• OPEN •

[carmesi]

WHO: anyone and everyone in solvunn
WHAT: mingle for the summoned, particularly the new people
WHEN: a day or two after the new summoned arrive
WHERE: in aloy's homestead—crossing some wilderness but close to the primary settlement
WARNING: TBA

A. THE JOURNEY THERE

The invitation to Aloy’s homestead is made shortly after the newly Summoned find their bearings within the Primary Settlement. Aloy begrudgingly agrees to it, but seeing as how their group has grown within Solvunn—it probably is for the best to be a little more open to the presence of others. Much like with the treehouse by the lakes, it’s good to know of another place further away from the settlements where the Summoned might feel comfortable enough to traverse into.

That is not to say that the homestead is very friendly to strangers, though. Aloy has set up tripwires, disguised pitfalls, snare traps, and other devices in the surrounding area, creating thus a challenging attempt for anyone who wants to travel there by themselves. Additionally, a way to avoid most of that (read: not all; consider it a bonus for getting close to the homestead) is to go through the arboreal parkour course that has been set up. A network of catwalks, platforms, and balancing ropes to traverse the woods. Reaching Aloy’s truly is a test of guts and skill. 


(Alternatively, travel with Wanda or Himeka—the path clears up for them. For the ballsy, follow Nero and Rocket; surely they aren’t scheming anything…)

And, past all of that, the woods will open up to a tall, spiky fence, about eight feet tall, and the gate will lead towards the homestead proper.

B. HOME SWEET HOMESTEAD

The seasons are turning, and while Solvunn doesn’t suffer from incredibly cold winters, there is definitely a chill in the air. Storm clouds in the distance by the coast rupture with booming thunder, bringing down the temperature quite significantly. It makes the bonfire burning outside a welcome source of warmth. Despite the threat of rain, there’s a strong chance the skies will clear up, as the wind picks up.

Within, Aloy’s homestead boasts the woman’s survival and technical skills. Making the most of her resources, there are meats hanging to dry, chopped wood on the side of the house, and animal skins splayed out that will most likely need to be stored at some point. The inside of the homestead is a simple affair, but for someone who isn’t in the business of receiving guests, it’s decent enough.

For today, the space—inside and outside—has a few extra wooden chairs and tables, picnic style, and they’re decorated with an assortment of food: recently harvested apples from the orchard, berries, roasted mushrooms and acorns, and more complex dishes thanks to Himeka’s arduous work in the kitchen the day before. At one point, a giant stew will cook over the bonfire, with meats and veggies, with bowls to the side for anyone to take their fill. Additionally, there will be grilled fish, flat breads, baked cabbage with lentils and, for those with a sweet tooth, apple pie. Wanda will also be sharing sarmale, a pot of goulash, spinach and cheese pastry—gibanica, and a table of assortments to build their own burgers. Additionally, there will also be apple cake and mandelbrot cookies. All in all? No one’s going hungry at the homestead.

But, worry not, all that food needs to go down with something. Barrels of mead and ale will be available for all to drink. For those who don’t want anything alcoholic, there is apple (and other fruit) juice available.

Make merry and mingle, new faces and old faces alike.

And, of course, please take one of the pamphlets.

C. THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING

Lightning strikes, and almost immediately the boom of thunder brings an eerie quiet to the homestead and the forest past its fences. There’s the awkward laugh the tries to break the silence, shaking the jitters away. Some are quicker than others in mobilizing, perhaps feeling the pinprick of raindrops that others don’t, and start moving what they can salvage from the food and miscellaneous items into the cabin. Some may choose to spare themselves of the rain, pushing the way inside or hiding under the roof’s awning at either side of the cabin; others may be entirely unbothered by the rain, as heavy drops fall fast from the darkened skies.

More thunder rumbles in the distance, roiling ever closer from the mountains in Thorne’s southern border.

A few Summoned might notice it first, that it isn’t really the rumbling of thunder that shakes the muddled earth. The grunts of approaching beasts are mixed with the sound of hooves drumming up in rhythm of an uninvited approach. Birds fly away in flocks as the mammoth boars make their way through the forest, inadvertently towards the homestead.

They are due their mating season, and traveling to the wintry mountains of Thorne has been delayed by the appearance of the beasts in the rifts, the journey now a toll on the boars as the continuous lighting and thunder confuses, frightens, and angers them.

They ram into the fence at different points, and chaos would soon ensue, but thankfully all the Summoned have their powers back.

Right?

D. CLEARING UP

After a few boars were felled, the rest scrambled and escaped, continued their path northward. Killing some of them was inevitable, but nothing ought to be left to waste. The skies clear, the waning moon appears over a colorful sunset, and the rain stops. The fire is built again in earnest, and meat is, quite literally, back on the menu at the grilling station, as per Nero’s helpful suggestion. Some fences need a little mending, and a general amount of cleaning up within the homestead needs to be done, too.

As sunset gives way to nighttime, the sky—once marred in dark tones of gray—gives way to a beautiful night sky, with stars and constellations to be delighted by many. Wanda will be offering to dry the wet clothes of those still sticking around, and Himeka hands over warm cocoa or warm cider, something for everyone.

Now that things have quieted down, and with folk sitting around the fire or standing just by the edges of it, Rocket and Wanda inform everyone of the letter from the Nether that they received—something, perhaps, so they can get a general idea of what everyone thinks; about getting involved, about helping, about Solvunn’s interests in all this. It’s not meant to start an argument, debate, or a long conversation, but it’s something to have everyone think about — to know that they might be sent off somewhere else, soon, for a while, and brace for the trip.

Those who have been in Solvunn for a lot longer will be around, to ask questions or start a conversation about what has happened, what is currently happening, and theories for their futures, here.

Aloy didn’t mention anyone can stay to sleep, though, so best feel ready to head back at some point.

Comments

[divinityfrompain]

The gods can do it, we've got those too, but they're not mortal in the strictest sense so that tracks. I'm pretty sure only dragons can do that for humans.

[ Julia is pretty sure she could just go down to the underworld any time she wants to now. Maybe she could see Richard and her coven again. That never occurred to her, but she had a lot on her mind recently. It's something she'll hopefully think about if she goes back. She'd like to see him again. His face didn't scare her like she worried about. Eliot told her that she loses her powers; she's hoping that's not the case, if she can help it. ]

I wonder if that's part of what happened though, to make them sick. If they do have similar powers here, it would make sense that alien portals, or rifts as people called them, could sap their strength. Or maybe that other alien dragon did it? If they know, they haven't told us.

[ As Himeka knows, given she's the one who presented them with this information. Maybe once they get to the Nether and they don't have to worry about the factions listening in anymore, the residents there will be more forthcoming. It's hard to know how much they'd trust these outsiders, outside of begging for help over a very real concern.

She doesn't ask whether Himeka's race is related to dragons, considering the scales and everything, because she assumes the woman would have already mentioned that kind of close kinship. ]

Does Solvunn usually grill us on what we learned when we get back?

[aquaveiled]

[ Interesting... dragons are considerably long-lived, the Great Wyrms surviving for millennia on end. More things to try and find out when she returns to her own star--mayhaps there are powers there that they are unaware of in and of themselves. If only Midgardsormr weren't back to slumbering...

Julia's theory is an interesting one as well. Is it the portals themselves that are causing the illness? The letter had said that they feared they may be connected. ]

That's true...mayhaps the veil is thinner for them? And the rifts themselves are kind of...strange and horrifying in ways, aren't they? Like tearing the aether itself apart. If you were near one when it appeared, it could go poorly.

[ Just maybe. ]

I'd tried to see if there was anything residual on the creatures--erm, the anomalies that came out of the portals, but in the end they didn't feel any different than the rest of us.

[ It makes her wonder if a portal like that is what sits at the bottom of those wells.

The follow-up question draws a wry smile. ]

Yes, but in the kindest way possible. There's always the hope that you'll share and an expectation that you will, but it's more...there's someone always listening, if that makes sense? I've found it best to share something up front so there's less suspicion you're hiding something.

[divinityfrompain]

I wasn't here for it, but yes, the way you guys have described it, they seemed like unnatural rips through space with animals pulled similarly to us. I'm sure the creatures were as confused as the rest of you as to why they were here.

[ Not that it means they should be allowed to stay here or anything, Julia just has some sympathy. Anyone being ripped out of their world would've reacted with fear on the other end of it, she's an example of that. And they all were 'summoned' or forced into this world, so the creatures were more of the same.

She doesn't entirely know how the rifts happened, that detail was not shared with her yet, but she vaguely knows what she's talking about. There were ways to travel worlds where she's from, and sometimes that included just ripping a hole. It was rare, but possible. ]

Whatever happened to the dragons, it does sound like it was connected, so I guess we'll know better when we get there.

[ They'll have to check the aether/magic while there and see what makes it different. Or just shrug and help however possible. Julia looks a little skeptical at Himeka's explanation of how they ask about information. ]

Grilling is still grilling even if it's nicely said. I think we should be careful with what we bring back. It sounds like the Nether rarely reaches out, there's probably good reasons for it.