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

Questions

[abraxasmods]

Re: Questions

[gadjos]

Hello mods! For the purposes of tracking the full moon, is it safe to say that the lunar calendar in Abraxas lines up with the dates of our real full moons, or is it separate?

Gale | Baldur's Gate 3 (The Lovers)

[karsiteweave]

[ OOC: Please be aware... Gale comes with content warnings, including a degree of religious-influenced suicidal ideation. His Goddess told him to kill himself for the greater good! At this Act 2 canon point, he has recently tried and... so far as he can tell, potentially failed?

My starters are Prose, but I can switch to match brackets. ]

THORNE

i - CASTLE: NORTH WING

Gale is stood staring out the window of his new room, watching the weather with open curiosity. The way the wind howls around Thorne, the clouds, the colour of the sky. He's still dressed in the silk tunic offered to him earlier, and still buzzing somewhat from the whole experience. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be anywhere, yet he is...

"Horizontal lightning," he murmurs. "Fascinating stuff. The most common type of lightning veers toward the ground but, it isn't unheard of for it to travel between clouds too. Still, quite the display isn't it?"

All that wind, the constant surges of lightning. Quite some storm. Not, Gale suspects, something natural -- although who is he to say what is natural for this place? He turns slightly from the window, and a slight patterning of purple veins down under his eyes becomes more visible. It's not exhaustion, although there's some of that too, but... something else. They seem to be darker as they travel down his neck, and vanish beneath the collar of his tunic. He smiles, but the discerning observer may realise it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Apologies, you must think me most ill mannered. Gale of Waterdeep, at your service. I was told these were my new accommodations? I do hope I'm not in the way."

ii - CASTLE: SORTING TOMES

Sorting books? Now that sounds exactly the sort of thing to put Gale at ease. He's tilting his head, reading the spines of them and regularly becoming distracted enough that he starts reading them. Quite content to carry this task out alone, the only break to the silence is his occasional muttering and then, suddenly, a book he tries to shelf ejecting itself back out at him. It bounces off his chest, and he struggles to steady the stack in his arms and not lose it all.

"Of all the sorting systems to use," he says, and moves to set the books he's carrying on the ground. "Was this one quite necessary?"

A little violent, surely? Or maybe he's just feeling especially agitated. Books set down, he moves his hands in a circular motion, a soft glow building up.

"Veni et iuva me," he says, with easy confidence -- and yet. The magic flares, then sputters and fades. Gale presses his lips into a thin line, then lifts one hand to rub at his chest as if easing an ache. Still nothing. "I see. Very well, your way it is then."

He picks up the book that bounced off him, squints at the spine more carefully.

iii - NETWORK

Hello, Gale of Waterdeep here. Do excuse me if I'm doing this wrong, I'm told it functions as a sort of wide range message spell. I'm hoping to learn more about this 'Singularity' here. An incredible sounding thing, in truth! A source of all magic, this specific artefact? I've been told that is safe to approach for 'summoned' like myself, but that it disintegrates all others. Far be it from me to doubt my sources, but I would like to hear a little more about people's experiences approaching it.

IV - WILDCARD

[ Pitch me an idea and we can go with it! ]

ii.

[ushiri]

( ooc: hi hi! this is the astarion player with my thorne character! he also has religious related traumas, I have an opt-out with content warnings! )

Kahlil doesn't frequent the library as often as he did when he first arrived almost a year and a half ago, but he still stops by to check in with Jack, or to drop off a package for a mage working here. The latter is the reason he's here today, when he spots an unfamiliar face.

"What was that you just did?" he asks, canting his head to one side. Kahlil dresses in a way that doesn't particularly stand out, simple and dark colored clothing that don't identify him as either a native or one of the Summoned to someone new here. This person is easy enough to clock as a newly arrived Summoned, though, making a failed attempt to use natural abilities or magic. Everyone goes through it, and he knows already the usual faces here.

Cidolfus Telamon | FFXVI | The Hanged Man

[judgmentbolts]

[ Spoilers for FFXVI ]

FREE CITIES - ARRIVAL - BARRACKS.

[ Some eternal peace this is. Not even a minute to get cold and cozy in his grave and he's being unceremoniously dragged up and out again, sputtering and naked as a newborn. The people who have dragged him out seem surprised that he's bleeding all over the nice ceremonial floors, but they get their wits together faster than he does. He's carted off to be bandaged and dressed, and a woman in robes answers all of his less than cheerful questions with an unruffled patience that would impress Harpocrates. He thinks about asking after Clive and Jill, but he figures when he finds his way out he can just yell until Clive shows up.

They tell him that this is The Free Cities — The Free Cities on some other world, at least. Must be hard to get a stolas about the name being taken if that's to be believed. Cid doesn't comment either way. He's only just gone back to having mostly the right number of holes in his body, and he's not eager to introduce new ones. He wanders off as soon as he's dressed, and no one seems particularly concerned with it. There's some kind of storm coming, and they're busily in the midst of preparations.

Cid spends some time in the barracks just getting his bearings. It's been a long time since he was in a place like this, uniform and all, but looking at him you wouldn't know it — he seems to interact with the soldiers with familiar ease, pitching in with the fortifications and making dry comments that draw out the occasional laugh or hearty groan. Even if he could think of a reason for the higher ups to lie to him in this particularly baffling way, the soldiers' accounts are much the same. He finds it hard to imagine even dead-eyed Ultima going to the trouble of playing such elaborate mind games with a used up Dominant.

Either at the Barracks or somewhere in the city proper, the moment he spots anyone else who bears an arcana symbol in place of their rank, he'll saunter over. He's already tugging the collar of his uniform open like it's been trying to strangle him. ]

Summoned, is it? How was your swim? [ Cid's tone is wry and easy, but there's a faint furrow between his brows. Nice that he isn't all that special around here, but that gives him more questions than answers.

Or maybe you're the one who approached him first. Cid can just as easily be found brooding on his own somewhere, or sitting on one of the beds, changing out the bandages around his midsection sometime that evening. The wound he's covering is well on its way to healing — or would be, if Cid was resting instead of gallivanting about building fortifications and interrogating his fellow Summoned. If you run into him here, you might notice that patches of his right arm and torso are made of stone instead of flesh.

Regardless of the storm, he will be making the trip into Cadens, so carriage buddies for the ride are welcome. ]

MASKING UP

[ In many ways, Cadens is almost like a dream fully realized. The vibrant interest in scientific progress and what people can do for themselves without using magic as a crutch — it isn't something he thought he'd see in his lifetime, even if he'd managed to live. But just like any dream, the reality of it isn't so neat. It seems like any system has the people it values and the people it deems expendable. Not everyone is like him, lucky enough to be both at once.

While the streets are nearly deserted, nearly isn't the same as entirely. Cid doesn't want to be out on the city streets any more than anyone else, but in the course of playing nice with his new hosts and handing out masks he runs into a couple of vagrants with nowhere else to go.

He doesn't bother trying to ask the city guard if anything can be done — he knows full well the sort of apathy he would expect to be greeted with. Instead, he waves down one of his fellow Summoned. He gestures toward the alley where an elderly gentleman is huddled with his granddaughter, the two of them doing their best to shield themselves from the blowing sand. ]

Do you know of anywhere they can go to wait out the storm?

PIMP MY RIDE

[ As the days pass, Cid thinks he's beginning to feel the dregs of levin in his blood start to stir again; whatever is left of Ramuh is still there, though not easily or eagerly reached. Then again, there's plenty of electricity in the air, so maybe it's just that.

He spends most of his time in Cadens proper, eager to be free of the barracks. He still doesn't have a gil to his name, but he can enter the Fortune Arena (hah) for free. He means to look around and carry on searching for actual work, but he ends up talking his way into a lively discussion with one of the drivers; a young woman who could give Midadol a run for her money when it comes to talking fast. A part of her wagon's engine was damaged during travel, and there isn't time to find a replacement. ]

If you did something like — [ Cid looks around for something to write with, and after a moment he crouches down — gods, did his knees make that cracking sound? — to scratch out a diagram in the dirt, to better illustrate his point. It's clear to anyone who might be paying attention that he has a fair amount of engineering knowledge; New Magic is new to him, but otherwise he knows what he's talking about. ] Would that be enough to compensate, do you think?

[ If he notices anyone lingering nearby, he'll push himself to his feet and dust off his knees. He gestures for them to join the discussion. ] If you want to tag in, be my guest. She's got no use for the likes of me.

[ The woman laughs, not unkindly, but she doesn't disagree. Well, shows him for thinking he could just waltz in and figure it all out. ]

WILDCARD

[ Hit me up with anything or PM this journal if you want to discuss! ]

Peter Rumancek | Hemlock Grove | Solvunn | The Hanged Man

[gadjos]

𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠

( A calm, sedate looking young man in his early to mid twenties kneels in the grass by a frequented walking path. Before him is an open scrap of cloth, within which he meticulously arranges a few intended contents. Hand-picked berries are pressed gently until they bleed and stain the fabric, one after the other. The shape of a pentagram begins to make itself known. In the spaces between the points, and in the center, he threads the stems of flowers through the weave of the fabric.

When he's finished with his work, he brings his thumb to his lips and kisses it gently like a religious man might do to a cross he wore. To the sky, he murmurs: )

Baxt hai sastimos tiri patragi.

( And then he folds the cloth into a bundle with an air of reverence, knotting it firmly in place. If someboene's been observing, or if happens to be lingering, at this point he'll turn his attention to them. )

Hey, you wanna show me where these fuckin' shrines are supposed to be?

𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛

( Several days, perhaps even over a week, after the new batch of Summoned are pulled through, Peter meditates his way to the Horizon. It isn't particularly difficult for him; he seems, in fact, to have kind of a natural affinity for it.

His own domain is nothing to speak of, yet. Just a shitty little trailer down by a river, one he's seen enough that he isn't interested in spending much time in it. He is far, far more interested in exploring. You can catch him politely, unobtrusively skirting the edges of your domain, keeping his hands to himself but observing anything that looks even remotely interesting. He can also be found wandering toward the center, reverently reaching out to touch the singularity itself. )

𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑

( Peter can also be found:
→ with his arms elbow-deep in dirt re-burying the shrieking weeds
→ studiously observing the shrines to all of the gods available in the primary settlement
→ asking around about visiting the secondary settlement
→ meandering through the woods far away from the beaten path
→ having a very amusing conversation with goat he's petting
→ anything else! hit me at paingravy for questions! supernaturally sensitive characters may discern something of the wolf in his manner, aura, or smell. )

masking up

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor is most certainly not out in this storm, thanks very much. He's more than aware of his own constitution, and despite the fact that he's been making some perhaps inadvisable travel between Cadens and Aquila and the Farhill mining camp, he does have the sense to stay inside when the weather is actively terrible. Can't say the same for this poor guy, who he's watching though a shuttered window.

It takes him a moment to realize that there are other people involved, and the man who he thought was foolish enough to get caught in the storm is actually trying to find shelter for the other two. That changes things, sightly. Viktor outfits himself with goggles and respirator of his own, then pushes the front door open as best he can, bracing it with his shoulder and leaning out into the street.]

This way. [He calls over the wind, waving a hand to get Cid's attention.] Bring them inside.

[Whatever Cid chooses to do, there's some urgency in Viktor's voice that indicates he should make it quick. Viktor does seem like he's having some trouble keeping the door open against the wind.]

[karsiteweave]

"Oh, nothing."

Literally, in fact. Ha ha. He forces a smile. Cheerful, Gale Dekarios! Friendly! You're alive, somehow, and yes -- the weave may no longer answer you but you've been hampered before and worked through it. Assuming that --

He cuts off the thought before it takes itself any further, spins to the newcomer properly -- book tilted a little in his hand.

"Say, do you know who designed the enchantment on this library? Quite an ingenious system, I must admit, but I'm finding it a little on the aggressive side. While I do appreciate the healthy gusto with which it rejects my misfiling of a tome I would prefer something less at risk of doing damage to their spines. Or my chest, for that matter!"

Not that it really hurt much, but he's going for comedy at his own expense. A little misdirection, perhaps, but it's worked wonders for him before.

Masking up

[philancer]

[ Sylvain had forgone the breathing mask in favor of wrapping his familiar teal scarf about his face to cover his nose and mouth. He hadn’t intended on being out long, just picking up some more supplies to stock up since this storm didn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

He’s cursing under his breath - goddess, does he hate the desert - when he hears someone shouting and turns to squint against the whipping sand to see an unfamiliar figure waving him down.

Hurrying in that direction, he takes in the problem at once, spotting the elderly gentleman and the little girl clinging tightly to his weathered hand.

He claps a hand on the other Summoned’s shoulder in understanding, giving a nod as he lifts his voice to be heard over the wind. ]

We’ll take them to the Inn! Mags will look after them! [ He’d pay her himself if she needed it, although if anyone had a bleeding heart for people in need, it was Mags. ] Do you know where it is? I can show you the way.

[ They’re only about a block or two away, but he’s learned firsthand how easy it is to get turned around in these storms - even in familiar territory. ]

[abraxasmods]

Hello! Yes, you can assume so. On rare occasions, for certain events (typically those taking place in Nocwich) we may "move" the full moon as necessary for the plot, but we'll specify this in the write-up. If your character notices the lunar cycle is little out of pattern in such cases, it can be blamed on the mystical nature of the Singularity and Abraxas.

[gadjos]

Awesome!! Thank you!

Travis Guidry | Tales From the Gas Station | Solvunn | The Chariot

[infiniteban]

((Overall content warning for language and inane chatter. Voice testing. ShadowSpirits. Will match style.))

A. shrine offerings

No, thank you, I'm not--I'm not ready for that level of commitment in your ah... fine establishment here. Don't get me wrong! It's a nice place! I just--

[Sorry, Solvunn, there's this weird-ass middle-of-fuckin'-nowhere Redneck walking about the commune. He's chattering up anyone he passes, but moving on just as quick, before the conversation gets too loaded, before they drag him in deep. It's the Mathmetists again. Which is fine, if just not his thing. He could've helped out there though, just the same as here.

Except he stops, this time, at some nice old lady mentioning Vagn, and death to him, and then he's grabbing the next person he sees, alarm in his expression.] Hey buddy. Hey. I think I died. Again? I don't know, I don't really remember the first time. Or this last. [By the way he briefly stares off unblinking, that might be a lie.] Is my boy Brylock here, too? He's gotta be, right?

[So, so sorry for whoever is now in his crossfire.]

B. Goatnado

I'd prefer to see how the hunting's like. [He keeps going to his rifle like it's a security blanket. That is. Not there. That's bothering him far more than the weather, which he seems to just be going along with, only squinting occasionally through the water on his face.

But he'll help out just as much as the next guy, he's not an asshole, even if he may look like one.] But, come on, wind's wild and turns out I still need a roof to sleep under tonight. Not sure what they think tying down the goats are going to do though. Goats don't stay put. No fence will keep them bound! Probably dove right into the twisters themselves. But we'll get 'em.

erryone masking up

[aquilus]

[Altaïr isn't enough of a do-gooder to go patrolling for local residents who've made the unwise decision to venture out and found themselves more vulnerable to the weather than expected, but he also isn't coldhearted enough to ignore those in need. He's surprised to be flagged down by a Summoned he doesn't recognize, but after following the man's gesture, he understands instantly.]

Yes. This way. If you help guide them, I can lead us the quickest way there.

a

[wwrench]

Given the bouts of unpredictable weather and the shuttering of several of Solvunn’s familiar establishments, Wrench just assumed the little commune might skip its summoning ritual this time around. He never pays close attention, but the presence of unfamiliar faces around the territory doesn’t go undetected. So maybe the ritual is a little bit like the US Postal Service: neither rain nor heat nor sideways fucking lightning storms…

He hasn’t revised his position on being the absolute worst first introduction anyone could have to this place. That’s especially true if their world is equally as mundane as his own. He hasn’t forgotten his own first introduction to the way everyone here can form visible words straight out of their minds, but it’s what the man who grabs him now is going to get, ready or not.

You’re new. Did they give you the lecture?

[ushiri]

For a moment Kahlil's gaze studies his features, tracks the slightly darkened veins down one side of the man's face - a sign of illness is his initial guess. There's something about his humorous rambling that reminds him of the Doctor. His eyes continue to trail down to his chest as attention is brought to it, and Kahlil gives a soft scoff and one shouldered shrug.

"Looks sturdy enough to me," he counters, then adds slightly (un)helpfully, "- some castle mages should be responsible for the enchantment upkeep."

He can't say who set it in place first, though.

Kahlil crouches down to the pile of books set on the floor, selecting the one at the top and eyeing the cover of what appears to be esoteric tome on the mating habits of sea eels in the Hydra Gulf. He scrunches his nose and rises again with it in hand, glancing at the shelves for wherever it came from.

"Interested in any of this, or just bored?"

He'll play along.

iii.

[ancunin]

Gale of Waterdeep, you say? Well - prove it then!

[ Who would EVEN want to pretend to be Gale, honestly... but it might be smart to check first, just to be certain... ]

shrine

[wwrench]

Wrench has indeed been observing. He’s seen a fair few of Solvunn’s native rituals by this point. Hell, he’s even been asked to lead a few of them himself. While he harbors no particular ire for any of them, he wonders if half the people who still devoutly engage have seen any kind of positive benefit for all their efforts. Even in service to a God himself, Wrench hardly considers himself faithful. “Loyal” is a much better descriptor. Or “vassal,” in the derogatory.

A pentagram isn’t an unfamiliar shape, though, so it gives at least some impression of where the newcomer might be from. Though to be fair, Wrench isn’t sure he’s ever seen someone draw one with such intent. Most of his past familiarity is built around spray painted images on the sides of old freight containers, or the movies that play on hotel television sets around 3:00 in the morning. They’re relegated to a couple of different meanings: either the person’s evil, or they’re trying to be edgy.

So, while his eyebrows raise when the man stands and they find themselves each eyeing up the other, he’s not in any great hurry to find out what the newcomer’s whole deal is.

You’re new? You missed Halloween by a lot.

shrine offerings;

[gadjos]

( Peter's been all over. It's the nature of his people to travel; from cities to towns to redneck nowheres, he's seen all types of people. He's seen this type of person — he assumes, based on Travis's general demeanor, accent, and... everything else, and he's torn between finding himself amused and rolling his eyes. When presented with those two options, he tries to choose the former whenever possible.

He absolutely did not intend to engage.

And yet, as fate would have it-

Here he is. Engaged. Physically, by this fucking hillbilly fully grabbing him by the shoulders. His hands come up, an automatic no touchy as he wheels back a step to insert some pointed distance. )

Hey-heyhey, hey, hands off the merchandise, eh?? Relax. You're not dead. Jesus.

[gadjos]

( Cool, so that's fuckin' new. The text makes him falter, wide eyes blinking as they trace the words through the air, through nothing. It's an automatic reaction to cast a suspicious look Wrench's direction, and the words spill over his lips kneejerk: )

The fuck - ?

( He is, it seems, the first person to do the Horizon Text thing to Peter since his arrival. Wow, crazy, surely that isn't a common theme for Wrench or anything.

At least it's a momentary distraction from him getting all riled up about the Halloween thing. )

Ardyn Izunia | FFXV | Thorne | The Tower

[scourged]

(cw: spoilers for FF15.)

𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗌

(Ardyn has no idea how he wound up in this strange and fanciful world, but for now he'll take it, fully intent on learning what he can about this new world and in what ways he can use it to his full advantage. He'd expected death at the end of all things mere moments before things had shifted, a final and blissful release from a turbulent path over the millennia. Instead he'd awoken in a pool of water with some old mage barely able to keep his eyes open giving some seal of approval even now Ardyn isn't aware of. Was this another twist of the gods? Another game of a certain god for him to be pulled and dragged through? The idea of not being able to rest, even at the end of all things, is a dire enough thought.

Which means Ardyn is all the more dramatic in his movements at the library, his gestures wide and sweeping as he opens a tome and reads the first line with some flair.)

"Once, in a kingdom far away, there was a King with two sons," Oh no no, that will never do, such things never tend to end well when they start like that. Brothers rarely like to share in most stories.

(Ardyn pauses, not looking up from the book as he places a hand to his hat and ducks his head, narrowly avoiding someone's misplaced tome from knocking him out).

Books do have a tendency to embellish such things, but I must admit I do love a good story no matter how dated they are. I daresay in a place such as this we could consider ourselves living in one, don't you think?

𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇

(The whole thing had sounded dull, tedious and outlandishly boring when someone had announced the painting session and as Ardyn studies his own artwork he has to conclude that it absolutely was all of those things. He could even consider it to have exceeded expectations in the droll stakes. He'd been lured in by the speech of Thorne's defiance in the face of the "gods" and received an event that could slow sheer prophecy down. Ardyn looks around at the paintings of others, the smile on his face easy enough despite the negativity in his mind. Smiles were easy once one learned to allow it to reach the eyes, though occasionally the odd person could catch the disingenuity there.)

Why, yours is much better than mine! I must admit I'm not much of an artist and it would seem my attempts to not let the brush paint for me has become a problem.

(Ardyn's own artwork is covered in a myriad of splatters across what once could have been a decent painting.)

Then again I could even say it gives mine a bit of charm within all that chaos....

𝗌𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇

(Eventually Ardyn makes his way to the quarters, having wandered enough for one day. From what he can tell this place seems intent on keeping people captive with the excuse of being unable to understand how to send them home, with the added "bonus" of free accommodation and supplies. Some gave with one hand and took with the other and a change of worlds never changed that.

He sits on an empty bed, the smile dropping from his face as he takes a breath. There's an awareness of just what exactly is missing; powers. No armiger or anything of the sort, even the starscourge felt faint ever since arriving. Not only that but from what Ardyn could decipher there were none of the usual crew to be dealing with, fate having seen fit to not only send him somewhere else but to deal a blow in not providing the free entertainment he'd so enjoyed over the last decade or so.

Thinking on it, said heroes did have a habit of popping up at the most impressive moments. Ardyn has no doubt he'll cross paths with them again; if he can be dragged through worlds then so could they. Rest is, apparently, for the weak. He reaches up to take the hat from his head, a free hand ruffling dark red hair as he places the hat on a nearby table.)

Free bed, free food, what will they ask for I wonder?

𝗐𝗂𝗅𝖽𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖽
(ooc: Happy to thread any prompt, let me know and I'll write a starter. Ardyn can be found wandering in most places, looking mostly interested in a lot of things. Any contact needed please send a PM to this journal. Thanks!)

[infiniteban]

"What The Shit What Is This New Age Tech Shit I Didn't See No Phones Here What!"

No.

No, they didn't give him the lecture.

... Okay, well, maybe they did, but Travis has been told a lot in a short span of time and he hasn't really been listening to much, if any, of it. He got this place is called Solvunn. That's important, right?

"I don't need a lecture, alright, I'm fine, I'm cool."

He is not.

[infiniteban]

[He is unbothered by the guy extricating himself from Travis's near vicinity.] How d'you know that, huh? Where's your proof? How do you know this isn't some kind of government experiment where they round up all of us after they killed us to see what happens? This is what happened after they took me out...

wildcard-ish

[assembles]

[ Steve's hope had been that with the state the the Cities — no, all of the mainland — is in, that the summoning ritual would be put off. Even as he had the thought, though, he'd known it was wishful thinking. Nothing else that's happened to disrupt the world has stopped them, including an entire city being bombed, so why would a sandstorm?

With that in mind, he knows he should make the trip out to the barracks to receive any newcomers, and also see how the outpost is holding up given the storm. Rather than rent a horse like he did when traveling with Geralt a few weeks back, he opts to just take one of the wagon rides, which is thankfully covered and draped with cloth to keep everyone safe from the whipping winds.

When he arrives to the barracks it's all in a bustle as the soldiers work to put in additional fortifications to help the weather the storm. To be honest, it looks like they've got everything well in hand, but he's not surprised to see that there's a newly recruited Summoned that they've dragged into the manual labor, as he hammers some wood into place at one of the outer-wall barricades.

Steve heaves out a sigh as he closes the distance between them, only speaking up when he can tell he's captured the man's attention. ]

They didn't waste any time asking you for help, did they?

[gadjos]

( The bemused expression on Peter's face is just a permanent fucking fixture now apparently — and he flashes it between Travis and the medieval village out behind them, then back again. )

What about this screams government to you? I've been hassled by the cops and shit plenty, okay, and this is- this is not that. Take a fucking look around, man. And besides- look-

( He fishes around in his pocket and pulls out a knife. He's been here all of a day, where'd he get a knife? Mind your business, that's where.

Doesn't matter. He pricks a finger with it, then holds it up as the blood begins to bead atop the skin. )

The dead don't bleed. Trust me.

[infiniteban]

Experiment. They can't let us know the government is involved. [If the look around them is supposed to be any indication that Travis is in the wrong here, that just makes Travis's point more.

This isn't his first time 'round this nonsense. It's not his fault the guy's oblivious. He'll just have to help him out.

He holds a hand out for the knife, insistent.] Give it here.