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

[righteously]

( I'll pass it on immediately earns a scowl — but seeing as Sam isn't actually on this planet anymore, he doesn't try too hard to fight it. It's a token disapproval scowl, just so that it's on record that he thinks Geralt's a huge dickbag.

He struggles his way through the offered opening in the thicket of leaves, yanking a few annoying ones that want to jab him in his face so he can actually reach the prize beyond them. )

Well, he helped save my ass from a giant sand worm like immediately after, so I think maybe the forgiveness thing already half-way happened? It was like some combination of anger-forgiveness. Madgiveness? Somehow, I think we're cool, but he also wants to yeet me directly into the sun at the same time.

( He gives the fruit a yank, and steps back to indicate Geralt can lower his burden. Once they're both in the clear, he decisively declairs: )

Your bestie's weird, dude. Not that I have any room to talk, considering, you know. Cas, but. Still.

[gynvael]

[ Sounds about right. If Jaskier has seen fit to aid in a rescue, then he's likely let it go where it counts. Might not have let it go enough to not bring it up when it suits him to be petty, though.

Geralt makes a noise of acknowledgement. Dean is also, in Geralt's eyes, rather peculiar, but that's mostly just the sort of company he keeps. It takes a certain disposition to follow a surly Witcher into bogs and swamps. Or go hunting with one.

He releases the branch. The leaves shrivel into ash as they move away. Even to Dean, he speaks rarely of Jaskier. The most anyone knows is that they're friends—and that Jaskier has a repertoire of songs about him. ]

When we met, he was bright-eyed, picking bread off the floor. He demanded to know what I thought of his ill-received song. I told him to fuck off, so he decided to follow me and never left.

[ Have twenty-three years of friendship condensed into three sentences. ]

[righteously]

( He seems to spend a beat considering the mental image of it, then weighing it against what he knows of Jaskier — and, after a beat, shrugs and nods. )

Yeah, that... that tracks.

( Weird, mercurial fuckaroundery and all. Maybe the part about picking bread off the floor is kind of a surprise, but Dean doesn't know him well enough to know he has feral cat tendencies. )

I stabbed Cas in the chest in the first two minutes, which is just fuck off with a knife. Funny how that has the opposite effect.

( The fruit gets tucked away with the rest, and he dusts his hands off on his thighs. )

Would've been nice to know your dude could shape-shift into a freaking bird before now, though. I feel like that could've come in handy at at some point.

[gynvael]

[ Mm, yes. He does recall a stabbing mentioned somewhere in the annals of Dean and Castiel's relationship. They seem to have a mutual habit of attracting people who simply will not go away despite efforts to the contrary.

With only so many hands and room in their bags, Geralt decides they've gathered all the fruit they can. He sweeps the dangling vines out of the way. Since Dean can sprout wings now, Geralt doesn't hesitate to drop off the side to one of the waiting ledges beneath.

He cocks his head, acquiescing. Probably. ] Now you know. And you? Your...eyes?

[ Have they turned yellow again yet or was that an unusual case not to be replicated? He isn't worried, exactly, but with both of their records, it won't hurt to know. ]

[righteously]

( Way to nearly give him a god damn heart attack, dropping off the ledge like that. He makes an aborted little noise of surprise-distress in the back of his throat, only to peer over the edge and see the son of a bitch landing gracefully like a- well, you know. Sex panther. A small scowl of annoyance precedes the pop of wings, and he does not fly so much as glide-assist his way down, with his fingertips trailing down the rock face as though for balance.

Just because he can fly doesn't mean he's suddenly any more of a fan of heights, thanks. Jumping off cliffs for recreation is exactly his nightmare. He's half-distracted by scowling down at the ground when he answers. )

Yeah, that, uh... that keeps happening. I guess that's permanent. Or, you know, semi-permanent, whenever the adrenaline hits. Thanks for that.

( Only a little bit dry on the end there — he is grateful for what Geralt did for him, grateful to be cured, grateful to be saved. He really is. The unintended side effects he's a little less thrilled about.

He huffs out a sound that could be construed as a laugh, except he isn't smiling, and it doesn't sound... happy. )

You know, I-

( He starts. Stops. Licks his lip, pausing at the foot of the next ledge, his gaze going distant as the foliage withers and dies behind them. )

Between the eyes, and what I can do, and these-

( A little nod at the wings jutting over his shoulder. )

I'm starting to wonder what I even am anymore. Just the other night, it occurred to me that I'm starting to look a lot like something my dad would wanna hunt.

[gynvael]

[ He grunts softly. How much his blood has to do with it, he truthfully doesn't know. Like he told Jo, if his blood could be transformative, the Continent would be a hell of a lot different for it. They would not need Ciri. The Singularity, though, has proven a variable none of them can account for, and in the end, the outcome remains the same. Dean appears to have absorbed a piece of the Witcher—somehow.

When Dean pauses, so does Geralt. A quiet settles over him.

Yes. There is that. In a way, he understands what Dean is saying. What it means to be changed against your will. But Geralt was altered young. He never had much of a chance to live an identity as human. And he was not raised by a man who deemed all things not strictly human to be monsters.

He hops down the next ledge, then once more. His feet land on solid ground. ]

And the others? Have they looked at you differently?

[righteously]

( He slips off the ledge himself, and soon enough the pair of them are back to trudging along solid ground — leaving little trails of blooming and dying foliage in their wake. As they go, Dean starts peeling off and packing away Hunt Peripherals he tends to keep strapped to his person; those dark vision goggles come away from where they hang around his neck like a necklace. Vials are tucked into holsters. The occasional blade slipped into the sides of his pack. The post-job ritual commencing, now that their only priority is getting back to home base. )

Cas hasn't. Pretty sure I could grow horns and a tail and Cas would still just be- Cas about it. I'm not so sure he counts, you know, he's only got, like... a tenuous grasp on humanity. We're all just sacks of flesh-vessels to him, especially considering he fondled my soul or whatever when he resurrected me.

( He sounds faintly uncomfortable when he says it, but... honestly, not as uncomfortable as he'd have sounded some five or six years ago. )

Jo's... worried, but I think she's just glad it's not another round of demon bullshit. Sam would've been the hardest sell, but he's... you know.

( Gone. )

I guess the answer to your question is not really, but I still can't help but wonder where the line is, you know? Like, at what point do I stop being human and start being... something else?

[gynvael]

[ If only the world could view the matter so simply as Castiel.

Geralt's brows form a slight stitch when Dean specifies fondled before he moves on. ]

Only you can determine that. [ He shifts the melons under one arm. The answer is not so straightforward. Some would insist a Witcher is still human enough despite Geralt having little care for the concept of human enough. A Witcher is a Witcher. And what Dean makes of himself and how others view him are two sides of the same coin. Geralt can't answer the former, but he has got one for the latter. ]

I know it isn't what you were taught. But what you are does not define who you are. And you're still the same pain in my arse I met on that wagon.

[ Not that he expects Dean to be at ease with his transformations any time soon. Even Geralt is unsettled by his own changes, ones which feel too much like additional mutations inflicted by further Trials. None of them asked to be...remade. Or bestowed these so-called gifts. But he hadn't lost himself through the Trials, and Dean hasn't lost himself here, either. ]

[righteously]

( What you are does not define who you are. It sounds so simple, and so right. The kind of basic moral truth that stands strong beyond questioning, and yet, is still so in antithesis to everything John Winchester ever tried to teach him. It's a little comforting, but it doesn't fully pull out the splinter.

All the same, he offers Geralt a tight, appreciative smile. )

Well geeze, Gerry, don't go getting all sappy on me now. That's just embarrassing for you.

( What he means is: I'm glad we met. But that's a little too Hallmark for the moment, and they have dragon melons to deliver.

After a beat, he throws out a vaguely more sincere: )

Thanks. You'd think... after all these years, as long as he's been dead, I'd care a little bit less about what his ghost would think, but... I guess not.

( Especially what with him running around takin' nudes and blowin' dudes these days, John Winchester's opinion of him really would be blasted to freaking smithereens. Some things, Dean just can't seem to change about himself whether he wants to or not. )

[gynvael]

[ He makes a quiet noise in reply. It needn't be said; he knows. There are people absent from the memories he gained, people that make the visions feel a little hollow when he reflects on them, and Dean is one.

The more he remembers, the surer he is of his decision to remain here. ]

It's hard to shake the ones who shaped us. [ The mouth of the barren Core gives way to the blackened ground outside. ] But his can't have been the only opinion that mattered.

[ There must've been others in his life he looked up to. Dean's spoken of at least one that Geralt recalls. That scrapyard that once existed beside the tavern. Experience tells him it's impossible for Dean to truly let go of his father in the same way Geralt has never quite let go of his mother a full century down the road—but maybe the late Winchester isn't the only voice worth reflecting on, either. ]

[righteously]

( He's right, and Dean's not sure why he never bothered to reflect on what Bobby might think. It doesn't take much consideration to realize why: it's because Bobby would accept him regardless. No matter who he's banging, wings or no wings, freaky eyes or not, although the guy might have a few concerns to iron out... at the end of the day, Dean has never had to question whether or not he was worthy of Bobby's approval.

That hits him a little harder than that moral truth from a minute ago. That starts digging the splinter out a little bit.

After a quiet, reflective minute, he finally says: )

You're right.

( By the time they make it back to civilization, Dean does actually feel a little better about the whole thing. And that's... something. )