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ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote in [community profile] abraxaslogs2023-08-19 10:14 am

EVENT #14: ANOMALIES - IC EVENT LOG

Event #14 - Anomalies

Over the last several weeks of summer, leading up to AUGUST 20, the appearance of rifts, and the subsequent creatures, has become a disturbingly common appearance. The average citizen has taken the changes in stride. Some have even integrated these creatures into communities as pets or beasts of burden. Nonetheless, these unprecedented appearances have resulted in rumors. Is the cause the Summoned? Have they carried a dark curse back from the Feywilds? Are the Old Gods offended?

A Coordination Post will be available for communications between mods and players. Report notable actions and events, or track Developments. Though we encourage you to take advantage, using the Coordination Post isn't required to participate in the event.
Anomalous Threats
Dubbed Anomalies throughout Abraxas, suspicion and curiosity turn to terror when much greater threats - called Anomalous Beasts - begin to fall through large rifts. Where did these creatures come from? Why have they arrived? And is this only the beginning of something far worse?
Arrival of the Beasts
The Anomalous Beasts tumble through open rifts that appear in set locations throughout Abraxas. You won't know where those rifts are at first, but it steadily becomes obvious as reports from locals come in. The beasts won't stay put, either. At random intervals, the rifts will suck the Anomalous Beast back through it and spit it out at another location somewhere in Abraxas. It might be in another city or in another faction altogether. It appears these beasts are not limited by borders.

Fortunately, each rift area only holds one Anomalous Beast at a time - so you won't have to face multiple threats at once.
Tracking the Beasts
Soon, you discover that the rifts are in stable locations. The beasts can go into one rift and out the other, but the area where the rifts appear doesn't change. You can use this to your advantage. Officials will set up portals to identified rift locations, allowing you to focus on an individual area - even if you can't predict which Anomalous Beast arrives from the other end.

Many of these locations are important to the locals. While confronting the threat, you'll want to minimize damage and casualties.

If you're tempted to try and go through a rift, you'll get a nasty shock that sends you flying back. Of course, if you happen to witness a native Abraxan attempt the same - whether out of fear or by accident - you might not want to try yourself: upon contact with the rift, any native Abraxans will be vaporized in front of your eyes. You should probably stick to travel via portals.
Arcanum Effects
Each Anomalous Beast bears a glowing Arcana sign on its flank. Be careful if you match its Arcana - you may begin to take on the beasts' animalistic traits, absorbing its aggression, hunger, or fear. These sensations can overwhelm you, causing you to mimic its behavior. Is your will strong enough to resist? Or will you succumb completely, becoming one with the beast?

You can get help from another Summoned of a different Arcanum. They'll feel compelled to make physical contact, absorbing some of the effects into themselves and lessening its severity by sharing it with you. This effect will remain while you're near the Anomalous Beast - as long as it's alive - but with effort and help, you can mitigate it and overcome the powerful sensations.
Types of Beasts
The types of Anomalous Beasts arriving might be familiar to you. Maybe you heard stories from another Summoned. Maybe you remember seeing it from your home world.

If you know what it is or its weaknesses, you can share this information using the Network or by word of mouth to help others defeat it. As for the beasts you believe have no way of being defeated? That may be true to your world. But you're in a different world now with strange powers, abilities you've never heard of, and spells you might've never seen before. These factors can change much. No matter the beast, there will be a way to defeat it.

To review what characters will be facing and each beast's Arcana sign, see the List of Anomalous Beasts on the OOC Plotting Post.
Faction Assistance
While the factions have asked for your help given the overwhelming number of threats that arrived at once, the factions can hold their own in many battles. They'll be able to assist you, and familiar officials may even arrive on the battlefield. General NPC actions are outlined below. You can assume they'll come to your aid based on those descriptions as needed.

Portals to each rift location will also be established within the first 24 hours. While the portals won't take you directly into the fray, they'll be near enough that you'll have the chance to arrive on time to mitigate damage or confront the threat.

You can request more significant aid or resources from an NPC using the Coordination Post.

There is no influence requirement to make a request, but influence and your character's relationship with faction NPCs will be taken into account to determine the outcome.
Thorne
In Thorne, assistance will come from the following:
Jolene Sybell. Jolene will arrive at the front lines as needed. She has offensive spells but specializes in healing and medical magic. If you're wounded, she can mend you quickly or stabilize any grievous wounds so someone can take you to the infirmary.

Soldiers & mages. Thorne's soldiers are concentrated in Borrel, while Castle Thorne has skilled mages. They'll be able to offer shields, offensive magic, and wards to help in any battle.
The Free Cities
In the Free Cities, assistance will come from the following:
Marlo Reiner. The Prime Minister is as much a soldier as she's a politician. A former military captain, she'll direct the soldiers under her command on the front lines. She can provide cover in a fight or strategic advice. Her weapon of choice is a sword and a sidearm.

The army. The Free Cities has the largest army in Abraxas. They'll be out in full force, providing combat assistance, protecting citizens, and offering medical aid. Any soldier will readily give you a hand on the field. If you aren't sure where you're needed, they'll direct you.
Solvunn
In Solvunn, assistance will come from the following:
Isar Hart. Deeply devoted to the commune, the newest Council member will arrive with his ever-present companion Skaldi. A fierce and protective herding dog, she will fend off any threat. He's also followed by a few sheep that cast an unusual shadow. When attacking, they grow powerful ram horns and sharp teeth. Their muzzles elongate, resembling a wolf in sheep's clothing. Word is, Isar has a pact with Spyndlveiss, Guardian of the Flock.

Elders and the Gods. Solvunn may not have a strong army or powerful mages, but they do have the Gods on their side. Elders will lead offerings and sacrifices - and the Gods will answer. While facing a threat, you might find something invisible blocks a blow or a wound suddenly appears on the beast. Though no physical presence arrives, you nonetheless feel the helping hand of something.
Ending the Threat
Resolving the threat involves not only defeating the Anomalous Beasts but also closing the open rifts. Fortunately, accomplishing the former will contribute to the latter.
Defeating the Beasts
Taking on the Anomalous Beasts is no easy task. You'll be faced with several obstacles while you fight them that might prevent you from defeating the beast: the rifts might suck the creature away before you can finish the job, you might be overwhelmed by your mind merging with the beast's, or you simply lose the fight.

In the end, one team will successfully defeat the beast. If you're one of the victorious, how you approach and finish the job is up to you. Take advantage of your surroundings, seek help and knowledge from other characters, and make creative use of your environment and skills.

And remember - defeating it doesn't mean killing it. The beast only needs to be subdued as a threat, whether through death or capture. Of course, once subdued, what happens to it may be out of your hands...but there's a chance that not all of them will be put down.

Requests for a victory roll will be accepted until AUGUST 23 at 11:59 ET. Only characters who win the roll can kill or defeat the Anomalous Beast. Please see the OOC Plotting Post for more information.
Closing the Rifts
With each Anomalous Beast dispatched, you'll notice that the rifts in the world start to shrink. The effect is subtle at first, but with every victory, it's undeniable that the key to closing the rifts is to bring down the Anomalous Beasts climbing through them.

Not every beast must be killed, but the majority of them should be for the rifts to close completely. By the end of the event, all of the rifts will have closed.

Across the Rifts
Each rift opens in a particular area. Each Anomalous Beast will have a "first sighting" at a specific location. Reports will surface as rumors, victim statements, and witnesses. Regardless of how the information comes to you, it likely catches your attention. Perhaps you hear a description that sounds chillingly similar to a monster you've encountered in your past. Maybe you're worried that the area has innocents who need to be protected. Or, maybe you're merely excited about a potential new species.

The beasts will move from rift to rift - not by choice. You might catch the one you're chasing when you arrive, or you might find yourself facing something unexpected. Your task isn't just to kill the beasts - the areas will need protecting, too. You'll have to work with others to do so. You could, for example, decide to have someone distract the beast while you evacuate an area.


[ Click the image for a larger version. ]

Each location is assigned a number that corresponds to an area labeled on the map above. Characters will have access only to their faction's territory on the rift map.
Kingdom of Thorne
◎ Castle Thorne (1) | IMAGE
Security in Castle Thorne has always been paramount. The thought that something could get within the castle walls is unheard of. Fortified by the kingdom's military and strongest mages, and boasting the host of the majority of Thorne's Summoned, it should be ready for any threat. That is, until something monstrous appears right outside the city's borders. Locals claim it slinks by on large tentacles with a single massive eye and a sense of foreboding.
◎ Frostwurm Tunnel (2) | IMAGE
Located northeast of Hayle, the snow-covered peaks are the perfect habitat for the Giant Frostwurms that provide valuable healing crystals. They burrow deep into the rock, creating a labyrinth of large tunnels. While the last time the Summoned were in those tunnels was not by choice, this time, you're asked to help protect the Frostwurms from what witnesses are claiming is a dragon or a very large wyvern. Except...dragons haven't been seen in Abraxas for many decades.

Due to the crystal's hallucinatory properties, the Summoned will be provided protective shield to prevent them from breathing in the air. The shield is invisible, causing the air around them to shimmer slightly. Be careful not to damage it in any ensuing fights.
◎ Whitehill Village (3) | IMAGE
A quaint village, Whitehill is an insular community established for many generations. Well-read despite their economic class, residents of Whitehill pride themselves on their magical knowledge used to help cultivate the Snow Petal, a rare flower that blooms only in their valley. Highly sought after for potions and elixirs, a small garden patch has already been destroyed by what appears to be a corrosive substance left behind by a large black wolf or wildcat. Residents fear this strange blight could devastate the elusive Snow Petal.
◎ Dukewood Lumber Mills (4) | IMAGE
Deep in the forests east of Nott sits Thorne's most profitable lumber mill. The sparkle of magically powered saws keeps the mill running at all hours. Although the land is owned by an aristocratic family, its residents are working-class. They earn a meager living for their families and fear not only for their livelihoods but their lives. Whispers of a shadowy figure with sharp claws spread through the workers, who remain on guard as they try not to let superstition get the better of them. Unfortunately, a few may be too far gone. They're even beginning to insist that the figure is...wearing a hat?
◎ Southern Farmlands (5) | IMAGE
The rolling hills east of Borrel are some of the most fertile land in Thorne. With harvest season drawing near, fields of green turn to amber for the most plentiful of crops: wheat. However, an unexplained fire in one of the fields has raised the alarm. Talk has arisen of a strange silvery creature wearing a crown. Witnesses claim it sits on wagons and anything that looks remotely chair-like. Or perhaps...throne-like? What could it be? Does it have anything to do with the fire?
◎ Southern Mountains (6) | IMAGE
This winding path between the peaks is an important trade route that cuts towards Borrel for those unable to cross the waters. While dangerous, many seasoned merchants will take this path to save precious time. Lately, though, the dangers seem to be much greater. Injured men stumbling out of the mountains claim their friends were torn apart by a multi-limbed insect the size of a full-grown gryphon. One describes black horns, while another insists it had hands grown over its torso. Whatever it is, it's hungry.
◎ Fishing Docks (7) | IMAGE
Home to dozens of fishing boats and trawlers, the docks and its nearby fish market are the lifeblood of Nott. These fishermen are skilled at traversing the lake - so it's unusual that one of them has gone missing. Whispers say the man was dragged under the waters by lurking black tentacles. Many are afraid to venture out again, claiming that something in the lake is watching them.
The Free Cities
◎ Fomalhaut (1) | IMAGE
Though the port city is a fixture in the Free Cities, no one is granted permission to approach the heavily guarded barricade that leads into Fomalhaut. A large sign reads NO TRESPASSING! Official Travel Only Beyond This Point! Another reads Deadly Force Authorized. A third states simply DISEASE. Fortified walls and barriers protect the valuable machinery powering the shields that enforce the quarantine. Lately, tensions have heightened due to heavy bipedal tracks and reports of a moving metal statue. A breach in the shield could devastate not just the Free Cities but all of Abraxas.
◎ Northeastern Mountains (2) | IMAGE
These sharp peaks span past most of the Free Cities' territory. The smaller mountains near Aquila are popular for mountaineers, geologists, and engineers looking to test their newest inventions at higher altitudes. Finding abandoned equipment is not uncommon. Recently, many travelers have fled the mountains, escaping an invisible entity that haunts the area. One scientist who returned injured insists that he doesn't believe in spirits but says that "an unseen force" caused him to slip and fall.
◎ Andromeda Bay (3) | IMAGE
A popular destination for rest, the waters of Andromeda Bay are a welcome reprieve during the hot summer months. Except, the crystalline blue waters have grown tainted with a pungent stench. People are fleeing the shores, warning each other that the a tentacled swamp-fish with a gaping maw has overtaken the bay. Locals fear this disruption to tourism will impact their livelihoods. Meanwhile, biologists are concerned the foul waters will disturb the delicate ecosystem.
◎ Cadens Barracks (4) | IMAGE
The barracks are familiar to most of the Free Cities Summoned. Now, the usually bustling and tightly run military hub is in a state of high alarm. Few soldiers are out in the open. Barracks and rooms feature hastily boarded windows and doors. Here and there are splashes of blood. Any soldiers out and about have their weapons at the ready. Injuries appear to be bites and vicious claw marks. There are ominous whispers of, We can't even see them.
◎ The Badlands (5) | IMAGE
With frequent dust storms, difficult rocky terrain, and extreme heat, the Badlands are the last place you want to be. Most know better than to venture towards its heart. Bandits occupy only the more habitable edges around the area. The few souls who brave the landscape are hardened survivalists or soldiers on patrol. You should take their grim reports of a new fearsome creature seriously. They say it bursts out of the ground and spits deadly acid - melting one individual to the bone. Though the Badlands houses some of Abraxas's most dangerous beasts, this one appears to be new...and it might be coming closer to the city.
◎ Farhill Mining Camp (6) | IMAGE
The Farhill Mining Camp is the largest mine in operation. Rows of cheap housing are pressed together with little care, sitting dangerously close to the mines and the fumes that come with them. Jagged hills of varying height and stability make traversing the mining area tricky. Citizens of all ages work the mines daily, with children able to quickly squeeze through small crevices. The ground often shakes with the rumbling of machinery, but recently something else burrowed beneath has been sending quakes throughout the mine. Unusual dragonfly-like insects, glowing green, have also swarmed the area. With operations refusing to cease, a collapse could be disastrous for everyone involved.
◎ The Red Path (7) | IMAGE
Named for its iconic red sand on the surrounding hills, the Red Path leads to and from Libertas. Known for being relatively safe, merchants, travelers, and hiking enthusiasts frequent the Red Path for its beautiful scenery. When reports of frequent animal attacks begin to surface, word spreads quickly. Merchants now take the road warily, and many refuse to hike it. Surviving witnesses say the creature's enormous white bulk stands out starkly against the red landscape. Most injuries consist of burns, and scorch marks mar the area.
Solvunn Commune
◎ Tertiary Settlement (1) | IMAGE
The Tertiary Settlement is a rough place to make a living, but skilled fishermen have learned to thrive. Rundown wooden houses dot the shoreline as boats row out in the hopes that this day's catch will be the one to feed several mouths at once. Lately, the fishermen claim that an unusual leviathan has been spotted in the waters, something massive and grey. Unlike most leviathans, its teeth are blunt, and it doesn't seem to dive deep under the sea.
◎ Shrine of The Maw (2) | IMAGE
This wooden path lined with dark runes leads to a foreboding tree on a hill. This tree sprouts no leaves and sheds no bark. At the base of its trunk are lit candles. Old and new wax alike stains the tree's roots. This tree is the central shrine to Dyvoraetiir, Herald of the Maw. Dyvoraetiir consumes hopes and dreams, sending those who offend into despair. Intriguingly, the reptilian rock-like creature spotted here is not the threat it should be. Instead, witnesses say it's sluggish and disoriented...and other beasts who arrive through the rift will exhibit similar symptoms. Commune elders fear this is a sign of an angry god. They're desperate to protect the area from further disruption.
◎ The Offering Grove (3) | IMAGE
East of the Secondary Settlement is a popular ritual site. A winding spiral leads to the grove's center, where a large offering bowl sits. Offering bowls are common in Solvunn, but the Offering Grove hosts the largest bowl. Made from sanctified metals, it never rusts or erodes. Many travel to this site to make crucial requests or as a show of penance. Because rituals may take several days or longer, many are reluctant to undo their work and refuse to leave the site, despite the glowing pink light that shines from the shadows.
◎ Mountain Ritual Site (4) | IMAGE
Halfway up the cliffs is a small rounded platform. Crafted to divine truth and one's true path, this is where many seek their answers. The mountain air is said to provide a person with clarity and even visions. Elders have grown concerned by returning visitors who say they've glimpsed the face of a new God, a hulking figure with a decorative mask of hanging tassels.
◎ Forest Shrines (5) | IMAGE
Several shrines make their homes in the Solvunn forest, dedicated to Gods you might've encountered or heard of. The most popular shrine caters to all Gods of the land. Sacrificial bones rest beneath the arched altar, bones that locals whisper are moving. Elders fear not only upsetting the Gods but damaging precious and ancient shrines that served the commune for centuries.
◎ Feintak Ritual Site (6) | IMAGE
If you were here last June, you might've taken a journey to the hills just outside the Primary Settlement into a small wooded area that hosts a plethora of unsettling statues. Called "Feikinstaftaka" in the old tongue, locals refer to it as "Feintak" to avoid invoking the power of its true name. Used to remove high-level curses, performed only under the guidance of the Solvunn Council, this sacred area keeps a tight lid on dark magic - magic that could spell disaster should it be unleashed. Unfortunately, that might've already happened: a walking figure shrouded in shadows has been spotted in the area, and no one knows what it means.
◎ Abandoned Settlement (7) | IMAGE
A popular trading route skirts the edge of this swamp. Well-worn and overgrown, the few homes still standing are in disrepair. Despite its foreboding appearance, the swamp hosts small creatures said to be servants of all nature gods. Playful and harmless, they emerge to seek treats from visitors. They might be recognizable to a group of Summoned who undertook a delivery quest several months ago. Locals say the spriggans won't come out anymore, as if they're hiding. A small pile of crushed pebbles suggest a few have met an unfortunate end. Witnesses report stomping and a disturbing growl from deep within the swamp.

The Horizon
The world outside is not the only realm in chaos. Anyone who enters the Horizon, whether to retreat, recoup or connect with allies, will find unwanted visitors. Anomalous Beasts will appear here as they do across Abraxas. Their presence might damage your domains or cause unwanted environmental changes that you must contend with.
Unwanted Visitors
The Horizon is an unfamiliar landscape to the Anomalous Beasts. Unlike the Summoned, the beasts won't have the sentience to understand it. Their entrance is involuntary. They won't know how to leave on their own and will wander through the domains as if those spaces are real, reacting how they normally would to any sudden appearances or threats.

Of course, as the Summoned, you have full control of the Horizon. As you observe the Anomalous Beasts that appear, reports from outside begin to make one detail clear: when an Anomalous Beast is active in the Horizon, they're asleep in the real world - and will stay asleep unless they "die" in the Horizon or are disturbed outside. Maybe you could use this to your advantage?

You can use the Horizon however you wish, but some possibilities are:
◎ Coordinating with teams outside the Horizon to keep the Anomalous Beasts occupied and asleep in time for an ambush.

◎ Killing the Anomalous Beast in the Horizon will force it to wake abruptly. If done correctly, this will be advantageous, but if done incorrectly, it might cause more chaos.

◎ Studying the strengths and weaknesses of the Anomalous Beasts in a contained environment before approaching it in the real world
The Domains
The arrival of the Anomalous Beasts will impact your domains as they travel from place to place. Important fixtures or buildings might be broken or torn. Created animals or pets might be crushed or injured. Ominous wisps of malice linger like a foul friend amidst the wreckage.

Direct damage is not the only possibility. The Horizon is constructed from memories and influenced by emotions. As a result, the presence of the Anomalous Beasts can cause unwanted shifts and changes to your carefully constructed space. You may find a once peaceful area of your domain has grown twisted and dark from a hellish Anomalous Beast. Maybe a beast associated with fire has manifested pools of magma.

As is the case under all circumstances, any involuntary effects on your domain will cause a sense of unease, and you'll feel compelled to fix it. If you have a weaker connection to the Horizon - either because you don't go in often or don't create much inside it - you'll find these changes harder to mitigate.

On the other hand, if you have a stronger connection to the Horizon, you'll have an easier time retaking control of your domain and reversing the damage.

This aspect is optional. Impacts on your character's domain, if any, are entirely up to players. Characters can also help each other rebuild their domains.



beautifullies: (453)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-08-25 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Claire is considerably worse off than when Himeka found her after the Pookas. This time, she's very sure she's seriously damaged because she can't manage to move much. What she can move, though, she focuses on and kicks as hard as she can muster even though she can't see anything or what she's lashing out at.

She does connect though, hitting the beast right in the face and at the very least buying Michael, and herself, a few seconds. ]
Edited 2023-08-25 00:16 (UTC)
nadine_he_loves: (disbelief)

Geralt - Near Andromeda Bay

[personal profile] nadine_he_loves 2023-08-25 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[There are much more skilled fighters in the Free Cities, but they're otherwise occupied and she does know what she's doing. As long as she's fit to fight, she'll do her part.

And she's comfortable joining Geralt. He's the whole reason she even can fight, and while she's never gone against anything big with him they have fought together before. By now she's gotten used to her armor, wearing it more in recent days than she usually does in a month. Her sword is starting to show it's use, the handle no longer as shiny and without marks as it had once been. She thinks she might be developing new calluses.]


I'm not exactly sure what's here... But it sounded nasty and like it was headed right for the city.

[The reports had been hasty and confused with fear and shock, as is often the nature of these things. Whatever it was, it needed to be dealt with.

Hopefully they can handle it.]
beautifullies: (425)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-08-25 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Claire is having a pretty hellacious time if she's being completely honest. She's needed magical healing twice, and luckily that's happened. But this time, she isn't so lucky. The good news is that she managed to kill whatever the hell it was that ripped into her and it's laying dead beside her. The bad news is that the front of Claire's blouse is soaked in blood and she can't get herself up.

When she hears something or someone coming she tenses, but then the footfall is distinctly human and she thinks out, hoping whoever the hell it is will get the message.

𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑡, 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐼'𝑚 𝑖𝑛𝑗𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒.
northerndragon: (Default)

[personal profile] northerndragon 2023-08-25 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[The day is not yet very old, and already it has not been quiet -- the reports beginning to come in from all over about this creature and that creature and trouble and destruction that they are or are not causing. Hard to say, yet, if it will just be one day, if armies will have to mass, if there will be sieges. Gods be good, it will be only a small thing, but he is not sure that the gods of this place are ever that good.

Still, when he has a spare moment, he goes out into the streets of the town. Later, he might go to Lord Townsend and suggest that he take as many as he can to the country, but Jon is sure that Angharad will have to be dragged away -- she will want to fight, but she is only twelve, and should not. The other children... well. He would be easier thinking that his pupils are as safe as they might be. The cellar where their parents keep their wine might be enough, or they might need nothing at all.

For now, what he comes across is more ordinary and not particularly troubling: just a big cart broken down in the road and a few men struggling with it and the horses. Anyone here is familiar in that he has seen their faces now and then, but one face stands out as a little more familiar than others. Kell, he thinks the man's name is -- he is another Summoned, close to Rhy, who seems a good man. So he comes up to Kell in the crowd.]


This been going on for a while? [He frowns at the wagon.] Is it only broken, or are they saying something broke it for them?

[He begins to take a step towards the broken vehicle, as if to help, but he is not sure that he won't just be adding to the confusion.]
wwrench: <lj user=proverbially> (pic#13651267)

[personal profile] wwrench 2023-08-25 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
By now Wrench is almost used to the strange intrusion these messages make on his daily life. He's dismissed some more quickly than he ought to have, finding it a little intimate to think that anyone's words can barge in on him at any time. Is this what it's like to be able to hear? He wonders that genuinely. Wrench has never been able to eavesdrop before. It's always been as simple as turning himself away, and conversations sail past him with no regard. But this must be close to what hearing people experience when they can't simply tune out other people's voices in their environment.

He doesn't need the signature to recognize the script instantly, though. It's Claire's familiar mental penmanship, so he hones in on it with no resentment for it. It's Wrench. I'm on my way. Quick as he can, he thrusts the supplies that have fallen back into the kit and scoops it under his arm. Give me a rundown of what happened. She's obviously conscious, and that's a good sign. He means to keep her alert as he rushes to find her.
earthborn: (Default)

[personal profile] earthborn 2023-08-25 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
I'm fine.

[She says, tasting blood. Well, if you couldn't see any of her, you might even believe it; if she's in pain it doesn't reach her voice, and there's nothing so obvious as a limp, or a limb she's prone to clutching; life had weeded out those tendencies from her early, and necessity had kept her in the habit. It was no longer as helpful now, as it once had been.]

You should see the other guy. [If the cavalier spread of her arms is anything to judge by, said guy was no smaller than the Hydra had been, and at least as mean. But she lets herself be pulled over to a seat, at least. Magic healing was both better and worse than actual medicine; you couldn't trust it, couldn't see what it was doing, but then also you didn't have to sit through scans or tests or invasive imaging, and didn't have to give detailed permission about the function of your liver cells or whatever.] Alright, alright. I've been through worse, you know.

[She indicates her shoulder with a thumb; on reflection, the armor there is not actually there. It's been torn clean off, or perhaps melted?]

Seriously, though. How've you been?
thedevilwhorose: (feel the hurt)

[personal profile] thedevilwhorose 2023-08-25 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
[It says something about the situation that Lucifer doesn't make any quip about 'what do you mean can I? I am a highly capable individual.'

He latches both his hands down on Kyle's arms and holds Kyle against a wall, restraining him quickly so he doesn't make anything worse.]
Stop it. [Sharp, still. Continuing to cut through Kyle's disorientation and his weak, and all but useless, efforts.

The moment that Lucifer knows that he has control over Kyle's limbs he hefts the man into his arms and teeters into a straightened posture with him.]
beautifullies: (424)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-08-25 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
It's a good tactic, keep her thinking and keep her awake.

𝐴𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝐼 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡, 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦. 𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ. 𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛.

Claire closes her eyes, pressing on the wound to try and slow the blood flow. She's pale, bordering on waxen, but if Wrench finds her quickly enough and he can get her through this, Michael can heal her from there.

𝐼 𝑑𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒. 𝑂𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠, 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒.
cryptsleeper: (Softe)

[personal profile] cryptsleeper 2023-08-25 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
Well, if you feel the earth move below your feet, watch where you step. It will probably surface near you and do structural damage. [The dhampir pauses, eyes casting towards the tower.] Quite a bit, given that you have a large structure here.

[Luckily for certain dogs, Alucard's willing to keep petting as he talks.]

Is it possible that your runes could be used by other worlds, and thus the creature might not be from yours? [It is a gentle question, acknowledging that other things likely precludes that option.

His hand lingers in the air at canine retreat, and slowly Alucard straightens up.]


Is it better to go elsewhere in the Horizon then? I think there may be some domains that are not impacted.
familysucks: (Default)

Michael | Solvunn | The Emperor

[personal profile] familysucks 2023-08-25 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Closed starters below, journal PM or [plurk.com profile] Nennui for plotting/requests!]
Edited 2023-08-25 03:03 (UTC)
familysucks: (07)

Closed - Jayden

[personal profile] familysucks 2023-08-25 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
[The eternal, mild sunny day of his domain has been replaced by an overcast night. The comfortable shade between the trees is now an oppressive darkness stalked by four-legged hunters. Whether or not the hellhounds recognize the immaterial nature of the Horizon doesn't matter. They are no less keen on blood here than they are on the physical plane.

Michael is kind of annoyed by the intrusion.

It'd be easy, he thinks, to assume a shape closer to his proper form and burn them out. That would only toss them back into the real world, however, where they can do real harm instead of just getting on his nerves. They are also not the only visitors to his domain to consider. Making his way through the trees at a hurried pace to take shelter in the diner is a familiar presence.

The inside of the diner is almost as dark as the forest. The ceiling lights are dim; occasionally, one flickers. Rather than eject Jayden, too, Michael joins him in the kitchen with a flutter of his wings.]


You've chosen an inopportune moment for a visit.

[At least, that's what he tries to say. How many words make it out are in the hands of the twitchy human sheltered behind the counter.]
Edited 2023-08-25 03:06 (UTC)
takeatrip: (25)

[personal profile] takeatrip 2023-08-25 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Jayden hadn't really intended to go to Michael's domain, at least not specifically; he had been just generally wandering, both to get his own thoughts in order and to scope out whether there were any monsters currently in the Horizon. But the Horizon is only so big, and when he'd ended up on the edges of Michael's domain, Jayden had decided to go ahead and check it out too.

Turns out, there are monsters in it! Too bad Jayden hadn't planned this far ahead.

Although very confident in shaping his own domain, and therefore pretty sure he could handle anything that arrived there at least long enough to extricate himself from the Horizon, Jayden is less sure of himself when in someone else's domain. So when he hears the snarling of something--or multiple somethings--invisible, it's automatic to react in the way he would in real life.

And so he's soon huddled behind the counter in the kitchen of Michael's diner after a mad dash through the forest, trying to find anything he could use as a weapon. It's a kitchen, there should be something sharp or heavy around, right? Right.

When he hears the flutter, an unfamiliar sound in this unfamiliar location after being chased by invisible dogs, there really is only one thing to do. As it so happens there is something heavy nearby, which is in Jayden's hands in a moment as he turns and uses as much strength and momentum as he can muster.

Sorry about hitting you with a frying pan, Michael.]
mobezon: (088 | velvet woe)

[personal profile] mobezon 2023-08-25 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
{ when the attacks started to occur, louis had thought of the horizon. would there be damage there? there were whispers of the creatures having entered the factions, and it made him anxious. he decided to meditate and check on his domain. it’s what he has left of what has been taken from him. he’s oddly protective over what he’s been allotted.

the anxiety grows within when he enters what seems to be the edge of a domain. it becomes apparent he had intended for his domain, but instead he landed in another. it’s briefly familiar. right. it’s alucard’s. a miscalculation, but not unwelcome. he has intended on visiting the other at some point. the thought is soon interrupted by the swoosh of an unsettling sound. an in-human low frequency echos in the distance and the sight is clear at the immense creature.

he’s instantly alert. it hasn’t seen him, and from a tree nearby he spots a flash of blond. louis has a choice, and it means bending his own restrictions. with a speed he’d capable of, he lands on the tree where alucard is staying, along the other side where the branch holds him up. formalities will have to be modified as well. }


I’ve never seen a worm that giant.
nadine_he_loves: (grim)

Ciri - Red Path

[personal profile] nadine_he_loves 2023-08-25 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
[It reminds Nadine of Nevada out here. The ruddy stone, the dusty riverbed road cut into the landscape, the low scrub and succulents... It's all too familiar. Especially right now in the last blooms of true summer.

Nevada, however, had only held one monster and that one looked like a man. What they're hunting now is mostly a mystery. The vague description meant little to her, but whatever it is, it's terrorizing a major road.

Which is why she and Ciri are here.]


I'm getting pretty sick of these monsters.

[They just keep coming. And don't seem to be bound by the laws of geography. Nadine pauses for a moment, looking further down the road and squinting with a hand raised against the sun.

She doesn't see anything yet.]
takeatrip: (55)

closed to blake

[personal profile] takeatrip 2023-08-25 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[All in all, it could've been a lot worse.

Or at least that's what Jayden's telling himself, and logically, it is true. It certainly could've been worse. No question it could've been worse. But all the same, it was still kind of terrible, and he'd prefer not to have a run in with another monster if he can avoid it.

But it's also over now, the threat is gone--he's pretty certain, anyway--and now he just needs to figure out how to get out of his new predicament, which is easier said than done. Hm. How is he going to accomplish this?

Turns out, the answer is he isn't, and after about an hour of attempting to climb out of the small cavern he'd taken hasty refuge in, he's come to the conclusion this is not going to work. Okay. Well, at least he has some other options, even if he would've preferred not to have to resort to them.

So with a little mental concentration, he sends a message that may or may not somehow sound sheepish through magical text.]


Hey, are you busy?
theidlemaiden: (pic#16006939)

[personal profile] theidlemaiden 2023-08-25 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hilda's use of magic is far and few between and she hardly counts her use of Perry or the magic she imbues into some of her jewelry and the ornate shield bracer on her wrist as such. It was always too exhausting, too much effort, too complicated to learn - her list of excuses could go on. It's not so unlike her attitude of her axe skills. If she didn't acknowledge them, they may as well not exist.

Unfortunately it's hard to deny the existence of something when it's a matter of life and death. And it's also unfortunate for Alucard to assume that Hilda had a plan beyond trying to stop it from attacking him because she didn't. The small victory of prolonging a light attack is short lived because its mechanical eyes dart about trying to find the source of the irritating prickle on its back. Right. The plan.

She still has no idea what makes her more scary than this towering creature but she's here and that means she has to try and make it pay attention Alucard. Hilda takes a running charge towards it aiming right for its leg and she feels the rush of thunder again, similar to when she had fought the hydra with Shepard. Her axe rattles in her hands and it feels like an oncoming storm as the axe connects with metal. Sparks fly. A reverberation rattles its limb all the way up to its hip where the Disc Launchers shake. It staggers letting out a cry of confusion whirling around once again and setting its sights on the vampire. ]
techmaturgy: (pic#15745004)

later;

[personal profile] techmaturgy 2023-08-25 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Viktor visits, as promised, though he's not quite sure what he's going to find. The domain is as described, but even without having visited before, it's not difficult to get the sense that things are not necessarily how they're supposed to be. Kyle has told him very little about himself, comparatively, so finally arriving at his domain raises a great deal of questions. A temple, perhaps, but to what? The god that he worships? Something about it is unsettling. Viktor writes it off to the current state of things. They know, now, that the Horizon is not necessarily safe from the happenings in the real world. It very rarely is.

He traces some of the copper wire, expecting it to fall into some kind of pattern, and eventually it leads him to the domain's owner, and a yellow dog. That gets Viktor's attention--he likes animals, generally, though he reminds himself not to get distracted. There are more important matters at hand.
]

Kyle.

[There's some concern in his voice, possibly for the situation, possibly for the general atmosphere of the domain. Despite both things, however, Viktor appears as he usually does in the Horizon, the sound of his approaching gait giving him away before he announces himself.]

I have--notes. Though, I'm not sure if this is a good time.

[They aren't safe here--or anywhere, really. They'll need to be quick, if they want to exchange information.]
everybodysterrible: (S01 - 030)

Final Round: Vs. Rancor (Jesper, Claude, Ciri)

[personal profile] everybodysterrible 2023-08-25 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
Abby had been, politely, told to stay put. In one of the military barracks hastily converted into a medical ward. She wasn't injured. Well, she wasn't injured enough. She'd just been overdoing it with her magic and her power and needed to stay put and rest. It was a good plan.

There was a monster outside the building.

And of the people resting there Abby was, by far, the least injured. In that she was a little roughed up but nothing worse than she'd get doing something stupid in Brody's basement. So she could stay here, hope the monster doesn't recognize this is a building fully of yummy injured people.

Or get it away from here, lead it to another part of the compound with less people, more guns, and keep innocent people she didn't give a fuck about safe.

She knew which of those would make it hard to look Ginny in the eye ever again if she did it.

Abby tossed her first spellcatched rock to the sky, it made a loud cracking noise once it was above the buildings and sprayed out sparks and color like a firework. Which if she's lucky will attract more friends than monsters.

It did draw the eye of the big ugly gangly fucker that she'd already spotted. Which lead to her second spell, this rock was aimed for the monster's face. It drew it's hand up early, spreading a large cloudbank in front of it as Abby made a break away from the building.

Then lingered for it to follow her.

She did want to turn invisible, but if she did, it might stop chasing her, go back to the building full of injured soldiers. Which- you know, they were injured. She felt bad. So her current strategy was running and she will catch her breath when someone comes to her aid.

Hopefully soon.
aquaveiled: (himeka-229)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2023-08-25 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tohm Kha excitedly flutters over to a wooden stand and grill where two other dragonets appear to be busily keeping the coals hot. He barks a few orders in different language, something slow with a heavy hiss in the back, and the trio all quickly start throwing down various raw meats on sticks.

"Meat is always better on a stick", she'd said. And they took it to heart.

She plops down on the bench beside him and frowns lightly in thought, her tail flicking behind her. ]


So...you think that the amount of summonings that the factions have done may have just--opened up unintended pathways to our stars? Ones that they can't open and close?
thedevilwhorose: (trust in me)

[personal profile] thedevilwhorose 2023-08-25 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[To be fair, he enjoys killing and he can only do it so much connected to Thorne; his first instinct usually is resorting to violence, but he isn't going to correct something that earned him some favor. He's just got to take a more wise approach to his violence.

Because he doesn't want to die.

Because has to actually consider how he could die.

Fate's a bitch. Reality even worse.]
I saw the injuries of what one of them could do to someone who's generally cautious and well-prepared. I'm not for taking risks in this.
subhuman: (pic#15457833)

[personal profile] subhuman 2023-08-25 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
She's able to stand on her own, which is the first good sign, even if it's with some effort. Her arm hanging at her side is a less than good sign, but they can address that later. Though he has his back to the immediate threat, Dante is keenly aware of the dinosaur's recovery as it shakes its metallic head from side to side and realigns its sights on them.

He raises a brow, lifting his chin as he gives her a once over. Not human, but not a demon.

"Caught you off guard, eh? Gotcha."

It's the same sort of response Nero would give, he can work with that. Dante rolls his shoulders and then proceeds to do a series of stretches like he's about to start a marathon.

"All out of logs, but I've still got a few more tricks up my sleeve if you've got some fight left in ya." He's not keen on the idea of just walking away to let her face off with it. Call him a glory hog if you want, but he'd like to make sure her other arms stays intact.

He squats in front of her as the beast starts charging, lacing his fingers together in front of his knees in invitation.

"Need a lift?"

Yes, he is absolutely offering to launch her upwards. And if she takes it, she'll find it surprisingly effective.
ushiri: (pic#15839990)

[personal profile] ushiri 2023-08-25 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ When he sleeps in the real world, he dreams about the bone creature - the beast that shouldn't exist.

Kahlil should have told Viktor he would meet him in his laboratory. This isn't how he wanted to show him his own domain. It is usually a space he takes some pride in, he's a little vain about the place.

He's tried to remove the wires and the hanging bones to no avail. Every time he turns around, they somehow find purchase again, the copper wire winding up the stone like a mockery of ivy, the skulls staring down lifelessly at him. He would've met at Viktor's domain, except there's Rousma. He's always known she's not real, but she feels real, and she whines when he goes. Maybe she could've come with him, she goes to Wanda's domain on her own, and she's wandered to the gas station - those two domains are on the border of this one, though.

Even with the bones here, Kahlil is sure that his domain is safe. More than one visitor has come and gone without issue. The Oracles don't seem to care about outsiders.

Dog and man turn away from the wire to the voice. Kahlil gives a tired smile, and the dog's tongue lolls from her mouth, her tail wagging tentatively.

And then, there is a clattering from above, a whispering of female voices: ]


Not him him...
Death he brings death...

[ A torso shakes free from the wires and lands in front of Viktor, practically breaking apart on the stone floor. The red runes carved into the bones glow as the skeletal fingers reach out to grasp the cloth of his trousers, as if it means to climb up. There is something too sharp about its finger bones, something desperate in its hollow eyes.

Kahlil cries out in alarm and the dog is leaping toward the bones on the ground in front of Viktor. ]
Edited 2023-08-25 06:27 (UTC)
northerndragon: (Default)

Jon Snow ⚔️ Game of Thrones ⚔️ The Emperor ⚔️ Thorne ⚔️ Closed Starters

[personal profile] northerndragon 2023-08-25 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Poke me via PM or at [plurk.com profile] detectivefiction if you would like a starter!]
Edited 2023-08-25 06:36 (UTC)
ushiri: (pic#15827115)

adding to the wildcard...

[personal profile] ushiri 2023-08-25 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Claude?

[ Kahlil looks out from the doors of the temple, looking a little more tired than one normally does in a place that isn't real. At his side is a yellow dog, watching Claude curiously with amber eyes.

Somehow, Claude looks slightly worse for wear than even Kahlil, and he's about to ask what's going on when he glances over his friend's shoulder to see a certain prehistoric beast just on the other side of the stream that wraps around his domain. It stomps its foot and snorts, bull-like.

His eyes are wide and he just grabs Claude by one arm, yanking him through the threshold and slamming the heavy double doors behind him. Even through the thick wood and stone walls, the thundering of massive feet shakes the floor as it charges...

He waits for an explosion of wood splinters that never comes. But they can hear the beast grunting in frustration, sniffing at the bottom of the door. ]
londonbound: (twelve.)

[personal profile] londonbound 2023-08-25 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's the same as all the other rooms, she'll find. Some personal touches here and there (he's been here a long time), and evidence it's shared between two people. Kell may be a while, however begrudgingly; he wanted to make sure Adora was comfortable.

When she attests to the Singularity's particular mood, Rhy nods. ]


I know. I feel it still. It lingers, like an undercurrent of anxiety, but I can tell it's not only my own.

[ His gaze flicks to the sideboard near the window, but maybe the crack of dawn is too early even for Rhy to pour a stiff drink. He forces himself to focus on Adora instead, fingers lacing with each other atop the table to keep his hands from nervously fidgeting. ]

No. It is unusual.

You have a connection to it, for some reason. Do you have... any inkling why that might be?