EVENT #23: CROSSROADS - IC LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #23 - Crossroads

OOC Event Log

For the past few weeks, you've been stranded in a foreign territory or have had others stranded with you. Officials have assured everyone that the situation is temporary. They've been working hard to secure negotiations that would return everyone home...if that's what you want, of course. For anybody who wishes to stay in their new territory, authorities have promised that this is entirely possible. No one will be forced to go back if they don't want to.

The letter that arrives in the second week of February will say as much. It'll also emphasize that you must go to the exchange and that every Summoned has to be accounted for, or else the exchange may fall through. Even if you don't plan on returning - or you were never sent somewhere else to begin with - you'll still have to come.

The meeting will be held on neutral ground near the Singularity's now expanded crater but at a safe enough distance away. On FEBRUARY 18, portals will open to take you there.

While we will detail the incident leading up to characters fleeing, the majority of the event will be focused on characters surviving in their respective scenarios.

Remember: once you've chosen a SCENARIO for your character, they'll be rescued by the minor territory assigned to that scenario and will stay in that territory for the duration of March.

At the Exchange

The air of late winter is crisp even in the barren landscape around the crater. The Singularity stands tall and silent to the natives, but the Summoned will feel an electricity in the air. It might be magic seeping out from the cracked ground or it might be the tension that weaves the three mightiest nations closer together. The last time all three met here was for the Peace Summit three years ago. Now they meet again on the brink of war.

The territories have assured you that they anticipate everything to go smoothly. As you arrive, there is an attempt to cultivate a friendly atmosphere: Thorne has brought warm fur cloaks for anyone accidentally in the Free Cities who may be without, the Free Cities steps forward to announce compensation for any Summoned who were employed and could not attend to their job or business under the circumstances, and Solvunn declares it will be hosting an evening feast once all the Summoned have been returned to their rightful places. You even see Thornean mages and Free Cities officials chatting diplomatically, if superficially.

But as the exchange gets underway, the atmosphere begins to shift...and suddenly, nothing is as it seems.

Chaos Erupts

As a Summoned, you feel an electricity in the air. It might be magic seeping out from the cracked ground or it might be the tension that weaves the three mightiest nations.

Stillness falls across the gathering as each side waits for the other to make the first offering. An introduction that necessitates negotiation.

It never comes.

A flash from the north blinds you. Thunder drowns out all sound. The sharp scent of practiced magic rises into the air. Gunfire cracks in response. As explosions erupt around you, the facsimile of diplomacy tears like wet paper. Shouts are barely audible as soldiers, guards, and village elders rush forward.

You find yourself pulled between forces. Are they trying to hurt you, save you, or something else? A Thornean guard pushes you to the side. You can't tell if you were deliberately shoved into the line of fire or if it was an accident in the chaos. Someone else grabs you: a hooded Elder bearing the symbols of the Old Gods and urging you to come with them to safety. They can protect you from these dangerous nations, the Elder insists. The Gods have spoken.

As mayhem bleeds into the ground, the crater begins to shift and grow, reaching out to feed. The earth trembles. The soldiers, guards, and Elders notice too late as the crater expands far quicker than anyone could expect. It shatters stone, uproots trees, and swallows whole the natives who cannot withstand its powerful energy. They disintegrate in front of your eyes. Others cry out warnings and begin to flee - but they can't outrun the Singularity.

You are different. If you are one of the older Summoned, you'll remember being able to enter the Singularity's crater. In the past, it's dragged you into the Horizon...but not this time. Instead, you feel lulled by the crater's encroaching borders. You wonder if your best chance at surviving is to step into the crater where no native of Abraxas can reach you. Some of you might run toward it as a result of this conclusion. But, you may also have your doubts. If you try to flee with the rest, you'll find that you, too, cannot outrun the Singularity. As its reach extends across the entire swathe of neutral territory, you are inevitably sucked into its embrace and flung into a whirlwind.

On the Run

As you are teleported through a whirling vortex, you glimpse flashes of your domain in the Horizon. Indeed, for a few moments, it appears as though the domain itself has emerged and is now in the real world with you. Then you blink, and the sight vanishes, leaving you discombobulated.

Once you've gathered your wits, you realize you're nowhere near the original exchange site. If you attempt to use your powers, the effects are unintended: your fire spell causes rain to fall instead, or perhaps you accidentally summon a broomstick instead of your sword. It might last for a couple of hours or it might last for longer. The more powerful the ability, the longer it seems to take for it to start working correctly.

Regardless, you'll need to find each other somehow. Luckily, the Network is still working, so you can communicate with one another at a distance.

Northern Mountains

Though spring is on its way, the mountains are a tundra. Temperatures are frosty, but not as icy as they would've been a month ago. Maybe you've brought some warm clothes with you or the others have a spare cloak they've packed. You might've even brought a snack or some warming potions. Anything will help as you gather your bearings and try to determine where to go next.

If you were unlucky enough to have been one of the victims of Josselyn Creed's cult, you may recognize these ridges. Of course, everything rather looks the same when it's snowy and full of trees, but it's certainly possible to discern that you've been in these mountains before.

Characters in this scenario will go to NOCWICH.

Threats

◎ Revenant

A hoarfrost revenant has lived on these peaks for centuries. He cannot be killed. You can only run or chase him away, but he'll soon return. Take care not to stay in one place too long. A rattling chain and blue-flamed lantern announce his coming. His touch brings instant death, made clear by the frozen carcasses of animals left in his path.

With your arrival, he is now prowling in search of you...but if you encountered him before on these mountains, you'll notice that something's different this time: he does not attack. Instead, he will stand and watch - and if you, too, watch him for too long, you'll begin to grow warm. You'll then subsequently be overcome with the urge to remove your stifling layers of clothing despite the plummeting temperatures. Best hope someone not under his sway snaps you out of it.

◎ Whiteout

In the morning, you might be eager to get moving again. Perhaps you've been assigned foraging duties or you need to search for more firewood. As you leave your makeshift shelter, you realize the wind is whipping. Soon, a thick blizzard swirls around you, blanketing your surroundings in white. In the distance, you hear eerie howls...and you're not sure where you are anymore.

Be careful you don't trip and fall. With some concentration, you should still be able to find your way back home with the limited visibility...or, you might get lucky and somebody will come to your aid.

Resources

Though the mountains are dangerous, they also have what you need - if you know where to look. Snow hares can be hunted for food and any rations you might've had on your person can be shared among each other. Thick evergreen branches can be used for roofing. Alternatively, you can hunker down in a cave instead.

Most significantly, you can trek to an abandoned cabin containing some prechopped firewood that you can take, as well as an iron pot hanging over the cold hearth. Don't linger in the cabin too long, however. The more you stay, the more it feels like something is watching you. In the shadows, you spot two red eyes flickering in and out. You can't tell what this strange creature is, nor will it stop you from retrieving the few things you need, but eventually, the cabin's door will slowly open on its own, sending a clear message: it's time to leave.

Living Forest

Contrary to its name, the Living Forest is filled with seemingly dead trees. Like the Duskwoods, not much light penetrates, casting your surroundings in a dark gloom. Unlike the Duskwoods, it contains no giant mushrooms. Instead, the ground itself is covered in a thick moss, making every step you take feel as though you're walking upon a layer of marshmallows. Hidden in the moss itself are small vipers waiting to strike, each bite containing a venom that numbs the affected limb for several hours. Hazards are made all the more difficult to see due to the lack of light. While not pitch-black, the forest is gloomy and shrouded in a dark haze.

Those who've been to the Feywilds might not recognize where they are at first, but as you travel, you might notice something familiar: bright green and blue pear-shaped cocoons. Dozens of them hang from branches above you and will soon give birth to the aggressive spindled pear moths. As you study them, they begin to twitch, as if close to hatching. Maybe you shouldn't stay in this area too long...

Characters in this scenario will go to THE FEYWILDS.

Threats

◎ Strange Travelers

As you explore the murky woods, some of the trees shift oddly. You realize they aren't trees at all. Instead, they are figures on stilts, wandering in an endless circle. They do not speak. They are utterly silent.

One of them is holding a human-like infant. The child is also silent. While they won't actively threaten you, they have defended their territory with blinking mines stuck to trees and laid along the ground. The smooth steel and oddly modern lights imply a technology that far exceeds what should exist in Abraxas. Further, the mines don't seem to be powered by any magic at all.

Walk too close to a mine and you'll set it off, releasing a gas that knocks you unconscious. When you wake up, you'll have been dumped someplace far from where you were and must reorient yourself - if you can. Your belongings are untouched and you have no injuries beyond a few bruises or scrapes. It seems these Travelers aren't seeking to harm anyone unnecessarily, but they clearly want to be left alone.

◎ Flytraps

Massive Venus flytrap plants are one of the few plants that appear to flourish in these forests. The plant is difficult to spot in the dim light. Its vines will lash your ankles and trip you, then drag you toward its gaping maw. Its mouth is lined with sharp teeth and a corrosive spit that will burn your skin, eventually dissolving you into a paste. They're most prone to attack if you're carrying something that smells tasty: rations, freshly hunted meat, or foraged mushrooms.

Fortunately, the plants aren't too difficult to kill. A burst of magic or a few slashes from a sharp blade will release you. Still, in a situation such as this, even a twisted ankle or an infected cut could make a difference in your survival. Try to avoid the plants where possible.

Resources

As you explore the Living Forest, you might stumble across an abandoned garden that hasn't been harvested and is in full bloom as if it's spring. A variety of vegetables such as carrots, onions, and cabbages can be found, as well as some herbs for wounds and potions. The area shimmers with Seelie Magic. When you examine the crops closer, you realize that some of the garden is beginning to wilt and rot as the magic fades before your very eyes. A sign of what lies in the Feywilds, it would seem that all things Fey have left this realm altogether, leaving behind only remnants of their diminishing spells.

You can freely harvest the garden. None of the crops appear to be dangerous and the garden looks truly abandoned. However, you'll need to work quickly. The magic won't last until sunrise, so take what you can - you won't have the opportunity to return. Of course, don't overburden yourself, either, or attract predators with what you're carrying.

Open Ocean

Your arrival in the ocean will be more of a shock than the others as you splash into the water. Curiously, though it's still winter, the water isn't as cold as you might expect. It's almost unnaturally warm. As you struggle to stay afloat, the current begins to push you toward something floating in the distance: a large raft covered in moss. It resembles a small land mass, floating in the open sea, with a small curve like a hill or a hump...or the shell of a turtle.

It's possible a few of your fellow Summoned have already found refuge atop the creature's back or you might be among the first. Regardless, you'll want to help search for the others...and the island itself appears to be searching with you. Summoned who have been around a while might remember the Sea Giants who have come to your aid more than once. This may be yet another friendly Sea Giant - not quite the turtle some of you previously met, but perhaps a relative or a friend.

While the creature will try its best to keep you afloat, stormy winds and tall waves will still violently rock the living raft and may sweep away those who aren't careful. Make sure you hang on tight to the vines growing along the surface.

Characters in this scenario will go to THE NETHER.

Threats

◎ Leviathan Attack

Though leviathans are a predictable threat in the ocean, it doesn't make them any less dangerous. Appearing in all shapes and sizes, the one that rises from the water in the dead of night is difficult to discern: you glimpse massive teeth and glowing yellow eyes that, from a distance, resembles the blinking signal of a lighthouse. The leviathan will attack the creature who serves as your raft, who will struggle to defend itself.

You can help in any manner you wish. Attacking the leviathan or casting wards will aid the friendly turtle. While the leviathan is not easy to deter, it can be driven away if faced with enough aggression and will eventually leave in search of easier prey. Don't lose anyone overboard. Any Summoned who falls into the water while the leviathan is attacking will be swallowed up. Avoid its thrashing tail spikes, too.

◎ Aggressive Seabirds

More of a nuisance than a threat, seabirds are a constant menace, squawking day and night and attempting to steal rations, clothes, and other supplies that might be left unattended on the raft. These birds are quick and massive, swooping in and disappearing in an instant. They won't attack without provocation, but anyone trying to take back their belongings will find themselves assaulted by beating wings and sharp talons.

You can chase them off with rocks, sharp objects, or small spells. Supplies can also be warded, but with many people's magic working oddly, the wards might not last as long as they should or may backfire if struck too often by the birds. It may be a good idea to touch up the wards or assign someone to guard your things the old-fashioned way.

Resources

After a rough night, you'll awaken to discover that your raft has brought you to a small island. It's unclear where this island is from or whether anyone has ever mapped it, but nonetheless, the island exists. More importantly, it contains crabs and mussels that can be dug up. You can also find, inexplicably, some coconuts. Possibly bespelled by a Thornean mage who washed ashore in the past, these coconut trees have continued to flourish for decades, if not centuries.

You won't be able to spend long on the island. As the tide rises, more and more of the island begins to disappear. Soon, the water will swallow it up altogether and you'll be forced to board the creature's back again with your findings. Don't get greedy. If you linger too long, your efforts might be washed away with the tide.

Rescue

As your resources dwindle and your situation grows more dire, a glimmer will shine in the distance. You peer at it, curious and, perhaps, a bit anxious. Is it another threat? Is it a rescue? Or is it something else altogether?

Please wait for the WRAP-UP before proceeding to write your character being rescued. Full details will be provided on the Wrap-Up that will help inform what your character will be doing in March, including which NPCs your character will be seeing and the exact manner in which your character will be rescued.

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Comments

[sophos]

[ the relief that fills her as she approaches percy is enough fuel to get her determinedly through the waves; doesn't matter where they are, because they are together. it continues to be the most important part. ]

[ by the time she reaches him though, something feels off. perhaps it's the fact that he's... swimming for her, using his limbs rather than the water itself. annabeth nearly crashes into him with the force of a wave, then reaches out to grab him without thinking. ]

[ and then she realizes - ]

You're wet! [ hold the fuck up! ] Are you okay?

[ she reaches out to touch his hair, like she needs to confirm it with touch and not just visually, concern lacing her tone and shoulders. ]

[punctually]

[ peter was not fortunate enough to have visited the feywilds prior and had, stupidly enough, assumed that this was any other dark and creepy forest. that was his first mistake. his second mistake was to go charging straight through with his super-speed, only to discover that it doesn't really work when he wants it to, triggering in interrupted bursts rather than for as long as he needs. it means that he's definitely gotten lost, been bitten by vipers, and has now gotten himself tangled up with one of the massive flytraps after he tried to take some mushrooms.

he's got no weapons on him, and the flytrap is steadily pulling him closer to its mouth despite his struggles. eventually, he decides to just cut his losses and call out for help— ]

Hey! Anyone here? I'm gonna be eaten alive!

[techmaturgy]

[Now that they've managed to verbalize it to each other, Viktor feels a weight lift. His hands cover Kyle's, all the better to hold his face and close the scant distance to kiss him. Each cheek, his forehead, on his eyelids. He allows himself to feel the relief all at once, both for this confession and the fact that Kyle is alive and warm in his arms, when he might not have been just hours ago.]

I don't care what you did before you came here. It's not going to change my mind.

[Of course he wants to hear it--he wants to know everything about Kyle, the good and the bad--but he also wants Kyle to know that his perceived transgressions don't make him any less deserving of this.]

When we find a way out of this place, I'll take you wherever you want to go. There's so much I want to show you.

[gynvael]

[ His boot connects with the mage's face. The earth rumbles louder. Then a piercing, shuddering scream splits the air. Geralt snaps his head up. Fuck. Of course he recognizes that fucking sound; it's exactly as he feared, and as the ground beneath him shudders and twists, the crater ripples outward like a hundred burrowing moles. The crater's edge reaches the mage before either of them can react. The body bursts, exploding into a cloud of dust.

He curses.

Ciri grabs him. He catches hold of her in return, sword in his other hand as he rolls to his feet. They are in the crater now, and he is waiting for the Singularity's energy to engulf them, siphoning their consciousness into the Horizon's hold.

Instead, there are simply more bodies crumbling into dust. He has been told of this phenomenon, but he has never seen it. The natives of this land have always stayed far away, rightfully afraid of its destructive nature. And he can see, right here and now, exactly how destructive.

He hasn't time to worry about who may be watching. He decides not to fret about Jaskier, either—not now that the bard is capable of taking flight. With Ciri's hand in his, he sprints towards the mountains to the east. It's an area he's been before, a place where, when they were lost upon it, he felt most at home amongst the frost and trees. That means Ciri will, too.

His sword splits the ground behind him, an arc that stops the crumbling boulders from rolling through their path. ]

[ushiri]

[ He feels like he's been chasing after something intangible for most of his life. That tightness returns to his chest as Viktor kisses each each place on him with a tenderness he'd only ever experienced in someone else's memories before - but now is his own, wanted and loved, and despite current circumstances, gives him a sense of safety that he has rarely experienced in his life.

He lets out a soft breath when Viktor pulls back to speak again, nodding. Viktor's assured him before that his past is the past, and he relaxes against him, letting his eyes close. ]

Wherever we want to go. [ One day. And the others too. ] I'd like that.

[aquaveiled]

I think it'd be hard not to have one with him. Vimorskas is very nice! As long as you're kind to nature, he's happy to have you around.

[ She smiles, leaning back a bit. ]

It's easier than working with elementals, for sure. He's much more clear. Though I'm certain they would have some thoughts about the Singularity as well, if they were here...really, everything ought to. Everything alive on this star is tied to it in some way just because it's here.

island time

[earthborn]

Shepard, exhausted, salt-worn, her own eyes more than a little haunted by the specter of traumatic starvation... laughs.

"Hell, Istredd. I think that's the first time I've heard you cuss," She chuckles, and when she's sure she has his eye, tosses him first on and then another of the coconuts she's holding. However that bag works, it's gotta be more stable than carrying things in your arms, "Good to know."

It's the small things.

[obscuris]

[ Barnabas stares for a long time at the proffered food before pushing it away. It is not out of any kind of notion of nobility; it's just that he's been akashic for long enough that he is just not particularly into the habit of eating. ]

No need. You may keep it for one in need. [ And looking at the current state of Istredd... ] Such as yourself. I presume that your magic did not come when called either.

[ This is not an idle observation or mere smalltalk; he is hoping that the resident magical expert will have a theory or two.]

[techmaturgy]

[He smiles, and nods. Viktor's hand of living metal slides down Kyle's chest, the fingerprints there, a perfect match. He doesn't regret what he's done, but they both know, now, that it will not be so easy to separate, at the other side of all this. But maybe they don't have to.]

I promise.

[He's sincere, even if even escaping this place is still hypothetical. It feels closer than ever.]

So, start thinking about where you'd like to go.

[morethan084]

Until they reach that treeline over there.

[Daisy gestures towards it, figuring it would give them enough distance to not be noticed.]

And we should stick to the trees.

[cryptsleeper]

Very well.

[Alucard looks to the nearest tree, considering the best way to climb up. He's tall, but the branches are just a little too high up and he's learned from Jaskier that their natural abilities are not in good working order.

So he scans the immediate area.]

Over there, that one's practically laid out like a ladder.

[cryptsleeper]

I don't think that'll be a problem.

[Elementals, gods...it's all so exhausting.]

You're right about the connections. At this moment, it feels like our only chance is plucking at the right ones in the vague hope that we'll find something useful.

[divinityfrompain]

I'm glad you're okay, James.

( They did meet up another time with a bit of peril but that was within the safety net of the Nether. Wherever they are now, it's definitely not near the dragons who can swoop in and save them. She looks exhausted and dirty, wearing a dress that really does not suit it because it looks like a medieval noblewoman's gown. She thought in Thorne it was kind of fun to dress up for a few days when she didn't have to be a farmer, but now she's sort of regretting dragging her skirts around.)

I mean, kind of? I have no idea where we are, it's low key the scariest situation I've been in here.

( Julia might pack a large punch as a goddess but it doesn't make her immortal, and having power doesn't help when you're lost and alone. There's power in numbers that makes a difference. She wonders where the Doctor is, they were together when they ran through the crater, but she's been on her own since the teleport.)

And magic is being unsteady, it's only sometimes working.

( It just did to get the wind moving but she's tried to get sunlight spells going to give her more light between the trees, and that hasn't worked so far. It's oppressive in a place this thick. Julia never went to the Feywilds so there's nothing familiar about it.)

We can't be the only ones, right? Everyone was running last I saw.

[suplexer]

[ While Tifa's thankfully already met up with Cloud and confirmed that he's all right, allowing them to work together to find a small cave they could use for shelter until they figured out their next move, she can't just leave it at that.

If the two of them are out here, then that's probably the case for other Summoned too. And so Tifa asks Cloud to hold down their little fort as she sets out on a search.

She has to be careful to not lose her away in the blinding white, when every tree or rock looks the same, blanketed in snow. But she makes markings on trees and does her best to memorize her path — up until she hears a voice echoing through the eerie environment.

More than that, it... sounds kind of familiar? ]

I'm here! Follow my voice, if you can!

[ And Tifa does the same, moving in the direction of that sound, hoping they'll find one another before long even with the terrible visibility and the whipping winds. ]

[a_better_man]

As soon as the tension of the vine loosens, Mat scrambles away. He's on his hands and knees, leg aching from where it's been tugged. But he's free.

He struggles up to his feet, reaching for Jesper wordlessly. He needs to catch his breath. Fuck this forest.

But Jesper is here. That alone makes a world of difference. If they'd been separated again, after finally being together properly...it would have been the cruelest joke the gods or any other force here could play on him.

As he does catch his breath, he has only one question.

"Kaz?"

[funbreaker]

[ That's a good way of putting it — they know something. The question is if they're acting in any sort of rational way, or if it's another example of strange cult behavior.

To Thancred, it almost feels that way. Unsurprising, that both their thoughts venture toward "the new day." ]

... As far as I could tell, but I couldn't say for certain. I would have to venture back there. But for now, should we continue searching this area?

[ At least in this garden, they don't need to worry about tripping those mines. Thancred hasn't tripped any yet (he's not so sloppy), but he wouldn't be surprised if they're explosive. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Still, it tells Thancred what he needs to know, which is that Himeka has seen what he's seen, and he knows there's no doubt that they'll need to do something about it. Neither of them are the sort to see that and simply look the other way.

He nods to her, then points down a path through the trees, a roundabout route that should allow him to sneak up on the one who's carrying the infant. With any luck, she'll understand his meaning — sneaking up on people is what he does, after all.

Himeka, meanwhile, can either observe from afar or make herself into a distraction. Either way, Thancred begins to creep through the brush and slip between the trees, remaining crouched low, routing the best path to sneak up behind the stilted figure. ]

[funbreaker]

[ This is a side of Jesper that Thancred is not so used to seeing, but it also doesn't surprise him either, based on the little that he knows about him and how he's grown up. Still, seeing him covered in sweat and run down, it's a stark contrast from his usual visage.

There's no need to comment on it. None of them are looking their best right now. So is the way when you're surviving off the land, and so Thancred instead pushes to his feet to take the carrots with a grateful smile. ]

I think we can afford another night, but you're right. After that, we're going to need to move on. We can't assume someone is going to happen upon us for a heroic rescue.

[ And as more Summoned have been recovered from the wilds, there have been more mouths to feed. Thancred has foraged a decent amount from the woods, but they still have to ration. ]

Do we have a headcount? Have you found anyone else?

[assembles]

There is some deja vu in this, although last time they hadn't been dumped into the middle of the open ocean. No, that part came later, and Steve hadn't helped Istredd swim then. He doesn't even remember all the details of how it all played out back then — it had been too chaotic.

This moment is much the same, with Steve acting more on instinct than anything else. He grits his teeth when Istredd explains that he's been injured (yeah, just his luck), but it doesn't deter him. If anything, he kicks his legs even harder as he starts to make for the raft.

"Just focus on holding on," he says, speaking more to give Istredd something to focus on than anything else. But if Istredd can talk (and even joke), then Steve's going to hope that the injury isn't too severe. And if nothing else, the salt water is going to do it's job in cleaning out the wound.

So he makes for the raft, his legs powering them forward through the churning waves. He's registered that there are other Summoned here, they're not the only ones, but one step at a time.

[assembles]

I've only ever used it with my shield. [ Steve nods to the discus-like shield that he's still gripping tight with one hand. ] I wasn't even sure it was gonna work.

[ But that's how it goes in the heat of battle, sometimes. You just make a move because there's no time, and you have to, and you hope that it works out.

It's hard to see much in the dark waves of the sea, especially with only the light of the moon to guide them. Even with Steve's enhanced vision, he has no way of making out any shadows beneath the surface, so they're just going to have to stay vigilant. ]

... Guess it's a little too tempting, a whole bunch of us trapped on a raft like this in the middle of its territory. [ Steve heaves out a sigh, then turns back to Garrus and gives him a pat on the shoulder. ] Good work, though. At least we've scared it off for a while.

steve rogers | mcu | the ocean

[assembles]

closed to sam; the exchange

[assembles]

[ As soon as the letters come through to all of the Summoned in Solvunn, Steve's ready to pack his bags, so to speak. It's not that he had a bad time in Solvunn, or that he has any problem with the people here beyond finding their religious fervor a little off-putting, but...

After years spent in the Free Cities, there's no doubt in his mind that he wants to go back there. It'll be more beneficial to put the connections and foundation he has there to use, as the threat of war still hangs over them.

So he takes the portal to this neutral ground that's been designated for sending everyone back where they came from. While Steve finds it weird that everyone has to attend, that's not the only thing creating a certain tension in the air. It's also that there are officials from all three nations in one place, and...

The Singularity, looming over them.

He spends a minute or so just staring down the monument, but then he continues on, shield strapped to his arm, a pack slung over his shoulder, as he looks for one person in particular.

Calm as both of them have stayed about it, all things considered, finding Sam is now his first priority. ]

[cryptsleeper]

We may as well bring back enough food to make a meal for everyone.

[Alucard casts a tired glance around, then frowns.]

I think it's going to be a very sad soup though.

[ushiri]

"Is it?" There's a teasing slant to his tone, though most of his attention is on setting up his supplies. The turtle's back isn't exactly a sterile place to do this, with all the moss and whatever else growing on it, but he'll just have to do his best. Strangely, Kyle's own clothes are torn, like someone sliced through his leather jerkin at the chest.

"No, but we're still picking up people."

He frowns, deciding it's worth it to use some of the water from his canteen to clean out the wound before he starts sewing. He works calmly despite the amount of blood, his hands steady.

"Lucifer?"

Somehow, he wouldn't be surprised if the devil were still at the crater, tearing through the Abraxans.

[godshattering]

"You've got it. I'd hate to waste anything we've found here just because I like to experiment a bit too much." Which is true - getting creative with everything is one of his favorite parts of cooking. The part where it doesn't always work out - well, that's not so great when they've got limited supplies. Like right now.

As Wilhelm goes down the rows Claude does the same where he is to pick up various root vegetables. Those can at least be the core part of a stew or something else that'll be filling and easy to make for a crowd. That much he knows from plenty of time appraising the kitchen stores during the war to make sure there were enough supplies to keep everyone fed.

But what didn't happen then is picking up a potato only for it to abruptly start to shrink in his hand as if the moisture is someone being wrung from it, or as though some invisible sunbeam's started drying it at a rapid rate. Preservation seems unlikely and Claude looks to Wilhelm at the same time he finds his friend is looking back at him with just as much uncertainty.

"I... don't know," he admits while letting the potato fall back to the ground. Unnerving's a good way to describe the feeling even as someone who prides himself on not being flustered, but this feels a bit too close to the rot they'd experienced underground. That thought's enough to get him moving rather than lingering to puzzle it out. "Quick, let's grab as much as we can before it disappears in case it doesn't grow back."