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

[cointosser]

[For fuck's sake, he thinks again, possibly for the third time. Yes, why have wings when one could be using them to fly away? Oh, suddenly he's too heavy because of his stupid head to move fast enough?

Every instinct in him, bird included, is shouting that he needs to leave. Now. Every man -- bird -- for himself.

Jaskier is afraid. Jaskier could be a coward. He could easily keep himself safe.

This is the stupidest --]

WORK. FASTER.

[But he doesn't. He doesn't keep himself safe at the sake of another, because that is not his real instinct. What is, is a divebomb towards the cresting worm's head with a sharp, piercing cry. His claws, tiny as they are, still manage to cut through the worm's flesh, even if they're the most minor of cuts. It is still a distraction, a fluttering, screeching thing in its face, giving Dean time to go.]

[righteously]

( Frankly, Dean would've preferred Jaskier be a coward. It's way easier to only worry about himself dying. Now, seeing Jaskier go full attack mode on the giant worm on his behalf, he's stuck struggling with conflicting instincts. Half of him's yanking in the direction of worrying about Jaskier, about getting him out safely before Dean can even think to retreat, the other half knows the logical call here is to book it otherwise what Jaskier's doing is completely moot.

God damn it. )

Just go!

( He calls up, his throat hoarse, his shout catching on the edge of a rasp as he vaults into the air finally. His wings flap hard, catching breeze, carrying him up, up, and away from the sand. )

I don't think it can see all that great, I think it- it- senses tremors or something! If we stay off the sand, it might not be able to figure out where we are. Just get the hell out of here!

( He might not be the best at flight, but at least he can put enough distance between it and them that it loses track of them. That's the best they're likely to get on short notice. )

[cointosser]

Fuck off! [He responds in text, which technically could be meant for the worm, but considering what he had to do to send it, then. Perhaps not. Goes to show that he and Geralt have some similarities in these situations.

Besides, unlike some people, he's had several seasons dedicated to practicing his flying. Though the worm snarls at him (he thinks it's some sort of snarl, at least) he spins out of its reach, catching the wind to soar higher.

It is a dangerous thing to try, but he can do it. And if he doesn't, it's likely the worm will only follow them.

He cries out, and an illusion splits off of his body -- a bird shaped exactly like him, sized like him, only with a blue shimmer to its wings. It dives straight for the worm's nose as Jaskier lifts higher, catching up with Dean as his heart hammers in his chest. The magic is going to wear on him. It's too much at once. He can at least... hold on long enough. To get away.]

We're fine! Just keep going, you horrid gull!

[It really is just two assholes yelling at each other, playing chicken with who will leave first. But now, Jaskier truly is. As long as he can keep that illusion attacking, the worm has enough annoyance to not attempt sensing anything further in the air.]

camera pan jump cut transition

[righteously]

( Between the two of them, largely thanks to Jaskier's efforts more than anything, they get away. It's a brutal amount of flapping over hot desert, broken up by the roaring fury of the worm breaking through the sand, launching itself up in a wild, vain attempt to swallow anything — but it gets farther and farther away, until the threat is distant enough that Dean feels comfortable finally stopping, half-collapsing flat onto his back like a fucking lizard on a sun-heated rock, covered in sweat and dirt, sucking down air and thinking about all that cardio he never gets around to doing.

After a few long seconds of just panting, he finally heaves himself up to warily study Jaskier in turn.

First of all — a croaked, hoarse: )

Thanks.

( You know, for all that... birding. Bird distractions. Birdstractions?

Second of all-

He hauls himself up off the rock, dragging a hand down his face, wiping away grit and sweat. )

And you're right. About all of it. She deserved better than to be caught up in my crap, and so do you. I'm sorry. If I were you, I'd take my head off too.

[cointosser]

[If the monster hunter deems it safe enough, it must be. Jaskier collapses next to him; not from the magic so much as the effort of flying so fucking fast in bitter desert heat. When he hits the ground he's a man again (fully clothed, thank you), falling onto his back on a bit of chunked rock sticking out of the sands.

Oh! It's hot as fuck. But gods, he doesn't care. He needs to catch his breath.

Jaskier raises a hand to indicate he is, in fact, still alive. His magic birds have since disappeared, and the drain of his magic is beginning to suck at his muscles, his bones. It leaves his eyes fluttering like he may fall asleep.]

Of course I'm right. [He's too exhausted for more huffing and cursing, however. What matters is Dean understands his point -- that he's accepted he's at fault. Honestly, he'd come here in anger and satisfaction, and whether it's the adrenaline swirling in him or the exhaustion, he's... satisfied by this.

It's far better than him denying his part in it.] I suppose you've learned your lesson. Something about morality and a fate that ends with being consumed by a giant worm. [He manages it out between breaths, until he can finally sit up, holding a stitch now appearing in his side.] And as much as I initially would have liked to take your head, I'm afraid I'm not quite capable of such barbarity. [There may be the smallest hint of amusement.] But you're lucky she wasn't hurt by the end of it. That's all I'll say.

[righteously]

( There was never any question about whether or not Dean found himself at fault. He did. He did from the moment he was cured. He did from the very start of the Mark stuff; he's always known that other people didn't deserve to get caught up in his crap. That's why he spent so long keeping it to himself, until he absolutely couldn't anymore. That's why he reached out to Michael, asking the angel to smite him off the earth somehow, quiet-like, to get him out of the picture before something like — like what happened, happened.

He hates it, hates himself for it, and doesn't blame Jaskier in the slightest for his reaction. Kind of admires it, truth be told — glad someone's caring for Nadine so deeply. She definitely deserves it.

Even though— )

Frankly, I'm pretty sure if she was hurt she's plenty capable of taking my head off herself. She's a total badass. The crap I saw her do in Wolf Mode? Terrifying.

( It's all wry, all faintly amused sounding, but also completely honest. )

[cointosser]

[Jaskier jerks back up to stare at him. For a moment, it is only surprise, and then his brows draw together.]

Excuse me? You saw Nadine as a wolf? [He thought... he thought that was their thing. And to have seen her, what? Fight as one? Kill as one? It's lucky there are no boxes of rotten tomatoes or lettuces afoot, because the man would be going home stinking of moldy salad.]

Now you're making me angry at you again.

[Regardless of whether Dean is right about his point or not.]

[righteously]

( OOPS. He was not aware it was like a special, secret thing.

This is what he gets for not keeping his friggin' mouth shut when things were starting to look tentatively peaceful again. He winces, and his hands come up immediately — either in surrender, or in preparation to defend himself from any wayward rocks that might get hurled at his skull. )

No?

( He tries uselessly, and immediately realizes that's a stupid attempt and will never, ever work. )

Okay- yes, but it was- you know, during the whole- kidnapping pit thing, when we were raiding the bandit camps for intel. Things were all screwed up, it probably doesn't even count?

( Right?? )

[cointosser]

[Wait, he could grow a tomato --]

No? [Now you're really going to --

Oh, all right. At least he coughs it up almost immediately. It puts a damper on Jaskier's potential to light himself up again; what little he knows of what happened in the Pit makes him inclined to not judge anyone for any action they took, or what they did to help the taken, let alone if he's attempting to find a reason to dislike them.

Dean isn't horrid. Jaskier knows that. Geralt would not waste so much time on him if he wasn't. But, gods, there is no one who suffers for the things the demon did. He doesn't even know if the demon is dead, in any sense of the word. If it was even a separate entity.

But Jaskier would have liked to see that.

He heaves a sigh.] It isn't your fault. [He brushes sand from his now dirtied chemise.] Entirely. [Mostly. He doesn't specify what, exactly, isn't Dean's fault. It's so utterly annoying to want to dislike him and to know it's unfair.

Nadine is something... different to him. Special. And perhaps that's why he cannot truly tamp down why he feels like this.] Let's just get out of this bloody desert. I'm getting chafed. [He brushes sand off his trousers next.] Have you ever ridden a bird?

[He has a way to get out of here much faster.]

[righteously]

( So, this is. Absolutely not the right time, or place, or person, considering Jaskier almost clawed his eyes out and generally seems to hate everything Dean represents as a person, but also... Dean has no filter and the incorrigible personality of a twelve year old boy, so he genuinely cannot help himself.

Have you ever ridden a bird?

His lips quirk at the corner, spreading into a ridiculous, rakish sideways grin. )

First time for everything, sweetheart.

( And then about a second later his brain catches up with all the reasons why that's inappropriate and likely to get him punched, and he backpedals. )

No. Sorry. That was- I'm. Yep. I'll figure it out, let's go.

[cointosser]

[Normally anyone else saying that sort of thing in the thick of shite might've made him laugh, but Jaskier instead -- childishly, yes, but very satisfyingly -- grabs a fistful of sand and throws it at Dean.

He feels moderately better.]

I don't mean me, you absolute ass, and I've already given you the opportunity and been turned down. [If he has to be reminded, Mr. "You-and-Geralt-Are-Fucking?" over here.

Jaskier steps past him, brushing the last clinging grains of sand from his clothes, looking about. He's been in the Badlands plenty, and done much adventuring on his own (mainly teaching himself how to fly with a reasonable degree of talent. Which, beside Dean, he feels like a professional.) Raising three fingers to his mouth, he releases a certain tune of whistles.

There's no immediate response, and it does make him look a bit mad. But after several heavy minutes of Jaskier pointedly ignoring Dean to stare out at the horizon, there come two shapes that break the line of blue sky: a pair of golden chocobos, striking hot across the sand. They answer another whistle with a signaling call of kweh!

Good. They wouldn't come if the worm were anywhere still near.] A bit of experience with a horse may be good enough to ensure you don't get your hands torn off. Just be gentle.