EVENT #6: PEACE ON THE HORIZON

[abraxasmods]

Event #6 - EVENT INFO

go to the OOC event info and plotting post

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Those that agree to attend the Summit will travel via portals to the designated location, which is out in the open in neutral territory. Plenty of pretty mountains and flowers. A magic field is erected over this area. Characters can only enter and exit at designated portals. It is not possible to leave this encircled area, which will also negate teleportation and portal spells. Plus, you don't want to embarrass your faction by sneaking out of bounds!

Before entering, all will be given a pin that designates what faction they belong to. This pin is not only color-coded but enchanted so that even should the appearance change, mages from any faction can identify who is who. The Summoned will be required to wear this pin at all times during the Summit.

The Summoned will be offered a comfortable tent to stay in during the 3-day Summit period! There's also a communal bath and a lounge to enjoy. A simple but tasty complimentary breakfast is provided for everyone, and additional meals can be bought from the faction booths or at the lounge. See the Neutral Section detailed below for more.

As noted, CHARACTERS MAY CHANGE FACTIONS USING THIS EVENT. To switch factions, please reply to the comment here. See the OOC post (link above) for details or questions!

The "Peace" Summit

An open plain flanked by mountains to the north and south, a large circular area has been fenced off. Large poles embedded into the earth are connected with magical rings, drooping heavy in the middle as if the ethereal chains have real weight. The area is divided into thirds, each section a mass of colorful tents and booths. In the center is a large wooden stage. All attendees must sit through this keynote speech. It's only polite.

The Prime Minister of the Free Cities begins the opening address. In formal military regalia she's the first to address the crowd, raising her arms high to command attention. She's smiling.

+ Marlo's Speech

"We'd like to start by welcoming all of you. For those that don't know me, I'm Marlo Renier, Prime Minister of the Free Cities. With me are Councilwoman Winifred Bordeaux of the Solvunn Communities and Queen Ellya Gladwin of the Kingdom of Thorne. We come together today in the spirit of good will. We may be divided by borders but we're all neighbors. We all share this continent. We may not always share the same opinions or agree on everything but who does? There's one thing we do agree on though - nobody is looking to start trouble. That's about the last thing anybody needs right now. That's why we're all here today. A show of good faith, a display of trust, and hopefully the first step on a long road of diplomacy and mutual understanding. And we all expect everybody on their best behavior and to conduct themselves in the spirit of this Summit.

I'm going to turn things over to Councilwoman Bordeaux now. Thank you, and you all should come check out what the Free Cities has to offer! Councilwoman?"

Marlo steps aside for the representative of Solvunn to take center stage.

+ Winifred's Speech

Winifred steps forward, nodding hear head to Marlo before turning her attention to the gathered crowd. Her own attire is modest, a dress of ivory and forest green adorned with hundreds of embroidered flowers and a velvet bodice in a deep wine red.

"Thank you, Prime Minister. Some of you are likely only to know of Solvunn due to the terrible circumstances surrounding Eifstide, for which we must humbly apologize. It was not our intention to cause such pain and happened merely by accident. While that does not take away what has occurred, we do hope that we can move forward together to create a brighter, more connected continent. All of us has something to share with each other, and it is my sincerest hope that we may learn from you, as well.

The Gods smile upon the unification of our mighty communities! May we be blessed with a friendship of longevity and prosperity!. For those of you curious as to what Solvunn can do for you, look no further than this Summit's festivities. It is my pleasure to let Queen Ellya of Thorne conclude todays formalities."

+ Queen Ellya's Speech

When it's Queen Ellya's turn to speak, she addresses the crowd with hands folded. For this occassion she's worn an elaborate gown of bright blue shot through with silver that seems to shift and move through the fabric.

"Such inspiring words, truly. I can only echo the sentiments put forth before me. I hope that this Summit shows to one and all that Thorne intends no aggression toward our fellow kingdoms. Certainly, through collaborative efforts such as this, understanding can be found. Tensions can be resolved. Even between such opposite minded cultures. I am confident that these few days will be very illuminating for each and every one of you. I urge you to go forth with eyes and ears open, to ensure all that can be learned is. Enjoy yourselves. Indulge yourselves. Educate yourselves. The festivities will now commence!"

Spreading her hands towards the audience, Queen Ellya slowly steps back to her place with the others.

From here on out, the festivities commence! Characters are encouraged to freely explore each faction's section as they please - and of course, to be respectful of their neighbors. They're all friends here, after all.

Mingle & Activities

Every faction has their own setup of booths and displays that feature a variety of activities and items. Booths open in the morning and close a couple hours after sundown in the evenings. Attendants at each place will be friendly, although some may notice that while the Summoned wander more freely, there is very little intermingling among the locals of each faction. The occasional dirty look may be exchanged when no one's looking and those with keen eyes might find evidence of petty bits of vandalism.

Click to expand the sections below for a description of each area.

Thorne Section

Each booth in Thorne's section are adorned with opulent fabrics in the same blues and silvers of the Queen's dress. Magically lit lanterns are strewn on the fronts and within tents and will change colors throughout the day and over the course of the weekend. Regardless of the weather, being beneath the awnings is always pleasant as if indoors in a properly warmed and ventilated room. Nothing is left wanting. Luxury and ease through the use of magic is emphasized.

Though not calling out any who wander the aisle, any who approach a booth will be greeted with a pleasant smile. Mages are eager to show off their magicks by the use of spells, staves, wands, and magical enchantments from ancient tomes. A booth from Hayle University gives demonstrations and short lectures on the hour every hour, letting the Summoned know that with enough practice they, too, can become a Master of Magicks.

For those who came with a full coin purse, there are fine wines, expensive tapestries and fabrics, sparkling accessories and more available for purchase. If you're feeling hungry, it is highly suggested that you try the decadent and delicately dressed dishes comparable to what's served in Castle Thorne itself.

Along with magic shows, the most popular booth is that of the Pondering Orb. Form an orderly line and wait for your turn to approach the orb. All will be allotted five whole minutes to think their deepest thoughts as they lay their hands upon the orb and ponder. The little bit of tingling that you feel and the faint glow that grows the longer you touch it just means that it's working.

Free Cities Section

The Free Cities area can be heard from nearly all the other sections, alive with sound and activity. There's a state of carefully balanced chaos between the different booths and lanterns are connected by long wires, powered by generators placed proudly out in front - in almost direct competition to the magical light show that Thorne has been putting on. It's just a bit of friendly rivalry, of course. There's nothing wrong with having such a strong reliance on magic, even if it seems rather outdated.

Attendants are eager to show off all their grand innovations, including meals in a can (main course and dessert all in one dubious goop can!) and a small variety of old-style guns. They are the only faction displaying these weapons. In addition, they'll talk about the impressive level of productivity their workers provide in the name of progress. Naturally, no one is forced to work overtime. It's only that their people are so dedicated to their work, even a common factory worker will go out of their way to help science and innovation. The Summoned are encouraged to consider joining a nation with such a high level of ambition, and there's always room for everyone in their powerful military.

To commemorate the event, those participating can stamp their bronze with a fancy gear pattern. It takes about fifteen seconds to press and renders the bronze worthless to spend, but what's more valuable than a souvenir? There is a sign that says No refunds if you aren't happy with the result, although if the machine happens to swallow your coin, you will be given a new bronze to stamp free of charge. Isn't that generous?

Solvunn Section

Solvunn's booths are covered with handmade tablecloths in various styles - quilted, patchwork, crochet, and intricate embroidery. Enchanted candles of all shapes and sizes float and illuminate the area, some changing color as the day goes on. When the sun sets, all the candles take on a shade that imitates moonlight.

Those who are running booths will call out to anyone who approaches, ushering them to the booths in order to ply them with friendly conversation and small samples of their wares. For the right price, there are specialty honeys, cheeses, candies, and all other manner of goat-based products. A few booths also have goat's milk soaps, lotions, and candles. Ask a Solvunnite about what good a goat is and they'll tell you everything. The mages are equally more than happy to show off their mastery, though not just in flashy elemental magic. Mages fond of divination, tealeaf readings, and interpreting tarot will offer one-on-one demonstrations, especially if you've some coin to spare.

This year, Solvunn has decided to extend its Spring Equinox celebration to the other Abraxans at the Summit! Everyone is encouraged to join in the festivities as now is the time for observing the balance of day and night. This celebration is devoted to new life - new community members, additions to their flocks, and the bringing of goodwill for the year's crops. A maypole is erected at the center of the celebration and if it stays upright until the following festival, it's taken as a sign that the community's harvest will be bountiful.

Additionally, the shrine of Lyfbringr has been erected with paintings and several small statues depicting an androgynous god that appears as an amalgamation of man, flora, and fauna. The shrine is enclosed in a tent that is half bright cheery colors and darker monochromatic shades.

Representatives of Solvunn stand by to weave colorful ribbons or rings of flowers into people's hair or tie small bells onto their wrists. There are many baby goats frolicking in a temporary paddock that guests are free to mill about in. The Summoned are invited to consider a life among a peaceful neighborly commune where help and friendship are right at your doorstep!

Neutral Section

This area is meant for everyone to mingle, but the Summoned will find they're mostly the only ones here as the locals prefer to stay within their factions. It's lightly decorated with no particular colors or emblems of any one faction. Ample ambient lighting gives the place a warm glow once the sun goes down. Wooden benches are placed sporadically between the different designated areas, making sure that no one has to go far to find a place to rest their feet.

The Lounge Tavern is open at noon for 2 hours for lunch, and then again at sunset in the evenings, where anyone can come to have a drink or a meal. Beneath the protection of a large, open air tent, seating is provided in the form of more wooden benches and long shared tables, as well as a few stools. Vintages, ales, and meads from each of the factions are available to enjoy. A few recreational activities are available, as well, such as darts and dice games. The tables and seats are placed close together, to encourage mingling and talk among each other. Though the bar is staffed by NPC volunteers, all are expected to bus their own tables when they leave.

The Sleeping Tents are where the Summoned will return to for the night to sleep. Each tent has large number of pillows, throws, and a few large mats that can be arranged as desired for optimal comfort. The ground itself is lined in animal pelts, mostly sheep and goat, making it soft and inviting. They are indeed shared, but there's plenty of room for everyone. Each tent can fit about 8-10 people - or more, if you cozy up.

The Communal Baths open in both the evenings and in the mornings for a few hours each, which is effectively an open bathhouse pool. The pool is dug into the ground itself and lined with special tile manufactured from the Free Cities, hailed for its ability to hold water without the use of special sealant. The waters are magically warmed to the ideal temperature using enchanted stones from Thorne that create a natural border around the edges, and soap (made of goat's milk, courtesy of Solvunn) and towels are provided. Here, those attending can bathe as well as use it as a mingle.

Summit Events

Meant to be a "collaboration" between the factions, the Summit also offers activities that take place on the main stage where the speeches were initially given.

Raffle

The Summoned will be provided a single courtesy raffle ticket, which they can use to enter the raffle contest. Additional tickets will cost an extra 5 bronze coins. To enter the raffle contest, fill out the comment here and we will RNG your prizes!

Regardless of luck, all those who enter will receive all 3 (one of each) of the following consolation prizes:

• Inkless Quill: Provided by Thorne, this is a magical quill that never runs out of ink...sort of. It'll work for about a month of heavy use before it runs out of juice. The Thorne sigil will automatically watermark any pages that this quill is used to write on.
• Tote Bag & Charm: Provided by Solvunn, this soft woven tote bag comes with a small handmade charm depicting a sigil of one of the old gods. If asked what the god or sigil means, the only answer is that you will know when your time comes.
• Glow Ring: Provided by the Free Cities, this ring will adjust to fit any finger size. It comes with a round orb instead of a jewel that can light up on command and act as a powerful torch or flashlight. Very powerful. People have gone blind by looking directly into it for too long.

An Escaped Creature

On the second day of the event, rumor has it a small creature has gone loose! The offender in question is this little fellow, who is the size of a small poodle. The Summoned are asked to help find and catch him, if at all possible. He's noted to be harmless if mischievous, but all those in the area are warned to be careful for if he's startled, the animal will eject a magical plume from his quills that can cause one of the following temporary effects: excessive sneezing, a change in hair color, glitter bombed, or to emit a constant glowing aura.

No one knows where he came from or who brought him, but ask any of the faction attendants and they'll be liable to start pointing fingers at the other side. Nonetheless, all those who make an effort to help catch him will be thanked and available mages may attempt to help with the side effects.

If you want your character to make a real attempt at catching him, reply to the comment here by Feb 20th and we'll RNG who eventually catches him. If your character fails, however, they must take one of its side effects for the rest of the day. The choice as to which one is yours! The winner will be rewarded with a token bottle of wine for their troubles or a very fancy dessert if they don't drink.

Comments

[endcaller]

Fandaniel listens closely. The scenario Goro describes feels familiar.

"I will be a lonely soul with no memory and limitless creation magic in a world akin to a dream...? Is that all?"

Anyone who is not an Ascian would probably find that scenario frightening, Fandaniel is only more intrigued.

"Very well. I am ready."

He's not sure what will happen to him, all he knows is that a version of him with no memories would be either beautiful or horrific... Most likely horrific, he decides. Not even losing his memory will strip him of his despair.

[bloomly]

( it seems silly to think that the more that he talks, the more that she thinks she can understand it--but it's true, in some sense of it. she can sort of puzzle out his talk into words that must mean other things, things that she's more familiar with; the voidsent feasting on aether of a mortal soul? she's reminded of the monsters in the pits of the shinra building, clawing at their cages, desperate for freedom if only to fulfill the instinctive bloodlust that the company's 'research' had put in them. she doesn't know what aether would mean, if not magic of some kind--the sort of ethereal feeling of the lifestream, or the souls within it.

still, he takes the pistol from her with some ease--as though he's familiar with wielding it. she's never thought of him as someone that would use weapons, at least not like this, to do his bidding; but there's no sense of fear in her, despite the way he holds it, like there's simply an air of menace about him no matter what he does. on the contrary, she finds it a little--endearing, in some way, if not sad in another.

with her hands empty, she laces them together at her back. )

Magic? Well, it depends. If you're a regular person, then you would have to use Materia for your magic. Have you seen materia before?

( she imagines that he hasn't, but: this is also something that will teach her, a little, about wherever he comes from--and wherever he does not.

she doesn't mention, just yet, that many of her own magical abilities are innate. )

I can show you one, if you'd like! Promise you won't shoot, if I move my hands?

[bloomly]

Be careful! ( --is something that she ends up tossing out as an afterthought; of course, to retrieve the wine means having to leave the heat of the bath, and she feels almost sorry for gideon, sorry for the way that her towel beads water and dribbles it down her leggings, along the shape of her body as she rises and moves her way out of the bath. ) It's cold...

( she regrets it, a little: after all, someone seems to turn, drawn towards the movement as gideon moves closer to the pile of towels; she immediately presses her lips together, as though not to make another peep. to her relief, the other bathers seem disinterested, after that initial movement, and gideon sweeps up the towel, and presumably the bottle with it, so fluidly that it's almost enough to make her laugh. is this something she's familiar with, then? some sort of thievery, or deception?

the fact that the bottle is presented to her from the middle of gideon's chest makes both of her hands lift out of the water--she clamps them over her mouth, her cheeks rosy with amusement; her shoulders shake, but determined, she makes no noise until her hands drop and instead, carefully, reach for the neck of the bottle that she can see just barely poking out. )

You'll forgive my reach. ( softly, lightly, as though still trying to keep with the secretive affair--she inches in a little closer, shadowing their bodies together, and her fingers grab hold of the top, pulling at it gently, lightly, to unearth the bottle entirely. it's warm now, surely, but that doesn't matter much to her; she's practically beaming at gideon. ) I can't believe you did it...! Not that I didn't have faith in you...

( and luckily, the top is a cork that's already been loosened; she can wrap her palm around it and wiggle it free. maybe it's not ladylike to take a pull first, but it also shows to her new companion that there's nothing poisonous or tricky about the liquid itself--a small, pointed swallow, before she passes gideon the bottle.

as for the cork: she tucks it neatly into gideon's bandeau. )

Do you steal things a lot? Or hide things, a lot?

[gynvael]

[ His eyes flutter shut for a moment before he looks back up at her. The air is warm, but not as stifling as the desert heat he's starting to grow used to. He tilts up to meet her lips; swallows the breath that slips out of her.

He threads his finger through her hair. Her weight settles on him, and it isn't long before he's inside her with a heavy exhale. ]

[bloomly]

Well, I might kill you for giving away one of the flowers I picked out for you...

( this is said in a pleasing, almost teasing sort of tone--not that she really minds. she would do the same, honestly, which sort of endears her towards geralt, as though he is not quite the rough person on the outside, once someone dives deep enough inside. still: it does mean that she has to reach to the table for another daisy. this one is a different color, but it'll do.

carefully, she continues her braid, tying it off at the end with one of the bands from around her wrist. she sections off a bit of hair to start on another one. )

But no, I don't think I would listen. Then again, I'm just one strange girl... What sort of an effect would my actions have, if there are so many other people who might also be listening?

( there's a small smile, and at his back, at least he can't see how it twitches at the corners, as though bent there with a flicker of sadness. )

How do you convince someone what they're doing is wrong, when they're convinced that it's right?

[vixening]

[ she does indeed find the woman hard to read, but that is not surprising. most of yennefer's training in aretuza had taught them how to be hard to read, schooled emotions, control. if anything, the look that she gives sparks a thought of she would have a decent sorceress before she loses any hold she might have had on the thought. ]

You're welcome to ask for an audience, once we return. He may or may not grant it, but. [ another shrug - honestly, yennefer is quite glad for how much of a hermit the man is. it keeps her from having to deal with any part of him.

the woman says I've decided to stay in thorne and yennefer nods, once. like she's pleased, though in reality it doesn't really. mean anything to her. especially not if the summit goes as planned.

still - she mentions something about life at the castle and spare me the pitch and yennefer raises a brow at her for just a moment before letting out a sharp snort. ] Alright. [ she picks up her glass and takes another sip, because if she wants the honest pitch, yennefer is not too worried about giving it. at the very least, the castle is something she can speak plainly about. ]

It spares no wealth when it comes to making the Summond feel welcomed, and is the most elgant and rich of the factions. But as any kingdom and any royal line, the politics are longstanding, complicated, and wholly unnecessary. The Queen holds all the power of the throne, and her court and ladies can be found just about anywhere in the castle if you look hard enough. [ which may or may not be a thinly veiled you should have heard that much about me, but she doesn't quite pause long enough for her companion to make a comment about it. ]

Your day-to-day is yours to make- and they're willing to let all Summoned join in on classes, if you're more arcanely focused, attend court, learn a trade, or simply waste the day away in the baths and grand halls, if you prefer . They are the only faction with any sense where it regards the Singularity, and aren't afraid to look for answers. They were also the first to bring learn the magic to bring us here, and the first to refine it to a point of continued use.

Thanks to Ronan Lynch and his frankly absurd amount of power and chaos at his fingertips, you can have just about anything you desire dreamed for you. [ there is...not fondness, exactly, but the sense that yennefer and ronan have some history there, and that it may be complicated. she pauses a beat, and then yennefer lets out a sigh. ]

But it is court, so long as you are familiar with the ways of one, you should be alright.

[vixening]

The right attention? [ and, yes. this is fairly obviously a degree of flirting. yennefer sees no real issue with it - he is easy to look at, isn't daft in the ways of war, and a fair conversationalist. an interesting one. ]

War is escapable because men are men. [ which could be a gendered thing, or just a general sense of not sorceresses. it's hard to tell at this point from her tone, because the clear impatience with the concept of men is really all there is. ] When you mix pride with a fear of magic or religious zeal, there is no use in trying for something that is inherently impossible.

[ she does look to his offered hand, and then back to him, a curious look to her. there is some part of her that considers this - the reason why she came to this summit at all, what she should appear to being doing. she does have a job, beyond all the rest of it, and she should start on that quickly.

but at the same time, there is hardly anything wrong with greeting a newly summoned. yennefer smiles, stepping forward to take the offered hand. ] A reprieve from this would be fantastic, actually. And I could use a glass of wine. Shall we?

[vixening]

[ yennefer is quick to shake her head, if only because this hadn't been the direction she had been expecting this conversation to go. it's fine the gesture says, a small smile still on her face.

triss is alive. she is fine. they'd all survived sodden, some of them with more scars than others. yennefer has no reason to hold that dark spot in her chest.

for now, though, she has something else to turn to - a conversation topic that is much easier than all of this. ]

Yes and no. [ because, thankfully, yennefer's also studied the abraxan magic enough to know what chaos magic is. ] When I was taught, it was explained to me that chaos is everywhere. It is the energy of a lightning strike, what keeps your heart beating in your chest, the power of a flower sprouting from a seed and then blooming. It is everywhere, and in everything. But there certain people are conduits, where they can harness that chaos and transfer it to more useful ways, where most cannot. Magic is the practice of being able to control that chaos.

[ she watches wanda to make sure that made any sense at all before she continues. ]

[itookashot]

Gideon and Jesper have a lot in common so it wouldn't be unusual for someone drawn to one to be drawn by both, to be fair. High-spirited, extroverted, talks too much, overly confident but able to laugh at themselves. And he too is drawn in by people who are quiet and introverted and go to their own drummer. He used to think Wylan was wimpy, but he was just quiet. And very mouthy once he got to know you.

"Ha, no, we're a gang. No real better term for it, although I've tried to find one." Gang seems to have a connotation that doesn't go over with everyone. In Ketterdam they're everywhere so it's common and normal to be a part of one. Yet it is what it is. A group of trouble-makers looking to get money and make a name for themselves. He's used team or group before, but then it's nebulous and uncertain what their purpose is. And he still has yet to cheerfully reply 'crime' to that question.

Jesper leans in a little, curiously, not having noticed that her earrings and everything was made out of bone. Creative! Even the nose stud. He knows that some Durasts do the same as they too manipulate certain types of objects. "So can you bring people back from the dead or just their bones?" He assumes bones, but who knows, he could be surprised.

"You must have to put that on every morning, right? It must be time consuming." Jesper is so impatient he could never sit still long for it! As for the tattoo. "Yes, it's a crow, it's what the Dregs, my gang, call themselves too. Kaz says it's because they have a long memory." For the people who wronged them and the people who were kind. "I consider myself like one more in the vein of liking shiny things."

[princessvegas]

[ When she sinks down, it's with a groan, a pant for breath. She presses her forehead to his, watching him with dark, shiny eyes. Her nails drag over his shoulder blade, her fingers flexing in rhythm with her movements, and her other hand runs a line up and down his chest. ]

Thank fuckin' god I moved. [ The murmur comes from deep in her throat, her eyes still locked on his face. Despite the fact that they've been fucking for months now, as great as Horizon sex is, there is something definitively more satisfying about actually... y'know, fucking. It's not the main reason she moved, but she won't say it didn't hold weight. Actual physical contact with someone (anyone) who wasn't one of the same four other people she saw every single day. ] So much better.

[cointosser]

Well, you could spice it up a bit.

[He's not complaining. And his head is still heavy from the idea of Estinien, gone, and a silly story with somewhat sordid details (even if he must make them up) is...

He doesn't want a distraction, exactly, but he wants to not dwell on it. He can still love his friend, even from what distance has been forced between them. Even if he must swallow that he may never see him again.

At least he can trust Himeka to help him, if she returns too. (When, he guesses. He cannot imagine many of them want to stay here.)]

Honestly, it's a good way to go about it, but now I'm left wondering how often you are in the presence of pirates.

[subhuman]

Duty, purpose...

[ He waves his hand dismissively. ]

They seem to think they've got the answers to the question, but I'm not really sure what question we're trying to answer. Wouldn't be the first time someone was afraid the world was ending.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a bit of a blink from Emet-Selch, as he looks up from his book, but a nod follows shortly thereafter.]

You may.

[He might not always be the most socially-inclined of people, least of all in moments like this, but if he had truly wished to be alone he would have found somewhere less immediately public. Or barring that, retreated to one of the tents.]

Provided you don't mind the presence of another while you read.

[flame_emperor]

"Thank you." Edelgard motions for them to do so, and falls into step with Yennefer easily. "I'm still trying to get my bearings around Thorne, and the lay of the court. Your name tended to come up." She explains. "I'll get right to the point. King Brydan and Queen Ellya. May I ask your opinion of them as rulers? I gather their priorities slightly differ, and if I'm to be of service to Thorne, I'd like to know more about the rulers I would be assisting." It's just sensible really, and Edelgard has made no commitments yet. She's also still trying to understand how the High Mage fits into the power structure, has he commands no small amount of influence himself.

She's hoping an outsider, even one who has gained influence like Yennefer, can provide a more objective view of the two than someone raised under their rule within the castle's walls.

no worries! I am clearly not fast myself XD

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[If he had to guess, it's likely the novelty of it that's drawing the crowds it seems to have. That or perhaps the desire to feel as if one is a sorcerer in truth. But as he has no real need to feel so, when he has his own not inconsiderable ability as it is.

(And no desire to see if he can make the orb light any more than the other passers-by have, even to attempt to out-do them.)

Instead, he turns to Sephiroth's comment. While he has noticed the other man seems to be disinclined to move, where they happen to be standing is as well-suited to conversation as any might be.]

In a manner of speaking. I am a sorcerer.

[Even if he has offered his alliance to Solvunn, rather than Thorne.]

belated nsfw.

[gynvael]

[ His lips quirk, sliding his hand up her leg as she rocks atop him. Up her stomach and over her breast, where his thumb circles. ]

A benefit. [ It is better. He likes having her in the Horizon, but he likes her out here, too, as she is: less of that shine and shimmer that only the Horizon can grant, but still her. He likes seeing her without the extra step—that he can simply find her in the city, in her home. Or by the baths, as it were.

He may have already found her in a couple of places before the summit.

He shifts his hips, a curse catching on his breath. For a moment, he takes her in before he pulls her back down. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Mages are common. Guilds of mages, even. Imagine! It's pretty clear that Viktor finds the prospect of such a thing fairly enthralling, though that much is likely evident from the way he has been mercilessly grilling the Thornean representatives.

Still, he shakes his head at the prospect of relocating.]

No, I think my skills are more suited to Cadens. I would be starting from the beginning, in Thorne.

[shadowthief]

"As if you even knows how," she teases back at him, a smirk lifting one corner of her mouth, but her eyes say she knows he isn't casting it off simply as a joke."

"So many people were trapped by them, it seems," little does she know Julie was the one she was having a rather complicated conversation with when she cast that communication out to the greater net of people. The very same one which led her to the boy beside her. "There's a boy there, I don't know his name, but I... there was a mission, for all the factions, each one had different goals, but Thorne was going to best I could understand it, likely end up overpowering the Singularity with these caskets, they called them. The Free Cities and Solvunn both had their own reasons to stop it, I went while I was still in Solvunn. He had three of them, and I don't see how shoving more power at a thing made entirely of magic is going anywhere good. I stopped him. I stabbed him, and got one of them from him. I saw him when I was trying to see what information I could glean from them. That mission was at night, I was covered," as she always is when she's being The Wraith, "So, I didn't think didn't think he recognized me, at first, when I approached the booth, but he called me a spy..." She sighs a little. "I don't know that he'll do anything, he seemed to be... closely aligned with the royalty there, so if he's keen to keep his position, maybe he wouldn't, I don't know. But I suppose it's only natural for a Crow to make an enemy already." She says the last part begrudgingly, another sigh, deeper this time, resigned to fate as it were.

"Perhaps... or it's a way to keep them compliant, and aligned." That's a very Ketterdam-shaped thought, isn't it? A Kaz idea, more than her own. But it's there, and who knows their leader better than either of the two standing here?

[gynvael]

[ His lips curl for the shortest moment at the edges. The goats did not bring him here, but they're not an unwelcome feature. ]

I've set foot in Thorne and the Free Cities. Never Solvunn.

[ It's the place he understands the least about. Their neutrality, he doesn't buy—but he also doesn't know what they want in its stead. They must want something, if they're summoning folk all the same.

Besides, Old Gods and such—always an added curiosity. They don't speak of the Old Gods anywhere else. Not really. ]

And the cheese is preferable to...tinned slop. [ Or whatever innovation the Free Cities is offering. ]

[shadowthief]

[Once she gets to know him a bit better, Inej will appreciate not being the only one tugging Jesper back from the edge of a peak of trouble.]

Good to know. [she smiles, and it's small, but genuine.

Though, if he wants more conversation, Sam might have to supply it, Inej is not great at idle small talk, and she is already glancing into the crowd, eyes seeking an impossibly tall boy with ridiculously loud clothing choices.]

[gynvael]

Someone told you. [ That's rare. Most don't ever hear about it, if only because so few of the once-confined are left. He can count on one hand, in fact.

And Geralt himself does not speak of it much. Not that he cares who knows; it's more that he finds it opens questions as to where he stands on Thorne when the truth is, he can't give a fuck about Thorne's mishaps in the past or pointing fingers at one kingdom. There are larger problems on hand these days. ]

Did they tell you of the Horizon?

[techmaturgy]

A project or two, yes. I don’t like to be idle.

[This is an understatement—Viktor is naturally productive, a function of his wanting to wanting to make the absolute most of any amount of time he has. With magic so easily accessible, he doesn't even need to be in Thorne to make the most of it. Cadens already has a precedent for melding magic and technology, which means he's in a good place, when it comes to recreating his own work.]

Cadens is on the right track, technologically speaking. [They're just, you know, a few revolutions behind.] I could do a great deal for them, with a push in the right direction.

[techmaturgy]

Well, it's a little more complicated than that.

[Raw materials, resources, and so on. It would be great to be the guy to invent electricity, but he's under no illusions about the time and effort it will take just to get the necessary infrastructure up and running. Easier with a team, but he understands that people have their own priorities. He shrugs.

This guy is, in fact, such a huge nerd, that auditing classes at the Academy was, like, one of the very first things that he did. Sam does not need to know that.]

I've been, yes. What gave it away?

[You know, beyond the fact that he's just a huge nerd.]

[techmaturgy]

[Strange isn't bad, at least, though when she says that she gets a little bit of a laugh out of him. They're all adjusting, in one way or another.]

I'm in Cadens, so. The Free Cities. Yourself?

[itookashot]

They disintegrate? Then why are they trying to fuck with it? I'd leave it alone entirely if that were the case, they're asking for mass disintegration at this point. So they summoned us here as test subjects to mess with the thing they can't?

[ Jesper looks concerned and sounds slightly incredulous. It's a little insane, honestly! The Summoned were brought here for that reason, and he wonders when they figured out that they wouldn't die instantly around it, the same as the civilians here. Did they just luck out that it worked that way? Jeez. He's heard of leaders caring very little for the people they put into the army or who fight for them, and technically stealing people from other worlds would make very good lab rats. Then no citizens die, only these strangers.

Listen, Jesper understands seeing something shiny and wanting to poke it, although he is not someone who needs to comprehend everything that happens. If someone can explain the Singularity to him, he'd probably listen, but he is not going to study it either. He just wants to roll with things and stay alive. And poking the magic is clearly a dangerous idea made by idiots, in his opinion. He has a bad feeling it won't be the people in power who suffer when it goes wrong. Typical! ]

Yeah, Fjerda doesn't let woman fight in their army, although they did recently steal some Grisha to use for their own reasons, but they don't see Grisha as people.

[ Which explains why they didn't mind doing horrible tests on them and seeing them become addicted to a drug that would eventually kill them. Women or men, that didn't matter, the power is what did. It's still strange to him to think Matthias was once like them. It's not that he's become an entire other person, he still had his weak spots, and he was a bit of a dick at times, but that level of hateful was what Jesper observed for himself in the man that died for their mission. He's glad he didn't meet him before.

Jesper brightens when she brightens since she has answers and he's fascinated, sipping his wine as he listens. Then she comes right out and starts using magic casually, which startles him. It's happening everywhere here, but he still didn't expect it from her. He smiles and relaxes, sort of taking in the reality that he won't be hunted down here. ]

So there's no reason to fear magic because anyone can do magic. Wow. Then I guess I don't have to worry.

[ He glances to the side and spots an empty cup on a newly vacant table, reaching out and it quickly lifts and zips straight into his waiting hand. It's not like he wants to keep a dirty dish though so he sends it back, a little more carefully so it doesn't fall over. ]

It's an easy way of getting items.

[ And that's one of the ways he ends up stealing. He can do it from pickpocketing and sleight of hand too, but there are few ways that can beat a very quick telekinetic pull when no one is looking. ]