KNIFEBEARER

[grigori]

ROLE: KNIFEBEARER kotetsu

THE LAST KNIFE OF ALL

On Sunday following execution, Finley catches Kotetsu's attention. Both will innately know that they have somewhere to be, and Finley will be able to lead the way—even if they've never been there before. Her form changes, as they're both accustomed to, but takes that of a maine coon, and upon reaching their destination, they will be greated by the Watchers.

After finishing their business, Kotetsu and Finley will not be able to return to this location again without being invited back, regardless of whether they attempt to return on the same day or in the same week. Finley will be able to take her maine coon form again on her own, but will revert to one of her original forms upon leaving. Kotetsu and Finley both will know that this form cannot be shared openly, and that caution should be practiced with sharing it privately, as well.


As the knifebearer, Kotetsu will be presented with three choices of new worlds to explore the following week. Each world will come with a brief description of the feelings or sensations associated with it, and Kotetsu may only choose one. No further details will be offered regarding each world until the following Monday. Choose wisely!

Additionally, Kotetsu may use this time to speak directly with the Watchers each week. He may ask questions, receive small hints, or simply chat with them, though any information received will be subject to the Watchers' own discretion.

★ Keep it secret.
★ Never open a window without closing it.
★ Never let anyone else use the knife.
★ Never use it for a base purpose.
★ If too many participants learn about the knife, it will be requisitioned.
★ Use your daemon’s maine coon form sparingly.
★ You must choose one world each week.
★ If you choose not to act, a choice will be made for you.

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Comments

WEEK 0

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Choice

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In using the knife, Kotetsu will find himself drawn to three snags with different sensations, though he will know instinctively that he may only choose one:

★ aged, confined, radiant
★ cold, luxurious, unyielding
★ dry, bustling, brittle

Re: Choice

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★ aged, confined, radiant

Talk to the NPCs

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[ Baraqiel, Shamsiel, and Suriel are all outside the Torre degli Angeli where Finley has led Kotetsu. ]

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[ While Kotetsu wanted to stay and help out and talk with people more about what happened, he's being dragged by his sleeve by Finley to them. After they're away from the crowd, she shifts to another form comfortably. It's... familiar. Without any more hesitation, he heads to the direction he knows he's meant to go and sees the Watchers waiting for him.

His anger has cooled... slightly, but he's still on edge from the happenings just now. ]

Hey.

[ He'll... start with that. ]

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[ baraqiel will address kotetsu, first, since there's a little more energy than the other two. tense energy, like kotetsu's, but energy nonetheless. ]

Kaburagi. [ they give him a slight nod, before reaching to push open the heavy door that's been barred to them all this past week. ] We're going inside, there's some things we have to talk about. We're technically asking for your help.

[ the entry hall, small as it is, has dark stone flooring that leads up to a sturdy staircase. it's old, black wood, worn down but not creaking under their footsteps as the group ascends. kotetsu will get a glimpse of the second floor through an open door - a disorganized room filled with badly preserved, dusty books, some clearly having fallen apart on the floor. cobwebs are thickly clustered at the ceiling. it feels like an abandoned museum, contained in one room.

the third floor is where they come to a stop, and the room takes up the entirety save for an access to the rooftop and technical fourth floor. there's a rickety desk with a rickety chair, and some stools and an old, old bed. the humidity keeps makes it cloying, but the open windows and access to the roof let in a breeze.

take a seat, kotetsu, finley. ]

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Technically?

[ his brow quirks at this. is this like the "technically" being on teams thing? but he waits on an answer to that and just looks around as he's led in and taken up.

once they're inside, he goes to sit at the desk, despite the worn down appearance, letting finley jump up (mostly) gracefully onto the desk and settling in up there to peer at the watchers. ]

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This is more of a neutral request than it is one from either side.

[ baraqiel doesn't move to sit, and instead reaches into their cloak to withdraw - a holster? it's for a sheathed knife, whose handle is made of wood and adorned with intricate, inlaid designs. they offer it to him, and kotetsu can take a closer look.

looking at the blade, there appear to be two separate materials - one side is clearly steel, so sharp it could almost cut to look at, and the other... the only way to describe it is "shade-colored." there's an otherness to it, hard to describe. ]

You're being entrusted with what we're told is called the "subtle knife," something that the people of this world made. The people who researched in this tower, actually, according to what we've learned. The one side can cut any material - you can test it out, if you'd like - and the other can cut through the fabric between worlds.

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Why'd you pick me?

[ he is, in fact, looking the knife over and takes in what he's saying. there's a lot there that... it seems like a pretty big thing. but also. ]

Do you guys know if it even works?

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We didn't. The higher powers came to a decision, for once, to pick someone they both thought would suit the role as the bearer of the knife.

[ but, also. that's a valid question. ]

Hold out the knife and treat it like an extension of yourself. Not a knife, but a part of your hand and arm. Feel around in the air. [ beat ] Try not to wave it around and hit any of us, though.

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[ ...and then continues to wonder "why me" about maybe it's his hero status from before? ]

Okay...?

[ good thing he isn't the type to get a little knife happy or anything. he looks the knife over a bit and the holds it forward like he's pointing his finger. he's focusing on it like they said, trying to think of it almost like his hero suit, something that works with him.

and he moves his hand around, aiming in a direction that no one else is ]

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[ maybe so? baraqiel doesn't have the answer, and neither do shamsiel or suriel, as they all three observe.

kotetsu won't feel anything, at first, but it's a slow process. but as he slips into the mindset of his hero suit, and with finley so close to him, his soul in physical form there to support him... the tip of the knife, the strangely colored one, hits a snag on thin air. ]

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[ his eyebrow slowly raises as it catches and he pulls a little bit more to test it some...? but not too hard. ripping the fabric of this world sounds a little dangerous. ]

So, what do you want me doing with this thing?

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[ about that. ]

Cut it open. Just a small window. [ baraqiel takes a finger and draws a rectangular shape out of starlight, although it does nothing except create an outline for kotetsu to follow in the air from his vantage point, if he needs it.

the snag is pliable, sprawling, and will be easy for him to cut through if he applies a little more pressure. will he? ]

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[ oh. in that case, he'll keep tugging as he's been instructed. but he does pause midway and looks at him. ]

You sure this is a good idea testing it this way?

[ sure, what other way is there? ]

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You're the one that has to use it, especially for this, so better to do it where there's no one else around to distract you and dive in.

[ there's fresh air coming from what he's cut so far, the smell of grass and dirt after a good rainfall. ]

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Makes sense.

[ since he can't really argue that, he'll keep cutting, especially since it seems like it's really cutting... somewhere else? as he's cutting, he inhales deeply since it's a refreshing smell after everything. ]

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[ when he manages to cut through completely, that's it. there's no watchers, non tower, nothing from cigazze that he'll see in that space that he's cut out. it's simply a long-grassed field, dewy from rainfall, the night sky filled with unfamiliar stars and a pair of matching moons. he'll feel the breeze on his face, cooling and almost bracing in counterpoint to the humidity that he's sitting in.

it's another world entirely. congratulations, wild tiger - you can say that you've witnessed multiple worlds, now, and sincerely mean it as multiple. ]

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[ peering through this gap is actually... kind of awe inspiring and he remains speechless for a minute before looking at the knife. ]

What's supposed to stop me from using this and trying to get everyone home instead of listening to you guys now that you gave it to me?

[ he won't try that. and the fact that he's even stating that thought is there should be enough of that. but he's sure there's probably some catch to it all. ]

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You don't know what any of your worlds feel like. Not right now, anyways - that'd take practice with the knife. [ baraqiel comments with the facts, first, not seeming particularly bothered by it and knowing that the man won't try it. if kotetsu could just do that? they'd let them - it feels a little implied with the way they say it. ]

Which is part of why you're cutting through to other worlds. The other is that we're trying to lead spectres out of other worlds, so that we can remove them.

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[ record scratch ]

You mean the Spectres are all over the place?

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We don't know the extent, but yes. They are.

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[ well, that seals the deal on him not using the knife for nefarious purposes. not that he was going to, but any thought of that is gone... ]

Yeah... Yeah, I'll help you guys out. I can't stand the thought of more people falling victim... to that.

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For as much as Qi Rong deserved punishment... [ they seem loathe to say this, but - ] That wasn't a fate that was deserved.

[ they reach up to adjust their mask, as if massaging their forehead with two fingers, before gesturing at kotetsu after. ]

So, we'll be traveling to different worlds to try and do this, and you'll have to select the one that we go to. This and the knife are being entrusted to you. But you'll also have to close windows like these, to funnel them, essentially, as we figure out what to do with them.

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So, am I supposed to be looking around for these holes are you guys going to be helping on this...?

[ a brief pause before looking at the knife and putting it back in its cover ]

Oh, I never really tried it, but can people get into the bags we found before? I know people can't carry them around, but I never tried opening anyone else's.