EVENT #14: ANOMALIES - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #14 - Anomalies

OOC event plotting | Coordination Post | Wrap-Up

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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.

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Comments

[hatejakku]

[ Finn did not plan for this encounter to go this direction. While he isn't armed as much as he'd like to be, only with one decent dagger and a sword he doesn't entirely know how to use, he had fully planned to either fight the creature back into the bay or kite it to somewhere safer.

He did not expect someone telling him to get to cover. That's his line.

It actually distracts him long enough to nearly get hit but another swiping tentacle. Finn dodges out of the way just in time and thinks maybe she has a good point, but he's not about to leave her. Instead, he dances further away, deciding to try flanking the creature since he has no long range weapons. ]

Have you fought it before?

[ While she appears to be way more than capable, he knows from his encounter with the hellhounds that these beasts have too many surprises. ]

[pendejadas]

Some still think they're a myth, but they're in Fillory. Magical land privileges.

{ eliot believes they are and he's going to keep wanting to see one eventually. now he's going to see if abraxas has some unicorn horse somewhere. he can dream about that. or better yet a flying horse...

he gives a little shrug in the spring of his next step as they near the portals, and he can talk as they cross it. he's too used to portals. }

You'd think! The man could carry a tune and rip your face out. Now that I think about it, it's his fault for the time loop. Your monsters have better names, I'll give you that.

[theidlemaiden]

[ That's what she thought. No excuses now, Alucard.

As for the comfy level, he's definitely more comfy than the dirt or any rocks in their nearby vicinity - so don't let it go to your head or anything.

At the mention of Hell however she tilts her head curiously to the side. It's not the first time she's heard the word but it's not necessarily a concept that she's particularly familiar with. Fodlan may have a church and they have a religious practice, but the concept of Hell isn't really something that they've spoken about or instilled the fear of into their followers so to speak. ]

What is Hell by the way? I ran into an angry guy in the Nocwich woods who said he was the "King of Hell" or something, but it didn't seem like you two would be from the same world.

[ But what does she know?]

We can wrap here on the trio :D

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ They've never needed a reason to try something like prayer but Istredd is going to note that fact for a later conversation. Kyle is right that they do have other things to do, and he needs to rest, so them being there isn't actually helpful. He reaches down to take Kyle's hand again and squeezes it, before getting up.]

I'll be back to check on you later and keep you updated as we go.

[ He knows Kyle will go crazy in here after awhile so giving him updates and details as they go will be helpful. He just rolls his eyes at Lucifer's threat and shoos him out the door.]

Get rest, Kyle.

[cryptsleeper]

That is very kind of you. [With that, Alucard decides he'll take a few bites, if only to make it clear that he's been a polite guest. And maybe he will be impressed y flavor. That is the hope, at any rate, as he takes a small bite.]

Mmm. And yet after the kidnappings and experience with the cult...here we are again. Scrambling, although at least it isn't the same levels of life and death. A small miracle to be sure, but I still am ill at ease.

[This is survivable, at the very least. He hasn't been dealing with constant bugfuck terror this past week.]

If there is a pattern to where they're drawn to, I haven't noticed it yet. I find it interesting that the sites associated with worship are a commonality though. Is their intent harm upon arrival, or are they simply acting out of confusion, in your observation?

[cryptsleeper]

[You leave him alone monster fighting is hard.

Alucard sighs. Sorry Hilda, he's going to flop with his back on the sand for that question. He is tired and does not want to talk about Catholicism. How dare you.

She's getting a very rote and tired answer.]

Hell is one of three afterlife options given to a major religion in my world and several others that share the overall same religion. Based on one's ethical and moral conduct in life, they're either granted eternal paradise through heaven, nothing in particular in purgatory, or perpetually punished in Hell. It is all very tiring and the people in charge of the religion are even more so.

tw: slightly gory

[mobezon]

You can have one if you willed it. { with the heightened senses of a place that envelopes everything and all, he can easily gleam the thoughts from james’ mind. it’s in passing, and with the way he’s focused on the creature’s movement, the comment can be interpreted any way.

he’s bolder in a place that holds parts of him.

the creature’s head is static. empty thoughts. there’s something about it that is unsettling, the unwelcome presence. it angers him in ways that he hasn’t allowed to show openly, but he has a resurgence when he hears a pained yelp. he moves in quickly, taking advantage of pushing it closer against the the window, his plan being that he’ll push it out.

only he can unmake his domain. louis uses his sharp nails to dig his hand into what would be a rib on a human, and digs in deeper until he’s grasping what he thinks is a bone. he then snaps it back, taking a chunk of flesh and a smaller arm part with him. the rough part of the curled antler scratches the side of his face in the process, causing him to stumble back. the creature roars.

he was aiming for the heart. louis ends up against the wall as the creature climbs out the window, crawling up higher up the tower. with a bloodied hand, he takes out a handkerchief and begins to wipe as he speaks. he intends to follow it up further, but first. }

That was a clean cut. You have skills. You’re new to the Horizon, aren’t you?

[godshattering]

[ Whatever Kyle was going to say goes unsaid, and whatever question Claude was about to ask himself regarding the dog or whether the fictional horses can gain weight in the Horizon (something he might have to double check for an experiment's sake) - all of it gets put on pause when a young voice talks and reminds him, faintly, of any of the children at the monastery.

A quietly startled millisecond goes by before he looks down where it came from since there can really only be one being it's from. There's still a dog looking back at him, he's pretty sure. But Claude's not always one to question things - not too much, anyway - when there's been all sorts of things he's never seen since arriving to Abraxas. This seems like something else to go with since there's more to this than he'd assumed from sight alone. ]

A good question. Huh. [ There's another second where Claude contemplates this before shrugging good-naturedly, giving into (somewhat) treating this like he would for any other small child asking a question pending further explanation from Kyle - if any. ] Personally, I think they're better for riding since you can go really fast on them and it can be a lot of fun. If you'd like to see some, there's a few in the stables not far who like visitors.

[ Not whatever was chasing him and is likely now taking up residence on the temple grounds outside. Claude's already considering what from the monastery greenhouse he can bring over to replace some of what was there if needed, but for now his curiosity remains here where they are. ]

for istredd.

[wiedzminka]

[ He may have seen the enormous, centipede-like creature scurrying through the Horizon. It scuttles from one Domain to the next, never lingering long. Looking for something.

Maybe he sees it heading up the mountain path that leads to Kaer Morhen.

That's when Ciri feels it, anyway. Something viscerally wrong, something telling her she needs to go and see. And when she appears in the courtyard to Kaer Morhen, she understands why. All along the entrance, trees are felled and branches scattered; the wall, already crumbling, is missing obvious chunks. The wolf snarls, somewhere out of sight, wherever its fight is.

And she sees Istredd. She does not look happy. ]

What happened?

[hatejakku]

[ The thing is, Finn was hiding it on purpose. He wasn't aware that he was hiding it from Cal specifically until just this moment, but Finn's abilities had been a bit of a open secret for awhile now. Only "open" because he hadn't realized he was so bad at hiding it in the first place.

But what about Cal? Was he keeping quiet? Why? There are so many reasons but-

Thoughts for later. He easily follows when Cal tugs on his arm and is impressed (despite himself) on how well Cal can use the Force. He was definitely taught... ]

There's a third around somewhere. Let's get some distance and get the stragglers out.

[ He's pretty sure most people have gotten out but who knows at this rate. ]

[itookashot]

[ Jesper slides off two of the metal plates on his armor and they transform right in front of them into long sharp blades, and he telekinetically throws them at the hellhound coming from the left. It manages to get out of the way of one of them but the other slices into it, and the strangest part is the blades don't keep sailing by.

Jesper controls them so they sweep back around to attack the hellhound again and again, startling it backwards. It isn't the Force he's using but it could masquerade as that if someone is used to seeing Jedi telekinesis. It whimpers and growls and limps off to find the rest of its pack. ]

Okay, show me, let's go.

[ Jesper flips his guns away and reaches out until the blades come back to his hand, seeming to shift right into the air from all knife to a blunt hilt for him to grasp. ]

You're a new guy, right? Jumping right into the fray I see.

[godshattering]

You think?

[ If there's a time for sarcasm, it's absolutely after that confirmation Sylvain gives that they've angered the dragon even more if that was somehow possible. A joint effort even if it was the other man who upset it more (this time), though if they were fighting something far smaller and far less deadly he would've laughed. That's the kind of calm head in battle he respects and the sort of antics he would've unleashed upon bandits in another life.

It's not until Hilda calls out what sort of spell that was supposed to be, how it was nearly asleep while flying, that something - clicks. Something in the back of his mind abruptly comes into focus, and if there was time to do anything besides send Sylvain a sharp look he might dwell on it.

Now it's all about moving. Claude darts out from behind the boulder he'd crouched by near Hilda to keep going, though this time it's to fire an arrow in the wake of her strike as they run. The air still crackles around them in a way which piques his curiosity because it's not fire or lightning along, but no time for that either as he grabs another arrow and aims for the wound. This shot strikes true if the rageful roar which drowns out almost all other thoughts is anything to go by, and Claude curses under his breath at first and then louder when a shadow crosses over the ground alerting them all to another dive. ]

Strike again when it's close!

[ Which it will be in seconds if the past attacks it's made are anything to go by, and Claude stashes his bow. Another spell this time, something bordering on desperate to send their flying enemy up into the sky again to buy them a better chance to get to their destination. How is it he always forgets things are so much farther away when on foot? Then again, maybe it's the mounting concern as he shuffles through strategy after strategy looking for the right one for now which adds to that.

Claude waits for the dragon to come in range of their weapons before pulling forth Sagittae to send a spray of arrows, some of which almost look oddly ice tinged compared to their usual state but with how quickly they launch skyward towards their target he doesn't notice. Nothing else matters so long as they land. ]

for sephiroth.

[wiedzminka]

[ Once it's been determined that the monsters are indeed traveling between the rifts -- apparently at random, as far as Ciri knows -- it's all they can do to simply keep an eye on all the places where the beasts appear. Thankfully, officials quickly set up portals, even to the barracks, which are relatively close regardless. Saves time.

Ciri's sure Sephiroth is busy enough already, but as a favor, she's asked him to keep an eye out for one specific monster, which Ciri described for him in great detail, accompanied by a quick sketch of its many horrible little hands.

When it's sighted at the barracks, she's on her way immediately, armed and ready for a fight. As soon as she's out of the portal, Ciri finds him. It's not hard to spot the group of soldiers shouting and fighting -- not to mention the enormous beast she never thought she'd see again. ]

Sephiroth!

[godshattering]

[ The light in the tunnel grows suddenly in a way which makes him think of magic, and were they anywhere else besides at risk of being impaled in any given moment Claude would've admired the deftness with which Jaskier wields it.

Now's not the time as he calls upon magic of his own again while moving from the boulder they'd sheltered by to one closer to where their clawed friend watches. It almost feels like a dare, if he's not imagining that - and fortunately (or otherwise) that's the sort of thing Claude thrives on. It makes grabbing his next set of wind blades easier, this time to let them go one by one to force the wraith to go this way and then that. Jaskier's right: whatever happened before caused some kind of damage. So do these, and that's just the kind of help they need since he's under no illusions he's doing anything but buying them a bit of time right now.

It's enough for Geralt to arrive; Claude catches the command a second before the rocks nearby shudder in a way he sincerely hopes isn't an earthquake. That's probably to no one's advantage, but a closer but all too quick glance this time shows it's definitely moving with what sounds like a blow behind them and he takes a step back while bringing forth more blades to send down the length of the tunnel so the phantom doesn't get any ideas. Safety first. ]

Jaskier! Any chance you can make some of these mushrooms explode?

[ An equal chance of that helping or creating more chaos, but he's willing to risk it. For good measure, Claude sends one of the bursts of wind to where it sounds like Geralt's at on the other side as some kind of confirmation they're here, or assistance in clearing the rubble, or the smallest misdirection before the monster shrieks again. ]

[thedevilwhorose]

[He frowns.] No, it isn't like that. [Pause.] Though it might be in other circumstances. [Admitting it isn't a problem because the Thorne Summoned, albeit not the new ones, know him well enough.

Lucifer playing around with them like chess pieces would hardly be a surprise.] I simply expect to be smart about my ventures instead of turning up toe to toe with something. [Says the devil who will Definitely Find Himself Succumbing to a monster with his matching arcana.

Whoops.]

[itookashot]

[ It's a good thing he's spent a year and a half practicing every day for this. When he first got there he could barely make Kaz's canes correctly. It's gone far past that at this point. This is still more difficult than even creating corecloth, so he has to focus. ]

Give me a second. And then move people as fast as you can.

[ If they could move it out of the way, it would be easy. If they could push it in directions, also easy. It's too dangerous with everything coming down as it is, the slightest change could lead to a collapse. Jesper puts his hands on the rock in front of him and breathes. He can't make the entire thing a liquid, but he can cut a path directly in front of him. It shimmers at first and then he pulls his hands apart, the solid in front of them moving to part the exact way.

Jesper steps back because he doesn't need to be in front of it now that he has his Grisha hooks into it, and Cal is going to need to get people out of the hole. It becomes a narrow but solid corridor, big enough for Cal for certain, and then with a grunt he pushes it apart even more for slightly larger people to come through. They are miners after all. Some of them are built.

He's already sweating from the strain this is putting on him as the lines around the path he made seem wet, but there is the threat of it collapsing as soon as he does.

Now it's up to Cal to be the hero. ]

[notrunninganymore]

[Gabriel wishes he'd found it and put chattering teeth in it; that's brilliant. But alas, no, as far as he can tell this thing is just an abomination like pacu fish.

He nods at Michael's mention of tracks, though Gabriel's scanning the treeline for any flashes of white or grey deep in the forest, and so doesn't spot the footprints until Michael's already heading toward them. Gabriel follows after him.]

Think we'll have a Jurassic Park moment?

[He doesn't know whether Michael will get the joke, but that's hardly the point as he looks at the massive foot prints. There's only a small amount of water in them, leaving most of the print intact, which means they're probably recent. He looks in the direction they're going, seeing them trail into wild grasses that are crushed down, heading toward the trees.]

The forest's pretty thick, wonder if it's wedged itself in there somewhere.

[At the very least some trees should be damaged, right?]

[techmaturgy]

Let's see it, then.

[Linhardt will have plenty of time to ask about the clockwork contraptions and notes later--right now, Viktor is singularly focused on the data from the rifts, eager to consolidate information from Solvunn and Thorne. The advantage of the Horizon is that the only limits are their imaginations and their memories. He hopes, given Linhardt's relative inexperience in this, but when it comes down to it he has no choice but to trust the notes he's given.

Viktor clears some space on the worktable, then scoots his wheeled stool closer, gesturing for Linhardt to show him the most relevant findings.]

What are your conclusions?

[He can draw some of his own, of course, but to Viktor's understanding Linhardt accomplished this with his own abilities. He'd like to know more.]

[godshattering]

Now there's an idea.

[ Honestly - why not feed metal to something metallic? The monster ripples in response though whether that's in happiness, agreement, anger, anything else - who even knows. It keeps smiling though the smile's growing more unnerving with each passing minute, Claude thinks, and fortunately since it's the Horizon that means he can conjure up an iron bar roughly the size of his hand. It's close enough to the ones he remembers the blacksmith forming with leftover materials to go store somewhere, if he had to guess. This particular one Claude keeps in his hand while wondering if one kneels to this particular monarch or if a bow will do.

Well. No time like the present to find out. ]

Here you are, only the finest for--

[ Whatever quip resembling something he might've teased an uptight prince named Dimitri with once upon a time is forgotten when the monster suddenly lunges forward. Or it seems like it does; maybe it's a trick of the light or the Horizon which has it almost inflating to be even larger while also advancing towards him in something too deliberate to be mistaken for anything else. It's a move which has a startled yelp leaving Claude, and he's none too proud to not drop the iron right there and retreat. Just in case. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda doesn't make it a point to pay particular attention to domains that have sprung up around the Horizon, not because she lacks care or a curiosity to see what others have conjured from their minds, but because there's simply so much happening in the Horizon at any given moment that she can't possibly keep track. That, and she's made a point to keep her Horizon visits to as minimal as possible. She doesn't have similar reasons or hesitations like Eliot does. In fact, hers are simply rooted in the fact that if she spends time in here, life is being passed by outside. And there's so much life to be experienced in Abraxas that she might otherwise never experience in Fodlan.

Not to mention that sitting still long enough for her is a tiring exercise in and of itself. Chapel had been a torturous experience because it meant staying quiet and staying still - two things that she will openly admit she isn't good at. But after her encounter with the Demogorgon, she's felt unsettled which is only furthered by the news of Linhardt being affected by the Demonic Beast. And when she's unsettled, taking the skies atop her wyvern's back is one of the few things that she's able to find solace in.

Today's excursion isn't helping in the way she wants it to unfortunately. Listlessness runs through her as she urges Waffle through the skies for another loop around when she spots the colourful flower bridge that she hadn't seen before. Curiosity gets the best of her and she lands him in a safe place before making her way on foot over the bridge. The inside of the domain is just as impressive as the outside - all light colours, iridescence and sparkles.

For a moment she thinks she's alone but then from up a stairwell she hears it. The rush of wind, the slamming of something against a surface. Hilda moves before she can think and she's rushing up the stairs, bursting into what she quickly recognizes is a throne room. An axe is in her hand that seems to breathe, its red jewel casting an eerie light. The figure that had been thrown to the wall is one she recognizes and her eyes widen as she begins to rush over to the tall willowy man. There's no time for pleasantries or for her to gush about how pretty this domain is. Not when she can tell in the air that something is amiss. ]

Eliot?! Are you okay? What was that -

[ Before she can finish her sentence a phantasmal force slams into her, knocking her backwards across the room. And yes, it does indeed manage to mess her hair up too. ]

[righteously]

( Look, does Ott have a few... personality quirks? Yes, absolutely. However. Is he also incredibly easy to manipulate for insider Military information because he's got loose jaws and a smooth brain? Also yes. In hindsight, Ott doesn't have much going for him aside from money and a deep, quasi-erotic love of Summoned slang.

Ott freezes at Geralt's direct, too-clever question. Then, to demonstrate what an asset he truly is to the Cadens military, he completely misunderstands it.

In a stage-whisper, he sadly confesses: "Out back. 'Round the outside. I was havin' a toke, stricly speakin' it ain't allowed but a man's gotta blow off some steam, am I right beastie?"

Dean helpfully, gently interjects — about the slang, rather than the actually useful part of the conversation. )

Bestie. Not beastie. Two different things.

( Ott looks like he suddenly understands a previously deeply confusing math problem, and nods his appreciation.

But anyway, he is still actually a professional, so he switches back to relevant questioning. )

You said it was invisible. You couldn't see it. Did it smell like anything? Make any noise?

( Ott nods emphatically. "Aye, yeah, sounded like me uncle's kennel. Smelled like it, too, a bit — except more like really bad eggs."

Dean's got a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. )

mix and match

[notrunninganymore]

[Gabriel hasn't exactly been hunting the monsters, not really interested in the whole thing and still relatively low on power. But he has, much to his own annoyance, also found himself unable to just sit back and do nothing, and so he's been wandering around and helping where needed. A minor healing here, entertaining a scared kid there, and so on.

So he just happens to be exploring the forest shrines for any signs of trouble when he hears someone running. Soon enough, that sound is followed by the sound of distant snarling and snapping jaws, and Gabriel has a good idea of what might be chasing whoever this is.

So whenever Nate stops, even if just for a moment to catch his breathe, he might hear a fluttering sound as Gabriel appears out of nowhere behind him.]

Seems like you could use a hand?

[righteously]

If you ask him, there's totally a difference between doing crime and doing the wrong thing — very different concepts. Doing crime with stealth? He's totally cool with that. Pick a few pockets, rob a wealthy merchant, get that bread. We do what we gotta do to scrape by. You have his full support.

Yanking a pair of hellhound glasses as a civilian so you can run hipster-face first into direct danger? Less cool. Thumbs down. No bueno. Do not recommend. Especially if they're taken from hunters who might actually need them to put the monster down.

Also, funny thing about Witchers hearing extra heartbeats. As it so happens, a little bit of that blood's running through his veins these days. Not enough to make him, you know, full-blown Geralt over here. Just enough that at times of peak adrenaline, a little bit of that physiology slinks through.

He's got his sword out, gripped loosely in one hand. Behind his glasses, his eyes — not that he knows it — have gone yellow. He's listening keenly for the sound of pads on sand, for the huff through a muzzled snout, for dog breath. He's counting heartbeats.

One of those isn't his.

Wait - do Hellhounds have heartbeats? They don't, right?

His adrenaline mounts, his eyes track over — something, a blurr, forget it, not important, wait, what was it, what was that, what the hell, what isn't he seeing — he squeezes his eyes shut like he means to hard-reboot them.

Under his breath, a soft, "What the hell?"

The thing is, Hellhounds don't care about stealth. They care about scent. To Abby's right, from around the corner, comes a hulking beast the size of a large German Shepherd — but angrier. More visceral. Salivating at the jowls, eyes glowing, it smells fear. It scents the air, one massive pad hitting the dirt, and then another, and then another, slowly pacing her direction.

He can't see who he's talking to, but he knows definitively now that heartbeat doesn't match the source of the hellhound. To nobody-but-somebody, he says, "Don't. Move."

[righteously]

( So, there he is, minding his own god damn business, doing his job, living his life, you know, just out here bein' a guy doin' stuff. Killing monsters, trying to save lives, put a little dent in his massively unbalanced universal scale of 'shit I've fucked up' weighted against 'good stuff I've done to help' debt.

And then here comes a freaking bird??

He's been attacked a lot in his life. Largely by monsters, but a very close second is the combo category of 'jilted lovers' and 'lovers of lovers'. Very rarely are any of those things birds.

His arms go up on instinct, one hand uselessly clutching his completely forgotten newly replaced rifle in a vain attempt to cover his douchey hair from this angry feathered fiend. So begins the cursing, and the ducking, and the swatting ineffectually at his attacker. )

OW - Jesus - what the hell, Jesus Christ, is that- who- what- stop- what the hell is a churl?!

( More importantly, when the hell did he have time to piss off a bird?! He's been way too busy pissing off normal people.

He missed the message recipient name. In his defense, he's a little too distracted to read thoroughly right now. )

[familysucks]

[She's still got her sense of humour. That's not necessarily a good sign, he thinks. Claire is in a line of work where success means learning to remain calm in the face of life or death odds.]

Stuck filling in while the local doctor is lying down on the job, I'm afraid.

[One dose of dry wit administered while Michael assesses the extent of her injuries. Bite marks and puncture wounds along her arms and legs, and a bone that most definitely should not be visible from here. It doesn't take weeks of Horizon lessons to know that. What concerns him most—and this bit is thanks to Claire's instruction—are the deep gouges to her central body mass, the ones pouring blood onto the dirt. That should be his priority.

He settles a hand on her shoulder.]

This shouldn't hurt.

[It might feel decidedly strange, though, to have her internal structures begin to pull themselves back into position and flesh knit itself back together.]