EVENT #15: THE NETHER - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #15 - The Nether

OOC event plotting | settings info

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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.

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Comments

[gynvael]

[ His expression turns wry. ] Trust me, I know.

[ He's spent most of his life, actually, sending things over the edge only when his hand is forced. It's time to admit, a good few decades later, that this has gotten him in trouble more often than it's not. And he used to not give a fuck when only he ever bore the brunt of the consequences—used to believe he continued to avoid entangling himself in even greater shit by refusing to get involved—but he has a family to think about now.

From where he's settled on the cushions on the floor, he stretches one leg out, bowl in hand. ] No. And I don't intend to helm any plans now.

[ Geralt does not consider himself suited for that task. He knows what he does best, and it isn't manoeuvring kings and kingdoms. He wants to put that in the hands of those who are more practised, more capable. People he can rely on. ]

I am aware, however, that there are Summoned in our midst who are prone to making plans. I'd prefer not to find out too late what they are.

[It goes unsaid that he's placed Claude in that category. The man's primarily kept to himself beyond stepping in to represent the Conclave, but given his presence here at the tables of diplomacy, Geralt imagines the only reason Claude's taken little action is because he's not yet seen a reason to. That won't be the case forever. ]

[godshattering]

[ That answers part of what he was probing around: that Geralt seems to be considering plans even if they aren't specific ones (or ones that'll remain hidden for now), and that whatever they are he's not planning to enact them himself. Claude hums, considering that while also considering the contents of his bowl for a moment before looking back up to Geralt when it feels like the conversation comes further into focus.

And what else isn't voiced doesn't need to be; Claude hears it quite clearly and immediately offers a smile. ]

This isn't quite like when I arrived to Fodlan where there was power and a title waiting for me as an eventuality and I still had my own experiences to build upon for that in the meantime. Figuring out the Free Cities' government takes a little more... studying, let's say, even if this isn't my first time doing so.

[ To say the least, though he idly taps a finger against the handle of his utensil while thinking about that a little longer. It might be something Geralt's already sensed from the course of this conversation if not their others, but it can't hurt to make that clear. The same goes for the unasked question beneath the rest. ]

As for plans, I can't say that I have any immediate ones. I did mean what I said in my speeches for being representative before about us working together when possible. The ideas I might have, partially formed as they are, would require as much. More importantly than that, I have no interest in putting anyone else at risk for them without agreement from all involved. And in the meantime, I see no reason to not give the appearance of aligning - to an extent - with the Free Cities for what we might learn or accomplish with what that offers. Especially if the Cities' end goal is to force us to be part of their war or worse, because I think we should be under no illusions our status here offers any sort of protections and that it was a truth long before recent enough events.

[ Because to be anything close to protection, Claude thinks, they'd have to create whatever that might mean themselves - and that's something else left to ring out in the words yet still unsaid. ]

[gynvael]

[ Whether Claude has something in mind, Geralt isn't looking for an answer from the man this instant. A year or two on a brand new sphere is not near enough to learn its intricate web—experienced or not. This is not merely about making plans. It's about concerns that bloomed when he realized Thancred had vague ambitions of overthrowing the throne. He's hardly against taking the heads of those in power—his personal experiences with Ellya have not been pleasant, to say the least—but the risks can't be disregarded. Thorne is predictably callous as a kingdom. The Free Cities is...something else. Something he is not eager to see sweeping the continent should Thorne collapse under the weight of its crown. ]

I didn't listen to your speeches. [ Geralt sticks his spoon in his mouth. ] Sorry.

[ There's a touch of lightness to the blunt remark. Just the truth. Geralt's interest in who runs for representative is nonexistent. Hell, he barely graces the meetings with his presence. Often, he doesn't attend at all. He has their names. That's all he cares to know.

But Claude's assessment is about what he's gathered himself. Being marked the Summoned is as much a reason they're allowed to exist freely for now as it will be the reason when they're inevitably labelled a liability. Dangerous. Different. What they're told is a gift that the world needs can easily be made a curse it should be rid of. He's watched it happen with his kind, with the elves. It'll happen here, too. ]

Status is a blade with two edges. [ He weighs his words for a few minutes. ] You arrived shortly before the attacks. Did you know the Free Cities were meant to hold elections that winter?

[godshattering]

[ Claude's in the middle of reaching for a spoonful of food again when that blunt statement happens, and there's all of a split second before he immediately breaks out into laughter with the bite forgotten. It was unexpected to say the least, but there's nothing he feels about that but genuine amusement. That's on him for using it as a reference, really, and he's still chuckling a bit later. ]

I'll take that. Most of it is pretty standard for something like this, I'd think, though you can take what I've said here as a good enough summary.

[ With a grin as he finally takes his bite, of course. That's a little bit of levity they needed given the conversation since it never hurts - and is his preferred way to deal with just about anything serious to temper some of it. Such as what they're discussing here with their futures potentially in the balance and mostly out of their control if they don't work towards something different.

He offers a hum in regards to status - another true statement he's considered time and time again while working towards being just noticeable enough by the Free Cities but no further. Whether that's been successful or will take more remains to still be seen, though he nods slowly at Geralt's question which follows after their shared bit of silence. ]

Yes, and if you ask me it's decidedly convenient that the state of emergency's never been lifted allowing those in power to postpone them since. That's certainly one way to guarantee you stay in power with no consequences. [ Or no one to challenge it which seems to have been working well for now over a year, and brings something else to mind. ] Back at the negotiations last winter, I overheard someone say Marlo was looking rather stressed these days and that more recruits to the army would be a viable solution, somehow. Fortunately they've made no moves on that when it comes to the Summoned, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't in the back of my mind ever since.

[gynvael]

[ His eyebrow quirks, amused, but he offers no further commentary. Sam can confirm Geralt barely listens to his speeches, and they've been friends from the beginning.

He does like to give Sam shit for them, though.

Sam is, in fact, part of the reason he's approached Claude. Geralt's been selective. The last thing he wants is a reputation for taking sides, even if he's no longer so hesitant to get involved. He fended off enough power-hungry mages and kingdoms to last three lifetimes back home, each vying for both a Witcher and his Child Surprise in their corner. What the world might want of him here may be something else, but the outcome remains the same. The natives are not the only ones with an agenda. He knows many of the Summoned have their own. ]

The winter before those talks, they recruited a handful of our numbers to battle at the Singularity. [ A voluntary affair. The fact that several chose to go says much. Most of those Summoned have since vanished; the landscape has changed. And yet, the instability of each Summoned's presence only adds to the uncertainty. ] Ask most, and they'll tell you they've no desire to join a war they didn't start. But I think we both know the reality is more complicated.

[ Few can say what they'll do until the final hour. And not everyone has the willingness—or obstinance, he supposes—to confront an empire head-on. Especially not when said empire can convince them they're doing the right thing. They managed once already that winter. Even here, what the Summoned have agreed to in the Nether—it feels like they're being nudged, inch by inch, towards a certain path. One laid by the sovereign states who claim them. ]

[godshattering]

[ He means to take another bite of food but this time when he doesn't, it's from actual surprise. It drags something out from his memory he'd forgotten about, and then the food is equally forgotten. A couple of seconds go by where he has to think back to all of that helpful information he'd set aside to research later, until later hadn't really happened. ]

I remember- someone told me about Thorne taking something, [ with his brow furrowed as he's reaching back for that piece of information beneath everything else learned - and that's occurred - since then, ] to the Singularity each winter. She called it a suicide mission since it was Abraxans taking whatever it was there before Summoned arrived, and I'd forgotten about it. That conversation wasn't long after I arrived here, and it didn't mean anything in context. Was this when everyone was still in Thorne?

[ That's a tangent that matters less than current matters, and especially less than what Geralt says following that. Complicated indeed. A rueful smile crosses Claude's face as he sets his bowl down in his lap to rest, attention fully away from multitasking now. ]

It certainly is. At almost the same time I arrived was when we had those nightmares. They were how I met a few other Summoned, and that was before helping the Free Cities with that supposed assistance mission. I did it even against my better judgment at the time, and I've regretted it since - especially when we never did find out what it was we did by participating. The request was paired with that supposedly assisting everyone affected, which is a good enough reason for most to agree to do something asked of them.

[ And that being the same premise of their visit here to the Nether - that's not lost on Claude, either. ]

[gynvael]

[ Geralt nods. ] The Dimming. Yes. We'd scattered by then. [ Hence the clash. Solvunn and the Cities had taken in the influx of new faces—and began to summon their own. Then sent them to the Singularity. ] As you might imagine, the Summoned who were in Thorne then remained by choice.

[ Loyalty or ambition. It isn't like that now. Of those who decided to stay in Thorne, only Yennefer is left, and he knows she stayed for Ciri. For herself, too. She's changed since—he trusts her, but he is not unaware of the desires she once harboured.

In any case, Claude is not alone in going along with the government's requests. Plenty have filed reports, sent in forms, taken assignments. Joined the army. All voluntary. He doesn't begrudge people for their choices. He simply understands that his drive to protect his family will lead him to conflict. There are things he will not compromise on. It's how he's always been.

The best he can do is make sure he has people with him, too. He's learnt he cannot do this alone.

Speaking of nightmares. ] That was the second time the Singularity exhibited an instability. The months before the first Dimming—it showed no signs of the power we've felt since.

[ Shared memories and dreams. Twisted realms in the Horizon. The emergence of beings this world calls its gods. Geralt can't be sure it's connected, but the correlation is certainly there. ]

[godshattering]

[ The Dimming - that registers as something he'd read somewhere, or was told, or maybe both, and that feels like it loops together some other pieces of information. It's tempting to grimace openly at the mention of those staying in Thorne voluntarily, but that's looking at it through the view of someone arriving later and not living through whatever it is those Summoned encountered.

There is, he knows, value in staying with an enemy somewhat known over one that isn't. The same logic Claude's used while slowly getting more involved with the Free Cities rather than keeping away, and it's hard to fault that without also faulting himself if it's the same reasoning all around. If the past year of being here has taught him anything, it's that a lot can happen in a short span of time. ]

The second time. [ It's not an intentional echoing of Geralt's words as much as placing a marker in his thoughts in a timeline he's been turning over since those shared nightmares made it clear where he'd arrived to was somewhere treacherous in its own right. ] As in something about whatever happened then may have played a part in what's been happening since?

[ Or close to it - not that they have any way of confirming it beyond guessing. Even any other questions Claude might have about it are purely due to his own curiosity rather than disbelief. ]

It seems to have done a number of strange things in the time I've been here since, which lends credence to us being connected to everything going on now. [ Aside from the vision they'd all shared showing a Summoned responsible for some of it - that Claude figures he doesn't need to repeat. ] I've done a bit of asking around Cadens about thoughts on the Singularity being destroyed to see if that's really a common thought. While it is, it's not overwhelmingly so. Let's hope the Free Cities doesn't get any ideas to upset the current balance any further while we're figuring the rest out.

[gynvael]

[ That's exactly what Geralt is suggesting. Either something that night during the Dimming or it started earlier, when they were all forced into the Horizon. Or even earlier before that—with the summoning spell itself. It's possible the ramifications weren't felt for months.

In the end, he hasn't any idea. No one he's spoken to is sure, either. Not Yennefer, not Istredd, not Stephen Strange. Beyond shaking down Thorne's mages themselves for the secrets they undoubtedly hold, there aren't many Summoned more knowledgeable about magic and the monoliths than those three.

Their connection to this world is more than apparent by now. He's felt it since the first time he entered the Horizon. For all that he's paid no mind to learn magic or spells as others have, the Singularity has nonetheless granted him abilities. Ones he never asked for. ]

I've gathered the same. [ Sam had relayed a similar message to him. It makes sense. The Free Cities relies on magic as much as the other territories. They simply do not practice it in the same manner, but he suspects were the Singularity to shatter, it'd fuck with all their little inventions that keep the city going. And that's a charitable interpretation of the consequences. More than likely, the entire world would shatter with it. ] If you figure anything out, I'd like to hear it.

it's a wrap!

[godshattering]

[ This feels familiar - not that he's dealt with anything quite like arriving here. But finding out that a place isn't what it seems, that there's all kinds of machinations beneath and woven into the fabric of everything going on around them? Fodlan had so much more to unravel in it that he'd ever guessed after first arriving in search of a way to change things.

Abraxas is not the same situation, and there's been so much more to learn. But it's not something he's done unwillingly, not after equally careful steps laid to move closer a bit at a time as things have aligned, and there's more yet to be uncovered. More to understand about what can change here and what can't, and how to handle either one.

The risks, needless to say, are high. But that's never stopped Claude from taking something on yet, and the last few years spent in Fodlan have shown him what can be achieved by working together rather than alone. ]

Of course. I should say the same of any plans you may come up with, though I'll leave it at liking to hear those, too.

[ With a grin, since he's not going to assume one conversation about this will amount to trust for the rest - if there is a 'rest' or wherever things may lead. For now Claude picks up his bowl again to resume eating and turns the conversation to something lighter. They've earned as much. ]