· OPEN ·

[carmesi]

WHO: Anyone and everyone in Solvunn!
WHAT: Mingle for the Summoned disguised as Winter Survival Camp™
WHEN: Two days, some time in January after the beached great yawning shark situation has been resolved.
WHERE: Within the boundaries of the Primary Settlement, at the edge of a small forest near a small body of water.

The invitation for camp is made after the beached giant of the sea has been put back into its rightful place in the ocean. It's an idea that had been ricocheting in the minds of those who live in Gardsbruk farm, and after sharing the idea with Aloy, together they've managed to design something that will (hopefully) not raise too many questions. Aloy has scouted a suitable camping area—safe, near water, with lots of space—and has cleared out debris or any obstructions that will make it difficult for people to pitch their own tents.

The Summoned are, of course, all very explicitly invited to join, and they are to disguise this congregation of too many like minds with extending the invitation to children, teenagers, and young adults in the Primary Settlement.

The individuals of the Primary Settlement are, after all, familiar with the majority—if not all—of the Solvunn Summoned. Though cautious as the natives of the commune may be, there is familiarity in the work some of the summoned ones have done to integrate, help, teach, and entertain the younger inhabitants.

And so, for two days, they will continue to integrate, teach, and entertain those who decide to join.

A. WINTER CAMP FUN

Delightfully, Solvunn doesn't suffer from having incredibly cold winters, but it is still chilly and wet enough to make camping a test of wills. However, they're lucky to have Aloy working behind the scenes to get something going.

She will be assigning chores to Summoned and Solvunn natives alike: getting water, gathering firewood, organizing supplies, pitching up tents. Additionally, since this could be new to many, she will be offering instruction in all these things, including how to build a fire, preparing wood for lean-to construction, basic traps for small game like rabbits and fish. If anyone happens to be particularly intrepid (and is not squeamish about it), she can teach them how to prep and cook said small game. Older kids and teens are asked to mind the younger children, and there is always adult supervision around the corner.

Also, maybe check first with someone before eating those mushrooms, and don't go anywhere alone. Use the buddy rule.

It's not all chores at camp, though. Some activities are available to pass the time, from the usual team-building ones to survival to improving a fighting skill. An archery range has been set up, a tightrope for a test of skill and balance, and a drum circle for a moment of singing fun and rhythm blazing are among the activities. Additionally, scavenger hunts in the near vicinity of the forest are set up, with the opportunity to run around and solve puzzles. For those who prefer quieter activities, there is always the small lake to swim into (it's cold! but nothing like a shock to the system—), collecting pebbles from the shore, or simple bird watching.

Of course, every Summoned is welcome to bring their own idea of a fun time to the camp, and whatever spin of an activity they may want to share with the others.

B. CAMPFIRE CHILL

After a long day of running around, jumping into the freezing lake, quiet meditation to garner favor with the gods, and getting energy depleted with the other activities that took place during the day, there is nothing better to end the day with than to have a big, roaring campfire to huddle around while holding onto a delicious, steaming bowl of creamy soup. All ingredients have been locally sourced (with goat cheese and bread available as sides), and now is the time for everyone to wind down. The younger children sleep first, but for those who are older, there is always a drink or two to pass around, stories to tell, and perhaps one of the Summoned will delight the group of Solvunn natives (and other Summoned) with a story of their big feats of heroism (or otherwise) back in their world.

Musical instruments will be made available, should anyone want to break into song. Games like charades will be an interesting concept to introduce the Solvunn natives to. Stargazing is another activity to indulge in should one walk a little ways away from the bonfire to look up at the night sky.

The fire blazes with life with every log of wood thrown into it, and marshmallows roast at the end of branches (some may burn), and the night really winds down the energy of the group, with people going into their respective tents, wanting to build the energy for the last day of camp, full of activities.

C. THE SUMMONED

Obviously, the Summoned are not expected to be, nor stay, during the entirety of the camp. Some can arrive on the last day of, ditch when it's time to set up or put everything away, or simply walk off if they feel bored.

They will, however, be expected to be there for the very first night.

As darkness covers their surroundings, illuminated solely by the light of campfire and torches, and once all Summoned who have decided to attend are in the clearing they had used for the bonfire, Wanda will step up and unfurl her Chaos Magic. With it, she will create a small hex, covering the perimeter of the camp, from the tents to the clearing the Summoned sit at. From the outside, nothing will look amiss: everyone sleeps, the bonfire dwindles as times passes, and from the inside, the Summoned can move about without having to worry that their movements or words will be noted outside of the Hex—an illusion with six walls and a roof, which, from the outside, gives the impression that things are still and without movement, just another night out in the forest.

No one can leave nor enter it, however, without her first bringing the Hex down. Those who are intuitive with magic will take note of the complexity of the spell, but nothing about it will neither change nor modify physical and mental traits of those within it. Its purpose is to solely give them a space to speak while the natives of Solvunn sleep, and remain asleep.

Wanda will have reached to a select few during the camp—those she's aware of magical prowess and mind control abilities—to aid her during the night to make sure the Solvunn natives remain asleep throughout their discussion, and to keep curious ones trying to get into the camp to turn around and return home without getting too close to the Hex.

Here, they can speak freely.

Before the end of the night, and when they have finished talking, she will wait for everyone to return to their tents and bring the hex down with little fanfare. Mind control or other magical trappings are no longer necessary at this point.

( OOC This will take place in one starter thread HERE. It's preferable that it can take place in an e-cats format (quick, short and snappy tags to move the story along), with no order as to who intervenes in the conversation at any given time. As different characters have different information to provide, feel free to start a thread within the starter pertaining with whatever information shared/discussion your character wants to share. Feel free to jump in and branch off, too! It's going to be a little chaotic, but we can suspend disbelief for the sake of info-sharing.

Feel free to assume that your character has heard all the information being shared in the different branching off conversations! No need to respond to claim that they have. If you want to hit a serious or emotional beat, do feel free to write as much as you want; that's fine, too! But be aware that the purpose of the conversation is for it to move along quickly. Feel free to write your own, separate post-conversation threads if you'd like. )

Comments

C. THE SUMMONED

[carmesi]

( OOC: Make use of this starter thread to throw up top-levels regarding information to be shared or anything up for discussion! )

about rumors.....

[carmesi]

[well, wanda supposes she could start them off, much as she hates taking the spotlight.]

Did anyone overhear anything while on the ship? Someone mentioned that there were disappearances taking place in Thorne, too, in Nott, specifically. I got to speak with a man of authority in Thorne about it—said that people going missing is quite common.

[she crosses her arms.]

Then there's that issue with Josselyn and 'losing favor' with the gods.

[hairington]

You heard that too?

[ steve wasn't really planning on diving into this part of the conversation, as it's usually not his strong suit, but at the mention of the disappearances, he can't help but perk up a bit. ]

I heard a guard talking about it on the shore. He said the undead made it hard to investigate anything.

[ there's probably a moment here where steve is going to end up either catching eddie's eyes or just looking over towards him - people 'going missing' sounds a lot like home - before he's back to wanda again. ]

Did he say why it's common?

[satanicpanics]

Yeah, I don’t know how helpful this is?

[ He raises a hesitant hand, already speaking as he does. ]

But one of the guys who organizes the elections in the Free Cities was complaining about the Prime Minister—Marlo, I think? Yeah, he seemed to be implying the whole beef with Thorne was her doing to put off the election so she could keep her position. I think he might have been drunk, though? And I was sort of half asleep, so--

[The lounge had some really comfortable couches, okay? ]

Take that with a whole boulder of salt.

threadjacking ok!

[marlbro]

I did hear someone talking about how the Council of Elders or whatever are meeting up separately, like they're sneaking off one on one or something. 'Stead of all together, like they're supposed to.

[ Jerry doesn't know what they're supposed to do. He's just repeating something he only half understood. He also may be slightly stoned, but that's pretty normal. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I have known the Summoned to occasionally return to whence we had come - or presumably do so. But if those native to this world have also done so, that is certainly more concerning.

[And something that would very certainly be worth looking into, for all that it might be easier said than done.]

Re: about rumors.....

[wewillwewill]

[Someone mentioned Marlo. Elidibus speaks up on the topic as well.]

I overheard the assistant of Free Cities' prime minister complain of extra duties for Quilleth Kar, representative of Libertas. Despite their opposing political views which seem genuine, their relationship seems to be close.

[Elidibus doesn't sound particularly surprised that the two might be friends despite their political views. But it is still a useful tidbit in understanding the whole picture.]

aloy is here for all your wildnerness survival needs

[lightkeeping]

i. winter camp CHORES (no fun allowed)

[Aloy’s done a fair amount of campsite prep by the time the group arrives—brush is cleared, access to water is secured, and the area is more-or-less disguised from any prying creatures. That does not, however, mean that she does all the work. When the group arrives, she’s quick to start assigning chores. Maybe your job is to collect water, or scrounge for firewood or kindling, or pitch tents. Though she’s more used to doing this by herself, for herself, rather than acting as some kind of supervisor, she’s fairly unforgiving, when it comes to everyone pulling their weight.

If, in the process of this, it looks like anyone is struggling for any reason, she’s quick to step in.]

Like this. See?

[Whatever she’s showing you, whether it’s tying a knot or stripping bark or pitching tents or even skinning a rabbit, she’s only going to do it once.]

ii. survival education

[Despite the various diversions available, Aloy comes across as someone who has a difficult time relaxing, and even as the group spreads out into more recreational endeavors. She’s more likely than not to be found on the perimeter of the activities than anywhere else, with the noted exception of the archery range. The bows here are more practice weapons than anything she’d use in the wilds, but if her goal here is to help the other Summoned fend for themselves, this is a good place to start.

Just don’t mind her sidling up to you and your attempt to fire a bow. It’s in your best interest, of course, as she adjusts your stance.]

Don’t worry. I’m good at this.

[She’ll also be available to answer questions, no matter how trivial, though if you ask her about what mushrooms are okay to eat, she might roll her eyes. If you’re particularly brave, you might even convince her to get on the tightrope.]

iii. campfire chill

[It’s only after the group convenes around the campfire that she seems to chill out, though even sitting on a convenient log, she keeps an eye out for anything that might take them by surprise. It’s not that she doesn’t trust Wanda’s plan, maybe, just that she’s apprehensive of magic in general, and it shows in the tightness of her shoulders and the way she grips her bowl.

Eventually, after eating, she gets up and slinks off into the woods, clearly wanting some alone time, though since she didn’t say as much, well. No harm in following her, right?

Not far outside the bonfire circle, Aloy is taking some time to herself sprawled out on the grass, arms behind her head as she does a little stargazing.]

iv. Wildcard

[hello Aloy will be your camp counselor today. feel free to hit her up with anything and everything even if it’s dumb (especially if it’s dumb). for everything else, I’m on plurk at whitticus.]

iii;

[postocular]

[ Carl doesn't know that much about Alloy despite being another Summoned and someone who is just damn good at things when it comes to survival. Watching her through the day in making sure everyone was doing their part and doing it right and the way she quietly commanded attention reminds him so much of the people he misses so dearly it hurts. Her presence and the way she steps in to help is so much like Michonne and his dad. It kind of solidifies in his mind that coming to the camp was a good idea.

There's not a lot of time to socialize until later, but he can't help but notice the tension sitting around the fire or the quick fleeting gazes toward the dark beyond the fire's light. He's no stranger to constant vigilance, but the stoicism and the way she slinks away for solitude is all Daryl. Some people are just solitary and that's fine, but everybody needs a little quiet company, so when she leaves, he quietly follows.

When he catches up to her, trying to be quiet as he walks into the woods, she's laid out and looking at the stars. ]

Is it okay if I join you?

[lightkeeping]

[It’s precisely when there’s time to socialize that Aloy disappears—-it’s probably not hard to guess that she’s done it on purpose, not necessarily wanting to make herself available for smalltalk or campfire games. She’s been marked as the Hermit for a reason, and it’s apparent when she slips away with little fanfare.

That said, she’s just spent the day educating the rest of the group, so it’s no surprise that she hears Carl coming. For a moment, she tenses, as if expecting an unwelcome visitor, but she seems to relax a little when she realizes he’s one of their number.]

Oh, uh. Sure.

[There’s plenty of space, so she doesn’t really need to make room, but she scoots anyway, more reflex than anything else. Still, it’s clear that she’s not quite sure what to do, socially, and there’s a half beat of awkward silence, as if she’s waiting for him to ask her for something.]

Campfire too much?

kai parker — tvd

[cobrakais]

01 WINTER CAMP

( at first, he was incredulous. wasn't camp for little kids and troublemakers they were looking to try and scare straight with the fresh air?

but, apparently this is a thing that he's going to have to do if he wants to live here and not be out of place so fine, that's fine. he's going to haul wood. he might look like he has some bony arms but he's strong where it counts even if he's going to end up with so many splinters.

and maybe he dumps the wood before he gets it back to the campsite so he can sit and take a rest. no one has to know, right? he's still working, he's just taking it in small breaks.

once the chores are done, kai wanders his way over to the archery range but doesn't partake. he thinks he could, if he really wanted to, but instead just stands back and watches those who are shooting arrows. )

Very medieval.

( but that's the thing here, isn't it? )

02 CAMPFIRE CHILL

( kai's sitting close to the fire, picking splinters out of his hands from the wood earlier. he's warm enough, listening to the conversations of others while not really participating in them. he's learned that you can glean a lot if you just sit there and act like you don't have a horse in the race.

he has a lot of horses in the race, though.

once it looks like his hands are back to pristine, he gets up, grabs a drink of something and comes back to sit down. only then does he sip it and feels the warmth immediately spread through his veins. )

Whoo, that's some good stuff.

( like he's an expert. )

003 WILD CARD

( if there's anything else you wanna do that i haven't written above. )

01

[lightkeeping]

[Aloy knows. She's not necessarily used to supervising, more often than not simply worrying about herself, but she's stepped up to the plate for the occasion. It's a change, and she's realizing just how spoiled she was, having a team that she could trust to look after themselves. She's not going to begrudge anyone who needs frequent breaks from hauling wood--this is not a life or death situation, after all--but she will take note of it.

She finds Kai later at the archery range, and though she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt earlier, something about the way he talks about the activity rankles her, so she decides to speak up.]

Are you complaining?

[Aloy's arms are folded, and she gives him a good look up and down, assessing.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Emet-Selch's own reasoning for spending time observing as people make use of the archery is, to extent, more personal than mere curiosity, but it's true enough that he himself hasn't ever really felt any desire to bother with bow and arrow. Not that he suspects he couldn't, given reason enough to try and time to devote to learning, but as matters stand he has neither.

And it is... perhaps not anything he'd consider medieval, but certainly something that pales in comparison to some of the technological wonders out even Garlemald had managed.]

I would say rather that it is a difference in technology. In the right hands, a bow can be quite effective - especially when a society has neither means nor access to other technology.

[Even if he has made something a career in leaning heavily on outclassing the weaponry of his would-be opponents.]

Eddie Munson | Stranger Things

[satanicpanics]

1. EXTREME Winter Camp FUN

[ Camping is absolutely not where Eddie’s interests lie, but he’s here. Solvunn Summoned make up such a small group, he figures it would be blindingly obvious if he were missing. He helps get the boring shit out of the way, helping with firewood and organizing supplies after one attempt at setting up a tent ended in miserable failure. He sweeps down to snag another piece of dry wood, and speaks what’s on his mind: ]

So, big question—

[ Spoken to the general masses and to no one in particular. ]

I know there’s this whole about not eating the mushrooms, but uh, for all intents and purposes, what if one wanted to go on a magical mystery tour?

[ Eddie, no, there are children around. ]

What would you look for?

[ In Lesser Campfire Fun, you can also find Eddie hyperfocusing on archery. His form sucks and his noodle arms are doing their best, but he’s obviously enjoying himself. He’s even actually hit the target a few times. ]

2. Campfire & Chill

[ Before anyone else can open their mouths, Eddie calls immediate, though he wouldn’t be shocked if it were there because of him. He hasn’t exactly been quiet about his love of music, or his Fine tastes.

Tastes so fine, in fact, that he may or may not begin plucking out the old school Batman theme. ]

I reserve the right to say no to requests, but, uh…try me.

[ It’s okay, he doesn’t know Wonderwall. You are all safe. ]

3. Wildcard

[ Whatever u want. Surprise me or find me at muttonchops! ]

1

[lightkeeping]

[Possibly she should have expected this question, directed to her or someone else or into the general void or otherwise, but when it does come, the exasperation is great. That said, if he wants to take the chance, well. She'd...probably stop him.]

It's not worth the risk. A lot of mushrooms look too similar. Unless you really know what you're doing, you're more likely to kill yourself than not.

[And she's not an expert in the subject--she knows, broadly, a few types of mushrooms from her own world with medicinal properties, but if she ever found herself with any doubt, she wouldn't want to chance it.]

If you're looking for a-- [sigh] --hallucinatory effect, I bet the elders know. They like...rituals.

2. Campfire & Chill

[cobrakais]

Kumbaya.

( that's what one sings while sitting around a campfire with other people, right? maybe they were supposed to hold hands or something but he's not going to do that.

he leans back, stretching his legs out and eyeing the guy with the guitar. )

That would get us all in the mood, wouldn't it?

2, with a side of handwaved 1

[marlbro]

[ One can absolutely assume that Jerry was just as interested in the magic mushrooms -- and he also definitely has experience -- but unfortunately this being a whole new world and all, even Jerry isn't stupid enough to just run around shoving random mushrooms in his mouth. But he's definitely told Eddie by now that he loves mushrooms, and not just the kind on pizza, and that he really wants to ask the natives of Solvunn which ones are the best trip.

That is for later, though. Now, he's gathered 'round the campfire, eagerly watching Eddie.

His hand shoots up immediately. ]

Bohemian Rhapsody!

[ That's a good group song! And there's a non-zero chance at least one other person will know it. Probably. ]

2

[postocular]

[ Being around the campfire as a group makes him feel a little nostalgic, thinking about how many times their groups had done this exact thing as they tried to find the next safe place to call home. Cans of beans or some roasted squirrel that was freshly hunted shared across a fire.

Sometimes there was a guitar, but there was never the Batman theme song. It was mostly gospel music or whatever anyone could remember. It was always nice and put on an air of safety. ]

Okay. Uh... Do you know any David Bowie?

steve harrington { stranger things.

[hairington]

A. WINTER CAMP FUN

[ so here's the thing about steve harrington - he is not a camper. his summers were instead spent traveling, his parents much too wealthy to sleep on the ground out in the wilderness when they could instead stay in beach homes or mountain escapes. when he was younger and the other kids were getting sent to summer camp, steve was traveling, or was stuck at home, or was being told to entertain yourself at whatever work retreat that steve's dad had been asked to attend. that's not to say steve's never been camping, of course there was a weekend or two that tommy h's parents had swooped him up and taken them all out into the woods, but steve never really learned the how of it all.

but it's not like this is the first time steve's had no idea what he was doing - and with aloy around to offer instructions, well. steve spends a lot of time listening. is he any good at it? probably not. but lord knows he'll try - which means you might just find him squatting next to a small pile of sticks, a frustrated noise escaping him as he tries, really really hard, to get this fire thing going.

or, alternatively, there is a very good chance that some of the kids whose parents did let them attend the camping weekend have found steve and pressured him into taking part in any of the games and activities set up. steve doesn't really volunteer himself to babysit, exactly, but it's also hard to escape when you've got eight or so seven year olds begging please. and good news for steve! he's not half bad at archery, or tightrope walking, somehow. ]

B. CAMPFIRE CHILL

[ when it comes to everything winding down, steve will end up finding himself helping put a lot of the younger kids to bed. which means that most of the other adults are already circled around the campfire when he sneaks back in and sits himself down next to you. ]

This seat taken? [ he'll ask with an easy smile, before turning and asking for whatever drink is being passed around. once he gets a drink or two in him, he will absolutely take part in whatever charades or other games are happening - no matter what doubts he may have about the natives themselves, steve likes most of them, and knows a good amount of them who are all in the primary settlement, so it's not too hard to join in. ]

C. WILDCARD

[ run into him wherever! ]

B. CAMPFIRE CHILL

[cobrakais]

( really, it's cute. sitting around a campfire with a bunch of other people, drinking something warm, listening to people talk and — not really caring about it at all.

oh sure, he's not completely unfeeling but he doesn't know these people and he doesn't know what they're trying to do here besides bond and make sure everyone knows each other.

so, that's what kai's trying to do. he's staring at the fire, lost in his thoughts, when the voice breaks him out of it. he looks up and at a guy with very, very nice hair and then shrugs. )

Yours now. I wasn't saving it for anyone because I don't know anyone here.

B

[lightkeeping]

Oh--hey.

[For as alert as she is when it comes to scoping out potential threats, Aloy seems surprisingly oblivious when someone comes into her space to engage her socially. She looks a bit surprised, then soften when she sees it's Steve--she won't claim to know him very well, but there's a certain camaraderie born of the mission they embarked on not too long ago.]

Go ahead. [There's no good reason to deny him a seat, especially when there's an empty one right next to her.] Did you win?

[Charades.]

A.

[ofthesword]

[It's not with a lot of grace that Nero finds the kid squatting in the dirt, fumbling with a bunch of sticks, in a way that almost has Nero worried about him. Yeah, yeah, he knows the whole thing is some weird front, and it's a hell of a wild idea. This isn't exactly Fortuna culture, and the Order wasn't taking any knights-in-training to sing kumbaya out around some trees.

(Nero mostly volunteered to go since someone had to watch the kids. And protect what Wanda couldn't keep her attention on.)

At first, he doesn't even know what the kid's trying to do. Like. Pick-up sticks? Do kids still play that?

Instead of easing into it, Nero just knocks Steve's foot with his own boot. Not hard. Just catching his attention.] All right, kid. Enough playin' around in the dirt. It's time to learn.

[He stabs what appears to be a large stick sharpened into a spear in the ground next to him. No, he's never mentioned Geralt told him to teach the kid swords. Just seems like a good time now, especially with Wanda's fancy little ward.] How much has Geralt taught you about fighting, anyway?

b.

[marlbro]

[ Jerry automatically scoots over a bit, matching the smile immediately with one of his own, wide and dopey and entirely earnest. ]

All yours, sweetcheeks.

[ He says this very casually, like it's a totally normal thing to say to a near-stranger he's probably only spoken to a handful of times around the commune.

Jerry takes a puff of his pipe (wooden, intricately carved into the shape of a boar's head), and then passes it over. Sharing is caring. ]

A

[postocular]

[ When the idea about the camp was first pitched to him, Carl definitely made a face. Being forced to live out of a tent and really rough it was already something he'd done more than enough for one lifetime, thanks.. But the prospect of spending time with the other Summoned and having more of a 'summer camp' vibe sounded pretty good. He'd never been to summer camp growing up, but he had gone on a few camping trips with his mom and dad.

So far, it's been pretty fun getting things set up and keeping the kids entertained. Even if he was garbage at balancing and archery. He's working on the second one at least. Guns are just so much easier than a bow and arrow because there doesn't always need to be accuracy. Maybe archery just isn't for him.

He's busying himself by picking up stray branches and dry sticks to use for the fire once the sun goes down when Steve's huff of aggravation stops him in his tracks. Unable to help himself, Carl comes over and peeks down at what Steve is doing and clears his throat. ]

If you're trying to light a fire with that, [ He points at the pile of bigger sticks ] you'd probably have an easier time just using your heat vision.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[To be perfectly honest, Emet-Selch has very rarely needed to make a fire by hand. Not when he is perfectly capable of lighting a fire by other means besides, most of the time. And even when he had needed to pretend to be something less than the sorcerer he is, there'd still been the easy option of flint and steel (and the fact that magic had not been completely unknown in most areas, if not always common.) Still, he does at least make an effort to listen all the same, even if he has no practical experience in trying.

Commiserating with unsuccessful attempts, on the other hand... that he can do.]

It's never as easy as it might sound, is it?