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

OPEN TO ALL

[funbreaker]

i. exploring

[ While some of the Pantheon might have found places where they prefer to settle, Aegis is not one of them. The need to travel, to set his feet on the ground in some form even if the mortals do not perceive him, is somehow rooted deep inside him. He has never thought to question it much, as his sister, Azem, is much the same. Whether it is at her side or alone, he will travel all across the lands of Abraxas.

This might involve dropping in on another god wherever they have decided their domain on this plane to be. Perhaps this is a common thing between them, that he will appear to ask after them. Perhaps he's simply stumbled upon someone over the course of his travels, and he's a friendly enough being to offer a greeting and see what they're up to. Or maybe he was in the area when an echo came in, one that he is certain he could answer alongside his fellow god.

The Velan Republic is a place he seems to visit often, whether it's looking out over Lake Circinus to see how the fishers are doing with their hauls, silently walking through smaller villages, or even settling atop the massive ice wall that now separates what is left of Thorne to observe from afar.

Given his sister's fondness for dragons, he often makes the trip across the oceans to the Nether, fully capable of gliding amongst the clouds to reach the island. He enjoys watching as the dragons take flight, their population having boomed over the centuries, and will sometimes even observe the Draconae going about their daily routines as they magma fish or spar with one another.

Naturally, the Godlands is also a place he visits often, aware that many of his kind within the Pantheon will spend time here. He enjoys sitting under the glow of the crystalline roots to rest and while away the time, his halo shifting in a slow circle behind him, in time with the rings around his wrists and ankles. Only then will he set his gunblade down at his side rather than carrying it or sheathing it at his back. While relaxing like this, a small golden-hued canary companion will often hop around from his shoulder into his lap. ]

((ooc: If you would like to request a thread with both Aegis and Azem (Thancred and Himeka) from this prompt, feel free to specify in the subject line when you tag in! Freya and I are open to three-person interactions since these two spend so much time together.)) ]

ii. the witchwood

[ While most of Aegis' travels are more about going where the wind takes him rather than having any specific destination in mind, the Witchwood is a place that he specifically checks on with a certain amount of regularity. It doesn't seem to matter how much time has passed and how familiar all of them have become with their duties; there are still times when the balance of the world is upset, and demigods are the result.

Thus, he trudges through the jungle, stepping over babbling streams and cutting away hanging foliage with decisive swipes of his gunblade. He has been here so many times over the centuries that he knows every bird call and animal sound, aware of which belong to normal residents of the wood and which are decidedly out of place.

As soon as he hears a sound that registers as wrong, he tenses and turns to whoever happens to be with him, whether they came together or simply ran into each other.

His voice is steady and smooth, not as prone to wild shifts in tone like it once was when he was mortal. ]

That must have been a demigod. Let's go.

[ Or, as he's searching the wood he might come across a set of tracks that don't belong. He crouches down, his wings spreading out with the movement, and studies the treads. ]

... It looks like a mortal must have stumbled in here. [ He heaves out a sigh and stands, then turns to his companion. ] We should look for them.

[ All of this appears to be second nature for him, a part of his duty. He is in the realm of protection, after all, and this is his purpose. ]

iii. the horizon

[ Eventually every god feels that tug to return to the realm that truly belongs to them, the Horizon, and Aegis is no exception. For as much as he might find satisfaction in traveling all over Abraxas, he will ultimately return to the welcome embrace of the Singularity and the Horizon as a place to relax and shed off that urge to always be carrying out his duty.

There is such a thing as too much, after all, and over the years he's had to learn that if he is overly enthusiastic with responding to echoes and aiding the mortals, it will lead nowhere good. The Horizon is a place where he can set that aside and rebalance.

His own domain is perhaps not the most welcoming. From the outside, it appears as a massive tower that is more fortress than home. Within, there is a stone spiral staircase which travels up, up, up. A bit of a frustrating climb, though all-powerful gods can easily skip right up to the top if they wish it.

At the very top is a modest living space, perhaps one of the clearest signs that he was once human for its simple creature comforts. There's a table with a pitcher of wine atop it, some couches and chairs in which to lounge, and even a bed. Oddly enough, there are also random herbs, books, and astrological items scattered around, though Aegis himself doesn't appear to ever interact with them much.

When in his domain, Aegis' golden-colored canary companion is always with him, perched on his shoulder and letting out curious chirps.

He will welcome in visitors for the most part, though is just as likely to wander the Horizon and enter other domains either to let off some restless energy or to stop in for a visit. ]

i. the nether

[princeofruin]

[It is a rare time Sajj'aka ever appears in any form other than Bahamut. The he that is the truth, the soul, the core. Now, he feels... gods, he feels. His heart has been broken so many times before, one would think the blood could no longer flow from it. Yet it does. It flows, and flows, then lessens. Then stops. The heart does mend, until it is ready to be broken once more. To be torn asunder, and shredded, and stabbed --

And held. And beloved.

Sajj'aka sits today besides a long-legged Draconae youth on the edge of a pier, his legs dipped into the magma, watching as the lad fishes, or at least attempts to. The event is more one for enjoyment rather than necessity; it has been quite a time since any Draconae have starved. This one, in particular, knows well his name, and he waits to bless him with fish... if needed.

But the youth is content with watching his line bob. He hums, without a care in the world, and the music is a balm to Sajj'aka's heart.

He turns when he hears the chirp of a bird. One that has grown familiar, over the ages.] Aegis. Come to join us for the latest bounty?

[It may be the closest he has ever come to a real jest, considering the lad's bucket remains empty.]

[funbreaker]

[ It's not that uncommon for Aegis to come across other members of the pantheon as he travels, but it's quite the surprise to encounter Sajj'aka in this form, dwelling among the Draconae. Then again, in some ways he does resemble them — save for the third eye and the massive wings and that gaping wound in his chest, the one that will never heal.

And surely some have tried. There are healers among their number, but just as it's impossible to kill one of their own, it's not so simple to cure them either.

All of that is well beyond Aegis' capabilities anyhow. He's pleased to find Sajj'aka in such a mood. It's more common to find him curled up somewhere, licking those proverbial wounds, but if he is out among the mortals like this it must be a good day.

Which is all the more reason for Aegis to move and join him at the docks. His canary proceeds him, landing gingerly on one of Sajj'aka's horns. ]

If it's a bounty you look for, you'll need to turn to my sister.

[ He settles down, tucking his wings in against his back and allowing his feet and ankles to dip below the magma as well. If there were any hard feelings between Azem and Sajj'aka, that's ancient history by now and hardly needs to be mentioned. Aegis still carries Sajj'aka's boon with him, the ruby serpentine aspects of his form fully borrowed from him for reasons that he only barely recalls. ]

But she's flitted off somewhere. [ He shrugs one shoulder, then studies Sajj'aka's face, those ever-present tears on his cheeks. How he wishes he could somehow wipe they away. ] How are you, friend?

[princeofruin]

[He raises a hand to greet the canary, but does not attempt to remove her. Another song that soothes a broken heart -- a thing he has long suspected of Aegis, as well. Have they not all suffered after all this time? And a new suffering, in forgetting the old. The lessons one may have garnered from them.

It is in this looping maze of thoughts that Sajj'aka rarely escapes from, and so his "good" days are rarer than the better. Here, with company -- both that acknowledges him and which does not -- he can find more strength to stop such thoughts in their tracks.

'Tis hard to be a curmudgeon when a canary graces one's horns.]

Surely you find your days of charity as well. [Dare a hint of a smile grace his lips? There is no denying that Azem is capable of vast feats where bounties are concerned, whether in drink, or spirits, or food. Her ability to bring an aura of companionship -- of trust -- is one he has long envied, if truth be told.]

To her next feast, I imagine. [His third eye closes, and he rests only two on Aegis now. There are more things forgotten between them than remembered... and yet after all this time, he still feels some trepidation in approaching Aegis, as if he is afraid to trip once again. The friend feels a gentle admonishment of such thoughts.]

It is a fine day, of sun without rain. [The blood on his chest is now only a stain. The canary sings a pretty tune, and her weight is a welcome one.] The Echoes are quiet.

[Which is a boon to him. They are loudest in times of war, and now... it has been some time since there was a conflict grand enough to need him.] I have missed yours and Azem's company, in truth. I am glad to see you well.

[funbreaker]

[ Days of charity? Quite often Aegis does what he can to help the mortals, and while he cannot grant them a bounty the way that Azem does, he can do other things to ensure their protection, even if it's something as seemingly simple as assuring they have fresh, clean water to drink without having to worry about disease.

The people who tend to ask help from him are those in some sort of distress as they travel from one point to another, and the situation here in the Nether is far too stable for many echoes to reach his notice on a day like today.

So yes, Sajj'aka is right. It's the sort of day where they can kick back and enjoy life, alongside humans if not directly with them. This boy has no idea that there are two gods so close, after all, and that is for the best. It's when they meddle too much that things become messy.

He leans back on his hands, palms flat against the warm rock, and turns his face up toward the sun to feel its heat against his face. His segmented wings spread out, as if he's stretching a muscle, and he indulges in a content sigh. ]

As am I. It's been too long, hasn't it? [ Not that he can recall how long, exactly, but the specifics don't matter. ] I'm sure Azem will make a point of finding you at one at one point or another. When she is done feasting, no doubt.

[ And then the easy silence between them is interrupted with a loud gasp from the Draconae boy. It seems he has a bite on the line. Aegis blinks his eyes open and leans forward; of course he wants to watch. ]

Well, it seems he didn't need us after all.

[ Even if the fish is ultimately lost, the excitement of it biting at all is no doubt enough to fulfill what the boy was hoping to find out here. ]

[princeofruin]

[It is not a hard feat for Sajj'aka to accept that many of the others are more charitable than he. Though he has attempted, over the years, to not let himself change any further... it seems inevitable as the march of time. He can still look at the scaled companion Aegis bears and remember who he once was, and perhaps who he is still.

But that is why days like this are the difference. He waits to offer his charity to the fisherman, if only because he cannot bear to see the Draconae go without. But he shall wait, until sufficient effort has been put in. Only enough help to keep his hopes up...]

It is always too long. [It sounds almost like a joke, coming from him.] She will be easily able to find me. As easily as you have.

[He is not quite at his moments where he hides away, or slumbers.

Sajj'aka sits up, eyes opening wider with delight. It rings through him, pinging against his every organ, blooming the flower at his heart. Light glows along his skin.]

They have never needed us. That's the beauty of watching them succeed without intervention. [Though he would have intervened. He cannot help himself. But he needn't; this boy has been under Sajj'aka's eye for some time, and he's learned from his mistakes. He makes a sharp jerk, and that hooks the fish true: it is a battle, though, a large fighter that tugs the line and fights desperately for itsl ife. But hte boy concentrates, his dark brows darker, and when the lines tugs hard and the fish is near --

He dives his arms in, pulling the fish out and tossing it in the bucket with a shout.]

Can you recall the last time a fish would have made you so overjoyed?

[funbreaker]

[ Aegis only nods at Sajj'aka's remark about Azem. She will find him. She is good at finding things in general, and right now, Sajj'aka wants to be found. Aegis need not get involved in that, simply accepting it as a fact.

For now, they can focus on this simple moment of joy. Watching a mortal in the midst of a task like this, fishing for the fun of it but also for the meal it will provide, almost makes him remember what it was like when he was one of them. He notices Sajj'aka lighting up at the sight of it too — quite literally.

And he's right, there is something about watching humans succeed without needing to rely on the gods. Some of them give in too easily before demanding their help, becoming reliant on them to the point that it isn't healthy. Which is why their existence is all about balance, of course.

His smile as the boy snatches the fish is a small one, but it is there. And at Sajj'aka's inquiry, he does seem to give the question a few seconds of thought before he shakes his head. ]

I do go fishing with Azem to this day, but... ah, it's not quite like this. We don't have to fight for it in the same way.

[ And so yes, he'll admit that it takes some of the fun out of it.

There's a pause as he watches the boy smash the fish's head against the rock, putting an end to its life as quickly and painlessly as he can. ]

... Even though they might not need us, we need them. [ Aegis suspects that Sajj'aka will know what he means. No doubt he's experienced firsthand what happens if echoes go ignored. ] I find myself thinking of that often as of late. We may have all this power, and eternal lifespans, and yet we are bound to take care of this land and its people. [ He personally thinks it's good that they have a duty, that they are not here simply to do whatever they wish, and yet he knows some would see it as a yoke. ]

[princeofruin]

That is what makes us so different.

[He has always known power, in excess. Sajj'aka is sure of that. He has never felt this joy because he has never needed the same. The joy of accomplishment, knowing the next meal is ensured, and to have enjoyment in acquiring it in the first place, under a peaceful sky, under the quiet of nothing but birdsong and the splash of the magma.

He envies them more every day. This Draconae's life is not wasted because he lives it. He lives it in every waking moment.

Sajj'aka folds his hands together.] A duty of which some of us take to better than others. [Not to say anything of Aegis's responsibilities. He doesn't know if Aegis says such things because they are both aware of his own lacking.]

I have oft thought it some cosmic humour, that even with limitless power we are still slaves to others. Whether it be nature, or people. [He stands as the boy casts his cast his line again, ready for a second bite. "One more and I'll be set," he offers the words to the air, as if knowing who he's asking.] Every living thing is beholden to another. No matter how long we live, such truth shall not change. [He smiles, though, dim as it is.] Perhaps it's the only thing that keeps some of us sane.

the witchwood

[starscollapse]

[ Merrin, likewise, is drawn to the Witchwood more than any other place. She uses her abilities to grant safe passage to any mortal fools who wander through here. Being stupid is not a reason to die, though some perhaps more unsavory characters will have to face the consequences. She watches and observes often, fearing little as her steps take her through the jungle and quiet memories rest in the back of her mind while she dreams of stars she's not sure she's ever actually touched.

She keeps to herself much of the time, used to a more solitary existence (when was that?), but drawn nonetheless to others like her, to form connections she still finds new and unfamiliar.

Others wander through here, mortal and not, and she's aware of them; like Aegis, she knows every footfall, every sound, every movement. It's only when a demigod stirs and demands attention that she's moved to intervene and when that happens, she doesn't hesitate. She should not be surprised by the voice, but it startles her nonetheless. Her expression, however, remains impassive as she draws closer to observe the tracks. ]

Some would leave them to their fate.

[ This is not her disagreeing to help. In fact, she's more than willing to lend aid. But she's curious about others in the Pantheon, all of them with a wide spectrum of powers, histories, and personal motivations, many who would find no reason to trouble themselves with a mortal who got themselves lost. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Merrin approaches with a swish of starlight, and she's not the only one among the gods who seems to take some of the night sky with her. Aegis may not be all that close with her compared to some of the other gods, but that's not for any particular reason, and he won't say no to her companionship in this moment.

If that's what she's offering, anyhow. Her comment feels like a test of sorts, though Aegis doesn't waste any time chewing on it. He starts to follow after the faint tracks left in the soil, not wanting to lose the trail. ]

Are you one of them?

[ From what he knows of her, he doubts it. She's familiar with this wood and could have just as easily ignored him and left him to handle this situation on his own. Perhaps she doesn't consider it her job to set these mortals on a safer path the way he does, but... they're here now, are they not? ]

... There's a village near here, overseen by one of us. [ Cid, Herald of the Coming Storm. ] This might be one of his who wandered off.

[ In case she needed an explanation for why he's here, but to be honest, it's simpler than that. His purpose is to help in situations such as this, and so he continues on his way, swinging his gunblade to cut a path. Whether or not Merrin wants to follow is her choice. ]

[starscollapse]

[ It is a test of sorts, a way to learn and understand him more, to get a sense of his instincts. That he's here tracking them at all tells her much, but his commitment to the cause tells her even more. ]

I am not. [ Not now, not ever. For those who innocently wander and get lost, she will always be there to help. ] Danger is a swift teacher, but their lives are fragile. I would see them safe.

[ So, yes, she will join him. Their goals are more aligned than they may yet know; she feels a firm duty in granting safe passage to those in need. And though she might not always show it easily on the surface, she cares deeply for others and will protect those in peril without hesitation.

She does follow him, pushing the hood back on her cloak. ]

You know this place well.

[ Does he frequent it as often as her? She should know, perhaps, but she's often too focused on the demigods or mortals wandering here, paying little attention to any fellow gods. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Danger is a swift teacher. She's not wrong, and while Aegis would like to hope that this experience will be enough to prevent the mortal from ever wandering into these woods again, he isn't about to bargain with someone's life simply to teach them a lesson.

The demigods make for a troubling fight even for them. A human would never stand a chance.

He continues on, pleased that she's decided to come with him, though he doesn't exactly show it save for by making space for her on this cramped trail — if it could even be called that. The Witchwood is not so easily tamed, and he finds himself having to duck under a tree trunk or hack away at overgrown plant life every few steps. ]

I come when I can — there's no telling when a new demigod might be made. I try to ensure they don't make it out of these woods.

[ She's not troubled at all with keeping up with him, though, and so he does pause for a moment to glance back to her. ]

It seems as if you might as well.

[ In that case, it's fortuitous that they've come across each other.

But then, before either of them can say anything more, a loud cry echoes through the wood, reverberating off the trees. ]

i. echo

[glaciare]

( Metia answers Echoes when she can, if the prayer is desperate enough, if someone calls for her by name. Others she discards -- their voices not true enough, or that there are other gods more suited to seeing to their needs.

Not so this one, which flits through her mind and causes her heart to ache; and Metia takes to the sky from her home with a simple word to Mythos though nothing spoken aloud I will return, my love, do not wait for me resonates through their bond as husband and wife, as-- something, though the name escapes her. She knows it is something only she shares with Mythos, with Bahamut and Ramuh; that is enough.

(Though there are times she wonders why she cannot communicate thus with her son, her dearest Yinyue. She does not dwell upon it long.)

What Metia doesn't expect is to find another god on their way to this particular mortal-- )

Aegis.

[funbreaker]

[ Metia and Aegis have always existed in each other's periphery, drawn together by mutual bonds. He feels drawn to her the same way he does to Mythos, and Bahamut, and Cid, but perhaps also because they are both parents. While all of the gods look over the mortals to some degree, it is something else entirely to be parent to another of their pantheon.

Either way, it is a relief to see her again as she rises up from her home with a swirl of frost and comes to join him where he flies, his golden wings allowing him to glide forward to their destination.

Which appears to be somewhere within the Velan Republic based on the direction he's headed, though they're still far above, among the clouds, and beyond the mortals' perception besides. ]

Metia.

[ It doesn't seem to matter how long it's been. He nods to her the way he would any trusted ally; they have certainly fought their fair share of battles together in the past. ]

Someone needs our help.

[ His protection; her guidance. ]

[glaciare]

And we will be there to provide them with all that we can.

( She returns, with a graceful nod of her head. )

Is the petitioner familiar to you?

( Metia's connection with mortals is strong, though not as unyielding as some others amongst their number. Yet her name is most often invoked by women or young mortals; victims who crave numbness to free themselves of the pain of their trauma, or who wish vengeance upon them. This, she feels, is not one of those cases, and so she asks. )

[funbreaker]

I don't.

[ Becoming too attached to any one mortal doesn't tend to end well, from what Aegis has seen. Gods are not meant to mingle among them in that way. Surely Metia has seen how Bahamut has suffered from that instinct, imprinting on some young man once every century or so only to have it end in tragedy again and again.

So, Aegis does what he can to keep his distance. Nonetheless, he still wants to help where and how he can.

As they drift down toward the village in question, one that is tucked away in the woods, everything seems peaceful. There must be more to it than that, though, if someone wants their help.

He looks down upon the simple wooden roofs. The people of the village are the size of insects from this height, going about their days. Aegis glances back to Metia. ]

It was a young girl, I believe. She wished to leave this place.