the wearer to propose "contracts" to potential subjects. These contracts may be debated, and if the subject agrees to the terms, then the wearer of the ring gains complete control of the subject's body and volition, at least for the length of time that the contract dictates. Although stripped of their willpower, the subject becomes twice as powerful, both physically and mentally, and gain increased reaction-time, coordination, physical and mental endurance, and stamina. Observe."


The Vigil donned the ring, as Andrew the Butterfly flew over and landed on his shoulder. He whispered something to the creature, and evidently the contract was accepted, because glowing red streams of light, patterned similarly to the pattern on the ring's band, sprouted from the gemstone and affixed themselves to various parts of Andrew's multicolored body. The butterfly then proceeded to circle the room at increased speeds, performing acrobatic aerial maneuvers normally impossible for such an insect, before touching back down on the Vigil's shoulder. The chains receded back into the ring, which was returned to the second child.


"For now, you may only maintain one contract at a time, but with time, perhaps you may grow to facilitate two, three, maybe even four or five-person contracts. You must take great care to make sure you understand the implications and consequences of your deals - lest people get the upper hand over you. Remember, the ability to control people is a privilege, not a right." He gave his second child a stern look.


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, clever child?"


He nodded when the son chose his name, and moved on to the third child. She had already ascertained how this talk was going to go, but she patiently let him get through the whole thing.


"You, my second daughter, and third child, are the Thinker. Your mind is your sharpest tool, logic your mount, and total knowledge is your perpetual goal. Your excellent deductive reasoning and crystal-clear memory will serve as your primary ways of grasping the information that you seek. You will trade physical prowess for superior mental sovereignty. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Advisory Diadem."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-40-28.jpeg.df9e2bd1d8d9302d87131faf74f5fbe9.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43777" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-40-28.jpeg.df9e2bd1d8d9302d87131faf74f5fbe9.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"This crown is quite a useful artifact, especially for one of your particular mental aptitude, though not as suited to combat as the other Artifacts. The artifact, when worn, allows one to call upon and "summon" versions of themselves from alternate universes and realities. These "copies" are intangible, but can use their powers to add to the user's own, and can be consulted for advice and alternate perspectives on a given situation. The copies have access to the user's mind and thoughts, for simplicity's sake, and can upload information and memories from their own continuities for the wearer to use as well. Using this crown, you will serve as the group's guide, consulting alternate realities to determine the best decisions and revealing weaknesses and issuing strategies to your siblings when in battle. Observe."


The Vigil placed the crown on his head and focused, and the gem glowed as three copies of him appeared nearby. Their bodies were tinted a faint green, and their forms were blurry and shimmery as if they were being viewed through a veil of water. After nodding to them, and receiving three nods back, he lifted the crown off his head, and the copies vanished. He returned the crown to the child, who took it with renewed respect at its power.


"For now, you may only call upon up to two copies at a time, though in the future you may perhaps summon many more - though how many, has yet to be determined. The mind, when harnessed correctly, has nearly limitless potential. However, the rush of information and presence of different versions of yourself hold the risk of overwhelming you, and you must make sure to keep yourself mentally rooted in the present reality or risk faltering in critical moments, suffering immense mental pains, going unconscious, or in extreme cases, perhaps even going insane. Do be careful. Such knowledge can drive one mad."


The third child cleared her throat nervously.


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, curious child?"


The third child rubbed her chin and thought about it for a while. After about half a minute, she spoke.


"Since I will be the first to receive the honor of possessing this Artifact, it would only make sense to be called Genesis. That is my name."


The Vigil nodded, and turned to the fourth child.


"You, fourth child, are the Analyst. You are interested in learning, but only for the sake of practical application. Your personality combines the practical mindset of the Dutiful with the mental reasoning of the Thinker. You are intuitive about ascertaining how things work, and you have an excellent eye for cause and effect. You constantly seek to improve the world around you, using your superior problem-solving skills and resourcefulness to find more efficient ways to do simple and complex tasks. You adapt swiftly to unfamiliar situations and settings. As such, you have chosen an artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Perusal Lens."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-40-58.jpeg.d149df09e89bc4cf938d630b6d0c9719.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43778" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-40-58.jpeg.d149df09e89bc4cf938d630b6d0c9719.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"This intriguing eyepiece allows the wearer to analyze nearby objects and their surroundings, providing information such as where objects have been, what they are composed of, and likely possibilities for the purpose of said objects. The lens' vision pierces through illusions and the foam of spacetime, preventing the user from being blinded or overwhelmed by anomalistic or temporally unstable effects in the environment. One wearing these goggles will see twice as far, and in all directions at once increasing visibility of one's surroundings to an incredible degree. Put them on, and see for yourself."


The Vigil allowed the fourth child to test out the lens for ten seconds or so and then spoke.


"The most powerful ability of the lens, when worn by a being of the level of complexity and cosmic power that you and your siblings possess, is able to focus its user's power into devastating ocular cosmic projectiles as an offensive maneuver in case the user is attacked, and the density and power of these beams can be adjusted. However, this ability uses a lot of power, and if used too often, can begin to leech the power of its user. You must learn how to use the artifact's information to the fullest capacity, whilst keeping track of your party's movements and avoiding harm. You must learn to thrive in the heat of chaos."


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, industrious child?"


He nodded at the fourth child's choice, and moved on to the fifth.


"You, my fifth child, are the Companion. Your greatest desire is to help others, and you do this as often as you possibly can, seeking every opportunity that presents itself. You are fiercely loyal to those that you care about, and will fight tooth and claw to protect them from outside harm. You are naturally gifted at understanding people, and you will seem to always know how to complement the strengths and weaknesses of others to help them reach their full potential. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Agony Censer."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-42-23.png.499be82cecf1a0ef0db2f600c22abdd9.png" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43779" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_22-42-23.png.499be82cecf1a0ef0db2f600c22abdd9.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"Despite its unsettling name an appearance, this Artifact is indeed one suited to supporting one's allies and enduring large outputs of damage. Simply put, when allies nearby the user feel pain, that pain is transferred to the Artifact and burned as fuel. When burned, this "pain fuel" generates fumes that dull pain and slowly heal wounds of nearby allies that inhale it, and the fumes will also cripple and enfeeble those around the user that are identified as foes. I would demonstrate, but I am not about to harm my own children for the sake of a test. The artifact also serves as a very suitable melee weapon, as it is of an extremely sturdy design, and can be swung by the chain to deliver physical blows to enemies. These blows are empowered by the burning flames of the pain fuel, and increase in strength with the supply of more pain to burn."


"However, there is a price to pay, as with all power," said the Vigil, crossing his arms. "The user of the Artifact will be empathetically linked to all allies within its range of effect, feeling all of the pain that they feel as well. This downside can be crippling when facing particularly strong foes, and only the most steadfast and resilient of potential users can wield it effectively."


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, loyal child?"


He nodded when the fifth child chose his name, and turned his attention to the sixth child.


"You, my sixth child, are the Performer. You have a strong desire to help, like your brother the Fifth, but your methods are much more unorthodox. You instead prefer to be the center of attention, and you brighten the morale of your comrades with lively performances of song and dance and a contagious joy that seems to emanate from your very being. It is difficult not to smile when you are around. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Garish Mantle. ((looks like the coat below, but assume that it's the right size for her))

"This curious artifact serves most useful as a support Artifact, mixing offense with defense and drawing aggression towards the user instead of their allies. The Garish Mantle offers significant physical and quantum endurance to the wearer, as the garment is constructed of powerful fabric of spacetime, which will absorb much of the damage that is directed towards the user. For offense, the cloak is capable of producing incredibly bright bursts of light, which can originate from within the sleeves or the inside of the coat from the front, and these cosmic flashes are nearly five times as bright as a supernova. They will have no effect on your allies, aside from being understandably distracting, but nearby foes will often be temporarily blinded, disoriented, or even burned if they are close enough to the coat. This is due to the incredible amount of heat that is released in addition to the light. Observe."


The Vigil donned the cloak and held out his arms, and an immensely eye-splitting, brain-melting-ly bright wave of light and heat exploded from the coat's interior, escaping through the open front, the collar, and the sleeves. The interior of the room was completely charred, but slowly began to repair itself.


"As previously stated, these flashes are also incredibly distracting to your allies, so you must be very careful about when and where to use them. Coordination with your comrades is key to using this Artifact to its maximum utility. Remember, there are times when it is better to remain anonymous than to throw inconspicuousness to the wind."


"Are you ready to accept this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, joyful child?"


He nodded when she chose her name, and then switched attention to his impatient seventh son, who by this point was extremely eager to learn what power awaited him.


"Patience, seventh child. You are the Transcendent, and you are more deeply connected to the Multiverse around you than your siblings, though you have yet to truly discover the depth of this connection. Because of this, you feel and sense hidden meaning almost everywhere you look, and you possess a powerful intuition that you trust to guide you in your endeavors. Your ambition knows no bounds, and you constantly strive to be the best that you can be. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Ascension Bracers."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-25-55.png.995db047f1870c2d3ccf19ee683832c8.png" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43781" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-25-55.png.995db047f1870c2d3ccf19ee683832c8.png" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p><p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-39-35.jpeg.180b5eec082f0447b4d9f5abb945bbf0.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43782" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-39-35.jpeg.180b5eec082f0447b4d9f5abb945bbf0.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>(ascended form)


"These gauntlets allow their wearer to ascend to a higher plane of existence, assuming an "ascended" body consisting of cosmic and quantum energy. When in this form, which can be maintained as long as the user desires, the user gains the power of flight, as well as intangibility, highly increased control of cosmic and quantum manipulation abilities, and most notably, a great increase in speed. The wearer will phase through solid matter, inflicting considerable injury if the target of this is the body of an enemy. I would demonstrate this Artifact's power, if only they had an effect if I used them. It seems once one has reached the absolute top, it becomes impossible to ascend any higher. But I am sure that you would have liked to try it out for yourself, correct, child?"


"Of course! Certainly! I mean, yes, please, I would very much like that," the seventh child said quickly, making a grab for the gauntlets in his father's hands.


"Not so fast, young one. The freedom that these bracers offer does not come for free. By entering the ascended state, the user will also suffer twice as much injury from attacks as they normally would. If damaged extensively, the user could risk losing control of their energy form and dissipating into the Multiverse, losing consciousness and effectively "dying". Although the user could theoretically be re-collected and revived, it is time-consuming and difficult to pull off. As such, avoiding damage is the user's number one concern."


"Are you ready for this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, ambitious child?"


"Xyxys!" the son exclaimed, going completely off gut instinct to come up with a name that was suitably mysterious and simultaneously inspiring.


The Vigil nodded and addressed his final child.


"You, my youngest and eighth offspring, are the Artist. You are very creative, much more so than most of your siblings, and you have an eye for beauty in even the most repulsing and confusing things. You work constantly to distinguish yourself as one-of-a-kind, and express your individuality, and take great pride in personal achievements. Though usually peaceful and content to relax and admire your surroundings, you will take up arms if it means standing up for what you believe in. As such, you have chosen an Artifact quite suited to your Destiny - the Gateway Pendant."


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-41-31.jpeg.e6927f990ec6d09865925e9b669b3296.jpeg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="43783" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_02/upload_2015-2-27_23-41-31.jpeg.e6927f990ec6d09865925e9b669b3296.jpeg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>


"This amulet is the most diverse, the most powerful, most dangerous, most versatile, and probably the most perplexing of all of the Artifacts. This pendant, when activated, will produce a completely random object, item, weapon, deity or essentially any one isolated thing from a random place and time in the Multiverse. There is no way to control what comes out, but if adept enough, there are ways the user can predict what they will get next. The things summoned by the amulet can either be ejected, shooting out of the amulet at high speeds in whatever direction it is pointed, or dispensed, in which case the object will simply "pop" gently out of the pendant into the user's hand. One does not have to speak a "dispense" or "eject" command to differentiate; the amulet will simply "know" what you want it to do. Observe."


The Vigil clutched the amulet in his hand and concentrated, and the hole in the middle of the stone grew dark. Out came a spiral-bound manuscript, which upon closer inspection, proved to be an instruction manual for the usage and maintenance of the Companion's mechanical replacement arm. He handed the document to the fifth child, and continued explaining.


"Objects can be produced rapid-fire from the amulet, if one desires, but as one can imagine, such an action could lead to potentially hazardous results for the user and their allies. The objects summoned have varying qualities and properties, but one characteristic that they all share is that they are each empowered with quantum entanglement. This implies that, no matter the object, it will always have potential to cause harm to enemies in one way or another, even if the object would not normally be considered dangerous to the foe. This also means that, if too many objects are present at once, the current timestream could suffer significant damage, threatening the lives of any and all entities residing within. As a safety mechanism, objects cannot be summoned for more than a minute or so at a time, but this measure can be bypassed if the user has demonstrated particular skill and experience with the pendant. The challenge lies in that the user must use every ounce of their creativity to find significant uses and combinations of normally useless objects to provide optimal results."


"Are you ready for this responsibility? If you accept your Destiny, you may choose a name to finalize it. What will you be called, ambitious child?"


He nodded in acceptance of her name, then turned to face all of his children at once. "My sons and daughters. You have each been blessed with incredible abilities to set you apart from the rest of the Multiverse, and it is time I showed you why. If you would kindly follow me, I will give a short tour through my house and we will make our way to the Observatory, where the nature of your quest will come to light."


The Vigil turned towards the empty doorway, where a door had once stood before he EVISCERATED it, stepping over the pieces into the hallway and down the hall, not looking to see if they would follow. Of course they would follow. It was quite obvious. Children always know to follow in their parent's footsteps.


~

 

[Peaceswore]

"I accept this responsibility without hesitation Father. And I wish be called Delisaia." The fir- I mean Delisaia responded with pride as she held onto her artifact with both hands. As her father explained the other artifacts she only half listened while running her finger along the artifact feeling the power that surrounded it. She let a small smile appear on her lips before gripping it firmly holding back the strong desire to try it out. When her father left the room she was the first to follow directly behind him not questioning where he was going. She wanted orders...and an opportunity to try out her artifact.

 

[Nostradomuas]

The fifth child ponder a bit before he decided. "I'll be Octavion," he said with a smile and returned to looking at his gift. Their father was right, it does look a bit weird. He tried to swing it around in his right hand, but it was quite heavy and he became exhausted. Then he turned his attention back to his father, he was holding an amulet. He then produced from this amulet a paper jumbled manuscript. The vigil then walked over and handed it to Octavion who read the front of it. His whole face brightened up with a big smile on it and he hoisted the censer over his right shoulder and opened the manuscript and started reading. He heard their father telling them to follow, so he followed but kept on reading the manuscript.

 

[Syrrus]

He listened to his siblings. They all seemed too big a singular name. Peering at the item that he held in his hand he decided to show the up. "Valerik Fontain." He nodded, tasting his own name - rolling it over his tongue. Yes, it was a good one. Better than most, actually. Placing the eyepiece on his head, replacing the trivial goggles, which he tossed away somewhere in a corner or other, he followed his father. Hands on his back and eyes straight forward. Valerik walked with pride, back straight and head held high.

 

[Varie]

The eighth child watched patiently as her siblings were instructed about their artifacts. By the time it was her turn, she had a feeling what her amulet might do. She loved to create and felt something to do with that would be her artifact's ability. The question that lingered from this instinct though, was how it would happen. It would be difficult to maneuver the amulet in a controlled fashion. As her father clutched the amulet and demonstrated its usage. The eighth child was fairly content with its ability. The randomness of the objects was what excited her and she was looking forward to seeing what would come out and the ideas she would come up with to use them.


It was time to choose her name.


"My name is Hayliana."


Carefully hanging the amulet around her neck, Hayliana followed her father along with her siblings.

 

[Tictacguy123]

The second child stared at the ring in awe, it's power captivating to the cosmic child. The ability...to control others... Beautiful. He waited until his father asked him what his name shall be, and within an instant, he had it. "Exrus" he spoke confidently, proud of the name. Exrus the Executive... Has a ring to it, pun intended. As his father continued down the list of children, Exeus pretended to listen, looking at his artifact and spinning it around his finger.


He almost didn't notice as his father led the others away, and he quickly fell in line. One couldn't waste time, considering time in a place like this meant virtually nothing. But still, time was power, and Exrus craved the power. When his father finally released them to perform their tasks, he knew what would need to be done; without a clock, he knew exactly what time it was.


It was time to strike a deal.

 

[Nostradomuas]

As they all walked down the hallway, Octavion couldn't stop smiling. He can finally use his left arm! As they walked, he grabbed at random objects along the way laughing in joy. Of course he'd see something else and pick it up and left quite a mess along the way. He was so excited he kept showing his father everything he picked; he was quite proud of it. Luckily this house picked itself up and placed the objects Octavion moved back to their original positions. He, of course, realized that he might be getting on his father's nerves; so he decided to settle down and concentrate on finishing the manuscript so that he could master his arm.

 

[Snek]

@Nico @Varie @Peaceswore @Syrrus


The Vigil led his children down the long corridors of their home, giving them quaint explanations of every room they passed through. They saw the kitchen, stocked with anything their stomachs might crave, as well as the tools necessary to prepare it, and a large dining table that could seat all of them. He then showed them the study, a nice quiet room with luxurious chairs and various coffee tables, upon which rested bowls of treats. On a table in the center of the room, there was a stack of boxes which the Vigil explained were full of games for guests to play.


Xyxys and Genesis both noticed a very large book resting open on one of the side tables by a chair. Genesis asked her father what it was, but Xyxys didn't bother with asking permission. He approached it, intrigued, but his father snapped his fingers and the book closed with a boom.


"That text is not for you to read, my son. I have an important guest coming soon, and those words are meant only for him."


Xyxys nodded, though still unbearably curious, and instead chose to look out the transparent outer walls of the study at the spectacular view of the Multiverse. It was extremely beautiful, and he called Variety over to show her the view.


"It's amazing...but what's that strange rip thing over there?" asked Genesis, pointing to the wound in reality.


"You will learn soon, but first we have other rooms to see. Come along, children."


The group proceeded into the hallway to continue their tour. Genesis stood near her father's left hand, but Xyxys grabbed it and edged her to the side. The two exchanged evil eyes, exposure of tongues, and various other rude gestures before the Vigil issued a stern command to behave. They passed many works of art, which their father described as "early works from his artistic career." They were intriguing indeed, and they all stopped to admire them for a few minutes. Most of them were indecipherable in terms of meaning or context. They began as figures and objects, and then after a few paintings, they became more abstract and mind-bending.


Genesis was, for the most part, uninterested in the paintings, although a few perturbed her slightly. Xyxys found them absolutely fascinating.





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[Nico]

The sixth child put the cape around her and smiled. It was just so flashy! She skipped after her father and siblings humming a tune and occasionally spinning and giving a twirl. It was almost like someone gave her a truck load of chocolate, that was how hyper she was. "My...name?" she said and thought about it. She needed a super unique name! "I'll be called Zera father!" she gave a bright smile.

 

[Syrrus]

Valerik frowned, not certain with what to think or what to do. He peered around what seemed to be a room, keeping close to his father and away from his siblings which... disturbed him in one way or another. He was also starting to feel restless and curious. Glancing up at his father he raised a thin eyebrow. "What now, father?" He had to ask, everyone else seemed occupied with something or other, he simply found no such interest. Except a few of the paintings, which he was staring rather intently at. Swallowing and without pulling his gaze off them he simply tugged on his father's cloths. The intriguing feeling was beginning to grow and it confused him.

 

[Snek]

@Nico @Syrrus @Peaceswore @Tictacguy123 @Nostradomuas @Varie


"Now, child, I will tell you of the journey you must take. Follow me to the observatory."


The Vigil led the young heroes to a dark, seemingly empty chamber, with a large, curved, screen-like lens that covered most of the ceiling. The Vigil snapped his fingers, and the ceiling behind the lens slid apart to reveal a much more detailed view of the Multiverse, with a closer look at the Gash as well. Its frayed edges rippled around the painful brightness of the wound, and it was much clearer to see the size of the damage than from the view in the study.


"Your mission, the reason I created you, is to venture into that horrid Gash and repair it, as well as the damage it has caused to the whole of spacetime. This wound was caused by eons of manipulation by a dark entity, who created and set loose objects known as the Nega Relics. These dark objects are shadowy twins of your own, and their combined temporal instability is most likely the origin of this rift. You see, they do not belong in this reality, but they are significant items of historical importance in the time of a species that, for the sake of simplicity, I refer to as Time Walkers."


The lens above them swelled and shifted, and their view zoomed far into the searing depths of the Gash until, amidst the white, there came into view a small planet, somewhat violet in color, mixed with the blue of water. It rested almost alone in a small solar system at the very heart of the Gash, accompanied only by its moon, a couple other empty planets, and their sun. The lens zoomed in closer until the surface of the planet was visible.


The planet was covered mostly in vegetation, with a few major bodies of water such as a couple of oceans, a few seas and large rivers here and there. The surface was host to three continents, one which was located directly over the northern pole of the planet, one which touched the south pole but also stretched up the side of the planet, and a third that resided on the opposite side from the second continent, almost perfectly halfway between the poles. The lens zoomed closer.


There were many, many forests, and the plants that dominated most of the continents were tinged purple in color, owing to the coloration of the planet's land when viewed from afar. There were also a few mountains, greyish-white, and among these mountains are where most of the cities were built, protected from the hostile wilds of the forest lands of the valleys. They were large and beautiful, with impressive structures of white stone and an intriguing bright blue substance that was imbedded in the rock. Some of the structures incorporated this substance on the outside, and when viewed externally, it appeared to be a form of crystal. Time Walkers strolled peacefully through the city streets, passing by merchant sectors, fairgrounds, parks with peaceful specimens of wildlife, and towering peaks of industrial buildings and wealthy residential structures.


The Time Walkers were interesting creatures, but similar in appearance to the heroes. They had a head, a body, two arms and two legs, with faces that had large, dark eyes, small holes for nostrils as opposed to the cartilage structures that the Vigil's children had, and mouths lined with omnivorous teeth. Their dark grey skin was lined with white shell plates, each of which were covered in sky-blue inscriptions and runes that could only be their native language. Pointed growths sprouted from their heads like horns, and no two pair of horns were alike between individuals. The males had slightly more prominent shell plates than the females, and smaller eyes, while the females were more slender in build and had larger and more intricate horn patterns.


Interestingly, most of them wore garments that covered the inscriptions on their heads, with only their eyes visible, but most left the rest of their body uncovered.


"The inscriptions that cover the bodies of the Time Walkers," the Vigil explained, "are present from the very moment that they emerge from their mother. They fortell, in honestly rather vague pretense, the outcome of every event and decision in the Time Walker's life until they die. The story of their life is written out for them from the very beginning, but due to the vagueness of the prophecies and the multiple possibilities of application, it is rarely obvious what they pertain to until after the experience in question passes. They wrap their heads with cloth because the inscriptions that form there during birth are the most personal; allowing another to read them would be like revealing your deepest secrets, desires, regrets, and thoughts. Usually the cloths are only removed in the private company of lovers, such as during reproduction, as is the custom. In their culture, removing one's cloths is an action akin to a gesture of extreme trust. But that is not important to your mission, at least not yet, so we will refrain from discussing such matters and, instead, talk about where you will begin your journey.


"This point in time, the one you are currently perusing, is the starting point for the decline of their race. The Nega Relics are present through their history in pairs, much like your Artifacts, and the first two make their appearance in this point in time. And it is high time that you head on your way. It is nearly four, and I must be getting around to preparing your supper for when you return. It will be months or even years from your perspective, but it will be merely a few hours' time for me, here in my house.


"Now try to be polite, don't scare the natives, play nice with the other children, and do get around to fixing that unsightly Gash. I will not accompany you, but I will offer advice and information that might be useful. Now, off you go. Goodbye, my children."


Genesis mulled all this over in her head for awhile. A journey, saving reality, destroying the Nega Relics, be home in time for dinner...sounded do-able, but she'd have to make sure her teammates were pulling their weight. She bet that Valeric Fontaine would probably help with that.


Xyxys didn't even give it a second thought. Epic quest? Hell to the yes.


"Woo! Let's kick that ugly Gash's butt!" He aimed for a high-five at his sibling, Hayliana. She was the only one of his teammates that didn't make him want to fall asleep, there was no way the rest of them could understand the deep connection they shared with the Multiverse. The thrill of combat, the rush of glory and adrenaline, the...oh, right, saving aliens. Got off track for a second there. Xyxys realized he had inadvertently been staring at Hayliana as he was daydreaming, and he scratched the back of his hood and looked up towards the lens.


The lens was glowing, but he soon realized it was because the floor was glowing. It shone bright white, and the last thing Xyxys saw before they were hurled into the void of space was his father standing by the doorway, waving goodbye and closing the door behind him.


~

 

[Nostradomuas]

"AH WAIT WAIT! D-dad uh? GAH! Why can't I stay still," Octavion exclaimed, floating through space, trying to move, but only succeeded in making him spin more; causing him to become quite sick to his stomach. "Eeeh, I don't feel so good you guys," he said, looking quite pale. Slowly he came to a startling realization. He couldn't hear what he was saying. He knew what he was saying and what it would sound like, but when he opened his mouth again and spoke he heard nothing. Octavion then started to panic thinking, "What the hell's going on?" He then noticed his other siblings and their father's house. They were drifting farther away from it and slightly from each other. "Oh crap," He thought and then started trying to swim toward his fellow friends and tried to grab hold of each of them. The first person he grabbed was Exrus, and Octavion gave him a little smile and salute. So Octavion, continuing on his swimming marathon, started collecting his fellow friends and after a couple minutes of awkward silence they finally were all hanging onto one another. Quite exhuasted from this thrilling ordeal, Octavion then closed his eyes and thought, "Phew, thank goodness that we managed to get together in time." He opened his eyes again and stared back at the gaping rip in the.... "wait what did the old man call it again...? Oh yeah, he called it "Space-Time".... I think." He then started to notice sharp little pains all over his body and his body started to shiver. He closed his eyes once more and thought, "Whats up with this stuff? Why can't I talk or move how I want? AND WHY IS IT SO FREAKING COLD?! Eh, I'll have to get a coat or something when we get to wherever we are going."

 

[Tictacguy123]

Exrus had observing thoughtfully after he had managed to break the spell that the ring had seemingly cast over him, now paying attention once more. The paintings they had passed in the hallway had intrigued him, but not enough to bring any comments or any lasting connections (although one painting in particular had awoken something that vaguely felt like a former, although temporary, existence). He was far more interested in the task they had been given by Father.


We have a mission. And every mission needs a leader. So of course I am the only suitable candidate. Oh, woe is me. He listened as Father showed them the place they would be traveling to and the creatures they would be encountering that were disturbing reality. They didn't appear to be too much of a threat, but then again, Exrus knew little in terms of danger and fear. All he knew at this point was that he was the head of this figurative operation (self appointed, naturally) and that he would make this work if it killed him (them).


He noticed that his brother, Xyxys, had been staring absentmindedly at one of their sisters, Hayliana, and made note of it. Oooo I smell a connection! And all connections can be exploited. Can you smell that? It's the smell of pooooweeeeer.... He giggled to himself, then forgot all of this as they were hurled into the void that was space. Octavion had swam (swimming through space? Is that even a thing? Perhaps it is. Not that it matters really, it wasn't as if he was regularly planning on flying through empty plains of nothingness) over to him and they attempted their best to gather as a relative group with the others.

 

[Nico]

Zera laughed as she floated around in space. She twirled and swam in loops "Ahaha, look at this guys. It's like I'm flying!" she giggled with glee. So apparently they had to fix the rip in space time, blend in with the natives and try not to get killed? Sounds easy enough, and perhaps fun. Other then the possibly dying part, that part doesn't sound fun. She looped around more and started singing a made up song about space, spacetime and new planets.

 

[Peaceswore]

Delisaia just sighed and crossed her arms as he patiently waited till they land at there destination. True the dutiful is not known for they're deep thought, but it's not like she could do anything else as she floated. 'We were created for the only propose of fixing this tear? And if we fail.. No those are foolish ideas, I'm the eldest and therefore it is my responsibility to make sure this is seen to till the end. Maybe I shall get a chance to try out my artifact.' She held a small smirk as her arm was linked by her brother Exrus. 'I guess we better get to it, I wonder how is fathers cooking?'

 

[Syrrus]

"If we failed we've managed to completely mess up the only purpose to our existence." Valerik decided to respond to his older sister as he floated through what seemed to be nothing and everything at the same time. He held his arms folded over his chest as he slowly started to spin around, it didn't happen quick enough for him to notice. To him it just seemed as if his siblings was playing mad tricks on him - trying to stand on their heads. He frowned and proceeded with staring, waiting, in front of him - at nothing an no one.