ABRAXAS MODS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
abraxasmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
abraxasmods) wrote in abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #1
TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to the very first 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 the two 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 here. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.
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 actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying 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. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but 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. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
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.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring 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 a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and 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.
Once inside the castle you're taken 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 (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).
The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"
All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.
Questions
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in 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 (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
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 before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
Can a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.
Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.
Arrival
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 actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying 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. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but 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. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
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.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring 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 a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and 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.
Once inside the castle you're taken 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 (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).
Scenario Two: Imprisoned
The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"
All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in 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 (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
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 before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
Can a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.
Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.
return to main navigation
naib subedar ❯ identity v ❯ strength arcana.
( arrival ✦ prison )
II. | not all are enemies. ❬
( prison ✦ meal time )
III. | talk about responsibility. ❬
( prison ✦ visitors )
IV. | wildcard. ❬
I
I've come to a theory over time that all magi are bastards. These aren't working particularly hard to disprove it. Yeah, summoned against my will and thrown in here when I apparently wasn't what they wanted.
no subject
[ that much he can most certainly agree with, their treatment showing they care little about them but Naib also noticed the slight animosity they held towards the one in charge as well. he barely passes a guard nearby a glance when they're told to keep it down. prickly bastards.. ] Can't imagine what it is they're looking for. Unless it has to do with these signs.
no subject
[He's working on it, though, cataloging and trying to find patterns. Before he was a thief, Jean was the son of merchants, and learned the sort of attention to detail the trade required.]
At least eleven, so far.
no subject
Can't say I know much about these signs. Only whatever crap talk the guard gave me. [ the guard was more than negative about their matching strength sign. not that Naib cares, having brushed it off. but he does have the same kind of thought. ] Gotta be some sorta pattern to it.
no subject
[Jean never put stock in those, given that they were so vague, and each of them could likely be applied to children born in most years.]
no subject
Whatever it is those mages believe in, they do believe in it strongly. Enough to see something they consider a failure almost immediately. [ or at least that's how one mage came off in particular. the way anger overtook the man when he looked into his book and shouted about 'failures' and 'wretched creature.' left a bad taste in his mouth to more or less been spit down on like that but.. well, can't do much about it right now. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
back at it again mr subedar (iii)
down is a dungeon, and it's not immediately surprising — every castle has dungeons, of course, it makes sense —, but there's... more prisoners than he'd have expected. eli doesn't know them, doesn't recognize them, but some, understandably so, give him side-eyes or straight-up glances that he does not fault them for. some scoff at him even, and the ones that do catch his attention, because one of their cellmates is, much unfortunately in this case, a familiar face.
even in such a dire situation, the seer can still spare a small, weak smile at such words. )
Hmmm... I suppose you're right. I wasn't really looking for anything, so I suppose it's quite hard to find something that doesn't quite exist. ( there's a pause, where his smile dies out and washes away from his face, and then: ) I would never have expected to find you like this, Naib.
a sight for sore eyes mr clark
not surprising, given where he stands the Seer clearly came from upstairs. when he thinks on it.. he can't say he's really surprised? Eli has always been special- given his abilities, his connection to his owl, so seems right that he would be considered honored while someone like Naib is.. well, not. not much honor when it comes to a retired Mercenary in his own eyes. ]
Well, wouldn't be the first time I found myself in the slums. [ war was no stranger to poor conditions. so he supposes the dungeons isn't any better. though the situation seems grim, he's use to taking a lot of shit given his background. for now, he barely gives any other company a glance as he pushes up from his corner in his cell to approach his fellow survivor. ] Least we both aren't caged up. What's upstairs like?
u flatter me
... It's fancy. Far fancier than the Manor. I'm not really sure what to make of it.
( especially not now, that they've put a dear friend behind a locked cell. his cellmates, when he looks at them behind his blindfold — not the same he had before, they've given him a new one after he requested it —, don't seem too pleased to see him here. he worries for a second, that they won't be pleased to know naib is friends with him. )
How long have you been here, like this? Why did they put you here?
only speaking truths 🥰
[ fancy though, huh. the manor was obviously not the most glamorous of places, but fancy enough compared to anything he's seen in his life so he can only imagine how it might be up there. he turns to lean his back against the door, eying his other cellmates and other prisoners giving the stink eye.
he hardens his own stare at them before slightly turning to face the Seer, arms at a cross and expression smoothing a little out. even with his predicament, he knows Eli isn't at fault. ] Not too long, still within the same day since I got dragged out of that fountain. As for why.. probably something those prickly bastards could tell you. All I know is they were pissed about "failing" and not happy to see me.
[ one hand bends two fingers to quote said failing. and for a moment he passes the other people a glance, until he faces Eli completely with a slight lean and more hushed voice. Naib is much more concerned for Eli's safety in talking with him. ] But rumors keep saying that for whatever reason why we're down here, it has to do with those welcomed upstairs. So try to stay low, alright?
no subject
( which explains why his owl isn't with him, as she is, in a way, part of them. it reinforces his belief that maybe they're chosen due to their affinity with the supernatural, those closer to it and those not. but why put them in a cell of all places, like they're at fault for being born different? is it a crime here, when back in their own world he'd have been considered different and weird? )
I don't blame them, ( his answer comes in a whisper, the whole atmosphere surrounding them is almost suffocating. even when the prisoners don't stare, the mages that keep guard do, suspicious of his relationship with someone they keep behind a cell. he's not concerned he might be thought of as a traitor, because he isn't one. his loyalties have never fallen in this place, after all. eli has always been closer to naib, a friend and a teammate. they're survivors. )
I can talk to them, the guards. Try to get you out of here. ( though, he'd still hate to see all these other people likely imprisoned for no reason. ) If not, I will find a way to get you out. You shouldn't be here.
no subject
[ a hand scratches at his tied up loose brown hair, trying to shake off that feeling. not that it bothers him too much. being called a failure, a 'wretched creature', he's been called much worse in the past. ] Don't have many powers for them to worry about but I've heard them talking about cutting it off for the other prisoners.
[ however, if Eli is without his own for now, it answers his own nonverbal question about where a certain feathery lady has gone off to. they wouldn't do anything to her, would they? no, not if Eli is an honored guest, assuming she was summoned with him. he can't be too distracted by such thoughts, however.
the feel of those eyes on him, suspicious and strained. he knows it doesn't color Eli in a good picture and that much he's worried about. worried his friend will find himself in some kind of trouble. he perks at the comments and blinks a few before offering the other man a smile. ] I wouldn't waste my breath with the guards. They would sooner kick us down than let any of us out.
[ if he could reach out and pat the other man, he would. however, they're attracting enough attention simply talking. ] Hey, don't stress too much about it. As soon as an opportunity comes up, I'll try and get out of here.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
III
It is not what I look for that draws me here. It is fate, and the stirring of the power that returns to me, that forces me to face the truth of this world. May it be that the magus of this castle has made a mistake. Maybe one from down here should walk the chambers above and maybe it is my own power that they should fear.
no subject
Well whatever list they're looking at, you seem to fit it fine in their eyes whereas the lot of us here do not. [ it's as simple as that. if they really were threatened by this man's claimed powers-- ] 'Sides, they seem to not have any issues taking away powers.
[ from what he's heard, they didn't really take anything from him- he's not exactly the man with magic or a certain priestess with teleportation capabilities. ]
no subject
[Nope, mind's already wandering. No use reigning it in now.]
Though who has granted them the will to decide our fates? Is it greater than our own? Maybe they blindly follow, or maybe they see some truth. Let's not judge who is righteous by their whims. My power is such that cannot be sated or subdued for long, and as such we will learn if what they have to bare can withstand the horrific might that flows through me.
no subject
You kinda lost me there. [ sorry man. ] Though I'd probably agree with them blindly following. Whatever the hell it is they're following, they're sure persistent with it.
no subject
[Okay, maybe there was a better way to put that that doesn't just make him sound suspicious. Owain doesn't let that slow him down though as a hand shoots out, pointing to a sky one couldn't see from the dungeons anyways.]
Just know that the truth will be revealed, either when light burns away the shadows or when the villains show themselves and face my wrath.
no subject
[ at least, the Mercernary thinks that's what he's trying to get at despite all the strange word phrasing and attempt at being mysterious. but, given their situations, it definitely sounds suspicious as hell. suspicious and shady. who are you trying to convince here, Owain-- ]
..You sure you got enough power in you to do anything? [ just the slightest of doubts. ]
(no subject)
iii
Can't say he likes what he sees. Once he's down the steps, he frowns at the number imprisoned. The voice is unexpected, but he responds in kind. ]
... I wasn't looking for anything specific.
[ While the prisoners have heard rumors about welcomed guests, the same can be said from those walking a level above the dungeon. The otherworldly unwanted are casted below. His fingers flex, curling into a fist. How is this right? Does Ambrose just know something they don't...? ]
Actually, I'm here to drop stuff off.
[ The guards have wandered elsewhere during their rounds, so he approaches closer despite being told to go away? ]
🥺
[ the Mercenary's response comes off more of a nonchalant answer than an actual question, peeking at the man while he takes in their surroundings. Naib props an elbow on his knee from where he's situated in the corner of the cells with some attention turned more his way. ]
..Can't think it's something on behalf of those mages.
[ well, if the man wants to stay, it's not as if Naib is any position to shoo him off. though he doesn't move from his spot it is clear from the light raise of his brow he's a bit curious by what kind of "stuff" exactly. ]
why that face
[ To Nier, it's super weird? All of them, whether threats or guests, are summoned against their will and treated differently from the very first step they take from the fountain. It doesn't make sense to him, but he's also rather simple-minded at times... The overarching possible threat isn't something he thinks about.
He comes closer to the bars with little regard and fear. Threats to the kingdom, to this world, whatever. They look like people to him. ]
Are you hungry?
[ Yes, this is what he brought. The obvious. ]
because you gave me the boyo and i'm remembering Everything
[ after all, who would want to talk about who you've basically imprisoned? it's information he doesn't care to keep to himself- rumors get around fast so it'll get back to them at some point whether he says something now or not.
and yet it's the last question he expects from the man's mouth that has his own lips press in a line. ..hungry? so he.. brought food? he blinks a few in the man's direction, as if he could get the understanding of what he was playing at. ]
I'm not that hungry. Had something earlier.
[ but if what Nier has brought has some meat? well... Naib cannot help himself when he keeps staring, any smell threatening to water his mouth. ]
Nope. Not hungry.
[ ( ..who is he trying to convince here? ) ]
closes your eyes
[ They're in quite a predicament where he's lost over what he should feel. One one hand, he isn't keen of being taken away from his friends and younger sister. On the other hand, it sounds like this place is desperate for help? And might give them something worthwhile in return.
Anyway, this is about food which is simpler. When Naib answers, Nier tilts his head. It isn't lit well down here, but he can make out the other man's face and— ]
Really. [ Doubtful. He gives Naib the opportunity: ] Then you're drooling a bit because...?
[ (Weiss voice) impudence runs in the family. To be specific, yes. There is the aroma of roast beef and herbs here. ]
II.
in truth, soren understands not feeling hungry. he hasn't felt it one bit since he arrived, but his intimate relationship with food scarcity prohibits him from squandering opportunities to eat or store food for later, whether he's hungry or not. salads aren't particularly filling, nor can they be stashed for as long or as well as the bread can. the slight-framed, long-haired youth studies the other prisoner's face as if to divine whether there are any ulterior motives, but he can't think of any reason why there would be a catch to accepting the salad he's not up to eating. ]
You should eat when you can. That said, I won't refuse.
[ he scoots the bowl closer to himself. ]