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EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (GODSBLOOD)
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.
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.
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.
no subject
That is something else, isn't it?
[ considering the context in which this came up, the implications aren't lost on Abel. if it's possible this isn't a replication, if it's an original-- how had it found its way here? and does that mean there is more left of their worlds than they were made to believe, after all? ]
...This whole 'magic' business is new to me, admittedly. And maybe we could blame that for this mysterious gift, but-- that opens up more questions than it does provide answers, doesn't it...
no subject
[The Pale consumed. Things could return from it, but they always came back wrong. But the Pale was gone, along with everything else, and this-- it made no more sense than the way he could suddenly shut doors and windows with a flick of his finger.
Calling it magic sounds so fantastical, but this world fits that definition, and he has never been one to deny facts.]
We have a severe deficit of evidence for most things, unfortunately. That's why I've been trying to contact our friends in the forest.
no subject
Have you had any luck, by chance?
[ there's considerable distance between them and those that had gone the way of the woods, but maybe someone had made their way to Godsblood after venturing into the forest. ]
no subject
[He and Caitlyn managed to communicate before the Pleroma separated, but since he arrived in the city, all he's managed to access through the shard are a few unfocused images and stray, inarticulate thoughts.]
I'm not fully comfortable taking the shard out for too long. [Kim looks back out over the festival lights, and the raucous sounds of celebration rise to greet him in turn.] This city isn't exactly ideal for privacy.
no subject
[ "communion." considering Kim admitted his unfamiliarity with all things magic, Abel feels he's in good company for floundering a bit with the likes of using your "soul" to communicate. ]
...I just hope everyone is alright. It's hard to be separated like this, especially after-- well. Everything, you know?
[ they'd gone through hell together, and splitting apart was a difficult choice. but... 'divide and conquer,' as it were. ]
Are you close [ 'close' as one could get for knowing one another a month ] with anyone who went the other way?
no subject
[He looks down at the stash of cigarettes by his feet. At least he has something to pass the time. Whatever this world's equivalent of nicotine is, it's done wonders for his nerves.
As for the people he'd gotten to know-- he isn't sure he'd call many of them friends. Kim keeps himself guarded in the best of times, but his preoccupation is more with people he's lost than the ones he's found.]
I'd spoken with a few of them. [Kim furrows his brow.] Did you know any of them? [From before all this, he means.]
no subject
[ from what he can tell, its a rarity - so few seemed to hail from the same place, and those that did were grouped together. maybe something about their world had been... enticing? among whatever criteria marked the Aions for capture. ]
And you, Kim? Anyone from home around here? I'd hope you'd be with them instead of smoking yourself out in loneliness up here, if that were the case... maybe I already have my answer, but.
no subject
A pang of shame twists the knife further when Kim thinks of what he would do to have him standing here instead of Abel.
Kim snuffs out his spent cigarette against the railing before adding it to a growing pile of butts in a nearby topiary.]
You do.
no subject
Though most of our circumstances fly way above my head... and maybe I'm simply spouting some idealistic nonsense, Kim. But... I sincerely do believe we will find our way back home.
[ it seems impossible right now - lost in another world far and away from their own, no contact or connection to the places they'd left behind, on the run and hiding from the ruling force of foreign lands. but Abel's life experience has taught him to keep hope, to have faith in his fellows; and he does. ]
...Until then, consider this an offer placed on the table. Next time you decide to chew through a good dozen packs of cigarettes-- you can do so in company. I'll happily come and fill the silence with inane chatter for you, day or night.
no subject
As for his sudden binge of chain smoking, Kim laughs quietly. Now that he has company, it becomes more apparent what a sad sight this had to be. Sometimes the silence is better, but at least Abel is kind enough to create another option.]
I don't think I'll indulge like this after the festival ends, father. [No, tomorrow, it will be right back to his strict regimen of one cigarette a night.] But I appreciate the offer, all the same.
no subject
...it's good. this-- this is good. ]
Ah... then, let's see. Are you a drinking man, Kim? Or maybe you deal a mean hand of Old Maid? --Listen, I'll get you to have a bit of fun with me one way or another! You can stop me any time if you don't want me guessing at what you do for fun aside from people-watching from high places...
no subject
Crossword puzzles don't seem to exist here. Cards were how I managed to buy passage on the ship, though. I suppose that's unbecoming hobby for a priest.
[His tone is dry enough to shrivel up the plants in the topiary, but there's a lingering bit of laughter in his eyes.]
no subject
[ Abel's brow arches in inquiry, a slow grin beginning at his lips. ]
I'll have you know that I am an exceptional Solitaire player, and though I haven't the foggiest what passes for card games here, I am not above making a man eat his deck for issuing those kinds of insinuations...
no subject
Solitaire is a one person game, no?
[Maybe it's a cross dimensional difference...?]
no subject
...awkward.
Abel just tilts his head and furrows his brows, mouth working once-- before closing again, hm. ]
S-Solitaire, is... ah. Yes. Single-person, that's right. Um, what's the other one...? Uno, maybe? Listen, it's not important... the point is that I'm practically a professional in card-ing, and you should be thoroughly intimidated, my friend! Alright?
no subject
I see.
[It is not the affirmation of an intimidated man.]
no subject
he adjusts the collar of his tunic, fidgeting uselessly and smoothing out a rumple that doesn't go anywhere. hmph... HMPH... ]
Yes~! So, you see how it is, then. Are you still up for a game, or have I frightened you off with tales of my immense prowess...?
[ is it apparent yet Abel is an easy con, ]
no subject
I'd be happy to teach you how to play poker, father.
[By fleecing him? Well, not at first, anyway.]