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

[sophos]

[ she might be used to the time it takes for cassian to remember her, but it hasn't quite stopped being upsetting each and every time. beyond her sense of self-importance, annabeth hates the mere idea of being forgotten. it hurts, and she'd rather get angry about it than allow herself to be truly distraught. his memories comes back, she knows they do, but there's always a little fear that one day they won't. ]

Yes. It's mine. [ he's killed these spawn for her before. he knows their weaknesses, and the question agitates her because it reminds her of his scattered memory, but she doesn't have time to be annoyed when they have to kill it. ]

Damaging the legs throws it off balance. [ annabeth is more arrogant than she's ever been, but it is hers, and she's learned all the best ways to kill it. ]

[ as cassian traps it in the mud, annabeth darts in. she moves fast, a flash of gold as she ducks low to slash her sword into its belly and leave a gaping, open wound. as it swipes at her again, she leaps backward out of reach. the armor protects her regardless, but she's always been quick on her feet. ]

[diametrically]

[ When the knowledge that he's hurt those closest to him - whether it's by disappearing or by forgetting or both - returns to him, it never weighs any less heavy on his conscious. If anything, it becomes heavier and heavier thanks to the centuries that have preceded them. There are times he's wondered if it would be better to be the one who remembered while everyone else forgot him.

The cadence of her words, the confidence and hint of arrogance that resonates from her golden armor tugs gently at the base of his skull. Just like Annabeth's annoyance however, there's no time for him to think about why that is. The god in gold flashes forward and Cassian braces the mud that strains against the demigod's thrashing. Another hurt cry pierces the air and he feels the tension waver - leaving him just enough time to tug the creature forward. ]

What was your plan if another god hadn't come along?

[ It staggers, buckling to the ground but its beak snaps angrily towards them. The ground beneath them trembles and shakes as more muddy tendrils leap from the ground taking a hold of its wings. He hopes that it's obvious what he's providing her: an opening to hack away at the legs as much as she'd like before he goes in with the killing blow. Just because he's forgotten much of his past doesn't mean that he's forgotten what is necessary to kill a demigod. ]

[sophos]

[ you're here because i called for you she wants to say, but there's no point to doing so. if cassian hadn't come, she had a plan. she always has a back up plan. maybe it was reckless to reach out to him first, but she's been known to be a little impulsive from time to time. and maybe, occasionally, hopeful. ]

I would have called my husband. [ percy always comes when she calls. it doesn't matter where she is, what she's doing, or where they are. it's hard to feel unsafe when she can summon the ocean with a single word. ]

[ it's always annoyed her that her spawns can't fly - it feels like someone, somewhere designed it that way just to spite her - but the wings are a threat anyway. cassian pins the creature down more fully, and annabeth loops around behind it; she slashes again, two quick moves on each leg to slice open the back of its knees, ruining its tendons and any chance of walking. she doesn't need to hack and slash - the blows hit critically as intended. efficient, precise. perfect. ]

[ it cries out and thrashes against the tendrils, and its talons manage to break through the ones pinning down its wings. it tries to spin around, and one of the claws collides with her armor. she staggers from the hit, only just so, and immediately slashes upward with her sword to slice off two of its claws. ]

[diametrically]

[ Holding down the demigod should be his priority. Instead the golden god's response has him raising a bit of an eyebrow in her direction. If this was her own demigod then she should know full well that she wouldn't be able to kill it on her own. Then again, maybe she hadn't come here looking to dispose of her own demigod but had crossed paths with it anyway. He'd chalk up his own sprint through the Witchwoods down to some poor luck and definitely not a part of her supposed plans.

The creature suddenly lashing out stops any kind of ill-timed quip he might have because all it had taken was that one moment of distraction for it to break through its chains. Seeing her stagger sends a jolt of concern through him that would make him stop to wonder why were it not for the fact that he immediately draws forth more tendrils to take the place of the ones they had broken free from.

With a swirling motion of his arms, more mud is called forth from the swamp beneath them to latch around its neck tightening and squeezing down on them. It thrashes violently against his hold as the air is slowly pressed from its lungs. ]

Why didn't he come with you in the first place?

[ Gods might be powerful but demigods could still injure and hurt them. If it sounds like he's scolding her...well maybe he is. ]

[sophos]

[ the fact that he takes that tone with her despite apparently not knowing who she is just agitates her further. she is centuries years old and knows her demigods' weaknesses better than anyone else. annabeth has purposely fought her own spawn many, many times, despite knowing she'll never be able to land the kill-blow on her own in turn. she needed to know about them, despite herself. ]

[ as cassian begins to suffocate it, annabeth lunges and stabs her sword into its neck, twisting the blade inside. she knows it won't kill it, she knows, but better to stab the owl-beast than let her emotions get the better of her. it's a good outlet. ]

[ cassian can continue to strangle it, she'll use it as a punching bag. ]

I'm allowed to come to the Witchwood alone. There are other god spawns, you know. Or did you forget that too?

[diametrically]

[ The noise Annabeth's demigod makes as is a strangled and strained horrible thing. But he pays little mind to it. The sand worms its way through the creature's lungs and nostrils, rushing back out towards Cassian, feeding him the powers and emotions of the demigod.

He can't fully appreciate the way that it dulls the ever present gnawing at his stomach. ]

Forget that?

[ Her biting comment has him snapping his attention back to her. It's not just because of the attitude (which does, incidentally tug at something else at the back of his mind because there's just enough sass that is reminiscent of someone who was close to him. ]

What is that supposed to mean? [ His hands pull, tugging the sand tighter. ] Do I know you?

[sophos]

[ she yanks her sword out and gracefully moves back from the demigod, giving cassian the space to finish it off. ]

[ her gaze lands sharply on him, but she draws in a breath first to avoid being too harsh. annabeth knows this is a part of how he functions as a god, but it's her own sense of self importance in combination with a long lost fear of being forgotten than makes her prickly every time. she knows a lot of things in her many centuries, but she still doesn't know how to stop him from being stupid. or maybe she just personally thinks his choices are stupid, which can be a very grave slight as far as she's concerned. ]

Yes. [ her tone is clipped. ]

Maybe I'll get lucky and it won't take you weeks to remember me again. I'm feeling gracious. You know me as Annabeth.

[ she is the Patron of the Craft, but she keeps her name because it's hers, and it's what cassian first knew her as too. ]

[diametrically]

[ If it hadn't dawned on him before that he'd done something in the past to really piss this god off, it was quickly becoming apparent to him now.

Cassian had never known Serenity to don this sort of gleaming gold armour nor change her voice so he's quick to rule that out. But it's her tone and sass that reminds him so much of something familial.

Unfortunately multitasking has never been his preference. As she pulls her sword free from the demigod's flesh Cassian makes his move. Like a swarm of bees the sand rushes into the creature's nostrils and down its throat, effectively halting whatever dying cry it might otherwise make as its struggling ceases and the light behind its eyes dims.

But where its light fades, a lightbulb goes off in Cassian's mind. The sand rushes away to settle beneath the marsh and he stands there looking at Annabeth, Patron of the Craft, wife of Percy, and sister. Memories trickle in like fragmented pieces of a puzzle informing him that this isn't the first time they've gotten into these spats. But aside from him forgetting (again) and dusting (again), he can't for the life of him recall what specifically she's pissed off at him about. ]

Annabeth? [ There's familiarity in his voice that mixes with frustration aimed mostly at himself. ] What did I do now?

[sophos]

[ it isn't the first time he's taken out one of her demigods for her, and she's sure it won't be the last. she watches him kill it anyway, satisfied with the way it falls over and dies. ]

[ even though her armor keeps her faceless, annabeth can still see clearly, and she glances at her brother just as the recognition hits his own face. something in her sinks with relief, because there is always a part of her that fears one day he simply will not remember her at all. she's still mad at him, the buzzing annoyance of his bad dusting habits, but her fear of being forgotten is smothered in that relief enough to rival the anger. ]

What else? You disappeared again. Dusted again. [ she wants to make a stupid remark about him truly being uncle dusty, but she doesn't know where that comes from. and it's childish, so she won't. ]

[ she lets the face shield vanish, but she remains in a semi-godlike form, with skin sharpened in a dimmer gold than the armor, blonde hair falling out into a braid. ]

But you did come when I called you anyway, so I'll work on forgiving you faster.

[diametrically]

[ Only when the light in the demigod's eyes has fully faded does the dust and dirt that had extended beyond where he stands begins to feed him. The remnants of the god's power echo that of Annabeth's, even to the point where it tastes faintly of bright lemon. Even as his hunger begins to sate, he doesn't allow the visceral relief distract him.

Of course, he can't even bring himself to refute her statement because what she says so disdainfully is the truth. Even if he wanted to refute that, he knows he's in the wrong. And as Annabeth's face is revealed from the glittering gold helmet, the thought of saying as much dissipates when a rush of nostalgia rushes over the ever present feeling of hunger. It fills his mind with more memories that gracefully slot into place of happier times. ]

This isn't the first time I've...dusted.

[ He hates using that word but it is the most accurate and probably least horrifying way to put what happens to him. Semantics aside he shakes his head, a defensive tone creeping into his voice.. ]

It's not like I mean to do it.

[sophos]

[ he's right, on both counts. it's hardly the first time, and it's never on purpose. but something in annabeth's chest always cleaves when he forgets her. she's spent so much of her time ensuring she will not be forgotten as a god, and cassian does it every time he dusts. the worst part is she can't do anything about it even with all that power at her fingertips. there's no fix, no magic, it's simply out of her range, and it drives her crazy. ]

I know that. [ the 'but' hands in the air. he's her brother, he knows how she feels about it; she doesn't feel the need to rehash it and acknowledge any hurt. it's a cycle they repeat every time they come back together like this, and each time annabeth fears his memory of her will truly be gone. ]

[ it's not this time though. her sword vanishes much like the helmet, and she starts towards him. ]

You're still stupid for it. [ listen. even old immortal gods can't escape stupid sibling energy. ]

[diametrically]

[ The defensiveness that had ebbed into his voice lingers as she lets that very rightly deserved pause hang in the air. It wouldn't be the first time he's been punched for being the very thing she's calling him. Most of the time he deserves it and he doesn't even need all of his memories back to know that with certainty. As she begins to advance he tenses.

That tension isn't even that of a god waiting to pounce. It's that of a sibling bracing themselves for what's to come whether that be a punch or a verbal lecture. And like any sibling would there may be a hint of dramaticism to his otherwise even tone that only a someone close like her would be able to sift through. ]

I know. Just like I know that I'm about to get another lecture.

[sophos]

[ she reaches him in a few quick strides, her expression in a hard glare he's undoubtedly used to. ]

[ annabeth punches him in the shoulder, hard, and opens her mouth like she's fully intending to yell at him - but then she surprises herself by pulling him into a very aggressive hug instead. maybe part of it is wanting to prove him wrong about something stupid - take that, she isn't going to lecture him immediately as expected - but maybe the other part of it is she allows her relief to be bigger than her frustrations. ]

[ her form shifts as she hugs him, armor softening into (an admittedly very fancy) tunic and pants, and the gold sheen to her skin dusts away itself, leaving her looking very mortal. it's only being around the people she continues to call her family and friends does she become this version of herself anymore. ]

I'm still angry with you.

[diametrically]

[ Sure enough there it is.

Instinctively he winces as her fist meets his shoulder. It doesn't matter that he's also a god, Annabeth's strength has always been greater than his. Which is why he knows that she didn't punch him with all of her force, only enough to make a point. That doesn't mean a lecture or some kind raised voice is ruled out.

But then the warmth of familiar arms around him dislodges the tension he'd held before. Without thinking twice he wraps his arms around her, immediately feeling comfort, feeling home. It's here that the hunger feels lightyears away. The corners of his lips twitch and even though she can't see it, she'll be able to hear the smile in his voice. ]

I'd think this were an alternative universe if you weren't.

[ The smile in his voice mellows out into sincerity. ]

I'm sorry.

[ For disappearing. For forgetting. ]

[sophos]

Well, if you'd stop doing stupid things, maybe I would stop being angry with you. [ the undercurrent of irritation is still in her tone, but in some ways it feels like a pattern more than anything else, at odds with how she hugs him fiercely. ]

[ she can hear the smile in his voice, the teasing and the familiarity, and annabeth basks in it. ]

[ his apology has her swallowing awkwardly, because she's still mad, but it's perhaps more muted now, like an ache instead of a fire. she tucks her chin against his shoulder to avoid looking at him or responding to him. there's something in those words - i'm sorry - that feels odd, no matter how many times cassian apologizes. it's like there's a part of her that isn't used to hearing it from her family, which is a ridiculous notion. ]

[ she sighs, trying to exhale and expel her thoughts. ]

I know. You know I just - I worry.

[diametrically]

If I did that you might not believe it was me.

[ He says it with a brief laugh, adjusting his head to allow her space to settle into the hug. This would be the perfect opportunity for more brotherly teasing were it not for his reluctance to ruin this moment. And besides, they had plenty of time for that ahead of them. Time that didn't include him forgetting or leaving. He didn't want her to worry. Someone, somewhere on a distant star had once told him that worry was just love and there was nothing he could do about that. But even though there's truth to it, something in him rallies against that.

He would and could do something about it. This time, he'd stay. ]

I don't deserve that. And you shouldn't have to.

[ He draws in a breath. Even though there isn't anyone else around them save for the sounds of the Witchwood his voice is quiet, voicing a promise that he'd made to Serenity not that long ago. ]

I'll be more careful so you don't have to worry.

[sophos]

Idiot. [ it's affectionate, after the stupid laugh. ]

[ she shifts her grip around him into something more comfortable, happy to have him back and in one piece, not scattered to the winds. he feels solid in her arms, and right now that feels more important than her anger. there will be plenty of time for that later. maybe once they're out of the witchwood. ]

It's not about deserving. [ she'll argue with him till they're both blue in the fact that she very much thinks he deserves it, but he still won't hear it. so she'll settle on that point. ]

I'm always going to worry about you. [ he's her family. he can't escape her worry, no matter how hard he tries. she doesn't have the wide reach of familial bonds like percy does, which makes cassian all the more important to her. ] Though that doesn't mean you can go back on the whole being more careful thing.

[diametrically]

[ This is how they've always communicated their love towards one another: worry. There are arguably better ways to go about it, but saying as much hasn't always been the easiest for either of them. It's just one other way that they're alike. ]

It goes both ways.

[ When he pulls back his expression is arranged into something akin to a lecturing older brother. Which isn't really that hard all things considered. ]

You can't run in here by yourself.

[sophos]

[ annabeth meets that gaze with a bit of a glare, peak little sister who is not going to listen to a word he says. they're too alike sometimes, and she knows it, but she'll never say as much aloud. ]

I am perfectly capable of handling myself and you know that. [ her own demigods she cannot kill on her own notwithstanding. ]

I like to blow off steam here. I had a backup plan. [ she always has plans. ] Besides, you came. So my first plan worked. Now, are you about to run off again or can I have your attention for a little longer? We can even leave this place, since you're so pressed about it.

[ she is 100% trying to pivot away from a lecture against herself. he probably knows it, but she's banking on his affection to allow for it. ]

fin?🥺

[diametrically]

[ Annabeth's glare doesn't do anything to sway him. If anything it's met with the expected brotherly sass in the form of a pointed look and a raised brow. His sister is smart though. It doesn't matter how much time has passed between them seeing one another, if you knew him, his tells before he launches into a lecture are all too obvious. Cassian knows that she knows, which is why after a pause he sighs, relenting.

She was safe after all, and that's what mattered. He shifts his arm around her shoulder, turning to lead them out of the Witchwoods. ]

Since you asked so nicely. I could make room in my schedule between wandering and eating.

[ All of it is a front of course, and there's the telltale sign of a smile in his voice as they walk into the dappled sunlight. ]

fin 🎀

[sophos]

[ it's a wonder they get anything done, between all the sass they throw at each other. she likes to think she has the higher leg to stand on here, given he's the one who forgot her again versus her recklessness in the witchwood. ]

[ cassian throws his arm around her, and she knows she won - maybe not the quibble, but she won more time with him. she sinks into it with a huff, but there's a ghost of a smile on her face too as he guides them onward. ]

[ smartly: ] I'm honored.

[ maybe not honored, but happy now, as they slip away from the witchwood and the arguments contained therein. ]