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

sylvain

[aquaveiled]

[ Hilda and Sylvain hadn't been joking about that demonic beast of theirs--it was terrifying. It hearkened back to some of the creatures that haunted Malikah's Well back on the First, a mix of something misplaced mayhaps due to ancient powers. Knowing something of the origin made Himeka watch it's movements with some trepidation--would it show signs of it's past humanity? Or was it too far gone?

They had only gotten to see so much before it was removed as if by some unseen force, landing some clue to exactly how these creatures were showing up all over the place. (As much as a clue can be "wow that's strange, wonder why that happened" can be.) But she had promised that she would let Sylvain know how it went and, really, if that thing was going to show up again, feels that more can be learned of the people who know it best.

So she finds a quiet place not far from the treehouse to take root, allowing her limbs to become branches as she slides into an easy meditation and enters the Horizon. She hasn't actually ever been to Sylvain's domain before, but it isn't terribly hard to find when she tries to fish out something that feels vaguely like him and a bit like Hilda as well. (Do they both stay here? She actually think it's sweet when people decide to build up together.) The vastness and detail is something to commend, even if she has no frame of reference for it. Care was clearly put into it.

Himeka spends some time wandering the grounds, looking for signs of a familiar face. It's when a head of bright red hair finally catches her eye that she smiles and waves, despite the dour nature of her visit. ]

Sylvain?

[philancer]

[ He's seated on a bench just inside the training yard, the doors propped open behind him and several targets and dummies before him looking quite the worse for wear.

One, in particular, is dressed up in black plate mail, but it's the spear that's stabbed into the straw head that stands out the most. Its ridges and spikes seemed carved out of something that resembles bone - a spine, perhaps? - and if one stares at it long enough, it almost seems as if those spikes twitch and move. Almost as if it were still alive.

He's not watching it, though. In fact, his head is buried in his hands as he remains bent over on the bench, lost in his own thoughts, shoulders slumped at a tired and weary angle that seems very much at odds with his typical demeanor.

His head comes up at the sound of a familiar voice calling his name, however, and he half-spins on the bench to catch sight of Himeka approaching. Offering her a crooked smile he hopes looks convincing, he lifts his fingers in a wave of greeting. ]

Himeka! Are you lost?

[aquaveiled]

[ Yes, that's definitely Sylvain, looking like he's taking a break in the middle of a training session in Horizon. It makes sense, being able to practice outside of the prying eyes of their factions is a comfort they can all enjoy. But as she draws closer, it looks less and less like a short break...

The way he's hunched over and all but jumps like a scared dodo chick when he hears her.

She doesn't believe that smile for a minute, but she'll offer him the benefit of the doubt as she keeps her own smile to flash at Sylvain in return. ]

Not at all. The opposite, actually! I've been looking for you.

[ Himeka's trot slows down as she takes a look around. ]

This is a grand place you have here. You look like you're...

[ Her eyes trail to the curiously wiggling lance. ]

...getting ready?

[philancer]

Just practicing.

[ He brushes that away with a sheepish sort of smile as he settles on the bench again, facing her this time. Stretching his legs out in front of him, he gestures to the courtyard area around them. ]

Welcome to the Training Yard. The bane of my existence when I went to school here. [ That gets a faint, fond snicker from him, which hints he might be joking, although it's hard to tell.

He's still very pointedly ignoring the creepy lance behind him. ]

Did you need me for something? What can I help you with?

[aquaveiled]

[ An apt name for a place he's been swinging a lance around. Himeka does remember how he'd handled it when they found themselves in that strange maze all those moons ago. (Gods, how long ago was it?) It's a shame Sylvain never got to meet Estinien. ]

Oh, this is a school?

[ Himeka's eyes widen at that as she turns back to Sylvain. The largest school she's ever seen! It reminds her a bit of Ishgard, really, at least in some of the architecture. Which would also fit in with the whole lancework thing. ]

I'd promised I would check back in once I found that beast of yours. So, I'm checking.

[ Her expression drops, tail drooping behind her. ]

We found it, but--...it got away.

[philancer]

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

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

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

[aquaveiled]

[ An impressive combination, all the more like Ishgard the more he speaks of it.

With the invitation, she takes a seat next to him, her tail instinctively curling up and around her side as she settles. ]

After seeing it in person, I can certainly understand why. I hadn't imagined it would be so... massive. It's head was even taller than Nero and I.

[ Himeka sees herself as on part with Nero's six-foot and two-inches.

Since this is the Horzion, she is able to summon up some aether in front of them, creating a miniature likeness to the creature she encountered. ]

I was hoping that maybe you could offer some more insight.

[philancer]

Most of them were big, but yeah, some were terrifying in how huge they were. Some of them could trample half a forest down when they were rampaging.

[ He stares at the illusion she brings up, the duplicate of a creature all too familiar to him. He can’t quite hide the shudder of dread that slips down his spine and his gaze darts quickly away, fixating on the wall across the courtyard instead. ]

Sure. [ He tries to keep his voice light and easy in response to her request. He’s not sure he’s very convincing about it. ] What do you need to know? Although unless it’s where to best stab one, I’m not sure how much help I can be. Claude and Linhardt could probably tell you more actual information about them.

[aquaveiled]

[ She could certainly picture that--the forests in Solvunn were old, though not all terribly tall or as dense as the one she got lost in during her escape in Thorne. But the forest up by the shrine that she and Nero visited? Those could rival it. The trees had been tall enough that the Demonic Beast had hollowed out a path, bending and breaking wood and stone.

She can only imagine how such a path would attract the curious acolyte visiting the site for guidance. They already found blood.

Mayhaps the illusion wasn't the right way to go about this, but she is well-aware that her own descriptions can be lackluster at the best of times, so it seemed easier than trying to explain what she saw. That does mean that as she looks at Sylvain expectantly, she doesn't miss the shudder.

He's face this before. He'd stressed an exercise of caution. She knows that these may have been people once before...she's starting to wonder... ]

Does it need to be stabbed? Nero may be better equipped at that than me, but...

[ She was mostly going to rely on her usual "throw lots of big booms at it" technique. ]

Do they have any weaknesses? Both you and Hilda also mentioned their masks.

[philancer]

[ His lips quirk faintly at her initial question, but as the rest spill out, he gives a deep exhale, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opens them again, any trace of the worries he’d been swamped by are missing and instead, the tactical soldier is now sitting beside her, viewing her little illusion with an intense study. One more mask he can don flawlessly, even though this one still doesn’t feel nearly as familiar as some of them. ]

They’ve got tough hides, but not impenetrable. [ He starts explaining the strategies they’d used to fight these things. Tactics honed on the battlefield facing them. He and the other Lions had dedicated a lot of time to this, both back at school and in the years of war since. Felix and Ingrid especially, and he’d been dragged along by default.

He sketches out the grid-like approach they’d often used, points out some of the weak points they’d found, the places where he often aimed initial blows to break through its defenses and leave it stunned or disoriented. ]

I seem to recall this one having a weakness when you shatter its mask, but don’t quote me on that. It could have been the mask shattering or it could have just been the force behind the blow that accomplished that. It does make for a convenient target, though, so why not?

Avoid standing directly at it’s head or directly behind it. Better to come at it from the sides, or picture it like four corners around it. [ He makes a square-shaped grid around it with his fingers, to show her what he meant. ] It’ll use its tail in battle as expertly as it uses claws and fangs. It’ll also stomp and trample and try to catch you underfoot - staying mobile is usually a good idea. It’s just as susceptible to magic attacks as it is weapon ones, although we tended to come at it with the melee fighters first to keep its attention on us, and let the ranged and casters at it once we had it distracted or disoriented.

[ He’d seen one catch Annie once in an unfortunate charge when they hadn’t realized there’d been another lurking around the battle and they’d barely gotten to her in time. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ She doesn't think herself to be particularly tactically minded, but she can recognize that look in a heartbeat. She's learned how to listen and set aside her own self-doubts and instead focuses on the detailed explanations he offers. And what Sylvain says makes sense--she does feel a sense of comradery when she's able to chime in and note that a certain pattern feels familiar. Whether you're properly trained or not, being on the battlefield makes a warrior of all.

But it isn't the first time he (or Hilda) have stressed the importance of the mask. That really must be the key, she thinks...the key to its undoing. (Maybe it's salvation? She doubts it, but she doesn't think that it's not worth trying all the same.) ]

It did look like the mask was kind of...attached to it. Is it hiding it's true face or...?

[ Or is that it's face?

She nods agreement with his suggestions. Unfortunately, she rarely uses the Red Mage style of casting but she can combine that with Triple Cast should she need to be more mobile. It would be easy enough to let Nero take the brunt of the assault, as he is want to do, and likely would without any plans in place anyway. ]

You really have fought a few of these, haven't you? Are they a big problem on your star?

[philancer]

It has a face behind the mask, yes. There’s an unarmored version of it we’ve fought too. [ He gestures to the boned ridges along it’s back and on its limbs that serve as the thing’s armor along with the mask. ] It doesn’t have any of these, either. And its face is…

[ He pauses, face scrunching up as he tries to figure out how to explain it before he just huffs out a breath and holds out his palm, trying to recreate what she’d done with the model so he can show her the alternate form from his memory. Honestly, the mask is an improvement, since in his opinion all the demonic beasts are aptly horrifying. ]

And yeah, we’ve fought a lot. They started showing up in greater numbers when I was at the Officer’s Academy with the others, and that continued on through the start of the war that was going on before I was drawn here. The Empire employed them with their troops a lot, they could control them through magic. I never learned how they did it, it could have something to do with the Crests used to mutate them in the first place.

[ There’s a shadow in his gaze as he mentions that, because he’d often wondered if there could have been something different he could have done in their confrontation with Miklan, if he’d had such knowledge. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Her eyes widen when it's true form is revealed--not at all man-like like she had assumed, given what she knows briefly of the origins of these things. Men who truly lose themselves and become something else entirely...it isn't the first she's heard or seen such things. And it doesn't get any better seeing it again.

Her expression turns from surprise to something a little more sad, sympathetic. Sin Eaters, the Blasphemies, and now these...how often must this be repeated?

What Sylvain expounds on only makes it worse. It's one thing for these things to happen due to catastrophic events, tragedies that are unavoidable in some ways. But to force people to become these beasts? To weaponize them? ]

You mean...these were made intentionally...? This doesn't happen by chance?

[philancer]

[ He shakes his head, his expression grim. ]

Some of them might have been. A few I know were. Others… I suspect a lot of them were made. I don’t know if it was willing or not. The ones who learned to harness them and use them in battle… Well, there’s not a lot I wouldn’t put past them anymore, so I doubt they would have let that stop them, if they thought it would give them an advantage.

[ Realizing there’s some pretty big gaps in his explanation there, he lets the wispy model fade from existence as he drops his hands to his knees and transfers his gaze to the sky, to the clouds drifting overhead. ]

There are certain weapons in my world - objects of power - known as relics. To be able to wield one on the battlefield sets you far apart from your average warrior, but most of those relics belong to specific lineages, bloodlines that carry a Crest of power that matches a specific relic. My family has passed down the Lance of Ruin for generations now. [ He pauses to gesture at the still-twitching spear currently buried deep in the training dummy, making a face. ] Whoever is born with a Crest to allow them to wield it automatically inherits the title and responsibilities, regardless of where they might have otherwise fallen in the succession. The same is true for many noble houses. Our entire society was built around the Crest bloodlines, but it’s a deeply flawed system.

With that bit of context, the most frequent way for people to become one of those beasts you’ve seen, is for someone to wield a relic when they don’t have the Crest ability to protect them, or for them to try and tap into Crest power or bloodlines directly for their own use.

To say that people have done some pretty terrible experimentation in search of that power for their own, when they weren’t born with a Crest, or perhaps they wanted a more reliable way of passing that power on… The results were rarely good.

[aquaveiled]

[ Her gaze shifts from Sylvain's face to the lance when he mentions it--"Lance of Ruin"? A fitting name, but what a legacy to uphold? All the more reason she thinks it's a shame that he and Estinien didn't meet.

But it does sound like it's something Sylvain couldn't well turn his back on. She hadn't realized the mantle he was carrying from his home world, so easy going and affable as he has been since they met. Is being here a blessed break from it? Is it wracked with guilt at what he's left behind? So many questions that go beyond the Anomalies. ]

That sounds like a heavy weight to bear.

[ An understatement, likely, if society itself revolves around these bloodlines and abilities. Sylvain is important to many people. ]

Is it possible, then...to know what crest may have been used to make this one?

[philancer]

[ He tips his head to the side as he considers that question and the best way to answer it. ]

Maybe. I can’t say looked that deeply into it in the heat of the moment. They didn’t really hold still long enough for anything like that and afterwards… whatever magic held them together sort of dissolved with their death. Often, the only thing left was the Crest stone that changed them. The ones who were changed by a Relic, though, those were a little different, if more rare. This one isn’t one of those, though, thank the Goddess. The last thing we need here is a cursed Relic.

[ And the last thing he wanted was to come face to face with Miklan again. Which reminds him… ]

It’s possible if someone with the same Crest encounters a beast made by a similar one, there count be a resonance between them. [ Had Maurice recognized Marianne? He can’t remember now, but he thought he recalled something along those lines. As for Miklan… he’d been so horrified that entire fight he couldn’t remember feeling anything beyond shock. ]

Otherwise, I’d say the only answer to that is whatever remnant is left when they’re destroyed, although I really hope that for once there might not be anything left behind.

[aquaveiled]

[ She nods, pursing her lips a little in thought. It's not as if he could make his way over to Solvunn to test it out, though it doesn't mean he won't encounter this Beast elsewhere.

The prevailing warning is the same, though: destroy it. Whatever created this Demonic Beast is too dangerous to be left alone. So Himeka nods. ]

Well...if--no, when we manage to defeat it, we'll make sure that whatever is left is taken care of.

[ She places her hand on Sylvain's shoulder and smiles as a means to solidify this promise. ]

As much as I've wanted to see what other stars are like, this isn't exactly how I imagined it.

[philancer]

[ He gives a rueful chuckle as he tips his head to the side to cast her a crooked smile. ]

I can’t say this woulda been my choice for a cultural exchange, either. Not that I would have wanted to inflict Fodlan on… anyone, really, but this was especially unpleasant.

[ His gaze drifts to the still-quivering lance, twitching where it remained imbedded after his fit of pique. ] Then again, that does seem to fit with what I know the Singularity’s somewhat ironic sense of humor.

[aquaveiled]

[ Her gaze shifts to the lance alongside his, giving it a long, thoughtful examination from a distance. Is it alive? And how much do these "crests" come into play? Are they physical, aetherial, metaphorical? There's much she needs to learn. ]

We don't always get to choose the burdens we bear, but what matters is how we address them, I think.

[ His star must be difficult at times, but to take the time to recreate it as a place he can escape to in the Horizon, it must hold positive memories as well. ]

That lance, is it hard to wield?

[philancer]

Yes!

[ His reply is abrupt and hasty, body jolting forward as if in sudden alarm that she might have reached for it while he was distracted. There’s more than a hint of panic in his gaze for all of a second before he gives a sheepish laugh at himself for clearly overreacting and slumping back on the bench to rub a hand over his face. ]

Remember those relics I was telling you about earlier? That [ He gestures to the spear without looking at it. ] is one of them. Were you to try and wield it without the protection of a Crest, you might very well turn into one of those beasts you came here to ask me about. I’m not sure if it works the same way here as it does at home, but I’m not willing to risk finding out.

[ He never wanted to watch that happen ever again. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ Oh yes, there's no way anyone would miss all the red flags in that reaction. Himeka blinks, eyes wide for a moment as Sylvain tries to cover it with an explanation.

And...it makes sense. Himeka had no intent of going for it, but now she's curious. She does stand then, taking a step closer to the lance and glancing between it and Sylvain--it does have an eye to make contract with, after all. ]

I see...but you can wield it with no issue because you have that crest?

[ Interesting. ]

Have you seen it happen?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain watches her approach the lance with an obvious sense of unease, although he has to hope she’s got the sense not to do anything stupid. And again, it’s not the real lance - he’s pretty sure - so maybe nothing would happen. But he doesn’t exactly want to test that theory, either. The Singularity’s magic - even the Horizon’s - is not something he really understands and he has no idea what could be recreated here, or how real it would actually be.

But her question has him stilling for a moment, his gaze immediately flashing to her face. There’s a mixture of emotions in his eyes that flash so fast he doesn’t have time to subdue them, hide them. Guilt. Regret. Anger.

Sighing, he rubs a hand over his face once more. No point in lying about it. ]

I have.

[aquaveiled]

[ She sees each of those and realize that she's struck a chord. It's not an easy question to begin with, for sure, but it's clear that it digs at something that goes beyond the knowledge that it did happen, that it could happen.

It looks...personal. At least Sylvain feels heavily about it.

Himeka's tail droops a bit. She knows she has a habit of just asking somewhat insensitive things, unintentionally or otherwise, but it never feels good seeing someone she cares about look like that. To be the cause of it. ]

...Do you want to talk about it?

[ What happened? is what she almost asks, but the answer is clear--someone went through something horrible, became something that they couldn't change, and probably had to be stopped in the most final way. ]

[philancer]

[ There is a very resounding 'no' that immediately sounds in his head, but he knows any piece of information he can offer Himeka might be useful. And it's not as if the tale's a secret. The entire Academy had known, at the very least. Hell, a good number of them had been there to witness it.

So he takes a deep breath and leans back on his hands, casting his gaze up to the sky to watch the clouds instead of focus on his surroundings for this part. ]

It's not a very pleasant tale. And before I tell it, you're going to need some context. In my world... having a Crest is everything. They've become elevated to the point that it's shaped our entire society around them. People view it as a blessing from the Goddess, a boon, a mark of approval, of power. In our nobility, it's often the case that you can't even inherit without one, no matter the order or legitimacy of your birth.

My lineage is one like that, although there's a more practical reason for it than just the Crest. The Lance is needed, to wield in protection of Faerghus' northern border, our northern border.

A Gautier has held the north for hundred of years now and my father, the Margrave, was determined to perpetuate the legacy. So much so that, despite the fact that he had a son, he kept trying for another, because his firstborn hadn't been blessed with a Crest. He tried so valiantly that his first wife could no longer give him children without risking her health. So, in what I'm sure he felt was a perfectly reasonable move, he set her aside and took a second wife instead.

Which is when I came along, giving him everything he'd ever wanted. And successfully disinheriting my elder brother with my first breath. Needless to say, Miklan didn't take that well. And held little fondness for me. To say that we never got along would be... a gross understatement, really. It all culminated when I was in my late teens, when he decided that if our father would never see the value in anything but the Lance and who could wield it, he would prove himself or die trying.

So he stole it. And my father sent me to retrieve it. The confrontation... [ He stops, rubbing a hand over his face once more, because he can still see the shock and pain on Miklan's face before his visage twisted, swallowed up by the black beast. That unearthly roar that echoed off the stone. The one that still haunted Sylvain to this day. ] It didn't end well. So yes. I've seen it happen. And I wish to the Goddess I hadn't.

[aquaveiled]

[ It isn't the tale that Himeka anticipated, but it lends more than just a little insight as to why the lance and why this creature in particular has been so hard for Sylvain. Would that it could have been simpler for him.

She listens quietly, attentively, and as soon as Sylvain explains the nature of his birth...she starts to see where this is going. Where she wishes it wasn't going. Sylvain doesn't need to give the details of how the encounter went. She can only imagine how horrible that must have been regardless of how well they got on--that was still someone he's known his whole life, someone he may have felt some guilt towards even before the Crest was stolen.

Was it like watching people give into despair? Turning into horrible monsters that, one moment were crying out to protect those they loved, and the next feasting on their flesh?

It's awful. Sylvain doesn't deserve that.

Himeka bows her head for a silent moment.

For those we have lost...for those we can yet save.

When she raises her head again, she takes a step closer to Sylvain rather than the lance. ]

"I'm sorry" doesn't cover much, does it? But I am. For one of those creatures to be here, must be...

[ Well. Terribly shitty for him. ]