EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (ACHAMOTH)

[aionmods]

Achamoth

A DEITY'S WELCOME

After only a day or two on the river, the newly christened Kenoma will arrive in the city of Achamoth. The architecture is the more striking things about it, as if its skyline has been built up and constantly improved over many centuries. It's clear from even the riverside view that there is an artistic tendency towards building humanoid shapes into the supports and detailing of structures here, creating the strange effect of placing hundreds of silhouettes in your peripheral vision. If you ask the sailors why its like that, they will simply say it's the way its always been. Any metaphorical seed was planted long before anyone here was born.

The Citadel can be seen even from the entrance of the city, a towering spiral that looms over the rest of the land around it, lit from within by various magical energies. That's your destination, you are told. Soon, you will be passed into the care of the Citadel's staff, and will be sure to meet with city's elites not long after.

They aren't wrong. When you show up at the port closest to the Citadel, the street are always lined with people waiting to greet you. It's easy to recognize now how diverse the population of Horos can be, with many of those waiting showing off unusual heights, colors, and appendages, though appearances that are typically 'human' are still the most common. Most of them wear dark outfits with a gothic flare, with mask-like facial adornments apparently being fashionable. They cheer and chant as you come down from the boat, tossing flower petals and small gemstones onto the path you walk upon. This continues all the way to the Citadel.

Once you are inside, up winding paths of stairs, you will be shown to your new quarters to rest. You're each assigned a lavish bedroom with servants stopping by ever so often, offering to bring you food, clothing, or other items of comfort. There are a variety of soaps in your room's private bath. You are told that if you take a liking to any individual servant that you may claim them as your permanent retainer, though you are not required to. Their dispositions range from euphoric to be serving you to quiet and shy, but there is a notable lack of resentment.

After about a day of rest, you will be brought an official invitation by one of the servants. Apparently, the Regent has requested your presence for supper that evening. It is not optional.

THE FEAST

A few hours before suppertime, one of the servants will arrive to take you 'clothes shopping' for something appropriately formal to wears for your meeting with the Regent. In practice, this means taking you to one of several changing rooms filled with costly formal wear. The styles and sizes are diverse, which makes sense when you are informed that they are a collection of offerings from local weavers and seamstresses, some of which have been waiting for an owner for quite some time. From an Earthly point of view, there is a wide spectrum of cultural aesthetics, though most of them lean towards the same dark colors and gothic sensibilities that you saw the citizens of Achamoth wearing. Headpieces and artistic masks are plentiful, but not mandatory though the servant will tell you they are in vogue. A servant will be able to make alterations to your clothing with magic to achieve a proper fit.

After that, you have a couple more hours to prepare before you are invited to a lounge-like area for pre-meal drinks. You can get almost any kind of cocktail you can imagine, including some you can't, and will be allowed to chat each other up for about an hour before the feast begins. Some small appetizers are available, and soft, rhythmic music plays in the background. If you look for her, Xishen is present as well, dressed in a black evening gown with golden accents that flicker like stars in the night sky, her long hair pinned up into a messy bun and decorated with hair-sticks. As usual, she seems to be avoiding company for the moment, though she is keeping an eye on everyone. Perhaps she's counting heads to make sure there are no stragglers.

When the time arrives, two huge doors are opened, leading you into a room that looks like a mixture of a dining room and a cathedral. Ahead of you, three long takes are connected together in the shape of a triangle, with a large throne positioned at the point furthest into the room; it is presently empty. You'll be instructed to take a seat, basking in the multicolored flames of the candles and torches lighting the room. As you find your places, all seats will be filled except for the throne up front, with Xishen at its side. All you can do now is await your host.

[Mealtime interactions with the Regent can be threaded here. They will arrive right after the first course has been served.]

EXPLORATION

Having survived supper with the Regent, the next few weeks are essentially yours to plan. Though the Regent indicates that there is work for you to do on the Horizon, for now your orders are to simply rest and prepare. You'll have access to the Citadel's armory to acquire any basic armor or weaponry you could need; though none of what's on offer seems to be enchanted, it is undoubtedly the work of a master. Clothing is much the same as it was for the formal wear you picked out, though you will find there are more practical offerings available as well. If you don't find anything to your tastes, you are also welcome to go out on the town with a generous allowance from the Regent's own coffers.

Clothing isn't the only thing you can get out in the city, though. While there are material goods of many kinds available, the most tempting thing for many residents is the raw hedonism of the city's entertainment district. It has just about anything you could imagine, from day spas to gambling to brothels, and none of it is contained by the burden of law. Any Achamite entertainment seen as too intense to face daylight would certainly not be for the faint of heart.

The locals haven't had enough time to recognize the city's new Aions on sight, but if they see your shard or or any other sign of your status, you are bound to attract a lot of attention. You're a celebrity in these streets, and while it can get you plenty of favors or even unsolicited offerings, it can also be quite overwhelming. In many cases, Achamite's religious fervor exceeds their survival instinct, at least in terms of the ones most likely to bother you. They will back off if threatened by you, but they will take politeness as an invitation to continue.

When leaving the Citadel, a servant will usually try to accompany you, though they will stay behind if you order them to do so. They insist that it will be easier for you to get around with a dedicated guide, but in the end you're the one in charge.

QUESTIONS

How does my character picking a retainer work?
All Kenoma are offered the opportunity to take on an NPC retainer after arriving at the Citadel. This retainer will be an NPC created and played by you. They will be available day and night to attend to your character's needs. These servants understand the Regent largely from a religious perspective and will not have any outspoken anti-Regent sentiments, though they may or may not be nervous about their new master. Generally speaking, though, this is in a new job jitters sort of way, as working in the Citadel is considered to be a job of great cultural and religious significance. They want to do a good job! You are free to develop your retainer's personality and relationship with your character. If your character (or you) are not interested in having a personal retainer, they will instead be served by a rotation of unattached servants.

How much money are Kenomas given for shopping?
They will be given an emerald's worth in jools, which is 1000 units. This is about how much a minimum wage worker makes in two months. They will continue receiving spending money on a monthly basis, though the Citadel itself will take care of all of their needs. On an OOC level its safe to say that average city expenditures will be covered by the money they are given, though they are welcome to invest that money in making more money if they have to skills to do so.

What sorts of things are there in the entertainment district? Is anything illegal?
Almost everything is legal in Achamoth when it comes to entertainment, and there is not much government oversight in the way anything is run. This means that most 'entertainment' you can imagine is both present and largely unregulated, and it doesn't need to be underground on account of how permissive Achamite law is. Brothels, drugs, and even bloodsport are all fair game... technically, participants in brothels and bloodsports must be willing but that 'consent' can be pretty nebulous. 'Extreme' bloodsport is generally hush hush (those that are particularly graphic and unpleasant, or basically torture) and behind closed doors mostly just to avoid causing a fuss.

The one thing there is official rulings on, straight from the Regent, is the enforcement of 'age of consent' and laws against child abuse. Children are generally not allowed to participate in those skeevier activities and there is a cultural expectation for people to raise their children properly, though this still goes wrong fairly frequently. It's just one of the things that is actually punished. Adults, however, have fewer innate protections.

Comments

[oomfies]

[ Well.. She doesn't know! What if he was going to try and talk to her or something?? This guy.. Unreasonable. Lottie refrains from huffing, instead toying at her hair and frowning beneath her mask. As aggravating at this guy is, striding in like he knows everything about everything, he's.. Well, right.

So she follows him (after making sure the coast is clear - don't want any fans bugging them) inside the store, tentatively lurking beside him because even she knows tagalongs can be super awkward. Lottie stares up and at the blades on the wall looking.. Passive. ]

Are we.. Allowed to try them out? Shouldn't we ask somebody for help?

[lockedon]

[ Okay but he does know everything about everything? Or at least everything important there is to know about ye olde weapons, which is apparently all they have on display. Where's a man supposed to get a reasonable gun around these parts? Once again he resigns himself to having to wield swords and daggers for the time being. How awfully traditional.

He can sense Lottie creeping up behind him, nervous energy radiating out in all directions, but he doesn't acknowledge her just yet, hand reaching out instead to pluck a simple (but sharp-looking) dagger off the stand. Not too heavy, not too light, and the handle feels solid against his palm. Hmm....

Finally, after a couple more seconds of silence, he turns towards Lottie. ]

What are you looking for?

[ He's the help now, sorry Lottie. Actually, the neighborhood friendly shop clerk seems nowhere to be found.... ]

[oomfies]

[ The question makes her jump, just because she figured he committed to ignoring her perfectly valid question about Store Etiquette™. So when he addresses her, she realizes, oh.. Well, he might as well work here. She glances around just in case, to make sure they aren't breaking any laws by taking what's on display and replies.. ]

Um.. I'm not sure. I've never had to think about this before.

[ It's honest, and intimidating even saying it aloud because she has to come to terms with the implication of what she'd be doing with these daggers. Or knives. Or whatever it is she's buying. ]

Something I can hide, maybe?

[lockedon]

[ She had mentioned being entirely out of her element back in the cave, now that he thinks back on things, but he'd assumed at the time whoever (whatever) had yanked them all here had at least had the decency to pull in trained combatants. He's had ample time since then to realize the inaccuracy of his assumption and he frowns now reflexively.

Nothing he's learned about this place has endeared it to him at all.

But with her words in mind, he searches across the store, evaluating and then subsequently dismissing individual weapons on display. ]

Your best bet is something small then. A dagger or a knife. They'll be easier to use too.

[ Cue the image of Lottie trying - and failing - to swing around a huge sword popping up immediately in his head. Which would be funny to see in actuality, except she'd probably accidentally lop off a limb. ]

You could also try a whip, but those are harder to control.

[ sexy dominatrix lottie with a whip though??? ]

[oomfies]

[ Rather than log behind him, lost and confused, she just stays in her one spot and waits for him to finish doing.. Whatever it is he's doing for her. She scratches at her cheek when he presents the option of a dagger, or a knife. She's used knifes cutting her avocados before, so theoretically that shouldn't be an issue? ]

A whip?

[ She mumbles to herself, immediately thinking of icons such as Catwoman or.. Some other hero or villain with a whip. Mostly the first one. That'd be kinda cool! She perks up, ambling a bit towards him. ]

How are they harder?? Show me!

[lockedon]

[ Does he look like a whip man to her??

As a more unconventional weapon, formal training with a whip had never been on his official curriculum, and he's largely absorbed what little knowledge he has from watching others. Thankfully for the both of them, the shopkeep seems to have finally emerged from whatever cubbyhole they were busy in, caught wind of their conversation, and immediately trots up to both of them, querying if the esteemed customers today would perhaps like a demonstration of the finest whips they have on offer.

Eustace looks at Lottie, one brow lifted. Well...? ]

[oomfies]

[ Oh.. A random man?? Who might own this shop?? Lottie's brows shoot up at the fact this interaction is happening, standing the tiniest bit closer besides Eustace because strangers are scary as much as they are (in a shopping setting) helpful. She glances to him when he looks to her, and she thinks.. ]

Um, yes. Please! I would love to see what you have to offer.

[ This, is said with a Lottie Person™ patented smile, one that the shopkeep seems extremely happy about as he takes them to the section with whip upon whip lined against the wall. He takes the time to demonstrate each whip, some made of regular rope and others - where they have to move to a different, larger, safer area to demonstrate - are made of metal or other more intricate pieces. Once finished, he turns them to the more aesthetic pieces - for those who want something more than just a weapon. He asks what they'd prefer to look at first, and Lottie turns to Eustace for help, mouth hanging open and going - ]

Um..

[lockedon]

[ Once again: does he look like a whip man to her??

Does she even look like a whip woman to him, tbh, he's not so sure. Once again, the image of Lottie wielding a weapon (this time a whip) springs forth in his mind. Once again, it ends with Lottie injuring herself.

......

Maybe he should give her the benefit of the doubt.

But, sure, fine, he will take charge this once while Lottie hems and haws next to him. As much as he's sure she would love something pretty and shiny (because most women do) they should really start with the basics first. ]

Something simple. Durable.

[ Which results in their friend the shopkeeper handing over several selections of bullwhips for Lottie to try out. ]

[oomfies]

[ crying at the internal misogyny of the pretty and shiny mind set women have. just say she's a bird already eustace ]

Hmm..

[ Lottie says, entirely unimpressed that none of these are pretty and shiny, but still willing to try it out. And by try it out, she means picking up and vaguely moving whatever whip she has in her hand up and down until it feels right. She guesses not everyone can start off as Catwoman.. There's always Indiana Jones.

She ends up picking out a pretty brown colored one, and then adding a black one for outfit durability. ]

I want these two. [ And then, after the shopkeeper makes confused eye contact with Eustace about Lottie's method of "trying things out", he takes them to bag them nice and pretty for her. ]

[lockedon]

[ if only he would drink his respect women juice at breakfast every morning :pensivecowboy:

But he hasn't yet and he has no plans to in the future, so all he does is share a disparaging glance with the shopkeep before they wander away. The images of Lottie injuring herself with her newly purchased whips are soon to become reality, huh.... Does she even have any intention of using them, or is she simply going to carry them around for display in the hopes they'll chase away thugs and other roughhousing types? ]

They're not for show.

[ At least give them a proper snap? Lottie?? Even with the internal reminder that Lottie is just some civiliation, his patience is wearing thin. ]

Next time you try one out, make sure the length and elasticity are in a range you're comfortable with.

[ Next time....is she even going to graduate past using the two she bought today, tbh? ]

[oomfies]

[ Well Eustace, sorry but trying things out in the STORE is EMBARRASSING? You will never see Lottie make practical decisions about weapons in her life. ]

No whip is too stiff for me!

[ She doesn't know what the fuck that means but it's mostly said to shut him up since he's probably right, but she doesn't want to hear it. Realistically, she will try them out in the safety of her room, free from judgement, and have her intern bring in boxes for her to do target practice with or something. Because of this idea, she seems.. Not confident, but certainly not scared in her choice making.

She turns to him, ]

What were you getting, again?

[lockedon]

[ Lottie should just learn to purge all the shame out of her body? It's easy?

It's also kind of alarming how easily she rattles off that lie, and he lifts one very obvious eyebrow to signal how much he believes that lie (not at all). But, hey, at least he doesn't openly comment on it, so Lottie is spared further embarrassment while out in public.

Now that they are apparently (???) done with her portion of the shopping, he turns and heads back to his stabby pointy corner. Lottie can follow if she wants, he doesn't really care. ]

Daggers. They're quicker to use than a sword.

[ Also cheaper too, not that any of them really need to worry about funds while they're here.

But he's interrupted on his journey back by another display case, this one with a pair of ye olde guns. Like super ye olde, simple in both handle and barrel and both of them with oversized bolts. Because Eustace in unfortunately a gun junkie, he pivots to give both a good assessing stare. Unfortunately, based on the deep frown on his face, he apparently thinks that they are No Good. ]

[oomfies]

[ Lottie does, in fact, follow, mostly because she's curious as to what he'll say and if any of this will be useful to her. He only confirms that daggers are.. Well, exactly what she thought they were. She's about to dip after that, preparing some needlessly polite way to leave the conversation with her goodies until he abruptly stops. Lottie almost bumps into him, just barely saving herself the extra embarrassment of all of that when she figures out what's happening. She leans over the display case he's focused in on, staring at it expecting.. Something. Maybe the same disdain she spies on Eustace's face?

She glances up at him, then back at the guns, then back at him. They just look like regular old, ye olde™, guns to her. Nothing particularly noteworthy. ]

..Is something wrong??

[lockedon]

[ That's precisely the problem, there is nothing noteworthy about them. No polished sheen, no hidden mechanism, just an overly simple ye olde gun. He's barely been in this place for longer than a week and already he misses so much about home. Mostly misses all the convenient methods he could kill a man with. Things are so old-fashioned here. :pensiveclown:

But enough wallowing about that, he doesn't need to bother Lottie with his personal woes. He straightens back up, shaking his head once. ]

Nothing you can fix.

[ Unless she magically knows how to make guns?? But considering she could barely bring herself to step foot in this store, he's gonna guess a no on that one.

And that's that, at least for the next minute or so as he heads back towards his little dagger section to peruse the wares some more. Long enough that it seems like he might have already dismissed Lottie's company?? But then, very abruptly, he speaks up again, though it's not like he bothers to look at her or anything. ]

If you need someone to practice with, you should ask Ciel.

[ Their neighborhood-friendly whip lady. ]

1/2

[oomfies]

[ Ugh. Men. ]

[oomfies]

[ But at least his kind advice manages to quell her anger enough to make her frown less prominent. She isn't sure how to feel about the fact he isn't even looking at her, barely acknowledging her, but she figures that might be his way of saying he's at 20% and needing a recharge. ]

Alright..

[ She mentally makes a note (that sadly she'll forget later and change to 'Whiplady') to try and seek out this person. ]

Thanks! I guess.. For the help shopping.

[lockedon]

[ Men indeed..... :^)

The gratitude is heard (with some small bit of surprise, because people don't usually thank him even on the rare instances he's helpful) and accepted (with a small nod of his head) but otherwise he leaves her largely alone after that, content to do his own shopping. ]