EVENT #13: FEYWILDS - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #13 - Feywilds

OOC event plotting | feywilds setting | NPCs | bestiary

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On June 10, a few days before the portals open, the Summoned will receive invitations delivered to their doors. The ink on the magic scroll reveals itself as you unroll the parchment.

◎ The scroll invites you to The Vermilion Court, to join the Fey during their Masquerade celebration and to meet the King and Queen. They've heard of the exploits of the Summoned, as well as your unique connection to the Singularity, and wish to host you as guests.

◎ An accompanying letter from your nation's officials assures you all details have been closely examined. Their advice is for you to accept the invitation, to prevent any political fallout, but suggest you bring a personal weapon or defensive spells - which the Fey will allow - and to take the provided portal stone that will let you portal immediately back home in an emergency.

◎ The letter also requests you to bring back information you can obtain or observe - anything at all. The Feywilds are unknown, and officials would be immensely grateful if you could help gather details. They stress that you should avoid offending or stealing from the Fey as that could be critically dangerous.

To prepare, local services in all factions such as tailors, seamstresses, jewelry makers, and similar, are instructed to provide a discount to ensure you arrive looking your best and at your finest. Even Solvunn will do away with their plainer styles to help you piece together more detailed clothes for the week.

Although very little is known about the Fey, one thing that precedes their reputation is their elaborate appearances.

The Vermilion Court

The Vermilion Court resulted from the union of the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court after the Fey emerged from hiding. The palace and most of the Fey reside in the City of the Vermilion Court. It's here you'll be staying while you're a guest of the Fey.

The Fey's isolation means their home isn't designed for outsiders. Doorways are low. Be sure to duck if you're taller than 5'6", or you'll smack yourself stepping inside. Ceilings, while also low, will allow someone of average human height to stand straight, though if you're much taller than 6'0", you'll need to be careful not to bump your head against any hanging lights.

As for furniture, fortunately, the Fey prefer to use stumps, rocks, and the ground itself as seating, so chances are you won't have to squeeze into any too-small chairs or embarrass yourself when you break their stool. Just pick a boulder and sit! Beds, however, are on the smaller side.

Making an impression with the Fey is key! Doing so will grant you some IC rewards that'll help your character with their Masquerade outfit, plus contribute to how receptive the Fey will be towards the Summoned in the future.

Further, characters will have a chance to meet two NPCs after the welcoming ceremony.

Welcoming

As the very first guests of the Vermilion Court in history, your welcome will contain a bit of fanfare. Admittedly, things do seem very structured and flashy, as though the Fey are demonstrating only what they want you to see. Nonetheless, there are no signs of maliciousness afoot. Rather, the Fey don't want to reveal all their secrets yet.

Royal Procession

You'll gather in the courtyard of the Vermilion Palace. Here, the same floating lights seen last month will announce the arrival of King Jaqod and Queen Rekhantra - current rulers of the Vermilion Court. Fey archers stand on opposing sides to create a pathway, then draw back their intricately carved bows - demonstrating incredible accuracy as arrows strike each other mid-air to form blooming fireworks that fill the sky.

Behind the archers are the disciples of Faerie, the faith followed by the Vermilion Court and upheld by the High Priestesses. Dressed in ceremonial garb, their illusory wings glow and shimmer as they perform an enchanting whirling dance. Each one carries an orb of light in their palms. The orbs resemble the full moon and are used as a prop to create shapes and designs through the air as they move.

At last, the King and Queen will arrive to welcome their guests. They assure you they're delighted that you've accepted their invitation and promise a week full of wonders - culminating in the Masquerade.

At the end of the procession, you'll have the opportunity to greet one of the following NPCs:

• The High Priestess Lady Cospraila, who is devoted to the Faerie ways
• Mestr Lord Kythros, who has a thorough knowledge of the Vermilion Court tracing back several kings

To have a short interaction, reply here to the NPC you wish to meet.

The Fey aren't aware of, and thus don't recognize, any influence characters might have throughout Abraxas or their respective nations - so there is no rank requirement.

The Cascading Boughs

Once the ceremony concludes, Fey guides will lead you to The Cascading Boughs, so named for the waterfalls that spill over its branches. High above the ground, The Boughs is one of the few locations where the sunlight is more substantial.

◎ Room Assignment

The Fey do love a good trick. Before you enter, the only thing they'll tell you is that the rooms will choose you. What does that mean? Step through and find out as the whirling portal door spits you out into a random room. Your roommate will follow through with no choice of their own.

You can somewhat fool the door in return by stepping through together initially, forcing it to assign you and your companion to a room together. Otherwise, you'll have to get along with whomever The Boughs has chosen to room with you. Switching is not possible - there's only one entrance into the lodgings wing, so what you get is where you're staying.

◎ Amenities

Luckily, The Boughs have plenty of communal spaces to spend time together: lush gardens, beautiful ponds, and an array of food and drink for guests to enjoy every hour of the day.

Need to freshen up? The baths offer warm waters which give your hair a temporary luxurious shimmer while your skin takes on a healthy, sparkling glow.

For a meditative space, you can visit The Listening Tree. Said to hear your deepest thoughts and feelings, The Listening Tree seems to be constantly humming in a low tone. The sound is soothing and almost mournful, like the call of a great whale. Speak to it if you wish, out loud or in your mind. Though it does not answer in words, you sense that it understands in its own unique way. When you leave, you'll feel surprisingly refreshed and calm, a feeling that will leave you in a gently pleasant mood for the rest of the day.

Exploring

The Feywilds is vast, but much of it contains dense woods, twisting vines, and towering mushroom caps. Lakes, ponds, and rivers run through the territory, while jagged mountains stand tall in the east.

Only within the City of the Vermilion Court will you discover more to explore: shops, taverns, and eateries populate the largest town in the Feywilds. Compared to other Abraxan cities, though, it's notably smaller - closer to a village than a city. Shops don't have prices displayed anywhere. Some citizens seemingly receive goods for free. Others receive them in exchange for an agreed-upon favor you can't understand. Theirs is an isolated society, firmly entrenched in ways that are much different than the outside world where, despite established borders, intermingling between cultures often occurs.

Nonetheless, the Fey are welcoming and curious. Some are hesitant, including the children, while others want to know who you are. Though mischievous, the Fey don't intend any harm. They'll be pleased to show you the sights: glittering lakes, beautiful gardens, many strange oversized creatures with an unusual amount of teeth, and The Duskwoods.

Shopping & Currency

Unlike the rest of Abraxas, the Fey don't accept gold or silver. Instead, they've declared that there's a unique currency you must use to make purchases. Not all of the Fey seem to participate in this type of currency. You have to wonder if they're playing a trick, but if you want to buy something, you'll have to do as you're told. To the Fey's credit, they're happy to make a fair exchange in return.

Currency options are:

◎ Candied honey pellets from the hives of a giant bee creature. They can be smoked out or put to sleep, but have a vicious sting that will itch fiercely for 12 hours.

◎ Sparkling pearls, easily obtained where they wash up on the shores of lakes and ponds, but cause you to forget one memory while they're in your possession. You must spend (or discard) all pearls to regain the memory. The memory is typically minor like forgetting your favorite food or that time you fell down the stairs, but some may find themselves forgetting a major event or even their own name.

◎ Something only the character can give. This can be anything, but characters should give genuine thought when making an offer. It could be a lock of hair, a feather from a pet, a kiss, or a valuable possession. They might have to try a few offers before one is accepted.

Each shop will want a particular currency from the list above. It might change from shop to shop, or even from hour to hour within the same shop - so act quickly! If you're having trouble getting the currency by yourself, you can grab a friend to help you with the task. Try to strike a bargain if you want. You could get them to lower the price or change to a type more suited to your skills.

As for the shops, there are boutiques with unique stained glass ornamentation for masks and attire that offer special glamours such as fine sparkling dust or a glowing aura. You can obtain last-minute additions to masquerade outfits with various shimmering enchantments. Small trinket-like weapons can be purchased, such as a pretty glass knife. You can also get larger prop-style weapons meant to accompany a costume. However, genuine weapons are off-limits. No matter what currency you arrive with, shopkeepers insist your money is no good here.

The Duskwoods

The Duskwoods refer to the deepest parts of the surrounding overgrown woods. A thick canopy of trees shadows much of the forest in a perpetual dusk-like state, lending to its name - though sunlight does stream through rare spots between the leaves. At once beautiful and foreboding, the Duskwoods encompass the aura of the Fey: mysterious, full of hidden secrets and dangers, and yet wonderfully rewarding for those who respect it and its inhabitants.

Here, you'll find berries and mushrooms, large insects to collect, and creatures to hunt. Nothing in the woods is off-limits. Hunting is a favorite pastime of the Fey, especially their foot soldiers, and you're invited to participate. Just be sure you know the way. The Fey won't be there to guide you, so you're on your own if you get lost in the tangled maze-like forest. Heavy mists and darkened trees can trick you into going dangerously off-path if you aren't careful.

Though the Fey prefer to hunt by bow and arrow or with a spear, you can take your personal weapon into the woods. Note that firearms will be frowned upon and are likely to get you removed from the area due to the excessive noise. The Fey won't tolerate anything that disturbs the natural state of their home.

For a list of wildlife found in the Duskwoods, see the Bestiary.

One or two personal weapons are allowed in the Feywilds, but don't overdo it and show up with an arsenal. Flora and wildlife should not be removed from the area.

Making an Impression

Unused to outsiders and isolated for centuries, the Fey are watching you closely to determine whether they wish to pursue continued contact. Some preferences can't be helped - they're wary of anyone large in stature, as most have never encountered individuals much taller or larger than they are, but the Fey are drawn to animal-like traits such as wings, horns, or sharp teeth. Other aspects, however, are in your hands, and you'll be able to show off a bit.

You won't be told upfront, so it's up to you to observe what's around you and use social instincts you possess to impress - if that's your goal. On occasion, if a Fey happens to see something they like from you, they'll give you a useful item.

To earn an item, submit a thread of your character performing the tasks below for approval. Threads can be in pairs or groups of any size. Threads do not need to be completed, but should contain a couple of tags from you before submission.

Once approved, we'll RNG from 1 of 3 items for each favor a character earns and provide you with the result. You can use the items to enhance your character's disguise for the upcoming Masquerade. All 3 items can be earned if you submit 3 example threads.

• A transformation potion that will grant and/or remove up to 2 appendages of your choice, such as horns, tails, or wings. For example, you could remove your horns and add wings, add a tail and hooves, or so forth.


• A perfume that hides your scent with delicate floral notes and provides you with a light charm that enhances your ability in one aspect you aren't normally good at. For example: words, confidence, musical talent, mimicking accents, or dancing.


• A powerful dye that will turn one feature of your choosing a different color. The dyes are only available in rainbow pastels or bright shades such as pinks, greens, purples, or metallics like gold and silver. They can be applied to your skin (become pink or blue!), hair, or eyes.

Tasks

The Fey can be difficult to win over, but they have a range of interests and love a good show! You'll have several chances and methods to make a good impression, even if you may stumble in other areas.

◎ Hunting Skill

Hunting is a vital aspect of life. Their hunters prefer bows and arrows, but they'll be pleased to see a skilled demonstration of hunting using any method, including magic. The Gargantuan Viper Hydra is tough to fight one-on-one. Attempting to kill one alone will surely draw the attention of onlookers. Meanwhile, the Daggermaw Slug nests in dangerous areas in the Duskwoods full of poisonous flora and toxic spores. Successfully retrieving a handful of these toothy (and tasty!) critters will prove your competence in navigating the most treacherous of environments.

◎ Physical Uniqueness

You might notice the tamed creatures around the city have decorative jewelry or painted designs on their horns or tails. If you possess horns, claws, tails, or wings, you can impress the Fey by enhancing these elements on yourself with similar delicate gold chains or paint. If you have bright, colorful hair, you can achieve a similar effect by styling it in special ways, for example by adding flowers or beads.

◎ Mount Handling

The Fey have a few peculiar mounts they use. They'll be happy to teach you how to handle one or even all of them - and the quicker you learn, the more they'll acknowledge your talent. Mounts include:

• The Pearl-Eyed Leaper, an oversized lizard ideal for moving through dense treetops. It leaps from branch to branch at great heights, so handling the Leaper requires a solid grip and a steely stomach. Additionally, the Leaper can sense nervousness and will slap you with its sticky tongue if your approach lacks confidence.


• The Luminous Greatshell, a massive snail that travels quickly over flat ground and across lakes, leaving behind a slick shimmer. Its intense speed makes handling difficult. Greatshell races through the winding Misty Rivers are an excellent chance to prove yourself. Just be careful to navigate obstacles, or the snail will stop abruptly and send you flying off.


• The Grinning Longhorn is the most challenging to mount. You must be swift and agile getting on, or else it may kick, gore, or bite from impatience. Wooden replicas are available for practice, but if you're bold, you can greatly impress the Fey by forgoing any practice. Once mounted, the Longhorn is the most versatile and easiest to direct, following your wishes through an unexplained intuition. They can traverse steep, near-vertical surfaces.

◎ Magical Demonstration

The Fey love flashy magic. Show off your spells all you want, deliberately or as a part of your daily life. Conjure items, use magic as a tool to accomplish a task such as hunting or combat, or put on a fun show to entertain the Fey children. The more flash and color you include, the more the Fey will enjoy it.

◎ Consuming Food & Drink

Some dishes in the Feywilds are familiar, but others can be more unusual. The insect-like Daggermaw Slug is a delicacy, for instance, roasted over a fire or poached in citrus-scented leaves. Large bugs can feature in many meals served, while the liquor is exceptionally potent. If you clean your plates or drain your cups, the Fey will be pleased.

◎ Conversational Storytelling

As a close-knit community, the Fey love to chatter and love even more someone who can spin an entertaining yarn. These tales are conversational - anecdotes that arise naturally when having a drink or a meal. They're less interested in stories that feel rehearsed or stiff. If you like to be at the center of attention at a party and know how to embellish, you can win over some of the Fey listening.

The Masquerade

The Masquerade takes place on the final night. By now, you're expected to have your costumes and masks prepared. Spend the afternoon adding any last touches before the big event. Carriages arrive once the sun goes down, and they won't wait long for any stragglers.

This part of the event involves two aspects: a guessing game to try and identify your dance partners and the opportunity to meet one of several mysterious NPCs whose identity you won't know.

There's also a maze to enjoy for guests who want a break from dancing. The food and wine might be a bit strange, though not necessarily unpleasant.

Preparation

It's not taboo to be seen by a select few! You're welcome to choose a close friend or two who can help you get ready for the night. The expectation is that you won't be participating in the guessing game amongst each other.

If you're particularly secretive, private enchanted dressing rooms will be provided to truly obscure your identity.

Outfits & Glamours

In the days leading up to the Masquerade, you'll see shops with masks, outfits, and accessories. Examine what's popular among the Fey to build your look to fit!

The Fey prefer avant-garde fashion, elaborate hairstyles, and intricate accessories. Where a simple ball elsewhere might involve a flowing dress and a tiara, the Fey attending the masquerades will adorn themselves with detailed headpieces, overly stylized hair, and thematic costumes.

Seelie magic has an equally important role. Illusions are used for more than changing one's hair or eye color. The Fey will cast transformative effects that alter the shape and look of their very physical forms. They might add additional limbs, give themselves tails or horns, or elongate their already spindly bodies into something insect-like.

Don't be afraid to get weird. While beauty is an aspect, the Masquerade is also about transformation. Characters are welcome to play it safe if that's what they prefer, but those who break the mold will best catch the eyes of the Vermilion Court.

Masquerade Night

Outside the Cascading Boughs, golden carriages await at sunset. Climb on in. The ride is less than an hour long, and you'll have the opportunity to meet your mysterious companions on the way to the Vermilion Palace. Small refreshments of berries and sparkling wine are available inside the carriage.

Upon entering each carriage, you'll be handed three butterfly pins, to be pinned on guests whose identities you uncover during the masquerade's guessing game.

The Vermilion Palace

As the carriages draw near, the whimsical spires of the Vermilion Palace tower over you. Some stand tall and sturdy; others twist like tree branches, adorned with windows or small balconies throughout. The palace shimmers a faint silver in the moonlight. A light reddish mist hangs low on the grounds, giving the palace its name. The mist is cool and refreshing to walk through, and leaves no stains or traces on clothing.

The stairs leading up to the main entrance appear carved from geodes. At the top, two-story tall doors inlaid with the same silvery filigree give the palace its shine. As you walk through the doors, the red mist surrounds you for a split second. Then you're instantly deposited into the main ballroom.

A disembodied voice announces you based on your chosen pseudonym or title and your appearance rather than your true name. Though you're positive you just walked into the palace, you can't tell whether you're inside or outside. The domed glass ceiling floats above the dance floor. The walls appear to be halved or missing entirely, leading to a sprawling landscape of forests and gardens. Don't stare at the ceiling for too long - you might give yourself vertigo or a falling sensation.

The Ballroom

The ballroom consists of the main dance floor. It's flanked by several seating areas with tall tables and chairs, each with a different flower motif tying them together. The lighting is gentle as the moon's glow filters through the ceiling, broken into a colorful prismatic effect. A masked orchestra plays on a rotating stage throughout the evening, playing the most popular songs in the Feywilds. As one piece flows into the next, the colors of light shift with the changes in key, pulling excited cheers from the Fey guests in attendance.

Attendants carry bottles of Full Moon Wine. The Fey never turn down a refill, and there is an expectant air that the Summoned should also accept. Strangely, the wine's taste changes after each glass. The flavor seems to be entirely dependent upon the recipient and varies from a sweet soda pop-like mixture to bubble gum left for several weeks under a table. But it would be rude to make a face if it's not to your liking, wouldn't it?

Food is much more familiar. Hors d'oeuvres make their way around on platters, and full meals are available upon request. Unlike typical hors d'oeuvres, which are small dishes meant to be eaten in a bite or two, the Fey's version is notably large. Further, no matter what you partake in, the item appears ever so slightly ... off. A deviled egg with a blue yolk, a cracker that is delicious but weirdly mushy when you bite into it, a vegetable skewer that tastes like a sweet dessert instead of savory. Like the wine, the Fey watch expectantly to make sure their guests are enjoying the cuisine.

Rose Garden Maze

Want to do more than dance? Stepping outside into the greenery will send you into a rose garden maze. Filled with the same red mist, the rose garden maze is as beautiful as it's disorienting. No dangers lurk to hinder you, though giant butterflies flutter and overgrown lizards scale the hedge walls. Their sticky tongues might steal a piece of your outfit or any food you're holding, so be careful!

Finding your way out is a bit tricky, but not overly difficult. Small orbs of light will guide you from point to point if you're feeling especially lost. The Fey like a bit of mischief, but they don't want anyone to be miserable at their grand party. You might even run into some of your mysterious companions. Maybe you can finish the maze together? Be sure to keep up your hidden identities while you do!

Completing the maze will lead you back to the ballroom as if you had never left, and you'll have the bonus of smelling like a bunch of fresh roses.

Guessing Game

Socializing with other guests is a game from the start. Fully masked and disguised, you never know just who you are talking to.

Remember those butterfly pins given to you in the carriage? Hold onto them since getting rid of all 3 is the goal! Talk to your mysterious companions, ask them questions, and deflect their suspicions yourself. Any guest you can "pin down" receives a butterfly pin from you placed on their costume.

Although concealing your identity is important, the masquerade is equally about having fun. Provide a few bizarre clues or lean into your costume (maybe you'll only communicate in a single word or a howl!) if you want to help your partner slowly figure out who you are...if they can!

Of course, if you're not very good at it, that's alright, too. It might just be obvious you're you in a mask, and you'll end the night with many pins in you. The point is to enjoy yourself. As long as you're having a grand time of it alongside the Fey and you're giving it your best efforts, your hosts will approve.

Getting rid of all 3 pins will earn your character a glowing orb activated by moonlight. During clear nights when the moon is bright, set it on a windowsill to watch a beautiful scattering of lights cast over the walls and ceiling.

Mysterious Meetings (NPCs)

During the night, you might find yourself with a dance partner or a companion who isn't one of the invited Summoned. Who are they? Well, that remains to be seen. You probably won't find out right there, though you can make your guesses. Maybe you'll get it right!

To receive a brief interaction with a mysterious NPC, fill out the form here and reply with a link to your character's top level in the event.

Only one character per player can sign up. Dances are short, so there won't be a lot of time to chat. Give your questions or responses some thought!

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Comments

[gynvael]

[ The explanation, he thinks, tells him more than any brief answer would have. He can gather enough from it. ]

Never feels exciting when they're yours.

[ He isn't the sort to indulge in trading battle scars except when he returns home to Kaer Morhen. Even then, he often doesn't—prefers to let his brothers speak or boast instead.

He gets it, though. The pity and horror. Funny. Back home, a third option was more common: a fascination, a frosty dismissal because what does it matter if a Witcher cannot feel anything in the first place? Here, he's discovered something closer to what Vash describes, and he remains unsure of how he feels about it. He's candid about the pieces of his past, about the blood and violence that forged him, but sometimes the reactions are... ]

I find the anger most bothersome. When they think...some justice is deserved.

[ And he does not know how to explain that he doesn't want it. That he spent a long time putting his bitterness aside, that he doesn't wish to indulge theirs just because the wounds he bears feel fresh to them. The mages who performed the Trial are dead. There was no justice in how they perished. They simply succumbed to an even greater destruction. ]

[boltaction]

[ he huffs a one-note laugh through his nose when geralt says they're never exciting when you've lived them; he agrees. his scars are just a record of his mistakes, his failures, and, sometimes, his victories.

"so that's the price you pay for saving everyone," wolfwood had told him in the damp dark of july's sewer systems, "i can't understand why you want to help humans so much."

maybe he would never understand, but vash didn't need him to. he didn't need anyone to, really. because vash had seen the way a parent's face could crumple with wet relief when their child runs from the safety of his arms and into theirs, his side warm with blood from lead lodged painfully deep in his gut. it's worth it.

when geralt mentions anger, vash thinks of nai. he's feeling relaxed enough now to lean back against the stone ledge of the baths, his legs stretching out to rest them on his heels. ]

I can't speak for you, but when... people have gotten angry about-- [ he gestures vaguely down the length of his body. ]-- all of this, I think they were actually just scared. Afraid that one day it won't just be a scar.

[ vash tips his head back and gazes up at the ceiling of the bathhouse. ]

As if I didn't know that already.

[ another laugh, a bit brighter this time. ]

[gynvael]

[ There is that, too. Different types of anger, he supposes. It's a new thing, to weigh the concern of others against what he feels he needs to do. Or what he wants to do, if he's being truthful. He has a choice in this world, one he'd never had in the hundred some-odd years he walked th Continent. He could hang up his swords. He could start a life free of the history and training he carries with him.

He hasn't. And though he cannot answer why, he does know that the restlessness and itch in his bones will not leave him. Perhaps it's simply too late for him to forge himself anew. Perhaps he does not wish to. Both.

He's not dissatisfied with where he's wound up. Maybe that's enough.

He watches Vash for a minute. ] You sound as though you're ready for it.

[ Is he? ]

[boltaction]

[ he turns his head to look at geralt too, his stare radiant. the corners of his eyes pinch a little, like he's really considering his question-statement.

is he?

a carousel of faces whirl through his mind, lingering on a select few. his heart thuds, once, a little harder than the beats that come before and after. ]

No. Not yet.

[ there is too much that still needs doing. too many people who still need him. he hasn't yet earned it.

he inhales sharply, as if realizing all at once just how much he'd bared his hand to someone he just met. and in a communal bath of all places! at least it hadn't been like it had with wanda, the knowledge of his life poured into her as violent and unstoppable as the tide rushing in. at least geralt had asked. ]

Um, sorry. That-- I-- that was a lot for a first conversation, huh?

[gynvael]

[ Like many of Geralt's questions, there's room to sidestep it. A facetious reply, a deflection. Those tell him just as much as a genuine answer, and frankly, he expects something of the sort given how much they do not know each other.

But Vash contemplates with sincerity. Not yet. It's strangely honest—the implication this may change. Often, he feels the same.

Geralt sits back with a small smile. Mm. Just a bit. Though he can't say this is the first time. ] I started it.

[ There's a sense he isn't bothered. Maybe he's used to it—confessions, secrets, overwhelming grief when he knocks on a villager's door to ask about the monster that's plagued their homes. He's never minded listening so long as the other person wants to keep talking. ]

Shall we discuss the cuisine instead?

[boltaction]

[ vash's smile is shy but genuine. ]

Well... thank you for listening, then.

[ someone had once told him that it's better to give gratitude instead of an apology in situations such as these. he's shit at putting the advice into practice, but every once in a while he manages to make it work.

he doesn't know geralt well enough to know if he's joking or not, but he plays along regardless. ]

We could! Have you had much of it yet? It never seems to taste how it looks, you know? It's always unexpected.

[ vash is so much more animated and cheerful when not talking about the worth of his existence. unsurprisingly. ]

[gynvael]

[ Geralt's expression is considering. He nods without further comment on the topic, letting the shift in conversation take over.

Small talk is not his preference, but he's notably more tolerant of it from someone whose company he likes. And he does rarely take to an individual so quickly. Vash is, hm. Intriguing. A quality, perhaps, that Geralt cannot name but recognizes.

He suppose it needn't be named. ]

I find the insects easier to swallow. Less...contradictory.

[ They're crunchy and don't run contrary to what his tastebuds expect. Though frankly— ]

I'm not particular about my food. You don't strike me as someone who is, either.

[boltaction]

[ vash, on the other hand, is well-versed in small talk, easily able to find something to talk about with just about anyone. hell, he could carry on a conversation all by himself if necessary. ]

Back home that was all most people could afford to eat. Worms. Not like-- [ he lifts his hand out of the water to make a pinching gesture. ] -- the little ones. These are much bigger and comes in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are teeny-tiny, but then there's grand worms, too. They could swallow a building if they thought it'd taste good.

[ a corner of his mouth quirks at the accuracy of geralt's guess. ]

No, not at all. Plus, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, as I understand it. It'd be a waste not to try as much as my stomach can handle.

[ as much as vash could and would talk about food (see: hours), he's perceptive. more than most of his first impressions typically reveal. not that it's especially difficult for anyone to guess that geralt isn't a fan of rote chit-chat. the man kinda... radiates that vibe.

so the next words out of vash's mouth are not about food, his tone lowering to something more serious. ]

What do you think they want us to tell them? When we get back. The council or... the Free Cities' government? Do you answer to anyone there?

[gynvael]

[ Geralt was not expecting to receive a factoid about worms in Vash's home world. A brief moment passes. He seems stuck imagining one in a different shape and size than the standard. Like a flatworm? He's killed his share of worm-like beasts; he supposes any invertebrate without appendages is technically a worm regardless of shape or length.

(Is Vash's entire sphere only worms like Gideon's was only skeletal remains?)

He's overthinking this. ] Sounds unique.

[ As for whether he answers to anyone, that draws a huff out of him. He takes a sip of his drink. ]

I don't answer to anyone anywhere. And I don't care what they want to know. [ Likely, any information on the Feywilds would be of use. The Fey have been underground for centuries. But Geralt does not interact with the governing body in the Free Cities unless he absolutely must. He hardly even sets foot in the little Summoned meetings they now host. ] These nations only act in service of their aims to control the Singularity and assert power.

[ And sometimes, it feels as though controlling the Singularity and controlling their Summoned are two sides of the same coin. One leading to the other. He doesn't like it. The others can do as they wish. He knows many are more deeply involved in the politics, whether preserving some semblance of peace or undermining the monarchy. He prefers to stay out of it. ]

[boltaction]

They're pretty good, but a bit gamey for people who are used to synthetic meat.

[ but synthetic meat was by no means cheap, requiring a healthy plant capable of producing the amino acids necessary to create it. meanwhile worm was plentiful and equally as nutritious, if not more. of course there was tomas meat, too, but people were more likely to eat their eggs instead or rear them as pack animals, their versatility far more valuable. but geralt doesn't need to know all that.

vash smiles when the man huffs. the answer he gives doesn't surprise him-- again, it's the vibe. it reminds him a little of wolfwood, actually, now that he considers it. that private thought makes him smile wider, and he re-settles against the lip of the baths.

but rather than getting into the weeds of the political powers at play between the nations and their summoned, vash's face softens with thoughtfulness. right. the singularity. he'd witnessed it in the horizon, but he'd kept his distance. even though he could feel it, like a string tied to his finger leading to the heart of it, but deeper. past skin and muscle and bone to some part of him he's only felt a few times before, and most recently when his brother had-- ]

No one in Solvunn seems to really have an answer to what it really is. Is it the same for you and yours?

[gynvael]

[ One day, Geralt will ask what Vash means by synthetic meat. He lets the remark pass by for now with only a raised eyebrow. It escapes him, a little, how empty some spheres can be. For all its faults, the Continent has never been devoid of resources for those with the means to obtain. Once he learned to hunt for his food, starving was a thing of the past—a facet of his childhood he could take into his hands.

That the Singularity interests Vash is unsurprising. Solvunn must view it as the will of the gods, a presence that shouldn't be questioned—or whatever horseshit they turn to when things cannot be explained. ]

The Free Cities? Hard to say.

[ They must know something, but whether they understand what Thorne has discovered is another matter. If they do, he's yet to see it spoken of freely. When most view the relic as a source of over-dependence, it's difficult to learn what it truly provides. He imagines what research they have is carefully guarded. Thorne, however. ]

When I was in Thorne, the High Mage claimed it links all spheres together, and that it is the source of magic. Thorne fears its waning power is causing distant realms to vanish one by one.

[ Ambrose may be right, but there's a distinct arrogance in trying to stop it. If the sun is destined to swallow up the moon, starting a war to wrest control of its rays is not the answer. ]

[boltaction]

[ vash's expression is openly curious. ]

"Spheres"? As in-- different planets? Or different worlds?

[ he remembers reading novels that referred to other dimensions using the selfsame terminology. spheres. it hearkened back to the ideas and theories of early, geocentric understandings of the universe.

as someone who had been born aboard a space-faring craft, it's hard imagining that any planet, even abraxas, is suspended in a bubble of stars and moons and other celestial bodies. but that's not really the primary concern of what geralt has shared. ]

What proof do they have that places are just... disappearing?

[ he flutters his fingers through the air as if to illustrate the idea. ]

[gynvael]

[ Geralt lifts a hand in something of a shrug. ] Worlds, planets.

[ To him, they're one and the same. Long over are the days when he believed the spheres were consumed during the Conjunction; they're obviously out there. The doors have merely closed. Until Ciri. Until—apparently—the Singularity. If the monoliths on the Continent can be used to travel between them, then why not the one here? ]

None that they showed us. [ So that leaves room for debate. He's not certain showing them would have done much to convince, either. Whatever they've learned, it's likely related to a magical theory or experiment. Information the Summoned could not confirm on their own. ] But the truth was compelled from the High Mage by one of us. A man who later...found himself in my cell. [ And slated for execution, as things tend to go when you breach a court's trust. ] Whether or not it's objectively a fact, Ambrose at least believes it is.

[ Which is all that matters. One could argue about Ithlinne's prophecy until the unicorns return; it won't change that the elves believe in it, that they're willing to go to war and pursue a girl over it. Thorne started something when it became the first to pull the Summoned through—and regardless of their reasons for it, it's too late to undo it. ]

[boltaction]

[ vash's mouth twists with some cocktail of chagrin and confusion. so they were never shown any proof, but thorne believes it to be true. that seems to be a running theme here in abraxas. ]

So that's why we're being summoned? To do something about it.

[ he slips further into the water with a soft groan sounding in the back of his throat. ]

I don't even understand how magic works. It was all fiction back home... books about wizards and dragons and stuff.

[ he thinks maybe Solvunn may have made a bit of a miscalculation when they plucked him from the fabric of reality. not that it'll stop him from trying all the same, but still. maybe his spot would've been better spent on someone not completely out of their depth when it came to the fantastical. or what counts as the fantastical to vash. ]

[gynvael]

Officially, yes. According to Thorne. Unofficially, I suspect they all want their share of the assets.

[ Once Thorne proved it was possible to summon a batch of them, it only stands to reason the other nations would want the same. To do otherwise would set them behind on the world stage, and what sovereignty would allow that? Especially when the world is on the cusp of war?

Even accepting the Fey's invitation feels like something of a political statement. He hates the idea of his very existence being such. If there's one thing he preferred about the Continent, it was his ability as a Witcher to remain neutral. To ignore those invisible walls people draw. Here, that ground is much less firm. ]

They didn't take you for your magical expertise. They've more than enough mages for that. They want to use us for our unique connection to the Singularity. And perhaps for whatever experiences back home propel our understanding of it.

[ Vash may not have said much about himself, but no one who lives a dull life earns that amount of scars. ]

[boltaction]

[ whatever experiences propel his understanding of it, huh? vash's expression becomes... thoughtfully distant. ]

Have you ever tried talking to it?

[ he asks suddenly, after a long stretch of companionable silence. ]

The Singularity.

[gynvael]

[ Geralt cocks his head. He has, but only because he's aware of Julie's secrets. Vash cannot possibly know—so he must have another reason for considering the notion. ]

What makes you think it can hear you?

[ Geralt's own thoughts are ambivalent. Jaskier felt something. Rhy. Julie. Geralt did not. The one and only time he attempted, he received only silence.

He suspects it's something to do with his mutations. Or his disconnect with Chaos. He can use it in his Signs, but he doesn't feel close to it the way some others do. Its loss would be like losing a tool, not a piece of himself. ]

[boltaction]

[ vash's luminous stare appraises geralt, like he's looking for something he can find worn on his face or reflected in his gold eyes. he wets his lips. ]

Let's... call it experience?

[ geralt has already expressed not having any interest in dealing with or serving abraxas' governments, and vash didn't get the feeling he was lying about it. it's probably safe to show his hand. if only just a little. ]

Sort of.

[ when he looks at the singularity in the horizon it feels like seeing someone he's met before, and yet their name escapes him. ]

Back home I could... speak to-- things. [ it feels demeaning referring to his sisters as "things," but it simplifies things. ] Through a connection I shared with them. I get a similar feeling from the Singularity.

[ he fiddles with the hem of his towel beneath the water. ]

So, I was just wondering if you'd ever tried, and if it had said anything back if you did. That's all.

[gynvael]

[ Hm. Things. Geralt's expression is difficult to read, but he seems contemplative. Vash is the first to tell him the Singularity feels familiar. ]

The relic as it stands in the physical world is near-impossible to access. In the Horizon, however, you can walk up to it. What you might uncover, I don't know. We Witchers—I haven't got a noteworthy connection to...anything. Back home or here.

[ Perhaps he might've, had he followed Visenna to become a druid instead of being left to the Witchers. But that is not the path he took. There's no sense in dwelling.

As far as he believes, the Singularity is not an object, but nor is it alive as a person might be. It's something else. Something different. ]

Just be careful. Not all doors can be closed.

[boltaction]

[ witchers. that means little to vash, but he files it away to ask about another time. maybe if they manage to find each other again.

that geralt thinks to warn him, to tell him to be careful, makes vash's heart thud in his chest. he doesn't think geralt is... human, per se, but he's near enough that vash feels that old, fond ache he's nursed for all humans since he was cognizant of their existence.

he hopes it doesn't reflect too obviously in the way he smiles, but it's easier to fake what he doesn't feel than it is to hide what he does. ]

I will.

[ he turns his head to face the water, eyes closed, expression relaxed and blithe. ]

If I'd known I was going to meet you by coming here, I would've been a whole lot less... [ chuckle. ] Well, you saw.

wrapping!

[gynvael]

[ Vash's expression is met with a reflective one from Geralt. As though he's not yet determined what to make of Vash. Nothing unfavourable, he thinks. ]

Nervous? [ He rises from the waters and steps out, reaching for his towel. ] Don't worry. You're hardly the first to be so.

[ Whether he means around him or overall, Geralt does not clarify. Both, maybe. He gathers his clothes, his boots, the empty bottle of wine. ]

Perhaps we'll find each other at the dance.