Loading...... Prayer.exe

[fourthmade]

This is a place to send your prayers to the Fourth god. He may not always respond, or he may respond in ways you don’t expect, but he is always listening.

Speak, he hears you.

OOC note:  As of April 2020, threads with the gods will be capped at three NPC replies! Please keep this in mind when writing god prayers to make sure you get everything you need out of the thread.It’s also possible to handwave prayers by titling your comment HANDWAVED PRAYER. Handwaved prayers lack our usual flourish, but you can expect a faster response!

As of February 2024, god prayers will be handwaved only. Please only submit a prayer if you have a question for either god which needs answering in order to progress your character's arc within Ryslig. If this is something you need to tier up within the god boon system, or just to set up a player plot in general, please don't hesitate to submit a prayer about it! You may shorten it down to an OOC summary of what your character is asking. This will allow any of our helper mods to reply much faster, without having to dig into the specifics of either god's personality/writing quirks. Should this limitation be lifted again in the future, this note will be removed.

Comments

[soft_focus]

It's been a while since I came into the arcade. I was told not to, so I listened. But Ilia said it was ok-she said it was like you said, and that it was safe.

The door didn't open the first time though-I had to try three times.

Did I do something wrong?

[He's scared-but he doesn't mention that 'out loud'.]

[viliorate]

I haven't heard much from you, not since we saved you anyway.

I haven't even told many people that; the one person I really told is gone now. I'm not asking you to bring him back or anything, I'm just telling you this so you know. I don't even know what the others have mentioned about it; I never really asked them.

I want to know what to do; I want to feel useful. Most important of all, I want to go home.

Tell me what to do. I want to know, I don't like sitting around doing nothing. I don't like working in a bar wasting my time when I could be doing work directly for you.

I'm not gonna claim I'm the smartest of your followers, but just point me in the direction of something you want destroyed and I'll do it.

[8bytes]

[ While she isn't sure if this is the best idea, but it's a way to communicate, isn't it? Nanami isn't entirely convinced of the things she's heard for a while, so she wants to confirm some things on her own time. Of course, she's aware that this could possibly backfire on her, considering that she's kept herself neutral this whole time and doesn't plan on picking a side any time soon.

But she did hear some things from someone who might have... sided with him, so she decides to leave a prayer. Although she's not sure how to do this. She's never done it before, after all. ]

Hm... I think I'm supposed to leave an offering, so I brought some arcade tokens. I heard that there's an arcade at your [ how does she phrase it? ] headquarters, so maybe you'd like to play some sometime. Or maybe, since you're in a computer, you can't...? That sounds sad, I think.

Especially since those computers, they don't have games, don't they... I wanted to play pong, too. [ She sighs out heavily, disappointed. ] But that's not what I wanted to ask you. I want to know... what it's like, being you. Are you lonely? Are you sad? I want to learn more about you. I think... if I do, then maybe, we'd figure something out.

I want to help everyone here. [ And, as an afterthought: ] ... If we can ever meet, I'd like to play a game sometime, too.

[ Is that even possible? It is a mystery.png. ]

[peccatore]

[This isn't prayer. He'd only ever pray to God - the God. No. That doesn't feel right anymore. That doesn't feel true anymore.

This isn't prayer. It's a message.]

I'm sorry. I... couldn't stop the attacks. I failed. I wasn't even all that helpful, overall, but-- but you know that, don't you? Haha.

But I'll... I'll keep doing my best. We'll work together, because-- because you'll keep me safe. I know you'll keep me safe.

... With every passing day, I... it feels like the fog is seeping into me more and more, like she's just about to take over my mind and turn me into... into a complete monster. I feel it every time I'm hungry, every time I look at a human and feel like... like dragging them under--

I'm not human anymore. I know I'm not human anymore and I haven't felt human for a long time, and... and I know what it means, but I can't...!

Please. Please, help me.

[leggierissimo]

[It's been a while. Quite a while, in fact. Though Joshua isn't one to speak to "invisible" entities these days, it's at least something he's comfortable with doing, provided he knows the entity is actually around.]

Long time, no talk. I thought I might see if you're around. I've got a thing or two that's sparked my curiosity.

I am, apparently, allied with you. Which - don't get me wrong - I have no complaints over. I've only found out due to other unfortunate run-ins with followers of the fog god. I have yet to properly use your room, however, so I offer my apologies. I'm sure I'll be remedying that soon.

I'm mostly concerned about the mechanics in actually going about killing a god here. I'm familiar with what's required in my own world, but I'm a bit in the dark in this one, I'm afraid. How easily could one manage to kill, say, the fog god? How feasible would it be? Would there be anything needed for it? You mentioned before that you would help kill the fog god, as well. What aid would you bring?

Secondly, what exactly is keeping us here? What brought us here? Force-wise, of course. I know the literal answer. Again, my own world has different rules, and I'm simply curious. You've mentioned the fog god being killed would allow us to return home, so I have a hunch.

Thirdly... you knew my name, and I can only assume you know who I am. If I had the same power I have at home, I could offer you a lot more help. This physical body is rather fragile, you see, and I've never been all that strong with physical fighting. I've heard from other followers that you grant a sort of boon, though. Would it be reasonable to ask for something like this, should I devote a bit more of my time to you?

[whiteofcrime]

[ The following is thought rather than spoken. It's not so much a prayer as rambling, but it IS directed at the god. ]

I really hate you, you know. I don't know how many of your followers you get that from, but I hate you. You made us rip out a guy's heart - for what? Because you thought it was funny? What was the point? I never wanted to be a murderer when I came here and I thought by sticking with you I could avoid that. But Kain's right, you really are no different to Her.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not gonna join Miss Foggy. I've felt what it's like and I don't want it. Even if you're the reason Kid's his own person now, I'm not gonna trade what I have right now to become a mindless monster. Not gonna set foot in your arcade for a while again either. You're the reason I killed Rin. You're the reason someone else killed me.

I just don't want to kill any more... But there's no way you can promise that, is there.

[raidraptors]

[Shun doesn't mind being ordered while the objective is clear and it gets him closer to his own ends – but he does mind getting yanked around by a chain, to be put in front of a task that he was always bound to fail.

To get out of this dimension, to be given a chance to rescue Ruri… he doesn't mind making himself a god's pawn for that, but he won't just follow blindly either.]

Get your act together. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, if it gets us both ahead– [He has proven as much already, hasn't he?] –but if you want me to do something, be clear about it. If you want something "prevented" give me more than just that order.

[Doing damage control when they could have kept disaster from happening in first place with only just a little more information – like who or an exact location and date – leaves a bitter taste in Shun's mouth. What good is this alliance if the Fourth can't provide at least one of those?]

[viliorate]

I got a gift from Tikbalang. I can turn human at will. Nearly human, anyway.

Anyway, I... figured it would help out in some way. Maybe. Dunno.

If nothing else, walking around looking human spits in the Fog God's face, so I hope I'm pissing her off right now.

[unignited]

[It takes time for Yukio to think of what might be an appropriate offering for the Fourth God. He knew little of Liewen's behavior, but knew that He seemed to favor electronics.. and one of his most devoted favored baking. And so when he constructs this careful altar, it is of machine parts, once-working gameboards, a scattering of self-baked cookies and his own semi-congealed blood.

It's not much of a 'gift', but perhaps it would help in the long run.]

I have met one of Your servants, Ilya at the bakery. She speaks very highly of you, and what you do for your devoted people. So too has Mami spoken, the angelic harpy whom may not be here anymore.

You may be the God to offer service to. Not out of fear or obligation, but willingly. What reward do you truly give your servants? You were human once, you understand our basest interests.

Why are you the one I should choose, God of the Machine?

Asked during the April arrivals

[andeatit]

My name is Yagami Light, and I'm one of the new arrivals from tonight. I'd like to request a meeting.

mid-May or thereabouts

[whiteofcrime]

[ It's Kid sending this prayer to their god this time, at a quiet hour of the night. ]

I confess, we still aren't pleased with the way you manipulated us last Christmas, but I find myself coming back to you all the same with an apology and a request. Losing myself in anger during that last fog has made me realise that I want nothing of Her influence, however slight. I suspect you are the reason we're still able to cling to our humanity but I wonder...if you can't grant us further help in that regard.

We are, in the end, still Her children and She is the one who currently resurrects us. I'd rather entrust our life to you. In return, perhaps we or your other followers can do something to help you raise others completely out of her grasp? Your first attempt was, if I may say, rather pitiful. But it was an attempt.

[ Tacked on as an afterthought: ]

I want to avoid a repeat of that day. I killed so many.

at some point in very early June

[bedazzlings]

Oh my goodness, where do I start? I'm Lorraine Conyers, I just joined up with your people. Uh...I guess I mostly want to thank you for giving me hope. Fiddleford said you'll make us human and send us home when you win, or something like that, and it's really helping me stay positive.

Oh! And one more thing:

You want to help us keep our humanity, right? If there's a way to avoid feeding on humans, please tell me. Pretty please? It would mean so much.

[blurspot]

[Pretty much right after a Sad Update...

...Reira doesn't use his room here often. It's much nicer now of course, what with him having joined back at the end of the last summer, but he still likes to sleep in his bedroom, in the 'proper' world. He knows Tsukikage still has problems with him having so much as a key-but the ninja has said nothing.

Even Tsukikage and all of his hate for the gods, cannot disagree with the truth of the Fourth's protection from Her.

When he wakes from his latest dream of the real world however, he feels numb. He has been eating a lot from inside the Arcade (the bug demands it) and playing a lot, most often with the machines that seem to play with him ('He' is among the few who has the time).

So he brings a few things into his room, his 'big' room, the one above the Arcade stairs.

First, a large stuffed animal-the one he won on his own, from Kulen's festival. The second thing he brings is his brother's things; the urn, the scarf, the glasses... ...his deck of cards.

He sets most on a side table, the stuffed animal on the bed, and curls there.]

...I know you can't bring him back yet, [he says quietly.]

...but I miss him. ....I miss him a lot, [he squeaks, and his eyes water as he continues with a whisper.]

...am I not doing something?

...can I fix things faster..?

[Well, answer or no answer, what has been brought to this room is effectively now 'His'. And answer or none, he eventually falls asleep in his 'nicer' bed.]

Early June

[raidraptors]

[To say that Shun is not amused with suddenly hearing those urging whispers after months of nothing would be an understatement. (The last few weeks weight heavy, the infection and then the memories he's recovered, and now losing his best friend to the Fog.)

It doesn't take much until he snaps back:]

It's been months since you offered even a word. Why the hell should I do anything for you now?

-makes IC reasoning for Reira to figure out neutral protections-

[soft_focus]

[Reira visits his room a lot more now-whether because of the rain or because feeling hungry makes him wonder if the 4th is Also Hungry, who knows, but he's definitely doing more than just playing.

Or at least, he'll bring some of his dinner along to 'share'. Big deal from a Wendigo.

This plate has a note though.]

Tsukikage is getting hurt a lot trying to help me, and I'm scared. I want to keep him safe, but he doesn't listen if I tell him not to do things that get him hurt.

Even though he doesn't like gods, he doesn't get mad at me for coming in here.

Can I bring him in here too one day?

Tsukikage doesn't like to change his mind, so I don't think he wants to follow you. But I want him to know it's okay to trust you. Maybe he can stop being mad, then.

I don't think he wants to play though, he works too much! [HEY.]

[planmade]

[Mello isn't a follower. Not yet. And he knows even talking to one of the "gods" here can be treading on dangerous grounds, but if he's to make any progress anywhere he might have to risk it.

In his room above the Triple T, he sets up his laptop, a television set on static, and a small radio. Then he feels a little ridiculous as he types on his laptop, his fog form having taken his voice for the time being.]

Hey. I want to talk to Liewen.

ETA: for plot reasons it'd actually be more convenient if this went unresponded to o7

[peccatore]

[As far as Marco is concerned - as far as he believes - he and the Fourth God are always in touch.

Today, he's locked himself in his room in the arcade, trying repeatedly, in urgent whispers, to get a response. To get comfort. Polo, the robot dog, is great and adorable, but it can't make him feel any less guilty.] Thank you. F-For the water, with the... with the humans. Thank you. I'm thanking you.

[But this isn't enough, and he hears no comfort at all; only harsh, disappointed words from his father. Talking is getting him nowhere, but he has to get these words out somehow. Anyhow.

He opens his laptop and begins spewing words into his own private channel.]

But I can't use it I can't because it's not enough
Not *DEEP enough and it's not hte same thing, I need to sing
I need to sing then lure them in then drown them in deep deeper water, not

I don't want to I want to take what Youve given me but she's too powerful I can't help myself help I need hlep help help me I killed a man
I organized the meeting just like you asked and a human died a person died because iof the water because I had to drown him

why won't people listen

[This probably continues for a while.]

[terribibble]

[Not too long after this, Fiddleford wakes up coiled on the bed in the Arcade in the room the Fourth gave him. For the first few moments of consciousness his lights are dark, and he takes a rattling breath and they flicker to life and begin their soft fluorescent hum. He's alive. He's safe.

But did he succeed? He sits up and his glowing eyes fall on the radio on the bedside table. He needs to know. He reaches over and turns it on to a channel of static.]

Thank you. For bringin' me back.

[For a long moment he searches around for the right words, and then they all tumble out of his mouth at once.]

I did my level best, I swear. I'm tryin' to do right by you and look at me, I still can't bring you Stanford and I couldn't even... even...

She was a little girl. She sounded like a child no matter what she looked like and I thought killin' her would save her and turn her toward you and I need to know if that was Right. [Somehow he manages to make that capital letter audible. Now that he's no longer in the heat of a fight and his snake brain is no longer in charge it's catching up to him exactly what he almost did -- actually did? -- and he's very quickly working himself up to a panic.] If that's what you want -- if that's what will help -- I need to know. Please. Just tell me I did right.

[He doesn't know that Madoka died in the time it took him to revive. He's operating under the assumption that he failed, but perhaps if he's lucky he failed in an act the Fourth God will be proud of him for attempting. That reassurance and validation would really help him right about now, because he feels like he's about to vibrate out of his own scales.]

[godofnothingness]

[After a particularly gruesome fight, Loki's in dire need of the Arcade to say the least. A safe place to sleep, Vandare is not, so as soon as he's able he's come inside.

The mask of Audrey, while not deliberately brought for the Fourth, ends up left on a side table in Loki's room as a result; and eventually when he's managed to power-nap enough to keep himself stable again, a groggy comment accompanies it on the air-]

Not sure just how many of that lot there are mate, but you might like knowing there's one less prick on the streets... [Audrey's last words still echo in his ears, and it makes it difficult to fight off an emotive transformation as a result.]

...'s a cool mask though I guess, [he mutters, and eventually he falls asleep once again.]

8/1

[raidraptors]

[These days are heavy with reminders of the dead - it's been over a year since Shun's unscheduled arrival, since the Fourth zapped him out of that prison and right into an empty living room, since Yuto and Serena and so many others were brought along with him. Remembering those days draws at the cracks left by Yuto's death in his arms and his final disappearance months later, the feeling of Serena's ribbon falling to dust in his hair, the thoughts of inevitable death, the despair of being the lone survivor of their group…

Shun doesn't like lingering on any of that, not for long.

Still, there is something else to voice, things he would have taken months to learn if the Fourth hadn't pulled him in sooner, if he hadn't been turned into an onryo… He remembers the crackle of energy, the feeling of drawing energy out of his first victim, the sound of Serena's teeth cracking the skull that had made it all real, a nod to Gongenzaka before he'd disappeared into the night. Though they have faded a little, he still has the scars from drawing Yuto's nails along his arm so foolishly to feed him. There were many lessons learned that night, that week.]

I still appreciate it.

[The change, the cannibalism… No matter how he feels about the Fourth otherwise, he's glad to have gotten a taste of it before the Fog God had tried her hand on him.]

Dated just before Arrivals

[soft_focus]

[Whatever Shun meant, and whatever he said, Reira's interpretations stew in the boy's mind for some time. They stew through the fog he searches for Ron in, through the festival he spends with them, and far beyond. It is a pot that threatens to boil when he attends the memorial for those brought in by the 4th, that are no longer with them.

A memorial he carries his brother's ashes to.

He doesn't know what to do any more.]

...I asked Kurosaki to help, because I thought he would know how. ...but Kurosaki said things...about you, and about niisama too...

I wanted to know how to be a good brother, because I want to look after Ron like niisama looked after me, but Kurosaki doesn't think niisama is a good person.

...I don't think he thinks you are either, though... [He had told the boy, don't trust the 4th. Told him 'I don't need to be friends with someone to work with them', that he didn't need to trust someone to work with them...

He doesn't like it.

The 4th was there for him when he felt the worst about the past-he said things would be okay, and helped where he could. The boy doesn't expect miracles of his Friend. He knows better than that.

...but with his talk with Kurosaki he realizes that there are not many who seem to realize how good a friend the 4th can be-or how good of a brother his now deceased brother is.

He should have asked the one who understood from the start.]

...I told niisama I would fight. ...I told Ilia I would fight, too. She said I needed to be strong, and I promised I would be..! [It was quite a long time ago, of course, but he still took those words to heart.] ...I want to be a good brother for Ron...just like niisama was. ...But I don't know how.

...I don't know what to do that will help everyone.

[They have to be strong to stop Her. That was what Ilia said.

...but it feels like he isn't doing anything to help at all, not even a little.]

...what do I do..?

[[OOC - As a side note, it should be noted that Reira's prayer goes beyond the idea of just having Ron in the arcade as another follower; he's very much looking for advice on actively protecting Ron himself! Ron's player has their own alignment plans, so we are trying to keep the two matters separate if we can.]]

backdated to just after his recruitment mid/late July, no response or response both cool

[makehistoria]

[It's been a very long time since Stocke last prayed, but it's what Kaito told him to do if he wanted to speak to Elias, so that's what he's doing. Probably in a secluded corner of the arcade, because like hell Stocke's figured out he has a room yet.]

[He'll be honest:] I don't trust you. But we've a common enemy, and I've heard what you can do for your followers.

...I'm Greed's first. But get this parasite out of me, and I'll be yours second for what worries you save me.

[This is certainly a very reverent prayer, isn't it.]

[operadiance]

[ It becomes ritual, in a way. After they brought little Laurel back to the Arcade, after they were shown where she was laid to rest, and those secret doors opened to them, Yuzu comes back. Once a week, or thereabouts, Yuzu comes back to the Arcade, through its long hallways and dim rooms, until she returns to that room.

With the blue lights and strange architecture, it's much different than the earthen, musty place where Laurel is buried, but it has the same feel to it. Quiet, and peaceful, and calm.

She returns to that girl's grave, and she brings offerings — small bouquets of flowers, small hand-bound wreathes. New, fresh blooms, each time. Flowers don't much fit the look of the grave she visits, but it seems like the right choice. She brings flowers, and she sits, and she lets some of the weariness and the strain and the tension of this world sink out of her, taken away and buried somewhere else. At least for a little while.

She doesn't say anything, but this time, the question comes out soft. ]

Do you miss them?

Your family.

[peccatore]

[Now that Marco pretty much has his own personal prayer box in the form of a radio, he's been talking to it pretty much every day, if not multiple times per day. Sometimes it's small stuff; sometimes it turns into somewhat more intense and personal rambling about how much he feels like his soul is cracking and falling apart bit by bit.

Today, it's about a conversation he had.]

Oh my God, I didn't mean to bring you a serial killer, I... [He grasps the sides of the radio as if he were trying to, say, cling to the Fourth God's shoulders.]

He's a monster, he's insane! I mean... I'm... He's not, not literally a monster yet, it's a matter of morals, he's just completely deranged, I-I would have thought she would take him if I'd known-- Is that why he's here? Did she orchestrate this, have I created a spy?! I didn't mean to, oh God, oh GOD...!

What do we do? What do we do?

backdated to 8/19, or roughly thereabouts

[ueteribus]

[His new...gifts have shown up, and he's spent the day examining them. He's turning this all over in his mind, trying to figure how best to proceed.

What he's been saying to others still holds true though. He needs some type of audience with his new leader. Or at the very least, he has to try to seek one out. He needs some type of concrete proof of this being. The gifts and the bodiless communication aren't enough.

They say he's a god. They say he can hear you, see you anywhere.

Lucius stands alone in the middle of his night-darkened room. The boarding house is silent. He tries not to feel oddly self-conscious.

He'll pretend he's talking to his other master. That's how he'll go about it. He clears his throat, head lifting to address the empty space.]

My lord...?

[The sound of his voice rings against his ears; he feels the urge to laugh mockingly. A disparaging smile twists onto his face as he confesses:]

I don't really know what I'm doing. They say this works, but it's so unlike anything I know. Can you hear me? Will you speak to me, give me some sort of...sign?

[He contemplates what to say next, showing more confidence as he goes on.]

I don't know how much you might already know about me. Who I am, what I've been. What should concern you however is, I've done things like this before. I've been...a soldier, after a fashion. A follower in a great army. And if you desire my services I am willing to become the same for you. I don't give empty words when I pledge myself to a cause, I wish to fight. [His teeth show, briefly, with determination and anger.] The Fog Witch has taken much from me; it would give me greatest pleasure to wreck havoc and do damage to pay her back.

[Facing the part of the room where the shadows are thickest - where it's easiest to pretend someone is standing - Lucius kneels. He rests his hands on the floor before him and bows his head down.]

If yours is truly the way to grant what I desire then you don't need to try and convince me of anything. I respect a being of power such as yourself. I will devote myself to you, loyally and ardently. I only ask but one small favor in return, my lord: that I be permitted to speak to the one I now serve.