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

[vixening]

[ she is out of practice, she's noticed. whereas before she had spent days, weeks, months, years, decades with a controlled expression and withheld tongue, a mask put on for the royal families, the political messes, in part it feels like something of another lifetime. it certainly has been long enough, both back on the continent and the weeks she's spent here in thorne since her dream, that a day like today feels a bit like a decade in and of itself.

yennefer has played her part, and her act is flawless. but here, in the quiet off-hours of the lounge tents, she welcomes the quiet. welcomes the peace her bottle of wine gives her. slowly and in small increments, feels herself relax again. or at least - attempt to - if not for the way each new voice seems to draw her eyes upwards, the way she checks the door. if anything she's aware enough of her surroundings to know when she's been approached, and a glance up from where she'd been staring at her goblet of wine shows her the face of a man she is sure she's seen, if only at a distance, back at the castle. a summoned, certainly, and one in thorne. ]

I'm not expecting anyone, no.

[ she gestures to the empty table space and bench across from her, though it's not quite an invitation. just as she doesn't quite say that she doesn't mind. perhaps because a part of her does, even if another part of her is almost drawn to the idea of company, and her curiosity is piqued enough.

with a slight glance to see if he's going to take a seat or not, she takes another sip from her wine. ]

[funbreaker]

[ That's close enough to signal an invitation that Thancred is quick to take it, sliding in onto the bench across from her to provide what he expects may be some much-needed company. He very much doubts her words, and if whoever she is clearly looking for does not come, then he may as well take her mind off of it with some idle chatter. (And because he's curious to learn more of her, of course.)

He raises a hand to call over one of the servers manning the tavern. ] I'll have what she's having, [ he delivers the order with a nod toward Yennefer's glass. She does appear by all accounts to be a woman of taste, so he can't imagine he'll go wrong with that. The server nods and heads off to fetch him his drink.

With that, Thancred focuses his attention on her again, not outright staring yet also making it quite clear that he is here for a conversation rather than to simply share the space. ]

You are Yennefer, are you not? Your reputation precedes you.

[ Will she correct him with further titles that should be applied to her name? He's curious to see what she's like when she's one-one-one with someone and not so interested in making a point of her standing in the midst of a crowd. ]

[vixening]

[ he certainly is quick to take it, isn't he? yennefer actually ends up watching him for a moment as he makes himself comfortable and orders a drink for himself, both clues that she knows to take as someone who is plenty comfortable with...what, she's still looking to figure out. flattery? conversation? socializing? for a brief moment yennefer considers sitting up a bit straighter, considers pulling her elbows off the wooden table and seeming a bit more polite. more like the woman she spent the day flaunting around.

except that she is far enough through this bottle and far too exhausted by the day to really continue the front. when the man turns his attentions back to her, she realizes enough of what will happen to not be entirely annoyed when he continues to speak. wanting conversation, curious about her. she supposes that's not so far a stretch, and he hasn't done anything yet to outright annoy her, so she gives a single nod. ]

The Venerable Yennefer of Vengerberg, to be specific. [ there is no actual fire behind the correction, and yennefer tilts her goblet towards him, something a little like sarcasm underlying her words as she takes her next step. her reputation. ah, yes. well. at least she has an idea of what his questions will concern. it also lets her know he is from thorne, that he hasn't been here for the events that make up said reputation. ]

And I suppose you're new through the well?

[funbreaker]

[ From his perspective, Thancred's actually relieved to have caught Yennefer in this moment, where she's let her front fall enough that he might hear more than carefully tailored responses to his questions. Not that he wants to probe too deeply into what she does or doesn't know about the inner workings of Thorne, realizing that he cannot come on too strong. Besides, she is a fellow Summoned and that means that he is simply interested in her, beyond what she can offer him.

To her credit (or mayhap his), she has stopped eyeing the door to focus in on him for now. While he does keep his back straight for the moment, not opting to lean his arms forward to mirror her, he does seem to ease up somewhat, his shoulders loosening as he drums his fingers against the edge of the tabletop. ]

Quite a title, that. I think I've heard another similar. The Venerable Kylo Ren, I think it was?

[ He remembers it quite well, but would rather not let on to how carefully he's been keeping track of the notable Summoned in Thorne. He has not yet met Kylo, but his has met Ronan, and that seems to be close enough for now.

At her question, he's quick to nod. ] Yes, part of the most recent batch. Though now I'm realizing that Solvunn and the Free Cities did their own round as well.

[ A bit odd, isn't it, that all the factions dragged people in around the same time. ]

[vixening]

[ well, wouldn't that be novel - to have him interested in her, rather than what she can give him. as far as yennefer is concerned, that has yet to be proven, judging by the curiosity that all but exudes from him. he is new, it is to be expected, and while he may have caught her with less of the pomp and circumstance she had put herself in out around the festival, she is still suspicious. still knows better.

his body language is telling, but only in small ways. she wonders if her patience will hold long enough for her to find it out for herself, or if this whole conversation will be cut short, tone sharp, and what is it you want?

for now, she's not at that point, and instead allows a kind of huff of a laugh. ] There are a number of us with the title, yes. Our actions to protect Thorn and its interest have proven our worth to the court a few months ago, and they saw it worth befitting us of the titles. [ she twirls the goblet for a moment, feeling the liquid move against its sides, before she sets the container down. there is more she could probably say to that point, about what it was they did, but he'll have to ask the right questions.

she lets out a bit of a...well, it's a sigh, but there's something a bit annoyed mixed up in it as well. ]

Yes, well, it's to be expected that the other factions would follow once they figured out the magic involved for themselves. Thorne was the first, and the only one for a couple of months, but since then the Cities and Solvunn has had a couple of rounds for themselves too.

[funbreaker]

[ They proved their worth to Thorne? That's an interesting concept, particularly when it's already been proved that each and every Summoned is of some worth to the factions who brought them in, seeing how they went to such great effort to draw them here from across entire universes. Granted, Thancred wouldn't expect all of them to earn a title simply for that, but it does prove that Yennefer and Kylo have gone above and beyond in some way.

The question that now sticks in his mind is whether or not Yennefer is truly loyal to Thorne and its interests or if this is all part of playing the game and earning their trust so that she can carry out her own agenda. It's impossible to know at this stage, but that won't stop him from wondering.

What she says next more or less tracks with what Himeka told him, which is that Thorne is the one who started all this. ]

Is that what you believe, that the other factions sorted out the magicks required for such a powerful spell on their own? [ He tilts his head at her, genuinely curious. This is something she has lived through, unlike him, and she appears to have enough clout in Thorne that she would know. ] Or is it possible that the information was leaked to them through some other means?

[ It's around that time that his own glass of wine is dropped off by the server, and Thancred instantly thanks them with a smile. He takes a testing sip of the wine and then smack his lips. ]

Ah, it's quite rich. [ He nods to Yennefer in acknowledgement. ] You have good taste.

[vixening]

[ ah yes well, that is where you get into the more complicated matters, isn't it? because you have the level at which they are welcomed into the court and given free room and board, which is applied at each of their arrivals here. that there is worth in their presence, and they are given what they need for very little else (at least in the case of thorne) because of it. but for titles, for power and for rank, then you have to do a bit more.

his question is an interesting one, and yennefer's head tilts to the side a moment to consider it. it's true, she's simply assumed the factions had sorted out their own magics. that they'd figured out the steps necessary to repeat the spell on their own (isn't that usually the case? that the same bits of magic are discovered and then rediscovered, over and over again?) but her expression shifts minutely as if he's brought up a point. ]

Considering the first Summoneds to make it to those factions came from Thorne, the information wouldn't have been leaked, so much as taken. A good number of them simply walked through portals into both Solvunn and the Cities, and they would have brought with them what each of us have experienced here.

[ the server arrives at that point, and yennefer takes the time to take a sip of her own goblet, watching her companion taste the wine and then - at the acknowledgment of her taste - she huffs something of a laugh. ]

I do.

[funbreaker]

A fair point. If enough Summoned shared what little they knew about the process to their new benefactors in Solvunn and Cadens, that may have been all that their mages and scientists needed to replicate it.

[ Given how so many of the Summoned had been treated in Thorne — that is, like prisoners — it stands to reason that they would want to retaliate by offering the other factions that vital information. Granted, it would be best if none of them were enacting these summoning practices, but Thancred could see how such a transfer of information might have happened, out of spite or a need for revenge.

Yet he can't quite hold back a sigh. ] Which likely means that we're all being brought here in larger numbers, to bolster each faction's ranks. [ He is fairly certain that is not a good thing. Like it or not, each one of the Summoned is a weapon or a source of power in some form. They're all stoking the fire in one way or another, despite all this talk of peace.

There is something here that he finds curious, however. He's heard much from the likes of Himeka and others, who chose to leave Thorne as soon as they had the opportunity, but Yennefer... ]

I assume you could have just as easily walked through one of those portals as well, yet you chose to remain in Thorne. Why is that?

[ He can only assume she isn't one of the Summoned who'd been unceremoniously thrown into a cell. ]

[vixening]

[ she gestures, like he's answered his own question, and turns back to her goblet. yennefer could probably be a bit more invested in what that line of thinking opens up - that the separate factions have magic equal to ambrose' years of study. that they are willing to act on that magic, no matter their views on it, says less than you'd think - as yennefer has found, over her years, that it tends to be those who claim to hate magic that can find the most intense uses for it.

the sigh he gives, though, nearly piques her curiosity. nearly. but then he moves on to speak of numbers and bolstering ranks and yennefer shakes her head a fraction. ] Bolster ranks, gather information, or we're simply powerful allies for each faction to claim as their own. Take your pick. [ her tone leans a bit more towards acceptance than anything else, though that has more to do with the fact yennefer believes almost anyone would take the opportunity to use power mages (like the summoned) or powerful weapons (like the summoned) in any way they can. it's nothing new, and while she has little experience with the other factions, she assumes they're all the same.

it is his question - about why she stayed in thorne, why she didn't take the offered doorways to other factions - that has yennefer pausing. she looks at him for a moment, really looks at him, like she is trying to decide something with very little information to back it up. but then the moment passes, and her attention returns to her drink. ]

And go where? [ ah, with all this assuming, he was bound to be wrong somewhere. with the next few words, she gestures towards each section of the festival with her goblet. ] To a collection of Cities that distrust the use of magic and believe its source should be destroyed? [ she's pointing towards where the free cities have their tents, and then sweeps the goblet over to solvunn's area, where they can probably still smell a faint aura of goat on the wind. ] Or a settlement that would rather worship magic like a god than understand its use? [ there is a distinct edge of distaste on her words for either option, before she offers him another shrug. ] Perhaps I chose the only place I could stand to be in for more than a few days at a time.

[ if thancred wanted to look closer at all of that, he may find that it's only the surface. that she is very obviously not telling him the breadth of her reasons or thoughts. but with that closer look, he will also find a very well-built and maintained wall that he will not be getting through tonight. it's not an end to the discussion, so much as a warning. ]

But don't let me cloud your opinions if the shows at this festival have been swaying you. [ sarcasm, some bite, but perhaps that should be expected. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Why take his pick when all of those options that Yennefer presents could be true? Whether there is a specific intention for each Summoned or if the factions have simply decided to cast a wide net, he still couldn't say. Yet the fact that a good number of Summoned have already established themselves speaks for itself, doesn't it? They've drawn in people of ambition, people who won't simply sit back and do nothing when thrust into such a situation.

As Yennefer goes on, she takes on a certain sharpness that had been missing when he first sat down. Whether that means he's inched closer to her or been pushed back, it's difficult to say. He'll choose to see it as a sidestep of sorts, since he isn't one to give in so easily when it comes to working someone for information.

Besides, she's to the point and quick-tongued in a way that reminds him a bit of Y'shtola. He can work with that. ]

Where I'm from, those who rely only on technology and those who expect the gods to save them cannot often be trusted, that much is true. [ He's thinking of the Garlean Empire and of any tribe or group of people who are pushed far enough to summon a primal, naturally.

And what would that make Thorne? Old Sharlyan, most likely. The sorts who cherished knowledge above all else and would hold onto it with a vice grip.

At her last comment, Thancred grins roguishly and shakes his head. ] Not as of yet, no. What might have convinced me to switch sides is the fact that a good friend of mine is in Solvunn, but I decided I'd rather stay in Thorne for now. [ He pauses to take another long drink from his glass of wine. ] Magick may not be my area of expertise, but the kingdom is an intriguing place and I'm not quite ready to leave for greener pastures. [ He nods to her in acknowledgment and gives a small tip of his glass. ] Which means we'll likely be seeing more of each other.

[vixening]

[ and the truth is, she can't really blame him for looking for the information. she was among the second wave that came through the well, which means she's been here in thorne and this new continent as a whole for months. even so, the two months she wasn't here had felt like a mountain of information to climb - she can only imagine how out of sorts it would be to feel this far behind.

which is probably why yennefer doesn't simply end the conversation for taking up too much of her time. those that are new, those who don't understand, it's not their fault. and up until this point, all thancred has done is ask simple questions. questions she can keep at a distance well enough. ( and perhaps there is also a part of her that hadn't wanted to spend the evening drinking alone like some sad sack. perhaps this is enough to entertain her, until it doesn't anymore. )

at his comparison to home, yennefer feels herself become partially curious, partially entertained at how simple the populations of people can be no matter what sphere they're from. ] And what are the sorts you do trust?

[ she's looking at him well enough when he grins, when she catches the rogueishness of it, and her brow rises. ah- so he's that sort, then. that sort, who has chosen to stay in thorne even in spit of his friend who...

the mention of solvunn has the briefest flash of tension crossing her eyes, knowing about her own path through these new few days. she thinks of geralt, of the way he'd looked at her, had claimed he had people there. is this good friend that very same person? yennefer, whose mood has seemed to have shifted the slightest bit at the thought, turns her attention back to her own wine.

we'll likely be seeing more of each other. another snort, and she's taking another long sip from her goblet. ] It does seems that way. [ which is probably more confusing than anything, but she doesn't appear all that interested in explaining herself. ]

They do have classes, if you wish to learn of magic. [ a glance towards him, and then a shrug. once again, there are layers to the things she's saying, opinions she has that aren't exactly known, no matter how direct and to the point her words may sound. ] Unless you're more of a sword and shield type.

[funbreaker]

[ What sorts does he trust? Thancred pauses in taking a sip of his wine for a moment, swirling the liquid in the glass before he sets it back down on the table. That isn't the simplest question to answer, and yet he does think there is an honest reply he can give her. ]

Those I've spent enough time with to have a proper measure of, I suppose. [ He glances down, pondering for a few more beats before adding: ] And those who have chosen to think for themselves rather than letting another dictate their creed.

[ His mention of having a friend in another faction does seem to strike her in some way, and her wry response speaks further to that. Thancred can only assume he's pressed on some tender spot, but he knows better than to keep at it when Yennefer already doesn't appear to be in the best of moods.

If he's helping to take her mind off of things, he's fine with that. It might do a small amount to endear him to her, and he suspects that she would not be a bad person to befriend.

Of course, she's misunderstood his comment about magicks, and he lets out a small breath through his nose, partly amused. ] I suppose I am. [ Especially as of late, having taken on the role of protector. He may not use an actual shield as G'raha does, but it hardly matters. ] Unfortunately, no class would be able to help. It's not simply that I haven't studied how to wield magick, at one point I was capable, but...

[ He trails off and lifts his glass to take another sip. How to explain this? He's thus far skirted around telling anyone in strict detail, though there's no reason to be tight-lipped about it. Save for unpleasant memories, that is.

He pulls his mouth away from the rim of the glass and eyes Yennefer across the table, giving a little shrug. ]

A number of things happened, and I no longer have the ability.

im. screaming at this.

[vixening]

[ there is something about him, yennefer notices. he's used to speaking with people, used to being liked and amiable. she's not yet sure if it's a mask covering something vastly different than the charming, easy conversations he presents, but there is a craft to it. something that comes with experience. it's enough that it draws her curiosity, so much so that if he's looking, he might just see a shift from vague indifference towards this conversation to an almost mild interest. at the very least, despite her mood, she doesn't look like she's going to get up and leave.

it also means that his first comment - the obviousness of it - gets a short roll of her eyes. yes, yes, of course, those you've spent time with the looks says. that is the easier answer, and very obviously not the one she was looking for. so when he continues, some of that leaves her. those who have chosen to think for themselves he says. yennefer finds the answer...what? agreeable? in line? she doesn't know why it would matter, especially with solvunn in the immediate horizon, but perhaps that's why. knowing that there is an immediate end, that she may never see him again.

she eyes her wine when she asks, ]

And is your home in as short supply of those as others?

[ free thinkers, those not driven by someone else's dictations. there's a sharp edged sarcasm to her tone, like she has an idea of the world and she does not expect to find many who fall into that category.

it's the huff that catches her, though. an amused sound that has her attention back to him as he continues. she's already argued with one boy today about magic, about having magic, and part of her is almost ready to snap at this one as well. that magic can be learned (except for her case). that it is so readily available here it almost makes her sick. if jaskier, of all people, can get to a point where he is sending birds across the continent itself (said bird who is currently up in the rafters of this very tent) then anyone can manage it.

but then he starts to explain about his magic, specifically a short phrase of at one point i was capable, and yennefer freezes to her spot.

she should be more careful about this, less visibly reactive. it's damning, more damning than she can be right now. but this man who she hasn't even gotten his name takes a sip of his wine and shrugs like it doesn't matter and says i no longer have the ability and yennefer feels a bit as though the ground falls out from under her. ]

You...don't? [ her voice is soft, just above a whisper, like the words escape from her before she realizes they're being said. it's a second later before yennefer is blinking, pulling herself back from whatever free fall had just begun. the panic that she's been so careful to step around, to avoid. the slip of it has her feeling off-balance, unmoored, and immediately tensing back again - her attention back on anything else, like taking her bottle and pouring herself another glass of wine. ]

I am sorry to hear of that. [ is what she says next, and while her transition back to that distance is nearly seamless, she is still thinking back to the fact it happened at all. to how quickly that has slipped under her skin.

( to geralt's face, in the horizon. you've already painted a target on your back )

she's back to the presentation of before, vaguely interested, distant. back to the simple conversation they'd been having. back to a thinly veiled edge, if he came too close. ]

What keeps you in Thorne, then? Unless you're the political type, the focus of the kingdom is primarily arcane.

screams with you

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred will take it as a win of sorts that he hadn't immediately been dismissed by Yennefer after inviting himself to her table. She does strike him as the sort of person who only bothers to entertain others who she finds at least mildly interesting, so the mere fact that they're still conversing means that he hasn't been a complete bore. This sort of socializing is second nature to him, of course; it's good to know he hasn't lost his edge, even in a world where his name and face mean nothing.

Once again, he has to consider her question. Is his home experiencing a lack of free thinkers? He would not go so far as to say that. He's met plenty of good, trustworthy people, and not only among the Scions. Even if people like Aymeric and Raubahn are tied to their nations by their loyalty to those lands, they are still willing to think outside those boundaries, for instance.

More than that, there are many people who are guided by fear rather than an unwillingness to remove themselves from the status quo.

He does not find a moment in which to provide an answer to that question, however, not when Yennefer has such a notable reaction to his comments about his inability to use magick. While she's able to wrest control over her own expression and her tone of voice after a few moments, it's long enough for him to gather that he's struck a nerve, whether or not that was his intention.

Now that he thinks on it, he has yet to see Yennefer herself use any magick, despite all the talk of how she is an accomplished mage and more than capable of training any others in Thorne who aspire to be like her and wield that power. More than that, she'd been rather scarce in the castle from the time of his summoning up until this summit. Could it be? Are they one and the same? It gives him a great deal to chew on.

However, then a wall is hastily erected between them and she carries on as if that little stumble never happened. Thancred could push the issue, but he knows better than to do that. It might be best to investigate this more on his own and return to it at a later time, when she isn't already on the back foot.

He shakes his head when she offers her condolences, shrugging them off. ] It's fine. Truthfully. I have always been more adept with a blade, and I have companions back home who can magically infuse the weapon I favor. [ Even then, the cartridges will do damage without any magick added to them; they're simply not as potent. ]

My thought is that Thorne might need a few people like me. The sword and shield types, as you called us. [ He quirks a small smile at her, then finishes off the rest of his glass of wine. ] Those who cast spells tend to need time to prepare them. I'm the one who can jump into the fray and keep any foes busy.

[ Not that the castle seems particularly susceptible to attack, but she'll get the idea, surely. ]

[vixening]

[ he should take it as a win, as yennefer is not afraid to dismiss anyone and everyone if she feels like it. and maybe it is because he knows his way around this sort of socializing, or maybe it's because yennefer - in general - has been a bit cut off lately, due to her own decisions. an easy conversation in a neutral territory where she doesn't have to pretend to have patience and understanding for members of the court...it's a nice change of pace.

part of her is curious about his answer - about his lack, or not, of free thinkers. in another place, at another time, maybe with a few more glasses of wine and a more comforting atmosphere. for now, unfortunately, her attention is immediately shifted.

magic, gone. a part of him, no longer his to use. yennefer - briefly - feels like she is back in the forest, screaming up to the skies, damning it all; her magic, her life, fate, destiny, voleth meir. nothing came to her then, and nothing comes to her now, either.

she knows that this slip will come back to haunt her, and she is almost prepared to cut off this conversation here and now, knowing she's shown too much, said too much, to this stranger. this newly arrived. this will come back to bite her, just as every other slip she has made has done so, but for now yennefer forces the mask back into place. forces all of it back into place. ]

Infusing weapons with magic isn't so far-fetched an idea. I know of a few who do something similar where I'm from, as well. [ vilgefortz, for one. geralt's witcher signs. she shrugs, takes another sip from her wine. manages a very small, slightly amused huff when he says as you called us. she does catch the way he quirks a smile back to her, the way he finishes off the rest of his glass of wine. part of her almost wants to latch onto the hope he missed whatever it was she'd just let slip, but she's got too many decades of underestimating men like him behind her to latch onto the hope too quickly. ]

It depends on the mage. [ she says with only a little bit of humor behind it. ] Though there is also a very simple solution. [ she smiles a bit in return, though there is something...not necessarily competitive about it, confident. together. and then downs the rest of her own glass, and sets it atop the table. ] You become adept with both sword and magic - for any time you might need to prepare, you will still have the weapon.

[funbreaker]

[ While Thancred has only recently received a gunblade with the help of Ronan, he is quite certain that there are any number of people in Thorne who could magically imbue his cartridges, as Ryne had always done for him. As Urianger and Y'shtola have continued to do, in her absence. While he has not gone so far as to ask anyone yet, it's something he has had percolating in the back of his mind. Yennefer herself might serve as an option, save for a detail he may have just uncovered.

He could outright ask her now to gauge her reaction and possibly confirm his theory, but he also isn't aiming to anger her. Stephen is someone else he might request help from in the future, so it isn't as if he's without options. ]

I'm not surprised to hear that. If you can slice through a creature with a blade infused with fire or ice, the blow will be that much more potent.

[ As Yennefer continues on, Thancred watches her glass hit the table. It seems their conversation will have come to an end before long, but he's certainly gotten something out of it, and he can only hope she has as well. ]

A fair point. We have red mages where I'm from, who wield both white and black magic and also use a rapier. Are you saying you're comfortable with a sword as well?

[ He raises an eyebrow, not making any effort to hide his interest. He would not at all mind seeing her in action, if given the chance. ]