EVENT #22: KHION - IC LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event 22 - Khion

OOC Event Log ⦁ The Nether

Despite the unsettling tremors from the previous month, the citizens of Abraxas are determined to enjoy their winter festivities. For you, the collective wintertide celebrations - The Dimming, The Festival of Enlightenment, and the Winter Solstice - have often been held in your home territories or Nocwich.

This year brings a change. You'll receive a personal letter from the Nether, signed by Aster, the Guardian themselves. Whether you were there to aid the Nether or not last autumn, the letter thanks you nonetheless for your assistance and informs you that much has changed in their lands...for the better. Indeed, so much so that the Draconae wish to invite you back so you can see for yourself the positive impact you've had.

Their gates will open DECEMBER 16 and close on DECEMBER 20. Because the Draconae do not possess magic as powerful as other races in Abraxas, they kindly ask that you stay for the week since they cannot maintain a persistent portal.

The major plot occurrence will occur at the end. The fallout of this incident will carry over into January.

Above and Below

Previously, only the Obsidian Heart - the volcanic city - was accessible as the area above was far too cold and desolate. Now, with the adult dragons having returned to their full strength and their hatchlings growing by the day, the Draconae have begun to reclaim their territory beyond the volcano.

You'll be able to explore areas within the Heart, but you'll find most of the festivities above-ground. The Draconae are a fun-loving people and they're quite fond of the Summoned after all the help you've given them. They also understand that tensions between the major territories have been high as of late...and would like to grant you some reprieve from a war many of you didn't ask to be a part of.

Accommodations

This time, guests will stay in stone huts built from the Nether's volcanic stone. The stones preserve an unusual amount of heat, meaning the huts are very warm. Bedding is comfortable, if simple, with room to store your belongings. The Draconae believe strongly in mutual respect, so the doors contain no locks. Your safety is assured, but if you're nervous, you can ask for a guard to watch you at night.

If you don't do well in the cold, the Draconae will offer you warming potions and thick furs. Curiously, the furs closely resemble what the werewolves in Luna wear, suggesting that the Nether and Nocwich have resumed more active trading in recent months.

◎ A larger community hut is in the center of the small village that's slowly being built. The dining area consists of open-fire grills, pots, and raw ingredients - including spices and fiery hot peppers. As great believers in self-sufficiency, the Draconae will leave you to make meals to your taste and liking.

◎ You can hunt and fish your meat, as well. There are numerous spots for ice fishing. Since the natural world is steadily being restored, game and fish found are of the common variety like deer, bison, and trout, as opposed to the stranger creatures that were found inside the Obsidian Heart's lava pools. Feel free to share your catch with your friends or offer to cook for the culinarily challenged.

◎ Hot springs can be found to the north. You'll have to hike to reach the area but it's a lovely walk. The waters themselves are crystal clear. At night, they glow with hundreds of tiny unknown creatures. These creatures are believed to be the result of the previously sickly hatchling, Anthusa, who creates bioluminescent algae. Now that Anthusa is much healthier, it can be spotted playing in the hot springs and lakes.

◎ Large fuzzy rodents the size of a small cat will occasionally invade your sleeping quarters or eating areas. They're easily chased off but they can be a huge nuisance by stealing your food and chewing holes in your blankets. You're warned only to chase them off not injure them. Unfortunately, their blood is quite corrosive and can cause a harsh burn to the skin. While the burns will heal up in a few days, it's best to avoid the situation altogether.

Sights & Activities

Opal Flats

The Opal Flats are natural wonders that have recently come into being with the dragons' increasing strength. The pearlescent icy surface glows at night which makes it the perfect place for ice skating after sunset. You can borrow a pair of ice skates and join the Draconae on the ice.

◎ When you're done with the ice, you can join one of the tents nearby that are hosting spiced cider workshops. Here, you can make your own spiced cider blend. Flavors include clove, cinnamon, and berries unique to the Nether. You can test infusing your blend into small cups of cider until you're happy with the results. Your final personalized blend will then be packaged into a jar and tied off with a ribbon. Enjoy it yourself or give it to someone special!

◎ Keep an eye out! The young dragons are troublemakers and will sneak into the workshops to steal cinnamon sticks, drink from the steaming cider pots, and knock down hanging decorations. You can help rehang decorations or remove the dragons from spaces they shouldn't be in...though they'll soon find their way back again. The Draconae seem exasperated but tolerant of the hatchlings so you shouldn't worry too much about the mild chaos. It's to be expected.

◎ Once more, Khloris is the biggest menace and it's grown larger since. While Khloris has learned to better control its powers, it's still prone to causing flowers to sprout in your hair should you come into contact with too much of its pollen. Fortunately, the effect is temporary - just a few hours.

Dusk Falls

Each day, starting at dawn, two Draconae guides will lead a hike up the mountains. Make sure you bring your hiking boots! The slopes are frosty and can be dangerous but they'll keep you safe as much as possible. Otherwise, it's a lovely trip and takes about two hours to reach the top. You'll encounter a beautiful view, fresh mountain air, and a cavern at the peak where you can go inside and look at some frozen waterfalls.

◎ Unusual ice-like spiders infest some portions of the cave. While they're quite big (about the size of a wolf spider), they're harmless and seldom bite. On the occasions that they do, the bite is easily treated with a bandage and a few days to heal. However, they do have a bad habit of dropping down from the ceiling onto the heads of passersby wandering through the caves. The experience can be startling if you're not expecting it.

◎ Once you've all finished enjoying the sights, you can return to the bottom. Luckily, you won't have to climb down. Instead, the group will get to ride one of the two adult dragons in the Nether: Hierus, the Obsidian Drake, and Kruos, the Glass Serpent. They'll bring all of you safely back to the base of the mountain.

Cinder's Core

Walking through the Ashlands no longer requires any special potion. The air is now clear. Cinder's Core lies at the southern end. Previous visitors will recall that it was full of petrified trees and fossilized bone. The detritus of a fallen ecosystem remains, but alongside it is new growth of flourishing green thanks to the young dragon Okenus. This includes the trees growing the unique kydros fruit.

◎ You can help harvest the kydros fruit to contribute to the feast above the surface. Now that they're growing freely again, the Draconae are no longer reserving them for the potions and have reintroduced the fruit into their regular dishes! Mildly sweet with a hint of citrus, it tastes somewhat like a pomelo.

◎ Be careful when harvesting or traversing the area! While the jungle is starting to recover, it's still a jungle full of tripping hazards, slippery vines, and high cliffs - some of which now have refreshing waterfalls. There might also be a hidden snake or aggressive birds. These creatures aren't dangerous to any real degree, but if they bite or peck, it'll leave a mark!

Mysterious Gifts

While the Draconae participate in traditional gift-giving, this occurs only between the closest of mates and friends. More common is an activity they call Krypto's Box. Krypto's Box is a massive jar in the middle of town with a hole carved out at the bottom to function as a sort of dispenser. Filling the jar are hundreds of vials containing a mystery potion. Each year, the batch of potions is blessed by magic from the young dragons of the Nether. In other words - these mischievous creatures have influenced the potions' effects.

You can take a potion and gift it to someone. Neither of you will know what the effects are until the recipient opens it, but you can trust it'll be something mild, temporary, and amusing. During Khion, it's not unusual to see the Draconae wandering around covered in glitter, swirls of flowers, or hovering 2 feet above the ground. Accepting a mystery potion is part of the fun. The local Draconae will gift you some alongside your Summoned friends!

If your character has received a potion - whether from a Draconum or another Summoned - comment HERE to see what effect they'll receive. If you don't like the effect, simply disregard your character having received a potion to begin with.

Making Friends (NPCs)

The occasion is less formal this time, so Anneth and Aster will each be available for you to meet regardless of your status. There's also one surprise guest that some of you might recognize from last year's Epulum event in Ikorr: Babis, the cheerful Draconum who was merely looking for a good time and found himself embroiled in a mysterious theft.

Descriptions about the three NPCs and where they can be found will be in their character comments below. Depending on who you talk to, you can learn a little more about neighboring Endsmuth, the dragons, and relations with Nocwich. The meetings might not last very long, but you'll be able to get in one or two questions!

Characters of any rank can speak with one of the three NPCs available.

To do so, TAG IN with your character under the NPC you want to meet.

Renewal

The Nether's limited magic means that they seldom feel the effects of the Dimming. However, even the Draconae begin to notice something is wrong as the final day draws near wherein the Singularity should go completely dark, falling into its usual state of hibernation. The dragons, in particular, are disturbed and have communicated as such to both Anneth and Ermis, the Keeper.

Before anyone can determine what's truly happening, a massive quake strikes all of Abraxas. As far away from the epicenter as the Nether is, even they feel the effects, a tremor that knocks over decorations and cracks foundations.

For any who are near the cliffs overlooking the ocean below, they can observe a giant tidal wave that consumes the island where some of you recall being held captive on.

Portals Awry

Naturally, you want to return home after such an unexpected event. The Draconae hurriedly open the portals to your individual territories and assure you they will assist in any way possible, though they are equally unsure of what's just happened.

Stepping through the portal, you expect to pass through and face the familiar sights and sounds where you reside. For a small handful of you, that may be exactly so. For many others, however, you'll find yourself in a completely unexpected place.

Indeed, it seems that whatever force has caused the quake has also disrupted the Singularity's no longer waning magic, corrupting the portal magic and sending you into an opposing territory. In a time of war, this could be disastrous for all involved...and it's clear from the locals who greet you on the other side that they are as baffled as you.

Players can choose to mix things up and send their characters to a new territory for the duration of January. Since this will be temporary, feel free to separate close CR or put your character somewhere they won't enjoy. It won't last long!

Characters will not be placed under any restrictions for accidentally landing in a strange place. They will, for the time being, be treated as guests while officials determine what to do next.

The Wrap-Up will detail how characters' experiences will go once they are in their new territory.

---

Comments

[ushiri]

[ Kyle doesn't know all too many Summoned in Solvunn anymore, he realizes. Wanda has been his contact there nearly since he arrived. He raises an eyebrow again. ]

Trouble? So you've got some stories I haven't heard...

[ He hands the bowl back to Claude, eyeing the smaller bowl with the chopped peppers with interest again. ]

Maybe I should. I can think of a couple of others that would appreciate them.

[ He doesn't know if the boys have actually gotten any to grow yet, though. Kyle waits for Claude to hand him to bowl back so he can start experimenting. ]

[godshattering]

I have many stories, my friend.

[ A wink goes with that as Claude takes the bowl back and picks up the ladle to stir the stew one last time after nudging the pot off to indirect heat to keep it warm. The statement implies a potential level of scandal which is a mismatch for the harmless pranks orchestrated here and there, but it's far more fun to pretend that's the case.

That's what Claude's going with, anyway, since he doesn't elaborate in favor of getting his friend's food. ]

If you're thinking about doing some farming, Viktor might have some ideas of how to make it work.

[ Entirely unsubtle as he places the stew in front of Kyle with a smile which says he knows it, but that's all the prying he'll do without Kyle bringing it up in return as he busies himself with getting his own serving next. ]

[ushiri]

[ Another raised eyebrow as he takes the bowl back, setting it down so he can fork some chili rounds into the stew. The pointed way he says Viktor's name is enough to tell Kyle that he knows - either from Viktor himself or Hilda, if he had to bet he'd go with the latter.

He might've told Claude himself about them, but a while back he'd decided to leave the telling of any overlapping friends in the Free Cities to Viktor. He figured it would happen, eventually. ]

He's been supplying the castle with peppers for the past couple of months.

[ It was very sweet. ]

[godshattering]

Does that explain the high amounts of peppers we're using here?

[ Well - so much for not prying further in regards to Viktor, but that was too good to pass up as he offers Kyle another grin purely in jest. For all Claude knows peppers were a thing in Thorne before they found another supply in the form of ones from the Free Cities in a roundabout sort of way, so maybe they've featured in Thorne's food all along. Still, it's too easy to link that to here where there's peppers of a far more fiery sort waiting to be used.

For Kyle, anyway, since Claude's sticking with what's in the stew. Rocket might not have been all that teasing about the much higher level he'd used then being something akin to poison. Nothing to do now but grab a spoon for himself and to hand one to his friend for either adding the garnish, eating, or both. ]

I wouldn't say no to bringing some of these home and seeing if we could grow them in our gardens at the loft, even if my partners might have something to say about me bringing in yet another plant.

preparing to die

[ushiri]

No. [ He grins. ] It was a taste I acquired from elsewhere.

[ But it was very sweet for Viktor to bring him the peppers when they were impossible to find in Thorne. The nachos turned out very good.

He takes the spoon, adding... maybe a slightly smaller helping than he might've taken before Claude started chopping and he felt some of it in the back of his throat. It's fine, though - the stew will soften it. ]

Do you often get outvoted by your partners? [ He teases with another grin, spooning a helping of the stew into his mouth. His expression says it's good, the spice burns a little harder than the peppers he's been using, but it's not that bad. He's encouraged to eat some more. ]

rip kyle...

[godshattering]

[ 'Elsewhere' gets a raised eyebrow of what's absolutely curiosity and a sign Claude would like to know more. If Kyle will volunteer it since for all they've shared today and in so many other meetings, he's learned when his friend will share something compared to when it's best left as is. With their lives before arriving here getting ever more distant even before that somewhat recent spell of playing at being gods, perhaps it matters less than what's been built here.

He's still going to absolutely look askance at even the lesser amount of peppers Kyle's adding since he has his doubts. Better to stir his own spoon through the stew to cool it some more. ]

Only on the most fun things, like suspicious plants to grow in the garden or what to do with them. Somehow it always turns into 'what if you forget to label this one' because I did that once. [ An exaggeration - it was more than once, and the barely restrained look of amusement on his face suggests Hilda and Sylvain certainly were in the right to complain about it each time. That mirth only grows though when Claude looks up and catches Kyle's expression then nods to the other man's bowl. ] How's that working out for you?

[ushiri]

Only once? [ He teases back. And he would tell Claude about his 'elsewhere', his time in Nayeshi isn't something he takes such great pains to hide anymore. Except -

The mistake is realized on the second spoonful, and for whatever reason his instinct is to take a third spoonful, as though if he continues to eat it at a certain rate he can outpace the impact coming at him like a... truck slamming into a horse-shaped motorcycle, for a recent analogy. ]

It's good -! [ He stammers, it's fine - but it's not. Finally, he has to set the bowl down, eyes tearing and his face flushed as he scans the nearby tables for water - or any liquid not saturated in chili juices. ]

[godshattering]

Maybe a couple times.

[ That's admitted ("admitted") with a deep sigh as if he's revealing something deeply personal and tragic here - and like if it had been just a couple of times as said that it'd somehow be deeply tragic. And not entirely his own fault for those scoldings since each were a variety of reasons, but Claude's busy taking a bite of his stew. His bowl is spicy though it's pleasantly so with the peppers definitely there. An enhancement more than a total takeover like the last time he'd cooked with them.

The same can't be said for Kyle's addition since as he's putting his spoon down, there's his friend's expression suddenly twisting with a familiar sensation taking over that Claude doesn't have to guess what it could be. He remembers it well enough just as the wince that's somewhere between sympathy and a grin crosses his face. ]

Here, take these. [ With one hand he grabs a cup and the carafe of water to fill it quickly before pushing it towards Kyle, then also a plate of cheese is what he hands over next. ] The cheese in particular saved me on the last trip with these peppers specifically.

[ushiri]

[ His gold-ringed pupils dilate wide in the time it takes for Claude to hand him the water. He takes a long drink and then holds some of it in his mouth, hoping to dilute the burning sensation on his tongue (it doesn't), and then reaches for the cheese. He chews it up and lets it sit on his tongue next, shaking his head at Claude with a comically pained look.

Then more water.

Then a string of curses in his own language. ]

That ... [ between gulps of water, staring with a look of betrayal at the bowl of peppers ] ... is evil.

[godshattering]

[ Meanwhile, the expression on Claude's face continues its struggle between sympathy and amusement as the peppers continue to multiply. Or what surely feels like it since even with his own bowl which contains far fewer pepper fragments and a much lower spice level, his own mouth is burning a bit. It isn't unpleasant, but the same can't be said for his friend as he watches Kyle try one remedy after another.

It's only when Kyle manages to speak that mirth finally wins out for Claude and he can't help a laugh still tinged with commiseration. ]

I think they'd wear that title with pride if they could, my friend.

[ There's another dish of cheese he quickly passes Kyle's way after stealing one bit of it for himself, and rather than leaving the carafe in the center of the table Claude nudges it closer to the other man next. A pause, then he gestures to the remaining pot of stew. ]

Can I get you another bowl? A different one entirely, that is.

[ushiri]

[ Kyle grimaces at his bowl - he's generally against wasting food... but he's made this inedible. ]

Please. [ he says with a nod to the offer of another bowl, accepting the second plate of cheese. He'll pour himself another glass of water as well.

You done with that? a Draconae comes up behind Kyle - perhaps one of the few circumstances in which he might be snuck up on. The local doesn't wait for an answer, just says smells great to Claude and walks off with the bowl of lava. ]

[godshattering]

[ As soon as Kyle gets that plea out he's nodding, already mid-picking up the bowl in question to replace it. What he doesn't expect is another voice and he pauses with the ladle in hand to watch the Draconae approach and take Kyle's bowl with no fear of the contents rivalling the lava nearby inside of it. And then leave with it before either of them manage to say anything, and he blinks before looking at Kyle, at the Draconae now taking a bite and offering an enthusiastic thumbs up, and then back at his friend again.

Not even Claude with his grasp on his expressions to keep anything from getting through he doesn't want to show can resist outright laughter at that when it's genuine amusement that's too difficult to keep back. ]

Hey, I knew there'd be someone to appreciate how many peppers you added, [ he teases Kyle since he's not going to let this go event for his friend's sake while setting the bowl of the safe(r) stew down before him. ] Promise this one's not nearly as likely to set everything within you on fire.

we can wrap this soon lmaooo

[ushiri]

[ Kyle can barely even manage at scowl at the Draconae because he's too busy downing his water. He does narrow his eyes when Claude begins laughing at his misfortune, but he probably deserves it - this pain is completely and utterly self-inflicted due to pride. ]

... I need a minute. I think.

[ Before he goes for the safer option. It's not that he doesn't trust Claude, it just feels like all the blood in his body is on fire. ]

it's a wrap!

[godshattering]

[ Kyle narrowing his eyes gets him to quiet and morph into an apologetic grin. Had the tables been turned he would've expected the same treatment - Rocket certainly had when they'd suffered the peppers' wrath together. It's that past memory which also invokes empathy for his friend now. ]

Take your time. I don't think the rest of the stew will be going anywhere any time soon and we can catch up some more in the meantime.

[ Which is just what they'll do - after Claude grabs some more cheese to keep combatting the lingering spice from the initial bowl when there'll still be some hanging around in the next one. And then there's also remembering (belatedly) that ice magic he has which gets applied to each glass of water Kyle has for some added assistance, hopefully better late than never. ]