PRELUDE: RIFTS

[abraxasmods]

Prelude - Rifts

CW: Flashing/flickering .gif image (linked)

As summer gets underway in mid-July, festivals are held across the three nations. The Summoned have settled home following their trip to the Feywilds. For the first couple of weeks, everything is quiet. Then a few rifts begin to appear throughout Abraxas.

These flashes in the air are mistaken for lightning at first, but anyone who witnesses one up close will realize they're looking at something else altogether. In fact, if you peer too close into the flickering vortex, you'll find a claw reaching out or an eye staring back at you through the open tear.

Or, maybe you don't encounter any rifts. Maybe you're walking and instead find a creature you recognize, one that shouldn't be here in Abraxas. Indeed, it looks like it must've come from...your home world?

As the days progress, more rifts and strange creatures arrive. While no one's severely harmed, the rifts do cause some disruptions. Merchants are seen chasing after their stolen wares and shopkeepers sweep octopi or swans out of their stores.

List of rift creatures and appearances (expand)

Canon-Specific

Cactuar | Image

A plant-like creature that resembles a cactus with arms. Has a reputation for doing a little spin in a pose that looks like they're running. The smaller versions are considered "friendly" as long as they are not attacked and are happy to let anyone pass by without issue. Should they feel threatened, they are known to spray needles to their enemies.
Common. May appear solitary or in a small group of 3-4.

Demobat | Image

They don’t have eyes, but they do have long tail that can be used to grab and strangle prey and very sharp teeth. Don't underestimate those teeth - they're capable of biting through human flesh. Comparable in size to a flying fox, with black blood. They’re unlikely to attack unprovoked and will mind their own business like a normal bat.
Common. May appear solitary or in a small swarm.

(Juvenile) direwolf

Juvenile direwolves are roughly the size of a German Shepherd. They will not attack unless provoked, and may be mistaken as normal wolves.
Infrequent. May appear solitary or in a small pack.

Ganal

Ganal are similar to red coated weasels from Earth in behavior and appearance, with a few biological differences. Ganal have belly pouches that they use to carry things (bedding for nests, food). They also reproduce by laying clutches of eggs. The yolks inside are a deep red.
Common. May be seen traveling alone or in pairs.

Gas Station Raccoons

These raccoons are either mutated or inbred to the point of genetic deformity, having glowing red eyes, becoming durable enough to survive being run over and growing larger than normal (their alpha can get to 3 feet long). Aggressive if approached and will scratch, claw, and maul to get free, but rarely will attack without provocation.
Infrequent. Sometimes solitary. Only one group of 3-4 may be seen at a time.

Gold Chocobo | Image

A large avian creature that is generally used as a mount, for racing, or various tasks often suited to beasts of burden. They have long necks, large wings, and three-toed feet. Very feathery-fluffy, and make a lot of “kweh!” noises. It can cross all sorts of difficult terrain that its other brethren cannot.
Common. May appear solitary or in a group of 2-3.

Morozova's Stag | Image

The stag is beautiful, majestic, and glows pure white. It's calm and passive.
Rare, solitary. Only one will be seen at a time.

Nutkin | Image

Small rodent creatures who are, as their name would imply, obsessed with collecting nuts and acorns and carrying them around with them. While many are shy and timid, there are rare ones that are quite brave and serve as good companions. They can bite if threatened or provoked, but are otherwise harmless. More domesticated ones might hang out on your shoulder.
Common. Often solitary. Up to 2-3 might be seen together.

Shifty-Looking Cow | Image

They resemble deer-tapir hybrids, except for one notable feature. These creatures have hands. They have no special powers, no toxins, and are docile. However, when faced with a sentient creature, they will select a target to slowly follow, waiting until the target's back is turned... and then... steal their money. This continues so long as the target's back is turned. Facing the cow will end the theft, and the cow will wander off.
Infrequent. Often solitary.

Tomas | Image

Tomases are the pack animals of the Trigun universe. They are comparable to domesticated horses, mules, or donkeys. They're immediately recognizable by their brightly colored plumage, and look like close cousins to other flightless birds like ostriches and emus.
Common. Sometimes solitary. 2-3 may be seen in a group.

Varren | Image

Wolf-sized reptilian aliens with long fangs, sharp spines, and enormous, lidless eyes. Adapted as well to untrammeled jungle wilderness as to radioactive urban ruins as their natural habitat, they show no fear of people.
Common. 3-4 may be seen in a group.

Worm | Image

Insects found on Gunsmoke. They are varied in size and appearance, but this specific worm is able to fly and appears to look like a bigger dragonfly. They have no known abilities but are apparently edible.
Common. Usually in a small swarm.

(Baby) Wyvern | Image

Baby wyverns act similarly to baby birds; they imprint on their caretaker provided they are shown respect and kindness but still need to be fed and taken care of. They hop around on their two feet until they learn how to fly, but at this age, they can't fly very high or for long periods of time. Baby wyverns are about big as house cats but weigh less than they appear.
Infrequent. Typically solitary.

Cryptids/Myth

Cwn Annwn | Image

Hounds belonging to Arawn, King of Annwn (Welsh Underworld). Regular hunting dogs, white with glowing red eyes and red ears. Hearing their barking was considered an omen of death. Later, in Arthurian legends, they were connected to the Wild Hunt.
Infrequent. Sometimes solitary. Only one group of 3-4 may be seen at a time.

Squonk | Image

Squonk is a very pathetic cryptid in that it's very sad all the time. Generally depicted as being pig-like in form, its main feature is that it's ugly and self-conscious about that, and so it cries constantly. Totally harmless, the squonk mostly just wants to be left alone. If cornered or threatened will simply dissolve into a puddle of its own tears.
Rare, solitary. Only one will be seen at a time.

Wolpertinger | Image

a small mammal with a body similar to a rabbit that also has antlers, fangs, feathered wings, and sometimes webbed feet. Despite their somewhat fearsome appearance, the wolpertinger is a gentle and reclusive creature that actively avoids all predators, including humans. While it has wings, it is not particularly aerodynamic and so flying is done mostly to escape predators or react to threats and is more of a glide than anything.
Rare, solitary. Only one will be seen at a time.

Regular Animals

Octopus

The common octopus, but unusually found on land. This includes the dry Cadens desert, within the Castle halls, and falling out of treetops in Solvunn.
Common, solitary.

Rat

Though frequently seen in Abraxas, these rats are appearing inexplicably in the ocean and other bodies of water. They may also fall out of a rift into your food if you have especially poor luck, and will run off with your meal immediately.
Common.

Swan

Though present in certain places in Abraxas, these vicious birds are appearing in unusual areas such as the desert and indoors.
Common.

You can pick and choose any of the creatures listed above to incorporate into your threads for flavor! Characters can try to capture them, compare notes on the Network about what they're seeing, or help the locals.

Generally, the idea is that these creatures are appearing unusually and suddenly. They will not be appearing in great numbers. Chances are, characters might see 3-4 at most, or a swarm of 8-10 if they're insects.

Notes

As with all interludes and preludes, this is not a formal game event! Rather, players can use the details described as inspiration and incorporate it into any threads or CR plans they may have. You can handwave as much or as little as you want regarding this occurrence. If you'd like, you can use this OOC post to plot with each other.

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 of these creatures will come through?

Any creature that's listed as a swarm or a group will arrive in a small batch. They won't overwhelm the local population, but there will be enough that everyone in the faction can have a chance at bumping into one!

For creatures marked as singular, only one will be seen wandering. This is reserved for anything that's been noted as a rare species, such as the Stag.

How long will these rifts last?

The rifts will open periodically until the end of July.

Can these creatures be killed?

Creatures labeled rare can't be killed, but the ones labeled common can be! This is to give everyone the opportunity to interact with all creature types.

Where can characters find the rifts or creatures?

The rifts open randomly throughout Abraxas. Creatures might appear in the middle of nowhere or run through buildings.

What can characters learn about these rifts through research?

Not much is known about them! Scholars will be arguing immediately over what might be causing the phenomenon. Of course, many suspect the Singularity is involved. Others believe the Old Gods are responsible.

Can the rifts be closed?

Not at this time! The mystery of the rifts will be continued into August.

Will there be an event post for this?

There will be no event post! Players are welcome to use the details outlined here to flavor interactions in their personal logs and threads. Our upcoming event will be in August.

Comments

[abraxasmods]

While an entire arm may not fit through the rift, touching it is possible. Doing so will result in an electric tingle. If the rift is touched at the wrong moment or while it's closing, the jolt may send the person flying back or some teeth might latch onto their finger.

[cointosser]

Perfect, thank you!!