abraxaslogs | OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne!

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OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne!

WHO: OPEN to all Summoned in Thorne
WHAT: A party, info dump, and magic study session all rolled into one! Eat, drink, mingle -- make some friends!
WHEN: A couple days after the newest Summoned start appearing
WHERE: A ballroom in Castle Thorne

NOTES: This is an open mingle log where everyone can tag one another! New characters may hear some gossip and chatter about a few recent important events that happened in Abraxas. Just in June, the Summoned were welcomed into the Feywilds where they met the Fey. The Fey have been separated from the rest of the continent a long time so it was a big deal. They may hear that months ago many Summoned were kidnapped by a cult and are still recovering. Lastly they would hear about strange rifts that started appearing with mostly harmless animals coming through. Some of those animals were familiar.

General.

Rhy Maresh will have sent a written invitation to all Thornean newcomers within a couple of days of their arrival, inviting them to meet their fellow Summoned. Otherwise, there will be fliers posted in the dining area that anyone can see. If your character has CR with Rhy, Kell, or Istredd, you can assume they were told and got an in-person invite -- and you can even assume your character helped with setup if desired (decorations, helping set out food, etc.) since they definitely needed the assistance. Up to you!

Istredd will also be hosting a group meditation to allow newcomers to access to the Horizon (and network). New Summoned who wish to learn how to step into the Horizon have an opportunity to have their connections to the Singularity activated. If preferred, they can also get one-on-one help from those who've been around for a bit. He will also discuss the magic in Abraxas and point them in the direction of teachers of magic, combat, or other things they may be interested in.

Banquet.

The large ballroom is bathed in warm, golden light from dozens of chandeliers above, reflecting off the gleaming inlaid floors and brass light fixtures along the walls. It is at once neatly sectioned, yet naturally open, allowing the length of the room to flow from one potential activity to another with ease.

In the center, a circular area has been left clear, and every half hour or so during the first half of the evening, two native Thornean (apprentice) mages come up to offer magic demonstrations -- mostly flashy elemental magic, adding sparks and atmosphere. If any of the Summoned who've been around longer wish to show off as well, they are welcome to do so.

Along the walls stand narrow refreshment tables, where one can serve oneself wine from large glass carafes. Hot tea is also available in a few flavors. (Though those who have been here a while may notice there are fewer carafes, and more expensive options for alcohol and refreshments are missing this time.) For those looking to eat, a large dining table has been set out toward the center of the room, with plates and utensils and large platters of food in the center -- nothing fancy, but perfectly serviceable, and arranged to look good even if the ingredients themselves aren't nearly as lavish as they have been in the past. Still, despite the impending war and tightened purse strings in the face of shortages, the kitchen has agreed to help welcome the newly Summoned as best as they can.

Both the handful of large tables and the smattering of small, taller tables for standing at are in full view of the demonstrations so the show can be enjoyed with food and drink, whatever your desire. Bright summer flowers garnish every table, freshening up the space.

Of course, there's plenty of space to stand and mingle, walk around, and see what everyone else is up to. In the back of the room, the folding screens offer a quieter area, for more private conversation and meditation as desired.

Magic Studies.

Behind the folding screens made of tall, carved wood in intricate patterns, there are a handful of low sofas and chaise lounges around a fireplace at the far side of the hall. This sectioned-off area has been enchanted to provide some insulation from the sound of the banquet beyond, and once you step inside, the quiet is like a gentle blanket settling over everyone who chooses to spend some time here.

This is the best place to ask questions in some semblance of privacy, to learn about your new home, and to receive guidance on entering the Horizon and using the so-called network of telepathic notes only the Summoned can send one another.

A mage named Istredd seems to be the one 'in charge' of this particular endeavor, but others who have been in Abraxas a while are likely also about, lending their assistance to those who are newly arrived and sharing thoughts on their experiences so far.

Just be careful -- even if the insulating enchantment is sturdy, there are still Thornean natives around, refilling refreshments outside and demonstrating their magic. You may want to be careful how candidly you discuss any displeasure toward Thorne or its crown, considering the Queen's notoriously explosive temper, and the rumors of the dungeons deep beneath the castle. It's hardly a secret, at this point: a conflict has been sparked, and the mood around the castle is a tense one, even amidst a celebration such as this.

(( ooc: Feel free to make your own top levels and tag around! This is meant to be an open mingle, with the above as mostly setting and flavor, so don't feel limited if you want your character to do their own magic demonstrations, for example, or even if your thread ends up moving outside the ballroom. Have fun!

It should be noted that if you would like to handwave your character's first experience to the Horizon, you can do so. It's a blanket permission from me / Istredd that he took your character there, helped them leave, and showed them how to go back in with their memory now.

Most of this was written by Lena aka Rhy player! Have fun! ))

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Normally, Bay would guess, that someone who isn't exactly human would be more comfortable in magic. However everything about this cat said she wasn't cool with things. Bay had come in with the hope she could learn a thing or two about magic from watching Istredd do his thing. But she can't help but butt in, if she thinks she can help. She tries to catch the woman's eye before talking, hoping to keep her attention.

"Not a fan of magic?" Bay's relaxed, putting some attempt at 'upbeat' into her expression in the hopes being friendly might cause the woman to relax. Channeling her mother was never an easy thing to put to her body language, since she spent so long trying to distance herself from her. Or maybe the world did that for her. "I'm Bay."

Bay's eyes don't drift much from Catra's face while she talks. And she will move to keep a line of sight if Catra tries to be anti-social.

"Not exactly," Catra says sourly. "But I hear this whole Horizon thing is less magic and more like a psychic thing."

Ugh, why'd she have to get dropped into a place that's almost exactly like Bright Moon but with less glitter and more magic? Seriously, is she being punished for her years as a villain? Is this karma?

Unfortunately, Bay's upbeatness doesn't immediately rub off of on her. If only.

But she can't deny her curiosity about the Horizon. Istredd had made it sound appealing; a place you can shape, a place you can have private conversations. A place you can make your own. She's never had anything like that.

"Catra," she replies, bringing her legs up to her chest, arms folded over her knees, tail looped over her feet. Though she still looks wary, it looks like less of a scared thing and more of just a cat thing. "Don't tell me you're about to try sell me on the benefits of magic, because I'm not buying, no matter what you say."

Edited 2023-08-08 05:35 (UTC)

"I'm not the right person to sell anyone on magic, I haven't managed to cast any yet." Bay spares a quick glance around and pulls a chair over. She doesn't want to sit near a sour looking cat-girl. Also she wants to talk. Which is easiest face to face. She's just glad Catra's face is human enough for her to read. "I could try to take you down, but I don't think I'm the best choice. I can answer your questions about what to expect during your first visit? What'll happen, what it's like. Things you can't really prepare for but it's probably nice to know."

She's never had to, but she knows how it works well enough. She's just not sure what'll happen. And if Catra without her memory isn't predictable, well... Bay is ill equipped to handle that. She's only human in a pretty significant way. A sourpuss attitude has not in any way dissuaded Bay's friendliness. Even if her voice dips a little as she talks about 'probably need to know.' "I can start by telling you about it, and if you trust me, I could take you?"

Despite herself, Catra perks up a little. She may hate all of this magic stuff, but the idea of the Horizon holds a lot of appeal, even from what little she knows about it. She's been hanging around here trying to listen in, but she keeps getting distracted by people talking about other magic.

So, Bay's offer to tell her about it is pretty much perfect.

"I got told that everybody can carve out their own space in there and make it look like whatever they want," she says, watching Bay curiously, most of the sour look wiped away. "Is that true? Can you really have something that's just yours in there?"

"You can create a space for yourself, and fill it with whatever you want. But without a lot of deterrants people might still try to enter, just to look around. Mine is a small slice of my home, but I've seen all manner of strange impossible places people have built." Sadly her sketches of those places were in the Horizon. She hasn't taken the time to recreate them in this world. She's been meaning to but she keeps getting distracted by her other projects. "Simply knowing what you want, and desiring it to exist, is enough to make something there."

"There are two warnings though," Bay drops to a more serious tone, not any less friendly but far more based in concern and sympathy, "during your first visit to the Horizon you won't remember anything but your name. Meaning someone there will get to know a side of you, even for a few minutes, you might not want to share with just anyone."

It's a thing anyone going should know, and be sure about when they go in, so they are certain that vulnerable side of them is only seen by who they feel comfortable seeing. "Second is that the Horizon changes you, just a little. When you come back. Maybe not right away, but it will leave you different. I can see in the dark now, what you get will probably be different. Do you understand?"

As much as she thinks 'getting a useful superpower' is a very good trade for the playground that is the Horizon. She would have liked to know this before she entered. And feels it only fair to warn Catra.

The more Bay tells her about it, the more interesting it sounds. A space all of your own that you can make look like anything? And people have made weird impossible places you can go visit?

Her two warnings, however, introduce some trepidation to the mix. Because Catra can't imagine not having her memories, even if it's only for a short amount of time. She guesses she'd be willing to put up with it for one trip, but...

"It's really nice of you to offer to take me."

Rejoice, Bay, because that's officially the nicest, most politest thing Catra's said to anybody since she got here. Even if she does sound a little like she's having to navigate a strange new language she's unfamiliar with.

"But, uh. I'm not exactly known to be the kind of person who reacts well to things and is super safe to be around," Catra adds reluctantly. "If I lost my memory I'm pretty sure I'd attack whoever's with me. I... wouldn't want to attack you if you didn't deserve it." She rests her chin on her knee, contemplative. "Being able to see in the dark is pretty cool. Does it ever give bad changes to people?"

"Are you sure that's you, or just how your life went?" Bay doesn't think someone who could be concerned she's hurt someone she just met could be naturally violent. Of course, she doesn't know this girl's story.

But so much of who you are is in your memories, which Bay is very aware of.

"I can find someone else more capable of defending themselves, but you can't actually hurt anyone in the Horizon. Our bodies stay out here. If you die you just wake up." Okay she does know that you can be hurt in there, but it won't last. And there's really no point adding that if someone is worried about attacking anyone near them.

"Far as I've heard, no. It's something useful, but small." She hasn't catalogued a lot of info on what people gained from there, but since it wasn't even brought up before she went in, she doubts someone gets anything truly terrible. "The singularity that makes the Horizon is a lot of raw power, toying with it is bound to have effects."

That keen observational question takes Catra aback, visibly reeling from it, ears flattening. She looks like she's about to have an existential crisis for about three seconds, and then scowls, "That's way too much self-reflection this early in the day. No, I'm just naturally a pain in the ass who likes to fight things."

Yes. This is totally true. She is not going to think about nature versus nurture at all, thank you.

"The Singularity, that's... what gives people magic, right?" she asks. Her conversation with Adora not long ago is still on her mind, as is finding out that Adora's magic is now powered by that big stupid tower Catra knows nothing about. Which is highly concerning, which means she's going to have to find out shit about it. "So even just accessing the Horizon means it changes you? What does that mean for people that use magic? Do they... change too?"

That body language was very self-explanatory. Bay will just steer this conversation away from there and hopefully she's right, and Catra is kitten-like without her memories. As Bay knows exactly what leads someone to label themselves a 'pain in the ass.'

Parents. Or teachers. Just about any adult with authority you consistently deny.

"It's what brought us here, I think. And what binds us to this place. And, yes, it's where magic comes from. As to what it does to someone with magic, I wouldn't know. That's a question for Istredd." Bay can answer a lot of basic knowledge, but as she is, at best, in over her head completely, she can't really help with that. She can gather Catra means someone in particular, and given her thoughts on magic Bay can gather it isn't herself. But she's already stepped on one perverbial cat-tail this conversation. "It is still your choice to go, but if you have this many doubts it's probably best to talk to someone with more time studying the sigularity than I have."

The thing is, if the Singularity is responsible for all the magic here, then Catra's already been infected by it. She doesn't know how it works, exactly, but earlier in the day she saw words just appear on the wall, and it was apparently just a thing that happens. People think a message, and other people see it. Stands to reason that would be aided by the Singularity, so it's already in her head.

Going to the Horizon means inviting it in more. Like Bay said, it'll change her.

But... does she really have any choice? If she wants to have any sort of privacy here, she has to use the Horizon.

Catra blows out a reluctant, grumbling noise. "I could ask someone a hundred questions about that thing and I'd still need to go to the Horizon anyway," she admits. "It sounds like it has its uses. I just... don't wanna hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it. Even if it's not real."

"If it helps, I don't want you to hurt me either." Bay really doesn't want to see what it feels like to be mauled to death by a catgirl. Not a part of her plans for today, but she is going to trust that it won't happen. Both because she doesn't feel like Catra will do that, and if worse comes to worse she'll just leave the Horizon and come back with a tank.

She hopes she sounds trustworthy and reliable. She hopes that she's reading this right and it isn't going to go disastrously. But Bay usually believes the best in people. Including catgirls. Bay will just hold her hand out. "Do you trust that I know what I'm doing?"

If Catra wants someone else as a guide, this is her chance to go pester Istredd.

Catra stares down for a long time at that outstretched hand, clearly conflicted.

She's never been the type to trust easily -- not that she remembers, at least. She thinks she must have trusted Adora instantly when they met as tiny kids, but ever since then, Shadow Weaver beat it into her that people weren't to be trusted. With everything that she's heard about the Horizon, she doesn't think there's anything Bay can do to sabotage her, but... it's still a big thing, to trust her.

But Bay hasn't shown her anything but kindness and thoughtfulness and patience. Catra knows it could be an act. But. She's not the villain anymore, and she's trying to change her ways, and that includes trying to extend some trust in people.

Catra very carefully takes Bay's hand.

"I trust you," she manages. "I trust you know what you're doing. And... I trust you won't hurt me."

She tries on the tiniest little smile.

"Thanks. For offering to take me to the Horizon."

"Eyes closed, slow deliberate breaths. It'll be okay."

Bay won't be able to hear anything Catra has to offer once she closes her eyes and starts to pull them both down into the Horizon. Bay aims for her own domain for two equally valid reasons.

On the surface there are many wonderful domains out there, but on the whole they are- well, awe inducing at best or very terrifying at worst. The whole of the Horizon is a quilt of many mis-matched squares. Bay's domain is one of the most placid and non-confrontational places she can think of.

A large well manicured lawn, a swimming pool, and a guest house. The main structure oddly absent fron the recreation. Large open vantages of the surrounding some greenery and plantlife. But nowhere for anything to hide, no changes in gravity, space, or anything too weird.

The second is that it's Bay's domain, if there were any part of the Horizon that would easily twist to bay's will and help her fend off a rabid catgirl, it was here. Not a great thought, she does want to trust Catra. But it did factor into things.

She brings them to the lawn, away from the swimming pool. But there are all manner of flowers and trees in the area to look at in spite of the absent main house. Bay's eyes open quickly and she turns to find Catra to both keep an eye on her, and answer any questions she might have.

Catra hadn't anticipated that they'd go to the Horizon right there, but she guesses it makes sense. You get there by meditating, right? You can do that just about anywhere you can sit. She squeezes her eyes shut, takes some deep breaths, and tries to concentrate on nothing. She keeps getting distracted by noises and sensations, so it takes her a while, but eventually...

She opens her eyes again, and sees green, and blue, and so much color, and everything's tidy and verdant and inviting. She looks down, and she's clad in rags, a torn sack that hangs off her. And then a cloak. And then forbidding spiked armor. It keeps changing. But the whole time, a symbol remains that she knows means the Tower. Chaos, and rebellion.

She knows her name is Catra. She doesn't know the name of the woman next to her, but in that moment, it doesn't matter.

"Wow, where are we?" Catra enthuses, beaming, scampering over to one of the trees and scaling it in a flash. She perches on a low branch, and plucks a red fruit, sniffing at it. "And who are you? I don't think I even know who I am, but I'm probably just having a moment. I'm sure it'll come back to me!"

She takes a bite of the fruit, exclaims in joy at how tasty it is, and picks another to toss to the woman. "You should definitely try this, it's amazing."

Yeah Bay didn't catch any of that. Catra's definitely not what Bay expected. She knows your cognitive outfit from arrival is a reflection of yourself. A hint of what's buried by- whatever reason your mind is empty on arrival.

Fortunately she can guess at a few of the questions, because they are easy enough to land on with the situational clues.

But mostly Bay is glad this girl is just likely to get stuck up a tree in her desire to explore. Which is the nicest tonal whiplash you can get from 'worried I might maul you' as the starting point. It's charming, if annoying right now for other reasons. "I'm Bay. This is my domain in the Horizon. And I won't know what you're saying if you don't look at me while your talking."

"Without the apple in your mouth, it'll keep me from reading your lips."

"Oh, sorry!" Catra perks up, finishing her bite of the apple so that she can direct her face toward Bay. "I didn't know you were deaf-- I guess because I don't really know anything right now?"

That should bother her more. It kinda does bother her. But this place is so pretty, and Bay seems nice, and Catra just has this sense that... it'll be alright. She does know a few things. She knows what the Horizon is, and she knows that her name is Catra and she's from Etheria, but this is a different land, and there's a magical castle there that she knows about.

She hops down from the tree, landing easily, tossing the apple from one hand to the other. Her clothes become magnificent robes, a crown perched atop her head. That stays for a moment, and then they shift to rags, sodden with dirt. "So why don't I remember anything?" she asks quizzically. "And why am I in your domain?"

A lot of changes all at once, but that's sort of the Horizon for everyone. Catra seems to be accessing the space very nicely, "First visits to the Horizon do that, you'll get your memory when we leave. I don't know why."

Bay had a few theories, but none of them were very nice and all of them felt like a second visit to the Horizon topic rather than this. This curious Catra would just ask more questions while the more jaded Catra would simply accept it. It wouldn't help right now.

"I picked my domain because it's not too busy. It's a space I can show you and not worry too much about what happens. You had some concerns about coming to the Horizon, so I picked a place that was a little easier to deal with." Leaving the artificial sky she'd painted overhead you'd get to see other domains far more wonderful and terrifying, but this spot seemed like a good start. "You can look around, nothing you can do here I can't fix later. Just remember to face me when you talk."

Very weird to meet this side of Catra, but honestly it might be good for her in the long run. To know this girl exists.

Oh, and maybe that's why Catra's not freaking out so hard about her memoryloss. Maybe on some level she knew that this would happen.

"Cool," she summarizes. "I guess I knew what this place was for, and why I was coming here. I don't remember any of that, but I probably had my reasons. I guess I should just try not to break anything while I've got no memory, huh?"

There's a lot to look at. The sky overhead is blue and vibrant, and the green of everything below is so verdant and fresh. Catra picks a vividly yellow flower and holds it to her nose, inhaling deeply. She feels impossibly light.

"So you made your domain?" she asks Bay, head tilted. "Why does it look like this? Why not... I don't know, an ocean, or a shop, or a house?"

She thinks about explaining all that again, but it's best to focus on what can't be explained in Thorne. Catra will know what this place is for, and why to come here.

"I left it incomplete on purpose, I like having the space to practice creating things." That was true, but not all of the truth. She could, at any point, finish the domain. Put her parents house where it belongs. But it wouldn't bring her family here, and it's easier to keep this to just her place in it. And nothing she had to share. She didn't like facing that, even now.

Bay twists her hand, and a fountain appears in the center of the yard. Squirrels and forest imagery carved into the base. It takes a few seconds for water to start spraying from the top and running down the center pedestal to the bottom.

"I do need to tell you something here, it'll make sense when we get your memories back." There are three key elements to the Horizon. It is a space they can create their own little realms. It is a way to interact with summoned of the other nations. It is a place only Summoned can access. "Castle Thorne isn't safe, the Queen isn't to be trusted, assume if any of the castle staff is around they might be reporting what you say."

Catra openly marvels at Bay's creations, because they look so real. Everything here does. It's almost impossible to believe that it's made out of thoughts and her real body is somewhere else.

She can't resist sticking her hand in the flow of water, watching as it runs over her skin. It even feels real, cool against her palm.

This is so cool.

She listens carefully as Bay tells her what's apparently going to be vital information, and even though she's not quite sure she understands it fully yet, she nods nonetheless. "Got it. There's ears everywhere and the Queen is shady." Did she knows that, when she had all her memories? Catra doesn't know.

After one final look around, Catra smiles at Bay, a grateful little curl of her lips. "I think I'm ready to go back now. I should probably go get my memory back, I guess. Thank you for this. I get the feeling you've just given me a gift more useful than I realize right now."

Bay had stopped worrying about if the Horizon was real. For all applicable reasoning it was. Every sense (Bay had) told her it was real, and so it was. Sure it didn't last, you go back to your body and you'll still be hungry, or tired, or missing your boyfriend.

But it was real enough.

Still, it was good to enjoy Catra marveling at the way things worked, it probably wouldn't be like this for her second visit.

"Going back gets easier, the first time is a little tricky. You need to feel for your breathing, your heartbeat, the ones outside of this world. Then wake yourself up." It's a little bit unintuitive to explain to someone without all their memories how exactly to look for a body they don't remember leaving behind, but this was a part of the song and dance of this world. "If you can't, I can go up and help nudge you awake."

*Feeling for her breathing and heartbeat outside of this world* almost sounds easy, in a really weird way, but as Catra nods and closes her eyes and tries to do just that, she discovers it's actually pretty hard. She feels like she's groping around in the dark trying to find something, thoughts scattering in odd directions and never picking anything up.

She's about to give up and exclaim to Bay that it's impossible when she feels... something. A sensation, a reverberation. And when she latches onto that feeling and barrels toward it, it resolves into a ryhthm. Breathing. A heart's beat.

And then Catra's opening her eyes in the real world, back on the seat in the mingle for new Summoned in Thorne.

...And then memory rushes in, informing her of how she'd behaved in the Horizon. What the hell. She'd been, like... cheery! Why! What is this!

She waits until Bay opens her eyes too, and then says in a rush, "ThankyoufortakingmetotheHorizonIhavetogonow," and then practically sprints away, horrified beyond belief.

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OPEN MINGLE: Welcome to Thorne!

Magic Studies

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