Ran's posts

Day 10 Lore

Those desiring a break from the blinking neon lights of the festival stalls, but not exactly keen on getting their feet wet, found themselves sitting around a large bonfire; where they could converse the beautiful summer night away. Mid several laughs or venting tirades of the eclectic audience, the nearby stage lit up and beckoned attention as silence fell over the onlookers one by one. The curtains pulled open, and hanging down from the ceiling of center stage was a beautiful pair of navy blue silks that reached the floor. The lights dimmed to a gentle shade of red, and a young cloaked maiden elegantly strutted one leg out; the metal bangles wrapped 'round her ankle clanging in rhythm to the entrancing hymn of an ocarina.

She danced slowly yet passionately towards the center stage, and anyone passing by the area were stopped in their tracks finding themselves completely bewitched. As the maiden approached the silks, the cloak dropped to her ankles and the graceful sky dancer Ran was revealed. In place of any applause was the in tune “awe” that washed over the audience. She donned a butterfly eye mask, fitting both of her and this festival theme--her eyes flickered 'neath the mask as she curled one leg across the silk under first her knee and then the arch of her foot. Ran stepped up and into the air, secure by the silk and twirled cutely round like the fairy from all our childhood dreams.

The song of the ocarina crescendoed and with it she arched her back, bowing backwards mid flight and reaching behind her to demonstrate a myriad of complex poses-- each finishing with an intensity that would rivet each and every heart bearing witness. Then, as the music calmed and Ran without moving, descended the ropes-- the final clang of her bangles as she reached the floor rang out, and she snapped a bow.

Taking several moments to process the intricacy of the performance the audience was delayed in applauding, but they would compensate for that by a unanimous standing ovation that echoed throughout the entire breaker beach. This was something those not in attendance would have to mourn they missed. The curtains closed and among the crowd of cheering and tearful Volties, was the city's beloved Mayor Volkan. “Ho-oh, how absolutely breathtaking that was…” He said before rubbing his own eyes.

Determined to meet and thank Ran personally, and curious himself if he could learn to do something so mesmerizing-- he struggled and pushed through the departing crowd. It proved pointless for a while, so he patiently waited for everyone to find their direction before making his way to backstage. Which to his dismay, seemed already closed up and abandoned. “Hello? Is anyone there?” His voice called back to himself in confirmation he was indeed alone. Volkan sighed in disappointment. As he walked to the stage- a few floor lights kicked on from the motion sensor. Which gave him a tempting idea as his eyes noted the silks still hung.

“Hmm...a move or two shouldn’t hurt, right?” He crawled into the corners of his mind to validate himself, which was a pointless endeavor- he was going to try aerial silk dancing regardless. He attempted to mimic what Ran did, but failed to hook his foot. “Perhaps I just need to make this my own thing!” and like a monkey he climbed the silks high, wrapping an arm around one and twisting a leg through the other into a sad knot. He chuckled, thinking he was successful-- but then he released the silks and came tumbling down them halfway- finding himself stuck within a silk cocoon and anxiety ever rising. “S-someone help me!!” He shouted nervously, flailing about until his wriggling finally loosened his knot and he safely but harshly fell to the hard stage floor. He groaned in a slight pain, huddling himself up. “I suppose a ‘don’t try this at home’ disclaimer wouldn’t hurt for future events...” He thought to himself before graciously leaving his temptations behind..

He passed the stick to Ran, whose face flushed being picked by Io. Here you go. his voice was so cute she wanted to melt within herself, until she noticed everyone raising a brow at her delay. Ah! Sorry! Le-let me think...hmm..oh I g-got it!
Click her name below to play, screen shot when successful!

Ran

THE MEMORIES CRYSTALLIZE!

That day, it was raining. I remember the teachers said I could wait inside, but it's hard to act happy surrounded by walls. If I went outside, if I waited in the rain... then I could cry all I wanted. My father was coming to pick me up and all I could do was dread every moment.

Only, he never came. I couldn't tell you how happy I was in that moment. A teacher came outside to tell me the news that my father, the famous Dr. Gallias was arrested for countless charges of murder. What happened after then is still a blur, but eventually the police were put in charge of me for a little bit.

The officers there were so kind to me, but I believed it was my fault that my father hurt so many people. I closed up to them. I wanted to yell to the rooftops that Gallias is evil, that he deserves to be rotting! That the men in blue were right. But I was gone. Gone inside myself.

I was taken to Sunflower Orphanage so that I didn't live a life of ridicule. It was far away from my hometown. There, I met... Io. Io and Connie, and even Lin. Arika and Berinhard too. A family. One I have to protect!

RAN HAS CONFRONTED HER PAST FULLY.

Ran clutches her head in pain as Connie holds her close, navigating to the very last page...

NAIAMES
RDCAICA RTREAS
SEIETDBA EUISMLLT
ENTINYOHRPES
IORAALCUSVCDAR ESDSAIE
ORPYIASRRTE
CNIOFIENT
IONTNOCGA
HIDOMCEI
IRLAES KLIREL

THE MEMORY... CRYSTALLIZES

After Mama was killed by Papa, he started paying more attention to me. Said I was his everything. Said I was his world. At this point I think I had... had blocked it out completely. I didn't want to believe he had done such a horrible thing to Mama, but I should have known.
He was never a sane man.

Mama wasn't his only victim. He would take me with him to the others, wanting me to be like him. For a while, I was fooled. He made me think going down that road was the only path for me, that I... would grow up to be exactly like him.

Somewhere deep down, I was disgusted. I didn't want anything to do with him or his sick hobbies. I wanted to show the realm what a big liar he was! That he killed Mama, that he was twisting his little girl to be just like a... a cold-blooded killer.
But I was small and weak. And stupid.

Connie gives Ran a worried look before continuing to flip through the pages...

AISRALVY GDNLA
PHSAOUSGE
OTAMANY
APEXDPIN
LALMS EIENNSTTI
UVSOREN YTSSEM
HPRGMAADI
NECODENIR MEYSTS
RTALAICEG
ETHMRO

THE MEMORY... CRYSTALLIZES

Mama was so kind and loving. She was the kind of woman who would put you first no matter what. And before she died, she was the one who took care of me always.

Yeah, Papa never even glanced my way. He was always busy at work and doing other... things. Things he would take me to. Things he would show me. Things he'd make me do.

That night, I heard a sound coming from the first floor. Mama tucked me in hours before then and maybe i shouldn't have done it, but I sneaked out of bed and downstairs. The sound intensified like... like a thwacking. A light was coming from the bathroom door and I went towards it.

I... I cracked it open. I saw Papa and... Mama. And a lot of red. And the sound was so loud.

Connie opens the book to reveal a mess of words...

IPOLATHS
ASENAGDB
HTCSITSE
CSLAELP
IGTLCOTN
OIHMNGRAGREH
PELUS
WNUDO
FREHAT
ZANISETI

"COSMIC COWARDDDD!"
Constance shouted out in retaliation as she fell through several surreal backgrounds distorting at each transition.
Her voice became an echo as she entered a hospital of sorts and fell face flat into a medical bed,
the plush pillows and single blanket breaking her fall. She groaned while holding her face and looked around through squinted eyes.
The light in the room was insanely blinding, but her eyes managed to adjust.

"Co-Constance?!" Ran's familiar voice called out through a strained whine.
Turning over to see her, Ran was huddled in a corner shaking. Hands defensively holding
each wall as if to claim her territory.
"What was the flavor of pie I flung at ya when we were at the orphanage?"
Constance asked while giving a skeptical look and her arms crossed. Ran responded assertively:
"Y-you'd never waste food! A-and what is my favorite co-color?"
Her lips coiled up into a pout and she stretched her arms out even further preparing to be disappointed.

"You ditz, Veles knows that answer too! The ombre color of Io's hair. GAG ME!"
She rolled her eyes and hopped down from the bed, feeling confident that this is her sister, and came to a crouch beside her.
"So...why ya cryin? What's the puzzle here?"
Ran gulped and averted eye contact, but she let her arms down to mutually show she trusted this was Connie she was speaking to.
"The room is lo-locked. And the k-keys are inside me."

"INSIDE you?...." Constance raised a brow, then turned around to examine the room in its entirety.
The incessant sound of a heart monitor. The bed she landed on.Padded walls. Surgeons kit.
...and...a copy of Diagnostic Statistics Manual V? Connie went to open the book.
But the same thing was written on every page. Over and over again. PTSD. PTSD. PTSD. PTSD. PTSD. Then in highlighter:
Traumatic Amnesia. She snapped the book shut and walked over to examine the door. It had three keyholes,
and scratched into the large metal door was the words “INSIDE OF RAN” under each one.
Taking not much time, Constance put together what they had to do.

"Ran is there something else in this room that you have grabbed already?"
Constance asked, knowing the answer already.
"N-no!" Ran lied. Something she was terrible at doing.

"Ran...." Constance walked back to her side, and took her hands into her own. Looking her straight in the eyes.
"Remember when you helped me get over my 'acting out'?" Ran gave a nod.
"Do you remember when you, Arika and I sat at lunch and told our stories?" Ran hesitated, but eventually nodded.
"Back then you told me you forgot some things...you kinda stared off and had a anxiety attack
...Arika had to hold you and tell you to breathe. Do you remember THAT?" Ran did not respond, she just began to shake.
Constance sighed and nervously traced shapes onto the floor as she spoke.
"Veles is a jerk. He turned me into a cheeseburger and said it'd help my parents want me back."
As Constance spoke Ran’s eyes bubbled with tears and she passionately cried out.

"Th-that JERK! I HATE him! He mu-must GO AWAY! Your parents lo-loved you for YOU! AND I DO TOO!"
Ran reached out for Constance to hold her tightly. Constance reciprocated the hug while trying to fight back her
own tears that still managed to soak Ran’s shoulder. "Yeah, he's a jerk. He wants to hit us where we are weak.
And it seems the only way we can beat him, is to confront those weaknesses...."
Constance anticipated Ran freezing up, so held on tighter to her and her eyes caught a glimpse of something.
"You helped me with my issues so long ago...*I* was the jerk to you back then...let me help you Ran…
Constance pulled back and forced Rans forehead to bop with her own.

"The keys are inside you, and they lie in those memories. You know that, that's why you were hiding that book behind your back."
Constance slid it on Ran's lap, she had grabbed it during their hug.
The book was titled "Lost Memories" and it appeared Ran tried to stomp on it.
Ran started to hyperventilate, and Connie guided Ran to snuggle in and lean under her arm while she pat her head.

"I'm not leaving your side, Ran. We're going to go through this together…. And then we can go save your stupid boy."
Ran cried out in anguish, but opened the book anyway.

Game to commence soon...

The Volties watch over the unconscious bodies of Cirque ad Infinitum...

Continue to the Final Act

YOU HAVE FOUND THE HARE JOURNAL...

FINAL JOURNAL CLUE

"The hare feels foolish asking a question.
But this one time, hey, why not take a chance?"

YOU HAVE FOUND THE FOX JOURNAL...

TWELFTH JOURNAL CLUE

"The fox misses nothing in life, the good and the bad.
Today, the fox sees bad. Three sinister vices, one for each eye."