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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.
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Which means that between the dramatic stomach clutching, the clear stomach growl, and the overly empathic begging that Abel starts in on...
Well, Ernesto is the one carrying all of the brain cells among the Three Musketeers, and this is a pretty easy one to guess at. ]
No money for food, huh?
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[ yeah that's totally why he's broke. that. that's why. mmhm!!
so take pity on him and do a brother a favor, would you Ernesto...? ol' buddy ol' pal...?? ]
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You know, I used to work directly in trade, and I learned pretty quickly to never lend money to people who will never be able to pay you back.
[ Never mind. He's an asshole. ]
I'll need something a little more tangible than a vague promise of a favor if we're going to barter here.
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...
........h... how dare he look so cute while being so EVIL?? this is ILLEGAL-- ]
[3/3]
Mr. Tequila.
[ Ernesto. Dog Man.
BadGood boy. Friend. ]If you do not feed me...? I will cry. I will sob my little heart out right here and now-- tears, snot, the entire incorrigible array of despair-- a despair you cannot even begin to imagine. Would you thrust such a fate on me, one of your nearest and dearest friends here in Godsblood...?
[ wow he rly said all of that with a straight face too, ]
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That's probably why the smile doesn't waver, and the tail just picks up speed as Abel makes these threats at him. ]
Father... I have a younger sister. Do you really think a grown man's crying is going to move me after years of growing immune to the crocodile tears of a cute kid?
[ He'll make it worse. Look at him doing a cute little head tilt. Look at those ears doing the charming flop. ]
I'm still open to making a truly fair trade though.
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[ he said that quite loud, and the merchant behind the stall may or may not be looking at them like they're both bonkers now. that's fine, Abel doesn't seem to care, all in on now professing his indignation, impressing his displeasure and outrage upon Ernesto, his dear dear dog friend. erNESTO?????? how dare??? ]
--Take it back. Take it back, take it back, say you don't mean it~! I--I'm very cute, for your information!! Utterly endearing...! You think I'm cute, right?! R-right...?! --And what would you consider a fair trade, anyway, hm!?
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Abel.
Abel please.
Please, Abel. People are looking. Abel??
In a moment of small panic, Ernesto is going to slap a hand right over the good father's mouth, turning to smile awkwardly at one of the merchants who is giving them a strange look. ]
Father...
[ His tone is just a little strained, even as he smiles. Those ears are FLAT against his head right now in distress. ]
You're a lot cuter when you don't carry on like this.
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...however, something in Mr. Tequila's admonishment piques his interest, and all at once his blue eyes are widening, brows lifting as he lifts one of his hands to pull that hand down enough he might offer a muffled, ]
--So you do think I'm cute...?
[ ... ]
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Ah hell, whatever. It if gets Abel to stop making a scene in the middle of the street, Ernesto will tell him what he wants to hear. It doesn't mean he's about to give him free food for nothing in return, but a compliment that doesn't require money is easy enough. ]
When you actually act your age.
[ He'll lower his hand completely now, offering a lopsided smile now that Abel seems calmer. ]
But I'll be honest, the kiddy tantrum doesn't do much for me.
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O~oohh, I see, I see...! So you're into the more stoic, mature types? I learn something new about you every day, don't I, Mr. T?
[ when will Abel get his real name smfh ]
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Something. ]
That's not exactly what I said.
[ But sure, they can go with that. It doesn't actually hurt Ernesto in any way for Abel to assume he's got a type. Regardless, he's no longer having a fit in the middle of the street. ]
Seems like I also learned something new about you too, Father. I didn't know that being cute was so important to you.
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[ ""reputation"" ]
Now please, please. You were about to buy me something to eat, right~? Look, we can share-- I don't mind in the least!
[ sharing this food he is trying to con Ernesto... into buying... for him....... truly generous. ]
no subject
But at the very real risk of another tantrum being had-- ]
Ahh, that's right. You were about to tell me what you were going to offer me in exchange for me buying you food.
[ Nice try, Abel. Not everyone has a single digit IQ. ]
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Abel looks briefly flummoxed before clearing his throat and grumbling something under his breath, shifting his weight to admire the foodstuffs on display at the vendor. the meat.... the MEAT, Ernesto, he NEEDS IT... ]
Well. You certainly drive a hard bargain... [ any bargain, ] But how am I supposed to make you an offer, exactly? I don't even know what you'd consider worth your while since a favor, which we all know is the highest form of currency, isn't good enough...?!
[ yeah!!!! ...yeah? ]
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With a drawn out hum, Ernesto tilts his head to the side a little as he examines Abel carefully. Then, in a move that is frankly unfair considering Abel has been very polite about keeping his own hands off Ernesto's ears, Ernesto is going to reach out and just grab onto Abel's upper arm, giving his bicep a little test squeeze. He'll even look pleasantly surprised about what he feels there. ]
You seem like you're in pretty good shape, Father.
[ He drops his hand away now. ]
So I think I can hook you up with a job doing odds and ends for the city folk here that will let you pay me back quickly enough, and maybe even a little extra.
[ The smile and the wagging is back as he drops his hand now. ]
Since you took a vow of poverty, so I couldn't ask you to keep any excess you made.
[ Bad... bad dog. ]
no subject
surprisingly well-tonedarm that is HIS and NOT for fondling when he hasn't even been permitted the joy of petting one (1) single adorable floppy ear?? this is an outrage, and he looks utterly and completely floored....and mildly flustered, but that seems par for the course. ]
Y-- you, can't be serious, I-- I couldn't possibly, ju... just...!
[ wow... for once? Ernesto has actually managed to drive him to the point he's at a stammering stall, unable to Ramble enough to work his way out of this one. no......... what sorcery is this... rendering Abel Nightroad speechless... ]
no subject
Unless this is about Ernesto being extremely bold in demanding Abel's excess of money. That's very fair to be flustered by his complete dick behavior. But look, Abel is trying to scam him out of his money with this pitiful priest who isn't allowed to make money routine. Ernesto has to fight back a little in his own way, right?
His tail is wagging even faster now, in a wider arc as he's back to doing that head tilt that might be charming if he wasn't being an asshole. ]
I think you'd be great at it! And I'm sure plenty of people around here would be happy for the help.
[ He'll move to stand close to Abel now, putting a hand on his very good friend's back as steers Abel a little to face the food stalls. ]
So tell me, Father. What is it that I'm buying for you?
no subject
[ for some reason, this situation really is flustering him, isn't it? it really is unfair - this one-two punch of
1) being withheld food so close to delicious food. food smells. food. he is salivating. food.
and,
2) being inundated with reminders of how cute Ernesto is between the ears flopping every time he animatedly tilts his head, the wagging of his tail, the utterly endearing charm, even if it's all at Abel's expense...
...
he is Defeated. he is Done. Finished. Completely Destroyed before he even really stood a chance, honestly. and his mouth-- working several times, though no sound comes out-- eventually closes.
...before he pitifully points to a particular skewer of meat and vegetables, his shoulders hanging in obvious resignation to his fate. Ernesto... Ernesto has struck a decisive victorious blow, this day. ]
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Good news about street food is that it's always fast too, so Abel doesn't even have to wait long before Ernesto forks over the necessary jools (for his own hard work being pimped out for pets), and brings not one, not two, but three whole skewers over to Abel.
He clearly has to be forgive now, right?
Abel will be paying for all of them, but it's not like this was a particularly costly meal. ]
[1/2]
...oh my god.
Abel is a rather simple creature at the end of the day; he had been stood, veritably sulking and looking prepared to start blubbering like a five-year-old being told he isn't, in fact, going to Disney when he'd been looking forward to it for a week. but as soon as Ernesto re-appears from his food-getting efforts..... ]
[2/2]
three entire skewers.
the priest is reaching out to accept them as one might reach for a fragile, delicate treasure... the sort one approaches with reverence as if afraid a strong wind might blow it away. his eyes slide to his friend...
...
.....Ernesto has managed a second feat, this day. securing Abel's unwavering loyalty and affection. ]
M-- Mr. Tequila...
[ breathless. floored. moved. TOUCHED.
THREE..... whole... skewers... ]
no subject
His laugh is a little breathy as he steps back to let the priest enjoy his feast, sticking his own hands in his pockets. He's being a little more frugal about his own food purchases, and going for very cheap but filling whenever possible. Let someone else enjoy the "feast" of meat skewers if it makes him happy.
He'll make that money back soon enough anyway. ]
You're making a bigger deal out of this than you need to.
[ Not that Abel is saying much, but it's still clear from his demeanor and expression. ]
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he doesn't understand, does he? one does not merely give the melodramatic beggar food very often; it's not abnormal to go days dinar-less and without food back at home?? th-this is so... nice???? ]
Y-you... this... th-- three, there's...
[ ... ]
They're... all for me?
[ his voice
has gotten so terribly small, ]
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