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

[salvageable]

[ An utter nightmare is right. It's why Dokja's been so cautious ever since he'd realized something was amiss. One of the last things he wants to be doing right now is feeling like he has to spread love, ugh. Too bad he couldn't spare his fellow Pleroma of this cursed potion like any good Samaritan would.

But this is interesting! This is interesting, right? He might have to buy a few bottles after all... Save them for a rainy day for when they might come in handy.

To others, of course. Again, not him.

Though, ah... She brings up a good point and his concern for her grows. Dokja hadn't thought that far ahead, content with being mischievous while also getting a good look at what the love potion is capable of, but now this kind of feels like his burden to bear as well? Damn, maybe he should've said something. ]

Well, if any of them approach you, I'll just send them off.

[traversal]

[ ... he could've spared her by not, you know, waiting until she drank the thing. what a guy.

lumine takes a deep breath, pressing a hand over her chest as if that will stop the slowly growing giddiness inside of her from taking root any further. it doesn't, and if anything, all it does is make her pine for something that's not there and something all around her at the same time. just how long is this going to last? ]

I—

[ she can't even respond quickly enough for that, her mind muddled. that, and she's interrupted by a native accosting her—or the both of them, she can't tell. something about inviting her for a stroll around the city, a hand held out to her.

for one long moment, lumine stares at the hand, before she takes it—and promptly shocks him with electro energy, her smile sharp. ]

No, thank you. I'm already with someone.

[ dokja, come be a life-saver for this poor bloke. ]

[salvageable]

[ He's stupid!!! Give him a break!!!

Not that he actually deserves one. His attention is pulled away by the sudden interruption, eyes narrowing in suspicion at this stranger appearing in such a timely manner when they'd just been discussing potential creeps lurking about. But before he can say anything, he watches as she shocks the man's outstretched hand.

Honestly, she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and he's almost tempted to let the guy continue to get electrocuted? It's funny...

But, no. He should be Responsible™ for once and put a stop to this. ]

You heard her. Get out of here.

[ He takes hold of the man's wrist with a grip that could be considered too firm, yanking it away so his hand can part from Lumine's before he pushes the stranger away. He's welcome for the very rough save. ]

[traversal]

[ no breaks for idiots around here!!

dokja's sense of humour is terrible. first, her drink; now, this poor guy who's getting the shock of his life. not that lumine wishes to incapacitate them, only that he sees the point that she's making. she understands that this festival is a celebration of all forms of love, but when she's drugged up like this with some weird potion, she's not feeling very celebratory.

she quickly pulls her hand away when dokja grabs the other person's arm, a part of her feeling disappointed, almost saddened (how dare) from the loss of contact. her expression probably shows it, too ... ]

Thanks ...

[ ugh, why does she suddenly want to touch someone again? lumine closes her hand into a tight fist, taking another deep breath and making peace with herself. ]

... How long do you think this will last?

[salvageable]

[ Is she disappointed that she lost physical contact or because she secretly has a sadistic streak and wanted to inflict more pain on the guy? Honestly, with how poorly Dokja reads other people, he has no idea. But he does catch that expression on her face before he returns his gaze to the stranger now slinking away.

Once Dokja's made sure he's gone, he turns back to Lumine with a thoughtful hum. ]

Maybe an hour? From what I've seen, most people seem to snap back to themselves around then.

[ So many observation skills and so little consideration to let a person know. ]

But hey, you're taking it kind of well, aren't you?

[ She's at least not throwing herself at people? Which is what he's watched as it happened a few times... ]

[traversal]

[ if his impression of her was the latter, then she'd like to beg to differ. does she really seem that bad of a person? please, dokja ... if there's anyone terrible here, it's the guy who decided to just watch everything from the side in an attempt to gather information.

lumine bites her lower lip as she curls her fingers around her skirt. an hour; can she really deal with an entire hour of pining? ]

No, not really. I'm— [ suffering? dying? wanting to hug someone already? ] ... Give me your hand.

[ she holds out her own, turning to him with a look of expectation on her already strained expression. c'mon, dokja, don't be shy. and before he can protest: ]

Just give it. I won't shock you, don't worry.

[salvageable]

[ Um, he just watched her electrocute a guy by taking his hand and now Dokja's supposed to fall for the same trick?

He definitely looks doubtful as he stares down at the offered hand, knowing full well that if she were to shock him then he would deserve it for deliberately arriving at the scene too late to warn her about her drink. But he also understands that hand holding a part of physical touch and that this is the potion talking.

God, hand holding... He's done it maybe like once in his life. ]

I'm not worried.

[ Except he looks very much worried as he finally gives in and places his hand in her's, all the while appearing tense like he's expecting her words to be a lie. ]

[traversal]

[ yes, he's supposed to fall for the same trick. what are you talking about?

this is his fault in the first place. if he had told her, if she had known, then they wouldn't be doing this right now, she wouldn't be in this mood, and he wouldn't be in danger of getting electrocuted like the other guy. still, lumine looks very anticipatory of his response and she's not pulling her hand away until he's acquiesced to it. might as well make him uncomfortable if he doesn't, right?

(it's okay. the last person she's held hands with was her brother, and that was five hundred years ago.) ]

Sure, you're not, [ she hums when he finally decides to give in, feelings of relief finally causing her shoulders to sag for a bit. it's not enough to fully satisfy the effects of the potion, but it's much bearable now.

so bearable, in fact, that she lets a gentle current of electricity run between their hands, the shock almost feeling like a static charge. she grins. ]

See? Nothing to worry about.

[salvageable]

[ Rather than finding it painful, it's more that the surprise of the sudden current has him jumping in surprise. He was right to be anxious!! But... this much he can deal with.

The small laugh that follows is a dry one, and Dokja has to fight the urge to pull his hand away. He's not normally one to seek physical contact so this is foreign and strange to him. It's also, unfortunately, his burden to bear for how wildly irresponsible he was in the first place.

Maybe he'll learn a lesson from this. ]

I thought this potion was supposed to make people friendlier.

[ Perhaps even more forgiving and generous! Consider these feelings as well, Lumine. ]

[traversal]

[ you reap what you sow, dokja!!

lumine supposes this is much preferable than going out and pretending to be affectionate with some random person. while she can't really blame the natives for indulging the festivities, she also can't help but feel very, very suspicious towards the lot of them, with their seesawing alliance and affiliation with the regent.

dokja, at the very least, is an aion and pleroma. not someone she can wholeheartedly trust yet, but she knows that he won't backstab her. attempt to, however, is debatable. ]

Am I not friendly enough for you? Do you want hugs to prove I'm being friendly?

[ please say no, please decline this offer. she was just kidding, even though the potion is set to convincing her that yes, he wants him to say yes. ]

[salvageable]

[ Just two people awkwardly holding hands in the middle of festivities, nothing to see here, folks.

But ah, good ol' banter. He'd kind of missed it? It used to be a staple in his life before...

He shakes the thought from his head, an anxiousness threatening to tip him over the deep end. Focus on the here and now, he mentally thinks to himself over and over again. It's a constant reminder that he has to set now that he's living this new life. ]

That's the potion talking, isn't it?

[ He's stupid but he can recognize that much. They're still strangers to each other despite everything they've gone through as Pleroma, and even he knows that a hug is far more different than hand holding... Or, at least, it very much is for him. ]

[traversal]

[ lumine huffs, swinging their hands together as if it would dismiss and eliminate any of the awkwardness they're feeling between them. ]

Yes, it's the potion talking.

[ what else would it be if not for the potion? she supposes this ... love potion simply translates into aggressive friendliness when it comes to her—with more emphasis on aggression than friendliness, much to dokja's misfortune. sometimes, she wonders how she's managed to befriend a number of people in teyvat, knowing and understanding her own temperament.

besides: ]

... You're not exactly the most huggable person on this continent.

[ not that she thinks he wants to be hugged anyway. as averted to physical contact as she is, she's pretty sure dokja's just socially awkward and can't deal with any kind of affection. ]

[salvageable]

[ She's right that he's socially awkward and can't deal with affection but she doesn't have to think it.

Okay, they're swinging hands now... It's still odd but it does distract a bit more than from when they were stationary. And her easy admittance that it's the potion doing this dissolves some of the awkwardness, just knowing that this is an outside influence working its magic and not. Actual feelings.

Because Dokja does so poorly with feelings of any kind. ]

Ha... I know that.

[ He would honestly feel bad for anyone who had to hug him? Why put Lumine through that when he's already done so much. Speaking of... ]

I'm sorry, by the way.

[traversal]

[ he should count himself lucky that she's just thinking it and not saying it out loud ...

and look, it's too early to develop actual emotions towards her fellow pleroma. sure, she considers them as acquaintances, perhaps even bordering on friendship for a handful of them, but anything beyond that? not really something that's going to cross her mind and let her rethink her feelings any time soon.

lbr, dokja's the same with how emotionally stunted he is. ]

Sorry? [ she glances at him, an eyebrow cocked. ] Why? Were you the one who put the potion in my drink?

[ if he does admit to that—and archons forbid he does—he's getting the shock of a lifetime. enough for him to wish he's gotten beaten up more in the throne room during the kenoma confrontation. ]

[salvageable]

[ Emotionally stunted... true. He's a lost cause, but it's not too late for you, Lumine.

And as fucked as he is with his feelings, he at least knows when he's crossed a line or gone too far. Most of the time he can internalize it and then never think back on it, but sometimes the guilt can be a little overwhelming! Especially when he's already overflowing with it.

So, this is warranted. ]

No, not that.

[ God, he's not that awful?? Yes, he is, but he wouldn't do it to a fellow Pleroma! ... Yes, he would, but not to a fellow Pleroma who has never done anything to him. ]

I'm sorry for not warning you about your drink ahead of time.

[traversal]

[ wow, she at least feels empathy!! towards people

even if she gets exasperated with them for always making her clean up their mess. but to be fair, what they ask of her is almost always an exhausting, thankless job with little to no recompense. and the only reason she's even soldiering on is the sad, desperate hope that she'll learn more about the world and her brother this way.

it's stupid, she knows. but being stupid seems to be an inherent trait of the pleroma ... ]

Ah ... Well, someone would've done it eventually anyway, with or without you looking on. So it's a good thing that you're around.

[ this festival is very coercive, in a way. as if she wasn't willing to join it already, and yet they seem to still insist on her celebrating further with them using questionable means. ]

Is this what you've been doing all throughout the festival, waiting for people's drinks to get laced?

[salvageable]

[ Oh. Well. He's glad his apology was accepted? It was accepted, right? She'd said it was a good thing he's around, so...

He'll take it. ]

I thought I'd be able to catch the culprit eventually and put a stop to it.

[ But now that he's approached Lumine about her drink, he's lost track of their movements. They might be long gone by now, or maybe they're still around spiking drinks. To be honest, now that he's seeing how... harmless the effects are, he doesn't really know if he should put a stop to it.

If it's just making people friendlier, than that shouldn't be a problem? Maybe? ]

But judging by the way people around here don't seem too worried about it, I might be overthinking it.

[traversal]

[ he's not overthinking, and it's definitely a problem that needs to be sorted out.

sure, the people around them don't seem too fussed about the potion and all, but that's not really the case for her—or for the others who unwittingly got potion'd. even now, just holding his hand is uncomfortable as her mind tells her otherwise.

she too glances around, trying to check if anyone's suspicious, only to fail because all she can think of is: how can she show her affection towards others even more? what a dilemma right now. ]

Are you sure about that? What if someone tries to accost you with a hug?

[ you know, like a surprise tackle. because that's how some people express their love for acquaintances or friends, right? ]

Or forces you to hold their hand? [ like her. ]

[salvageable]

[ A hug... That's way too much physical affection for him to handle and he can barely tolerate hand holding. No, if someone tried to hug him, he'd probably run away.

And he can run very fast. ]

This isn't so bad.

[ He jerks his chin toward their hands, tries to act casual about it. In truth, it does help that they know each other so this isn't like. Completely having his hand held hostage. Doing this with a stranger would be so much worse. ]

I guess the only thing left to do now is to wait it out.