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

come at me tbh!!

[photophobic]

[Kylo pauses, looking up from his plate and leaving his fork in place right where it is, bolt upright, speared viciously into what appears to be some kind of baked potato that Kylo has neglected to cut open and may be planning on just picking up and biting into. His eyes focus on Julie's cheerful face, and then— recognition. An incredibly awkward smile attempts to pull at the corner of his mouth.]

Mm. So far.

[Nothing to stop him setting something or other on fire at any given moment after all. But his mood is more pleasant already for Julie's excitement at recognising him, regardless of the pin she wears identifying her as (presumably) the enemy. The tension in his shoulders appears to loosen, just a fraction.]

You're... [hm. his mouth tics.] You look the same. If a little more... naturalised. Like you've found a place for yourself.

[princessvegas]

[ As completely wrecked as she was that night, she remembers that smile, almost like he doesn't know how to move his face in that way. It's actually strangely adorable, akin to watching puppies learn to stumble around before they can walk. There's something concerning about how foreign it is to him, but it's more in the way one might be concerned about a friend whose parents yell a little too much.

Her head tilts a little, her eyes narrow the smallest bit. It's not hard to read his meaning, and it's almost comical how far off he really is. Julie's not exactly a tight-lipped person, but neither does she feel the need to deeply detail her journey from the dungeon all the way to Cadens. She knows it doesn't line up with anyone else's, knows that her path has been markedly different from any other Summoned's. She chuckles softly. ]

Found a place, sure. It's where everyone else I cared about went. My thoughts on where they wound up ain't the important part. The clothes are 'cause it's in the middle of the fuckin' desert, and I ain't keen to sweat myself to death.

[ The truth is that, while Julie doesn't trust or believe in any of the factions, she trusts the Free Cities the least by far. They're too reminiscent of the government she'd known her whole life, the same one that created the superflu, that let it get loose, that lied to the people while they dropped like flies. The American government had effectively annihilated the human race in her world, and the fact that she sees so many similarities in Cadens chills her to the very bone. In her own group, she's been vocal about her opposition.

But she's the minority, and everyone else she cares for went there and never looked back. She needed to be with those people far more than she needed to be on the "right" team, and since she doesn't think Thorne is correct in its approach to the Singularity either, it just doesn't matter where she is. The only place she actively wants to be is Nott, and that's not on the table, for many reasons.

Something she vaguely remembers him mentioning, the last time they met, it nags at her. It has, basically this whole time, since he said it, but especially since she began learning how to use magic, how to channel it through herself. ]

You asked me once, if I could feel it. The Singularity. I didn't... I didn't know back then, that not everyone does. I thought everyone felt it all the time, like I did. Like spiderwebs, when you walk through 'em. Did you know? That most folks can't feel that?

[photophobic]

[Kylo had been intending on pursuing that first line of inquiry, perhaps probing deeper into the choice Julie appears to have made to plant roots into this life, if not any of the planet's political factions, but her question completely captures his attention.

It is not, at all, the kind of observation he expected to hear from her, and for whatever reason it pleases him an inordinate amount. Perhaps it simply reminds him of the kind of conversations he'd dreamt about having as a very young child, where he'd meet someone else who finally, really understood. And they'd talk about the Force together, the two of them, in hushed, excited voices, and they'd describe feeling the tug and flow and movement of its energy with every step, just like that. Spiderwebs, when you walk through them. Standing still to feel yourself wrapped in the current of a wide river. A million grains of sand falling through your fingers, each one part of a great, fluid whole.

Not that Julie is likely aware of how accidentally profound a moment Kylo's experiencing, unless she can read the weight of the pause and the shift in Kylo's expression as he answers:]

I did. Where I am from... it's a rare gift, to be able to feel the movement of the Force. Rarer still to be able to use that awareness to control it. Being sensitive, strong in the Force, it's like being one in a million. More, perhaps. Born with a sense of touch where everyone else is numb. And here, the Singularity...

[he pauses, glancing across the tavern to some of the other customers still propping up the bar at this late hour before swinging the full intensity of his heavy gaze right back to Julie's face.]

...they don't feel it, even when they use its power. Not like I do.

[And a correction.]

Like we do.

[princessvegas]

[ She has no way to know just deeply her question is affecting him, though she can tell it's something clearly much heavier than he must be used to. The whole concept of there being some greater power that can be manipulated by man at all is so new to her, still so foreign, that she has never had the time to question things like this, like whether she experiences it the same as others. It wasn't until Julie tried to explain to Nadine how she felt magic (chaos, the Force, it seems to have endless names and she's not sure whether they're all really the same thing) that she began to understand how different it was for so many others. That they didn't feel it all the time.

She'd sort of known, through the Horizon, that her ability to manipulate the plane wasn't the same as theirs -- that most of them couldn't control it like she could, constantly change and manipulate it. She's met few others who have people in their domains, and she's met no one else that she knows of who is able to fully control those people. Their actions and appearances, their interactions with other Summoned. Even more unique is her bartender, who she named Steven because that's what he felt like to her, a creation able to act as an extension of both herself and the Horizon's magic, with only a minimum effort or amount on her part. He caters and serves, knows the favorite drink of anyone he meets and makes it perfectly, appears without warning to replenish at only the perfect times. She can sense things through him, she's realized, usually that someone new has entered her domain, but also when there's an issue that needs her attention. And most of it was all created subconsciously, when she first visited, as though the Horizon, the Singularity, knew already that she could direct it.

But there is understanding on her face when Kylo explains. She could never have understood without being here, because none of this existed for her before; magic didn't hum in the air in Kansas, her emotions didn't have the outlet to be able to lash out like she's learned they can. When she finally met someone who really could do magic, someone from a different world, she didn't have the context to really understand -- she'd always assumed it was something inherent only within Flagg, that she couldn't have. It's only been a few months that she's understood that she can have it, because even when she first came to Abraxas, she still assumed it was not something within her reach. But she'd spent her whole life feeling out of place and overlooked, like she was missing something she was supposed to have, and then...

Now she opens her hand, places it palm up on the table. Above it, small flames lick into existence, one by one, until there is a ball, no more than an inch across. She twitches her hand slightly and it reshapes into a butterfly that flutters across the table to rest on the handle of his fork, wings slowly opening and closing a few times before it evaporates again. There's no spell, no hand placements, nothing that's prescribed in the textbooks Nadine endlessly reads. And it's not effortless -- though it's nowhere near the massive expenditure of energy it was at the beginning for her, now it is just a sharp, concentrated exercise happening within her mind.

Her voice is soft when she speaks. ]

Like it talks back, without words. It's alive.

[photophobic]

It is life.

[Kylo's smile draws towards a more natural, recognisable shape as he watches Julie reach out and coax the magical potential flowing through them into the shape and nature of her choosing, simply with the extension of her will.]

You know it's limitless, don't you. This power. Anything is possible, if you can only want it enough.

[princessvegas]

[ Something in her expression shifts, becomes almost nervous. It's not him; this is the apprehension of experience lived, of people who have failed to limit their wanting, only for people like her to suffer through the consequences. It's the apprehension of someone who watched every person she'd ever known slowly die because of limitless power, who has been the one running for her life from a force she cannot understand, whose target was someone infinitely stronger than her.

She has been scarred by this kind of ambition, never even her own, and it shows on her face. Her brow furrows and she ducks her head a bit, looks at her nails, painted a faint pink color. ]

Just because we want stuff doesn't make it a good idea to go after it. Even if we can do it.

[photophobic]

[Kylo's head tilts slightly— it isn't difficult to note the shift in Julie's mood, or the concern sliding into her words. Kylo hardly needs his empathic abilities here.]

Is there something you want that it would be bad for you to have? Or are you worried about me, perhaps. My desires.

[It wouldn't be an unreasonable concern to have. But despite Kylo's general aura, he doesn't seem irritated or offended by the implication. Simply curious.]

[princessvegas]

[ She wishes she could be more stoic about it, more detached, but the truth is that she is not far removed from the trauma. Even now, at this moment, the memories of it all stand like mountains over everything else in her mind. The gasping and choking of countless people suffocating on their own fluids, the stench of thousands of bloated, rotting corpses, house after house filled with nothing but bodies, even tiny babies and pets left lifeless in their beds. The way she'd sat on the kitchen floor and howled until her throat was raw because she wasn't physically strong enough to drag her parents outside and bury them. The deafening silence of the month after. The way her shoes filled with blood as she walked across mountains and the desert. The blinding pain of being struck by lightning, the blackness after, enveloping her entire consciousness until she was pulled from the well in Thorne.

Every day, she is crushed under the weight of it all, kept alive only by a steady stream of toxic distractions and sheer denial. Except for moments like right now, where she is forced to remember. ]

No. [ She shakes her head a little, wraps her arms around herself without thinking. Julie herself has never wanted anything particularly outrageous, not direct power; she has always preferred to be the whisper in the ear of those with such authority, absorbing the perks left in their wake. Nor does she think that negatively of Kylo. Sure, his whole, y'know, existence is a little creepy, but some people are just like that. ] But I've seen what happens when people do things just because they can. You said I look naturalized, but there's a reason. I can't go back to my world, ever, because of what people did for power. So I have to become a part of this one.

[photophobic]

[Kylo observes for a moment, steady and silent, simmering with his usual intensity as he considers the spectacle before him. He knows this dread. Intimately. He knows the crucible of suffering and loss they apparently share— but perhaps, Julie hasn't discovered the strength born from her experiences yet. It can be hard to see. Mainly, because it requires looking back.]

I don't think it's coincidence. That you and I both have this sense, this... understanding. Because you're right. Nobody should seize this power just because they can. It has to be channeled for a purpose. The right purpose.

[He leans forward, meeting her eyes and holding her gaze, unflinching.]

Existing here.

[princessvegas]

[ She doesn't lean back and she doesn't break eye contact. While it's incredibly easy to see why Kylo might spook or shake people, Julie doesn't find him particularly unnerving, other than his sheer size (look, he's a giant and she barely hits 5'4"). He's a bit eerie, sure, but she's pretty sure a lot of it is just overcompensation for awkwardness and poor social skills. As far as she can tell, he's like an enormous, edgy teenager who just needs to settle into himself.

But her brow does furrow, confusion clear in her eyes, the way she searches his face. Does he mean that he believes they'll stop existing here? ]

I don't understand what you mean.

[photophobic]

The mages may have brought us here, but that's as far as their control extends. They aren't the ones making us disappear. Are they.

[He leans back, though he doesn't break eye contact.]

What keeps us here, do you think? Is it our own desire to stay? Or does the Singularity want us here. Both. Neither. Something else entirely. Whatever the answer... finding it should be our priority.

[princessvegas]

Of course they ain't. I thought everyone knew that they don't have a fuckin' clue what they're doin'. It's like... if the Singularity is a doorway, in a manner of speakin', all they do is pry it open with a crowbar, shove their arms through and grab who they can, right? With you and me, our groups, they were just figurin' out how to get it open at all. After that, they figured out how to pick the place and time, but they're still just reachin' through the crack they made. It's not the Singularity's will.

[ These are things that have been absolutely evident to Julie since she was released from the dungeon and able to have any of this shit explained to her. What other reason would there be for bringing people deemed "dangerous" enough to immediately throw in a cell? It was an accident, obviously, and they hadn't -- still haven't -- worked out how to reverse it all.

But, the more she's thought about it over the past few weeks, the more she's not sure that the Singularity "wants" anything, at least not in the sense that they're thinking. ]

I think we're... shit, what's the word? Um... anthropomorphizing, I think that's right. I think we're anthropomorphizing the Singularity when we say it wants us to stay or whatever. I think it's more like an animal, it has instincts. The mages trigger the instincts by bringin' us here, and it's only fightin' back. Like gettin' between a bear and her babies. I think who goes back has somethin' to do with how it feels us, or doesn't. Or maybe how we draw the magic? Does any of that make sense?

[ She says it all slowly, without confidence. People from worlds like her own would recognize it as the thought pattern of someone who has been told their whole life that they aren't particularly smart, who has been trained to doubt their own intelligence. She's sure that Kylo thinks she's an idiot. The more she turns it over in her head, the less sure she is about the whole idea. How can she know anything? Smarter people have been studying the thing for centuries. ]