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

[diametrically]

[ Fortunately (or unfortunately) falling face first is something of a common occurrence for Cassian. Not because he's clumsy, mind you. Just because it happens to be the nature of his life. The shock of being blown over by a magical guest of wind isn't enough to completely throw him off that he can't scramble to his feet just as Claude reaches for the blanket.

Casting him a sidelong glance to mutter - ]

Aren't you the one that's supposed to be helping me?

[ - it occurs to him that the man is recognizable though the name of a make-believe god can't actually be his name. There's time for that later though. For now with little disregard for his knees (again) he drops opposite him, pinning the edges of the blanket to the ground as the rodent lets out an indignant squeal.

Cassian watches as the lump immediately tries to dart to the sides and he slams his palm down on one side, sending it skittering to the other side. ]

Quickly - pin the other side of the blanket down!

[godshattering]

[ Details! Claude might consider later how much help he's actually given here when things have calmed down - relatively, anyway - and when there's not a task right here as the rodent squirms around beneath the blanket. Flailing around for where to creep towards next while they've got the blanket against the floor just means they can predict where it goes.

Helpful for when the other man lunges to circumvent yet another escape route and there's another squeal. Claude possibly shouldn't grin at that considering now the rodent's getting more riled up as it makes yet another attempt slowed by the blanket stretching tighter still. He leans just as quickly to firmly press the blanket to the ground, then on second thought stretches over to put a knee down and bring his lower leg around to trap more of the blanket. Just in case.

They've got it pretty well covered but after a second of consideration, they could do more. Probably. ]

Wanna see if on the count of three we can just... [ brief pause for Claude to eye the blanket to see if the rodent will move before lifting one hand to make a quick (and extremely vague) scooping gesture with it - ] lift our intruding friend here up and out of here?

[ Surely this won't end with one of them accidentally launching the rodent at the other. Surely. ]

[diametrically]

[ They could do more but then question is, should they really be doing more? It feels like more trouble than is worth and frankly, Cassian has spent the majority of his life trying to avoid getting into more trouble than the baseline that is already seems standard for his life.

The suggestion calls to mind a time that didn't really occur - one where Cassian is fairly certain the man before him held some sway over tricks and mischief. That is neither here nor there though because another series of loud squeals resound from beneath the blanket as it rushes towards Cassian's hand trying to bite at him through the fabric. Thankfully its teeth are considerably dulled by the weave and Cassian is too focused on the task at hand to rip his hand away easily.

To his suggestion he nods. ]

One, two, three -

[ Except of course the minute they try to scoop it, the rodent scrambles, clawing its way out of its perceived freedom and launching itself at the first person it sees. ]

[godshattering]

[ There's a vague sort of recognition as he looks at the man across from him - in the sense that he's both someone familiar and not as so many Summoned are after that experience as gods. No time to think about it now when Claude's moving his grip on the blanket in hopes of keeping it pinned into place until the countdown ends. He's intent on getting this solved without or without the expertise of ever having done this before. Confidence goes a long way, he's found, when tackling something new.

Perhaps that confidence is a little overstated here. The countdown ends, they move, and chaos erupts at the same time the rodent not only emerges but comes his way with a loud hiss that Claude's pretty sure is a challenge. ]

Oh, absolutely not.

[ The rodent, of course, doesn't heed this exclamation from him no matter how loudly he shouts it. It's too busy enjoying freedom when it's escaped... sort of. The blanket's still partially around it which might've been an easier target to grab than what Claude does: which is sweep his arm out in front of him instinctively.

In a stroke of luck, it connects without the rodent grabbing onto his sleeve. In a matching streak of misfortune, the motion connects and sends the rodent flying towards the other man as Claude lunges a second possibly too late to grab the blanket when he finally notices it. ]

[diametrically]

[ In some strange whimsical sense, Cassian can understand the jubilation that comes after being trapped. The taste of freedom means surviving another day. But this is not the time or place to be sympathizing with a rodent that's stolen his food and got caught doing it.

And while Claude seems to have a better handle on his reflexes today, Cassian unfortunately does not. The rodent, having missed the opportunity to not only riddle Claude's sleeve with holes and claw at his arm rockets towards Cassian instead. And though Cassian makes his best effort to get his arm in front of his face in time he doesn't, rewarding him with a face full of very angry fur.

He lets out a strangled noise of surprise, releasing his hold on the blanket and stumbling backwards as the rodent claws and spits at him. Somehow he manages to get his hand between the rodent's mouth and his face before it can do too much damage but he can feel something distinctly wet on his skin as he does. ]

[godshattering]

[ It's almost like everything moves in slow motion, really, the way Claude bats the rodent away and then in the next second notices exactly what's going to happen as the result of that. The blanket does indeed slip through his fingers the first time he tries to grab for it and with a curse under his breath Claude reaches again. This time his fingers finally wind into it and he yanks.

Of course it can't be that easy as the blanket comes towards him - but no rodent with it.

Instead the rodent scrabbles against Cassian sounding angrier than ever. At the sight of it trying to take a distinct bite out of the other's face he winces and that split second is all he needs to act again. Claude shakes the blanket out in his hands enough to spread it to grab the rodent in it. It turns to hiss towards him and he dodges a spray of what he hopes is saliva from its mouth before he manages to close the blanket around it. ]

Alright, it's been fun! But time for you to go.

[ To the rodent as he keeps a firm grip on the blanket while walking it quickly to the door even as its claws start to break through to shred it. ]

[diametrically]

[ At this point in his life should Cassian really be so shocked that he's the one who walks away with an injury from this? The slickness on his hand gives way to burning and he lets out a hiss of pain as it begins to clearly feel like something eating away at his skin but he tries not to think about that as he watches Claude triumphantly toss the rodent out the door.

It's only when the door is to the hut is firmly shut that he lets out world-weary sigh. Trudging over to the table he all but collapses in it and nodding at Claude. ]

...Thanks.

[ And it's only then that he glances down at his hand that is beginning to redden thanks to what he's pretty sure is acid. That's not good. ]

It didn't spit at you, did it?

[godshattering]

[ The aftermath as the rodent goes grumbling away once free again - and with a mission as Claude watches it go towards another lodging with a deep sigh. This might be where a warning should be called out in case someone is in there but the sound of someone also but falling over gets his attention.

It wasn't nearly so drastic as that considering Cassian's just sitting with a level of exhaustion fitting the aftermath of so much adrenaline. Both of them are (mostly) upright which feels fortunate, as does a quick scan over himself revealing not much besides being ruffled. ]

I think I'm alright. What about--

[ A thought Claude doesn't finish since in the same instant he spots what looks to be an injury or one in progress with a wince of sympathy. Also responsibility if he's honest with himself, and he's reaching for his waterskin to toss to Cassian to rinse it off. ]

Here, start with this. Then I can try something, if you don't mind.

[ The last part said while holding up a hand with the telltale glow of magic at his fingertips as an initial explanation. More will follow if that's not clear on its own depending on how much magic the other man's seen. ]