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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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Thilpa's Tribute
He watches, from a rather respectful distance, as Rocket sets his little boat on the water once, then again after Lylla has scooped it up and returned it. The way he walks is dejected and the mood that hangs over him is somber if not overtly sad and Groot, for all that he doesn't understand, at least recognizes that it has something to do with the boat.
The arboreon is not a craftsman and he hasn't quite got a hold of why boats float beyond being made of wood, but it doesn't take him too long to make an approximation of the little boat from his vines. It is an ugly thing but similar in shape to the one Rocket set off into the water.
When the two finally come nearer, he holds it out and, as if to draw attention to the offer, the little mouse on his shoulder squeaks loudly and swiftly in a chittering invitation.
no subject
"Thanks, pal." His voice is a quiet mutter and he takes the boat, clearing his throat to keep his voice from sounding choked. He sets the boat in the river to float down after his. It immediately falls over onto its side but it's made of vines and it floats just as well as the other one, bobbing along down the half-frozen river.
He straightens up partially, his shoulders hunched, and grabs onto Groot, climbing up onto his other shoulder with Lylla still tucked under one arm. His feet were getting cold in the snow, anyway.
"Today is a shitty day. Let's not go back to the city." He doesn't want to be around people mourning and be expected not to be an asshole about it. Though he does wish he had some alcohol. "It's full of stupid people." He holds Lylla in his lap, one arm looped around her and the other gripping onto Groot.
no subject
Groot doesn't know many places, not beyond the building they had taken up residence in, but he is very good at walking and it takes a very long time for him to get bored of exploring. So, without any real direction, Groot starts walking. It is a slow, plodding, even gait made of wide steps. His only real direction is to keep away from the city so, in deference to that, he mostly follows the river.
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"Sticking around one place like this ain't really my style. I'm getting cabin fever hanging around this city all the time. Been thinkin we should take a ride on those airships. See what the other cities might have to offer." He's thinking out loud, something Rocket does a lot of when Groot is around.
"You ever been to the coast, Groot?"
no subject
"I am Groot.
It is a bold statement and one that comes from a place of curiosity. Groot at once dislikes leaving his forest but, as he has already left it, there is no reason to avoid going further and seeing more. He thinks, about airships and countries, and his little mouse friend shuffles close enough to touch Rocket's hand. It isn't even slightly afraid of the beastman.
"I am Groot?"
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"Right now, right now? Pretty sure that ship has already literally sailed." And even if it hasn't, Rocket doesn't want to be anywhere near Didymos while everyone's participating in the salt water sob fest that was Thlipa's Tribute. So much so that it occurs to him he should find something else for them to do to avoid having to find other ways to miss the airship if it's still docked when they get back to the city.
"I've got a better idea. Let's loop around the city. See if we can find any sign of that missing Captain. I bet there'd be a hefty reward on that bounty if we managed." Groot doesn't tire easily if he ever does, and Rocket is happy to let him do most of the walking. He ends up petting the little mouse with one finger, the same hidden fondness in the little beastfolk for the tiny rodent as the giant plant-man. More so now that Rocket is too aware of what both the mouse and his otter really are.
no subject
They don't travel on the road, not at first or even mostly, but they keep an even distance from the city as they go. Groot keeps walking for an hour, then another, and doesn't seem bothered with it. They stop periodically, at Rocket's request or because Groot sees a flower or something interesting, but their travel is largely uninhibited. They work to find evidence of the missing Captain and Rocket marks a few things as they search but Groot understands none of them, so he simply nods along.
Eventually, as the sun starts to set, the airship to Didymos appears over the horizon. Groot remarks on it, but doesn't rush back. It doesn't leave until dawn anyway.
no subject
The bay hasn't drained that much when they get to the city, which means there's still some pretty ocean to see, and Rocket is interested to see what Groot makes of it, even if the low tide is lower than usual.
When they make it to the docks Lylla beats them both to the shore, diving into the cold waters with cheerful and excited splashing, taking to the water like an otter would. She finds a clam in record time and Rocket takes a moment to grimace at the slick rocks before dropping barefooted to the shore as well, walking alongside a small, stranded boat.
"Well, this is new." And not the good kind of new.