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

this is 10000% what he asked for no refunds no returns no complaints

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda is a big proponent of beauty sleep and all that it entails. It's important to get your eight (or nine. Or ten.) hours of sleep a day in order to wake up refreshed and ready to conquer whatever the day has in store for you. Unfortunately she is getting less than her preferred amount, her mood is a little lower than her usual level of chipper, she's pretty sure she's broken a couple of nails and her entire body is sore from spelling, crafting and fighting. But maybe it's worth it if it means trying to keep the others around her safe. Maybe. 

The recent influx of monsters and orders to Cyprian's workshop means she's also keeping strange hours. Despite her initial reluctance to take on the responsibility of crafting a weapon for Cal ("I make jewelry and stage weapons at most, not actual weapons that could hurt people!"), the last thing she wanted was for him to be running around empty handed. If something awful happened to him her conscience simply wouldn't be able to take it. Well, that and she had been undeniably curious about his request. A sword-like weapon that lit up? It was kind of weird but so did the world that Cal hailed from - at least the parts that he'd told her.

She puts the finishing touches on it and bundles it up ready for delivery. Breezing through the Sarstina doors, Hilda spots him easily and gives him a bright - albeit mildly weary smile. It's a far cry from the perky hostess she had been when they had first met but there's echoes of it still clinging on for appearances sake. Once she's near the table he's posted at, she gives him a once over and a huff. ] 

I still don't know why you're running around out there without a weapon. What have you been using? 

[thepath]

[ Much like the first time they met, Cal is sitting here completely devouring his food—clearly, this is a pattern. But he stops and looks up when Hilda approaches, his small smile tired, but genuine. His eyes rove over her, down at the bundle she's carrying, then back up to her face, searching for more signs of the weariness in her smile. ]

Luck, mostly.

[ It's offhanded and glib and, underneath, probably annoyingly coy: it's easy to be lucky when you have the Force on your side and you're not afraid to use it. But the coyness is just habit at this point, after a decade of hiding his identity and abilities from the Empire. A decade of running.

He pats the empty chair catercorner to him in unspoken invitation for her to take a seat. ]

You holding up okay? I'm sure you've been busy.

[theidlemaiden]

[ If this is going to be a continuing pattern, she can’t say that she has any problem with it. Food is important! Especially when there’s monsters about and they have to fight them. How else was someone supposed to keep their energy up? Speaking of, when had she last eaten? 

His coyness doesn’t do much to annoy her (being friends with Claude for so long means her tolerance for it is considerably higher on a normal day), but it does everything to exasperate her. The people she kept as company all seemed to have a similar glibness to situations like these. As a result she gives him a bit of a look before catching the eye of Mags who she motions for some food and drink. 

At the invitation she deposits herself into the seat next to him, giving him the most world-weary sigh as an initial response to his question. ] 

I’ve never been more busy in my whole life. [ And that includes having to try and repair a broken, run down monastery. Then again, she didn’t do so much manual labor as she had delegating. ] It’s awful. And you’re contributing to it! 

[ Said with a bit of a teasing lilt to it along with a slight lift of her lips as she places the bundled up package between them on the table. ]  

[thepath]

[ Honestly, between Cere, Merrin, and their alternating levels of exasperation with him, he's immune to looks at this point. In fact, it probably has the opposite effect of what was intended, because he just smiles, half-unrepentant, half-knowing, and laughs at her teasing. ]

You wouldn't send me back out there with just luck, would you?

[ Look at him! He's just a little guy! When she sets the package onto the table between them, he takes a few more hurried bites of his food before putting his fork down and pushing his half-eaten plate aside. Obviously, he's been yearning for a weapon to take into these fights.

More soberly: ] I know I probably owe you big time for this. It might just take me a while to pay you back.

[ He fully intends to, though. Just... when he has some more money to his name. Then he starts to unwrap the package and—ah. ]

[theidlemaiden]

If I wanted to do that I wouldn't have made you this, would I? 

[ The hint of sass in her voice is evident and she won't apologize for it, especially since the look she had given him had little effect. Sadly, it's a reaction she's used to. The people she surrounds herself with seem to be developing an immunity to those and she isn't sure how she feels about that. 

At the mention of payment she waves a weary hand - she isn't the sort to ask for payment and she isn't about to start anytime soon. Especially with this piece. Cal might want to take back what he says once he sees what it actually does. Honestly, she might not say that either if she were in his position.

If she didn't look mildly nervous before, she does now. ] 

You really don't owe me anything. I'm not even sure it's going to do what you want it to do. 

[ When he unwraps the package it's nothing to write home about - or at least that's what Hilda would say if she weren't worrying her bottom lip. The sword actually ticks all the boxes of the makings of a good sword: surprisingly light despite appearances, a sturdy, reliable tang, soft but grippy leather for the hilt, and the blade rides the fine line of flexible and durable all of which is enhanced thanks to some inlaid runes that are imperceptible except in the right light. ] 

I mean, it will light up but I still don't know why you'd want it to. 

[thepath]

[ Why does she look... nervous?? It's only making him feel a little nervous too, though he doesn't know why.

Then he opens the package, revealing the sword, and he gets a good idea why. Not that it's a bad sword—he really doesn't know anything about them, honestly, since he's never actually seen one in his galaxy, not when 99.9% of beings there use blasters—but rather, it's not the sword he was expecting.

That is, it's not a lightsaber. It's not even a little like a lightsaber.

Except that it lights up. ]

Uh. It's. Just—

[ He blinks at it, trying to figure out where things got lost in translation. He's never actually had to describe a lightsaber to someone, since where he comes from, everyone knows what they are. A sword with a retractable blade that... lights up?

Okay, he can see how things went wrong. ]

It's just what I'm used to, I guess. [ Oh, he's trying so hard to play this off. Probably too hard. ] And it's handy in the dark.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Honestly if she really knew what a lightsaber was, there is still a very high chance that she would have done this on purpose because honestly...it's kind of funny in hindsight. But a good ol' Hilda-style joke gift usually means she follows up the joke gift with the actual gift.

Unfortunately that's completely missing here because she doesn't have the faintest clue that a lightsaber is made from some kind of special crystal not steel and that recreating it might prove a little more difficult for multiple reasons.

Her cheeks puff up in an attempt to not - what? Laugh? Cry? Both? - at his expression and the way that it's definitely not what he had been trying to describe to her before. To save them both a possibly more humiliating reaction she buries her face in her hands. ]

I got it totally wrong didn't I?

[ Despite being muffled it sounds more upset than she intends to sound. This is exactly why she had spent the majority of her life dodging expectations because if she did fail or disappoint this is usually how it started. ]

if you want, feel free to describe a memory attached to the sword!! free memshare, babey

[thepath]

[ Oh, Force. Oh, no. She's not going to cry, is she? She's upset, clearly, and if there's anything Cal can't stomach, it's people who are upset, especially because he stuck his foot directly into his mouth. ]

No, it's great. Uh. You gave me exactly what I asked for.

[ He starts to reach for her shoulder in order to... pat it, probably, in an attempt to be comforting, but stops at the last second, unsure. So his hand kind of hovers there, for a moment, before it drops back down to the sword. There's a memory attached to it that he can feel when he touches it, likely some echo through the Force of Hilda crafting the weapon, though he doesn't delve into it just yet.

She went through a ton of effort for him, just so that he could have a weapon to defend himself through all this, and she won't even accept payment. So he tries again, more firmly: ]

Look, it's not your fault I'm bad at describing things. I wanted a sword that could light up, right? You nailed it.

[ He grins. Come on, it's a little funny. ]

got u 👀

[theidlemaiden]

[ The memory he gets is clear and bright, not so unlike the bright clang of hammer meeting metal as she crafts it. The metal practically sings under her watchful eye. It shifts into another of her with the finished sword, but this time she's meticulous in her enchantment, weaving together the spells and runes appropriate for light.

Magically speaking it's simple, but there's more runes that seem to be going into it. Thoughts flit through the memory, overlaying it and it becomes apparent that they're the spells she's weaving into the metal: magic for sturdiness, sharpness, protection.

May it help support him in whatever challenges he faced...even if it did light up.

She gives him a little sniffle as she looks up at him from her hands. There's a watery laugh in there although there's no actual tears. ]

It is actually really funny. But I wouldn't say it's entirely your fault. We just don't have anything like that in Fodlan. I should have asked you to draw me a picture or something.

[thepath]

[ He laughs, stupidly relieved that she isn't actually crying. ]

I don't think I'm any better at drawing than I am at describing things.

[ If BD-1 were here, he would just be able to project a holoimage of Cal's lightsaber—or a holoimage of just about anything they've encountered back home, really—which probably would've been the easiest solution. But BD-1 isn't here, and Cal was left to his own devices.

This is probably why he shouldn't be.

He runs his fingers almost absently over the hilt of the sword, this time unspooling the memory attached to it—as he suspected, it echoes the making of the sword, the skill and care Hilda put into it. It's a... nice memory. Much lighter than the ones he usually encounters, and therefore appreciated if only for that. ]

I don't know a lot about swords like these, but it looks like you put a lot of work into it.

[theidlemaiden]

Yeah but that's what the Horizon is for. You wouldn't have to draw me anything. 

[ Not that they have the luxury of trying to dip into the Horizon for extended periods of time when there's monsters to be slain and swords to be made or something. ] 

I'd like to see what an actual lightsaber can actually do. You might not have described it properly but it does sound really neat. 

[ The desire to see what it actually looks like has just as much to do with satisfying her own curiosities as it is doing a little bit of research. Just a little. 

The compliment sits uncomfortably on her skin and she shifts in her seat. ]

Well I didn't want it breaking on you. Then I would have felt even worse giving you a light up sword that didn't hold up after one or two strikes. [ She casts it a little forlorn glance. ] It's not anywhere near as good as what a friend of mine could make but hopefully it'll do. 

[thepath]

[ The Horizon. Right. He's still getting used to the idea of some sort of... shared dream-like plane where anyone can create anything they want just by thinking really hard about it. But hey, what's one more thing from his home to demonstrate? He'd already promised Viktor he would show him the Mantis, after all.

He does catch that little forlorn glance, so rather than joke or make light, he reaches for gentle sincerity instead. ]

It'll definitely do.

[ There isn't enough space in here to swing the sword around, but he's sure he'll get the opportunity to do that eventually. Instead, scooting his chair back a little, he picks up the sword in one hand, testing its weight, how the hilt feels in his grip.

It's heavier than his lightsaber, as expected, but well-balanced. It'll probably take him a while to get used to the weight and the fact that the blade can't instantly cut through just about everything, but hey. He's pretty adaptable. He'll probably figure it out. Hopefully. ]

And I'll show you. [ A lightsaber. ] It's, uh. Definitely what I'm used to fighting with.

[theidlemaiden]

[ It would be easy for Hilda to get sucked down a downward spiral of thinking that Cal was being kind just for the sake of being kind. But being gloomy is honestly just as exhausting as making swords and if there's one thing she actively tries to avoid it's being gloomy.

Instead she focuses on watching him use get used to the sword. Having watched plenty of training sessions back in Fodlan, it's clear to Hilda that he understands how to wield a weapon and a sword-esque weapon at that. Any person wielding a weapon was bound to need some time to get used to the weight of a new weapon. This shouldn't be any different, but she hopes that for his sake, it's sooner rather than later.

At the very least, it puts some of her mind at ease. ]

Why don't we consider that your payment then? As long as you don't think that's too cheeky after I messed up your sword in the first place that is.

[thepath]

[ That won't be his only payment, if he hasn't anything to say about it—there has to be some way he can make this all up to her somewhere down the line—but he's not going to argue with her right now. He's already brought up the subject and gotten shot down, so trying again would just be obnoxious.

It's okay. He can be patient and wait for an opportunity to do her a good turn in kind. ]

It's a deal. [ He sets the sword back down on the table, taking care with it. ] And thanks again. Should be helpful out there.

[ You know, with the monsters. He's being tongue-in-cheek. ]