EVENT #10: AFFLICTION - IC POST

[abraxasmods]

Event #10 - Affliction

go to the OOC event info & plotting post

---

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?

---

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.

---

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.

---

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

[thearchangel]

"Rip through enemy ships like they're nothing."

So sue him, he's proud of the cannons. Proud of what he's been able to coax out of them. Not even their geth crewmate - the synthetic made of over a thousand intelligences - could match it. But enough preening. He absently starts typing at the console. No calibrations, not this time.

"Yeah?" He cranes his neck around to look back at Nadine. And grins. "Good to know. Maybe the next time I'm trying to explain space walks to someone who doesn't know what a combustion engine is, I can call you."

Then gestures her nearer. "Want to see the Milky Way? Think I figured out a way that doesn't involve walking through the door and into lava or an elcor lecture hall."

[ushiri]

Kahlil is braced for something more violent, but yes - he's relieved when all Lucifer does is shove the man away with a casual show of strength.

The drunk stumbles back and onto his ass, staring wide-eyed at them and looking like he might protest being abandoned. But after a second thought he pulls himself up, running toward the city with a wet slap, slap, slap of his soaking wet trousers.

"It's easier for people to disappear or be forgotten in this city," he replies, shaking some of the viscera off the cudgel as he walks at Lucifer's side. He imagines they'll run into a few more men like him, and more dead.

[godshattering]

[ It's not from Fodlan, not a Hero's Relic. That's enough for Claude to relax ever so slightly since that likely means nothing can or will go wrong. It's not like he knows the weapon like Kyle does so there's no reason to make assumptions so quickly.

And then the blade changes.

Claude can't bother to hide his horror as it morphs, expands further, and for a sickening moment all he can think of is the Lance of Ruin changing Miklan into a beast before their very eyes. Without thinking he reaches forward like that'll keep Kyle from being absorbed into it as if he can drag him back from that transformation. But a second after he holds his hand out and the creature keeps growing Claude realizes Kyle hasn't been pulled into the transformation at all.

Nemesis gets impaled and just like when Teach ended their aptly-named enemy's too long life, he crumbles into dust in a burst of light. The light's enough for him to see what's really facing him, what's staring at him while he holds his breath with muscles tense and ready to flee. It serves him when he he picks up on the motion at the same instant he twists away to pivot on his feet in combat familiarity, but Claude is well aware of the rush of air skimming his face which means that blade only barely missed. ]

What is this?! [ The shout's directed Kyle's way and hopefully carries over the clash of the axe with the... being. It lunges again and he spins once more to dodge, but it's fast, he's tired, injured. And maybe there's something to his Crest not matching Freikugel's; the axe glows brightly still, brighter than before, but he feels weaker than he should while wielding a Relic. Can't think about that now, though. ]

i can't wait for him to try and apologize for this one

[cryptsleeper]

[At this point, all the dhampir can do is throw his hands up in the air. This is beyond stupid.]

All I know is that my mouth is still actively on fire, and there's no other logical cause!

[godshattering]

Maybe.

[ Said half-heartedly with no real attempt to disguise it as anything but what it is like he might any other time, but Wanda's right. It had to be that association, something he'd thought about and then pushed aside because that ached in a different way than everything else about seeing old friends once more.

The tug on his sleeve pulls him back from that particular spiral for now and with a smile that's equally forced as it is meant at the invitation to get comfortable - and the apology, though this is his only response to that - Claude takes a seat next to her. The fire's warm and takes the chill out of the clothes he's trying not to look at now that there's not much to do but that. He leans forward to prop his elbows on his knees, hands clasped in front of them in an unconscious sort-of mirroring of how she's sitting.

He'd meant to sit in comfortable silence of the kind where neither of them needed to find something to say until it felt right, but - the wind. It hurls itself at the cabin and shrieks in a way he's never heard the gales in Derdriu reach. This sounds more like one from a battle or like any of those he's avoiding thinking about, even if the noise seems to get louder while he attempts to ignore it as if it's seeping through the cabin walls, like it's approaching. ]

Of the... death you've been seeing, are any of them people you know? And are they here? [ That question's not clear enough, what with them both seeing things, and Claude pulls his gaze away from the fire to look at Wanda. ] Not- not as visions. As themselves.

[techmaturgy]

Despite the fact that this outcome is entirely predictable, Viktor is still jostled and still yelps in outrage when Jayce snakes his arms under him and fairly effortlessly lifts him off the ground. In an ordinary circumstance, he might be able to put a stop to this before it happens, but in his listless state, by the time he realizes what's going on, he's already picked up and being carried away.

It doesn't mean he dislikes it any less, and he's quick to make that known.

"Jayce--!" Neither of them know where to go. Who's to say this isn't just going to make it worse? "Jayce, stop."

[godshattering]

[ The first part of that's going to be put aside for now. It's done with the note to himself that now it's his turn to silently question the tone in it, like it's a joke concealing something else inside. Sylvain's not wrong about the sentiment, but there's an elaborate web of things wound around it that even Claude's not looking at too closely. No need to start now as far as he's concerned.

It's also true they've never been stopped by a bad idea, but there's a world of difference between needling each other into eating too much glowing candy among all the other harmlessly dumb ones since, and what this would mean if they decided to undertake it. Or if Sylvain does, since Claude's well aware there's nothing he can do to stop the other man if he decides to. All the better to check on a suspicion he has while keeping a level gaze on the person next to him. ]

And what experience do you have with doing that?

[ Because Claude has the experience in question, even if the application was different and not for nefarious (to him) purposes. It's also not something he's particularly eager to repeat without some serious thought first, but - he's listening. ]

[philancer]

[ Sylvain just shrugs, almost flippant in his disregard of it. Not in offense to Claude or anyone else, but there's almost a purposeful air to the otherwise nonchalant dismissal. ]

Me? None whatsoever. [ Not that that's ever stopped some of them before, either.

But he does pause for a moment, considering what else to say as he stares down into the dregs of his drink before turning to flash Claude a halfhearted rueful smile. ]

But giving people exactly what they think they want to see so they underestimate you from there on out? That I might have considerable experience in. I know how to play a role, Claude.

[princessvegas]

[ It wouldn't surprise her that his bottle breaks. Julie has always had control over the Horizon in a way that seems to exceed that of everyone else -- it would make sense that even here, wherever she is, that still holds true. But it's not much of a comfort either way; she's still stuck here.

She also is feeling worse the longer she talks to Rhy. It's not his fault, really, but she feels helpless. There's nothing she can do for him, and maybe he's stuck in a worse place in terms of setting, but he doesn't understand that what she is stuck with is something that she can't explain, that's very much alive and unstable. ]

I don't know how much longer the ground is gonna stay. [ She doesn't know what else to say. ] The blob keeps makin' it split open like earthquakes. There's huge cracks, and nothin' but... blackness when I look down there.

[ In other words, it's probably only a matter of time before it cracks so much that she will have nowhere left except to fall. ]

Is there anythin' you can use to make a fire the real way? Like driftwood and rocks?

[gynvael]

[ A second passes where Eddie appears he may be all right. But Geralt is not prepared for someone who isn't just in the throes of panic; something has gripped him, beyond either of their control.

He can hear it. Can hear Eddie's breathing stop. An impossible thing in this place. For a moment, he thinks Eddie will vanish, snapped out of the Horizon from the shock of what's happened. (What had happened?)

Instead, he snaps upright. Geralt catches him, a deep frown that's equally bewildered.

Good fucking question. ]

I don't know. [ He's never—Jo had been struck with a vision. This is something else. Something that is much more real. Is it this place? His, in particular, with its walls steeped in death and blood as they are? ] You stopped breathing.

[ There's a long moment where he looks Eddie over. Concern is etched in his brows. ]

What did you see?

[godshattering]

[ The shrug is - not ideal, though this time Claude doesn't go with his first reaction, instead willing himself to wait it out and be a bit more careful as usual. None is exactly what he would've guessed and it's not reassuring in terms of what the bigger picture would require. Not even with that rather illuminating reveal that follows it; he studies Sylvain for a long moment afterwards. It's not lost on him that now's a time to choose his words with even more deliberation than usual. A given, really, but now if he selects an incorrect one who knows what the consequence will be? ]

I don't doubt that, but this isn't 'playing a role' to get out of practice at the training grounds that we're talking about here. This is considerably different.

[ Where to start? There aren't a lot of ways he can explain what he'd actually like to without giving too much away and that won't help anything either. That's something he can think a bit more about first because there's something more important to address in there. ]

You realize that about the only way they'd trust us is if we joined the military, right? I don't want information badly enough to consider doing that, and you shouldn't either.

[philancer]

[ Sylvain huffs out a dry laugh at Claude’s comment about training. If only that had been the worst of his worries back home. No, the facade he wore had been for a different purpose entirely. ]

I realize that, Claude. The only way they’d trust one of us is if we prove ourselves trustworthy to them. Joining the military would be the least of it. [ Claude would be disappointed to know his mind is already calculating all the angles of this particular problem. All those strategy lessons he’d drilled over and over again were more useful than their Professor had probably ever anticipated. ] It might be worth the risk. We still don’t know what - or how much - they’re hiding from us. Least of all the information on how to get back home. Or how they found us in the first place. Or how to keep them from finding and Summoning the others.

[aquilus]

[He considers offering a hand up but refrains. He'd rather not trigger another vision, if indeed he was the cause of the first.]

No. You wouldn't be my first target if it were intentional.

[Would he turn it on anyone if he could? Possibly. But only on one marked for death, and only if he deemed it the best way of taking out his target.]

...I'm not accustomed to speaking much of myself, either. [Because it hasn't escaped his notice that the words just tumbled out, nearly unbidden.] Yet that occurred, too.

[aquilus]

[His gaze focuses keenly on the toss, the reaction of the vines, and even still he's barely able to track it.]

We have an answer, then.

[And still many, many questions.]

I hope you were not fond of that garment.

[He'd assume it could be created a new in the Horizon, but given their circumstances...]

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd does look confused when he says circuitry, definitely well past his time, but veins make more sense. He gets his deep-thinking look, when he is dwelling and not paying much attention to what's around him, rubbing at his beard.

"The Horizon is on the psychic plane but when the Summoned were pushed into the crater around the Singularity, or physically try to get to it, we automatically come here."

It is one of the things he's been considering as he tries to decide how to get to the Singularity physically. He thinks he has the answer on how to do it, although it may not get to what he wants. But he's going to try.

"So all of this? The Horizon, the crater, the Singularity tower, it's probably all connected, all the same ground. Why wouldn't there be veins underneath or through it? It may well be alive. But why here?"

[aquilus]

[No, he doesn't. That actually gets a grin in return.]

When you put it that way, it almost seems a shame. That's no challenge at all.

[And for all that he's shed his self-important arrogance, he does love a good challenge.]

[philancer]

[ Chuckling, Sylvain gives his spear a twirl to ready his grip and moves to confront the closest two corpses shambling in their direction. ]

Careful what you wish for. Walking dead that do present a challenge probably aren’t as much fun as you’d hope.

[ Even if he does share your enjoyment of a good challenge. It keeps things interesting. ]

[assembles]

You really do worry.

[ This is sent back with an equal amount of lightness in Steve's tone. Things are as under control here as they can be for the moment, so there's no harm in a bit of joking around. ]

Hurry back or I'll be the one worrying.

[ When one of the undead tries to push back to its feet, he tosses out the shield again, knocking it right back down. ]

[aquilus]

It isn't about fun.

[That's not the right word. He readies his sword, carefully eyeing the closest ghoul before dashing out to slice at one of its legs.]

But there is something about what it means to push oneself in battle. Satisfaction, really.

[gynvael]

[ Maybe. The look he gives Alucard is curious, searching. ]

You have an interest in the matter?

[ Alucard's often preferred to stay out of things; he'd rather thought this would be more of the same. Not as though they can do much for it. Plagues that sweep across an entire continent almost?

That's more than a curse infesting a village. This is bigger. ]

[hextechhead]

He rolls his eyes. "You were lying there and starting to grow vines, V, what was I supposed to do? We may already be running out of time." Jayce's protest known, he does however immediately stop when Viktor says stop. He will always listen even when it may be stupid, and he sets him back carefully on his feet.

It does free up his hands to do two spells though, one to put fire in his hand again for their own light, and he does the illumination spell, sending it in both directions from where they're standing. All it tells them though is that there are long stretches, but there does seem to be a wall or a turn in the path to the right.

There's no threat currently, so there's that. Just a lot of darkness and emptiness with no exit. "Okay, you pick."

[cryptsleeper]

When the mythology is directly making your life difficult, getting the dead that you share a home with to stir, and generally making it impossible to exist without consequence? [The dhampir sighs. Geralt's not wrong, usually he does stay out of things.]

Even if I was out here when it all began, I'd still be impacted. So I must. But I will do it where the least harm is done to others.

[Which is close enough by. Alucard can see the rocky outcropping he's made for himself to mark that it is only a few hundred yards more to his little home.]

[gynvael]

Both.

[ There's a wryness to the answer. What goes back home often seems to infect his Horizon. The nature of memories, he supposes.

Perhaps one day, he won't have shit spawning out of nowhere against his wishes.

He grabs a slithering tendril, slicing it off with a knife. An exercise in futility, he's aware, seeing as they will likely return, but he hasn't got anything else to do while they talk. Who knows? Maybe having a friend help will keep them away this time. ]

I felt the same. [ Not unfriendly. That's what bothers him. He's used to threats and creatures and nightmares. Monsters that are drawn to him—that isn't the usual. That is...it reminds him of Ciri. The pull, as she calls it. The sort of thing that shouldn't happen to him. ] As though it had found...an old friend.

[gynvael]

Goddess-touched.

[ That's a unique turn of phrase. Is it literal? Symbolic? He doesn't know what to make of what Sylvain is telling him—only that the man is confirmation of a phenomenon he's only heard of. Until recently, he's presumed there could only ever be one variation of themselves. If they were removed from their path, then that path would be disrupted.

Now it appears something else is in play. ]

Gaps in time are not unheard of among us. But discrepancies in outcomes are new.

[gynvael]

[ The winds are especially harsh. Geralt's been keeping an eye on his surroundings, but there's not a single fucking tree he can see of. No animals. Just rocks and snow and ice—and those strange marble pillars rising into the sky.

The sun is up. But it's beginning to sink, and though he is not as bothered by the cold as most, a storm is still a storm. It isn't pleasant without some shelter. ]

Native. [ Geralt repeats that with some uncertainty. ] You mean—no one built them?

[ Is that possible? Is not one of the key points of a machine that it's built by someone? ]