TEST DRIVE MEME #15

[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.

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.

The TDM is forward-dated to when the summonings occur in-game (when applications are accepted), at the start of December.

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.

Kingdom of Thorne | The Free Cities | Solvunn Commune

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. Now in winter, the weather is frosty. In the distance, you can see tall white mountain peaks and winter flowers are dusted in snow around the gardens. 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 North Wing, devoted to housing the Summoned, is tightly guarded against outsiders. As one of the Summoned, you're free to come and go. The guards aren't keeping anyone prisoner. They're there to protect you, and they take their jobs seriously.


• Apprentices, kitchen staff, guards - everyone seems to be bustling and busy. Some curiosity is in the air when locals discuss the recent negotiations with the Nether, the confirmation of dragons, and the Maritime Fair in Borrel, newly established last month. The ceremony in November included the promotion of the Queen's uncle, Admiral Rudolph Sidwell.


• Although the Dimming is a few weeks away, the Castle's head chef has started to serve winter-themed pastries and warm-spiced teas in the dining hall.

◎ Exploring

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

Fireside Logs
In preparation for the colder weather, and to appease the working class, enchanted logs are to be delivered around Nott. These logs are bespelled to last several weeks longer than a typical log. Help stack the logs onto horse-drawn wagons or make the deliveries yourself. Nott can be a little rough with pickpockets and thieves, and many aren't fond of the monarchy, so it's best to travel with a friend. While you're there, why not have a drink at the taverns or visit the fish market? Just be sure to return by dark or else a guard may be sent to fetch you home. Thorne wouldn't want you to be in any danger!

Magic Lessons
Regular magic lessons are held by apprentice mages as part of their training, usually involving learning to cast a small spell. Join if you wish! The spell they will be teaching is conjuring a modest warming spell that can chase away the chill for about an hour or so. 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. 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.

Seaside Scenery
You're encouraged to explore Thorne's proud naval history in Borrel at its Maritime Fair, which had its first opening last month. Along with its many attractions and ships, you can join a paint and cider session where you can follow a guided instructor to paint the Borrel seascape. To finish your masterpiece, you can decorate the frame with Borrel's famous sea glass. The paints and brushes are enchanted to help you along, but it requires a little concentration. Growing frustrated with your progress might cause some splatters or turn the colors muddy. Not to worry! You can always start again with a fresh canvas.

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 nation's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other nations, 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).

As an important figure to the kingdom, you can't move out of the city of Castle Thorne without permission or take any extended trips. If you're feeling restless, though, daytrips to Nott or Borrel via portal are allowed, or you can visit Nocwich. Don't try to sneak out - someone will bring you back. 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.

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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. The climate is hot and dry, though not as hot as it was in summer. At night, temperatures drop dramatically. 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:

• In the Cadens barracks, soldiers exchange stories about invisible hounds and mutant beasts that attacked - though some tales are exaggerated. City guards are present around an inn and tavern at the heart of Cadens - The Sarstina - where the Summoned like you are often found. They're here for your protection, not to prevent you from moving freely.


• A buzz is in the air when locals discuss the recent negotiations with the Nether, the confirmation of dragons, and the public execution of Cauldor Wain, accused of orchestrating the attacks in Nocwich two years ago. If you step outside the gates of Cadens, you'll see a decomposing corpse hanging there as a warning.


• Although the Festival of Enlightenment is a few weeks away, shops and markets have started to sell mechanical toys, clothes, and light-up jewelry in preparation for all the coming celebrations and parties.

◎ 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.

Save An Orphan
Eager to take advantage of the upcoming holiday cheer, orphans will corner passersby to try and sell small handmade trinkets, jewelry, and a cup of hot cocoa or warm pastries. They'll be grateful if you buy a little something! Wilier orphans might try to distract you and quickly tie a bracelet around your wrist, then demand compensation for your "purchase." But hey, it's hard to be too upset with hungry children, right? If you don't have any food or money on you, maybe you can find an older Summoned to help you out.

Loose Balls
In the holiday bustle, one of the delivery wagons has overturned, scattering colorful round ornaments all over the street. Distraught merchant Jilliane Tuttle is desperate to gather up her wares and will beg anyone she sees for help. Why not lend the poor lady a hand? Be careful, though! The orbs are designed to light up, and the damage might cause some of them to give a light shock when picked up. Try to bring as many of the ornaments back to Jilliane as you can. She'll reward you with a few silver coins for your help.

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 nation's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other nations, 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'll eventually have to strike out on your own. The government won't provide for you 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, but you will want to start making money. Nearly everything in the Free Cities has a price - including the portal to Aquila. Luckily, the portal to Libertas is free if you want to stretch your legs.

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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 chilly and the temperatures are cold. Sleet and hail grow more frequent. The scent of wildflowers 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:

• Shops and stalls in Solvunn are booming with chestnuts, baked apples, candied orange peels, and other wintery treats. Vendors are eager to barter goods and are in the habit of including extra gifts with any purchase or trades made. If you are looking for a good deal, now is the time!


• The execution of former Council member Josselyn Creed is no longer a topic. Instead, a sense of awe is in the air when locals discuss the recent negotiations with the Nether, the confirmation of a long-lost dragon shrine, and the formally secured seat of Council member Isar Hart, the first Tertiary representative who does not come from the Tertiary Settlement.


• Although the Winter Solstice is a few weeks away, friendly neighbors have started to deliver hot cider and warm knitted socks or scarves to everyone around the commune.

◎ Exploring

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

Helping Hands
Due to the cold winds, Solvunn fine goat racing tradition is put on hold so the goats can be kept warm inside their pens. Skilled weavers have made blankets for the goats, which you can deliver to any home that has a goat or two. It sounds easy enough except while you're there, you might be roped into helping with a household chore or running an errand, from sweeping the floors, bringing a bit of tea to the family across the road (you're headed that direction, anyway, aren't you?), or picking something up from the market (it'll be quick, dear!). Before you know it, you find yourself juggling several tasks. Obviously, the solution is to pass the work onto someone else - maybe another Summoned you spot?

Wailing Wilma
Bored of the holiday cheer, youths in the Primary Settlement have started to sneak off to find Wailing Wilma. According to the tale, Wilma's sister drowned her in the icy waters as a sacrifice. When summoned, Wilma's ghostly face appears just beneath the ice, mouth open in an eternal wail. The "summoning" requires taking an elaborate path through the forest to reach the lake - though the instructions frequently change. Of course, between stepping onto the ice and wandering through the woods at night, the children are asking for trouble. Maybe you hear some screaming as the youths frighten themselves or a frantic mother asks you to find her son before dark. You should take a friend if you plan to investigate - the woods can be dangerous after sundown.

Red Herring
Each winter, cured fish are prepared in glass jars decorated with holly and delivered as-ordered to residents in the commune, a task organized by Fin McGill, whose parents evidently believed he would follow in their fishing footsteps. These small fish take on a rusty hue when salted and smoked. Unfortunately, his careless son (Finnie Jr.) has once again mixed up the batches of fish this year: the jars of herring have been mislabeled as mackerel and vice versa. A frantic Fin is asking anyone available to help correct the mistake before the wagon comes to collect his goods. You can swap the labels and move the jars to the right crates to make sure everything reaches its proper destination.

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 nation's portals. Once there, you're welcome to meet those from other nations, 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.

Goat-drawn wagons can help you get to the other settlements, but you're encouraged to remain in the Primary Settlement. If you insist, though, no one will stop you from leaving. Just be sure you have an invitation to the Secondary Settlement. There are tales of uninvited travelers to the Secondary Settlement disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective.

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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 nation 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 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 setting choice - 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

[beautifullies]

Claire. It's nice to meet you, though it would be nicer if any of this had been our choice.

[ She remembers what it was like to be new, confused, concerned, and eager to leave. ]

I didn't offer because I expect a repayment; I was new once myself, and someone was kind to me. I find it's better to pay it forward than wish people good luck from a distance.

[ Leading him to a small tavernish location, they sit and after she orders enough for both of them, she settles her basket next to her feet. ]

Has anything specific piqued your interest in particular?

[diametrically]

[ A wry response is on his lips immediately. ]

You mean you didn't choose to be hauled through a pond soaking wet in the middle of the winter?

[ It's a silly question of course. He knows very few people who would probably want something like that to happen to them even if the circumstances hadn't been exactly the way they had panned out. Perhaps there's comfort in knowing that all of the Summoned had a similar experience though. Especially when it comes in the form of looking out for one another. It's not so unlike Ferrix. The very thought brings a pang to his heart that he has to quash. ]

Lucky for me that I met you then.

[ He follows her through the streets, falling silent as he takes in the surroundings. It's become a habit now to mentally map out potential escape routes, understand what were dead ends and what bend of the market leads to where. Cassian sticks close to Claire until they arrive at the tavern, taking the spot his back to a wall and facing the doors they had just walked through.

Preoccupied checking out their surroundings he almost doesn't realize that Claire asks him a question. ]

About this world? [ There's a pause. ] Short of saying everything, the magic and the lack of technology are the biggest differences.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire's laugh is rich at his joke, shaking her head. ]

Oh I did, but I draw the line at arriving totally naked.

[ Was it really necessary? Good Lord, with all of the magic drawing their bodies through time and space, a little fabric couldn't be that difficult to manipulate. ]

I felt similarly about magic, but the lack of technology is familiar to me. You must be from either so far in my future I'm not even dust any longer, or a different planet than Earth. It could certainly go either way.

[diametrically]

[ His lips quirk a little bit higher in spite of the heaviness that still lingered in his heart. A part of him asks if he really has a right to when there's this lingering sadness weighing his heart down but it's easier to ignore that voice when there's other company present.

Add on the fact that she's drawing the focus away from him and onto a world he'd just left? He'd always prefer avoiding talking about his feelings if given the choice. ]

I would ask what gave it away but... [ His voice trails off before giving another shrug referring to what she had overheard him saying earlier. Curiosity fills his expression then as he shifts a little bit forwards in his seat. Unwelcome kidnapping or not, he's always been a curious mind, always open to learning as much as he could whether or not it would be useful in the long term. ] What is your world like?

[beautifullies]

[ They have that in common; from traveling the world she's become eager for knowledge wherever she goes. It's one of the things that has made Abraxas bearable at all: she's learned about so much she otherwise would have never had the opportunity to know, let alone experience, courtesy of the Horizon. There's an undercurrent of wonder when she thinks of this planet, but the majority of her wants to portal her way back out as soon as possible. ]

You'll be the one guiding those who seem bewildered soon enough. As for my world, it's...well, not all that different from this, minus the magic, and plus technology. There are people here from the same planet I am, but so far in the future nothing sounds familiar anymore. We have vehicles for transportation instead of horses by now, for example. Electric lights, entertainment that doesn't necessarily have to be live, and so much more.

[ Well, in one version of her life, but best not to overwhelm him right at the start. ]

Right now it's peaceful but in a decade, at least one country will go to war with the other. And for all that, it's beautiful and vast. Deserts and volcanos on one side of the planet, rainforests and plains on the other. Granted, before this, it was the only planet I'd ever known so I'm biased, but Earth is quite wonderful.

[diametrically]

om[ Historically speaking, Cassian had been an awful student. He had boundless energy as a child and having to adjust to not only a new language but having to be cooped up inside for what seemed like hours on end after living life freely running around the jungles of Kenari had been difficult to say the least. Despite how much trouble he got into, he was undeniably bright. He soaked up information like a sponge and had a curious mind, always asking questions even if they also erred on the side of questioning authority and rules that were not normally questioned.

Claire's comment that he'd be here long enough to be the one to guide other newcomers in the future is met with a wry smile, one that says he hopes he isn't here long enough for that. But he doesn't dwell on it, choosing to move on instead to what she's saying about her world and home.

He doesn't blink or react to the mention of war spoken about in broad strokes; wars were waged and happened every day. Instead he focuses on the fondness that she has when she speaks to her home. ]

Despite the wars, it does. But you mentioned time. [ His burrow follows. ] Does that mean that time travel is possible somehow?

[beautifullies]

Don't ask me how. [ She laughs softly, though not at him. She's hopeless, but she's met people who could explain it up, down, and inside out by now. ] It's a mystery in my world, and it was very specific. From my point in time, I could only go back two hundred years, and then forward again in return.

[ Complicated and still not completely understood by her, might not ever be. ]

Others can tell you so much more. A least one person here is an actual time traveler, he lives in the Free Cities. Someone else explained that I'd likely stepped through an unmarked portal, and that sounds as good as any other explanation. Is it possible where you're from?

[diametrically]

[ He thought he had been lost before, but when Claire confirms that she had, indeed, been talking about time travel not just in her world, but in this one here too, Cassian feels his mind reel. More questions than answers begin to swirl in his mind - if that's the case, could he be sent back in his time? Is there a way he could have tried harder, done something, anything, to get Maarva to leave with him to Niamos? Had one more day with her, escaped sooner, been there as she had drawn her last breath and become stone?

Before he can venture too far into his grief and guilt, the arrival of their order appears and what Claire had said about portals calls to something else. Hyperspace. It wasn't exactly the same thing. But it was a means of getting from one place to another, of molecular displacement that even the brightest minds struggled to grasp. ]

Maybe.

[ He offers a nod to the waiter as they place the food between them. Without prompting he reaches for the tea pot to fill Claire's cup first before his own. ]

I was on a ship before this, but the person I was with didn't end up here with me.

[beautifullies]

I was also on a ship, in the sea, with my family.

[ A year ago, that would have come with a deep aching sadness, because she arrived just after a hurricane tore the ship apart and she'd been drowning. All she could have assumed was that they all died; Jamie, Fergus and Marsali, plus their friends. And yet, the arrival of Lord John means she knows they all survived. ]

I arrived alone too, although a few months later, a familiar face did arrive. A friend of the family.

[ Claire notes his manners and smiles to herself, thanking him. She doesn't add anything to her tea and takes a sip, humming in satisfaction. ]

From what I've been told, if we ever get spit back out, well go back to the same point in time we left.

[diametrically]

[ Cassian's relationship and feelings towards Luthen is a complicated tangle of a thing. Still, having him here would have at least been a balm in some way. A tether to his galaxy that was lightyears away. And because of that and being so freshly pulled here has him feeling more sentimental than he intends to about a man he barely knows.

But for Claire to have been brought here when she had been surrounded by her family, tugs unexpectedly at his heart. It catches him off guard. But it's what Clare says after that that has him letting out a breath like it had been expelled from his lungs. Like the small seed of hope that he'd had about having one more day with his mother had been crushed underfoot.

The teapot is set back down on the table with a soft thud. ]

I'm glad that someone familiar eventually showed up.

[ His own teacup provides comforting warmth through his palms against the foolish thought he'd had for a moment. The tone of his voice remains even. Quiet. ]

I can imagine that hearing that is a relief for some people.

[beautifullies]

For some. For others, being here is...respite. Or another chance to live, whether that means life was cut short or they were restricted in some way before. It's a bit sad, but I've never met so many people who needed something like this.

[ When she first arrived she never would have guessed that opinion even existed, but she can easily see why it does. What if, instead of being separated from Jamie for two decades, they'd both been here? A confusing world at first to be sure, but one where they could've had a life.

Taking a deep breath to clear her thoughts away from something that morose, she exhales with a small smile, her words gentle. ]

I'm glad this exists for anyone who needs it. Is it a place you feel like you may need?

[diametrically]

[ For a moment he isn't certain how best to respond. When was the last time he had felt respite? Peace? When was the last time he'd fallen asleep without ruminating or worrying? Even when he thought he might find it after Aldhani on Niamos, his mind wouldn't rest. Just like he'd told Marrva, there was no way he could. Not while feeling like he'd made a mistake running away from everything like he had so many times before.

Contemplating her question, his eyes drift down towards the warm liquid in his hands. He doesn't want to get his hopes up that Maarva could somehow end up here. He isn't sure he'd like that. She isn't sure she'd like that. ]

If that's what this place is for Summoned like you've described then I'm glad.

[ Quietly his hand flexes around the cup. ]

I'm not sure. I have things to take care of at home. [ His eyes skip back up towards Claire holding her gaze, a pang of sadness flickers through his eyes before he sighs and gives a gentle shrug. ] But I'm sure I'm not the only one who does.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire holds his gaze to genuinely speak on something she's not sure she hears others say all that much. She likely will now though, since she's thought of it. ]

It should have been a choice for respite if you needed it, and I'm sorry it wasn't. People are working to find the answer of how to get home. Slow going, I'm afraid, but we'll get there, I think.

[ The sadness was noted and will be remembered, should they meet again. She'll make sure he's settling alright, has a friend outside of his faction. Mustering a smile, she swings it back around to the positive.]

The nice part of all this is meeting someone I never could have otherwise.

[diametrically]

[ Cassian lets out a breath that could very well sound like a bit of a laugh. But as disbelieving as it may sound, it has nothing to do with him scoffing at Claire's kindness. If anything, it's because of her kindness that he finds himself somewhat at a loss.

As absurd as this entire situation was, this felt like it was just starting to feel like it was the sort of thing that happened to him. There are worse things than ending up in a foreign galaxy. He could have wound back up in a prison. Although, wryly, he can't help but think that that's sort of what had happened.

There will be plenty of time to ruminate about gloomy topics though. He's not so cynical that he can't recognize when someone is attempting to cheer him up. Appreciation and a sliver of warmth manages to make its way into his smile at her outlook on the situation. ]

Even if they're pessimistic as hell? [ His lips tug a little higher. ] Either you keep strange company or you have a different definition of nice than most.

[beautifullies]

[ Here, Claire does laugh softly. ]

I've been around a long time, lived many places, and met all kinds. But it admittedly could be little of column A, little of column B. And I tend to like the pessimistic ones the most.

[ He gets a wink out of her at that. ]

Or, maybe I'm the strange one, who knows?

fin! 🎀

[diametrically]

[ The wink makes his lips lift higher still, making the corners of his eyes crinkle finally forming some semblance of an actual smile. The levity of this shared tea with Claire is enough to chase away the gloom, at least for a little while. It fees like the sun peeking out from the clouds, bathing him in some semblance of warmth that he hadn't felt in a while. ]

The strange ones are the most interesting ones. If I have to be here, at least there's that.