[OPEN] Solvunn Meet & Greet

[aquaveiled]

WHO: Anyone in Solvunn!
WHAT: Mingle Meet & Greet for new and old Solvunn Summoned!
WHEN: Early February
WHERE: Primary Settlement: The Gardsbruk Farm

[ ooc; This is an open log so feel free to jump in and make your own top-levels! You do not need to have CR with Himeka, Wanda, or Nero to stop by the farm, but you are free handwave a word of mouth. ]

i. Gardsbruk Farm




On the roads between the Primary and Secondary Settlements sits Gardsbruk Farm. A once thriving homestead servicing the community and housing several generations of the Gardsbruk family had fallen into disarray. Left to the care of Maeve and Declan Gardsbruk, the twins had initially hesitantly allowed the help of local summoned in their efforts to restore the farm, but now they are active and grateful supporters of the Summoned in the community. In recent months the farm has been seeing a burst of activity and vitality in the surrounding farmland, finally looking more and more like it once had in generations past.

Green pastures in the height of summer are sprinkled with some brown grass during droughts, but these rarely last more than a day or two. A few crops may be planted for family use, but the main stock of this farm is sheep.

And there are sheep! You may be greeted by up to two dozen sheep when you enter the grounds, though not all of the livestock may welcome your presence. There are a few rowdy goats that are wandering about too, and a large brown goat named Eli seems to be particularly discerning of residents. Be careful you don't upset him. He will be seen all throughout the events of the next few days, inviting himself unannounced to follow along any guests. He may be bribed with carrots.

There are a surprising amount of monitor lizards wandering about the farm as well. "Don't worry about it" seems to be the prevailing mood.


ii. Day One - Farmville

You're not here just to enjoy the scenic landscape. Maeve and Declan are eager to greet the new Summoned in town and equally eager to put them to work. They understand that many may not be ready to take on farm life so what is better than first-hand experience? Maeve will show how to shear sheep and Declan shows how to butcher livestock, both important skills no matter where you end up. It's a good opportunity to network as well, given the success that the Gardsbruks have gained in welcoming Summoned into their homes and their growing revered status amongst the community, a Summoned with a resume will do well.

But their own Summoned residents are just as happy to show what they have learned as well. Wanda shows how sheep wool is woven into thread and yarn and how sheep milk is turned into cheese. Samples of both are given to any Summoned or locals who decided to participate, and given that Solvunn is primarily a battering society, getting what supplies you can is useful even if you're not cold or happen to be lactose intolerant.

Nero is overseeing a petting zoo which includes several of the most mild-mannered sheep on the farm, a shrieking weed named "Meatloaf", and a particular monitor lizard who won't leave him alone. Eli also makes appearances when he sees fit.

Food is provided...if you work for it! By Nero's surprising popular request, Himeka will lead the group in making pizza. Pizza is not a Solvunn specialty. In fact, it's never been heard of in these towns before. But what is pizza but carbohydrates, cheeses, sauces, and toppings? Using the supplies from the local baker, the meat from the local butcher, vegetables from a neighbor, and cheese from Gardsbruk's own sheep, together they will make "a better pizza than that guy".


iii. Nighttime Activities

Later in the day there is a friendly sparring contest held in a cleared out field. The locals like to put money on these kinds of things, so it's not only an opportunity to test your strength but also earn a bit of coin or notoriety. It seems like arm-wrestling is a regular contest at the local tavern and you may be invited to join in later if you participate.

For dinner, the community comes together to enjoy the warming weather with a potluck-style barbeque. You are welcome to bring your own ingredients if you can, but there's no need--anyone can help out in anyway. It's also the perfect time to sample the local meads as a few barrels are taken out of storage to share. During the dinner, there is a lively performance from a local band to welcome the new Summoned into the fold.

As the day turns into evening, a large bonfire is lit. Everyone still on the farm will be welcome to gather around, share hot ciders and ale, as well as roast some tasty treats on sticks. Food is always better on a stick. A time to wind down, share stories, and thank everyone for joining and being a part of what Solvunn has to offer.

You don't need to go back to your own abode if you're planning on staying for the following day. The barn (normally Nero's room) will be made ready to accommodate guests for the evening. The sheep and Eli have a separate barn, don't worry, though the cow Agatha sleeps there as well. She's very kindly if a little smelly, but you get used to it.

(If you happen to be the kind of person who can't go out in sunlight, any activities, discussions, and interactions are happily held at night as well!)


iv. Day Two - Summoning the Summoned

The second day is less dedicated to integrating to Solvunn, instead focusing on what it means to be a Summoned. The day will start in the barn with a quick breakfast before the welcoming committee will invite everyone out to pasture along with the herd of sheep. Away from prying eyes and ears, they can discuss in earnest.

Himeka will step forward as the sheep are ushered to graze, turning to address her comrades, new and old.

"Thank you for joining us today," she begins. "You've surely got questions and we...well, we may have answers, but truth be told there are many questions we're still asking ourselves. But what we do know is that we're important--not just to Solvunn, but to the star as a whole. What we have, what we can do, we don't even know the extent of it. It makes us valuable and it makes us dangerous, and it also makes us a target. But if we look out for one another and work together, we may yet come to understand it."

There will be discussions of the Summoned's known history and "purpose" in Solvunn and Abraxas, touching on the impact of the Old Gods, the suspicious rumors now surrounding Josselyn Creed, Solvunn's relationship with Nocwich and the other factions, and more. It's the perfect time to get to the nitty gritty of the mess you have been summoned into. Ask questions, get answers, and open new avenues for discourse.

As Summoned you may find that you have new and strange abilities or that your usual powers are returning. It is the perfect time for a demonstration of magicks! Wanda and Himeka start off the show with demonstrations of their own but are curious to see what others bring into the table.

Towards the early afternoon the sheep will be brought back in and, hopefully with new knowledge, the Summoned of Solvunn can face the days ahead. And if there are those who still need a place to stay, well...all you need to do is ask!


xx. Gift Baskets!

Anyone who participates in this log receives a gift basket from the official "welcoming committee!" Throughout the first day you will receive a small woven basket from either Himeka, Wanda, or Nero which contains:

• Pleasantly smelling soaps, shampoos, and candles from Wanda, guaranteed to keep you smelling better than the farm itself.
  
• A little sack of spices and herbs with a hand-written recipe for goat stew and small bottle of fruity liquid from Himeka--mead that she has been "trying to make herself". It comes with a note, "In case of emergency". If your character doesn't drink, they can receive a tasty pastry instead.
  
• A small sheep knit from sheep wool from Maeve Gardsbruk.
  
• A small collection of cool rocks. They aren't magical or rare. It may be misleading as they come in a nice velvet bag. They are just cool. Nero thought they were cool.
  
• And most importantly, an expertly drawn brochure explaining all you need to know about Solvunn in minimal detail, by the local acclaimed artist Nero.

Comments

02.

[desolation]

[ morgana is only here because wanda had insisted on it, though she still intends to mind her own and avoid too much of the mingling chatter, sitting aside upon a log as the others take more advantage of the festivities. she does, however, try the mead, even if she'd spent years more accustomed to high quality wines, but she's also learned to simply accept whatever she could get her hands on. and right now, a drink is something she could use.

she even handles it any trouble, letting the strong flavor travel down her throat with ease, unlike the scene she sees nearby as kai coughs dramatically after tasting his own. ]

Would you prefer that is poisoned? I could fix that for you.

[ making poisons come easy to her and perhaps it'd make for some nice entertainment tonight to watch him drink it. ]

re: old gods;

[desolation]

And what of these Old Gods?

[ morgana speaks up her question amongst the group. it's quite a point of interest for her since magic and gods all intertwine together in her own world. as a high priestess, it's valuable information to know how she might come to be affected here. ]

How do they correlate to our purposes here? Is it them we serve?

» wild card;

[mobezon]

{ the thirst came in small waves. it was manageable as the days passed, but eventually he felt the side effects as his strength begun to return. he didn't think it would be possible to feel the strung out motions he held onto when he first got turned. it's only thanks to his decades of learned control that has kept him from finding the nearest person and giving into his thirst. instead, they were told to gather for activities, and louis figured he'll find a way to deal with it. he's always been resourceful when it came down to it. it wasn't until the bonfire that it truly hit.

louis joined when the sky was beginning to darken, and he could safely walk around. he largely avoided people at first, unless he had to be hassled into small conversations. those he can deal with, but the longer he stood around, the more he could hear one heartbeat, then another. soon enough, the delicacies of a blood flow in his ear were not going to be able to be ignored with alcohol he can no longer actually taste. his sharp nails scratched the fabric of his pants when he realized he'd have to figure a way to feed.

it had to be small enough of a creature that it wouldn't raise suspicion among the folk who seemed to care about their farmland. the goats might be out of the question when he eyed them, knowing they held enough to sustain him for days. the pesky hunger, crawling to the surface drew him to lurk between the alleyways of the farm, where he was able to catch a rabbit having strayed away. he's thankful for his speed. if someone were to see a blur, it would be gone and descending into the approaching woods that they warned him about.

the brochure advised against hunting the elk. the rabbit will have to do. it didn't take long as he only entered the first tier of the trees, enough that he would be obscured and enough that he would be able to bury the creature afterwards. it'll be plentiful for the rest of the night. he must have been gone no more than half an hour and he doubts anyone would note his lack of presence. he's a stranger to them all. therefore, once he's done he walks out of the woods. the moonlight shines upon him and makes it seem as if he were carved from stone if he stood too still, highlighting his inhuman features when he wipes the remaining blood from his mouth. his fangs were still out, ready to retract. he's usually careful, but he didn't expect the gathering. he certainly was not about to allow the witness of his feeding. }

» nighttime activities;

[mobezon]

{ he's not far off down the table of laid out food when he hears the the cough. louis had been mostly staring at the way it had been plated, as if there were some form of care. he gets a sense, while at the same time he's still left confused by how accepting everyone around has been. it almost makes him wary if he'll stand out. he's almost grateful the cough lured him out of his thoughts before he became too entrapped within them.

he's truly not that far off, since he can hear the stranger plainly. then again, his vampiric hearing could just be coming back. }

Are you not used to strong alcohol?

{ it's a genuine question, but the way it sits in a neutral tone, it could be read all sorts of ways. }

» what is this magic;

[mobezon]

{ magic — he hadn't considered it, especially with the way it had been split in new orleans. there was vodou, but then there was the catholic sentiments. he fell into the later, or some can even say that it was the winner's religion that laid its claim to his ancestry. it does not matter, it was what he had to be under, be it colonizer's plight or destined to be as some might put it. he still resigned it forcefully in 1910.

his gifts could be considered magic. he acknowledges them only when he has to, which makes his frown lines deepen when he finds the magical demonstrations plainly clear. it's unbelievable, but it shouldn't be when he's experienced his own undead life that isn't public, that most wouldn't believable in his world. how can he question magic when he has his own vampirism to carry the weight of? he only notices the woman nearby when she speaks, too distracted by the demonstrations. }

I find the world has been moving too fast. A bullet train seemed impossible in my day. Do you think an old dog can learn new tricks?

{ the last bit is a hint into the acknowledgment that yes, he had heard the joke in her statement. }

[cobrakais]

Ooooh, feisty.

( and curious. he wonders if she's just saying stuff because she can or if that's true. he doesn't ask her just yet but he's still curious. )

I didn't know that was a viable career path, honestly. Making poisons and all. Does that pay a lot? Because I could see myself doing it.

[cobrakais]

Uh, yeah yeah. Well —

( kai peers down into the glass and then makes a face. he's not going to be able to get away with a lie like this if he can't really drink more than a few sips without feeling like his throat was going to burn up.

he coughs a few times. )

No, no I'm not. I've had a few wine coolers. Does that count?

[beautifullies]

Not only those things, necessarily.

[ She hadn't wanted to care about anyone in Scotland, and certainly not Jamie. Even while she was marrying him, Claire had no plans to love him, only to leave as soon as she could manage an escape. It's something to think about, and it's why she feels as if she understands what to expect. It may take time, but there will be people she grows to care about, here. Not just in Solvunn, but other places on the star. ]

I suspect we won't be able to leave on our own anytime soon, and I can't imagine there are many of us who actually want to be here. If we're here longer than each of us hopes, it may be better to keep someone close who shares the same experience. My trust has yet to extend to the permanent residents, and I'm getting to know the rest of us Summoned. Slowly but surely.

[ It isn't an offer, only a suggestion, though she wouldn't mind slowly getting to know this person, bristly as they are. ]

Isolation has its benefits too, I suppose.

[beautifullies]

[ When Claire laughs, the sound is rich and deep. It's the first time she has in a little while, she thinks. ]

I'm hoping. Magic isn't anything I'm familiar with. In fact, it can be dangerous to claim to be able to wield. I've never seen anything like this, let alone had the tools to learn.

[ She's turned to fully look at him, still smiling. Circling back, she agrees with his statement—things do seem to move too quickly. ]

I was sailing from Jamaica to Scotland; anyone used to a train, and a bullet train, at that, would find traveling by boat a snail's pace in comparison. Unless they aren't in a hurry and aren't prone to seasickness.

[ Smiling, and with another laugh, she extends her hand in greeting. ]

I'm Claire, an old dog.

[familysucks]

Is it any different from lying asleep every night?

[That's a genuine question, and visibly so. Michael dislikes the real-world vulnerability that comes of entering the Horizon, but by nature he doesn't sleep. He's not accustomed to leaving his body unattended. He figured everyone else was used to it.

Michael gives a small shrug. She doesn't sound like a conspiracy theorist to him, she sounds like someone with a healthy (and warranted) degree of suspicion.]

We were abducted to solve the problems of strangers. Having blind trust in any of this would be foolish.

[familysucks]

[Though rarely one for open displays of anything, least of all humour, Michael makes a sound that's distinctly amused. He appreciates the sarcasm.]

The scribbled drawings of a grown man, rather.

[Not that he has any disdain for Nero's artistic capabilities. The brochure communicates what's most important to know, and that's what counts. Anyway, who knows? Perhaps some of the creatures lurking within the darkest depths of Solvunn's forests are misshapen and brightly-coloured.]

I wasn't suggesting you sleep upon the ground, though you did turn a man into a rabbit. Surely you could make a bed out of a log. [It might smell better than the current barn-based arrangements for newcomers, too.] In what sense is it your responsibility to witness whatever magic there is here?

[She's just arrived. What ties could she possibly have to this world? Michael glances between her and the trees, curious now. The suggestion of duty intrigues him. He's come to expect the natives of Solvunn to claim responsibility for the land and its shrines, but new arrivals not so much.]

[beautifullies]

[ Well, he has her there. Is there a difference? Deeply meditating versus being deeply asleep. Given she sleeps like the dead, it actually could be more dangerous than going into the Horizon. Nodding her head in concession, she turns herself to face him fully. ]

I'm Claire. To be honest, I'm wary and not pleased to be in the middle of someone else's conflict. [ Again. ] And yet here I am—here we are—expected to jump in as if we have deep roots.

[ This isn't like fighting for Scotland. She had people she loved deeply there, an entire way of life was being decimated. But here? ]

I'd rather this not escalate into something full-scale, which means I suppose I'm contributing in the effort to keep things calm for the foreseeable future.

[aquaveiled]

Scotland?

[ Himeka has heard of a lot of places, but she takes a moment to wrack her mind for that one. Many "Lands", of course, as that naming convention seems to be universal. But not Scot of Lands. She shakes her head. ]

I don't believe so, no. What star--erm, planet are you from?

[ Disappointment is more than understandable. She notices the changes in Claire's expressions but smiles through empathically it all the same. It's a shocking revelation, but they're here to support one another. ]

Oh absolutely. Livestock does in general, but you'll find that Councilmember Rowan in particular is very fond of goats. He'll appreciate anyone who also appreciates them.

[aquaveiled]

[ Never had cranberries? Has he grown up under a--

--no, actually, she was the one who grew up under a rock. Or coral. And didn't get the opportunity to try cranberries until her mid-twenties. Himeka is the last person to judge another for that. ]

I don't think so...though I suppose anything is possible. Are you allergic to berries, usually?

[ It's the alcohol. It's definitely the alcohol. But that hasn't occurred to her yet. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Pride in one's own magical abilities is something that Himeka understands well--her own ability to make waves in her own world had been because of her affinity for aetherial manipulation. The loss of those powers, even for a brief few months in Abraxas had been like losing a limb.

Now more than ever they are something to celebrate. And what the Summoned can bring to the table is unique from the magicks taught across the realm. She'd truly be The Fool not to see what others can do.

What Morgana shares is familiar in some ways, yet entirely new in others. Her eyes widen at the explanation and she looks positively delighted. ]

Even to the touch?

[ Alright rabbit, hopefully you won't mind a little test...a pet to that exceedingly soft fur. ]

That's amazing! I can't imagine many would be looking for reflections outright when coming across little creatures like these. Have you always been able to do this?

[aquaveiled]

[ It's a good question. The Old Gods are mentioned so often, woven into every aspect of life in Solvunn that sometimes it's easy to forget that they may not simply be. That they're something else.

Himeka nods to Morgana. ]

Indirectly...the Council and really everyone in the Commune believes in them wholeheartedly. They believe they're responsible for the good, the mundane, and the ills we see day-to-day. They believe that we're here because of the Old Gods. So...you may be approached Solvunnites who see you as an extension of Them, or a blessing.

[ It can be awkward at times if one isn't ready for it. ]

That we be in Their favor is important to them, which is partially why they think both Thorne and the Cities have fallen by the wayside.

[ It doesn't seem there's much if anything spoken about them outside of Solvunn, based on the questions she's gotten from fellow Summoned across factions. ]

But, directly as well...should you want to try to make contact.

[cobrakais]

Don't know.

( his parents had never had him allergy tested. they were kind of busy shunning him. he shrugs. )

I don't know if I'm allergic to anything, really. Never checked. This is just...really strong tasting. Like paint thinner.

[beautifullies]

[ What a question to be asked. Although, how different is it, really, than 'when are you from?' ]

A planet called Earth. Scotland is one of the countries there. And lucky for me, we do have goats there, so I'm familiar with how they enjoy being treated. Farmwork and I are old friends. Granted, I haven't done any for years. I had horses, my daughter enjoyed riding.

[ She's glad to have a familiar topic, a familiar space. It makes things easier. ]

I'm sure I'll fall back into a good rhythm, especially with the goats now that I've been tipped off.

[familysucks]

[He gives a small incline of his head, acknowledging, and offers an introduction of his own. Giving his name isn't second nature to him, but he has no trouble picking up on cues and speaking when it's asked of him.]

Michael. I expect their thought is that we have little choice but to get involved now that we're here. The politics of this world affect us, too.

[Some more than others, still. Michael has few worries about effect a war would have on food or housing. He needs neither.]

For all that I'm none too pleased to be part of the factions' conflict by association, I do agree with Solvunn's general stance that things ought to be left as-is where there's a peaceful state of affairs. I suppose that puts me in the camp of 'keeping things calm'. Perhaps that's part of why we were brought here rather than another nation.

[Hell if he knows how the summoning ritual works. He's not convinced the ritual masters themselves know all the details, or why those who are brought over are picked.]

[desolation]

While I'm sure I could fetch quite the price for its sale, I find it much more valuable in my own hands.

[ though it's a funny thought, to imagine herself as a mere apothecary, as if she could ever truly achieve such a simplistic lifestyle. perhaps if things had occurred much differently for her, she could have considered it, simply passing town to town as a druid. alas, things panned out much differently for her.

which is why she merely smirks now at his suggestion. ]

After all, it finds all of its worth when I can watch those talkative sorts simply choke on it.

[desolation]

You're joking.

[ drawn by a grown man? what kind of hands are leading this little camp? though the details, she supposes, aren't truly all that important. what she concerns herself with most are the contents, which is exactly that which she hopes to investigate now. ]

Animal spells are far more common for study than mattress transformations, I'm afraid.

[ so, unfortunately, no, she can't just make a bed for herself in the woods even if she'd wanted to. though it certainly is something to consider for future study, especially if she's meant to stay in this place for longer than she wants to.

explaining her situation further to him isn't necessary and she has little obligation to say anything more about herself to anyone. but, in the same breath, she has no real interests in keeping much of herself a secret. she is not in hiding here, after all. ]

I am a High Priestess of the Old Religion. Though my loyalities are not for this world's gods, I do not take my role lightly. And it is the duty of a High Priestess to comprehend the laws of the magic around her — and control it, if necessary.

[desolation]

Often, isolation can be the safer choice.

[ if things were easy, of course she would be quick to try to find the people here she could place her trust into, to find those she can rely on who would make her stay in this world more easier in the face of any trials which may dare to come. but trust can be such an easy betrayal and she isn't certain she has the heart for it, not anymore.

even now, she can feel the ache in her back where mordred had pierced the skin with his dagger. they both know it wouldn't have killed her, but it'd been enough for him to voice that his loyalty was devoted, not to her, but to her enemy — to her brother. with even his betrayal, why should she dare believe that anyone in this place wouldn't simply do the same eventually?

unfortunately, things may not go the way she would prefer them. she sighs, bringing her cup to her lips for a drink, swallowing a long sip. ]

Though, I suspect, we may have little choice in even that, with all they intend to keep us together. I just don't know that it's enough to simply sit around and chat as though we're all meant to inevitably be friends. Shared experiences can only go so far in forming alliances. Any one of us will jump at the chance to save our own skin when the opportunity arises. Why pretend otherwise?

[desolation]

[ That's amazing — it's warming to hear such words, more than she had expected, really, considering she's come to not expect the words at all. the response to magic where she is from is not so often a positive one and for those that do value magic, their motives had been darkened with their fight for survival that such positivity proves to have its rarity.

she tries not to think too much of it, since she shouldn't be won over by such simple reactions. ]

Not exactly. Though I was born with a great affinity for magic, most of it can't be performed without an understanding of the spells. And it was many years before I could earn that chance.

[ after all, she hadn't even known she was capable of it until far too late.

her eyes peer up to study the other woman, carrying a curiosity herself as her brow raises. ]

You seem quite fascinated, but you shared quite the performance yourself. Was that something innate or something you had to learn for yourself?

[desolation]

[ morgana isn't too disappointed if her status as a summoned earns her some respect in these parts. it'd make some things easier. ]

And is that something that we're capable of? Contacting and speaking to these Gods? Has it been done?

[ speaking to beings beyond the mortal world isn't impossible, after all. ]

[desolation]

[ morgana is no stranger to the horrors that she often finds in her dreams. it isn't unusual for them to make her stir where she lays, lashes fluttering with eyes rolled back as the visions come to her in flashes, quick and unapologetic. tonight, she dreams of monsters, close up details of a snarl of crimson-stained teeth, gripping tight in the fur-coated flesh of a small animal. she hears the thrumming of a quick beating heart, soaring with the satisfaction of its feast. she watches the slide of a hungry tongue, lashing at the blood left on its lips. and then, his eyes. his eyes.

— monster or man? she moans in her sleep with the uncertainty, with the conflict of whether to steer towards fear or wonder. beneath the moon, he hunts, he hunts.

she wakes with a gasp, breathing hard, chest rising and falling in a quick rhythm as she tries to grasp tight to the sights that came to her in her sleep, often a prophecy of that which is to come. what had she seen? a peculiar creature, no doubt, possibly of magic, caught between human and beast. curling her lip inward, she can almost taste the blood he had feasted upon.

with no lead in which to follow the mystery of such a dream, she sets it aside in her mind for the moment, joining in the festivities which have been stretched across the farmlands. it is with vague interest that she drinks the mead and watches the rising flame of the bonfire until she notices the man at the corner of her eye — the same in which had appeared in her dream.

however, there is nothing else to suggest he is the beast she had dreamed of, devoid of the blood that had painted his mouth, but as she watches him with close interest, she senses a lingering discomfort before he disappears from the crowd, venturing off in the direction of the woods.

she's aware there could be a danger in following him, but she's plenty confident in her own skill to defend herself and she doubts that her dream had come to her simply to unveil a prophecy of her death at his hand (no, her own death has already been foretold, caused by the hand of another). she moves slower as well, waiting some time before she goes off in the direction of his path.

her movements are such that she is at the edge of the woods when he departs from within them, when the sight of him falls more in line with what she had witnessed in her dress, fangs sharp as weapons, remnants of blood upon his lips before he moves to wipe it.

anyone would be frightened. but morgana smiles. ]

Quite the appetite you have. [ she announces, her eyes locked upon him with no sense of care for caution. ]