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

[monomachy]

[Her heart skips as it aims to pummel him, but he's quick on his feet and avoids the tentacle. Diana takes a breath, and then turns her eyes back to the slimy beast. She frowns; fro the smell, she wouldn't be surprised if it has some kind of toxin covering it.

She shakes her head, moving slowly to try putting herself in a better position. It catches sight of her, and one of its tentacles darts towards her, but she dashes away with inches to spare. She's fast, but distracted by the presence of another person, one who appears to be determined to fight with her instead of fleeing. Diana can respect that, and won't tell him twice to get away.]

No, have you?

[Any information will be welcome, she's at a loss for this one. It's like the worst kind of octopus.]

[techmaturgy]

It’s the same kind of magic, either way. Which makes sense. The Singularity is the source of all magic here.

[So that, at the very least, means the rifts aren’t being generated by some outside force. All the more reason to believe the Singularity is doing this on its own, perhaps learning and mimicking the procedures used in the ritual.

Linhardt brings up another point and Viktor makes a mental note of it--this is almost too much to thoroughly explore. He frowns.]

I would need to know which creatures bear which arcana in order to determine that. Even then, the symbols are often open to broad interpretation. Still, this reaction is…troubling, to say the least. This creature is from your world?

[ordinar]

[Wilhelm isn't stupid enough to try playing the hero when so many others are better suited to the role. He'd like to think that he's no longer the helpless boy who got lost in Nocwich's Hunting Woods last year, but a firmer grasp on his magic and the foundations of self-defense aren't powerful enough weapons against a horde of monsters. Still paying penance for past mistakes, he helps in other ways. Directing locals to safe zones away from the rifts, running supplies from the castle, curtailing the fire that some of the creatures leave in their wake.

He's sweeping the area for stragglers when a large glowing eye confronts him from up the road. In the next moment they multiply as two more beasts step out from the shadows between buildings. Wilhelm starts to back up, but by the time he turns to break into a run, he's surrounded. Growls simmer in the animals' throats; snarling lips bare sharp fangs.

Panic numbs him. Then he remembers the protective charm Lucifer gave him, and he jams his hand into his pocket. At the same time that Rhy calls his name, and the beasts lunge for him, Wilhelm presses his thumb to the symbols carved into the crystal turtle's underside and says the incantation. Lightning pulses out from the figurine to form a shield around him.]

[blackeyedprince]

[Suddenly, there are several things happening all at once. Kell falls backwards, loosing balance at being so abruptly pulled in the opposite the he was leaning. The ground under him freezing, ice spreading under the cart wheels, the creature under the cart and horses hooves. The horses try to bolt, but can't. Not only because of suddenly slipper street. The sudden movement reveals their tails has been braided together.

A set of razor sharp claws misses Kell's throat by mere inches. The creature screeches, clearly irritated, and turns to jump at Nikolai instead. The other one crawls from under the cart, frosted all over, with ice crystals crunching as they fall from its clothes with the small beast's every move, but otherwise unharmed by Kell's ice.

For a moment he can even clearly see them. Small, ugly, with grey skin, beefy arms and red faces. Then the image of the frozen one starts to shimmer, becoming more and more translucent with every second.]

No, you're fucking not, you ugly little bastard!

[Last thing he needs is an invisible critter that's mad at him for spoiling its fun.]

[sketchycharacter]

[Okaaaaay.]

How about a not-so-lingering, just-came-to-my-head question?

[Because she dropped that REALLY casually.]

You wanna elaborate on nearly burning at the stake?

[sketchycharacter]

Because they don't have cameras here and people are more likely to survive if they know what's out here!

[They would be even more likely to survive if they had some actual weapons, but so far he's come up short, at least on weapons he knows how to use. But on that subject...]

Yeah? [He gives her an even closer, more appraising look. Someone did put her on that brochure for being kind of scary; probably there was an actual reason.]

I don't suppose you happened to bring an AK-47 with you.

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred is not at all opposed to Dante coming along on his search. A morbol can be handled alone if needed, but they're massive and dangerous beasts that are better to take on with at least one other person to help bait its putrid emissions. ]

Nor am I. It implies that they came here by a similar means. [ Which makes sense, given that they all seem to be from their worlds. Perhaps Stephen's fear had been correct, and if you opened a door between worlds, it could never quite be closed. Eventually something was going to slither through, though why it's suddenly happened now and such large quantities is unclear. ]

Have you heard of a morbol? Large, tentacled beast with—

[ And then he hears something. A squelching sound from inside the closest building of Dante's domain, followed by an unpleasant belch. Thancred frowns, then immediately dismounts, dismissing the chocobo with a thought. ]

Never mind that, here's your chance to meet one.

[funbreaker]

[ The image of the large metal blob (as it turns out, all of the descriptions were entirely accurate) doesn't bring to mind something that can create fire, and yet Thancred had seen some of the scorched farmland on the way here. It reminds him far too much of what happened with Nott, and yet this location is even further out. While they might be able to repeat the spells that put out the flames before, it will take more time to coordinate, and the croplands are bound to suffer.

They need to put a stop to this absurd creature before it does any more damage. ]

Bounced away? [ He can't quite remove incredulity from his tone. ] The fact that something so large and metal can bounce is... [ Well, he'll have to see it up close to truly wrap his head around what the creature can do. ] In that case, I suppose we'll need to organize some sort of pincer maneuver, to ensure it can't so easily evade us.

[blackeyedprince]

[Kell can be subtle if he must. He prefers dramatic, he likes to show off. Takes his time. This is not time for any of those things. This is time for being quick and blunt. One opening in this whole stupid, needless fight, to end this. He doesn't have time to appreciate the magic that courses between Linhardt and Rhy. It's white strands pull from one side that from the other, like an arcane version of a tug of war. Only more deadly, because that's not rope they're both pulling on.

He almost misses it. Too far when the beast roars, and Linhardt frees himself, but miraculously stumbles backward, in Kell's direction. Close enough to get him in range. Kell tries not to think about the wave of fire that rushes towards Rhy. It's a chance he cannot loose, so he swing his makeshift club at the back Linhardt's skull. It connects with a thud, but thankfully without a crack. With enough force to take the healer out, but not enough to cause him lasting damage.]

[wasalmostdaphne]

[Bay liked nothing about that, nothing. Unkillable monsters, you would think, would be the worst of it. However that's not the thing her mind catches on.]

I don't like the idea of a banishing spell working on anything connected to the Singularity.

[As much as she wanted to go home, she didn't really think 'banishing' said 'send you where you came from' so much as 'kick you out of this bar.' So the idea of a magic that could evict anything from Abraxas, and those things came from the Singularity in a way, is just... bad.]

I still need to learn magic, all of my reading has been on theory rather than spells. Since telling any of the Thorne mages I'm deaf generally gets a lot of things I either wish I didn't see them say, or just ignoring my need for them to say it to my face. Which means my options are you or the scarier option.

[Yennifer, the scarier option is Yennifer and yes that is how everyone has spelled that choice out to Bay.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Her own appearance is smoothed over by glamour. Any dark circles magically don't exist and any wounds or injuries she's sustained in her fights are also graciously hidden.  

At the mention of a giant-eyeball her eyes widen in shock before winces at the thought of what that could possibly look like. The answer is probably not very cute. Her expression softens though as his dog trots back over to Kyle. ]

I'm glad you haven't. And kind of. I was kind of clearing my head. I ran into this big scary thing with a flower for a head. 

[ Her gaze travels towards his temple. ]

Are you sure nothing came by? Your temple looks kind of...different.

[funbreaker]

[ When Thancred hears that the worker was attacked not by a creature with writhing tentacles or vicious fangs, or even by a machine of some kind, his blood runs cold. Why would anyone have come here to the lumber mill to terrorize the workers unless something had gone very, very wrong?

Perhaps it's a monster that looks humanoid. Thancred can't be certain, but he focuses on dragging the man to relative safety in a small shed attached to the mill. ]

Stay here. I need to find whoever did this to you, but I'll be back once I've handled him, and then I'll take you to a healer.

[ It's as he steps back out of the small storage shed that he finds himself face to face with Urianger, but one look at him is enough to know that something is off. The cruel curve of his smile, the dark glint in his eyes, none of it matches the man who Thancred knows. And his heart breaks for a moment, because this is not the first time in recent moons that Urianger's mind has been broken apart and toyed with, and the last thing he needs is to suffer this again.

Even his magic isn't right, and it now makes sense that Thancred didn't recognize the damage done to the mill worker. When the umbral blast shoots toward him, he immediately leaps into a dive to get behind the cover of a thick tree trunk, but he's not quite fast enough. Some of the dark energy clips his shoulder, leaving behind a distinct burning sensation.

Not good. He needs to figure out a way to put an end to this, and safely, without him or any others in the area coming to harm. ]

I can't very well do that, can I?

[ He intones his response from behind the tree, as he catches his breath and pulls his gunblade from his back. The pain at his shoulder can't be dealt with now, so he'll just have to push through it. He's weathered worse. ]

First of all, you ruined my coat. Not very nice of you. And I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let you do as you please right now, so let's settle this, shall we?

[ He pushes to his feet, ears straining to determine what side Urianger might be approaching him from. ]

[wasalmostdaphne]

Whatever gentle he was going for in his tone isn't reflected in his body language. Which, well, matters more to the person he's talking to.

"Right, running, and where are we going?" It's sensible to ask before they start moving. Because while running he can't really tell her where to go. She can't hear the monster getting closer, is the thing.

She can see other members of the castle staff running in the same direction.

"Tell me over the network, it'll be easier than dragging me by the hand."

[leitstern]

[Jasper twists his lip at Claude's gall, his boasting of power and status, and with a withering stare accuses him of possessing neither. The fool encroaches on affairs that are of no concern.]

Intimately.

[He is unwilling to elaborate and prays his suggestion is enough to sate that meddlesome curiosity. His stare returns to the slime and his own reflection in its metallic body. His old face, his human face, is staring back.

But his attention is broken when the slime rolls back and bounces gently across the path, settling down on a patch of dirt of grass.]

Good lad.

[princessvegas]

For a few moments that feel like hours, there is... nothing. Julie can't see or hear or think; she can tell that that her eyes are open, that she is breathing, but not much else. It's like floating inside her own body, and honestly, it's nice. All the strain and effort from a few moments ago, gone. Now it's just a gentle sense of weightlessness from the sheer exhaustion.

The soft, muffled buzz in her ears seems to break a little, Geralt's familiar voice coming from what feels like far away. He's not -- he touches her face and her eyes slide slowly into focus until he stops being just a large blur of colors. As she comes back into herself, she becomes aware of the heaviness of her limbs, the fatigue coursing through her veins. She can't make herself move more than a twitch or two, but she manages to turn her head very slightly.

"Did we get it?"

Her voice is a soft mumble, slurred because she can't quite get her mouth in full sync with her brain. Everything feels like mush, like she's under anesthesia, but even so, she can sense the prickle of magic still under her skin, lingering.

[righteously]

( The Red Path; he's been here before, a few times. It's a safer road, it requires his services less than some of the others, but he's familiar enough. The scorch marks are new. Where normally it looks beautiful and pleasant, tonight it looks ominous. Foreboding.

They set off. Dean's got a sword already gripped loosely in one hand in anticipation, because God only knows when these bitches will pop out. They turn into ambush predators when they're in packs. Odds are it'll be all of them striking at once, as opposed to just one — and one is dangerous enough already. )

Yeah. About a quarter mile, give or take.

( They trudge on, brisk and businesslike. A few seconds in, Dean sighs unhappily. )

I ever tell you it was one of these sons of bitches that killed me? When I went to hell, I mean. They sent one after me to drag my soul to the pit. ( Under his breath, an unhappy mutter: ) I friggin' hate Hellhounds.

[everybodysterrible]

Abby definitely threw herself at Julie to hug her, it definitely wasn't 'an attempt' that turned into 'gravity taking over' because she's very sore in all sorts of muscles that have no business being sore. And she wasn't holding a terrified breath for way too long and she's definitely not lightheaded from any of the above or the magic.

She probably shouldn't be anyway but that is Julie's fucking problem for her stupid fucking plan. Abby does, barely, manage to get some amount of pressure from wrapping her arms around Julie. And no, Geralt has to wait his turn.

There was probably some smartass thing Abby wanted to say, to sound cool and not terrified and definitely in control and she's sure she'll think of it sometime tomorrow when her head isn't quite so woozy. For now there is a small ball of teenager very intently clinging to what she has in the way of family until someone forcibly removes her to carry one (or both) of them back to Cadens.

[gynvael]

"We're okay," is what Geralt grants by way of answer. Doesn't seem the time to explain the fissures and the flying morbol and the fact that it threw him the fuck into the ocean on its way through the fabric of reality. It isn't rampaging here, and that's all that matters for now.

His gaze cuts towards the shuttered rift. Out of the corner of his eye, the girl latches onto Julie. He gives them a minute, taking the time to grab his sword out of the sand and slip it into its sheathe. Then he gently takes Abby's shoulder to catch her attention.

"We need to go." He scoops Julie up. "Stay close."

He moves quickly for the waiting portal, though he's careful to make sure Abby doesn't fall behind. Home will at least be safe. Should be safe. As long as no further rifts open up in the middle of the damn city.

[sketchycharacter]

[He snatches the glass out of the air and examines it for a moment before putting it to his eye. Its effectiveness becomes immediately apparent from the way his whole body stiffens up as he gets a look at the shape of his pursuers — even an outline is intimidating enough.]

Picked up a knife somewhere, but that's about it. Apparently they practice gun control in Solvunn.

[As in not having any whatsoever. He has to admit it's effective.]

You got any? Or are we about to become puppy chow?

[oversight]

[ Fastening the rope around a nearby outcropping of rock, he then wraps it around his own hand before carefully lowering the end down towards Jayden. ]

Just hold on and I can pull you up.

[ He's hoping for no argument because he's not about to get going out here in the mountains when there are creatures about. ]

[lightkeeping]

You can be faster about it.

[Remember some details for later, maybe! Aloy is acutely aware of the fact that their luck will run out sooner rather than later, and that the longer they have this argument, the more time they're going to waste. She looks away, seemingly searching for favorable environmental elements, like a pile of rocks or a place to corner it if it tries to run.]

I don't need one. [She has a bow and arrow, which she lifts a bit to emphasize.] Do you?

[takeatrip]

[Jayden takes the rope when it's lowered down, though he doesn't initially just hold onto it; instead, he ties a loop on the end, so he can step into it and hold onto the rope that way. It's both easier that way, and means Blake will have to pull him up less distance, since Jayden will be able to just haul himself out of the hole once he can reach it.]

Ready when you are.

[subhuman]

[ Very well, as it seems. But he really can't fault anyone for wanting to try and protect the workers there. As much as Dante may talk down someone messing with something above their pay grade, the one thing the Summoned do seem to be good for is looking out for those less Singularity-Buffed. Or whatever it is that makes them what they are.

(No one should ask him, all he's learned to do is make pizza.) ]

Pretty big cajones you've got there.

[ That's a compliment, he promises. ]

What did it look like? Even if you only got bits and pieces.

[nadine_he_loves]

Sorry, this was prepared in advance.

[Nadine doesn't even have the oil on her, and they don't have the time for it to set properly anyway. At least Dean has a sword. Not that she likes the odds here even so.

There's no time to think about it. The worm is out for blood, and is regaining its bearings quickly.]

Let's try not to give it a clear target. Keep moving.

[Confusing it and keeping it on the move may be their best bet. Without waiting too long for confirmation, Nadine takes off to the side, getting going before the beast goes in for another strike.]

I'm so sorry to everyone involved in this thread

[subhuman]

[ Ah--there's his supporting cast! It seems that all the actors have arrived on cue. And the Faust decides to make its own flashy display of power as it extends it's claw-like fingers and begins to fire at the team. Dante skips back once, then flips over a second time to avoid another hit, all while resting his sword still at his back. The Faust staggers with the lightning. ]

Ser Crandall, was it?

[ Yes, he is absolutely going to keep up this charade the whole time. Dante glances at his new companions--two dark-haired sword-wielding bearded men who have the look in their eyes that they have Seen Things and a lovely woman who looks like she could kill a man fitting either description. The perfect composition. ]

Ser Crandall, Ser Scruffy, and our Leading Lady--we won't get far as long as our worthy adversary has his cloak on. A little disrobing is in order!

[ Which is normally what Dante would accomplish with Ebony and Ivory, but guns are hard to come by in Thorne. (One of it's many faults...and probably for the best.) ]

Ser Scruffy, with me!

[ He nods to Jon and dashes forward. With a jump, a platform of light blue flashes in the air, allowing Dante to use that to jump another tier higher in order to swing his sword at the Faust. ]

No need to be shy! Show us what you've got!