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WHO: Dorothea and you!
WHAT: General log for exploring the city/Firebrand’s Rise festivities
WHERE: Godsblood
WHEN: Anytime between newbie arrivals and the start of Rescue Mission
WARNINGS: None at the moment

i. Tourism - Open to oldbies willing to show her around/point out a safe place to stay

[It’s clear that Dorothea is most at ease when exploring the city. Having grown up amongst this sort of bustle, there is a comfort in the familiarity that allows her to relax here more than she has since first arriving in Horos.

As much of a comfort as it is, Godsblood is still wholly unfamiliar to her. Perhaps you have taken it upon yourself to help a little lost newbie familiarize herself with the city, or perhaps she’s come to you and asked you to show her around. Either way, you find yourself accompanying the diva through the city one cloudy afternoon.

Early on, their trek brings them to one of the numerous canals snaking through the city. Dorothea will pause for a moment beside it, watching as one small trading boat sails its way along. Then she’ll close her eyes with a wistful sigh.]

If I close my eyes and just listen to the sounds of the boats floating through the canal, I can almost pretend I’m back home in Enbarr.

ii. Haggling (badly) - OTA

[Once Dorothea manages to get herself a little pocket change, she finds herself browsing the markets one evening. A little confection stand set up for the festivities catches her attention, and what she hopes will be a quick exchange swiftly devolves into some heated haggling.

While she’s no stranger to the practice, she is somewhat rusty at it. The Bloodite merchant’s very forward and blunt ease at brushing off Dorothea’s attempts at negotiating throw her off, and it’s quite clear that it’s getting under her skin. It’s beginning to look like a losing battle for her to keep her cool.

Feel free to come to her rescue… or just laugh at her if it’s more your style!]

iii. Firebrand’s Rise - OTA

[In her brief time here, she’s taken note of some of the masked youths… getting into the spirit of the festival, shall we say. Usually some quick shouts amongst the crowds of the markets to make a stir before disappearing with varying levels of joviality. They are charming little disruptions for the most part.

Today Dorothea finds herself drawn to one such commotion near a small monument that is, fittingly, dedicated to the Firebrand. The festival has naturally brought forth a sizable crowd here, and a group of three particularly bold teenagers have decided to take advantage of that to cause a much bigger stir than she’s seen thus far. One of them has climbed the base of the monument to shout rebellious quips while their companions keep a lookout from below. While some in the crowd initially found the display to be an amusing exhibit of spirit, the masked youth’s shouts take a turn into outright dissent against the Regent, and the effect on the crowd is palpable.

Perhaps she recognizes your face in passing from her time at the Lodestone or perhaps she catches some concern on your features, but it’s enough to draw Dorothea to your side as this display goes on.

Just loud enough for you to hear over the growing commotion:] Do you think we should step in before this gets out of hand?

iv. Wildcard

I’ll roll with anything you might have in mind! If you have any questions, feel free to ping me on the discord or threethirteen!

Also feel free to use brackets or prose, I’ll match!

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[Dorothea has decided it best that she keep herself busy here at the Lodestone while she awaits her attunement. She’s gotten some clothes on her back, food and water to sate her, and no end of little tasks to keep her thoughts from lingering too long on the absurdity of this whole situation. All in all, it’s helping her feel a lot more put together than she has since first arriving.

By chance, she catches sight of a familiar face from afar while taking a rest. She hurriedly scoops up a bundle of cloth she has been hanging onto and makes her way across the sands to catch up to Syrlya, giving him a gentle pat on the arm to get his attention.]

I’m glad I caught you. [She offers him the folded bundle of cloth.] Wanted to make sure I could return your cloak. And… I don’t think I properly thanked you for getting me out of the shrine in one piece. So, thank you, Syrlie.

[Syrlie?? Congrats on being the first one here to get a Dorothea Nickname™.]

[It certainly isn't hard to catch his attention, as he's got some jerky in hand for energy as he takes a pitstop at the lodestone. Can't really stake out the shrines permanently, after all.

He turns to look at her as he feels the hand on his arm, gaze alight with recognition. And then... confusion. Is that a nickname or is she... struggling to pronounce it?]

Ah--no, things were intense. [He offers her a grateful smile as he takes the cloak back.] But you're welcome. I'm relieved you weren't badly harmed... how are you finding your footing?

[It's no small relief to see a familiar face here again, even one she is, truthfully, barely acquainted with. She returns his smile with one of her own.]

Better, now that I’ve had a bit of time to rest. [Her smile gives way for something a little more weary.] But to be honest, it’s still quite a lot to wrap my head around.

[She claps her hands in front of her, gaze drifting for a moment to their surreal surroundings. It still seems so much like a dream—this place, her appearance here, all of it—but she knows full well by now that there will be no blissful waking from this.]

How did you do it? [Her attention returns to him.] Get used to all of this, I mean, when you first arrived here?

[He is, at least, a very recognizable face.

He pauses, thoughtful at her question.] ... Necessity I suppose. My welcome wasn't really better than yours, but there were people who had come before me. [He gestures to the group around the lodestone.] Who helped me find my footing after being thrust in an entirely new world.

[He offers her a short reassuring smile.] I of course extend that hand to you. Don't feel rushed to take in more than you can handle, but I'm answer any questions I can about all of this.

[She flashes him an appreciative smile, quick and brief, before her expression takes a more thoughtful turn.]

Where to even begin? [She gives a short laugh, one that bordered on a sigh.] "Aions," perhaps? What they’re—we’re—capable of, our purpose here… That girl you fought—Misa? She said something about us being demigods.

[It’s hard for Dorothea to not feel skeptical of it all, and that much is clear in her voice. She shouldn't be one raised to such importance, not when there are so many more deserving.]

"Demigods" may be an exaggeration... though it's true as Aions we are vastly more powerful than the average person in Horos.

[He might just be used to a higher threshold of magic bullshit though.] As for what an Aion is... I suppose a magic being, born of a soul drawn from another world. The specifics of all of... that are something we don't know. But--have you noticed a piece of crystal embedded in your person?

[He twists slightly, pulling his collar down to give Dorothea a peek of the butterfly-cut crystal in the back of his neck--opalescent with the slightest purple sheen.]

[Dorothea isn’t keen on the idea of being burdened with power, particularly because that is what it has always been to her—a burdensome responsibility. Back home, her skills with magic made her strong, and she couldn’t in good conscience let that strength go to waste when she could use it to help when fighting swept over the continent. It appears she may be facing the same choice here in Horos.

Something to contend with later. She pushes the thought from her mind, nodding as Syrlya displays his crystal. Her hand goes up to lightly rest upon a spot just above her chest, where her own crystal sat just beneath her shirt.]

Yes… I had wondered about that. Truthfully, I’ve been a little afraid to touch it too much.

[He smooths his collar out, and straightens up.] That crystal is... in an essence, the core of your person as an Aion. So long as it remains intact, not even death appears to be permanent.

Generally, you should leave it right where it is. That's the safest place, as you cannot separate it from yourself for too long. The exception is some forms of magic, which... you may find yourself feeling weaker than you were before. That will pass, and whatever magic or augments you had will return with some time.

I suppose that explains why I couldn’t use my magic back there at the shrine. [She sounds thoughtful, and more than a little relieved. Her assumption had been that her exhaustion was the cause of it, and even if that was a contributing factor, this did make a certain amount of sense.

More important, however, is that earlier implication. Her brows furrow slightly.]

We’re immortal, then? [She can’t help some of the skepticism creeping into her voice, but considering everything she has seen and experienced here thus far, perhaps she shouldn’t be so surprised.] And what would happen to us if we were to “die,” so to speak? Simply shake it off, like it was nothing?

Hm--yes, I suppose we are. [That's... less conceptually weird to him, because his people are already probably technically immortal. But for those that age and die from it, that's probably a lot.] Or at least, the natural end of an Aion does not come so easily without damage to one's shard.

We've had a few, though... whose bodies could no longer hold form. Their death resulted in a full dissipation, leaving only the shard behind. Bringing it to one of the shrines allows us to reform, physically.

I can't tell you what happens if your shard is damaged, but I imagine it is much worse.

[They might not have spoken in person, but Sooyoung's noticeable enough -- considering that she's climbed onto a few crates to peer at the display. She's extremely short, okay, she needs to see??

She glances down at the sound of Dorothea's voice, then looks back at the display. Some people are already leaving, quickly and hurriedly, while others -- older men and women -- stare critically at the youths. She shades a hand over her eyes, leaning down a little so Dorothea can hear her in return.]

-- What exactly can we do? It's not like we can run over there and knock them out.

[why is sooyoung's first idea violence? but it's fine. the crowd murmurs again, apparently the youths are starting up a hearty, if slightly out of tune, rendition about how Oppression Is Terrible (And Therefore, So Is The Regent)]

[Sooyoung, please?? People getting knocked out is exactly what she wants to avoid!! She grimaces, realizing she is somewhat at a loss for suggestions herself.]

I’m not sure, [she admits, the renewed reaction from the crowd tugging her attention back for a moment,] but I worry things may take a turn if they keep this up.

[And the discontent among the onlookers certainly seems to grow. There remains a trickle of folks eager to leave, but commotion caused by the teens’ rather color song is also drawing the attention of people passing by.]

A distraction, maybe? [It feels like something of a far-fetched idea—attracting attention to themselves isn’t exactly advisable either.]

[It might feel far-fetched, but Sooyoung looks interested all the same, though her gaze is on Dorothea rather than the aspiring singers beyond them.

Wouldn't anyone in Dorothea's position have chosen to move on by now? Even Sooyoung herself had been thinking it -- she'd planned on just watching and then leaving -- letting whatever violence or chaos spring up as they may. Is that Pleroma thing, perhaps?]

Sure, why not?

[why not!!! she has a feeling that violence is off the table (for now), so she'll start running through their other options]

Fire...? Nah. Start a fight -- no... [...wait?] ...What if we challenged them?

[singing... contest.......?]

[Dorothea can admittedly be something of a bleeding heart, and perhaps that’s what has got her considering poking her nose into this mess in the first place. She’s certainly passed by other displays of youthful exuberance here without a second glance, but these kids do seem like they’re biting off more than they can chew…

So it’s something of a relief that Sooyoung at least seems willing to go along with her inadvisable meddling.]

A challenge, hm? [She crosses her arms over her chest, considering that for a moment as she watches the crowd. One of the teenagers is now trying to get the onlookers to join in on their song, to extremely mixed results.]

I suppose if we were to meet them at their own game, it may smooth things over with the crowd a little… [Dorothea looks over to Sooyoung, her expression perhaps a little more eager than it should be. Singing contest?? Oh, Dorothea’s in her element now.]

[Oh?

Violence is one thing, but performing in public??? She's a little impressed that Dorothea seems so up for it. Most people (DOKJA) would shy away at the thought. But if she's reasonably confident that they can pull it off...]

We can't be any worse than those guys. And if we are... well, I guess it'll still be a distraction.

[just an extremely annoying one... Sooyoung has no idea that she's in the presence of an expert, case in point]

You're gonna have to take point though. You up for that?

[She knows that this is a tremendously bad idea, drawing attention after being told to keep a low profile, but… Maybe she just really needs a little familiarity to ground herself here, and what better thing for that than singing?]

Certainly.

[First thing’s first: getting that ill-advised attention. While pushing through the crowd to challenge them is one thing… She glances at those crates Sooyoung is standing on. This is a much better idea.

She clambers up to join her on makeshift perch, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady herself. Then with a wink, Dorothea cups her other hand beside her mouth and calls out.]

Is that the best you can do? [She is very good at projecting her voice, and a sizable portion of the crowd turns to look their way.]

[OH DAMB... VOICE PROJECTION??

Sooyoung looks suitably impressed, because even if their plan ends badly for everyone involved on this fine summer day, at least it won't end in failure?? She makes some room so Dorothea can balance a little better on their perch, and waves a hand at the masked youth now glancing their way,]

I've heard better voices from toads, and they were way more charismatic than you guys!

[wait they're not here to PVP, they're here to stoke their competitive spirit... one of the masked youth yells back, though their volume falls short compare to dorothea's. Still, the words 'yeah? see if you can do any better then!!' are punctuated by a rude gesture, which Sooyoung promptly returns.]

If you're gonna sing, then you have to pick a better song!

[ normally, dextera wouldn’t involve himself in an exchange gone wrong, but recent growth within himself, attunement to the pleroma, means that he recognizes the young woman as one of their own—and the last thing anyone needs is exposure, even with the tentative optimism brought about by the recent victory in godsblood.

he’s not so familiar with haggling, considering his personal limitations, but he’s spent enough time around the markets that he’s not too worried about interrupting. ]

…

[ in relative silence, he comes to simply occupy a space next to dorothea—and looks between her and the merchant, his immediate aims in doing so unclear. the bloodite merchant does seem to recognize him, however, asking if she’s a friend of his. ever a bad liar, dextera pauses before nodding. ]

[The silent interruption is a welcome one, granting just enough of a reprieve from the back-and-forth to allow her to keep a handle on her composure. Dorothea, for her part, plays into his lie with relative ease—putting on an air of surprised recognition as he indicates their familiarity. The benefits of being a performer.]

Oh! Darling, I thought we were meeting over at the shrine? [She brushes her hand against his arm, a light and affectionate touch.] I was hoping to grab a little treat for us first, as a surprise…

[She keeps her eyes on Dextera, hoping he is the sort to put up with this little charade.]

[ oh, this— this is a little more than dextera had intended to involve himself in. he’s like a skittish animal when she touches his arm, much less composed than she is about the whole lying thing, but to his credit he doesn’t run off. ]

Um…

[ his voice is incredibly soft, and it takes him a long moment to decide to do anything… until he just nods, maintaining an uncomfortably long eye contact with the shopkeeper that seems to say please believe me. ]

[Sorry Dextera…! Dorothea is at least quick to adjust to his display of unease, smoothly giving him a little space as she steps a little closer to the confection stand. She leans forward, one hand over her chest as she fixes the merchant with her best embarrassed smile.]

Goodness, just look at the sort of first impression I’m making! Surely you’re willing to help a girl out, right?

[A last-ditch effort at laying on the charm. At the very least, the shopkeeper no longer seems combative, just sort of… bemused.]

[ obviously, she’s… trying to do something here, dextera can see that easily, and it’s not that she’s doing a bad job now that dextera has broken the tension, but it can’t be easy to work back up into a haggling position. ]

…

[ rather than let this play out any longer, he reaches into his pocket. although he has nothing to reasonably barter with, as might be expected for some simple confections, he does have some dull jools that he hopes will cover the cost of whatever she’s asking. he places them on the small tray with a small clinking noise and looks hopefully between the two. this is enough, right? ]

[Dorothea is used to the idea of letting others treat her to things, and typically she’ll accept it with gusto. There is, however, a bit of guilt at the prospect of roping someone into helping her here already, especially over such a small thing she was only after on a whim. She looks to Dextera, smiling gratefully.]

You’re too sweet. Are you sure?

[The merchant does seem to be rather Done with the whole exchange, eyeing the offered jools for but a moment before sighing. They grab two of the little bags of sweets on offer at set them down next to the tray.]

[ dextera nods to her question.

he’s grateful, too, that the merchant isn’t worrying too much about how sticky the jools are. they’re still perfectly valid tender, after all… and they’ve bought the sweets at what is probably a reduced price anyway, just from eagerness to get them out of here. he takes the little bags and turns, casting a glance at dorothea that suggests to follow him. ]

…

[ but, just in case she doesn’t get it, he rolls his shoulder in lieu of waving her over before scurrying off. ]

[At this point, Dorothea is feeling just as glad for this to be done with. Well, somewhat done with, she supposes, now that she’s roped this stranger into the whole affair. She catches that glance of his and prepares to follow, hesitating for only a moment to wave to the exasperated merchant with a perfectly well-rehearsed fake smile and an all-too-cheery farewell.

She hurries down the street to catch up, falling into step with him a few paces to his side.]

I think I’ve lost my touch with that sort of thing. [A sigh.] Sorry to put you on the spot like that.

[ dextera shakes his head. there’s something sort of… nice, he supposes, about being able to come in and help an interaction like that, when there are so many things happening above him that he can’t change. the action is so small and possibly meaningless, but the evidence of good is quite literally sitting in his hands.

he holds the confections out to her. ]

…?

[ he may have purchased them, but he wouldn’t have if not for her desire to have them, so—it makes sense to him, the exchange. ]

[She gives him a somewhat sheepish smile as she takes one of the offered bags of sweets.]

Thank you. It’s silly, but these caught my eye as I was passing by and I thought it would have been a simple exchange. So I suppose I owe you now.

[Not really how she wanted things to start off in a new home, particularly with a stranger. Which leads her to realize—]

Oh! I’m Dorothea, by the way.

[If he was going to go out of his way to do her a favor, she really should properly introduce herself at the very least.]

[ dextera had fully expected her to take both, and he’s not sure what to do with the remaining one. there’s a moment of hesitance—written clear on his face—where he just stares at his own hands and then at her, but since it’s hard for him to push the subject, he’s forced instead to flinch in surprise when she asks his name. ]

Uh…

[ his fingers tighten around the bag, and he reaches in his coat to put it away in favor of withdrawing a notebook. it’s tattered and there are obviously pages ripped out where he’s used and discarded plenty of information, but one of the earliest pages has his name written down with a list of other common phrases. ]

Dextera.

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