EVENT #18: EMERGENCE - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #18 - Emergence

OOC Plotting Post ⦁ Pre-Event Info ⦁ Setting Descriptions

Whether voluntary or by force, you find yourself transported to the Singularity's crater. There probably aren't many resistors - officials have taken great pains to convince you to come voluntarily, reserving force as a last resort - but it's clear that everyone is required for this to work. It takes multiple mages to stabilize the portal, but you make it there in one piece. If you cooperate, you'll be asked to walk towards the ancient relic. If you resisted, you might be forced to do so while restrained. Regardless, a heavy fog soon descends around the area, obscuring you and your vision.

If you have thoughts of turning back, it's too late: for some of you, the second you step across the threshold, a force pulls at your chest and absorbs your psyche at once. For others, a mystical call beckons you to walk a little further before the same effect takes hold. And for a rare few, the call brings you to the Singularity itself, where you're compelled to touch it - and are subsequently swallowed up like the others.

The Horizon doesn't greet you like you might expect. Instead, something far stranger awaits.

Please communicate with your fellow players as needed! We also recommend discussing with us if you plan on a major environmental upheaval. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid changes to the landscape that will significantly alter the established map.

We've also posted comment sections for WORLDBUILDING and HANDWAVED submissions. Instructions can be found at the respective links.

Year 20,879

When you open your eyes, it feels like you've only blinked. If your body has transformed or you're someplace that shouldn't exist, it doesn't strike you as odd. You were always here. Everything around you was always here, and your physical alterations and new abilities - while perhaps not originally there - have been a part of you for a long, long time.

The world of Abraxas isn't completely foreign. Familiar territories remain, as well as the familiar faces of those with long lifespans. But a lot has changed in 800 years, too, especially where the Gods are concerned. Alongside the Old Gods of the Ancient Pantheon and the Cardinal Gods of the New Order, a third class of deities formed from you and your fellow Summoned: the Ecesis Gods of the Iterum Pantheon.

Politics, People, & Gods

Abraxas's political landscape remains complex, with continued tensions over land, worship, resources, and power. Nonetheless, since the Free Cities is no longer intent on destroying the Singularity, conflict over the ancient relic has lessened. All territories agree that the Godlands - and the Singularity - belong to the Gods themselves.

Beliefs and Gods

The active presence of the Summoned confirms the existence of the Gods. As a result, most Abraxans turn to the Summoned and other Gods for aid or protection. Extreme reverence exists in certain areas, especially on the Isle of the Lost and in parts of Solvunn. In other places, though, the Gods are merely acknowledged as a facet of life - a force that helps or hinders depending on temperament and should be respected, much like the sea. The Gods play a crucial role, sure, but so do the rain and stars. This is particularly true in the Feywilds, the Nether, and the Free Cities.

Small pockets of non-believers actively denounce the Gods. They claim the Summoned should be wiped from the world and the Singularity destroyed to prevent future invasions. Labeled dangerous heretics by Thorne and Solvunn, and "regressives" by the Free Cities - whose scientists and philosophers liken such thinking to be as foolish as declaring the sun unworthy or the earth to be flat - these people are shunned from society. In Solvunn, the consequences are more severe: heretics are exiled to the Barren, where they are subsumed by the desert, the Maw, or whichever Gods may punish them.

At the other end, some sects revere the Godlands so much that they believe feeding themselves to the relic will enhance Abraxas' good fortune for generations to come. Such cults are quite rare, but there are reports of mortals throwing themselves into the Singularity's crater and disintegrating as a gesture of their devotion to the divine.

International Relations

Due to the combined change in their priorities, Thorne and the Free Cities are less at odds. The Free Cities believes in protecting the Singularity; Thorne no longer seeks to control it. Nonetheless, mistrust flares on occasion.

While things are peaceful during these three months and have been for a few decades, Abraxas hasn't found a cure for war in the Gods. Conflict has broken out in the past and will again. Eyes are on the Nether as it grows in power, and who knows how long Thorne will be content with its losses? Will they convince the Velan Republic to reunite and turn against the Free Cities? For now, though, the territories have found their stride and appear more interested in progress than fighting.

Magic & The Singularity

Magic is relatively unchanged and is a vital part of Abraxan life. The small kingdom of Thorne continues to practice Academic Magic. Meanwhile, Wild Magic plays the same important role in the Velan Republic (formally Nott). Meanwhile, the Free Cities has developed New Magic further. The goal of decoupling magic from technology is less of a focus. Instead, researchers are eager to find new ways to fuse magic and innovation, including aspects of the Gods. Portable shrines, for example, are popular with traveling merchants.

High Magic no longer exists as a specific school of magic now that offerings, pacts, and requests to the Gods are a part of everyday life across Abraxas. Solvunn has returned to its roots, using the ancient Academic Magic practiced by the Lunae for standard tasks while turning to the Gods for greater blessings.

The Singularity has been relatively stable for the past two or three centuries. While occasional disturbances rumble, for the most part, the presence of the Summoned has strengthened it, alleviating its displeasure and ensuring that Abraxas - and possibly the universe itself - continues to exist. Indeed, academic writings from Thorne and the Free Cities across time suggest that the Singularity's devouring of the world has considerably slowed. It is now as much of a threat as the eventual collapse of the sun, something that is bound to occur but not for eons.

Of course, this could quickly change if the Summoned or any other Gods provoke the Singularity by rejecting its connection or denying its magic...so all should take care not to upset the nature of things.

Old World, New World

The map of Abraxas has undergone some notable shifts, although many names and places are the same.

Setting descriptions are HERE for your reference.

Mechapolis, the Witchwood, and the Barren/the Maw contain prompts related to the event itself. Information about those areas can be found under "Exploring the Land" in the section The World as the Divine (Month 1-2).

Month 1-2: Submersion

What do you last remember? Well, that depends. You might recall most things perfectly clearly. You might have new memories that don't feel new at all. Or, you might only remember the most recent year or two. Regardless, there is something missing: an important face, a handful of key events...maybe you don't remember having ever lived anywhere except Abraxas. You might find this unsettling, or you might accept it as just the way things are.

You've transcended those old memories, anyhow. You feel a little distant from the person you were centuries ago, and you most likely look different, too. Perhaps you've sprouted giant wings, become a formless void, or you're now a shapeshifter with no permanent appearance. You've gained a substantial amount of power and influence, the type that people of this world attribute to the Gods.

The first half is a more sandbox-like environment designed for scenarios that emphasize CR and personal character moments. Active conflict between the emergent reality and the world will not arise until the second half.

The World as the Divine

The mortals have bestowed you with a title and possibly a new alias. Do you know your mortal name anymore? Some of you might've taken on a new identity, or you might have held very tightly onto who you were. Regardless, your abilities have grown. Your new powers and appearance are as unique as your dominion, influenced by your interests, subconscious desires, or personal relationships.

While in your full God form, you'll move through the world unperceived. Only when you're sought by a mortal - followers, believers, cultists - can you consciously make your complete divine presence known. To be seen freely by all, you'll have to take on a less overwhelming shape to the mortal gaze. Those who have met the Old Gods or Cardinal Gods in the past finally understand why they seldom reveal their true selves, often arriving in hazy visions or speaking through animals.

Exploring the Land

◎ The Witchwood

As the Summoned continued to ascend, their power began to coalesce, creating a new ecosystem never seen before. The dense woods, originally a temperate climate, warmed and grew into a thriving jungle. The air is humid and heavy with magic, the sky locked into an eternal sunset. Reds and oranges filter through the thick canopy. Birdcall and animal cries echo throughout the jungle. Trees and rocks seemingly move at night, meaning the Witchwood is impossible to map. Foolhardy souls who venture too deep are rarely seen again - unless divine intervention prevents a tragic fate from befalling them. Perhaps one of those intervening Gods is you?

The most dangerous beasts in the Witchwood are the demigod spawns. Creatures born from the Summoned, demigods are powerful enough to affect the world around them should they ever leave the magic-encased forest. See Impact & Consequences for more details on the demigods and how, as the Summoned, you can help maintain Abraxas' ecosystem.

◎ Mechapolis

Heartwood Syndrome persisted in Fomalhaut long after the quarantined population died out. The port city stood as a monument to loss for nearly a century until about 200 years in when the Summoned gained notable influence as Gods. This resulted in a slow but steady acceptance of the Singularity's power as a positive force for potential advancement. New Magic boomed, leading to increased sophistication in technology and the refinement of automatons.

Originally designed to clear and guard Fomalhaut, they were eventually used to rebuild it. Fomalhaut became known as the City of Machines and was renamed Mechapolis. Although humans are barred from entering for safety, the automatons gather soil and air samples for study and perform fishing duties. The clockworks require routine maintenance and must return to a hub city or outpost for recalibration. Clockwork birds are used to communicate with Mechapolis. They can broadcast through the Free Cities's primitive "radio" towers.

You can enhance clockwork performance, boosting the towers or providing additional energy to the automatons. Scientists often have "rituals" when performing maintenance or experiments to earn the Gods' favor, hoping this will prevent their inventions from breaking down.

◎ The Barren/The Badlands

Once contested territory between Thorne and the Free Cities, the Badlands was split into two by a large ravine shortly after Thorne retreated to Hayle. With neither side able to breach the gap, Solvunn naturally laid claim to the western half while the Free Cities retained its eastern half. On the eastern side, the chasm swallowed several well-known bandit camps and the presence of a new entity further drove them away. Bandits now occupy the mountains northeast of Aquila. Due to the entity's threat, the Free Cities increased its military presence in the Badlands to keep careless or foolish travelers from straying too far.

Meanwhile, Solvunn has named its portion of the wasteland the Barren and sought the Gods' assistance to form an enchanted forest. Those who enter are lost forever. Meant for more than just protection, the forest and the Barren serve as a place of exile. Heretics are taken into the woods and left to wander towards the Barren's harsh desert. There, they will face the elements, be devoured by the waiting Maw...or encounter a God.

As a God, you can lead the exiles to their salvation or doom, but choose carefully: the Maw is hungry and must be fed. These exiles want you dead. They don't care for you, and should their lack of faith spread, they might revive attempts to destroy the Singularity - and with it, your home. Is it so wrong to leave them to their fate? On the other hand, saving them might convert them by demonstrating your kindness.

◎ The Maw

The Maw lurks beneath the chasm dividing the Badlands. Named for its gaping jaws, the Maw waits at the widest part of a jagged canyon, mouth open and salivating in the desert heat. Rows and rows of teeth as tall as a man spiral downward into a bloodshot throat. When sated, it retreats deep into the gully, barely visible aside from the shine of a tooth. When hungry, it draws closer to the surface. Hot and heavy winds often carry the putrid scent of its half-digested meals.

Solvunn is not the only territory that uses the Maw. The Free Cities will occasionally march criminals and bandits in that direction, as well, tossing them into the gaping mouth, although this method of execution is much rarer. Desperate exiles from Solvunn will try to cross the chasm despite the danger. None ever make it - at least, not without divine intervention.

Horizon, "Death," and Dormancy

Your domain in the Horizon is no longer constrained by size. How it's changed depends on you. The more detached from your mortality, the more likely it'll have surrealist elements: bizarre statues, physics-defying architecture, odd visual or psychological effects. The Horizon feels like home to all Gods, although you ought to take care not to heed its call beyond reason. Shutting yourself off from the physical world can result in unintended consequences...but completely refusing to enter the Horizon will do the same.

Additionally, Gods are beyond true death, but that doesn't mean you can act with impunity. Engaging in an exhaustive battle with other Gods can weaken you into dormancy. In this state, you will enter an ethereal void inside the Singularity. As you heal, you'll slowly be able to return to your Horizon domain and then the physical world once more. Depending on the extent of the damage, this process could take anywhere from months to decades. For instance, losing your head could take a few months, total dismemberment might take a year, and being vaporized into atoms can take a few decades.

Mortals cannot achieve this level of damage, even if they seemingly "succeed" in striking true. Only a God can weaken another God into dormancy. If a mortal removes your head, you can merely pick it up and put it back on.

Impact & Consequences

In the early years of your ascension, you might've wondered why the existing Gods seemingly intervened so little. Why did they not demonstrate their powers more blatantly over the thousands of years? Is it apathy? A desire to watch rather than act? As you come into your abilities, you realize that the Singularity and the universe are significantly more delicate than you thought. You begin to understand why the Gods have behaved the way they do.

Of course, whether you care to keep the world (and yourself) in balance is another story, but to be sure, some of the other Gods and the Summoned do - and you may have to defend your choices.

The equilibrium mechanic is described in OOC terms HERE. The Singularity and a character's ascension will not inherently sway them one way or the other. Any temptations will result from individual personality and development.

Instability Effects

To maintain the universe's equilibrium, you need to be cautious of when and how you interfere when using your status to alter the state of the world. Conversely, you'll also need to take care not to withdraw entirely. Several Gods have undergone periods of instability, though others haven't. Which category you fall under is up to you. It depends on who you are, your experiences, and your desires.

◎ Should you refuse to ACKNOWLEDGE your Godhood or enter the Horizon, you'll find yourself losing time. You may forget how you got from one place to another, or names you knew yesterday slip your mind. Lapses in memory or time can be temporary or permanent, but one thing they are is certainly confusing. With magic building inside you and nowhere for it to go, your power will begin to spill over, causing the Singularity to exhibit bursts of power that spawn demigods in the Witchwood.

◎ Should you give into the temptation to OVERINDULGE your Godhood or retreat to the Horizon for excessive periods, you'll lose more of yourself and your history. You may make decisions that feel unlike you, forget larger chunks of old memories, or struggle to distinguish what's real. Unrestrained use of magic will cause you to absorb yet more power, causing the Singularity to lose power in brief spurts, which can spawn demigods in the Witchwood.

These effects can be halted or even reversed in some cases. You might need someone's help to bring you back or convince you there's another way, or maybe you're the one seeking others out to assist. What you do soon understand is that your ability to manage your powers and stabilize your connection to the Horizon directly affects the Singularity and Abraxas...something that may have been true the moment you were summoned.

Demigod Spawns

Under the red haze of the Witchwood, monstrous creatures known as demigods or spawns emerge from crimson waterfalls and claw their out through the mossy soil. Born out of instabilities caused by careless actions from all Gods, they're usually contained to the Witchwood. For the most part, the older Gods - and the Summoned, if they choose - keep the demigods from leaving. However, now and again, one or two might escape, damaging towns, destroying villages, or causing ecological destruction in ways that are similar to natural disasters.

Demigods are not sentient. How they look can vary, but their appearances are often corrupted and disturbing: twisted animals, amorphous blobs, or alien-like parasites. They may resemble a monster you recognize from home.

Defeating one is possible but a challenge even for the Gods. Most crucially, you cannot kill your own spawn. Another God must deliver the killing blow, so working together is imperative. Should too many demigod spawns be allowed to invade the Witchwood, they will overwhelm and disrupt the Singularity further. Culling them is the only way to maintain stability.

You can submit demigod spawns you create to the WORLDBUILDING section if you want. Similar to using character powers, just keep the scale of destruction at a reasonable level.

Hearing Echoes

Echoes are a form of prayer that resonates through your connection with the Singularity. Solvunn has dedicated a monument to where the "First Echo" was heard, though the accuracy of this is debatable. Like the Network, you can hear an Echo regardless of where you are and can shut them out with concentration. However, your ties to Godhood may compel you to listen every so often. Mortals can entreat you through more formal methods (rituals, offerings, seasonal ceremonies) or in a moment of duress or desperation. They may seek you specifically or call to any God who will listen.

You can answer or ignore these cries for help as you like, but your choices carry consequences. Answer too many too eagerly, and your increased interference in mortal lives can upset the world's equilibrium - and the Singularity. Ignore your impact on the world, and your refusal to accept your ascension will equally destabilize the land as prayers go unheard.

Interacting with Other Gods

The Old Gods and the Cardinal Gods are an equal part of this world. For the most part, you coexist peacefully, though personal pacts and tensions can play a role. Each of you is aware of the impact of your actions on the Singularity: extreme displays of power are reserved for substantial transgressions, considering the price it carries.

Further, the older Gods have also walked the earth for centuries before you came. To them, you're still young, and rising against one of them won't end well for you. Nonetheless, many older Gods are more interested in giving advice or guiding you, ensuring the health of the Singularity and the universe so as not to doom all of you - Gods and mortals alike - to the void.

You can REQUEST AN INTERACTION with a God. Interactions will be brief but informative.

You will not be able to request a specific God. For logistical reasons, we have curated the list of Gods available ahead of time. However, we'll do our best to pick one from the pool that suits the purpose of your request.

Month 3: Awakening

Over the past 2 months, you've existed in the emergent reality without question. As you enter the third month, however, everything you've known over the past many centuries begins to shift. You might decide to investigate further, wondering if there's more out there that you aren't seeing. Alternatively, you might choose to ignore it, believing that your awakening is damaging the world and your life.

Catalysts

A catalyst can occur at any time through any circumstance. Do you see a familiar face you've forgotten in the eyes of a stranger? Do you recall a moment in your past while watching the mortals? Has a friend approached you specifically to try and remind you of the things you've forgotten?

With each memory returned you'll gain another piece of yourself. Depending on how much you've lost and how hard you'll cling to this reality, the effect may be clarifying or it might cause you distress and confusion. You might begin to encounter temporal cracks: buildings or areas that normally don't exist will flicker in and out of existence, or your reflection will briefly show an image of you from before your transformations took hold.

If you allow yourself to doubt your abilities or divinity, you might have trouble controlling your powers. If you've made alterations to your Horizon domain, it might start to revert to its original design.

These cracks are difficult to ignore, but if you bury your head, you can make them disappear - briefly, at least.

Shattered Skies

The effects go beyond the individual. As more of you and your fellow Gods reawaken, the sky also begins to form cracks that spread like broken glass. Through the fractures, you glimpse flashes of lightning and a swirling fog. The fissures only grow larger.

Soon, you realize you can see the Singularity itself, reflected upside-down in the crater. Disconcerting though it is, it may serve as proof that something is very wrong. Of course, you can also refuse to acknowledge this disturbance, closing your eyes to the crumbling sky. Doing so will let you remain unaware to the very end, but your friends who are seeking the truth might find your denial distressing.

The sky won't hold, though. Eventually, it does shatter completely - and you awaken abruptly, your body and others scattered several feet away from the Singularity's crater as if you were physically thrown out. The fog begins to dissipate. The lightning has stopped, the unrelenting storms fading across Abraxas. Whatever you went through, it seems to have done exactly what the territories hoped: stabilize the Singularity.

Characters will be returned home afterward. They will be thanked for their assistance regardless of if they cooperated.

Resistors will not face any consequences, as long as they don't cause excessive trouble upon their return. Officials will issue an apology for the heavy-handed action, stating that they saw no other way to keep the world safe. With the portals and weather returning to normal, it does seem to have worked...even if characters may not find the method agreeable.

---

Comments

himeka sui | final fantasy xiv | herald of consumption

[aquaveiled]

au god info | plotting post
discord @ freyasaurus | pthumerian | dw pm
ota and closed threads to follow below. always open to continue plotting and doing custom starters!

months one & two

[aquaveiled]

OTA ❥ domain & mead hall

[aquaveiled]

[ ooc; Several little mini-prompts below following the domain description! Feel free to hop into any of the suggested openers to engage Himeka/Azem or bounce of whatever you would like and I will follow your lead. ]


[ Over the centuries, Himeka's--now Azem--normally mobile and mutable domain has finally taken root. A quiet barren sea stretches across the expanse, home to a few fish and unsightly creatures that keep to the depths. It makes the island floating several stories above the water stand out against the eternal sunset. Whether you fly, boat, or even walk, you will eventually find yourself a guest at Azem's little village of meaderies and taverns, fondly known as the Traveler's Rest.

The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming with little floating balls of harmless flame lighting both the interior and exterior of each building. The insides echo the out with comely wood intertwined with live plants at every opportunity and they change with the seasons in Abraxas proper. Despite the appearance on the outside, the insides are limitless and are always able to accommodate any number of guests, whether it be gods or their helpers. Somewhat formless shades move about like they are actual patrons. If Azem herself isn't serving, then food and drink appears when needed, even without being asked for. If you don't request something specific, then the food or drink will appear to whatever your unique tastes are based on Azem's knowledge.

Indulgence is the name of the game and plates, bowls, nor cups will be empty for long. The atmosphere is usually calm, but every now and then rowdy parties can take place.

The Traveler's Rest is always open to any and all gods, whenever they need a drink or just a moment to recoup.

Azem, herself, can be seen manning the bar on occasion, happily taking orders or offering to prepare a new meal or dish for you. If you look like you need a rest, she will call you over to sit with her in a quieter corner and lend an ear. (Or fin, in this case.) She can also be found outside tending the flowers and appreciates company.

On fewer occasions, the waters directly below the island may reflect a large white creature. Azem, in this form, feels not quite herself, and usually only retreats here after she's commanded an Affliction in Abraxas. But if you'd like you can venture into the depths and see what will happen. ]

for himeka, cassian, and river

[funbreaker]

[ There was hardly any rhyme or reason to it. Azem would simply decide that they were due for a dinner, and that would be that. The more people she could invite into her kitchen, the better as far as she was concerned. Rather than this being one of the larger, rowdier parties that she enjoyed putting on every so often, however, this was a smaller, more intimate affair.

And if there was something that Azem enjoyed more than cooking, it was cooking alongside someone else. They'd fallen into the habit some centuries ago: Andor will come with his little sister and they will all sit down to have a meal together.

It's not that Aegis isn't capable of cooking himself, but he doesn't have a passion for it in the same way as Azem and Andor, and so he's usually quite content to settle down at one of the large dining tables and wait for them to serve up a banquet. It's always too much food, to be honest, but gods can do as they wish, and overindulgence is his sister's way.

And so Aegis sits across a girl made of stars as a variety of rich fragrances extend from the nearby kitchen. It's all open enough that they can easily chat even as two of them work to put the meal together, and every aspect of this gathering is so routine by now that Aegis feels fully at ease. ]

What's on the menu today?

[ His halo turns in a relaxed circle behind him, his wings shifting every so often as he adjusts himself at the table. In the Horizon, especially this domain, one never feels too small or too large for the space. It's a testament to how comfortable Aegis is that his constant weapon, the gunblade, has been left leaned up against the wall near the hall's entrance.

He tilts his head at Serenity, regarding her with a friendly curiosity. ]

Can you tell?

[ She has a way of knowing things; maybe even something this simple. ]

[godshattering]

Azem? Are you here somewhere?

[ This is called out as Sidus waltzes through the door to where he knows she'll be, having checked with a quick peering into the waters outside first. That'd eliminated one place to look for her with only... well, the entire world to go next. But: details!

More importantly, and if he was going to be entirely honest and not act like this absolutely isn't the case, showing up inside also means there's always a chance to potentially sample one of her latest creations. Centuries may have passed, but food is still absolutely as much of a motivator as it was for drawing him into anything. It is, however, a mere bonus to seeing a dear friend.

Of who he doesn't see currently since she's not behind the bar, and with a frown he adjusts the sizeable basket hanging on his arm thanks to it being looped through the handle containing a handful of things he's brought to gift from roaming around. A routine he'd started a while ago and today's basket is entirely promising thanks to some new discoveries, so Sidus scans the tavern interior next. Nothing but the shades, it seems, but he's not dissuaded even as a dish which certainly is one of his favorites appears on the counter. All it means is a trip to the kitchen where he wanders right through that door next blithely and all the world as though he's been invited in. ]

I'd say I hope I'm not interrupting whatever might be going on back here, but I think you'll like what I've brought with me.

traveler's rest

[sscuriosity]

[Traveler's rest: it's a safe haven that reminds him of the lore of little villages in Dungeons and Dragons. The barkeep looks like something right out of 5e and he's thrilled to be a patron, even though he's never been here before and isn't entirely sure how he wound up there at all.

The magical filling of his drink and the tray of nachos in front of him only punctuate the grin that has been fixed in place since he arrived.]

Hi! This belongs to you, right? This is all yours?

OTA ❥ isle of the lost

[aquaveiled]

[ She has always been drawn to the sea, though she has never been able to figure out why. It just feels right. Himeka Azem spends much of her time in the mortal world traveling about, rarely staying in one place. Though often in the company of her brother, she's known to strike out on her own just as much, and one of the places she enjoys to revisit is the Isle of the Lost.

In truth, Azem doesn't remember much about what transpired there. It comes with a vague sense of urgency and a great wave, followed by an impressively large turtle, but the rest is a blur. For that, she believes the interpretation that a turtle must have brought her fellow formerly Summoned to the isle to begin their ascension.

As such, Azem enjoys trying to entreat with the turtles on the island, as much as they can understand a god let alone anyone that isn't a turtle. She stands behind them unsee, hands on her hips as she leans over to nudge one turtle with her big toe. ]

Now surely one of you must be "Chuck"?

[ Ever searching for the turtle "Chuck". ]

There is always a Chuck reborn after the last, you see. One special turtle must take on the mantle of Chuck in order to protect all the other turtles.

[ This is not proven or backed up by anything. She believes it wholeheartedly.

But other than turtles, Azem is interested in the Cult of the Lost--the people who have decided to forgo all their worldly possessions and devote themselves to spending a peaceful life in the place where the new gods were born. As much as she has a need to move and travel, there's something nostalgic about settling down somewhere secluded and quiet to live a simple life.

Waving her hands in a graceful pattern, a stream of light green magical light forms like a thread being woven over a patch of newly tilled earth. ]

They're here for us...the least we can do is make sure their next harvest is a good one, don't you think?

[furibund]

[ Nebula is in many ways the opposite of Himeka. She doesn't feel the need to travel more than she has to. She barely remembers a life among the stars; The expanse of space feeling like a cold prison on its own. It's the people that matter. This much they agree on. ]

[ Even if some part of her heart disagrees on others. Like people living here, when they can live in others. Servitude makes her skin itch, though she can't know why. It's why she rolls her shoulders and breathes out a laugh: ]

Sure, but you're the one who does harvesting around here. Not me.

[ She wasn't known for that kind of thing, didn't have the skill for it. Growing things would be something for someone else, always. That didn't mean she didn't help in other ways. ] Come on, they're not going to grow any faster if you're watching them.


[ Okay, so that's incorrect, but she means it in the sense of: you know the rules, can't do more right now. Let's do something else. ]

OTA ❥ witchwood

[aquaveiled]

[ An adventurer's heart rarely calms, especially when given godlike abilities. Himeka Azem is an embodiment of this, always wandering from place to place in search of people and new experiences. While many of her travels are pleasant and often focused around mortals, she does take her time to venture out further away where greater dangers may lay...

Azem stands next to you at the edge of the jungle with her crooked wooden staff, feeling the humid air drift out from between the tall trees before them. She turns to her companion with a wry smile. ]

Another pruning is in order, I think. Is it one of yours, this time?

[ Culling these creations is simply the way of things--they can become too powerful and too dangerous. Though Azem feels she's caused enough destruction in her lifetime--both intentionally and unintentionally--there's something about this that feels too easy. Something locked away...she doesn't like dwelling much on such things.


Or perhaps, you have also followed a mortal inside. Being a traveler herself, Azem is ever fond and quite protective of those who venture out into the great beyond to see what there is to be seen. Realistically there is little reason to go through the Witchwood even though it takes up quite a bit of real estate between the tall mountains and the largest inland sea.

To go from the Lunae Settlement to the Castle Hayle? Mayhaps, but perilous would be the kindest way to put it.

She has to give it to their adventurous spirit. If only she hadn't lost track of the person. ]

They couldn't have gotten far, could they?

[ She asks her fellow deity as she bites her lower lip. ]

And this close to nightfall...they won't have a clue where they've been come sunrise.

bbq time

[flagrates]

It is.

[ And he looks unhappier for it. They'd been springing up since his scourge, setting little fires to the area, though thankfully nothing that had flared up into something worse. Still, they need to go. ]

Thank you, for your assistance.

[ It can be... intimidating, when Mythos smiles, because it's more a baring of teeth than anything else. But his eyes are kind, at least? He reaches for the long blade ringed in flame and phoenix feathers at his back. ] Shall we?

edge of the jungle

[lightkeeping]

[One thing Aloy has not forgotten, even after all these years, is her skill as a huntress. It's part of her duty, yes, to keep things safe for humans and the gears of the world turning, but it's also something that she enjoys, and is very, very good at. Having a partner is nice, too, especially when one often can't tell what they're getting into, with these woods.]

I hope not.

[She tries to be careful about keeping herself in check, and the last thing she wants is for one of the monsters here to be her fault. All the more reason to thin the herd every so often. Aloy regards Himeka with a nod, signaling that she's prepared for whatever they might find.]

Ready?

CLOSED ❥ Cid & Thancred

[aquaveiled]

[ Back to the Witchwood again. It's a lovely place, if not for the responsibility that sits with the gods for birthing it to begin with.

After a particularly drawn-out affliction that forced her to transform into her other side, Azem gave life to a snail-like creature. Much like her Famine side, it has the side effect of drawing up the life essence of what it touches, leaving bodies in chalk-like husks, empty and brittle. With other gods and demigods, it isn't much of an issue. But after seeing a trail of slime leave the woods...

It must be dealt with.

Her normally friendly and jovial nature is dimmed with worry as she follows the trail of slime, lightly bleaching the edges of rocks and earth in its wake. It's no where near as powerful as Azem can be, but it's enough. It leads away towards wider fields, towards the roads. ]

It cannot have gotten far...but mortals have gotten too curious about this place. I would hate to think--

[ That it could already be too late for someone undeserving of such a fate. ]

[funbreaker]

[ For all that the gods do what they can to maintain balance, there are times when their powers run away from them, and this is the result. If there is feast, there must also be famine. It is an unbreakable rule of the world, something that cannot be fought against no matter how much Azem might hope to at times.

It doesn't ever sit well with Aegis to see her subdued like this, and so the sooner they can track down this creation and put an end to it, the better. The trouble being, Azem cannot deliver the final blow herself. This is something that also unsettles him — the idea that one is not allowed to clean up their own mess.

Of course, the two of them are so bound together that she can naturally rely on him. However, given that Cid is in the area, it had been simple enough to invite him to this errand as well.

Aegis also takes note of the trail the demigod has left behind, one that is easily followed given how it drains the land of all color. He glances over when Azem voices her concern, assuming that she's referring to the people who live in the small village Cid has established for wayward souls. ]

I'm certain he keeps a close eye on them.

[ And as if he summoned the Herald of the Coming Storm with those words, he spots a figure in the distance, announced by a brief crackle in the sky.

He nods to Azem. ] There.

CLOSED ❥ Haelva & Hilda

[aquaveiled]

[ Who doesn't love a good Girls Night? It was necessary when Haelva's relationship with Astarion came to a fiery end, offering support to a friend in her time of need. But to be surrounded by people you care about and enjoy the company of needs no reason other than "I want to", and thusly the tradition was born.

The location can change, but Azem's domain is an easy default when no one has any other ideas. The tavern is always open to any wandering gods looking for a place to rest and indulge for a while, with endless seats and bar stools to accommodate any number of guests. But Azem has also created a few private rooms for gatherings or...well. Whatever else it is you may have in mind.

In this instance, it's a Girls Night, and Azem is refilling glasses before they an be emptied. ]

Please, you must try this one! I'm calling this my "Three Berry Wine".

[theidlemaiden]

[ Alcohol didn't have quite the effect that it used to have on Valentine. Or rather, mortal wine didn't. Azem's wine was a different story altogether. And while she liked to indulge as much as the next god (?) Valentine was pacing herself tonight.

The last time they'd held a Girl's Night it had ended up being a week-long romp through Abraxas that was more blur and colour than actual memory. And somehow along the way they had ended up collecting a mortal baby that none of them could recall how exactly they'd gotten it. Which then meant they had to figure out which mortal it belonged to and that had been an ordeal in and of itself.

All of which is to say that there would be no babies tonight!

...But Valentine isn't about to turn down anything Azem conjures up. Delighted she wiggles her fingers in the direction of the wine glasses and hands one off to Haelva before taking a healthy sniff of it before tasting a little. A little moan delight follows. ]

It tastes amazing! Did you grow them yourself?

OTA ❥ soup dragon

[aquaveiled]

[ Entreating with mortals is one of Azem's favorite things to do. She's rather easy to call with a few simple rituals or prayers and eagerly answers as many summons as she can. Like most of her counterparts, she must take on a different form to be more easily perceived by them. And hers? It's a small pink and white dragon, no more than two-feet in length.

She is often in the company of small jars with legs and arms and may catch a ride inside of one of them when she isn't crawling or floating along. The jars are always filled with different kinds of soup, filled from the bubbles she blows.

Yes, soup bubbles.

Azem can be seen circling a house or village as she eagerly awaits a meal offering. When she notices a colleague in the area, Azem drops to settle on the edge of a roof, blowing a delicious bubble in greeting. Though her mouth doesn't move, her familiar voice can be heard loud and clear. ]

Are you here for dinner as well? The spring festivals are upon us!

[ Or sometimes she is crawling onto the boats of fishers to try and help (and partake in) their catch. ]

The winds are in our favor... Grab your rods! We fish!

[ Or at the very popular eatery named "Soup". She rather likes showing up unannounced to help refill bowls for free or offer advice in the kitchen. This time, one of the regular patrons has made her a tiny chef's hat which she wears proudly, puffing her scaled chest out. ]

Does it suit me?

CLOSED ❥ Percy

[aquaveiled]

[ The First Echo is an important place to many mortals, so Azem likes to visit it. Though the gods can hear their wishes and prayers from all across the realm, she believes it's a bit more personal to go there and meet with those who put in the effort to travel to it.

And as with most things, it's always better with company.

She does try to pull Percy into her wanderings and little self-imposed missions when she can. And because it's Percy (and because it's her), any trip to the First Echo must also include a little detour to the coastline.

Azem is still unclear as to what her history with the sea has been before she and Aegis arrived in Abraxas, but Percy's is unignorable--he embodies the element of water itself. Is taking him to the water a little too much of the same? Mayhaps, but he hasn't complained yet.

Azem pauses in their stroll to dig her toes into the wet sand, curling them happily. This is one of many reasons why she never wears shoes. ]

What do you think...will the tides be particularly low this evening?

[seaweedbrain]

[ As far as Percy is concerned, and despite his far more intimidating god form (which he's decided isn't quite necessary for today's venture towards the First Echo), the goddess Azem will always be his Aunt Himeka, the woman who would pull him along for all manner of shenanigans, each one a guaranteed adventure.

He appears in his boyish human form for today's journey, figuring that it would be more fun, for old time's sake. But while his face reflects the youthful, temporary state of the mortal form, fleeting in its existence, the depth in his sea-green eyes when he tilts his head to look in Azem's direction speaks of the centuries lived so far. He's been growing more and more into his godhood and finding this path inevitable.

Still, his aunt has a way of drawing a smile to his face even when she asks the simplest questions, even and especially when it comes to what they plan on eating next.

He pauses as though to feel the response of the ocean reporting the earth's movements to him and he nods. There really is no place as comforting to him as the water; so no, he could really never grow tired of it. It's a part of him, and he is very much a part of it. ]

Hm. [ He hums, thoughtful. ] Signs point to 'yes'. [ Just a little 8-ball humour for ya. ] What are you thinking?

CLOSED ❥ divine meet & greet

[aquaveiled]

[ Her path to godhood had not been the most difficult, though she wouldn't necessarily call it a smooth ride either. Her desire to help and be useful to others paved the way for her abilities to develop in new avenues. Though the notoriety was different than what she had been used to--some distant memories locked away in dreams--she accepted it with the same easy-going nature she did with most responsibilities.

Too lackadaisical? Mayhaps. But these gifts, she believed, are to help repair and nurture the world and all the people in it.

Though she is known for being something of a patron of indulgence, her blessings of bounty still led her to be associated with gardening and harvests. So she likes to travel to and between festivals in different seasons whether she is invoked or not, simply to watch and enjoy. Azem, as she is known now, prefers to travel by foot when she can simply by the love of the journey as well as the destination. She never wears shoes either, wanting the full experience of the earth or beneath her toes.

It is not uncommon to come across shrines to other gods along the way. Though no longer necessary, Azem likes to leave little offerings of her own to her seniors and colleagues as a gesture of good will.

At one such shrine she places a sweet roll wrapped in large leaves, something light for the spring season. Once placed on the offering plate, she bows out of habit--a habit she doesn't remember where it stemmed from. ]

I hope it's to your liking.

[abraxasnpcs]

Vimorskas ◎ Guardian of Preserved Lands

[ The figure who appears to Azem may be a familiar one, hailing back from the days of yore before her ascension. First, however, the sweet roll disappears: it begins to mold, fluffy white and green spores growing across the pastry. Then small mushrooms sprout and consume the roll until it vanishes.

When Vimorskas unveils himself, he's patting his belly in an obvious sign of pleasure despite his lack of any expressive features on his "face." In thanks for the tasty treat, several faint visons transmit towards Azem: swaying stalks of wheat in the breeze, the sun shining brightly on some wildflowers, and a plump rabbit chewing on grass. ]

Hello, my dear! How long has it been since your last visit? Ah, but what's time to us Gods.

[ Vimorskas sprouts a thick fungal stool and sits down. ]

Are you enjoying the spring?

month three

[aquaveiled]

CLOSED ❥ Thancred

[aquaveiled]

[ The Isle of the Lost has become a comforting place over time. The greenery is always pleasant to see and the mortals there are kind and open-minded. Though over the centuries, the specifics of what transpired have slowly faded, leaving Azem with only memories of the happiness she's experienced since and a great appreciation of turtles.

As much as she travels with her brother, she and Aegis haven't spent much time on this particular island together and she's never been sure why. So she reached out, seeing if their next journey might be to pay a visit to Chuck's memorial and enjoying some of the other wildlife.

As they set foot on the edge of the high cliffs, she smiles and asks absently-- ]

Do you believe the stories?

last 800 years

[aquaveiled]

CLOSED ❥ Sylvain

[aquaveiled]

[ It isn't just in the mortal world that she likes to travel--Azem makes it a point to visit the domains of other gods any time she's spent what energy she can in the realm of men. Of course she retreats to her own domain when necessary, but the Horizon is much more vibrant and wonderful when you see the lives of others. That much has never changed.

And neither has Sylvain's desire to be a recluse from time to time. They have gotten considerably more "friendly" over the centuries, though truth be told, just waltzing in without an invitation is something she would do regardless. But at least she always brings something to offer him.

The chill of the snowy landscape puts her more breathable attire to the test. Even as a god, she prefers warmer climates. But she persists until she finally makes her way across the lake to the beautifully crafted building. No knocking--it's too feckin' cold out here. ]

Sylvain?

[ She calls out in the foyer, bare toes curling on the wood as she shakes snow out of her miles of hair. She has a wrapped basket tucked against her side. Don't mind the shivering. ]

You better be here or else I nearly froze off my foot for naught...

[ Could she have conjured up something warmer to wear? Yes. Did she? No. Is it her own fault? Absolutely. ]

CLOSED ❥ Alucard

[aquaveiled]

[ It wasn't meant to happen like this.

These changes, these abilities that were slowly developing over the last several decades--nay, the last few centuries have been nothing but a blessing! And that's all she's ever wanted to impart on the world and people around her--blessings. A bountiful harvest, a filling feast, the warmth of a hearth when you're surrounded by friends and family and all the lovely memories that flow with it.

There's always another side. A balance. Too much or too little of a good thing could certainly turn sour, and sour...she became.

Himeka--that is still her name, isn't it?--recalls the incantation that brought her forth: a dispute between families, feelings of discontent and good fortunes stolen. A boost in one's haul meant there was naught for the other and to a goddess of feast they asked for famine. Just a little, just for their crops to fail this year to allow the others to catch up.

The endless deep. The Empty.

She tried. Because balance must be sought.

A Flood of Light. Color drained from everything. Everyone.

But she lost herself in it. The crops, yes, those were dealt with--but so too went the farm, the house, the inhabitants inside...

...and in a minute's time, Himeka watched as the ground became empty and chalk-like, the walls shattering beneath the lightest touch. Her tears of regret soon consumed her as she fell into a heap.

Fix it, fix it.

But she only made it worse. Consumed by her own affliction, her body stretched and twisted into the likeness of a beached leviathan. She drags herself along, sending what were curious onlookers fleeing in fear. In her wake, she leaves a trail of tainted earth, and with each "step" she feels that emptiness in her belly grow and grow. She has to find something to fill it.

Anything. Anything.

How long she's like this, she doesn't know. It feels like second and an eternity at the same time. The only pause in her pursuit of sustenance is the appearance of a familiar form... ]