abraxaslogs | The Dimming

Entry tags:

!event,
!npc

The Dimming - Thorne

Throughout the Kingdom of Thorne, the Dimming is begun. This festival, held in harmony with the annual cycle of the seasons and the slide of the Singularity into temporary dormancy, is a celebration of two halves. The mood is generally somber and reflective in the days leading to the winter solstice itself, with the promise of a fantastic explosion of life, light and renewal waiting on the other side.

A Hymn for the Night

The Festival begins with song. As the sun goes down across the Kingdom, a many-layered hymn the Summoned have never heard begins to rise up from the streets. The words are strange and arcane, but everyone in Thorne seems to know them. Young, old, rich and poor alike all watch the darkness fall together, each holding the flickering light of a candle as they sing an ancient promise to be light for one another.

In distant Hayle, the bitter cold has the congregants gathering in the tunnels built into the mountainside.

Borrel sees the farmhouses scattered among the fields linked to the central barracks with military processions.

Lamplight scatters on the water as a flotilla of fishing vessels line up along the lakeshore of Nott.

And in Castle Thorne, the King and Queen step out onto the royal balcony to join the ceremony with a heavily gilded lantern each.

For the week to come as the days continue to grow shorter and dimmer, all of Thorne makes the lofty pledge to rely not on the convenience of magic, but on the kindness of others. Enchantments providing light, heat and many other necessities are dispelled, replaced for the season with their mundane counterparts. Many households bring out heirloom lanterns from storage, blow the dust from tools ordinarily rendered obsolete with the simplest word of a spell and get ready for a week of wholesome back-to-basics contemplation.

Street vendors set up stalls with intricate votives and lanterns for sale alongside strengthening mugs of richly spiced mulled wine and baskets of sweetbread. Shadow puppet storytellers delight children with tales of brave Thornean heroes of old, knights accompanying a temporarily weakened mage as she carries the hope of light returning back to its source of the Singularity, fending off attack from monstrous creatures wreathed in darkness. And as midnight falls, a procession of volunteers carry candles to ring the city walls themselves in light: a hundred flickering flames to guard against the night until dawn.

The Winding Thread

The following morning, anyone who listened carefully to the words of the song will realize the Thread the Thorneans made reference to wasn't strictly metaphorical. Symbolising interconnectedness, a long, continuous cord has been strung in a winding path through the labyrinth of each city’s streets— and it isn’t long before each begins gathering colourful ribbons tied like fluttering bunting all along its length. During the Dimming, Thorneans write their wishes on these strips of fabric and affix them to the Thread... while others choose to take a ribbon from it as a vow to make that wish come true by the season’s end.

Few in Thorne believe in gods these days, but according to tradition there is unusual and bountiful luck to be found in answering another’s prayer. Should any of the Summoned ask at any of the streetside vendors for a ribbon of their own, they will be invited to write a wish and tie it to the Thread wherever they like (Don’t forget to sign it so anyone inspired to generosity knows how to find you, though!). They are also welcome to claim any already hanging there if they would like to do a little good for others in the spirit of the season.

The Empty Throne

Every community across the Kingdom has its own Thread, but the courtyard of Castle Thorne itself is the true focal point of the season’s festivities. Set up on a raised platform is a richly gilded throne, notably empty, and as the Dimmest Day approaches the courtyard begins to fill with offerings.

Laid before the throne is an ever-growing carpet of gifts. Candles in decorative lanterns, wreaths and garlands, hampers of food, bottles of wine, some with carefully written cards nestled beside them while others are accompanied by a child’s drawing. These gifts come not only from the residents of the castle and the surrounding town, but also from settlements further afield. Each of the great cities has sent something in tribute— but not to the King, the Queen, or even the High Mage. The throne is not for them.

Any of the Summoned curious enough to peek at a card or ask one of their hosts about the ceremony will discover the gifts are all intended for a mage selected to carry an impossible burden, sacrificing their life to restore magic to the world.

New Dawn's Day

(Coming soon! The events of December 21st and beyond will depend on player actions...)

OOC: Event #5: The Dimming

LOG: Thorne | The Free Cities | Solvunn

PvP: The Mission to the Singularity

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

On the first day of the festival, the Summoned are escorted to a private hall within Castle Thorne. The High Mage Ambrose stands before them on a broad dais, cloaked in ceremonial robes and his trademark stern expression. Beside him is a younger mage and a long table covered in a heavy black cloth. When Ambrose speaks he commands the attention of the room.

"As the perceptive amongst you may have noticed, this time of year is usually a somber affair, the lives of the many once again bought with the ultimate sacrifice of one individual from our ranks. Yes, to become a mage here in Thorne is to earn high honor, but we take on that mantle knowing that any one of us may be the soul chosen to venture out to the Singularity, delivering that life-giving essence that keeps our world and all other worlds stable.

"One for the many. An easy choice to make, isn't it? In theory. Until you are the one chosen, the one elected to make that sacrifice. That is the burden that all Thornean mages carry."

He pauses for effect, making eye contact with each of the assembled.

"Until now."

He extends his arms outwards as his voice expands in his own excitement, evenly paced though his words are.

"This year it is because of you, the Summoned, that we no longer need to give life to preserve others. Because it is you who can do what we can't; to breach the Singularity.

"Now, don't get ahead of yourselves. I see that look in your eyes. The last time you drew near you were all but sucked into its essence, weren't you? And those who were not part of that journey have doubtlessly heard of it by now. But that is what makes this time of year special. Once again, the power of Singularity itself is waning as the seasons grow cold and the light becomes dim. In this state, a highly trained Thornean mage can survive the journey beyond the crater's edge long enough to deliver it a gift before being consumed... but you? With a little effort, each of you should be able to approach the very center itself without being carried helplessly away to the metaphysical realm of the Horizon. The caskets, Frederick."

On cue the younger mage lifts the heavy fabric covering the table. On it sit a pile of strange, leaden caskets, each about the size of a man's fist, smoothly spherical in shape. Somehow, even through the solid metallic shell, it's possible to perceive a kind of light glowing within. A warmth. An energy.

"Each of these contains something older than magic. Raw form energy, siphoned from the Singularity during a period of excess, millennia ago. Delivering one of these during the Dimming gives the Singularity the strength necessary to recover from its diminishing. Delivering all of these gathered here could do so much more. I believe it could begin to reverse the weakening trend we have observed, the very crisis threatening reality itself that you were brought here to solve.

"Frederick here is this year's Elected. Should you decide yourselves willing to take up Thorne's cause in his stead, I invite you to take a stand by the Empty Throne in the courtyard at midday on the Dimmest Day. This quest will not be an easy one. We can expect resistance from the Free Cities, and who knows what those fools in the communes are up to after their last debacle... but you will be armed and armored, while I and my mages remain here to protect the Castle and monitor the Singularity's output. If my theory is right, the more we successfully provide to the Singularity, the stronger it will be in the coming year."

Ambrose's gaze sweeps over the assembled Summoned one last time. Beside him, the young mage's expression falters, then resolves. He covers the glowing caskets with their shroud once more.

"Our people have put a great deal of faith in the Summoned," Ambrose reminds them, as a pair of guards open the heavy doors of the hall, readying to escort the Summoned back out into the antechamber beyond where they can discuss the High Mage's request, if they wish. "I hope you do not disappoint us."

(Characters can discuss Ambrose's request in the antechamber by responding to this thread. If your character decides to join the mission to the Singularity, please use the sign-up form over here! A log for the mission itself will be posted on Saturday, Dec 18th.)

[Maybe this is a bad idea. Nadine honestly can't say, but she stands by her decision to make the trip up from Nott to the main hub of Thorne. This festival seems to be something important, and likely to be taking most of the attention of the local authorities. If there is a threat, it's minimized now. And who can say when it might be again?

So Nadine is in Thorne the city, wrapped in a heavy dark cloak and with her hair colored a dark brown. She moves through the festival after dark, hood up, eyes and ears open. She listens to locals talking about the holiday, and keeps her eyes peeled for any of the - admittedly few - people she knows and has some modicum of trust for that remained at the castle. Particularly Ronan.

She moves in and out of pools of light, shying away from vendors that call out cheerfully and nodding without speaking to any passersby that greet her in good spirits. She does pause a few times to inspect some of the bits of fabric strung along the streets, frowning thoughtfully at the sentiment and tradition behind it. It all puts her a little in mind of Boulder.

Now and then she ducks out of the milling throng, slipping into shadow with her back against a wall as a wave of anxiety comes over her, Julie's warnings echoing in the back of her mind. No one's come for her yet, but it's early still. She hasn't been here very long. What if she's made a grievous mistake...]

[Kylo is wandering the streets with a sturdy mug of mulled wine in hand, ducking under the Thread where it loops across the street (he is... inconveniently tall, now) when suddenly his senses snag on something, someone familiar. With the background hum of magic in Thorne so muted, it's all too easy to pick up on the presence of any of the Summoned— but this is someone he knows.

But where?

He glances around him, his gaze finally settling on a hooded figure in a dark cloak weaving through the crowd to dip into the shadows— at which point he slams back the remainder of his wine, tosses the empty mug over his shoulder, and stalks over to confront her.]

Nadine.

[He says with all his trademark overintensity, towering above.]

[Nadine is already on edge, fighting a wave of paranoia and trying to push it away. Her attention is turned inward, and she doesn't hear anyone approach. But suddenly someone is right there, a large dark figure that knows her name...

Panic sets in. Wall behind her as it is, she has nowhere to go. Everything happens very quickly. In the moment she's certain she's made the wrong choice, and things are about to go very bad for her. There's nowhere to easily run to, she's barely armed, her Thornean magic is essentially useless right now. But the desire for self preservation is strong and some deep instinct takes over. Something inside of Nadine seems to twist and suddenly the world is blurry and there's a peculiarly electric sort of sensation coiling and twisting inside of her. There's the thought that some magic is being worked on her and vision fades...but quickly reasserts itself and Nadine finds herself looking at an entirely different perspective.

Everything feels different. Even her physical sense of self. What the hell just happened?

To the outside viewer, Nadine has seemingly vanished, and the head of a very upset looking white wolf is sticking out of the bundle of her cloak.]

[Well. Kylo wasn't expecting that. He blinks, looming even taller now that Nadine has shrunk down, but he doesn't make any sudden movements.

In fact, the bulk of him may be shielding her from sight— though it's possible residents of the capital are used to people suddenly shifting shapes anyway. Kylo's not certain how common this kind of magic is. He is certain she's still in there, however. His senses aren't so easily fooled by outward appearances.]

I'm not going to harm you. No-one here is.

[It takes a moment for Nadine to catch up to everything.

She does, at least, recognize Kylo. Who looks impossibly large from this particular angle. That's one thing dealt with - he may be imposing and odd, but he's not a threat to her. The rest of the situation, however...

How had this happened? While she'd talked to Flagg about learning to do the things he could, and he'd awakened that ability in her...he'd never actually taught her anything. And this is one of the things he could do. But...

Apparently, with the danger seemingly passed, whatever dim and distant part of her brain controls these things has decided there's no need for such extreme defense, either. Just as she's starting to work out her new shape, she feels that electrical sensation again. It isn't painful, but it's hardly pleasant. Nor is finding herself regular-shaped again, wrapped in her cloak...with her kirtle and dress puddled at her feet.]

Uh....sorry. About that. Oh wow, you still look too big.

[Ah. Awkward. Once Kylo realises Nadine's not really wearing her clothes anymore he glances away, still providing something of a screening effect by virtue of being... yeah. Too big. He won't be staring at her while she wriggles under the cloak to get back into her dress, and nor will anyone else.]

I startled you.

[Statement. Not apology. But... about as close to one as anyone gets from Kylo Ren.]

I take it you're... visiting?

[You know, the disguise of it all. Not generally what someone wears when planning a more permanent return, though he supposes it's possible she's here to scout out the possibility.]

Yeah, you sure did. But that's...that's never happened before.

[Nadine sighs as she awkwardly gets her clothing back on under cover of her cloak, already feeling rather done with the night. She's going to need to examine what happened later, hard as it is to focus on anything else right now. How had she done it?

Later. She'll figure that out later.]

Uh, yeah. Not a lot of news makes it down to where we are, so...

[She stands back up, adjusting her kirtle, and realizing...Kylo doesn't seem huge, he is huge. That's new.]

[Being a gigantic hulk of lurking menace by default, Kylo isn't very good at looking amused, or pleased, or relieved— but he is pleased to see Nadine is well, if a little flustered and jumpy enough to slip into some kind of animal form on reflex. His mouth tugs like it's attempting a smile but doesn't quite remember how.]

So you thought you should take advantage of the festival to check in on us. Clever. It is unlikely you'll be noticed, and there's a lot of traffic. I don't think I've seen so many people visiting the capital since we were brought here.

[Hm. She is looking at him a little... strangely. Isn't she. His eyes narrow a little, then he cracks an actually recognisable smile.]

Ah. Yes. I am.

[You know. Taller.]

Yeah, exactly. I figured if there was any threat...it'd be too busy with the festival.

[At least someone thinks it's a good idea. Nadine can't imagine this kind of opportunity comes often, best to seize.]

I wanted to find out how things are going, and see Ronan. And...uh...is that a magic thing, or have you just been eating a lot of veggies?

[She assumes it's the former. Physical alterations can happen, as she well knows. Still. The added height only makes him come off as more threatening and intimidating. He really hadn't needed any help in that department.

But it's nice to see him smile. She can't remember if she's ever seen Kylo smile before.]

[ It might be difficult for Nadine to realize she's found Ronan, when she eventually does. The boy who's holding court with a few of the local mages doesn't look much like the boy she'd remember from her time at the castle. With his face clean-shaven, he looks so much younger — so much more his age. His dark hair has grown out to a length more appropriate to the taste of Thornean nobility, far less likely to get him mistaken for a serf. The funereal black color of his clothing isn't unexpected for him, but his kaftan is made of fine velvet with painstakingly intricate embroidery and his overcoat is lined with the softest sable fur.

He hasn't noticed her yet, too engrossed in telling a story about the time he rescued a girl from drowning in a locked bathroom when she'd accidentally manifested an ocean. For such a somber festival on the eve of a dangerous mission, he looks like he's in remarkably good spirits. Possibly the happiest Nadine has ever seen him. ]

[She doesn't recognize him at first, not by sight. It's been a good number of months now since she'd seen him last, and she's never encountered him in the Horizon. Nadine is looking for a much scruffier and dour looking young man.

It's his voice, after a few minutes of listening. In case the story being told was one of cultural relevance. It's quickly apparent it's not, but... She hangs back, cloak wrapped tightly about her, waiting for the storytime to finish. She knows better than to interupt.

When she sees an opportune moment, she moves in, frowning thoughtfully as she tries to reconcile the cheerful, princely young man in front of her with the one she left behind.]

Ronan?

[ Ronan glances over when he hears his name. All else is forgotten the moment he lays eyes on Nadine, his companions instantly abandoned in favor of her. He sweeps closer to her, not to hide her from the others' sight but to get a better look at her, himself. There's a complicated sort of worry etched between his eyebrows, with shades of old hurt and fresh relief. ]

You're back?

[ It's almost a hopeful statement. ]

For the Dimming.

[Nadine draws back her hood, the only difference her current hair color.]

I can't stay, I have a job in Nott and my people, but...I haven't heard from you since we left, and my husband vanished a couple of months ago and it was easy to get a ride right now...

[There's more to her decision to come here than to check on Ronan, but it had been a part of it. She misses him, worries, has no idea how he's fared. Well, by looking at him, which she's glad to see.

She shakes her head to break off what's about to become rambling.]

You look good.

[ The change in Nadine's hair color is dramatic in itself. Ronan drags a hand self-consciously through his own locks, aware of how this must look to her. Like he's joined the enemy, living in luxury while she's been hiding out in disguise.

But she chose to leave, he reminds himself. She could have just as easily stayed here and enjoyed the comforts of courtly life, too. ]

I'm sorry about your husband.

[ The match always struck Ronan as strange and somewhat unnerving, but maybe she feels the same about his relationship with Kylo. ]

I haven't been avoiding you or anything. I don't go into the Horizon unless I have to.

I know, I don't blame you for not using the Horizon. I just...wanted to make sure you were okay. We don't get too much news from up here, down in Nott.

[Nott doesn't really seem at all concerned with what the rest of Thorne is up to, at least in the parts she frequents. Not that she blames them, after months living there. It doesn't seem like the rest of Thorne cares much about Nott.

But she doesn't hold any animosity for any of their number that stayed. Her reasons for distrusting and fleeing the castle were her own. She has loyalties and commitments that were set before she ever came to this world.]

Have you been? Okay?

Yeah.

[ Weirdly. For the first time in a long time. ]

I've been great, actually.

[ He can't remember when he last felt this happy, this secure, this powerful. Before his father's murder, it must have been, but he'd been a child then and this happiness is more complicated than that. Something hard-earned and not easily won. ]

Are you sure you don't want to come back? It's better than it used to be. You can bring all your people. They'll be safe.

I'm glad to hear you've been good. And I'm sure. Even if I could talk my people into it, which I already know I can't...

[Nadine shakes her head apologetically. The few reasons to return aren't enough, compared to all her reasons to stay away. Even more so, considering recent events. However well they're treating people like them, they want them for a reason.

She's done being used.]

It's easy to just...stay out of things, where we are. It's easy to be anonymous. And I want to stay out of things, it's...it's honestly been nice, just carving out a normal little life for a while. Or as normal as life can be, here. I'm learning herbalism and healing.

[And how to be an independent person without someone directing her life and choices.]

[ Independence is hard for Ronan to comprehend, but then again, the Greywaren was created to be used.

And, in the end, Nadine is a human who can find other humans wherever she turns. The castle isn't the only place she can be with her kind. Even pretending to be normal is an option Ronan will never have. Neither does he wish for it anymore. But having wished for it once, he can understand her desire. ]

Of course you're a healer.

[ Ronan would expect nothing less. He hasn't forgotten how she tended to him after his nightmare in the dormitory. ]

It's too bad. We don't have enough of them here.

I'm not a healer, yet, I'm just learning. It's mostly collecting ingredients and blending them for someone who really knows what she's doing. But she has trouble with her hands, she's old.

[But Nadine's skills are enough to patch someone up in an emergency, at least. And like her magic, she'll eventually master it. She's always been a good learner.]

But...it feels good. And I certainly can't teach here, so... what about you, what have you been up to?

[What do they even let people like them do at the castle? Whatever it is, it's clearly been agreeing with him.]

[ Ronan is sure he's been up to quite a lot, but when she puts him on the spot with that question, he can't immediately recall a single thing. At least, nothing that isn't a Top Secret mission. ]

Uh...

[ What do people usually talk about when someone asks them about their life? For so long, Ronan didn't have one. ]

I've been learning how to fight for real, not like shitfaced barfighting. I train with the guards when I'm not training with Kylo.

With weapons?

[There's no criticism in Nadine's voice, she's curious. He could mean magic, or hand to hand. But she's had a similar thought, reaching out for lessons in wielding a sword. Only in the Horizon, she doesn't have anyone to teach her in the physical world.]

It's...smart, to be able to protect yourself properly.

Yeah. My sword knows how to fight on its own, but Kylo's teaching me how to use a regular one. Like, without the cheat code. And all kinds of kung fu shit, which I guess is how they fight in space.

[ It doesn't even occur to him that Nadine might disapprove. His mother was always proud of his boxing skills. It was a slightly different sort of combat style that was honed in the Lynch household, but peace was never an option, even if Ronan hadn't known exactly what he was learning to protect himself from. ]

Yeah, I've learned it's best not to rely too heavily on tricks and magic or someone else when it comes to protection.

[She hadn't had a sword that can fight on its own, but she'd had Flagg. And even then she'd told him that she wanted the ability to protect herself, in case he couldn't. A pity that he hadn't been able to teach her anything, after sparking her ability to learn.]

I've started learning some basics, too. I...don't suppose you have any spare swords lying around? They're...pretty expensive.

[Nadine has money, but she's saving most of it for the eventual move to the Free Cities. But Ciri and Geralt both stressed it would be best if she had a weapon in the real world to practice with.]

[ Here, Ronan hesitates for the first time. He's caught by surprise at the request — though he really shouldn't be, considering the way everyone else has been using him. His eyebrows frown even though his mouth doesn't exactly. ]

No, nothing I can spare.

[ Which isn't exactly a lie. He has an entire armory of his own, but after what happened with the jailbreak, he can't just go giving away weapons to people who might run off to join Thorne's enemies, and Nadine has already made it very clear she won't be returning to the castle. ]

A Call to Action!

Nadine Cross | The Stand

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