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

geralt of rivia — ◈ free cities | hanged man

[gynvael]

— starters below —
plot comment | discontinued

timeline tracking.

[gynvael]

network/inbox.
— ◈ julie; adora & visions of ciri
— ◈ istredd; the myriapod
— ◈ altair; thresher maw

threads.
early event
— ◈ ciri
— ◈ altair
— ◈ dean
— ◈ alucard
— ◈ nadine

mid event
— ◈ julie, abby
— ◈ castiel
— ◈ blake
— ◈ jaskier, claude

late event
— ◈ jessica
— ◈ steve rogers
— ◈ julie
— ◈ thread

ciri.

[gynvael]

[ The hour is late when not one but two sets of handwriting scrawl across the wooden floorboards. Geralt sets his half-whittled fox aside. Thinks: What the fuck. The vision is one thing—he'd warned Ciri as soon as he was told, but there's little to do beyond staying watchful. The myriapod, though, is another. Hard to say which is more concerning. He'd severed the damn thing's head a fucking year ago. How is it here?

(But then, are the dead also not walking in this world? Arrived whole, with memories of their death, yet their bodies intact?)

Usually, Geralt would seek further details before warning Ciri. He prefers not to come to her with so few answers when she's in danger. But he knows this can't wait. The rifts have been a concern from the outset. Now they've evolved into a threat.

So as not to wake Jaskier, he knocks quietly on her door. She's home tonight, at least. When she lets him in, he steps inside. ]

Ciri. We need to talk.

[wiedzminka]

[ She's still dressed. Not because she plans to go out instead of sleeping, but simply to be ready, should the need arise. Her weapons and utility belt are laid out on the small table she uses as a desk, within easy reach.

Like Geralt -- and everyone else -- she's heard enough by now about the beasts coming through the rifts, their far more dangerous nature than the random octopi and domesticated birds they were getting before, even Hilda's baby wyvern. She's been out most of the day, chasing down reports, answering panicked queries from her regular clients and the people they know in this part of the city, who are familiar with Geralt and Ciri's capabilities and look to the Summoned when strange things happen. Some seek reassurance. Some have been less than polite.

She's tired. But she answers the door. Her chest tightens nervously. ]

Did something else happen?

[gynvael]

[ Geralt closes the door behind him before he sits on a nearby stool. His investigations over the day have yielded some information, but nothing conclusive. All he knows is that the myriapod is not the only dangerous monster slipping through the cracks. That it's occurring across the continent with no rhyme or reason as to where. ]

Istredd tells me he and another came across a monster from the Continent. The myriapod that arrived through the monolith.

[ Though it's been years for Ciri, he need not ask if she recalls it. He knows she does. A hard thing to forget. And as much as trust remains a work in progress between he and Istredd, the mage would not be mistaken about what he saw. Istredd is detailed with the memory of a man who does little else except consume information. The description matches.

Besides. Istredd wasn't the only witness. Stephen was there, too. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ Geralt doesn't need to ask if she remembers; the way her lips and shoulders tighten at the thing's name is answer enough. ]

Monsters out of their respective places.

And times.

[ Like the Summoned. ]

...assuming it's the same one. Not a similar creature. How does Istredd recognize it?

dean.

[gynvael]

[ Rifts and doorways into other realms are forever interlinked with Ciri to Geralt. He was concerned when they first appeared. Now it's grown to be much more than a concern. If these growing rifts indicate the Singularity's instability—and possibly, the instability of everyone tethered to it, including the Summoned, including Ciri, whose connection is unique as it is—he needs to know.

Dean remains one of the few aware of the truth about Ciri and the Singularity. A problem when the man was a demon, but now, it's simplest to ask Dean to accompany him when he needn't explain why he's so troubled by recent events.

Besides. Dean will be tracking the situation, nonetheless. May as well see what they can uncover together.

Closest to them is the barracks. They begin there. The curious aspect is, no one can describe what has infiltrated the place. Only that bodies have been clawed and torn.

He sniffs the air. Blood and. Mm. He needn't point it out. As they draw near, the streaks of red are evident across the ground. Inside the gates, the air is oppressive, tense. He eyes the boarded windows and doors. ] Any friends about?

[ Geralt seldom sets foot near these barracks, hasn't ever gone far within. Dean is more familiar with the area and the soldiers who live here. Maybe someone remembers Dean from when he first arrived. Best to start there than with a stranger. ]

[righteously]

( His understanding of Ciri's situation and his stake in the events aren't the only reasons he decides to go with Geralt. The truth is, he's nervous — not about the monsters, not about the fighting. Nervous about himself. It seems like the next round of Singularity bullshit may be upon them, and signs are pointing to it being particularly monstery. This is the first incident since he's been cured of the Mark. The first potentially bloody series of days since having a leash back over his temper and his bloodlust.

He's worried that leash might not be as strong as it used to be before. He's worried that, like an addict, it might be the catalyst for some kind of unholy relapse. He's worried about who he is, about what traces of that darkness may still linger. Geralt's the ideal candidate to babysit. He'd be the most likely to spot anything off, and also the most likely to do something about it.

So they ride out, Dean on a horse that isn't Karen, which is weird. It's not a bad horse, not temperamental, it doesn't fight him or pitch a fit, but for some reason, he likes it even less. )

Yeah, I know a guy we can talk to. Come on.

( Knowing a guy does not adequately prepare Geralt for the person Dean introduces him to. Ottavious — Dean calls him Ott — is a character. They happen upon him in one of the common areas, clad in unfashionable full, heavy plate armor that somehow does absolutely nothing to detract from how scarecrow-skinny he is. He is, notably, the only fully-armored soldier in this otherwise casual dining hall. He's got his helmet half-on, pushed up to his forehead and tilted at a jaunty angle, and both gauntlet-covered hands grip a great sword that looks entirely too hefty for his scrawny arms.

He is, at present, using the entirety of said sword to try and cut the meat on his metal tray of food — it bangs down onto the table, sending bits of corn scattering sloppily onto the surface around him as he saws through his cut of beef with reckless abandon. Nobody else is sitting with him at the table. Wonder why.

All the same, he looks genuinely cheerful to see Dean as he approaches with a folksy greeting of, )

Whatta ya say, Ott?

( "Heyyy, Dean! How's it hangin'?" His cockney-British accent makes the phrase sound weird — this is obviously an expression he picked up from Dean and started using to sound 'cool', but it doesn't sit comfortably in his mouth. )

Oh, you know. Always to the left.

( Ott cackles in utter delight, very visibly mentally adds that response to his Witty Rapport repertoire, and resumes butchering his steak with his ill-suited tool. )

Gerald, this is Ottavious. Ott, this is Geralt. Listen, I wish this was a social call, but we're actually here on business.

( "Ya don't say? What brings ya out?" )

I'm sure you've heard about the attacks?

( Ott grunts around the hunk of meat in his mouth. "Say less, queen. 'Course I know about 'em. Why'd you think I'm sittin' here in a full tin suit? Whatever it is done ripped folks apart, made their insides their outsides, didn't it? Couldn't be me. No invisible beast's gettin' through to these guts, thank you very much."

He bangs a hand on his breastplate. Dean shoots Geralt a glance that reads something along the lines of, I mean, fair enough, right? The man's got a point. )

[gynvael]

[ The Free Cities may take pride in its army, but it's also—like any place—a nation where who you know and how much coin your family name possesses can bring one places. Regardless of value. For instance, a man who quite clearly would've been ejected from the ranks under typical circumstances. And who also may have been dropped head-first down a hill as a child.

He's not surprised he's never seen this soldier on patrol or anywhere outside the barracks. They've obviously tried to contain him to a particular square footage so as not to embarrass the entire military.

Geralt stands a little to the side throughout the exchange. Mostly to avoid the unpredictable trajectory of that blade. He catches a pitcher of mead before it's knocked to the ground. Another soldier walks by and shakes his head. He nearly wonders why this idiot is the friend Dean has made out of all the soldiers. Then Dean introduces Geralt with two variations of his name in the same breath and suddenly, Geralt has no more questions.

He flicks his gaze to Dean, then returns it to Ottavious. A faint downward tilt to his lips suggests he senses a lie before Ottavious finishes speaking. He doesn't interrupt. Instead, he waits for the soldier to resume his meal before he asks flatly, ]

Where were you attacked?

[ Temperatures are blazing hot. The steel is practically a cooking pot. He can more than smell the wound underneath the plated armour. On the leg, he presumes. Movements would be noticeably stiff otherwise. ]

[righteously]

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

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

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

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

Bestie. Not beastie. Two different things.

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

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

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

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

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

altair.

[gynvael]

[ For once, Geralt is grateful for the portals. They're still a pain in his arse to go through, but at least it means he needn't waste much time riding from city to city, trying to determine what the fuck is happening.

There are three things on his mind: the vision Ciri appeared in, the odd sighting of the myriapod, and the trail of destruction left by other beasts. It feels connected, all of it, and it means he's focused on following what clues he can find.

So he's here in the Badlands, riding alongside Altair towards where the beast was spotted. Despite their mutual penchant towards silence, the day-long trip still results in some conversation. He learns Altair's opinions on goat stew, for one. (Perhaps he'll pass the suggestions on to Alucard.)

As they draw near towards the blood-splattered sand, Geralt slows down. Streaks of red stain the desert rocks alongside strewn animal parts. ]

Seems it moved on. Did it attack you?

[aquilus]

[Altaïr is accustomed to solo travel for long periods of time, but companionship on this second, unexpected back-to-back trip to the badlands isn't unwelcome, especially since there's every possibility the creature would pay more attention to him than the goats this time.]

No. I saw it from sufficient distance that the goats were more interesting, and I left quickly. I suspect it would have, though.

[He has a lot of knives on him but he's not stupid. Altaïr leans over the side of his mount to peer at the remaining pieces of goat and the marks left on the ground. Farther on, the earth looks much more disturbed, as though someone's been digging into it...or out of it. He points.]

That may be its burrow.

[gynvael]

[ A fair decision. Geralt can appreciate a man who understands what he's good at killing (other men) and what he may find himself lacking towards (oversized insectoids). He's had questions about Altair's abilities since their foray underground during Libertas' destruction over a year ago, but Altair continues to smell human.

In any case.

He squats down to examine the piece of goat flank. That it's been torn to pieces is telling. The sandskid swallows its prey whole. Absorbers drag them underground before feasting. And Howlers aren't messy eaters. Some of the fur and flesh, too, appears to be melted, eaten away towards the bone. Both new traits. ]

Some merchants claim these monsters vanish without warning. [ There's undoubtedly more to it than that, but reports have been...unreliable. Most were busy fleeing, not recording observations.

Geralt rises and approaches the burrow. Without explanation, he follows the trail. The ground is irregular, as though the creature struggled to dig deep. They shouldn't be able to see such a burrow from the surface, but they can. As he walks, he begins to understand: a shimmering rift appears in the distance. Large. Far more than the previous one he saw. And seemingly persistent.

His brows knit together. At the base of the rift, another hole opens up. As though the creature were sucked towards it.

Hm. Speaking of vanish. ] Our arthropod may have found another home.

steve rogers.

[gynvael]

[ Crossing paths with Steve, when it happens, is wholly unintentional. Though Geralt accepted it's nigh impossible to go about his investigations without running into a familiar face—the others have similar aims—he prefers to proceed alone where he can.

He isn't here for the iron creature said to be stomping around a week ago. He's here because the teeth-filled plant has escaped through the tear a second time, and he's growing exasperated that these fucking things won't stay put long enough for him to kill them. Splatters of blood and slime cling to his hair. He's not bothered to wash it out. What for when something else will come along in the next few hours to ooze on him?

In short, Geralt is looking a little worse for wear. He's shed his sheathe to keep it out of the way; his sword hangs loosely in his hand. Where the army has a strong presence, Geralt sometimes leaves them to it—depending on what emerges. A troop can face a few shadowy hounds. This, though...

It tumbles out of the widening tear with a violent crash. The ground shudders. Geralt rolls backwards, narrowly avoiding its shiny steel bulk as it skids across the sand. He shoves to his feet, giving its sliding form a wide berth. The momentum carries it straight down the dirt path, skeletal tail thrashing.

The fuck. What is—? He's used to strange monsters falling into the world, but this doesn't look like a monster. It looks like a machine, the kind he's seen only in the memories and dreams and domains of others. For a split second, he just. Stares up at it, bewildered. Then it roars, and something about the familiar animalistic noise spurs him to move. He dives behind a boulder. The top of the stone shatters under a bright red flare, spraying shards of rock. ]

[assembles]

[ Of all of the places for these rifts to appear, one had to be near a town that's kept under careful quarantine. While there's the benefit of the rift not being physically inside the town, it's close enough to the main gates to pose a serious problem, and Steve considers this one of the most vulnerable of the rift locations that have been identified. It's why he's opted to take a portal out here and stake it out, all while giving the military troops stationed in Fomahault itself a wide berth. They're worked up about so many previously unauthorized people being near a quarantine zone, which is kind of understandable.

It doesn't help that they can't predict when the monsters are going to get shuffled around from one location to another, and while all of them are dangerous to some degree, there are certain ones that are worse.

When Steve hears the echoing screech of something large and metal crashing down, he immediately rushes over from his post to see a massive robot shaped like—

Between the roar and its stance — bipedal and hunched forward — it's hard to think of anything other than the T-Rex in Jurassic Park. Steve skids to a halt when it starts shooting lasers. ] Jesus! [ As soon as he realizes the machine's target is Geralt, who's smartly opted to dive for cover behind a boulder, he races over to join him, falling into a crouch at his side. ]

You all right?

[ Not that there's much time to wait for a response when Steve can hear a whirring sound that he assumes means that the robot's charging up for another blast. He yanks his shield from his back and straps it to his arm, gearing himself up to protect them in case their cover is blown to bits. ]

[gynvael]

[ It takes Geralt a second to identify who's at his side, already considering that he might need to worry about protecting someone whilst trying to determine what this thing is—until he realizes it's Steve.

He can think of worse company.

Geralt doesn't answer. He hears the whirring, too. Another chunk of their cover bursts to pieces. He ducks lower behind Steve's shield; a jagged rock strikes his forehead. Fuck. ]

I've seen something like this before.

[ From the woman. Aloy. They'd been trapped in the blizzard together atop those bizarre mountains, and she'd rode up on a large raptor that resembled this machine. But he hasn't a fucking clue how to kill it. Armoured creatures are still flesh and blood beneath. They possess vulnerable gaps in their carapace. Have exposed limbs or eyes. This beast is nothing of the sort. It isn't merely encased in steel; it's made of it, inside out.

Geralt shifts his gaze to Steve. His only thought is to smash it apart at the joints, and he makes the rare decision to drop his sword. He slides out from behind their rapidly disintegrating cover, deflecting another blast with a shield of his own—an unseen barrier that distorts the air. It gives him a half-second to snatch the hefty lance discarded nearby and rejoin Steve.

The weapon is still in the grips of a severed arm. Geralt pries the bloodied shaft loose, cracking the bones in the stiffened hand. It'll do. But if Steve has any other ideas, now is the time. ]

jessica.

[gynvael]

[ When Alucard's assistance yields all it can, Geralt continues tracking alone. Or attempts to. As experienced as he is, tracking a singular creature that can portal across the entire fucking world is a headache he's never had to contend with over his hundred some-odd years. It isn't vital that he be the one to locate the massive insect. He simply wants to know where it's going, if it's seeking Ciri—if it remains drawn to her in this sphere as it had in theirs.

Despite his primary reason for being out here, he can't walk away when other monsters tumble through the rift he's near. Especially not when there are common folk underfoot. The tentacled mass of wriggling vines and teeth that spills out is a familiar sight. Also, an unwelcome one. Its bulk leaves moist patches across the dry sand.

He sighs. The only thing more troublesome than one teleporting monster is two dozen of them. (Almost makes him miss the Continent, with its dwindling monsters. Even if it made work difficult to come by.)

A previous encounter taught him not to stand in front of the morbol. He manages to swing atop instead, propelled by a flailing vine that sends him flying. He grips a thorny growth on its head with one hand and anchors himself with his sword in the other. Wherever the creature came from—a swamp of some kind, judging by the smell—it's coated in slime. Thick slime. When it thrashes, his hand slips.

Most below have fled. There is, however, a figure who's remained, a dark-haired woman he doesn't recognize. Perhaps he might when he gets a closer look—very soon, because he's. Falling. Ideally, not on top of her, unless she means to catch him. ]

[expositus]

[ jessica had thought she'd been briefed on just about everything, but in fairness to everyone who'd provided her with information on the kind of things this place could throw at them, this seems like a new development. aliens exist in her world and had attacked her city, but she hadn't been involved in that fight, just on the outskirts of it, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. she's strong and has been trying to keep some of the monsters back and away from civilians, but when it comes to those that are more fantastical, she hasn't really known how to fight back, and brute strength only gets her so far against them.

it's stupid luck that's kept her from standing in front of the morbol and avoiding the effects of its breath, but she spots someone who's evidently got a bit more experience handling creatures like it climbing on its back. the creature snarls and thrashes, and whatever grip he's got is apparently very suddenly lost, because he's suddenly falling towards the ground. ]

Shit -

[ she's close, but not quite close enough to catch him unless she runs for it. she doesn't hesitate to do so, pausing underneath him just in time to plant her feet and fling out her arms. her grip tightens around his form as he lands in her arms, stumbling a little, but managing to keep them from falling facedown in the mud. ]

[gynvael]

[ The reality is, Geralt has often found himself achieving momentary flight. It happens less nowadays, but his younger, greener years? He's gotten flung off too many cliffs and soaring beasts to count. The only thing that's ever met him below is the unforgiving ground. Occasionally, fortune shines upon him, and he lands in powdered snow.

So he's prepared to hit the earth. He's already twisting to roll with the impact. He is wholly unprepared for that impact to be the arms of a (human?) woman. Until the moment she catches him, he's sure he'll crush her beneath his plunging weight. He doesn't. She merely stumbles where anyone else would topple over.

What the fuck. Was she—

A rumbling growl ripples through the air. Geralt scrambles to place his feet on the ground, snatching up the sword he dropped. Distantly, he thinks he's seen the woman in passing, but that's the last item on his mind. If they survive the flailing plant, he can ask her a question. Or ten.

As the ground trembles, a viscous black sludge flings in their direction. Geralt doesn't wait to see if she's as fast as she's sturdy; he reaches to haul her out of the way. ]

Move.

julie; abby.

[gynvael]

Frankly, Geralt is not the only one capable of fending off a few monsters. Here, a good handful of the Summoned can. He leaves the rescuing in their hands. His attention from the start has been on a far more personal matter: tracking down the myriapod and the rifts to see if he can determine anything that might link to Ciri. Even a loose connection is concerning; he doesn't believe she's responsible for anything that's happened, but her response to the Singularity's magic has often been...troubling.

The ritual under the Acolytes has triggered her abilities before. He isn't sure what the rifts might do should she interact with one—deliberately or not.

Only one thing pulls him from his task: a message from Julie.

And this is how he finds himself ducking a series of thrashing tentacles on the shores of the Bay. He does know what the creature is—Ciri came across it not long ago—but he's never clashed with it. It looks more plant than monster. The vines are thick, muscular; each time they crash onto the sand, a spray of dust and dirt flies into the air.

He slices the tip off of one tendril; it flops onto the sand, and the morbol momentarily retreats. Reaching down, he grabs Julie's hand to help her up. Ideally, she should run. He nearly tells her so—but he can feel the presence of someone (something?) else near. Between the morbol's foul stench and its hungry jaws, he can't concentrate well to determine what it is he senses. It's briefly distracting.

[everybodysterrible]

A strong gust of wind came out of some debris on the beach, good enough to clear the miasma of stench and grossness around the monster.

Then someone threw a rock at the side of the monster. Nobody worth paying attention to was there. Where the rock hit a lattice of ice spread across the side of the creature, which is weird because rocks don't normally do that. This happened a couple more times, each spread of ice roughly the size of a basketball. On the beach a pattern of footfalls appeared, and several small stones vanished.

Footfalls for someone not very tall running around entirely beneath notice to anyone involved.

The path lead to another piece of cover by the water's edge. And from that cover another gust of air helped to keep the miasma from coalescing into anything dangerous. At least they decided that whatever that breath is they didn't want it on their clothes.

[princessvegas]

Julie should not be here. She is not equipped, in any sense of that word, to fight an enormous plant creature. It looks like a fucking Muppet, honestly, or maybe Audrey II's final form. Feed me, Seymour!, she can practically fucking hear it. She swears to herself that, if she doesn't die right now, she's going home and staying in the Horizon until every rift is closed.

Of course, she has to survive long enough to get back to Cadens for that happen.

Gripping Geralt's hand tightly, she scrambles to her feet. Her first instinct is, in fact, to run. To run as fast and as far as she can, in any direction that's away from this scene. She trusts Geralt to take care of the situation on his own. But she doesn't trust Abby to survive a huge monster. It's not really anything to do with Abby herself -- it's more that Julie knows just how unaccustomed to something like this she might be, how she hasn't been present for any of the more life-threatening situations the Summoned have been subjected to. How Abby's magic might play off any fear she may feel.

"Abby!" Julie screams, all three of her hands instantly lighting with balls of fire. Dodging one of the tentacles, she throws them as hard as she can at the monster; they aren't the most effective, given the size of the thing, but they leave nasty scorch marks where they land. Her eyes are wide and wild as she tries to track someone who is effectively invisible (of fucking course). The footprints on the beach are too numerous and messy to easily follow, and another belch of noxious gas soon follows the first.

Running backward, Julie chants under her breath, "Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck," then throws up a barrier against the fumes. It shimmers iridescent like a bubble as it blocks the breath, but it holds, large enough to at least partially shield Geralt as well.

castiel.

[gynvael]

[ Since their conversation at Nadine's shop, Geralt has not spoken to Castiel. Not that he's avoiding the angel. There've just been other things on his mind, people to look after, problems to solve. Perhaps it's for the best. Nothing helps put matters in the past more than time.

In any case, Geralt has been less involved in protecting the common folk— enough hands are on deck between the Summoned and the army. Instead, he's been equal parts curious and cautious about the rifts since he witnessed an unfortunate merchant disintegrate. It reminds him of what Thorne once warned would happen to those who stepped too close to the Singularity.

He returns to the Badlands. He wants to see if there are changes to the tear since he last examined it with Altair. As he approaches, however, it is not the glowing rip in the universe he glimpses. It's...

He squints. Is that. On a—

Oh. Geralt guides Roach to a stop as he senses Castiel's approach. He's not surprised the angel is here. They're all tracking the same monsters, the same rifts. Frankly, he's glad because he could use someone to corroborate his observation. ]

Do you also see a crowned gelatin?

[unwings]

[ it's true, while there's been a relative peace between them, it's an extremely neutral sort of air. not as trusting and relaxed as they once were. castiel's not going to geralt for intrapersonal and romantic advice, although he's brimming with questions about seduction and the customary method of introducing sexual relations to a friendship that geralt would be the perfect source for. it's a stale distance, not for any lingering grudge, but an absence of something that once filled the space between them.

all of this means very little to the gelatinous royalty they've stumbled on, and castiel's glad geralt went for the reality check, so we're sure this isn't a hallucination. ]

Yes. It's smile is discomfiting.

[ is it actually sovereign of some gelatin nation? is this a first contact situation? ]

Should we attempt to communicate?

[ spoken reluctantly. nothing good has been coming out of these rifts, and honestly, stab first question later is a comfortable kind of simple. ]

[gynvael]

[ Confirmation that he isn't seeing shit is not as comforting as it ought to be. Geralt peers at the imperial blob. He does not know why it appears to have a perpetual smile. Likely, this is merely the shape of its mouth and not an indication of its emotional state.

He sighs. Despite his profession, he isn't keen on slicing everything he comes across. Many of these creatures are lost and forced out of their natural habitat. Unfortunately, the nature of the rifts means even if they leave it out in the Badlands, it may end up elsewhere. Someplace it'll cause much more damage.

Before he can answer, the sand stirs. Behind the gelatin, a newly hatched sandskid, no larger than a small dog, bursts from the ground and opens its maw wide. Startled, the blob inflates and begins to bound the other way—towards them. Its speed is impressive. Its crown does not slip.

So much for communicating.

He dives to the side, narrowly ducking a spray of flame. Perhaps he avoids taking Castiel down with him, or they become a tangled mess in the sand, but. At least they aren't on fire. ]