𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀 ⬡ 𝐌𝐀𝐗𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐅𝐅 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
carmesi) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2023-10-07 12:56 pm
carmesi) wrote in abraxaslogs2023-10-07 12:56 pm
Entry tags:
- !player event,
- aloy; the hermit,
- arthur hastings; the hanged man,
- dan heng; the high priestess,
- erik lehnsherr; the hermit,
- esme frost; the hanged man,
- haelva lueltar; the magician,
- henry creel; the hierophant,
- himeka sui; the fool,
- julia wicker; the tower,
- nanaue; the fool,
- nero (dmc); the chariot,
- rocket; the chariot,
- wanda maximoff; the hanged man,
- wrench; the hanged man
• OPEN •
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
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
C. THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
D. CLEARING UP
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.
no subject
He folds his arms across his chest, tight, but doesn't mention anything about the Underworld. He knows it won't be the same place. It can't be.
It'd be stupid to hope, anyway.
So. First things first.] I just don't got sex on the brain 24/7 like you. I got more important things to do -- like warn people about the monsters comin' out the portals. [Besides, he's not commenting on that. He knows it's a fuckin' trap. Nico's tried pulling the same shit with him.
Nero doesn't startle or move. Teleporting is really one of the least weird things he's seen, and it's not like he couldn't track her. He can move faster than a bullet if he wants to, and now he's weirdly uncomfortable, so he's even less likely to take a step back.] Also, kids drew that. [Well, like, some of them. He mostly designed them and the kids would copy it.] So chill.
no subject
I didn't say anything about sex, it's just a body part like any other.
[ Her teleporting is a strange kind because it's not like she's moving she's existing in one space and then existing in another. She genuinely has no idea how she's doing it. She wanted to step over to him to talk more directly instead of across a snake pit and then she was. It's all very weird and uncomfortable for her too. This isn't her body anymore, not really. ]
I am chill.
[ She has very little chill. This is a lie she tells herself. ]
What is the chicken-legged house in the forest?
no subject
I hate to tell you what most people think about when that comes up --
[Why is he still talking about this?? With another woman? Oh, god. Kyrie would fucking kill him.
At least she changes the damn subject. 'Cause if she wasn't, he was about to jet out of here. (Still tempting. What's one more person seeing his damn wings? It's not like anyone's ever pried too much. Except Satan, apparently.)]
It's a house with chicken legs. Whaddya mean, what is it? It's the literal description, lady. It's a freakin' monster.
no subject
[ Acknowledging what they both want there. Julia didn't think her reference to the image was going to lead to a weird back and forth, although maybe she should've. It's just something her group of friends would have laughed about or teased him about too, and she's still adapting to this weird as fuck situation where nothing makes sense.
Her eyebrows furrow.]
It's a monster or it's a building, it's not both of them. Is it a living creature? And it's just ... running around out there for no reason?
[ Julia may have to go look for it if that's the case, because she can't leave well enough alone. It sounds from his description like it's an entity, not an object. Made of chicken legs. ]
Wait is it the Baba Yaga? [ Chicken legs is what sets that thought off. ] She's a creature from Slavic folklore, but she's real, have you seen her?
[ It's possible that worlds are colliding, she's gone between worlds, why wouldn't the Baba Yaga be able to? ]
no subject
Nero holds up a hand, wagging it.] Nah, nope, no. You're thinkin' about this way too hard. [Man, has it ever been this annoying to explain the brochure to someone? They've never had so many damn questions. Or wanted to correct him on every point. It was just supposed to be a head's up, not a how-to.] It's both. Dunno what that's an impossible concept to understand.
[Most buildings don't have legs. And most legs aren't attached to houses. 'Cause if they were, they'd still be dead. And to Nero's credit, he doesn't know what's in the house, if anything. It could be a whole-ass critter in there. A giant, freak chicken. Who the hell knows?
He squints at her. No reason? What's the reason anything runs around?]
Have you ever seen nature? Monsters exist the same reason ants do. [You'd think someone who believed in gods would be jiving with this a little more.] I haven't seen it, but Himeka did. And it screwed with her enough to warn people off of it. Look, it's either one of Solvunn's fucked up gods or just another demon, but either way, I don't think anyone should intentionally go picking a fight with it.
no subject
[ Julia used to think very black and white about everything, before she got pulled into the magical world and found out she was wrong about reality, and everything else. It's hard not to fall instinctively into that mindset of questioning and disbelieving, but she really should get better about it, especially around here. And especially considering what she is, she shouldn't doubt anything existing, no matter how weird it seems. ]
Oh, I wouldn't dream of picking a fight with it, it didn't occur to me anyone would. Then again, I know there are like, monster hunters, they probably would. I just thought it'd be interesting if it was Baba Yaga, because that means she exists on multiple planes of existence and in the multiverse.
[ Which is interesting, at least to her. She smiles at him, easy-going, and shrugs. ]
I'm being annoying, aren't I? I can just ask Wanda these questions, she told me she'd explain things, you don't have to worry about it.
no subject
At least she seems really sturdy. Not much else he needs to warn her about.]
Yeah, we have monster hunters. Not so much here in Solvunn, I guess, but plenty of other Summoned. I'm probably the closest thing here. [And Nanaue, maybe, but he really just seems to catch 'em to eat 'em, so.] It could be her. Or something like it. I mean, you figure one of them has to start the folklore, right? [To him, there might be even more than one chicken-legged house, even in Solvunn's forests.]
Sort of, but you're not the first to give me shit about the brochure, either. [He waves it off.] Don't worry about it. I'll still help, Wanda'll probably be nicer about it. [Not even probably. Wanda only really gives shit to him and Rocket. And it's still mostly him.] Anyway, the warnings are more for the normies. Someone like you... I'm less worried about finding half-eaten in the woods. But for real, don't mess around with the shrines out there, either. That's where the real danger is.
no subject
[ Or, you know, the gods. Not that she assumes any of them are capable of doing that, but she's also not dealt with any of them here yet. She's only heard about them. Soon she'll go looking for them actively but not now. Julia's too new to question the hows and whys of who they pull out of the water. Considering she and Sandor were pulled out minutes from each other, and they couldn't be more different if they tried, it's pretty questionable. ]
Okay but I think the pamphlet is really helpful. Giving you shit aside, thanks for that.
[ Julia did mean it when she said so in the first place, she should have just shut her mouth after that, obviously. There's no reason they can't rebound though, which is her intention now. He's right that she is not likely to be half-eaten in the woods, or eaten at all. A few months ago, she was a powerful witch but still very breakable and human. Now's different.
She does hesitate at that last part though, considering before carefully delving into it.]
Dangerous how? Because the gods are real?
no subject
He waves a hand. Seems like he takes a bit of shit way better than a compliment.]
Yeah. And they like starting shit. The last time someone gave them a blood sacrifice, three of them showed up and starting rotting things and making people go nuts. And that's without goin' in to the cult, or the Council feeding their latest prisoner to a god. You don't have to listen to me, just... hope you'll be careful.
no subject
[ The lighter gods, like Bacchus, he gets summoned because of people partying. Persephone typically did by prayer and harvest. Ember by chaos. It's gods like Reynard who want the blood. She is knowledgeable about it right off the bat which may give some clues to her experience being more than knowing Persephone exists. She folds her arms, sighing. ]
I'll be careful. I don't want to cause shit like that, it'll only mess everyone up. Do you remember the names of the three gods?
[ She wants to watch out for them and also maybe make sure she doesn't go looking for those. If they're the ones who came for blood, they should be watched. ]
no subject
[Hey, you hear that, Thor? He'll never live this shit down. So you better enjoy the hell out of it.
Though at this point, it could've been someone else. He's lived with that pretty well... considering he's seen plenty of evidence of blood on other altars. And the whole cult thing. The god-jelly.] And yeah, I know.
[It does give him a hint she's not someone who's just going off (limited) experiences in Solvunn. Weird as fuck, this lady. He's not even sure how to take her in -- someone as weird as Wanda, really. Maybe just as dangerous. Hopefully she's not also crossing dimensions to kidnap her children.]
Yeah, I think. Hold on. [He rubs the back of his neck, considering. It's not knowledge she can't get from plenty of other people, Solvunn included -- but he also does need a second.] Koth of Festering Lands, Sannleikr of Many Places... no, Faces. Fuck. And -- shit. Adlewyrd of Poisoned Tongues. [He blinks, like he was reading from something long-memorized. Which isn't wrong. He's not in the business of memorizing names, just killing things, but this... had felt important.] As you can tell from the titles, they're not exactly friendly.
no subject
Maybe you should add that to the pamphlets. No blood rituals or whatever that guy did that caused the rifts I heard about. It seems like it could get dangerous fast with all these shrines around if they're actually paid attention to.
[ Julia and Wanda probably do have very similar vibes. They aren't the exact same type of witch, but they're hitting similar magic buttons. She listens intently to the list he's providing, noting them internally. The gods that she's going to avoid. Any god that comes from a blood ritual has to be moved around. While she may have a better idea of what going into a god conversation would be, there's a lot of people who don't here. Dangerous. ]
Those are creepy as fuck names, yeah.[ She studies him. ]What do you mean by gods are monsters?
no subject
I only got so much paper! Find me some fuckin' poster board in no-electricity Narnia and I can put out a public service announcement. Sheesh.
[No, he's not asking Wanda for poster board. Though he probably should have by now.]
I mean what I mean. What's a god but an overpowered monster? They take what they want, hurt people without care. Fuck around with the world if it pleases them. S'exactly what monsters do. Living only for themselves. Just unfortunate gods got a bunch of yes-men behind 'em.
no subject
[ That seems like an easy enough request if anything is going to be added to the information. She can tell it's annoying but she feels like 'don't do blood rituals' usually wouldn't have to be said. But apparently it does need to be said. Regardless, if he needs help finding paper and poster board, she's happy to help him look. Without any money that's a tall ask, but maybe she can find someone with money.
She considers what he's saying. The gods she knows are monstrous pieces of shit, on the whole, or just really apathetic douchebags. That's why her plan is to be the opposite of them, somehow. But it seems relentlessly depressing to think every one of them here isn't worth her time.]
From my own experience I agree, but do you know for sure all of them are like that here? There isn't one you've heard of that does good shit?
no subject
Nero stiffens, arms crossed. Himeka, at least, would disagree. She'd say hers is different.
There's not any proof otherwise. Not that it cares. It's just less inclined to kill people.]
Unless you consider giving mushrooms feet "good," then no. I haven't heard anything good coming from them. People here think an adequate harvest and finding dead pig meat that's still edible is a blessing. I wouldn't take it with a grain of salt.
no subject
Well it's not bad, unless the mushrooms then go and stab people while running on their little feet.
[ But interesting, a mushroom god? That kind of reminds her of Ember, who was a ram god, although most of the ones she knows look vaguely human. Reynard possessed bodies so it's possible all of them are, technically. Except she's in her own skin, but she probably could possess other people, if she wanted to. Which she doesn't want to, ever. That's a huge no. ]
I guess I'll have to find out for myself. Do they usually show up a lot, just hanging around town, or only during blood rituals and summoning? The gods I know look like people so I'm not sure what I'd be looking for anyway.
[ Except maybe mushrooms. ]
no subject
None of 'em look like people, as far as I've seen. [Which, er, actually isn't something he's considered. The Summoned are weird enough as it is, he hasn't really blinked twice at seeing someone with weird appendages (look, he's got a tail) or powers.
Guess it doesn't matter, though.]
From my experience, it's only rituals, and only specific ones, and whatever people are connected already to 'em. [He gives her another considering look. He's not sure why she wants to know so many details, but if he was in her shoes... he'd want to know, too.] I mean, if you're real interested, you could ask Isar. Guy's on the Council, and I know he's packin' some fucked up god magic in there somewhere. Probably has a contract with one, or it's possessed him. I never stopped to ask.
['Cause he doesn't want to know. And offing a Councilmember isn't gonna get him anywhere.]
Maybe wrap on this!
[ The dragons aren't gods so to speak, but they're ancient beings somewhat on the same level. She learned a very interesting detail; not to expect them to look like real people. So it's unlikely they'll be playing with the humans around here in disguise. Probably. She nods as he talks, absorbing everything. ]
I think I will. Thank you, Nero. Sorry to give you shit about the pamphlet, being new here is weird.
perfect! 🎀
And she's aced the course so far, so.]
Don't worry about it. Now you can either finish or whatever, but don't destroy anything with that strength, huh? Rocket'll kill me.