EVENT #15: THE NETHER - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #15 - The Nether

OOC event plotting | settings info

---

After a Conclave vote earlier this month, you're prepared to accept the formal request from the Nether for your assistance. By now, you'll know who the delegates are and that the dragons have suffered an illness from the rifts that opened this summer, due to the unfortunate actions of one of your fellow Summoned. Whether or not you agree with your Conclave's majority rule, the decision has been made.

The expedition will begin on October 16 and last 10 days. If you need to return home sooner, you can activate your portal stone at any point during the trip, but there's no going back once you do.

Though mysterious, the Draconae - or daemons, as others call them - are not elusive like the Fey. Anyone who's been to Nocwich will have seen a handful of them amongst the population, and some reside in the Free Cities or the outskirts of Thorne. The only nation they aren't found in is Solvunn.

Into the Heart

Your arrival to the Nether is a frosty one. The northern island is barren, save for a thick layer of snow, a few birds, and some hardy insects. Massive skeletal remains can be seen as you walk over the ice. Every few minutes, the ground trembles. The Draconae warriors greet you at the base of the volcano, including Orion, The Warden herself. Though they appear intimidating, they're grateful you're here and will clap you heartily on the back.

Entering the Obsidian Heart requires nerves of steel, but appearances aside, the narrow walkway is sturdy. As long as you're brave, you'll make it down without a problem. The less sure-footed are encouraged to ask for a hand. If they do, they'll be assigned a Draconum warrior who will cheerfully carry them down the winding path. You can also help each other, of course! Any Summoned who are capable can carry their friends, too.

As you venture down, the oppressive heat intensifies...until suddenly it stops. The moment you reach the fiery gates, the smell of brimstone fades from the air and the temperature eases into that of a pleasant summer's day. If asked, the Draconae will tell you this is how it is - a blessing from the two remaining dragons. Without them, the air would suffocate all life within.

Although the main purpose is to aid the dragons, the Draconae will invite characters to take breaks, participate in recreational activities, and explore the Nether. They want their guests to be comfortable, especially as the Summoned have arrived to help.

Around the City

At the center of the volcano lies the Obsidian Heart, where the Draconae reside. Made of stacking homes and stone bridges that spiral downward, it's a wonder how anyone finds their way. There are no maps, signage, or any form of direction. Their ability to navigate appears inherent. The most dangerous beasts lurk beneath the lava, so unless you intend to go swimming, you're unlikely to run into anything aggressive.

Doors and furniture are heavy and are made of iron, bronze, or steel. You might need to push or pull furnishings and doors with both hands and extra effort. Luckily, citizens are happy to help - as long as you ask. If you don't, they won't interfere out of respect for your autonomy. In fact, if they see you huffing and puffing, they might stop to watch and will sincerely cheer for you should you accomplish your objective by yourself.

Watch your sticky fingers. While petty theft is a minor offence in other places, the Draconae are highly protective of their belongings and treasures. Hands and heads have been lost over stolen trinkets.

The Hieran Wing

As a guest, you'll be invited to stay at the Hieran Wing. Named after Hierus, the oldest living dragon, the Hieran Wing is located in the eastern section of the Citadel. The rest of the Citadel is under heavy guard and inaccessible.

◎ The rooms are carved into the stone itself. Bedding is comfortable, if simple, with room to store your belongings. A curved stairwell grants you privacy even though many rooms have curtains rather than doors. The few rooms that have doors contain no locks. Your safety is assured, but if you're nervous, you can ask for a guard to watch you at night.

◎ The dining area consists of open-fire grills, pots, and raw ingredients - including spices and fiery hot peppers. As great believers in self-sufficiency, the Draconae will leave you to make meals to your taste and liking. You can hunt and fish your meat, as well. There are numerous lava pools where one can net jumbo shrimp, crabs, and flaming fish. For larger game, you can go after the Erymaes Boar or Petran Bison. Feel free to share your catch with your friends or offer to cook for the culinarily challenged.

◎ The library contains only fiction. You'll recognize several titles from your faction or Nocwich, suggesting they've brought back their favorite stories to read. Other titles are new, written by the Draconae. Novels and poetry span all genres, but the most common ones seem to be adventure, horror, and erotic romance - some of which contain surprisingly detailed illustrations.

Magma Pools

Outside the Hieran Wing, unusual cerulean magma pools are provided for bathing. Despite how they look, temperatures are equivalent to that of a steaming hot spring. The magma bubbles naturally from within the volcano and provides soothing effects. No soap or cleaning agents are required. These magma pools contain tiny frogs that leap and jump around. The Draconae consider them a tasty live snack. Don't be surprised if you see a local munching on them.

The Foundry

The Foundry has expanded over the past two centuries. A marketplace now circles the ancient forge. Observing the tradespeople inside and their secrets are off-limits. However, you can browse a selection of tools, clothes, accessories, and potions. Healing potions are common due to the Draconae's lack of healing magic.

You'll have the chance to request custom-made jewelry and purchase glass ornaments that are blown for you on the spot. Merchants won't sell the large weapons on display, but daggers and other small weapons are available. They'll also modify any pieces you own by adding jewels, altering the fit, or repairing nicks and faults...for a price. The Draconae deal in Abraxan currency if you have any, but they'll accept a vial or two of blood or saliva as payment.

Negotiations & Meetings (Rank 5+)

The first order of business is to present your Conclave's terms to the Inner Sanctum, the Draconae's governing body. If you've been voted as a delegate, you'll be greeted by the NPC meeting you (and your partner, if you have one). If you haven't been selected, you can still speak to some of the NPCs available.

A Place at the Table

Negotiations will take place in The Solar on the second day, a hall lit with a fiery orb of light. This is where the Inner Sanctum conducts all of its business. Tightly guarded, you're the first outsiders allowed inside in centuries. Here, you'll have the chance to present your terms and convince the Draconae to accept. You'll also have the first day of your arrival to gather a few details about the NPC you'll be meeting.

Only one meeting is required. The Nether will give you their final answer the following day.

Be sure to reply with the terms before starting the thread. Mods will approve or ask for revisions, so try to submit your points by OCTOBER 17.

Once approved, please TAG IN with your character under the correct faction heading.

Meeting the Inner Sanctum

Members of the Inner Sanctum who are not involved in diplomatic affairs are Aster, The Guardian and Anneth, The Flame. Additional descriptions about the two NPCs and where they can be found will be in their character comments below.

Characters who are Rank 5+ (negative or positive) and who are not acting as delegates can speak with one of the two NPCs above.

To do so, TAG IN with your character under the NPC you want to meet.

Runaway at Pyritean's Rack

Abraxan outsiders will whisper that Pyritean's Rack is a nefarious torture device created by the Draconae for their victims. This is true if the victim in question is delicious meat. The Rack, in other words, is a giant cooking area filled with grilling racks and pits. Shelves of ingredients and spices line the perimeter. Its most striking feature is the primary heat source, which uses magma rather than fire. Ingredients and meat unique to the Nether result in dishes and flavors not found elsewhere. Hot peppers are a popular feature.

The Draconae cook and share their food each night at the Rack. The station is always occupied. Locals take turns hunting and fishing, preparing ingredients, and cooking. Consequently, food is provided without cost. You only need to lend a hand.

Not everything goes smoothly, though. An escaped hatchling has infiltrated the Rack, and Khloris, the baby dragon, is eager to snatch and steal food throughout the week.

Earning the Torch

Impromptu competitions are frequent. They usually begin when one cook sees another outdoing them and makes a challenge. You can either issue a challenge or receive a challenge. Challenges can be between you and the natives, or you can face off with another Summoned. Judging is done by the crowd, which can be chaotic.

Not to worry! There's no downside to losing except your pride. Though the competition can grow fierce and heated in the moment - including vulgar insults and much jeering - once all is said and done, there are no grudges when the food hits the table. Sore losers are looked down on as being thin-skinned.

Winners will receive a jar of spice mix or marinating sauce from one of the many talented cooks. We won't be modding this aspect, so just be realistic with your character's cooking skills. Be sure to work things out with your thread partner if the competition involves another player character!

Escaped Hatchling

One young dragon has escaped its sanctuary at Dragon's Glass. Curious, it's drawn to the smell of food at Pyritean's Rack. As a result, it's disrupting competitions, breaking equipment, and stealing ingredients or even chunks of meat off people's plates. Desperate to get the dragon back before it causes more trouble - or worse, injures itself - the Draconae have asked you to catch the hatchling.

Of course, you'll need to contend with the dragon's unique abilities.

Khloris, the runaway in question, leaves behind small patches of grass. Its pollen dust coats nearly everything it goes near. When eaten or touched, the pollen causes flowers to sprout in your hair for a day or two. It can't fly far or very high, but it's prone to swooping down to snatch meat off the grill. The Flame informs you the dragon can be lured with gold trinkets or bright colors like red and yellow.

To see if your character can catch the dragon, submit for a roll HERE. Submissions will close October 18 at 11:59 ET. Results will be posted on October 19 so players can account for their success or failure.

Ailing Dragons

The two ailing dragons are Hierus, the Obsidian Drake, and Kruos, the Glass Serpent. Mated to each other, they're the only remaining adult dragons in the Nether and have been for decades. When you visit them at Dragon's Glass, their condition is worrisome. The dragons' scales have lost their luster and are grown over with painful white patches. They appear lethargic.

Those researching can offer the dragons healing potions or ointment to aid their symptoms while a cure is worked on. If you're not much of a healer or a scientist, you can feed them or simply spend time with them. The dragons are intelligent and appear capable of understanding you, though they can't communicate directly.

Characters have 3 avenues of participation, depending on their interests and strengths: gathering ingredients, researching the cure, and looking after the baby dragons and eggs. They'll have time to do all three throughout the 10-day excursion.

Finding a Cure

At first, you aren't sure where or how to start. The Draconae suggest the Ashlands may be a place to explore. It's dangerous, they warn, but they have a potion that'll help keep you safe. Due to the hazards, you're told not to go alone. As you travel through the deadened land, you notice an odd phenomenon: where you walk, the air around you clears, and the ground beneath your feet springs to life. You realize you don't need the potion to protect you.

The changes are temporary, fading behind you as you walk. Curiously, the effect you exhibit is similar to what the Draconae claim their dragons are capable of - though to a much smaller degree. Still, you have to wonder if you and the dragons share a similar magical connection to the Singularity. You can't help but notice that those of you who regularly interact with the Horizon and have been doing so for a while seem to affect your environment more. Your aura may be a little larger and the vicinity restored around you lasts a bit longer rather than melting away immediately - maybe even up to a minute or two.

Restoration and Gathering

Your ability to restore the land has unlocked a vital element. Ingredients once thought lost can now be gathered by the Summoned such as yourself, and they may hold the key to curing the dragons. Bring back these ingredients to your peers waiting at Dragon's Glass. The more you gather, the more they'll be able to research and experiment, so don't be shy about making multiple trips.

There are three sections for you to explore. Each one has its dangers and a specific ingredient to collect.

Due to its circumstances, Aetherie is only available on Day 9 of the event, shortly before the cure is finalized. The Draconae will seal the area once more when they realize what's happening. Cinder's Core and Featherhive are open for the full duration of the event.

◎ Cinder's Core

Filled with petrified trees and fossilized bones, the area that restores around you demonstrates its previous life as a flourishing rainforest: the humidity grows, the grass turns lush, and tropical flowers sprout under your fingertips. Although its sulfuric air won't affect you, you'll need to brave dangerous heights to reach the tops of trees and dried-up waterfall cliffs to retrieve the kydros fruit. The fruit smells like citrus and is surprisingly light despite its size.

Vines brought back to life can help you climb, forming ropes for you to climb and bridges that weave beneath your feet. They'll wither once more behind you, so you'll want to move quickly to avoid losing your footing. Height isn't the only danger - the ground below is littered with sharp skeletal protrusions and jagged trees. Beware of dangerous thorn bushes that will come to life in your presence and try to crush you in their spiny embrace as you ascend.

◎ Featherhive

The air here is too toxic for the Draconae to breathe in for long. Luckily you're unaffected. Scattered across the ground are the remaining husks of birds' nests. A dragon's skeleton curls under a rocky overhang. Use your restorative ability to journey deep into Featherhive's heart. Pushing aside the thick overgrowth reveals a small clearing covered in bright crystals for you to harvest.

Although Featherhive poses no physical danger, the land is haunted by shadow birds, ethereal spirits connected to the dragons - and you. As you pass through, they flutter around you and parrot familiar lines to each other. Their movements are jerky and strange. Quickly, you realize the birds are mimicking your memories. They might replicate an entire scene or echo a phrase or two that's plagued you all your life. Or, if you're lucky, they're merely repeating your grocery list. Shooing them will cause them to dissipate into smoke, but they'll soon return.

◎ Aetherie

The loss of a dragon released a noxious gas through this village without warning. Escaping villagers were forced to leave behind those they could not save and seal the doors. The Oblivion is a painful moment in history for many, and none have set foot near the area since. Near the end of your stay, the Draconae request you use your ability to venture where they can't and gather Anoix pods, powerful healing seeds from a plant that only grew in Aetherie. They believe the abandoned huts will contain pouches of the pods on shelves and cabinets.

Entering the village, you expect a tragic scene of corpses. Instead, you find something far worse. The dead have mutated into grotesque arachnids, limbs fused to bulbous abdomens. They show no signs of recognition or awareness and attack you on sight. Hidden in the depths of the purple haze, rat-sized spiders scurry forth. Their venom causes painful sores that will fester and spread if left untreated. Multiple bites may result in temporary blindness or paralysis of a limb. Luckily, this will clear up within 24 hours to a few days, depending on the severity.

Grab the pods if you can or flee if you're overwhelmed. When word reaches The Warden, she'll rapidly send her people to reseal the abandoned village and come to aid any who need it. If you're injured, The Flame and her apprentices will tend to you at Dragon's Glass.

Research and Magic

Dragon's Glass is a glass-domed temple said to be forged from the fires of Kruos. It's located in the Spiral, which is outside the Obsidian Heart. Here, the two remaining dragons reside while ill, along with their clutch of eggs and a few precious hatchlings.

Anneth, The Flame, will invite you into the temple's alchemy labs, where you can apply your skills and knowledge to create the healing elixir that cures the dragons. Doing so requires you to experiment with key ingredients found in the Ashlands. You'll have access to basic alchemy books and apprentices at the temple. Use any additional tools, supplies, and knowledge you possess, and take advantage of the resources donated by the factions.

How you approach your research is up to you, but each ingredient comes with a set of risks - so be careful while you work!

◎ The kydros fruit contains seeds that will explode when heated, causing a chain reaction like popped popcorn. The explosions aren't large, but they might scorch your supplies. Crushing them in the open air results in a similar chemical reaction. However, soaking them in water makes them soften into mush, allowing you to turn the seeds into a paste that could be useful. The fruit is similar to grapefruit and is excellent for a sore throat.

◎ The crystals come in three colors: red, blue, and black. Extended contact will dye your skin that color. The stains are extraordinarily stubborn, so your clothes may not recover. These crystals resonate with a strange hum that suggests they respond well to magic spells. Combining them with a liquid will give off a foul-smelling smoke, so you may need to find ways to neutralize the stench before combining it into an elixir.

◎ The Anoix pods must be used sparingly, as no more can be gathered from Aetherie. They possess strong healing properties, but each pod is very delicate and must be split open with care so as not to damage the soft seeds inside. In addition to researching the cure, you can also attempt to help the Dracaone grow new Anoix plants using the preserved seeds.

The final cure will use all 3 key ingredients. Don't worry too much about continuity! As long as your character participated, you can assume they made a valuable contribution.

However, to assist with coordination, we've provided a RESEARCH DISCOVERY section where you can present any findings your character would share with others in-game.

Hatchlings and Eggs

While curing the adult dragons is a priority, the hatchlings and eggs aren't to be neglected. Baby dragons are active troublemakers, and without their parents to keep them in line, they've become especially unruly. The apprentices at the temple can only do so much. The Keeper has even made rare appearances in Dragon's Glass to lend his assistance.

Meanwhile, the eggs are beginning to show signs of affliction. The shells are beginning to weaken, and the feathery growths appearing on them will suffocate the hatchling inside if left untreated.

Babysitting the Dragons

If you have a spare moment, you can look after the baby dragons. Keep them out of trouble by reading their favorite stories, singing songs, and playing with them. They'll also need to be fed, watered, and their bedding changed or fluffed. The hatchlings are mischievous but friendly. They're eager to bond with the Summoned for reasons unexplained, as if they feel something resonating within you.

Many are attracted to shiny objects and bright colors and will attempt to steal them. Conversely, they might gift you a trinket that they've pilfered from someone else. The local Draconae would appreciate it if you returned any missing tools or jewels.

Hatchlings you'll encounter in Dragon's Glass are:

◎ Okenus spouts water instead of flame. Bearing fins instead of wings, this sea dragon is vital to bringing lakes and rivers back to the Nether. Currently, it can only make tiny puddles and rainclouds. Watch that your belongings don't get wet. Standing near the dragon might cause a small storm cloud to spawn over you and rain down on your head. A simple spell will make the cloud disappear, but if you don't have any magic, you might have to bring an umbrella.

◎ Epeius can form miniature gusts of wind beneath its wings, but it doesn't have firm control and frequently spawns them when excited. These small dust devils and whirlwinds will follow you around. Though they aren't powerful, they can be a nuisance, knocking over cups, blowing away hats, and sending papers flying. The other hatchlings will find your misfortune a source of amusement.

◎ Ledas can help salt deposits form in the shape of large salt crystals. Salt is important to the Draconae, which the hatchling is aware of and thus takes great pride in its abilities. The crystals can be eaten as is or crushed into granules. Ledas will strive to impress you with the largest crystals that it can make...which occasionally results in the structure collapsing, littering the ground with salt. You might find yourself sweeping often around this dragon, but at least you'll never be short on seasoning.

◎ Anthusa is a very special hatchling that creates bioluminescent algae. The algae grow on its scales, forming a symbiotic relationship. Unfortunately, without a proper habitat for this algae in the Nether, its glow has dimmed in recent years and the hatchling has become languid and sickly despite its youth. Nonetheless, Anthusa is friendly and curious even if it struggles to keep up with its siblings. You can help Anthusa play by lifting it to heights it can't reach, and carrying it back when the dragon is too tired to walk.

Weakened Eggs

As noted, the eggs demonstrate signs of suffering, too. Three eggs are waiting to be hatched. Whether all of the eggs survive is dependent on the decision that each faction Conclave made regarding resources found, as well as the help provided by you and your fellow Summoned.

The eggs can't be cured until the dragons are cured, but you can help slow the growths by gently scraping them off and wiping the eggs regularly with a clean cloth. They must also be kept heated, so check the magma frequently and refill any magma basins. The growths can be donated to those researching for additional study if you wish.

---

Comments

[gynvael]

[ Geralt waits patiently while she considers the prospect of crossing the bridge. It isn't as bad as that minuscule ledge the dwarves called a bridge, but the fact that it forms under your feet is something of a leap of faith.

When she finally puts her foot forward, Geralt follows behind as promised. The vines and twisted wood shiver. The last time he crossed with Dean, they went without trouble, but...it's been a day or two since. Hard to say how many others have gone back and forth to reach the fruit above. ]

If it's a heroic song from Jaskier, I may hold some sway.

[ He doesn't actually know what she means to ask. A part of him is almost curious. ]

[theidlemaiden]

The last thing I want is a song written about me. Talk about embarrassing.

[ As truthful as that statement is, there's bemusement in her voice as she continues leading them over the crevice. There's no ease in her body language, but there is at least more urgency and far less hesitation. It might have something to do with the fact that she can feel the shudder of vines curling and decaying behind them and she's resolutely trying to ignore it while trying not to quicken the pace of her steps. ]

It's looking after someone actually. Someone left me a moogle in the Horizon and he lives in my little cottage in my domain. He's so cute and I'd ask Sylvain or Claude but he's a little...mouthy.

[ A little is putting it lightly. ]

Anyway, it's better that he goes to someone who has much more patience.

[ Asking Geralt to look after Mogwry if she dies horribly seems like a fair thing to ask, right? ]

[gynvael]

[ He takes another step forward, careful to move only when she does to prevent it from swaying further.

A—

Geralt glances at the back of her pink head, surprised. It doesn't matter if she might've started this conversation solely for a distraction. This revelation has genuinely caught his attention. Perhaps it says something, too, that Geralt seems to know exactly what a moogle even is. ]

How many of those fucking things are there?

[ For the longest time, he'd thought Moglad was only one of its kind in the Horizon. Then the moogle gained a companion. Now he's learning Hilda has one of those winged bears floating about, too.

If they multiply further, so will his headache. ]

[theidlemaiden]

I didn't have a chance to count them when I was in Reno's domain but it felt like a lot. At least twenty. Definitely less than a hundred though.

[ Hilda doesn't seem to miss a beat or seem the least bit surprised - at least initially - that Geralt knows what a moogle is. It's better to focus her energy on walking slowly enough so that the ground underneath them doesn't fall out from under them. They're about halfway at this point and it feels quite literally like the longest walk ever to the other side. ]

I'd send him to Himeka but I'm sure if Mogwry could breathe underwater.

[ And somehow the thought of just tossing him right into the pond outside of the cottage in her domain didn't seem like the best idea for a number of reasons. ]

[gynvael]

[ Twenty is not the number he expected her to come back with. And who the fuck is Reno? He turns the information over in his head. If the man she speaks of were still here, would the moogle not return to him? That she's concerned it requires a new home says much. ]

Himeka's given away her share of creatures as it is. She bestowed one on me recently.

[ It's a little incongruent and also irritating that much the land he sees is bone dry, but the air around him is lush and humid. His clothes are sticky. His skin is damp. And his hair is even scruffier than usual.

As they inch towards the end, Geralt reaches out to steady the bridge for her to hop off onto the other side. There's just the smallest gap, though the ground is slippery where they step. ]

[theidlemaiden]

Really? You have a moogle too?

[ Somewhere in the Horizon, Mogwry is probably cursing her out for saying "having" like he was some piece of property to be owned. He's his own moogle, kupo! Or something like that.

Whatever trepidation or lamenting that might have been in her voice before seems to fade and the expression on her face brightens like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. It completely negates any nerves that she might otherwise have felt as she chatters on. ]

We'll have to get them to meet. I think Mogwry is a little lonely -

[ Her observations about Mogwry will have to wait because of course in her excitement her foot slips - sending it right through the gap. She lets out a shriek of surprise, flailing out for something to find purchase on - which may or may not be some part of Geralt. ]

[gynvael]

No, it's...a miniaturized troll.

[ Named Shaggles, according to Himeka. Apparently, she can speak to it, and it declared that it wanted to return with him to explore Kaer Morhen. Since then, it's climbed the medallion tree, fallen into the cooking pot, and fallen asleep in the hay inside Roach's stable. He supposes there are worse companions to wander about the place.

Perhaps Shaggles would find a friend in Hilda's moogle. Who knows?

Further thoughts end when Hilda drops abruptly. Shit. She snags his arm, and he grabs her in return, hauling her—perhaps a little too effortlessly—back up and over onto the ledge on the other side. ]

Close. [ Almost made it without incident. Geralt crosses the gap to join her. ] No more bridges from here.

[ Until they go back. He decides to leave that point unremarked upon for now. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ There's no time to comment on it being a troll because she’s fairly certain that’s not what they described themselves as being when she had first encountered them. Not when her heart is ricocheting up and down in her throat thanks to how quickly Geralt had saved her from inevitable death.

Even after being deposited on solid ground she clings onto him as if it might betray them somehow too. ]

Great. I’m so glad to hear that. [ Panicked, squeaky voice and all. There’s some quick patting on his forearm by means of thanks. ] Is there anything else we have to be aware of? Killer plants that probably belong in Claude’s garden? Cranky creatures?

[gynvael]

[ Accustomed as he is to certain bards who shall remain unnamed, Geralt doesn't blink at Hilda clutching at him. He scans their surroundings. ]

Stay away from those. [ He nods towards a shrivelled husk of a plant, wrapped around itself like a thorny ball of twine. No monsters, though. Not as far as he's aware.

With that, Geralt moves off, making sure Hilda keeps step alongside him. ] I wasn't aware Claude was growing lethal greenery.

[ That sounds...new, but then, he hasn't spoken to Claude outside of happenstance meetings in the desert or around the city. The last time they met deliberately, he wound up on the back of a wyvern. He'd noticed, while in the air, that Hilda and Sam had had the same idea. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ For what it's worth she doesn't linger and quickly smoothes down her clothes taking a couple of steps away from him - which is unfortunately towards the thorny plant he warns her not to step towards. She scuttles away after him keeping close to his heels.

Her gaze darts from in Geralt's back to the forest floor that rapidly comes to life as they pass by. It's magical to watch but she's wary now.

Belatedly she realizes what she had said and how it had slipped out before she could stop it. There's probably the hint of an apologetic wince in her voice that he wouldn't have to turn around to see. ]

Oops! I probably shouldn't have mentioned that but I guess it isn't that much of a secret either. He grows some plants that you probably wouldn't want to put into a salad or dish. It's an old hobby leftover from his Academy days.

[ A slithery vine reaches out from the depths of the green jungle come back to life and snakes its way towards her leg. Thankfully she sees it in time to leap over it. ]

I'm just glad that his don't do this. It's already exhausting trying to help him care for them.

[gynvael]

[ He eyes the slithering vine, ready to stomp the reaching tendril if he must. He's made an effort to avoid cutting through more than he has to. The land is a decaying husk as it is. ]

Came across him prodding at the desert flora once. Had I known he was interested in the deadly ones, I'd have shown him more than the buttonbush.

[ Claude had called it a hobby, too. Keeping occupied. Secret or no, Geralt seems unconcerned by Claude's hazardous garden. He has one of his own—flowering pots of belladonna and wolfsbane amongst them, thanks to Jaskier—though his array of plants is less of a passing interest and more of a necessity for his elixirs. Or the closest approximation he can make without access to every ingredient.

A commander and a botanist. A man of many talents, it seems. It occurs to him, though, that while he knows a fair bit about Claude, the same can't be said for Hilda. Geralt prefers to learn by letting others speak as they will, absorbing those bits and pieces that trickle out over the course of a conversation. And yet, as much as she hasn't a shortage of words, he can't recall many details she's divulged about herself. Something which does not strike him as an oversight on her part—though he could be wrong.

It's for that reason that he considers, then asks: ] You attended the Academy with him?

[theidlemaiden]

[ There's a mock gasp as she casts a glare towards the slithering vine that continues to follow them for a little while before eventually withering away. ]

So you're the one I have to blame for encouraging him? Or maybe that isn't such a bad thing if he has someone to share a hobby with.

[ Whatever offence has been there quickly dissolves, giving way to a fondness and perhaps a hint of appreciation. She seems none the wiser about where Geralt's question is going, apparently too pleased with the idea that Claude had made another friend in the stoic man ahead of her (or at least a friend in her mind; she's always had a much looser definition of what a friend is. That's likely why she thinks she has so many of them). ]

Mhm, sure did. I was sent there by my brother - I didn't even want to go to be honest, but he said that I had to "apply myself" [ The words are said with a deeper voice in what Geralt might be able to surmise is her impression of her older brother along with air quotes. ] instead of lazing around and eating sweets all day.

There's also probably something in there about needing to follow in his footsteps since he was a star pupil there but thinking about needing to fill his shoes makes me break out in hives!

[ He was amazing even without a Crest. Why else would her parents have made him the heir of their household and not her? ]

Did you have siblings?

[gynvael]

[ Sharing a hobby is not quite what he'd call it, but he likes Claude on the whole well enough. He'd been uncertain at first. Now that he's come to know him better, he finds Claude...reliable, might be the word here. ]

You don't strike me as the idle sort. [ Each time they've spoken, she's been up to something, between scamming arm wrestling matches or decorating galas. Maybe she's grown up since. Or her bother was a bit of a bastard. He'll err towards the latter, judging from her subsequent remark.

As for his own siblings—he does. Just not, maybe, in the way that she means. ]

I was raised in a Witcher's keep. [ Four of whom were his age; the others much older. ] We're all brothers, in a manner of speaking.

[ A family of a kind. It's never mattered to him they're unrelated by blood. The only family he had by blood was Visenna, and she exited his life when he was a boy. Now that he's learnt of her death, he isn't sure how he feels. It should grant him some semblance of closure, he thinks, but. It doesn't. ]

[theidlemaiden]

I'd much rather be idle. But I guess having something to do is nice, otherwise I'd just be bored.

[ And from the way she says it, being bored is worse than having to do work. In the five years between leaving Garreg Mach and the reunion with her house mates, she had done astonishingly little with her time (or rather, nothing productive), happy to sit back on her heels and let those more capable handle things. She had thought that's what she had wanted. A life with zero responsibilities and work even as a war brewed outside Goneril's walls. Now that she's here, she's not so sure.

If she knew that she had given Geralt that impression of her brother she'd be appalled at her delivery of it. Holst cared deeply and wanted the best for her even if he incorrectly believed she had some sort of untapped potential that needed to be dragged out kicking and screaming. He was annoying in the way any big brother could be, but he wasn't cruel. Not like some older brothers she knew of.

The next area they come across is what used to be a dried up bog - but as soon as their presence nears, murky water fills it, causing the log resting in there to slowly bob and rise, providing them a means over it. ]

I'm glad that you had brothers growing up even if they weren't blood related. Sure, Holst can be annoying but having him there always made things feel less lonely. [ She presses her foot gently atop the log similar to how she had tested the bridge for its sturdiness earlier. ] Did you get along with them?

[gynvael]

[ A conundrum to be sure. His lips quirk at that, but he adds nothing more about her ambitions or her familial relationships; they're not close enough for that conversation, and Geralt generally believes in letting people sort out their shit at their own pace.

Ahead, the bog rises. The moss sprouting over the deadened log seems less than ideal, but...mm. Hopefully, nothing waits beneath with open jaws. Or reaches out.

He crouches down to steady the log and waits for Hilda to cross. ] We didn't have anyone else.

[ It's a yes and a no. He learned to love them, but getting along feels too shallow of a way to put it. They arrived at Kaer Morhen in the hands of uncaring men and left it to enter a world that didn't want them. Most of their peers never made it past the first winter. His brothers were not unkind, exactly. Just...complicated.

They were there when it mattered most. He's never doubted they cared for him. ]

Is that where you learned wyvern riding? At the Academy?

[theidlemaiden]

[ His thoughts better not have jinxed it, especially since it seems like Hilda is going first. Again.

At least this time there's no gaping wide valley beneath her to remind that she could very well fall to her death. What's the most harm a bog could do except muddy her boots and clothes? It doesn't even cross her mind to think that there could be something lurking underneath the mud waiting to drag them in.

WIth the log steady she begins to daintily make her way across the log contemplating his answer as she goes. It's still difficult for her to decide on whether or not there's more to be inferred from Geralt's succinct manner of speech or if she should just take it at face value; did he mean to say that only tolerated one another? Were they not brothers would they have actually gotten along? Having spent so many years around nobles and then someone like Claude who had a habit of saying one thing and meaning another makes her brian immediately leap into overdrive.

Before she can inquire further though he follows up with a question of his own. She lets out a noise of confirmation that is turned slightly high pitched at the end as her foot slips across the muddied log. ]

I was really scared at first. I mean they have such big teeth and awful breath - not to mention the whole if you fall you basically turn into a pancake thing. I didn't think I'd ever be able to get the hang of it but... [ She trails off, slowly resuming her trek across the log. Whether the pause is purposeful and part of some sort of revelation is hard to say. ] I guess I surprised myself.

When you went with Claude - was that the first time you had ever ridden a wyvern?

[gynvael]

[ For the best, that she remain unaware. It seems to be boosting her confidence as she crosses. Keeping a log steady in the water is easier said than done. Fortunately, Geralt possesses a grip stronger than the average human, and Hilda possesses an...optimal height for balance.

He makes a soft, assessing noise. Something about how she says that reminds him of Ciri, newly begun in her training. Surprising herself. ]

Mm-hm. [ He'd enjoyed it. He can see the appeal of soaring through the clouds. The freedom it holds. Sam often spoke of a similar sentiment when he reflected on his wings. In a sense, Geralt understands. His attachment to his horse is about more than companionship. It's about where he can go in a world that discourages him from settling anywhere for long. ]

You try to ride a wyvern back on the Continent, you'll have as much luck as roping a bear.

[ An ill-advised venture. Doesn't always stop some idiots from attempting it, though. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ He should really just say it with his chest: she's a little challenged in the height department. Which she wouldn't object to because it's true.

Recovering from her little slip in the mud, she continues to make her way across the log before playfully hopping across to the other side. And what’s success if not celebrated with a little flourish of her arms raised above her head? She turns back towards him, satisfaction written across her features. ]

I feel like if there’s anyone that would be able to rope a bear it’d be you. Just imagine the song that Jaskier would write about that.

[ After a moment's contemplation she couches down to steady the log for him in return. If he does begin to journey across it he'll notice that it holds almost as steady as he had held it for her, alluding to more strength in her noodly arms than she'd ever admit to.

Behind her the lush jungle comes to life. Vines curl and slither silently through the underbrush as if readying themselves to investigate the newcomers. ]

How many brothers did you have?

[gynvael]

[ If he were the sort to do so, he'd have applauded her flourish. As it is, Geralt lifts an eyebrow and merely takes his turn on the log without fanfare. He isn't expecting her to hold it for him, but she does, and he certainly notices that it stays steady.

Interesting. ]

I can imagine it, [ he replies dryly, ] and I'd prefer not.

[ He crosses the log without pause, his steps surprisingly light. As soon as he reaches the other side, the bog dissipates into the dried-up crater it'd been. The desiccated log collapses to the bottom. Humidity ripples through the air anew when he begins to walk with her.

He hums, a sound that's thoughtful and a touch melancholic. ] Thirty, at the start. Four of us grew up together.

[ Fewer now. He already knows he will not see them again, and though he misses them, his brothers are not where the future lies. The world they were moulded by changed decades ago. There is no place on the Continent for a Witcher and killing monsters when the beasts have long dwindled, when he finds more monsters in men than in the woods.

As for Abraxas, he's the only one of his kind now. He doesn't foresee that changing. So that's what it is. ]

[theidlemaiden]

I'd give you a little sample of what I'd think it could sound like but I don't quite have Jaskier's lovely voice. I could help give him some ideas, though I'm sure he's chalk full of them already. 

[ Is this her teasing Geralt? Maybe. Just a little bit. It's mostly just to test the waters and see what that would feel and look like because quite frankly, she hadn't before. As soon as he's over she relinquishes her hold on the log just as it falls back into the bog. Dusting off her gloves, she falls back into step with him. The jungle around them seems to follow them, watching, waiting. Vines twist out in front of them making the path ahead uneven and bumpy.

To hear that his brothers had dwindled from thirty to...what she has to imagine is far less if the noise preceding it is any indication. It gives her pause, eyes flitting towards Geralt immediately. ] 

Four brothers? I can't even begin to imagine having four. Although Holst is sometimes like having four wrapped into one incredibly large body. [ She grins up at him teasingly. ] Who was the troublemaker? I bet it was you. 

[ So engrossed in her teasing she doesn't sense the way a vine creeps towards her with the intent it seems to snatch her up by her ankles. ]

[gynvael]

I dread what schemes you and the bard will get up to.

[ He sounds long-suffering, the state of a man who has spent most of his life being given shit by nearly every soul he knows. Particularly those closest to him. Hilda and Jaskier, he considers, seem the sort to either get along famously or be at each other's throats. Possibly both at the same time.

Wait. How big is her brother? He'd assumed they matched in stature until that remark. There's a vague squint in her direction, but he chooses not to ask. (Did he also imagine her brother with a similar pink hue to his hair? Maybe.) ]

If only. [ He stomps abruptly on the snaking vine, reaching down to slice it with the hunting knife he'd brought in place of his sword. Seemed less cumbersome for the amount of climbing they needed to do. Luckily, their destination nears. ] They'd have likened me to a spoilsport. Though I was not immune to the belt.

[ He won't deny he had his moments. Geralt seldom stirred any shit and spent his time keeping his brothers out of trouble, but when he did do something, it was usually an incident of proportion—both as a boy and later in life. The bee. Destroying a portion of Nenneke's office. Bringing his Child Surprise to Kaer Morhen despite promising he would not. That one time he might've slaughtered eight men in the market square. ]

[theidlemaiden]

Fun ones as long as he doesn't go around spreading untrue rumours about me.

[ Technically it's only one rumour but it's probably the worst rumour anyone could spread about her because she's not an axe-crazed murderer, thank you very much. At least the muttered sentiment is only said with just the tiniest amount of venom perhaps confirming Geralt's assumption about them being a bickering (but fun!) duo.

Hilda's immediate reaction to Geralt's response is cut off by his sudden movement, startling her. She reels backwards over the undergrowth before catching herself, just short of falling flat onto her own ass. The source of her near fall lies unmoving at her feet and she can't help but look a little bit exasperated before giving Geralt a grateful look. The rocky outcropping that she assumes they'll have to climb looms above them. The thought of having to climb anything isn't exactly appealing to her, but they aren't there yet. She has time to pretend that that isn't the fate that awaits her. ]

Ugh, the belt. [ Not that she can ever relate. If there had been any punishments that awaited her she always managed to wriggle out of them by bursting into tears. Repremends rarely took a physical form. ] Does that mean you've never pulled a prank in your life? Ever?

[gynvael]

You get used to it. [ Befriending Jaskier comes with certain embellishments added to your life's history.

He's prepared to catch her in case she flips head over arse, but fortunately, it isn't needed. His gaze flicks to another slithering vine; this time, he catches it before it surprises either of them. Makes him wonder what this place was like while the whole of it was alive. Full of snares, apparently.

Hilda may be pleased to learn that, for once, Geralt is going first. He tests the footholds, charting the optimal path up. Climbing a rock that shifts under his touch is more complicated than a standard cliff, but these at least are not mountainous peaks many feet tall. ]

I didn't say that. [ Geralt also does not say if or what antics he may have enacted in his childhood. ] And you? Or shall we agree you were perfectly behaved?

[theidlemaiden]

I used to think about how fun it would be to have someone write songs and ballads about you but now I'm starting to think that it might be more embarrassing than anything else. 

[ Especially if you're someone that stands out in a crowd whether that's with pink hair or grumpy-looking, stoic, tall and with white hair.

Geralt would be right about that one too. The wall in front of them doesn't look like the most dangerous thing in the world to scale but then again, she hasn't scaled many cliffsides in her lifetime. Life springs around him as he begins his ascent. Once he's a little ways up, she follows suit, trying to mimic the places he had placed his hands and feet.

As she climbs, several vines reach out in an attempt to curl around her limbs. They hold firm but she manages after a moment to pry them off. ] 

You could share with the class though. Curious minds want to know! [ Her. She's the curious mind. ] It depends on the prank. If it could get me in trouble I wasn't a part of it.

[gynvael]

You don't want a moniker that follows you for life?

[ Putting your reputation in Jaskier's hands is dangerous, anyhow, if you run the slightest chance of...upsetting him. Which, all right, Geralt is aware what happened was entirely his fault, that he was definitely a complete bastard to his friend, and the song doesn't necessarily bother him, but.

Water under the bridge, as they say.

He reaches the top a ways before Hilda and waits at the edge in case she needs a hand up. He snorts softly. ]

You'll need to buy me an ale for that. [ He can be bribed with food and drink. ] And something tells me you weaseled out of trouble often.

[ She has that look about her. ]