abraxasooc | TEST DRIVE MEME #10

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TEST DRIVE MEME #10

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.

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 winter still here, 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.

Despite the troubles that continue to plague Nott, life in the Castle is less touched by those difficulties. There's also plenty of chatter about the giant ocean life that found itself onto the shores of Borrel, Thorne's military city. Borrel is not accessible at this time - but perhaps some of the older Summoned can tell you of their visit.

◎ 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 and Luna. You won't be able to enter Ikorr 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. 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:

Though Libertas is steadily rebuilding, the chaos that resulted from it and the refugees that have poured into Cadens are still causing difficulties. There might be tensions in the air between citizens - though there's also plenty of chatter about the giant ocean life that found itself onto the shores of Aquila, a neighboring city.

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 and Luna. You won't be able to enter Ikorr 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:

While farmers are still recovering from events that led to failed crops, ruined livestock, and a massive loss in fishing, life is slowly returning to normal. 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. Recently, a giant ocean life found itself onto the shores in Solvunn. Many will tell you this was a test from the gods, and that saving these creatures granted the world a boon of fish.

◎ 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 and Luna. You won't be able to enter Ikorr 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. Activity check will be processed before applications open, so the count may change between now and then. Existing players can apply for a second character without restriction.
How do I choose a scenario for my character?: Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Which faction your character is drawn into has nothing to do with their personal morality, beliefs, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into any one of the situations.
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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alucard. It sounds like a joke. His father's name reversed--what a thing to use as a nickname.

She's pleased by the hanging lights and the benches, admiring it with a smile before taking a seat beside him. "Nothing here is like what it is back home. While I recognize that the local political situation seems to be ... complicated, it seems ... well, there aren't any night creatures, and the vampires are living at peace with the humans, so that all seems quite nice. There aren't night creatures, are there? I don't think I could bear it if they had those here too."

Lenore grimaces at the thought of it. She would certainly prefer to never again have to see a night creature, nor the forge masters who create them.

The people of Wallachia are not very good at nicknames.

"Complicated is putting it politely," he offer dryly. "But no. There are no night creatures here. The vampires here have greater concerns and fights with the werewolves that occupy the land, and they've remained out of the politics of other nations for now."

Alucard settles on the bench, placing his own wine bag below his feet.

"Likewise, none of the vampires here were ever human. They're born, not turned."

"I didn't put it that way to be polite, but rather because I'm so new here that I'm only just starting to wrap my head around it all." She gives him a wry, apologetic smile, sorry that she doesn't understand it better and that he's stuck explaining at least some of it to her. "I heard something about their local fights, that Nocwich used to be much larger, and now it has been shrinking for hundreds of years, forcing them into closer and closer proximity. It must be wretched for them both. From what I saw of the map, it seemed as though it was the vampires nearer to the boundary of light. They lost their homes, and now they can't help but encroach upon the werewolves, who are likely feeling a bit ... invaded. And it feels very frightening and tragic that the safe haven of darkness might be lost to them entirely in another few centuries."

Very sad, but also much nicer for Lenore to dwell upon than her own sorrows. "I came to this world in Thorne. Is that where you arrived, too?" She's heard that there are Summoned pulled to the other cities, but she can't help but wonder if people from the same world come through the same route.

There's a flop of Alucard's stomach at the revelation Thorne of all places has pulled in yet another vampire from home. Only Sypha didn't end up there. It is a curious fact, but one that they need to address now.

"That is the sum of it for this place. The opening of the square is wholly new, and I don't know where either side means for it to end. They're private in their ways."

To the rest, Alucard accepts what needs to happen next. He was not given the luxury of explanation when that damned mage pulled him out of the well and put him in change.

"Unfortunately," is his grave response, not bothering to hide his distaste for the kingdom. "For a time, Thorne was the only nation here that could accomplish summons. I was in the first group they managed it with, and they were not as strategically kind with new arrivals as they are now. They placed a portion of us in the dungeons below the castle without cause or explanation, any natural ability one might have gone. Intermittently we were used as prison labor, experiment subjects, and were nearly forced to enjoy a public execution."

The contempt is barely leveled out by a basic statement of facts. His own state upon arrival was wretched, but no one needs to know that unless they were already there. "I reside in Cadens, a part of the Free Cities, and work as an architect. I find it agrees with me better than that castle ever did."

Lenore's hand goes to her mouth in sympathetic horror at the fate of the Summoned who had newly arrived like that. "Oh, that's dreadful. My sympathies. I'm glad that you're in a better situation now."

She can't help but think, as she's sure he intended, that her own position there might be similarly tenuous. An outsider, drawn in for an unclear purpose, and a vampire among mostly humans. Sentiment could easily turn against her. And yet she's also not about to blindly assume that the situation is all that much better in the other factions.

"What sort of houses do you design, in this Free City of yours?"

"I don't know what made them finally stop."

The jailbreak, perhaps. Or the realization that they were making more enemies. Regardless, Alucard can't find it in himself to react to the sympathy. He's marked by it, but has gotten better at not dwelling most days. Dwelling makes him feel like his father. "But they put monster hunters in the dungeons, others with skills they could have made good use of. None of these places are transparent, but Thorne made errors the others have learned from. Their queen has a temper."

He can't know how that might compare to Carmilla. A deep and ugly laugh will respond if he ever does.

"I've been working to restore a concert hall over the year. Repaired a damaged graveyard, and am in the midst of planning a park and some theaters. The civilian city of Libertas was attacked due to the aforementioned queen's reaction to a murder of a court favorite. She blamed the Free Cities for it, and the violence followed."

None of this is happy news, but Lenore deserves to know the full scale of what she has been dragged into. "The Free Cities responded, but things are now at an impasse. It is difficult to say where things lead next. Only that you've arrived in a strange time."

Lenore's thoughts linger on the twenty thousand years of history she skimmed through on this place. It seems like a long time worth of errors to be learning from, and yet some of that history had repeated. So she's not terribly confident in Thorne or the others learning all that well from any of those errors.

Adrian's sympathies are clear, but Lenore only sees more unfurling layers of questions and complications. Who did murder the Queen's friend? Was there evidence against the Free Cities, or did the murderer flee there for sanctuary?

"Monster hunters whose skills they could have used," Lenore repeats, mind returning to that. "You said there were no night creatures here. Are there ... other monsters?"

"The Free Cities are surrounded by a desert which has a few," Alucard offers with a gentle shrug. "I give them a wide berth when I go to my crypt, but there is magical value for some of their component part. I can't say I know much about Thorne's native flora and fauna."

He didn't get to experience much of it.

"How are they accommodating your needs regarding darkness?"

Lenore shudders at the knowledge of monsters in a desert, and hopes earnestly there are no such things too near the castle. Lack of monsters anywhere is certainly an advantage.

"Cordially. Everyone I've met has taken to my requests with a minimum of fuss. I'm sure that I might seem paranoid to some of them, but they accommodate my vigilance against the sun. Do you ... suffer from any similar sensitivity?"

She's young enough and dhampirs are rare enough that she's never met one before. She can't be confident about which traits he got from which parent.

There only may have ever been monsters in that castle if Hector had remained and found a means to forge again. To Alucard's knowledge, that never came to pass.

"I recall that when trade first tentatively began here, there were lanterns that shone a ring of darkness. A vampire invention, I assume, and one that might be worth investing in."

Alucard leans back a little on the bench, trying to determine how much of himself to give away. Lenore at least seems smart enough to utter the word half breed in his presence. "I can go in the sun with no issue, nor do I need blood for survival." The two basics, the things that make him pointedly not his father's son. "I believe most other differences are so minor as to count for nothing at all."

The lanterns certainly interest her, but it's not the sort of thing she wants to dare experimenting with, when even partial sunlight upon a vampire body from her world causes instant death.

"But you enjoy it," Lenore remarks, a slight motion of her finger indicating the bottles of blood wine at his feet. "What I hear about the eating habits of the local vampires is ... varied. I'm surprised how much of what I've learned is hearsay and rumor, even here in Nocwich where they're half the population."

She wants so badly to be able to learn more of their people and their culture, and it eats at her to be excluded. More foreigner than vampire, to the degree that she isn't even the same species.

"I don't know how much you know of vampires other than your father, but we can sustain good health on far less than what most of them like to pretend." Not that vampires from their world have ever much liked to let on the exact nature of their strengths and weaknesses.

"When it is animal, yes. Blood sausages and puddings are common enough in Wallachia that I've learned to make them."

Alucard has only taken human blood once or twice in his life. One instance was recent and tied to far deeper needs and the healing nature of his own blood, but Lenore does not need to know that the dhampir has been experimenting to determine the limits of his own. (The only detail he'd ever let slip is that it seems to grant excellent hair. A wild, silly little quirk.)

"They're all cautious of us. For a night, they opened their gates deeper into their capital, and I found familiar elements in their architecture. They have art, they cultivate their own unique flowers, but they offered no context for any of it. I don't know when the walls might break. You, myself, and a few others may be the only ones around to witness it, if we remain for that long."

Alucard nods quietly at the notion of far less. "He consumed less, with my mother around. And never enjoyed guests. Godbrand turned up on the door one day when I was about ten and...well. Godbrand."

Lenore's friendly demeanor goes cold at the mention of the name, eyes sharp with rage. "May he rot in hell," she comments, not bothering to blunt the edge of her loathing. She doubts that Alucard has any friendly feelings toward Godbrand that are going to be offended. It seems unlikely that anyone has ever had friendly feelings toward Godbrand.

Drawing herself up primly as she regains her composure, Lenore looks away at a lantern on the opposite side. "I trust your mother was not much harmed, since he got out of the encounter alive." From what she knows, Dracula was protective of his wife. If Godbrand had laid a hand on her, he might have lost that hand.

"Why Alucard?" she asks, wanting to change the topic away from one of her least favorite vampires.

"He gave my mother free range to calmly address him, and then loomed over her shoulder, daring Godbrand to respond. It somehow became an enjoyable memory for them."

Alucard sighs, fond and a little aching. He's spoken little of his parents outside of the basic facts. Lenore, well, she at least has heard of them if not met his mother. It is a strange thing not to have to explain them.

"People began to see me as my father's inverse. I'll admit, my countrymen are not always clever."

He pauses, realizing something that should also be addressed. "How long has it been since my father died, by your count?"

"Not long at all. A few months. Feels like longer, sometimes, given how entirely the world shifted on its axis afterward."

All those vampires, suddenly dead, all their courts suddenly dissolved or undergoing upheaval and power struggles. Carmilla's court had lucky, in that way, and that had been the advantage which Carmilla sought to exploit.

If only she hadn't encountered Hector in Braila, or if she had been careless enough to let him die in the snow on the march home. If only Lenore hadn't underestimated him and overestimated her own influence over him. She had his attention and affection, but never his true loyalty.

The rage melts away into grief, which is a little easier to bear. As much as she despises Hector for his actions, he's not even one tenth as despicable a person as Godbrand. Hands folded on her lap, Lenore asks no question back at Alucard, too caught up in her own personal sorrows to return her full attention back to him just yet.

It is impossible to miss Lenore's silence, how the question makes her turn inward. Styria is close enough to Wallachia for Lenore and her sisters to be considered territorial neighbors, meaning that there is no way Dracula's death hasn't had an outsized impact on them.

Alucard has always made a point not to ask after people's pasts here. He craves his own privacy, has his own secrets, and has never doubted that the situation is true for others. Truths should spring out of natural conversation. This discussion is already trampling over his usual attitude.

He lets silence hang for a while longer, offering space to whatever Lenore's inner thoughts are.

"This place is open to travelers three days out of every month."

"I'll be here," Lenore says, with a tentative smile. "As long as I'm able and allowed. All three days, every month. How could I resist? Safety without having to practice the same vigilance against losing track of time. A vampire society which lives in harmony with humans, which seems also to have far greater harmony within itself compared to the tempestuous and violent courts at home. I want to know how they did it, how they maintain it, what their histories are like, what kind of legends they have and what they hold sacred..."

Posture a little easier now that she's back on a topic that she's excited about, Lenore turns her body toward him, curiosity back in place. "What is it that most draws you here to Nocwich?"

Someone else will tell Lenore about the Horizon and the infinite possibilities it has. This place feels more important, for all of the reasons that Lenore lists. Life flourishes here in constant darkness - a happier dark than his father in his rage could have ever imagined. It is the thought that Alucard finds himself haunted and comforted by in equal measure. What his father wanted was horrid. But done well, it could be managed and engage with the world.

Alucard makes a note to not mention Hector or Sypha until the next they meet.

"Where the differences lie. What is plausible among you and yours versus them. How their society works in contrast. I realize it sounds more anthropologist than anything else, but they don't seem to do anything but allow for limited conservation."

The paranoid part of Alucard does not add that he wants to know if they're a threat. If they want to expand. What that means, and what that asks of Alucard given his past in vampire destruction.

"I think my own approach sounds similarly scholarly, in many ways," Lenore points out, giving a little shrug and starting to regain some of her playful energy. "Though my desire to be included is a bit more overt."

She looks off in the direction of Ikorr, brow furrowing a little with longing to discover more of that world and to get to be a part of it. "I want to know how they've achieved their peace within themselves and with humans--and werewolves. I want to know whether such principles can be applied back home."

Not... that she can go home, she realizes. And if she cannot go home, even if the summoners here were willing to send her, then the knowledge can only really be theoretical. Scholarly interest for information she'll never be able to put to use.

She tamps down on that sudden emotion, not willing to dip back into grief when she only just lifted out of it for this conversation.

"Can you imagine every vampire confined to a small country, as big as their personalities are?"

Alucard's tone is lighter, seeming to catch onto the sudden shift in the proverbial winds. His father's people are territorial. They always have been. It was easier to have one name who loomed large over all of them, and from there they could squabble and wage their wars about much smaller matters.

Peace within themselves is an interesting point, so that is what he circles back to. "Do you think they're at peace?"

"As a relative term, yes. Even if there are factions in Ikorr, even if the hierarchy of power is a brutal thing, even if the courtly politics are cutthroat, they still come and go freely and mingle in this city. They do not behave like a people in fear that a single wrong word in the presence of their king or warlord could have their head ripped from their body on the spot." Even Carmilla, much as Lenore loved her, had demonstrated such a temper on a not-infrequent basis. Every vampire court Lenore has ever known has been ruled by fear.

"Rivers of ink have been poured upon the subject of whether vampires from our world are capable of peace and cooperation, or whether it is our very nature that drives us to competition, ambition, and violence." Wrinkling her nose, Lenore looks over at Alucard with a wry smile. "But I'm not sure whether you want to hear a treatise on vampire philosophy."

"The vampires of our world, my father's people, were turned. There's an element of humanity embedded that isn't present here, what with vampire being a separate species rather than say, viewed as an evolution or just a deviation from a baseline."

It feels like that's the most obvious thing here, and, well. Alucard reaches down for his wine bag and pulls a bottle out, eyes meeting Lenore's to ask if he should just crack it open. This spot outside is cozy enough so far as he is concerned.

"Towards the end of the summer, both the werewolves and vampires let some of us enter deeper into their territories. A formal event with the vampires, and in a castle that had some similarities to my father's. Everything there was lavish and dripping with a culture they refused to explain or give a hint of context to. And they all functioned together and got along."

He leans back on the bench, bringing the bottle with him. "Or else it is because they've been in a stalemate with the werewolves for so long that they have no time for any other conflict. Regardless, there's...I don't know if peace is the right word. Bu they seem to function, or at lease hide the stronger personalities well."

Lenore gives a nod of interest and approval at the gesture toward the bottle. She sees no reason to stand upon ceremony unless it has a diplomatic advantage, and she's grateful for his generosity.

"Oh, sure, I can see hiding being a valid strategy," she says, lips tilting to the side with wry humor. "Carmilla, darling, we don't want to alarm the visitors so no dramatic entrances. Raman, sweetie, absolutely no maiming or torture." Lenore shakes a scolding finger like these strong personalities are just naughty children. "Godbrand, get in your kennel. Dracula, hon, we're going to be negotiating with the human nations for a while so let's just shelve the genocide, just for three to five years so we can make a good impression."

With no wine cork around for the bottle, Alcard pauses. Considers. Then extends a fingernail into the cork itself and wiggles, because this seems the better option than using his fangs.

"Godbrand probably did have a kennel," he manages through a short, sharp burst of a laugh. The corks pops out, and with no glasses around, Alucard wordlessly offers Lenore the bottle first. Throwing genocide in is what kills his laugh though, and he tries to clamp down on any further outward reaction.

"They may have a strong apparatus for keeping those personalities at bay. Or their court culture has norms that address it. Regardless, this is the result."

Lenore had known that it was quite a risky joke, and it had come at a cost to her as well. Difficult to speak lightly of either Carmilla or Godbrand, though for entirely opposite reasons. She'd welcome Carmilla swanning in to slaughter half a city as a dramatic entrance, if only it meant that her sister was alive and well.

She accepts the bottle gratefully, drinks with a little sound of pleasure, and hands it back.

"Which only brings my mind back to the question of whether it is our nature, back home, to develop conflict and ambition, or if violence and cruelty only begets more violence and cruelty. In my two hundred years within vampire courts, I have found that either one inflicts violence, enables violence, or is the target of violence. The only way to unseat a tyrant is to become stronger and crueler and take their place as the new tyrant. Any tendrils of kindness are choked out by the thorns. So I'm very curious as to what their garden is like." Lenore nods in the direction of Ikorr.

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