【NPC CONTACT】

[berriah]

NPC Contact

These threads can be used to initiate interactions with the various NPCs of the setting. You are welcome to contact NPCs as often and as many times as you want in order to interrogate the setting or form bonds with them. Contact can be as actions or, if your character has met the NPC before, by using an audio or video private calling method.

If there’s a particular line of inquiry or setting detail you are investigating, feel free to mention so in the thread. I will try to focus the replies on answering the questions your characters are investigating.

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KAMI of LOVE

It is said that Starsand City is built upon the foundation of her love. The Kami of Love is the one who revealed the existence of spirits to the world five years ago and started the “Faith Revolution” era of this world. She lives in a large shrine (more like a castle) and invites the citizens to visit at any time. When you have a problem, the people of Starsand will first suggest that you go to the Kami of Love to solve it.

contact thread

KAMI of CURIOSITY

This Kami gains power from the questioning nature of humans, which makes him quite powerful compared to his fellow Kami. His shrine acts as the city library and is open to the public. Specific questions can be written on paper and left at the front desk, where the Kami of Curiosity will leave his reply within 24 hours. Curiously (ha,) he also has the power to heal wounds. When civilians are grievously injured, they will be taken to this Kami for healing. Some people have even claimed that they’ve died, only to wake up in the library without any injury.

Contact Thread

yumeno, omiCHRON

A 15 year old girl, who often helps Fallen Stars settle into Starsand City. She tries to give off an air of authority and claims that helping people is her job. When she isn’t offering her help around the city, Chron can be found at the local high school. She’s a member of the student disciplinary committee there and one of the top students. Chron is also quite liberal with handing out her “work number” to the people that she meets, encouraging Fallen Stars to call if they need anything.

contact thread

YUUTO

A quiet resident of the city, who seems about an elusive as a stray cat. When he does get talking, Yuuto is an energetic person and surprisingly friendly. He’s quick to help people in need, but has a way of disappearing the moment that you turn away from him. The people of Starsand can’t say much about him, but mention his strange pink-gold eyes and someone is bound to tell you about a helpful ghost with similar eyes.

contact thread

MIKALE reed

One of the residents of Starsand City and the owner of the “Heart Bakery.” Though, he will sigh and quietly insist that you just call it “The Bakery.” His bakery gives all leftover products to the Fallen Stars and he hires baking assistants in the morning. Mikale himself is quietly generous, willing to lend help to the other worldly visitors. He also frequents the Shrine of Love and Shrine of Curiosity, often acting as an assistant.

contact thread

DIMITRI

You’ll rarely hear about this young man, nor are you very likely to find him. He tends to show up for only the briefest of moments, usually in places that sell books or offer tea. Those who have had run-ins may know that he’s two-faced. He can be incredibly pleasant and cheerful or irritable and stern. Whatever mind you find him in, his dark cloak is what draws most attention. It shimmers like a starry sky if you’re lucky enough to see it for long.

contact thread

Comments

☆ kami of love ☆

[ai_nnihilate]

☆ kami of curiosity ☆

[goldenmage]

☆ yumeno, omichron ☆

[omichron]

☆ yuuto ☆

[spacialeyes]

[aupologizes]

[When she goes into the shrine, she enters in her corporeal form.

The natives that did want to help managed to give her information... and it's enough for Hanyuu herself to visit. While she still has her horns hidden behind her buns, she doesn't hide her presence.

Although she can't say she's sure if anyone could tell what she is at a glance, or by what little power she even has left. And besides, she doesn't have much of it left, after utilizing it for so long, for so many years.]

... Excuse me. Is the kami of this shrine here?

[ai_nnihilate]

[The shrine attendants, at least, are welcoming towards Hanyuu. They don't seem to know she's a Fallen Star, but they give no indication of checking either. No one stops her entry and some even back up to her space.

When the kami does appear, it's from one of the gates leading into a central visitor's garden. Her hair is straightened and her clothes are surprisingly plain for someone labeled "kami." The oddest part of her appearance as her eyes and her unnatural white pupils.]

Yes, I'm here... [Satou blinks her eyes, noting Hanyuu's unusual presence.] To whom do I owe this pleasure?

☆ mikale reed ☆

[denouefate]

[aupologizes]

My name is Hai-Ryun Yeasomul Jedha. [She hadn't used that name in ages. But, if she's going to be a proper kami, then-] But you may also refer to me as Hanyuu.

[And while the other girl's appearance is plain, that doesn't matter. After all, it isn't as if she hadn't worn normal clothes, once upon a time.]

I am foreign to this land, but I had heard that the people spoke of a kami. And of the possibility that a kami might be responsible for certain events that happened recently.

And as a kami myself, I also simply wanted to properly introduce myself to those of this land.

[It's only polite.]

[ai_nnihilate]

[Satou looks surprised by this, eyes wide and mouth falling open. A look that quickly morphs into a friendly smile, accompanied by a small giggle.]

Are you a Fallen Star or from another city?

[Without prompting, she elaborates;] Introducing yourself to the local kami is an old tradition of this world. It's nostalgic to be greeted that way again... [Satou shakes her head.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Hanyuu. [She bows;] I'm Satou. Kami of Love and current keeper of the Starsand City. Do you use titles where you're from?

[aupologizes]

If 'Fallen Star' is what people from other Fragments--

[Oh, wait. Satou might not understand that term.]

Other worlds are called, then that is what I am. I was known as 'Oyashiro-sama'.

That title has been mine for many, many years. It has been associated with many things. Including love, matchmaking...

[She hesitates to say this next part, frowning.]

And even a curse.

[ai_nnihilate]

I see.

[Satou's smile abruptly fades. But there is no hesitance as she levels with a fellow kami, other worlder or not. Hanyuu understands the importance of their role and Satou trusts her with information. Even this kind of dangerous knowledge, which is so easily abused.]

I'm not sure if the faith of the people here will give you power in the way it does for me, but I would guard your 'curse' especially tightly here. Faith can bring about miracles, but it can also bring disaster. I would be a fool not to warn you that there are people who wish to use this power to bring about misfortune.

[aupologizes]

I understand that quite well. Many people have used my name to do horrible deeds, in spite of what I wanted.

[She never wanted to become a 'curse'. She never wanted people to kill one another. And for the longest time, that hurt.]

I do not plan on easily telling others about that. After all, the situation with the others of this world is already bad enough. If they found out that there was a Fallen Star kami amongst the batch of those who arrived with the strange marks...

[Hanyuu shuts her eyes closed, thoughtful.]

I do not wish to cause an even bigger rift, Satou-san.

[ai_nnihilate]

[It’s painful to hear that kami from other worlds can share this struggle. Satou worries about what would happen if the people from Hanyu’s home arrived and spread her curse.

She nods. Both in understanding and gratefulness.]

Thank you. We would not mind if you wished to resume your activities here in the future, but right now… It may be best to let this rumor pass, rather than give everyone a powerful target to pin it on.

[Right now, the rumor is spread among all of the Fallen Stars. Satou hopes that will weaken its power and allow it to be forgotten quickly. The cases of black sludge say otherwise, but she has the festival planned to distract from that.]

You called this a fragment. Are you associated with SpaceTime?

[aupologizes]

Yes. I understand.

[She smiles in a rather wistful way.

But then the next question is brought up, and it fades once again.]

One of the abilities that I have is to access the Sea of Fragments and go into others. I wouldn't say that I'm exactly associated with Spacetime-- but rather, that I had some small ounce of control over it.

But that has diminished over the years, after much usage of it. It is very unlikely that I can do much right now, as I am.

[With so little power left vested in her.]

[ai_nnihilate]

I see.

[She wonders what would cause Hanyuu to use that kind of power until it ran dry, but decides it would be rude to push. Leaving one's family is hard enough, but leaving an entire world? There must be very dire circumstances attached to such a decision.]

That power seems to be very complicated. I wonder if our SpaceTime kami also used their power when bringing so many people here? That would be a complicated answer to why that shrine is so quiet. [And a nightmarish answer. If the power is gone, how will they ever send everyone home?]

Perhaps you noticed when you visited, but that shrine has been 'empty' for years. And yet, it has the power to draw you all in here.

[aupologizes]

You said the shrine has been empty... have you not met the kami in there before?

[She thinks back to the empty space--to the person she had met there.]

[ai_nnihilate]

[Satou, too, is thinking back to other people she has met. But with how powerful a shared rumor becomes, sharing unverified information also poses a risk. It can become true if too many people hear it and agree with it.

Truth is a tricky thing in this world.]

No. Not of that shrine, no. We have even had kami come and try to claim that shrine, but it does not respond. It's filled with doors and windows, but none of them open.

[aupologizes]

[Hanyuu's shoulders sag as she lets out a sigh.]

I see.

I wonder if the person I met just moments before showing up in this place might be related...

[ai_nnihilate]

A person?!

[Satou's solemn tone cracks into a mix of despair and hope. The despair being what she was trying to hold back, while the hope cannot be contained. Her eyes go wide and she locks eyes with Hanyuu.]

What do you mean? Ah- D, did you meet a strange person when you arrived here?

[Careful, Satou. She cautions herself, Nothing has changed in years. Why would anything new happen now?]

[aupologizes]

Yes. I couldn't see them very clearly, but I could tell that they were a person... someone that I met in between worlds. They said something about being chosen-- by the darkness and light.

[ai_nnihilate]

Between the worlds... Of course. Because you're accustomed to traveling between fragments, you might be pulled in differently.

[She's wrong, but her theory isn't badly built either. Satou doesn't know yet that others have experienced the same thing.]

There was a strange incident at the shrine earlier today, too. So that was because it dragged in another kami? That explains it... [While she sounds relieved, Satou is also forcing herself to be optimistic. That seems too easy, doesn't it? But wouldn't it be great if the explanation was simple for once?]

Darkness and light, though. I don't know what to make of that. We don't have kami for those exact concepts in this city.

[aupologizes]

Perhaps. But given that multiple people seem to have been marked... it might be best to also ask the others who showed up recently about their experiences upon arrival as well.

[...]

Could it be related to someone outside of this city?

[ai_nnihilate]

That's true. [As painful as it is to admit that the situation may not be tied up neatly with a bow.]

But how to do that without arousing suspicions. If we ask for people with the marks or who recently showed up to come meet me, then rumors will start. [And rumors are never good in the Starsand City.]

When spirits were revealed 5 years ago, travel became less frequent. And even then, I know that no other city has Fallen Stars like we do. I suppose that it can't hurt to reach out and ask the nearby places, though.

[aupologizes]

Then... allow me to help. Admittedly, I am not good at communicating with people. However, I can at least be an intermediary. That way, we can prevent rumors from occurring because too many people were trying to visit you. And if needed -- the misunderstanding must be cleared.

[That is the suggestion that she offers.

It's not the best solution, she thinks, but it's an attempt at something.]

I appreciate it. I deeply apologize for the trouble as well.

[ai_nnihilate]

[Accepting help is hard. Satou knows that Hanyuu is the best option and is just as angry at herself for not asking as she is for needing to accept. If they put out a public call for the marked arrivals or even new arrivals to come visit, then a rumor will definitely spring forth. Something awful could happen to those Fallen Stars because Satou asked for their help...

But Hanyuu would be different. She's a Fallen Star herself. No one will bat an eye at the idea of her reaching out to others like her. Not just that, but she's a kami. Hanyuu understands the dangers of this world better than most based on that fact alone.

Her shoulders slowly lower, tension released with a sigh.]

Are you sure? [...] There's someone in town who can help you. Mikale Reed owns a bakery and cafe that has always been very friendly to the Fallen Stars. If you all planned to meet there, then no one would bat an eye. And-

[She breaths in. Is she really about to throw this responsibility at not just Hanyuu, but Mikale too??] - ... he'll know what to do if something dangerous were to come out of this.