 |
| 🜙 Mini-Event #2: The North Winds, January 11th |
| |
|
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 |
| |
|
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. |
 |
| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - Krimnos: An Army Adrift, January 12-20th |
| |
|
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. |
 |
| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - City of the Free Peoples: The Disappearance of Captain Lykos, January 14-22nd |
| |
|
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. |
 |
| 🜙 A Tale of Three Cities - Didymos: Tidal Troubles, January 14-25th |
| |
|
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. |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Finding someone nice and settling down? Preposterous. Not while he doesn't know anything about the magic that brought them back from the dead nor who brought them back in the first place. It would be dangerous to draw someone who wasn't one of theirs into all this.
no subject
"Even thinkin' about that's weird." She doesn't know why she's telling him this, but it's true and Shura doesn't know what else to say on the subject.
no subject
"I wonder...do you ever think they'll know about us?" It's said with a vague gesture towards the streets below. "We're keeping this a secret for now, understandably so, but I wonder how long this can last." He laughs a little, though it's a gentle laugh more than anything else. "I wouldn't want to start a family unless everything was said upfront. It wouldn't be fair otherwise."
no subject
"Bringing someone in who ain't involved..." Her voice a quiet murmur. "Even if they're not spooked, askin' them to stay with us is a lot, ain't it?"
no subject
When Strange speaks again, it's with a tone of forced levity, like he's trying so hard to keep the conversation from going south and to keep himself from dwelling on certain things. "Still, it's either bring in someone who isn't involved or limit my options to the rest of the reawakened. There's someone who I could see myself with but that's...what, one out of thirty? Terrible odds."
no subject
"Mm? Yeah, but is that person willin' to put up with you?" It's impressive, the way Shura swerves, sitting up and taking a teasing tone. Pity to person Strange could see himself with. Though it wouldn't be a sleepy life, that was for sure.
no subject
Because he's not an idiot, there's probably going to be a fair amount of nonsense happening at some point.
"I suspect we'll just have to wait and see and watch what happens."
no subject
"That's so--" She doesn't quite finish her thought, too busy snickering. Instead, she lets herself slump to her side, leaning on Shishi's hip as she tries to collect herself.
no subject
"Yes, that is indeed so. I don't have any other options, do I?" Just waiting and watching and seeing what would happen. And Strange can't help it either: he starts giggling, idly biting his lip to keep from laughing too loudly.
no subject
“You’re incorrigible.” She wheezes, wrapping her arms around her stomach. And then, “I’m gonna puke, jeez!”
Okay, maybe she’s not gagging just yet, but her sides hurt, even as her giggles seem to subside. But even if it comes down to that, Strange’s idiocy has managed to distract her.
no subject
"Just...aim off of the side of the roof or something like that."
Never mind the fact that there are people below and Shura might just blow chunks on someone's head.
no subject
"The hell kinda booze is that, anyway?" It was nice. But really, Shura was drunk before she brought out the cups, so she's just really drunk now.
no subject
"I'm sorry. If I listened to you during the Long Night, we wouldn't be in this situation right now."
Or more specifically, Shura wouldn't be in this situation. Strange will admit that it's his own damn fault that he died...but she shouldn't have.
no subject
“You said that already.” She doesn’t bother to move when she finally replies. Shura couldn’t deny that she was still angry, but anger was a feeling she was used to bearing. Arrogant idiots weren’t new to her; Strange just happened to make her laugh, which made his nonsense easier to tolerate. But if he was back on apologizing, then she’ll just try to move him along, turning to look at him over her shoulder before extending a hand to him, palm raised up expectantly. If he doesn’t dodge, she may end up whacking him on the arm.
“Let me see your vial.”
no subject
Still, seeing his vial, he can do that. Wordlessly, Strange moves towards his pocket and pulls the vial out from there. It's on a chain, like usually worn as a necklace. And there's a noticeably less amount of liquid in there than in other people's vials.
"The liquid dropped after I was resurrected," Strange explains, with a small frown. "I've no idea how it vanished in the first place."
no subject
“Mine has more in it.” It’s a simple statement, but why and how? It could be arbitrary, just a matter of luck. It hurts her head to think too hard about it, but she doesn’t know when she’ll see Strange next, so she’ll bear with it, casually looking past the fact that he knew he was repeating his apology.
no subject
"Well. That's unexpected."
Because it seriously is. What the hell?
no subject
"If you started here, then... Mm, I don't know how you'd lose more than me." Unless she was just easier to revive? That hardly made sense. They should all be equally annoying to bring back.
no subject
"How the hell did yours go up?" Strange complains, more to himself than to Shura. He frowns, leaning back slightly, trying not to show just how much this irritates him. "I thought that these vials were connected to ourselves and our souls. Die, a little bit of the liquid goes away to bring you back to life. But more liquid magically appearing inside?"
It doesn't make any sense...which irritates the hell out of Strange.
no subject
"How am I supposed to know that?" She has no idea why it went up, nor why his wouldn't! It wasn't even some kind of reward for trying to stop him from getting killed, it happened before the Long Night even began.
But knowing that, Shura tries to measure out how much Strange lost versus what she did. It's a trying task, considering her inebriation. Using the tip of her nail is a decent way to measure, but everything is so much harder when her fine motor control is a little shot. Her tongue sticks out a little as she does her best, eventually coming up with a final determination.
"But we did lose the same amount after that." And with that, she'll return Strange's vial to him.
no subject
"If you ever miraculously gain some more liquid, could you tell me? Maybe there's a pattern to how or why these things happen."
There better be a damn pattern.
no subject
She works on getting the cord wrapped back around her neck, then tucking the vial under her scarf. It doesn't like nearly as neat as it did before, but it works.
no subject
"I think I need some more of that alcohol," Strange sighs, as he gestures for the bottle.
no subject
Shura hands the bottle over to him, contemplating her own cup. She could drink more, but her sides are still sore and she’s had plenty to drink already. No, she probably didn’t need that. Blacking out wasn’t on her list of things to do that evening, even if it might be easier than dealing with feelings, hers or Strange’s.
But a bottle of fancy booze and two apologies—she may as well say it while she’s too drunk to be properly embarrassed.
“Y’know, it ain’t that I’m not mad at you or anything like that.” He better know what she’s talking about, she’s not stopping to explain. “You’re just too straightforward for me to hate you.”
no subject
Needless to say, he wasn't expecting that response.
Too straightforward to hate? That's...well, it's something. Strange gives Shura a blatantly confused look that's honestly a bit comical. It lasts for a moment before his expression shifts to a wry grin.
"Most people go with needlessly blunt," he teases, taking a sip of his drink. "But thank you. I think that might be a compliment."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)