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
The main difference is, Stede has stolen his heart, meanwhile all this kid's stolen is the moisture out of his shirt. ]
Okay, well, you enjoy your ambient ice hole and I'll—be over there.
[ "Over there" is a toasty bonfire on the shore. Ed has had enough of the frosty air, so he's gonna drink the free wine and not get splashed in the face. Maybe once the boy is out of his supposedly not cold ice water, he can come over and warm his horns up. ]
1/2.
[ The kid bobs in the chilly water behind him for a few moments longer, before disappearing again with a quiet splash into the murky depths, and it seems like that's going to be that. Fine by him, he's just going to finish grabbing the last of his haul, and maybe A Fish, and then he's getting back into a human shape and out of here before someone else bonks him on the head with a stick. ]
no subject
well to shame mankindfishing hole, and is lifting a set of small nets, one loaded with... rocks (oysters, clams, etc) and the other with bones (coral) out of the water and onto the ice. His fishing plans ruined, Dan Heng is abandoning ship with only a small plunder for the day, packing up his collection into the now-empty basket with a collection of ice chipped away from the edge of the fishing hole.His trip back towards shore is lonely, though he veers close to the bonfire at the last second, spotting the unruly mane and huddled posture of his earlier victim.
(At least he looks normal now.) ]
Are you sure you don't want the potion? Last call.
[ Balancing the basket full of mollusks (formerly percieved as rocks) and bone white fingers of coral against his knee, he goes to fish the potion out of his bag and offer it one last time. ]
no subject
Leave that topic alone. Yep.
He waves off the potion. ] No, no, I'm gonna do without the magic juice, thank you. Pretty nice haul you got there, though. You gonna eat 'em?
[ Of course he's gonna eat 'em, what else do you do with a catch? There's a sense Ed's mostly asking questions to fill the silence, like he can't just sit without saying anything. Sometimes he can, if he's in a particular mood, but right now, that's not where he's at. ]
no subject
Some. Winter is the off season for diving, [ Hell of an understatement, what with the whole bay covered in ice. ] so I'm hoping that there's a market starting to grow for them right now.
[ People need to eat, after all, and as winter sets in fresher fish will be rarer and rarer... If you spend enough time watching what the IPC does, its inevitable that you can pick up on some of the smaller points of market manipulation. ]
wrap? 🎀
He won't get into it, though. For now. ]
Not sure you're gonna get a lot of money outta these fine denizens. It's fish jars and bone antlers all the way down.
[ Bartering land and all. It's getting him by, so Ed's going with it, but sooner or later, he's gotta get some actual gold to spend.
Once he's warmed up enough that he thinks he can put some distance between himself and the fire—enough to get indoors—without freezing twice over, he gets up and claps the boy on the shoulder. He doesn't actually have much faith in the kid's plans, but he's gonna be supportive. ]
Good luck with your business venture, man.