abraxaslogs | EVENT #2 IC POST

EVENT #2 IC POST

Event #2

On July 11th, all of the prisoners and honored guests alike will be marched outside of the castle grounds, to a lightly forested area with a bright blue portal shining in the distance and flanked by a group of four Thornean mages.

Ambrose's Speech

"Good afternoon to you all. I suppose this is a little overdue and on that note, I am sorry. There's a lot to get done, and a lot at stake, and I find myself trapped between my duties to the crown and what I owe to you. I thank you all for your patience, save for one individual among you," he says, shooting a glare to Jon Sims, who is heavily guarded to an extent that the other prisoners are not, "But in light of a recent altercation I think it best that you all know what's going on."

"What you're about to see is an ancient artifact known as the Singularity. It has existed, as far as we know, since the dawn of time. Not only is it the source of all magic in this world, it is the life-force which sustains all other universes. If you've ever wondered why our magic seems so terribly powerful compared to yours, or why some of you have no magic at all, it's because the magic in this world sustains the Singularity and the Singularity, in turn, sustains every other universe that has ever existed or will ever exist."

"However, that does not mean that the Singularity in inherently good. It exists, and sustains your universes by random happenstance, not by design. In recent years the Singularity has begun to turn, and weaken, and for the first time in recorded history the amount of observable universes attached to it has decreased in number. If we cannot find a way to harness and re-energize it, we fear it may devour all that is to ensure its own continued existence."

"It is a known fact that we - natives of Abraxas - cannot approach the Singularity ourselves. We would be torn apart in seconds if we tried. People from other worlds have no such limitation. You may get close enough to touch it. So, while you may be upset that we have pulled you from your worlds without permission - an act for which I do apologize, and I truly wish there was a better way - you are here to save not only this world but all worlds. To understand the Singularity, we need you."

"We thank those among you, our honored guests and the prisoners we've chosen to release, who have behaved themselves and even aided us throughout the last few weeks. I caution you against becoming so smitten with our prisoners that it distracts you from what I have just said: for the sake of all universes, we must contain all threats. I've seen a great deal of possibilities, and there are times when even the best of intentions leads to disaster. To those of you who have been welcomed, you are a boon to us and we will accommodate you as much as we can, but you are still guests in this world, unwilling though you might be, and trust needs to be earned. Given your situation we want to treat you all with a certain degree of understanding and offer you some leeway that our own citizens would not receive. That does not, however, mean you have free reign to do whatever you please."

"Case in point, I regret to inform you that an honored guest, Jon Sims, did attack me and use a particularly intrusive form of magic in an attempt to extract confidential information that could have endangered my world and yours. This is considered high treason, and he will be executed by hanging on the twenty-third of August. Good day to you all, and I hope that what you are about to see impresses upon you the gravity of our situation."

The Horizon

Everyone is marched through the portal and when they emerge on the other side, what they'll see is a huge desert with a perfectly circular crater a few miles wide. At he center of the crater is the Singularity, and although it doesn't seem too imposing at this distance a certain power radiates from it. Some of the mages avert their eyes, as if they can't bear to look at it. Some of them seem almost drawn to it and they have to be held back by their fellows to prevent them from crossing the line and being torn apart. Ambrose stares, and though he doesn't approach it there's a certain amount of melancholy in his expression.

The newcomers are allowed to soak in its majesty for only a minute or two before they are yanked forwards and into the crater by something that feels like a rope coming from the inside of their chests. They are at once overwhelmed, and without exception they all black out...

...and awaken in the Horizon, where they will spend the next few weeks without memories of any world but this one, constantly aware of the Singularity and its power.

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[ The forest that grows around his cabin has only become denser over time, as if there's something within it he's trying to protect. There's still room for travelers, though—Geralt's never viewed any part of a land as truly his, whether in the Horizon or outside it—so when he hears the sound of footsteps, a branch snapping, it catches him as no surprise. He keeps his distance at first; some folks just want to go by and that's fine by him, no need to waste time with a chat. But then the girl wanders off to investigate and Geralt of course follows.

Just to be safe.

Where the woman and her lagging crystal in the distance would normally be a bizarre fucking sight, he takes it in stride here. Instead, his gaze is scrutinizing from behind the trees, where he's surprisingly silent and well-concealed despite his stature. The princess doesn't speak, but her wave is cheerful enough—cheerful in the way a moving doll's might be. There's something empty, a distinct lack of a soul, to the girl.

An unexpected, disconcerting sensation rises in his chest. Geralt steps forward without thinking, interrupting them. Watching them, watching her—it brings a chill he doesn't usually feel under all this snow. When he reaches to take the girl's hand, it's to draw her behind him, a little out of sight. A little out of his own sight, almost, even if he doesn't consciously realize. ]

Not lost, are you?

(( ooc: yes some interaction is totes ok, I don't mind! ♥ ))

[ The silhouette of a large man stepping out of the shadows is one that causes he brows to raise, smile fading slightly to a curious "o". But she doesn't appear afraid, per se, only surprised at the sudden appearance of another when they had seemed alone in this forest. Yet it speaks to reason that a young girl would not be left wholly alone out here in the wilds, would she? At least not ideally.

Something in her tells her that children should have guardians, guidance. That seems appropriate.

And that is exactly who this man must be, isn't it? With the way he moves the girl protectively behind him. ]

No, not lost. Merely a traveler.

[ In a show of good faith, she pulls down her hood to show the entirety of her face. ]

Though it's been a while since I've crossed paths with another. Is this your land?

[ Her hair, the shine of her scarlet eyes as it catches the sun glinting off the snow -- it all makes Geralt peer at the woman with interest. A traveler. Rare, he's found, in this place, but not entirely unusual. In fact, if not for the girl, Geralt thinks he might be doing the same. Wandering. ]

Suppose so. I built on it. [ He hesitates to call it his so firmly. Makes it feel as though he's put down roots, and something about the idea of that sits strangely with him. It's hard to say why. Isn't that what everyone wants? A home of some kind? He's found it here, to an extent, and yet.

He seems to shake off the intrusive thoughts. Instead, he indicates the crystal he can still see in the distance, nodding towards it. Is it stuck? Following her? He can't quite tell, but he's fairly certain it must belong to this woman. ] Need a hand with your rock?

[ As far as things have been going, she would argue that it is, though it hardly stops her from stepping foot onto what potentially belongs to others. One does not need such a large amount of space solely for themselves, do they? Such things beg to be explored and shared. She would be remiss not to take in each of them in their entirety.

At his nod and his words, however, her smile drops a little as she looks to look over her shoulder-- ]

My--

[ Oh.

The crystal normally follows her so loyally that she barely pays it mind, especially when something else has her attention. Yet right now it tilts awkwardly to one side, caught between the boughs of a few trees with the largest of the orbiting bands tilted and nabbed on the branch of yet another tree.

Oops. ]

--apparently so.

[ Despite this supposed setback, she exhales with a laugh and turns an apologetic smile back to the man and the young girl. ]

My apologies. I'll do my best not to leave an unseemly mark on your forest.

[ With that, she turns back towards the crystal, still trying to rotate and vibrate in place. She shakes her head and clicks her tongue as she approaches. ]

We need to work on this, you and I. Mayhaps we should have worked on some form of communication...

[ A new concept? That phrase repeats itself in her mind every now and then. Placing her hands on the largest part of the crystal, she grunts and tries to shove it upright, all while raising her voice to continue the conversation. ]

The places we have travelled up until now are not so densely packed, you see!

[ Who in the hell travels with a floating crystal is what Geralt wants to know. What is it, a pet? A power source? The latter seems unlikely, when power exists at the tips of their fingers, to make and unmake. His expression is, for once, openly curious as he watches her struggle.

After a second, he joins her to help -- though not before gently nudging the girl off towards a brown wolf waiting in the brush, something that might strike others as unusual but which Geralt doesn't think twice about. The damage to his trees is negligible. It's a forest. Leaves fall, trees collapse. But the crystal looks sturdy. The orbiting bands are stubborn, causing the whole thing to shudder. He's mildly concerned a snapping branch might crush this woman. ]

Didn't think anyone would try to squeeze through. [ His place is not meant to be unwelcoming, but nor is it designed for regular visitors. Those who make it, make it. Those who don't, don't. And those who persist get their crystalline friend trapped, apparently.

He tilts his head, examining the angle to best dislodge it. Will he have to climb a fucking tree for this?

...Yeah, he'll have to climb a tree.

Despite his weight, the branches hold steady for him regardless of their size or strength. He reaches the long but thin bough caught on the largest of the spinning gold rings. When he pushes on the branch, a force pushes along with him, one that vibrates the air around them. Pine needles scatter the ground below. ]

Watch your head. [ That's all the warning he gives before he does it again, and a third time. There's a crack, the branch splitting. Then it begins to tip, slowly falling free of the ring as it does. ]

Edited (when u forget about ur own shadow child) 2021-07-19 16:54 (UTC)

[ It's really poor in design for a travel-sized tent, it's true. Granted she really didn't create it with such intentions--the crystal came first because she felt like she needed some sort of way finder, a home point. The design was calming and familiar and she stuck with it. Only with her desire to move did she start to figure out a way to have it come with her.

Though mayhaps this crystal is due for a few adjustments... ]

A miscalculation on both our parts, I suppose.

[ She says as if he would have any indication otherwise, but there's no blame being thrown around really behind her words. If anything, she seems more amused by it.

'Watch your head' comes seconds before the snap. She looks up, eyes going wide, and immediately jumps back as branch snaps, lodging free. It gets half stuck in one of the rings before finally slipping through as the crystal rights itself. Twigs and leaves are still stuck in the rings, but they orbit as they should.

She lets out a breathy, excited laugh. ]

Exhilarating! And shows an obvious flaw in its design. Something to work on!

[ She turns towards the man up in the tree and gives a nod. ]

Thank you very much, Master of the Forest.

[ Yeah. A flaw is one way to put it, but Geralt doesn't look especially bothered by the mishap, either. Maybe it's her disposition that makes it hard to see her as much of a threat or an annoyance.

He drops back down to the ground. The snow hasn't stopped falling, though the sun is a little brighter above, glinting off the layer of white. It's entirely possible there are now pine needles in his hair. If he notices, Geralt doesn't seem inclined to do much about it other than give his head a shake. Instead, his gaze flickers to the side, as if to check if the girl is nearby. (She is, still carefully guarded by a single wolf.) ]

Just Geralt. [ He gestures for the woman to follow. If she's going through his woods, he might as well take her on a path where her crystal is less likely to be trapped again. Last thing he wants is to trek out three hours later to set it free a second time. ] And what do I call you? Lady of the Cumbersome Crystal?

[ Geralt, huh? Something about that name strikes her that it's common, like the sort of name that became popular all at once under odd circumstances. She's not sure why, she just has the strangest feeling she's met more than one before. ]

Just Geralt?

[ She follows, paying a little more mind to the crystal as it bumps against the treetops, but otherwise makes its way along. When she created it she really hadn't been thinking much on how it would traverse difficult terrain. It just did, albeit slowly at times. And who minded a more leisurely pace when all she was doing was exploring anyway?

Or just...leaving it behind on its own entirely. Ah well. ]

Just Hemera, although I may like the title a little better.

[ She spares a glance to the shadow of the girl and the wolf. ]

And your companions?

[ He glances over his shoulder, head cocked in question. ] Should there be more?

[ That he lacks a surname doesn't strike him, though now that she brings it up, he considers perhaps he should have one. Mm. Or not. Doesn't seem to matter much around these parts—the only reason he can think to bother picking one in the first place. To ease those who might look at him with too watchful an eye. (No one does so here, really.)

Hemera rolls easily off the tongue. He keeps pace alongside her as they walk, though he makes sure the girl is within sight, too. ]

Cirilla. The girl. [ He nods at the wolf. It makes its way at its own cadence, weaving between the trees. Its presence is familiar, warm, but wild, too. ] And that one's hardly a pet to be named. They come around here and there, that's all.

When you say it like that, you make it sound like "Geralt" is so plain.

[ She can't shake that feeling that it is a familiar name, though she does believe this man is entirely new to her. Then again, she's felt that quite a bit in her running about, so mayhaps its best not to dwell too long on such notions. ]

Either way, it's a pleasure to meet you all.

[ Hemera gives a nod to the girl and the wolf--the latter is just as worthy of an introduction and greeting in her eyes. ]

Do you enjoy the cold? I haven't seen so much snow in any other land.

[ It does feel, a bit, as though she's scrutinizing him a little. He lets it go, trekking up the snowy path. He turns over his shoulder, a glance sweeping across her. ]

Seemed fitting. [ Enjoy is not quite the word. He'd stepped into the empty space and the first thing he'd wanted was trees; the second, snow. It's what feels most like home, which he supposes is what they're all building here, one way or another. Even if he's unsure whether he's managed that—not only for himself, but for the girl. ] It has to be north somewhere.

[ The sight of the mountains in the distance set him at ease. ]

And you? Why the crystal?

Edited 2021-07-28 21:56 (UTC)

[ With the ability to make the land whatever one pleases, she can only assume that one must like it that way. Then again, many of her own creations also just seemed "fitting", so mayhaps she should apply that same logic to others. A sense of comfort in the familiar even though she can't place why it feels as such. ]

It also seemed fitting.

[ She says easily, but honestly. ]

These lands do look a little like ones that surrounded one of the places I visit inside her dome. Tall peaks covered with snow.

[ A beat or two passes as Geralt tries to determine what she means by she. Whose dome? Then he catches the way she looks at the crystal, and he realizes that she's referring to the object in the feminine. As if it were a ship.

Maybe it is, in a way. Since it apparently carries an entire domain within it. He pauses in his tracks to look at it. ]

You have multiple places in there?

[ Curiosity is written over his normally unreadable expression. What's that even look like? A moving home? ]

[ She nods. As eager as she is to experience the realms others have built, Hemera is notably proud of what she created as well. Mayhaps that is part of why she couldn't just leave it all behind. ]

I couldn't land on just one idea, I suppose.

[ Which, of course, begs the offer that she extends to Geralt and his young charge... ]

Would you like to see?

[ Wolf can come too if it wants. ~~Just no eating moogles.~~ ]

[ That she couldn't decide on an idea is a concept that Geralt stumbles over, just a little. Somehow, that'd never occurred to him as a possibility. That one might not know what to do. The forest that he'd built had come to him without thought. Instinct, almost.

He does want to see. He thinks Cirilla might, too. Not the wolf, though. The wolves don't leave his land, and when he takes the girl's hand, it simply takes off -- through the trees, vanishing behind them.

He steps closer to the crystal. The medallion around his neck hums gently as he draws nearer to it. ]

Show me.

[ Hemera feels that she knows the answer to that--keen as she always is to show it off, she manages to keep in her excitement until he agrees. Once he does, her smile widens a few degrees as she nods. ]

Just a moment.

[ The crystal seems to know what is about to happen without her commanding it as it slowly settles down until the golden base finds purchase on the ground. Hemera turns to face it properly, reaching out with her right hand just above the crystal's surface. Both begin to glow--first at the point where her hand nearly makes contact until the whole crystal is shining, spinning faster by the second. Then all that light shoots out of the top like a geyser. Then the light trickles down like water from a fountain, creating a wide dome around them.

As it fills in, the trees and snow disappear, giving way to light sand between jutting rocks and a true watery dome that seems to keep an entire sea at bay. Large red coral branch up around them as the shadows of fish pass overhead. Despite being several meters under the water's surface, it's quite bright. ]

I thought you may want to see something a little different.

[ When the crystal touches down, Geralt keeps a careful eye on it. Not that he distrusts Hemera, exactly, but it's a giant mystery crystal and he's not fond of surprises. The light bursts from atop, before the dome settles over them. He almost thinks, for a split second, it's taking over his forest—but no. He realizes that's not the case. It's simply created a space for itself inside this bubble.

He leads Cirilla inside—deciding she'd want to see, too—staring up at the. What the fuck is that? The water above? Are they underwater? He's been underwater, but never like this. ]

Wasn't sure what to expect. [ He presses a finger curiously against the edges of the dome, just to see what might happen. His expression is more open, the surprise and perhaps a bit of wonderment more readable than usual in the way he peers up at the fish. ] But this is—something else. Why the sea?

[ She's visibly pleased by his reaction, her gaze flitting back and forth between Geralt and Cirilia. As much as she created these little panoramas for her own enjoyment, sharing them brings much more joy than simply existing within them herself. Sharing them with other sentient beings not of her own creation.

When he touches the edge, he will find that his finger can pass easily through as if through a curtain of mist. The edges itself are actively an illusion, though the structures beneath their feet do feel very real. One can climb the rocks, pick up the sand, smell the salt and dried kelp.

To his question, she looks up just in time for the shadow of an impressively-sized shark to slowly move overhead. It could be menacing, but it just feels right. ]

I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. It was the first thing that came to mind when I wanted to make something that felt like it fit the word "homey".

[ Hemera shrugs, turning her attention back to her guests. ]

Which is quite silly, isn't it? Neither you nor I have gills, though I suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to conjure up a few if needed. But this is much easier to traverse, wouldn't you agree?

[ She steps away from the crystal, walking towards an unmanned counter that stands in front of a cash of various loosely defined treasures. Most appear to be perishable or intended to be food. She leans over the edge and plucks up one in particular--an iridescent clamshell--and beckons her guests over. ]

But I haven't seen much of this in my travels across the realms, so I will fully admit to inviting most to this world in particular. "Variety is a tasty spice" applies here. Or something like that.

[ Hemera holds out the clam with a smile. ]

A welcoming gift seems fitting.

[ When opened, instead of what would one normally expect inside of a clamshell are three individual hard candies that taste like taffy. ]

And as thanks for allowing me in your world as well.

[ Unusual, for him to see something so new. He doesn't mean simply that he's traversed the Horizon several times over, either. More that, inexplicably, there's a sense he's just witnessed everything there is to see. That the world holds few surprises for him, and even fewer pleasant ones.

This is pleasant. It is. This crystal and the bright-eyed woman who carries it along. ]

I can see why. [ She's right. Nothing else like this exists. The underbelly of a shark passes overhead; he finds himself staring up at it as he steps next to the blood-red coral, over to the counter. The girl follows behind him. He wonders, briefly, if there are merpeople somewhere—though he can't say where that thought comes from. He hasn't ever seen merpeople in the Horizon. They sure as hell haven't lived on his mountain.

His attention is drawn back when the clamshell opens. Geralt pauses. He's not often one for sweets, but he knows Cirilla is partial (what child isn't?). So he accepts one and the other for the girl. It smells thickly of sugar. ]

Thank you. For— [ Inviting him in? True, but. It's more. He can tell Hemera has brightened Cirilla's day. That for a moment, she can see more than thick trees and a frosty ground. It feels...important. (There's still so much he can't give her.) ] —showing us.

[ Hemera, visibly pleased, takes the last one for herself and pops it into her mouth with no hesitation. The clamshell she simply sets on the counter to exist or disappear as needed--mayhaps taken up as a toy by some of the inhabitants she has bestowed upon this sphere. ]

There seems little point-- [ She says around the candy in her mouth. ] --in such creation with no one to share it with.

[ And, as if on cue, a small green and shelled creature wanders out from behind the counter. No taller than her knee, it looks up at the guests with hesitation. ]

Well...those I haven't created, I should say.

[ Is that --? Geralt looks down. It is, his brain tells him, a turtle, based on its shell and the stout but curved beak. Except it's walking on its hind legs, fully bipedal.

Too curious to help himself, he crouches down in front of it and offers it a hand. There's a strange intelligence behind its shiny black eyes. ]

You have a hell of an imagination.

[ Though he's not certain what it is that tells him these things here are unique while what populates his world is extraordinarily common. Aren't they all unique creations of some kind? But that's how it feels to him in a way he can't fully explain. ]

[ Hemera can only shrug, but she does look satisfied. ]

They just felt as if they belonged here. And it felt a waste to leave these areas so devoid of life.

[ Or the mimicry of it, as it really is. But she tries not to think too deeply on that aspect.

The miniature kojin blinks those skeptical, black eyes at Geralt for a moment before examining his outstretched hand--very closely. But what exactly is it looking for? Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to find it. ]

"You have no offering for us."

[ No offering? Geralt raises an eyebrow. In all honesty, he hadn't even expected the damn thing to speak. It's...

Oddly cute. Shiny beetle eyes and all. Well. Why not? She's the first he's seen where their domains are full of different life. He's met a wolf here or there. Fairly certain he saw a whole fucking dragon once, circling the sky above the mountains neighbouring his own. But nothing like this.

He pulls out a handful of gooseberries wrapped in a cloth. He's got no idea if this small turtle-like creature eats berries, but he supposes it's about time he finds out. ]

[ Being completely unhelpful in this regard, Hemera only shrugs in response. She's not exactly sure why she made them so in need of collecting things, but they usually ask her for something when she comes to visit. It seems that a stranger may bring even greater treasures than she.

The Kojin takes the cloth and holds it up to its nose, then its ear hole as it shakes it. Hearing movement, it then slowly unwraps the package to see a small amount of pleasantly round and shiny berries.

Berries, notably, are not in surplus under the water. ]

"... A worthy treasure!"

[ the Kojin holds the back up to the sky as if in offering, then bows to Geralt before rushing off to the side to add the pile of berries to a pedestal. Several other small Kojin appear out of nowhere and begin offering their own reverence to the berries. ]

It seems now you would be welcome here any time you'd like to visit. Well done! I wasn't sure they would come out around strangers.

[ Worthy it is. They're strange creatures that bring to mind underwater spirits or guardians. Something not unlike what one might find in the forests, guarding something or other—though he can't say where that association comes from. He hasn't got anything like that in his forest. More...a sense that if one were to emerge, he wouldn't consider it unusual or out of place.

He straightens up. ] You take good care of them.

[ In some way, she feels like a guardian, too: of this crystal she's been hauling everywhere as though it were an old friend, and the world she's built inside it. ]

Getting dark soon. [ That this isn't true of the whole Horizon is irrelevant; at least in his forest, it's beginning to do just that, the late evening sun casting an orange glow outside the bubble. ] I'll let you be on your way.

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EVENT #2 IC POST

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wrapping up around here if that works!