EVENT #20: ADVENT - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #20 - Advent

OOC Event Log ⦁ The Gods ⦁ NPCs

The Badlands has remained contested territory between Thorne and the Free Cities for many years. During a mediation two years ago, a resolution was attempted but fell apart. The Badlands is valued for being the direct route toward the Singularity...meaning it was only a matter of time before conflict broke out over it.

Early in AUGUST, Thorne and the Free Cities begin to march on the Badlands. The clash is bloody and violent, taking place exclusively on the ground. Although the Free Cities military has its share of firearms, such things are still rare and expensive. Most of the fighting, as expected, makes use of horses, swords, arrows, and - of course - magic.

The territories won't call upon Summoned like yourselves. You are meant for something more important. If you insist on joining the fight, they may approve depending on who you are and what you plan to do. Soon, however, a powerful force emerges, one far bigger than just another clash of swords.

This event draws on a previous event involving the Heralds of War. Knowledge of this past event is not necessary, but you may review the information for added context if you wish!

The consequences of Solvunn's choice in Event #18 occur at the end of the event. The result of this act will be further detailed in the Wrap-Up.

Overture

The return of the Heralds might stir familiarity within some of you. You may recall how they whispered in your ears, planted visions of death, or corrupted the Horizon. This time, although their coming spreads across the land, you as the Summoned are remarkably resistant to the Gods' influences. Newer arrivals might be more susceptible, but those of you who have been here for months or years won't find yourselves afflicted much, if at all...until you start to make your choices.

As the Summoned, certain actions may open you up to vulnerabilities. Everything you do carries a weight. If you experienced the emergent reality, you'll likely have learned that lesson. You're not fully one of the Gods yet, but your connection to the Singularity means the magic that flows through you contains both a great capacity to help others and a cost that comes with it which you must consider.

A Taste of Blood

It begins sometime in mid-August, around the 16th onward. Not everyone will experience it at the same time. You might even believe you're spared until days afterward when you're visited by an unusually vivid dream.

The dream starts the same for everyone: you are going somewhere, anywhere, walking to your bedroom, or enjoying a stroll on the beach. You might be driving down a familiar neighborhood. Wherever you're headed, you find that the world around you shifts. Thin red veins spiderweb across nearby surfaces. As you press on, they become engorged with blood until they form a fleshy tunnel. A light at the end beckons you. You can turn around if you want, but aren't you curious?

If you proceed, you eventually come upon a beating human heart with your Arcana painted in gold. A swarm of large mosquitos quickly encase the heart, sucking it dry. As their abdomens become fat with blood, more and more join the swarm until it becomes a whirlwind of insects that gradually take on a large humanoid shape: bright red with blood with horns bent upwards like a lopsided crescent moon.

This is Zorne of Last Blood, the eldest of the Heralds of War.

The veins are pulled in by the insects, connecting one to the next and holding them in place like latticework of sinew. No longer obscured, the world that surrounds you is bleak and gray. A large sword materializes in Zorne's hand. Holding it aloft, he measures your resolve.

◎ If you have spilled blood, the blade begins to drip with it. The steel beneath glows hot, then begins to harden.
◎ If you have not spilled blood, the blade turns brittle, eventually falling to dust.

Zorne accepts you regardless. He sits down on his simple stone throne, laying the sword against the armrest. His eyes are thinly veiled sockets in a skull made of insects, downcast towards where you stand below his form. A thin layer of red skin stretches across his mouth with every word he speaks.

"The path...has been chosen. The snake has found its tail. Each new age rises from the ashes of its grave. It is...as it always has been."

Zorne holds the sword up again. Behind his throne, you glimpse the rays of a rising sun.

"A sword hardens in the fire. In the darkened hearts of mortals. Destruction heralds purification from madness.

All things end before they begin. Mortals, Gods, the smallest insect. And when it ends...we will be there. I will be there. And you...little godling...must find your place in that end."

The sun reaches its apex. It is blazing and fierce, as though it might soon swallow you in its fury - and then it does.

Do you feel at peace from its cleansing fire? Strengthened by it? Or is it purely unimaginable pain and fear that consumes you?

Zorne's sword measures the blood on your character's hands as perceived by them. A character who took only one important life to save the world may see as much blood on that sword as another who killed many to do the same.

Making Your Choices

Whether you believe Zorne or not, you must still do something, even if that something is nothing. As things unfold before your very eyes, you can decide whether you will aid the Heralds for what you may believe is the greater good, help the individuals you can't deny, or decline any involvement at all.

General Effects

Each territory will have a set of circumstances brought forth by a combination of human actions and the Heralds. Those who experienced the afflictions in the past may recognize that the Heralds never implanted or controled your thoughts. Instead, they showed you visions, whispered in your ear, or coaxed you to indulge the darker impulses that live inside you.

The same effect will take hold of the regular citizens now, whose dispositions play a large role in what the Heralds can influence and how much. This is made most obvious by the fact that children are the least impacted. The younger and the fewer their worries, the less vulnerable they are. Of those who are afflicted, the effect might manifest in ways that are more fitting of a child: dreams of a beloved pet dying, bullying a sibling, or giving in to the desire to steal a toy. Adults who are naturally and genuinely carefree may also fail to be affected by Koth's despair or Adlewyrd's poisonous thoughts.

Vulnerabilities

Your status as the Summoned affords you some protection. The longer you've been in Abraxas, the less open you will be to influence. However, depending on what you do, this might change.

◎ If you choose to counter a Herald's influences, you may inadvertently absorb the affliction's effects or experience a "bleedover" from the person you're helping. The more you do this, the more severe the impact will become. You might also be concerned by the new ability you're exhibiting when countering an affliction. Though the ability is small, you feel its power coursing through you. When you try to call on it outside of aiding others, however, nothing comes. It seems this ability only manifests when interacting with an afflicted individual.

◎ If you choose to enhance a Herald's influences, you may inadvertently absorb their abilities as yours and thus, in turn, spread them toward individuals who are nearby. This could occur deliberately or accidentally, depending on how much you desire to act as an extension of the Herald in your chosen territory.

◎ If you choose to ignore a Herald's influences, you'll receive no effects either way...but you might find it difficult to disregard what's going on around you.

For an OOC explanation of the mechanics regarding being a countering, enhancing, or neutral force, please review the Deciding Your Actions section on the OOC Plotting Post.

Patchwork Horizon

Luckily, the Horizon isn't intent on trapping any of you this time. Its instabilities instead manifest in your own domains. It might revert back to a previous state or older elements might resurface that you thought you got rid of. Or, it may take on transformations from a future version - the domain that you had as a God in the emergent reality. The more you've made yourself vulnerable, the more unstable your experience in the Horizon will become.

Further, these instabilities aren't limited to your domains. Effects from other domains might overwrite yours, or perhaps pieces of your domain are showing up in another's.

◎ For some, it might just be a minor inconvenience. Perhaps your flowers have transplanted onto somebody else's yard across the Horizon or your pet keeps teleporting around to everyone's domains except yours.

◎ For others, the effect might be more troubling. You could find private letters surfacing in a stranger's desk or you might open your closet to find another's buried skeletons.

Anything that ends up in someone else's domain will be missing in yours. Rather than a duplication, the effect is more like a jigsaw or a patchwork quilt. You can put it right, of course, with some concentration - but it's best done with a partner, especially someone who knows your domain well enough to help you reform it.

Setting a domain right will also repair any vulnerabilities its owner might've exposed themselves to, so it's a good idea to try and assist each other. Of course, if your concentration's off, attempts to fix a domain might actually make things worse, so be careful!

Arrival

The sections below will contain more specific prompts to help players jumpstart threads, but you may use the broad descriptions of each Herald's impact here to inspire your own ideas and scenarios.

The First Shadow

The arrival of the Heralds of War is subtle. For many citizens, they might not realize that there is a force exerted throughout the world. Indeed, how much of what happens can be attributed to the Heralds, and how much is simply human nature? That's a question even the Heralds can't and won't answer. They are only here to carry out the same task they have done since the dawn of time, each time a war brews.

Koth, the Kingdome of Thorne

Koth of Festering Lands brings with her death and rot. This affects vegetation, wildlife, livestock, the already dead...and the soul itself. She does not bring literal death to living people - she only brings it to the things around them and within them.

◎ Missing Warship
In Borrel, a naval warship on its way home to resupply goes missing. Led by an experienced captain and with no fighting taking place at sea (surely, even the Free Cities can't sail that quickly toward the western coast), the mysterious disappearance has many concerned. Unfortunately, some mages who attempt a common tracking spell report visions of bloated corpses sunk to the bottom while others dream of drowning, an effect so real they must be shaken awake. Many mages refuse to try the spell again, leaving it in your hands instead.

Each tracking spell can only vaguely locate an individual or a part of the ship, so multiple attempts are necessary. If you're not skilled in magic, you can take a more active role and board a rescue ship off the coast of Borrel. This ship will venture out based on the coordinates according to the spell...but take care: the sailors with you are prone to similar visions of drowning when they look into the blackened depths below. Others claim they see the faces of the dead in the ocean's surface. All of this leads to high tensions amongst the men and women on board.

It'll be possible to rescue a few sailors, but others may be lost entirely. The ship itself appears to have broken into pieces. Survivors report a grotesque undead leviathan that cannot be harmed or killed, though it's difficult to tell if this is true or another hallucination.

◎ Dukewood Lumber Mills
Previously a site of a dangerous rift, the lumber mill in the woods by Nott has since returned to normal. Unfortunately, that ends quickly when the trees begin to rot. Workers report a horrible smell that comes from the trees themselves, and that the normally clear sap has turned into a putrid black-blood substance.

To make matters worse, the rotting stores of food and now the dying trees are putting the workers and locals around Nott under great stress. Thoughts of despair are amplified by both the situation and Koth, leading to higher rates of drinking, which in turn has increased the amount of accidents at the mill, including mismanaged safety protocols and mishandled equipment.

Lumber is of great value during wartime, especially for the construction of naval ships, outposts, and weapons, so Castle Thorne is determined to help restore the trees, as well as calm the workers. You can help with everything from checking equipment to ensure they're safe, searching for any missing mill workers, providing first aid where necessary, or confronting beasts that might've been disturbed by all the commotion.

If you happen to fall under Koth's sway, you might also see the dead when looking into the waters as you rescue the other sailors. The bodies might reflect something you fear or they may be a reminder of a death that's already passed. You could also sink into despair or experience haunting dreams as you try to help another recover from their hopelessness.

Adlewyrd, the Free Cities

Adlewyrd of Poisoned Tongues brings with them words that poison the heart and mind. This affects thoughts and emotions, a slow and subtle influence that spreads.

◎ Untold Secrets
In Libertas, where underground networks thrive, sudden slips of the tongue, rising tempers, and impulsive actions have caused the black market to collapse into disarray. Between power struggles, accusations of betrayals, and missing transactions, the violence has spilled into the open.

Preoccupied with the battle, the number of guards and soldiers keeping order is reduced. Venturing into Libertas can be dangerous and those who live there, including artists and orphans, are struggling to go about their day-to-day without disruption. You can help calm tempers or break up fights...or maybe, if you're a bit more vulnerable to the influences yourself, you might become drawn into the chaos yourself.

Because of the limited number of hands, the Summoned are allowed to make an arrest, but you must bring the culprit to a guard outpost for formal processing. Taking matters into your own hands too severely can lead to scrutiny. Given the circumstances, however, a bit of non-fatal violence will be overlooked, especially if it takes place in the darker corners of Libertas.

You don't have to enforce the law, though. In Libertas, this enforcement is rather loose, anyway. Instead, you can mediate as a neutral party, take advantage to make a deal of your own, or simply offer your services to fill in any gaps that might've occurred in these networks. This could involve more illicit activities like transporting underground goods or something more above-board like searching for a missing person. Just be sure you don't draw too much attention if you're acting outside the law.

◎ The Red Path
Previously a site of a dangerous rift, the scenic Red Path leading between Cadens and Libertas has since been restored. Unfortunately, that ends quickly when conflicting reports cause an accident involving merchant wagons carrying silk, spices, and wine. Some claim the merchants are spies while others insist they were bandits in disguise.

Regardless, the accident leads to several fatalities and disturbs a monster nest: that of the dangerous Copper Spine Wyvern. It also draws swarms of hungry Kaskadura, the latter of which are lured by the corpses. While not normally aggressive towards the healthy and living, the Kaskadura seem to be in a frenzy and will bite just about anyone they see - and there's a lot of them, gathering over the area like a black cloud.

To make matters worse, a clerical error has slowed down the cleanup and identification process. If you're not inclined to fight monsters or locate missing bodies, you can help at Portam Hall to manually match names to surviving family members, as well as locate said family members to deliver the somber news. As for Portam Hall, the main hub of government activity might not be under threat from beasts, but isn't calm, either. Gossip, secrets, and missing paperwork plague the various departments and offices.

If you happen to fall under Adlewyrd's sway, you might read too deeply into an innocent comment or mishear a remark that raises your ire, leading you to snap wrongly at a friend or attack an innocent. You might also give into lurking temptations that surface as you try to help others overcome their dark desires.

Sannleikr, the Solvunn Commune

Sannleikr of Many Faces brings with him deception of the soul. This affects faces and minds, causing appearances to become distorted, untrustworthy, or altogether unrecognizable.

◎ Lost Herders
In the Secondary Settlement, a woman named Eydis has lost her prized herding dogs and her flock of sheep. They left one morning as usual to herd the sheep out to graze and never returned. She worries that rumors of livestock sprouting teeth are true and will harm her dogs. She isn't the only one, either. Several other sheep and goat herders have claimed their dogs and flocks have gone missing, too.

The dogs themselves have scattered across Solvunn. There are roughly a dozen dogs and several flocks that failed to return home. Should you run into any livestock, it would appear the rumors are indeed true: the normally fluffy sheep have grown wicked claws or horns while the goats bear their sharp fangs. Despite their fearsome appearance, however, they are not aggressive except when frightened. Keep them calm when herding them lest you provoke them to bite or claw.

As for the dogs, some might be wounded while others will growl at you. They don't recognize familiar toys or faces and will attempt to run away or behave apprehensively. You can use any abilities or techniques you have on hand to try and bring them home. After all, the Solvunn woods are dangerous, and there are many creatures within those dense trees that will strike.

◎ Living Statues
Previously a site of a dangerous rift, the Feintak Ritual Site, located just outside the Primary Settlement, has since returned to normal. Unfortunately, that ends quickly when confused citizens of the Commune begin to wander toward the area at night in search of their "missing" loved ones.

Unable to recognize familiar faces, some begin to see those faces imposed upon the statues at the site instead. You can find children playing with their "mother" or an elderly widow spending time with a "relative." While this would be disturbing enough on its own, the sacred area contains an ancient magic that, should any missteps occur, could be released into the world and spell disaster.

The Council has asked the Summoned to help bring home the lost folk of the Feintak site. They must be guided gently, as any negative energy could be absorbed by the dark power that lives in the earth and the statues. Victims of the affliction might become frightened of you or fail to recognize you even if you've been neighbors for months or years, making your task more difficult.

If you happen to fall under Sannleikr's sway, you might also begin to see faces in the statues at Feintak and forget the real figures around you. The faces might be friendly or they could be adversarial - an enemy or a source of shame. You may also see a twisted reflection of yourself in the mirror, representing something you've been trying to hide from.

The Final Coming

Zorne first spoke to you in your dreams, but his presence is noticeably absent for the first few days. Then, one week later, after one of the most fierce and bloody battles in the Badlands in recent history, a red sun rises over Abraxas. The morning's dawn is cast in a red glow across the territories.

If you met Zorne in your dream, you may recognize this very sun. You remember feeling its heat over your skin and the emotions it stirred in you, whichever they might've been.

By noon, the blood-red hue will fade...but Zorne's coming has only begun.

The Last Affliction

Unrestricted, Zorne's influence travels across the land and joins forces with his siblings.

◎ The Badlands

Forces from the Free Cities introduce a new prototype to the war: a semi-automonous suit of armor armed with a piece of technology derived from something that came through the rifts: a unique firearm that launches explosive discs imbued with New Magic.

The weapon's destructive capabilities wreck havoc on both people and the environment...inadvertently setting loose yet another creature of the rift - the swamp-like creature that researchers had been studying in the Badlands before the war broke out. Its giant mouth is lined with numerous teeth. Its breath can paralyze, blind, poison, and weaken anyone caught in it.

The morbol will move toward the borders of each territory throughout the event, so the Summoned in all locations can encounter it when arriving at the front lines to deliver medicine, supplies, or news. Zorne's influence appears to prevent it from dying. When killed, it respawns in another location - sometimes miles away.

◎ Forging the Soul

Zorne's influence can affect those who are already under the effect of one of the other three Heralds. A shopkeeper angry about a misspoken rumor might begin to have disturbing and violent dreams of confronting the offending gossiper. A soldier who sees his death at the hands of another may start to feel the urge to kill first before his turn comes.

Aggressive wildlife will begin to invade city borders. While most are stopped or killed before they enter a major city, one or two predators might slip through. Trade routes are disrupted. Nearly all caravans are halted except the most critical transports. Hunters and farmers begin to report disturbing sights of deer scavenging on corpses or butterflies biting as mosquitos do.

You, too, may experience similar dreams or desires if you've allowed yourself to become too vulnerable or exposed to the Heralds. The more you entertain such thoughts or let your guard down, the harder they become to ignore. As you move through your days, surrounded by turmoil and conflict, you may have to ask yourself if you're as above it all as you first thought.

And what about your friends? Your neighbors? After all, you might associate frequently with the other Summoned, but you've made connections with the native population, too. Perhaps the kindly innkeeper is now treating you with a suspicion she didn't used to exhibit. Maybe you hear that the baker across the street, who once offered you free sweet rolls, has been gravely injured by his own son.

As Zorne said, this is about forging peace through madness - or so the Heralds believe. Maybe, in the pandemonium and bloodshed around you, you begin to understand something important about yourself, your friends, or the world.

Beyond the Heralds

It's tough to deny that even without the Heralds, this conflict would be ongoing regardless. Neither Thorne nor the Free Cities has demonstrated any desire for peace. Solvunn seems to be considering their role, as well. Despite the war, life must continue for Abraxans: parents have mouths to feed, farmers have fields to sow, and professors continue to lecture and hold classes while they're able.

As the Summoned, you can engage in any of these elements. You can agree to take notes for a fellow student who's suffered an unfortunate attack after being mistaken for someone else. You could babysit for households who need an extra hand while their partner has been sent to fight. You can pack medicine, offer healing abilities, or bring supplies to units stationed by the Badlands.

You can also take on acts of diplomacy. This is not restricted to communicating with the leaders of your territory. Both Nocwich and the Nether have a relationship with the Summoned, which is something you can utilize. You might have to begin by sending a letter instead of meeting them directly, but if you're determined to find a peaceful solution, it's worth trying.

Individualized actions are entirely possible! We will discuss it on a case-by-case basis. You can SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST by replying to the comment with the form.

Please have a concrete goal in mind and try to keep your requests concise. We will do our best to accommodate everyone, but we may have to ask that you hold the request for after the event or ask you to revise it, depending on what you've submitted.

Departure

When the Heralds withdraw, it's quiet and as difficult to notice as their arrival. Did they vanish near the end of one of the battles? Did they leave days ago, the seeds they sowed flourishing without further intervention?

For the Summoned, it may be a bit easier to tell. Steadily, as the month comes to a close, the Horizon begins to stabilize once more. If you have been countering the Heralds, you find your ability no longer triggers, even if there remain those around you who behave as though they are still being influenced. You suppose it's fair to remember that the Heralds don't need to exert their powers for people to behave as they do.

The battle in the Badlands continues to wage...but on AUGUST 30, Thorne's troops receive abrupt orders to return home. It appears that, while the kingdom's forces were occupied on land, her naval warships were dealt a serious blow, handing a sudden victory to the Free Cities - but not by who you might predict.

The Hands of Solvunn

Solvunn has often refused to pledge for one side or another. The Council maintains that they are devoted to protecting their commune and their way of life, nothing more. They certainly have no army or weapons to speak of. Their disinterest in the Badlands conflict is expected, and neither Thorne nor the Free Cities consider it unusual that Solvunn has remained isolated.

What you might've wondered, however, is this: why have the Heralds visited Solvunn twice now when they spare genuinely neutral lands like Nocwich and the Nether?

A Guiding Light

After Thorne's retreat, news begins to travel. It moves through Solvunn and Thorne first, eventually reaching the Free Cities. Multiple stories surface about the sea in Borrel, not about the storm wall or Koth, but something else - a mysterious lighthouse and a thick fog that's obscured the waters for days.

Survivors of one destroyed warship, The Queen's Secret, return telling tale of a light that beckoned them during a heavy storm. But the lighthouse keepers in the western sea swear they saw no ships come their way. The ship itself seems to have crashed into a massive sea stack that should've been easily avoidable. What lighthouse could have drawn them near?

Over the next few days, this happens again and again. Sailors looking out from shore confirm that they can indeed see the flickering beam of a lighthouse. It stands proudly in a spot where no lighthouse was ever built.

Then, on the final day, the lighthouse moves.

Blessings Granted

Citizens gather seaside despite sailors and guards ashore attempting to send them home. They watch as a naval officer and his men are sent to investigate. As the lighthouse grows brighter, its hypnotic pulse begins to pull others forward. Fishermen and noblemen set sail on their own civilian ships. Sailors of the Royal Navy break rank and order, as if under a powerful compulsion, and set forth in Thorne's prized warships. One by one, ships big and small pull out of the harbor in the dead of night.

Witnesses report strange limbs emerging from the base of the lighthouse. The limbs do not strike or attack. Rather, they open up like a waiting embrace. They gently accept each vessel that sails towards the light. Then they enfold the ship and pull it down into the depths. To onlookers, it's a silent but horrifying affair. Each ship disappears until only bits of wreckage are washed ashore the following morning.

A surprising number survive by abandoning ship, though some captains choose to go down with their vessel. Having made a crippling dent in Thorne's Royal Navy, the lighthouse vanishes. Back on shore in the Tertiary Settlement, the storm wall finally vanishes.

The incident above will lead a few changes in Solvunn and to the borders of the Badlands. We'll detail those changes in the Wrap-Up!

---

Comments

[satanicpanics]

Jesus Christ, I’m so glad it’s you—

[ He heaves an enormous sigh of relief. As much as he’s grown fond of his fellow Solvunn Summoned, he would much rather run into Claire, who he is knows is a capable healer, than he would someone like Nanaue in this situation. ]

Yeah, yeah—and you don’t wanna know which one.

[ He huffs out a breathy laugh through gritted teeth and shifts his gaze upward, away from the blood seeping through his sleeve and dripping through his fingers. Being absolutely mauled by a goat would be a funny story if he weren’t already traumatized—if the sensation of teeth ripping into his flesh didn’t send him back to a very dark place. He's hanging on now, though, and keeps telling himslef that an arm injury, no matter how painful, is nothing, and he is not about to die here again. ]

Can you help me out? Please? I’m experiencing some serious deja vu right now.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire has seen enough trauma in others (and herself) to know that expression; not quite a hundred-yard gaze but something else, something closely related bu equally as devastating. And it isn't difficult to figure out why, which makes her heart feel as if it's moved to her throat momentarily. She is immediately concerned about more than just the bleeding injury, which she can take care of fairly easily. ]

I've got you, Eddie. Look at me. [ She is already reaching out to gather him close, uncaring of the blood, to get somewhere less exposed so that they aren't interrupted mid-healing. ] We're going to walk about twenty yards to that space there between those two buildings. [ She nods in that direction; it's more like an open-ended alley, but it's quiet, and she brings an arm around him in support, even though his legs are fine. ]

I'll get you healed, and we can go anywhere you like. My house isn't too much further if you need somewhere to breathe for a moment.

[ It is too far while he's actively bleeding, though. They're already halfway to the alley, no animals in sight, and her hands begin to glow in a pale blue and white aura as she readies herself. Some of the magic is already transferring to him, hoping to ease his pain. She explains as they walk, an attempt to keep him focused on her voice and not his arm. ]

It's going to feel a bit warm, I've been told, as if I've wrapped your arm in a heated towel. And then a bit numb as everything begins to heal. It's important we get through it in one go, or we'll have to begin again, and I want you healed up as quickly as possible, young man.

[satanicpanics]

[ Eddie feels like he’s detaching, drifting, and he’s sure that it’s not the loss of blood. It’s the fear and pain and trauma, the way he feels inescapably cold in a way that sparks terror, because it’s all so familiar.

You’re not going to die here, he keeps repeating. You are not going to die here.

But his self-assurance begins to grow flimsy, and he’s ready to break down—until Claire’s voice breaks through the rushing of blood in his ears, begging him to look at her. He obeys. His gaze shifts toward her, eyes wide and terrified, and listens as she walks him through what’s going to happen, bringing him back to earth. ]

Okay—okay—

[ He takes a deep, deep breath, nodding to assure himself more than her. He allows himself to be led into the alley—twenty yards, just like she promised, though it feels like a mile, despite his legs working perfectly fine. He leans back against the wall when they reach the mid-point, already exhausted, and watches as Claire’s hands begin to glow. ]

No squirming, right?

[ He grins, though it’s forced and he’s clearly struggling and in a pain. Besides, if he doesn’t make a joke, he might actually die. ]

Not my best skill, but I’ll try my best.

[beautifullies]

[ She's relieved when he focuses on her and once they're in the alley, she urges him to sink down to the ground, using the wall as support. She doesn't need him falling over, just in case, and she sits with him uncaring of anything but him, his arm, and the magic. Her return smile at him is reassuring and warm, lacking any doubt that she can do this for him. so, she leans in just a little, whispering, trying to keep his mind and his thoughts on anything other than his death. ]

Alright, maybe a little squirming. But no full-on body spasms if you can help it.

[ The magic flowing through her hands his already arcing and spreading toward him, the pain fading first, before she even lays her hands on his arm. That way, when she stretches it out gently toward her, he feels nothing at all. ] There, so far so good. Look at me, Eddie, not at your arm.

[ She doesn't have to look down to know the magic is beginning to do its job. She can feel it, and so she doesn't have to stare at what's happening. ] No bleeding out on my watch, and besides. I need help in my garden, and don't tell the others, but you're my favorite.

[ It isn't too far off, honestly. She never could've imagined herself friends with someone her daughter's age, but he's gotten her to come out of her shell in ways that she appreciates. Standing in front of a crowd of their peers singing Christmas songs isn't something anyone else could've convinced her to do, but he had, and she has wonderful memories because of it. He doesn't make her feel out of touch when they talk, and she appreciates him for it. Her magic is working, she can feel the warmth cocooning his arm as the flesh begins to mend itself. ]

Now, tell me what sort of animal stew we should have soon. [ She's joking, mostly, but she does need to know. Are all of the animals attacking? She wonders if someone should float the idea they all stay indoors and let the animals fend for themselves until whatever this is passes. If it passes. ]

[satanicpanics]

[ He manages a soft, breathless laugh and a nod when Claire confirms that a little bit of squirming is okay. It comes as a bit of a relief, really, because he thinks that trying to hold still would just make him squirm more.

He does as he’s told. He looks at Claire, not at his shredded and bleeding arm. Her just being there, hands on his arm, talking to him—it keeps him grounded and stops him from drifting closer to thoughts of his own mortality. He used to wonder if he could die a second time, but between Nero’s death and this scare, he realizes now that he absolutely doesn’t want to find out.

He tries to take deep breaths, to calm himself and his heart rate and to avoid squirming too much. He can feel as the edges of the pain begin to soften to something more bearable. His panic begins to lessen as the flesh slowly begins to knit itself back together. Claire tells him that he’s her favorite, and he laughs, much less forced than before. ]

Knew it.

[ He didn’t know it, but he enjoys Claire’s company. He wouldn’t continue to approach her if he didn’t, and as his pain continues to lessen, he makes a mental note to do something to thank her for helping him today. He was lucky to run into her first. ]

Oh, we’re gonna be eating so much goat after this.

[beautifullies]

[ There's absolutely nothing needed in return, she'd balk if she knew. She's known she was supposed to take care of people most of her life, and that she can, and in ways so much different to anything she ever thought possible, is enough for her.

She snorts with quiet laughter, making a mental note. ]

We can prepare goat plenty of ways for you to have a different dish per second you had to deal with sitting semi-still. [ It likely won't be too much longer now, the aura the brightest it will be as the large bulk of the wound closes, then the remaining jagged lines begin to stitch shut. All the while, he might feel a bit of warm tingling, or nothing at all. Nothing happens that's painful, at least. ]

You're doing just fine. And you're going to be just fine after this. Just know that all you ever have to do is shout in your mind, and I'll be here. [ She doesn't promise, in light of the people who've left, absolutely in light of Nero's death, she won't do something like that. But she does mean it, and she looks at him with warmth in her eyes, hoping she's doing anything to reassure him, to give him room to say or feel whatever he needs. ]

I was bitten back when the rifts were opening all over the place and God knows what tumbled through them. It was Wrench who saved me from bleeding out.

[ Then, when Michael could get to her, he healed the better-than-expected stitching on her gut done by Wrench, making her good as new. She understands the fear and shock, the bleeding too much. She has not died, but what Eddie experienced today, she understands at least a little. ]

It's good we've got a solid group of meat eaters, is what I'm saying.

[ He's all healed up soon, she can feel the magic beginning to slowly fade out, and as it does, his arm is perfect and pristine, not even a blemish. ]

[satanicpanics]

[ Eddie doesn’t want to think about the rifts, or about how the very bats that killed him tumbled right through. He doesn’t want to think about the fact that, for all he knows, one of them could very well have been the creature that bit Claire. All he can do is nod and try not to get too trapped in his head again.

He’s doing fine, he’s doing good, he’s still here, he’s not dead. ]

Get Himeka on the job. She can probably make a four course meal out of nothing but goat.

[ He laughs, and as the pain lessens more and more, he can finally breathe. Finally, he even chances a quick, brave glance at his arm where Claire’s hands had set to work, mending the torn flesh. If not for the ripped sleeve and light trauma left behind, he could easily be convinced that he dreamed all of it.

Eddie lost his mother when he was young. Too young, really. He has precious few memories of her, and while he’s adamant that he views Claire is a friend and not a mother stand-in…it’s nice to have this for once. It’s why he pushes himself off the wall and after flexing his arm and confirming that everything is in one piece, he embraces her, both relieved to be alive and unfathomably grateful for her help. ]

Shit, I’m glad you were here.

[beautifullies]

[ The comment about Himeka makes Claire smile warmly, but she's studying Eddie as he moves his arm around satisfied with her work and finally confessing: ]

You're officially the first of us Summond I've ever healed.

[ She hugs him back tightly, happy to be whatever Eddie needs, whether that's a friend who'll sit and listen to music while passing a joint, or a stand-in mother when he needs a good hug or gentle reassurance. She cares for him, and it's important to her that he knows she's here for him, for as long as they're both here. ]

I'm glad I was too, Eddie. [ She squeezes him once for good measure then steps back to give him his own space back. ] Where would you like to go? I'll walk with you, unless you'd like to come over and relax in the garden, take a moment to catch your breath somewhere animal-free.

[satanicpanics]

And hopefully the last you have to heal of goat-related injuries.

[ He laughs, clearly feeling relieved now that his arm isn’t in ribbons. But when Claire asks where he wants to go, he hesitates. It’s clear that his arm is perfectly healed and there would be no killer goats at home, and Eddie is allowed his traumas and wounds and anxieties, but there is so much piled onto Steve’s plate right now and Eddie doesn’t want to show up with a shredded and bloody sleeve and give him more to worry about.

So he smiles weakly, and he suggests the alternative: ]

So, uh…how about you let me come hang out with you and the bees for awhile? You know, just so I can catch my breath a bit.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire drapes an arm around him for a brief squeeze before giving him his space back. She's happy to be someone he can decompress with, and glad her home can be a place of comfort. She matches his smile with a bright one. ]

You'll be the first to interact with the new bees. They're a small colony so far, but it will grow. I'll make some coffee, we'll share a joint, and sit with the bees until you're ready to head home. Deal?

[ She can offer that quiet and peace, or conversation if he feels like talking, for as long as he needs. ]