Welcome to Gaia! ::

Valhalla showed Themiscrya a small, pained smile when she made a small joke about the factory that had burned down, but he didn’t say anything on the subject. She already seemed to be moving on to the others interested in what she had to say — which was fine with him because he didn’t think this was the appropriate place to talk about such things. He still felt ashamed that it had happened in the first place, even when he hadn’t been involved in the set up.

When the large scroll revealed itself, Valhalla found himself standing back as well, allowing the others to move forward and get a better look. It wasn’t that he felt threatened or wary of it, but… if it was meant for them, surely it would reveal itself.

Just as everything else these days, Valhalla felt resigned to whatever it would reveal, although it did take him until just now to realize that the compass that was always by his side was missing entirely. Reaching for it as a means of comfort left him empty handed, and he quickly felt around himself as if the ringed compass was maybe hiding in his armor. He breathed in a slow, steadying breath as his arms lifted to self consciously crossover his chest. That would explain why the others were commenting about not being able to use their weapon at least.

He rubbed his thumb over the band of his signet ring as the others approached the scroll, finding it appropriate for several of them to be the first to do so. Themiscrya, always the enthusiast; Babylon, the scholar; Camelot, the protector; Niflhel, curious and straightforward — there were many others he didn’t know as well but wished he did. Perhaps the scroll would grant those who approached it some special power? Knowledge? Strength?

Maybe this would be the turning point in the war…?

After days of feeling so down about how the fighting was still so prominent, how the Negaverse was still out for blood, how many decided the only way to win would be to kill each other off — hearing the mysterious voice speak of promoting peace, of keeping balance… it was a relief. Camelot had power that had to rival that of the General-Kings and Princesses and Princes… surely this would be enough to turn the war away from the violence it has known for too long.

“Falias,” he greeted as the new Squire moved closer to where the others were standing around the scroll, smiling more confidently now as his chest swelled with pride for those there with him.Valhalla shook his head in Ashur’s direction when he asked if things like this were normal. Nothing was ever normal, but then again… what was ‘normal’ to begin with? He didn’t know what else to say, not wanting to miss anything, but he did take a step back to allow those who might be short and have more difficulty seeing move in front of him.

Hvergelmir watched in amazement as the scroll unfurled itself and began to speak, taking on new shapes as it did. If she'd heard it calling, she supposed it was in the form of her distaff -- when she'd pleaded with the universe for help and it had appeared before her -- or it was the voice in her head that had shown her how to reach her Wonder, giving her the words she needed to make the leap through space. The Code had been, in two instances, at least, pretty literal. If it had been trying to talk to her at any other time, she suspected she'd missed that voicemail.

But it was talking now.

"It's not quite what I was picturing, no," she said to Babylon from around the other side of Camelot. "But if it means we're going to get a retelling of the history of our people, I'm not complaining."

To the Code, Hvergelmir asked the one question that mattered to her most right now -- the one she'd spent weeks asking people for an answer to, the one that had only left her being volleyed back and forth between half-informed sources, none of them able to give her a clear answer. The question that was more important to her than anything else.

Why.

"Why did the balance shift?" she asked of the formerly-scroll-now-scales Code. "What happened?"

If there was any chance that this Code might have the answer, she had to try. She only hoped they weren't being treated to a pre-recorded message.

Go... behind him? Themiscyra's eyes had narrowed, back stiffened as the offense to that offer bristled her systems. Her fists clenched for a reason entirely unrelated to the energy radiating so close to her, turning from Camelot with a mental note he likely didn't mean to strike a nerve. Letting someone else take the lead wasn't a valid response to her in any situation. But the idea of causing a scene by biting back put a sour taste in her mouth and she let it go, focusing on the scroll.

The scroll that eventually shifted, spoke. "First cats, now mist-scrolls," she mumbled to no one in particular.

The Code? It was a foreign concept to her. Classic knights had codes of chivalry, and almost every major superhero group in the comics had some sort of code or oath they--somewhat--followed. Her only question was what this particular brand of code dictated. Spread it's word across the universe sounded pretty pseudo-religious to her.

Stepping closer to Kairatos, she flicked her gaze between him and the scroll when it mentioned how the balance had leaned towards Chaos. When another knight (Hvergelmir) asked what caused the balance to shift, Themiscyra followed with another question. "Does bringing Chaos agents over to Order help sway the balance back?" She only knew of the Martian beside her being such a case personally, but if it helped even the odds... Of course, her mind followed a grim tangent of that thought and she added dryly, "Or do you not care how we go about 'altering the numbers'?" She wasn't there to be babied or deal with sugar coating. She wanted facts, and deal with the answers later.

As those gathered talked and even expressed questions the Code began to shift again, the soft curves of the golden scales melting into the image of a large building. An image that began to slowly move, almost like ancient filmography, along with the story that would soon unfold.

"During the Silver Millennium, when the balance was strong and upheld by a thousand knights, there was an Academy on Earth at which knights studied and trained."

"Among their other duties, knightly ambassadors traveled the universe testing the abilities and aptitude of children on every planet and star, seeking those that would one day come to train at the Academy and eventually carry on their legacy."

"The Academy was a place of great comradery and peace. Promising individuals from every planet and homeworld gathered to learn, connect, and hone their skills. And by the end of their stay each Page in training would discover the wonder and homeworld they were connected to and would one day protect."

"Eventually, the power and success of the Academy drew the attention of the Earth Queen Beryl. She grew paranoid of the many outsiders that gathered within her planet. And more so, she grew jealous of how much Earth Prince Endymion and his General's attention was consumed by the Academy. Twisted by greed and paranoia she set to make the Academy and all of it's knights the possession of Earth."

The softer colors of the images abruptly darkened, the once stately Academy mutating into a darker more jagged creation.

"By forming a deal with a force filled with great darkness and Chaos Beryl obtained the powers she needed and ambushed the Academy. Though they fought to the best of their abilities the knights in training and few full fledged knights who resided there could not fend off the attack and before help could arrive the Academy was taken over and warped by Chaos. Our school and the training grounds around it became a dark castle and ravaged land. Our brothers studying there and all the other Earth humans who work there were trapped, mutated into monsters who lust for energy and destruction. In a final act of power the area was sealed away completely making it impossible for forces of Order or Neutrality to enter at all. "

"The loss of our school and our brothers in arms shifted the balance, and it was only a matter of time before the Silver Millennium and the peace that had been upheld for decades crumbled."

The Code was silent for a few long moments after retelling it's story. Perhaps it was giving them a moment to truely take in the details. Eventually however it spoke again, answering the other questions asked of it.

"When the flow of Chaotic and Order energy in the universe is equal all will be balanced. But there is no one method or idealogy to regain that balance."

"Recruit more to the side of Order. Purify those that have been warped to fight for Chaos. Obliterate the monsters, our former breathren, from ravaging the Earth and sucking it dry of it's neutral and Order energy. Eliminate Chaos and all their agents. Find a way to work more cohesively with Chaos. The possibilities are as endless as the number of Wonders that dot the Universe. It is up to each and every one of you to find the path that fits you and your wonder."

Sarras was starting to think that maybe this wasn't a dream. Maybe he wasn't suffering from a coma, maybe that creature that attacked him was real after all. Which meant everyone gathered around him, they being on Mars, the talking scroll...

"I reckon we're done for if we don't," Sarras said, glancing towards Niflhel when the dark colored knight addressed the scroll. He didn't ask for his opinion and he should have kept his mouth shut and let the magical talking scroll do its job. But whether this was real or not, Sarras did feel comfortably enough about that to say, and he was certain that the knight considered the same thought. He seemed sensible enough... as sensible as all of this could be so someone just thrust into the situation, anyways.

He considered the scroll's story and cryptic warning, wanting to continue fueling the idea that this was nothing more than a fever dream, but on the of chance that this was very real, he would take it seriously. 'Do not make deals with the devil, even if you think it's a dream'... wise words indeed, but hell if he knew where it'd come from.

"That's a grand story and I'm willin' to believe every word of it, but can you be a little more specific. You say to obliterate the monsters, eliminate Chaos and all of their agents, and yet, find a way to work with Chaos. Are you sayin' we need Chaos still?"

He was talking to a magical scroll. Madness must have run in the Moreau family after all.

Once the scroll started talking Shalott drew her hand away rather quickly. She was right in a sense, it was a challenge, and it seemed like the same task that got repeated every single time she was told to do anything by the powers that be. Their marching ordered didn't seem to change and though the story was fascinating it wasn't quite the grand revelation she'd been expecting. Did they really have to drag her away from her infant daughter for this?

It all seemed painfully simple to her.

"Why not re-establish the academy?"

New knights needed a place to go so they were not aimlessly drifting. Purified former members of Chaos needed somewhere to learn the new ways. They could all use some sense of fraternity and have somewhere to go to air their frustrations and speak on their problems with other people that could relate. It was nothing more than what she and her husband dreamed about. They could form a council, self govern, unify. There was no end to the benefits.

"Just because someone grew jealous of our strength doesn't mean we should forfeit it. That Academy died; a new one can live. We are strong and we can be united! Aren't we stronger together than we will ever be apart?"





Sherwood didn't resist as she was moved toward the scroll but once the thing started talking she let out a quiet eep and held his arm a little tighter. Somehow her wish fulfilled wasn't exactly what she'd expected. To her a handbook was something that sat on a book shelf and was read when there was a question.

Handbooks were definitely not supposed to be sentient.

Besides, all of this information was new to her. When she joined there hadn't been a welcoming committee or anyone to explain things. So far as she could tell it was sort of hit or miss on meeting someone stronger than you were to tell you what was happening.

She was nearly at the limit of what her sixteen year old mind could take.

"I really want to go home right now."

Kyuseisha no Hikari

Hvergelmir listened with quiet attention. This story -- it didn't fit anything any of the Negaversers she'd encountered claimed to have been told. The Negaverse claimed they were fighting to protect the Earth from the senshi, from the Moon's attempt to rule over the Earth. Had they all been lied to? What that just some fiction concocted by this Earth Queen Beryl to entice soldiers over to her side? Had she believed it was true? (Had it been true?)

If she mentally squinted, Hvergelmir could just see the bones of this story in that one. Outsiders on her planet, powerful and successful, currying favor with Earth's leaders. Had that been the foundation for her claims that their planet was being overrun, conquered? Was that the banner under which the Negaverse of old, and the one of today, had both ridden? Were they fighting still for one woman's fear, believing themselves all backed into a corner?

It was too horrible a mistake to think on any further right now. She'd gotten the answer she wanted -- or at least a part of it large enough to make her heart ache for the senselessness of it. She set it aside for the moment, something to work through on her own time, or with Aquarius. Not now.

Instead her thoughts settled on something else the Code had said.

Obliterate the monsters, our former brethren, from ravaging the Earth and sucking it dry of its neutral and Order energy.

The monsters they'd been fighting . . . those had all been . . . people.

People.

People trapped for hundreds of years in monstrous flesh and cages of their own minds, undying, corroded from within. People who had once laughed with friends and struggled for the things they cared about and had names and dreams and worth. People.

She'd just been killing them.

"The monsters . . . ," she asked, working her question quietly in between some of the other, more confident voices. "Is there anything -- human left in them? Or . . . has it been too long? Have I been killing people I could've saved?"

The Negaverse had been taking lives for the wrong reasons. Hvergelmir wondered if, without realizing it, she had too.