abraxaslogs | EVENT #12: INVOCATION - IC EVENT LOG (PART 2)

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EVENT #12: INVOCATION - IC EVENT LOG (PART 2)

Event #12 - Invocation ( 2 )

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OOC plotting post | Event coordination post

As Week 3 approaches around March 6th, faction officials will begin to reach out to characters for information they've uncovered that hasn't been reported. Although Thorne, the Free Cities, and Solvunn have traditionally been at odds, the three nations have come together under these unique circumstances,, and will continue to cooperate until the Lost have been recovered. With Nocwich open as a base of operations, the Spared will have a neutral location to meet in person without border restrictions.

How events proceed will depend in part on your actions. If you're one of the Spared, you can join a team or stay back to prepare and coordinate. If you're one of the Lost, you can escape or remain behind to help others break free.

NOTES

For a rough TIMELINE, the Lost's breaking free and the Spared's coordination efforts will take place 2-3 days into Week 3. Leading into Week 4, the Spared will send out their teams to retrieve the Escape and Holdout Groups. Though there's some narrative wiggle room for who returns and when, characters should only participate in one team or group to keep things organized.

A Coordination Post will be used for communications between mods and players both. You can request dice rolls, start investigations, submit or review notable incidents, and begin in-person network-style threads with each other to quickly play out IC interactions. Review the post for forms and other details to fully participate in this event.

The Network will function properly again for the Lost who have escaped. The ones who remain captured will continue to experience disruptions similar to Part 1.

Please don't hesitate to ask us questions or clarification, even if you feel it might be a minor detail. This event contains a lot of information to go over, so we're happy to guide you through anything that requires further explanation. We'd much prefer you ask to avoid any misunderstandings or confusion!

Week 3

By now, several discoveries have been made. You've explored nearly every angle you can. It's time to take what you've learned and do something about the situation, whether you're trapped inside the dark cave or trying to bring your friends home.

Escape | The Lost

CW: Disturbing imagery (text and visual), death, dark and horror-based themes.

The past two weeks have been a harrowing experience, but you're still alive. Though the situation's worsened in some aspects, you've gained advantages in others. You might've formed unexpected allies from the other side, discovered hidden clues, or retrieved weapons and tools.

Moreover, the Acolytes don't seem quite so sure of themselves anymore, do they? Ever since the ritual, they've been watching nervously, as though they aren't confident in what's coming next. Some of you even managed to reveal one of their faces, exposing a weakness.

As you listen to the rattle of chains and scraping of metal on stone, you fear something much worse awaits you. Is it time to strike? Do you work on your own or rally the others? That's up to you, but one thing's evident: you can't sit around much longer.

Players can narrate the commotion and escape how they like, using the details described below. The Acolytes will retaliate and try to stop escape attempts. Killing and attacking them is possible with no need to request a roll, but enough will survive to subdue anyone left behind.

Characters don't need to willingly sacrifice themselves to remain captured. They can also be too injured to leave or fail to make it in time.

The First Domino (Breaking Out)

When the final shrine was unlocked late in Week 2, fleshy pillars rooted themselves into the cavern floor. As your third week in the cave crawls along, the trunk-like pillars begin to move.

A low groan shakes the ceiling above. Rocks fall along with bits and pieces of the bulbous organic prisons attached to the high walls. Chunks of melted flesh from decomposing bodies within the plantlike traps splatter below. Were it not obvious before, it is now: the pillars are legs belonging to a creature. A very large creature.

◎ Unleashed

The creature is not interested in fighting. Instead, it begins to leave. As it does, it takes portions of the ceiling with it, tearing holes above and below. People scurry beneath its feet and are crushed like ants. It does not discriminate between the Acolytes and the natives who are captured.

But it does avoid you and the other Summoned. Either it can't see anyone except you, or it recognizes you and associates you with those who freed it. Regardless, you are spared its destructive path. It lumbers off, dragging thorny vines that whip behind it. Crumpled pieces of the shrines and mangled bodies stick to its massive feet. You can't see where the creature is going, but later you might realize it has vanished into the ocean.

The brief chaos has left you with several openings:

Seawater spills from unseen crevices above, flowing down the walls. Several Acolytes are dead, reducing their numbers.

The already weakened cracked wall crumbles further, granting you an easier path to the webbing behind it.

Equally weakened is the sealed opening where a smaller but deadly creature was previously trapped. A couple of determined hands could free it for a distraction. Beware - it's hungry.

If the boulder hasn't already been pushed out of the way, the rumbling ground and smashed walls might help you finish the job.

Do you grab a weapon and attack the Acolytes while they're disoriented? Do you help save the injured natives? Are you focused on what lies behind the boulder and cracked wall? Do you free the trapped beast? Decide quickly - this could be your only chance.

◎ Opening the Door

Although the ceiling's been torn open, no open sky is revealed. Climbing up is difficult. You'll have to look elsewhere to escape. Once the boulder is removed and the cracked wall is torn down, you'll notice orange sparks that run between the strange bulb behind the boulder and the dense webbing across the cave.

Are you brave enough to reach into the pulsing bulb? If you do, you'll find thick vines connected to its beating heart. Each time a vine is forcibly pulled away and disconnected, the webbing begins to loosen, forming a small opening - but letting go will close the webbing right up again.

The more vines are disconnected, the larger the opening. It'll take 2-3 of you to make an opening large enough for people to go through... and from how quickly it closes, anyone who volunteers understands that they won't be escaping with the rest.

◎ Escape Routes

Do you trust what lies beyond the webbing? Looking through reveals only the dark abyss. You have no idea what's out there, but it can't be worse than what's in here. Can it?

If you don't trust the webbing and have the strength, you can swim down through an opening in the floor, left behind by the giant earlier. It's filled with cold ocean water. If you make it, you'll see a standard portal hidden in the depths.

Choose your path. Each one will spit you out somewhere a little different, but you'll have the chance to look for and meet up with others who took the other route.

If you're one of the Lost keeping the webbing open, you could try to dive for the underwater portal, but you won't make it. The portal will shatter quickly once the vines are released.

◎ Josselyn Creed | Interact

Josselyn Creed is difficult to spot in the commotion but not impossible. A few of her most faithful protect her. She wears a unique robe compared to the others. Her hood is lowered, revealing her brown hair tied in a bun that may be recognizable to some. Her mask is in place.

While she'll escape in the end, she isn't immune to harm. You can try to stop her and, in the process, perhaps contribute to what happens to her as she flees or afterwards.

◎ The Mysterious Acolyte | Interact

Along with the natives who might need your assistance escaping, there's also the strange pair whom a few interacted with. The Mysterious Acolyte and the Unknown Stranger will appear lost and uncertain in the pandemonium.

Some of you promised to help them escape, but saving them comes with a cost: at least one of you must exchange your place in the Escape Group for both of them. She will not leave without her brother, the Unknown Stranger. Her refusal will cost one of the Summoned their place.

Players can decide how the scenario plays out. At least one character must their place in the Escape Group so that the Unknown Stranger makes it through first. Only then will the Mysterious Acolyte follow.

Characters holding open the webbing and vines are not eligible. A sacrifice can only count for one outcome.

Into the Cold (Escape Group)

The first thing you notice is the biting cold. The sky is beginning to lighten. For once, you can breathe in the fresh air. But where are you, really?

◎ Gathering Your Bearings

Though spring is on its way, the mountains are a tundra. Temperatures are cold, though not as terrible as they'd have been in the dead of winter. Maybe you've stolen some warm clothes off the dead before the escape? Or, if you've been kind to the Abraxan natives who shared the ordeal with you, they'll offer supplies and equipment in return. It isn't much, but it could make all the difference if you're in dire straits.

If you swam through the WATER PORTAL, it'll spit you up in an open cave. Wet and cold as you are, at least you've found shelter. Keen eyes might spot an unusual trail of glitter. Follow it to a tiny hidden hot spring. Soaking in the shimmering water are a few mischievous but harmless creatures. One was accidentally set loose at the Peace Summit many months ago, showering multiple attendants in a shimmery sheen. Large beast-like prints are nearby, though, so best not to stay long. Still, it's a nice reprieve while you can get it...as long as you don't mind being coated in glitter.

If you went through the DENSE WEBBING, it'll spit you up on a frozen lake. Cracks will begin to form as more and more land on the surface. You'll need to find solid ground quickly. Take care - a large shadow lurks beneath the thinning ice. If there's too much commotion or excessive movement, it'll realize there's prey above and begin to thrash, disturbing the delicate ice further.

◎ Temporary Relief

Though some healing abilities and magic have returned, the wounds caused by the ritual don't seem to recover properly. They aren't getting worse, but it's troubling. Your mind could remain confused or disturbed. Even those who were successfully cured will discover the lesions heal much slower than other injuries.

As the days wear on, you might feel a strong pull from the Singularity that leads you into the Horizon. This is especially so if you remain under the ritual's influence. If you give in to the urge and find a safe moment to enter, you can go in without as much difficulty as before.

You won't land where you intend, but you might find one of the Spared within. Somehow, the Singularity has brought you together. Something compels you to reach out and make contact. When you do, you'll feel a gentle warmth. You might not know what's happening, but it feels right.

When you depart from the Horizon, effects from the ritual have lessened by a noticeable degree. They'll stay that way for the next day or so, giving you the strength to keep going.

◎ Preparing for the Night

What you do next is entirely up to you. You can organize with your fellow escapees, go off on your own, or try to bring the two groups together. Boars, rabbits, and foxes can be hunted. The surrounding snow can be boiled for safe drinking water.

Even more fortunate, your powers will return - to a degree. Stronger abilities might take longer to return fully, but elemental spells, modest healing, and enhanced senses or traits can be accessed. And you might find that messages on the Network are no longer distorted.

Not all is safe and well: though the first few days are quiet, the mountains aren't without the usual predators. Wolves howl, and large gryphons soar the sky. They're wary of people and are unlikely to attack, but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down. In the wild, you never know. As you enter Week 4, more formidable threats could arise.

Sacrifice (Holdout Group)

Maybe you're one of the unlucky souls, or maybe you chose to sacrifice your place for others. However it came about, both escape paths close, and the Acolytes inside the cavern overwhelm you and the rest once more. Those left behind are a mixture of native Abraxans and the Summoned. The ground is sticky with blood and viscera.

Forcibly, violently, you're led or dragged deeper and deeper down the stone paths to the altar room where the rituals took place. The Acolytes push as many of you in there as they can and seal the door - and if a few limbs are caught in the way, that's just too bad. Someone with you, perhaps one of the natives, ends up with a crushed finger or hand as the doors slam shut.

Not everyone is pushed inside in the end. In the Acolytes' rush to contain the Summoned, a few Abraxan natives are left outside the doors with the remaining Acolytes. When you hear their cries through the sealed barrier, you have to ask yourself if you're truly the lucky ones.

◎ The Altar Room

The altar is built of bone. The husks of now-empty bodies are piled into a macabre amalgamation. It's not meant to house anyone for long. Supplies are limited. Water trickles into a small pond used for the Acolytes' rituals. There are bowls of hardened bread. Sealed crates contain more mushrooms. They're edible, but some might carry psychedelic side effects. If you've succumbed to the ritual, though, you might not consider that a downside.

While not as open or large as the cavern you came from, you can explore the altar room for any potential answers to where you are and how to escape. The entrance is sealed tight. Outside, you can hear the Acolytes - and that might be important for later.

Since the door is magically sealed, nothing can come in or out...except the Bone Serpent, whose legs continue to slink down from above to snatch unsuspecting victims. Blood drips from above, possibly from one of its missing legs.

Now and then, something bangs on the door. Is it the creatures you unleashed before? The beasts that were never contained? You can try to follow the Bone Serpent to see where it leads or maybe even glimpse the creature beyond its thorny limbs, but that's a high risk. The consequences could be dire.

◎ Slow Flood

The destruction seems to have broken what prevented you from using the Network. You can now communicate with the Spared and the Escape Group uninterruped.

Unfortunately, the chaos has also dislodged the structure of the entire cavern. Husks of limbs crumble to the floor. The ground grows moist. Bit by bit, water begins to collect in small puddles. More drips through cracks in the walls and ceilings. The rocky floors offer higher ground, but that'll only last for so long.

As slow as it is, there's no denying the dread that washes over you: the cavern is flooding, and it's seeping through into the altar room. Some of the captured natives look uneasy. Others are too injured to help themselves. You can try to plug the leaks. Though the idea might strike you as morbid, the bodies of the dead can be used to keep some of the water at bay.

◎ Temporary Relief

Wounds caused by the ritual don't seem to recover properly. Your mind could remain confused or disturbed. Even those who were successfully cured will discover the lesions heal much slower than other injuries.

As the days wear on, you might feel a strong pull from the Singularity that leads you into the Horizon. This is especially so if you remain under the ritual's influence. If you give in to the urge and manage to find a safe moment to enter, you can go inside without as much difficulty as before.

You won't land where you intend, but you might find one of the Spared within nonetheless if you wander through. Somehow, the Singularity has brought you together. Something compels you to reach out and make contact. When you do, you'll feel a gentle warmth. You might not know what's happening, exactly, but it feels right.

When you depart from the Horizon, effects from the ritual have lessened by a noticeable degree. They'll stay that way for the next day or so, giving you the strength to keep going.

Coordination | The Spared

You might have compromised a few morals to get what you want - if you had any in the first place - but regardless of how you got here, you and the other Summoned have gathered enough information to proceed. Of course, there are still a few details to iron out. How will you approach the island without compromising the Lost? What spells and resources are required? What needs to be done so that survivors have a safe place to rest and recover once they're home? And what about the ritual inflicted upon them?

Players are encouraged to organize teams, rescue efforts, and tactics with each other. The details outlined below are to provide a starting point and some guidance but are by no means the only options available.

Nocwich

Thanks to a request by one of the Summoned in the Free Cities, Nocwich's doors are opened as a neutral meeting ground for the Spared from all three major nations. Some officials will also be arriving to monitor the situation.

◎ Ritual Details (Sten) | Interact

Sten, one of the Nocwich ambassadors for the Lunae, received a request to help find a cure for the ritual. To do so, he wants to first learn as much about the ritual as he can. Anyone with information can come forward either in person or with a note - anonymous or not. While he'd prefer to put a name to the face, Nocwich won't interfere with the Summoned's desire to protect themselves and their secrets.

Sten will be available in Oleuni Square, in one of the many tents. Pale-haired and scarred, he's warm and friendly to everyone. Due to Luna's connection to Solvunn, he has some knowledge of High Magic, although the traditions of the werewolves are different. While he can't hold long meetings, he'll make time to see everyone who has something important to tell him about the ritual - and if you need a little extra reassurance, he'll offer that, too.

◎ Oleuni Square

Normally a thriving marketplace, Oleuni Square has been repurposed. In the northeastern corner, a collection of tents have been set up. Most are utilitarian but others are covered with homemade blankets to help cover imperfections. The Lunae have come to lend their aid. Volunteers help set up tables and supplies. Others guard the area and the portals. A communal cooking area is available to provide hot meals.

You can make use of the tents for talking strategy, organizing supplies, and other meetings. Nearby inns are available for sleeping free of charge, although one of the inns is closed so that it can be converted into a temporary infirmary. Faction officials and employees are available, as well. You can consult them on tactical advice, resources, and the lay of the land.

Early in Week 3, a few representatives from Ikorr arrive with a supply of their sacred sap. With the sap and the metal ore from the Lunae, you can fashion supplies and potions from raw materials.

The mood around the makeshift camp is somber but hopeful. As one of the Summoned, you'll have control of the situation and can work with a variety of officials and locals to arrange what you need.

Reevaluating Plans

Shortly into Week 3, you'll receive word that some of the Lost have escaped. As details come in bits and pieces, you realize the situation's taken a dramatic turn. More than that, messages from the Lost are no longer disrupted as before. You can read the words clearly again.

Who makes contact first and how the news spreads depends on you. Regardless of how it comes about, your focus can't be solely on breaching the discovered island. Now you also have another group to retrieve - and you don't know where they are, though they at least have some helpful information: the Singularity, the snowy mountains, and a view of the ocean.

Take advantage of the Network's return to reevaluate your plans. You'll need to determine the situation in the island cave as well as the mountains, split into teams, and bring everyone home.

Assigning Roles

Under the circumstances, officials will recommend the Summoned divide into at least two groups: one to search the mountains and one to retrieve the Lost remaining on the island. If you're not the type to rush to the front lines, you can also stay back and help out at home. There's plenty to do here between finding a cure, delegating tasks, and preparing for survivors to return.

◎ Search Team

Reports from the Escape Group tell of snow-capped mountains, Acolytes in pursuit, and other creatures that lurk. Many are injured, though fortunately, abilities have started to return. The area isn't guarded, but the terrain is difficult and temperatures are harsh. Officials will suggest using portals to arrive at the nearest safe point on the mountains before traveling on foot to find the Lost. Others can choose to hunt down the Acolytes who are chasing their friends. Anyone with strong tracking skills would be key, but the team could also use medical assistance in case anyone needs treatment on the spot.

◎ Retrieval Team

Word has it that some of the Acolytes remain on the island along with the trapped captives. The area is tightly guarded and possibly infested with some unknown creatures or those not in their right minds. Officials will suggest negotiating to prevent unwanted casualties but will caution that having a team for infiltration and force is necessary, too. Some distraction could also be helpful, and it would be wise to have some medical assistance in case anyone needs treatment on the spot.

◎ Home Team

Having hands on deck at base is equally vital. Officials will recommend a cure for the ritual be found while the teams are out searching, and standard healing supplies will need preparation, too. Outbound teams could use someone to help bring together lines of communication, updating officials and the Summoned alike about what's going on. And of course, with the Horizon as a place of respite, anyone who can go in to help the Lost seeking healing would be of value.

Week 4

The days have been taxing, but you're beginning to feel a change in the air. Now that resources and information have been pooled, things are moving quickly. Soon, you'll be reunited.

Once you find one another, you'll still need to return home safely - but at least you'll have each other now.

Although players have been divided up until now between Lost and Spared, Week 4 will bring the Spared in contact with the Lost's environments. We'll provide relevant information or redirect each group accordingly so that you don't need to review the entire post for the correct details. If there's anything you're uncertain about from the other group, please ask!

Survival | The Lost

CW: Disturbing imagery (text and imagery), mild gore, body horror, dark and horror-based themes

By now, you've undoubtedly heard from the Spared back home. You're relieved to know rescue is coming, but you probably don't want to sit and wait. With threats to contend with and a dangerous environment, you can take steps to be sure the Spared have help from the other side.

Escape Group

Surviving the elements is only half of it. As the days turn to nights, you realize you're not alone. More than wolves and bears prowl. Something sinister comes...as well as the Acolytes who want their captives back at all cost.

◎ Pursuing Acolytes | Interact

Loyal to the cause, some Acolytes chase the fleeing Lost into the mountains. You might be lulled into safety the first few days, but by Week 4, you sense their presence. The evergreen trees wither, winter shrubs rot, and unexplained husks of wildlife are found. The winds carry a stench in the air that you now identify with the fungal cavern you were held in.

They hunt in pairs or small groups. Their powers seem weaker for reasons unknown, but they remain formidable opponents. You can run, protect others, or go on the offensive.

◎ Hydnellia & Esmond | Interact

If they successfully escape in Week 3, the Mysterious Acolyte and the Unknown Stranger will travel with their rescuers. They'll introduce themselves as Hydnellia & Esmond. Though nervous, Hydnellia is more trusting of anyone who helped them. She's skilled in healing and foraging, while Esmond carries a draught for warmth that could prove useful. Depending on where you stand, you could find their addition helpful or contentious.

◎ Revenant | Interact

Something else stalks the night, scaring even the Acolytes. A hoarfrost revenant has lived on these peaks for centuries. With the sudden arrival of the Lost and Acolytes, he prowls the snow, searching for who's disturbed his sleep.

He cannot be killed. You can only run or chase him away, but he'll soon return. Take care not to stay in one place too long. A rattling chain and blue-flamed lantern announces his coming. His touch brings instant death, made clear by the frozen carcasses of animals left in his path. Best not to fight him.

◎ Rescue

Landmarks such as lakes, cliffs, the Singularity, and more can be used to direct the Search Team to your location.

You might want to warn the Spared about the dangers they'll face when they reach the mountains. Unable to portal to you directly, they'll reach you on foot. You'll need to brave the dangers together one last time to reach the waiting portals below. The trek isn't far, but making that final stretch might feel like an eternity. In the distance, the ground trembles, and the snow begins to form an avalanche.

Players can arrange how the Search Team and the Escape Group meet and decide what threats they'll encounter as they return to the portal.

Details on the avalanche and what characters will face when traveling to the portal will be provided under the Search & Rescue - Search Team section.

Holdout Group

As you huddle in the altar room, you can only hope your sacrifice, intentional or not, was worth it. At least you've been able to communicate with the outside world. The Acolytes are beginning to show signs of unease and budding dissent. At some point, you have to ask, why haven't the unhappy ones left or fled themselves?

Maybe you aren't the only ones trapped anymore. Maybe you're all trapped together now.

◎ The Altar | Interact

Now that you can approach the altar and examine it closely, you see the terrible remnants of twisted figures sunken into the ground beneath it, as though they've fused with the altar itself.

If prodding at the shrines worked, perhaps doing the same with the altar will reveal some answers. A strange energy emanates from its open maw when those afflicted by the ritual come near.

◎ A Promise | Interact

In the final hour, some Acolytes desperately try to resume the rituals on the few remaining Abraxan natives left outside the altar room - many in poor condition. You hear it, though you can only glimpse it through a gap in the sealed doors. Their bodies quickly succumb and sprout more fungal growths while long, spine-like tendrils protrude from their orifices.

You can plead with them to stop, or you can join them in hopes that you will find your divine emancipation. The Acolytes will release anyone who wants to join the ritual from the altar room...but what you step into could carry horrific consequences.

◎ Dissenting Acolytes | Interact

More arguments beyond the sealed doors erupt as water fills the cave and altar room. They accuse each other of being faithless or too blindly loyal. Some say Hydnellia betrayed them. Others say the High Priestess did, perhaps referring to Josselyn.

Toward the middle of Week 4, it grows quiet outside. The arguments stop. One Acolyte approaches the door. She promises to free you and the others and help you find a way out of the cavern together, including overwhelming Josselyn's faithful.

This could be what turns the tide, but things might also go very wrong. You and the others trapped with you must decide if you'll accept the olive branch. Of course, agreeing to trust them doesn't mean you have to follow through. The Acolytes sound desperate and might be a bit too trusting themselves.

◎ Rescue

Unlike the Escape Group, the Spared know where the Holdout Group is. Getting to them will take effort, but you can help by providing information from the inside. After all, the Acolytes won't know when you're using the network. You can even coordinate with each other in secret despite being in the same room.

You might want to warn the Spared about the dangers they face when they reach the cavern areas. The Bone Serpent could pose a problem, along with any crumbling walls and obstacles. A creature might still be trapped in one of the tunnels if no one freed it. As the team approaches, severe quakes shake the entire place. Water flows in faster. It appears ready to collapse at any moment.

You'll need to get off the island to reach the portal on the Thornean peninsula. That'll pose a problem when the boats break from the collapsing island, but an unexpected friend might arrive.

Details on the quake and what characters face when getting off the island will be provided under the Search & Rescue - Retrieval Team section.

Search & Rescue | The Spared

CW: Disturbing imagery (text and visual), dark themes.

After an exhausting month, it finally seems as though things are coming together. By now, you've made decided on your plans, gathered your resources, and chosen the role that suits you best. Not everyone may agree with what you're doing, or maybe there's someone you don't agree with. Nevertheless, your friends are waiting, and you'll push forward with or without support.

Search Team

As part of the Search Team, your goal is to portal from Nocwich to the mountains and locate members of the Escape Group.

You'll need to determine the best place to portal in - close enough to the Lost that the trek is reasonable but safe enough that the portals won't be at risk. Considering the terrain and the condition of many of the Lost, it's likely the distance will be about one day's travel on foot.

◎ Resources & Support

Thorne will send their military for support since their soldiers are used to winter conditions, unlike the Free Cities. The Free Cities will provide portal stones so that mages won't be required to maintain an open portal. The Lunae will offer guides to help navigate the wilderness.

Solvunn's aid is limited to healing supplies, as their efforts are focused on the island due to the heavy use of High Magic there.

You are not limited to only what the factions offer upfront. If there's more you think they can do, you can make a request.

◎ The Acolytes (Escape) | Interact

Though rescuing the Lost is the top priority, you might feel justice or vengeance is long overdue. Some Acolytes are pursuing the captives while others might try to pass as one of the survivors. Those most faithful to the cause will attack you, but not all of them are that steadfast. Some prefer to flee. Others still may surrender, under the right circumstances.

Officials have requested that the Acolytes be brought in alive if possible, but no one will be counting the bodies if you decide to take out a few on your own.

Players can write out attacking, capturing, or killing the Acolytes without using the interaction. However, if you want to take a more specific action in terms of identifying any Acolytes pretending to pass as one of the captured Abraxan natives, negotiating a surrender, or interrogating them on the spot, you can submit an interaction.

◎ Getting to Safety

During the search, you'll encounter the same dangers the Escape Group has faced over the past week. Common predators include wolves, gryphons, and wild boars. Most significantly, a revenant must be avoided or else death is certain. Detailed under the Survival - Escape Group section, the revenant can be interacted with by the Spared once on the mountains.

Keep your friends safe after you meet up with them. You'll have to guide them back to the portals and make sure they can keep up with their injuries. Though you hope the journey is smooth, you know better.

And sure enough, a rumble draws your attention. When you look up, you see it coming down: an avalanche pouring down one of the mountain slopes. Get out of the way quickly or risk being swept up in the landslide. If you're lucky enough to dodge the avalanche, you can help anyone caught in its path.

Retrieval Team

As part of the Retrieval Team, your goal is to infiltrate the island and safely retrieve the members of the Holdout Group. A portal from Nocwich can only take you as far as the peninsula on Thorne's coast, near the island. The rest is on you.

Your team's likely already decided the best method to breach the island and you may have done your best to account for every last detail, but that doesn't mean everything will go as planned. The flooding hasn't stopped. Frequent, violent quakes are now shaking the island, and the structure beneath is rapidly crumbling. Time is of the essence.

◎ Resources & Support

Thorne mages and Solvunn Elders will accompany your team to focus on dispelling the enchantments, while the Free Cities will send some of its soldiers. They'll also provide boats powered with New Magic. Though normally quite noisy, Thorne has stepped in to enchant them to be much more discreet.

You are not limited to only what the factions offer upfront. If there's more you think they can do, you can make a request.

◎ Dispelling Protections | Interact

The illusions that once held the island together are corrupted from the escape. Navigating the constantly shifting landscape is dizzying and confusing. You might experience strange visions brought on by your imagination - terrifying images from home you know shouldn't be there.

Fight through it to find a warded tunnel. You'll need to find a way to break the wards to enter. Should you feel the urge to rush in heedlessly, you might want to observe the pile of dead bats and birds all around you. Their bodies are mangled and crushed. You can only imagine what might happen to you.

◎ The Collapse

Whether you make contact with the Acolytes or the Holdout Group first depends on your approach. You can apprehend what Acolytes you can, negotiate their surrender, or kill them. Whichever tactics you use, once the Holdout Group is released from the altar room, you'll end up in the same situation: the way out is blocked from falling debris. Seawater rapidly fills the cavern.

Your best bet is to follow the water flow into the open ocean. As you do, the cavern begins to collapse in on itself in a swirling whirlpool as the magic which kept the water at bay falters. You'll have to struggle to swim against the current, and a few Acolytes are sucked into the vortex. The boats splinter and break apart, leaving you and many wounded stranded in the ocean.

◎ An Old Friend

Deep waters aren't safe. When a deep rumbling sounds and a massive shadow looms below, you might wonder if this is the end. Instead, the shadow takes on a warm moon-like glow. A familiar figure to some of you from Thorne surfaces. The giant sea turtle waits calmly for you to climb on its shell. You can save any captured Acolytes, or you can let the sea swallow them.

How did the turtle find you? If you have strong psychic abilities or an affinity for communicating with animals, you might sense a connection to a much smaller turtle: Admiral Chuck from The Arcanis. Perhaps a friend is looking out for you from afar after you were kind enough to spend time with him.

The moonlit turtle will carry everyone to shore, where the portal to Nocwich awaits. Then it vanishes into the depths once more.

Home Team

As part of the Home Team, your goal is to support the others and prepare for the return of many survivors.

Two important tasks are healing in the Horizon to aid any of the Lost who are struggling, and finding a cure for the effects of the ritual. You can also assign tasks, transform the inn into an infirmary, and make sure supplies are available.

◎ Ritual Cure | Interact

The answer to a cure is likely found in the contents of Josselyn's house, the mushroom rings, and the odd black substance painted around the abduction sites. Solvunn's Elders and the Lunae, including Sten, will be there to help and provide any information they can.

If you're not the experimental type, you can still help in one of two ways: you can go to Ikorr to retrieve a bloom from their sacred flower located in the Nightbloom or you can go to Luna to collect moon-blessed water from the Lunar Pond. You'll be accompanied through a direct portal by the vampires to Ikorr or the werewolves to Luna.

Researchers and mages from the major nations will also work on the task using the information they've learned - but they'd be grateful for any assistance.

◎ Horizon Healing

As discovered in Week 3, you can continue to use the Horizon to offer to heal those who need it. In moments of calm, anyone connected to the Singularity will feel a familiar pull. The urge to enter the Horizon itches at the back of your mind as the hours go by, even if you're not usually inclined to do so.

If you give in, you could find one of the Lost there. You sense they need your help, or you feel compelled to reach out and touch. A warmth flows between you. Though you may not realize what you've done until afterwards, you'll know it's something unique and powerful.

Forging a stronger link to the Horizon can subtly strengthen the gifts and magic you receive from the Singularity - and a deep healing connection with another Summoned is a part of that.

Return

For the next week or so, Nocwich is the place of refuge. Concerned that the ritual and other unknown effects may have a widespread impact, everyone must remain in Nocwich. This includes the abducted Abraxan natives, the soldiers, mages, and Elders who arrived to help.

Captured Acolytes will be held in the prisons in Nocwich. Their fate is yet to be determined.

Should the Mysterious Acolyte and her brother make it to safety, they'll also be held in Nocwich for now. Nocwich will recognize that they were rescued by some of you, however, and will make sure they're placed in a comfortable - but still guarded - home.

Recovery & Cures

The Square's largest inn serves as a temporary infirmary. The Lost will be brought here to recover and receive the cure for the ritual. Any of the Spared who were injured during the rescue will also be treated.

Healing & Care

Although a few healers and doctors from the factions are in Nocwich, most have stayed home to prepare for when the Summoned and their citizens return. Instead, healers from Luna and Ikorr will look after you with a combination of salves, healing magic, and potions. Ikorr's powerful sap is used in healing concoctions, reserved for the most severe injuries. Overdoing it can cause unwanted side effects, so healers are careful.

If you're lucky, you can get a room to yourself. If not, you might have a roommate. The infirmary is hectic, though you'll receive the best care possible. Visitors are allowed. Nurses caution against overtaxing yourself, but you can finally reunite with everyone you've been separated from over the past four weeks.

Receiving the Cure

After such a harrowing ordeal, you'll be relieved to learn that the cure is effective and painless. It consists of a spoonful of a thick mixture. The aftertaste is bitter and a little sour but not terrible. After a day or two, the psychological effects will fade completely. Physical afflictions will begin to heal again.

If any growths remain, they must be removed. Thankfully, potent sleeping draughts means you won't feel a thing - a blessing that those who sought a cure in the caverns didn't have.

Returning Home

After a week, officials determine that the ritual effects are cured and request that you return home. Their doctors and healers will look after you once you're back. Eventually, they'd like to know the details, but you won't need to talk about it just yet.

◎ Thorne

Your return to Thorne is greeted with a show of fanfare. For many, the castle staff has grown familiar with your presence. They're heartened to see you return. A few may have get-well gifts if they've come to know you.

If you still require significant healing, you'll be taken care of in the Castle's infirmary. Otherwise, you'll be assigned a healer who'll check in on you in your room.

◎ Free Cities

Your return to Cadens is greeted with a buzz in the air. With a city so populated, reactions vary from relief to curiosity to a much less welcome invasion of privacy from local writers. City guards will do their best to make sure you return home or arrive at the hospital with minimal fuss.

If you were injured, doctors will insist you remain overnight at the hospital. If you were severely wounded and remain so, they won't clear you for release until you're fully recovered. Of course, no one can stop you from leaving, but you may want to listen to the doctors.

◎ Solvunn

Your return to Solvunn is greeted with a somber air. Many in the settlement are in the midst of prayer, having devoted themselves to seeking your safe return. Your friends and neighbors are relieved to see you, but they're troubled by the perversion of their traditions, the close involvement of one of their Council members, and the terrible suffering you endured.

Healers and Elders will see you in your home as needed. Offerings will be made to shrines on your behalf, and you won't run out of home-cooked meals for a while. Many will lend a sympathetic ear if you want someone to talk to.

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I wouldn't be asking if we did, would I?

[ There's the undeniable sound of sass in her reply but she looks relieved nonetheless to see Jayden well and unharmed, putting to rest the wild part of her imagination that had been briefly fueled by fear. Even though there's plenty of room on the floor she nudges him over anyway before sinking down beside him along with her bag of things that she'd brought along. ]

Is this supposed to be one of those weird animals you were telling me about?

[He doesn't really move, maybe just an inch or two, though even he isn't sure if it's more because of exhaustion or stubbornness. Perhaps equally both.

But he manages a weak smile at her all the same, holding the toy out toward her with his unbandaged right hand.]

No, it's a kid's toy. Doesn't look like any real animals we've got, though it's based on a worm.

[ Taking the toy, perhaps a little more gingerly because of how beat up it still looks she regards it another moment before wiggling it back at him. A hint of amusement sparks in her voice. ]

Your world is shaping up to be really strange sounding, Jay. [ As she turns it over in her hands she notices a telltale sign of a rip on its underside. Luckily she has something for that, pulling out some thread and a needle. Sewing had been a pain for her growing up, far too meticulous and finnicky, but she still knew how to do it. ]

Did you get this from one of the kids here?

[He gives her a look, and then the worm a look as she wiggles it, and then shakes his head just a little in what's clearly completely fake exasperation.]

Hey, my world's totally normal. You're all the weird ones.

[Not really, of course, but let him have this.]

And no, some guy named Jack kept accidentally summoning them. I think people's magic wasn't working right.

[In, you know, the pit, which he doesn't directly mention. Instead he watches her for a moment, then adds--]

You can sew?

Hey! [ An elbow darts out in protest, knowing full well not to put half as much gusto as she normally does into something like that. The elbow is more of a nudge. The last thing she wants is to be the cause of more injury. ] Doesn't that saying go something along the lines of it takes one to know one?

Magic that can summon weird looking worm toys? And here I thought that I was learning everything there was to know about magic.

[ Not really. She doesn't know the first thing about magic. But what she does know definitely doesn't encompass summoned weird toys from the ether. ]

Why do you sound so surprised? [ She's making pretty quick work threading the needle and starting her minor surgery on Jayden's new friend. ] Do you know how to sew?

Edited (now with a different icon) 2023-04-10 18:08 (UTC)

[He doesn't laugh, but he gives a short exhale that expresses the same sentiment.]

Sure, but that saying probably came from someone tryin' to make themselves feel better about what a weirdo they were.

[He doesn't at all know if that's true, and it's a pretty useless thing to say in general, but he's tired and any cleverness he might've normally had is pretty depleted. Thankfully her question is easy enough to answer.]

Not unless you count puttin' a button back on. Sewing's not exactly a rare skill where I'm from, but it's not common either, especially not to the point where someone's carrying the supplies for it with them. You always do that, or is this a special occasion?

[ She's far past the age where sticking her tongue out at someone is considered 'proper' for a woman of her standing and age. But since the former doesn't apply here (no one, apart from her friends know anything about the Goneril name and the weight it carries), and she's cared little for decorum, she does it anyway. Besides, after everything he's experienced, levity might be appreciated.

An amused smile flits to her lips to replace her tongue that she had poked out, however briefly. ]

Just for special occasions and only for certain people. [ She offers him a brief, playful wink. ] Consider yourself lucky!

[ Jayden's response feels telling about the differences in their worlds. It isn't as if she hadn't know that before of course. There were few people that she had met that similar upbringings or environments like herself. ]

I think most people learn how to at least sew a button on. [ 'Most' excludes some of the nobles she knows. ] It's probably more likely that they know how to stitch a wound closed. Not everyone is great at casting magic so it's the next best thing if you can manage it on the battlefield.

[Sticking her tongue out earns a small grin, and indeed he thinks nothing of it being unladylike; not only does he not care, but he has exactly no room to judge when it comes to decorum or proper behavior.

He's quiet while she explains further, her response very telling about the state of her world, as well as lining up with something she'd told him when they'd first met about fighting in a war. It had been kind of a distant concept when they'd very briefly discussed it in the peace and safety of the Inn, but now it hits him a little more clearly what she must have been dealing with. Being able to stitch someone up would've been an incredibly useful skill in the pit, and if that's something people in Hilda's world so commonly know how to do, that paints a somewhat grim picture.

He pulls himself from his thoughts after a moment, taking a deep breath and busying himself with messing with the bandage on his arm and hand.]

Is that why you learned too?

[He doesn't want to pry too much, but she brought it up, and he also doesn't want to brush past it if it is something she wants to talk about.]

[ It's not so much that Hilda doesn't want to talk about it or that she meant to bring it up in the first place; in fact, when she speaks to it there's a neutrality to her voice that gives the impression of someone who has long since become used to their situation. Jayden had simply posed the question and she had been inclined to answer, approaching his next question with a similar cadence. But having the worm toy to focus on certainly helps.

There's a noise of confirmation from her. ]

Although I really did learn how to sew when I was younger. [ She pulls a face at the memories. ] It was awful! I hated it. I didn't understand why I had to learn when someone else who was much better at it than I was could just mend my clothes for me or we could just buy new ones.

[ Ah, to be a spoiled brat. She continues to methodically guide the needle in and out through the fabric, neat stitches closing the gap in the toy. ]

I don't think it's too difficult to guess what I'd rather sew now though. Skin? No thanks.

[He notices the lack of hesitation or particular emotion in the way she responds, but isn't completely sure if it's because the whole thing is something she's used to, if she's just good at compartmentalizing, or a few other plausible reasons. So he just follows her lead on the tone of conversation for now.]

I think that's why it's not too common in my world. It's really easy to get new clothes, and most of the time they're not even worth repairin'.

[Though that said--]

Seems like it might be worth learning here though. Both for clothes and otherwise.

[In case something like this ever happens again. He knows logically that it's probably unlikely, but logic isn't really making a dent in the emotional side of things at the moment.]

[ Is Hilda a spoiled brat that had been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth? Absolutely. But she's at least aware most of the time. Thankfully having friends from all walks of life has helped with that. Somewhere back home, Hilda hopes that Leonie is proud of her. ]

I could teach you some of the basics if you want.

[ Hilda isn't certain where this sudden desire is coming from, but she knows the importance of having something to do to keep your mind and hands busy, particularly during these sorts of times. While she hadn't done as much with her jewelry as she would have liked during the search, what little she had gotten around to helped in her restless evenings. Her offer lingers in the air a moment before she clarifies. ]

I mostly mean fabric, but if you really want to learn how to suture a wound, I can try and do that too.

[Jayden wasn't really meaning to hint that he wants her to teach him, even if he realizes belatedly that it might've sounded that way and it's really kind of her to offer. But he's asked more than enough of Hilda already, and although he had been allowing himself to ignore the guilt of that fact while in the pit, he shouldn't keep doing so. They barely know each other, and she surely has actual friends to be worrying about, and then of course her own issues that she's probably been ignoring; he doesn't need to keep adding to that list.]

No, uh, thanks for offerin', but I can figure it out.

[Nailed it. Not awkward or rude at all, and he cringes at himself before quickly continuing.]

And I should also thank you for... Y'know. Talkin' to me while everything was going on. It must've been a lot to deal with, and you didn't have to do that, so... Thanks.

[ The tone is received with a raised brow in return mostly in surprise instead of finding the tone particularly rude or awkward. Hilda has no way of knowing after all why he responded like that. Maybe he just didn't want someone watching him to try to learn how to sew; if that was the case then at least she could relate.

After a beat of contemplation she hands him the toy and the sewing needle. Her tone isn't so much clipped as it is insistent, as if she's trying to tell him that it really isn't a problem but she plans to be a bother all the same. ]

Here, figure it out now then. I can give you pointers while I'm here.

[ His thank you catches her off guard. ]

Oh. It's not like it was a big exertion on my part and it's the least I could do. [ Hilda knows she shouldn't be so flippant about it but old habits die hard. ] I would have wanted to talk to someone too if I were down there.

[He blinks at the toy and then the sewing needle, not expecting the sudden offer, but this is one he really can't argue with; as she said, she's here anyway, so he supposes it's not inconveniencing her.

After a brief hesitation he carefully takes the toy and the needle, unsure of just how much fine motor control he's going to have between his injuries and the occasional shaking. But his hands seem steady enough at the moment, and so after a brief mental replay of what Hilda had been doing, he begins carefully attempting to replicate her work.

Having something to work on is immediately helpful, distracting enough of his attention to take the edge off of his self-consciousness, keeping him from overthinking his words too much.]

Yeah. It helped a lot.

[It had been so easy to get lost in all the awful things going on, but talking to her had been a reminder that the pit wasn't all there was. In a lot of ways it's still surreal that it's all over.

He's quiet a few seconds, concentrating on the stitches--he's picked up the basic technique easily enough, but the stitches themselves are less than masterful--then glances briefly at her before returning his gaze to the toy.]

Are you doin' okay yourself? With all of this.

[ Encouraging (or maybe it was forcing) him to work the worm toy isn't entirely coincidental. The fiddling of his bandages from earlier hadn't gone unnoticed by Hilda; she had recognized the restlessness in others that she had visited. Apparently laziness was only a trait that she had and the rest of the Summoned had missed the memo where staying still would aid their recovery, not hinder it.

She keeps a watchful eye on his work (they're larger stitches than her previous ones, but they can reinforce them later) as he speaks. His question isn't completely out of the ordinary, but she seems a little surprised all the same. ]

I definitely have some sleep to catch up on after this. [ That's the truth, but it still downplays the frustration and fear she had felt. Having people fret over her is something she actually enjoys, but it wasn't enjoyable when it came from people who needed to be fussed over more. ]

But it's not like I was down there. I'm just happy that everyone is safe and back where they belong.

[Except that not everyone is safe. Not everyone returned. He doesn't know the exact number of people who died, and he would have to count to even figure out just how many he'd personally witnessed--which he has no desire at all to do--but it isn't only the deaths. Some of the Summoned had simply disappeared as well, and he wonders how many were even known to have been missing in the first place.

But there's nothing he can do about any of that right now, and he doesn't want to think about any of it, let alone add it to Hilda's worries. So he just nods, silently, gaze fixed on the toy and what he's doing--he'd momentarily stopped his sewing attempt, and resumes quickly once he realizes--and finally responds to only a part of what she said.]

It's not easy bein' on the outside of somethin' like this either. Catching up on some sleep's a good start, but it's okay to take it easy yourself for awhile.

[It's advice he's both heard and given before, so it's easy enough to deliver despite his turbulent emotions. And he means it, too; even if he doesn't often take that advice himself, he hopes Hilda might.]

[ A part of Hilda perhaps does understand that reality. As she had bustled and rushed from one end of makeshift medical tents to the other, she had heard murmuring. It's practically impossible to escape.

Maybe it's a byproduct of the war she had left behind; she cared for everyone fighting under the Alliance banner, but there was only so much capacity that she had to do so. To mourn everyone lost would send her down a hole that she might never climb out of. Maybe it was cruel to approach it that way, but it was the more pragmatic approach. She chose to focus her energy on the ones that had made it back to them than linger on not being able to save everyone.

Jayden's advice strikes a chord with her, softening the festering worry she had been built up that she was trying to sweep under the rug. She pauses before giving him a cheerful smile. ]

I know we don't know each other very well yet but I am very good at taking it easy on myself. I think we all deserve a long vacation after this! So I guess what I'm saying is that I'll do that if you promise to do that too.

[There's a distance he can normally maintain when working a case, when a death--or even multiple deaths--happened prior to his involvement, and he's just there to analyze it. But being involved, when he's right there in the midst of it all, when he might've been able to do something differently, when he's somehow alive but others aren't... He's never been good at handling it, which is why he typically doesn't.

So it's easy enough to agree with the deal Hilda proposes, because although he would normally avoid dealing with things by focusing on work, he can't really do that here. Taking it easy for awhile, as long as he does so in a way that will keep his mind off of what happened, is something he'll welcome the opportunity to do.]

Yeah. I've had enough roughin' it for awhile.

[As if the time in the pit was just a month-long primitive camping trip. It might be easier to think of it that way, though.

He stares down at the toy for a moment, realizing the hole is pretty much closed now, then glances briefly at Hilda.]

How d'you tie off the stitches without 'em unraveling?

Roughing it is awful - thank goodness the locals were able to find so many beds on such short notice. That would be such an awful welcome back, don't you think?

[ As if she can somehow draw similarities between war camp set ups and the pit. She knows she can't, but it isn't as if she's trying to compare her experiences to the horror they had gone through. She'll never be able to imagine it or compare. If anything, this is her trying to cheer him up and bring some sort of levity to an otherwise awful situation. Not that she feels like he should dismiss it either, but she's hardly qualified to help someone through that sort of trauma.

Hell, she's barely dealt with her own.

Hilda's eyes dart over the stitching, giving it a quick scan before nodding her approval. It'll hold up so long as it wasn't going to become a chew toy. ]

You'll want to go back and forth through the stitch you just sewed a couple of times just to make sure it's secure. And then when you're done that, you knot it off by threading the needly through the loop.

Yeah, just because I'm out here in the hall doesn't mean I'm not appreciative of havin' a bed. And a room with a door and everything.

[He joins in her attempt at levity, even if it's kind of pathetic. And although after the conditions in the pit he would've been fine with a simple dry floor, he definitely very much appreciates sleeping in a bed again, let alone having a room where it's quiet and he's not around tons of other people. Spending a month in constant, 24/7 contact with other people had been a very minor issue compared to everything else in the pit, but it was still an added layer of suffering for someone very introverted.

She explains how to tie off the stitch and he gives the seam a serious look of contemplation, visualizing how to follow her instructions, but then realizes--]

Kind of like tyin' a tie?

[Maybe not exactly, but a four in hand knot seems like it might be very similar to what she's described.]

[ Pathetic or not, Hilda encourages it. Not everything was going to return to normal overnight. She didn't know how long it would take Jayden - everyone was different after all - but she'd be there to help in whatever way she could. There's an amused quirk of her lips at his response. ]

You know I was really starting to wonder if that wasn't the case. Other people I know keep trying to make a run for it and I have no idea why. The nurses would have trouble getting me out of bed.

[ Hilda pauses to contemplate the comparison. ]

I guess if that's the easiest way to think about it, yeah! Although I think this is a lot easier than tying a tie.

I think most people are just bored.

[He says it casually, distantly, as if he isn't included in that group and it isn't clear that by 'bored' he means 'desperately trying to distract themselves'. But after a month of being trapped with little to do other than the occasional new threat or trauma to deal with, he isn't surprised that those who are able are to get out of bed are both exercising their new freedom and trying to find some way to occupy their thoughts.

But speaking of distractions, he begins to carefully attempt his tie-to-stich conversion.]

Depends on how you tie the tie. One day I decided I wanted to get really good at it and ended up learnin' something like twelve different knots, though some of them are really weird-lookin'.

I could do with some boredom after this.

[ A part of Hilda cringes at herself for saying those words. She knows that there's more to it than boredom; it's just the easiest thing to assign to it in the moment because who actually wanted to admit that they weren't okay? If she were to put herself in that position, she'd probably act similarly.

Her eyebrow arches. ]

Twelve different knots? The only people I know that know that many knots are the other Academy students I went to school with. [ Luckily, sewing doesn't require any weird knots. ] That's looking good. I think you can snip the thread off and your new friend will be all fixed!

[He can understand the sentiment; they could all use some boredom in terms of no life-threatening dangers or the stress of missing friends. But he absolutely can't handle the thought of actual boredom at the moment, and he'll just have to figure out how to deal with that when it happens, even if the solutions he might find won't necessarily be good ones.]

Yeah, and that's just for ties. Tyin' knots that aren't just for show's a whole other thing.

[So many different types of knots. He had the misfortune of being subjected to a coworker's long rant about knots used in fishing, a subject Jayden does not and has never cared about, and he clearly remembers being very confused about just how many were involved.

And okay, surgery finished, and Jayden feels a vague sense of accomplishment; sure, he barely did anything, but still. He's learned something new, and right now even the smallest victories feel worth acknowledging.]

I can't believe it actually survived all a' that.

[Even with a need for some minor surgery, especially since Jayden had basically forgotten the thing was in his pocket and so much had happened.]

[ Before Hilda starts putting away her supplies she gives his repaired friend an approving nod before gently giving Jayden a nudge with her elbow. ]

Not bad for a first time sew-er! I'm going to have to get you a sewing kit instead of a new watch.

[ She hadn't forgotten their first conversation in the Sarstina and his misfortune when it came to watches. That being said, she still intends to keep her silly little promise because as useful as a sewing kit is, it's not a watch.

There's a fondness to her gaze as she looks down at the weird looking toy that is starting to grow on her. The same quality settles on Jayden when her gaze goes back up to him. ]

You both did. You're both more resilient than you look, you know.

(no subject)

takeatrip - 2023-05-11 05:49 (UTC) - Expand

fin!

theidlemaiden - 2023-05-11 08:24 (UTC) - Expand

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