EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (GODSBLOOD)

[aionmods]

Godsblood

THE GOD'S PATH

For those that head towards Godsblood, the first week or so will be spent travelling, five or so days by cart or foot and then the rest on a boat caught near by the Syraku Shipyard. The workers and sailors that live in the are are slightly suspicious, but if everyone is well disguised, it won't be hard to catch a ride in one of the vessels departing to Godsblood with a load of lumber from the nearby forest. The rate may even be cheap enough to be afforded with whatever charity was offered to you by the village folk, though there are, of course, other ways to make money. That is, if your character is clever enough.

One way or the other, the ride on the ship will only last a day or two, and soon you will be docking at the shores of Godsblood. It's city line is densely packed between mountains and ocean, with buildings that stretch impetuously over the water of the bay it surrounds, leaving room for smaller boats to travel in and out of the city's core. The architecture here is storied, carved with inscriptions and painted with murals, depicting anything from tall tales to family histories. To those from Earth, its aesthetic may give off a Nordic impression, mixed with elements of steampunk. The shore is lined with many massive, ancient boats that have been docked there so long they've been transformed into buildings.

Enough people come and go from the city that your presence will not be particularly noteworthy, just as long as your Shards and any extremely outlandish features are kept from sight. The sailors will even offer you some extra jools if you help them unload the lumber they're carrying. There is no paperwork or verification to be done upon entry; Godsblood welcomes travelers and immigrants alike, as long as they don't make trouble.

THE LOVER'S FESTIVAL

The Lover's Festival is a celebration of love in all it's forms, whether that be familial, friendship, or romance. Of course, it's perhaps unsurprising which one of the those is the most marketable to the businesses of Godsblood. The city has a booming, and competitive, economy, and that means as the celebrations ramp up, so do the number of market stalls filling the streets and trying their best to get your attention. You may have anything from fine jewelry to aphrodisiacs' shoved in your face, followed by a string of aggressive sales pitches. It's just that kind of place, apparently. Don't you have a sweetie to buy a gift for?

Not all of the celebration is about commerce, but it may become clear on even a cursory view that crafting and selling is the primary battleground for an overwhelming network of inter-family conflicts. Some are based in multiple family businesses selling the same products, others are out of uncontrolled clashes in personality... all of them have a way of turning into loud, public arguments. Godsblood is an unapologetic place in both politics and culture, and forwardness is the assumption, with bartering and haggling being habitual practices.

Yet, it is also a place of faith - specifically, faith in the eleven Legacies. While there is certainly some cynicism in people's approach to the Lover's holiday, there are plenty of rituals of genuine spiritual significance occurring as well, with highly practiced dances and musical performances happening on nearly every street corner, many of which are done in the Lover's honor. Unsurprisingly, this is also something that the most well-entrenched family lines find a way to fight over.

❖ LOVE POTIONS (CW: drug usage)
A particularly noteworthy booth is one set up by a family that is loudly proclaiming to be descended from the Lover themselves... or at least a facet of them! The Faeyr family is controversial to say the least, with the legitimacy of their claim being a subject of hot debate, especially since they are using the claim to sell supposed 'love potions'. They've even giving out free samples! Contained in small, vials of iridescent liquid, drinking these potions will result in the subject feeling overwhelming feelings of love and kinship, but not just to one person; no, this feeling extends to everyone and everything, especially the things they actually do love. There is nothing innately romantic about this feeling, but it could certainly emphasize what's already there.

The Faeyr family is marked by their pointed ears and featureless, iridescent eyes. It seems their samples are causing quite a bit of chaos, and also getting slipped into some unrelated drinks that are on offer. Are the Faeyrs themselves responsible for these spiked drinks, or is it merely a coincidence? It'd take some searching to find out.

❖ ENDURANCE DANCING
Endurance dancing is a prominent sport during the Lover's Festival; that is, dance partners competing against others pairs to see who can keep up a series particularly brisk dance formations without falling or stumbling. Most of the dances are relatively easy to learn but hard to maintain, with prize pools varying from 25-100 jools depending on how difficult the steps are and whether or not you're required to be drunk before starting. The last pair standing gets the prize!

❖ FULL MOON
The full moon is considered the climax of the festival and the mythological peak of the Lover's power; as such, many prospective lovers see it as their prime opportunity to find their destined match. It is extremely common on the night of the full moon to be asked out by complete strangers, all searching for true love, ordained in the light of the Lover's moon. Many people can be seen going on spontaneous dates or finding rooms during this time, and it's entirely possible that the undercover Aions will be spotted and approached in such a manner. If it isn't quite your speed, maybe you need some help disentangling yourself... or perhaps pretending to already be taken might do the trick.

REST INTERRUPTED

After scrounging up some jools, it will be possible to find an affordable place to rent a room, at least for the night. Of course, in the throes of the festival, not everyone's minds are set on sleeping. After you've enjoyed your complimentary meal and retired for the night, you'll find those in the inn's dining hall stay up until all hours of the night hollering, laughing, singing, and playing loud music on an assortment of instruments. Despite having left the streets, you have not left the party, and for those exhausted from travel the inability to catch a wink may be a trying ordeal.

Maybe that isn't your only problem. It's more cost effective to split costs, after all, and finding the more affordable room could be a fast track towards sharing a bed with one or two of your new Pleroma kindred. After all, if you're staying here indefinitely, you'll have to make those jools last.

QUESTIONS

How do characters get enough money to pay for ship fair?
We invite you to be creative in how your character accomplishes this, whether it be by stealing, gambling, sweet talking, or doing chores on demand. If you really have no ideas, however, it can be said that the villagers surrounding the Valley of Innocence gave you some money on the way out. It probably wasn't much, though, and the more money you can gather the easier it will be to survive in the city.

What kind of long term work is available?
Low level labor and service positions are easy to come upon, which pay about 25 jools per day. There are also roles that can be found in crafting and manufacturing, but those will require you to display some skill in the subject before they hire you. Fishing is also a big industry, as well is mining. In general, you can find whatever sort of work would plausible be in a bustling city, but more academic and management positions will be harder to acquire.

You describe the Faeyr as having unusual physical traits, which are seen as normal. What kind of physical traits in player characters will stick out enough to raise suspicion?
Horosians are incredibly biological diverse, with many family lines having unusual physical traits such a extreme heights, horns, odd coloring, animalistic features, and other such things. While people that look basically human are still the most common, things like pointed ears, for instance, are considered fairly average. "Extremely" otherworldly traits would be things such as visibly being a robot, being made of plants, having a snake tail, and other huge deviations from the norm. Faeyr are considered normal because their family have existed in Godsblood for centuries.

It's a bit of spectrum, with the further you deviate from the human norm being more and more of a risk; not because it's impossible for such people to exist in Horos, but because if those traits do exist, they are probably connected to certain family lines. Whether or not moderately inhuman traits give you away depends entirely on how worldly the NPCs you're interacting with are. If one can pass as human it will generally be safer to do so, because then NPCs will have no cause to question what family or region you come from.

How long does the festival last?
Each 'moon' in Horos lasts 30 days, so the festival starts around the 10th, peaks at the 15th around the full moon, and then tapers off until the 20th. The events following the full moon tend to be a little more chill and family orientated, but the same activities can still be found.

How will the portal to Greentruth be unlocked?
Unless your character goes looking for Godsblood rebels, the portal will be unlocked from the side of Greentruth on around the 20th of the month, at which point those that travelled there will be able to enter Godsblood and show the Pleroma there the way. This will happen after the event prompts on each log have concluded, chronologically, but can be used to have characters reunite later in the month.

Comments

MOD CONTACT

[aionmods]

This is where you can ask the mods questions about the event scenario or pursue IC investigations about your character's surroundings. Attempts to engage with NPCs that don't have their own top level will default to summary interactions unless the thread moves towards needing dialogue. Please remember that responses will be limited by demand and mod availability.

[goldendeceiver]

Two quick questions!

1. How long do the effects of the love potion last?

2. Could you expound on animalistic features? Like, how much is Ernesto going to stand out with dog ears and a tail if he doesn't cover them up?

[aionmods]

1) At least an hour, though possibly more than that if you're a lightweight.

2) For dog features specifically people won't seem to bat an eye initially, though depending on how open he is about them, he may end up getting some nosy questions. There are apparently a few different family lines with wolfish features who either live in Godsblood or have in the past, and most will assume he's from one of those. They'll probably find it interesting how soft and floppy his ears are since that's not as typical, but that more on a "oh I love your cute floppy ears!" level than outright suspicion. They will get confused if he denies being part of these families, though, and ask where he came from.

Fengari, Runa, and Tilo'hae are three of the family names that will come up when being asked about this.

[coupris]

Question about jobs/world tech:

Would there be any sort of mechanic/handyman work available in the city, or are they not at that level yet?

[regretsor]

Hello, mods! I have a few questions.

1) How hard would it to be get a cooking job? Getting higher quality goods like clothes/weapons/supplies?

2) What type of food and ingredients is typical of Godsblood? If I can expand, what common culture/customs might be normal to see if one was trying to get more accustomed to fitting in? I know it was mentioned that it has Nordic impressions, but wasn't sure if there's anything particular that might stick out for Godsblood itself.

3) While asking about information, will people of Godsblood be receptive to being asked about other cities? If so, what could he learn about other settlements around them? What might one be able to hear from a drunk patron or two regarding the political climate and happenings across the continent? Within the city?

[passio]

two semi-related questions!

1. does godsblood have any kind of centralized place of worship, whether it’s in use or not? the write-up says it’s a place of faith, and considering the regent’s influence i was wondering if there is (or ever was) a kind of parish and/or religious leader within cities, or if connections to legacies and aions and all that is a more individual thing?

2. the faeyr family claims to be descended from “the lover.” are there any stories being told about The Lover, whether from the faeyr family themselves or just folktales passed around during the festival?

Ernesto Salas

[goldendeceiver]

I. SHIP

[ Ernesto has always enjoyed being out on the water, even if his last couple of experiences aboard ships have been anything but pleasant. There's something about the salty spray of the water on your face and the rolling motions across the water that brings him a strange kind of peace of mind.

In another life, who knows? Maybe he would have made for a great sailor. In this one he's just a traveler briefly passing some time over the water, before moving on to something hopefully more important.

Whether he enjoys being on the water or not, doesn't mean he's not cognizant of the fact that this might not be true for everyone. As he's strolling around on the deck, looking healthier and happier than he has since touching down in this world, he'll stop by if he spots a fellow Pleroma somewhere, just touching base. ]

How are you holding up so far?


II. IN TOWN/FESTIVAL

A. OUT AND ABOUT

[ Ernesto has always done well in bustling city settings. The fact that there are a sorts of people milling about makes him feel more at home than ever, as does the fact that after the first day or two of leaving his hood up, he realized he could relax a little and not try to hide his Perro traits. The ears draw some attention, but nothing particularly negative. He's already learned to agree with being part of larger families he's never heard of before, and when he does people see happy to pay him compliments for his appearance.

Sometimes though those compliments turn out to be false flattery that are lead ins to sales pitches. While Ernesto is decent at a haggle when he has money to haggle, he's not exactly in a position to spend what little he has.

It might not be nice either, but in moments like these it sure is easy to use his fellow Pleroma as his fall guy if they happen to be close enough. He'll reach over to grab his comrade by the shoulder, maneuvering them between himself and the aggressive sales person. ]

You know, I'm not sure that's for me, but I think my friend here could really use some.

[ He'll use this particular tactic from food he doesn't want, all the way to the uncomfortable attempts to sell people aphros.

Sorry to his new Pleroma friend if he grabbed them to be his distraction for a particularly embarrassing product. Hopefully it was just jewelry? ]


B. FESTIVAL

[ Through potentially dubious means, Ernesto has eventually started gaining enough of an income to enjoy the festivities a bit more. He's still being relatively frugal with his money, but he'll spend a little here and there and actually enjoy some of the food stalls and the like.

If he notices another Aion, he'll come over to give them a friendly nudge. ]

See anything good?

[ He'll even incline his head a little towards the food to make it clear what he's talking about. ]


C. FULL MOON

[ Not to sound completely full of himself, but Ernesto has had suitors before. At the very least, he's had people who have been interested in a fun summer fling with him while they were on vacation. It's all to say that he's been asked out and flirted with before.

Just... Usually not so many in one night. It's not like he's any more interesting than any of the other Aions that came here, but that friendly demeanor of his might be working against him at the moment. Most people still seem to be understanding his gentle and subtle attempts to let them down, but every now and then there's someone that doesn't seem to want to catch on to what Ernesto is trying to dance around say.

It's in that moment that he slides up to a fellow Pleroma, and without asking first, interlaces his fingers with theirs, holding up the hand he's now holding. ]

It's not that I'm not flattered by the offer, but I'm not exactly single.

[ He'll glance over his shoulder at his partner in crime, and give them a desperate, pleading look while his current suitor can't see his face.

Please. Save him. Play along. ]


III. LOVE POTION [cw: drug use]

[ So here's the deal, Ernesto has kind of already been lightly manhandling his newfound friends this whole time. Between the gentle nudges, or desperate fake dating hand holding, he hasn't exactly not been tactile.

But this is a whole different level...

After a little debate with himself, a lot of questions to the sellers, and some more hesitation he decided to try that vial of "love potion". The thought behind it is pretty simple: in a pinch he might be able to save him a violent encounter with one of the Regent's new lackeys, if he had one of these on hand. At the very least, it might make them a little less inclined to stab him again.

He just needed to get a sense of how it worked, assuming it worked at all.

As it turns out, it definitely works.

It's strange considering his experience as a young soldier in the middle of a brutal civil war, and all the horrors he's seen brought on by that, but Ernesto has always had a pretty strong fondness for people. That's one of the things that made the death, destruction, and displacement of civilians particularly heartbreaking to him over the years.

That strange fondness for people has been cranked up to eleven though, as he feels a sort of warm fuzziness envelop him, and has him looking positively upon even the slimiest of the city's swindlers.

Personal space also seems to be entirely thrown to the wayside. After his own shopping had him trying a drug sample, he'll be seeking out familiar faces, tossing an overly familiar arm around his friend as he looks over at what they're perusing. ]

See anything good?

squidward dab

[salvageable]

[ It's been a long day of salesman pitches and trying to spot drugged out festival attendees to usher them to pet a floppy-eared dog man. If he charges them a somewhat ridiculous rate for it, then isn't it on them for being so casual with their finances? Look, money doesn't appear out of thin air, and as someone who's struggled in the past with earning enough to get by, Dokja's a little too well-versed and comfortable with lying, cheating, and stealing.

But this? This is at least a more respectable transaction (on his end... debatable for his partner), even if he is mostly taking advantage of people high off of love and with some weird desire to touch dog ears.

He doesn't get it, but it sells.

As the last "customer" departs, Dokja turns and starts counting their earnings for the day. It's not a lucrative business, but it's enough to get them food to eat and lodgings to stay at for the night. That's really all they need at the moment anyway, and he holds out Ernesto's share to him. ]

Good job today.

festival✨

[inutilis]

[ it may seem a bit strange how easily life falls into something of a familiar pattern despite being in a completely unfamiliar world and despite the decidedly unfamiliar start they had in Horos. Godsblood might be a bit behind the times as far as technology goes, but it isn't so far behind the Earth Abel's used to that he finds it difficult to acclimate. all the bruises and lacerations and ugliness from their time in the Suffer Cave and confrontation with the Kenoma has faded, and yet... Abel appears to be suffering a new affliction.

....he's hungry,

and he's slightly doubled over and holding his midsection when Ernesto finds him huddled beneath his plain cloak, stomach making a rather embarrassingly loud, whiny growl at the delectable smells radiating from the food stall in front of him. there's some kind of delicious meat roasting and skewered on sticks along with well-spiced vegetables, and his mouth... is watering.

a familiar voice at his shoulder has Abel briefly canting his head in Ernesto's direction-- and upon spotting everyone's FAVOTITE dog-eared man get fuckt Eustace, the priest is immediately and abruptly whirling to grip at Mr. Tequila's shirtsleeve, clutching at him and leaning into his shoulder with much melodrama, ]

M-- Mr. Tequila!! Thank God, He really is watching over me despite traversing the very heavens themselves to get to this hellscape, [ does that make sense?? no, but let's not dwell, ] --Please, you have to help me!! This is a matter of the UTMOST importance...!!

[ yeah. sooo important haha, ]

full moon

[traversal]

[ his unsuspecting partner in crime is sadly busy, peering over certain stalls that offer food.

look, it's been a while since she's managed to find and eat food that's either not stale bread or broth or jerky. sure, the sandwich she managed to make in the valley was decent, but hot, freshly-cooked food is something that she's been dying to eat for days now. and finally finding random work in the city and getting money to buy said food is just amazing.

lumine only glances at him over her shoulder when she hears the conversation happening and feels a hand suddenly grabbing hers. she almost pulls away, but nope, no dice. not when he's already showing that they're together. her gaze flickers from ernesto, his face familiar from fighting childe, to the person accosting him.

so that's what this is, then.

in the most deadpan voice she can muster, after swallowing the food she's been chewing: ]

Yes, he's not single. At least, not yet.

Full Moon

[regretsor]

[Could Ernesto have chosen a worse person???

Probably not.

The hand that Ernesto grabs tightens a vice-like grip. It probably hurts. The look on the regressor's face would have killed countless if looks could kill. He really doesn't look too pleased though.]

What do you want? [It was impossible to tell who he was saying it to. Honestly, it could have been either Ernesto or Ernesto's suitor. At the very least, the scary aura the man gives off seems to deter whoever was accosting the smaller man.]

Kim Kitsuragi

[coupris]

I. THE GOD'S PATH

[If, after everything, Kim had it in him to make it through the forest, the prospect of it still exhausted him to the bone. He'd done his best to help patch others up when the Pleroma escaped the cave, but he was still nursing his own cuts and bruises. As much as he wanted to make contact with the rebels, he would only hold back those younger and stronger than him-- the impossible things he'd seen some of them do during their egress made him sure of that.

And maybe, beneath all of it, he needed to breathe a coastal city's air again. Could it reek of salt and petrol the same way? Would the seabirds squawk overhead? Would the glow above the city block out the stars? Was any of that enough to put a balm on his grief?

He took the bit of coin gifted from their benefactors in the village as his answer. The rest was won by feigning ignorance of the rules of something resembling poker where the carts convened, along with a jacket made of something resembling tweed. Kim tutted privately at the shiny elbows, but there would be time to worry about that later. For now, it's enough to cover the sigil carved into his arm, the mark still fading.

If there are any travelers to Greentruth saying their goodbyes, Kim might find them in a quiet moment.]

A word, if you could?

II. AROUND TOWN

[The air in Godsblood is cleaner than Revachol's, though that's not a high bar to clear. However, feeling the frenetic energy of a city around him after weeks of drudgery revitalizes Kim more than he expected it to. He wastes no time assimilating himself according to plan. The ship that brought them to Godsblood gave him a better idea of the world's technological standards, and he spent most of the journey talking to the sailors about the ship's mechanics and construction. Not as advanced as what he's accustomed to, but that only makes it easier to figure out the basics.

Inquiring about the local job opportunities allows him to put a pin in the idea of picking up a license at the artificer's guild-- the access to upper class homes would surely be of interest to anyone with the rebels hoping to touch base with him. For now, one might find him by the docks where they arrived, tuning up ship rudders or debating the implementation of more lightweight metal into ship designs. With the money made there, he keeps a humble room over one of the quieter taverns in town, though he's more likely to be found exploring the city, mapping it out in his head, and taking notes in a small, leather-bound journal he found in a bargain market.]

III. THE FESTIVAL

[Kim has nothing against the festivities, but will be very much taking advantage of the way he can blend into a crowd in order to avoid getting pulled into any sort of shenanigans. However, he may be spotted in a few different places:

a. Love Potions

Kim has noticed the effects of the potion going around, and may be snooping around to get to the bottom of it, while avoiding all drinks in the vicinity. If he does get to the bottom of it, well. He hasn't figured that out yet. It's harder when you don't have a badge anymore.

b. Endurance Dancing

While pointedly not taking part in the competitions, Kim does stop to spectate at some point, and smokes a cigarette to disguise the wistful smile threatening to spread across his face. It could be possible to get him to throw his hat in the ring, but you'd probably have to get a drink in him first.

c. Full Moon

This is easily the most annoying holiday he's ever experienced. The tavern he's staying at is full of people vying for a match, so he's staying far away until the place calms down for the night. In the meantime, he escapes to an out of the way overlook he discovered at some point in his exploration around the city. There, he can be found watching the moon hang over the ocean, supporting himself on a railing as he lets the wind buffet his woefully shabby jacket. There's a collection of cigarette butts at his feet; though he typically restricts himself to one a day, he'd finally saved up for a carton. He went for nearly a month without, and surely it won't hurt to make up for lost time. It will be a one night event, so he plans to make the most of it. Anyone interrupting this chain smoking ritual will be immediately perceived as yet another romantic hopeful.]

Not interested, thank you.

full moon 🌕

[inutilis]

[ night hangs over Godsblood but the city does not rest; it has been a non-stop, boisterous din long before the sun had set and the moon rising has not dissuaded its citizens to retire for some rest. it seems Abel, too, had sought reprieve from the commotion tonight; he climbs to the overlook, a slightly harried look on his face that may be the toll of dodging yet another decidedly awkward proposition in a long train of many. he's a bit too polite to outright decline, and dancing around the subject has been... exhausting? to say the least. why are these people like this?? help,

it means he's Tired once he reaches Kim-- and not expecting to find this spot unoccupied, he gives a bit of a start, almost turning in preparation to leave to avoid disturbing Kim. but... the voice is familiar, and Abel finds himself hesitating before he makes it more than a tentative step backward. this is one of his fellows, isn't it? yes, he's seen this face before, though they hadn't had the pleasure of much in the way of conversation. ]

...Ah, I see... a fellow wearied soul, are you? [ there's a hint of amusement in his voice as he takes in the graveyard of cigarette butts that tell the tale of Kim's ministrations up here. look... maybe it's irritating, but this whole situation is a big step up from where they'd been a week or two prior, right? he'll take it. ] Don't worry, I'm not here to make that kind of request, sir... but might I ask to hide out here with you for a while? --Platonically, in case that needs stating. I-I certainly hope it doesn't, but best to lay these things out properly.

The God's Path

[superbshot]

[What a world of difference the opportunity to wear shoes is. Caitlyn had come out of the cave feeling as cold and miserable as anyone, but she's bounced back fairly well. A bath in the valley's stream, some clean clothes, and fresh boots did wonders for her mood. The food helped, and she felt well enough to be willing to make the trek to Greentruth and see about this rebellion in no small part thanks to her newfound ability.

She's made plans with Viktor and Jayce already, intending to go with the group into the forest. The little bundle she had from the village was wrapped up in the remnants of the shift the Hylician's had forced her into, stuck through with a stick to form a bindle, and she was just waiting on the two scientists when Kim approached.

She favored him with a grim smile, and a nod.]

Of course, Kim. What can I do for you?

around town!

[passio]

[ dextera has skills, he thinks. the problem is that when he can’t speak for himself, it’s impossible to make a case for anything. he’s been trying to keep an eye on any familiar faces looking for employment around town, and in their shadow, he too has been looking for jobs he can do beyond painfully exhausting manual labor. although kim is not a familiar face in the sense that dextera knows him personally, he’s familiar enough as a fellow former captive that dextera doesn’t think twice about just following him around town as if he’s invited himself along for one day’s exploration. ]

…

[ it only gets truly too obvious to ignore when dextera starts clearly inching into kim’s space to see what he’s writing in the notebook. ]

iiia

[salvageable]

[ Here's another person looking into who might be spiking drinks with the love potion. Dokja had noticed early on that more and more people who were just partaking in festival activities were now acting drugged out of their minds with love. And while it had been nice to have a few unassuming pockets to pick at first, he's starting to grow concerned.

More for himself than anything. He doesn't want to end up drugged with this potion, its effects a frightening sort of thing for someone like him, and so he starts snooping around.

It's how he picks up that someone else, another Pleroma like him since he'd seen the other man's face around their small group, is doing their own investigation. And while Dokja's not exactly a team player, he figures two heads are better than one in this instance.

So he approaches, his expression thoughtful as he greets Kim. ]

Hey. You're looking into the spiked drinks, too?

III. A.

[goldendeceiver]

[ Ernesto had his own surprisingly willful and intention run in with those love potions already. The way Kim is going about his investigations is probably a lot smarter, and a lot safer than how Ernesto decided to go about his own.

He'd definitely be able to answer some questions about it, if only he had any idea of what Kim was up to here.

All he does know is that he seems to be very intently looking for something involving a left behind and now empty glass, and he also knows that he should probably lower his voice so others can't hear him as he steps beside Kim and asks-- ]

What exactly are you hoping to find in there?

kim dokja

[salvageable]

I. WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP IN OUR FAVORITE ROCKET (SHIP)

[ Blending in is no problem considering Dokja just looks like Some Guy, no disguise all that necessary when he doesn't have any outstanding features to begin with. Even so, he'd fixed a cloak over the poor people clothes he'd picked up from the valley, and he's doing well not to draw any attention to himself as he wanders the length of the ship he's currently boarded on. It's hard to believe all the fighting in the cave had only been a couple of days ago, but the mottled bruises on his neck and the way he carries himself with a slight limp are aggravating reminders of that time.

It still hurts to speak for the most part with his throat as messed up as it is, and he'd done very little talking during their short stay at the valley. He'd been more inclined to passing out under the nearest tree to catch up on his sleep deficiency, but now that he's gotten plenty of rest, it's back to being on the move.

Their destination is Godsblood, a city Dokja thinks he can escape to in the meantime. It's where a person like him would do best at, a bustling hub to disappear in. Having never been all that great when it comes to working with others, he'll leave the search for rebels to the Pleroma who'd gone on that trip.

As for the Pleroma with him now... He stops on his walk to slide up next to anyone available. ]

What are you going to do once you get into the city?

[ His voice is hoarse, but he at least doesn't look as much like death as he had before. ]

II. A CONCERNED CITIZEN (LOVE POTION)

[ Dokja and love are not things that go together. Completely incompatible. If he were to drink a potion by choice or end up roofied by a spiked drink, it probably wouldn't even have any effect on him because he's that sad...

... is what he thinks.

But we'll never find out, will we? Because Dokja is being extra careful to keep an eye on his own drink while also crowd watching. He occasionally sees it, a quick hand darting out to sneak a few drops of that loudly advertised potion into the drinks of unsuspecting festival attendees, but his only reaction is a raise of his brows as he continues observing.

That is, until he sees the same done to someone he recognizes, at which point he watches and waits for them to take a sip before briskly strolling over with a cheery smile. ]

Your drink's been tampered with.

III. SUITOR UP (FULL MOON)

[ Well, this is incredibly awkward for someone who has never been in a relationship or even gone on a date before in his life. Dokja's lost count of how many times he's had to turn a random stranger down, citing a good number of flimsy excuses and coming up with the most brazen of lies, but it doesn't ebb the continuously incoming tide of attempts to kill his single status.

It's not even flattering? As soon as he tells someone "no", they just saunter over to the next person. Geez, he never thought he'd think this, but he's starting to miss the days when people would call him ugly...

When he's eventually approached yet again by a hopeful, bright-eyed soul, he does something a little different.

He leads them to you. ]

Actually, this person right here was just telling me how it was love at first sight when they saw you.

IV. WILDCARD

( if you have other ideas or want something different, hit me up with it or message me on discord / yuulshi! my ooc plotting comment is also here! )

III

[passio]

—?!

[ dextera is an easy mark for this sort of thing. after all, he can’t exactly say no, even now that they’ve established a kind of psychic communication through the power of the pleroma. he instead shakes his head rapidly, which is kind of harsh considering the circumstances but he’s not very good at playing along.

he’s not trying to be cruel, but this whole festival is overwhelming… and dangerous, for someone like him. ]

ii

[traversal]

[ ...

the one time—the one time—she finally can get a drink and not denied on the account of her youthful face, and that is what dokja tells her right after she's taken a sip. it doesn't help that he's grinning either, and for one brief moment, lumine almost debates on punching him in the gut just to wipe that smile off of his face. she'd be justified for doing that, right?

right? lumine would like to think so, at least. ]

Are you serious right now?

[ is he? because if he's not, that punching debate is going to lean towards consummation rather than nonfulfillment. she glances down at her drink and then back up at dokja, eyes narrowing. ]

wildcard 🍻

[inutilis]

[ it's late in Godsblood. late enough that all diligent menial laborers will have long since retired for the day and the streets are filled with men and women blowing off steam - kicking back, relaxing, enjoying life freed of the monotonous daily grind. during the festival this seems especially true; it's almost hard to walk for how packed the streets can get, and despite how high the moon sits in the sky this evening... nothing shows signs of stopping anytime soon. there is the occasional whoop and holler as gaggles of friendly groups pass through, or someone's invitation for... nighttime activities... is declined in a particularly spicy manner-- and everything is well and truly alive.

wherever Dokja is-- if he's simply trying to find his way to his lodgings, or looking for a late bit of dinner, maybe simply trying to stretch his legs-- he'll find himself suddenly jostled as an arm slings around his shoulders. hopefully he doesn't have punchy instincts, because it's no threat-- just an idiot leaning in with a decidedly cheery, if glazed, grin on his face. ]

Mister Dokjaaaaa~! [ his greeting comes in a sing-song, and Abel is almost smushing their faces together for how hard he is now leaning on this poor sod, ] Mister Doooookja. Dokja Dokjaaaaa. How are you~? Thank goodness, you look SO much better than when I saw you last, you know?! Let's CELEBRATE~!!

[ is it the love potion?? inebriation?? idoicy?????

dear god, it could be all three. ]

koriel xii (dextera)

[passio]

I. a new arrival

[ dextera arrives a bit later than his fellow travelers who came first to godsblood. after spending a day or two on the edge of the lohkimareen forest, he decided it was better for him to bow out and head for the city after all—an uncomfortable trek, all by himself, but not an impossible one.

it does mean that when he does finally get into town after jumping, seasick, off the boat, he looks considerably worse for the wear. travel in the valley of innocence had been easy enough, but between the havoc wreaked on his stomach by forest mushrooms and a long walk with nothing but his thoughts (not to mention the lack of a bath; less obvious with working men on a boat but easy to notice in a city), he’s wan and miserable.

having arrived perfectly in time for the festival, he looks just about ready to lay down and die in the middle of the street. ]

II. party hard

[ there is a problem with his survivalist-slash-hoarder’s instinct. when he’s being accosted from every angle by people trying to push one ware or another on him, it’s hard to keep track of how many things he’s accepted in the course of a mere twenty minutes in the busy market street. although limited finances keep him from making too many purchases, he’s managed to swallow down a number of free samples of… any variety of things, some of which are harmlessly delicious and some more harmfully so.

dextera stumbles off to a side street regardless to catch his breath. depending on when he’s found, he’s in one of two states:

a. with both hands braced against the wall of a building, he seems genuinely unwell and overwhelmed. even if he’s managed to clean himself up during his brief stint in the city, there’s always a sickliness to him that seems considerably worse now than it normally does.

( cw: drug use ) b. having just downed not one, but two little vials of love potion in an attempt to refresh himself with an available liquid, the pallor of an encroaching panic attack is soon replaced by a spaced-out flush. it might be best to scoot him off elsewhere before the concoctions catch up with him.

either way, he probably shouldn’t be left alone. ]

III. wildcard!

( dextera will be hard at work with manual labor and making money, and he’s also a very quiet roommate if your character needs to cajole someone to go halfsies with them for accommodations… that is, assuming they don’t mind his general vibes. i’m open to plotting more specific stuff (PM or pavaal) or writing closed starters if you like; i’ll also be tagging out! )

ii? wildcard?? maybe it's both, bc it's bathtime with a side of h/c

[inutilis]

[ what did you put in your gob, Dextera.... this is that game where one has to find out what unspeakable disaster their dog ate and hope it isn't something that gets entangled in their digestive tract and requires surgery, huh? wow. terrible.

sometime after he has ingested ??? and ??? with a side of ??? for flavoring and may or may not be regretting his life decisions, he'll find a gentle and concerned hand falling upon his shoulder. Dextera looks a disaster..... and smells one, too, for the record-- but for now, Abel's worry seems entirely for the poor pallor of a clammy and unwell familiar face. ]

--Easy, now... are you alright? You-- you don't look alright, so maybe that isn't the most aptly worded question, but... h-hey, do you need to sit down?

[ Dex?? 🥺 ]

finally have time to tag this!! wildcarddd

[traversal]

[ lumine too has been working at the docks, mostly manual labour and whatever else she can do and has gotten used to doing back in teyvat. it's not easy work, she admits, and there's only so much she can do without revealing her powers too much to the uncomfortable public, but it's better than nothing. at the very least, she can sleep comfortably, eat properly and get decent clothes. beggars can't be choosers, and she's not trying to choose.

still, she sometimes wonders how the others are in greentruth. from what she's heard from the whispers around the city, it doesn't seem like a very forgiving place either. but maybe that's why it's the best place for the resistance to hide. not that it's her business, anyway ...

she's in the process of moving a crate much bigger than her from one end of the docks to another, helped by the geo energy pulsating across the ground as she walks slowly alongside it, when she finds herself musing thoughtfully once more—only to snap out of her reverie when she bumps into another person. ]

I'm sorry, I wasn't— [ she blinks in recognition, a smile tugging at her lips. ] Hello there! You're here, too.

Yoo Joonghyuk

[regretsor]

I. The God's Path
[Godsblood, and all of Horos for that matter, is a very different scenery than what he has seen. It isn't so much surprising and just more a somewhat new experience. Even if landscapes aren't exactly something he was fond of.

There are things that he wanted to do immediately upon making it to the city. Namely supplies and equipment. An understanding of this new world. He felt he'd get more out of going to the city.

The money situation was somewhat annoying and he found himself kind of missing how convenient the Star Stream's system. A feeling he quickly stamped out. He had a lot going for him, so finding honest work wasn't too hard. In the end, he ended up finding work through a kitchen. It had been kind of lacking, as he had been stuck in prep work, but it was obvious he was wasted just chopping vegetables and cleaning dishes and didn't stay in that role for too long.

Have you eaten recently or just relying on scraps? It doesn't matter because an angry man shoves a plate food at you. Yoo Joonghyuk had quickly shed the peasants clothes for a black tunic tucked into black pants. Something very much fitting of his appearance and countenance.]

Eat. [He points at the plate with a glare like doing this is actually his biggest regret.] You look like you haven't had a proper meal.

II. The Lover's Festival
A. Festival
[He isn't much of a social person and the limits of his involvement of the festivities is browsing stalls and what have you (he has no need for love potions nor does he have interest in any of the food offered when he can cook his own), but he's a little more relaxed than usual. Something he never avoided was to take the moment of respite offered.

He lingers as he watches the endurance dancing though. Yoo Joonghyuk has already finished wandering the streets and seeing what the stalls have to offer and seems to be intently watching people competing, ears pointed forward.]

Their balance is good. That pair over there. [It's probably not too surprising that he watches with interest. Some might see it as just merriment, but there's something to be said about the whole thing as a sport.

Of course he won't partake. That would require getting a partner.] Their stamina isn't bad either.

B. Full Moon
[Even Yoo Joonghyuk's cold attitude and glares that were just short of killing seemed to not deter hopefuly suitors looking for love.

Most will back off when he tells them to scram, but there's a few rather stubborn ones here and there that don't seem too understand when no really, truly means no. Unmovable object versus unstoppable force.

As it is, there's someohne clinging to his arm and trying to convince the man to enjoy a walk. Even though he has rejected them and has commented he has no interest, they're insisting it's just something casual. It's obvious their intentions though.]

Let go. [The way his ears are pinned back and he's practically snarling. Maybe someone should step in before he might actually lash out.

His gaze might fall on you, but it isn't a look of asking for help but just someone who looks like he really doesn't want to be accosted any longer. Which might be a problem when the man looks one step away from snapping.]

III. Rest Interrupted
A.
[Sharing a room isn't really an issue with him and he agrees if only because it was cost efficient and because it would be best for them to stick around together while they acclimated.

He's less inclined to share when they only have one bed.]

I can take the floor. [A click of his tongue and the way his ears lay flat makes it obvious he isn't too pleased. He's not particularly bothered with taking the floor if it's a roof over his head.]

B.
[It's unfortunate that he's a light sleeper. He isn't someone who sleeps well in the first place. It's normal to have nightmares, but the constant noise from late night merriment makes it impossible for him to actually fall asleep farther than dozing.

Eventually he gives up with how noisy people are and gets to his feet and heads to the door.

If one is awake, he'll pause at the door with his hand on the knob.] I'm taking a walk. Try and get some rest.

IV. Wildcard.
[Yoo Joonghyuk will mostly be taking the time to actually get supplies and suitable gear while in the city. While he'll also spend the time to rest, he isn't much of a festival type. I'm open to anything though, be it being dragged into the festivities or love potion shenanigans or whatever else. I'm more than open to plotting (PM or rakuranger or Discord). I can also write closed starters!]