WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOR—

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? BASE training, between investigating the fish.
WHEN? Still outside time and space, in the aether between dimensions.
ANYTHING ELSE? Please warn for anything besides physical violence and move to a personal journal if it's beyond PG-13.

I want to wring out your evil thoughts;

I want to eat out your bitter heart

READ THE JHASHCH INFOPAGE.

OVERVIEW

A couple weeks into exploration, recruits receive a bulletin on their BCEs.

@SCOUT | @ALL

report to the foyer at 0600 hours tomorrow for a briefing; it'll be a couple weeks yet, but you're headed to jhashch, circa 382.92

you'll receive a datapack that goes over the location in detail, but we're still acquiring location-appropriate clothing. you'll receive your equipment in full before departure. until then, you've more than a little training to accomplish.

the commander will lay out your regime tomorrow. don't make her wait.

Anyone who arrives early will catch the end of an argument between Grothia, Chiron, and Young. Or, more accurately, Grothia and Young.

If you listen carefully to Grothia's raised voice and Young's collective jeer over Chiron's calm, placating tones, you'll learn Grothia and Young are required to attend this summit, in a show of good faith. And it's a matter Grothia has only addressed with your scout now. She storms from the room in a flurry of white feathers and the crows sulk for the rest of the day.

Needless to say, she is furious. She is not a fan of spiders.


THE MAIN FOYER

The foyer has been overhauled. The walls are dark and impersonal; while not terribly different from their usual steel, they're slick and clean in a way BASE is not, so polished you can see your distorted reflection. And this sterile surface is only a backdrop to architecture reminiscent of the height of the Baroque period: decadent, dark, and sometimes pointlessly opulent.

Many of the rooms are only gently lit, leaving long shadows, and sometimes you might spot movement out of the corner of your eye. It's dark and cool, almost like a cellar, but by no means even a fraction as musty. It's as well ventilated as BASE can ever be. And, while some rooms simply acclimate you to your upcoming surroundings, others serve clear purpose.

Much of the furniture is odd in shape, casting swooping silhouettes and made for creatures much larger and rounder than humans. But what is meant for human use is just as opulent, decked in rich fabrics and carved wood.

A few rooms along the foyer's rim are bright, with large "windows" (high definition screens, much like the ones in your rooms) that display the rusty landscape of Jhashch. It's possible to see various lifeforms wandering the jagged terrain, hyper realistic, though the images will loop if you watch long enough. Sometimes, you might even spot an undisguised Aranean.

Welcome to your training grounds.

TRAINING

All recruits must train extensively in each of the following categories. This is emphasized and revisited again and again, until it is drilled into memory. But this time, it isn't like the shooting and running of the Great War. This is a little more...refined.

However, it's not as easy to tell when you've messed up, so COST has repurposed some Dactly droids. Each recruit will have one droid assigned to follow them; when a mistake is made, it will hurl a glitter bomb at the person and cheerfully inform them, "You have been consumed." 🎊 The glitter is just as difficult to remove as you'd expect.


ETIQUETTE

Etiquette is split into several key elements. Recruits are repeatedly reminded: if your etiquette is poor enough, an Aranean may eat you, diplomacy and goodwill be damned. They take poor form deadly serious.

» POSTURE

Araneans see power in perfect posture, whether sitting or standing. You are always expected to be at your tallest and most intimidating, with shoulders straight back and hands placed in your lap or on your glass or cutlery. It's poor form to turn your face down or away when someone is talking to you; Araneans favor eye contact. It is advised to look at the largest, middle two eyes of an Aranean.

» CONVERSATION

Be interesting; this is no place for wallflowers. Speak with authority on topics you know or, at least, can fake. What matters is confidence, aggression, and dominating the conversation. Recruits will compile three topics that they can speak of confidently at length.

» ENTERTAINMENT

Characters should choose a skill to hone into something presentable in the Court. This can be anything, whether art, music, shooting, sword fighting, etc. Something they can show off and demonstrate, that they're sure they'll dominate in. And note: While dominance and cruelty are powerful in their own right, there's something to be said for anyone who can distract and charm another to their doom.

However, don't go in swinging your hardest. Always keep an ace up your sleeve, just in case.

» DANCE

Like most warrior cultures of the past, Araneans are obsessed with dancing as much as appearance. Their whole purpose is an intricate display of steps and motions and memorization of positions. For people with fewer than eight legs, it is mercifully a little easier.

A little. You still have to learn at least three common dances to satisfy your Dactyl droid.

» DINING

Meals are taken very seriously by Araneans, with a set order and customs that are observed almost obsessively.

• SKULGA: All meals start with a glass of alcoholic drink, chosen carefully by the hosting family. This is to ensure no drink or glass has been poisoned. As such, all meals begin with every guest skulling a glass.


• CURATH-MIR: The first person to eat is always highest in rank. To eat at the same time is to challenge them and attempt to take their place...or that of the food on their plate.


• LAMBRAT: A napkin of sorts, but one you bring to match your outfit. It is tied to the left wrist and used during the meal like a typical napkin. They are usually of very expensive and boldly colored material, which you can use to motion servants without looking at them. You don't want to break eye contact with your conversation partner.


• COLPATHA: A dish that is the first course of every banquet. It is raw meat of a choice cut and presented in a bowl over open flame on hot coals, with appropriate utensils. You have to cook the meat yourself. It is also expected to be something of a spectacle, by doing tricks with how you cook.


• CUTLERY: There are no forks here; only a series of intricate, specially curved knives. And no, you can't use your hands.

» BOWING

Spiders are prone to display. For an Aranean, bowing involves extending all limbs of their upper body and bending at the main knee of their legs, all whilst keeping the upper body stiff and face forward; after all, eye contact is still key. It's somewhat reminiscent of this little spider, though with the raised limbs spread wider, like a ballerina.

For humans, it's more difficult to execute; we have fewer limbs, after all. Instead, both men and women step forward, extend the dominant leg back, lift both arms and bend at the knees. It is, quite possibly, the most precarious balancing act you've done in a while. For men, only one arm is lifted and the other tucked behind the back. For women, well...

» DIPLOMACY

Recruits are encouraged to help each other grasp the art of backstabbing; COST understands it is a nebulous art and carefully honed with time. Better to allow the experts to educate, than to muddle along without that spark.

That said, if you encounter diplomats from other groups, you're expected to conduct yourself as you would around an Aranean...which, unfortunately, includes the Regency.


GROOMING

Araneans are obsessed with appearance, grooming, and presentation, if the etiquette wasn't enough, so it's time for COST to take a ~spa day~. At least here you won't get lice.

Another series of repurposed droids are now your hairdressers, manicurists, and personal groomers. It's nothing truly dramatic and mostly intended to get everyone up to standard, with optional courses in makeup and hair-styling for full banquets and other occasions. Hair can be styled to taste, as long as it's neat and isn't too labor intensive; recruits are expected to maintain it and the rest of their appearance afterwards.

From here on out, no one comes to breakfast or dinner without a shower, their hair done, or nails cleaned. Presenting yourself as a mess is disrespectful and will be similarly as punished.

Also, COST is far too broke to get you actual maidservants, so it's important to remember what is realistic for a single person to accomplish.


LANGUAGE

When conversing with humans, Araneans will speak in a language the BCE can translate, but names will remain as they are. Aranean custom doesn't attribute meanings to names, since so many children are born in a single clutch of eggs. But it's impossible for humans to make the sounds necessary for their language, so Araneans will tolerate screw-ups—to an extent.

There are recordings of Aranean names, pronounced by an Aranean speaker (it sounds like a series of hisses and clicks) and then the nearest approximation by a human, which is middling at best and involves a pale imitations of those sounds.

Here are some examples of what human-spoken Aranean sounds like, to give you a vague idea: Jhashch, Thsh, Chch, Shai, Aythy, Shch.

Also, you should always use a spider's title. Whether a noble lady or lord to the High Queen herself, failing to use a title is a sign of wanton disrespect...or a challenge. Either option is inadvisable when COST is trying to garner respect and curry favor with the royal court.


COMBAT

For general combat training, the gym and armory are open and available. A large mechanical spider sits in the former; Chiron has activated it for the recruits' use. Roughly the size of a male Aranean, its armor is reminiscent of Aranean plate and possesses similar weak points. The most striking of these is the abdomen and their comparatively fragile joints. The robot is unintelligent, but moves as an Aranean does, with agile leaps and viciously quick strikes.

It also fires lasers, which is less than accurate, but pay that no mind.

» DUELING

The rapiers recruits receive serve a purpose. It's time to learn renaissance-style fencing, as they are the standard dueling weapon for the Aranean people. Unlike the stamina building exercises of Gallipoli, everyone will train for agility and precision. This will cover everything from sprints, lunges, when and how to strike human and Aranean opponents, and—most useful of all—how to maintain your balance. Training lasts for three hours every morning after breakfast. It's heavy on leg and shoulder work.

It becomes very apparent why some people spend their whole lives devoted to the sword: This isn't a skill you pick up overnight. Characters who know a different style of swordwork will be better off than those who have never trained before. A poor man's weapon this is not.

Then there are the duelist courtesies and rules:

• To issue a challenge: strike your opponent lightly with an open palm across the cheek.
• To accept the duel: strike your challenger back in a similar fashion.
• To refuse the duel: bow and step backwards.

When a duel begins, the duelists will meet at an agreed time and place. After meeting in the center of the room, they will hold their weapons up with two hands, so their opponent can see no one has tampered with the weapons; after the inspection, they take three steps back while still facing each other, before turning back to their starting position.

Matches last until the first serious injury, rather than first blood. The ideal is to in some way incapacitate your opponent. The droids will be the judge of that in training; they'll shower you in glitter should you lose and cheerfully intone, "You have been grievously wounded."

At the end of a duel, both sides will bow (if able) and then be led—or carried—off the floor, holding their weapons in front of them.

» RITE OF SUCCESSION

There's also the bare-handed brawl, which is the peak of Aranean dueling. However, bare-handed brawls are matches to the death and an absolute way to settle a dispute without killing a whole family. As such, it's the usual method of succession amongst family members.

» GAMING

There are lectures on video games as fine art, famous Aranean gamers and game designers, and pioneers of different genres. But besides thorough education on common terminology, game training mostly consists of, well, playing video games. There is an entire room dedicated to the art, with multiple screens connected to consoles of all types.

The ultimate goal, in the briefest of terms, is to learn not to suck.

For veteran gamers, practice is encouraged and experience with genres you ignore in favor of your favorite titles is all but demanded. Spiders have it all, from shooters to rhythm games to role-playing to virtual reality. As long as it's got that extra bit of violent spice and has a clear winner or loser, it's all good.

So don't be a scrub and play the damn games.


FIRST AID

First aid features a crash course in toxins popular in the High Court. These are primarily neurotoxins; the most popular variety is imported from the people of the Fafnirian System and known as Drip Venom. It is almost always fatal to Araneans, but requires a higher dosage to meet the same effectiveness on humans; if you find yourself poisoned by it, you may very well survive if you administer an antidote quickly enough.

Necrotoxins are primarily used when the goal isn't to kill, but to maim. They're intended to destroy the receiver's beauty and social standing.

Characters will learn how to use the antitoxin injectors in their inventory by practicing with an empty shell and simulating injections in their thighs. The nanites contained within the injectors are powerful and will neutralize most varieties of toxins. They will at least help counter male spider bites (females can inject much higher quantities of venom, which may make a single injector relatively useless) and extremely mild Ymir poisoning.


HIERARCHY

All recruits have their place in the Aranean hierarchy and will learn to weaponize it to the best of their ability. However, since COST is lacking in Aranean senses, this training relies on the identity recruits claim for themselves (though, if needed, you can assume Grothia told them to train in a specific category; she won't have anyone jeopardize the mission).

It is also stressed that there is no guarantee that anything you do or say on Jhashch goes unobserved, whether by Araneans, their servants, or their spies. To an Aranean, everything is about power and displays of power. To be complacent is to be weak and, consequently, prey.

Using the Araneans as a guide, now might be a good time to adopt a false hierarchy you can fall into when "alone" with other COST members. In this framework, female characters of artificial origins rank at the top and male characters of magical origins sit at the bottom, but there are likely more than a few gray areas for members of COST.

But better safe than sorry. In the High Court, there is no such thing as being too paranoid, because these are apex predators who always hunt the weakest first.

READ THE JHASHCH INFOPAGE.

NAV. NETWORK LOGS OOC MEMES PLURK

Comments

[cookeries]

[ The heat of anger flickers deep in his belly, something he keeps under careful control. Ardyn couldn't be trusted — they all knew this when they'd accepted his help. They hadn't had a choice. ] I don't expect anyone to be happy with such an outcome.

[ Lady Lunafreya gone. He can't fathom it. But he knows Prompto, and knows his friend wouldn't lie. ]

It is a great burden you've had to bear. If you are from a time much farther than Noct and myself.

[ Ignis' voice grows quiet, worn at the edges from a day of glitter and tireless training, but he places a hand on Prompto's shoulder. The weight of knowing the future when the present is heavy enough... Ignis, though not knowing the future in as much detail as Prompto, can relate to the sentiment. ]

[millimeter]

[Prompto winces and looks away at the touch, at the trust. There are things he hasn't told Noct—can't bring himself to tell Noct—and he finds he doesn't have the words to tell them to Ignis, either.]

I dunno, man, not being able to remember how you got here in the first place doesn't sound like my idea of a good time. [And then, softer:] I've got that, at least.

[He crosses his arms, staring down at the space between them.]

There's more to it than that. Just some stuff I found out! And some stuff that doesn't make sense, but that's kind of inevitable, right?

[cookeries]

It's troubling.

[ Ignis draws his hand away and folds his arms over his chest. ] It is troubling that I do not recall choosing to be here. And yet I must have. [ Ignis needs more than that, needs more answers from COST. Why they're here, what their end goal is, why they cannot return home... a number of things. ]

A place where time travel is the the norm is baffling enough. [ He paces a few steps away from Prompto, thoughtful. then back again. ] You remember your arrival, then?

[millimeter]

Yep, still all here! As far as I know, anyway.

[Though he hasn't really told anyone the details behind how he was recruited and that's not something he's keen to change. It's kind of...awkward.]

But it turns out remembering is kind of uncommon. I haven't met many people who do.

[cookeries]

Yes, I've gathered that as well in my short time here. I remember fragments of time before arriving here at the base, but after I'd supposedly agreed to work for COST, but little else.

[ Ignis shakes his head, looking all the more concerned as he speaks. It's not good, that so few people recall volunteering for COST. It sets his teeth on edge. ]

[millimeter]

Um. About that.

[He draws in a breath and holds it, before finally exhaling.]

I already told Noct this, but...you deserve to know, too.

[cookeries]

Yes?

[ Ignis turns back to Prompto, expression growing more grave. The way his friend holds his breath gives Ignis pause. ]

What is it?

[millimeter]

[His voice catches in his throat and he quickly discovers he once again can't look Ignis in the eye.]

It's... [Hard to say. He tries again.] I'm from Niflheim, originally.

[His eyes dart to Ignis, trying to gauge his reaction, and then away.]

Same place the Empire makes its MTs.

[cookeries]

Where we're from does not make us who we are.

[ A fact, clear as day. He states it like it's as simple as the list of ingredients in a good recipe. There are other implications and worries here, but he doesn't want to jump to any conclusions. Especially when Prompto seems so uncomfortable. ]

Who we are is determined by our actions and our choices. Where you were born is of little import where character is concerned.

[millimeter]

[He gets silence in response, as Prompto stares, mouth slightly open. It's another few seconds before he catches himself, rolling one shoulder with a frown, before it turns into a soft, abashed laugh.]

Noct said the same thing. Not like that, but...

[Count on Iggy not to give him any room to argue.]

I guess I never thought it'd be that easy.

[cookeries]

Did you anticipate a poor reaction? [ A brow arches, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. ]

You are our friend. [ Prompto is good for Noctis, at the very least, and keeping the morale of the group heightened. He doesn't make for a bad shotgun rider, either, when Gladio and Noctis spend so much of their time sleeping or reading. ] Do not discount yourself so easily.

[millimeter]

[He shrugs, trying to keep his voice light.]

Something like that. I mean who'd wanna be friends with a Niff? Especially the Crown Prince of Lucis.

[He gives Ignis a self-conscious half-grin with another shrug, linking his arms behind his back.]

I figured you guys would be mad, at the very least, 'cause I never said anything about it before. [And because Noct nearly ran him through with the Engine Blade, but...ok, Prompto doesn't know how to reconcile that with reality, but what else is he supposed to do?]

[cookeries]

And I'm certain there are many things that we have not shared with each other. We all take our own time with those things closest to us. It's best not to fret.

[ No one is perfect, even if Ignis likes to reach for perfection as hard as he can. Whether he ever lands anywhere near perfection is up for debate. He paces past Prompto, looking at the structure around them, wandering while his mind goes to work. ]

We are unified under one task: to protect and serve Noctis, the crown, but we are companions as well. We must trust that we each make the choices that best suit us and the duties we must perform.

[millimeter]

[His smile slips a little sad as he rocks back and forth on his heels, watching Ignis. Ignis who can see, who hasn't resigned himself to hours of frustration, relearning basic tasks he used to be able to accomplish with next to no thought.]

Yeah, you're right.

[He wonders, suddenly, if Ignis has even lived through Altissia, if there's more to it than him just forgetting. COST dealt in time travel, right? So if Ignis isn't blind because he hasn't even been to Altissia...

Fuck.]

Do you think—it's better to know the future?

[cookeries]

I suppose it depends on how you choose to act on your knowledge? Knowing the future cannot change it, after all.

[ Ignis shrugs, thoughtful. If they knew what was awaiting them at the crystal, would they choose to follow Noct all the same? Ignis knows he would never leave the prince's side, but would knowing the future change their course for a time being? Perhaps, perhaps not. ]

I imagine that knowing the future in this context must be difficult. [ Knowing about Luna, for instance, and having to explain it over and over again to those that knew her... ]

[millimeter]

[Prompto laughs, despite himself.]

Buddy, you have no idea.

[He trails after Ignis, his own mind flitting rapidly from thought to thought. What COST does...they're playing with time, with the future. Maybe in the name of the greater good and on a planet he doesn't know, with a history he can barely grasp, but they picked him up from Eos. Him, Noctis, and Ignis, and who knows how many other people.

What if, one day, COST had them go back there?]

Do you really believe that? That you can't change the future? [He shifts, uncomfortable.] That's what we're supposed to do next mission, isn't it?

[cookeries]

Ah. In light of arriving here, anything may be possible.

[ He hadn't considered a situation like this before. He knew only their journey, the path he had to keep to insure Noctis became King. Everything else had been mere background noise to the greater objective. ]

Timelines are complicated, and I can't say I'm well versed in the way time works here for us. You lived a life beyond my own, and yet I like to think our lives run the same course. How that effects the future where we're from may be up for debate, I suppose. I regrettably have little information on the subject.

[millimeter]

[His eyebrows arch and he frowns, looking down. He's suddenly not sure if he wants to entertain the idea of not being from the same...timeline (?) as Iggy and Noct. Or would his memories just change, if the future became something else?]

Uuughhh, this kind of stuff just makes my head hurt. [Obvious conclusion: let's change the topic.] You been to the mess hall yet? Because oh man, have I got a surprise for you.

[He's gonna show Iggy the protein blocks.]

[cookeries]

I cannot say I have. I've not been here long enough to discover the wonders of our new home.

[ There's a dry sort of sarcasm there. He's wholly unimpressed with this place and the circumstances of their being there altogether. But there's nothing to be done. ]

Let's hope they offer better sustenance than cup noodles. [ A small gesture for Prompto to lead the way, and Ignis will dutifully follow.

And likely weep when he sees the protein blocks. ]