EVENT #24: RESOLUTION - IC LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #24 - Resolution

OOC Event Log

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?

Comments

claude von riegan | fe3h

[godshattering]

( open prompts for the last time (😭) below! feel free to tag in with anything or we can chat on claude’s plotting comment to set something more specific up! )

— convergence / OPEN

[godshattering]

[ After the upheaval of the last few months, Claude thinks, he should’ve known better than to assume things might calm even as things in the Feywilds started to settle. There’s no such relief with the rifts which remind him immediately of when the creatures from other worlds had come through - and in fact, part of him is holding his breath expecting there to be yet another Demonic Beast sighting. No word of that comes, which: maybe that’s fortunate.

Stranger still, a familiar screech calls his attention to the sky as a familiar white wyvern appears and becomes part of their group. Sahar might’ve been baby sized for some time but she’s an adult now, and that means he’s back to flying as much as he dares. Some of those flights might be to survey what’s going on or move supplies - but a lot of it is to clear his mind or simply for the joy of it since that much never changes even with a three year break from flight. The good news is that with the wyvern now full grown, and despite everything going on when it might be best for their attention to be focused elsewhere... there’s always joining him for a flight!

More seriously, he’ll also spend some time examining those tendrils which feel far too familiar, in some ways, to the Pit. Reluctant to get too close but too intrigued by the appearance of things they don’t know, Claude will crouch down by them to study them from just far enough away. A near miss with the goo might send him stumbling backwards into someone else also investigating.

For the most part, though, now that they’ve left the Free Cities behind: his focus will be on repairing whatever’s needed around the Feywilds. Help with whatever he’s working on will be appreciated. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Sahar it seems isn't the only wyvern that had made it out of the Horizon. Waffle is there too in all his brilliant, pink-bowed glory. Flight certainly makes it easier to do things like keeping tabs on the rifts and their size but what's some work without a little fun?

With Khrushid strapped firmly to her back in the equivalent of a baby bjorn but for wyverns, Hilda spots the familiar creature of white up ahead. Her thighs clamp down around Waffle's saddle and that's all it takes for her imagined wyvern-turned real to jolt off. They close the distance between them in no time, speeding narrowly close to them with a bell-like laugh that rings out across the skies ]

On your left!

[ Almost immediately however Waffle is cutting a path back towards Sahar and her rider, pulling up beside them with a flare of his wings. Hilda's cheeks are wind-kissed and nearly as pink as her hair. But there's no word of complaint from her about the cold. Not when excitement dances and sparkles in her eyes as Waffle swirls around to face the white wyvern that they had so elegantly left in their dust. ]

I think you've lost your touch, Claude. Weren't you the one that told me riding a wyvern was like riding a horse?

[godshattering]

[ If there wasn't so much to be done, if they had unlimited time to spare: without a doubt, he would be in the skies for every moment of it. Not being able to fly was a loss that'd become an ache and then evolved further into something he'd thought about only now and then given it was an impossibility with their wyverns so far away. The Horizon had helped, and it was certainly better than not having it at all, but there's no comparison to the wind rushing past him. So much so that Claude holds his arms out to his sides and closes his eyes to savor it a bit more than he already is, and just like he had on all the times he'd wandered off from a chore or another responsibility for a flight.

Of course, he should have expected his other companion for so many of those flights would also make her appearance. Laughter as familiar to him as any melody has him opening his eyes just in time for Waffle in all his many bows rushes past him in time for him to catch sight of Hilda's glee - and Khurshid with his mouth open enjoying the breeze.

What else can he do but immediately rise to that? He's got a remark ready - because of course he does - but just as he opens his mouth, Sahar beats him to it. Whatever Claude started to say is vastly outnumbered by the volume of the screech Sahar utters. A familiar challenge, given that she's always keen to be in first place in any competition perceived or actual. She might just have something in common with her rider that way.

Which is why he just laughs before following that up with a wide grin as he calls out, ] What, like you thought either of us forgot how this goes? I think we can remind you.

[ All it takes is him leaning forward in his perch on her back for Sahar to growl as she immediately picks up speed to close that gap in only a few wingbeats - and with no sign of slowing. ]

— doorways and goodbyes / OPEN

[godshattering]

[ The more dire things become, the clearer it becomes to Claude that he’ll stay. It’s a quiet decision, one much like those he used to make on late nights sitting at a war council or alone in his study when putting together the pieces to solve the bigger puzzle. Once he makes it - that’s all there is to it, at least in his mind.

He’s resolute in that much, and as others - friends, those he’s come to think of as family, or even loved ones - begin to make their own choices to return home or journey elsewhere Claude can be found at the crater until it’s time for paths to part permanently. Maybe he’s talking to someone else when approached, or perhaps he’s simply staring at the Singularity in thought. A tilt of his head can be spotted as if to acknowledge footsteps approaching before he turns with a smile as a greeting.

Where before Claude’s faked any number of too easy smiles with varying degrees of believability in each, this one is notable for the level of genuineness within it: something tired, something resolute. A true smile with all of the feelings something like this and what all they’ve been through in Abraxas demands, and thoroughly undisguised as anything else. ]

So. You’ve decided?

[ Whether this is the first time speaking of what that decision is (or his own, for that matter) or the final time it’s to be talked about, he’s ready to listen. He just might not be so ready for the goodbye part even if he knows it's coming. ]

[ushiri]

[ They haven't talked about this yet, not specifically - but Claude is another person whose decision he has already surmised. So, maybe he takes his time finding him - wanting to put off the inevitable. But not for very long. Kyle will approach him at one of the little campfires the group has set up around the crater, returning his smile with an equally genuine one - if a little sad. ]

There's no rift back to my world. [ he seats himself next to Claude, gaze cast in the direction of the Singularity - no longer recognizable. There's no rift back to his world - but he wouldn't have wanted to return anyway. It would have forced his hand, though, if it had appeared - he wouldn't have let anyone else go to Basawar in his stead.

Maybe this is Parfir's final answer to his questions. A final gift.

He turns to Claude again - one of his first friends (not only here, but in his entire life). They're both skilled at schooling their expressions, and just like Claude, he makes little effort this last time. ]

I can't stay here - but, I'm excited to see what else is out there... [ And scared. Horribly scared of what it will be like the pass through the rift - whether or not they'll be torn to pieces, or arrive on the other side missing their memories - who can say? He has to have faith that they'll make it through - or, he has to at least try. ]

You're staying?

[godshattering]

[ No rift back to Kyle's world. Even if it means no returning in something even more final than staying here would be, with what he's learned about his friend's world in bits and pieces over the years... well. Kyle may not be returning home in the most literal sense of the word, but there's a chance to find another home. And for that? Claude can't be anything other than grateful.

Even if it does also mean likely never seeing his friend again as every choice the Summoned make with the rifts have endless calculations going into them. What it would mean to leave, and what it means to stay as he's decided for himself and with his loved ones, and to say these goodbyes he wishes he could frame as temporary. While he might feel sad - and is letting himself feel that, most of all - what overtakes with no question is happiness for his friend choosing what it is he wants. ]

That others made it back here just as Summoned who'd left and then returned again have has to be encouraging for what these rifts mean this time in terms of being able to use them to leave. Wherever you go - I hope that you find everything you're looking for, my friend.

[ Whatever dreams might be attached to having the chance to go, and especially with who Kyle will be going with as Claude's learned that and the smile on his face then is a genuine one. This time with far less sadness for a minute as he nods to Kyle's question in return. ]

I am. With everything and all the complications from our timelines connected to Fodlan... [ He trails off, shaking his head a moment later. ] I never thought I'd say there's something too complicated for me, but not knowing what we'd be walking into by crossing through them might be it. Whatever happens here during the ritual, I don't think I'll regret staying.

[ Or so he hopes, anyway, with so many unknowns. ]

[ushiri]

[ Kyle touches Claude's shoulder and nods with another small smile. ]

Whatever the future might've held for you if you had stayed in your own world... you should have the life that you want now.

[ They have never known for certain how this works, what happens in the timelines they're Summoned from after they point they've left. But from his own experience outside of Abraxan ritual, he understands Claude's fear of those potential complications, what could be lost if all three of them were returned to their respective timelines.

If they don't need to risk it, they shouldn't have to. ]

And since you're staying... I have something for you.

[ From within his cloak he retrieves a crude, blacked bone blade, one of his two curse knives. He offers this to Claude. It emanates a faint malevolent aura to anyone sensitive to such a thing. It's rare that he's used them, but out of anyone he would've shown Claude before. ]

everything's fine

[itookashot]

[ For Jesper it was much the same, a quiet and surprisingly easy decision to stay. It meant not seeing his father or his loved ones again, and that was a tragic afterthought, but in the end, his life has moved on from that in every way. He's not the youth he was when he first arrived. Years later and Jesper is settled into his skin and into his choices in a way he wasn't before.

It's been difficult though. People he cares about are moving on. Goodbyes have never been easy for him, and it's more the uncertainty that worries him than anything else. But he's supportive of journeys that aren't his own. He sees Claude on his own and sidles up, needing to take a break from the extent of his emotional pain.

He swings an arm over his shoulder, tugging him close. ]

You're not going to get rid of me that easily, sweetheart.

[ Sylvain would have told him by now if he was going anywhere which means the group of them aren't leaving him. He would probably be lying down in an emotional puddle if it was any other way. He looks at the rifts which are quite daunting. ]

Hate that I can't protect any of you lot for what might happen. That's the worst part of this shite.

😭

[godshattering]

No? And here I thought these rifts I'd called in just for the occasion might be enough.

[ As if he'd had any control over this or no longer being able to return to the homes they've built here - and more importantly, as if he'd ever dream of finding any reason to get rid of Jesper. Even for the shift into seriousness Claude's made over the past few days, it's good to find that joking still isn't out of reach even if it's misplaced. Even if it's also not particularly amusing, and it's not something he follows up with anything else like he might've at any other time.

Instead he leans into that arm around his shoulders in the same instant he wraps his own arm around Jesper's waist to tug him closer still as they lean on each other here with the weight of everything around them. Claude draws in a deep breath and then hums while turning over the other man's words. ]

You've hit upon the exact thing I'm feeling. Well, that and that we don't entirely know what'll happen for all of us staying.

[ The same for those leaving - and while he's far from superstitious, Claude doesn't want to speak that thought aloud. For now, anyway; for those choosing to leave he'd never stand in their way when the important thing is there is a choice there. Still, the next smile he shoots up to Jesper is on the wry side. ]

But we'll be here together for whatever it is, and I wouldn't change that.

[itookashot]

It would take something as massive as a planet-altering rift to pull you away from me. Luckily, I've got a tight grip.

[ Jesper's always good for a joke even at the very end. He'll be joking until his last breath, whether that's in the next day or in sixty years from now. He really hopes it's the latter, it'd be nice to hope for decades of working on the commune with his lovers, and gray hair for each of them. But he's an optimist. He knows what he wants to hope for. ]

To any of us! But think about it, if all goes well, we'll have saved several worlds. We'll be heroes! That'd be funny.

[ He's not the hero type, as far as he's concerned. Jesper's a screw up and a rogue, or at least he was before he came here, and then he became - gross - respectable and honorable. Still, the title of a hero would be something he'd boyishly use to crow about his own achievements, while secretly not thinking he should actually get the title. But it'll be true. They're risking a lot to save worlds. Everything.

Jesper reaches out with his free hand to caress Claude's cheek affectionately. ]

If we do live, what do you think is next? Are you going to help your handsome boyfriend start a commune or run off on an adventure or two?

[godshattering]

I think better than 'several' would be countless. That has a more heroic ring to it, doesn't it? I feel like we'll deserve all the accolades so we might as well start getting them ready.

[ It's easier to focus on this hypothetical among all the other possibilities. There's too many unknowns - already his least favorite when it's a singular unknown but then to be multiplied is even worse - and whether any of them will be here to see the accolades... well. That's the biggest mystery of all as it draws ever closer to the time where they'll find out.

For now, though, it's enough to let his attention be pulled back to Jesper thanks to that affectionate touch. He'd glanced once more towards the Singularity as if it's going to reveal anything they haven't seen pass through the shards, including that glimpse of Derdriu he'd seen among the rest of the worlds unknown to him until friends pointed out their own. The smile on his face has some of that weight lifted. It's impossible for it to stay when Jesper's around. ]

Now that you mention it, an adventure does sound rather fun, and maybe one that's less life threatening than the rest we've been through. [ Rather than letting himself dwell on the shards any longer, Claude turns to face Jesper with an expression of (supposed) deep thought on his face. ] There'll be time for that later after everything gets settled first. Seems unfair to make you do all the work even if you look pretty good while doing it.

farewell

[techmaturgy]

I've decided, yes.

[Viktor made up his mind what feels like ages ago. He knows that going to the other side of the rift is no guarantee, and that none of them can be sure of what might happen, but given the chance to return to his home, he's going to take it. This has been true for a long time.

It makes saying goodbye a little easier, because this has always been his intention, but it's still bittersweet, to leave his friends behind. And that's what Claude is, after all this time--a friend.]

I'll take care of Kyle. I left something at Mags' for you, though, if you find your way back there.

[godshattering]

[ Asking this to Viktor? That's more of a formality of sorts, if anything, given Claude's never once doubted his friend's intent to leave if the opportunity presented itself. Now it's here. He nods slowly - it's one thing to know this and to have heard it in the past, but it's heavier now that there's only so much time until they part along with everyone else who will pass through the rifts.

Even then, the smile on Claude's face shifts to something lighter at what follows. ]

I know you will. Never doubted that for a second, and I'm glad the two of you are going together to wherever you'll go from there. But, [ with the raise of an eyebrow since he's never been able to resist a mystery, much less one right extended to him, ] do I at least get a hint as to what it is? Just in case it might be a minute before we get to see Mags again.

[ But: if they can after all of this, he'll absolutely stop by Cadens for it. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor isn't necessarily looking for approval, but it's nice to know that he has it all the same. As for his mysterious gift, there's nothing he wants to keep secret about it. Momentarily playing coy was just that. His smile is sincere.]

Before I left Cadens, I was working on a shielding system, for the Free Cities government. I wanted to put it to use in the mines.

[And if the government does use it, it's something that's only functional defensively. With some of his friends staying behind, Viktor can hope that they'll help him leave his mark on this world.]

Mags has the blueprints, if you get the chance to collect them. I'm sure there are engineers in the Free Cities who would be able to complete my work, but...I would need to know they would implement the technology as intended.

🥹

[assembles]

[ It's no surprise to find Claude studying the Singularity, even now that they've reached what seems to be the final hour. He's the sort of person who wants to inspect and investigate everything so that he has a strong hold on what's going on and what he can do about it. Thankfully most of that work has been done by now, and they have a solid plan, but it seems like they can't be any more certain about the outcome than they are already.

Which is probably something that's eating away at someone like Claude.

Sometimes you don't get the guarantee or the surety that something is going to work. You just have to go for it anyway. Steve's been in that kind of situation before, and so while he did take his time to make up his mind, he feels at peace with his decision now. Whatever happens, happens.

Claude seems to pick up on that. He turns to Steve and asks him a question, but he's more seeking confirmation than anything else. Steve gives a quick nod and turns his attention up to the Singularity as well, which is still covered in shards showing glimpses into other worlds. If he shifts to the side just a few feet, he can catch sight of the one showing his home — the skyscrapers of New York City, specifically. ]

I have. [ And while he wants to know where Claude's landed, he first asks: ] Which one's yours?

i am NOT READY

[godshattering]

[ It's fitting to be here at the end of it all with Steve standing next to him. Something that's been true since so close enough to the start of being here that Claude calls it as much and they've been through so much over all that time. Time which is now coming to a close far faster than he'd like as he's made his way through goodbyes with each one weighing heavy. But he would never begrudge anyone the chance to leave while they can take it, and what he wants more than anything for all of the Summoned is to make a choice which will bring them happiness.

That doesn't mean it will be any easier to have to say goodbye to Steve if that's what's coming.

Claude nods at Steve's answer with it being the confirmation he was seeking as his smile shifts briefly to a deeper shade of sadness fleetingly. A second later his attention goes back to the shards as he concentrates for what he'd spotted some time ago. One more flicker and then a harbor comes into focus on a taller shard. ]

That's Derdriu right there. One of my favorite spots to sit by the sea... when I first arrived, anyway, since it got a little harder to go there once I became duke. But the real question is: is it the Derdriu I know? Or from when it fell to the Empire, or maybe from years before I ever left home to meet my grandfather. Lots of possibilities and no way to be sure aside from stepping through it.

[ Too many unknowns and too much that Claude isn't willing to risk. Even for his love of schemes and the occasional card or board games, this is something else entirely when they're already about to walk into so much unknown with the impending ritual and the hope it'll work. ]

It would've been nice to see a glimpse of home, though. [ That part's added wistfully since it may not have clarified any more than what's waiting in that sliver of Derdriu he can see, though he turns his attention to the other shards again. ] One of them is yours as well?