Nero. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ofthesword) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2023-12-07 08:17 pm
ofthesword) wrote in abraxaslogs2023-12-07 08:17 pm
OPEN MINGLE: welcome to solvunn! (run while you still can)
WHO: anyone and everyone in solvunn
WHAT: mingle for the summoned, old and new
WHEN: a day or two after the new summoned arrive
WHERE: tertiary settlement
WARNING: goat violence iykyk (none for the moment!)
( A ) frosty weather
( feel free to check the locales section for more info on the tertiary settlement! )
WHAT: mingle for the summoned, old and new
WHEN: a day or two after the new summoned arrive
WHERE: tertiary settlement
WARNING: goat violence iykyk (none for the moment!)
( A ) frosty weather
( feel free to check the locales section for more info on the tertiary settlement! )
The cold weather that comes with winter exchanges the constant autumn downpours for its frostier kin. The air grows drier, the ground colder, and nature recedes unto itself; grey skies offer not only brisk, chilly winds, but a flurry of snow most evenings. The snow almost never sticks, though the blanket of white remains a slurry reminder around the clock of shorter days of sunshine and a creeping coldness. Some days, though, when the temperature drops just enough, the Settlements wake to find themselves in for a winter treat. The landscape is covered in snow, the plant-life frosted over, and a general sense of cheer invades the locals as they come about to decorate and prepare for the Winter Solstice.
This mood spreads throughout the settlements, and with Isar Hart recently stepping up as the permanent Council member for the Tertiary Settlement, maybe there is a reason or two to go visit the westernmost settlement at a time like this.
Located just off of Hydra Gulf, the Tertiary Settlement is rife with activity as the locals prepare for their version of Winter Solstice celebrations. They are, through and through, a fishing-based economy, and the newcomers that show up—the Summoned—either out of curiosity for the place or in having found themselves stranded during the harsher weather, are expected to lend a hand with the different activities that have become just a bit more difficult with the heavy snow they've gotten the past few days. The coastline has frozen over, meaning that ice fishing is in the cards; sleds are made available to travel from the settlement to the beach, boots with spikes strapped under the soles, tools (picks and axes) to open a hole in the ice, fish hooks and spears. To those less enthused by fishing, they are welcome to visit The Soundless Hollow, a cave beside a large rock formation, where they are expected to help tend to the candles and the snow that has blown inside with the strong winds.
Once things have settled, however, and the horizon casts itself with beautiful tones of purples and oranges over the coast, those nearby will want to enjoy a moment of ice skating on the frozen shoreline. As long as someone can attach their boots onto the metal-made blades, one should have no issue whatsoever in tackling the ice.
This mood spreads throughout the settlements, and with Isar Hart recently stepping up as the permanent Council member for the Tertiary Settlement, maybe there is a reason or two to go visit the westernmost settlement at a time like this.
Located just off of Hydra Gulf, the Tertiary Settlement is rife with activity as the locals prepare for their version of Winter Solstice celebrations. They are, through and through, a fishing-based economy, and the newcomers that show up—the Summoned—either out of curiosity for the place or in having found themselves stranded during the harsher weather, are expected to lend a hand with the different activities that have become just a bit more difficult with the heavy snow they've gotten the past few days. The coastline has frozen over, meaning that ice fishing is in the cards; sleds are made available to travel from the settlement to the beach, boots with spikes strapped under the soles, tools (picks and axes) to open a hole in the ice, fish hooks and spears. To those less enthused by fishing, they are welcome to visit The Soundless Hollow, a cave beside a large rock formation, where they are expected to help tend to the candles and the snow that has blown inside with the strong winds.
Once things have settled, however, and the horizon casts itself with beautiful tones of purples and oranges over the coast, those nearby will want to enjoy a moment of ice skating on the frozen shoreline. As long as someone can attach their boots onto the metal-made blades, one should have no issue whatsoever in tackling the ice.
( B ) solstice preparation
The Summoned are welcome to stay in the homes of the families that live in the settlement for the time being. They aren't exactly considered friendly, compared to the other two settlements, but the upcoming celebrations and the presence of some of the Summoned has, in fact, improved the general spirits of the place. Since the Winter Solstice gathers the community around to give and share, no bartering needed, many makeshift 'stalls' that have started to be set up around the settlement will offer passed-down recipes, from hot drinks—ciders, teas, hot cocoas—to freshly baked goods and stews (many fish-based) and treats, to be tried. Enthused by the presence of the Summoned, they will also be expected to help with decorating the settlement, given that they are far behind such things compared to the other ones. Perhaps this is their time to shine, despite the reputation of the place? Boughs of holly and garlands, bells and twine will be passed around to decorate, along with candles to be set on every window. Once in a while, the orphaned and troublemaker children will expect gifts, so anything the Summoned can spare will be met with much enthusiasm. Unless it's a ruse for pockets to be picked? Watch out.
A variation of the Goat of All Tidings is thus seen, as help is much appreciated to dress a large goat-figured in what dry grass, twigs, cloths, and other flammable fillings are found. If all goes well, it will last until the celebrations start properly, but until then... hopefully nothing will accidentally happen.
The Summoned are welcome to stay in the homes of the families that live in the settlement for the time being. They aren't exactly considered friendly, compared to the other two settlements, but the upcoming celebrations and the presence of some of the Summoned has, in fact, improved the general spirits of the place. Since the Winter Solstice gathers the community around to give and share, no bartering needed, many makeshift 'stalls' that have started to be set up around the settlement will offer passed-down recipes, from hot drinks—ciders, teas, hot cocoas—to freshly baked goods and stews (many fish-based) and treats, to be tried. Enthused by the presence of the Summoned, they will also be expected to help with decorating the settlement, given that they are far behind such things compared to the other ones. Perhaps this is their time to shine, despite the reputation of the place? Boughs of holly and garlands, bells and twine will be passed around to decorate, along with candles to be set on every window. Once in a while, the orphaned and troublemaker children will expect gifts, so anything the Summoned can spare will be met with much enthusiasm. Unless it's a ruse for pockets to be picked? Watch out.
A variation of the Goat of All Tidings is thus seen, as help is much appreciated to dress a large goat-figured in what dry grass, twigs, cloths, and other flammable fillings are found. If all goes well, it will last until the celebrations start properly, but until then... hopefully nothing will accidentally happen.
( C ) ice fishing
Nero (of the Welcoming Committee) has taken a new lease on life. No longer crafting hand-made obstacle courses sporting land mines and poisonous toads, he has found a new hobby to indulge his free time in:
Ice fishing.
Why the hell not? Enough fucked up Singularity weather combined with some helpful magic flooding the sea has got the shoreline waters turning to ice, and that provides ripe opportunity for... something new.
Even if it was weird. Whatever. Point was, he wanted to try. And ice is a challenge. With what knowledge he'd gotten from Geralt (minimum; use worms and maggots for bait, which he painstakingly spent days capturing and sticking in a bucket of dirt) his strength (needed to both bend wires into hooks and make holes in the ice) and his dad-like impulse to build things (several small, wooden shacks on the ice, each with a torn-up stump for sitting on, and something resembling a small table), Nero has set everything up for the coming holiday, 'cause... he might as well. A demon hunter without demons to hunt has a hell of a lot of free time, unlimited amounts of energy, and a stupid amount of strength to waste on bullshit.
So be sure to go towards the frozen beach just down a path from the festivities, lit up with string lights that hold magical flames, akin to the twinkle of Christmas lights, instead of bulbs, where Nero can be seen, on his knees, punching several more holes in inches-thick ice. He's set up rudimentary rods with baited hooks, more buckets of bait. Even at night, the whole place is lit up nicely that (most) people won't bust their ass trying to get across the ice.
It's nice.
Nero (of the Welcoming Committee) has taken a new lease on life. No longer crafting hand-made obstacle courses sporting land mines and poisonous toads, he has found a new hobby to indulge his free time in:Ice fishing.
Why the hell not? Enough fucked up Singularity weather combined with some helpful magic flooding the sea has got the shoreline waters turning to ice, and that provides ripe opportunity for... something new.
Even if it was weird. Whatever. Point was, he wanted to try. And ice is a challenge. With what knowledge he'd gotten from Geralt (minimum; use worms and maggots for bait, which he painstakingly spent days capturing and sticking in a bucket of dirt) his strength (needed to both bend wires into hooks and make holes in the ice) and his dad-like impulse to build things (several small, wooden shacks on the ice, each with a torn-up stump for sitting on, and something resembling a small table), Nero has set everything up for the coming holiday, 'cause... he might as well. A demon hunter without demons to hunt has a hell of a lot of free time, unlimited amounts of energy, and a stupid amount of strength to waste on bullshit.
So be sure to go towards the frozen beach just down a path from the festivities, lit up with string lights that hold magical flames, akin to the twinkle of Christmas lights, instead of bulbs, where Nero can be seen, on his knees, punching several more holes in inches-thick ice. He's set up rudimentary rods with baited hooks, more buckets of bait. Even at night, the whole place is lit up nicely that (most) people won't bust their ass trying to get across the ice.
It's nice.
( D ) talk shit get hit (on purpose)
Nevermind. Nice? Is boring. The ice fishing didn't do it for him. Nero now turns his attentions to opening a fight club.
It wasn't his initial idea. It was more like a sort of drinking club. Whatever. The people in Solvunn love drinking, even if he doesn't participate. But then a guy got too rowdy last time he was at the tavern, enjoying his usual carrot/ginger juice, and he'd had to toss him out and tell him to let the steam off somewhere else.
After Nero had laid out the guy in the dirt, the idea had sort of... come to him. Lotta liquor ends up with a lot of hotheads with energy to spare. And considering the little crowd that had gathered in the very short fight between them... look, he's seen movies before.
And thus borne of Nero's inability to do nothing: a fence originally used for keeping sheep in their pen has been moved closer to the settlement, wrapped up with more of those magicked twinkling lights, and a circle pit has been slightly dug out, the dirt smoothed and dried as much as it could be to prevent slipping. Rings of men and women sit along the railing, waiting for their turns to pop into the ring and work out their issues. Bruised, broken, or bleeding losers (or winners) stumble out with their arms in the air -- or as high as they can go -- to Himeka, waiting off to the side with a smile with her free healing services... unless the participants are too proud of their bruises to heal them. (Everyone deserves at least a Cure 1, though!)
Nevermind. Nice? Is boring. The ice fishing didn't do it for him. Nero now turns his attentions to opening a fight club.
It wasn't his initial idea. It was more like a sort of drinking club. Whatever. The people in Solvunn love drinking, even if he doesn't participate. But then a guy got too rowdy last time he was at the tavern, enjoying his usual carrot/ginger juice, and he'd had to toss him out and tell him to let the steam off somewhere else.
After Nero had laid out the guy in the dirt, the idea had sort of... come to him. Lotta liquor ends up with a lot of hotheads with energy to spare. And considering the little crowd that had gathered in the very short fight between them... look, he's seen movies before.
And thus borne of Nero's inability to do nothing: a fence originally used for keeping sheep in their pen has been moved closer to the settlement, wrapped up with more of those magicked twinkling lights, and a circle pit has been slightly dug out, the dirt smoothed and dried as much as it could be to prevent slipping. Rings of men and women sit along the railing, waiting for their turns to pop into the ring and work out their issues. Bruised, broken, or bleeding losers (or winners) stumble out with their arms in the air -- or as high as they can go -- to Himeka, waiting off to the side with a smile with her free healing services... unless the participants are too proud of their bruises to heal them. (Everyone deserves at least a Cure 1, though!)
( E ) tbf it was foreshadowed
Nero in particular – and perhaps all of Solvunn -- learn a valuable lesson today. While the fight club could only be called a rousing success, it appears as though encouraging people to work off their drunken energy does, in fact, encourage them to drink even more.
The Goat of All Tidings was meant to be a decoration only. It was lit up, clothed with a great big scarf (donated by some very bored housewifes), his all-mighty horns so large they curl over his back, towering over the citizens of Solvunn. Clearly goats are just awesome, but it stands, perhaps, as a testament to Isar's recent entrance to the council with the sacred aid of Spyndlveiss. At least, that's what some of the locals claim... which is funny, because aren't sheeps more their thing?
Maybe the horns just look cool. Maybe everyone's just drunk.
And that's exactly why, at some point in the night during the celebrations, a wild holler roars across the festivities, with several joining until it's a cacophony -- conveniently rising in volume as the Goat of All Tidings begins to erupt in flames, which climb over those grasses, wood and cloth in mere seconds.
Everyone crowds around the Goat as fire eats it. Here's to a bright new year! Out with the old, in with the new!
Rumours later might have several hungover patrons insisting a small, chatty animal had encouraged the first flames, giggling to himself as his paws clapped together, but no one can agree on what, exactly, the animal was... or if it was just a mischievous forest spirt come to mingle among the people.
Nero in particular – and perhaps all of Solvunn -- learn a valuable lesson today. While the fight club could only be called a rousing success, it appears as though encouraging people to work off their drunken energy does, in fact, encourage them to drink even more.The Goat of All Tidings was meant to be a decoration only. It was lit up, clothed with a great big scarf (donated by some very bored housewifes), his all-mighty horns so large they curl over his back, towering over the citizens of Solvunn. Clearly goats are just awesome, but it stands, perhaps, as a testament to Isar's recent entrance to the council with the sacred aid of Spyndlveiss. At least, that's what some of the locals claim... which is funny, because aren't sheeps more their thing?
Maybe the horns just look cool. Maybe everyone's just drunk.
And that's exactly why, at some point in the night during the celebrations, a wild holler roars across the festivities, with several joining until it's a cacophony -- conveniently rising in volume as the Goat of All Tidings begins to erupt in flames, which climb over those grasses, wood and cloth in mere seconds.
Everyone crowds around the Goat as fire eats it. Here's to a bright new year! Out with the old, in with the new!
Rumours later might have several hungover patrons insisting a small, chatty animal had encouraged the first flames, giggling to himself as his paws clapped together, but no one can agree on what, exactly, the animal was... or if it was just a mischievous forest spirt come to mingle among the people.
no subject
He stares at the brochure and starts laughing (enjoy the whiff of death on his breath). ]
Hahahaha it me! [ And with his fishy hand he pulls a bunch of very soggy papers from the pouch on his oiled, leather kilt - about five of the same brochure. ]
Me like ART! [ he declares with a grin made up of multiple rows of teeth. ]
no subject
He's gotta admit, he hasn't got a fucking clue how the hell something like a walking talking shark can be real, but he's currently in the acceptance phase of everything that's happening. As in, accepting things without asking too many questions because the questions make his head hurt. ]
Yeah, I'm gettin' that. [ Not the most varied collection of artwork, but it's, uh, certainly a collection. He offers Nanaue his pamphlet. In case the shark man wants to add a sixth to his pouch or something. Then he starts to walk along the shoreline, lobster forgotten. ]
You know what's crazy? I had a guy on my crew, right. Peculiar little fucker. Bathed naked in moonlight, the whole thing. One day he turned into a bird and just [ He makes a fluttering motion with his hands. ] flew off. You turn yourself into a shark?
no subject
His eyes follow the new friend's fluttering fingers for a moment, his jaw hanging open as he processes this little story. ]
No-owh. Not turn shark! [ He goes heh heh heh. What a stupid friend! ] Me always shark!
[ Stupid friend... or... maybe... ]
You friend magic? [ Does he like magic? ] You want see magic?
[ Nanaue can't turn into a bird, but he can do magic! ]
no subject
Okay. They'll go with that.
He stares at Nanaue for a long moment, like his brain's catching up on everything. ] Sure. Yeah, why the fuck not? Lemme see some magic, shark man.
[ He doesn't know what he's supposed to prepare for, so he's just gonna stand a little off to the side in case the magic involves...fire or a big blast or something of that sort. He's ready to support Nanaue's cool magic or whatever, but not at the expense of a hole in his chest. ]
no subject
... and gives himself a head of long salt and pepper hair, and matching beard. ]
Magic! [ He proclaims happily, laughing and pointing at his head. ] Me disguise!
[ Can you even tell it's him anymore?? ]
no subject
Alright, he'll hand it to the land shark: did not expect the magic trick to be him sprouting a full head of hair and beard. Specifically, Ed's head of hair and beard.
His eyebrows go up. His eyes go wide. For a split second, Ed can't decide if this is weird or not. People have dressed up like him as a kind of...fan thing. Not always accurately, sometimes the outfit's off, but a surprising number of them put some crazy effort into it. So he's not totally unused to seeing an uncanny replica of himself standing in front of him.
Can't say that replica ever was not-so-secretly actually a shark underneath, though. ]
Heyyyyy—yeah, a disguise. Great job. [ Yep. He claps Nanaue on his sharky shoulder. ] You do a lot of sneaking around, then?
[ No way this shark is sneaking up on anything less than a rock, but. Good effort. ]
no subject
Me GOOD sneak. Me show!
[ With great determination in his eyes, Nanaue turns and runs in the other direction.
Ed might get the sense after not too long that he might not be coming back... ]