TEST DRIVE MEME #7

[abraxasmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the seventh test drive meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the three different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own under the Questions header below. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.

Our Setting pages are full of information on the world of Abraxas, and an overview of the story so far can be found on our Game History page! Anything on that page - including information about the Horizon and the Singularity - can be assumed to be told to newcomers after they arrive, no matter which faction they are received in. For more information on Ambrose and the apprentice mages, Marlo, and Rowan, please see our NPCs page.

You can also find answers to questions asked on previous TDMs in their respective questions threads.

For characters who arrive in SOLVUNN: Recently, following the events in which some of the Summoned received visions of each other's past, locals in Solvunn have begun to approach the Summoned with a sort of awe and respect. Those who arrive in Solvunn will find themselves treated much the same way and may be asked for advice or given gifts that seem like offerings such as wine, harvest bounties, or some incredibly delicious goat cheese. Your character is free to turn these down and should they turn down enough people, they will not be bothered further, out of concern of offending the Summoned.

Arrival

You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.

You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.

There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne

A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.

If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.

Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card bearing the image of one of the arcana.

An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.

"One moment," he says, not bothering to look up from the tome. He looks tired. "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. We’ll explain everything in a moment, but for now, please calm down. You’re completely fine."

Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the pages, until he stops on one specific passage, stares at it for a moment, and then sighs with relief:

"Finally!"

Ambrose's expression brightens, relief visible across his features. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.

"Oh, thank heavens," he says, closing the book and approaching you with a sort of worn-out relief. “I was beginning to believe we’d never get it exactly right.”

Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem to visibly relax, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.

"Please, come with me," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle. "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."

One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.

Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (those who were previously brought in may have a great deal of information to tell you), or you can wander around and meet the others.

There's also a dining hall stocked with a rotating 24/7 buffet in celebration of the new honored guests. Somehow, your very favorite food is part of the rotation (or at least an attempted recreation of it given the limited technology available to the Thorneans). The town surrounding the castle is all abuzz as well, with most shops and services willing to give free samples of their wares to the new arrivals.

You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).

Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and most of the cells stand empty.

Scenario Two: Welcome to the Free Cities

You find yourself pulled from the water by a pair of strong hands. Dry warmth hits you at once as you're set on a warm hard floor. As your senses return you realize you're on dull ruddy stone and surrounded by strangers. Men and women in unfamiliar uniforms of brown and red leather stand in a semi-circle around a small pool of water. The very pool you were just pulled from. The water is still now, rimmed in pale gold tiles with odd symbols etched into them. Across it on the far side is a raised pedestal with a card propped on it. The card bears an arcana symbol.

You feel weak. Drained. Any abilities or magical powers you have seem far away and impossible to access. You're in what looks like a cave lit by dozens and dozens of torches set into the wall. There's no furniture or decoration to be seen besides the pool. It's almost uncomfortably warm and there's the sound of rushing wind somewhere in the distance. Flickering shadows obscure the faces of the guards. A robed woman stands off to the side, looking at you anxiously and then to the authoritative woman standing before you. She's grinning, dressed in a fancier uniform than the others. There's a sword at her hip. A guard covers you with a blanket and returns to their place in the semi-circle.

The woman with the sword gives a nod of approval and smiles warmly.

"Sorry about the circumstances."

She gives you a good hard look before standing again.

"Take a minute, catch your breath, you've had quite a shock. Take it nice and easy. I'm Prime Minister Marlo Reiner and you're in The Free Cities. That nice lady over there will explain everything to you and get you settled." A nod to the robed woman off to the side.

Marlo Reiner steps back and the robed mage approaches to help you up.

"Come with me, please." She brings you out of the cave through a corridor that angles upwards until you emerge in what looks like some kind of storage facility. Shelves of wooden boxes and cloth bags line them, unidentifiable parts of what might be machines are tucked into corners and propped against shelving units. "This is one of the Free Cities' outposts," the mage explains as she leads you. "We're honored to have you with us, I'm sure you have many questions but please save them. You need to recover!"

You'll learn you're in the Cadens Desert Outpost 003, a military outpost on the outskirts of Cadens city. You're brought to a room in the barracks that's been prepared. Each barracks room is rather sparse and utilitarian. Six simple beds set against the wall, three on each side of the room, each with a trunk at the foot of it. You're told the world is in a delicate and dangerous times and you're needed to help. You're important, you're told, and they're very grateful you're here.

You're asked to stay close for the time being, but to make yourself at home. The outpost is more a proper military base than the name implies, with full facilities. The barracks have a communal bathing room at the end of the hall, with curtains that can be pulled around the individual raised round tubs for privacy. There's a mess hall that has food available from sun up till a few hours after sundown. You're even encouraged to make use of the training grounds, if you'd like, with non-lethal training weapons available for use and obstacle courses set up. And the city of Cadens is only a couple of hours away by wagon - though you're asked initially to please be back at the outpost within a few hours of the sun going down.

For your own safety.

Scenario Three: Welcome to Solvunn

The feeling of floating is the first sense that comes to you as the edges of unconsciousness start to ebb. Sunlight filters through the rippling water as you open your eyes, making you squint. Before you have the chance to panic and inhale, firm hands grasp your arms and pull you to the surface of the water. Moments later, soft warmth is wrapped around your shoulders as you're guided on unsteady legs out of a pool of water. You're lowered to the soft grass. Men and women in simple garments with lavish embroidery stand by, waiting with bated breath, glancing seriously at an old man in an ornate robe. He holds an old leather-bound book in one hand and in the other is a card bearing an arcana symbol. His eyes move quickly over the page, and he mumbles idly to himself.

Any strength you may have possessed feels as though it has slipped through your fingers. Any abilities or magical powers you have don't come to the surface no matter how hard you try. You're in a grassy clearing in the midst of a circle of large stone slabs stacked to look like doorways. In the middle is the same glimmering pool you were just pulled from. A gentle breeze blows through, carrying the scent of flowers and herbs from an ornately decorated altar set off in front of one of the stone doorways. The mage closes his book and steps out of the water, addressing a matronly old woman. Behind her are two younger people, a rough-looking man, and a meek young girl, both of whom are also watching the mage.

“I detect no ill will from the gods, it seems we've been blessed with success.” Those that had gathered all breathe a sigh of relief and now seem pleased.

The old woman smiles and steps forward, offering to take your hands and help you stand. “Any gift the gods give us is one we will happily take. I'm certain you have many questions, and they will all be answered in time. For now, rest and know you will be taken care of.”

She pats the top of your hand and steps away with a serene smile, letting one of the others come forward with some clothes that seem to fit you perfectly. Once you're dressed, someone approaches to drape a delicate-looking charm depicting a butterfly with too many wings on a thin chain over your neck. The rough-looking man from before steps forward once you're decent and motions with his head outside of the stone circle. His speech is informal, his consonants harsh.

“Hold your horses, I can see all those questions coming about! Rowan March, at your service. I'm one of the council members of Solvunn. There's a lot to discuss, but it's best talked about over a hot meal.” He leads you to a horse-drawn carriage and helps you up into the back. He talks the entire ride to the settlement.

You find out you are in the Primary Settlement, the first of three that make up Solvunn's great territory. The settlement is situated between two lakes and is humming with life. You're brought to the center of town and escorted to an apartment above one of the establishments in town. Rowan explains that the living conditions are temporary if you'd like them to be, that local families would also be happy to host you in their home. That there are others like you who have also taken up residence within the three settlements. You're told that the world hangs upon the brink of disaster and that there are those in this world that are happy to see it fall to ruin with their meddling.

You're important. The gods have graced them with your presence. They're delighted you're here. Welcome to Solvunn.

Everything you need has been provided in this humble apartment, and if it hasn't, there are shops that line the streets and a marketplace in the center of town. Owners of some establishments or stalls are more than happy to give out samples or barter with your time for their goods. Babysitting can be a very lucrative business. You're told of the other settlements, that they'd like you to stay here for now, but if you can find a family to host you, the secondary and tertiary settlements are best to get to with an escort.

There are tales of travelers visiting the secondary settlement without invitation disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective, young traveler.

You’ll find that there are more than enough activities to throw yourself into to better settle into your new life in Solvunn. Work is done in the first part of the day so that families can spend the rest of it together in leisure and work on their crafts - whatever those may be. For those children who are not of school age, they need nannies or storytellers, and there’s always a gaggle of them running about unsupervised. Families with livestock can always take a spare hand, especially since farms are so spread out, they have a tendency to wander. Whatever skills you may possess can always be of use to the community or to honor the gods.

If any of these options are no good for your lifestyle, the main roads between settlements can always use a bit of monster clean-up… just make sure you don’t go alone.

---

Questions

How many slots are open?
Please check the Taken page for how many player, franchise, and canon slots are available. Activity check will be processed before applications open, so the count may change between now and then. Existing players can apply for a second character without restriction.

How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Which faction your character is drawn into has nothing to do with their personal morality, beliefs, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into any one of the situations.

Can I try out more than one scenario?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.

What happens if my character refuses to comply with the NPCs?
They will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and the faction leaders will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, they will be warned once that everyone is willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight they will make good on that promise.

My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the cities, murdering the NPCs, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other NPCs would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude and intervention from various NPC guards, and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Abraxans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.

I want to wildcard a prompt or use one of the prompts from an earlier TDM that isn't on this one (eg. the library), can I do that?
Yes, in terms of the settings. As Thorne is no longer imprisoning any newcomers, that option is no longer applicable.

Is the power loss for characters permanent?
No, but it does take a week or so for their powers to be back in full, and certain powers (determined on a case-by-case basis) may require nerfs. If your character has world-breaking powers, please discuss with the mods what modifications may be necessary.

Can my character leave the bounds of the faction?
In Thorne, characters can leave the castle but not the city. In Cadens, they can take a trip from the outpost to the city. In Solvunn, they can explore the entirety of the Primary Settlement.

Can my character eventually change factions?
Yes. While the faction borders are currently closed, there will opportunities in the future for characters to relocate. For the time being, they are stuck where they are.

How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will determine where your character initially lives as well as the bias of the information they receive from NPCs (although other PCs can and most likely will give it to them a bit more straight). This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.

Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in every scenario can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.

Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the three scenarios on your application.

What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).

Can my character go to the Horizon?
First time visitors to the Horizon must be taken there by other characters, through either shared meditation or a physical journey to the Singularity, and all first-timers experience memory loss. For the purposes of the TDM, we suggest against using the Horizon.

What about making use of the network?
Much like Horizon they would need to be introduced to it by another PC, as no NPCs would be aware of the network or be able to access it. Because of this we would advise against using this mechanic for TDM top-levels.

---

return to main navigation

Comments

cole cassidy | overwatch | the hanged man | the free cities

[gunspins]

I: Cadens Desert Outpost 003
{ training grounds }
[ The first thing he does is assess the situation. He's soaking wet, surrounded by strangers, and without his gun. Well, Cole Cassidy has been up against worse odds before. That said, he doesn't know these folk or their intentions so he merely listens to see what he can find out, taking note that he's discouraged from asking questions until he's recovered.

So off to the barracks he goes. While he feels pretty drained, he has no intention of getting any shut eye just yet. He wanders around the outpost while feeling right at home in the desert climate. He checks out the training grounds just to see what they involve but he stands off to the side and doesn't participate. He's had years of black ops training; he's paid his dues.

Resting his cybernetic arm on a fence separating an obstacle course from the weapons area, he asks: ]

You know what you're training for yet?

[ Might as well question the others to see if they've learned anything. ]

{ mess hall }
[ Eventually he wanders to the mess hall. It seems a lot of effort to house and train them if they were gonna end up poisoning them, so he figures the food is safe. Piling up a plate, he then heads to a table that only has one person there. ]

This seat taken?

[ He then plonks himself down without waiting for an answer. ]


II: Wagon Trip to Cadens
[ Cassidy may be from a world of hover bikes, holoscreens, and robots, but he's done a lot of odd jobs in his life and has experience driving horses. As such, he has no problem taking the reins and following the road towards the city. Right now, he has no idea if he's actually going to return to the base or not; it's all dependent on what they find in the city.

Looking at ease up on the seat, turns to address whoever is either beside him or just behind him riding in the back. ]

So, you planning on making a break for it when we get there?

Mess Hall

[fourarmedandangerous]

As always, when the Free Cities prepare for new Summoned, does Goro return to the military base he had once been summoned to, to observe the new crop. Who might be useful, who might be safely ignored, and...who might be a danger.

Rather than run the length of the base, the Shokan simply camps out in the mess hall, knowing that sooner or later, every newly-Summoned will find their way there. He pushes a chair aside, since the flimsy wooden thing won't support his girth, and summons his throne, an imposing edifice of carved stone that rises out of the ground. And then he seats himself, and waits.

He clocks Cole's appearance as soon as he enters, the arm and arcana signs marking him as Summoned. He takes a drink with one of his upper arms from the mug, the alcohol predictably having no effect. By the time he sets it down, Cole is already seating himself at the table.

"Not anymore, it appears." He rumbles in response. "Welcome to Cadens." He raises the mug, this time with one of his lower arms, but does not drink, simply placing it back down on the table.

"I am Goro."

[gunspins]

"Hey there," he says as he gets settled. There sure aren't people that look like Goro back home, so color him intrigued, but it's not like this place makes any sense in the first place. Still, four arms... that could be useful for a lot of things. He wonders if everybody is like that back where Goro's from or if it's some kind of genetic modification.

"You can call me Cassidy," he adds before digging into the food. It's not great but he's had a lot worse and has had to go without too, so he'll eat it.

"I take it you didn't just get here like me if you're welcoming me. What's the story here?"

[fourarmedandangerous]

"No. There have been several summonings by the Free Cities before this one." Goro explains. "I was part of the first group." Most of the rest he's come to realize are gone now. "That was perhaps half a year ago. But the very first to be summoned to this Realm were called to a place called Thorne. Another nation, opposed to the Cities. Some of those first Summoned are here now." Some sort of break-out due to Thorne's mistreatment of them.

He takes another deep drink of the mug, before setting it down. "What have you been told of the monolith known as The Singularity, Cassidy?"

Something about the way this man speaks and carries himself feels...familiar. Not Cassidy himself, the man is a stranger to Goro. But he definitely reminds the Shokan of someone...

[gunspins]

He takes his time chewing as he soaks in everything he's being told. So getting dragged here is called a summoning, huh? Makes him kind of feel like a demon or something. And people who were summoned to an opposing nation came to this one. There's a bigger story there.

But he shakes his head and glances about the room. You know, nobody else has got a fancy looking chair like Goro here. Though it is stone. Might be a little hard on the back if not the rear.

"Not a damn thing. I got the whole "don't ask questions; you're still recovering" speech. You'd think if they've been doing this for awhile they wouldn't be stalling, but here I am, on a blind horse." Careening towards a cliff perhaps.

"So what's it all about?"

[fourarmedandangerous]

"I understand your frustration." Goro replies. "It is part of the reason I return here when new summonings are attempted. To provide answers that were slow in coming for me."

He leans forward, resting a lower arm on the table. "Many leagues from here there is a great crater in the earth. I have been there in person once since I arrived. At the center of this crater stands a monolith the natives of this world call The Singularity. Supposedly, the monolith is ancient, and commands a power that reaches into all other worlds." Though the way Goro's lip curls and the unimpressed tone of voice makes it clear he's not buying it. Just another sorcerous deception.

"Regardless, it is a source of great power, but one no native Abraxan can reach. They cannot approach the Singularity, or it will kill them. But the three nations, the Free Cities and Thorne, as well as a wilderness commune called Solvunn, have been feuding for generations over this monolith and it's power. Thorne wishes to control it, the Free Cities wish to destroy it, and Solvunn wants it to be left alone."

Goro leans back on his throne. Apparently he doesn't seem to find it uncomfortable. "And as it so happens, the process by which we are summoned grants us a connection to the Singularity so that not only may we approach it safely, but we can also control and harness its power to a certain extent." Thus explaining where Cassidy falls in this.

"Abraxas prepares for war. And we will be at its center."

[gunspins]

"Ah, so that's the reason," he replies, taking a moment to toss some salt and pepper over this military grade meal. The folk here want something done — or not done — with this Singularity thing, but they can't take a stab at it themselves. So they went searching for those who can.

"So they recruited some workhorses to handle this power source for them." He ponders that a moment. "If Solvunn wants it left alone, than they must've started recruiting to protect it, huh? What have the people here come up with about destroying it? They got a plan, or are they flying by the seat of their pants?" Cassidy doesn't know the level of tech this place is working with yet, so it stands to reason if the natives can't get close to the Singularity to study it for weaknesses, than the Summoned are meant to info gather on that too.

[fourarmedandangerous]

"That is more or less the situation. Thorne escalated things by being the first to summon. When some of those Summoned escaped to the other two nations, they followed suit."

Goro steeples the fingers of his upper arms together, an unusual sight given he has only three thick fingers per hand. "Not...a great deal." He admits. "Only the Summoned can approach the Singularity, but many of them choose to stand apart. To not get involved. A curious stance I find, given the Singularity is likely the only chance of returning to our own Realms. Thus, progress on understanding the monolith has been...slow." Goro shifts in annoyance. "They are cowed by myths and legends." His lip curls. "Superstitious nonsense."

[gunspins]

His brow lifts in mild surprise, but he doesn't pass any judgment on those who don't want to get involved. After all, it's not their fight and maybe they have reasons for not wanting to head back home. Cassidy, on the other hand, does need to get back to what he was doing.

"What are we supposed to do when we get out to it? Stand around and takes notes on if it does anything?"

He's only half-joking because he hasn't seen the thing for himself to gauge just what they're supposed to make of it. It likely doesn't have a bright red self-destruct button on the side.

training grounds!

[godshattering]

[ Hanging around the training grounds feels familiar enough to him, what with spending many an hour there once upon a time in his academy days and then even more during the war. He's always found the repetition of going through routines - for strength, speed, working on weapon techniques - calming, if only because it gives him a way to occupy himself physically while letting his mind spin free down any path he chooses. Today he's idly leaning against the fence of one of the obstacle courses watching a couple other Summoned put themselves through their paces. Meanwhile, Claude stands with his hands in his pockets and is debating whether he wants to join in just for something to do when his ears pick up the sound of someone approaching. He doesn't glance back over his shoulder until he hears him ask one of the same questions he wants to know himself. ]

Nope. [ And responding with just that is more of a conversation ender than a starter, so he looks back the other man's direction again and shrugs. ] I tried asking some questions, but seems like they mean it about that whole 'questions will keep you from recovering' thing. Whatever that means, but they don't like it if you ask that either.

[ Claude studies the man curiously and doesn't bother to hide it, especially when he notices the arm on the fence doesn't look like anything he's ever seen before. But that's probably not a topic you should bring up the very first time you meet someone, so - ] You're one of the only other people I've seen around who doesn't seem to struggle with this weather. I'm guessing it's like this back wherever you're from, too?

[gunspins]

[ He gives a deep, thoughtful hum before glancing sidelong at the man. It's done to collect information but everything about his demeanor suggests laid back and casual. ]

Yeah, grew up in the desert. Still tend to kick around there when I can.

[ Though in recent months it's been a whirlwind of travel trying to recruit for Overwatch. This feels closer to home than any of those places did — even Egypt. ]

How about you?

[godshattering]

Same for me, though I haven't been back home in a long while. I was getting ready to do that before... well.

[ Claude trails off and makes a sweeping gesture with his hand that encompasses the world at large around them. At least they fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, since it remains to be seen which applies) all have this universal experience of being introduced to the Free Cities out of nowhere.

And watching someone struggle up some kind of climbing wall that reminds him of a cliff isn't nearly as interesting as getting to know someone new, so he turns his attention back to the other man. ]

Have you been into the city yet? I've gone a few times just for something to do. There's a bunch of museums around but not much in the way of explaining what we might want to know in them. Would've thought they'd have more information stashed around somewhere.

[ A pause. ]

I'm betting there's some other people there who were summoned in like we were. They'll probably be the best ones to ask for any actual answers.

[gunspins]

Not just yet but I'm planning on taking a wagon out there.

[ He hums thoughtfully, fingers twitching at his side because he could really do with a smoke right now, if only to play with it. ]

And those people would be wearing these weird symbols like we got, yeah?

[godshattering]

[ The symbols? There's - oh. Claude looks down at his own tunic where said arcana he'd totally forgotten about is displayed prominently thanks to some very nice embroidery. Like it probably is for everyone else. Whoops. ]

It- uh, yeah, I guess they would. [ That's followed up with a short, rather sheepish laugh that's entirely at his own expense. ] You know, with everything going on I'd totally forgotten I could've just... looked for those. Would've made that a lot easier.

[ Well. His past self would certainly be ashamed of his current self not obsessively noting every detail as usual, but maybe the whole suddenly-ending-up-gods-knew-where thing could excuse that. Still, Claude glances up at the other with a slight shrug. ]

No clue what mine means aside from I think someone said it was the Wheel of Fortune, or something like that. They tell you anything about yours? Oh, and I'm Claude, by the way.

[gunspins]

It's a lot to take in. Don't sweat it.

[ He glances down at his own and brushes his fingers briefly across the stitching before dropping his hand. He'd much prefer his everyday attire where he could sink down into the comfort the cowboy cliché provided him with. Even in Blackwatch he'd been allowed his own sense of style; he'd just had to adhere to the black and red color scheme. ]

They said it's the Hanged Man. Kinda sounds like a threat, doesn't it?

[ But he's smirking a little as he says it. ]

Hope it's not a sign of things to come. Sounds like you got a luckier one than me.

[godshattering]

[ The name of the other's arcana and the subsequent smirk does get a grin out of him. Dark humor works well for Claude on a good day, but when in a military outpost with war apparently going on all around them and no way to get home? Yep, it definitely fits. ]

Sheesh, that's pretty grim. I can't say I'd feel too great if I showed up somewhere randomly and they pinned that on me.

Then again, a wheel of fortune... in books I've read back home it's not always a great thing either: something about the gods spinning it to see how your life goes or change your fate.

[ Claude's distracted briefly when there's a shout from the obstacle course, so he glances over to see that one of the climbers won the apparent race to the top and is now celebrating before looking back. ]

Which falls in line with ending up here, I guess. And not that I buy into that, but if it was real I wouldn't say no to it spinning and getting us some better supplies.

[gunspins]

[ He moves to lean a bit more heavily on his forearm, settling his arm of flesh and bone to join it along the top of the fence. ]

Yeah, I don't buy it either. Pretty sure we make our own fate, even if we get knocked around a bit in the process.

[ After getting momentarily distracted by the cheering as well, he refocuses and lets out a brief laugh. ]

Sure would be nice to have something fresh. You gotta figure out where that wheel of yours is hiding.

[ Not that he actually thinks there's a physical wheel, but he's just having a little fun despite their situation. ]

Name's Cassidy.

[ He'd kind of let Claude's introduction slip by without answer, but not from any attempt to appear mysterious. He's used plenty of aliases over the years, but he'd rather people know him as himself instead of a role he's playing. ]

mess hall

[assembles]

[ The last thing that Steve really wants to do right now is eat. He's on an unknown planet, being told about how he has a vital role to play in their war, and there's about a million alarm bells going off. There's so much work to do done back home, so much rebuilding that needs to happen, and he can't afford this. He can't afford being here.

But if he's going to raise hell trying to get answers and to convince these people that he needs to go back, he will need to get some food in him. There's not much of a chance that it's drugged, not if they're hoping to have any success with enlisting people.

The food isn't great. It's better than what he ate back at Camp Lehigh, but it's not exactly gourmet either.

He's about halfway through his meal when someone joins him, a man with a beard and a drawling voice. Steve isn't given a chance to react, halfway through his bite of food as the stranger sits down.

He gives a little shrug of one shoulder, mainly out of politeness. ] Sure. [ His gaze darts around them as he looks the man up and down, making a quick judgment. That beard is definitely not regulation. ] So, were you brought here with no warning too?

[gunspins]

Sure was.

[ He pokes his fork down into something that somewhat resembles mashed potatoes, then shovels some into his mouth before reaching for the salt. Yeah, this needs some work. But he'll eat it. He'll eat pretty much anything. ]

Still getting the lay of the land. They don't seem too eager to say much so I thought I'd check in on what others have heard.

[assembles]

Probably about the same as you.

[ Or maybe a little more, if only because Steve has been driven and relentless when it comes to getting every ounce of information out of their captors. He prods at his own food, taking another bite before he elaborates. ]

They're honored to have us here, because this world — Abraxas — is in a delicate position right now and they're hoping we can help them.

[ He expels a quick breath through his nose and shakes his head. ] Not sure how they thought it was a good idea to just bring us here without asking first, but they probably figured we'd never say yes if given the choice.

[ Maybe some would have. Maybe things were settled enough where they came from, and they were selfless enough, that they would have wanted to help. But is this world truly in danger, or is it more that they want fresh recruits for a war they believe to be justified? ]

[gunspins]

[ Cassidy's been planning on doing the same, though his tactics are a lot less forward than Steve's have been. He tends to circle around things in order to let people slip up on their own. It's a black ops thing; lot of waiting around and watching while acting casual. ]

No kidding. I was in the middle of something important back home. I'm sure most of us can say the same.

[ He goes back to his potatoes but after another bite goes for the pepper. He can salvage this. ]

Wonder if this delicate position involves throwing outsiders' bodies at the problem until it goes away.

[assembles]

[ While in Steve's case the truly important things have been resolved, there's still a lot of work that has to be done in the aftermath. Maybe he personally doesn't have to take charge on those things, but he feels a sense of obligation all the same.

He watches as the stranger continues to try and season the food they've been given, and might have smiled at it under other circumstances. Instead, he just takes another bite of his own bland meal, a bit more tolerant of it than most because of how (and when) he grew up. ]

It definitely sounds and looks like that, doesn't it?

[ He heaves out a breath and shakes his head. There's enough activity and chatter here that he doesn't think anyone's listening in on them, but he lowers his voice all the same. ]

I don't know about you, but I'm not planning to stay put and follow orders just because they said so.

[ That's never been his way. ]

[gunspins]

Yeah.

[ He lowers his voice to match. ]

I've never really been a "play by the rules" guy myself. Right now we're flying by the seat of our pants, so I'm trying to get the lay of the land before I go AWOL.

[ He may use the military term, but that's only because he was trained by people who'd been in the military. ]

Kinda suspicious that they'll let us out to visit the city, isn't it?

[assembles]

[ Steve immediately notices the term, one that he wouldn't really expect from a man who looks more like he belongs on a ranch than in a mess hall like this. Interesting.

Well, Steve had been in the army and had rarely played by the rules, so who's to say what this guy's background might be?

He nods in acknowledgment of that question. He'd heard about the wagon rides out to a city called Cadens as well. The question is how much of a city it actually is — this outpost is pretty damn remote. ]

I guess that's their attempt to give us the impression that we're guests here, and not... [ He trails off and takes another bite of his meal, not wanting to outright say what he's thinking. Chances are that the stranger can fill in the blanks. And then, after a sip of water, he asks: ] What's your name? I'm Steve.

[gunspins]

[ He merely lets out a hum in response. Right. Prisoners. It doesn't really matter how it's dressed up, because being here against their will and without knowing the way back makes it pretty clear what they are. ]

Cole Cassidy. Cassidy's fine.

[ From the moment he'd arrived, he'd felt that kneejerk reaction to give an alias like he'd always done. He wears them as easily as a familiar pair of boots and it'd be no problem. But recently he's decided to own to who he is instead of always hiding behind some other name that he could leave behind when the goings got tough. Why not extend that to here as well? ]

I'll be checking the city out anyway. See what kind of tech we're working with here. It looks a little behind the times to me, especially when they only got a wagon to take us there.