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

[lockedon]

[ Why do all the women in his life have a stomach of steel......?

He doesn't have much time to ponder this, Ciel finishing up her order and the waiter turning to him with a look of mild panic. What if this second customer also starts making unreasonable requests? Are they going to have a double homocide on their hands today?? Please no, business is finally picking up......

But luckily for everyone involved, Eustace's own order is succinct: a large bowl of lamb stew, moderately spiced, and a side of crusty bread. The waiter's relief at this Very Normal Order is palpable and they bustle off not long after, only lingering for a few seconds to bow their head and reassure them that their food will be out "soon".

How long is soon? Who knows around these parts.

With the waiter out of their hair, Eustace wastes no time in asking the new question now at the forefront of his mind. ]

Do you usually eat that much?

[ Look, yes, that's a very rude question to ask of anyone, but he's a rude man by nature so it all checks out. ]

[expiera]

[But ordering more = spending more = more business, ??? Is this waiter new or something, usually you WANT the customer to give more (checks note) jools to your business?

While he orders and the waiter's demeanor deescalates from mild panic to relief, Ciel simply proceeds to take a small sip from her glass of water as if nothing is out of place and everything is A-Okay. She thought about sending the waiter off with a word of thanks and a smile, but ultimately decides against further interaction in consideration of how overwhelmed they appeared. What's got them looking so out of sorts? She didn't do anything wrong... 🤔

And then Eustace is asking another question, blunt as usual. He gets to the point, and that's not something she'd normally complain about!]

...Well, it depends. I just haven't had spicy food in a while, haha.

[She answers back innocently, doing a very good job at making herself look and sound reasonable. It's not like he's calling her fat or anything, this is clearly fine??]

[lockedon]

[ Yes, mmhmm, sure, very reasonable. He can't exactly fault anyone for wanting to enjoy a good meal after too long without, especially when said good meal involves some of their favorites. (Alternatively, maybe he's just jealous that she can eat so much and not get fat. :/)

Instead of following suit and taking a sip of his own glass of water, he sits back slightly, gaze never leaving Ciel. ]

Is that your favorite type of food?

[ Wow, look at him go, trying to converse like a normal human being with actual social skills. How long will it take for him to revert back to usual, stay tuned... ]

[expiera]

[Cute OP anime girl privileges baybee fast metabolism, yeah that's what it is

She sure feels Perceived rn... but it's not malicious or anything actually worrying, so nbd.

...

She just nods while still cupping her glass of water, looking almost bashful as if she has a conscience or something. It's not very Girly and she knows ok, shhhh...]

[lockedon]

[ Is that......embarrassment on her face? Something that isn't generic friendliness or business-like neutrality? It's kind of cute, actually. More than that, her little display of agitation is grounding, a reminder that even though both of them have spent a fair amount of time preparing for the work ahead of them (and rightfully so), they're both still people, with flaws and foibles and quirks.

Some of them with a deep love of spicy food, apparently.

Finally, he takes a drink of his own water, setting down the glass with a soft thunk. His voice is a little lighter this time around, more mild than usual. ]

You could ask them to prepare more spicy food. [ Them = the servants and kitchen staff. ] I'm sure they'd be more than happy to do so.

[ They are apparently delighted to do anything their new masters ask of them, which is honestly a little alarming. ]

[expiera]

[look just because she hasn't had great compelling reasons to display more than two personality traits so far doesn't mean that was all she had... that's how personalities work right,

...But he is gracious enough to continue, well, being himself, and honestly? Blunt and to the point are far easier (and more normal) to handle than some of the other weirdoes stuff she's had to deal with. So!

His (earnest and well-meaning) suggestion is met with a sheepish chuckle.]

Aha, I'm sure they would be, but I don't want to bother the citadel staff for every little thing... I could ask them about the specific spices and whether they can be found on Horos though, that's true. I can cook my favorite food myself. It wouldn't be a bad thing to do, if we don't end up too busy with work?

[Working towards the end of the multiverse is just "work" tho, valid right...]

[lockedon]

[ If we don't end up too busy with work.

Haha, funny joke, he only wishes he could share her optimism about such things. Although it's concerning in its own way that he's more worried about the leisure time afforded to them between jobs than the nature of the "work" they're supposed to be doing.

The reminder of work - and by proxy, of how woefully unprepared and disjointed they are as a whole - has him closing his eyes, a low breath escaping through his nose. ]

You really think we're prepared for everything expected from us?

[ Potential is great and all, but it doesn't matter if they disintegrate into dust with only their Shards left behind before they get the chance to reach that potential. ]

[expiera]

[What makes him think she's being optimistic... What if she like saying things despite knowing they're unlikely to happen if ever, what then,

Still, she understands where he's coming from. Putting her glass back down, she props a shoulder onto the table to then rest her cheek in that open palm.]

Honestly, I don't know what's expected of us, so all we can do is prepare in whichever ways we can think of. They reassured everyone that we would be of use and have great potential, and there hasn't been any more details since. I'd like to take a look outside of Achamoth myself, Hylici and Venera both sound like interesting cities. We've been asked to not leave, however...

[Preparation is quite a large jump to dissipation, Eustace?? Not that she'd be very concerned regardless admittedly, freaky undying monster privileges...]

[lockedon]

[ Some of them are plain ol' Janes here, absolute normies? We can't all be freaky undying monsters. :/ :/ Though it's not like Eustace views himself as much outside of being a tool, so he probably wouldn't take issue to being a freaky undying monster if it meant being able to accomplish more.

Regardless, he's not so much worried about himself as he's worried about the rest of their ragtag crew and their ability to perform. ]

Potential doesn't mean anything if it can't be brought out or utilized. [ Once again, he's back to being curt and business-like. ] And preparation means little if there are only a few of us willing to engage in it.

[ Look, not to name names or anything but uhhhhh he's not so sure about some of their group. ]

[expiera]

[Wow there sure are several Kenomas who are A+ at objectifying themselves in the 🔪 way! At least three to date, 🤝 gang

She admittedly doesn't look particularly worried, but nor does she look relaxed either. Hm...]

What do you propose we do? ["We" she says, even though she really would rather have people who aren't gung-ho about fighting to just stick to the back lines. She doesn't want to force them onto the battlefield if they're not feeling it... But more violent confrontations in their future seem inevitable, alas.] Even if some of us start learning new and useful abilities, practice simulations are very different from actual on-field execution. Then there's also the question of teamwork: we may have been able to do better if we worked together, but that also takes coordination and planning not everyone will immediately get used to. All this is assuming more combat scenarios too, which may not necessarily end up being the case as other things could be asked of us.

[...They're really more or less subtly picking at their coworkers huh,]

[lockedon]

[ Just two Kenoma, chilling in a restaurant, casually criticizing their coworkers despite only knowing them for a few weeks.

But Ciel brings up a number of good points, Eustace's expression smoothing out from his previous disparaging look to something more benign. Even if insulting others is as natural as breathing for him, he's always preferred to focus his energies on addressing and solving problems, and the mixed experience of their teammates is a large problem at the moment, as far as he's concerned. ]

Mm. [ That's a sound of agreement, by the way, muted as it is. ] But it's useful to have both practice and experience to pull from.

[ Practice so they're not as shaky once they reach the battlefield, and then actual experience to know what areas they're still lacking in. Rinse, repeat, an unending cycle. Sighing, he sits up, eyes closing briefly. ]

Ideally there would be some sort of training program in place for anyone interested, but it seems the Regent is content to let us laze around until the next time we're needed.

[ Can't say he agrees with that but it's not like he's the boss here. ]

[expiera]

[*casually being professionals because no one else is, apparently, thus a few weeks is more than valid tbqh,

Guess they're 100% talking shop while they wait! Which works out great for the both of them, as unpromising their situation is atm...]

We were told to rest and prepare, but everyone's idea of preparation naturally varies. Xishen is our only guide and reference for all things relating to our status, but some of us understandably aren't eager to approach her. [She's used the Aion's name without thinking despite trying to keep things vague, a slip she doesn't notice as she mulls over the issue.] It may be up to us to take initiative, organize and assist those lesser experienced with combat situations.

[A beat, and she levels her gaze his way.]

Abilities, too.

[He hasn't displayed anything supernatural as far as she knew, despite being clearly a veteran on the battlefield. He could pick up new tricks, isn't that a possibility too?]

[lockedon]

[ Can you really teach an old dog new tricks though..... Only time will tell.

For now, he's groaning a little on the inside, because while he agrees with what's being said, the thought of having to try and corral their errant fellow Kenoma is giving him a headache. Bad enough that he has to be someone else's dog yet again, and now he can't even spend most of his days on his own? Truly, this place is hell.

But luckily for everyone involved, Eustace has always been a man to place his own needs second and the needs of the job first, so even though his eyelids droop at the idea of having to organize and assist, he doesn't dissent aloud.

Still, the thought of it is irksome enough that he addresses the unspoken question in the room first. ]

I don't have any. [ To clarify: ] Abilities. And I don't have the type of personality that lends itself well to spontaneously learning new talents.

[ Kinda gotta, like, want things other than revenge for that. ]

[expiera]

[He's a wolf, a sky pirate wolf, that's clearly more than just dog and has to count for something!!

Eustace doesn't need to say anything, the Vibes are enough. She almost feels bad, but at the same time...]

You really may not, if you keep that mindset. [Said quietly as she glances his way, he's quite shut onto himself isn't he...] What makes you think that, though? Are you already familiar with the concept of spontaneously developing powers?

[And as for the greater topic at hand:]

It's okay if you'd prefer not to. [Become directly involved, if it makes him truly uncomfortable.] I can organize a communion transmission about the topic.

[lockedon]

[ Yeah, it means he's less willing to learn new tricks because he's feral.

But what tricks he does know - and what obedience has been drilled into him thus far - is remarkably well-rooted, and he's quick to reply, assuring her of his commitment. ]

It's fine. Life doesn't often afford people the luxury of picking and choosing what they want to do.

[ And he's not enough of a spoiled brat to turn his nose up at the slightest suggestion of doing something he dislikes. If nothing else, he's got resolve going for him. Which is good, because he really has so little else going for him. ]

We can discuss a plan of action after lunch.

[ Assuming she doesn't have other plans of course....he will not keep her if she does. As for the other matter of business... ]

I'm not familiar with the topic of spontaneous development of anything, but it's also something I'm not concerning myself with at the moment. If it happens, I'll do what I can, but I would prefer using the time available to me to hone what skills I know for a certainty I have.

[ Well actually he doesn't know when they'll be sent out next, but surely they won't have months of lounging around time at their disposal, right? ]

1/2

[expiera]

[squints... well, not that she has much room to talk, as long as they're biting (???) the same foes at the end of the day... that's how it works, right?

And he's absolutely right about that bit, so her turn to borrow a page from his book and close her eyes in assent. Sometimes you Exist and life just goes Sideways, we all get those moments in varying... degrees. Alas...]

Okay. If you can use help for anything, please let me know.

[She's basically with him 1:1 on that and Gets his approach, so not much to add when he's already got his bases reasonably well covered. For better or worse, this means silence is settling, albeit nothing forced or awkward about it. Just two pros agreeing, nothing much to anything about, really...!

...]

[expiera]

[So she's definitely not the actual canine furry here but the quiet seriousness is definitely dissipating to a curious sort of alertness as she straightens in her chair, as if piqued by a sixth sense. Taking a deep breath, she blinks and peers behind him.

...

There's nothing really going on, but maybe he does have certain senses that can also tell him a server will be stepping out a few more seconds from now?]

[lockedon]

[ .......Ciel..........

Look, he still has ears? He can hear footsteps? And technically smell food, although there are plenty of food smells cluttering up the restaurant, given the time of day. Regardless, he doesn't seem at all bothered by the way their server appears seemingly out of nowhere, mostly because he picked up the sound of approaching footsteps.

The surface of the table quickly disappears as plates upon plates of food are set down in front of them. There's a decided imbalance to the way the food's spread across the table, but surely neither of the two seated guests mind. Eustace certainly doesn't, already moving to pick up his fork, waiting only to murmur a small word of thanks to their server before starting to eat.

Ciel doesn't mind him just digging in, right.... ]

[expiera]

[...What...]

Thank you for the food~!

[Itadakimasu in Japanese, bon appétit in French, those are all natural equivalents so the sentiment probably conveys closely enough?? Hopefully the energetic exclamation doesn't weird him out TOO much, because she's definitely making it as it's good manners and tradition before following suit without further ado.

Cue silence. Just....... silence at the table, because food, she's not a gross degenerate so of course she doesn't try to eat and talk at the same time. She's not a messy eater either, which may be a bit surprising given how she's also no slow eater, but.........It's a sin to waste food, right? RIGHT,


At least she didn't make any squealing sound or anything as she stuffs her facehole? Don't perceive the 😊 look on her face, good food is a simple pleasure of life, okay...]