EVENT #23: CROSSROADS - WRAP-UP

[abraxasmods]

Event #23 - Wrap-Up

IC Event Log

As you near the end of the second day, you glimpse a glimmer of light ahead. Though you might be wary at first, you realize that the face emerging from the light is familiar...or at least appears to be friendly. They certainly don't belong to anyone who appear to be part of the major territories.

Characters will spend March in one of the three minor territories, depending on which scenario they were rescued from. While cross-border interactions will be limited, there will still be opportunities. Additionally, low influence characters will have the chance to run small retrieval missions on behalf of their fellow Summoned.

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(Another) New Home ⦁ Retrieval Mission ⦁ Notes ⦁ Questions & Answers

(Another) New Home

The rescue scenario and subsequent territory descriptions will be provided below for each minor territory. Characters may briefly cross into another minor territory to visit a character or otherwise conduct important business, but cannot stay there overnight and will be limited to one or two trips for the month. Officials caution that too much portal use could be dangerous.

Characters will also be able to speak to the NPCs in each area. However, for the sake of expediency, we will not be offering full threads. Instead, interactions will be similar to how they were conducted during the Epulum event, where players will receive an answer or a response from an NPC after providing us with a short description of their character's action or question.

To speak to an NPC, use the form and REPLY TO THIS COMMENT under the corresponding minor territory.

◎ Nocwich (Mountains)

If you were on the mountains, the glimmer of light you see will reveal itself to be a portal. Out of it steps Sten, who represents the werewolves of Luna, and Celeste, who represents the vampires of Ikorr. They appear to be working together, and tell you they heard news from the Nether that one of the dragons sensed the Summoned's distress. As a result, they've arrived to lend a hand and urge you all to come to Nocwich, where they promise the distance from both the major territories and the Singularity will provide you with some safety.

Indeed, older Summoned can assure you - if you're skeptical - that Nocwich has been known to help in the past and have, for the past three or so years, had a relatively amiable relationship with the Summoned despite some complications that have occurred on their soil.

◎ Your accommodations in Nocwich will be at one of several inns around Oleuni Square where you can stay for the foreseeable future at no cost. The inns will provide you with a complimentary breakfast and dinner. Nocwich has an infirmary for any injuries that require tending.

◎ You can travel freely between the Square, Luna, and Ikorr, although the isolated fishing and mining island, Silvcres Island, remains off-limits.

◎ You can take temporary jobs in any one of the shops, markets, or taverns you like for supplementary income while you try your best to settle into your new home. It's unclear whether you will ever return to your former territory again, but...you may not want to, considering the circumstances.

◎ Nocwich officials will assure you that they have no intention of handing any Summoned over who do not want to go back to the territories. As far as they're concerned, you may take refuge in their territory for as long as you need.

◎ For full details, see the NOCWICH SETTINGS PAGE.

◎ The Feywilds (Forest)

If you were in the living forest, the glimmer of light you see will reveal itself to be a portal. Out of it steps figure familiar only to the oldest Summoned: Elizabeth Francis, one half of the mysterious duo (the other being Oliver) who originally freed the Summoned from Thorne several years ago. The portal she creates carries the unmistakable shimmer and signature that belongs to Seelie Magic...an intriguing fact she does not yet explain, but may later.

Elizabeth will tell you that she sensed an intrusion on Fey soil nearby and went to investigate. She appears to be aware of what has occurred at the Singularity's crater and urges you to come into the Feywilds. According to her, the Vermillion Court has returned to the old Fey realm of Faerie, no longer interested in staying in Abraxas when it has grown so unstable and full of strife. The Feywilds is currently empty and will serve as a sufficient temporary home for any Summoned seeking refuge.

◎ Your accommodations in the Feywilds will be at the Cascading Boughs where you can stay for the foreseeable future at no cost. Some of the Seelie magic has faded, but the luxurious baths are available. The Listening Tree, however, has vanished.

◎ You can travel freely throughout the Feywilds. All of the small homes and the palace have been vacated, leaving behind furniture or a few belongings the Fey didn't bother to take. The overgrowth has reclaimed much of the land, so beware of tripping hazards and beasts roaming. While dangerous, the Feywilds is one of the few places in Abraxas completely free of any other residents and you may do as you like there so long as you don't destroy the environment.

◎ In the absence of civilization, you won't need a job but you will need to provide for yourself or share amongst each other. Elizabeth will be able to offer some assistance with her magic, and will do her best to heal any injuries. She will also be able to guide you on what's edible and what's poisonous if you'll be foraging for food.

◎ She will assure you that she has no intention of handing any Summoned over who do not want to go back to the territories. As far as she's concerned, you may take refuge in the Feywilds as long as you need.

◎ For full details, see the FEYWILDS SETTINGS PAGE.

◎ The Nether (Ocean)

If you were on the ocean, the glimmer of light you see will reveal itself to be Kruos, the Glass Dragon, followed by her mate, Hierus. Riding atop the dragons are Orion, the Warden, and Ermis, the Keeper, in a rare appearance beyond the Nether's borders.

They tell you that Anneth relayed that one of the dragons sensed the Summoned's distress. As a result, they've arrived to lend a hand and urge you all to climb aboard one of the dragons and return with them to the Nether, where they believe you will be safe from the Singularity's expanding crater and interference from the major territories.

◎ Your accommodations in the Nether will be in the Hieran Wing where you can stay for the foreseeable future in one of the guest rooms at no cost. A curved stairwell grants you privacy even though many rooms have curtains rather than doors. The few rooms that have doors contain no locks.

◎ You can travel freely throughout the Nether, both within the Heart of the volcano and above ground across the tundra. Beware that doors and furniture are made of heavy iron and bronze due to the Draconae's natural strength. Citizens are happy to help as long as you ask. If you don't, they won't interfere out of respect for your autonomy. In fact, if they see you huffing and puffing, they might stop to watch and will sincerely cheer for you should you accomplish your objective by yourself.

◎ You can fish in the lava pools or hunt to provide for yourself. The Draconae believe in self-sufficiency but will aid you if requested and share with you anything you need. You can shop at the Foundry, where expert craftspeople sell wares and potions. The Draconae tend to request hair, saliva, or blood rather than typical currency, and are also willing to barter.

◎ The Inner Sanctum will assure you that they have no intention of handing any Summoned over who do not want to go back to the territories. As far as they're concerned, you may take refuge in the Nether as long as you need.

◎ For full details, see the NETHER SETTINGS PAGE.

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Retrieval Mission

Characters who are Rank 4 or below in influence will be given the opportunity to go on retrieval missions in one of the major territories. These missions will allow any Summoned who left behind a valuable item in their residing territory to regain that item. Players are not required to play out these threads in full, but are encouraged to do so if they wish!

In-game, officials of each minor territory will agree to facilitate provided the item characters ask to retrieve are important in some way. Some acceptable things for retrieval are: deeply personal items, weapons, enchanted tools or trinkets, and small pets.

The goal of the retrieval missions is so that players can regain any items they worked hard for but could not feasibly justify their character taking with them ICly during the chaotic territory switches. The secondary goal is for newer characters to have the chance to use their lower influence for something positive!

Please do not use this mechanic to obtain all manner of things just to have them. Clothes, money, and other items of that nature can be purchased in the new territory or replaced by the NPCs. Just ask if you have questions!

◎ How It Works

In addition to being lower in influence, characters who travel to the territory must also meet the following conditions:

◎ Characters may not conduct their task in the territory where they have spent the majority of their time in. In other words, if a character was originally summoned to Thorne but was quickly displaced to the Free Cities and spent the month in the Free Cities, then they cannot do retrieval missions in the Free Cities. Essentially, the logic will be that they should not be doing retrieval missions in a place where they have the highest chance of being noticed as a "familiar" face.

◎ Characters can "retrieve" as many times as they want and can carry back what they're able, but keep it reasonable. They are meant to be sneaky and should avoid attracting too much attention. They may use any abilities they have to achieve their task.

◎ While Thorne's castle is more difficult to infiltrate, the damage to the castle itself will make it possible. However, characters going into Castle Thorne will need to exercise the most caution.

Players may organize retrievals between each other. COMMENT HERE to volunteer your services or to request a volunteer to retrieve something for you.

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Notes

CR Meme

We will be posting a CR Meme within the next few days for players to plot amongst each other in light of their new circumstances.

Changes to Final Event Schedule

Previously, we announced that the concluding event will be two parts. However, having gauged overall circumstances, we've decided to post the final event as one single event, to be going up as scheduled in April.

This will allow players to have ~1 month (from early April to mid-May) to play out all their threads in full to avoid anyone feeling as though they need to quickly wrap up threads and move onto the second part. It will also give players the flexibility to choose which aspect of the event they wish to focus on. The first section will be more action-based while the second section will be more CR-based.

We hope this change will help everyone reach endgame as smoothly as possible!

May 18 will see the Epilogue posted. The Epilogue will not contain prompts to respond to but instead will close up any loose ends and allow players to thread out anything they wish that they feel would wrap up their character's arc. The mod team will be around to answer any final questions players may have until May 31. By June 1, the game will enter sandbox mode.

Returning Characters Opportunity

The opportunity for characters previously in Abraxas to return will also be taking place in April during the concluding event. We'll provide the full details on the OOC Plotting Post in April.

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Questions and 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!

What kinds of items can I retrieve?

Moderate weapons, tools, trinkets, plants, and small pets are all acceptable!

My character has been around for a long time, but still has a low influence. Can they also retrieve something?

Yes, absolutely! All three major territories are quite large so it's unlikely they'll be noticed if their influence remains low regardless of how long they've been in Abraxas.

How many questions can my character ask the NPC? Can they speak to multiple NPCs in the territory if available?

Yes, characters can speak to multiple NPCs and there are no restrictions on the number of interactions or questions. However, please keep in mind that the mods need to answer all questions so please try to limit questions to the most important ones only!

There's something I want my character to know. How can my character can approach things to get that result?

Just let us know in the form what outcome you're hoping to receive for your character and we'll do our best to accommodate!

What if my character wants to sneak back into a major territory?

At this time, that will not be possible!

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Comments

[abraxasmods]

Elizabeth explains that the Gods make their appearance all throughout Abraxas but that the Fey don't beseech the Gods like Solvunnites often do. Therefore, few records exist of Gods arriving in the Feywilds. However, this does not mean the Gods won't appear. She advises Julia that if her devotion is true, her God should answer wherever a shrine is created.

If Julia describes the God, Elizabeth will suggest setting up the shrine in one of the garden patches where spring wildflowers unique to the Feywilds are beginning to bloom. Otherwise, she will simply tell Julia she may use any space she wishes so long as it doesn't impede the Feywild's natural environment.

We will provide a back and forth here with Endrborrin and Vimorskas! If you would like the conversations to take place separately, Himeka's player may submit a request of her own. However, due to the amiable relationship between Vimorskas and Endrborrin, it would be possible for the two Gods to appear together and speak to Himeka and Julia at the same time.

[divinityfrompain]

Julia will make a shrine as similar to the one she had in Solvunn in the Feywilds near the edge of the forest so she can get the best plants. She reached out to Himeka to ask her to team up on this so they can hopefully reach at least one if not both of their gods.

She will express her devotion and hope to Endrborrin and request that she comes to the Feywilds to talk about the growing threat to this world, if she can.

Himeka will make a shrine to Vimorskas in an old tree stump that's covered in mushrooms. She will also request that he make himself know in the Feywilds, if he could, so they can talk and share their fears about the Singularity and how it would impact the world.

[abraxasmods]

Endrborrin and Vimorskas will each make themselves known by using their typical forms of communication. They do not appear surprised to have been called upon. Endrborrin will ask Himeka and Julia to share their concerns while Vimorskas listens. He is also carrying a giant mushroom from the Duskwoods and will begin planting it near the stump.

[divinityfrompain]

Julia will thank them for coming and express her concern for the escalation of the Singularity's behavior. She said that another Summoned spoke with Umbvagher and he said that the Singularity had never acted this way in the time he's been in Abraxas. She wonders if Endrborrin has ever seen it behave this way either, or if it's fluctuated in concerning ways. She'll say that the crater is expanding and killing natives, and she's concerned it'll eat up the whole population at this rate. She wants to know if they have any ideas on how to stop it or slow it down.

Himeka will echo Julia's concerns while offering to help Vimorskas plant his mushroom.

[abraxasmods]

Endrborrin will appear slightly exasperated at the mention of Umbvagher, the way one might behave toward a troublesome sibling, though she acknowledges that he's correct. The Singularity has indeed never acted this way before. She notes that amongst the Gods, a good number of them are growing alarmed at the destruction of mortal lives. After all, the relationship between mortals and Gods is symbiotic and is part of what helps maintain balance in the world.

Vimorskas will cheerfully accept her help. It appears he is planting it for a purpose, for once he is satisfied with how it's taken root, he will carve a small slice off the top of the mushroom and offer it to Himeka. She may choose to take it or decline.

[divinityfrompain]

Julia shares Endrborrin's concern about the lives of the natives and that the Singularity seems bent on absorbing more and more land, which is fatal to them. But she says she's at a loss as to what the Summoned in particular can do to soothe the Singularity. Some of them have connections to it but she doesn't think it's listening to them. She wonders if they think there is any way that the gods and Summoned can team up and deal with it together, however that might look like. She's concerned that the Summoned while having power from their worlds and from the Singularity, they simply don't have enough to combat the Singularity, and they'll need help.

Himeka will gladly accept the slice of mushroom, as she would any gift from him and, even more so, any offering of food. She doesn't need to be told to eat it because she'd do it anyway. It doesn't matter how big the slice is--she manages to fit the whole thing in one go.

[abraxasmods]

Endrborrin cannot speak for the other Gods; according to her, they each have different goals and ambitions, and not all of them may want to help nor agree on how to help. However, she believes that the preservation of Abraxas and the Singularity is vital to each of them. She suggests that Julie can request other Summoned reach out to their Gods, should they wish, provided they have a strong relationship with their patron.

The mushroom will reveal a piece of Vimorskas's past in a vision: a pixie-like figure who happily strolls through the fields of Sovlunn, long before the other Summoned arrived. It seems to be simpler times. He prays to a shrine and makes offerings. In one flash of memory, he uses a small spell to bring regrowth to some grasslands. Mushrooms and flowers spring up all around.