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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
Plenty of goblins that would jump with glee over crates of rotten fish. Big city like this? Just about anything can fetch a price. But those crates of rotten fish and smelly sea creature corpses are our ticket to getting at things before everyone else. Sensitive noses and stomachs can't profit off something like this the way we could.
[It's presuming a few things but near as Rocket can tell so far she doesn't really have a problem getting her hands dirty. A little whiny at times perhaps, but she can get a job done when push comes to shove.]
Yeah. Out along the coast near the route the big ships take toward the gate. Where the water's usually deeper. There's rocks that line the route and I'll bet more than a few boats with fresh-faced captains lost their cargo around that area. Rocks are sticking up out of the water now, makes for an easy to find target if you're willing to get your feet wet.
[He is only sharing this info with her because he thinks she's capable now. Capable enough to either help him or go off on her own after the goods, though she would have to fight him if she tried to snake his loot out from under him. And this time, knowing what she's capable of-]
If you want to tag along with Lylla and me, we'll split what we find with you. 50-50. [See, he can be reasonable sometimes.]
no subject
[Considering his bargaining last time, Shura's a little suspicious. She's used to dirty work, but government-sanctioned murder and spying were a different sort of dirty than pillaging rotted goods from shipwrecks. On the other hand, there was money to be made and she didn't have a nice paycheck coming from the army anymore. If putting a little extra work meant she got to take advantage of Rocket's familiarity with the market, it would probably even out in the end.]
So easy this time~ Fine, I'll take that.
[Shishi will keep his distance, both from the water's edge and from Lylla's grubby little hands. He hasn't forgotten his mane getting tugged on by the otter. Better to lay in the sun, and Shura's fine with this. It wasn't like he was going to be much use.]
Lead the way, then.
[Following him is easy enough, but she'll make sure to put her hair up before they get out too far. Money was money, and she had to feed herself and the stupid lion, even if the work was gross.]
no subject
Rocket sloshes through the seawater after Shura agrees, glancing over his shoulder now and then to see that she's following and then scanning the shoreline. Anyone else out on the bay isn't paying them much heed and that's good because Rocket has his sights set on one area, in particular, that no one else seems to be searching yet. It looks like little more than a curve of driftwood jutting out of the water but he knows from Lylla's earlier explorations exactly what it is.]
Part of a cargo hold over here. Got a handful of crates. Probably nothing but there might be some valuables we can polish with minimal work and sell off. Can't imagine anything's in great condition but gold is gold.
[He hops up onto one of the outjutting rocks and peers down over and into the piece of barnacle-covered and sea-warped wood shielding several large and a few smaller crates from the view of the shoreline.]
Probably better to open them out here and see if it's worth our efforts before we lug a bunch of heavy, worthless crates back to the shore.
no subject
Mm, you don't wanna get a work out from this?
[Hopefully he wasn't expecting too much actual hauling from her. She could hit hard, but that wasn't the same as being able to carry anything substantial for long.]
You got somethin' to pry 'em open? If you wanna smash them, I could probably try a barrier to keep the sound down.
[Though it was possible that some of the crates had rotted enough that they could crack into them fairly easily, Shura doesn't trust that they'll be that lucky.]
no subject
[Rocket pulls out his ax, the handle shortened to suit his size better since the last time he had it. He hops down on the other side of the wood with a splash and balances the ax in one hand, shaking out his arm before swapping and doing the same with the other arm.]
See which ones smell the least rank and we'll start with those.
[There's a small selection around and Rocket picks the largest to break into first. Rather than smashing directly and risking destroying whatever fragile remains of treasure might be hiding within he uses his ax to crack the top open, popping one nail after the next up with careful weight adjustments on the handle, the blade slotted between the crate lid and the crate itself.]
no subject
[Whine whine whine. She's not going to be able to shake the smell for weeks. But she'll get to her assigned job, carefully poking and sniffing around some of the crates. They all stink pretty equally to her, but after messing with a few of them, Shura thinks she's found a better cue.]
When you're done with that one, Boss, come look at these.
[She says, motioning to her finds. A couple crates, each just as stinky as the others, but one substantially heavier than the others and the other far lighter than it looks. She'll try to pry a couple boards off of the lighter crate, but her knife isn't quite meant for this sort of work.]
They didn't want anyone gettin' into this.
no subject
We'll see about that, let me give it a go. [He brings the over-sized blade down onto the box and it lodges in the wood. He gives it a tug, then a harder tug, and growls at the box, tilting it onto his side. The small beastfolk jumps up onto the ax handle with all his weight and one piece of the wood crack, sending him tumbling into wet seaweed and rocks with his weapon. The box is just open with a hole large enough to stick an arm in.]
The hell kind of wood is this? [He mutters, pulling the piece of plank still attached to his ax off and studying it.]
no subject
I'm sure you could find someone who'd buy it~
[Rocket can fuss over the wood while Shura peeks into the box, hovering her hand over the opening and summoning a few fairy light to illuminate the contents of the rate. She can see the tops of a few elegant bottles, some broken, others whole. And then, beside them, a smaller grey crate.]
There's wine in here. Think you can get the hole a little bigger? There's a box that won't fit if I try to get it.
no subject
He pockets both pieces of wood and moves to the heavier crate letting her do as she pleases with the lighter one. He'll keep an eye to see what she finds but he's largely interested in just getting as much as they can carry back and getting out of the bay.
He pries the lid off the heavier box and peers in, rummaging through its contents.]
no subject
But in spite of Shura's alcoholic tendencies, it's the little grey crate that has her attention, and she'll take care extracting it. The bigger crate is filled with broken glass, and Shura doesn't feel like getting cut on something that was coated in who knows what. Once she has the grey crate, she'll inspect it, turning it over in her hands before opening it.]
A flute?
[Not being musically inclined, Shura can't really say much more than that about the instrument itself. But there's a trace of magic on it, and something odd engraved on its side.]
I don't think this is meant for entertainin'.
no subject
Careful blowing on that thing. Could be cursed. Can't trust anything magic these days. [Or any days. Rocket found magic unreliable and suspicious, but that was a product of how he had grown up. He preferred the more physical, practical approach his old guardian had raised him on.]
Think it's worth anything?
no subject
I don't really deal with magic tools, so I couldn't tell yaou how much. But someone's going to want to buy it, just a matter of finding out who's going to shell out the most gold for it.
no subject
I was hoping for a crate of gold bars, or gold anything, but that was a little ambitious even for me. [Still, there's the other box to look into and Rocket starts trying to crack into it. The wood is easier to split but when he opens it a few live eels pour out and Rocket leaps up onto the crate. Lylla, far more excited by the surprise than Rocket, comes swishing through the water to snatch one of them up.]
Slimy sea snakes. Just what I always wanted. [Almost as delightful as the rotting fish inside of the crate.] Help me tip this over?
[Maybe there would be something worthwhile under the fish. Doubtful, though.]
no subject
I guess it's good to be hopeful. [Or something like that. A guy like Rocket had to have some kind of optimism if he was willing to sort through rotten fish with even the slightest idea that something valuable could be inside. Sea snakes, though? Ew. But fine--some slime wasn't going to be the worst thing she's ever had to get her hands into.]
All right, all right. [There isn't much more to look at in her crate, anyway. She'll go to help push the crate on it's side with a grunt. Heavy lifting isn't much her thing, but her help is better than nothing.]
Cue Rocket trying to get them killed by drowning in a puddle.
After dumping half the coins out and offering them to Shura, because he gave his word and fair is fair, he scowls at the less than fruitful shipwreck. Not the bounty of treasure he had hoped for and probably just a sunken fishing boat.
He got his wish for gold, just not very much of it. More than enough to pay for some drinks, a room for a few nights, and a shower, though. Rocket hated showers but even he could recognize how bad he needed one now.]
Does that flute even work?
no subject
But he wanted to see if the flute worked? Shura's thumb rubs over the engraved symbol. Well, she'd have to try it out at some point, and she had cloth in her pouch that could she could stuff in her ears.]
You wanna find out? I can't promise I'll play anything pretty with it~
[don't trust this face rocket it's a terrible decision]
no subject
[He hops up onto the crate to get out of the now further fish-infected water and tries to shake the smell out of his hands and ignore the way Lylla seems to be cheerfully devouring an eel. Her happiness in the back of his mind is disgusting given what he knows of what she's doing now.]
Just give it a blow.
no subject
[But it'll take a second to tear off a piece of fabric small enough to block one of her ears; she'll cover her other ear with her hand. She only has to use one hand to hold the flute, and when she's situation, she'll give it a nice, gentle blow. The little pii sound it makes isn't absolutely atrocious, but it isn't pleasant, either. Strangely, listening to it doesn't feel as bad as it should, considering Shura's musical ability.
Time to wait and see what happens, both to Rocket and the otter. If it looks like he's in pain, then she'll stop, but she'll be happy to torture him with her playing since Rocket seems to eager to be enchanted.]