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

[rookvision]

[Somewhere around six feet, green eyes, only a couple of years younger than Jacob himself unless he’s missing his guess here. Could be found near the sea or in the stables, but the latter would be likelier, given how bad the weather’s looking.]

Got that. I’ll keep an eye out for him, then. [He might as well get around to searching for this wayward friend of hers, since there’s not much else he can do while the weather’s this bad. At least it’s something to do, and Jacob needs that while he’s cooped up here.] If I find him, who should I say is looking for him?

[dead_tongue]

"Oh, okay." He just accepts that.

Iggy shakes his head. "No, not at all. Uhm. I'm from 2024. Things are pretty boring? You now. Work, sleep, work, sleep. No magic books or castles or anything."

[sophos]

[ in a day or so, annabeth will definitely chide herself for not realizing her mistake about the shelving process. she will also not be making that mistake again, and it's not just out of something spiteful towards the way this woman talks to her, like she should know better. it raises her hackles and compels her to spit something back, but her spark is currently dull in the lull of tartarus, so she settles for a grumpy, unimpressed look instead. ]

[ she doesn't exactly take the offered book so much as hold out her arms with the pile she's still carrying, indicating the woman should place the book there. a small rebellion. ]

Some of us are new to magic libraries and their organizing systems. [ she's not going to admit she tuned out and somehow missed that particular feature of it. ]

[irulian]

[Suvi is kind of used to earning that reaction from people, especially from teenagers (mostly because they happened when she was also a teenager, and it was well deserved), so she isn't too surprised at the grumpiness.

The book is regarded somewhat haughtily, before she places it atop the stack in Annabeth's arms. And while she doesn't exactly soften, the admission of being unused to magic does change her attitude slightly.]

They should be organizing them by school of magic, but they don't seem to have figured that out yet.

[Throwing shade at the magic users here, because that's who she is as a person.]

That book is about the history of a particular spell, I believe it should be shelved with the other historical tomes.

[She'll even point to where that section is, to be nice.]

no i love it. here have more

[sophos]

[ she's too lost in thought, that despite the sheer volume of clarisse yelling her for in the library, annabeth still misses it. it happens sometimes. she's dimly aware of the loudness of it - she just doesn't register it as her name, too busy ruminating a million topics at once. ]

[ it's only when her book goes flying and she physically, literally sees clarisse la rue come down the aisle to scoop up her fallen literary comrade that she recognizes clarisse as in front of her. surprise slaps her face as the other demigod bops her with the book, but she doesn't even care about the book. she cares about the familiar. ]

Clarisse? [ she sounds pleasantly incredulous, and she moves forward on instinct before stopping herself, almost like she's going in for a hug, but her arms are still full of other books for a barrier. which - she'd had a strange compulsion to hug clarisse. they don't do that, they don't hug. but annabeth is barely out of tartarus and it lingers in her posture, in her eyes, in her, and despite their very rocky start, clarisse is someone who represents a certain solidity and rigor of home, of camp half-blood, and annabeth is aching for home. ]

[ she left new york in june. she turned seventeen in the deepest pits of the underworld, but she doesn't have an exact timeframe of how long she was there for. she just knows it feels like ages since she's seen any other half-blood who isn't percy, and she spent a lot of time with clarisse at camp in his absence. they... get each other now, she supposes, in a way they certainly hadn't as younger children. ]

[ she blinks a few times, like she's making sure she isn't hallucinating. ] What are you doing in the library?

[ there, saved it. ]

[dead_tongue]

Iggy looks down at Jon (at six foot one, Iggy winds up looking down at most people) all wide eyed gratitude.

"Thanks. I fucked that one up, sorry. I guess I wasn't paying attention."

He offers Jon a sunny smile. "Yeah. Pulled me naked out of a pool or whatever. I don't object to the nudity, but man I wish I could have brought some cigarettes."

He offers a hand. "I'm Iggy. Gosh, you've got pretty hair."

No filter on this one.

[seaweedbrain]

[ Yeah. Weird.

In Percy's experience, which is great and vast and extremely detailed, wind is just ... well, wind. It doesn't usually rage and start destroying property like it's got some kind of vendetta — not unless it's powered by a really strong and frankly kinda petty god.

Speaking of which — ]

Man, where do I even start?

[ No, seriously. Hot take: Percy feels like his whole life would be so much less complicated if Zeus kind of minded his own business. Even being here, pretty certain he's far removed from the influence of the Olympian gods, he can't help but wonder if they've somehow managed to slip through the cracks alongside him just enough to continue punking him for fun.

It wouldn't surprise him, after all.

They've done it before. ]

Guess you don't have the Greek gods where you're from, huh? Unless you're from here, and then you definitely won't have them here because every time I've tried telling those mages about Poseidon, they've been giving me weird looks.

[ He shakes his head. ]

Long story short, he's the god of the sky, and all that entails, including thunderstorms like the one outside.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Tinkering with mechanisms like wagons is still relatively new to her - and even then, calling her current project feels like a stretch. Even on a good day in an environment where she might otherwise feel comfortable, getting her to suggest something that she only knew a little about was a feat.

And yet even as they both turn away from the wagon and the man's diagram in the dirt, Hilda's gaze lingers briefly specifically on the latter, before bringing her attention back to him just in time to catch the slight motion of his hand. There's a questioning look there but genuine delight seems to fill her expression. ]

Oh, you're good! What gave it away?

[revise]

The strange part is it's what he expected it to be. Sheltered by the heavier stones, the only suggestion of the wind comes from the sharp sound of it whistling across the toothy tops of the boulders and in the rasping groaning of the nearby trees. His head is still thumping, but the dreamlike strangeness of walking through the weather encased in Wanda's bubble is diminished here. He isn't sure if it helps, really. Or what it would even help if it did. Just that there's something like a respite to the sensation even if its here in the shadow of a shrine built to a god of terrible things.

Wake sets the lantern down.

Yes. He has an offering.

"Before you were summoned here," he says, fishing the waterskin's strap over his head and off his shoulder. He takes the hatchet from his belt. "Do you remember anything about where you were? What you were doing there?"

[durge]

I have not. The territories here don't allow for free travel between them, especially not to their main seats of power. I've found myself in Solvunn, and Astarion in the Free Cities. We... normally meet up every month or so, but recent events have made that difficult.

[seaweedbrain]

[ Every breath that Percy inhales into his lungs is short and stunted and feels like acid burning through his aesophagus.

His mouth is parched, his lips are cracking, his tongue is dry and acrid like the sands of this barren wasteland itself. It's hard to keep his eyes open; they feel heavy and sting with the pain of the sharp air sucking the moisture from them.

He can't go on. He shouldn't go on. There's just no point anymore, not in a place as horrifying and hopeless like this one —



But a hollow echo of a voice, booming and forceful, vibrates in the back of his skull like someone's gone and rang a great big bell that could chatter his teeth right out of his mouth. It doesn't sound anything like clanging church bells or the piercing beep of an alarm clock though, it's the blaring voice of someone calling his name ... and telling him he's a momma's boy, and that he stinks? ]

— what?

[ His voice comes out as a quiet, skeptical croak before he slowly starts to understand why his teeth are chattering, his shoulder being forcefully gripped while he's being shaken like acorns are supposed to fall off of him. He starts to blink, the visions of Tartarus quickly fading before his eyes, only to be replaced by ... wait. Wait, hold on, he knows this face. ]

— Clarisse? [ He breathes out. ] Please tell me this isn't another hallucination.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy is incredibly good at recognising sadness. He looks at Dawn carefully, and when he speaks his voice is very gentle.

"Your ex... did he pass?" It's too personal a question, really, but he doesn't think of it that way. To Iggy, asking after people's dead loves ones is natural.

[seaweedbrain]

[ There's a kind of never-ending greyness that spreads across his vision, the craggy unrelenting cliffs and hills of the Underworld leading to deeper and darker depths within Tartarus itself.

The Doors of Death are nowhere to be found. He isn't even sure they're going the right way. And he's so tired, and thirsty, and hungry, and he feels like his pores are throbbing in pain, like he's become a walking, talking human blister instead of a teenaged demigod.

But the feeling of something grabbing at his elbow seems to keep him tethered to some form of reality, at least before he can fall even deeper into whatever this horrible hallucination is turning out to be. ]

Smell the —

[ As if on cue, one of the horses whinnies loudly. ]

— the horses. [ He shakes his head, clearing the imaginary sands from his eyes and blinks at the stranger. He still sounds a little dazed. ] Right, yeah, the horses.

Man, you really saved me — thanks. I am not gonna be trying that spell again.

our faves

[seaweedbrain]

[ Percy lets himself fall into the visions, overwhelmed by how real they all feel, how fresh it all still is.

His entire body aches from a lack of sleep and proper food and water, and the pressure of the nightmares constantly confronting him feels like a heavy weight trying to push him right into the ground. Everything down here wants a fight, and everything reminds them (them, because it isn't just him on his own, but there's Annabeth too — except where is she? He can't remember; he can't find her.) that demigods simply aren't meant to exist here.

He thinks, again, about Annabeth — he remembers how sallow her face was, how white and straw-like her hair had become, the further into Tartarus they went. He swears he can see her somewhere up ahead now, but when he tries to clear his vision, it's like his eyelids are made of sandpaper and it hurts to blink, and Annabeth's gone. His hand is empty, and his chest feels hollow, like maybe there isn't a point to keep going on. ]

Annabeth —

[ There's a sudden warmth against his face, but it doesn't feel like the hot blast of some unfriendly monster breath. It's urgent, sure, but it's comforting too, and it's familiar and real in a way that he can't really explain.

He finds himself quickly trying to fill that hollowness in his chest now, as if the touch has somehow uncapped the sudden flood of frankly overwhelming emotions that he's been doing a poor job of containing.

But at least it's snapping him out of whatever the heck that all was. ]

— I couldn't find you. I looked everywhere, and I couldn't find you.

[whatam_i]

"We don't have magic books or castles either." Just a mysterious pool that can bring people back from the dead but his details on that are sketchy at best.

"What do you do for work?"

[rookvision]

There we go.

[Jacob lets go of his arm once he’s sure Percy’s snapped out of whatever had been holding him in its thrall. Breathes a sigh of relief, because honestly, he hadn’t known if that would work. He’s not used to magic, if this had needed a spell he’d have been in for a devil of a time.

He steps away with a corner of his mouth turned up in a lopsided little smile, and tips an imaginary hat to Percy. He’ll get himself a new one soon.]

No need to thank me, I’m just a very good Samaritan. [He pauses a moment, the bravado fading a little in favor of something warmer and more genuine:] They like it when you pet their necks, feed them oats, speak softly and soothingly. It’ll take a lot more time than the spell but it’s ever so much more reliable.

[He looks the lad over, taking careful note of his appearance. Dark hair, green eyes, tall…that’s a familiar description. He steps closer again, holds his hand out for Percy to shake.]

I’m Jacob Frye, lately of London. You are…?

[seaweedbrain]

Hey, even the good Samaritans deserve a little gratitude every now and then.

[ The more the man speaks, the more Percy feels more like himself, and more grounded to their surroundings. The smell of the stables, the horses, the feed, it all comes back to root him in this reality.

Yeah.

Again: we are not gonna be doing any repeats on that spell. And he's probably going to be filing a complaint with the head of the apprentice mages too, while he's at it. Something like —

Dear Head Apprentice Mage, your instruction manual sucks and it gave me low-key nightmares. Thanks but no thanks. Sincerely, Percy Jackson. ]

I swear I'm usually a lot better with horses; we kind of have an understanding. [ Better not to freak this dude out from the get-go, especially when he seems pretty cool so far. ] But thanks, I could always use the advice.

[ He glances back at the nearby horses who all seem to have ... well, maybe not calmed down exactly but their attention seems now to be on the two humans in the stables.

Oats, huh?

He's momentarily distracted before the guy — Jacob Frye — introduces himself, and offers a hand. ]

London, like in England? [ Percy moves in to take his hand for an amiable shake. ] I'm Percy Jackson. And sorry, it's just — after all of this not-from-Earth stuff like this whole place, I guess I'm feeling a little homesick for the sound of anything familiar.

cw: sex work

[dead_tongue]

Iggy beams. "Mostly I do cam work. I have some sugar daddies too."

He feels no shame in admitting these things, although he is aware that sometimes people take it poorly.

[rookvision]

Then I won't turn down a bit of gratitude now and again.

[Honestly he wouldn't turn down gratitude at all. In this place that's so very obviously not the world he's from, Jacob isn't about to say no to any little thing that can help him get a handle on what's going on. Because so far as he can tell there is a lot going on, even putting aside the magic Jacob barely even trusts. If doing a calming spell absent-mindedly led to being swallowed up by horrific memories, he's not sure he wants to find out what happens if he's distracted while casting bigger and deadlier spells.

An eyebrow ticks upward. Kind of, huh?]

Do you drive horses, then?

[He's from the Victorian era, horses are a common sight on the streets. It's not entirely weird that Percy might have an affinity with horses, he's known a few people who share that same fondness. Hell, he himself likes them just fine.]

Oh, yes. Quite a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jackson. [Giving him a firm shake before letting go.] That's fair. I've only been here a few days and already I far prefer London to this dreary old place. Much livelier there. [A self-deprecating chuckle.] Hell, I'd even take Crawley, at this point.

Are you an American? You sound rather similar to an American fellow I'm in business with, back home. ["Business," he says, like he and Ned are legit businessmen and not criminals.]

[hiswaterknife]

Hi Mods!
I have a couple of questions.

Eari needs a connection to his god for his magic to work. It's a curse, not a god's blessing. He had to be in active service of his god, doing his biding, and not just a passive one like prayers etc. How this could translate in Abraxas? Especially if I wanted to put him in Free Cities not Solvunn?

What is general opinion on sex work? He was running a high-end brothel (more like Ancient China / Japan, so a cultural thing with a side of sex) as a cover for his spy network, and I would very much like to give him a similar avenue for his scheming. I'm totally open to alternatives if a brothel is not possible.

Thank you :)

merrin | star wars jedi: fallen order/survivor | strength

[starscollapse]

thorne: north wing

[ Until recently, Merrin had never known a life beyond Dathomir, and her travels with the crew of the Mantis have opened her eyes to a galaxy she could not have imagined once. It had been her intention to continue exploring, to understand the galaxy and the beauty in it, when all she had known for so long was the absence of goodness.

Her arrival here is an unwelcome intrusion on the path she was attempting to forge. Strangers pull her out of water, clothes are shoved at her, answers elude her. They speak of peril here, a world in danger, none of which is unfamiliar to her; much of her life has been spent in the company of the dead, what does she have to fear? Troubled though she is, for the moment, Merrin considers this world to be a curiosity she wishes to know better.

The mention of her exploits has her wary. What do they know? What do others know? Fleeting worries, and none of them breaking through her stoic expression as she explores her temporary shelter.

You may catch her unwisely standing outside for a moment to observe the horizontal lightning, her fingers held out as though she might be able to feel something of its power connect to her own. Fascinating as it is to watch, though, she feels nothing, not even her own inner magick, which only serves to unsettle her more.

Once safely inside the castle walls again, Merrin ventures near one of the rooms, curious as to the accommodations and the others brought here. ]

I do not make noises in my sleep.

[ Her voice is slightly halting, accented in such a way that it would be easy to assume she's from somewhere in Eastern Europe, though her planet of origin is a long distance from Earth. This is an attempt at a joke and, apparently, the way she chooses to ask if they wouldn't mind a roommate. ]

thorne: serene steeds

[ These are creatures new to her, captivating, stealing her thoughts until she recalls her duty here. She need not have come, she knows, but to hear of their fear and that they might be soothed with magic, Merrin couldn't keep away. The sounds they make as they shuffle and jolt in fear of the storm compel her closer, reaching out a hand slowly to rest on one's back with a feather light touch.

This touch alone will not be enough, she knows. They told her — a few words, a calming spell. Not unlike the magick she's called upon before, to protect, to defend, even to attack. This is not hers, though, this is borrowed from a different source, the magic of this world which she seeks to understand. ]

You are not alone — storms bring chaos. Many would fear them, like you, but they will not last.

[ The spell — she remembers the words, they shine like a light in her mind, nearly on the tip of her tongue, but then the winds howl louder, thunder claps with a booming sound, and her thoughts are disrupted for a moment. She's pulled back to another moment far removed from this one, that of tragedy, of a home and of a people destroyed, lives lost in one fell swoop. Her eyes snap open and for a moment, her normally calm and stoic demeanor is shaken, while the horses grow more agitated and she attempts to soothe with another touch again. ]

I wished to help.

[ Her voice is softer, an apologetic tone in her voice, for allowing herself to be caught off guard and distracted. ]

solvunn: goatnado

[ This is a maddening place. Cut off from her own magick, pulled here to help a world already troubled, Merrin finds little purpose or value in herding what they call goats. The rain is heavy, steady, and she hears others speak of damaging winds, of needing to be careful and aware of twisters. Words unfamiliar to her, yes, but she can deduce enough to know this is likely not the best use of their time. It is not for lack of care about the goats, no, but they must be adaptable, able to handle the more extreme weather events. Others need more help, she thinks, but she is nonetheless willing to search for goats gone astray. She's a quiet partner, focused on the task at hand; the sooner they find the goats, the sooner other urgent needs can be tended to.

But this is proving far more difficult than she'd previously assumed, as their steps take them further into the wilds. ]

Perhaps they do not wish to be found.

wildcard!

Open to any other scenario! Undecided on Thorne or Solvunn so hmu either place if you have other ideas and feel free to PM for more plotting if you like!

[northerndragon]

Jon is not a tall man, but he is strong, and enough of the men around him in his life have towered over him to the point where he isn't cowed by it. Even if he was inclined to be cowed, there is nothing intimidating about Iggy.

Which makes Jon's sympathy tilt a little further in Iggy's direction, albeit with a quizzical look about what Iggy said about Jon's hair. At least he isn't too troubled by being pulled naked from a pool of water into a room full of strangers.

He transfers the reins to his other hand and clasps Iggy's forearm, giving it a firm shake.

"I am Jon Snow." But on release, he adds, regretful, "I'm sorry. Don't know what a cigarette is."

Eari | Original Character | The Wheel of Fortune

[hiswaterknife]

[OOC: I will put up full opt-out on his journal soon, but fair warning this harmless and cute looking couple of thousands years old but never admits to his age boy has some dark and troubling stuff in his past as a former leader of a murderous cult, cursed and punished by the gods etc, etc... It's a lot. I can leave any of this out completely, I just need to know. Other than that, he is cute and he is charming (and he is literally forced by his curse to help people)]

Free Cities

PIMP MY RIDE
Eari doesn't look like someone who has ever held a hammer in his life, or even knows what to do with it. Least of all, be able to actually carry out the task. He's small, thin and pale, with narrow wrists and long, delicate fingers. And yet here he is, quite expertly hammering a large board to a window frame. While he's doing pretty decent on his own, he's not beyond enlisting help when he notices the other side of the wood dip, threatening to pull out the nails he's already put in.

"Would you be so kind and held the board for me for a minute? I think it's slipping."

MASKING UP
Upon learning about the government handouts of the mask for the populace, Eari's first reaction is a surprised "How thoughtful!".
He is easy to get roped into a team distributing. He wouldn't have gone into the sandstorm on his own, but would join someone who is already going. He does look pretty disturbed by the storm.

"What a wretched weather. I hope the days here don't look like this on a regular basis."

New Wave, New Age
Eari's design reveals a hand highly trained in calligraphy. It's a Wheel of Fortune that seems to only grow more detailed the closer you look. It resembles a water wheel, but the spokes are spears, and a couple of skulls sneaked in here and there. There are waves, spirals, snakes, and geometrical shapes that fool the eye into illusion of motion.

It is incredibly intricate for something this small, done with only one pen and no color.

Solvunn

Shrine Offerings
Eari's familiar with the offerings to the gods. Very, very familiar. He chooses Soris Immaneus as target of his current act of piety. It's a petty choice, a deliberate fuck you to his own home world's Lord of Balance who cursed him with his current affliction. To get it right, he went into the woods, ignoring the wind and the torrential rain, for his offering. A pair of rabbits. He doesn't know yet what she likes, so it seemed like a nice hello gift.

Goatnado
Eari hates animals. He hates them fiercely. They're loud, smelly and stupid. He hates being cold, and wet, and dirty. He also prefers to leave a comfortable life wherever he goes. That means he needs to find his way out of this quaint, little countryside and into some kind of normal city. The faster the better. That means ingratiating himself with the local peasants first.

Which leads him to standing in the rain, getting more and more wet, more and more irritated, trying to locate the source of panicked bleaks coming from above. The most recent twister has deposited a dumb goat somewhere on the roof of the house.

"For the blasted, endless darkness, where are you stupid animal?!"

As if the goat could not only hear him - a difficult thing in the pouring rain, with thunder rolling through the sky every minute - but also understand and listen to him. He really doesn't want to climb up there.

The Shrieking of the Weeds
In stark contrast to the goats, Eari simply loves the shrieking weeds. He thinks they are hilarious. Especially, when a twister lifts a whole bunch of them and rolls forward both the wind and the weeds howling like a hoard of angry ghosts. He seriously considers getting some for himself if he'll ever have a garden here. The possibilities for entertainment with such silly, little plant are endless.

But he doesn't have a garden yet. Not even his own place. No standing of his own. So whatever ideas he has in mind that would amuse him, he shelves them for now. Dutifully returning the plants to their owners, and the soil. It's a pity, but he can wait. All the while doing his best to conceal genuine enjoyment from watching the mayhem the airborne weeds are causing. Though, sometimes a hint of it slips. And if he's a bit more sluggish at his capture attempts then what? You can't really blame him. He's trying to help, but it's not his fault he's not built for manual labor or chasing errant plant-life across the fields.

WILDCARD
[OOC: Go wild. Feel free to PM this journal for plotting if you have any particular idea in mind.]

initiation

[rookvision]

It's convincing enough for Jacob. Then again it doesn't take much to get his help: even if Wake didn't look like that, rain-soaked and pale, Jacob would've tagged along anyway because Solvunn is boring him out of his mind. The rural, pastoral landscape's nice and all, but give him a city like London, buzzing with life and industry all day and all night.

The rained-on visage of Wake's really just evokes the sense of responsibility inside Jacob, that says he can't very well just let the man go alone. So he tugs on a coat and says, "All right, then. Let's get moving—the sooner we go the better our chances of beating the crowds there."

north wing

[rookvision]

[Some people make noises in their sleep. Others, like Jacob, get caught clambering up the furniture and trying to get up into the rafters for no real reason other than because they could. He's not tried to escape out the window yet, but that's because he's not stupid enough to go out in this weather, and all this restless energy has to go somewhere so—climbing the furniture it is.

He looks at Merrin, with the look of someone who realizes that this looks incredibly odd, but there's an explanation for this that makes sense. No, really, there is. Just give him a minute to think about it.]

...that's rather a shame, [he manages.] I can't get to sleep without some level of noise right in my ears.