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

Ignatius "Iggy" Melville | OC | The Empress

[dead_tongue]

Thorne

friendship is magic

The closest Iggy has ever been to a horse before was at a petting zoo when he was a kid, and technically that was a pony. He's a little surprised at how big they are, but movies have taught him that all you have to do is be calm and pure of heart or something and a horse will be your best friend forever.

He's confident with the first couple of horses, speaking the words he was taught carefully, but by the third one, well... There's a reason Iggy didn't do very well in school. So while he says the words (and alright, maybe he didn't say every single little tiny syllable, no, but basically he says them!) his attention is most definitely not on them.

Quite suddenly Iggy finds himself vividly remembering his first day of public school. He remembers being a gangly gay giraffe of a kid, towering over most of his peers and standing out in all the wrong ways. He had been hoping so badly to find other people his own age to befriend and finally fill the yawning loneliness in his heart.

It didn't happen.

Iggy stands there in the stables, teary-eyed as realises that now, just over ten years later, he's back at square one when it comes to meeting people.

"Oh, fuck."


i'm on my princess shit
cw: nsfw conversation

'The North Wing' sounds so elegant. Iggy isn't expecting roommates, but he doesn't mind - he prefers to have people around him as much as possible. Besides, the beds are much more luxe than the mattress-on-the-floor situation he had at home.

Iggy throws himself onto one of the beds, not actually sure if it's claimed or not, and sighs dramatically. "Oh my gosh, this is the best bed in the universe. Hey, so like, can we fuck in here? I assume that's why the curtains."

Asking the important questions.


Free Cities
cw: nsfw conversation/art

Iggy is absolutely not comfortable with the military vibe, thank you very much. He's happy to tell anyone who will listen that he comes from a long line of pacifists, and while he looks terribly cute in a uniform, it's just not really his thing.

As such, he tries to avoid anything that seems too army-like, which is how he is drawn to the New Age table at the library. Having a passing familiarity with tarot and being an art student, the designing challenge is right up his alley.

And so Iggy sits, thinking, tapping his pen idly against his chin.

"I think," he muses aloud, "that you shouldn't be bound to traditional cards but it's good to reference traditional symbols. So, I think that to do a card about grief it should have water, maybe even a skull." He brightens and looks over at whoever is stuck next to him. "And if I fuck it up I'm just going to create the Ten of Dicks."


Solvunn

i had to try and i
cw: nsfw conversation, sex work reference

Iggy actually likes Solvuun. Okay, so the weather is currently shit, but Iggy's from the Pacific Northwest of Canada. He's used to that. What's important is that he can smell the ocean, and that the people are warm and welcoming.

He figures out pretty quickly that bartering is the primary way to procure anything. Iggy has a few exceptional talents, but in his experience one of them pays the bills. Which is why he finds someone who doesn't look local and sidles up to them to ask, "Okay, serious question: are blowjobs currency? And do they have cigarettes here?"


i came back haunted

Iggy was raised religious, but it wasn't the sort of religion considered mainstream. He grew up with the concept of god as something huge and ultimately unknowable - THE ALL as opposed to an actual figure, indifferent and eternal and immutable. The gods of Solvunn remind him of myths he read as a child - his family's library was eclectic, to put it mildly - and are at once repulsive and attractive in their approachability.

In the spirit of going-along to get-along, Iggy lets himself be convinced to put together an offering. No hunter he, he uses fruit and flowers, arranging the latter carefully. After listening carefully to the stories of the locals, he decides he should find a shrine dedicated to Zalyshyty.

Iggy was never a boy scout, and so he finds a place where others are assembled and simply asks, "Hey, can someone walk me to a shrine? I don't wanna get lost and die of exposure."


[Or wildcard me! Happy to do prose or brackets - I'll match whatever format you prefer!]

[sophos]

[ as it sinks in that the other girl in the stables is hardly any older than a good chunk of the campers back home, it does set annabeth a little more at ease. with adults sometimes she feels like she needs to prove herself in a different way, and she hasn't been much in the mood to do that. ]

[ she glances towards the horses and their fretting, then back at the girl. ] The storm probably isn't helping. [ she pauses. ] Not sure I'd call them little. Did it work? When you used it?

He only falls in on purpose. [ usually. sometimes she pushes him. ] But he's a frequent swimmer. [ which is putting it mildly. but she isn't inclined to announce off the bat that her boyfriend is the son of the sea god, especially in a world where she's still figuring out how the people even handle gods. ]

painting session

[glaciare]

( Jill also isn't an artist, but experience with Thorne's brand of magic and some creative ability lends itself well enough that her own painting isn't as bad as the man she'd been sitting next to, though she doesn't think that the measure should be how well it looks but the experience one has doing it.

Still, she finds herself giving his painting a serious, long look before she finds herself agreeing with him. )

One could, yes. Or perhaps that you were inspired by the recent weather to... create a bit of accuracy?

( She offers, not unkindly. )

[whatam_i]

Ed looks down at the pile of books that tried to fly out at him and after a moment of frowning at them he kneels down to help Iggy collect them.

"Yes, usually libraries are organized using the dewey decimal system but this place doesn't have that." There's a pause and then he adds, "I was just trying to help."

Dawn Granger| Titans | Strength

[dawn_is_breaking]

1.) Thorne - Surroundings - Spring Flowers:

Being pulled from her world and thrust into this one is definitely a bit of a shock, more than being brought out naked from a fountain had been, and even after spending some time resting Dawn still wanders through the castle as if in a dream.

Eventually she finds herself in one of the gardens, enjoying the slight chill in the air and the smell of blooming flowers as it helps make her feel more grounded and actually here. As she walks through the garden she thinks about what the High Mage said upon her arrival, it's hard for her to accept that anyone in this universe has heard 'tales of her exploits' as her world seems so far away, so different. Not to mention the fact that some of her recent exploits aren't all that noble or valiant. She was a hero but now she just feels lost and broken.

But she's here now and she might as well start trying to adjust and interact with the people she'll be living with for the foreseeable future, so when she hears the footsteps of another person coming she offers them a small friendly smile.

"Excuse me, do you know the name of these flowers by any chance?"

2.A) Free Cities - Exploring - Masking Up:

When Dawn hears the city needs volunteers to bring breathing masks to the public she is more than willing to help out, wanting to be useful in some way but also to see more of the surrounding area and after being outfitted with her own mask she makes sure to wrap herself up as much as possible, after all the weather looks nasty out there.

"Which way should we head first?" She calls out to her partner, trying to make her soft voice heard over the storm.

2.B) Free Cities - Settling In - bathing room:

After a successful mission out to deliver breathing masks to those who need them the only thing Dawn wants is a nice, hot bath. Her body is sore from bracing against the harsh wind and her skin feels coated in sand and dust, so much that before she enters the communal bathing room she tries to shake as much of it as she can from her long hair.

Once inside she doesn't bother with the privacy curtain, she just sheds her dirty clothes and sinks into the hot waters with a long sigh.

"What I wouldn't do for a glass of wine with this."

3.) Solvunn - Exploring -Shrine Offerings:

The idea of leaving an offering isn't a totally foreign idea to Dawn, when she was little her grandfather had told her about how his mother used to leave offerings of bread and milk to the fairies. She hadn't believed it but one of the other things she learned from him was that sometimes it was easier to just hush up and be polite, especially if you were somewhere new and strange.

Which this place definitely is.

So instead of trying to argue with the locals she nods and sets out to find something for her offering, wanting to stick mostly to flowers and fruit since she plans on giving this to Endrborrin.

Along the way she spies someone else who seems to be gathering things as well and she lifts a hand in greeting.

"Are you looking for the shrines as well?"

4.) Wildcard: Have a wild idea? Hit me up with it, happy to roll with anything.

[sophos]

[ annabeth manages to hold on to the rest of her books despite the lone ranger attack, though she does consider dumping them. what if another one decides to take a flying leap?? ]

[ she wrinkles her nose at the... sound? word? swear in another language? committing a real felony, annabeth leaves the aforementioned lone angry book on the floor and steps backwards to peer out in the main walkway. it came from a few aisles down, and mostly she's internally annoyed at herself for missing another person so entirely. ]

[ she's too distracted. ]

Hello?

🌈✨ friendship✨🌈

[dawn_is_breaking]

More than once in her life Dawn has been told she has a natural 'mom vibe' and while she didn't want to believe it in her twenties, ten years later she knows it's true. She has a very gentle, genuine way about her and connects well with people, especially young ones.

So it's no surprise that the second she sees the tall ginger boy who looks ready to cry she is dropping what she is doing to go check on him.

"Hey." She says softly, coming up beside him.

"You okay?"

[spiritread]

... No. The weather has everyone on edge.

[ She admits quietly, thoughtfully. Gaze half elsewhere as she listens to the wind rattle against the panels of the stable. Even for someone who was used to strong gusts it was unsettling when it was unnatural; But perhaps, in her own way, she's like Annabeth in keeping certain thoughts private. Announcing she's an Airbender in the middle of a windstorm is probably not a good diea. ]

[ Thankfully, Annabeth earns a chuckle. ] Okay, maybe not so little. But they're a lot smaller than my Sky Bison, Pepper. [ Which is her personal equivalent of a horse, even if there were other steed variations in her world. ] It did help, a little, but I think just talking to them helps too.

So he must like the water lot. [ Thoughtfully, ] The ocean smells all kinds of ways though; Republic City isn't as clean as the South Pole. Is he a little - [ A pause, considering how to say 'stinky' delicately - and then decides: ] on the fresh water or salty water side?

[dead_tongue]

Iggy has no idea how the books are supposed to be organised so he's just putting them one on top of the other.

"Oh," he says before offering Ed an encouraging smile. "Well! Everyone should be so thoughtful!"

He has no reason to think Ed's motivations are anything other than altruistic.

"Do you remember how they go back? I can help you."

[infiniteban]

The specifics of Wrench's words are lost on Travis.

He's breathing hard through this. The Struggle is Real. But he's hanging on. He's hanging on to his newly-acquired psychic powers from the pool water because the guy's deaf and he won't hear Travis having a freak-out otherwise and Travis needs to be heard.

Or read.

I thought I was too. Ordinary. Human. That's how they get you. Creep up when you least expect it, no matter how prepared you are.

True enough about the name thing. He has a (now dead) buddy they call Oroboro.

And how have things always been?

They're probably right to want to keep things the same.

🦄

[dead_tongue]

"No!" is Iggy's immediate and honest response. He has never quite gotten the hang of what is and isn't appropriate in social situations.

"I just realised I'm never going to see home again and I don't know anybody here and everyone seems so capable and they can do magic and I bet I'll have to get a job but I'm not very good at stuff like I got fired from Michael's and Starbucks so I don't know what I'm gonna do!"

Yeah. It's a lot.

[whatam_i]

In Ed's mind he is being altruistic and thoughtful and it's nice that someone recognizes it so when Iggy smiles he returns it.

"I do and thank you, that's nice of you." He says and straightens back up to start putting the books back in the order he found them.

"It's an interesting library, isn't it?"

[dawn_is_breaking]

"Oh sweetheart." Mom mode activated and she steps in to soothe him, standing on her tip toes to wrap her arms around him to guide him into a gentle hug.

"It's okay, I can't do magic either and I'm just as scared as you are about being here. It's been strange to go from living in a city to some kind of game of thrones situation."

[flagrates]

[ His Horizon is tucked away just past Jill’s, a small island with an ever present threat of thunder in the distance, the grey of the clouds casting a cool tone over the greens and browns that make up the foliage. The rookery itself is buried in those leaves, run down but no less loved despite its apparent decline. This is the place Clive would always come as a child to be on his own and it’s become that place for him here, though he’s yet to prevent anyone from visiting should they choose to do so.

Torgal, fully grown, is chasing rabbits through the tall grass, and Clive is seated under a tree, well worn copy of the Saint and the Sectary in hand. It’s the one place he can be keenly unaware of his surroundings, and Torgal’s barking barely registers, he’s so used to the hound barking at his ever elusive prey.

But there’s a different reason for it — Torgal has noticed first, and he comes running out of the grass, speeding towards he beach, and that’s what gets Clive’s attention, and he stands up, calling out: ]

Torgal! What’s gotten into you?

Re: Questions

[tedandroses]

Hello! I could not seem to find this anywhere. For a character with a chronic illness/disability (which I'd ...rather they not lose, but I'm willing to wiggle on severity as Teddy's an OC), is there a way they can retain this? And would there be any method of treatment, including magical?

(To be more transparent: they have temporal lobe epilepsy with a variety of seizure types, which is mostly but not entirely under control [more on what that looks like on their permissions and bio, and I'm writing up a little epilepsy 101, just don't have it up yet]. Happy to workshop it though!)

[dead_tongue]

Iggy hugs back at once, leaning down to make it easier. After a few sniffles he straightens up, wiping at his eyes. "Sorry. I dunno what set me off. I was doing the magic words thing to the horses and then just... had bad thoughts."

He smiles weakly. "You're from a city? Like a modern city, with electricity and cell phones?"

[dead_tongue]

Iggy takes some books and just purs them wherever Ed tells him to. He misfiles one and it shoots back out, hitting him in the chest.

"Ow! Yeah, interesting is one word for it... uhm. I admit I haven't really been looking at the books much? Mostly I just thought I'd do something besides nap all day."

[whatam_i]

He flinches when Iggy gets hit again and frowns at the bookshelf like it has offended him.

"Why were you napping so much? Are you hurt? Sick?"

[dawn_is_breaking]

Dawn hugs him for as long as he wants, letting go when he starts to straighten back up to his full height which is a good foot taller than her.

"No apology necessary, it's a lot to take in. You probably just got overwhelmed."

She goes into the pocket of her long gown and hands him a fabric handkerchief.

"Yes, I was living in Paris before I came here. What about you?"

the first solvunn one

[satanicpanics]

[ The weather is major shit. It’s taken ages for the rain to finally arrive and now that it has, everything is soggy and muddy and not particularly pleasant. The stalls have closed due to the weather and it’s probably not the most welcoming Solvunn has ever looked to newcomers, but it hasn’t stopped people from darting across the settlement between twisters and rain.

Eddie is fixing the slats on a broken garden gate—which is undoubtedly going to need repaired again if the twisters don’t stop soon, but the elderly woman who owns the home wouldn’t let him pass the job along to someone else. He holds the extra nails between this teeth and answers the newcomer out of the corner of his mouth: ]

I mean, you could try that, sure, but that’s a lot of unnecessary work? Just say you’re a new Summoned. They’ll pretty much give you whatever you want. Helps if you put on the whole Oliver Twist act, though.

[ He snorts, looking amused. ]

No cigarettes, which, if I can be totally honest with you? Really fucking sucks. But, uh…if you're into really potent weed...I can help you out there.

[dead_tongue]

My father always said that if you enjoy what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.

[Said almost primly. Still, it's a relief to know that he can coast by on the good will of others a while longer.]

You mean like look all cute and pathetic? I can do that! I'm very cute and pathetic!

[Wait... no, yeah, that was accurate.

The crushing news about the lack of smokes has him looking like a sad puppy, but at the prospect of drugs he perks back up a little.]

Yeah? Generally more of a stimulants guy, but I wouldn't say no to that! Do you accept Visa, Mastercard, or head? Or I can hold your nails there or whatever.

Jacob Frye | Assassin's Creed | Free Cities

[rookvision]

pimp my ride

[As jobs go, this is one of the cleaner ones Jacob's ever done, and one of the simpler ones. No need to knock someone out or kill someone from above, all he has to do is climb up somewhere and hammer some boards into place. Simple enough. He's done with his bit fairly quickly, and now is making his way over to the next person, making no real effort to silence his footsteps as he peers at what they're doing.]

So which stalls would you say are worth the price?

masking up

[Dust storms are new.

The sensation of something clogging up his nostrils, though? That's not new. He's been living in London for most of the year, he's an old hat to smog. This is just...a bit grittier than that, 's'all, and besides they even gave him this nifty mask. They actually also gave him a bunch of other masks to distribute out in this weather, and recommended he tag along with somebody for his own safety.

He'd taken one look at the weather and tactfully agreed. Frankly, probably better for him to team up with some other Summoned anyway, because he wants to know more about this place and he highly doubts that their dear hosts are telling them everything they need to know. Call it an Assassin's paranoia, he supposes.

From the perspective of his partner, Jacob comes off as fairly competent, if a little...odd. He's a chatty fellow, but every so often he stares off into the distance, as if concentrating, before suddenly turning in a different direction and walking with purpose. Slow down, and he'll look back.]

There's someone this way who'll be needing this mask. Come on now, there's only so much time in the day.

[He pauses to let his partner catch up with him, then says:] So while we're here, I was wondering, what do you think of the Free Cities so far? I'm rather new, you see, and I'm still trying to get my bearings.

wild card

[make up your own scenario here or hmu mollymauktealeaf if you're not feeling the above prompts! while I'll be apping Jacob into the Free Cities I'm happy to play him in different factions for a few threads.]

serene steeds

[rookvision]

[Oh, god, horses! Jacob has a soft spot for horses. He sees them around all the time and they're really quite lovely beasts, although they make the London streets stink to high heavens. Then again, London tends to stink to high heavens anyway. The calming spell is...well, he tried to cast it once in a moment of absent-mindedness and had to back off, so now he's decided to do it the old-fashioned way, petting their necks and feeding them oats.

It's slow, but it's working. He swears it's working.

He looks up to watch the girl asking a horse a question. Tilts his head in confusion for a moment, before he speaks up:] Haven't seen him, no. Do you have a better description than that? Because there's plenty of dark-haired men around, and I suspect a few smell like the ocean.

[Not Jacob, though. Jacob smells like he very recently got a wash to try and get the London smell off of him, and it hasn't completely succeeded.]

Arrival: barracks - bandages

[rosebleed]

Sir?

[She hadn't meant to interrupt. The young woman at the door is scarred from head to toe, though shallowly. Death by a thousand cuts, so to speak. There's also the wreath of briars at her waist and circling her head like a royal crown.

She looks to his bandages, thoughtful. His stone arm draws her attention too, though with more worry than shock.]

Excuse me, but do you need help with those? I can wrap a good bandage.

A

[rookvision]

[There's a moment's shock as Jacob digests what the man has just said (died again?), but he's quick to recover and shake his head in response.]

Haven't seen a Brylock around here, no, but if you want I can keep an eye out for him. I'll just need a description. [Less than that, really, Jacob's Eagle Vision ought to be able to pick the fellow out of a crowd if he actively goes looking for him.] But I didn't die before I came here, and I imagine that leaves something of an impression on someone. Maybe you only nearly died?