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

[everybodysterrible]

Abby has mixed feelings on 'does he look like a fighter.' There's an obvious reason to say 'no.' But there's a subtler, but more important reason to say something else, "Yes."

It's how he faced down the monster. It just- Abby is pretty confident in herself while she can't be seen. All her skullduggery of the past few days, and further back when she was honing this gift of the Singularity, made her more aware of what does, and doesn't, reveal her existence to the world. But if a monster actually faced her down? Well, she's not a fighter yet. She'd not just stand tall and tell it to fuck off.

Even if he clearly lost a bad fight at some point, she can't really say that she'd get in his way walking down a sidewalk. And if one of the idiots she knew from home did that, she wouldn't be surprised which one of them would end up eating dirt.

"I'm Abby," she is trying to be friendly but she is also kinda bad at it given there's nothing to drink here and it isn't a party. "I figured heading off on one's own while monsters are around is a little fucking dumb. So I followed you. Guess it makes it easier on me if you can just mock them into leaving. It's a neat party trick."

[philancer]

Hey, it almost worked!

[ It was worth a try, in his mind. It would have gotten the thing down on the ground, at the very least. But it also told him the thing might be succeptible to some of the other magics he’d picked up, if he could get closer. Not tnhat he particularly wanted to do that, but it was an option. A distraction technique, at worst.

He could lob another fireball at it, he thinks as he watches it approach, his mind racing. But this is also an opportunity to try something else he hasn’t gotten to use outside of his own personal training just yet. He stays out of the range of the dive - it seems to be focused on either Hilda or Claude at the moment, he thinks, although he’s not sure which and he doesn’t have time to look.

Instead he keeps his gaze locked on the dragon, calling on his fire magic until it coats the spear in his hand, heating the metal and flickering along the slim line of it. Imbuing it with his magic. When the dragon gets within range, he draws back…

…And lets the spear fly, launching it like a javelin directly at the joint where wing meets body, all his strength behind it. He keeps his focus unwavering, willing it to hit its target, to sink deep despite the protective scaled hide the creature has.

And it seems to work, because the creature suddenly lists sharply to slam into the ground with a pained roar that echoes in the air around them. He can’t see it, it’s kicked up too much dust around it, but he can hear it, and he calls out to the others, even as he’s already racing towards it. ]

It’s down!

[philancer]

A monastery. A school. A massive fortress full of secrets. Take your pick.

[ His lips quirk and his tone comes out wry as he pats the bench beside him in invitation. Especially when he sees the way she droops in disappointment. ]

I’m just glad you’re still okay enough to come find me. Not a lot can claim that. Those things… they’ve wrecked havoc and destruction back in my world. A lot of people haven’t walked away from those fights.

[righteously]

( Good news, it is somebody Matt's familiar with. They haven't spoken much in person, but Cadens isn't a big city, and Mag's makes for a good central hub. Maybe Dean smells familiar — leather, gunpowder, more soap and hair product than the standard Medieval civilian running around Abraxas thanks to his mild germophobia and overly-attentive hygiene routines. If he's got particularly keen senses, maybe one noteworthy difference: the subtle scent of burning Dean's been carrying around this last year or so is now completely and entirely missing.

Maybe none of that's familiar, and it's his voice that gives away his identity. God knows he's got enough of a mouth on him to be fairly easy to identify. )

Hey.

( It's friendly enough, if a bit brusque — he's on the job, he's in Hunter Mode. Also, probably audibly a little confused-sounding on some level. Can you blame him? There's a guy in an eyeless Dread Pirate Roberts mask running around the barracks in the middle of a Hellhound invasion. A blindfold is, like, the exact opposite of those Hellhound-visibility glasses like Dean's wearing. )

You okay? You shouldn't be out here alone, man, there's some serious crap going down.

[techmaturgy]

I have, yes.

[Viktor wonders if now is the time to have one's first trip, given the circumstances. He eyes Finn a little, vaguely wondering if he's thought of that himself. He's willing, of course, if a first visit is what he's asking for, but he wants to offer a caveat, first.]

You do know what happens on your first visit, yes? Are you sure this is wise?

[To do it now, when neither the real world nor the domains are safe.]

[philancer]

[ Sylvain barely has time to turn around once they get outside before something lunges for the other man, taking him down to the ground again, with still no more sign of it than there’d been the last time. He doesn’t even know where to aim and there’s no way they can keep fighting a foe they can’t track.

Not unless they can figure out a way to track something from it. If they made it bleed again, would that be enough? He really wished there was someone here with more useful magic than he could call on. His fire abilities weren’t really useful here. Unless…

He focuses on the ground where James had been standing a moment before, before something had lunged and shoved him. Careful not to catch the man in the radius of his spell, he reaches out to call up Bolganone, opening a pit of fire up in the ground beneath where he hoped the thing might still be prowling. The ground crackles and hisses like lava, sending up sparks into the air and he hears what sounds like a snarl from somewhere in the immediate vicinity. Thinks he sees smoke curling up from singeing something. ]

It’s still here.

[righteously]

Dean hears tentacles, and sighs audibly. Why is it never the sexy kind of tentacles? It's always gross, slimy, murder-tentacles. Fortunately, he's a professional, so he keeps those stupid thoughts to himself. Also a professional decision: not making it Weird when he recognizes Sephiroth, particularly considering Dean was a suspicious, douchebaggy demon when last they met. That's a conversation for after they both don't die, if it needs to happen at all.

Eyes on the prize, right now. He follows Commander Shepard's orders like a good soldier. Waits for his turn to list off his skills, and does so by first unfolding his wings into visible reality from the pocket-space of invisible nowhere behind his shoulder blades.

"I can get up close without tripping the feelers if we need an inside man," by flying, or hovering, until the head pops up. "Hunting monsters is my day job. Whatever you need, I can make it work. I got a little range, too."

Accompanied by a nod to the rifle holstered by a strap around his torso.

"And I've got some peel, so if you get caught by one, yell. I can blast it off people with magic."

He's versatile. Utility-damage-protection.

"Put me in, coach. Just tell me the plan and I'm there."

[sleepfan]

[It's a good question. Linhardt considers how to answer it, weighing it in his mind.]

We have proof that they are not human, but I cannot say with absolute certainty that they were hand-created by Sothis. I was not there, nor were there any people who left appreciable records.

[Linhardt is inclined to think that they are telling the truth.]

All of my research indicates that they are telling the truth, but there was also a lot of information being manipulated by various factions in Fodlan. It's possible that I was led to the wrong conclusion.

[That is as honest an answer as he can give Kyle. Now it is Linhardt's turn to look at him with interest.]

Did you learn your abilities or were you born with them?

[With deliveries. That makes Linhardt smile, a genuine smile that touches his eyes. He likes to hear of people using magic for non-violent means. Even if delivering things was a basic task, why not use his abilities? They would make the work easier and give Kyle more time to rest. That is what Linhardt would do with more free time. The thought of sleep causes the healer to yawn.]

Do you want to compare how your teleportation works with my warp magic? I want to see if there are similarities in different magical systems amongst the Summoneds' worlds.

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri glimpsed her some distance away, the tell-tale pink hair and the odd gait, like she's distracted by something, moving... strangely. And, most importantly, away from the portal.

Now, Ciri knows that Hilda can take care of herself (despite her continued, baffling protests to the contrary whenever Ciri comments on it), but there's something about the way she looks, even at a distance, that puts a seed of doubt in Ciri's mind. It urges her to follow, just in case.

Eventually, she catches up, and calls out: ]

Hilda? Where are you going?

[righteously]

( Ah, the glowing energy of youth. Dean can't help but be a little annoyed and jealous about it — god, he sure does remember being in his 20s. He could go for days on nothing but a catnap and six pots of coffee. Now, he gets knocked on his ass by one giant worm and his back's sore for three straight days. His knees ache. His right shoulder's stiff. Damn the youths and their rubber bones.

In any case, he seems to have given up his half-hearted fight to get Jesper to stay away from monster hunting. He knows a losing battle when he sees one, and while he may not wholeheartedly approve, he does acknowledge Jesper's skills. He's a useful ally and a benefit to a hunt, talented as hell, Dean just doesn't love the sense of responsibility he feels for bringing in a nineteen-year-old kid to a highly lethal, dangerous situation.

Considering what he let Jesper do to those bandits while he was high on Mark Rage, you'd think he'd be over it by now. Not the case. He wasn't really himself then, he made terrible, irresponsible, bad decisions. He feels differently now, mentally. He thinks of Claire. He thinks of Krissy. He thinks of Ben. They don't have the same dynamic as Dean has with Inej, he's not in a quasi-guardianship role here, but it's still hard to suppress the sort-of-dad energy that protests the entire concept.

But they're on a job right now, it's time to focus and be professional. )

Not exactly.

( He sighs, accepting the flask immediately and bringing it to his lips. Only slightly disappointed when he realizes it's water and not booze. He still drinks a hefty swallow, then offers the flask back. )

He said something about giant teeth and beams of light, and that he wasn't stupid enough to stick around for a good look. Apparently it's friggin' massive, though.

[wiedzminka]

[ The bay curves around, stretches of soft sand between outcroppings of rock and cliff, coves of seawater making inroads at high tide. Depending on whether this 'dragon' can tolerate water, it might have a few places to lurk. And with the waves breaking harder, the ocean might present nearly as much of a threat as a beast, depending on how far out along the treacherous rocks they have to climb.

So Ciri is here, presumably to keep Jaskier from being swept out to sea, at the very least. Dragon or no.

Unconvinced, she pulls a face, stopping just short of actually rolling her eyes. ]

We don't even know what it actually is. Reports say it was quite large, though. I don't think it's going to be a cute baby, Jaskier.

This is a fool's errand.

[ Yet she is also here. With him. Low-key wanting to see the dragon and pretending that's not the case. ]

sshhHHH he is a baby

[unwings]

[ castiel watches the waking skeletons warily, hand itching to hover at his angel blade, but they don't appear to be doing anything besides being creepy as hell.

what's more alarming is the implication kyle gives, and cas settles a wide-eyed stare on him. ]

They were human once?

[ what happened to all their skin and meat bits, what the hell does made include. is this just a necromancing thing? ]

Are they risen corpses?

baddest of lands.

[wiedzminka]

[ In all honesty, Ciri's not having the easiest time getting back into the groove of fighting alongside Dean, after all that's happened. She wasn't lying when she said she understood and didn't blame him, but that doesn't mean she can so easily forget, nor so quickly. Maybe she wouldn't have chosen to go with him if he'd invited her. Maybe she'd have found somewhere else to be.

But considering the portals are in these apparently static locations and just keep spitting monsters out, it was more or less inevitable they'd run into each other eventually.

After that, it's simple necessity, instinct and training. Ciri sees Dean and Jo fighting the huge rock-lizard thing, which has by now sent some of the soldiers around retreating. The military is sending backup, but Ciri's not going to just ignore them. She's here for the same reason, regardless.

She appears seemingly out of nowhere, portalling right in front of the beast to distract it. She doesn't even say hello. ]

[funbreaker]

[ To Thancred's credit, as soon as Stephen grabs him by the arm and practically orders him to stay put, he does just that. He certainly has no interest in being turned into paste. He apparently already experienced something like that at the hands (feathers?) of Meteion, and he'd rather not repeat the experience if there's a better way.

Stephen makes a good point, that this "Shuma-Gorath" creature is far from surreptitious. It may get a small head start on them, wherever it's gone, but it should be child's play to track it, especially for someone like him with training in such things.

All things considered, Stephen divines where the creature has gone and creates a portal to it in record time. When they step out into frigid mountain air, Thancred's briefly reminded of that strange in-between place in the Horizon that he visited with Sylvain — a place Sylvain also saw in a vision after that gods-forsaken ritual. Is there something more to all that, or is it yet another coincidence? ]

Not yet. [ Thancred shakes his head in response to Stephen's question. His coat only does so much good in protecting him from the cutting winds, but he's spent time in Garlemald. He'll endure the cold just fine. All it takes is a quick scan of the area to note some strange tracks in the snow, long impressions that most likely were made by grasping tentacles. Thancred nods toward them. ] But it looks like it went this way.

[ There isn't a path, even, but they'll have to weather the incline up toward a set of jagged rock formations. The creature must have ventured past them, far enough up the mountain that they can't see it from their current location.

As they hike after it, Thancred sends Stephen a concerned glance. ] Before, you said it was glowing. What exactly did you see?

[theidlemaiden]

[ Ranged fighting has never been Hilda's forte. The weapon she's most comfortable with only offers so much reach which means she needs to be up close and personal to contribute anything in a battle (although she'd go to the grave claiming that her best contribution is cheering from the sidelines) and she can't help but feel somewhat useless striking and running as Claude lets out a volley of arrows even as the dragon takes another nosedive towards them.
 
The arrows soar towards the dragon. Some bounce harmlessly off the tough hide and scales but most of them hit their mark, lodging themselves in-between its scales. That doesn't stop its pursuit of Hilda and Claude however and she readies herself to veer out of the way again when all of sudden another object flashes in her periphery. There's no time to comprehend exactly how Sylvain had managed what he did let alone marvel about it because there's suddenly a gigantic creature plummeting out of the sky towards them at a terrifying speed. Hilda moves without thinking, dragging Claude to the ground and out of the path of the dragon.

It's not the most graceful way to avoid it but it does the trick (and it's probably the gentlest way she's bodied him to the ground recently); she pushes off him coughing, choking slightly on the dust that has been kicked up, and grabbing a hold of her axe again. There's only a fleeting glance between them to ensure that there's no more harm done than just the wind being knocked out of him before she whirls around on the dragon. 

She follows the piercing screeches and the sound of Sylvain's footsteps. By the time she reaches it, the dust has settled enough that she can see the dragon clearly. Its wings splay out, straining to push itself off the ground to take flight again, but the wound that Sylvain left behind makes that a difficult endeavour. She darts underneath its body towards its hind leg. With a two-handed swing she cleaves into its hamstring channeling some of that thunderous force from before into it. The head of her axe doesn't slice clean through it - it's too thick for that - but muscle and sinew are hacked through like butter. Blood sprays across the dirt and her clothes as the dragon lets out another furious roar. ]

[wiedzminka]

Well, she was here to check in on someone at the infirmary wing. So Ciri is more or less on the same page as Abby, running out shortly after her when the cry goes up, following the group of soldiers on their way to the beast.

It's a familiar one, for Ciri. In the barracks, its massive size is much more of a problem than it had been in the barren badlands, though; long limbs swinging, it rakes its claws through anything in the way, be it structure or person, emitting that horrible, raspy roar all the while.

Gunfire sounds. She's lost track of Abby, but Ciri finds Jesper instead, and then Claude.

"Fuck. Where did the girl go?" The question isn't really directed at anyone. It's more of a voiced hope that Abby hasn't become a pancake under all that dust.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard was not especially surprised that with the situation being what it is, Formahault has been even more locked down than before. He'd be a liar if he said he wasn't curious about the place and what it might look like inside, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. A quarantine is not undertaken lightly. It needs to work here.

Walking beside Ciri, his eyes scan the area for any familiar rocks. He saw the Thunderjaw get sucked into the rift, but the ever shifting desert sands makes it difficult to be sure.

And as he found out quickly, being a wolf also doesn't help locate the thing.]

What makes you think so?

[He's genuinely curious.]

[everybodysterrible]

Abby is reluctant to take orders from anyone, although she can do what Jesper tells her to do. Usually not in this context but it's easy enough to bank right. And a cover of sand and dust is perfect to just vanish, with enough people there to keep the monster busy.

Abby picks a nearby building to run to, putting herself against the wall and staying out of the way of flailing limbs. As best she can manage. She fishes a rock out of her pocket and launches it at the monster's left knee. It hits low, the skin of the monster freezing over, killing the nerves under it.

It screams in pain at the sudden cold. But a tiny rock isn't anything for it to track to a(n invisible) source, so it just swings wide at whatever is close enough to swing at.

[righteously]

( Honestly, Lucifer outright ignoring Dean and instead choosing civil conversation with Castiel is probably the smoothest this exchange could go. All things considered, it's a tremendous improvement on their historical dynamic.

Dean's content to bite his tongue and look emotionlessly stoic until the name drops, at which point a hint of recognition and the vaguest sense of concern tinge his otherwise steady features.

He makes a mental note, a new addition to the List of People Satan Weirdly Cares About. Wouldn't have expected Kyle to be on that list, but it's a small Summoned world, he guesses. )

Anybody catch sight of what Arcana it was?

( Something he's been trying to be cognizant of ever since Abby brought it up. )

[righteously]

They usually do.

( Dean answers grimly, an unhappy frown on his lips. He's not a fan of when monsters go off-script. He likes when things are predictable, when they follow set behaviors, when he can strategically plan around them. This... this is a deviation, it means they can't know who the beast is going to go after. Could be anyone. Could be any time, anywhere.

Ott looks positively affronted by the correction, glancing down to the pauldron and then back up to Geralt, calling out to him as he walks away, "It's called fashion, mate! It's a statement! You wouldn't understand."

Neither Dean nor Geralt bother responding.

He waits until they're well-clear of most eavesdropping ears to speak up again. )

I need to send Cas a message. These things are invisible, but there's an easy fix. If we can scorch some glasses with Holy Fire, we can actually see 'em. Shouldn't be hard to have him whip up a batch of holy oil. In the meantime, you should be able to hear 'em, right? Or- smell 'em? If they're still hanging around the attack site?

[youmiscalculated]

The words 'I can be a wolf' are definitely new to her, and Adora's kind of hoping she gets to see that. And hopefully, she isn't too busy fighting to see it. When he smiles at her, she smiles back, full of hope that they can actually get this done together. They can save people, they can make things better.

"Then I'll run in and buy time for as many people to run as possible, can you help them get out?"

Adora's pretty sure she can hold it off at least that long on her own, long enough to get the area clear and any people who're hurt out of the way for healing later.

[a_better_man]

"If they like the heat, they probably hate the cold." Sound logic, in Mat's opinion. If this manner of beast fancies volcanoes, it likely isn't so fond of freezing cold. That's in their favor.

Which is a blessing, as not much is.

"And I am very good with ice." Two months ago and he likely wouldn't feel at all ready to use his channeling against a creature like this, but now...well, they can at least hold their own against it.

"We can probably drive it off, if nothing else. Keep it away from the farms."

[thedreamer]

I haven't heard enough. What can you tell me? Suppose that's broad — the most important bits, while we've got time. Though, that's all relative, isn't it? We have time right now, but a second from now, we might not. Especially with all this —

[ He waves a hand in the air, gesturing to nothing at all, but indicating all the trouble that's happened with the rifts. ]

[righteously]

There is absolutely nothing weirder than receiving a blank, anonymous brain text. It's a weird sensation — it's like a notification ping, he gets something, his brain vibrates, but there's nothing there. Absolutely nothing. Just the mental equivalent of an exclamation mark. What the hell?

"Okay, that's weird," he bluntly informs Nobody, just so they're aware of his discontent. A lack of filter isn't the reason he's talking out loud to himself, though — it's serving an actual purpose.

Getting the dog's attention. Its ears perk up at the sound of a potential snack it can actually conceive of, something actually worthy of its interest. A low growl fills the air, deep, rumbling, visceral. Dean's adrenaline spikes.

Look, you get torn to shreds and dragged to hell by these things, you develop a little unshakable trauma about it. It's fine. He's a professional. He swallows it down, grips his sword more tightly, and braces himself.

"Here boy," he jeers, followed by a quick come, doggy whistle. "You want some long-pig? I'm just walkin', talkin' Beggin Strips. Come get it."

The growls grow louder, more fierce, more ferocious. The scruff on its neck stands up, teeth bare, saliva drips, haunches set. And then it launches forward at him. Dean steels himself as it leaps into the air, teeth aiming for his throat. About a foot and a half before they find their mark, he throws out his free hand and flings a sign at it. A blast of energy slams the beast out of the air and into the wall five or six feet to Abby's left. A beat later Dean is on it, swinging his sword around to impale it through the chest.

Hellhounds are notoriously hard to kill. One deep blade through the heart doesn't cut it, it rips itself away, whimpering in one breath and snarling in the next, very-visible blood spatter spraying every which direction and staining the sandy ground around them. Before it can retaliate, he swings the sword again — this time in a smooth, clean arc from overhead. The head separates from the body, rolling across the ground and coming to rest at Abby's feet.

[nadine_he_loves]

I said 'we', I'm warning myself as much as you. I'm at that limit, too.

[Her limit had been one, she's two over that already. Though she supposes Dumpling doesn't really count as a pet. Dumpling is a car with emotional needs and a personality.

That's a lot nicer to hug.

Her hand stays on the handle of her sword and she keeps her eyes on the shapes in the near distance. It really doesn't look like too big a thing...things? Even if it's hostile, it's probably fine. There's two of them, and they're human-sized. Jaskier in particular is very tall, there's a good chance enough noise and waving of arms could scare it - them? - off.

Maybe.]

Okay, you should probably get behind me now, just in case.