abraxaslogs | WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

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WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

Welcome to Solvunn! Bright suns and merriest of welcomes to you! The portal opens in a vast field on the western side of town surrounded by cattle, with a distant view of the bustling marketplace. The first impression of the settlement is one of idylic, country charm. There are no looming structures or crowded streets. Instead, there are cozier houses on wide streets and community buildings made of stone and wood. A gentle breeze rolls across the field and the sun is high in the sky.

There's not as much magic here as in other locations, but it's there. No one will be stopped from entering Solvunn, though suspicion will be cast upon new arrivals. Citizens will be friendly and welcoming, but curious about their new visitors. It isn't often that they welcome new folks- especially not so many at once!

With tensions between the other communities, Solvunn will not be keen on ratting out those who fled Thorne, but with the knowledge that sanctuary will not be given for free. Everyone does their part, whatever that part may be.

Asking questions will result in being told to find Rowan March, one of the council members, somewhere in the marketplace.

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[Injuries like that make Estinie think the man is either a soldier or a person who works with farm equipment. There are a lot of ways to lose a few fingers, but it's a curiosity, nonetheless. He doesn't spend long looking, though.

What's just as interesting is that he's already apparently on a first-name basis with their server. It makes things easy for him, at least.

Bryn is kind enough to give him a brief rundown of their most popular offerings, and he selects the equivalent of a medium ale. He's not very picky when it comes down to it, and is mostly just looking for the standard fare. Maybe he'll become curious about experimenting later, but not on his first day out.]

My thanks.

[He puts the rest of the coins back in his pocket.]

I take it you've found accommodations, then?

Well, I guess you're right about --

[ Nero doesn't have a chance to finish what he's saying before a rock smacks the back of his head. It wasn't thrown hard enough to draw blood, but was thrown hard enough to let him know just what those kids' feelings are. ]

-- I don't really want to help them. [ He admits as he rubs the back of his head and dodges another rock. The children in question make a few faces at the elf before calling him "lame," and running away again. ]

I can't believe my first impression went so badly. [ A beat. ] Well, I can believe it, but I was attempting to be a good boy this time. [ He lets out a sigh. ] Oh, well, it seems like they got their favorite babysitter.

[ And he reaches out to pinch Martin's cheek -- the one on his face. ]

[It's at least a couple of weeks before Estinien can make his own way out to the Tertiary Settlement, between recovery and finding a place in these new surroundings. It's quite the jaunt from one settlement to the other, but while he's decided to set himself up in the Primary Settlement, that doesn't prevent him from wanting to get a since of the bigger picture.

So, when he's regained some strength and feels secure enough to travel alone, he decides to make his way across Solvunn's territories on foot. In Estinien's case, of course, 'on foot' means leaping great distances at incredible speeds, easily avoiding most obstructions on the way. It's the next best thing to flying - and it doesn't involve having to risk corrupting his body again to do it.

It takes about half a day for him to get there, including some small detours. He takes in the landscape along the way, impressed by the seeming peace and beauty of the Commune's land. The time passes quickly, overall, and soon enough he's in the somewhat more dire streets of the Tertiary Settlement.

He'd offered to deliver some mail for a couple of families in the Primary, as a sort of trial run of his capabilities. He spends some time after arriving tracking down the people he was meant to deliver to, and ultimately it takes longer than he'd been planning. He doesn't know his way around, of course, and by the time he's finished, it's already evening.

Though he's earned some coinage for his efforts, he finds himself roaming about the settlement instead of seeking a place to eat. The atmosphere here is definitely different - something that could use some investigation.

But what might be even more helpful is stumbling across another one of the cross-dimensional immigrants, cooking outside of a modest shack. Though Link is offering him food, which is definitely appealing, he's a bit caught by surprise.]

You... You arrived through the portal with us, didn't you?

[He glances around.]

...Did you come this way alone?

She chuckles a little at that. The cots back in prison were definitely made with the intent of Hyurs being the main occupants. The fact that Estinien had dealt with it while also accommodating her was a testament to him.

"You'd have to stretch out pretty far to make that work." And honestly if he is that determined to splay out, she won't stop him. There is plenty of hay right now for the both of them.

She notices the flinching, of course, and for the first time in a long time she can finally do something about it. Himeka plops rather unceremoniously behind him and lifts her hands.

"You could have just asked, you know." It's teasing as she calls forth a healing light beneath her palms, first concentrating that aether on his lower back.

He's been disinclined to ask mostly because he's also been sore about the whole thing in a less literal sense. He sighs and nods as she offers her help, soaking in the healing magic as he closes his eyes in a moment of contemplating. Maybe it had been too rash to make a move when he did... but at the same time, he's not sure he could have let it go if he didn't even try.

"I've at least learned who are among Thorne's staunchest allies," he murmurs. His tail curls over the wool blanket, gently resting against Himeka's side.

"They care only for their own ambitions," he growls under his breath. "Not for those hurt along the way, or for the damage their hubris will cause in the long run."

Nothing about Thorne's leadership has made him believe that taking control of the Singularity will do anything but empower their tyranny. Maybe that's what their servant crave, in the end.

[The comment gets a small chuckle out of Martin regardless of intent, but he gives Roland a quick look up and down in case he wasn't joking.]

Oh, I'm- yeah, I'd be happy to. [And he is, genuinely, he's just a little startled by the polite request at all. He pats the book against his chest.] Mostly I've been doing research into the, um. The folklore of the region. Usually stuff like that tells you a lot more about what a place finds, uh-- I suppose necessary to teach their kids. Lots of stories about being a proper working member of the community, listening to the Old Gods, that sort of thing. A-as well as your, um. Usual sort of cautionary stories,.

[When the rock hits Nero's head Martin jumps as well, but he's quick to turn his gaze on the kids and let out a surprisingly sharp yelp as he points sharply.]

Oi! I'm telling your father, Lysander!

[But then the kids have already run away, and Martin's left feeling like the kids don't particularly respect his threats too much either. Not that he gets much time to ruminate on it; suddenly Nero's pinching his cheek, and he feels himself blush as he pulls away, rubbing the spot immediately.]

I-I mean, hardly. I just-- let them get away with more than their parents do. But they like me enough to sit down and listen to stories, o-or practice their reading with me, so. I suppose it works out.

A good place to begin. Learn what a folk think is right to teach their young ones, and you'll learn much of a folk.

[ Roland nods approvingly. It's not an approach he'd have thought to take, but it makes sense. ]

But I'll pay for whatever you care to drink once or twice a week and hear of what you've been reading. We'll be in this land a long time, I'll set my watch and warrant on it, and the more we all know of it, the better.

[ Roland asks Bryn for another drink himself, draining what's left of the drink he's been sipping at. ]

Mm. Right upstairs here. It's reasonable, and I bring in game every few days as thanks for the low rent. Not my usual trade, but it's keeping me in coin while I get the lay of things.

[ While he finds out how neutral the folk here are on the Singularity. ]

You'd be amazed the kinds of things kids talk about, too, all the stuff they pick up from their parents that they don't realise isn't, um. Well, for public consumption.

[But he does perk up a little, at the offer, standing a little straighter with a grin that sits somewhere between uncertain and quite eager.]

Looks like you'll be getting this one pretty much on the house then, I'm not really much of a drinker. But that's perfectly alright, I'm more than happy to help you out. I'm already writing notes for myself, I'll just make you a copy to run you through over that drink, I-I'm actually free most of the evening, once the kids I'm sitting get settled.

It works out. It means that you're settling in quite nicely here.

[ Nero lets out a sigh, rubbing the back of his head in the two spots that the rocks hit his head. ]

I do have a small bone to pick with you. Look at this idyllic lifestyle! [ His arms open to gesture to everywhere around them. ] Did you really have to choose here to be the place that we had to go?

Shit, I grew up in this nonsense.

[ Ah, shit.

It is the first thought that hits him as soon as he sees Link casually fishing over the shore. Sweat starts to run down the back of his neck. While he remains sure that he won't be affected by any magic that Estinien might use, he isn't certain if that's the case with Link. Though, we obviously come from different worlds, so maybe not?

However, if there is anything that is even a little bit similar to his own kind's magic, he is going to be well and thoroughly fucked. And not even the kind of fucked that he wants to be! Nero can't help but breathe out a loud, agonized sigh. I thought that you'd go somewhere else, but someone convinced you to come here. Whoever that person is, they might be my enemy now.

But as soon as he thinks that, he dismisses the thought. Revenge really isn't his thing. If someone fucked him over, it was his fault for not having put up enough of a contingency plan to avoid it. Contingency plan being that if he was really worried, he should have tried to kill Link when he had the chance.

Technically, he still has that chance, but ... meh.

He rubs his hand over the back of his neck, making a face over how wet his palm feels, and saunters over to the other elf. ]

Yo. So, this is where you ended up.

[Well, that explains the familiar relationship between him and the barkeep. Estinien nods his head in acknowledgment.]

Aye. I'm intending to earn some coin that way, as well.

[Though he's been taking it slow, mostly for physical reasons. Roland can probably tell, that despite his towering height, Estinien is hollowed out with weeks of starvation. What they were fed in the dungeons was not nearly enough for someone of his size, and towards the end, he'd been denied food entirely more than a few times for his escalatingly bad behaviour.]

Are you a soldier?

[At some point when Marting is conducting his usual business in the library, he'll turn around to see that Estinien is standing there, towering over him with his arms crossed. He's frowning, but not angrily. It could be he's troubled.

He nods his head in Martin's direction, indicating his entire person.]

You're the one that bastard 'elf' is always following around.

[Which might be a weird thing to say when Estinien also appears to be an elf bastard, but here we are.]

A soldier?

[ That's surprised him. But... it shouldn't. Eddie and the others from New York had never heard of gunslingers, it's likely other worlds wouldn't either. ]

No. I'm a gunslinger, say true. We keep the peace, dedicate our lives to the preservation of All-World and those in it. Or we did, before the world moved on.

[Hmm... well. Okay. He feels like Roland is talking about some kind of cultural standby he's not at all familiar with. As far as he knew, being a 'gunslinger' was the same thing as being a fighter of any other sort.]

Whatever you're referring to, it must be a custom my star is unfamiliar with.

[He's hoping that Roland will simply elaborate.]

[That is an incredibly uncomfortable way to find someone. Martin doesn't run into him, at least, instead jumping back with a strangled noise as he tries not to yelp in alarm and dropping the small stack of books he was holding.

Instinctively, his eyes flick down to Estinien's hands, before they go back up to his face. And then there's a flash of indignation on his face.]

Sorry- can you not sneak up on people?! Honestly!

[He kneels down to collect his books again with a gentle scowl.]

What about him, anyway? If he's been harassing you, you ought to take it up with him, I'm not his minder.

Edited 2021-09-05 23:53 (UTC)

[Estinien furrows his brow, clearly not quite sure what Martin is upset about. Is he not allowed to be in the library? This is what he gets for talking to people, apparently.]

Defensive, aren't you?

[He lifts his shoulders.]

I've had a few encounters with the man myself, and found myself wondering the commonalities of his interest. Though, it seems I'm already doing a better job of not being 'harassed' than you are.

[ The first thought that Nero actually had when he saw Solvunn is -- Fuck! Everything about the country gives him a visceral reaction as he recalls his own past living with his own kind. Even the way that everyone treats one another is reminiscent to what he escaped.

Though, he probably shouldn't think "escaped" since he was actually banished and branded a pariah to his people. But whatever!

He has the feeling that he has been tricked, but it isn't that at all. It's his own fault for just going along without a single thought in his head. Besides, he might have come to Solvunn on his own eventually to see what everything is all about. He might as well soak everything up now, right? Right. ]

[ Nero decides that he would be better off in the tertiary settlement and locates himself a house that appears to had the ever-loving shit kicked out it by time and elements. He doesn't mind it all that much given all the sleeping he's done outdoors, and he doesn't know shit about repairing a house. But he acquired it with the agreement that he'll attempt to always contribute what he can to the community.

But what can he contribute? He can contribute murder. Well, it isn't murder of the locals, at least. It's murder of pirates that he's heard the people mumbling about every so often. So, he disappears on his own hunting trip. He brings back the contraband that the "ruffians" were plundering, and hands it off to the Solvunn traders to do with what they want. Nero doesn't need the wealth or glory; he just enjoys his craft.

So, one can find him carting along bags of unknown items on his back to the town market to hand his goods off. Blood splattered over his face, arms, and clothes; he whistles as he works, because really, a person always should have a smile on their face and heart as they do what they love.

... Sadly, he's only able to do that a few times before the pirates travel too far out from him to be able to chase them down.

So, he's back to making a minor pest out of himself at the taverns. He speaks kindly enough to the pretty local girls, but they don't seem particularly interested in him. It might be the tales of how he has been wandering around bloodied that are keeping them understandably at bay. So, he's found lying, halfway on a table, staring at the wall and loudly sighing. Not a drink in hand, but thoroughly broken-hearted. ]

Edited 2021-09-06 00:53 (UTC)

i. familiar faces

[ The escape from Thorne had been a whirlwind, seeing faces of prisoners and the welcomed alike all congregating before the portals. Both fists and words were thrown before everyone dispersed and it would be a lie if Himeka said she kept track of who went where. Yet even those who appeared the most human stood out in some ways amongst the residents of the commune, so even after the first few days in the region, she would occasionally stop and stare at anyone who looked just a tad familiar.

As she does now.

When the recognition sets in, she smiles and offers a short wave, happy to be in something clean and warm in contrast to their prison garb.

(If she knows you... ]

It's nice to see a familiar face. This is a far cry from Thorne, isn't it?

[ (If she doesn't know you...) ]

You were with us when we left through the portal, weren't you?

ii. tough decisions

[ Inhuman appearances aside, Himeka found little trouble fitting right in to the nature of the commune. Eager to help--mayhaps too eager at times--she made it a habit to go around and offering assistance to any person who looked like they needed it. In exchange for advice, supplies, or coin, after a week of running errands and manual labor, she has acquired enough coin to make a very important purchase.

Blessed though she feels to have a warm and dry place to sleep with her friends thanks to the generous nature of two of the locals, she is keen to start to acquire some of her own possessions. And one of the most important things you can own is a good pot to cook in. And not just any old pot--some iron that will last for years.

But she's at an impasse, standing in the market as she looks between two different stalls that, perhaps by fate, have situated right next to one another. One, clearly the works of a blacksmith having created several important supplies from pots, pans, to iron forks and stokes for the fire, and the other, the most delectable looking pastries she's seen in months. Rustic in their appearance, yet she can smell the sweet spice and sugar baked into the bread and can only imagine what tasty fillings were cooked within.

So she stands there, pointedly in the middle of the thoroughfare, looking back and forth as her tails twitches behind her anxiously. ]

...This is almost more difficult than leaving Thorne.

[ Please help an indecisive lizard make the best or worst choice. ]

iii. shall we make a bet?

[ CW: Alcohol. ]

[ There is something inherently charming about these smaller towns. As much as she enjoys the high stone walls of Ishgard or the ever crowded streets of Kugane, life does seem to slow down in places more like Solvunn. But that is hardly to say there isn't trouble to get into. Well-meaning trouble, of course!

It was really only a matter of time before Himeka made an appearance at the local tavern. The atmosphere had that mix of loud local conversations and general revelry that made her energized. It was similar to the Drowning Wench in some ways, but felt like a much more tight knit bunch. She certainly stood out when she weaseled her way in to what appeared to be an ongoing drinking contest. Though she did not have much coin, she started to make up for it, having out drain two men nearly twice her size.

She's hopped off her seat to go get herself something to snack on with her winnings, gait noticeably a little more wobbly than it ought to be otherwise and unsurprisingly stumbles into another patron. ]

Oops!

[ She doesn't sound too apologetic, though. ]

Oh...are you'p next? You should know I haven't lost yet!

[ Nero saunters along through the settlement. His head drooping low as he wonders if he has chosen wrong; certainly, the people that he chose to follow weren't wrong, but the place they've chosen to settle isn't one that'll let their true destructive paths shine.

He breathes out a small hum as he hears someone call out to him. Well, it isn't really calling as much as casually asking a question as he slumps on by. It's a lovely sounding voice and so his mood is lifted a little. His head lifts from its droop as he glances over to the sweetie. ]

That's right, sweetie, I was.

She shakes her head. Though a part of her isn't too surprised that there are some who may support Thorne's overall intentions and end-game, it feels a poor reflection on them when one considers how Thorne decided to treats it's prisoners. Mayhaps they don't have the full picture and she is always someone who is want to keep an open mind, but Himeka knows it would take quite a bit to convince her at the moment. Estinien even more so.

"We've known a few people like that, haven't we?" she says as if she's making a casual observation about the weather. But it's betrayed a bit by how her own tail taps twice against the wood of the loft besides the hay pile. "It's also possible that they're siding with those they think are in power to save themselves."

Which...is understandable. To fear power and to serve underneath it is a bit of self-preservation.

"Or mayhaps they are staying to solve the problem from the inside?" They have known a few of those too.

[ As someone who is now constantly in and out of town, performing errands for whomever seems to need a hand for the moment, she does see some of the same faces as she passes by. But it's the sight of a man wrangling a gaggle of children like a mother duck and her ducklings does give her a moment's pause.

Goodness, they're attached to him like a suit of armor! Which may be effective against some foes, if they were disinclined to commit violence against children. But mostly it just looks funny.

She looks down at her basket--it's not full, but she has a few pieces of dried fruit a small loaf of sweetbread that she had gotten to take with her as part of her assistance at the bakery that morning. Looking at them, however...

It's decided! She walks up unabashed to the flushed man and his charge. ]

You--[ She looks the children up to the man. ] --look like you've had quite the day and are in need of a snack.

[ Himeka down to the ground to be eye-level with the children, breaking off a few pieces of her sweat bread as she holds them out. ]

Hungry?

[ It would be hard not to miss an Elezen when there are so few around! Though it seems that nonhumans are exactly unknown in this region of the world, they are in short supply, so in Himeka's mind that garners a sense of instant kinship. (Usually, her downfall.)

The answer is good enough of an invitation to her so she takes a few steps closer and gives a smile, adjusting the sizable parcel she's carrying to one hip. ]

It's certainly a change of scenery, isn't it? How are you getting on?

Out of the frying pan and into the countryside.

[ The elf turns his head to bark out a single laugh. As annoyed and irritated that he is about the state of affairs that he finds himself in, he isn't one to take his frustrations out on someone else.

Well, correction -- he isn't one to take his frustrations out on people that aren't degenerates like himself. ]

I dunno. I'm getting along all right enough. I found out there's some people that need killing, so there's that. [ His shoulders lift and lower in a casual shrug, as he tosses the question back. ] How about you?

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WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

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Nero | Drakengard | The Devil

Himeka Sui | Final Fantasy XIV | The Fool

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