tushanshu_logs | EVENT | ALL HALLOWED REDUX

Characters: Any affected by the ghosting and Losses, their sponsors and ~~nosy observers~~ anyone else who feels like tagging along.
Date: January 11-12
Location: Keeliai
Situation: A moonlight ritual designed to restore lost balance and return Losses and unwanted gains back to a neutral state.
Warnings/Rating: Please indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

The kedan messengers who had originally brought the information to the various Foreigners who'd been affected will return to those same suites on Friday evening. They will let them know to arrive with their sponsors at a quiet field area just to the south of Palace grounds on Saturday at sundown so that the "cleansing" can begin. They don't need to bring anything to aid in the ritual itself though it's advised that they might consider having a spare change of clothes on hand.

The next evening is bright and clear as though the weather itself wishes success upon this strange endeavor. The Foreigners making their way to the field as instructed by their kedan guides will find a large area cleared of snow, right down to the grass and dozens of round pools constructed of what appear to be interlocking stone blocks, so carefully and precisely arranged that they're able to hold water without leaking despite not using any standard mortar or sealant. Each pool stands about three feet tall and is filled three quarters of the way full of water which shimmers in the moonlight, bearing a very similar sheen that people will remember from the iridescent paint.

Does this bode well? Only time will tell.

OOC Information

See the OOC plotting post for event details and this post for assorted subheaders outlining various parts of the plot. If your character wants to learn more about the rituals or ask Milyn questions, she will be tagging in the Case Studies thread. Otherwise, feel free to use general affected kedan and their respective sponsors under normal rules for players writing NPC interactions. Feel free to start your own thread header if none suit, or make your own logs for various threadings... this is just for a central post for the event. Any questions can be directed HERE. Thank you!

RESETTING THE STAGE
Pre-Ritual Mingling | Strike the Balance | Case Studies | Greeting the New Day

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not as much as you think," Zelgadis answered softly. Because he could think of times when a kind word or a friend was what was needed.

Yeah, that was a question he could have foreseen. Damian's mouth twist a little (not in the least because, well, he probably couldn't have done as ... metaphorically? That wasn't the right term. Not-literally, for a balm, either. But he didn't think it a horrible example. Merely one he didn't quite compute. Crying was a weakness, after all. Not a relief. But that was... for him. Not for everyone else.)

He let a beat pass, then tilted his chin towards Bart. "Batman was dead. Red Hood got ambitious... will get ambitious, when it comes to the one here." Don't go messing with him, Bartholomew, the words didn't get said, but the intent was clear. The Jason here hadn't done it, yet. That made a difference - even to Damian. A little.

The answer didn't count as truth, he didn't think. Not since it was probably incomprehensibly cryptic to Zel. So Damian paused, considering. It was his turn to provide something positive.

"This Thanksgiving, I believe I was truly thankful - for the people who were here and whom I've gotten to know." For the first time also goes unsaid. "For... family." Rather than simply take it for granted, or pride himself in it, or any of the less - personal things he'd felt, for the people in his life.

It might not be the most positive, but it was more so than many of the facts he could have revealed.

"Red Hood..." The words are more mouthed than whispered. No, Bart won't be letting this one go, because the guy has like two feet on Robin. Not cool. Not cool at all. This is actually the first time that he's been told that Red Hood was here. Certain people had mysteriously left the guy off their little list of the Who's Who on the Shell.

Bart's not a believer that the future is malleable, but, heck, shouting would feel good in this case. Even if it's by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The idiot would feel like he'd done two good deeds today.

"Okay... so I've got lie. I'm thinking saying I have blue eyes isn't gonna cover it? More like own up to a lie." It's bad luck that he drew this one - he feels like lying is much more in a Gothamite's wheelhouse. Bart doesn't have a tremendous pool of genuine lies to draw from, and less involve things that he is OK with talking about and CAN talk about. Others don't seem heavy enough to merit their use in a fancy ritual. "Alright. A couple years ago, I did something... illegal. Like harboring a fugitive, hiding from the DEO illegal."

Funny how so many of the things he's giving up in this are older memories. Bart feels like these are slightly safer - particularly because the major people involved - Cissie, Greta - aren't here in Keeliai. "Anyway. To pull it off, I wound up lying to a bunch of people. My uncle and cousin. My best friends's - well, guardians I guess is the best way to put it. Adopted father and biological father if this has to be all specific. We told them we didn't know what had happened to her and that the DEO must've been right about her dying in the explosion."

There's quick Look at Damian, one that he means to say 'You forget you heard that and maybe I'll forget what you just said.' "I dunno if anyone ever cracked and told the whole truth. I didn't."

... Maybe having two people from the same universe wasn't the best idea. "I can't say I know what this DEO is, but I get the gist."

Damian's mouth pursed a little at the tone of displeasure in Graywords's tone, and focused more on the reason for their gathering.

"Department of Extranormal Operations. An organization attempting to make sure that metahumans don't pose a threat. As such, there's often more muscle than grace to their work."

That was a reasonable summary, wasn't it?

"As to a possession..." Well, the one he had in mind was going to be slightly ironic. Possibly more than slightly, on several levels. However, at the last moment, he abstained from talking about the island he owned, back home. Instead, he unsheathed a dagger he had attached to his thigh, and offered it, hilt first, to Zelgadis. "If you wish, you can have this one."

Provide one or the other. Provide a possession - and, if they were going to restore balance, maybe he could help with more than words. However important words could be, sometimes.

Possession or debt. How was he supposed to give someone a debt? Bart had assumed that they were meant to share one that they had acquired, but Damian is taking a much more literal approach to this. "Uh. I'm not sure that's what we gotta do? I mean, I can't hand him an IOU. I'm in the middle of a freaking pool."

Sighing in frustration, Bart takes a moment to think about this one, sinks down in the water and then lets himself float on his back. He might as well enjoy it. Swimming pools aren't a thing on the turtle, and the ocean just isn't the same. "OK. Covering all the bases here. I owe you one favor, to be called for when needed. I also owe Thad Thawne a punch in the face or six. Think that'll work?"

"Works for me," Zelgadis said. He also was pocketing the dagger. "Thank you both."

Despite himself, Damian snorted a little at the last part of Bart's promises. Mostly because he could sort of relate. Not that he'd taken such debts to their recipients - sometimes with a crowbar, even - or anything.

Then his face blanked out for a moment, the most difficult question - to him - coming to his turn. One gloved hand tightened in a fist, because it really was... complicated.

"I've found that ... teaching people new skills and knowledge can be - a joy. I mean, I've found that since coming here." Beat, and he added, almost hastily, "when they want to be taught, of course."

And, sorry, Bart. Damian was still, after all, twelve. He wanted to make sure the job they came here for was done. Which, well. The water in their pool at least seemed to be reacting to what they were - exchanging, so it had to be going right, didn't it?

EVENT | ALL HALLOWED REDUX - RITUALISM

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