EVENT #10: AFFLICTION - IC POST

[abraxasmods]

Event #10 - Affliction

go to the OOC event info & plotting post

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With tensions heavy across Abraxas and all the destruction that's happened, it's no surprise that the dark shadows which sweep over the land go unnoticed...at first.

Winds initially stir in Solvunn, where the influence of the Old Gods remains the strongest. Slowly each Herald infects Thorne and the Free Cities, as well. The Summoned are the first to feel its effects and are the most heavily impacted.

Though no one will realize it until well afterwards, Nocwich remains unaffected. After all, the Summoned don't reside there.

NOTE: This event will deal with themes of death (people and animal) and horror imagery.

Emergence

It begins sometime in mid-October, around the 18th. Not everyone will experience it at the same time. You might even believe you're spared until days afterwards when you're visited by an unusually vivid dream.

The dream starts the same for everyone: you are going somewhere, anywhere, walking to your bedroom or enjoying a stroll on the beach. You might be driving down a familiar neighborhood. Wherever you're headed, you eventually come upon a stone tablet engraved with your Arcana. Laid on the tablet are three objects:

◎ A dead moth trapped inside a wilted rose, symbolizing Koth of Festering Lands
◎ A teacup inside which sits a single nightshade berry, symbolizing Adlewyrd of Poisoned Tongues
◎ An ornate cracked hand mirror that contains no reflection, symbolizing Sannleikr of Many Faces

Make a choice. Something inside your soul will be drawn towards one of the objects. Maybe you spend hours in the dream deliberating, but sooner or later, you'll pick one of the items up. The moment you do, the other objects vanish and the chosen Herald appears before you. Where one might expect a god to seek subservience, the strange figure instead extends a friendly hand towards you - as though it's greeting you as an equal.

Whispered around you, you hear its name. Then it fades and with it the dream. You awaken.

Affliction

You go about your day as usual. That's when you realize something isn't right. Creatures and people around you behave strangely. You begin to sense that you are the cause.

Depending on your chosen Herald, you'll experience at least one of its afflictions. The effects might start small, then grow. They might rush you all at once. You can't shake what haunts you, though you can try. Spells, potions, and willpower can help keep the afflictions at bay but you won't ever be completely free.

As the afflictions seep into your mind, you start to find shadows of it following you: a dead moth here, a nightshade bloom there, a cracked mirror elsewhere. You may even wonder if it's following you in the first place. What if instead, you are the one leaving these signs behind?

Corruption

The first time you inflict your ability on someone else, you don't mean to. It might be a stranger, some unsuspecting soul, or it might be another Summoned. Regardless, the afflictions that ail you seem to spread through you into another. Someone falls down as if in the throes of an invisible death or secrets spill. You brush by someone and they're suddenly upset and confused.

The more this happens, intentionally or not, the better you feel. You may grow full of life and energy, gain a renewed strength of heart, or radiate a charm that turns heads and garners compliments. The afflictions haunting you could even start to fade or completely vanish. And if you use your newfound power deliberately? You'll feel better even faster for longer. Of course, these boons are temporary, lasting at most an hour or so. When the feeling wanes, you might miss having it.

You are not possessed. You can't control this power that spreads through you, but how you respond or behave is up to you. You could be attracted to the allure of power, enjoy the boons you are granted, or realize you can gain relief from your afflictions if you choose a victim. Not everyone will fall headfirst into the pull. Some are not easily swayed by power, some struggle to overcome their dark impulses, and others would rather endure their suffering than inflict it on someone else. But others still might succumb to temptation and turn on those around them with purpose: once, twice, multiple times. The choice you make is yours alone.

Blight

With the call of the Herald at your fingertips, the world around you twists. No one knows whether this stems from you and your newly imbued afflictions, or if the Heralds are exerting power on their own. It's for sure easier to think of what occurs as the influence of something monstrous beyond your control. No matter the cause, the earth is changed all the same.

Omens

The omens arrive shortly after the initial Summoned receive their dreams, but they don't come to every faction at once. SOLVUNN is first, being home to the Old Gods' shrines, before THORNE and the FREE CITIES follow only days afterwards. Depending on where you are, the omens will affect things a bit differently.

Solvunn

In Solvunn, the ground stirs. A desiccated hand breaks through the grass, a cloven hoof. Human or animal, they crawl forth, animated against their will. Some might attack, but most do not. At the same time, crops around the settlements begin to fail. Some chickens lay rotten eggs while cows produce spoiled milk. Any livestock that perishes overnight will surface in the mornings with empty eye sockets - pecked out by crows or gnawed on by rats. From a distance, the ocean can be seen bubbling as leviathans beneath thrash.

Worth noting is that many of the dead are concentrated around the shrines, especially the ones deep in the woods. They're too decayed to recognize, and some might not even move from the site, as though they are waiting for the earth to take them again...or as though they once chose to give up their life at this very spot.

Summoned can assist by helping to cast spells or place warding charms around shrines, farms, and gardens to protect crops and livestock. As a commune, the Solvunnites will share their resources as much as possible and would appreciate those who might lend a hand bringing supplies, herbs, and offerings to neighbors who are lacking. The Summoned can also brew a common herbal remedy to aid any animals who have fallen ill or to help purify the well water.

Free Cities

In Libertas, the dead buried under the rubble dig themselves out. More crawl forth from graves in Cadens' cemeteries. Beasts and bandits slain in the desert wilds rise, hungry or searching for the ones who killed them. At the same time, dead fish wash up onto the shores of Aquila while birds fall dead from their perch, dropping like flies from an unknown illness. Vultures and other scavengers begin to prey upon the eyes of the dead, leaving behind hollowed-out corpses.

Worth noting is that in the Badlands, a few very old and skeletal corpses rise with a metal plate or two screwed onto their bones, which are also oddly elongated. Only one or two make their way near the city. The army is quick to dispose of them before many can notice. They will not disclose any information about this and will claim these are just monsters like anything else.

Summoned can assist by going on patrol with the soldiers to put down any risen dead. Merchant caravans are also hiring escorts for their journeys. Additionally, they can help look through any received supplies and packages to make sure the food isn't rotting or worse, use a special dissolving compound to purify the waters, and donate staple food items to refugees and the less fortunate who can't afford the rising prices.

Thorne

In Thorne, the dead emerge only from the outskirts of the castle city. Thanks to information from one of their Summoned and their recent monitoring of the Singularity, Thorne was able to act swiftly and was able to ward any royal or otherwise significant burial sites. Graves and tombs of less importance, though, will not be protected in the same way. There are fewer encounters with eyeless corpses, though some animals might appear outside the castle in such a state. Normally extravagant dishes from the Castle's kitchens use simpler ingredients as they struggle to ration their food stores.

Worth noting is that a few unexpected corpses make their way up from deep under the castle in places beyond the dungeons. These are twisted and mangled, missing limbs, heads, fingers. The castle guards are quick to dispose of them before they get too far into the rest of the castle, but one or two may be spotted.

Summoned can assist by contributing to the wards around Castle Thorne and the city, using spells to put down the dead without mangling the corpse, and taking inventory of food stores. Further, in Nott the situation is more dire for anyone who is traveling there to continue assisting with repairs following the attack. Nott will welcome help with any problems caused by the omens. It'll be clear the kingdom has neglected the city somewhat. Thorne will claim the Castle takes priority, of course, due to King and Queen residing there along with the entire royal court.

Apprehensions

Across the factions, locals are beginning to catch on that something isn't right with you, the Summoned. No one will say it outright, but there's an air of caution and wariness around you where you go. Merchants might be quick to hand you your wares so you'll leave or locals give you a bit of space when they walk by. Chatty innkeepers are more reluctant to hold lengthy conversations.

Much of the time, it may not be conscious. The natives might simply sense something off that instinctually makes them want to put some distance between them and you. The only exception? If you've chosen Sannleikr of Many Faces, you'll continue to exude your charm towards people you encounter. At least for as long as you continue to inflict that ability you've been gifted.

Displacement

Everyone responds differently while in the Horizon. You might exert better willpower over your afflictions or you might feel its effects more strongly. It all depends on the individual and their mindset. Regardless, the Heralds are only one part of the equation. There's a much bigger disturbance going on.

It could happen as soon as you enter or it might be as you're stepping over the threshold into another's domain. Whatever the case, you are suddenly not where you're supposed to be. Instead, you're in one of two places depending: transported into a domain you never meant to go into or in a foreign setting altogether.

Visitation

Whether you're the one transported or someone teleports unexpectedly into your space, the Horizon becomes unpredictable for the next little while. Rooms normally locked to strangers, areas you yourself may not even realize exists - you and your fellow Summoned continue to pop in and out despite your intentions.

The effect isn't painful, just disorienting, like missing a step you didn't see or stumbling through a door into a too-bright room. The person whose domain you've inadvertently visited might sense an unwanted presence, whether they're inside the Horizon or not, or they may be completely oblivious. This will depend on the strength of their connection to the Singularity and the Horizon.

Not to worry. You won't be trapped or anything in these cases...unless the domain you land in happens to seal from the inside. You might stumble on secrets you weren't meant to find, though, locked away in someone else's mind.

Ensnared

The less fortunate will be pulled into a space that they've never encountered before. The bizarreness of it resembles the glitchy visions that flashed through a few months ago, but rather than an image flickering by, you are now inside the space itself.

Trapped between minutes to hours, you can't use the Horizon's creation magic as normal. Attempts will falter or go sideways: trying to fly out might cause you to tumble, tools and objects are broken or not quite right, wounds don't vanish or heal completely, etc. More significantly, you can't seem to send or receive messages through your connection. Anything that manages to come through will be garbled and distorted. It's as though the place you are in is just out of the reach of your control.

Luckily, you may not be alone. Someone else may have gotten lost alongside you. They might already be there when you stumble through or they might arrive after you do. They might even fade out sooner than you, unintentionally leaving you behind.

Eventually, you'll be released back into the Horizon proper, spat out in a random place in the Horizon. While you're stuck, though, you can try to survive, explore, sit and wait it out, or make friends with your fellow trapped partner. Each area has its challenges and quirks that you'll need to deal with.

Scenes to Explore

JUSTICE ◎
FULL IMAGE

High in the clouds, these snowy peaks are as cold as they look. Giant marble hands reach out, though their sheer scale means you might not recognize them as hands from up close. You can scale the mountain, but if you try to go down, the hands will flip the mountain, which sends you tumbling to the top again.

It's up to you whether you can be injured when you fall. Maybe the snow will feel like marshmallows, or you'll break a bone on the jagged rocks. No two experiences are the same. If you have a partner, they could end up faring better than you despite being in the same place.

Conjure some warm clothes or a log cabin even if you wish - they might not manifest perfectly, but it'll be better than nothing. At least the view's fairly nice...while the sun is up. A blizzard will come through by nightfall. With it arrives a strange hovering light that entices you or your friend to follow it into the frozen darkness. What draws you out depends on you. It could be a familiar voice, an image, or a simple compulsion. If you're lucky, the person with you is unaffected and can try to stop you. Or maybe you're the one desperately chasing after the other person?

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THE CHARIOT ◎
FULL IMAGE

From a distance, it's hard to tell if they're shipping containers or houses stacked atop each other. A gooey mess covers the ground below. Oddly, the smell isn't as unpleasant as the goo looks. It smells like bubblegum or cotton candy, artificial and sweet. When you first fall in, you might land inside one of the homes, on top of the stacked structure, or the ground. You can try to reach anyone else who's there with you, but be careful: the ooze is spreading. Climb if you must or move from room to room. If you don't keep moving, you risk getting sucked into its sticky mass.

Each block of a home is different. Some are furnished, whereas others are empty or filled with strange knickknacks. Some might even have subconscious creations spawned by you. Keep ahead of the gloopy substance, and you'll be fine, probably. Or you can try to fight it back or block its path by sealing yourself in a room or otherwise, which can slow it down significantly. Mostly, you'll have to hope you fade out before the pink mass completely consumes the landscape.

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THE WORLD ◎
FULL IMAGE

The hazy neon glow obscures a nothingness that seems to extend forever. In the middle of the wet ground are several stacked television sets with wires plugged into nothing. Inexplicably, there's also a cat. At first, it appears perfectly normal, but keen observers will notice that its behavior is on a loop where it will walk a certain path, pause at specific intervals to lick its paws, and meow at set points. It does not acknowledge any of its intruders. You can break its loop by picking it up, at which point it'll go limp as a ragdoll. As soon as you set it down, it'll resume its actions as before.

While you can see the same images as someone else on the screens, it's also possible you'll each see something different despite being in the room together. What you see is up to you. It could be an old fuzzy movie, home videos of your childhood, trivia questions you have to answer correctly, or even a memory or vision you wouldn't want to share. Words or faces taunting you could appear between staticky flickers, or maybe your very thoughts are projected onto the screens for anyone with you to read.

Break the televisions if you want, but given a few short minutes, they'll reform between one blink and the next. Looks like you'll have to keep watching until you're released.

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THE FOOL ◎
FULL IMAGE

Sprawling and massive, you're unlikely to recognize at first that you're trapped in a labyrinth. Stone walls rise around you, and your surroundings are pitchblack. Manifest a torch or a flashlight if you can, though these will be prone to going out at inopportune times. Escaping over the walls will only send you into another section in the maze.

As you navigate the twisting corridors, you'll encounter any variety of trials and troubles: gaps in the ground, spiked traps, haunting whispers, monsters, decaying corpses. Some of these might've formed from your mind, others might've spawned from anyone else who's trapped with you.

If you aren't alone, do your best to locate your fellow Summoned. Voices do carry and echo over the walls, and there could be landmarks that help you find each other. Finding the exit, however, is another matter. Walk and climb all you want. A way out is impossible until the Horizon chooses to set you free.

Players can pick any scenario that interests them from the four choices above. Unlike the visions from before, characters can accidentally be trapped in as many of the scenes as you want, as many times as you want. Another option is that they can stay trapped in only one scene while a variety of characters fade in and out to join them, or some combination of the two. Choose what works best for your plans.

Each scene will once again carry an associated Arcana etched somewhere inside it, which can change from person to person or instance to instance. It might be on a wall, a table, or on the ground. Characters with a stronger connection to the Horizon are likely to be trapped for longer but the extent of this is your choice and it won't ever exceed a few hours. It's also your choice whether the afflictions continue to haunt them or not. If you want characters to deal with both problems while stuck together, you're welcome to!

Generally speaking, there are no restrictions other than that they won't be able to communicate with anyone outside the area, they can't escape it until the Horizon chooses to release them, and their creation magic will go wrong just enough that it'll make things tricky.

Comments

[cryptsleeper]

One of the few things that would actually prevent me from healing an injury.

[Alucard's trying very, very hard to sound sour and dismissive of the whole thing. Frankly, no one survives decapitation, vampire or not. It is was the feeling of metal against flesh that makes being entirely flippant an impossibility.

He shakes his head, as if that might just transform their landscape.]

I'll be fine in a moment or two more.

[gynvael]

Flesh opens. Blood flows, and it's more than just a bite he's going for but ripping. There's a sense this is not the first time, that he's done this before—fought tooth and claw for every inch he's gained. A certain grace might've existed when he held a sword, but when his jaws clamp down they do so with an instinctive viciousness. Too much filling his head, probably, driving him forward without restraint.

Only an arm through his chest gets him to release. He almost doesn't feel it so much as it simply happens, and then there's a different taste of blood filling his mouth. A minute or so where he's just choking, nails digging into Lucifer's arm. If they were in the physical world, he might've collapsed. He starts to, even, going limp. Then he flickers, vanishes—and lands with an undignified thump outside of it, nearly crushing Jaskier's beloved pet gryphon. He curses.

Maybe the lack of a dead body laying there is a disappointment. But it does leave Lucifer with plenty of time to explore the rest of Kaer Morhen.

[assembles]

Shepard. Steve's certain he's seen that name around — or rather, written down on random surfaces via the mental network. He'd gotten the impression she was some sort of authority figure, and now it all slots into place.

"You and her both served on this ship, then? Before coming here." For all that this has been a huge downgrade in technology for Steve, he can't imagine what it would be like for people who were used to being able to traverse space.

It sounds like their domains are connected, and he definitely is curious, but there's good reason to have reservations about this idea. Steve crosses his arms tight over his chest as he stares down the door. "Normally you can probably just walk into hers, right? I'm worried that right now, if we try to go through, we'll end up who knows where. So yeah, maybe try it here."

He turns around and steps over to the two consoles where he assumes the map will display.

[assembles]

[ Steve shakes his head. ] Nothing else seems to work, I know. [ He and Murdock had been forced to find kindling to burn the ones they'd taken out the day before. Now there's more today who have wandered closer to the still-standing parts of the city, because nothing can ever be simple. ]

I figure I can manage crowd control while you burn them or cut them up. If that works for you?

[ With no sword and no fire magic to speak of (or any magic, for that matter), Steve realizes that he's limited in what he can do. That hasn't stopped him from showing up.

Of course, the zombies aren't interested in waiting for them to work out logistics. Two of them rush toward them with their hands outstretched and Steve instantly reacts, spinning to send a roundhouse kick strong enough to send both of them flying back to hit the ground with the sickening crunches of brittle bones splitting. ]

[gynvael]

[ If it'd been longer than a few days, Geralt's not sure what he might've done. Even having her now, he's still several paces back, nerves strung out like he can't quite bottle everything he's feeling the way he normally can.

His brows draw together, too, as he listens. She's right. It isn't much to go on, and he can't say he was expecting to find any answers out of it. The Horizon is a mysterious force as it is. He doesn't understand it, has largely accepted that it is what it is, that much of it follows almost no rules they can grasp. He hates the unpredictability of it all. ]

You're safe now. [ In the end, that's the most important part. That she's back.

After some minutes, when her heart has calmed a little, he stands. He doesn't let her go, though. His hands stay on her, keeping her close. There's no point in questioning her any further. They can talk about it later. At the moment, he just wants to get her out of here before anything else goes wrong. ]

We should return home. I'll come to you when you wake up. I promise.

[thedevilwhorose]

Lucifer shakes off his arm like the blood itself is an offense, staring over at the body of the only wolf to remain. He should just go before any unwanted company shows up, but he can't help but to check the relocked door. Tries again to do what he had done the first time, but the magic is already expended. Or... it's there, he can feel it, but it's regenerating.

He takes one last look at the wolf, half expecting it to rise like the dead around Abraxas, and then makes for the stairs.

He doesn't stay long. A quick once-over of the domain's basic layout.

But then while he's holding his left hand over his bleeding bite wound, he gets distracted by the tree, and the eerie medallions silently hanging. This has more meaning than he thinks the odd basement does.

He steps up to it, careful to not get any of his nor Geralt's blood on the tree, a strange balance of respect for it--coming from him, anyway. He still finds a small, hard-to-see part of the trunk, easily hidden behind the hung medallions. After wiping off the blade on his shirt, he carves the same Devil's Fork that he had at the Roadhouse. Doesn't question why this tiny act of defiance is something he's apparently doing now.

Maybe this one will last longer than his first.

He pulls away, admires the tree once more, and then vanishes from the Horizon entirely.

[princessvegas]

[ There is fear present in her eyes at the idea of going back out, of changing anything in any way. Fear that one or both of them will get stuck again, and even more so, fear of being alone when she wakes up. Her grip on his shirt tightens again, reflexively.

Julie trusts him, probably more than anyone else she's ever known, but there is so much out of their control right now. The anxiety feels like a vise wrapped around her ribs. She nods anyway, swallows hard. ]

Okay, I... just lemme put this all right. [ Her voice is soft, and she looks around them at the destruction. The hole in the ceiling begins to patch itself, the bed rises and mends, covers straightening again. She can't make her hands relax. ] Okay.

[ She takes a shuddering breath, glances around once more, then blinks back out of the Horizon. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Even if the question might cause Thancred to bristle for a moment, he has to acknowledge that Alucard has a point. Himeka is a friend, one he would trust with his life (and has, in the past), but that doesn't mean there aren't times when she leaps before she thinks. ]

I can vouch for one of them, at least. [ He doesn't know Nero particularly well, and while he likes Wanda, he can't say that he completely trusts her. Especially in light of some of the things Stephen's mentioned. ]

My own experience is that a dead primal is better than one alive, but I fear it would be foolish to assume that these beings function the same way. I believe that's why my contact in Solvunn opted to try and treat with them first.

[itookashot]

"Don't worry, I've got this!"

Well, he probably has got it. Jesper has done a lot of reckless things in his life and this is hardly worse than infiltrating an ice prison. Probably. So far. He's not surrounded by people who wants him dead, so it really is a step up. There's just ... creepy ooze that is most definitely rising.

Jesper uses his telekinesis to pull a bar from a balcony down so he can climb it up, up another level as he looks for the next one. He can't see a very easy way up from here though, biting his lip as he looks down and then up again.

"Make something that I can telekinetically grab and I'll be up there in a second." Technically Jesper could try to do that himself, but it's just not a good angle for it, it would make more sense coming from Mat down.

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is definitely on the verge of bolting because facing Inej and Kaz is more terrifying than losing himself to gambling. They'll be understanding, or Inej will be, and that's somehow worse. He thinks her gentle empathy would only make him sick at this point.

He is considering how easy it would be to run when Sylvain manages to keep his attention again, gray eyes turning to him, and those are exactly the words that he needs to hear. Jesper swallows and nods, lifting his hand to take Sylvain's hand and then holds it. He holds it tightly the whole time they go up the stairs and find their way to the room, which is luckily not near the Crows' spot.

Jesper only feels comfortable to breathe when he knows he's inside somewhere they can't find, and he's out of line of gambling sight. But now he's burning on the inside, jittery and hungry for something to fill the hole.]

Sorry, my friends ... they've already dealt with this for years. I don't want them to know.

[ So that will explain why Jesper's trying to hide it from them. He's already let them down for so long and he's made a big deal out of finally being good. And now here he is. Strung out and needy for that rush of anything good enough to distract him. It's very irrational since Inej and Kaz will know when he goes missing for days and go looking for him, him being caught is inevitable, he just doesn't want to face that right now. ]

Sylvain. I'm sorry.

[shadowthief]

“Chances are these omens are particular to this world. Even if we had similar examples at home, there’s nothing that says it would mean the same here.” Something that is both logical and annoying at once.

That doesn’t mean she doesn’t wish to consider the possibilities. “The moth… death, the end of something? Was the flower dead, or was it still vibrant? End of one thing to make space for the beginning of something new? The mirror…” she shakes her head, “I really don’t know,” and it bothers her, which is easily seen in the frown that pulls her features down. “We can talk to him, though. If there’s another, it’s worth knowing the whole scope.”

“Don’t worry, Kaz,” she says, a smirk on her lips, an amused lilt in her voice, “I wouldn’t dare think you started worshipping some new world’s gods.”

She watches him, taking steps from one side of the caravan to the other in thought. He’s nervous, or uncertain, and she doesn’t like the way that feels. He’s also studying— she sees it in the way his gaze is drawn to a trinket or lingers on something, the tightening in the line of his jaw.

The question, though abrupt, is not that shocking. That he asks at all brings a smile to her lips. “Yes, though on a smaller scale. Our camps were mobile cities, really.” There is an almost wistful note in her tone at the thought.

[supersoldier]

[He can hear her heart racing. He can practically feel the pulse of it, too, where his fingertips touch her. Sephiroth shakes his head, and both of his arms slide around Ciri to complete his half of the embrace.]

So I can be here for you.

[He’d not want it any other way, to be oblivious of the moments in which Ciri was frightened or hurt or in need of help. And perhaps that’s not very comforting to the person caught amid moments of vulnerability, but Sephiroth has long discarded the idea of keeping up appearances with his closest. He is tired of losing the very precious few he had ever learned to care about. Here, in this world, he has decided he no longer wants to continue that trend.

His cut still ekes red, smeared by her touch. But still, he doesn’t notice it. He’s only interested in letting this moment of reprieve stretch itself out, giving them both time to reorient and recover. His heart, too, thuds hard in his chest.

She’s so warm.]

You wouldn’t want it to be anyone else, would you?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain leads him by the hand, his grip firm as he guides him up the back staircase, empty now at this time of day. his room is as empty as he anticipated finding it and he's quick to tuck Jesper away inside, closing the door behind them.

And then pressing Jesper back to pin against the door once more for good measure. He hasn't missed the fact that contact has helped him get his own points across this week, although this is the first time he's actively doing anything of the sort on purpose.

Keeping Jesper pinned there by his own weight, he lets his own amber gaze search the other man's face, gauging just where Jesper's head is right now. Still nowhere good, he suspects, and those apologies only enforce that.

Still, he gives a quiet, rueful chuckle as he scrapes fingers through his hair and then resolutely shakes his head, his expression all wry awareness. ]

You don't have to apologize to me for anything Jesper. Shit's weird everywhere this week, you're not the only one floundering here. And even then... well, let's just say I understand all too well. I happen to have way too much experience with self-sabotage. You're not going to get judgment from me. What do you need, Jesper? [ He repeats his earlier question back to him, still searching his face. ]

[itookashot]

[ Jesper doesn't expect to be pinned again and this time it takes the wind out of him in a different way, a better way. It does help, to feel stabilized, to know that he isn't going to collapse. Sometimes he feels like he can take on the world in these moods, full of power and adrenaline, and then he crashes just as hard. Sylvain's strength is appreciated and he sighs, leaning into him.

His hands run up Sylvain's chest and then curl up around his shoulders, not typically used to someone being able to toss him around this easily. He's seen what is under these clothes, the hot springs obviously left nothing to the imagination. It's also nice to feel like he can lean into someone else for once, typically the one other people lean on. ]

You know what I need.

[ His touch causes people to give into desires or secret truths, but Jesper doesn't think he needs to use it to get anywhere with Sylvain. Although it is there when his long fingers run into his red curls, the vibe, the temptation. He is chasing one high for another or maybe he's chasing anything to soothe this anxiety. Gray eyes seem equally challenging and pleading as they meet amber. It's not as if they've been subtle.]

If we're both floundering, we both need a distraction.

[funbreaker]

[ The more that Thancred has to watch Himeka eat the pink substance as if it's some delicious desert rather than an unnamed ooze that's taking over this entire place, the more he thinks he might be a little ill. ]

Quite sure.

[ He waves her off, then forces himself to reach out and take her by the wrist. It's only after he's already done it that he recalls that physical contact can make the effects they're having on each other more likely to trigger, but it's too late now.

He'd like to think there are not many secrets Himeka has from him these days, but then again, there's no living being out there that doesn't have at least a few. With his free hand, he gestures toward the tower again. ]

We need to move. Stay close, will you?

[philancer]

Well. You're in luck.

[ There's a faint rasp to his voice, a husky depth as one corner of his lips quirk upwards. He holds Jesper's gaze as he speaks, his hand sliding up to curl around the nape of the man's neck, touch warm and sure as he draws him closer, never breaking away from Jesper's gaze. ]

I happen to be an expert at distractions, too.

[ At this point he's not even sure who's tempting who, or if either of them even need such a thing. He doesn't bother to question it. Just drags Jesper in close as his lips crash against the other man's in a deep, hungry kiss. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ She squeezes him, shaking, not with fear but with something else now, something that leaves her just as breathless and lightheaded, clutching him to her body with a grip that verges on painful.

He says it too, whispered against her ear.

Want.

Ciri shifts her grip then, pushes herself up on her tiptoes.

You aren't gonna give up on him, are you? Julie had asked her. Stop playin' tough girl. You're allowed to like him.

She grabs him by either side of his face, blood smearing beneath her fingers.

You can give away your power to him too, make him take care of you like he should live to serve you.

Ciri pushes off the wall, and plaster falls behind her, the crack where she'd just been widening, beams creaking. Dust rains down on them from the damaged upper story. She doesn't seem to notice.

That's real trust.

She doesn't respond to his question. Not with words.

They crash into each other. She kisses him desperately, hard and hungry, tasting blood. ]

[funbreaker]

This isn't an actual mountain, nor is it actual winter.

[ Meaning that there is no actual threat. Yes, there will be discomfort as it all feels quite real, but they have no need to fear.

That being said, Thancred knows this is a bold choice and he isn't the only one with a say here. He crosses his arms tight over his chest, more as a way to conserve warmth than anything, and regards Sylvain even as the harsh winds whirl around them. ]

But if you would rather we try to head down first, I'm certainly willing to concede the point.

[aquaveiled]

[ The leaves darkened? Much like they will come fall and winter to wither and die? And animals turning aggressive, mayhaps not recognizing friend from foe... ]

So it spreads here too...

[ No, that's not a good sign at all. But why, indeed? Wanda had asked a similar question and while Himeka can theorize, she hasn't a clue. Honest as she can be, it's what she'll tell Moglad even if she does wish she could offer something with more comfort.

So instead she pats his shoulder armor. ]

I don't know. But back on the other side, things aren't going well either. Whether that came from here or has spread from that world to this, I can't say. But there are older, greater powers at work. If only we could reach them...

[wiedzminka]

Istredd keeps on rambling, walking further inside-- but he'll have to notice at some point during his prattling and dealing with the books that Ciri hasn't followed him much further than the doorway. Only a few steps inside, she's frozen completely, tension coiled so tight that the muscles in her arms and neck stand out.

"I've heard a story like that before," she says slowly, without moving. She doesn't raise her voice; it is calm and measured, despite her uncomfortable stance.

"So. Did you find out? What the monoliths are? What they mean?"

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd turns to look at her, noting that she did seem to freeze, and she's tense. He may be very oblivious at times, but he can read body language. At first he is very confused, but when she says she's heard a story like it, he pauses as well. For a moment they are probably both tense, staring at each other, his gaze moving from curious to focused. Could they be from the same world? There is Geralt and Yennefer. It would be like Geralt not to mention there is someone else there, so he wouldn't expect that anyway.

"Yes. They're not scars, they're conduits to other worlds. They can be used to teleport creatures from other spheres to ours. I saw it happen with my own eyes."

The ground rumbles under them again but that is beside the point right then.

"I was with a witcher named Geralt." Istredd tilts his head at her. "Do you ... know him?"

[ordinar]

He screams as the ground gives way and he falls through darkness. Panic crushes the air from his lungs, pumps his heart into a frenzy. Limbs flailing, Wilhelm lands in a graceless heap in the grass. The soft shushing produces the opposite effect from what's intended: surprise spasms his whole body and a yelp pops out. Realizing that it's Wanda — and that she appears to be in control of herself — he gasps out a sigh of relief.

Slowly, he scrapes himself up so that he's sitting. Her question will have to go unanswered for a moment, though, as he rubs at his chest and tries to remember how to breathe.

"What the fuck's happening?" he finally manages.

[itookashot]

Jesper sucks in a breath that might have been a laugh at another time or a gasp, closing his eyes. "I can, we both know that I can." Kaz has revealed too much of himself, he's let himself be vulnerable to them, and they both know how hard that is for him. But it also means that Jesper knows where to press more than ever before, that he can dig his nails in and draw blood.

He'll try not to, he'll fight harder against that than he did against gambling, he gave into that so easily. He gave into lust too with other people, chasing that high and it still never lasted. Jesper has been this pathetic before, but only at his absolute worst, and it usually took weeks before he got there, rather than days. He wants to fight Kaz and drag himself off, but instead he gives in, because he wants that more. He wants to curl into the protection of his boss and best friend, the man he loves, even if that love is curdled into disgust too from Kaz.

This time it actually is a laugh, brittle and bitter, when he puts his arm around Kaz's shoulders and gives in to his demand. "I'll save it for another day." Jesper is just sick enough that even he can't make that joke, although he might do it later, when he's trying to make laughter out of something so vile. Also because it is entirely possible they do have to tie him up. Otherwise he'll steal everything in the inn and run off again.

Jesper hates having to lean on him but he really is unwell, and that is never more clear than now, considering how weak he is. He's just still in the thrall of this affliction. "I'm sorry." He whispers. "I really wanted to be better." He had been but he always knew he was just one bad day away from this. He was taunted and tempted daily and he was glad that he was strong enough, but a voice in his head told him he wouldn't always be. One day he would fail.

He'll let Kaz drag him back now.

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka raises a brow to that. Set herself on fire? What a silly suggestion. That would be a waste of a perfectly good flame. ]

Oh no, but if I need to I can send it where it's needed.

[ That may sound like a threat but it's not, really. Honestly. It's just practicality! Fire spells are offensive, anyway. Everyone knows that. (Everyone.)

It's a good answer though and Himeka nods as she takes it in, unfortunately completely serious herself. ]

Good, that's important. I usually only pull if others can't keep up so it seems like that won't be a problem. I'll let you lead, then.

[ With a smile, she motions for Sylvain to lead the way. ]

[wiedzminka]

The dread builds in the silence, only her pulse in her temples, the fear and anger clawing at the edges of her mind to be let out and given physical form. Another day, she might have been able to contain them. She might have been able to take that slow breath needed to calm down, step back, considering the best course of action. Maybe leave. Maybe talk to Geralt first.

But not right now.

She moves lightning-quick. Gripped by the sudden urgency and paranoia behind needing to know, Ciri explodes forward in a flash of deadly steel and predator precision.

The flat of her dagger presses into Istredd's throat, sharpened edge just beneath his jaw, leveraging him backward into one of his countless bookcases. All traces of the friendly teasing from Nocwich are gone; the confusion from a moment ago is gone. Her brilliant green eyes turn on him now with the same piercing coldness as her blade.

"Who the fuck are you?"