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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[ He likes them but he sees no issues offing them?

Well, she can't really say she has a differing opinion on it. There are some situations where there is no peaceful outcome and to pretend otherwise would be foolish. Most people don't call upon the Warrior of Light if they're anticipating a peaceful solution, even if it isn't always advertised that way.

Still, it's curious, to say the least. Few are so frank with what would otherwise seem to be conflicting viewpoints. She should be cautious. ]

I suppose we do have that in common.

[ Which...she's never been good at. ]

Of course! I've hammered a few nails and sawed off a few logs in my day. I would hate to leave a fellow escapee hanging.

[ She smiles back. ]

What did you say your name was? Or did I completely forget to ask?

It was nigh impossible to miss the distinct picture he made before they all escaped through the portals and she was, consequently, very preoccupied from that moment on getting Relena somewhere warm and safe she could recover from her ordeal. But it was equally impossible to forget as well. With so many Hyur about, those that were a little more than human certainly stood out.

Though she and this being look very little alike, she feels instant kinship with that alone and approaches, taking the wave as an open invitation to do so.

The voice--or rather, voices are curious, especially the way they bounce off the hollow parts of her horns.

"Nor should you have had to," she says with a shake of her head. "Thorne was hardly a kind place, was it? At least where we were. It's not very surprising so many took the opportunity to leave when we did."

[Estinien tilts his head as Martin does his work, genuinely not catching on that's a children's section until the result has arrived. He takes the thick volume in hand, looking at it in a way that suggests he does not often look at books, and even less frequently reads them.]

The 'folly' part suggested that.

[His homeland has its own grim tales of morality, though the religious focus did make them a bit one-note. He flips it open, and squints at a random page.]

You've read this then, I assume?

[ As happy as she is to make connections with almost anyone she meets, her smile doubles when she recognizes Amos of all people. It's very good to have confirmation that he had made it out too and that he's safe.

Himeka steps on over without any explicit invitation and is all smiles up at him once she's an amicable distance away. ]

It is kind of a low bar, isn't it?

[ She purses her lips, but she's amused and shrugs good-naturedly. ]

Most people here seem open to having us around, at least.

[ She holds up a bag she's carrying, opening the flap to show Amos that she has several wrapped parcels inside. ]

I'm actually delivering some orders for the local butcher. Would you like to join me? It gets you a good lay of the land.

[The Pages he opens on has a full-page, detailed picture of a young man, barely if even an adult, walking away from the entrance to a village, whose residents have their backs to him, and the opposite page talks about his overconfidence in how he planned to find and capture a God.

Martin makes a short affirmative noise.]

Front to back. It's a popular one, the family I live with always wants me to read from it. It's not the only copy, mind you, so feel free to take your time with it. [His hands start to fidget idly over his stomach.] I think it's useful to see what people might be learning when they're kids, sort of. It helps makes sense of where the adults learned it, you know?

[ He gives her a soft laugh, more a vaguely amused exhale. Yeah, the bar was on the ground. Possibly underground.

His expression falters at what she says next, though; about people being open to having them around. Sure, yeah, in that they aren't locked up. That's a big one. But Amos is running into that problem he usually does — he doesn't get other people, doesn't know how to fit in, and now that this place is his only real option... And he still doesn't...

He doesn't mind people staring at him. Talking shit about him. That always happens. It's more just, he doesn't really know where to go from here. What the options are. If there are any.

... Which she thankfully has, and his expression opens right back up. ]

Sure. Haven't really known what to check out. I'm not used to towns like this. [ Baltimore sure as shit wasn't a cooperative town. And space doesn't exactly have farmland. Or open air. Or anything like this. ] You seem suited for it, though.

[ Part observation, part compliment. Wishes he could be more like her, really. ]

The grue looks up, opening all eight eyes wide. Pair by pair, he closes the smaller ones, until just the central, largest pair are still open. A moment, and he gasps softly, pointing up at a trio of the brightest stars, nearly directly above them. "Those?"

There's something about that little gasp that makes most of Martin's worries ease off, and he gives a small smile.

"Yeah. Those are thousands and thousands of miles away, giant balls of fire in the sky." He holds up the lantern demonstratively, keeping it dim. "Like this, but massive, like the sun. And because there's so many, people like to try and see pictures in them. That's what constellations are, they're the pictures we make out of the stars we see."

He glances at him again, holding a hand to block the light still coming from the lantern. "They aren't just reflections of the lights down here?"

"Oh-- no, there's nothing overhead to reflect things, not on a clear night like tonight. It's just the big, empty sky." He dims the lantern a little more, noticing that apparent discomfort, even if it makes him a little more uncomfortable to be this dark. "They're all their own unique things up there."

[ Nero rolls his eyes up to glance at the man -- acknowledging him sitting down. He studies his face for a second before recognizing him as one of the prisoners that he gave clothes. His chin dips a little in greeting, but he doesn't rise out of his prone position.

The pretty girls in the bar continue to shy away from him. He can hear some of their whispering that they think he's a creep and disgusting. His head lulls as he rests his face firmly against the surface of the table.

Here he thought sweeties might be impressed with how many pirates that he killed, but it seems like they are less awed and just troubled that he chose to support Solvunn through murder.

When the man speaks, he rolls partially up. Here Nero thought that the ex-prisoner just wanted to use the portion of unused table to drink and eat on. ]

I thought a sweetie or two would appreciate my skills, is all.

[ He casually replies. ]

Yeah, what's not to like about people?

[ Nero says this without any irony in his voice. He honestly doesn't see any reason why people shouldn't like them. ]

I appreciate the assist. I'm sure that others living out there will like it, too.

[ His tone shifts, like the wind. It's no longer filled with dark promises and wishes for blood. Instead, it sounds almost bright and cheerful. The talk becomes something friendlier and sounding like how people actually talk to one another. ]

It's Nero. What's yours? [ He narrows his eyes; his gaze sets on the horns on her head. Wait, doesn't he actually know her from somewhere other than just escaping through the portal? ]

Nah, it's my fault, too. I didn't have to follow along, but I did. [ His tone is easy, no longer filled with any annoyance. As always, he accepts his lumps. ] It feels like a holiday, but is it all right to have it feel that way?

[ Nero pauses to look over his shoulder. ] You don't think that Thorne's just going to let this slight go, do you? [ The elf doesn't know anything; all he has is experience. But that experience comes from his own world and time. The Free Cities may be at odds with Thorne, but Solvunn is housing some of their escapees. Isn't that kind of taking a side against them? ]

Also, do you think they're gonna stop summoning people here?

The Gods can be fickle.

[ His shoulders give a small shrug, but his tone is surprisingly genuine. Gods are fickle -- loving and hating whomever they like, but being too damn cowardly to accept the consequences for their graces. ]

Blessed days to you, too! [ He reaches out to shake the man's hand, and pat the man's shoulder with his other hand. ] I look forward to working with you for however long I'm here.

[ That means, of course, however long he's in Solvunn and the world. Who knows? Maybe the Gods will listen closer in this country and realize that Nero is a being that needs to be killed quickly. ]

[ His palms feel sweaty, but he maintains his composure. Or it is simply because the other elf is so focused on fish bait and fish that it just seems like he has his anxiety under control.

After a second, he replies: ]

Your princess is in another castle.

[ Nero responds to Link not appreciating kingdom life with a simple reply. He understands; it's difficult to feel right in a castle when his Zelda is somewhere else. It's not so much that he forgot about the execution so much as he didn't consider it much of an execution to commit it to memory.

Hell. Jon didn't even die. ]

But yeah, me too.

[ He tosses in a smile. The corners are filled with wariness, but the overall expression is good. ]

Guess we're gonna be neighbors. That bother you much, little cousin?

[Martin isn't wrong, so Estinien can't even reasonably disagree with him. A lot can be learned about place from their folklore and what they tell their children to scare them into good behavior. He flips through a few pages, noting the illustrations. He closes it.]

Fine. I'll take it, then.

[He wonders if he'll even get through the thing, but he may as well try.]

On the subject of cautionary tales... have you figured out if there's any true to rumors of wanderers being 'eaten by the gods'?

[ For one brief, passing moment, Link almost looks stricken - did Nero know, somehow, the horrible state of limbo Zelda endured while she waited for him, trapped in her unending battle over Hyrule Castle? He didn't -

Oh, but of course. Most princesses live in castles. Link's head ducks sheepishly, which is answer enough. He may have left in the moment over his shock due to that public execution, but in truth? He could never truly settle his heart in a kingdom that wasn't hers.

His curiosity for what brought Nero to Solvunn is replaced by a mild surprise when Nero asks if he'll be bothered by the proximity. He looks up again, seeing Nero's smile.

Link takes it at face value. ]

Should it?

[ It's an earnest question. Nero did say he'd like to watch the world burn, but... as far as Link can see, he isn't... Doing that. ]

That's right.

[ There isn't an ounce of defensiveness in the smaller elf's voice. Even Link can pick up on the lingering bitterness in Estinien's tone, and it has Link curious.

He thinks he understands why not many of the prisoners were keen to talk to "honored guests," but now that they're all out here on more equal footing, it's an opportunity for him to hear more. ]

I thought there must be some reason for your imprisonment, but ...

[ Link shakes his head, at a loss. Even now, he hasn't heard a single helpful explanation. ]

Hmph.

[Estinien stares at the fire, a simmering resentment turning in his gut as he thinks of it. How many honored guests went about assuming it was justified, he wonders? How long would it have gone on without Oliver's intervention?]

The High Mage has a magical tome, capable of telling him things about all those entered within it. His selections were based on a private agenda, and not on what was just. He simply chose his guests by what he thought would best serve his empire.

He would happily have thrown our lives away to save him the complication of dealing with those he judged unfit for his mission.

He frowns again, looking back up. "How can there be nothing up there? What keeps them there, if it's all empty?"

I mean... probably not? There's a few wild animals out there that'll probably take children as an easy target, b-but travelling between the villages doesn't actually seem to be any kind of trouble. [He gives an uncertain shrug.] I think it's just another bit of superstition, really. If the gods even are real.

"I'm, um. I'm not terribly sure, to be honest. I know a little but that's what astronomy is for." He gives an awkward little smile. "I-it's the study of things like stars and outer space. For people who are really, really interested in learning more about them."

[Estinien sighs and shrugs, tucking the book beneath his arm.]

They most likely are, even if not in the way the people here think. In my experience, superstition is mostly the mistelling of truth. There may be something to the tales, even if it's not what you expect.

His shoulders hunch a bit. He's not sure he likes the idea, that there's truly no ceiling to all of this, just flying fires so very far away.

"And that's what's in this?" he asks, turning a few pages with delicate care, tilting his head as he looks at a picture of scattered dots. "Study?"

Right. It's all about just... finding ways to make kids listen to your warnings, really. Before they hurt themselves.

[There's a worried grimace on his face for a moment, before he straightens a little like he's abruptly remembered something.]

Oh- um, I'll just need your name for that one, actually. The lot of us don't really have much, uh. Social credit here, I suppose, so I've been writing down when one of us borrows something.

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WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

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