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

[wwrench]

It comes as no real shock to Wrench when the new face doesn’t respond in kind. It certainly would’ve been nice to find the recent summoned has already been given that much of an introduction to his new home, but it wasn’t very likely. Wrench isn’t sure anyone uses the particular quirk of magic quite as much as he does. So instead of interrupting he simply watches the man for his response, lips pursed and making a respectable enough effort to try to keep up. Or, at the very least, to look as though he’s trying to keep up.

By the time the stranger is mentioning gods that Wrench has never heard of, though, he’s about ready to throw in the towel. Once again the tall man is struck with the thought that any other resident of Solvunn would probably make a much better welcome party for the newcomers, but instead he holds up his hand and another string of words start to come. They’re fashioned in something that looks a whole lot like handwriting, and Wrench’s is a sort of lazy half-script that might not be the neatest, but is perfectly legible.

Can I teach you something? It’ll make this a lot easier for me. First thing to know is that you can do magic here. Doesn’t matter if you couldn’t at home, or if magic didn’t exist in the first place. Everyone here can.

The easiest trick is this. All you’ve got to do is think what you want to say towards me. Imagine wanting me to know it. Think of the words appearing to me.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy reads, frowning lightly in both concentration and embarrassment. No, nobody had shown him how to do this but he feels like somehow that's his own fault.

So. Think of what he wants to say. Right. Introductions would probably be the place to start.

Iggy - 24
Height: 6'1
Weight: 150lbs
Pronouns: he/him
Position: versatile
Relationship status: single
I am: looking for someone to help me find a shrine to Zalyshyty.

Yeah, he just sent you his Grindr profile, Wrench.

[wwrench]

Sometimes — most of the time, really — Wrench has the carefully-cultivated look of a man who’s never known a moment of humor in his entire life. The rest of the time he mostly manages to appear various shades of dubious about things. As the words appear before him and he sorts them line by line into some semblance of order, that entire facade cracks around him.

By the time Iggy’s delivered the punchline, Wrench has cracked a smile despite himself. He’s never even seen a dating profile. That portion of his life has remained mostly-unexplored and otherwise relegated to doing things the old fashioned way. (That is, obsess over a single person for the whole of that person’s life, and then transition his mourning into nebulous encounters in backwoods bars.) But what the hell? The stranger has played his game, so Wrench decides to respond in kind.

Wrench
older than that
taller than that
heavier than that
Deaf
bless you

No one said his sense of humor was well-cultivated.

That’s one of the new Gods? I can take you, but I don’t know how those sacrifices work.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy grins. It makes him look a bit like a small animal that might bite if cornered.

that's OK I like older men.

He looks unsure for a moment, but then he shrugs.

I dunno. I was just told I should make an offering and I picked the guy I think I would understand the best.

Souls are kind of my thing, I guess.

[wwrench]

Wrench raises a single eyebrow in silent retort. For a long moment, the taller man gives nothing else that could be classified as a response to this admission. He lets it hang heavily between them, as if he’s testing whether or not Iggy might wish he could unring that particular bell in the face of a little bit of pressure. It appears that he won’t, though, so eventually Wrench does say more.

But what about taller?

He doesn’t give much time for further banter, though. The rest of what Iggy has to say leaves him sighing through his nose. It’s an unconscious but world-weary response, the kind of reaction borne of a man who is very much just a man, and thought for one glimmering second he might not be alone in that. But if souls are Iggy’s thing…

I can take you, if you know what to do from there. He doesn’t say it, but Wrench thinks he might not mind observing, either. He can only begin to assume his own God might be getting a little tired of boar entrails.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy waits, looking expectant. He isn't actually very good with people in general, so he does wonder if maybe his flirting has overstepped a line. But... no. His grin widens.

I love taller. It happens so rarely.

Iggy watches Wrench very carefully. He's pretty sure he's managed to exasperate the guy with his response, which has him kicking himself. He knows better than to admit his oddities, and this is just further proof of why he shouldn't. He just thought maybe in a place with brain texting it wouldn't be considered a bad thing.

"Sorry," he mumbles aloud.

And, rather than admit he's not really sure about what to do, Iggy nods.

Great! I can pay you, even!

[wwrench]

All this time that he’s been here, and the biggest threat Wrench has faced has come in the form of a few minor windstorms. Sure, there was that littl pack of Darkhounds, but he managed to dispatch them without much injury. Anyway, even those threats felt mostly external. Acted upon this place, rather than from it. He has to wonder why, then, he hasn’t managed to learn a better way of greeting a person than sizing them up?

Maybe he’s just naturally predisposed to look for differences. Maybe it’s that predisposition that means Wrench tends to find exactly what he’s looking for. In any case, he shrugs off the younger man’s apologies, and finds after a moment a compulsion to take it one step further than that.

The part of your introduction you forgot is the world you come from. Some people here are the Gods of their own worlds. Or the kings. Guess you haven’t met the sentient shark, either?

He waves it off, like it’s a thing for another time. Though the mention of payment sends his eyebrows arcing up again.

They give you money in your welcome basket?

[dead_tongue]

Iggy stares at Wrench, trying to figure out if the big man is fucking with him. Iggy is aware that he can be gullible, so he waits for a bit to see if there's a punchline coming.

I didn't know other worlds were an option.

I'm just from a normal one? I'm from Canada, in the year 2024. We have climate change and the internet and certainly no magic. This shit is all like some fantasy movie. The only magic I've heard of is the sort with crystals and candles and nature, and dead English guys who liked to fuck.

Did you say sentient shark?

Iggy shakes his head.

No. But I understand the barter system.

Oh. Unless you don't like guys? I'm sorry, I shouldn't assume.

[wwrench]

Apart from the years that separate their realities from one another, the things that Iggy notes don't seem too far off. Of course, the little he's shared only barely scratches the surface. Maybe something did change somewhere in that timeline. Could've just been the election of a political leader or a major corporation changing their business practices. Just enough to throw the world as he's come to anticipate it completely off kilter.

Truthfully, Wrench supposes it wouldn't matter much for him anyway. But he still regards Iggy like he's not quite sure he can believe that the world of the other man's origin is so straightforward.

I'm from Minnesota. 2016. No magic either.

If he seems a little dubious at all of that, Wrench goes downright wary at the man's next words. The nature of his interests are mostly, he thinks, as much of a mystery as the rest of his life before he came to this place. It's all bundled in the same package and labeled "Things We Don't Talk About." It's not because he's particularly ashamed, but because admitting to someone that he actually likes something feels a bit like laying all his cards on the table.

Not that I don't appreciate the irony of your offer. I take you to pray to a God, and you... Well. Wrench pauses there and swallows a mouthful of air in a sort of uncertain reverse-laugh.

We can call this one on the house. You just got here.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy can't figure out why Wrench seems so suspicious. It's an uncomfortable feeling, like maybe Iggy's done something wrong and not noticed.

Minnesota. Okay, that's normal. Iggy's not sure where Minnesota actually is, but he knows it's a real place.

So he smiles.

Okay! I've got a coat and everything, we should go before it gets dark.

Like everything else in this place, the coat isn't his. It's warm enough, though. He has a bag, too, to store his offering in - a sort of sling purse. He waits for Wrench like a dog excited to go walkies, and when they venture off into the miserable weather he looks happy.

Wrench will quickly discover that Iggy might be young but he's not athletic. He's an art student who smokes too much, and he sure isn't sprinting across the fields.

Chatty by nature, he doesn't just trek along in silence.

Before, you said it was ironic, my offering to blow you. Were you raised Christian? Is that why?

I'm really sorry if I offended you. The way I was raised, sex isn't bad or dirty, but I forget that's not everyone's experience.

[wwrench]

Setting aside Wrench's obvious familiarity with the terrain, it might not be as easy at first glance to tell which of the two men has been here the longest. The taller man continues to look unsettled as they walk, not so much out of concern for the erratic weather patterns or the impending dark, but over more intangible thoughts. Despite expecting no trouble, he's still chosen to carry more than just the one blade. A sword commandeered from someone who recently left this place makes a pretty obvious addition to his cloth and furs, but the others aren't so readily apparent.

Wrench isn't expecting the conversation, and it's hard to say whether he minds it or not. He's keeping an eye towards Iggy as they continue their journey, knowing soon enough they'll have to push through more woods and the thicket of overgrown branches that leads to the shrine. Why the structures always seem so far out when this kind of devotion is so common among the townspeople, he'll never know. Maybe it's the tendency so many of them have to offer up such personal things in their own sacrifices? He's not sure, and maybe for that reason he's also curious to see what this man offers. What his connection to spirits tells him is necessary.

I'm not a Christian. Wrench explains, though he supposes it hardly answers the question that was asked. You're going to be stuck here, you know? You can't just leave this place any time you want. So whatever you do now, you've got to live with those consequences.

Is this a lesson for Iggy? A reminder to himself? Is Wrench musing on the one thing here he still can't wrap his mind around?

[dead_tongue]

Iggy, unsurprisingly, has no weapons. He wouldn't know how to use one even if he did.

If asked Iggy might suggest that the journey to the shrine is part of the offering. But he isn't, so he just walks along, looking cheerful.

His expression grows concerned at Wrench's words. Although the settlement reminds him of movies and, a little, of the almost-ancestral remains of a little village he visited once, he supposes he has no idea of the attitudes toward certain practices.

Iggy thinks, suddenly, of movies he watched for English class. The Crucible. The Scarlet Letter.

Nervous now, he looks to Wrench cautiously.

Are they going to put me in the stocks for being a whore?

Oh god, are they gonna burn me at the stake for being gay?! No. They would have done that by now, everyone who meets me clocks me in like three seconds.

...right?

[wwrench]

It really shouldn't come as a shock to Wrench that this is the impression he's managed to give the stranger. Not so long ago he was the one emerging stark naked from a strange watery portal, gaping at the faces around him with utter confusion. Solvunn looks a whole lot more like a paradise to him than to most people, he knows that much. But it's not a very dramatic leap to guess that the people here might not be inclined towards progressive ways of thinking.

Even if one of their most beloved residents is that aforementioned shark dude.

This really isn't the warning he's meaning to convey, though, so finding himself misunderstood actually manages to urge Wrench towards a little more openness. He shoots a sideways glance at Iggy and holds back a particularly thorny bramble at the entrance to a pathway that seems to have been carved entirely from the shuffling footsteps of travelers over time.

Nothing like that. It's fine. I think it is, at least. No one's really in a hurry to kiss and tell me about it.

But if we do that, you're probably going to have to see me again. Get it? It's not like a hookup around the back of a bar where we both go our separate ways after. There's not that many places to go in Solvunn.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy sneaks past the brambles with a quick grin. He visibly relaxes as Wrench elucidates.

"Ohhhh," he says aloud before switching back to brain text. It's really not hard once you get the hang of it.

Don't scare me like that! Jeez!

He walks a bit, then looks over at Wrench again. His gaze is curious and warm.

I don't really see why that would be a problem. But I mean, look, real talk?

I cam, back home. Do some sugar baby work. Transactional sex isn't something I get weird over, like I'm not gonna see someone and be like 'oh my god, it's that guy I blew, hide me!' Discretion is part of the job.

That said, I toooootally understand if you feel that way. No offense taken.

You are super cute, though.

[wwrench]

How is this simultaneously one of the most mundane and one of the most salacious conversations Wrench has ever had with a fellow summoned? The fact that they aren't discussing telepathy or dragons or unearthly realms ought to come as a respite for the man who's gotten used to having his worldview rocked each and every time he talks to someone new. But right now, Wrench feels the heat creeping up his neck and realizes he's probably blushing, and that this is the first damn time anyone here has managed to do that to him.

I'm not a prude, I'm just pragmatic.

The wind picks up as they disappear further along the trail, and Wrench takes note of the downed branches. He keeps pace a little closer to Iggy, not eager to see the young man stolen away by some errant breeze, or impaled by a piece of downed fencing caught up in a cyclone.

Oh yeah? You ought to see me after my monthly bath, then. Despite himself, Wrench can't help being taken by the levity of the compliment. He tries to conceal his own grin, but ends up doing a bad job of masking the simpering chuckle of self-amusement.

[dead_tongue]

Oh.

A blush.

That's always a win.

Iggy smiles, blithely unaware of how easily he could die here. Intellectually he's aware the winds are dangerous, but he doesn't really believe anything will happen to him.

Please tell me we can bathe more often than that. I really, really like bathing.

Genuinely worried about that.

Iggy moves just a little bit closer.

I mean it, though. Like not as a professional, just as a guy. You've got very interesting eyes. And I bet you're ripped.

[wwrench]

Wrench watches this approach and doesn't try to pretend not to scoff. Iggy, he's decided, is utterly incorrigible. The realization of this fact sends a jolt of something through every last nerve ending in his torso. He wants to feel annoyed. Thinks he ought to be perturbed at a man who doesn't see the benefit of holding his own cards a little closer to his chest. The truth is, though, that Wrench admires it.

What, you trying to get closer to me? Right after I tell you I haven't showered? It's not specifically true, but neither is it entirely untrue, Wrench realizes to himself. Thank goodness Solvunn has so many natural bodies of water all around it, because what the man is, is entirely unhoused.

I bet you say that to all the guys. Yet here they are, and the terrain isn't getting any easier. Wrench can only speed them so quickly through an increasingly-brambled maze of forest. Is your family actually that pro-sex? Even with their gay son?

[dead_tongue]

In that assessment Wrench is completely correct: corrigable Iggy is not.

He shrugs, still smiling.

You can tell me to back off.

At that he looks downright coquettish.

Yeah, but with you I mean it. Is the banter well rehearsed? Yes. That doesn't make it insincere.

When Wrench mentions Iggy's parents his smile twists a little.

They don't know I do sex work. I took that up after I moved away from home. I like to think they wouldn't mind, but I don't know.

They didn't care I was gay. Like it was a non issue. I was homeschooled, I didn't even really understand it was weird when I was little. Because of my god, I was such a gay little kid. My folks must have known by the time I was five.

[wwrench]

I don't need you to remind me what I can and can't say.

Wrench isn't sure he'll ever get used to the way the brain texting blunts every emotion that another form of communication would carry with it so naturally. It's frustrating at the best of times, and at the worst he wonders if it's even worth the bother. But all of that annoyance forgets what his face makes plain: he's fucking with Iggy, just a little bit. And he clearly hasn't told the younger man to back off.

It's hard to read Iggy's words and not think about himself at a similar age. What kinds of things was he making apparent about himself? It hardly would have mattered. They would have been buried too far under too many impenetrable layers, and his parents were certainly not going to do the hard work of uncovering them. Wrench sets the thought aside, not so much disparaging it as holding it up as another missed opportunity for things to go a different way.

So what, you didn't interact with other kids your age? I thought homeschool was just for the religious fanatics.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy studies Wrench for a moment. He's still half smiling, but his eyes are actually very intent as they search for facial cues and body language. Iggy is pretty good at reading emotions... but often terrible at actually understanding them. Detecting only harmless teasing, he grins.

The expression fades into something a little more defensive at that last jab, though.

Iggy shrugs.

Not until I was thirteen, no. That's when I begged my folks to let me go to a public high school.

We weren't fanatics. But I had to help with the church a lot.

[wwrench]

Wrench knows his own concept of religion is an ignorant one, but homeschooling a child in order to make sure he's available to help with church seems awfully fanatical to him. He sees no reason to say as much, though. Iggy doesn't seem to talk about it as though he did so begrudgingly, or that he holds a grudge against his parents for anything. In fact, they seem like relatively reasonable people.

So you really meant the thing about the souls. I'd like to see that.

Maybe Wrench can get some ideas of what, exactly, this is all supposed to look like. What his own God might like from him. Fortunately, the opportunity presents itself sooner than later as the path pushes them into a small clearing with a shrine at its focal point. Wrench indicates at the space like he's suggesting that Iggy might want to take it from here.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy has spent a lot of his life rationalizing his upbringing. It doesn't match up with anything cultish, doesn't even seem to have much in common with any of the religious trauma he's read about online. So. Clearly, his childhood was just fine.

He bites his lip, wishing again he hadn't said anything about it, but then they're actually in a clearing, in front of an honest to goodness shrine.

Iggy pauses, wondering how to proceed. Slowly, he approaches the shrine, undoing the ties on his bag.

"Uhm. Hi."

A stupid way to start. Iggy exhales deeply and kneels in front of the little shrine with no embarrassment.

"I don't really know what to say, yet, so I'll just say what I was taught in my world. I think... I think you'll understand it, if I have your domain right."

Iggy sets down the fruit and flowers, then places his palms together.

"O God, make me your channel, a link beyond the light. Let me bring forth messages of closure and of peace, proving existence continues beyond death.

Make me your guide, O All, to those loved ones, dear ones, who are lost, that I might guide them to you.

Amen."

Awkwardly, he stands and looks around.

Nothing.

[wwrench]

Probably not surprisingly, Wrench regards the young man's actions with more self-consciousness than Iggy seems to hold for himself. Despite his abject desire to witness this for himself, now that they're in the midst of it, it all seems so vividly intimate. Another person -- a practical stranger -- caught in a moment of vulnerability and possible hope. It's not unlike catching Iggy with his pants down. Though Wrench realizes even as he thinks it that his companion probably wouldn't mind that very much, either.

It's so different than everything he was taught, though. Not just the devotion to a mythological figure, but the willingness to lay something bare that feels like it could easily be exploited. But since Iggy doesn't seem to mind at all, Wrench moves closer. He tries to wriggle himself into a position to stand to catch a glimpse of what words are being spoken, but it's damn near an impossible thing under the best of circumstances, and with the wind whipping and the light already waning in this little clearing, it's all a blur.

Instead he waits until Iggy is back on his feet and watches the man watch the air. Was he expecting something? A burning bush, or a booming voice from above? Wrench can't really tell.

You look like it didn't go to plan.

[dead_tongue]

Iggy's relationship to both sex and prayer really isn't terribly different - both are intimate, but also something he's done in front of people so many times that it's become impossible to be self conscious about.

He looks to Wrench and smiles. It's a sweet expression, not quite shy.

I don't know what I was expecting.

I guess that's it, then. Don't suppose you'd walk a boy home, too?

[wwrench]

I think you do know. It's fine if you don't want to tell me.

There's a ritual to it, isn't there? Wrench might not know what words Iggy spoke in front of the shrine, but he's certain they were calculated. The younger man wasn't simply chanting the first words that came into his mind. He must've thought they'd have some kind of impact, then. Needling any further just seems like bad form, though. Maybe the next time Iggy prays, if it all goes according to his plan, he won't even need to ask at all. Maybe the impact will be that obvious.

Oh, I thought I'd leave you out here as my own sacrifice. Wrench lets the implication hang for a moment until he can't help his own smirk. You found somewhere to stay already? He's not surprised; the locals have been more than generous with the summoned, so far as he's been told. It's not difficult at all to find shelter; he just hasn't taken anyone up on their offer himself.