Orion Caelum

Once a stick, now a human. Panic will ensue.

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[iciatheguardess]

Of course!!! And do come and find me if you need anything, alright? But until then, farewell!

*She bows a bit at him with a smile.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"You got it. ¡Adios, amiga! ¡Mantente a salvo!"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

Feel free! Actually... just to make it all easier for you.

*She reaches into a hidden pocket on her tunic and pulls out a small leather pouch, with jingling coins inside that she gives to Orion.*

Use these for buying food, the NPCs won't know what to do with the gold.

[stellar-green-stars]

He takes the pouch with a grateful nod.

"Oh- Thanks. I'm guessing it's because it's a different coin?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She nods.*

Both because it's not our currency and because it's- well, solid gold. That's something not even used by castle residents. The coins inside are just silver pieces, they'll be of more efficient use.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Gold is pretty common, back in Cier. It's worth four silver, which is worth two copper, so it's used in pretty much every purchase. So, one Gil being worth as much as it is here is... pretty surprising, to say the least."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia only shrugs.*

I don't have a good explanation, currency is confusing sometimes.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, agreed. I'll see about converting some of my Gil to silver and gold somewhere down the line, if I need to, as well. Gonna be hard if the blacksmiths can't register it as an item or currency, though..."

[iciatheguardess]

If anything, you can come find me. We'll be able to figure something out.

But for now, the silver should hold you over until you can get some of the gold converted.

*They stop walking in front of a house that looks like all the rest, although barren of any outside decor.*

And also for now, here's where you can stay so you don't have to sleep outside!

[stellar-green-stars]

"Ooh, alright. I'll probably add some decorations later on that can be easily removed. I don't want to leave any damage behind if or when I leave, y'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Certainly, of course! And truly, even if you do, it'll probably be minimal, nothing I haven't helped to fix before.

With that, I suppose I'll let you settle in- do you have any more questions or concerns for me?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Uhh, nothing I can't figure out on my own, far as I can tell. Thanks again for all this, you really didn't have to."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

Feel free! Actually... just to make it all easier for you.

*She reaches into a hidden pocket on her tunic and pulls out a small leather pouch, with jingling coins inside that she gives to Orion.*

Use these for buying food, the NPCs won't know what to do with the gold.

[stellar-green-stars]

He takes the pouch with a grateful nod.

"Oh- Thanks. I'm guessing it's because it's a different coin?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She nods.*

Both because it's not our currency and because it's- well, solid gold. That's something not even used by castle residents. The coins inside are just silver pieces, they'll be of more efficient use.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Gold is pretty common, back in Cier. It's worth four silver, which is worth two copper, so it's used in pretty much every purchase. So, one Gil being worth as much as it is here is... pretty surprising, to say the least."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia only shrugs.*

I don't have a good explanation, currency is confusing sometimes.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, agreed. I'll see about converting some of my Gil to silver and gold somewhere down the line, if I need to, as well. Gonna be hard if the blacksmiths can't register it as an item or currency, though..."

[iciatheguardess]

If anything, you can come find me. We'll be able to figure something out.

But for now, the silver should hold you over until you can get some of the gold converted.

*They stop walking in front of a house that looks like all the rest, although barren of any outside decor.*

And also for now, here's where you can stay so you don't have to sleep outside!

[stellar-green-stars]

"Ooh, alright. I'll probably add some decorations later on that can be easily removed. I don't want to leave any damage behind if or when I leave, y'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

Feel free! Actually... just to make it all easier for you.

*She reaches into a hidden pocket on her tunic and pulls out a small leather pouch, with jingling coins inside that she gives to Orion.*

Use these for buying food, the NPCs won't know what to do with the gold.

[stellar-green-stars]

He takes the pouch with a grateful nod.

"Oh- Thanks. I'm guessing it's because it's a different coin?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She nods.*

Both because it's not our currency and because it's- well, solid gold. That's something not even used by castle residents. The coins inside are just silver pieces, they'll be of more efficient use.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Gold is pretty common, back in Cier. It's worth four silver, which is worth two copper, so it's used in pretty much every purchase. So, one Gil being worth as much as it is here is... pretty surprising, to say the least."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia only shrugs.*

I don't have a good explanation, currency is confusing sometimes.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, agreed. I'll see about converting some of my Gil to silver and gold somewhere down the line, if I need to, as well. Gonna be hard if the blacksmiths can't register it as an item or currency, though..."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

Feel free! Actually... just to make it all easier for you.

*She reaches into a hidden pocket on her tunic and pulls out a small leather pouch, with jingling coins inside that she gives to Orion.*

Use these for buying food, the NPCs won't know what to do with the gold.

[stellar-green-stars]

He takes the pouch with a grateful nod.

"Oh- Thanks. I'm guessing it's because it's a different coin?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She nods.*

Both because it's not our currency and because it's- well, solid gold. That's something not even used by castle residents. The coins inside are just silver pieces, they'll be of more efficient use.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Gold is pretty common, back in Cier. It's worth four silver, which is worth two copper, so it's used in pretty much every purchase. So, one Gil being worth as much as it is here is... pretty surprising, to say the least."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

Feel free! Actually... just to make it all easier for you.

*She reaches into a hidden pocket on her tunic and pulls out a small leather pouch, with jingling coins inside that she gives to Orion.*

Use these for buying food, the NPCs won't know what to do with the gold.

[stellar-green-stars]

He takes the pouch with a grateful nod.

"Oh- Thanks. I'm guessing it's because it's a different coin?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

Its quite simple, honestly. The people are nice, although almost all are NPCs so there isn't much for them other than to be nice. Shops are about what you would expect from a normal village- you have your book shop there and silver traders-

*she points in one direction.*

And there's a stonemason and blacksmith further down the path. There's also a nice café behind us with delectable sea food- I would consider that one of our 'specialities', given we're essentially a large island.

*All the NPCs passing look very similar, all with a light brown color scheme... the only real variation is in gender and skin tone but that's about it. A good few villagers look identical to each other.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Might go check it out, honestly. Cier doesn't really have seafood, given it's not very close to any water at all, so this would actually be a first for me."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

*She inspects the coin, pausing once more to observe it and its rather confusing detailing.*

..... enough for perhaps a month and a half worth of food, roughly, I'd say.

*She passes it back to him.*

I'm not quite sure.... but, it's valuable.

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks at the coil for a moment before pocketing it again. Somehow.

"Huh. Alright, that's actually really good. So, what's it like in the village? Like the shops, the people, that kinda stuff, k'know?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

Quite a bit. Generally, however, we pay in silver pieces... gold isn't very commonly used as currency.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hmm... How much would this be worth, do you think?"

He passes her a coin of solid gold, roughly 0.5cm thick and 2cm wide. It's adorned with a smiling face with a pointed hat on one side, and a tree on the other.

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

We don't technically have a name for it, as it's the only village in the kingdom... we often just call it The Village.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Honestly, yeah, that makes sense."

He stops, a thought having struck out of nowhere.

"Wait- I just realised. Cier likely has a different currency system to here. How much is gold worth here?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

True. Although, I don't think she's available right now, so we'll have to find another time.

*Finally, they reach the village. Its quaint, cozy, and has some slight coastal vibes- definitely the sort of village you'd expect to see in a kingdom fairytale.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He looks around, letting out a breath.

"Wow, this feels kinda similar to Aegis Town. What's its name?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

I see.

Technically, we do have a mage within the kingdom who MAY be able to help... her powers, however, work within the limits of the digital world, although she seems to be able to bend some rules of this place...

... regardless, I don't quite know if she has any influence on universes outside the digital realm. It may not be impossible, but I doubt she's ever tried.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Hey, it's worth a shot, right? And besides, even if it doesn't work, we're not exactly on borrowed time, are we? Al menos espero que no."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, indeed... I hope you will not be stuck here for long. Ah- and I don't mean that in the way of not wanting you here, of course! I just want you to be able to get home safely.

Will the.. Stellapent, as you called it? Will it make things easier perhaps?

[stellar-green-stars]

"It's mostly because I'm already used to using its power for things like manifesting constructs. I can also use it for minor healing and maybe night vision? No estoy seguro, I haven't tested that one yet. But anyway, yeah, it's good that I'm still connected. That's at least one constant from home."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia lets out an air of laughter as she resumes walking.*

To be quite honest, I hardly remember anything about that moment.... my memory, unfortunately, isn't the best. But I believe he just... dropped out of a portal and we stuck together for a little before parting ways. Then we'd run into each other every so often. The whole experience of first meeting, while awkward, was rather pleasant at least. Felt like a culture shock, in a way, heheh.

[stellar-green-stars]

"I guess that's to be expected when you meet someone from another universe. Different worlds, different customs, y'know? I've got a lot to learn if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, that's for sure."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

Something like that, yes... he was rather calm about the whole situation.

[stellar-green-stars]

"He probably hops universes all the time. What was it like when he first arrived?"

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"

[iciatheguardess]

*She chuckles and kind of shakes her head.*

More than that- maybe incredibly anomalous? Supernatural even?

[stellar-green-stars]

"He sounds interesting, that's for sure. There was always the theory of parallel universes in Cier, but we've never seen proof. And then there's your friend, who seems to see it as just wednesday afternoon."

[iciatheguardess]

(aight bet)

There's a flash of green light and the sound of something hitting the snow, followed by what can only be either groaning or grumbling. After a few seconds, a burnt orange stick comes into view, their eyes black with green stars for pupils.

"Mierda, hace un frío que pela… ¿Dónde carajo estoy ahora?"

(before you ask yes i used google translate bc i am very bad at language)

-- @stellar-green-stars

*Its May now, so there's no longer any snow.... but instead, they fall into a bed of sand, a sudden startled yelp heard from right beside them*

?!?!

[stellar-green-stars]

He flinches before looking over at her and, after a brief moment of hesitation, gives a small wave.

"Uhh... ¿Hola?"

[iciatheguardess]

*The unfamiliar woman, made of ice, hesitates at the greeting. Spanish. Not her forte.*

Oh gods, um.... Ciao? Hello?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- English, I can do that. Never seen anyone made of ice before, though. Ice powers, sure, but not actually made from the stuff, how does that even work? Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Orion."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah- um- hello, I'm Icia, it's a pleasure to meet you, Orion. And, for the record, I'm not entirely ice, heh. Just my hair... and a scar or two.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Really? Huh. I mean, to be fair, where I'm from, there are people with electric hands, wind powers, and I'm pretty sure there's someone literally too creative to die. So, ice hair and scars certainly aren't the most outlandish thing I've seen. In any case, it's nice to meet you, Icia. Actually- Speaking of places... Where am I? 'Cause this definitely isn't Cier, where I'm from."

[iciatheguardess]

Ah, you're in the Digital Kingdom, currently.

*She looks around at the beach they're on, the actual kingdom not so far from here.

[stellar-green-stars]

"…perdón, ¿digital? How the hell did I manage to get inside a computer? I was walking through the middle of Aegis Fields, the nearest town was hours away!"

He throws his arms up, mostly in confusion as he tries, and fails miserably, to comprehend the sheer absurdity of his situation.

[iciatheguardess]

I truly have no idea, this world is.... yeah, I wish I could provide a better explanation, my apologies.

*She smiles sympathetically at him. Poor man.*

[stellar-green-stars]

He just sighs defeatedly. "Fuckin- Está bien, supongo. Is there anywhere I can stay, even if temporarily? I'm cool with sleeping under a tree, but I also hate getting rained on, even if my head is basically an organic basketball hoop."

[iciatheguardess]

Oh no, we have better than trees for shelter here, come with me!

*She stands and offers a hand to help him up.*

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- thanks." He takes her hand and stands up, his height coming to somewhere just under 8 feet.

"Where we headed?"

[iciatheguardess]

Just towards the village- we have a few vacant houses you can stay in for a time.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, perfect, thanks. I just hope I can fit into the bed."

[iciatheguardess]

Perhaps, I think you'll be alright... you may need to crouch for some of the doorways, though, so just be warned.

*they keep walking towards the village... seems they got a bit to go.*

So... care to tell me a little more about where you're from? You mentioned Aegis fields, yes?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh, right. Where I'm from, Cier... it's divided into a few different regions - I'll focus on the Aegis region, since that's where I actually lived. It has Aegis Fields, Aegis Town, and what used to be Aegis Colosseum. Near Aegis town, there's a mountain range called Niera Pass, which is where the Monospire resides. It's this ancient observation tower that provides visual intelligence to the rest of Cier thanks to its view of the entire place. There's also different clans, the most prominent of which being Nemesis. They provide protection in exchange for Gil or Nemesis Contracts, which are both an alternative currency and a flare when burned. There are also places called Life Factories, which are self-sustaining societies and megastructures centred around a single line of production. Everyone living there works the same job, but are allowed to leave to pursue other ventures, instead of accepting their guaranteed job, if they so choose when they turn 18. People are also allowed to leave them whenever they wish, since the original five founders of the Life Factories made it abundantly clear that the factories were to nurture creativity and freedom, and never to be a prison."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia listens silently, in pure shock as she thinks about everything he's talking about. That... sounds so much more complex than the current kingdom.*

... my gods-.

[stellar-green-stars]

"Yeah, it's pretty in-depth. It helps that this is all things I grew up around, except for the Life Factories. Those, I just know through stories from people who used to live in them."

[iciatheguardess]

Interesting... and this... isn't a part of the computer system? Interesting... I wonder how you got here, then.

(... fascinating... unless it is but he doesn't know? But I wouldn't know myself, of course, so I can't speak there..)

[stellar-green-stars]

"No yeah, it's all real. At least- Real for us. There's probably a few parallels to here that I don't know about, though. And some things are definitely gonna work different here than back in Cier. Speaking of..."

He opens his palm, and a glittering green constellation appears floating above it. He moves his hand and it forms into a low-poly disk, its surfaces filling in with a translucent green light. He knocks on it, and it makes a sound akin to enamelled glass. His eyes widen slightly, star pupils glowing brighter in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

"Oh hey, I'm still connected to the Stellapent. That makes things so much easier."

[iciatheguardess]

The Stellapent..?

[stellar-green-stars]

"Oh- Right, different world. So, you see the star in my eyes? That's the Stellapent. It's a constellation that only some in Cier can see in the sky. As far as I know, from legends and myths surrounding it, as well as my own experience, it's a manifestation of pure creativity and creation, hence my ability to make what I call Stellar Constructs. There's probably a lot more nuance to it, but any that was recorded was likely lost to time. Making constructs does take directly from my own energy, so I do need to be careful with how big and how often I make them."

[iciatheguardess]

*Icia pauses, stunned. She's certainly not used to seeing anything like that, not even from Dunite.*

...... wow...

[stellar-green-stars]

He gives a chuckle, dispelling the disk.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction when I learnt the extent of its lore."

[iciatheguardess]

That.... gods, I can't even begin to comprehend that all- and it's not part of the digital world???

*.... suddenly she pauses again.*

... ah- another interdimensional sort of thing, it must be-

[stellar-green-stars]

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at her.

"¿Lo siento? This has happened before?"

[iciatheguardess]

Yes, a friend of mine dropped in through a portal from another world- and there are different worlds in the digital plane, yes, but he was from a whole other dimension or universe, it seemed... I still don't quite know how to describe it.

[stellar-green-stars]

"...Otherworldly?"