abraxaslogs | EVENT #24: RESOLUTION

Event #24 - Resolution

News of the increasing tremors across Abraxas soon reached the minor territories. Though Nocwich, the Feywilds, and the Nether are more insulated from the effects of the Singularity, they'll feel it, too: intermittent quakes that knock books off of shelves, cracked foundations in old buildings, and large tidal waves that swallow ships and boats into the ocean, destroying coastal buildings.

By APRIL 16, it's clear that something worse is coming. The air in the crater hums with electricity, the ground shaking. For weeks, quakes have spread throughout the region, all emanating from the ancient relic. As dawn breaks on APRIL 18, the sun rises behind the solid stone structure, a shadow of a shadow stretching long across the desert.

As the territories struggle to maintain order, the very fabric of reality itself begins to shatter.

If you have any questions about specifics for this event, please don't hesitate to ask. Because the world of Abraxas is so large, and because so many of you have had your unique plotlines, we are not able to provide every possible detail all in one post - but that doesn't mean we don't have those details to share!

Part 1: Convergence

Within minutes, Abraxas watches the world peel away like old paint. A vendor in Aquilla falls through a shard beneath their feet that reflects the deep ocean of Earth; a Royal Guard in Thorne is swept up into the vacuum of space. What doesn't fall into the shards falls through them, dropping landmarks, creatures, and familiar faces onto a quickly unraveling Abraxas.

Between the fragments of Abraxas's reality, a dark fleshy substance presses through. A raw, meaty film stretches across a myriad of undulating limbs, wet with a thick milky goo. It pulses with the beat of a racing heart, eager to break free but unable to squeeze through. Where it can manage, bone-like tendrils sprout up and wide in any direction, appearing like blackened trees after a devastating fire. Through them, the pulse of life can be felt and seen as the "bark" shakes with each heartbeat.

Veins slither forward from the pieces of reality and encase the Singularity. One by one, multiple shards, large and growing - the source of all things - appear around the Singularity. Through them peer the reflections of another world, turned upside-down but most certainly recognizable to those once torn from their homes: a glimpse of a great modern city, the interior of a spaceship, the stretches of an ancient dark road.

While smaller shards can appear and disappear across Abraxas, catching unaware Abraxans in their wake, the primary "canon world" shards are only in the crater. These are the ones that must be closed, which only the Summoned can reach.

Return

Across these shards, the Singularity's tendrils stretch beyond imagination. No mages are required this time to break down these barriers. Instead, the shards themselves can be seen from the other side, too, frightening passersby as they glimpse another realm amid destruction.

Regular people cannot survive going through the shard. If anyone is curious enough to try and enter Abraxas, they will disintegrate immediately. But the previously Summoned are different. They can willingly enter if they choose. And, in cases where they don't, the Singularity's instability might force them through regardless, opening a shard up at their feet and dropping them back into a world they thought they had left.

Returning Summoned will only remember they were once in Abraxas after the shards breach their canon world. Once the veil has dropped, the memories will come flooding back - and they will realize that the place they temporarily called home, however long or brief, is now in trouble...along with those they left behind.

Because each Summoned is unique, please don't hesitate to ask us about your character's return if you're unsure how it might work for them!

Converging Realities

The reflections of another world are not the only thing breaching the fabric of reality. You realize, with dawning horror, that the pieces of a previous reality entirely shaped by your mind - the Horizon - are pushing through into the physical world...and some of them belong to you. A friendly sheep you created as a friend might bound out of the crater toward you. A monster you trapped in your psychic basement tears through a small village. Pools of lava from your special corner in the Horizon set fire to a flowering shrine.

But that isn't all. Some of you who have been here longest might recognize the portion of an enormous stone labyrinth that emerges through cracked shards the desert. As the light hits them, the walls of the maze shift between gritty granite and glass, flashing iridescent colors. Should anyone approach the reflection, they will find themselves at the entrance of the maze or lost somewhere within it.

Others of you will recall the same sickly-sweet smelling goo that shrouds a tower of oddly stacked containers. Bits of the substance leak out of the shards, staining the sand they land on.

Long ago, you might've suspected that these were the domains of the Gods. Now it's clear that that's exactly what they are: sections of the Horizon, just like yours, belonging to those who carry the potential to ascend.

Across Abraxas

All across Abraxas, particularly throughout the major territories, chaos reigns. Officials struggle to retain control of their population, no longer able to effectively direct their citizens as panic sets in and destruction is wrought over the land.

Kingdom of Thorne

In desperation, the forces of Thorne are attempting to siphon off magical energy in hopes of at least slowing the encroaching threat. While the artifacts and spells they have on hand were not designed for this particular purpose, they are making do.

The real push comes not from Thorne's castle but from Nott. The current High Mage, Mace Hemmet, is inexperienced in the face of such an unprecedented crisis. As a result, Ambrose Rhett steps back onto the stage, once again. He knows more about the Singularity than any mage. It's time for the former High Mage to come out of hiding.

Lord Veda fully supports Ambrose, lending the strength of Nott's forces behind him and offering whatever is needed. Even shelter and supplies for castle mages sent to battle the rifts and a promise to work hand in hand with the castle's forces. Meanwhile, King Rudolph Sidwell - himself more of a soldier than a scholar - returns to Borrel to be with his men. Against his advisor's counsel, he travels out to sea in one of Thorne's warships to rescue sailors trapped under the roiling and shaking ocean at great risk to himself. Queen Lia is thus in charge, and she sees the value in inviting both Ambrose and Lyle Veda back to Castle Thorne.

The Free Cities

Already mistrustful of magic, citizens in the Free Cities are gripped by a multiplying fear. Some believe Thorne is responsible for what's happening, while others grow angry that the end has now arrived due to Marlo's inaction against the Singularity as promised.

Prime Minister Marlo Reiner is in a frenzy. The only thing keeping her from utilizing every resource at the Free Cities' disposal - tested or not - is the calmer head of Quilleth Kaur. It's no secret among the upper authorities of the desert region that the two are closer than simply friends or fellow politicians, and Quilleth remains close by Marlo's side in Portam Hall to present a united front.

Curfew is reinstated. Massive generators are carted to stations along the outsides of the walls to defend them against unknown threats from beyond this reality. The cacophony permeates the desert - a loud grinding of mechanisms and the crackle of New Magic that drowns out everything else. Soldiers patrol at all hours, a rotation of everybody available and able. Outposts and mining operations are treated the same, ringed, and defended as best as possible. Trade and travel between the cities halts.

All the while, the Free Cities' population becomes increasingly restless. They expected to be better protected by their advanced technology and armies - and it's clear that their government and soldiers have let them down.

Solvunn

The normally placid Commune is more divided than ever. Having fostered a deep devotion to the Gods for centuries, extremists and fanatics sing the praises of the end times. Some take to proselytizing the centers of towns and villages or along roads about how the end of this world will bring them together with the gods. Fervent prayer is common no matter the level of faith, and the oldest shrines see an increase in pilgrimages. Some people scatter themselves in earnest, while others hide away in their homes.

As reality crumbles, the most fervent believers begin to throw their most prized possessions into the reflections to be one with the Gods, whether it be material goods or loved ones. Fights break out between families and neighbors, clashing over true devotees and fear for the safety of others. The Elders try to mitigate, torn between their duties to the Gods and their fellow man.

Isar Hart is rumored to be a true believer, but he stands beside his friend and current Head of Council Rowan March. They call for all Solvunnites to return to the Primary Settlement to "take this hallowing moment in reverence. Meanwhile, without a direct call to action on the Gods' behalf, Edda Hagen, despite her recent appointment, is scarce - though some report seeing her on the roads late at night.

The Commune is in chaos.

Part 2: Doorways

As reality splinters further, it becomes clear that the answer lies in the epicenter of the Singularity's crater. Unlike previous crises, there are no officials or territory leaders that will guide the Summoned or make requests of them. Instead, it's up to you to figure out what to do. Logic dictates that one should approach the Singularity to determine the next steps.

A certain God will chime in - and he might be worth listening to.

Due to the thinning veil between the mortal realm and the domain of the Gods, the Summoned can now communicate with the Gods through the Network. Using the information they learned from the minor territories last month, plus the knowledge they've gained regarding Abraxan magic throughout their time here, characters can come up with a solution.

We'll outline the solution for players to know OOC, but this does not mean characters can't have doubts or concerns. However, for the sake of moving the endgame plot to its conclusion, the majority of characters should believe it's their best chance to prevent further destruction despite the risks.

RESPOND TO THE GODS HERE.

Coming to Terms

As you work together to gather what you know, it becomes clear that the only way to stop the Singularity from overwhelming not only Abraxas but all worlds, is to permanently seal the shattered rifts - which, according to what you know, will require at least some of you to remain on the other side of the rifts while others stay behind.

The spell must be performed during the lunar eclipse taking place tomorrow night. Everyone will have a brief 30-minute window to perform and complete the spell using various runes learned from the Gods, the Fey, and Solvunn. You're told that you may need to channel an immense amount of energy, so much so that the process could leave irreparable, lasting effects upon you and your soul.

You cannot receive assurance of the outcome. While all sources indicate that this method grants you and the universe the highest chance of survival, it's unclear what the impact will be on you and your friends. You'll have to take that risk if you want any hope of seeing the next sunrise.

A few Gods may fill in the gaps for rifts that do not have a Summoned willing to go to that canon world. For some of you, it would be possible to stay in Abraxas while one of the Gods takes your place. Remember, too, that the person stepping into a canon world does not need to originate from that world. The process only needs someone on the other side.

Defining Fate

You and the Summoned gather into the crater, now expanded many miles in all directions. It's evident that the crater is safest: here, the quakes do not affect you, and though the rifts continue to fracture and shatter, the creatures emerging do not seem interested in attacking anyone within the crater - only outside of it.

Having learned you must wait for the arrival of the lunar eclipse, there is little else to do except spend time together. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise. You have time to make your decision. You can say your goodbyes. After all, even if this works as intended, some of you may not be with each other tomorrow. And, if it doesn't go as planned...you'll want to get anything off your chest you haven't yet shared.

Things will be relatively quiet at the Singularity's crater to allow characters to have any final moments they wish to have together. They may use the Network to communicate or speak to each other in person! Once the lunar eclipse arrives and they proceed with the plan, there will be no turning back and no time for long discussions.

When the lunar eclipse arrives, you must act quickly, each of you locating the correct rift. You'll have had time to identify each rift the night before, so navigating there should be easy, to a degree. As the eclipse takes over the sky, you begin to experience a powerful rush of energy from the Singularity that makes it difficult to breathe and blurs your vision. While you can fight through this, it'll take all of your strength - and relying on your gifts from the Singularity will help.

◎ The spell itself is simple: you copy the runes from the research you've done, drawing them around the rift itself. How you do so depends on the power you possess. You can paint it, etch it with a weapon, use a magical design in the air, mark it using a floral pattern, or so forth. You're drawn naturally to the method that feels most intuitive to you and the power you wield.

◎ Once drawn, you must reach into yourself and channel the power that connects you to the Singularity. Physically, you may experience the following symptoms: a splitting headache; feeling as though you're torn in half or your soul is rendered; an overwhelming rush of emotions; or all of the above. You might feel you can sense the very universe crying out.

◎ The longer you persist, the less certain you are that you will survive the process unscathed. You can try to stop, of course...but at a certain point, you'll be too late and the power continues to flow from you regardless.

Closure

Flashes of light pulse with the closure of each shard. You hear the crackle of glass as the rifts are crushed and reformed. The ground shifts and shakes in every territory, the night air vibrating with chaotic power. This could be everything...or it could be the end. For a terrifying moment, you don't know which.

Your body is suspended in an abyss, a reminder of your entrance to Abraxas. You feel once more a light and the oppressive water around you. As the world stitches back together, the veins on the scorched trees shrivel and crumble to dust. The trees turn to ash.

The eclipse passes. The night is calm. Most significantly, the relic that cast its shadow over Abraxas for thousands of years has vanished. The crater is empty. There is no more Singularity. Yet, Abraxas still stands.

As for you - that's another matter. In your quest to restore the universe, what has become of you?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It was going to appear eventually, the castle. All these worlds, all these portals, why would Wallachia be different? Why should it, when it is one of so, so many places?

Bathed in sunlight, Alucard sees what he saw for almost twenty years of his life: home. Warm. Welcoming. Imposing and architecturally impossible, but never Dracula's murder castle as Trevor Belmont once put it. To witness it like this is to see an old friend, and for once, Alucard feels the longing for home. The four years away, the distance and time, it has helped.

The smile on his face is small and fragile, processing the fact that he can see the state of disrepair it remains in. Shattered windows. Smashed stones. Entire holes in the walls. It deserves to be made whole again, the dhampir knows that much.
Motion beside him finally breaks Alucard's focus on the castle. He turns, the smile still there.]

--It's mostly meant to look like that. Mostly.

Edited 2025-04-12 17:14 (UTC)

[ Were this under less perilous circumstances, Himeka would be keen to see just how high one would really need to jump to get to the top of that highest spire. It's an interesting construction, jutting out of places she wouldn't expect and creating little bridges here and there.

She cocks her head to the side. ]

Mostly?

[ Her eyes shift down from the overall architecture to the finer details--where age ends and abject destruction begins. It's a clear line between worn edges and the grit of years to snapped fragments of rock and glass. She's been in enough fights to know what happened here.

Or, at least in a general sense. ]

It looks like it was quite the fight.

It was.

[Himeka doesn't know quite how large of an understatement she has uttered, but the sigh that Alucard heaves hints towards it.]

It needs fixing.

I'm sure you could handle it.

[ Considering his architectural undertakings he's achieved thus far in Abraxas, and yet...they've discussed it before.

It may be here now, but it doesn't belong here. And Alucard doesn't want to go back. ]

Or mayhaps one of your friends can?

If they ever go back.

[Ah. That was the reminder Alucard needed about where his problems lay. Trevor and Sypha had yet to come back. The dhampir knew why now, thanks to Sypha's time in Abraxas, but that didn't change anything.]

It may end up sitting there. Or being plundered.

[ If. Himeka's expression turns sympathetic. Not knowing if their friends have made it back home is hard, but...they have to believe. The hour is nigh, after all. ]

Some of the things that survive the test of time are really surprising. You never know.

[ She's ran through her fair share of ancient ruins and lost cities. ]

I know we don't have a lot of time, but...is it alright if I take a closer look?

--By all means.

[Alucard steps off to the side slightly, allowing Himeka a little more leeway. It is easier than talking about the test of time at any rate, as the phrasing sits ill with the dhampir.]

( the rifts appear around the singularity's expanded crater, and it offers wanda very little in the way of feeling appeased by it all. she had had a feeling that something was going to come to pass—a feeling that made her feel vulnerable. familiar faces braving the unknown helps just a little.

her steps are a little wobbly as she moves closer to adrian, managing to salvage her balance when he speaks. )

Wallachia?

( wanda knows it is that place which he means. she glances inside and through, at the castle.

much like this one, rifts show home to many of them. he must feel nostalgic, after how long he's been here. )

It's a lot grander than what I imagined.

Mmhmm.

[It is fitting for Wanda to find her way here. They've spoken of their homes often enough that to gaze out to Europe again, deep in the mountains, it is right. Earned, if Alucard thinks too hard about it.

The wobble doesn't escape the dhampir's notice. He offers an arm out wordlessly.]

There's also a lot of bits that shouldn't work from a gravity perspective, but they do.

( taking his arm, wanda finds reassurance in her step now. offering a quiet nod once she has reacquainted herself with her balance, drawing her hand away. )

It does make you wonder.

( —of magic, certainly, but perhaps she has been in this world far too much. )

I think architects and builders know something about physics that we don't know. ( with a light smile, she glances over at him. ) Do you miss home, Adrian?

My father was always creative in his work.

[Alucard's tone is dry, making it clear exactly whose creation the building in.

When Wanda releases him, Alucard's arm falls against his side, clearly contemplating the question he has been asked.]

I don't know if miss is the correct word, but I...feel some sense for it now. Far more than I have in the past several years.

( he was always the one wanda could trust had logical judgement about their circumstances, not to mention that he has always been reliable and constant. the change in this world, what it all means, if he's been here from the start...

time seems so fleeting.

wanda frowns a bit. )

It's like that saying, of distance making the heart grow fonder. ( —for people that are missed, for places once treaded upon— ) You've made your choice, then?

No. [Alucard hates being indecisive, but he also hates being dishonest these days. He exhales, eyes fixed on the castle.]

Every time I think I settle on an answer, some new little detail emerges that makes me second guess the choice.

Ah, that's how you know you've got it rough, second guessing yourself like this...

( wanda is a firm believer in gut feelings; in the first decision, choice, opinion being, generally, the correct one. she teases him, though, because this isn't a decision about choosing coffee over tea for breakfast.

it's a life-changing one. )

Is it something you'd consider talking about?

[Alucard can't help but laugh. Wanda's read on the matter is entirely accurate, and--

--he needs to stop looking through that rift. Alucard exhales, closing his eyes.]

I don't know if talking about it will help, but it can confirm if I am simply going in circles and twisting over myself for no real reason. But perhaps we can find a different view?

EVENT #24: RESOLUTION - IC LOG

Reflection | Open

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