TEST DRIVE MEME #17

[abraxasmods]

Test Drive Meme

Important Links

Setting ⦁ Game History ⦁ NPCs ⦁ Arcana ⦁ FAQ

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

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

While the world is undergoing some tumultuous weather, newly arrived characters will be assured that everything is being taken care of and cautioned to shelter indoors where possible.

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 getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying the 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 territories: 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.

Go to scenario

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 spring, the weather is cool and marked by howling windstorms. In the distance, snow continues to cover the mountain peaks. Spring flowers are beginning to bloom in 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:

• Windstorms batter the walls outside. The city of Castle Thorne is largely safe, but debris, fallen trees, and toppled wagons are still a danger. Try not to go outside unless you have to! Across the sky, lightning surges horizontally, never touching the ground.


• 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. There's some buzz about the arrival of Admiral Rudolph Sidwell, the Queen's uncle. While Rudolph is temporarily staying in Nott, he can occasionally be seen in the castle halls when he visits Castle Thorne.

◎ Exploring

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

Sorting Tomes
A few apprentices out on errands have grown trapped behind some fallen debris, leaving the library short of helping hands. Volunteers are desperately needed to help sort and shelve the books, which are beginning to pile up. Fortunately, Thorne's magical shelving system means the shelves will immediately let you know if a book has been placed incorrectly. Unfortunately, the way this works is that the book will expel itself back out and fall to the floor. Watch your head!

Serene Steeds
Due to the heavy storms, Thorne's prized horses are growing nervous in their stables. To help soothe them, apprentice mages have asked you to cast a calming spell on each horse. The spell relies on Academic Magic. While the spell only requires saying a few words correctly, a lack of concentration can result in some unexpected memories or feelings surfacing, inducing strong emotions. You might vividly recall a tumultuous moment in your life or find yourself reflecting on who you are, where you came from, and where you might go next.

Painting Session
You're encouraged to explore Thorne's proud naval history in Borrel at its Maritime Fair. Because of the storms, it's being held indoors within heavily strengthened walls. Here, you can join a paint and cider session where you can follow a guided instructor to paint a displayed model of Thorne's famous naval warships. To finish your masterpiece, 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 eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, is, unfortunately, CLOSED due to recent events.

◎ 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, day trips 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 or you can earn some pocket money by doing chores around the Castle.

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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 the sandstorm has obscured the sun, lowering the typical spring temperatures. At night, temperatures will drop further. 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 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:

• Sandstorms assail the cites, especially in Cadens. The dust is thick and choking, and visibility is low. Try not to go outside unless you have to! Across the sky, lightning surges horizontally, never touching the ground.


• In the Cadens barracks, soldiers are hard at work fortifying its walls and preparing for further changes in weather. Shops and merchant stalls that populate Cadens' outdoor markets are absent. With the storms going on, the city streets are eerily empty except for vagrants and those who don't have shelter to retreat to.


• 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.

◎ Exploring

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

Pimp My Ride
Innovation is the way of the Free Cities, and showing it off is just as important. Every few years, wagon enthusiasts will display their customized New Magic-powered wagons in the Wagon Parade. Although this usually takes place in the streets of Cadens, this month's storm has forced the parade indoors into the Fortune Arena, the oldest horse arena in the city. They'll need help boarding up windows and doorways so that the this year's amazing entries aren't harmed. As with any event, pop-up merchants appear along the parade line selling food, drink, and a variety of commemorative tokens.

Masking Up
Dust storms are not unheard of in the desert, but the reduced air quality is still a concern. In response, the government is distribuing breathing masks and is asking for volunteers who are willing to brave current conditions to hand them out. Standard government-issued designs are free, but some wealthy citizens have elected for a more refined design while the cautious opt for total coverage. You'll be given your own mask (in the design of your choice), but the winds will still be a force to contend with. Be sure to travel with a partner for safety.

New Wave, New Age
New Magic is how the Free Cities diverges from reliance on more traditional magic. With New Magic, the Arcana plays a much more limited role. However, New Age thinkers of Libertas have risen with the arrival of the Summoned. They stress that to move to the future, you cannot forget your past. To encourage this reconnection with one's roots, a group of New Age practitioners have set up a table at the Cadens Library. You can take part in designing your own tarot card on pieces of thin metal. The goal is to create a design that speaks to you the most: find inspiration from your connections to the world, from home, or through an important symbol in your life. Special pens will easily burn and engrave any marks you make, so craft carefully.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, is, unfortunately, CLOSED due to recent events.

◎ 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 are 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 amid 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 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 who 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 who 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. With spring on the way, the winds remain somewhat chilly and the rains are heavy - not to mention the small twisters forming across the plains and on the ocean. 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:

• Small twisters assail the settlements. While it isn't strong enough to lift homes or large structures, important shrines, and small animals are still in danger. Try not to go outside unless you have to! Across the sky, lightning surges horizontally, never touching the ground.


• Shops and stalls have closed due to conditions. The strong community means in Solvunn everyone has chosen to pitch in to help each other out, delivering meals when there's a break in the storms, finding lost pets, repairing broken gates, and exchanging essential goods.


• Fishing in the Tertiary Settlement has also ground to a halt. Isar Hart, who sits on the Council, can be seen frequently in the Primary Settlement to gather much-needed supplies for the residents.

◎ Exploring

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

Shrine Offerings
As a new arrival, you'll be encouraged to perform your first offering. Due to the turbulent weather, Solvunn believes offerings in the tradition of High Magic might quell the Gods' fury. Create a bundle using a combination of fruit, wine, flowers, or an animal you've hunted. It must be picked and put together by your own hand. Once you're ready, you can approach any shrine belonging to a God that speaks to you: is it Cadaevos, who purifies the community and soul? Endrborrin, who brings forth spring and change? Vagn, who oversees one's journey in death? It's a good idea to travel with a partner. While the twisters aren't deadly, they can be dangerous if you're not careful. Perhaps, along the way, you can talk about what the concept of gods and blessings mean to you.

Goatnado
Due to the heavy rains, Solvunn's fine tradition of goat racing has been put on hold so the goats can be kept safe inside their pens. Of course, the goats prefer their free-range lifestyle and are prone to escaping. Help find missing goats or tend to the ones who have been returned to their pens. It may not be as simple as following the sound of bleating and tying them up; reports of small twisters picking up goats and other livestock have been made, sending them far away from their pens and farms and even into the more dangerous wilds or inconveniently on buildings and houses. You'll need to team up and track them down before they can cause any property damage or get hurt themselves.

The Shrieking of the Weeds
Goats and livestock aren't the only victims of the sudden winds. Farmlands and crops also face the brunt of destruction. The twisters travel quickly across Solvunn's low and flat landscape, and the freshly tilled earth is even easier to disturb. As a result, Shrieking Weeds, a staple garden guardian in Solvunn, are being ripped from the ground and sent in whirling, noisy tempests that keep everyone up all night and day. The weeds must be retrieved and will only quiet when planted back into the ground. Luckily, you can easily follow their discordant cries to find them.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, is, unfortunately, CLOSED due to recent events.

◎ 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 & 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 territory your character is drawn into has nothing to do with their morality, beliefs, or how highly they regard themselves and their 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 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 into 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 territory?

No, they must remain within the territory except when visiting Nocwich. Review the Travel section on each territory's Setting page for where characters can go within their borders.

Can my character eventually change territories?

Yes, but tensions between the major territories are at an all-time high. Doing so is possible, but will require some plotting 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. Those interested in court politics, the Singularity, and magic will have the most access in Thorne. Anyone who wishes to uncover the secrets of the Gods and other mysteries will best do so in Solvunn.

This is not to say characters are locked out of other scenarios completely. With effort and the help of friends, anything is possible! Don't get too anxious about your choice. Every character in each scenario can work their way towards many individual goals. Additionally, once in-game, the Horizon, Nocwich, and certain events will let characters make easy cross-border 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. You'll 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?

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. In situations where Nocwich is closed, you can put up prompts for multiple scenarios, though only the one you choose in the application can become canon.

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. 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

return.

[krakened]

Ah. There's a look Ed recognizes. Wore it himself about, uh, three? Four? Months ago. It's the look of a man lost who doesn't realize he'll not be un-lost any time soon.

Ed pops out from behind a tree. Tucked under one arm is a baby goat. Why has he got a goat? Don't worry about it.

(He's doing a rescue, okay?)

"Yeah, sorry, mate. One way only." The goat bleats to confirm.

Ed almost-kind of blends in, between his thick greying hair and casual linen shirt, sleeves rolled up, but the accent stands out, and so does the jewellery—a few heavy rings and a bracelet that doesn't really suit the dulled down aesthetic of the locals.

"What do you want to go back for, anyway?"

Teddy Roberts | OC | Solvunn | Death (probably; maybe the Star? debating a few)

[tedandroses]

✦ goatnado

This whole thing is like a very, very strange dream.

It's, at very least, not a seizure: it's too linear, too narrative, too — well, realistic. And not enough: usually whatever weird, vivid perception is just...that. Distortion, mostly, sometimes hallucination, but it's in the same world at least. Whatever this is, Teddy isn't probably standing there letting a pot boil over while they wander around an open world that looks a little like Rohan with goats.

Small comfort. Better: if they are going to be summarily dropped into the middle of ...whatever the hell is going on, they reckon they could do a lot worse than what this seems to be. After the initial panic attack wore off and they'd managed to think on what they'd been told, explore a bit, Solvunn, honestly? Sounds at heart not too far from home. For better and for worse: heavy on tradition, devoted, rural, everyone knows everyone and helps out. Teddy knows how those things work, at least.

And things could be a lot worse than being looked at in gratefulness and slight awe.

That part is actually kind of awkward. Much as they thrive under certain attention. (Like an odd karmic do you really want to be famous just as they're determined to get back to their music.)

Maybe that's why, when given a chance to help out, Teddy jumps to it. Tornadoes are not a thing that happens back home, but they've never been altogether good at turning away from something that scares them. It's almost like a dare: it makes them dig their heels in. And the thought of some delightedly-freed goats getting turned around or bodily picked up, and injured or killed -- not to mention farmers losing livestock they depend on -- is a little horrifying.

Teddy's spotted one not too far off from where they're walking. The goats here are big, furry and sturdy. It makes some of them almost shoulderheight on Teddy, a few taller, which they hadn't really considered. Oops.

Teddy carefully raises both hands and clucks to the goat. Aiming to approach in a direction that will -- hopefully -- make it spook back toward home if it doesn't let them approach, they try the friendly version first. "Hey, there you are."

They glance around, trying to see who's nearest who they can drag into helping. One person's not going to be able to catch a goat. Not if they're anything near as fast as goats at home.

[OOC: Wildcards welcome, and so are action tags/brackets -- if you'd rather I switch from prose, I can match! If you'd rather throw someone at them when they're wandering around town, or before they spot the goat, please do! HMU at wingedvoices with any questions.]

Re: Ignatius "Iggy" Melville | OC | The Empress

[tedandroses]

Teddy is mulling over gods — and also, over why he’s mulling over gods. He’s a little in his head right up until he’s approached: he startles a little and looks up.

And up. The curly-haired, angular figure leaning on the wall nearby has probably a foot on them. Teddy’s used to being short, but man. They shift a little, unconsciously, taking up a little more space.

She snorts at the question, amused grin breaking the defense of her initial startle reaction. “I wish.” Then, a second later, “The cigarettes. Personally. I’d just about kill for one.” After a second’s consideration she purses her lips and says, “I have seen pipes, though…”

They mime a Sherlockian holding-a-pipe pose. “Might have to take it up.”

“Also, I think blowjobs are currency everywhere,” Teddy adds, in a lower but matter of fact tone “Having lived somewhere not entirely unlike this? You may need to do a lot of feeling it out to get to when and for whom…”

For all he knows, there’s a god of sacred prostitution in here somewhere but somehow Teddy’s going to say probably not.

“So I take it you got pulled through the rabbit hole too?”

[techmaturgy]

[As soon as they're all inside, it likely becomes immediately apparent why Viktor was having such a hard time with the door, wind aside. He clears out to make space for everyone else staggering in, but he's a bit unsteady on his own feet until he manages to brace himself against the wall. He pushes his goggles up his forehead, drops his respirator, and slips his crutch back under his arm and then takes stock of the situation.

Well, there's sand all over the floor, but all three of his new charges seem to be in all right shape. Viktor will give everyone a moment to catch their breath. The grandfather (presumably) and the girl nod, slightly bewildered.]

You're welcome to stay here while this blows over.

[All three of them, is the implication, even though Cid seems a bit less civilian than the man and his granddaughter, at first glance. Viktor's gaze lingers on him for a moment, and then he remembers he's now supposed to be a host, something that immediately becomes evident when he tries to voice what they should be doing, now that everyone is safely inside.]

There's...tea. In the back. I can make it.

[rookvision]

I can see quite a lot of things from higher up that aren’t as obvious on the ground.

[And also he just likes to climb to high places. Fear of heights? Jacob’s never even heard of such a thing.]

Should’ve gone somewhere other than the city then, if you wanted a pretty place to live in. [He’s just saying, man.] In my experience, the more beautiful a city is, the dirtier its secrets are.

[He says this like he’s lived in any other city besides London in his entire life, and he hasn’t even been living in London that long. Still, it is true, from his experience: the nicer parts of London shine like a mirror, hiding the darker side of itself underneath it—the children forced to work backbreaking jobs, the women walking the streets late at night for just a little more money, the bullies and thugs in power and holding power that Jacob’s dealt with.

He is more than a little bit familiar with the horrors of city living, and it goes beyond the architecture. But he says none of that.]

Oh, I can imagine how that would be a tad difficult! [Jacob chuckles. A city of mirrors, huh?] But I notice you didn’t say it was impossible to get inside.

[It’s covered by the mask, but the grin is evident in his voice as he speaks:] Right? The cuisine here is spectacular. The soldiers at the barracks were really holding out on us new Summoned, I’m glad I left.

[dead_tongue]

"Hey, I agree. But I'm not in charge, you know? Just doing my own little part to dismantle the whole rotten system," He says cheerfully.

Iggy grins. "Monogamy? Yeah, that's a thing. Wouldn't know much about it, myself."

That gets Iggy to shut up and stare even more intently.

"...you're serious. God of what?"

[seaweedbrain]

A little. [ Mostly on rotation with some of the other kids at Camp Half-Blood, and that had been pretty early on too. He still wants to believe that was some kind of unsuccessful hazing ritual, courtesy of Mr D, but that's really not the point.

Percy adds: ] My dad has a lot of horses.

[ It's not untrue.

Like, it's weird to give his dad so much credit, to mention him before he even gets to his mom who truthfully deserves more of the spotlight where his parentage is concerned, but then again it's his dad's side of the family that yanked him away from the possibility of living out a regular kid's life and led to a bunch of choices that probably brought him here.

And, you know, horses. ]

Cake with the Queen? That actually sounds kind of awesome. [ Jacob's claim definitely doesn't sound like he's trying to pull Percy's leg, and he's seen enough to believe just about anything at this point. You got his 100% belief, buddy.

The more he studies the guy as he speaks, the more Percy is starting to wonder at whether it's not just the accent that has a kind of old-timey, Mary Poppins-y vintage vibe. He makes London sound like some kind of New World, and there's no way (in his very, very biased opinion) that New York is lacking in stuff to do. Sometimes Percy wonders what it might be like for New York to take a day off, maybe sleep in, maybe keep the angry Titans and their ilk home for bit. But things not happening? It's hard to believe. ]

I mean, what's happening in London that seems to be drawing everyone there?

[dead_tongue]

Iggy grins impishly. "Oh, I'll take up pipe smoking if it's the only way. I am jonesing bad."

His grin inches wider. "Okay, true, I guess I should have phrased it more like 'will I get in trouble for my chosen bartering system.'"

Iggy moves to lean against the wall as well.

"I did. I'm absolutely freaking out inside. I'm from 2024. This place doesn't even have the internet!

"You said you lived somewhere like this before, but you don't sound old timey. Where are you from? Oh! And I'm Iggy. Duh, sorry, so rude of me."

[seaweedbrain]

If by 'a little' you basically mean the only thing they share is that they have some kind of affinity to something. 'Cause your spirits sound awesome. The Greek gods I know ... could probably do with a little more 'live in peace' stuff, honestly.

[ Instead, their default setting seems to be 'More power = bully mortals = better god!'

The whole reason Percy and Annabeth have just been to literal hell and back is because of a war raging between the old, old gods, and the new pantheon, and their struggle to take power and ultimate control. And even before then, Percy had been dragged into a squabble between his dad and his dad's two brothers and that possibility of war. And that was followed by this whole thing with Kronos — well, you get the idea.

Peace? Yeah, we don't know her. ]

Anyway, count me in as someone who doesn't know anything about Bending. [ He can catch the inflection on the word however, like it's supposed to be capitalized. And he's going to take a wild guess that it's not just about how far he can touch his toes. ] But I think I can get the gist of what it might mean, especially when you mentioned water bending.

[seaweedbrain]

Sure, if your idea of fun is the very real possibility that a wagon or a house is gonna fall on you like the witch from The Wizard of Oz.

[ Let's just say that while Percy could weather any oceanic storm — things to do with the sky and air makes him a little less confident on his abilities. Especially when said abilities seem to rely a lot on powers he definitely doesn't have right now.

He can't even spill a cup of water without actively reaching out and tipping it over with his hand. Lame. ]

Yeah, I guess you could say he's got a thing for clouds — wait. Something tells me that's not what you mean, is it?

[sophos]

[ when she's in the zone her concentration is usually okay, despite her easy distractability, and she likes to think she's good at pronunciation. it's only two small pieces, but it sounds... promising, if she decides to give the local magic a whirl. ]

[ annabeth does not verbally reply, content to just watch the woman work the magic. when the horse calms down, she stares at it, like she's waiting for the animal to act up again. it seems so simple a spell. she can do that. how could she not do that? she peers back at the stranger. ]

That's it? That's all it takes? [ don't sound too sure of yourself yet, annabeth. remember what happened the last time you did that?? ]

[seaweedbrain]

[ Percy waits for the last of the visions of deserts and acidic air and deadly terrain to leave before he lets out a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding.

He keeps himself rooted to where he is, just getting used to the feeling of being back in his own body and feeling Annabeth's hands on his face, their foreheads pressed together, hearing the sound of her voice — his tether, always his tether.

It's real. She's real. And like she's said, she's here, and they've found each other. Gods, it feels like forever ago, and he didn't want to admit it to anyone, not even himself, that being in this new land without her wasn't something he looked forward to. It scared him, even.

A moment later and he's freed from feeling paralyzed in his own body, moving his arms to fold around Annabeth's waist. He sinks his head into her shoulder in relief and just breathes her in. ]

You have no idea how glad I am to see you.

[sophos]

[ annabeth's attention snaps immediately towards the voice, a voice she knows but one that's been dead for nearly a year now. her eyes widen at the sight of silena at the horses, handling them as comfortably and confidently as always, but all she can do for a few long moments is stare at her. ]

[ is she dead too? she'd thought she was alive - she's been to the a few iterations of the underworld at this point that it hadn't occurred to her this place was a part of it. she thinks, briefly, that maybe the doors of death had something to do with it - but reminds herself she's far away from all that now. ]

[ it makes it easier to just focus on silena existing, she can figure out the rest in a minute. ]

Silena? [ her name is half a question. annabeth looks a little older than silena would have seen her last, freshly scraped and bruised and perhaps a little haunted in a new way too. ] It is you, right?

[joyboys]

[ the sarcastic remark just earns luffy's bright, genuine laughter, accompanied with, ] Yeah! Dunno what Oars has got to do with it all, but sure!

[ he seems to see absolutely no issues with declaring that his idea of fun is, in fact, a house or a wagon falling on him, and before percy has a chance to question that, he's already barreling on. ]

Nah, I just said he's a cloud, didn't I? [ his nose scrunches in confusion. is this guy a bit slow, or what? ] He's one of Big Mom's homies. Or I guess he's Nami's now — Nami's my crewmate, she's our navigator! She's really awesome! You should meet her, except I haven't actually seen her here, but don't worry, I'm sure I'll find all of them soon! They're really strong, so they can all take care of themselves.

[ he stops, there, and just beams at percy. ]

[hiswaterknife]

Truer words haven't been spoken.

[That's why he climbed the mountains. To see far. Not that it helped him against gods. Well, one. Sadly, one was enough.]

I would have picked a better one if there was a choice to have. [There's a tiny pause before he speaks again.] My city was the most beautiful of them all. [Never before has the world seen such a den of vipers.]

A little. They used to burn all of the unwanted visitors. Pretty clever system. [Another pause. It's probably better than Jacob can't see his face right now. Most people don't understand.] I did not.

[The subject of food is a better one. Everyone likes talking about food, and you almost can't say a wrong thing with it.]

So did I! I don't know what they expected, but do I even look like someone who could be useful in an army?!

[Mostly because he doesn't need one.]

[sophos]

[ slowly, steadily, percy wholly comes back to her, and with each breath she finds herself solidified too. she knows she could have handled this place alone - it's nothing, compared to arachne beneath rome, compared to tartarus - but it doesn't mean she wanted to be without him. she's so tired of being without him. ]

[ annabeth moves as percy does, as always, as familiar; she lets go of his face to slide her arms around his shoulders, sinking into the hug and burying her face against him in kind. the press of him is like home. as much as she misses camp half-blood, percy is home too. it really doesn't matter where they are at this point. ]

I might have some idea, if it's as glad as I am to see you too.

[ her arms tighten around him. she will permit herself a little more comfort from his hold. she thinks that's allowed by now. ]

[sophos]

[ annabeth is more than familiar with restlessness. she comes from a camp full of adhd teenagers. ]

[ she's a little unused to being called miss, except when someone's trying to speak down to her, or put her in her place, but this guy's tone isn't that way. it just gives her the vibe of how he speaks, that he addresses everyone that way. weird, but not worth getting into a discussion about. ]

So you're from Earth too? I thought London had plenty of castles.

[seaweedbrain]

[ Well, Luffy isn't the first to think (or say) that he's a little slow on the uptake, nor will he be the last. It never bothered him before and it doesn't now.

However, he's just trying to parse through the myriad of weird and random facts that this guy is telling him like he should understand what any of it means. He does get 'crewmate' and 'navigator' though, and that's got some promise of further conversation down the line but it's the stuff about Zeus that makes him straight up let out a laugh.

(While also hoping he won't suddenly be struck down by lightning in the midst.) ]

Okay, dude, you've just said a whole lot of things that I don't understand. But the best thing is picturing Zeus as a literal cloud and calling him 'homie' because back where I'm from, he's the god of the sky, probably gets his suits pressed along with his weekly manicure, and he's no one's homie.

[wwrench]

If he has any better idea of what Iggy could reasonably expect, Wrench doesn't appear to be in any hurry to share it. The tall man shrugs his shoulders, as if to convey that anyone's guess is as good as his own. He doubts it would be the same for Iggy as for him anyway, and he's still trying to understand the strange ability his sacrifice to his own God left him with, only having recently admitted to gaining something in the first place.

It's all easily forgotten anyway when Iggy lays a hand on his arm. Incorrigible, Wrench thinks again, but he allows for it as they start back out of the clearing and back towards the primary settlement.

I'd be showing you a pile of rubble. Wind took it out, and I haven't gotten the chance to rebuild. Unless you're really into roughing it, the apartment's probably the better choice.

[joyboys]

[ don't worry percy, that's a pretty standard luffy experience (tm), even the people he's known for ages rarely truly get what he's about.

luffy, in turn, takes exactly three seconds to deliberate what he's just been told before shrugging one shoulder and saying, matter-of-fact, ]

He sounds boring. [ lord of the sky, huh. ] Sounds kind of like this guy who was pretending to be a god and had lightning powers we met a couple years ago. [ a pause. ] I kicked his ass.

[dawn_is_breaking]

"I'm trying to find the shrine for Endrborrin." She says and holds up the small little offering she has put together, it's made up of mostly flowers and grass that she's braided together.

"I hope they like it, I'm not exactly used to making offerings to deities. I was raised with no particular religion."

[seaweedbrain]

[ Voice a little muffled, he does manage a huff of laughter, and it eases the last of the tension in his shoulders.

He feels like he can breathe properly again. ]

Okay, yeah. I guess you do.

[ Wrapped in each other's embrace, Percy kind of wants to stay in this moment for as long as this world will let them because with all of the unfamiliarities (seriously, even the stars and the sky are weird and unrecognizable) surrounding them, this feels safe and certain. It's something he can draw strength from. Anything could happen (but like, lets not jinx that please) but he knows he could weather it now that Annabeth's here too.

A moment later, and Percy feels the need to bring a little levity to the situation, happy to leave his own residual trauma regarding Tartarus behind. He knows he doesn't need to, certainly not with Annabeth who is literally the only other person aside from himself who could really understand what he'd gone through, but it's reflex by now. ]

I — uh. Think I messed up the spell.

[dawn_is_breaking]

"Thank you." Her tone is just as sincere and she offers him a grateful smile.

"Oh never in a storm, they wouldn't even let you saddle them right now." She says and the horse whinnies as if agreeing.

"It can be, you kind of bounce around a lot. I don't know why they always have a woman riding horseback in tampon commercials because I found it uncomfortable no matter what day of my cycle I was on."

[seaweedbrain]

[ Percy finds that once he's started to laugh it eases a little knot in his chest, and he can't help but keep laughing.

Whoa, wait.

Boring?

If Zeus were here, Percy would be offering Luffy his condolences before watching him get zapped into a little pile of teenaged dust. ]

You kicked his ass, huh? Wanna give me some tips?

[dead_tongue]

Without missing a beat, Iggy makes an offer:

So why don't you stay with me tonight?

Natural and easy as breathing. It's not even made from a sense of obligation since Wrench had already stated he'd help without expectation of reward.