abraxaslogs | EVENT #22: KHION

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EVENT #22: KHION - IC LOG

Event 22 - Khion

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sylvain hadn't realized Claude would be out here - although he had, of course, showed up just in time to watch that disastrous collision and he's wincing from the side of the pond as he secures his skates before taking to the ice himself.

He's quick to head in that direction, skating with a graceful ease that spoke of someone long accustomed to being on the ice. The grumbling recipient of said collision is already getting to their feet, but gives him a look as he skates up before turning and leaving the kneeling man on the ice without a backwards glance. Wise of him, honestly, after the warning look Sylvain had shot him from behind Claude as he skated up.

Still, he glides in a circle to come to a stop in front of him as he grins down at his lover, head cocked slightly to the side. ]

I hate to tell you this, love, but skating is usually done on your feet, not your knees. Although I suppose this would make for an interesting new sport.

I dunno, I was thinking about making this a sort of new trend. It might really take off any second now.

[ The good part about wearing so many layers is that despite being on his knees for a while now is that he's not all that cold. Which might have been from the skating happening before this since it was pretty useful before the whole collision resulting in where they are now, but at least the other skater seems also fine. Probably.

Whatever look came from behind his back was missed by Claude considering his attention's turned entirely to Sylvain ever since he'd sensed his approach. Even the wounded pride from completely wiping out - and taking someone else out with him in the process - is (mostly) forgotten as he's reminded of the many skills from Faerghus yet again. With a smile to go with it, of course. ]

You could always join me down here since that'd be part of getting everyone else to join in.

[ It's absolutely not because he can't get up without falling over again without a wall or something else to assist with it. Also from experience. And from tonight, too, in fact. ]

Mmm, no I definitely prefer being up here when I've got you on your knees.

[ Leave it to him to turn any situation into innuendo.

But he holds out his hands to his lover as he braces his own feet, setting his skates in such a way that he can help the other man back up to his feet. Since he seems to need the help. ]

Come on, I can help you up. You didn't hurt yourself, did you? I'm pretty sure I heard the impact of that all the way on the shore.

I'm surprised you didn't lead with that one.

[ Look: he knew that was coming. By pointing it out Claude knows he's also inviting more of the same commentary in the next few seconds, but it's all fond. As is the eye roll that's purely just for show and to potentially get a smile out of Sylvain when it's long past any chance of it being authentic.

Claude's also not above making it immediately apparent he also needs assistance with this whole falling on the ice conundrum. As soon as it's offered he reaches out with both mittened hands to grab onto Sylvain's to squeeze them - debatable on whether it can be felt through the thickness of the mittens - before very carefully pulling himself up. Or starting the process of it since this is very slow moving; there's a sizable chance of tipping over. ]

If I say yes, do I get bonus sympathy? Gotta weigh all my options here.

No, but the time I spend laughing mockingly at you will increase exponentially.

[ That's a lie. Despite the bemused grin still lingering on his lips, there's only warm affection to be found in his gaze as he carefully helps haul Claude back to his feet. Gives him a few moments to find his balance once more, with Sylvain's hands serving as a steady anchor to grasp onto. ]

I take it you didn't do a lot of ice skating, back in Almyra?

[ Sylvain's just going to get a flat look with far too amusement in it to be taken seriously before Claude goes back to focusing on making sure he's steady. Ice isn't that much different than being on wyvernback, really, given that it's also unpredictable. (To Claude.) ]

Little hard to when the capital was on the warmer side, sort of somewhere between Cadens and Aquila since the ocean was also right there. I did take a flight to the mountains as soon as I could fly just to see what it was all about.

[ A trip that might've not been entirely sanctioned and one where he'd simply picked a point on a map to go to, but: details. The ice doesn't seem like it's about to betray him now so Claude turns his attention back to Sylvain with a smile. ]

Is this where you tell me you learned to ice skate before you learned to walk? I assume that's how things go in Faerghus.

[ Claude. Iceskating is nothing like riding a wyvern. Unless you surf on its back, maybe. In which case... no. Nevermind. He doesn't want to know. ]

Which mountains? [ There were quite a few of them to choose from. And not all of them even had snow.

His hands are still firm and steady as he shifts Claude to his side, wrapping an arm about his waist instead, to help support him and keep him upright. Arching an eyebrow at his lover, he flashes him a quick grin, before he gives a gentle push with his foot to start them moving forwards again. ]

Skating would be really hard if you didn't know how to walk already. I think we've already established that it's not meant to be done on your knees. Even as a toddler.

I dunno if that's convincing or not considering this is Faerghus we're talking about. I remember overhearing Dimitri tell Raphael a bit about some training regimen he used to have.

[ That was enough to make Claude believe anything might be remotely possible here - not that he needed a push to start making anything up now or ever at any other time. The same for teasing Sylvain about just about any little thing which might pop up between them with now being no exception to that.

A better way to go about this would've been to admit some curiosity was (elusively) behind this particular choice for something good to draw out of what Sylvain might've once gotten up to in Faerghus. Something to loop back to as he looks up in time to meet that grin with a smile of his own while tucking a reciprocal arm around the other man's waist. It takes all of a second for his smile to turn a bit wistful, since: speaking of where they'd grown up. ]

A range on the eastern side of Almyra maybe a half day's flight by wyvern from the palace. We went there on a diplomatic trip once when I was much younger and I'd thought about going back since until I did. There wasn't quite as much snow as kid me remembered but it was still more than I saw any other time.

And here I thought you loathed snow on principle.

[ As far as teasing goes, the jibe comes across far softer and fonder than it would once have. Claude's balance seems better now that he has Sylvain to lean against, so the redhead focuses on moving them so Claude can get the feel of it - without much of the fear of falling he might have had otherwise. ]

And Dimitri's regimen was hardly normal. He learned it from a Fraldarius, after all. That should tell you all you need to know right there. [ Uttered with utter fondness, of course. he would be the first to call Felix's ideas of training insane, even as his best friend. ]

But no, I knew how to walk first. [ A thoughtful pause, before he snickers. ] Barely, perhaps. We all learned pretty young. I remember being... eh, maybe 6? And trying to teach Dimitri, Ingrid, and Felix how to do it. With varying levels of success. Pretty sure I remember Felix giving up after the first tumble and sitting on the middle of the ice wailing.

I don't want to live in snow.

[ An important distinction in his mind just to go with, say, talking about Faerghus when it comes to climate. A train of thought he'll let slide by while devoting a sliver of his focus to staying upright as they glide along but far more of it to Sylvain as he talks. Including shifting his gaze to his partner with that same smile which only grows incrementally as he listens to what he's told. ]

You know, no matter how many times you mention Felix crying I'll never be able to connect that to the Felix Fraldarius I knew in any form. I half expect him to suddenly appear here just to prove you wrong.

[ It's said as gently as Claude can make it without making it pressing on too much of a sore spot with Felix having been here and disappeared. Of course, the same could also be said for bringing up Faerghus to begin with as he considers it and leans a little into Sylvain's embrace. Once upon a time he might've played that off as needing to be steadied or because of the cold he complains about frequently, but now it's simply to be close. ]

I think I would've liked to meet six year old you. [ Paired with tilting his head against Sylvain's shoulder back to look up at him and a narrowing of his eyes as if trying to picture it. ] I'm also not surprised you picked up skating first from the sound of it if you were teaching the others.

Goddess, he was the biggest crybaby as a kid. [ He snickers fondly in remembrance, shaking his head. ] Probably because he was the baby for a long while. We all spoiled him a little, really. And then Glenn...

[ He cut off, his smile melting away, and something like quiet grief flickered through his gaze. Glenn had been the fun big brother to all of them. And to a little boy who'd desperately wanted a big brother figure to look up to... Sylvain had grieved his loss almost as much as Felix. ]

But yeah. [ he coughs a little, clearing his throat as he steers the conversation abruptly elsewhere. ] He hates being reminded of it now, of course. Which means I did it as often as possible. His sense of humor needed more exercise than he gave all his muscles for weapons.

[ He does snicker softly though as he glances down to catch his lover's gaze. ] To the surprise of no one, six-year-old me was a menace. I'm sure you would have thought of all sorts of trouble to get me into.

[ At the mention of Glenn he squeezes Sylvain's arm with his waist gently in understanding of whatever is going unsaid. Though the further context might be somewhat lost on him of the shared history between everyone Sylvain grew up with, what he'd pieced together while at the academy (and what he's learned since then) it's clear enough. As is the shift in conversation then to Felix as Claude knew him, relatively safer that it is, and he he snorts at that assessment. ]

My main memory of Felix is that if I'd told him in the training grounds to lighten up he would've taken that as an invitation to spar. I seem to remember him cornering Teach a time or two simply because his presence there was also an invitation.

[ That's easier to think about since the days at the academy were the only glimpse to be had until it had all culminated at Gronder where Felix had been no less intense. A thought Claude lets pass since that's nothing to bring in here as he shifts his expression to one of faux shock. ]

Me? I was an absolutely angelic child so I have no idea what you're talking about. [ Not even Claude can keep this act up for too long before he breaks into a grin for the sheer ridiculousness of even stating that for Sylvain's amusement, though not long after it shifts again when it's his turn for a bit of wistfulness. ] It would've been nice to have a partner for some of the things I got into, like distracting the librarians while I borrowed one too many books without returning the rest.

[ Sylvain snickers at the mention of Felix dragging the Professor into sparring whenever possible. ]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that would be the same in any world. She tolerated it admirably well. Him, less so - I'm not sure if he ever has managed to best her in a match. Which means he will keep trying until he's no longer able to lift a sword, probably.

[ As for the rest of Claude's dramatics... He shoots him a dry look at that shocked expression because ain't no one buying that one, your Dukishness. ] I've already been tricked into that by Hilda, thanks but no thanks. Do you know the librarian back at the Academy never forgave me?

[ He's already laughing at the idea of Felix sulking regarding Teach besting him - something he has no trouble picturing, right down to how much added training it must have inspired from what he knows of Felix. Going to the point of exhaustion sounds about right.

But it's really the last part which inspires more laughter since that takes no effort at all to picture. ]

Oh, she got you with that one too, did she? I'm thinking she got just about every student with that. [ All fond to match the smile lingering on his face at the memories he has about it to now pair with what Sylvain's told him, both for that and the fondness they share for the woman in question. ] One of the many things that I knew would make us friends back then since it was hard not to appreciate it even when I found myself on the other side of it.

[ They're coming up on another curve, so Sylvain speeds up a little, in hopes that the momentum will make it smoother. Although he keeps his arm anchored around his lover's waist, just in case. ]

You two are a menace - both together and individually.

[ As if he'd been a paragon of good behavior back at the Academy... ]

That's one of our greatest collective charms, if you ask me.

[ Because 1) Claude certainly can't deny that, not even for humorous effect, and 2) that's an accomplishment in his eyes given that always going along with what's expected can be rather dull. There's a millisecond of a pause while he eyes the upcoming curve and tries to remember Hilda's instructions from skating in the Horizon - and perhaps leans on Sylvain a bit more for steadying all the same.

And then it's back to the topic at hand, since of course he has more thoughts. ]

One that worked on you rather well. [ Said with a grin as he squeezes Sylvain's side with the hand wrapped around his waist just for some added punctuation. ] Maybe multiple times over by now since I think we probably should really be in trouble more often than we are.

[ That also goes for the three of them as well since there's no denying the charm they all share either when it comes to looking trouble in the face and waltzing right on out of it. Mostly. ]

[ He's happy to help his lover balance - even nudges his legs a little more correctly to make it easier on him. It comes almost instinctively to him, helping Claude adjust, showing him what he needs to do to be able to support his own weight and balance. He would be the first to deny his own particular skill for instruction, but he is a surprisingly intuitive and patient teacher. ]

Hey now. i think we still end up in plenty of trouble, thanks. I know how much of a reputation you have around here, after all. At least I've managed to keep my head mostly below anyone's attention. [ Just how he was preferring to keep it, actually. ]

It could always be more. Though I think I might've managed to add to our list with that earlier collision.

[ Complete with glancing back over his shoulder towards where he fell like there's something to be any indicator of it left behind on the ice. Instead there's nothing but the glinting tracks from where their skates have traveled along with everyone else's, and probably for the better for his balance to face forward even with Sylvain's gentle guidance so he does just that. ]

And you mean my absolutely stellar reputation where I've never done anything wrong even once? It is worth bragging about, isn't it.

[ Right back to teasing it is. ]

[ Sylvain just snorts in amusement. ]

I think it's more your reputation for saying outlandish lies like that, which should really get you smited by the nearest deity. And with a straight face, no less!

[ Shaking his head, he glances back over his shoulder at the spot, too, before giving Claude a reassuring wink. ] It wasn't all that bad. I mean, it wasn't great, either, but you didn't break anything. The ice or yourself.

I have no idea what you mean! Along with it being stellar my reputation's spotless at that, so this is really just slander.

[ Claude's face isn't quite so straight now what with those sentences being ones he knows are likely to get a well-earned eye roll from Sylvain and being blatant exaggerations about any level of innocence at that. Something they both know which makes it all the more fun (for Claude, at least) to play it up when there's a chance.

Not that he's going to linger on it any longer, because - ]

That's because I was rescued by a rather charming knight in shining armor. [ Volleyed right back to go with Sylvain's wink as he obnoxiously bats his eyelashes to play up the heroism which isn't much of an exaggeration in his mind, considering there's a reason they're still upright and it's not him. ] Said armor includes all the winter clothing you've got on before you protest it, just for the record. It's close enough, especially for this gallantry.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT #22: KHION - IC LOG

Ice Skating

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