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

[stations]

( The words are leaving an impact — it's just that they might not necessarily be the kind Kyle wants. It's alright, though; he doesn't want to fight either. He doesn't want to make this any more upsetting, or worse somehow, by putting his foot so far in his prosthetic mouth it hits the back of his throat. It's just... safer, he thinks, to accept all of this for what it is and to let it go. It's not worth jeopardizing their friendship.

And the agreement earns a soft exhale of relief from him anyway; good enough. )

Cool. ( Comes the light answer, almost too light in tone, but sincere anyway.

Across from them, the bird launches itself at the berry and pecks at it with ferocity and gusto — a finely bated trap for Rita, who springs from nowhere like a cat, pile-driving the bird into the shell with an undignified squawk. Jack winces sympathetically, murmuring to himself: )

She's gonna get, just, round if she keeps this up.

[ushiri]

[ Kyle winces too, wanting to look away from the gruesome scene but finding himself unable to do anything but watch with a slight grimace. ]

Maybe she's extra hungry after getting big...

[ That seems like it makes sense, right? ]

[stations]

Yeah, maybe...

( He agrees absently, but his mind is elsewhere — replaying a moment from his mental journey home, one of the last memories he was granted before he woke up so suddenly that night while Kyle was still around.

“Classic Jack. Captain buzzkill. This is why nobody likes you. Jack, I’m gonna explain this in a way you’ll understand. We’re all getting kinda sick of you. Always whining and moping and using weird french words like ‘portmanteau’ to try and sound smart. So why don’t you do the honorable thing and leave? We’re just… how do I put this? We’re better off without you.”

He chews the inside of his cheek, and when he directs his attention back to Kyle, it's a little gentler. A little more subdued. )

Hey- are we... Are we cool?

[ushiri]

[ Kyle glances over at Jack, trying to sound more confident than he currently feels. ]

I think we are.

[ He wants to be. His brow furrows again. With all their miscommunication he is wary about saying the wrong thing again. ]

Do you feel... uncool?

[stations]

Oh, for sure. ( He nods immediately. ) But that's really more in a... general, all around un-Fonzie-ish way.

( Does Kyle know about The Fonz? Is Happy Days too niche of a reference now? It seems like one of those pop culture references that transcends time, so that even Gen Z gets it, but Jack could not be more out of touch with The Youths if he tried. )

I want to be cool. And- I love you, too, for the record. Just... in case I get eaten by seagulls and don't get the chance to tell you first. I'm sorry all this got a little out of hand. I'm not very good at — talking, or interpersonal relationships, or communication, or... healthy coping mechanisms...

[ushiri]

[ The Fonz isn't part of his haphazard mental rolodex of Nayeshi pop culture references. He purses his lips, looking a bit embarrassed when Jack says I love you, too now, and shakes his head. ]

It's not just you. I think I'm not a very good friend.

[ In general, having little practice at it. Maybe he was kidding himself up until now, when it turns out it mattered. He shakes his head again, staring out at the water. ]

I was going to tell you before I was even ready to go. [ Long before, with his original timeline for all of this. He just didn't expect to suddenly find himself transported to exactly the place he wanted to be, and like Lucifer accused him - it feels like his fault. He grimaces. ]

I think - something about what you said made it feel like... a dismissal. You weren't judging me, but it sounded like you didn't want to hear anything else. And I get that's not what you meant, but - I feel guilty. And sometimes I hear things how I'm used to hearing them, where I'm from.

[ Where there is no one who cares about him - and the only person who did sent him away. Where no one cares to hear how he feels about anything. Where he cannot live openly with a male lover, and has been made all his life to feel guilt about that part of himself. That voice he always thinks he's banished still comes around to say: you don't deserve to be happy. None of this is really on Jack, it just landed on him. ]

[stations]

( He's quiet as Kyle talks, uninterrupting, contemplative. Istredd had been right, it seems, during their brief talk right after their rocky conversation. To be completely honest, hearing this makes him feel better than almost anything else they've said to each other leading up to it. This feels like it's touching on the root of the issue, not just the... weird, nebulous stuff around it, poking at it but not acknowledging it. It's good. It frees up something in his chest a little, something — unlocks. )

It's okay. I'm not really a good friend either. Before Jerry, before you, the only one I ever had my whole life was Sabine. That's it. And if Jerry had been anyone else, or a little less — Jerry-ish, I don't think he would've stuck around either. I'm- judgmental, and self-righteous, and closed-off, and hard to read. I shut people down, because it's easier than opening myself up and being honest, and it makes people- sometimes it makes people have a hard time believing that I'm being sincere.

( Hell, Jerry and Rosa thought he didn't even like them, well into the third book point on the timeline that they should've been long past that. But he's told Kyle this, he doesn't need to repeat it. )

The point is, I don't know how to do this any more than you do. Not really. But it's alright, because we can just be shitty friends together.

[ushiri]

[ Kyle thinks maybe Jack isn't giving Jerry or himself enough credit, but he doesn't interrupt. It's true, most of what Jack says, and it does feel better to hear him say aloud what had been frustrating Kyle - that sense of, after everything, it was almost like Jack was just brushing him off.

If they're going to be bad at this, at least they can have these conversations. ]

Alright. I'm okay with that too.

[ Being shitty friends together. He lets out a small huff like a laugh, and this time when some of the tension unwinds from his shoulders it's not because he's hit his limit. This feels okay. He reaches out to touch Jack's shoulder, clasping it with some warmth returning to his expression.

Jack wasn't wrong about the distance either. He did miss this. ]

[stations]

( Jack missed it, too — and he reaches up instinctively to place a hand over Kyle's where it lingers on his shoulder. It might be the most effortlessly and thoughtlessly he's ever returned a touch, and he does so with a soft squeeze of Kyle's hand with his own.

I'm so fucking glad we're not fighting anymore, that shit was exhausting, his body language seems to read.

And then, after it feels like the moment's gone on long enough, he digs around for his nerf gun. )

Wanna play a game? First one to hit ten birds wins. Loser has to catch one and cook it.

( And that's how their conflict is ultimately resolved.

With bird murder.

The prophecy has come true. )