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

[karsiteweave]

[ Prove it?! Only, hang on. The Writing is more hurried, briefly: ]

Astarion? Is that really you? You're --

[ The writing sort of peters, pauses, as Gale clearly has to think. ]

As alive as you were previously, I suppose. Where are you? I'm in some sort of castle which boasts an impressive library. There appears to be a storm raging in the area. Horizontal lightning!

[ He... draws a little sketch underneath, of lightning going between two clouds. ]

[karsiteweave]

[ Is he... late?! Has he forgotten something? Or some... one? All entirely possible, unfortunately. ]

You will have to jog my memory, I'm afraid. Have we met? Or are you familiar with me by other means?

[ There are both good and bad options here, after all. ]

[judgmentbolts]

[ He appreciates that their new friend is quick on the uptake, because it seems like the storm is ready to get worse before it gets better. Cid gets his charges up, keeping pace with them to be sure that he doesn't lose track of them with all this blowing sand. ] You're sure they'll take us all, wherever 'there' is?

[ He's less worried about himself than he is about the other two. Even without two gil to rub together, it seems that Summoned are generally welcome to loiter, and Cid has plenty of uncharitable guesses about why that is. People who aren't so useful might not be so lucky. ]

[whatam_i]

"How on earth should I know?" He says, his tone still slightly snippish. "And no, all I did was try to improve their filing system."

[dead_tongue]

Iggy looks at all the books now on the floor.

"I don't think it's working," he points out.

"Are you even supposed to change a whole system? That sounds like an awful lot of work. And like... would anyone besides you understand it?"

[whatam_i]

"Well...no one said I couldn't." He says slowly, "And besides it would improve things a lot. It would be much more intuitive if things were arranged more like how a peat moss organism grows. You know, laterally."

He extends his long, slender fingers outwards as if to show Iggy what he means.

[dead_tongue]

"I think the books are saying you can't," Iggy points out. He hunkers down to start stacking books.

"...peat moss?" Yeah, he has only the vaguest idea of what that is.

"I don't think libraries are usually arranged intuitively. Like, don't they use the whatsit, the dudely decimal system?"

[durge]

Something like that. You may remember an individual who had a tadpole in their head and somewhat... led your merry party in search of a cure. For me, that's none other than myself. For Astarion, that's a woman named Tav.

SENJI MURAMASA 🔥 F/GO 🔥 THE MAGICIAN

[misclassed]

THORNE.

[ 🔥 NORTH WING. 🔥

A fresh rash of newcomers in the castle. The usual drill, though now without the freedom to go looking in Nocwich for familiar faces. This newcomer takes in the new quarters offered to the summoned with an irate but calm demeanor, more inconvenienced than shell shocked. The moment he makes eye contact with someone who looks remotely familiar with the setting, he makes a beeline across the room without a care for niceties. ]

Hey. You know where this castle keeps its smithy, kid? [ "Kid" he says, regardless of if the other person is younger-looking than the other or not. Muramasa wrinkles his nose as if he's gotten a whiff of something weird, and then shakes whatever feeling is bothering him off with a grumpy shrug. ] There's so much magic on this damn place that I'm having a hard time getting my bearings.

[ Forget sleeping in a bed, he just needs to hit something with hammers until he feels more at peace with his skin. ]

[ 🔥 WILDCARDS 🔥 After arriving, Muramasa can be found in the castle smithy assisting. after a few days, the smithy starts to carry a magical air of rejuvenation and solace, despite being full of of people hammering away at metal. Even the sound of thunder roiling in the lightning clad skies above sounds distant. Or he visits the stables, and gets bit by a horse that is so spooked by the weather, it thinks he must be haunted or something. Head in the direction of the loud curse and you'll find him staring down an unrepentant and unnerved animal. Or failing that, he's up on the castle walls, storm be damned, a hand outstretched over the battlements into the open air, palm up towards the sky like he's waiting for rain or maybe hoping to catch a lightning strike if it ever graces the earth with its searing might. ]

---

FREE CITIES.

[🔥 NEW WAVE, NEW AGE 🔥

Some people don't do anything to contribute to anything, do they? Like this guy. He's just been standing there in familiar pose, watching. Not offering commentary, just watching the work with an attention to the detail that's bordering on unnerving. Maybe even judgemental, if you're feeling cagey and insecure about it. When a set of engraving pens is freed by someone else finishing up and leaving the table and the New Age practitioner offers him a blank metal sheet and the pen, he finally shifts his focus. ]

Me? Ehhh... The edges those pens make are too blunt for my tastes. Makes the work look sloppy. [ Buddy. Come on, aren't you being a little too picky? Someone else is right here, working very hard. ] What's wrong with just ink and paper?

[ Forget the pen and paper, what's wrong with just letting people be bad at things!? ]

[ 🔥 WORKHORSE 🔥 As the week after arrival comes to a close, the smithy that keeps the Cadens barracks equipped begins to host a new smith for some of the "less important" projects. Muramasa makes all sorts of things: nails, horseshoes, door hinges, dust mask fittings, you name it. If the hammering and smoke is tolerable, the air inside is easier to breathe than the dusty streets outside for those who need a brief respite. Just don't linger idly too long, or Muramasa will put you to work boxing up the seemingly infinite number of nails that they need for boarding up the Fortune Arena, and drag you along to help deliver his work, dust storms be damned... ]

(( OOC NOTES: Alter Ego version, possible spoilers for FGO LB6. ))

annabeth chase | pjo/heroes of olympus | thorne | the high priestess

[sophos]

Ω THE NORTH WING

[ this is not the first time annabeth has found herself in strange situations involving (presumed) rivers in the last few weeks, but it beats out the lava and the despair. ]

[ there's an instinct that compels her to fight back and immediately question - well, everything. but there is a bone-tired ache across her entire body too that leaves little room for the fighting itch in turn. as a demigod, she's not entirely unused to being whisked away on the whims of some higher power as a concept though, and perhaps that helps her go through the motions and allows the explanations, the transportation, the new fitted magic clothing; it turns her focus entirely on what this high mage tells her because she does not want to think about any alternatives. besides, the best way forward is, as always, to gather as much information as she can on the offset. she files it all away and thinks, at least this prison isn't killing me via the air itself. ]

[ annabeth moves through the north wing almost skittishly. every little sound draws her attention, and once in a while she reaches for her hip, where no hilt waits for her. there are semi-healed cuts and wounds across visible skin, and her curly hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail; the look is accentuated by deep, dark circles under her eyes. ]

[ she's used to sharing a cabin, so she's not terribly put out by the sight of four beds in one room. mostly she's just enamored by the concept of a bed. she can't remember the last time she slept on one. her grey eyes snap to whoever walks in the room as soon as they cross the threshold, and she watches them a little unnervingly. ]

Is one of these yours? [ her tone is a little gruff. she wants a goddamn nap. she is fresh out of tartarus and a little on edge. she deserves a nap at the very least! even the storm outside doesn't seem like too big a deterrent. ]

Ω SORTING TOMES

[ at some point, she finds herself in the library, if only for the comfort of being in one. even if she doesn't fall into reading any of the books, the atmosphere alone allows her to turn inward and try to mull over... everything. annabeth has a lot to process and a lot she doesn't want to think about in the same breath. the library is clearly the answer. she doesn't know this place, but she knows books. ]

[ she carries a handful of books through the shelves, but her attention is elsewhere, and she looks aimless. she's just thinking, a lot - the definition of lost in thought right now. she mindlessly puts a book back on the shelf for the sake of proving she's working, but it's in the wrong spot. lucky for her inherent instincts - she ducks at the last second as the book sails centimeters over her head and slams into the floor. ]

Di immortales! What the fuck? [ her bemusement is spat out in ancient greek. if someone explained to her about the auto-correction for misplaced books, she clearly was not listening. ]

Ω SERENE STEEDS

[ annabeth is too restless, so wandering is the easiest habit to pick up in a castle. she has very little experiences in castles, but when she hears there are stables, she meanders her way there. at least horses are familiar, even if she's fairly positive none of these will be capable of flight. what she finds are animals just as antsy as she is, though she thinks she's doing a much better job of hiding it. ]

I don't suppose you've spoken to a dark haired boy who smells like the ocean? [ yes, she is asking the horse this question. the horse does not respond. ]

[ annabeth has not touched any of the magic to try and cast this supposed calming spell, and she's currently not in the mood to try. mostly she'd just... maybe had a small hope about coming to the stables and sought another element of comfort there. ]

[ but, with other company coming in, she straightens her posture and sizes them up as they come closer. ] Do you know how to do that calming spell?

[ ooc; annabeth is post house of hades! like. basically immediately after escaping tartarus, good times. ]

percy jackson | riordanverse | the lovers

[seaweedbrain]

surroundings / castle ( thorne );

[ This is honestly starting to feel like a really frustrating deja vu.

Waking up in a daze, unsure of where he is, being told that he’s been chosen for some kind of a quest? Yeah, sure — been there, done that.

The first thing that Percy makes note of is how weirdly comfortable these strange new clothes are. They’re nothing like the tattered remains of his sweat-and-blood covered Camp Half-Blood t-shirt and matted jeans, and after overstaying his welcome in the depths of Tartarus, this place already feels like some new form of Elysium … minus all of the other heroic demigods, of course. He still feels a little dorky in the sandals — like, he’s pretty sure Mr D probably has a whole closet full of footwear just like these somewhere at camp. But he can’t deny that they’re comfortable too. Rest in peace, old sneakers. You got him through a hell of a lot.

It takes him no time at all to forget every single name he’s been given, and all of the fun facts about the castle too; this whole experience feels like a whirlwind, and the only thing he really wants to do right now is find someone familiar (namely his girlfriend, Annabeth), or barring that: someone who knows a little more about why they asked for him specifically and not the other demigods in his group; and finally, maybe, something to eat. (When was the last time he ate? And do they have burgers here?)

It’s the wind slamming against the walls of this place like battering rams that distracts him from his hunger, and has him peering out of the nearest window to witness the wagons being tossed around like they were made of paper. A streak of lightning flashes across the sky, lighting up the cloud cover. It feels way too familiar, but like, not in a good way. ]

Uh — shouldn’t someone make sure people out there are safe? Because it kinda sounds like Zeus is having a temper tantrum.


exploring / serene steeds ( thorne );

[ The stables always make Percy feel at home, no matter where they might be located. It isn’t even because he’s especially good at horseback riding, or that he’s even spent a whole lot of time around horses. But one can say that he’s got … a birthright given affinity to them.

Okay, he can talk to horses thanks to his dad. It’s a thing; don’t worry about it.

The horses here are (rightfully) skittish, acting up with the winds and the storms outside, and he can hear their panicked cries and whinnies as he makes his way inside to check on them, but they don’t really seem to be all that chatty. Percy gets it. He’d hate to be trapped in here defenseless too if he were them.

He approaches the nearest of the horses and starts to speak: ]

Heeey, big guy. [ Percy holds his hands up in the universal sign of, I am totally innocent, totally on your side, I’m not here to hurt you, and look! My hands are clean but the horse in question doesn’t seem to believe his gesture of goodwill and stamps its hooves, and it occurs to him then that he can’t hear what the horse is saying.

Weird.

And also sucky. ] Whoa — I’m just here to help, all right?

[ He could babble on, maybe share a totally unnecessary anecdote that would surely put any creature to sleep, horse, sea-otter, or whatever, but the apprentice mages have specifically instructed him to use one of those spells they were talking about, and while Percy had initially insisted that the only magic he knew how to do was pull a really long colourful line of handkerchiefs out of a really specific jacket that he didn’t happen to have on him, he finally relented. Because you just can’t argue with apprentice mages.

Or you can’t do it when you’re Percy Jackson.

And being that he can’t seem to understand the horses and they aren’t really communicating with him, which totally sucks, he clears his throat and stalls (heh) for time. The horse seems to be waiting for him to pull his next move anyway, while the others watch on anxiously, snuffling and shifting nervously within their confines. The wind continues to rattle the stable walls around them. ]

Okay, no problem. That’s fine. Um. What were those magic words again?

[ You might catch him trying to remember said words, or you might catch him in the midst of casting the spell … and then being unable to hold it, either because he’s distracted by something (common for demigods like him, unfortunately — but conveniently useful in a fight!) or because he hears you approach.

He starts to see visions of the underworld, of desert-like plains and endless rivers glowing with hot, fiery waters that could burn your insides, or make your skin feel like agony, sharp nails and clawing fingers trying to pull you into the depths and remember your pain and guilt and regret.

It might be best to snap him out of it. ]


wildcard ;

[ if none of the above works for you, feel free to leave a starter below! if you’d like to plot out something specific, feel free to PM me.

while i’m pretty set on thorne for percy, i’d also be cool to try out different places for him in wildcard starters if necessary! and finally, like annabeth, percy will be coming in from post-house of hades. ]

[karsiteweave]

[ Oh, him. He was hoping to actually not think of him ever again but... beggars cannot be choosers, one supposes. ]

A drow man in my case. Uncommonly fond of knives. His name was Hatchven.

ii.

[iustise]

Lord John cannot say he is or is not in the habit of frequenting the library on the whole, but given the day off from his duties on the guard, he has had to find something to do with himself, especially with the weather outside as it is. Tidying the books seems to be as good a task as any. He cannot say he's been making much progress, but familiarizing himself with the collection is at least something. And the system of organization. Which is... Something else.

He turns toward the sound of the falling tome, his eyebrows rising slightly as he watches the failed attempt at magic, lips quirking slightly at the continued muttering to follow. If the other man's silks had not identified him as a new arrival, that gesture certainly had done.

"From what I understand, it may take some time before a person's abilities return in this place," Lord John offers, stepping forward to pick a book up off the pile the other man had set down. His smile softens slightly as he continues, "I would not be too discouraged. Even if you are meanwhile relegated to doing this work the hard way like the rest of us."

new wave, new age let's fight peepaw

[theidlemaiden]

[ The library isn't exactly at the top of Hilda's list of places to go when she's bored. Unfortunately in these trying times there's only so many places indoors for them to go. So she tags along on one of Claude and Sylvain's trips to the library mostly in an attempt to leave the loft and avoid any loft fever. Thankfully that day also happens to be the same one that the New Age practitioners are hosting their workshop.

It doesn't take much to convince her to try her hand at anything related to arts and crafts. Having dabbled in engraving before, handling the pen is the easy part. Coming up with something to put on the metal is the hard part.

Especially when she can feel eyes boring into the back of her skull when she finally gets down to work. Just as their instructor coaxes the bystander to join them, Hilda looks up - just in time to make eye contact with him as he says 'sloppy'. It's probably just a coincidence that they locked eyes at that moment. But she knew she hadn't been imagining some presence hovering over her shoulder as she worked. As much as it sends a spike of annoyance through her she keeps her pleasant smile affixed on her face. Growing up as a noble had some advantages. ]

Don't you think it's a little rude to call someone's work sloppy? Mostly everyone here is a beginner.

[karsiteweave]

Gale chuckles, low and dark, and offers John a wry smile.

"Oh, I am no stranger to hard work."

It's just... frustrating. Being forced to start from scratch, again and again. The fear that everything will not come back, that he will each time recede until one day his ability to manipulate the weave fails him entirely.

He still cannot be sure that time isn't now.

"Organising tomes by hand is not such an onerous task as all that, I think it can be managed regardless. Especially now I appear to have an assistant aiding me in cataloguing my share of the collection. To whom do I owe my thanks?"

Introductions are a much more pleasant thing to focus on than his failure to cast a basic cantrip.

[philancer]

[ Sylvain just pushes it back, however, shaking his head as he does so. ]

Give it to the old man, he’ll need it more than me, I’ll get the kid. Follow me, yeah? And stick close! It’s easy to get turned around in these storms.

[ He calls it loud enough so all of them can hear it - he hopes, but he moves in closer a moment later and scoops up the little girl in his arms, tucking her face in against his shoulder so his jacket can help shield her face. ]

Just hold on tight, sweetheart, we’ll get you someplace cozy and safe soon enough.

[ Looking back to Cid and the grandfather, he gestures with his free hand, calling out once more. ]

Come on! It’s only a few blocks this way!

serene steeds!

[glaciare]

( Jill, for all her compassion, still finds that horses unsettle her -- she's learnt how to ride them, but she cannot get over how fragile their legs look. How are they meant to carry people, pull them, with legs like that? Jill vastly prefers chocobo over horses, thank you very much.

Still, she offers a polite nod at the teen -- there's no smile on her face, her posture reserved and withdrawn, yet lacking any outward hostility. Nor does she refuse to help what Jill can only surmise is a new Summoned. )

I do, yes. Would you like me to teach you?

( It's alright if she doesn't, Jill won't be upset either way. )

[durge]

( hm. )

If you don't mind my asking... how fond, exactly? You see, I'm rather skilled with one myself, though I'm a wizard and have no need nor desire to make use of this talent.

[karsiteweave]

[ Ugh. ]

I can safely this individual had a strong desire to make use of his talent, and did so many a time to great effect.

[ Unfortunately. ]

serene steeds

[spiritread]

[ Jinora isn't restless in the same way Annabeth is but neither can she sit still. Some part of her should be worried about ending up in a strange world - that part is, far away from her family, friends, and the new Air Nation - but there's still that childlike wonder and excitement of exploring somewhere new. ]

[ Learning about and going on adventure she'd only dream about in books. At least for the moment, she can treat it almost as a dream — ]

[ — Especially now that some days had passed and her Airbending had begun to return and she starts feeling more like herself. It draws her to seeing the places and... more specifically the animals. She'd never seen or heard of a "horse" before, but when someone asked for help with them she couldn't say no. ]

[ They'd been... strange looking in a way she couldn't place, but categorizing a new type of animal took less precedence than helping them. She'd calmed one and sat with it a while, telling it quiet stories. By the time she hears someone else enter she's quieted into petting the snout of the animal until she hears the other speak. ]

[ She doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but she inevitably does. Patting the nose of the horse one more time she exits the stall she was in curiously; A dark haired boy? Before she can ask - or answer - the other sees her and Jinora pauses, mouth a small smile and hands folding in front of her. ]

I do. I didn't need it but - [ She pauses, glancing at the nearest horse before raising a hand to it: ] These little guys get scared easily.

[ From the way she says it, she certainly sounds like she's never seen a horse before... but while her smile is gentle towards the horse she's quick to turn back to Annabeth: ]

Why does the boy smell like the ocean? Did he fall in?

[sophos]

[ annabeth would find them easier if they were pegasi, but she's not here to hang around the horses because she particularly likes them that much either. she's no horse girl. ]

[ she's so used to not having extra special, magic abilities - even her invisibility cap is a physical gift, not an inherent power. the idea that she can just learn magic here is still sinking in, and she's been semi-reluctant, despite the curiosity too. ]

[ it doesn't stop her from casing the woman; she surmises a level of discomfort around the horses, but she's offering help, and it'll be better in the end if she doesn't brush it off. after a moment, annabeth nods once and forces some of the tension out of her own shoulders. ]

Can you show me first?

surroundings

[spiritread]

[ Sometimes you're the one looking out windows... and sometimes you're the weirdo not even in the window but standing on the tile of the sloped awning. Which is to say, that's exactly what Jinora is doing by this time in her arrival. The first few days without her bending had been weird and stressful, doubly so when you're someone who's entire thing is wind and air and all of it's acting weird. Weird in ways you can't do anything about. ]

[ It worried her in ways she couldn't express, that made her meditating more difficult. ]

[ She's never been afraid of wind - of air - before and she doesn't want to start now. Thankfully, she doesn't, but she feels at a loss at what to do about it. If there's something to do at all, she thinks, flinching as a strong gust causes a boat in the distance to sway dangerously in the wind, as if it might topple over. ]

[ She's so concentrated on it she doesn't notice the boy peer out until he speaks to someone - presumably inside - with a start. The wind catching in her clothes as she uses it to straighten herself out before she really did fall over, continuing naturally: ]

It is pretty weird... Wind currents don't normally behave like this.

[ A beat. ] But uh -

Who's Zeus?

sorting tomes

[diametrically]

[ There's only so much reinforcement that can be done in Nott, and eventually their time assisting the residents there comes to a close.

It had been difficult work, but work that Cassian had appreciated all the same. Helping had gotten him out of the castle, out of these stuffy robes he disliked so much and out of the direct sight of people he didn't particularly trust. More importantly, it gave him a convenient alibi to smuggle things out of the castle proper that wouldn't be counted as more than a miscount in inventory.

As the weather grows worse it becomes increasingly unwise to leave. Which would explain his presence in the library that particular day. Sorting books is a mind-numbing way to spend the day but at least it's something. So far he's managed to avoid putting a book back in the wrong place, but the sudden slam several stacks over startles him, having him slotting the tome in his hand into the wrong spot.

Unsurprisingly it shoots back out hitting him square in the forehead. A sharp hiss pain escapes him as it 'thunks' to the floor. ]

Pfassk!

[durge]

( the problem is this: astarion's tav does not battle with the urge like haelva does, and she'd simply assumed that would be the case with gale. that it might not be, and even more complicated: that he indulged is another wrench thrown into haelva's understanding of what in the seven hells is actually going on here. astarion had mentioned it was similar to what someone else had experienced, the... disjointedness of who was who, but that doesn't mean haelva has to like it.

also how do you tell someone that you also might have those same urges but don't worry, she's trying to not kill people this time? )

I see. How... disconcerting. Well, as I've said, I do my best to keep, as Astarion so wisely put it: "the inside thoughts on the inside".

And besides, I'm certain you've ended up in Thorne. It's where people like you tend to find themselves in my limited experience.

( nerds. thorne is full of nerds. )

[ancunin]

[ How did he - oh, hells, his name is attached.

Ugh.

There's a long pauses before a response comes, in which he squints at the way Gale's writing trails off for a moment. ]

Strange. You almost sound surprised.

[ As much as anyone can sound like anything in writing. ]

I've found myself in the city of Cadens, in the territory known as the Free Cities. You must have been Summoned to Thorne.

[ another pause between messages, and with perhaps surprisingly genuine concern: ]

I suggest keeping a low profile and using caution there. I've not heard good things.