WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

[abraxasmods]

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.

Comments

[extremethirst]

What absolute losers.

[ Nero turns his head to dismiss people who just kill for no reason whatsoever. His expression actually becomes a sour one rather than the goofy, wide smile that he has been wearing for most of the conversation. ]

Good, good. If you really want to worry about the next potential threat, it would probably be ... Solvunn, the Free Cities, or Thorne.

[ As he names the countries, he points in various directions to indicate each one. He doesn't sound like he is making jest either, but being serious with her that those are the ones to be worried about, if she really wants to worry about anything. ]

... and, I honestly cannot follow you at all, sweetie. But I'm sure it makes sense to you so I'll let you have that one. [ Honestly, he feels her reasoning is so incredibly circular that he cannot comprehend it. If he started to try to break it down at all, he'd just be running around in circles with her and decides to just let it go. ]

Current predicament is -- nothing for you to worry about, honestly.

[ Nero gives her a nasty smile before it settles back down to his usual easy-going one. It isn't so much that he feels like she is faint of heart, but he doesn't think that she's going to understand it. If she doesn't understand why a person would have sex while miserable and feeling hopeless, she definitely won't understand what he's trying to do. ]

My housing problems?

[ Again, his eyebrow raises. ]

You mean help with fixing things up in the tertiary settlement, right? [ He scratches the side of his head. ] Sure, I appreciate it if you're willing to fix that place up.

I'm sure my little cousin would appreciate the hand in fixing things up, too. [ Could Nero fix up his own house? Probably. Will he? No. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ To that end, she does give a moment's pause. It is true that the greatest threat would likely come from those already in power and for the most part her fears revolve around Thorne, if only because that is the one she has the most information on. They had decided to come to Solvunn because it stood as the neutral party in the battle of ideals--something that felt like the easiest, natural decision.

They all need more information before they can take a formal stance on the matter, don't they? ]

Why did you come here, then?

[ Did he also think the greatest threat was elsewhere? Or was he looking for it with the sort of person he is?

For as open-minded as she is on most subjects, she does have a few odd ideas that are unshakable. At least until she's presented with evidence to the contrary. Rebuilding a settlement is arguably more important anyway. ]

You have a little cousin here?

[ Now it's time for Himeka to make a jump in logic and assume there is some sad Elezen child living in squalor in the Tertiary Settlement. If that isn't reason enough to help out, then nothing will be. With her free hand, she taps her sternum twice in a "leave it to me" sort of gesture. ]

Of course. It's not always easy to find your place in a new town, but everyone should have the basics. It wouldn't be the first restoration project I've been a part of either.

[ And arguably one without the backing of, you know, a city-state, friends in high places, proper supplies, etc...

But she's going to try. Hopefully it won't be a disaster. ]

[extremethirst]

Because someone asked me to come here.

[ Nero shoves his hands back into his pockets as he takes a few steps away from Himeka. He drags his gaze around the scenery that presently assaults him. ]

If I knew it was like this, I might not have come at all.

[ Solvunn leaves a bad taste in his mouth, but they might prove to be interesting yet. Their stance is very much like the elves of his world, but they might end up being more proactive than his own race. He brings his hand out of his pocket, tucking his thumb underneath the bandana on his head, and rubbing his fingernail against his forehead -- against the brand on his skin that he hides. ]

I do, yeah. [ Dropping his hand down, he adjusts his bandana to make sure that it's sitting properly on his forehead. ] He lives in the tertiary settlement and seems to be getting along all right. I guess it's because he's used to living with nothing.

[ Nero doesn't sound sympathetic to Link's plight or situation; he only sounds mildly amused about it. ]

I'm not used to living in a house, so... [ But his tone still comes off as dismissive. ] It'll be appreciated whatever you do. [ He offers a shrug. Whether it's a shithole or not, Nero doesn't sound too bothered if she can't fix up where he's living.

In short, he's saying that there's no stakes at all for her. Link wouldn't really know better; Nero doesn't care enough to want better. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Well...she supposes that's a fair enough reason as any when you don't have enough information to really weigh the pros and cons of their available options. "Anywhere but here" seemed to be the general consensus of most of the prisoners. If they hadn't already had an inkling based on their discussion with Anatasia, Himeka may have vied for Solvunn specifically for it's neutral stance.

Of course, she takes it less on the stance of the locals and more of the fact that country life may not be suited for everyone--which she assumes is where Nero is going. ]

Not a fan of goats?

[ Even so, there are those who are much more without than here in town. She is of mind to venture out to the Tertiary Settlement anyway when she heard it was the best place to do a little fishing, one of her favorite pastimes. ]

Then I'll be sure to pay him a visit.

[ If he doesn't need much then maybe there isn't much for her to do, but she would be remiss not to offer if she has the capacity to help. But she won't force herself on someone that doesn't want it, either. ]

Well...I'm not sure if I should say "best of luck with your pirate hunt", but I figure I may hear about it anyway.

[extremethirst]

Not a fan of all of this. [ He makes small circles with his hand as he gestures to everything around them. ] But Solvunn might prove to be interesting yet.

[ His arm drops as he fixes his gaze on a few of the buildings around them. He tilts his head as he seems to try to see through the walls, before returning his gaze back to her. ]

He'll appreciate making new friends, I'm sure. [ Nero gives a small shrug of his shoulders. ] Kid's been a little sheltered. [ He lifts his hands, wiggling his fingers, at the word 'sheltered'.

'Course, what he means by sheltered is believing that the Goddess isn't psychotic and has a loving plan in store, and the world isn't a steaming pile of shit, versus not being a feral elfling that will eat rocks if left alone. ]

I appreciate the warm regards all the same. I'm sure the pirates don't, but -- [ Nero shrugs his shoulders. Fuck 'em. ]

[aquaveiled]

Sometimes quiet places can surprise you.

[ After all, not much had happened in her quiet little hometown...until it became apparent years later that the Ruby Princess had been overcome with a monster and cloistered herself away in the palace. A part of her wonders if she hadn't abandoned her town and her position she may have been able to stop that, but there's no sense in worrying about that now.

At the mention of his cousin as a "kid", Himeka unknowingly makes the same mistake Nero had with Relena, now expecting a young Elezen, much like the twins that she had come to care for back in her home world. She doesn't have a particular penchant for children in general, but she does miss those two something terribly. She's resolved to seek this child out now. ]

I'll do what I can, then. You have my word.

[ For whatever weight that actually holds.

Himeka adjusts her parcel and takes a step away, knowing she should get back to her own errands all the same. ]

I won't keep you from your hunt any longer, then. I hope you find what you're looking for, Nero.

[ Though that may not be something he should hope for. What a strange man. ]

[extremethirst]

That's the hope.

[ His shoulders lift and lower in a quick little shrug. ]

I appreciate it! [ Nero decides to throw out that he'll also be appreciative if Himeka can do something for Link. His smile widens considerably -- looking less manic and more just pleased. ] Good deeds should be rewarded, so if you think of anything let me know.

[ It's always hard to tell if he's being serious or not with his offerings. There's always a feeling like agreeing to his help is like accepting the help from some devil. Nero enjoys basking in that feeling, however. But sometimes, he honestly has no bad intentions towards anyone; it'd be exhausting to do it all the time, after all. ]

Probably best I don't, but hey... [ The elf trails off as he shuffles away to return to his hunt. ]