DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[foolishjustice]

That doesn't make much sense. Even if someone's appearance changes, it's still...them. Especially if it's a willing change.

Honestly, it doesn't seem that different from getting your ears pierced, or dying your hair.

[His hair shifts to blonde, then black, then back to brown.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

Yeah, but with dying or piercing... Eh, I dunno. I just ran into it a few times too many.

I like having a fairly clear sense of self, so...

[foolishjustice]

Well, my thoughts might be influenced by my abilities as a Wildcard. Shapeshifting is a little more superficial than absorbing fragments of psyche into myself and casting aside old ones to change what I'm capable of.

[have_hat_will_travel]

Well. True there.

[foolishjustice]

I think it's just in our nature to be comfortable with the idea of parts of us changing.

[have_hat_will_travel]

That makes sense, I think? I'm not 100% on how Persona abilities work still, so...

[foolishjustice]

A Persona is a fragment of psyche. Most people can only have one, and it has to come from something inside them...but Wildcards like me, and a few of the others here, can have several. We can also convince Shadows from the collective unconscious to join with us as new Personas.

Which ones we have even influence us slightly. It's easier to understand people who have something in common with one of our Personas.

[have_hat_will_travel]

... It makes me kinda think of Vestiges from my world, but I know almost nothing of them, so...

[foolishjustice]

I don't think I've seen whatever book they're from. Explaining Personas fully would take some time and a psychology lesson, though, so...maybe not here.

[have_hat_will_travel]

That. Might be easier, yes.

[foolishjustice]

If you're curious, I can give you a more thorough explanation once we're somewhere a little warmer.

[Not that he seems...at all affected by the cold.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

Would be worth looking into, yeah... But yeah, when we're in a warmer place first.

[foolishjustice]

You should ask me about it once I've had some time to rest after getting home.

[have_hat_will_travel]

I'll try to remember to do that.