The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

2 minutes ago, Ashkaloda said:

Taeidin seems entirely unfazed by this. He turns to Erryin slowly. 

"Please do not attack him. He is rather important to what we're trying to accomplish."

"I'll go with you," he hastily agrees, rubbing at his wrist. 

"Very well."

( @Keke )

Their surroundings fade away as he pulls them fully, physically, into a smoky void.

"Now. You"—he points at Erryin—"have some Connection to the Mindscape. Not Aeryn's in particular, but a general Connection, which should be enough to weaponize against Aeryn.

"You need to free her, not kill her. Which means you're going to have to fight off what's holding her trapped. And to do that, you need to know how to use this. So," he waves his hand around at the space, "reach out. Feel it."

[Aeoryi she/her]

1 hour ago, Ashkaloda said:

He nodded and took Ribbon by the arm. Stepping into the shadows, the two slowly faded from the tower. 

Erdikan stepped out onto the Lower Terrace, overlooking the bustling Grounds. He looked up at the pale sunlight glinting off of the high, curving walls of the city and smiled. It was nice to be back. 

Checking to make sure that Ribbon was following, he made his way across the long pathway and turned one of the five corners. People made way for him; they knew not to get in his way. Finally he chose a door along the wall on the right and entered the innards of the city, coming out into what appeared to be a large library. He turned to the awaiting Archivist, who bowed. 

"And what should suit my good Lord Erdikan today?"

Erdikan grimaced slightly. He hated it when the offworlders called him that. 

"I'm looking for information regarding Plot Significance, the Plotblade."

The Archivist nodded. "I shall see what information can be gathered."

Erdikan drummed his fingers on a desk as he awaited their return. 

"Do you know where Cep is?" Taeidin asked. "I can tell he is in the Thread, but not his location. This is likely due to a direct Narration. The experience is... disconcerting."

Umm

I do believe it was Second, although I don't think he ever gave Renn his name. 

Ribbon followed. She was forced to follow, no matter what she might have wanted to do. Not that she wanted to do anything else though.

"You never told me your name." She said softly after the Archivist had left. "My name is Ribbon. What's yours?"

Plot Significance is a heavily mutated version of the normally considered useless Plotblade of Plot Development made to kill Desolation. It is incredibly unstable and will sever any character's significance with a single touch, but has a chance of reverting back to Plot Development when this happens. It has not been seen for about 2,000 pages.

[Keke They/he]

1 hour ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

"Very well."

( @Keke )

Their surroundings fade away as he pulls them fully, physically, into a smoky void.

"Now. You"—he points at Erryin—"have some Connection to the Mindscape. Not Aeryn's in particular, but a general Connection, which should be enough to weaponize against Aeryn.

"You need to free her, not kill her. Which means you're going to have to fight off what's holding her trapped. And to do that, you need to know how to use this. So," he waves his hand around at the space, "reach out. Feel it."

erryin frowns and held their hand out.

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

4 minutes ago, Keke said:

erryin frowns and held their hand out.

At first, they can't feel anything. Then, at the edge of their awareness, appears a presence.

[Keke They/he]

14 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

At first, they can't feel anything. Then, at the edge of their awareness, appears a presence.

they reach and grab it. 

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

they reach and grab it. 

Suddenly, they can feel the whole of the Mindscape. Their brain struggles under the weight of constant contradiction, feeling it extend out forever and take up no space,  be in one Realm and not, be and not really be. 

[Through The Living Ash he/him]

51 minutes ago, Aeoryi said:

Ribbon followed. She was forced to follow, no matter what she might have wanted to do. Not that she wanted to do anything else though.

"You never told me your name." She said softly after the Archivist had left. "My name is Ribbon. What's yours?"

Plot Significance is a heavily mutated version of the normally considered useless Plotblade of Plot Development made to kill Desolation. It is incredibly unstable and will sever any character's significance with a single touch, but has a chance of reverting back to Plot Development when this happens. It has not been seen for about 2,000 pages.

He turned to Ribbon, a little surprised. "I am Erdikan. Do you know what we are doing here, Ribbon?"

[Aeoryi she/her]

5 minutes ago, Ashkaloda said:

He turned to Ribbon, a little surprised. "I am Erdikan. Do you know what we are doing here, Ribbon?"

"We're going on a quest! An epic quest, to retrieve an amazing sword!" Ribbon said.

[Keke They/he]

1 hour ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Suddenly, they can feel the whole of the Mindscape. Their brain struggles under the weight of constant contradiction, feeling it extend out forever and take up no space,  be in one Realm and not, be and not really be. 

they retract their hand. “What the hell>”

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

they retract their hand. “What the hell>”

They can still feel it, hovering at the back of their mind.

Dark Cep grins. "Yes. Good. Now use it."

[Keke They/he]

1 minute ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

They can still feel it, hovering at the back of their mind.

Dark Cep grins. "Yes. Good. Now use it."

they shrug “alright.” They grab it as hard as possible and throw it

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

they shrug “alright.” They grab it as hard as possible and throw it

What

[Through The Living Ash he/him]

1 hour ago, Aeoryi said:

"We're going on a quest! An epic quest, to retrieve an amazing sword!" Ribbon said.

"Yeah, pretty much."

The Archivist returned, and Erdikan reviewed what they had found. 

"Plot Significance was an altered form of Plot Development, held by Hacob, but bonded to Rirrom. It supposedly was able to end entire plot arcs with just a scratch, but due to its unstable nature this was considered risky to do. It was created for the purposes of defeating Desolation."

He shuffled through the pages a bit. 

"We've got even less on them; it says Desolation was some old-time antagonist who was considered pretty powerful and at one point was bonded to Foreshadowing."

He looked up at Ribbon. 

"Did you understand all that?"

[Keke They/he]

2 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

What

Idk how to describe doing stuff with the mindscape

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

Idk how to describe doing stuff with the mindscape

Like...form stuff. Do stuff. Create scenes or memories. How you describe it is up to you, but do what Erryin wants or is thinking of

[Keke They/he]

Just now, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Like...form stuff. Do stuff. Create scenes or memories. How you describe it is up to you, but do what Erryin wants or is thinking of

ahhhhhhhhhhh

 

6 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

They can still feel it, hovering at the back of their mind.

Dark Cep grins. "Yes. Good. Now use it."

What they were thinking of, well it’s one thing, a memory that was brought up by the whole atlas situation. 

A little kid, probably erryin, was yelling. “I grew up faster than other kids! I didn’t need a stupid stuffed toy!” They ran forward to grab someone’s hand. “Im begging you mama, please dont stop being my mother!”

erryin dropped it. “What hey! I did not consent to that!”

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

ahhhhhhhhhhh

 

What they were thinking of, well it’s one thing, a memory that was brought up by the whole atlas situation. 

A little kid, probably erryin, was yelling. “I grew up faster than other kids! I didn’t need a stupid stuffed toy!” They ran forward to grab someone’s hand. “Im begging you mama, please dont stop being my mother!”

erryin dropped it. “What hey! I did not consent to that!”

Dark Cep nods. "You must guard what your mind wills; any thread may be taken up by the Mindscape. Try again."

[Keke They/he]

Just now, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Dark Cep nods. "You must guard what your mind wills; any thread may be taken up by the Mindscape. Try again."

they huff and try again. This time forming a scene, cep and erryin talking, everything was happy and joyful, their ideal end to this place.

[Aeoryi she/her]

10 minutes ago, Ashkaloda said:

"Yeah, pretty much."

The Archivist returned, and Erdikan reviewed what they had found. 

"Plot Significance was an altered form of Plot Development, held by Hacob, but bonded to Rirrom. It supposedly was able to end entire plot arcs with just a scratch, but due to its unstable nature this was considered risky to do. It was created for the purposes of defeating Desolation."

He shuffled through the pages a bit. 

"We've got even less on them; it says Desolation was some old-time antagonist who was considered pretty powerful and at one point was bonded to Foreshadowing."

He looked up at Ribbon. 

"Did you understand all that?"

"Yes, vaguely. It feels familiar, like a warm dream," Ribbon said wistfully. "Although if it's bonded to Rirrom, why can't he just recall it like a Shardblade? There might be..."

She abruptly paused. "Hacob. Anything about Hacob?"

[Kansas Stormcursed he/him]

Just now, Keke said:

they huff and try again. This time forming a scene, cep and erryin talking, everything was happy and joyful, their ideal end to this place.

Dark Cep tries to laugh, but it comes out hollow and forced. "Dreams..." he pauses, then starts again. "Dreams are powerful things. Hold onto that. Now, I'm afraid we don't have much time, so we'll have to accelerate to the conpetition part of this." The scene is swallowed up in a wave of grey smoke, which wraps around and envelops Erryin, removing all sense of place and direction.

"Find the way out," his voice rings out of nowhere.  "Minds are weak things, and easily distracted. There is always a gap, if you can only find it."

[Keke They/he]

59 minutes ago, Kansas Stormcursed said:

Dark Cep tries to laugh, but it comes out hollow and forced. "Dreams..." he pauses, then starts again. "Dreams are powerful things. Hold onto that. Now, I'm afraid we don't have much time, so we'll have to accelerate to the conpetition part of this." The scene is swallowed up in a wave of grey smoke, which wraps around and envelops Erryin, removing all sense of place and direction.

"Find the way out," his voice rings out of nowhere.  "Minds are weak things, and easily distracted. There is always a gap, if you can only find it."

They close their eyes. Effectively shutting of one sense and heightening others. They felt around trying to find the gap

[Through The Living Ash he/him]

1 hour ago, Aeoryi said:

"Yes, vaguely. It feels familiar, like a warm dream," Ribbon said wistfully. "Although if it's bonded to Rirrom, why can't he just recall it like a Shardblade? There might be..."

She abruptly paused. "Hacob. Anything about Hacob?"

I know basically nothing about Hacob other than they were a Narrator and at one point made a deal with the General. 

[Aeoryi she/her]

Just now, Ashkaloda said:

I know basically nothing about Hacob other than they were a Narrator and at one point made a deal with the General. 

I know even less

[KnightSkye Reforged They/Them]

Ryver collapsed as time for his body resumed. Eepy squawked as she and Cadewyn also fell behind him. 

They had been stuck, from the moment they had gone to that mansion with Nameless and Sequence, in a frozen bubble of time. Unable to perceive what was going on around them or where they were. 

Eventually Ryver had gotten a thought out to his Author, and promised that he would provide someone willing to become his Narrator by the end of the month. And the Author had broken them out and placed them somewhere. 

Where were they anyway? He looked around, at a sterile lab room, like a hospital on his homeworld, and an old man near a table. 

"Hey!" Cadewyn called. "Who are you? And where are we?"

@Keke

 

Sorry I had to leave for a bit. Back now.

[Through The Living Ash he/him]

42 minutes ago, KnightSkye Reforged said:

Ryver collapsed as time for his body resumed. Eepy squawked as she and Cadewyn also fell behind him. 

They had been stuck, from the moment they had gone to that mansion with Nameless and Sequence, in a frozen bubble of time. Unable to perceive what was going on around them or where they were. 

Eventually Ryver had gotten a thought out to his Author, and promised that he would provide someone willing to become his Narrator by the end of the month. And the Author had broken them out and placed them somewhere. 

Where were they anyway? He looked around, at a sterile lab room, like a hospital on his homeworld, and an old man near a table. 

"Hey!" Cadewyn called. "Who are you? And where are we?"

@Keke

 

Sorry I had to leave for a bit. Back now.

I’m hoping you saw this already: 

On 1/15/2026 at 1:06 PM, Sequence said:

"I..." She gripped Unintelligible's hand tightly, desperately, as she glanced back down at her wound. The scar tissue was gray and mottled with black.

Destroy... Destroy... Destroy...

Sequence sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth, clenching her eyes shut. "Oh... I..." She opened her eyes again to look over at the Great Wizard, struggling to focus on him.

Destroy... Destroy... Destroy...

Her face went a little pale, and she turned back to Unintelligible. Her eyes were... sad. 
"You..." she started, her voice strained and slow. "Are the... bravest... most noble... p.. person... I have ever known..." 

DESTROY! DESTROY! DESTROY!

Sequence winced, clenching her eyes tightly again as she held out her left hand to the side. Conflict appeared in it. She knew what she had to do.
"I... hope... one day... I'll find my way back... to you." Tears began to well in her eyes as Conflict took the form of a staff with a brilliantly glowing lantern on top. Sequence hissed softly as the light bathed her face. Struggling a bit, she lifted up the staff above her. As the light filled her eyes, one could see something... dark. Her eyes never left Unintelligible's face.

"I... love you," she whispered.

With a high-pitched whine, the lantern flared with temporarily blinding white light. As it faded, Conflict thudded against the floor beside Sequence. Her eyes burned in their sockets, black mist frantically trying to escape her body before being vaporized by Conflict's remaining light. There were still tears on her dull, lightless cheeks.

 

1 hour ago, Aeoryi said:

"Yes, vaguely. It feels familiar, like a warm dream," Ribbon said wistfully. "Although if it's bonded to Rirrom, why can't he just recall it like a Shardblade? There might be..."

She abruptly paused. "Hacob. Anything about Hacob?"

“Let’s see… Hacob was a Narrator. He held Plot Development at some point. A long time ago, he negotiated a deal with the General on behalf of the Brave Adventurers. Tried to do the same with the Great Wizard, but was instead attacked by an army of bunnies.” 

He looked up at the Archivist. 

“Who writes these anyway?”

They shrugged helplessly. 

“Well, not much useful there,” he said to Ribbon.