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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.
🤡🎉
continually and completely unhelpful, Abel's laughing at the look on Dokja's face, attempting to drag him away and in the direction of one of the taverns, though it's a bit of a trek left to get there. ]
C'mon...! You'll join me, right~? She said if I brought a cu... a cute friend back that I'll get one on the house!! Help me out, okay~?
[ walking and balancing Abel's unwieldy weight might be difficult, to say nothing about how much MORE difficult it's about to become as a large, house-sized hand clamps down on Dojka's shoulder from behind, jerking them both to a halt-- but whatever the gruff fellow says is sadly swallowed up by a pair of men raucously laughing as they leave a stall selling brightly colored candied fruits to their left. um,
The Man does not look pleased. ]
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But Dokja doesn't have time to protest that he's 1) not cute and 2) that Abel should not be drinking any more because there's a huge hand suddenly clapped down on his shoulder, and if he were an ordinary person, he'd surely buckle under the weight.
As it stands now, he's caught between two men (heh) pulling him in opposite directions and he really just wants the earth to open up beneath his feet and swallow him whole. He's so tired?? Why is his long day getting even longer? ]
Abel, I think you owe this man an apology first.
[ And WHY is Dokja getting caught up in the middle of this? He's not looking to cause a scene when they're supposed to be laying low, so he tries to pull Abel back toward him so they can get this mishap out of the way and move on!! ]
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Abel is still tugging at Dokja as though he isn't quite sure what is obstructing them from moving?? bro?? bro aren't you coming with him? what's the hold up? but when he cants his head back to take a look at his dear, sweet friend--
he catches sight of The Hulk standing behind him, blinking in a wide-eyed stupor. ]
O-oh. That man is... [ ...
he leans in, whispering. LOUDLY, ]
Mr. Dokja, is this your... your boyfriend?! [ --and then abruptly shaking his head, much louder and in ABJECT HORROR: ] --Sir, s-- SIR, I assure you, we are not an item, I-- I had no idea that he was-- Dokja, why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone--?! You dog...!!
[ the priest is getting flustered, red in the face - and The Hulk's face is turning a similarly apoplectic color. a deep crimson, bordering on purple. he's taking his hand back,
...but it doesn't look like he's letting Dokja go so long as prepared to deck one (or both) of them. ]
1/2
If Dokja looked tired before, his entire body basically sags at the assumption that he's dating this burly man. What a familiar situation..... And like always, he doesn't deny it, simply opens his mouth to try and remind Abel that an apology is in order, but then.
—Violence??
This is exactly what he was trying to avoid! He's not left with much time to think as The Man's fist reels back before it's sent flying toward them. Who's it aimed for? Dokja? Abel (who would very much deserve it)?? It doesn't matter because it needs to be Stopped, and without fully realizing what he's doing, Dokja meets the punch with an open hand, grabbing the fist with Way too much ease for someone who looks like they've got uncooked spaghetti noodles for arms.
In one fluid motion, he's twisting The Man's arm behind his back, then shoving him forward with enough force to send him toppling on his face. A terrible move! Now people are staring! ]
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Go, go! Run!
[ Please be capable of running!!!! ]
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hehand prepared to slam someone(??) right in the kisser--but even as Abel visibly flinches back with a screech, ducking and stumbling a bit to clumsily cradle his head in an effort to protect himself from seemingly inevitable impact--
...he finds himself abruptly peeking between his fingers to watch as Dokja pulls some kind of NINJA COMBAT TECHNIQUE against this mountain of a human being instead...?? the priest is openly gaping as The Hulk's weight is hurdling down into the street, a woman yelping ahead of them as the giant falls at her feet. yes, they are definitely attracting attention now-- and The Hulk's friends are beginning to approach upon seeing their buddy eat a face full of dirt, too--
while Abel stands there,
staring at Dokja with a most helpful, vacant look of shock and awe on his face. ]
W-wow... you-- Mr. Dokja, do you work out?? I-- I had no idea you were so...
[ 😳......... h-his hero...
h-haha, don't look now Dokja but this guy is trying to grab at you from behind and another is shouting "that one, get him!", ]
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But that's so nice that The Hulk has friends willing to back him up? That's sooo wonderful of them to have that sort of camaraderie with each other while Dokja Suffers entirely on his own. Wow, it would be nice if he also had a person to rely on in this moment.
And because he very much doesn't, he'll have to do everything on his own!! There's no way he plans on sticking around and causing even more of a scene, and since Abel won't run, Dokja
picks up all 6'4" of him
and slings him right over his shoulder like he weighs nothing. ]
Hold on!
[ He twists his way out of the reach of the guy behind him before he starts running. And this isn't an average every day kind of running. This is an Advanced Running. One second they're in the area dealing with bullies, the next, they've covered enough distant and rounded enough corners to be nowhere near their attackers. ]
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The Hulk is slowly pulling himself up and off the ground with the help of one of his buddies as the other's hand stretches for Dokja and comes away with-- nothing...? hello? there's a noise of surprise behind them, and then a few shouts as they begin trying to push and shove through the crowd to give chase.
...following the sound of Abel WAILING as he clutches onto Dojka around the waist for dear life, pulling and tugging at the fabric of his waistband, ]
M-- MISTER DOOOKJAAAAAAAAAA--?! Hoo, ho GOD, Lord who art in Hea-- HEAVEN, let me down, l... let me down!! Thi... this is NOT-- ah...!! STOP!!
wtf is this icon prince
But as requested, he puts Abel back down on the ground, breathing heavy as he leans forward to place his hands on his knees in an attempt to catch his breath. He's still not at 100% since the battle in the cave, and he's quickly discovered that his abilities have restraints and limitations here, so a burst of speed like that has him winded. ]
You... What...
[ He wheezes in between words. Is this what you wanted, Abel. ]
You have no idea what you did, do you?
i am going to find a way to use all my incredibly stupid icons for u yuul,
U-ugh... h-how on earth did you--?
[ the priest looks torn between being Impressed because Dokja Ninja?? and awed because Dokja Fast?? ...and then thoroughly irritated because Dokja Manhandled?!?!?! there are a lot of thoughts and at this level of apparent inebriation, his fuzzy thoughts are only taking him so far.
inevitably, he takes a step closer, giving his dear, dear friend a searching look. it looks just as utterly vacant and stupefied as one might expect, ]
Are you... are you some kind of superhero?! Ah-- Mr. Dokja... should I be using some kind of cool codename to protect your identity?! What if someone learns you're dating that man who can throw tow trucks one-handed and comes after him to hold him hostage like a damsel in distress, to... to, um-- [ he's tossing his hands about in emphatic animation as he weaves this tale, ]
...Wait, weren't we going somewhere?
consider me scaroused
If someone were to hold The Hulk hostage, Dokja would like to be there to see it and Just see it. Would he raise a finger to help? Absolutely not. He doesn't know the man despite Abel's insistence that they're dating. And right now, he's seriously debating just leaving his companion right here to fend for himself.
... He sighs and it's like that single sigh holds all the weight of the world in it. Okay, he wouldn't actually leave Abel. How did his night become like this... ]
I'm not a superhero.
[ The opposite, really. Definitely a villain who has ruined countless lives. Yeah, that sounds more like him. ]
And yes. We're headed back to wherever it is you're staying so you can sleep off all the drinks you've had.
i do not like this word.
[ looking utterly indignant and petulant and like he's forgotten (or completely oblivious to) the trouble he just caused and narrowly escaped thanks to Dokja's rescue efforts, he's bridging the meager distance between them at a stagger and re-slinging his arm around his good bud's shoulders. again.
here we are. back at the beginning. is that a sense of deja vu creeping down Dokja's spine...? ]
--The night is yoooooung, my friend!! And YOU are young too, fresh out of a tiff with your lover~! Allow me to buy you a drink, eh? Soothe your wearied soul... take a load off, c'mon, live a little!!
[ Abel is now attempting to drag Dokja back down the street, this time toward merchants and food stalls and, of course, taverns making a killing with the festival buzz. ]
we can both be uncomfortable for different reasons then
Please... mercy upon his blackened soul...
Despite his internal sobbing, he doesn't put up much of a fight. Mostly because he doesn't trust Abel to be left on his own after what they'd just gone through. ]
I don't like drinking.
[ But even as he protests, he can already Feel his words going unheard. ]
what's this? the consequences of my own actions??? no,
that definitely isn't maturity?? haha,and you know what? said young buck is right about how he's getting dragged along whether he likes it or not, because Abel's stumbling them both back out into the crowd, heading toward a tavern with signage of a serpent getting schwasted. classy. ]
--Pish-posh, [ he scoffs, and his British is showing for a second as he finally displaces his weight to pull the door to the fine establishment ajar for his evening's company, Dokja, the young buck, ] you just need to loosen up, my friend~! When's the last time you sat back and enjoyed the finer things in life, mm?!
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It also smells? Like a mix of alcohol and body odor...
Dokja makes a face as he takes a tentative step inside. This is enjoying the finer things in life? ]
... I guess it's been a while, [ he says, tone reluctant to admit it because what he really should be doing is hightailing it out of here. ]
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away from the bar...?? and toward a dark and seedy corner, where a woman who had been engrossed in counting the jools in her coinpurse tucks it back away. between her boobs to look up from her task. she sees Abel,
sees Dokja,
steeples her arms, leans in over the table, and smiles. ]
Mister Dokjaaaa, please meet Miss-- ah. Miss... a-actually, what was your name again? --Anyway, she is SOOO nice and she's really helping me get the full festival experience! Did you know if you play a card game with her, she'll buy you a fr... free drink?
[ Abel's laughing jovially and draping into Dokja when his legs do some weird leg-thing and refuse to hold his weight properly, patting his dear friend's shoulder affectionately. ]
C'mon, you should try~!
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A dark and seedy corner is not where he wants to be, but what choice does he have in the matter?
When the nice lady tucks her coinpurse in between her breasts, Dokja very pointedly looks away. Holy shit, Abel, what is this place. ]
Oh? What's the card game?
[ He'll humor this for now and look for any openings for an escape when everyone is thoroughly distracted. Sometimes it's okay to ditch your friends in sleazy locations. ]
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she smells fresh blood in the water. ]
Oh, not a single clue, actually~! They have pretty pictures on them, though, you should give it a try and see if you can figure it out. Are you good at cards, Mr. Dokja? If you win, Miss-- um, What'sherface will buy you a drink, see~?
[ without waiting for the other man's reply, Abel is nudging him in toward the chair, ]
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Card games aren't exactly his area of expertise, and if there's a free drink involved in this if he wins, then... ]
And if I lose?
[ There has to be something at stake for him, too. ]
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poor, poor mouse.
Abel is hovering at Dokja's shoulder, leaning over to speak low into his ear as if he's some kind of coach... ]
If you lose? Um, actually-- I've lost sixteen times in a row, and she said if I didn't bring someone back here to win back my losings she would take my liver an eat it in front of me, so please do your best, would you...?! There's a good lad.
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Dokja is properly flabbergasted while his mind works overtime to try and make sense of this. Is Abel really that unlucky? No, clearly he's just stupid. But he still managed to drag Dokja to this... establishment... so really, who's the actual stupid one.
There's a long pause as he processes this and then he returns his attention to the woman. ]
You can eat it.
[1/2]
Ah, yes. That's right - you can eat it, he says. He's a natural at ca--ahh.
[ ....hm.
wait, ]
[2/2]
Ah? --Ah? M-mister... Mister Dokja--?! MISTER DOKJA?! NO, I-- I have a VERY fatty liver, y-you don't want to eat, it, I-- MISTER DOKJAAA?!
[ HELP?? ]
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Wait.
[ And then he turns to look over his shoulder at Abel, fingers resting against his chin in thought while his cheerful smile doesn't budge from his face. ]
I'll help you, Abel. For a price.
[ Hmm, is this that bad personality of his coming into play here— ]
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and the priest-- whose eyes are already alight and blurry with tears-- sniffs snottily as he clutches at his manhandler, staring in a mixture of hope and betrayal at his dear, dear friend. his dear friend who is bargaining with his soul. ...liver. whatever, ]
--Are you kidding me?! T-trying to swindle at a time like this?! DOKJAAA, if I die, I swear on all that is good and HOLY in these lands I will--
[ the man tightens his grip on Abel's shoulder and he squeaks, ]
...What, alright, what?! Name your price, you miscreant!! What is my life worth to you, hm?! HM?!
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