september catch-all; open

[ushiri]

WHO: "Kyle" and you
WHAT: Monthly catch-all, including errands and quests
WHERE: Castle Thorne, Nott and Horizon
WHEN: Post-Libertas and Thorne farmland attacks
WARNINGS: General talk about war, violence, mention of sex work. The farmlands prompt has mention of handling animal remains. Additional warnings in thread subjects.
OTHER: Will match brackets or prose!

Comments

[godshattering]

We might be in a slightly larger cage in the Free Cities, but I believe the bars are still there as they are for you. Before it seemed like it was only a matter of time until they would conscript us, but with everything going on now?

[ Claude will let that thought go unfinished when it doesn't need to be for it to have the same impact. What transpired after they arrived back from Nocwich upended whatever balance was there in ways they likely can't see coming. All of them will end up as weapons before too long.

Kyle's next question does catch him off-guard ever so slightly, fortunately covered up by being timed with taking another sip of tea. He contemplates the other man over the cup's edge and yet another eyebrow is raised mostly to himself as he lowers it after. ]

I think that's the question we're all asking ourselves, isn't it? [ Some light stalling to think through that a little longer, but it doesn't bring him any closer to something concrete. ] If I'm being honest, I have a difficult time imagining any situation in which they let us or reveal any way to get home. Others have told me that occasionally those who arrive here can vanish and then aren't seen around again. There's someone in Thorne I knew through the Horizon but I haven't seen him in some time. His domain seems to have also disappeared. I can only assume he's among those who are no longer here.

[ It's not much of an answer, is it? Claude's not sure he has anything better to offer there, besides gently fishing for whether Kyle knows of this seeming phenomenon of those being brought here disappearing without a word. But - he also has something else to ask of his own. ]

Out in the hunting grounds. When you... [ He trails off. Hm. What kind of description can he use for Kyle seemingly appearing out of nowhere when they'd met, and then again during their fight with the beast? Might as well go for it. ] Your ability, to choose whether to appear. Is that something you trained in?

[ushiri]

[ When Claude speaks about Summoned vanishing Kahlil's eyes narrow. It's not something he's heard of very often, maybe only once but the person he'd been speaking to had made it clear that they didn't want to talk in detail about it. His mind had immediately gone to assassinations and the like at worst.

The disappearance of a Domain too is an interesting detail.

There's another part of that question that Claude doesn't give any indication one way or another to, whether he desires to go home. It's something he's curious about with all of the Summoned. He leaves it without asking the question directly, as Claude moves them on to another topic...

He listens as the other man tries to describe how his use of the Gray Space must've looked in the dim light, out of context, a wry smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. ]

It's considered a blessing in my world. The priests search for those of us who have the blessing, and they teach us how to use it without accidentally killing ourselves. [ Raising both eyebrows, there's a cavalier edge to his tone. ] It's too easy to reappear without an arm or a leg, or in a wall if you don't know what you're doing.

[ He shrugs. He had seen... horrific things at Rathal'pesha, but he'd endured it and is still living - if only by the grace of Parfir, and perhaps the Singularity. ]

I have to be able to see where I'm going though, and there are protections around Thorne that keep anyone like me from moving around like that.

[ Make it very, very difficult, anyway. The part about needing to see if true enough too even if he's leaving parts out: with the way the currents narrow within the Gray Space around Castle Thorne he can't see into any of those places locked behind specific wards. ]

[godshattering]

[ Some part of him doesn't really expect to get an answer to his query. It must be something worth keeping secret, to not reveal in too much detail. If the situations were were reversed, Claude can't say he would share. When a brief explanation follows, he listens but raises one eyebrow at the concept of reappearing without a limb, or trapped somewhere one doesn't usually find themselves. ]

So it's not magic, then. Based on the blessing you mentioned being present, I mean, and that's something I'm assuming you have to be born with. [ Maybe? That's somewhere between a question and a statement since Claude's still not certain on what exactly this consists of, really. ] In my world, magic can be picked up by anyone so long as you study texts and with an instructor. Not everyone will master every spell - there's lots I wasn't particularly good at myself - but there is something with blessings, kind of.

[ Crests don't matter here, Claude reminds himself; it's not like they'll be a secret if anyone else from Fodlan decides to share theirs. The nice part about the Horizon is that he doesn't have to wait for his Crest to decide to activate itself for a demonstration. After a moment, he holds up a hand: in front of it a crescent moon appears in a circle of light, glowing just as it would if he was injured. Only now it lasts for longer than a second, thanks to holding this illusion. ]

Part of what where I'm from believes is that the Goddess there bestowed blessings upon several bloodlines. The nobility, of course, used this to exalt themselves even though they show up mainly by chance these days. Fate decided I got the one in my family tree.

[ Claude closes his fingers to his palm and the projection disappears as he drops his hand back down to his lap, and he shrugs like this is all very average. It is to him, in some ways, but what Kyle had said about Thorne is still on his mind and feels important to get back to - ]

Protections to keep you from moving around, you said? It sounds like Thorne has some experience with others being able to do much as you can.

[ushiri]

We are born with the ability. [ He nods. ] Portal transport seems to be relatively common here. I'm not surprised their wards would be set to keep any unwanted travelers out.

[ All three factions had used portals to get to Nocwich. But he also shouldn't be surprised to find out that others can move in a similar way even if it's not through the Gray Space. ]

Do you believe in your bloodline's blessing?

[ Kahlil's had his gaze on the sigil Claude conjured right up until he dismissed it. The gaun'im didn't try to claim any divinity in his world. The church and the nobility were allies of convenience against the Fai'daum. A pause, and he ventures: ]

You mentioned an ancestor of yours that was resurrected...

[godshattering]

[ There's yet another pause on Claude's part while he considers that question about blessings, and then an implied one about his ancestor. For a second he blinks since that feels like it came out of nowhere in what's clearly a piece of Fodlan knowledge, and - ah. Right. Now he remembers his own comment. ]

I don't know if Crests are blessings overall, for all the trouble they've caused past and present, but I don't have any choice but to believe in what this one grants me. Not titles or anything like that, but there's another benefit that comes with this Crest in particular. This one grants a healing ability but nothing I can call up on my own as it activates when it feels like it. It'd be a lot nicer if it could spare me from stubbing toes, though.

[ Claude also picked up on the implication that portals outside of the ones granted to them, which is something he hadn't considered before. It's true he's been through several courtesy of the Free Cities, and Thorne's wards make much more sense in that context beyond paranoia alone. Curious that it would restrict even those that live there, or those with the ability to traverse where most cannot. ]

As for my relative. There was a civilization who resurrected several of our ancestors, and one... man... in particular in an attempt to tear down Fodlan as it existed. They had tried this centuries ago and failed, and had orchestrated several incidents meant to upend society in the years prior to Fodlan's war. I ended up staring down my ancestor, theoretically, but he couldn't talk or do anything but serve as a weapon.

[ It's not an entirely satisfying explanation, probably opens the door to more questions rather than providing answers. Claude knows this, and communicates as much with a shrug of apology as he takes a sip of tea. ]

[ushiri]

[ It'd be a lot nicer if it could spare me from stubbing toes, earns a grin from Kahlil at the thought. But the ability to heal, even if it's out of the man's control, is a sign of something. Kahlil can bear wounds, act as a conduit for a real healer - but he doesn't need blessed bones for that, anyone can do the same. He doesn't have the disposition to be a healer, though, and that's not what Parfir chose him for. That Claude was chosen for such a power is a blessed sign, he thinks. Adds another color to the overall impression of Claude.

As for the rest... ]

That sounds... horrific. [ He grimaces. To resurrect the dead as mindless weapons, that sounds like the power of demons. He imagines bodies without souls. The Payshmura could create the living bones, but the oracles had a purpose in keeping order... ] But you were able to stop these people?

[godshattering]

Yes. [ Though he's still sitting poised casually with tea in hand and an appropriately even look on his face, Claude studies Kyle carefully yet again after speaking. Horrific is an understatement and the truth; living it and so many other oddities in close order sometimes numbs this reality out of his mind. Having to be the one to keep morale high and everyone unified during it probably hadn't helped either. ] We did. The society that resurrected them meant to destroy everything about the world. There was no option but for us to succeed.

[ War leaves so few choices, doesn't it? There are things he regrets and those that he doesn't, and most days it blurs together. But as he's thought to himself before: he would make all of his same choices over and over again should time repeat itself on a loop. Unfailing, each and every time.

To dwell on that is tiring, a exhaustion which runs bone deep and one that doesn't get easier to bear. And won't be, now that they're all carrying the weight of it while Thorne and the Free Cities square off against each other with them and everyone else in the middle. Perhaps it wouldn't be the worst to change gears to something lighter, if only for a moment. ]

You'd mentioned earlier this tea is common in your world. Does it have a name?

[ushiri]

[ There was no option but for us to succeed. There's a grim look of understanding across his expression again. That had been his own thought when he threw his body into the gate, with no guarantee that he wouldn't be torn apart body and mind.

Claude shifts the topic again though, and he tips his head toward the kettle. ]

Daru'sira. [ Even details like these could potentially be dangerous to give away, were someone like Fikiri to arrive and overhear a familiar word - he would know someone else from Basawar was in Abraxas and seek to find out who it was. He doesn't fear meeting Fikiri face to face again, but the other ushiri is clever and treacherous. Kahlil would be better off being the first to know of his arrival instead of the other way around.

There's a part of him that's annoyed at having to consider Fikiri at all, though. ]

I can bring something stronger next time. [ He raises an eyebrow, amused. ] Have you tried alcohol in Horizon? I feel like you shouldn't be able to feel the effects, and yet...

[ It's all in the mind, isn't it? ]

we can wrap here!

[godshattering]

Daru'sira. [ Claude's quick to repeat this to himself, something else learned which feels like a valuable piece of information even if he lacks the full context of not knowing someone else's world. The same as he's done with everything passed to him by someone else. This in particular he'll remember, both because of the tea associated with it in a familiar ritual common to his own home, and all that they've talked about.

And speaking of that: Kyle's next question gets a genuine smile of amusement from him. Something stronger indeed. ]

I haven't, no. What with how everything else is so realistic here, I wouldn't be surprised to find anything stronger is every bit as effective. [ Claude goes to take a sip of his tea and then blinks upon realizing there's none left. Hm. They've talked for quite a while, haven't they? With that he'll set his empty cup back down. ] How about this - if you bring the tea next time, I know something also of the stronger variety that'd pair well with it. Or with the teas I have from home, if you'd rather try something else. Either or.

[ There's another couple seconds where Claude considers something else to himself: the conversation, everything about Thorne and the Free Cities, where to go from here. Too much to figure out all for now, but - it's not lost on him that now there's someone else to consider it all with. That'll do. ]

I should likely return in case someone needs a break from watch while we camp, and I've taken enough of your time. For now. [ This is added with a slight grin as he stands with a nod. ] Until next time, with stronger things in hand for it. And be careful in Thorne, until then.