TEST DRIVE MEME #9

[abraxasmods]

Test Drive Meme

Welcome to the 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.

In-game, this TDM and the arrival of the newcomers will take place around the last week of November when applications will be processed. We're specifying this so that players can use Nocwich as a prompt without having to skip weeks ahead of their character's initial in-game arrival to match the IC December first weekend opening.

Below are some links to information you may find useful. Our Setting pages have information about the world itself as well as current events for each nation, while our Game History page outlines the game's story so far.

Setting | Game History | NPCs | Arcana
You can also find answers to questions asked on previous TDMs in their respective questions threads.

Summoning

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. It's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

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 - still unclothed.

Arrival

You'll find yourself summoned to one of the following three major nations: the extravagant and magical Kingdom of Thorne, the bustling and advanced Free Cities, or the tightknit and faith-driven rural community of the Solvunn Commune.

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. After a week or so, your abilities will return.

When you gather your bearings at last, you look up into a series of unfamiliar faces...and equally unfamiliar surroundings.

Welcome to Thorne

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 another mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. The man 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 nods, satisfied. "Excellent." He motions for one of the young apprentice mages over. "Settle our guest in, please. I don't have all day."

The apprentice hurries forward with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals. With a wave of their hand, the clothes reshape to fit you perfectly. Once you're dressed, the apprentice leads you into the hallways of Castle Thorne, prattling on about the kingdom, names of royals and nobles, and, of course, the reason why you're here: 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.

◎ Surroundings

Castle Thorne is where not only royals and members of the court reside, but includes the surrounding city itself. With autumn on its way out, the weather is frosty and in the distance, you can see snow-covered mountain peaks. Fortunately, the castle is enchanted to be at a comfortable temperature.

As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:

• The East Wing where members of the royal family and court reside is tightly guarded. At this time, you won't be able to go here - and the guards take their job seriously. The dungeons are also well-guarded, and newcomers will be turned away. You might hear rumors that the cells beneath are beginning to fill up.


• Apprentices, kitchen staff, guards - everyone seems to be bustling and busy. The air is tense, and you hear chatter of crop shortages for winter and something about scorched farmlands in Nott, the lakeside city to the south. As a newcomer, you won't know any different when you visit the buffet table, but those who are familiar with the extravagance of Thorne might grumble about the lack of quality and choices in food. The food is still excellent. It was just apparently even better before.


• There's equally talk of the Free Cities among the common folk, dubious truths or not: magic will soon be outlawed there, their army has great metal machines, and dissenters are exiled into the desert where they're left to perish. Attitudes range from wary to dismissive to disdainful depending on who you talk to.


• Word is that Thorne has close eyes on the Singularity, though it is difficult to find out more than that. Among some of the mages, this appears to be a point of pride or security for them as Thorne is the only nation who has the ability to monitor the Singularity's activity...though its effectiveness is up for debate.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the land, Castle Thorne and its surrounding city have much for you to indulge in.

Trail Riding
Thorne has beautiful trails for riding and many horses of fine noble stock. Each horse is well-groomed and well-trained. No matter your skill level, the stablehand will help you find a horse. There are a few trails that take you around the castle city, ranging between an hour to a half-day's ride with a stop for a packed lunch and to enjoy the view: beautiful snowy mountains rise in the distance, lush gardens with glowing ponds make for great resting spots, the city has several taverns and bookshops, and of course what would Thorne be without its potion shops? Take a friend if you wish to see the sights with some company. Or maybe you run into a new face while riding? Be sure to return the horses in proper condition! One or two trails are unfortunately closed due to soldiers on patrol, a reminder that all is not well despite the idyllic scenery.

Magic Lessons
Regular magic lessons are held by apprentice mages as part of their training, usually involving learning to cast a small spell. These classes are for the natives of Thorne, but you're welcome to join if you wish. The spell they will be teaching is conjuring a white ball of light that will illuminate the space around you for about an hour. It functions much like a candle, but without the risk of fire. The spell relies on Academic Magic which involves a few words said correctly. You'll likely need a few lessons to grasp it unless you're well-versed in magic already. In the meantime, the class of fresh-faced students means there's a constant bright explosion of light coming from the practice room as the spells fail. It isn't dangerous, but it can be annoying.

Evening Banquet
To improve morale, Thorne has pledged to hold a banquet now and again. One of these will take place as the new arrivals come through, and you're free to join at your leisure. If you don't have the appropriate clothes, you can ask one of the mages to conjure you an outfit or approach one of the existing Summoned to help you dress. The banquet is not overly extravagant, but it is a nice party with fine food, wine, and music that seems to come from nowhere. If you're here to make friends (or enemies), this is a good place to start.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Castle Thorne, the portal is a short walk around the back of the castle. You can enter Nocwich freely and explore what's available in Oleuni Square, although you won't be able to leave the Square nor will you be able to exit into another faction's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other factions, take in the sights, and - if you've come by some money or a generous soul - even make a few small purchases. Inns are available for a fee if you want to stay overnight. Otherwise, you'll need to return home through the portals each day.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready to rest, you're shown 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).

Although you can leave the castle, you can't leave its surrounding city with the exception of entering Nott via portal in order to assist with rebuilding or visiting Nocwich's Oleuni Square. Borders are especially well-guarded right now due to the recent attacks. Besides, Castle Thorne gives you everything you need: fine clothes, great food and wine, massive libraries, and all the magic and knowledge you could want. Isn't that plenty? You won't be given money as you're provided for, so if you want to do some personal spending later, you'll have to find a job in the city on your own.

Welcome to the Free Cities

Dry warmth hits you at once as you're set on a hard floor of dull ruddy stone. 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 is a raised pedestal with a card bearing an Arcana symbol.

A guard covers you with a simple robe and returns to their place in the semi-circle. Before you stands another woman, dressed in a more elaborate and decorated uniform than the others. A sword rests at her hip. She carries an air of authority as she approaches you with a nod and a warm smile. "Sorry about the circumstances. Take a minute, catch your breath. 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 robed mage off to the side approaches to help you up. 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. You'll learn you're in the Cadens Desert Outpost 003, a military base on the outskirts of the major city of Cadens. You're told the world is in delicate and dangerous times, and you're needed to help. You're important and they're very grateful you're here.

◎ Surroundings

While you're currently at the outpost just outside of the city proper, Cadens on the whole is a large bustling city. Temperatures have cooled but the climate remains hot and dry - during the day, at least. At night, they'll plunge to near freezing. Look to the west and you'll see a long stretch of desert wasteland. This is the infamous Badlands. The soldiers don't recommend going out there unprepared - you're likely to face a slow death to the elements or be eaten. Reaching Cadens is possible by wagon, a trip of about 2 hours each way. You're asked to return by sundown for your own safety... but no one will chase after you if you don't.

You'll be given a military style uniform with your Arcana stitched on it where a formal rank would normally be. As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:

• Soldiers are still recovering from the attack on Libertas, where some were stationed and were injured in the rain of fire. Others have family and friends who are missing or wounded. The rising dead not long ago didn't help. While they're no longer lumbering around, corpses that crawled from their graves are in the process of being reburied.


• Among the soldiers, anti-Thorne sentiments are high. Thorne seemingly destroyed one of their cities on a whim, civilians and all. Rumors abound, true or not: Thorne is run by a Mad Queen, dissenters are fed to the frost wurms in the mountains, and some of their mages perform gruesome blood rites. Nonetheless, many also aren't eager for war. They worry for their comrades and friends.


• Cadens itself is even more chaotic and crowded than usual. Refugees from Libertas are now in Cadens, seeking temporary shelter and struggling to rebuild their lives. Discontent can be felt around rising food prices due to shortages. The shelves of some shops are emptier than usual and not everything can be readily found.


• A particular inn and tavern stands in Cadens - The Sarstina - where natives say the Summoned are frequently found. They might point you there if you're looking for one of your own.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the land, the barracks and Cadens have much for you to indulge in.

Training Grounds
Non-lethal training weapons and obstacle courses are set up for anyone to use. The soldiers will be watching, and if you catch their attention they might approach you and encourage you to enlist. You're free to invite other new arrivals to spar, but be sure to keep things friendly and avoid trouble. Discipline is key in the barracks. If you're especially competitive, the soldiers will sometimes hold impromptu obstacle races with informal wagers made. They'll be happy to race against even the most unlikely of opponents, and you'll be judged more on your spirit rather than your skill. If you really impress them, they'll even buy you a drink.

Traveling Merchants
Word of new arrivals spread quickly to enterprising merchants. Many will arrive with samples of their wares, offering free things to try. These items include miniature pastries, trinkets powered by New Magic similar to those cheap flashing toys one find at a carnival, ales, fresh fruits, and healing elixirs. Not all of the elixirs are of proper quality. Some are akin to snake oil and might have adverse (though harmless) effects - take care not to accidentally turn your hair bright green or similar. All of the merchants will be gathered at a central point in the barracks so they'll be hard to miss. Maybe you can make a friend or two while perusing.

City Tours
The arrival of refugees from Libertas means tour groups have sprung up around Cadens to show these new folks around. Organized for free by volunteers, these tours are meant to help the refugees feel welcome and take their minds off the loss of their homes but anyone can join in on the walk. The tour will take you to one or more of the following places: the Hall of Natural Relics where you can look at the skeletal remains of various desert beasts, Portam Hall where you can observe the chaotic government bureaucracy of a large city (and the beautiful architecture), backstage of the Catterborough Theater ("The Cat") where you can meet some of the theater performers, and the Academy of Knowledge where you can attend one of its free public seminars (the topic of the month is on the various types of spiderwebs that can be found in nature. Exciting!)

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Cadens, the portal is a short walk away from the center of the city. You can enter Nocwich freely and explore what's available in Oleuni Square, although you won't be able to leave the Square nor will you be able to exit into another faction's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other factions, take in the sights, and - if you've come by some money or a generous soul - even make a few small purchases. Inns are available for a fee if you want to stay overnight. Otherwise, you'll need to return home through the portals each day.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready to turn in, the barracks are waiting for you. They 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. Each barracks room is rather sparse. Six simple beds set against the wall, three on each side of the room, each with a trunk at the foot of it. You can greet your roommates here, most of whom will be new arrivals, as well.

If you plan on making use of your assigned quarters, you'll have your basic needs met: uniforms, a roof, bland food from the mess hall, and access to the training grounds. You won't be paid unless you formally enlist with the army. The longer you take advantage of the barracks, the greater the pressure to enlist. Some soldiers will start to see you as a freeloader if you refuse to join them yet continue to use their resources. If you're set on not enlisting, you can always strike out on your own in Cadens - but you won't be provided for and handouts are rare. You'll have to work to earn every copper and loaf of bread. Whether that's honest work is up to you.

Welcome to Solvunn

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. An elderly mage stands before an ornate altar. He holds an old leather-bound book in one hand and in the other is a card bearing an arcana symbol. "I detect no ill will from the gods," he says. "It seems we've been blessed with success."

Those that had gathered all breathe a sigh of relief and now seem pleased. One offers you some clothes of leather and knitted wool that seem to fit you perfectly. A rough-looking man steps forward once you're dressed 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 center of the Primary Settlement. 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.

◎ Surroundings

The Primary Settlement is full of greenery, blessed with the fresh ocean breeze. Winds are moderately chilly with the occasional heavy rains that soak the farmlands. The scent of flowers fills the air. The shops, farms, and homes around you are all modest and unassuming. You get the sense that the people here prefer to blend in with their neighbors than stand out.

As you walk or look around, you'll be greeted warmly, even eagerly...though there's an edge of awestruck nervousness to some. Though the settlement is often quiet and calm, there's still plenty to take in:

• Farmers are still recovering from the events of October that led to failed crops, ruined livestock, and a massive loss in fishing. They'll be happy to receive any assistance: brush the horses, milk the goats, weed the gardens, churn butter, mind the children...whatever you can think of, you'll be needed.


• Those in Solvunn are reluctant to speak of the conflict between Thorne and the Free Cities in any depth. Their stance is that Solvunn is above petty grudges and violence. They are sorry for the loss of innocents in both nations.


• There are whispers of a shrine deep in the woods that took a powerful sacrifice. If asked, the natives will say that they do not know where this shrine is and that it's best to leave these matters in the hands of the gods' chosen, the Council.


• You're free to venture towards the ocean if you like, though heed the warnings of leviathans. These beasts do not stir near the shores, but if you look closely in the far distance - at night in particular - you'll see the water's surface bubble and roil beneath the moonlight.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the land, the commune and its settlements have much for you to indulge in.

Goat Racing
That's right. One of Solvunn's fine traditions is its regular goat races. Meant to be a bit of informal fun, there's a pen of goats where you can choose a goat, get a number, and simply join one of the starting lines. These goats are not trained so the race is less of a race and more pure chaos as the goats do what they please. Whoever eventually wrangles their goat over the finish line wins. The only rule is that you can't pick up or physically pull your goat, but you're free to cajole, lure, or even use a bit of magic to get yours to the finish line first. Winners receive small prizes of cheese, ale, wood charms, woven baskets, and other similar tokens.

Shrine Offerings
As a new arrival, you'll be encouraged to perform your first offering. This can be anything that feels right to you: fruit, wine, flowers, even an animal you've hunted. Whatever you choose, it must be retrieved by your own hand meaning you must pick the fruit, cut the flowers, or pour the wine yourself. You can travel to the shrine by yourself or with a companion. Once there, lay your offering and ask for a blessing through Solvunn's tradition of High Magic. Blessings are often made for the commune overall such as abundant crops or good weather. You will not see the effects right away, but you may find over the next day or so that the sun has cut through the rain. Of course, you're free to dismiss this as the nature of how weather works...but don't be too loud about it. Solvunn takes its beliefs very seriously.

Evening Feast
Potluck-style feasts are common in the settlement as a way to strengthen the community. You'll be invited to join in one of these feasts at any time, held outdoors in a lush grove filled with wildflowers. As a new arrival, you won't be expected to bring anything yourself but you'll make a better impression if you do so even if it's merely a few apples you picked in the morning. Want to help hang decorations before the feast? Your assistance is more than welcome! Place flowers, pin ribbons, or lay the tablecloths. The food is simple and hearty, ranging from stews, roasts, fresh bread, and puddings. If you're shy, someone will be there to fill your cups and plates if you won't do so yourself. Eat, drink, and be merry - it's what the gods would want.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Solvunn, the portal is a short walk away. You can enter Nocwich freely and explore what's available in Oleuni Square, although you won't be able to leave the Square nor will you be able to exit into another faction's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other factions, take in the sights, and - if you've come by some money or a generous soul - even make a few small purchases. Inns are available for a fee if you want to stay overnight. Otherwise, you'll need to return home through the portals each day.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready for your bed, you're brought to the center of town and escorted to an apartment above one of the establishments in town. The living conditions are temporary if you'd like them to be: the local families would also be happy to host you in their home. In return, you'll be expected to contribute to their household, taking upon daily chores and repairs. While money has its uses, many establishments and craftsmen are happy to barter with your time or skill for their goods. You'll find your willingness to trade and your friendliness with the natives more valuable than gold.

You can even leave for the other two settlements if you like, but you're encouraged to remain in the Primary Settlement. Just be sure you have an invitation to the Secondary Settlement. There are tales of travelers visiting the secondary settlement without invitation disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective.

Questions and Answers

If after reading these you're still unsure about anything, or your question wasn't covered, please feel free to hit up our Questions thread below!

How many slots are open?

Please check the Taken page for how many player, franchise, and canon slots are available. 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.

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.

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 nation?

In Thorne, characters can leave the castle but not the city. In the Free Cities, they can take a trip from the outpost to the nearest main city, Cadens. In Solvunn, they can explore the entirety of the Primary Settlement.

Can my character eventually change nations or kingdoms?

Yes, but tensions between the major nations are at an all-time high. Doing so is possible, but will require some plotting and discussion with the mods once you're in-game!

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). It will also affect your character's day-to-day life and development. Characters who seek technological advancements or combat will find more of it in the Free Cities while those keen on court politics and learning magic will have the most access to it in Thorne. Anyone who wishes to uncover the secrets of the Old Gods and forest mysteries will best do so in Solvunn.

This is not to say characters can't do these things from another faction - with effort and the help of friends, anything is possible! Don't get too anxious about your choice. This is just one of many, and every character in each scenario can work their way towards many individual goals and outcomes. Additionally, once in-game the Horizon will provide characters with a way to easily find cross-faction CR.

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?

Your Arcana sign won't have an immediate impact on your character beyond them seeing it on themselves or being told what it is by the locals. You're welcome to disregard those aspects in your prompts or try out different signs.

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.

If you're interested in threading with characters outside your borders on the TDM, you can utilize the Nocwich prompt which will allow all characters to meet in person regardless of arrival scenario.

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.

Can I try out more than one arrival scenario on the same TDM?

Yes, although only threads taking place in the arrival scenario you formally choose upon applying can count as canon. However, you're welcome to try out as many as you like on the TDM.

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Comments

Questions

[abraxasmods]

marc spector, marvel. | the tower. | free cities.

[enactors]

general/thematic content warnings and opt-out for marc/moon knight located here.

free cities

one
( it's late-afternoon, and the dark circles beneath marc's eyes speak of a consistent lack of sleep, whilst the evidence of marc's proclivity and propensity for violence is written across his face in the shape of a scar across his left eyebrow and a nose that bears evidence of being broken once, or twice, or perhaps more times; and in the faint, faded scars on his hands. it can be assumed that there are likely others, hidden beneath the clothes he'd been given upon arrival.

marc tends to live a nocturnal lifestyle — not because it's the routine his body drifts to naturally, but because it's the lifestyle most suited to moon knight. his very recent arrival has thrown all of that asunder, so it's no surprise that his first port of call upon finding the mess hall is: coffee.

he chooses a seat opposite another summoned, evident by the arcana present on their uniform instead of rank, whilst marc's own is the tower. it's not unwarranted and once marc knows more of the traits associated with each sign, he'll even agree with it, up to a point.

in the meantime, though— )

What happens if we're not back by sundown?

two
( it's been a long time since marc's spent any time in barracks and the experience isn't a wholly welcome one — a reminder of times past and a long-standing habit of making very poor life choices. time spent in his assigned quarters is relatively few and far between, almost wholly limited to sleeping — though hours typically kept at a military outpost don't play well with his over-several-years acquired sleeping pattern, and it takes him several days to show even any attempt to acclimatise.

(spoiler: he doesn't make much attempt at all. sleeping at night runs rather contrary to being the protector of those who travel at night, ya feel?)

for those who find themselves unfortunate enough to be sharing a room with an individual that, completely unironically spends his free time fighting crime in a three-piece suit and referring to himself as the high priest of khonshu — though, luckily for said roommates, neither of which he immediately jumps into indulging, primarily due to a lack of appropriate vestments, but also because he doesn't really know enough about what's going on — he'll be found in the room most frequently at sundown and sunrise. )

Sorry. ( a quiet apology offered in the early hours, when he realises his asocial schedule has meant he's disturbed one of said unlucky roommates. ) Nocturnal habits die hard.


( otherwise, marc can at first be found exploring the outpost in the evening and late at night, with coffee serving as his primary sustenance and breakfast at the mess hall serving as dinner. of sorts, anyway.

whilst he's used to weird and, more recently, is used to the quiet absence of khonshu, it doesn't mean that this is an easy adjustment. various lived experiences flow together to mean that marc has had and still has moments where he wonders just how real all of this is.

after all, despite being imprisoned by the aesir, khonshu has shown himself capable of both answering and helping marc, but here? nothing. there's nothing but quiet where khonshu's presence and voice should be, and marc's not quite sure if it means he thinks this is more or less real as a result.

khonshu and he may be estranged, but they were still father and son. god and priest.

the moon above, visible between clouds, has his attention until the sound of movement somewhere behind him, and— )

—Owl's noon. ( not so much a greeting so much an acknowledgement of company. he inclines his head a touch towards whoever's lucked out on being unable or unwilling to sleep and has stumbled across him. if they're from earth, they might recognise his accent — chicago, primarily, albeit with hints of new york. he'll pause, just for a second, before clarifying— ) Midnight. The start of a new day.

wildcard

( hmu at spandex if you want to discuss/plot anything! i'm totally open to other prompts and locations. )

two, latter (also hey u)

[counterstep]

( without any real reason to leave the outpost yet, he stays. his own discomfort with the pretense of being handed a uniform to wear doesn't sit well either, and while he does do well in trying to come to terms with the situation from the start, he's nowhere nearer to making peace with the thought days in, insomnia doing its worst and forcing him out into the dark. that he chances upon someone else isn't surprising, regular soldiers on patrol from time to time, but seeing the man idled, a whim strikes to investigate, give his wandering purpose instead of finding himself buried in his thoughts again.

the accent is familiar enough in a way that tells bucky quite quickly this is also someone new, someone who's found themselves dragged to another place and fitted into a foreign war. that he seems to also be from earth is more a bonus, here. )

That what they call it where you're from? ( genuine curiosity mixed with the underlying habit of gathering intel. his own brooklyn drawl isn't as strong anymore, but there are still hints of it underneath. ) Can't say I've heard it before. Even counting all the languages I know.

castiel | supernatural | the hanged man

[unwings]

✦ FREE CITIES

▸ aiding libertas recovery;

Damn. [ Castiel’s hands drop from a burn victim’s wound, where he’d be intensely focused, to the point it resembled constipation. Not wholly inaccurate - more so magical constipation. With his powers drained upon entry, a quick heal for this meteor attack survivor isn’t possible.

Why? swirls and burns maddeningly in Castiel’s mind as he assists however he can in the medical tent for recovering Libertas survivors. When last he was in this world, tensions were high between Thorne and the Free Cities, but the all-out decimation of an entire settlement didn’t seem anywhere near possible. The bits and pieces he’s gleaned from the medics and cityfolk don’t add up, painting the picture of an unprovoked catastrophe. Humans, even deeply malicious ones, rarely do anything purely without reason. ]

Forgive me, I'm afraid this’ll be quite unpleasant for you.

[ All Cas can offer is apology for soothing the wounded’s pain. The angel squeezes his patient’s hand before peeling away soiled, sticky dressing as efficiently as possible, setting to change it. ] I can’t imagine the loss and suffering you’ve endured, but the worst is behind you now. Cadens is a compassionate city, your countrymen are eager to welcome and care for you.

[ For all the sketchier things he remembers of the Free Cities, there wasn’t a lack for unity. One thing about humanity he’s always admired - their natural instinct to pull together, express empathy and give aid in the face of great tragedy. The same can’t always be said of angels.

Potions and medicine applied, Castiel’s ready to close up the fresh dressing, and turns to a figure behind him, pointing at a supplies table. ] The gauze, please. There.


▸ feeding refugees, aka return of the fish pockets;

[ The first time Cas found himself caught up in Cadens’ traveling merchant square, he ended up with pockets full of fish heads and a sundry of odd, sample-sized goods he had little to no use for. Most of the cache ended up in the trash. Now, there’s others more in need. After making off with his allotted lunch from the barracks, Cas takes a satchel through the merchant band. Visiting each one, sometimes twice (earning a stink eye for double dipping), he loads up on free stuff, then makes his way to the temporary refugee housing.

A mother with a gaggle of rambunctious children is struggling to mend a collapsed tent while keeping an eye on her litter. Cas holds his sack of freebies out to offer - uneaten lunch from the barracks, breads, toys, bits of fish (of course), candles and perfume samples, textiles, soaps, some bedding Cas was sure the barracks wouldn’t miss, all manner of things. Necessities or small luxuries, Castiel’s sure they could use both. ]

It isn’t much, but— [ Immediately, she tells him No, dear, I can’t possibly accept that, and Cas shakes his head, holding out the bundle again. ] Please, I don’t need it.

[ The mother fusses, insisting, with the recent shortage of supplies and food, he must keep it for himself. ] No, you misunderstand. I’m not lying to comfort you — I don’t eat. Or sleep, or sweat.

[ Either she’s too taken aback to protest, or finally convinced, but Cas manages to offload the goods into her arms. Now, for the tent, while the woman’s occupied with the armful of goods, and kids snatching to go spelunking through it. ]

Can you get the other side? [ Holding up one edge of the tent and a pole, he calls out to someone passing by, banking on basic courtesy they’ll be willing to lend a hand. ]


▸ the sarstina;

Hello?

[ Cas wanders into the tavern, making a beeline for the first patron set up at the bar, or manning it, or incidentally in proximity. ]

I’m looking for a man, he may not still be here — Dean Winchester? [ Cadens isn’t like home, not every person within their realm of activity will know the name ‘Winchester’ right off the bat. ] He’s six foot and one inch, 152 pounds, Caucasian, short brown hair, with green eyes.

[ however, that set of factoids might cover a good many of the Summoned, now that he thinks of it. ] Abrasive disposition, hunts malevolent supernatural creatures, semi-functional alcoholic?

[ Still too widely applicable? Maybe one more. ] Frequently seems to speak utter nonsense?

[ to you, person of medieval alternate universe origins. Cas gets it. At this canon point. ]

✦ NOCWICH

[ Oleuni Square is a sight to behold, dazzling and brimming with life, and Castiel’s drawn to every part of it like a moth with an attention deficit. By some strange twist of fate, regardless of how little he’s concerned with accumulating wealth, the angel ends up in a gambling den. Briefly, before being escorted back out. Who knew counting cards was illegal? It isn’t as if he meant to cheat, Cas just didn’t understand it wasn’t a function of the game. ]

It’s a rather large oversight, isn’t it? [ he asks whoever’s nearby when he’s roughly dumped outside, peeling himself off the sidewalk to sit in disgruntled confusion. ] Why design a game based around basic arithmetic if simple observational mathematics is outlawed?

[ Well, that’s a bust. Cas makes the rounds through the shops and stalls, pauses to watch some tattooing, and spends an awkward moment sniffing the yarn & woven items. He’s both fascinated and somewhat unsettled by the idea the shop keeper might’ve supplied the material from her own person. Castiel’s attempts to be inconspicuous are anything but, as he shuffles into the shop keeper's and some of the attendants' personal space, leaning in to get a quick sniff of each and match the socks he’s holding to one of them.

Finally, he arrives at the hot springs, either not taking notice of the minimal dress code, or not caring. After enjoying the ambient steam cloud, Cas steps directly in to one of the pools, clothes and all. Pacing until the water engulfs him, he sinks down to sit at the bottom of the pool.

For a long time. For too long of a time. Five minutes, ten minutes, more pass, and he’s yet to come up, no trail of bubbles rising from the depths around him. If one were to duck underwater and take a look, he’s seated cross-legged at the base of the spring, eyes closed, as if meditating. He’s living his best life, don’t mind him, just... watch where you step? ]

[ feel free to wildcard me or hmu at wuzzafuzzle! ]

▸ the sarstina;

[tobeclosetohim]

[ It's harder to say which one gets her there faster: the voice or Dean's name.

Relief is not a thing with wings; relief is a fist around your throat that blossoms so hard and so fast, disorienting you because it's not choking you, but prying your throat open, reminding you how to breathe not taking away your breath. Because Cas isn't gone, like Claire. Apparently, he just decided to faff off somewhere at a far too conveniently coincidental time.

(Unless that was what the Horizon did with him in all the fuckery.)

Jo's still walking down the last stairs, a sword in hand, initially headed for a solo practice outside. That surprise is a little more under the gun and the pressure of her palm by the time, she's calling out toward the bar, so the woman behind it doesn't have to answer him. ]

Took you long enough to show back up, Cas. [ She hits the bottom of the stairs with a tilt of her head, and her hand, which had been on her sword hilt, shifts to her hip. ] We might just have to have a party for your not being dead. Or whatever it is people consider gone here. Maybe leave a note on the fridge next time?

Natasha Romanoff, MCU | Thorne | Death or Lovers (undecided)

[widows_kiss]

A. Arrival in Thorne

[ The last thing she remembers is falling. It's the last thing she expects to remember, considering she doesn't have a lot of belief in an afterlife and that was even before she traded her everlasting soul for a rock that would save the known universe.

Being dragged out of a fountain, completely naked and without any of her weapons or belongings, does not win these "mages" surrounding her any brownie points and the only reason the one hauling her out of the water hadn't landed on his ass was she was too busy remembering how to breathe air. It only takes a glance at her surroundings and the man who calls himself a mage to reassure her that she's really not in Kansas any longer. In fact, she's never heard of any place called Thorne, and considering what little she can see here? She doubts they know much about her either.

At least they're hasty about fixing the 'naked' issue. The magic even dries her off, although the braid against the back of her shoulders still feels damp. Then the apprentice leads her off, babbling a bunch of random facts and explanations and names she files away one after another. Which is impressive considering how fast her mind is spinning right now, but she's always had a knack for picking up facts and information and with her situation so unknown right now, any information is valuable and a necessity. He doesn't seem to mind questions, although she bides her time, only asking one when the answers she can gain from it are needed to piece together the fragmented explanation she was trying to grasp. She was careful not to give too much away on her end, unsure if this apprentice's eager supply of information and answers was genuine or a trap of a different sort. Trust issues? Her?

The apprentice eventually ends his impromptu tour when they arrive at the North Wing. He explains the shared quarters and where she might find everything here and then opens the door to a large shared room holding four beds and leaves her to face the rest on her own. At least the room seems comfortable enough, even though it seems it provides little enough in the way of privacy. ]

B. Exploring

[ Fortunately the mages who had drawn her here - or whoever was controlling them - seemed pretty intent on providing for all their needs upon arrival. Which was surprisingly (suspiciously?) thoughtful of them and something she takes advantage of. She hadn't been certain of the magic they wielded here but when one of the apprentices lingering around offers to conjure her an appropriate gown for the evening festivities, she acquiesces more out of curiosity than anything.

At least she doesn't stand out so much now as she enters the Evening Banquet, determined to mingle and meet whoever else is here in the Castle. Especially other Summoned. Making connections here and finding out as much information as she can is the first order of business. She can't do anything until she has a better grasp on what she just got dragged into.

The next day has her exploring a little more outside the North Wing, slipping into whichever areas of the castle she can manage, perhaps even a few she's not technically supposed to be in, should the opportunity present itself. The magic lessons do catch her attention for a bit, although she just watches for now since she doubts this is something she can partake in. Not her area of expertise in the least, but that doesn't mean it's not fascinating to watch. And a little blinding. But that just means she might be easier to catch there spying on what they're doing. ]

C. Nocwich

[ While she doesn't venture outside of the castle too much in the days immediately following her arrival, the gossip about the portal opening up into Nocwich catches her attention. Especially when she hears people speaking of how the place is neutral ground for all three factions she's been learning about. Getting one of the pendants that allow her passage, Natasha is one of the Summoned from Thorne to travel through, stepping out into the well-lit Oleuni Square.

Still maintaining her original goal of gathering as much information about as many aspects of this new world as she can, she makes a point of exploring the Marketplace and the many entertainments this place has to offer. And once here, she starts keeping a careful eye open for any other familiar faces. Just in case. But it won't stop her from approaching strangers that pique her interest, seeking information on the other factions or on the inhabitants of Nocwich itself.

She has a lot of catching up to do. ]

D. Wildcard

(( Leave her a custom prompt or hit me up at chaneystarr with questions or ideas! ))

𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡

[stations]

( Natasha definitely blends in better brand new than Jack does, despite having been here for months at this point. Maybe it's because he's wearing the closest approximation to a hoodie one could find at the Medieval Times gift shop. Maybe it's because of the prosthetic limb he's sporting from the knee down on his right leg. Maybe it's because he looks like he hasn't slept in years, with dark tired circles under his eyes.

Or maybe it's because he has all the grace of a sack filled with cats and hammers; his good foot catches on the ruffled skirt of a table, and he stumbles, all but throwing a glass full of red wine at her. He's cringing before he even stabilizes, before a drop even lands. Eyes squeezed shut, like blocking out the sight will somehow keep it from actually manifesting into reality. Pure social awkwardness incarnate. )

Holy fucking shit- I am so sorry. I'm dead inside. Oh my god.

Rinwell || Tales of Arise || The Magician

[rinwell]

○ CADENS ○ A FAMILIAR REFRAIN, NO LONGER THE SAME

FIRST NIGHT - Desert Outpost Barracks

[ The exhaustion is unfeigned. At least that first night.

It isn't hard to pretend like she doesn't recognize Marlo, reeling as she is. But her escort seems more solemn, more serious as she's led to the barracks. Helps provide Rinwell with a small-sized uniform that matches those around her - she can get something more tailored in the morning, she's told, as the Magician arcana symbol is smoothed over.

She feels weak from the loss of astral energy, from the loss of her strengthened connection to Dahna and the magic of her world. So it isn't difficult to pretend that she's overwhelmed by her circumstances once she's in the barracks; she looks decidedly small and young, even if the mind ticking behind wide eyes is far older from experience. Said gaze is fixed steadily on a distant wall as Rinwell takes stock of her situation, oblivious to any other newcomers sharing the room with her.

Memory of her previous time here stir, settling back into her mind and into her bones, all while processing what she was told in the pool room. Her heart keens, missing her friends, her found family back on Dahna. They had so much work to do, the people of Ganath Haros needed them...But no, Rinwell is back here, again. And without Hootle. Again.

'Dangerous Times'. The words ring in her head. That's what Marlo had said. That...didn't match what she remembered from the last time she was here. What had changed? ]

Hey... [her voice croaks; Rinwell swallows, then tries again, rolling over on her cot till she can look at her neighbour. Hope you're not sleeping, friend.] Hey..! ..What do you think of all this?


GO TO TOWN - Wagon Ride To Cadens

[ Days later, Rinwell plays off being last to arrive when the wagon is hitched up and ready to head into Cadens proper. A fussy teenager, she gives an obedient (if huffy) nod when there's a reminder to be home for sundown. For once, though, she's not entirely sure the guard who gives the gruff reminder cares - how many times had they had Summoned arrive by now? Ones that left and never came back to sign up..?

She steps alongside the wagon, doing her best to scramble up into the cart proper, only to overbalance - and flail, hopefully not falling into (or hitting) anyone in so doing. ]

Woah! S-sorry! [there's an awkward laugh] A-hah um, mind if I sit here?


CITY TRAVELS

A. -- [ Once in the city proper? Rinwell will wait just long enough for the wagon to pass any guards before she's swinging her legs over the side and dropping out. Her landing's a little shaky, but once she's free, she's off, ducking between figures in the crowd. When one gathering in particular stands out, she slips in along with what she learns is a tour group. Of refugees.

She doesn't stick by their sides long; she knew these streets once. It's a lot busier now, if she's any judge. But there's something about the looks on people's faces, the mutterings under breaths. She never felt entirely safe here before, but now it feels like no one does. She doesn't like it.. The new merchants remind her of the ones from that sister-city she went to with Ciri once; some ply honest trades while others prey on passers by. She lacks any coin -again- to take advantage of any possible sales so she won't get much in the way of their attention, but that's all right. She has something else in mind: spotting a face, a figure, someone that doesn't quite fit in to her eye, she moves to intercept. ]

Ah, hey? Hey! [surprise! A short fourteen year old girl plants herself in your way.] Do you known how to get to The Sarstina?


B. -- [ Nocwich wasn't a place she had heard about the last time she was on this world. And she isn't very familiar with the concept of werewolves - some sort of sentient zeugle being? It sounds odd. And dangerous. But she's not about to let that stop her, not when there's the off chance she could encounter other Summoned from the neighbouring nations!

Would that she knew the sort of magic that makes this kind of place..

That pendant she's been given does give Rinwell pause too. It reminds her of the one left to her by her family, though it lacks the blue of her clan's colours. She ducks under an awning once she's been shown to Oleuni Square, making sure she's out of anyone's way, before staring at it absently, tapping it back and forth with a curious finger. Would that her artes worked again...She's so curious as to how the magical energy would feel. ]

Amazing.. [muttered, more to herself than anyone else] They really give these to just anyone..?


• WILD CARD •
[ Hit meh! I'm open for encounter ideas in both Cadens and Nocwich! Rinwell was previously in Abraxas for a spell, and has retained her memories from her previous visit, but Things Have Changed. :D ]

first night

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda couldn't sleep if she tried and Goddess, was she trying. She'd never go as far to admit that she had gotten used to sleeping on a cot (you couldn't exactly cart around a feather bed when you were traveling, and she wasn't expecting the Church to shell out new mattresses for everyone despite her best efforts) but she had made strides.

But that was all before she had been pulled butt naked out of a pool into the middle of an unfamiliar desert. Her body was exhausted but it was her mind keeping her awake that night. Just when she thinks she's about to drift off, a voice from beside her pulls her back. She sighs, eyes fluttering open before rolling over to face the direction of her neighbour who she can't make out very well in the darkness of the barracks. ]

You might have to be a little more specific about that. There's a lot going on.

hilda valentine goneril | fire emblem: three houses | free cities | the lovers

[theidlemaiden]

— Tʜᴇ Sᴀʀsᴛɪɴᴀ

[ This has to be a dream. Hilda has wracked her brain over the last several hours for any other explanation as to how she's currently in a tavern full of strangers with an ill-fitted military uniform and without a lick of make-up on. Lysithea playing a prank on her could have been a possibility, but from Hilda's limited knowledge of magic, conjuring a whole world seems like a lot even for that little powerhouse. So for those following along at home she hasn't come up with any other possible explanations.

As a result she's been functioning mostly on autopilot. Smiling, being friendly when spoken to, observing more than she lets on - but otherwise a little sullen for Hilda standards. Normally a whole new city to explore would have been absolutely up her alley, but it's hard to indulge in that when things at home were less than peaceful which also seems to be the case here. Coming to a new city and finding out that it's also in the throws of war and a food shortage? It doesn't exactly scream tourist vibes.

But she works with what she has and what she has is her charm and a hair tie she 'borrowed' from someone in the restroom. She slides right up beside someone either at a bar or a table; really anyone with a drink or some food in front of them would do. Surely someone at the tavern would feed a delicate flower like her that's wasting away, right? ]

Hey there stranger, any chance you'd be willing to get a newcomer a drink? Or some food? I like sweet things if that helps narrow down the choices on the menu.

— Cɪᴛʏ Tᴏᴜʀs

[ With her fill of shopping complete, the logical thing is partaking in the next free thing that Cadens has to offer: a walking tour. Hilda tells herself it's to get better acquainted with the city that she hasn't quite accepted yet, but if she's being honest with herself it really has more to do with hoping that she'll spot her friends here. But at the rate things are going she'd even take familiar faces so long as they weren't completely hostile towards her.

She isn't used to the warmth of a desert sun but she's managed to bat her eyelashes enough at a soldier at the market into buying her a sunhat to protect her head and face from the heat making this whole experience a lot more pleasant than she'd normally find it. There isn't much need for it in the Hall of Natural Relics, but she keeps it on anyway in an attempt to feel like herself.

Some creatures look like ones that she might recognize from Fodlan, others not so much. One particular creature has caused her to lag behind the rest of the group as she tries to make heads and tails of it. ]

If you only had an eye as your face, how would you accessorize that?

— Nᴏᴄʜᴡɪᴄʜ

[ There were few things in Hilda's life that she found couldn't be fixed with some shopping. Okay maybe fixed was an exaggeration, but at the very least it distracted her from this strange new world. What sets this experience apart is that she doesn't have money at her disposal to do shopping with - but that won't stop her from window shopping. With a pendant secured she boldly steps through into Nochwich and finds a vastly different landscape than the desert she's been acquainting herself with.

The marketplace brings her a sense of joy and she eventually arrives at a stall filled with sparkly baubles and accessories which is definitely up her alley. A lack of money won't stop her from offering compliments to those milling at the stall also admiring certain accessories. ]

Oh, that would look amazing with your complexion! [She reaches for another similar looking one holding it out to the stranger beside her. ] You could try this one out too.

— Wɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ

[ Hit me with a random prompt! If you'd like to chat about it first, hit me up at Hilda's DM. I'm also open to matching prose or brackets. ]

( city tours )

[politicians]

[ elrond ponders this momentarily, a soft curl to his smile. his ears are hidden by a cloak. ]

Perhaps with a deft brush and some ink, you could enhance the look of the eye.

elrond | rings of power | temperance

[politicians]

( i. castle thorne — trail riding )

[ what is there to be said of a new world? elrond's fingers itch to put it to word, but he knows he has yet to explore, yet to feel out the boundaries of this place. and there may not be boundaries at all. everything is so fresh and bright, he finds himself smiling as the stablehand passes along a horse. elrond whispers to it softly in elvish and the horse's ears prickle with delight, twitching. he turns to whoever is close by with a gentle smile. ]

Would you like a ride? I would welcome the company.

[ and he adds, after a beat. ]

And I do not think my friend here will mind.

( ii. free cities — city tours )

[ the thirst for learning takes him all over. he visits the shrines, he peeks into the magic classes, he talks to the staff with a patient and kind demeanor. and of course, now he visits the hall of natural relics. elrond puts no judgement forward, but he finds himself strangely uncomfortable in this hall where the bones of creatures are so neatly preserved. historical purposes, the guide said, for learning. he finds his fingers drifting to his own pointed ear (covered by a cloak) before dropping it sheepishly and speaking up to whoever is nearby. ]

Do you feel the same way? That we must treat creatures this way in order to study them?

( iii. nocwitch — main square )

[ sense dictated he keeps his cloak up. he has seen no elves, though there seems to be many kinds of creatures here. still, elrond knows it may not be safe and thus, pulls a cloak over his head to disguise himself. he visits the performances, heartily clapping away and even visits the gambling dens briefly, more to chat than to win (though his luck holds out. he has a decent poker face).

then he bumps into someone and he quickly apologies, but the cloak slides off, revealing a distinct pointy ear. elrond hastily pulls it up once more. ]

I hope this can stay between us. I'm a newcomer.

( iv. wildcard )

[ got a prompt/idea in mind? please pm this journal to discuss it ]

nocwich - main square

[unwings]

[ in all honesty, castiel's met so many creatures with varying sets of ear shapes, he couldn't put a finger on what exactly elrond's ears are meant to suggest, but the elf does make a clear point of covering it swiftly. curious, and it pings something sad in him. ]

Discussing strangers' ears isn't a habit I make, so I imagine it will. [ your ears are you business, friend, cas is hardly one to care about non-humans in our midst. ]

Are you concerned you'll be discriminated against?

henry creel | stranger things | solvunn | the hierophant

[vecna]

SOLVUNN.
ARRIVAL

[He remembers thunder rolling overhead, streaks of lightning searing across the alien sky, and the smell of burning ozone stinging his nostrils. He remembers a dizzying fall, careening until direction meant nothing, confusion, and pain. The harsh clawing of panic pounding in his ribs, not knowing what would happen, where he was, how long he would be like this, until—

Until there’s nothing. Just cloying darkness, an abyss in all directions, and he’s floating instead of falling. His lungs burn for oxygen until he thinks he will drown, but then a hand bursts through the void and grasps his wrist, pulling him into the light.

Henry’s world had been little more than different versions of prisons before then: a creaking old home, a cold and yawning lab — but there, sopping wet with strangers coming to clothe him, sunlight rippling in too many directions at once, that scope had widened by infinite degrees. The breeze is bracing, and the grass, swaying beyond, is too green. And he’s overburdened with questions and confusion, all of it a hair’s breadth away from becoming violent, but the answers come eagerly from bright faces, and he, too, begins to realize that his reality has suddenly expanded far, far larger than it ever has been before.

He’s welcome here. He’s important. The gods, apparently, have blessed them with his arrival.

Once he's let loose, the first thing he does is seek out another Summoned, eyes raking across them with assessment, before asking-]

How long have you lived here?

"GARDENING"

[A local family is quick to take him in; a concept that straddles the line between unfamiliar and unwanted, but he accepts their graciousness with a polite smile, all the same. This generosity is transactional, at least, which seems to be the theme of this quaint little countryside community, and Henry’s already put to his first task: weeding the garden.

Said garden is overflowing with tall, leafy plants. He crouches in the dirt and pushes oversized leaves aside, seeking out little weeds sprouting near their roots, and pulls them up with dirt collecting beneath his nails. A group of children, playing outside, wander up to him.

They pester him with questions. He’s a Summoned, isn’t he? Tell them about his world! Play with them! Henry gives them a tilting smile.]

And why would I want to do something like that?

[They make faces at him, groaning and pouting. He considers them with blue eyes.]

How about a trade: I’ll tell you all about where I come from if you help me with my gardening.

[“His” gardening, sure.

Smash cut to fifteen minutes later, with a gaggle of children crouched in the dirt, yanking up weeds, and Henry overseeing casually nearby. Young ones are always so predictable.]

A DOWNPOUR

[The very moment it starts to rain, though, it’s a downpour. And the children, so diligently plucking away at weeds, suddenly scatter as though it were acid instead of water. Henry watches them dash away, shielding his eyes against the sudden rainstorm — in mere seconds, he’ll be soaked through. The water’s already sweeping loose weeds away in rivulets of mud.]

Children will be children. Some loyalties are paper-thin.

[—he says to another poor fool caught in the rain, wandering by.]

GOAT RACES

[How did he get here? Who convinced him enough, wheedled him enough, twisted his arm enough, to make Henry Creel participate in something as asinine as a goat race? Some mysteries will never be solved.

But here he is, stuck with an easily distracted goat, imploring it to come closer. His usually soft-toned voice is lilted with tamped-down impatience, calling out to it.]

Number seven— [He doesn’t know its name, he didn’t ask. He knows the number of the pen it was assigned to, though; what an irony.]

Come here. Listen to me.

[The goat stares at him blankly. The ridiculousness of the situation suddenly strikes him, flaring in his chest, twisting into a vague irritation as another set of goats bumps into his leg, vaguely jostling him aside. Henry lets the mask slip momentarily, mouth twisting into a frown, and he reaches out to test at powers that have not yet returned — arm extended, fingers curved, almost claw-like, at the animal that refuses to listen to him.]

Come here.

[Moments pass. Nothing happens. The goat moves not one inch.

Baa.]

NOCWICH.
THE MAIN STAGE

[Henry has less appreciation for music than most, for reasons he prefers to keep to himself. But the main stage, reserved for (often musical) performances, makes it difficult to ignore the sound and spectacle sweeping through the square. Currently, a group plays a high-tempo song, their energy spilling into the crowd as they dance across the stage. The air pulses with the beat of their composition.

And Henry, standing in the back, says airily:]

Terrible, isn’t it?

[Rude?]

FOOD VENDORS

[There is one thing that he appreciates far more than music: food that doesn’t taste like it was whipped up in a laboratory, nutritional but not much else. One section of the square has a whole line of vendors hawking their wares of different types of wine and foodstuffs on display.

He hates appearing overeager. But the arrangement of food is almost dizzying in variation and scent, and he is absolutely making his way down stall to stall, collecting a whole array of things to eat with a strangely intense degree of curiosity.

Alternately, he’s scrutinizing something you have, half-eaten or otherwise, with that same questioning look, unspoken.]

(( feel free to send me a wildcard prompt if you like! you can PM me or hit me up at aurajen if preferred! ))

( nocwich, main stage )

[politicians]

Is it?

[ perhaps a little different from what elrond is used to, but that is what made it so intriguing. he wished he had a quill and parchment to write down his impressions. ]

gaby teller, man from uncle | death | free cities

[myownwoman]

◎ surroundings — the sarstina

[ tugging at the collar of the universe, gaby perches at the bar waiting for her drink. the uniform isn't terribly uncomfortable, not unlike her all in ones at the garage, but she still feels like she's been dressed up like a dolly all over again. military barbie. better than scampering around in heels anyway.

her eyes flicker around the tavern, but she doesn't see solo draped across the bar flirting with the woman tossing out drinks or a silent, hulking russian giant, so it looks like she is alone.

she nurses one drink for the entirety of her evening, keeping mostly to herself but watching her surroundings and listening to everyone else's conversations despite looking rather disinterested herself. ]

◎ exploring — training grounds

[ at first glance, gaby just looks like a svelte, petite young woman who could be pushed over with a harsh wind and that is exactly what she wants people to think, like she is fragile and should be protected. it worked for her last time, so she's going to stick by it but it does mean she has to talk to people to engender that protective instinct.

she slips closer to someone on a break from some sort of training, whether it be weapons training or otherwise, big brown eyes wide and guileless. ]

Can you do that again?

[ her accent is melodious and german. (totally, definitely german! not swedish pretending to be german because they gave up trying to force a german accent on ikea. she is german, is what i'm saying.) ]

◎ settling in — the barracks

[ gaby keeps mostly to herself, paying attention and calculative, but quiet for the most part. she's used to sitting on her hands for a long period of time and keeping her eyes open as the pieces fall into place around her. she'd spent two years more in east berlin than she could have because she'd agreed to turn spy for waverly. this isn't the worst situation she's found herself in, at least the stasi aren't here.

if someone does engage her in conversation she won't backflip out of the room to escape, it's only that she tends not to initiate the conversations herself. she looks up when someone introduces themselves. ]

I'm Gaby.

◎ wildcard

( go where your heart takes you or pm me if you'd prefer another scenario )

the sarstina

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda had been doing the opposite of Gaby and found herself endeared to a group of tipsy soldiers who were more than happy to shower a new arrival with doe eyes in drink and food. She had been in situations like this before back home but this time she has the blessing of anonymity on her side; the Goneril name meant nothing here which meant she had to rely on well, herself.

But now she's been saddled with too many drinks and a plate of extra food that she definitely can't finish. Hilda spots the slight brunette ages ago and by the time she extracts herself from the soldiers she's still there. Without so much of a second though she heads over, smiling as she offers up her spoils noting what she suspects is the same cup from before. ]

Interested in some extra food and drink? I'm stuffed and can't sit through more military talk.

Alicent Hightower | House of the Dragon | The Tower

[chainedqueen]

Thorne - Trail Riding

[Given the attire that seemed standard for new arrivals, it gave more ease to activities that Alicent might otherwise avoid. Riding wasn't something she often did (and was rather poor at), but it was a better way to explore than on foot. Seated side saddle, she tried to maintain her prim image despite what she was wearing. No matter where she was, she must see to her duty.

Finally riding (or rather trotting) across the trails, she felt herself ease a little. The anxiety at her arrival, the fear for her children left behind and what Viserys might think, disappeared to the back of her mind. It would likely torment her at night, but this small joy of freedom and beauty of her surroundings helped lighten her mood.

She even smiles at any who pass her, remembering her courtesies:]

Good day. I hope you are well?

Thorne - The Library

[Alicent felt the absence of her books from the Red Keep, the histories she loved and the stories that both educated her and entertained her. Knowing there was a library in this castle was at least somewhat comforting, though she doubted Nymeria's travels would be there in the stacks.

There was at least some tomes regarding the magic of this world. She knew very little of magic, only what was spoken of about the Targaryens. There had been talk among her family about alchemy, but no Hightower in recent generations had attempted it.

Perhaps it was that connection to her family that pushed her to explore possible alchemy books? Some link to home? Regardless of the reason, it was fascinating and absorbed her attention. She didn't even notice she was in the way, blocking another from the shelf they apparently wanted.]

Forgive me. [She was startled out of her daze, realizing her rudeness.] Please, take what you were looking for.

Nocwich - The Marketplace

[Tunics were a bit scandalous for a queen so used to gowns. There was an ease in wearing pants, but she was becoming more and more anxious about her legs being so bare. True, no skin was showing, but others would see her thighs and calves covered by cloth. It affronted her modesty.

The lack of coin though impeded any wish that she might purchase a new gown.

It might only frustrate her, but she still perused the shops, lingering to look over the clothing on display. There had to be a way to get coin, as the smallfolk did in King's Landing. It was a bit demeaning, but it was necessary and she was determined to survive.]

What work is there? [She glanced at the stranger near her.]

Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with your own prompt. If you want something specific, pm me and we can discuss it.]

the library

[ushiri]

[ The man looking at the shelves is a little over six feet, probably in his late 20s or early 30s. His dark hair tied back and out of his face. His clothing is new but plain, not marking him as servant or someone of high rank. ]

It's alright.

[ At her apology he takes a step back, cocking his head to one side. ]

Is there something you're looking for? Maybe I can help.

[ Even if it's just to reach a higher shelf. ]

Felix Fraldarius | fire emblem: three houses | Free Cities | the magician

[bloodnbattle]

Arrival

[This whole situation was taking a long time to wrap his head around, not that that wasn't to be expected, it's not like passing out and ending up in some foreign land was a common occurrence. No amount of threats or demands seemed to get him any answers beyond that they needed him he and they were glad he was here. For now, he was treating them with suspicion and looking out for more of these so-called summoned to see if there was anyone he could get real answers from.

If there was any place that Felix would feel comfortable after being dragged into a strange world it's the training grounds. He finds himself there more often than not picking up a training sword and challenging whoever volunteered...or looked at him funny. In true form he wins almost all his fights, easily earning the respect of the soldiers around him. They keep asking him to enlist but he is hesitant. He just came from fighting a war, he wasn't so keen to jump into another, especially in a place that gave him no say and took him away from home. What loyalty did he have to them? Still, he always felt better with a sword in hand and someone to spar with so that's where he is spending most of his time.

After years of fighting a war, the barracks seems a sort of luxury that Felix isn't used to. At least it's not a tent in the middle of the field. Without anywhere else to go Felix settles in there, for the time being, trying to make nice with the fellow summoned that seem just as lost as he is. Being friendly isn't really something he is good at but the strategy is and he figures making friends will benefit him in the long run. So he tries to channel his best friend as he strikes up a conversation with the nearest person. ]

The Sarstina

[ He eventually makes his way to Cadens with a few of the soldiers he's been speaking to. They briefly show him around and point him in the direction of The Sarstina. A tavern isn't his usual scene but he's been told this is where a lot of the summoned gather and if he has any hopes of seeing someone he knows this will probably be the place. He has some coin he won off a few soldiers so he makes his way to the bar and orders a drink while taking in his surroundings. It's a lively place but not too crowded so he settles in for the time being until he needs to catch his ride back to the barracks for the night. ]

Nocwich

[ If it were up to him he would spend all day every day in a practice ring with a sword. But he lets a few people drag him reluctantly to Nocwich when it opens. He's not really grasping that this is a big deal since he just arrived, but everyone seems excited to be visiting the area. He spends the day wandering the square, popping into shops to look around even if he has next to no money to spend, just enough to grab lunch and find an empty bench to eat at.

The one thing he does let himself indulge in is the hot springs. Being in the army he got desensitized to seeing other people undressed, so it doesn't make him bat an eye as he settles down into the hot water and feels his muscle immediately start to relax for the first time in days, maybe even weeks. He stays there longer than he means to indulge himself because who's going to know? ]

Wildcard

Have another idea? Feel free to start your own prompt, or to hit me up at courtings to discuss. I will also match prose or bracket!

The Sarstina

[philancer]

[ He's been hanging around the tavern ever since the first new faces started showing up in Cadens. Just in case. Most seemed directed in this direction, he'd noted, remembering he'd had the same, when he first arrived. He's hoping, if anyone familiar shows up, that they'll be found here.

Even though he's not very optimistic about it. He volunteers for a few more shifts than normal, just to have an excuse to hang around and also something to keep him busy. He's actually finished for the night and had been back in the kitchen getting his things before heading out. Stepping out into the tavern once more, he calls a farewell to the bartender taking his place before heading for the door. And then freezing, his head whipping back around, certain he'd been seeing things.

No, wait, was that...? ]

Felix?!

halbrand . rings of power ; the tower

[imillion]

( ooc; definitely will have some spoilers involved, but i will keep the starters more vague for now (please let me know if you want me to avoid any); i’m pulling most recent events, experiences, etc from rings of power, and infilling the gaps with the written lore! )

THORNE ( possible starting location)

a. EXPLORING
( the darkness is oppressive near as much as it is familiar, even when it is not. it feels viscerally wrong in a way he cannot readily define, and the glimmer of light overhead is simply a guiding star without the real substance of light behind it and it leaves his hunger, his anger, equally unsated as he is pulled from the marble well.

it is a lack of control that sets his mood to sour, to seethe up from the floor and be told to calm down and the twist of his mouth is unimpressed. ambrose leaves an impression that neither inspires nor pacifies, something that tells him volumes of what he needs to know without seeing any further. he leaves the hall eagerly.

the first thing that does catch halbrand's interest here, amidst the ringing of senses, clouded and exhausted, is the mention of the singularity. some object of power that inspires a curiosity above the station of a humble smith or a fabled runaway heir to the southland crown. it is that interest that first finds him in the library, paging through a book that gives him little. )

( the pocking and prodding for information does not stop at the library. it continues until he finds himself looking at a magic lesson, with crossed arms and leaning against a column, on the outskirts of this training ground.

he seems to watch the movements carefully, how the light dances on their hands. ) It lacks heat, ( he remarks, almost idly and from quite a ways away from the actual caster, even as the failure leaves lights dancing behind his lids every time he blinks. whoever is within earshot is told, amicably: ) One must wonder, what other workings are possible.

I. SOLVUNN ( possible starting location)

a. EXPLORING
( there is something to be said about second chances. there’s quite a few things that have been said, in fact, throughout century upon century and the irony does not escape his notice.

numenor’s forges offered him a peace he had searched for longer than anyone could know. anyone except one, perhaps, a sum of similarities and differences spanning across light and darkness in equal measure.

halbrand had been told that they were happy he was here, dragged from his realm as he was, from middle-earth over to this place that had no name he recognized. that it, too, faced dire peril. that the gods have graced them with who they've summoned and he’d nearly laughed then and there. their world is at threat, and they call upon him, amongst the many others? if nothing else, the gods had a sense of humor this rowan march was missing by a broad mile.

instead, halbrand sets off through the settlement streets. his eyes linger on the the locals, or perhaps another summoned and on the stalls, until he snags the attention of another. ) Excuse me, ( he drawls, with a smile that implies comfort and ease, despite the strange circumstances. ) Might there be a smithy nearby?

b. SHRINE
( the need to sate his curiosity, above all else, is what pivots him towards the shrine. there's two apples in his hands, one of which he's chewing on instead as he walks, followings the trail down to this shrine of theirs. ) So, ( languid and a little too disconnected to be made to think as though he cares for their blessing in full faith, posed to whoever may so be on the same path, ) Who are these old gods anyway? ( how old can they be? )

NOCWICH

a. EXPLORING
( a place of night eternal. he was not unused to darkness, but even so, it was in such loud dichotomy to the one he has known. the city was alive in ways that nearly reminded him of the evenings of numenor, of the idle chatter around filled with drink and conversation. he first finds himself within the gambling den, and leaves with far more coin than he came in with and a smile that might tell a particularly astute observer that a slight of hand was played just as easily as the gamble itself.

then, he finds himself by the main stage, overlooking the performances, the ringing music that chimes through the square and there is a satisfied smile that curls his expression. his fingers toy with the teleportation pendant, chain coiled through his fingers, hanging from his wrist. ) Three days a month. That is all we are allowed? Pity. ( near as he could tell, this nocwich lacked the divisive nature of the rest of the cities here. it was tempting to stay here, and away from the conflict. inevitably, regardless of where he had been summoned to, he would be dragged into the storm. it made him wonder if it was ever a choice. )

( ooc; or wildcard it baybeee. if you have any preferences, want to avoid spoilers, or just want to touch base for any reason, hit me up with a pm or berezka!! )

( thorne, a, spoilersss )

[politicians]

[ he hadn't wanted to believe it was true. not because he had any real connection to halbrand, forgotten king of the southlands. but because galadriel had seemed more like herself, more certain, more surefooted. less afraid of drowning. it was her tear-stung face that elrond witnessed that made him find the scroll. to realize what she had learned.

and now here he was. was it anger that coiled in his gut? perhaps. galadriel was dear to him. ]

To wonder without purpose or to wonder with a specific purpose in mind?

cyno | genshin impact | justice | free cities

[cashewlater]

free cities: arrival

[ well, this is certainly new.

cyno has found himself in strange situations before, but awakening in a pool of water, stripped of, well, everything? unexpected. they say he is needed here, a plea which does not land on deaf ears, and yet, cyno can't help but feel torn. cyno's strong sense of justice and protection leads him to want to lend his aid, but.. he's needed at home, also, they're about to make their move, about to free the archon, and cyno cannot afford to be away for long.

but what can be done about it? right now, not a thing, and so he must begrudgingly accept his current fate. he won't make a fuss, but the tension is clear in his face as cyno moves across the sand on bare feet, still in the robes he was given when he climbed from the pool. at the very least, the sight of the desert is.. familiar, the hot, dry air comfortable against his skin. this is what he's used to. ]

free cities: traveling merchants

[ cyno isn't particularly fond of his military uniform, and he immediately strips off the overcoat and opens up several of the shirt buttons, tugging uncomfortably at his collar. he isn't used to wearing so much, nor clothes that feel so confining, but he'll make do, for now..

at any rate, he soon finds his stomach growling, and there seem to be some handy merchants right here, ready to give away some convenient wares. cyno plucks up two apples, some water, and... this. or a techy, steampunky version of a similar toy. he's so entranced by it as he's wandering away, that he runs straight into.. you! the water toy drops into the sands. ]

Oh. [ a beat. ] I'm sorry.

nocwich: the stage

[ nocwich is a far cry from the desert in terms of aesthetics, but it gives him something to do with his time, and a chance to explore the things available to him, so here cyno is!

the stage is what lures him in, with its bright colors and interesting music. such things aren't commonplace in sumeru, and while cyno wouldn't consider himself a patron of the arts, it's still.. nice. not bad. he could see himself enjoying things like this, every once in awhile. cyno doesn't sit, but instead stands behind the seats with his arms crossed loosely over his abdomen.

eventually, he turns to the person beside him and asks, with a completely straight face: ]

Why is grass so dangerous?

[ indulge him at your own risk.. ]

wildcard

[ feel free to tweak one of the above prompts, or contact me via pm or plurk owlcoholic! ]

nocwich

[assembles]

[ Steve is passing through more than anything else. He isn't intending to stay and watch an entire show, but he does pause behind the seats for a few seconds. He has time to kill until Tony and Strange are done, but only so much.

That's when someone turns to him and asks a question. Steve takes in the young man and his long silver hair. He's seen that on a few other Summoned, but that's doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Besides, he's a bit more baffled by what he's being asked. He stares for a few seconds, blinking as he wonders if he misheard.

Not likely, but... ]

What was that?

james buchanan barnes | mcu | the hermit

[counterstep]

still deciding on starting faction, so please pick a flavor.

the free cities.
— BARRACKS.

( he may be in a foreign world, but the familiarity of military fatigues sets a tone the soldier isn't particularly keen on. maybe having just arrived, his thoughts should drift more toward his first stint at camp lehigh, but instead he thinks of london, the howlies, and how returning to the front was the beginning of the end. does this too spell a similar fate?

the talk amongst the regular soldiers illustrates yet another selfish conflict, and once more he finds himself dragged into a war he doesn't truly wish to wage. nightfall does little to assuage, and rather than take to resting, bucky finds himself outside the main door, the lingering expectations of the whole affair weighing far too heavily in the air within the barracks itself.

for the first time in a long while he feels his fingers itching for a cigarette, missing the taste of rationed tobacco. in lieu of better distraction, he's soon pacing back and forth along the wall, trying to empty his head and failing. call it error, if one must, but his choice in distraction proves too consuming, evident as he rams clumsily into someone leaving the build as he passes by the doorway, not having heard over the noise in his own head. )

—shit—

( he stumbles, bracing for the wall and looking to steady the new arrival if needed. )

Sorry. That. ( a sharp, deep breath drives the alert back into his nerves. with a sheepish wave of his hand, his gaze finds the darkness further out. ) Wasn't a great first impression. Wasn't paying attention.

( he steps back, then, offers more room for personal space and waves them along. )

— TRAINING GROUNDS.

( the lack of any blades available doesn't particularly come as a shock when the reality of welcoming waves of strangers into an active encampment could spell quick disaster, should one grow restless and turn their sword against their captors. regardless, bucky had long learned how to make do even from early childhood.

while he'd felt an odd sluggishness in his movements since waking from the summoning pool, it's not until he's timing regular strikes against a practice dummy that realization dawns, the serum no longer in effect. in just five minutes, he finds himself winded, trying to outdo his natural agility again and again only to fail progressively. even nearby soldiers begin to sense a strange aggression building around what might otherwise seem like dutiful training and start murmuring amongst themselves to steer clear in case of volatility.

not that they would know better. bucky isn't that person. never was. but all the same, he's no less distressed at the turn. the minute hum beneath the vibranium hadn't sounded off either, but the punches no longer hold the same weight they should.

after thirty minutes of this nonsense, he wants to shout angrily just to burn off the adrenaline. instead, he circles the dummy like a beast would captured prey, aiming his ire at the physical object as if it might be the cause. it's when he reaches the side that he catches sight of someone else who's arrived in his periphery, and for better or worse, finds a new target. )

Wanna spar? ( the words are rougher than they ought to be, tinged with something hungry in spite of a clear exhaustion set in his shoulders. )

solvunn
— PRIMARY SETTLEMENT.

( the soldier can't imagine what he'd done to find himself somewhere beautifully idyllic again, but he can't think to complain despite the call the action that his arrival requests. he's been asked to help before, and he's good at it, so what else is really new about this?

after an hour of wandering the roads, carefully cataloguing away the shops, farms, and houses, an odd sense of belonging settles in his chest. for all the brutality he's faced, to find peace in the midst of a world in strife renders comfort he can't quite describe, and he's reminded of wakanda. this could work. even someone, he is no one. he could thrive here.

humbling as it is, he falls naturally into step with the pace of his surroundings. offering the occasional greeting as he passes one person or another, an echo of a smile lingers against his lips. and should the other pause, he has but a simple question to ask. )

What do you do around here?

— GOAT RACING.

( given the expanse and wilderness of wakanda, interaction with others tended to be limited while he resided there, even when the children had come by to visit, but the goats he had kept provided him with regular companionship, a fair share of antics for entertainment as well. with fond memories of the creatures, when he learns of this delightful tradition, he doesn't hesitate to ask how, when, and where, eager to see for himself and even participate.

soon enough, he's shouting and laughing with the other contestants, trying to use every trick in the book (without magic) to steal a victory. he doesn't succeed, but still driven by the good nature of the sport, goes to congratulate the winner once he can grab their attention. )

You were lucky, ( he teases with a grin. ) I was so close to beating you.

( he hadn't been. in fact, goat number five seemed much more interested in gnawing at blades of dried grass through the fence rather than moving anywhere close to the finish line. )

free cities; training grounds

[monomachy]

[There has been a marked change in the soldiers around the barracks and training grounds since the last time Diana came 'round. Tensions are high, of course they are, but her keen ears pick up more uneasy, hushed conversations, more talk of enlisting the Summoned into the military for the inevitable conflict with Thorne. Inevitable, they say, and as each day passes and the already thin relationship between the two factions continues to wear away, she begins to believe that they are right.

The thought hangs heavy on her heart, and as she often does, she dons her soft leather armor and seeks the training ring to lose herself in the familiar steps and forms that have become a home for her over the past few millennia. But she doesn't quite make it in peace; as she nears the ring, she hears the rumbles from the soldiers loitering nearby. That Summoned looks like he sat on a chaigon. Never seen one come out of the pool that pissed off. She adjusts her course just so--curious, and a little worried. The arrival process isn't easy on anyone, she knows that from experience.

Who she finds matches up with the soldiers' mutters, and she watches him circle the dummy with a hunter's eyes. Or maybe those of a cornered animal, all teeth and heaving lungs. It's hard to tell from this distance. Then those eyes land on her, the invitation (if it could be called that) a rasp in his throat. Diana surveys him for a moment, considering. He's tired, that's clear. He shouldn't be out here, not so recently summoned.

But she also thinks she knows something of what he feels, the urge, the need to move for movement's sake. She had been little better until her own strength had returned. So she nods, and unbuckles the belt with her sheath and pouch, looping it over the nearest pole surrounding the ring. The soldiers will leave it be; they know her, and that she would search for it.]

Yes. [A simple, curt answer. She walks, unhurried, into the ring across from him, and takes her stance, feet planted and arms raised. She inclines her head slightly, giving him the first move.]

John Blake | The Dark Knight Rises | Faction Undecided | The Tower

[oversight]

/// FREE CITIES

[ Important. Grateful.

The words as they're delivered sound as if they might entice a less critical ear, but when that gold-tiled pool births forth John Blake, he comes out as suspicious as he is naked (and twice as mad). He certainly isn't convinced. And isn't it convenient that they suggest he holds his questions? Either someone's heard of him and knows what to expect (questions), or it comes up a lot. One doesn't need to be a detective to know which, but it probably helps.

Upon seeing the barracks, the institutional half-dozen beds, the uniformed clothes and shared bath facilities, even exhaustion can't drive him into that bed. Instead, he hops a wagon to Cadens. He's told he needs to be back at the outpost within a few hours of the sun going down. For his own safety. More to darkly ponder upon. And honestly? Good luck with that.

It's a couple hours to the city and fending off the exhaustion nipping at his heels requires Blake to engage. He's average in height, average in build, average looking, and while he certainly does normally carry himself quite authoritatively, here and now his only interest is appearing as inoffensive as possible. Quiet, but not timid. Stoic. ]

STEADY, AS HE GOES_
[ He still doesn't know how or why, but he has a who and a where. That's a start. The what becomes a bit more elusive. In the meantime, even the passive downtime of this trip doesn't have to be a total loss in his quest to gather information. ]

You made this trip before? What should I expect to see out there?

[ He asks whoever will answer. His Gotham accent is clipped - city-like, as if he's been living double-time his whole life and just doesn't have time enough to waste on words. Beyond that, his close-cropped hair (typically styled) sits a short, dark mess atop his head, recently faded in some professional's chair. The color isn't far off from his eyes — dark and dark — and the circles settled underneath don't help his approachable appeal.

He's (probably) nicer than he looks. ]

A WHEEL PROBLEM_
[ Those who might not otherwise engage will find themselves coupled with a repair task on the trail to Cadens. The wagon, having thrown its wheel, requires more than just the driver's attention, especially with plenty of desert creatures nearby to make things that much more difficult.

Expression tight, Blake scratches at the back of his hand as he considers the wagon. ]

Think we're gonna need to create some leverage. A rock, a board—

[ Glancing up, he squints at the high midday sun as something large screeches and circles overhead. Wonderful. ]

And we might also have to worry 'bout that.

ON THE TURNING AWAY_
[ The run-down part of Cadens really draws his time. He's there more than once, taking in the haphazard structures, eyeing the social dissonance. It could be worse — so much worse — but that people struggle at all sets his resolve starkly. They had said he was important. Was this why? Was it because they knew all it took was enough time for him to really open his eyes before he'd be committing to the good fight and every lost soul around once more? Anyone keeping similarly open eyes may notice that every time John Blake returns to this part of town, he brings someone something someone needs: food, a piece of clothing, tools. How he gets them might be as mysterious as his motivations. ]

If I give you this, can you make sure it gets passed out?

[ Hands full with a heavy crock, he's made some soup with a bit of food he'd scrounged — mostly vegetables – and now he's trying to pawn it off on someone else for the distribution. ]

/// NOCWICH

DROP THE GAME_
[ Should anyone wonder what it's like to make a career of sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, one should need to look no further than Blake. With every inch he's given, he takes a mile or more in his pursuits. Beyond tracking the murmurs surrounding political intrigue (which Blake has translated to mean propaganda at the expense of others and used to line someone's coin purse) he's tempted into places where he might belong and plenty where he might not.

It's much later — dodge after dodge on what he assumes is a short timer (followed by a short leash) — that he finds himself perched in the midst of some raucous action in one of Nocwich's gambling dens. With a coin he'd found along the way, he picks something that doesn't involve cards — knucklebones – and holds his breath through the first win.

A half-hour after he takes the seat he hasn't made a ton of money, but as far as he can tell he's earned at least enough to get him some clothes that will help him feel more like himself.

He's cheating! a particularly fanged individual accuses, and Blake's incredulous turn to offer his best what the fuck are you talking about face is met with the crash of someone who just can't believe the odds. Coins fly, bodies tumble, and it could be worse, but the surge of people around him tells Blake that there's a better part of valor necessary here.

He only manages a quick grab — a half-handful of the coins he'd won (fairly, he reminds himself) — before dumping out into the street. Almost immediately he pockets the coins without counting and takes on a casual walk as if nothing from the darkness might come up behind him (so there's no reason to care or look).

He's just about feeling he's dodged a(nother) bullet without extraordinary measures when two large be-furred residents come collecting. A sigh escapes him and upon turning to face them, still walking backwards, trying to walk away, he pops up his hands to implore peace. ]

I admit, I'm a little too smooth-shaven and alive to belong, but I swear I wasn't lookin' for trouble, just a fair game. Don't be a sore loser.

[ Surely someone has told him not to taunt the werewolves. ]

/// SOLVUNN

GOATEST OF ALL TIME_
Hey, would you—

[ The sharp whisper is hushed and punctuated with effort. ]

Stop that, I told you—

[ It comes from an area hidden (not well) by whatever constitutes as cover. ]

—you can't do that—

[ The voice, deep and stressed, belongs to none other than John Blake, a city boy trying very hard to pretend he's not amidst the idyllic atmosphere of Solvunn. In an effort to do so, though, he's found himself utterly wrapped up in a mess of rope and knots and one very patient but hungry goat.

It bleats in Blake's ear as he tries to duck under one length of rope only to find himself more tightly wound. The goat nibbles his collar and Blake grumbles. ]

Let's hope no one finds us like this because neither of us're gonna live it down, eh, Penelope?

[ This goat looks like a Penelope to him. Too bad Penelope is more likely to be Pierre instead. ]

WILDCARD_

[ Pretty much anything goes! I am especially attracted to "yes, and" scenarios where we can just go ham. Blake is a particularly good foil for damn near anyone, I promise you this. And you will never quite know what to expect. You will especially win my heart if we can 1.) skip past introduction threads (I can give a primer at any time); 2.) include comedy in our thread; 3.) start in the middle of literally any kind of action and see where it takes us; 4.) show me anything you find unique about this game. Beyond that, I could just really use some good old cooperative fun. ]

---

OOC— Prose or Action Spam | PM for Plotting/Starter Requests

NOCWICH

[widows_kiss]

[ Natasha has been amusing herself with exploring around the little Square, keeping out for any familiar or interesting faces, and generally learning and experiencing as much as she can. She'd witnessed the confrontation in the gambling hall and the quick retreat of the dark-haired man from the location when things got heated. She also didn't miss the two hulking figures that tried to subtlety slink out after him.

They weren't, in fact, very subtle about it at all.

Well. It's not like she was doing anything else at the moment anyway and this looked far more interesting. So she slips out after them, trailing them as they trail their own target and unaware they've got a follower of their own. Sloppy.

Still, the stranger's attempt at diffusing the situation has a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she listens and then steps into view behind the pair of thugs. At least dividing their attention should make this a little more fair. ]

I suspect it's come looking for you regardless. Aren't you the lucky one?

Sam Winchester | Supernatural | Free Cities | The Hermit

[outwear]

this stinks

[ Sitting on the edge of a bed in the barracks, Sam Winchester stares down at the single trunk afforded him, his hands clasped together, his knees bobbing. He's trying hard to reconcile getting here, but as with so many instances in his life, the surprise has long-since been ruined. It's not the first time he's woken up (revived?) in a strange place with no really memory of how and it certainly won't be the last. And the number of times some mysterious faction has needed (and been grateful for) his help? Ha! He's had fewer birthdays.

Just another day in the family business.

Across the room are three more beds and in the five minutes that Sam's been contemplating his thus-far long and complicated life three others have arrived. They go about their business in such a manner that Sam wonders if maybe he's not the only one who's sort of used to this kind of thing.

Looking around him, he sees the beds on either side of his own haven't been taken. ]

What? Do I smell?

[ He asks with a laugh. Even if they're clearly not meant to stay here long, the last thing Sam wants to do is make things uncomfortable for everyone. Or, maybe it's the first thing he wants to do since this is the question he asks. ]

chicken shit

[ It's only after Sam leaves the outpost and begins a little earnest exploration that he comes across the training grounds and feels a bit more at home. Perhaps it's not the kind of place he's used to — just a bit too Skyrim for his tastes – and given the choice, Sam would choose against violence, but while lumbering through, he can't help but think that if there's anywhere a person like him is going to find a little bit of home, it's here.

Hunters, fighters, martial masters – they all exist in similar realms and for Sam's whole life he's seen these types default to the comfort of the sword, the pike, the fist. Hell, going as far back as mankind itself, people have been gathering together to make themselves (and consequently each other) that much more efficient against each other. It makes sense.

Settling against a nearby surface, Sam is watching some distant action. A pair of swords clash, their practitioners appearing quite skilled. He's really just minding his own business when he puts a foot down and something scurries from underfoot and rustles around behind him... only to immediately come back for revenge. ]

—hey! [ Sam yelps, all six-foot-four of him taking an impressive cowboy kick to the right. Hair a-tumbled, he breathlessly freezes to stare down the offender. There's a wild look in Sam's eye, something that says he knows he's made a mistake.

Buk, it says. ]

Now, hold on. [ The large man implores, hands coming up. He's backing away. One step, two steps. Buk-buk. Things are calming until— Buk-kawwww! The chicken complains, wings flapping as it pops up into the air and then descends from on high to begin chasing after Sam. ]

Oh shit!

[ Sam Winchester, everyone. A veritable giant among (most) men, immediately turns tail and runs. Like a chicken shit.

(Has no one yet told him you just don't mess with the chickens?) ]

nocwich

[ Someone had called it a nexus point – a place of gathering where access and political affiliations don't hold as much weight – and being the kind of person to always try a door to see if it's locked, Sam dons his provided pendant and makes the trip through the portal in the manner he'd been advised by a wary but helpful local. Nocwich, from what he's been told, isn't quite like the other settlements, a fact that is quickly solidified when he comes to realize it lives in eternal darkness.

It figures, he tells himself, knowing what he does of the fabled masses he's told belong. It hardly seems worthwhile to consider the greater implications – vampires and werewolves are commonplace where he's from — and when he contextualizes the magic he's seen and the portals he's been pulled through, it makes sense. Still, it keeps him wary, guarded, observant.

He wanders through the market stalls when some commotion catches his attention. From an earlier primer, it was suggested that altercations in the square are uncommon, but the longer he watches, the more it seems things are destined to get out of hand. Ear bent towards the two figures, Sam doesn't catch much of what's being said, but years of hunting tells him that the flaring tensions may not be quenched even when cold-doused. ]

Hey, are you sure you wanna do that?

[ As he asks, voice deep, he absolutely addresses those posturing individuals. Both turn to glare and while it's not the exact answer he was looking for, Sam's satisfied to have at least distracted the pair from what seemed like an imminent altercation.

An awkward laugh issues forth as both begin advancing and Sam adds: ]

Are you sure you want do this?

[ Because it sure does seem like for both of these individuals, the enemy of their enemy is their friend, and suddenly Sam is the target of their combined aggression.

Perhaps someone more diplomatic can explain how little harm is intended here. Or perhaps Sam will find himself in trouble (again) for getting involved when he's told himself he wouldn't. ]

wildcard

[ Pretty much anything goes! I am especially attracted to "yes, and" scenarios where we can just go ham. I haven't been able to fully read everything there is to offer in Cadens, but if your character knows of a great spot and you'd like to introduce Sam to anything in that manner, it's highly encouraged. You will especially win my heart if we can 1.) skip past introduction threads; 2.) include comedy in our thread; 3.) start in the middle of literally any kind of action and see where it takes us; 4.) show me anything you find unique about this game. Beyond that, I could just really use some good old cooperative fun. ]

---

OOC— Canon Point: Season 9-ish | Action or Prose | PM for Plotting/Starters

Nocwich, gonna skip introduction as asked ;)

[hextechhead]

[ Jayce usually takes advantage of the Nocwich opening so he can talk to the smithing merchants and learn more about the special metals Luna offers, since he's been making more items from them. Also it's a great chance to meet up with his Horizon-only friends, so he always takes advantage. He's chatting amiably with one of the merchants when he hears conflict break out nearby and glances over. His instinct too is to smooth things over, but he spots the person in the midst and hastily excuses himself.

Jayce doesn't live in the inn with the others but he's there frequently and he's friends with Dean, so he met his brother in passing when he first arrived. Jayce is the Summoned blacksmith, the go-to guy for weapons and armor, and he often makes things for people before they have the coin to spare. It's tough to navigate when early, he knows that all too well. ]

Hey, he was just trying to help you out.

[ Jayce stands out as a very tall and broad man, although he handles tense situations much easier with a warm smile. He moves next to Sam which evens out the situation from 2-1 to 2-2. ]

There are guards nearby, best to move this somewhere else, right?

[ They do hesitate at that; keeping the peace here is strictly enforced. ]

Rhaenyra Targaryen | House of the Dragon | The Devil

[politicalheadache]

Arrival: Thorne

[Rhaenyra spends her first day deeply disoriented. It is strange how the surroundings are both familiar and not. It is similar to visiting a lord’s castle but somehow also intensely different. The world is not her own. The fire in her blood feels dimmed somehow. Muted. Though perhaps that is simply the absence of Syrax, which she feels keenly.

She dresses in the clothes they supply her, honestly quite pleased to be offered a tunic and pants rather than a dress. Perhaps it is that which inspires her to explore, curious, though she knows she should be demanding to go home. She has duties to attend to.

Marriage duties. Which she would actually prefer to ignore, especially after her disaster of betrothal feast. She doubts very much Laenor is in a hurry to fulfill them, either.

So she explores the castle, actually enjoying the freedom of walking the corridors unrecognized. She takes note of the heavily guarded areas, though she is not terribly surprised to learn the areas in question are the royal family’s residence and the dungeons. That is to be expected, especially if there is unrest.

She can also takes time to listen in on various conversations about crop shortages and scorched farmlands, finding something nearby to linger over until the conversation turns to something more idle. If she is going to have to stay here, she may as well learn what she can.]

Trail Riding

[Once she has fully embraced her curiosity she finds herself drawn, inevitably, to the stables. She can ride a horse as well as she can ride a dragon, and it is the perfect way to explore the grounds. She informs the stable hand of her skill level and he brings her a lovely, lively mare. She takes the reins, taking a moment to let the horse nuzzle at her.

She rubs the horse's neck, a small, wistful smile playing at her lips.]

You are certainly no Syrax, but you will do for now, I think.

[Then she will mount up, and steers the mare out to one of the suggested trails.]

Magic Lessons

[The magic lessons do capture her attention and curiosity when she stumbles upon them. Her own family has a long history with magic, although they no longer practice the rituals that bound them to their dragons. Not since the Doom. But there is no need to, the magic is in their blood now and will remain so.

Still she cannot help but wonder about the magic being taught here. She observes some of the lessons, intrigued, but not making any attempts herself. At least not yet. If she notices you nearby she may ask:]

Anyone can learn these things? Truly?

Nocwich

[A city shrouded in eternal darkness certainly sounds ominous, and hearing of it Rhaenyra can’t help but think of the prophecy her father told her about. Aegon’s dream. So, when she gets there she is surprised to find it bustling and lively. Surprised and pleased, if she’s being entirely honest. It’s exciting, a little like her night out with Daemon but less clandestine.

She fiddles idly with her pendant as she explores, sticking mainly to the marketplace, browsing the various wares that the vendors have on display. Sadly, being newly arrived means she has little in the way of coin, so she is forced to stick to browsing. Eventually she finds herself at the main stage, enjoying some of the performances. She finds such things much more entertaining when she herself is not the one being focused on and ridiculed.

She laughs, letting herself enjoy the moment and applauding the musicians who just finished a performance.]

I thought they were quite good.

Wildcard
[If none of these work, feel free to hit me up with something else! PM or talk to me at etceteras, if you want to hash stuff out first.]

nocwich.

[gynvael]

[ The performance is not the reason Geralt is in the crowd. He's here because someone owes him money for a job. Someone who's apparently made themselves scarce. Which is a nuisance on two levels: one, he'd like to be paid, thank you; two, he's now left holding a pair of strange glowing red-hued antlers.

It's. Fuck. It's fine. He can foist the thing off on a merchant instead when the show's over. At the moment, he's locked into the crowd. Unless he wishes to gouge out an eye or seven trying to push through the audience with these antlers. He'd rather not. Seems ill-advised.

In any case, the woman will find she's speaking to a man who looks more like he's waiting to get out of here than indulging in a show. He glances at her sideways first, before turning to look at her in full. His gold eyes don't quite shine in the dark, but there's an illusion of it from the moonlight. ]

Could be worse. The last one fell off the stage. [ Is that true? Maybe, maybe not, but Geralt is eternally deadpan all the same. ]

Zoey Westen | Original Character | Hanged Man | Thorne

[pythianwoman]

[Zoey is a seer, who sees things about people, be it past, present, or future. It can be flickers, or full blown scenes/snippets. As well as picking up on things about them. An in-depth overview of her powers I wrote up for a previous game is here. Please let me know what she can pick up on about your characters!]

ARRIVAL.
One minute Zoey is asleep in a hotel bed and the next she is waking up suspended in the abyss, surrounded by darkness that stretches on for what seems like forever. It’s not a dream; she knows what her dreams feel like, knows what portents and visions feel like and this isn’t it. She’s fucking awake. And somewhere else. There’s a pinprick of light above her, slowly getting closer, and she realises that she’s gazing up from the darkness she’s suspended in through water

What the fuck?

Her search for her dad is going to have to wait. A hand plunges into the water and she takes it (she’s not stupid), letting whoever it is yank her out before she drowns. There’s… nothing, no flicker of images or knowledge and it solidifies what she’s been feeling. Her powers are gone, or near enough; so weak she can scarcely sense anything. If she focuses she can still feel them. Gods, let them return.

Breathless and tense (ready to run), she takes in her surroundings. And the fact that she’s naked and sprawled on the ground surrounded by a bunch of strangers. Not fucking ideal but okay. She’s glad when they finally hand over some clothes. That fit her perfectly and that isn’t weird at all. (No, it’s absolutely fucking weird.) There’s something behind the fountain, set into an indent on the marble slab; a card, with a symbol on it.

You’re completely fine, the leader says; Ambrose, he says his name is Ambrose. She begs to fucking differ, she’s not fine AT ALL, but she holds her tongue. She’s not going to let on even the slightest clue what she is to a complete fucking stranger. (No, she’s pretty sure letting it be known that she’s a fucking seer would be the worst possible idea. Not that she’s ever done anything but keep that close to her chest.) Let alone a stranger who apparently has played a part in bringing her here. Wherever HERE is.

She makes note of all the information being rattled off, filing away names and information about the kingdom for later. Talking about how tales of her exploits have ‘reached far and wide across the universes’ is CONCERNING but she laughs it off with a “Pretty sure I haven’t done anything of note that it would spread across whole other universes,” spoken in a voice laced with an English accent. England by way of a few other places, anyway.

Look, she’s perfectly normal and human and powerless in every way. Honest.


SURROUNDINGS
Zoey heads into town as soon as she is able. To learn the lay of the land of this place she’s found herself in. Meet the locals; the ones that DON’T live in the castle. Listen to talk and gossip and see if she learns anything interesting. See if she sees anything interesting. There’s a feeling of… something that she can’t quite put her finger on. Her powers are still so weak that she can barely sense anything at all. A low, humming sense of… danger? Something. It reads mostly as tension. But she’s certainly on edge a little. Some of that is because she doesn’t expect all of… THIS, to come without strings. (And if her powers would return to their proper strength, she'd have better warning of it.)

They want something. More than what they claim immediately on arrival. The problem is that she doesn’t fucking know WHAT. Not yet. Or maybe she's just a cynical, suspicious bastard. Either way, she needs to explore, and learn. And visit the library.

Which she does, of course. Spends ages sitting in a corner with a pile of books, a journal and pencil at hand as she scribbles notes in her own particular brand of shorthand. Sketches drawings of things that might be important. “Sorry,” she says with a wry little laugh if someone happens to choose the other chair at the table in a far corner that she’s settled in at. “I’ve kind of taken over. I can move some of it, though.”

She spends time listening, too. Making notes of the whispers and murmurs going around. Those that live in the city, work in the castle, she listens to them all. Without actually appearing as such. Interesting. Something’s happened, recently. Talk of the shortages, and the scorched farmland, and someplace called the Free Cities.

And talk of the Singularity. Zoey wonders if she could meet it. (Why she thinks of it in those terms she can’t say. She just… does.)


EXPLORING.

trail riding.
Hell yes she goes for a ride. It’s been… a while, since she’s been horseback riding, and she’s missed it. The stablehand finds her a beauty of a horse, with a shining grey coat and black mane and tail. She’s a beauty, and spirited, and Zoey spends few moments making friends with her, before mounting up and heading out. Riding like she's been doing it for ages. She chooses trails at random, making sure she’s packed provisions just in case it takes her more than a few hours.

She aims an easy, friendly, playful smile should she come across someone else riding on the same trail. “So. What do you think of this place? It’s got a hell of a view, at least.” If you don’t mind the fucking kidnapping.

magic lessons.
Zoey’s never really had the ability for magic; although she’s not actually. Bothered to try. She’s got enough on her plate with one set of powers. And is not in any hurry to add more to her plate. Back home, anyway. Here is another story. She’s in a fantastical realm where magic and everything is REAL. It’s not just a seer, being sorely out of fucking place. So she can’t help but sit in on some lessons.

She’s never had the ability but she’s well-educated in the theory behind it. The science. (She’s read enough stories and played enough Dungeons and Dragons.) So she catches on quick, twirling the ball of light gracefully in her hand. “Okay. This is kind of fucking great, I have to admit,” she says with an amused laugh. “No heat, just light. I wonder if it’s possible to… alter the spell, though. Adapt it. And its uses.” So there WAS heat as well, or so you could attach the ball of light to a wall as an improvised lamp. Or throw it at someone to blind them for a quick escape. Turn it into a flashbang grenade. Or something like it.

Nocwich.
A realm shrouded in darkness and home to werewolves and vampires? Sounds like a fun time. And it sounds like access to the land only opened up recently. So it’s easy to put on the pendant she’s been given and go through the portal. They’re only allowed in Oleuni Square, but it’s more than enough for Zoey right now. There’s plenty to explore.

She wends her way through the market, eyeballing the wares, and making note of things she might want to buy once she’s gotten a little coin to spend. (Which, once she spends some time in the taverns in Thorne, shouldn’t be much of a problem.)

“Oh, that’s gorgeous,” she murmurs softly, reaching out with a gloved hand to brush her fingertips against a necklace that looks like woven vines and flowers.

When she’s not wandering the shops and stalls, she’s indulging in a soak in the hot springs. She’s not modest in the slightest, stripping out of her clothes and slipping into the hot water with a contented sigh. Nudity reveals a tattoo , a flowering vine winding from her right ankle all the way up to the top of her shoulder. “Come on in, the waters fine,” she says, should anyone come to join her.


SETTLING IN.

roomies.
It’s been a long time since Zoey’s had roomies, but it looks like she doesn’t have much of a choice, here. She’s not super fucking keen on it, either, given how often her visions tend to come in dreams. With lots of shouting and screaming and in general just a whole lot of noise. She’s trying to keep the whole seer thing to herself, and the tears of blood are kind of hard to explain away as nightmares. Doesn’t mean she won’t attempt it, but she knows the likelihood of anyone actually BELIEVING her to be probably fairly minimal. Maybe she’ll be lucky and the bloody tears will save themselves for when she’s alone.

She claims an available bed at random, picking one in the corner. The curtains are… something. A modicum of privacy. Or the façade of such, anyway. She might hang around long enough to meet whoever it is she’s rooming with before heading off to meet others. Maybe see what those who have been here longer than she has might have learned.

It’s how she learns about the symbol embroidered on her clothes, the very same symbol that had been on the card by the fountain. The Hanged Man, they tell her. The sign of outsiders and outcasts, which is fucking hilarious. But sort of suiting all the same.

When she’s back in her shared room, she can’t help but lounge on her bed with the curtain drawn back. In case one of her roommates might happen in. She should probably get to know them a little. “This reminds me of college,” she murmurs with a laugh. “Before I got a flat of my own, anyway.” She hopes that moving out of the castle isn’t frowned upon, because she doesn’t know if she can do the whole… roomies thing for any extended period of time.

Nott.
There’s a portal to another city, so of COURSE Zoey’s going to go. They need help rebuilding, and she wants to learn more about this faction she’s found herself a part of against her will. So she goes, and she helps, and she listens. She always listens. And learns.

And she explores, too. Learns a little bit more about the magic of this world. Mostly because she doesn’t trust the authority in the castle to fully inform her on the subject. (She doesn’t trust the authority in the castle at ALL.) She’s never had the ability, not that she’s really tried, back in her world. She has ONE set of powers that sets her apart from everyone else. She didn’t need to add more. And there’s the academic magic they’re teaching in the castle. But here, she hears about something called wild magic. And honestly it sounds way more fucking interesting.


WILDCARD.

[Choose your own adventure! Or hit me up for slightly more plotted shenanigans. Either PM or message me at ThriceWiddershins.]

Caityln Kiramman, Arcane | Strength? | Free Cities

[preferscuffs]

I - Let's investigate. (Exploring)

IA - Traveling merchants
[Caitlyn isn't really sure about the logic behind her being brought to this place. Surely any help she can provide someone else could just do as well. Not that it matters, because she's here now and that means she might as well make the best of it. Which means exploring the city.

Which is often hampered by the merchants eager to ply her with their wares. She's more than happy to nibble on the pastries, fresh fruit, and even the ales. The Elixirs though, are met with cautious. She's familiar enough with such things to not want to dabble in them lightly. If Caitlyn ends up with a little vial of perfume that smells of violets? That's her business. As it is, she's once again waylayed by an elixir merchant, there seemingly being some sort of rivalry on who'll get her to try one first. As the vial as pressed into her hands again, she offers the merchant a pained smile, still trying to refuse]

No really, thank you. I'm very honored, but I'm afraid I couldn't accept.

[Looking around her with careful eyes, she spots someone walking up and uses it as her chance to slip away. Turning to greet them like an old friend (whether they are or not) in hopes that maybe this will finally dissuade the pushy merchant.]

There you are! I was growing quite worried. Well, let's be on our way.

[She turns back to the merchant, offering a polite smile.]

I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid we must take our leave. I wish you well.

[And then she's taking her new found accomplice by the hand and walking away with them. Leaving no real time for argument. Anything to get herself out of this sticky situation. Once the merchant is out of eyesight, she stops walking and let's go, sighing quietly.]

I see some things are quite common everywhere. I'm sorry about that, but you've been a great help to me.

IB. Training Grounds

[If there's one thing she's learned recently, it's that her physical mobility isn't anywhere near as good as it could be. Same for her stamina. Lagging behind Vi like that had honestly been quite humiliating. So Caitlyn is more than happy to take advantage of the training course - working on her speed, her reflexes, and her general maneuverability. Feel free to run into her struggling around on the course as desired.

But outside of this, she's quite happy to set herself up at a shooting range to familiarizing herself with the rifles here, if she's going to be useful this is probably where her usefulness is going to be after all. And it's not long before she's finds herself in competition with the person shooting next to her. Her pride as Piltover's finest might be on the line even if she's the only one thinking this. Still, she can admit when someone else is good and after a particularly nice shot she admits so out loud.]

Excellent shot.

[Setting the rifle she's been using down, she angles towards them for now, intent on conversation. At least here she can get by on her own merit and not because she's the daughter of a councilwoman. So many less expectations here. It's almost refreshing.]

These have a bit more kick than I'm used to, but they're not bad.

II - Best put on another pot of tea. (Settling In)

[Despite her career as an enforcer, a member of Piltover's police force. Barracks aren't something she's familiar with. She's always lived at home and for the most part, always had that privacy. So the communal living of a barracks is unfamiliar and strange to her. Especially the bathing. Oh, she's not sure she can get used to the bathing. Don't tell Vi, but being in such a vulnerable state in what feels entirely too public? It's beyond uncomfortable. Which is why she's currently putting it off. Instead lingering in the mess in the hopes that she can just stay up later than almost everyone and have her ablutions while everyone is asleep.

Instead she's sitting at a table in the barracks with a pot of very mediocre tea, if she was being honest. Still, it was better than nothing and calming in a familiar way.]

Would you like a cup? [Noticing someone nearby, she can't help but offer. Gesturing to the pot and plate filled with a few snacks she's brought back from town.] You'll need to get your own cup, but you're more than welcome to join me.

III - Calibrating. (Wildcard)

((Feel free to create your own prompt! If you want to discuss anything with me I'm at Starscall))

Traveling Merchants

[hextechhead]

Jayce is established now in Cadens so he has hit the point where when he walks through the streets or through the merchant areas, people say hello as he does. It's been a tough month recently but he's trying to focus on what's next instead of dwelling. It seems to be the only way to keep sane. He manages a smile to people as he walks by and waves, but Caitlyn might hear people say Jayce's name before he even comes into view. As a man with his own business, sometimes he pauses to talk about the new metal come to town, but it isn't her voice he hears.

It doesn't matter. Jayce could spot her from a mile away. He would know her in a crowd, a sea of faces, with only her standing out. He is on his way to the academy but halts and forgets about it entirely, turning on his heel and hurrying toward where he saw a blue-haired head.

"Cait!" He shouts out, almost afraid that he'll turn out to be wrong and seem crazy, but the closer he gets, the more distinct the rest of her becomes. He weaves through the crowd and spots her, feeling like his throat is in his stomach. It's really her.

"You're here."

galadriel | the rings of power | the hierophant.

[tempestedly]

thorne. - riding.

[ thorne boasts some of the best horseback riding of all the nations combined, she's told, thanks to their stock of well-groomed, noble and beautiful beasts. so of course at the stables, one won't find galadriel waiting for one of the stablehands to bring her a steed to ride; instead she chooses her own herself, perusing through the stable rows and murmuring in soft elvish until she finds a particular horse she deems to her liking. her choice is a pale white mare with unearthly blue eyes, and she spends time brushing her first, whispering little phrases in her native tongue while the horse's ears prick forward interestedly and the mare gives her soft little whinnies in response. ]

A horse and a rider are often emotionally linked, you know, [ she explains a little louder, to anyone who might be within earshot watching and listening; an elf has very good ears and a heightened sense of when they're being watched, after all. ]

When they ride into battle together, it forges an unbreakable bond.

free cities. - training grounds.

[ the free cities are militaristic, the citizens providing mandatory military service in this dangerous time. tensions are high with the defeat and influx of refugees from libertas, and there is a heightened state of alert in the conflict with thorne, heavy on the air. galadriel finds it easy to slip into their ways, into the role of soldier and potentially commander, if she were to be allowed to take up such a mantle here.

to that end, she spends a significant amount of time giving her expertise to the training grounds, particularly where cadets and recruits are practicing swordfighting; she picks one such blade up, tests its weight at the hilt and slices it through the air to try the quality of the metal. it's not steel made in valinor, which she's known is the highest quality, but it is still a capable weapon, and she twirls it expertly, turning her eyes on the nearest interested party to tip her chin and issue a friendly challenge, if they're up for it: ]

Are you a swordfighter? ...If so, come at me.

solvunn. - evening feast.

[ solvunn is calm and welcoming, the lush greenery and modest villages setting it apart from other cities. despite the fact that they've had recent disasters with crops and livestock, the denizens of this place are hardworking and take to their tasks as though hardship is behind them. there is still an abundant feast to be had as well, to be held outside, and when galadriel sets her sights on where it's to be held, she's struck by the surrounding beauty of the grove.

it's a potluck-style feast, and she has nothing to give to provide for it, but she spends some time picking various differently-colored wildflowers, and distributing them among the tables alongside other residents and new arrivals who are arranging decorations and table settings. she holds up a small, handmade bouquet, asking one of the others to make certain: ]

Will these suffice?

nocwich. (oleuni square - marketplace)

[ galadriel can be found meandering about the square, stopping to observe the main stage with its display of open-air performances. a play is underway, something featuring caricatures of the new arrivals to solvunn, and she watches interestedly as one of the actors is a tall, willowy woman with long rivulets of silver-gold hair...and pointed ears. she pulls the lengths of her own hair over the tips of her own ears, furtively glancing around the audience to see if they realize who the actor is modeled after.

she peeks into the gambling dens, dark smoke-filled rooms, the main one of which is apparently run by creatures of the night. not orcs, thankfully, but beings she's only heard of and hopes not to encounter here - because weaponry is forbidden in nocwich, and while she would have had finrod's dagger with her, it's gone now, melted down in celebrimbor's smithy. she's careful as she observes the tables, but undeniably curious, watching bets placed and fortunes being made and lost.

at the shops and stalls of the marketplace, expect to find galadriel wandering about and examining the brewed ales, shadow lanters, and especially the night bloom flowers, which hold particular interest for her as she marvels at their beauty.

wildcard.

[ ooc: feel free to wild it up with any of the other prompts listed, or a prompt of your own; feel free to pm this account/spinebarrel for plotting! ]

free cities

[monomachy]

[Though Diana has not spent as much time recently near the barracks and training grounds as she did before the attack on Libertas, she does not avoid them completely. She knows the commanders here are interested in having more summoned join their military ranks, but her loyalty lies with Themyscira alone. Antiope would roll in her grave if she knew her niece had joined another land's army. But she cannot stay away--she has trained with many of the soldiers there, and if war does come (as seems more and more likely each passing day), she does not want the soldiers here to be unprepared.

Today she has made the time to visit, wearing her pliant leather armor, though she has left her own weapon in her rented room. It is of finer make than what is available in the sparring ring, and she would not give herself such an advantage against green recruits. She has other advantages, of course, but those are easier to temper than steel.

The morning is just about to break into afternoon when she finally makes it to the ring, and there are pairs and singles scattered about, but none more curious than the woman testing a sword's weight across the field. Diana's eyes stray across her and pause briefly, long enough for their gazes to meet and for the challenge to be issued.

Before she can help herself, a slow smile blooms across Diana's lips.

Without hesitation, she lopes forward, grabbing a blade from the rack on her way into the ring without breaking stride. She feels a fire in the woman, and will not leave her disappointed.]

As you wish.

[The blade will suit, and she grips the hilt with confidence, taking her stance just across from the other woman. Normally, she would offer the first move to her opponent, but something in her gut tells her that she need not. So she darts forward, bringing her blade around in a wide arc--a test swing, just to get a feel for her partner's abilities. She holds back her strength and speed, not wanting to harm her opponent, no matter how skilled she may think she is.]

Hornet | Hollow Knight | Strength

[weavered]

City of Thorne

East Wing

She stands outside of the East Wing, peering down the hall as she ponders the circumstances of her arrival. She is without cloak and Needle, though the creatures here have provided her with cloth she's unfamiliar with, so she will need to rebuild her arsenal in time. She needs a weapon in her hands. Something to protect her from whatever dangers lie ahead. These were not bugs, at least so far as she's gathered, not possessed by infection of a long-forgotten God - but she cannot be sure.

She narrows her eyes and quickly turns from the hall to stalk off elsewhere. Hornet must get a better idea of her surroundings before truly committing to any sort of investigation. She needed to find allies, people she could trust to provide her with information she could not find herself. It would be difficult to trust anyone after being on her own for so long, but she had to try.

She trusted the Knight in the end, she could learn to trust others.

"I must uncover the secrets of this place." She says aloud. She must before the secrets overtake her. 

The Free Cities

Cadens

She sits in the wagon heading to the supposed city, staring at her arms in the foreign uniform. The arcana, they called it, is emblazoned on the cloth, another thing she doesn't understand. Hornet isn't too happy with the lack of knowledge of this place - Hallownest she knew. Hallownest she was born and raised - but here in this place? She sighs, rubbing her shell in frustration. No weapon, no information - they spoke of a city and she hoped to find something there. Something more than what she's gleaned of her arrival.

She takes stock of the other people traveling by wagon. It was no stag, but it certainly wasn't so boring. It gave her a better idea of her surroundings in this dry climate, watching the scenery change the further they went into town.

"Do you know what the city is like?" If it was as sprawling as the City of Tears... she would need to heed the warning of returning to the outpost by sundown.

Sundown. What a strange phrase.

Nocwich

Oleuni Square

She was drawn to the Marketplace, curious to know what people were selling. What wares they held. Things like food, or weapons - she hoped for something that would aid her in her defenses but at the portal entrance, she found that weapons were not allowed within. At least none she may carry upon her person that she knew of. Hornet was certain she couldn't purchase anything, having neither Geo or whatever currency they use in this strange land, but looking was not a crime.

She stops at a stall selling jewelry, tilting her head as she gets a closer look. Rings, necklaces, whatever these dangling things were on posts - things she never quite had as a child growing up in Deepnest as these things weren't as common as they were in the city. She asks, softly, if she could see one of the necklaces. Nothing ornate, but it's a simple black gem on a leather strap, wrapped in such a way it looks as though it was protected by a web.

It made her ache for home.

She must have it. At least she tells herself as much as she offers back the piece to the merchant and turns to the closet creature next to her.

"You." She points at them, taking a step forward. "How does one earn Geo-- the local currency?" She corrects herself. "I have need to purchase something."

Or some things if weapons were not provided.

free cities

[cashewlater]

Cyno, uncomfortable in his own uniform as well, has already removed his blazer and laid it across his lap, unbuttoned his shirt halfway, and rolled up his sleeves. He sits at the back of the cart with both legs dangling over the edge, and from the looks of it, he's discarded his shoes and socks, as well. With one arm over his lap, and the other behind him, he leans back, watching the sands roll by as the cart sways and rocks, carrying them toward their destination.

Normally he's far more aware of his surroundings, interested in the people around him, even if he usually remains silent, and still. Now, though.. though he's as vigilant as ever toward movement and sound, his thoughts are elsewhere, far away, on his home, and all he's left behind. It'll be some time before he isn't thinking of Sumeru with every stray thought.

Then comes a voice beside him, and Cyno is snapped from his reverie, his eyes flicking away from the sands and toward the curious creature beside him. Thankfully, Teyvat is full of all number of interesting looking animals and peoples, so he's not alarmed.

"No. I'm sorry. I've only just arrived, myself."

kai parker — tvd — solvunn — the fool

[cobrakais]

1.0 GOAT RACING

[ okay, so. he's a farmer now. that's a thing that is happening and kai isn't sure if he prefers being on the other side, all alone with just his thoughts to entertain him or if he preferred —

this.

he's not watching, merely a spectator for this fine event, because he's not about to pick a goat and race it only to lose. far too competitive for that. instead, he stands among the crowd, trying to get an idea of which goat was better, which goat was going to run head first into a fence and how gullible these people were. ]

Betting pool!

[ had anyone ever bet on goat races before? he's sure that somewhere at some time, there'd been goat racing for money so he's only following along in the fine tradition of trying to win money off of people who didn't know any better.

he manages to get a few people to hand over their currency (what kind of money was this?)

but kai doesn't stick around to see who becomes the grand champion of goats. nope, he's going to slink off, money in his pocket, to try and find something worthwhile to spend it on.

maybe he could find an awesome fanny pack that matched his shoes. a guy could dream, couldn't he? ]

2.0 EVENING FEAST

[ was this like a family dinner? some kind of evening of togetherness to get to know each other? it's kind of cute, really. he can't remember the last time someone invited him to something like this and it's almost...sweet.

he doesn't bring anything and plops himself down in a chair, reaching for a bowl of stew without waiting. they weren't going to say grace or anything silly like that? hopefully not since he'd probably end up being set on fire or something.

kai's pretty sure the guy upstairs does not like him.

more people file in and, while he eats, he takes note of them, making up little stories in his head to entertain himself. when someone sits close to him, he can't help but ask: ]

Help me prove myself right: you sold plungers sometime in your past, right? Toilet man? Or woman? I don't discriminate. Anyone can do whatever they want.

[ not his best line but give him some time, he's still warming up. ]

3.0 NOCWICH

[ this kind of reminds him of some of the stores that he'd raided in the prison world. a bunch of kitschy things that people buy because they're in a mood one day.

case in point: kai's currently carrying some figurine of a pregnant woman that's supposed to bring him fertility. the vendor had looked at him oddly when he'd bought it but kai could not be deterred. does he want to be fertile? no.

does he want people to look at him and wonder what he's going to do with something like that? sure, he does. it'll be a great conversation starter. ]

You think if I create an altar around this statue that it'll bring me good luck? Good fortune? Is that even possible here? Everyone seems kind of...dull.

4.0 WILDCARD

[ for anything else not included here. for those that don't know, kai is kind of unstable and mean though he hides it very, very well. he's a powerful witch but again, hides it well. he just likes to mess with people. ]

nocwich

[aquilus]

You could try. I'm certain you could acquire the materials here.

[Does Altaïr believe it would do any good? Not really. He's long past putting any stock in superstition. But it's not for him to tell others what they should think.

Mostly, he's just here to check out some of the more unique creations and potions for sale.]

I've found it's more worthwhile to make one's own luck.

Kol Mikaelson | The Vampire Diaries | Thorne | The Hanged Man

[itchtokill]

OOC

Note

HMU on Kol's HMD / @ loyalwolf[#3540] on plurk[/discord] for something specific!

I. Arrival/Exploration

OTA

Waking up from the wrong side of dead is, unfortunately, not a completely foreign concept to Kol. For a brief, fleeting moment when he’s first yanked out of the pool, he thinks he must have found himself in The Other Side. He only needs a moment to take in his surroundings to realize that is not the case.

The basics are given quickly enough and he’s outfitted with clothes that look very… outdated compared to the new, 21st century fashion he had only just begun growing accustomed to.

With the business part of this done, and the chosen for a greater task spiel out of the way, Kol makes his way to explore the castle. He could probably be found just about anywhere in the whole place, including:

the library, browsing spines and tittles slowly through the aisles-

sampling the local cuisine in the dining hall-

meandering through the indoor gardens, curious to see which things he’s familiar with and which he’s not, making notes of the new things he finds for researching more later-

which leads very well into the magic lessons on deck, something he is incredibly intrigued by, especially since it seems that by all rights he can practice the magic here-

or simply wandering the hallsof the castle— perhaps he’s lost, surely you could help him.

Everywhere he goes, Kol turns his attention to any number of interesting conversations about the recent happenings around the castle. Perhaps it’s your conversation he’s interrupting when he says, “Apologies, I’m new— could you catch a bloke up to speed about what’s happening around here?”

ii. roommates

OTA

“I haven’t had roommates in ages,” comes an accented voice, though it’s hard to pin down exactly what the accent is, because it sounds like some amalgam of several crammed into one strangely unidentifiable cadence.

The owner of the voice is a tall dirty-blonde with classically decent looks and the kind of swagger and confidence that only comes from a very specific brand of not caring what anyone else in the room (castle, city, world) thinks at all.

“How long have you been here, mate?” he asks whoever else might be in the room at the moment.

iii. horizon

OTA

A) — 1 response
He keeps hearing about all this horizon nonsense and it’s vague enough to make him curious. So, he approaches the first person he can find that looks like they might half-assed know what is going on in this place.

He leans against whatever is there to do so on— a table, a desk, the wall— and says, “What do you know about this horizon?”

(B) — OTA
If he’s quite honest, the first go into the horizon wasn’t great. That sudden loss of everything— agency, memory, self, all of it— was awful. Few things in the world could bother him less than that. But he’s been assured it’s not like that the next time, and when he found a moment to escape into this shared dreamspace once again, he found that to be true.

He doesn’t immediately go about setting up anything for himself, instead, he just wanders the entire scope of it. It all reminds him a bit of a Chambre de Chasse, and he hasn’t witnessed something like that in quite some time. He passes by and through any number of domains as he goes. Perhaps he’s stumbled into yours in his travels?

Eventually, though, he does start to toy with an empty section of land. His constructs are small and simple to start— an aluminum baseball bat shifted into a classic bow, morphed into a tv and an Xbox with some first-person shooter game. He laughs, an amused, delighted sound, “Expression at my fingertips.” he grins. Oh, how he’s missed magic.

iv. Nocwich

OTA

Stepping through the portal to this dark-shrouded place is like a breath of the familiar. He wanders through Oleuni Square, taking stock of the wares and the shops, chatting with locals and making note of those that seem... familiar. The vampires here are nothing like himself, but like calls to itself, and he's very intrigued by the people of Ikorr. He lingers more at the stalls that are owned by them- no offense to Luna's residents, of course~

One might also catch him attending a performance at the main stage or playing a round or two of something in the gambling den. He makes a point to come back here across all three days that it's allowed, and makes a mental. note to look more into the people of this territory in his studies of this new world he's found himself in.

iii. roommates

[monsterization]

When Kol enters the room, there is but one other occupant at the moment. There's a baby-faced Asian boy sitting cross-legged on one of the beds in the room with a meager offering of food from the dining hall spread out in front of him. Between the rations after the... well, the collapse of society, basically, and his steady diet of ramen before that, the very idea of anything more than what he ended up taking turned his stomach.

All of that delicious looking food, and Hyunsu opted to grab a few dinner rolls.

Hyunsu sits hunched over his food, both as if he's got a tremendous weight on his shoulders and also as though he's trying to disappear in on himself. Really, he just sort of wanted to be left alone while he wrapped his head around his new surroundings. Instead, he's having someone invade his space. Well, not exactly his space, but- Now that there's no immediate crisis that's demanding his attention, and no one here that he recognizes, it's easy to slip back into old habits like isolating himself.

He slowly lifts his eyes to look at the newcomer to the room when he first speaks, then looks back down at the bread, tearing a small piece off of one of the rolls and popping it into his mouth. "Me neither. Sort of." Does it count if you're technically locked away with someone? He puts the bread down and finally properly looks the person who seems to be a new roommate, his expression vacant with just a touch of confusion. "I just sat down before you came in." Here. As in this room, of course.

Sophia | OC | The Star | Thorne

[ia]

exploring is for the curious

[ Sophia spends much of her first day wandering the castle and the castle grounds, sticking her nose everywhere it can fit, and perhaps one or two places it shouldn't. The stoic yet derisive stance of the guards keeping people away from the East Wing only makes her curious, but she's well aware that it's a little too soon to get into any degree of trouble.

Eventually she makes her way to the North Wing, where apparently other new people and those that came from another worlds are gathered, not that she expects to find any familiar faces.

Still, she can be found leaning against a wall, quietly observing people come and go. Eventually she approaches someone that piques her attention. ]

Hey, how is it going? I think my head is still spinning from all the things I've been told today.

eating is for the living

[ Regardless of the apparent sorry state of the food, Sophia has no issue whatsoever to stuff her face with all sorts of pastries and sweets that are presented to her. As someone that enjoys the simple joys of life, a good piece of bread with some strong tea just about makes her day, or at least is enough to put her more pressing concerns to rest for the time, such as...whatever everything else is happening around her.

She can worry herself sick about being stuck in a different world with a full belly, unwise as it might sound.

For the time being though, the young woman makes her way around the table, each new bite bringing forth a small moan of delight. All this movement means that she eventually runs into someone, of course, at which point she turns around, points at whatever she's currently wolfing down and says...

She says something, that's for sure, but she might want to swallow first.

It sounded like compliments to the chef, though. ]

magic is for the magical

Like this?

[ With a wave of a hand and the muttering of some words, Sophia makes a tennis-sized ball of light appear over her hand. As someone with...something of a magical background, the concepts come easily to her, much to the delight of the man teaching her, who probably has already a mean headache going after having to deal with one too many overeager apprentice creating way too many flashes right in his face.

Sophia looks at the ball of light, twirling her hand slowly to make it dance around her fingers. It's a pretty thing, and useful if there is no available light, she supposed. ]

Any chance you can teach me something more complicated? Maybe change it color? Or turn it into a deadly laser...

[ She's mostly joking. Mostly. Still, you never know when you could use a deadly laser. ]

riding if for...never mind

[ Sophia didn't really know what she was getting into when she hopped in top of the horse, but it was pleasantly surprised with the fact it basically rode itself. Herself, it was a mare, and it evidently knew the trail to a T, so Sophia had nothing to worry about. Just lean back and let the wind play with her hair.

Eventually the horse trots close enough to someone else. Perhaps it knows the horse? Perhaps it's bored. ]

Hey, come here often?

[ For an ice breaker, she considers it a solid one. Short and sweet, with a hint of humor. ]

Kind of wish I could just set camp and live here. It probably gets way too cold on the night though? And there might be wild animals...

I guess some things are beautiful because we only see them in passing, don't you think?

NOCWICH

[ She crosses the portal out of a whim, mainly out of curiosity. What she finds on the other side...is a whole lot of "you had to be there" of things she doesn't quite understand. Which is fine, since Sophia is in no hurry to absorb it all. ]

Well. I don't know what I was expecting.

[ She blinks, eyes accustoming to the dark. After a moment of gathering her bearings she goes to the closest person and taps their shoulder. ]

Excuse me, could you tell me about this place? Or pointing me towards someone that can. I don't expect to find a tour guide here, though.

[ At least she's being polite? ]

((ooc: a bit of info as I haven't put anything on her bio. She hails from a world where all that magic and fantastic hullaballoo is very real and very hush hush. Sophia herself is an IA, an Imaginary Automaton. Basically she started as a Tulpa aka an imaginary friend with a will on her own but in time she became powerful enough to become something akin to a real girl. She can only sleep within other people's dreams and she has authority over imaginary things, being able to pull other beings thoughts into reality. She herself is not always very much there, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

She's a good person! And she's far too normal for a sentient piece of imagination.))

nocwich

[aquilus]

[For the most part, Altaïr is surprised that the unfamiliar woman chooses him to direct her inquiries at over just about anyone else — he makes a point of dressing in just-slightly-less-noticeable clothing, to fade into the crowd where he can. It's not that he has anything particular to hide here; it's just automatic after what feels like a lifetime of training.

He doesn't show it, though; instead he just gives her a nod in greeting.]

Nor should you. It's only recently that we've been able to travel here at all; I doubt that the residents are prepared to offer any kind of tour.

[He tilts his head slightly, giving her an appraising look.]

What moved you to come here if you did not know what awaited?

Lei Kugo | Live A Live | The World | Faction Undecided

[earthenheart]

Thorne-Banquet

Thorne gives Lei the creeps, keeps the hairs on the back of her neck standing. The whole place reminds her too much of the castle in Lucrece, but that place was as empty and lifeless as the rest of the kingdom, whereas this one is still full of life. People a lot like the kind she used to waylay for money and valuables back home. Makes her feel awful out of place, not the least of which is when she herself tries to go in, and finds an attendant fussing over her.

Frowning, Lei tucks her hands into the sleeves of the pink, loose-fitting, long-sleeved tunic she'd acquired from a helpful mage, an affectation she picked up from the Old Man. "What's wrong with my outfit?" She asks, confused. "One of the mages here helped me acquire it." She prefers clothes that are light, easy to move in. Sort of a necessity when you practice kung fu.

"I'm not one for fancy dress. Is that really going to be an issue?" She asks, keeping her temper in check, where not so long ago she'd have already been yelling, though she does feel a bit annoyed. After all, they're the ones who brought her here. "I'd just like to get something to eat."

Free Cities-Sarstina

Lei wasn't going to spend more time at that military base than she absolutely had to; she wasn't a bandit anymore, and it's not like anyone here knew her past, but armed guards still made her feel uneasy, especially with all the tension that seems to be running through here. Once word got to her about this inn that's frequented by the Summoned, it seemed like a better bet than remaining. Lei hopped the first caravan and didn't look back, though it took the better part of a day to find the place. The sun is hanging low by the time she finds the right spot. Cadens is far busier than Wong or Yunfa ever were.

She steps inside, and looks around. Place seems lively at least; less tense than the city outside, maybe. She idly tries to slip her hands into her sleeves before realizing her current clothes don't accommodate the gesture. The Old Man's habits really did settle in quick.

It's crowded, though, and Lei isn't someone who's spent a lot of time in inns. There's someone near the counter who might(???) work there, or at least be willing to help her, so she sidles up easily through the crowd.

"Hey. So...who do I talk to about trying to get a room?" She asks, scanning the room idly as she does so.

Solvunn-Shrine Offering

Lei places the bundle of flowers she'd carefully cut onto the altar of the shrine, and tries not to feel self-conscious about it. This sort of thing is still...entirely new to her. There was a time when she believed this sort of thing was a load of pig dung, but...well, she's older now, and once again far from home, and feeling it.

She takes a moment to carefully arrange the flowers, a collection of white petals, which seemed appropriate, and then carefully kneels down in front of the shrine, and closes her eyes. She was told that it was customary to make an offering for the settlement, but...well, she understands. But there's something more personal she'd like to do here, and she hopes whatever gods are looking out for Solvunn understand.

"Hey, Old Man. Yuan, Hong. Hope you guys are watching over me." She mutters, loud enough for at least anyone else who came to the shrine with her to hear. She appears to have tuned out her surroundings. "I'm back in the thick of it again."

The invocation is short, but Lei continues to remain kneeling, apparently intent on communing at least a little longer.

Wildcard: Class In Session

It was while Lei was going through her morning routine that she attracted the first bit of attention; curious young onlookers, mesmerized by Lei's fluid kata, as she moves through the familiar steps of Earthen Heart-style kung fu. It makes her smile to herself, but she pays the little ones no mind, even as apparently word spreads and the crowd slowly grows.

Maybe that's why Lei puts a little extra flourish into her finish, works a little extra spinning she doesn't have to, a fancier finishing stance than is strictly speaking necessary. It gets a good reaction at least, and that's when Lei acknowledges the group, grabbing a spare rag she'd acquired and rubbing it across her forehead.

"You know, participation's better than just looking." She offers with a nod of her head. She's already running through the beginner lessons she'd started teaching back home to her first crop of students.

"It's hard work, but rewarding. Wanna give it a try?"

wildcard

[supersoldier]

The man watching may be part of the group of onlookers, but he stands apart in a couple of ways — the military uniform of the Free Cities, for one, and the stoic look of a man who is rarely given to emotion, secondly.

But that isn’t to be mistaken for someone who’s unimpressed. He had been watching with keen interest, though his face gives so little away, and Sephiroth only blinks once as he’s spoken to. Implored to join.

“What sort of martial art is it?” he asks evenly, ignoring the invitation outright to join. For now, at least.