etraya | un: jaycetalis

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un: jaycetalis | video

[In a rare moment of using video on purpose, there's Jayce. To those who know him, he looks the same as he always does. To those who don't- he's an early 30's man with seemingly a permanent five-o-clock shadow, bright golden eyes, and perfectly coiffed hair. The background is out of focus, but to those who know it, it's clearly a part of S.T.A.R. labs. Normally a little more jovial or at least less serious sounding, Jayce looks into the camera like he's giving a press release.]

We’ve got about forty-eight hours or less until Aurora allows that toxin into Etraya. Which means if you haven’t started taking precautions already; start now. Get easily carried food, medical supplies, whatever you think you'd need. Better to be over-prepared than under.

Considering what Aurora's told us about the "mission"... If you’re someone prone to having weapons, do us all a favor and throw them into one of our many, lovely lakes, before you wind up using it on someone else. Or, if you’re going to be touchy about it, let me know, I’ll talk with Harold about how we can get them locked up somewhere for the mission’s duration.

As a reminder to those who don’t want to think about it, and maybe new information to those who are new: if you die here, for whatever reason, you lose something. I don’t know what, you won’t know what, and you might not even know what it is you’ve lost even after you’ve lost it. Maybe it’s an eye, maybe it’s the memory of your best friend. Either way, whatever you're afraid of by not having your weapons on you isn’t worth what you’ll be making someone else lose because of your bad decisions.

If you have any special concerns, worries about any specific denizens in this upcoming mission, now's also the time to voice it.

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There's a toggle button. Might not be visible now, since I turned it on.

It's a little weird to keep all the anger on your third point, because if you're angry, it's still going to impact how you feel about the conversation. And no, no one's agreed to it so far aside from... myself. Which doesn't count.

I'd be amazed if you found someone who is fond of the enigmatic nature of our existence here.

So it happened when he was in a different state of mind. People of Etraya did things during that time they wouldn't have normally done. Hurt people they wouldn't have hurt before. It's exactly because of how easily this mutual peace we've had for a while is broken, that I decided to say something to begin with. What happened to you shouldn't have happened, and it's not going to help to hear he's not normally like that, because you saw a side of him I haven't. But it's all the more reason you should agree- we can't let it happen again.

Edited 2025-09-18 15:47 (UTC)

I appreciate the the lesson.

I think it not so strange. What you are bringing up is a sound strategy and so I did not wish my anger to get in the way of a productive conversation. I was also seeking clarification on the death toll and like as not I wouldn't pursue nor receive an answer if my anger got in the way.

You are wrong, Jaycetalis. I have agreed to lay down my arms for this mission. Should any others seek to do so as well and wish not for the lake, I would be amenable to holding them secure and out of reach.

Most seem to go along without questioning our gracious abductor.

I do agree—we cannot let this happen. You are also correct in assuming reading this is not putting me at ease. I care not if it was the pressure of the mission or the whims of the anomaly, it is still a part of this young man. It is inside him. Most men are capable of vast cruelties, but not so many will relish in the deed as he so did.

And regardless of how either of us feel about Accelerator: he is capable of cruel violence. Even if it was a previous whim of how Etraya behaves: if he committed such acts before he can so do again. And given how Aurora described what may happen to our minds and in such low visibility? I feel it is worthy of mentioning who has succumb to to their darker desires.

I am the Lord Commander of His Majesty's armies. When a soldier commits acts like that they usually go one of two ways, sometimes both. Either they continue to commit such deed of depravity or their mind is consumed with guilt and their daggers turn inwards.

Huh. Sorry, that's my bad, I must have misunderstood. Your old-timey language threw me off. I really appreciate that you're doing to do that, by the way. Seriously. I have some guns from the shooting range I'll bring to throw into your magic portal soon.

I think more people question him than you might know. It's just not a popular topic of discussion in a public setting.

I can’t pretend it’s not a hard to read what you’re saying he did. I’ve hung out with him. We have a kind of… book club we do…

[Not the time for that.]

But I also heard he was hurt badly after this happened. I assumed revenge on your behalf, but sounds like that’s not the case. Do you know who did that?

Edited 2025-09-18 21:35 (UTC)

While I know not what you mean by 'old-timey', you are not the first to be confused as to the way I talk. I am uncertain how to remedy this as I feel I am being clear. Regardless, pick a time and place before the mission and I shall meet you there.

Is that true? Hearing so is heartening. Perhaps all are not fools as I once believed.

Most murderers have family and friends; you will do well to remember this. If you would like an account I can give one, if not, well, perhaps you will sleep easier not knowing what horrors he visited upon my mind and body. But in interest of the teamwork Aurora seems to value— do take care to watch yourself around him. I would not go within arms reach.

This is the first I am hearing of any violence towards him, although I have not see him since he left me cold and dead inside the warehouse. While I am gladdened to know he too suffers— I cannot say it was on my behalf. I know not any who would take up such a task besides myself and I am not fool enough to do so without gathering information first. Did this so too occur on Earth? Think you it could be another anomaly-addled fool, or is this excuse only afforded to those you know?

[Sleipnir really isn't the best with people. He thinks he's being rather polite and cordial.]

You're clear, it's fine. Just something I need to get used to. If you don't mind- my forge? There's something I need to make before I shut it down for the next two weeks.

I'll... take note of that.

Accelerator's been here a long time. I'd find the timing suspicious for him to be attacked in an anonymous manner, directly after his attack on you, and the pieces aren't connected somehow. I’m not sure where it occurred, and I’m not crossing off the anomaly as a factor for the revenge-seeker either. You’re sure you have no idea who it could be?

Edited (repetative and nonsensical !! ) 2025-09-22 04:00 (UTC)

Fair enough. Send me a message with your forge's location once you are ready to cool it down and I can be there.

If he has been here a long time is it not possible he has made more enemies? Or am I the unlucky one? If so I am uncertain what I did to deserve such a thing as this was our first meeting.

I cannot imagine who would get revenge for me.
His Majesty would not go out of his way for such a thing.
Lord Rosfield would not do such for me.
Bahamut is too goody-goody to do so. Besides, I told him to stay away.
Cidolfus would not waste his breath while also being a waste of breath.

And I am simply not close enough to anyone else here. So, I would assume it unconnected.

Two, actually... three hours. It's in Ochreward. You can't miss it.

I've had my ups and downs with Accelerator, but never anything like that. Never heard of anyone considering him an enemy, either. You don't seem like you did anything to warrant that, and I'm sorry it happened to you.

That's... really sad. Not that having a designated 'friend who would get revenge if you died' is the lesson to take from this, but you really don't have any close friends?

I will be there. Will you have the guns, or will we have to make a trip to your shooting range as well?

[He doesn't know how to handle someone expressing their sympathies towards him. Shit.]

I am uncertain what would warrant torture of the nature he supplies. It would have been one matter if he'd simply killed me and moved along. Far easier for me to let go. I am feeling repercussions still... Have you knowledge on how Accelerator's magic works? Can he permanently effect the mind?

[Sleipnir is dealing with flashbacks and some level of dissociation for the first time in his 52 years of life. Clearly this is the work of Accelerator's devil magic.]

Peace, Jaycetalis, the quantity and quality of friends I have need not be your concern. My liege does not leave me wanting, so I have little need outside of him. Besides, I am not suited to everyone's tastes and this suits me just fine.

I'll have them.

Again, not sure if it helps at all, but I can say with some confidence it wasn't personal. I know it must feel that way. But whatever was going on in his mind, I don't think it had anything to do with you.

[Part of the problem is that he does know that it's possible Accelerator could have permanently affected Sleipnir's mind. Change the vectors or... something. Left him damaged in some way that would either be impossible to fix, or only Accelerator could be the one to undo the damage. But that's going to be even less reassuring to tell someone who's already afraid they've lost something.]

What repercussions do you feel?

When you say your liege and "his Majesty," you mean Barnabas, right?

It wasn't exactly personal, no. I had something he wanted and he decided to try and take it through any means necessary. I resisted him and he pushed further. He did not end up getting the information he wanted and now we are back to Etraya with the anomaly mission since concluded— I have to wonder if he will hold a grudge for me not giving in to him. He no longer needs said information, however he certainly wasn't very fond of me.

My mind gets stuck within the memory of the night we met in the warehouse, my body loses control over its breathing functions, and I will find time has moved forward without my noticing. I get random pulses of fear at innocuous things. My body responds violently when I am restrained now, which never used to happen. None of these things have ever happened to me before his ministrations. I am unused to not having full control over my faculties.

I do. Barnabas Tharmr, the first and last King of Waloed, Warden of Ash, Dominant of Odin.

This isn’t an explanation for everything, but the anomaly was the catalyst for Accelerator’s severity. I’m confident he wouldn’t have a grudge against you for what he did while influenced by it.

[Jayce has no reason to be that confident.]

What could he have wanted from you that badly if he’d never met you before? Information about the anomaly?

[Also oh no. Sleipnir’s symptoms don’t sound like the kind of thing Accelerator could do, actually.]

It’s not something that magic did to you. It’s your own mind. I know that might be hard to believe.

I thought Barnabas was the Warden of Darkness, is he also the Warden of Ash?

[Not that that's particularly important in the scheme of things, he’s just nosy.]

So you and he are close?

[What else could lend Jaycetalis such confidence? This is not any of Sleipnir's business, of course, but it is all the more reason the man should be careful. ...Unless Accelerator's victims are all strangers to the boy, in case this may put Jaycetalis in a safer position.]

Yes, we were to exchange information we had on the anomaly.

I assure you I would not willingly do this to myself. It must be something he has done.

[Oh no, indeed. Mental health is tragically not a thing which has been studied where he is from.]

Yes, as Odin he is the master of Dark Magic. He also rules over the continent of Ash, not just the Kingdom of Waloed.

[He knows he likes hanging out with Accelerator, but... Accelerator has others he'd consider friends sooner than Jayce, surely.]

I don't think he'd consider me close, no. He asked for something you didn't want to give up, I'm guessing?

It's not something you're doing on purpose to yourself. I'm probably not the most equipped to explain this one... It's when something so bad happened to you under certain conditions that you're re-experiencing that same level of fear even when the danger isn't present. A cruel trick of biology. I'll give an example. When I was little, I was lost in a dangerous snow storm with my mother. She passed out from hypothermia, I was alone, and there was no shelter around. If we had remained out there, we both would have died. I don't have as strong a reaction anymore as I used to as a kid, but for a while, I was afraid of snow and of the cold. I wouldn't go outside for days if there had been heavy snowfall.

Now, it's been years since then, so I don't have those same fears, but I still try to avoid being outside too much in the winter. It's a permanent part of me now. The snow didn't curse me, but it does feel a little like my own brain did.

[It's not something he often talks about, either. It's not like he wants to bring up something he's still uncomfortable with. But how else is he going to explain PTSD to someone who probably doesn't know much about mental illness?]

Oh, it's a location. That makes more sense.

Edited 2025-09-26 20:08 (UTC)

[An interestingly phrased answer, alas Sleipnir cannot parse out why though.]

Correct. I would say he did not appreciate such, however when usually one does not appreciate something they walk out, whereas Accelerator broke my bones and caused my body to shake and seize, contorting time and amplifying pain. I find this behavior hard to imagine as the sort which would be done once then never again. In fact, he seemed quite practiced in his craft.

[Sleipnir isn't exactly worried about the other people of Etraya as one might be in the conventional way... still, he thinks what occurred to him should not be repeated, especially on someone of weaker mind.

It takes a few times of rereading Jaycetalis' story for Sleipnir to start believing him. He knows this is not something a man usually shares upon first meeting, but then again Sleipnir has shared some of his own horrors...]

I will be honest, I would prefer it to be some sort of devil-trick of your friend's.

[Jaycetalis said years. This... this will not do. Sleipnir needs a fix now. Preferably before the event, at maximum.]

You will forgive me for the confusion, I am still unused to people being of differing worlds. One would think visiting Earth would have solidified this concept, but alas, I still slip up.

He might be practiced, but it’s not his craft. It’s…

[He shouldn’t be telling other people someone else’s personal details… but since when has Jayce been able to keep someone else’s medical history a secret? He is truly a walking HIPAA violation.]

We’re all byproducts of how we grew up and were raised. Accelerator’s actions are a byproduct of what was done to him years ago.

It’d be easier if it was magic, right? You could find the reverse spell, or you get the caster to undo it. But I’m sorry, that’s not the case here. It’ll take time to recover from, as well as patience and care from those around you to help you through it.

[The thought that Sleipnir doesn’t have anyone he apparently considers a close enough friend is… troubling.]

Don’t worry about. Sometimes I’ll mention something normal about Runeterra, only for someone to mention they’ve never heard of it before. We’re all aliens to each other, in that sense.

[Sleipnir is ever mystified by the ways man will justify atrocious acts; men such as Jayce, as Accelerator, as even Sleipnir himself.]

This is the trouble with our kind, is it not? Cursed to repeat the damage done unto us. But when pointed outward what once was a ripple will turn into a tide.

I have not the time for drawn out recovery, not when the next mission is upon us... Do all such cases of this phenomena require such length to overcome? Be you certain of this?

[The thought of him requiring to rely on others, as if his entire existence didn't center around being relied upon, leaves Sleipnir ill at ease. He knows His Majesty will lend what support he is able, but when it comes to emotional damage... It is not something he is equipped to best.]

I have not thought about our predicament in such terms before. You are a wise man, Jaycetalis.

[”What once was a ripple will turn into a tide,” Jayce is a little shocked that someone who seems so strangely naive in some ways would say something like this. It sends another wave of guilt through Jayce that he was even so rude to this man to begin with. He really did lead with his worst foot forward on this one, didn’t he?]

It’s wholly dependent on the person, and their brain chemistry. Unless you somehow forget it happened to begin with, I don’t think there’s any shortcuts to recovery on something like this.

[But he brings up a good point. With the next mission particularly preying on people’s fears, and it seems that Sleipnir is suffering from trauma without the added problems of that fog…]

There’s things you can do to try and recenter yourself, if you feel like you’re panicking. Ways to refocus your mind. I can show you some when I meet up with you.

Hah. You’d be the first one to say that.

[Well. Fuck.]

I would be most appreciative were you to do so. I must confess, I am not looking forward to this mission.

Surely not. Perhaps you have surrounded yourself with fools or the deaf, willfully or otherwise.

[Sleipnir genuinely believes Jaycetalis to be very intelligent, if a ~~ in his choice of allies.]

You'd be pressed to find any of us who are, I think.

Now, that's a little unfair. I know where my strengths are, and being "wise" isn't one of them.

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un: jaycetalis | video

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