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| 🜙 Mini-Event #2: The North Winds, January 11th |
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The Long Night has ended and the sun once more rises and sets with the short winter cycle. Although the cold remains, it has lessened considerably following the harsh freeze of the darkness. Krimnos, no longer having to put all their resources into defending the city from the terrors to come, has been able to clear the heavy snowpack on the cliffs above the city enough to safely begin running two of their three remaining airships.
The Skywhale has been making its regular routes since its repairs the previous month, but the two airships from Krimnos to Didymos and the City of the Free Peoples have been grounded in the cliff city for safety since the start of winter. Now two of Krimnos' airships join their sister ship in the skies over Idan.
The following routes are traveled once a day by each airship:
The Skywhale travels from the City of the Free Peoples to Didymos and then back once a day, docking nightly in the City of the Free Peoples.
The Horizon travels from Didymos to Krimnos and then back once a day, docking nightly in Didymos.
The Valiant travels from Krimnos to the City of the Free Peoples and then back once a day, docking nightly in Krimnos.
The Zenith normally travels from Krimnos to the mountain outpost of Preciposte and then on to Einjar. Unfortunately, it is still grounded due to inclement weather and winter threats in the northern mountains beyond Krimnos. The Zenith will not be able to travel until the thaw has begun.
A one-way trip takes 4-6 hours depending on weather and wind to go from/to Didymos to either city and 6-9 hours to travel between Krimnos and the City of the Free Peoples. Anyone can take a trip on an airship for a purse of silver coins, or try their luck and stow away. Mounts can get a lift as well, but they require an additional fare.
Not bad for a chance to see Idan from a bird's eye view for the first time for most people. |
| 🜙 Thlipa's Tribute, January 11th |
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As January progresses, pods of fin whales spend their nights in the safety of Fisher's Bay during their migration. At this time Thlipa is believed to be watching over Idan and many of Idan's people show their respect for the deity. Unlike the Day of Lefkokó, Thlipa's Tribute is a far more somber affair. Though she is the goddess of the seas, storms, and power, she is also the goddess of mourning and it is this realm she is believed to preside over most during the cold winter months.
People from all across Idan who are able to travel will make a journey to Didymos to be closer to the ocean, while others observe the fin whale goddess' day in their own homes and cities. Ancestors, lost relatives, and friends are remembered with offerings of handmade gifts and small collections of nuts and sweet-dried fish. Small, enchanted candles are set out on boats down the river and shore to be carried out to the ocean.
It is believed by some of the more power-hungry supporters of Thlipa that by calling on and revering the spirits of the departed Thlipa might gift her followers with the magic of the fallen. Gatherings of Thlipa's most devout followers can be seen on the shores or on small skimmer boats in the bay, and vandalism of fishing boats and nets that might endanger the fin whales runs rampant during this time. |
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| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - Krimnos: An Army Adrift, January 12-20th |
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It appears that a large company of former Atrómitos knights has awoken in an isolated and forgotten battlefield below Krimnos' twin mountains. The army has journeyed together through the blinding blizzard to complete their original objective: a full-scale attack on Krimnos. There's something off about the tattered army decked in the green and gold of Atrómitos that shows up at Krimnos' gates. They don't seem to feel the cold, and their eyes, if anyone is unfortunate enough to get that close, are a colorless and glossy grey. They continue fighting through weather and injury, undeterred as they focus their attacks on Krimnos' main gate, setting magical fire to the gate, the wall, and their perceived enemies.
The army can be seen using weapons, battering rams, and elemental magic to attack the city's gates. Though their eyes are a blank and glossy grey and they do not seem to be speaking or reacting with pain to counter-attack elements, it is clear there is a hierarchy and the commanding officers seem to still be silently directing their forces. They do not speak, and if captured it quickly becomes clear why. Though they appear whole externally, the soldiers of this army lack functional internal organs. No blood runs through their frozen veins and no oxygen is being pulled into their lungs. There also appear to be no thoughts in their minds, only the howling sound of the wind through the mountains around Krimnos.
At this time of year, Krimnos can not afford to loose their main line of defense, nor can they risk the very real dangers of battle sounds and blood drawing out the hungry mountain hunters or causing an avalanche that could bury the city in snow. No one knows why this army is here, but with the familiar colors adorning the fighters, there are whispers in the air of an attempt to start a war. Already tense relations between Krimnos and the City of the Free Peoples could stand to suffer from this and the citizens of Krimnos seem horrified by the prospect.
King Sitka's first concern is the safety of his people, and as such he is driving his army hard into the attacking forces and even beyond its gates if necessary, anything to push the battle farther from his people and the dangerous cliffs stacked with snow that tower over Krimnos. |
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| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - City of the Free Peoples: The Disappearance of Captain Lykos, January 14-22nd |
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No one has seen Captain Lykos since the Long Night but rumors and knowledge of his disappearance have been kept quiet by the city's Defenders, fearful the city would spiral into a panic at the loss of its de facto leader. As word comes from traveling Krimnos merchants that the city is under siege from an army dressed in green and gold, the city turns to its Defenders for answers and finds more than they bargained for.
The Defenders attempt to calm the rising panic in the city by deflecting, stating that the Captain is out on a peace mission on his way to Krimnos but this backfires as the city erupts into conspiracy theories that he is actually leading the attack and trying to start a war, with reasons such as anger over a lack of support from Krimnos during the city's time of need being used to feed the growing fear.
As outrage and panic spread across the city, the Defenders declare martial law and put the city back on lockdown until answers can be found. The stability of the city quickly begins to fray. Chaos, disorder, and dissent spread and talk of overthrowing the Defenders and putting someone else in charge begins to spread.
The city needs answers for themselves and for Krimnos and the Defenders begin an even more desperate search for their missing leader. Meanwhile, the citizens of the city begin preparing for a revolt, with whispers of an organized attack on the warcamp of the Defenders quickly gaining traction. The more time passes the less reasonably either side appears to be thinking, and the longer anyone lingers in the city the more infectious this frantic and paranoid energy becomes.
Amidst it all, a Siamese with a familiar glowing adornment can be seen surveying the chaos from the safety of rooftops or tree branches, its eyes occasionally glowing blue while its tail flicks in what seems to be either irritation or frustration. |
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| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - Didymos: Tidal Troubles, January 14-25th |
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Starting the morning of the 14th, trouble comes to Didymos on the tides or the lack thereof. The tide goes out during the night and, to the dismay and concern of Didymos' citizens, it never comes back. In fact, it seems as if the ocean waters are only continuing to recede, leaving Didymos' fleet and her fishing ships awash in the shallows or fully grounded. Each day the waters recede further, leaving sealife beached or trapped in tide pools and larger dips in the seafloor. A pod of fin whales finds themselves stranded in the deepest section of the bay just within the Sunset Gate.
As the waters continue to recede, shipwrecks, sunken cargo, and unusual skeletons dot the rock and shell covered shores, turning the edges of the bay into an unending expanse of tide pools and dotting the horizon with pieces of warped and barnacle-covered ships usually only visible beneath the clear waters.
Within days it's possible for a fully grown human to wade out to the Sunset Gate without ever getting their neck wet. The confusion and complications caused by this unexplainable dearth of water starts a panic in Didymos that the dual rulers have to fight to control. The widespread fear is joined by whispers of a war brought along from people traveling to Didymos from the other cities, and Didymos finds itself caught in a tense place with the prospect of having to outline allegiances if war breaks out.
Everyone knows Queen Adira would put her forces behind Krimnos in an instant, but King Ardis seems reluctant, questioning the legitimacy of Krimnos' claims to a possible war and seeking information. |
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no subject
So if I heal these, you'll be rushing off back into battle? Can I interest you in a brief respite instead?
[ She has to try. She wouldn't be her if she didn't disapprove of people rushing off to undo her work. Yet as she speaks, she's already conjuring healing magic in the palm of her hand to get started. ]
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[He's terribly matter-of-fact about this, if only in an attempt to make Christine's life easier. Alucard would never demand anyone's time beyond what he needs in a situation like this, and there are doubtlessly more injured that do not have his presence of mind to indicate things quickly and clearly.]
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[ She moves aside his raggedy shirt with one hand while the other moves closer to release the magic. She also takes the opportunity to check the temperature of his skin. If it's cooler than average, he may have lost anywhere between 15% to 30% of the total volume of blood, which would raise some concern. ]
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[He's perfectly still as Christine does her work. Moreover, Alucard watches, curious enough to see how coming back from the dead happens to impact healing (if it does at all.)
As far as temperature goes, there's no major difference. A little cool to the touch, but in the way that someone with cold hands might be.]
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[ The magic starts to draw the edges of his skin back together again. ]
You've seen these soldiers up close. Is it true what people are saying? That they don't bleed and have no internal organs?
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[The magic is familiar enough. Feels right as well, there's no kind of resistance, which was a quiet fear Alucard didn't know he had until this moment.]
Those are both true rumors. Their eyes have no life in them either. Imagine marbles, glassy and with no other spark in them.
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I wonder if clues could be found as to who raised them.
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[It isn't a good idea. Terrible if they can be yet again re-animated, can bring chaos into the city itself. Alucard has put all thoughts of who was raised from the dead when by whom from his mind for the time being. It isn't helpful at the moment.]
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[ It's murmured quietly as she works. Maybe some answers could be gleaned from an autopsy, like some sort of mark or tell, but it wouldn't be easy to accomplish. ]
Almost done.
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[He continues to hold still, eyes on the magic being worked. Alucard lets out a soft hmmm to show that Christine's comment has been heard.]
I'll strive not to undo this.
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[ She shakes her head and sighs. It would be nice to see if she could learn anything about who raised them all, but that seems incredibly difficult to do. More questions, and few answers. ]
I would appreciate that. No one likes to see their work undone. And speaking of work, how does that feel? Any twinges of pain?
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[The question is meant genuinely.
The wait for a response does give Alucard a moment to test his side. He twists one way, then the other, then thrusts as if he's attacking. In all of it, there's no sign of discomfort, never mind pain. He nods once, approving.]
As fine as it was before any of this began. Thank you.
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[ But she gets the point. ]
I may do some study, if this fighting ever ceases.
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The view from the walls suggests that you may need to wait a while yet, I'm afraid. [He's rather regretful about that fact, from the tone.] From when I've been up there, it has seemed like ocean waves, crashing against the city gates again and again.
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No wonder the populous is in an uproar. And is quick to place blame on the City of Free Peoples. The threat of war breaking out seems high now.
no subject
[What else is the logical conclusion? And how exhausting is all of this truly, to be dragged back from the dead after one war only to be thrown into one that's about to burst.]
...The proper question is who is truly behind an act and what they stand to gain. Not who it appears is responsible for such soldiers appearing.
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[ And she has no idea how to find out, besides doing an autopsy on one of these soldiers. There probably won't be a calling card left behind, but perhaps some clue. ]
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[It isn't a rhetorical question, but Alucard keeps moving apace.]
There has been too much raising of the dead, period, if I am being perfectly honest in this moment.
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Unfortunately so. [He sighs, and it sounds almost like the hiss of a steam engine.] For how long...?
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As grim an omen as messages from so-called dragons and all other nonsense that has been happening for the past month and a bit then.
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[ It was too sudden, and even though it was war, she hadn't gone into it seeking death. ]
no subject
[Alucard's opinion does differ. Anything that involves musing about second chances sits ill with him, mostly because this is hardly a second chance. It's someone else playing with magic they shouldn't be, and dragging people from their deaths to indulge in their shitty plan.
He folds his arms over his chest, now that there is no injury to worry about. There's other people who need attention, he can't monopolize a healer's time.]
There's work to be done here for us both. This discussion ought to continue later.
no subject
[ It's good to meet another in her situation, but she's here to offer her help to Krimnos, not catch up. ]
Another time, then.