usir | Event #6 Arkoda's Awakening & the Wyrm Moon

Arkoda's Awakening & the Wyrm Moon

🜙 Arkoda's Awakening.

	With the emergence of hibernating creatures and the arrival of the thaw, Arkoda's awakening is being celebrated across Idan. In Krimnos, King Sitka, adorned with the white laurels of peace, announces the opening of the Krimnos Greenhouse to all of Idan, the many magical plants within it available to any in the general public who might have need of them. The Hymn of the Mountains tolls out gently from the crystal bells in Arkoda's temple, and the Krimnos knights hold a competition of skill in Hippogriff Flight Courses, Aerial Jousting, Archery, Armed Combat, and Unarmed Combat that is open to all. Participants have the chance to take on the mantle for themselves and join Krimnos' Knights, with the winners of each category potentially acquiring a rare Hippogriff from the Krimnos Aviary or a horse from the stables and a hefty sum of gold. In Didymos the celebration is split between the quarters. In the overlook quarter Queen Adira pardons a number of people from serving out time for their crimes with the option of joining the crew of any of the large fishing fleets or assisting the academies in keeping the buildings orderly, and a celebration of the Didymos justice system includes debates and elections for the Queen's staff of judges and advisors. In the ocean quarter, the fishermen are celebrated with sea shanties, shoreline bonfires, dancing, music, and a jubilee for the upcoming spring, all culminating in a grand feast where the main dishes feature fish, berries, boars, rabbits, fruits, nuts, and various honeyed sweets and drinks. No one talks about the shortage of fish in the bay, or the dragon that emerged from it last month. In the chaos surrounding the City of the Free Peoples, a group of rebel fighters in conflict with the city's current self-proclaimed leader are holding a celebration for anyone to attend at the Immortal Duke well into the night that focuses on bolstering spirits and joyfully, loudly, singing and dancing in spite of Captain Koroc's threats. Oddly, the Defenders seem unwilling to make a move on the heavily warded inn and everyone who joins in seems to lose their worries and cares the moment they step foot over the threshold. An elf with blond and brown streaked hair offers support and uplifting words and gives a speech at one point in the night that seems to really rally the crowded inn's crowd, promising that brighter days are soon to come and that before long the city will belong to the people once more, with no need to fear their true leader. There is even a mocking play that makes light of the former and current rulers. An armadillo beastfolk depicts Captain Lykos as timid and uncertain, waffling over decisions and eventually curling himself into an armored ball and rolling away off stage. An orc with horns on his head plays Koroc as a bullish brute that charges a mysterious masked and taunting character with a cape, careening right off the stage behind him and into a pile of prop boxes where he is 'slain' by his own stupidity.

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🜙 Arkoda's Awakening: Potion Seller

	The black markets of the three cities are constantly moving, never lingering in the same place for long. You may not have even known you were in it, were it not for the battle-scarred hyena and his human friend calling out to you with a gruff barked "Hey," followed by a smooth as silk sing-song "I know what you've been searching for." Against your better instincts, you find yourself compelled, stepping one foot after the next over to the harmless looking alchemy market stand. Nearly a hundred colorful bottles and vials of assorted shaped are stacked and stored around the lantern-lit stand. "You'll know which potion you need when you find it." The singsong voice of the woman washes against you like a reassuring touch, and she holds both hands out palms up, gesturing to her many wares. The leering hyena beastfolk beside her grins dangerously at you, winking. "If you think you can handle them." There's something unusual about them, they almost seem to shimmer in the light. As you pick up one of their offered vials you feel a dizzying sensation as if the earth has suddenly gone out from beneath your feet. You catch yourself on a tree and look up to find yourself standing in the middle of a mostly empty marsh somewhere between Didymos and the City of the Free Peoples. You're disoriented, confused, and your head is pounding. It feels as if you just went on an all-night drinking bender. The vial is gone, as is the market, but you aren't alone. Another individual is picking themselves up out of the marsh beside you, feeling the same effects of an unfortunate encounter with the tricksters or perhaps they were just out for a walk when you appeared out of nowhere and knocked into them.
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🜙 The Wyrm Moon: Wolves of Atrómitos

	King Ardis and his men have set up camp in an abandoned village near the outskirts of the City of the Free Peoples while the roguish leader of Didymos' ocean quarter attempts to get Captain Koroc to agree to assisted mediation from him and his men. So far his request has been repeatedly scoffed at by the towering red orc who views the man's attempts at diplomacy as a power grab. Dozens of rebels remain locked in custody of the Defenders and the knights of the City of the Free Peoples seem on edge, an air of anxious and paranoid tension rampant in the warcamp while a feeling of distrust and fear permeates the city itself. Prior to the Wyrm Moon, Captain Koroc declares that King Ardis' presence is an act of war and that the city is now under his rule. The City of the Free Peoples is still in a state of internal conflict. Their unofficial leader, Captain Lykos, has been missing since the end of December and in the wake of his disappearance, a red orc named Koroc has declared himself the new leader of the Defenders of the City. His greed for power has progressed over the months he has been in command of the army of Defenders, and he has now claimed himself King Koroc, rightful ruler of the city and its people, calling the city once more by the more familiar name of Atrómitos. His erratic, increasingly violent behavior and the fairly fresh scars covering one of his arms make him an even more fearsome sight than the already over-sized orc had previously been to behold. Even his most trusted fellow Defenders seem nervous in his presence. Dervish, the smaller orc that has been at his side since Captain Lykos' disappearance is quieter, remaining behind him rather than beside him. Dozens of citizens are locked up in cells in a makeshift Defender's warcamp prison and a struggle for power has risen to the surface. King Ardis is willing to help find a diplomatic solution by force if necessary, waiting outside the city with a small force of soldiers and putting out calls for information on the situation to help him help the people of the city. The newly recovered Captain Lykos is laying low, assessing the state of the city and searching the network for supporters to reach out to while he waits out the full moon. The rebels numbers are depleted but their current leader, an enterprising elf named Lorna with connections willing to fund her attempts to take back the city, is reorganizing her people and recruiting people to the cause of putting the city in saner, more capable hands. Koroc's new leadership seems to involve enforcing militaristic force and overbearing control over the city, but he is making broad claims of returning the city to its former glory, assuring his people that when he is in power, Didymos and Krimnos will give their city the respect they've been denied since the fall of Atrómitos Things have come to a violent final head, and the actions of everyone involved over the next few weeks could alter the City of the Free Peoples forever. As the full moon rises over the city's internal conflict, fearsome howls fill the brightly moonlit night and dozens of werewolves emerge from the shadows, attacking the newly re-named Atrómitos and the city's outskirts with a pack mentality rarely seen in the usually lone, cursed creatures. They hunt together, clawing their way from the wilderness toward the city, eyes blood red in the night, their black fur allowing them to melt into the shadows. The defenders can be seen all over the outskirts of the city, armed and ready, their response time impressive. Dervish leads them, and they beat back the werewolf attack. It's clear the werewolves are out for blood. Some of them make it through the Defenders' defensive lines, but many of the creatures retreat and turn their claws and teeth on the farmers and King Ardis' camp.

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🜙 The Wyrm Moon: Dawn of Dragons.

	Under the light of the larger than usual wyrm moon, the claimed dragon eggs scattered across Idan begin to hatch. The dragons that emerge from the eggs have no magical abilities, no flight, and no voice, but their personalities will grow and define rapidly. All but one of the hatching eggs found its way into the clutches of an awakened, for better or for worse. A lone egg, hidden away in a crate on Didymos' shore is found by the Didymos guards on patrol sometime after the waters have cleared. They take their discovery to Queen Adira, who is faced with a startling discovery. Another dragon outside Didymos. A proud denizen of truth and justice, she makes a courier post visible to all of Didymos, allowing them to see the hatchling for themselves, and explaining the circumstances of its discovery. She admits she is unaware of whether or not there may be more such creatures but assures her citizens that her scholars will be closely monitoring the hatchling. It is a frightening awakening for Didymos, but Queen Adira insists that until they know where it came from, if there are more of them, and if this creature is a threat, she and her advisors will be keeping it contained and monitored. Its kind may have destroyed the kingdoms of old, but she implores her people not to let that color their judgment. Frowning, she reluctantly admits that the actions of the people and creatures of the past must not be used to sentence people and creatures of the present and that if they travel down that road it would darken the clarity of justice they uphold in Didymos. Understandably, reactions throughout the city are wildly mixed.

🜙 Note.

	April's plot write-up will feature a follow up on both the Einjar Excursion and the Wyrm Moon events. Next month players will be helping to decide the future of the City of Free Peoples: Its name, its leader, and how it reforms following the conflict that has divided it and caused a rift of fear and confusion between its people.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In time. He must still be young.

[ Six does not know enough about her animal to say otherwise, but she has no reason to distrust what Alucard is telling her. Two seems happy enough to have made a friend and she has no reason to make any kind of demand or suggest that he stop, even if she thinks it is a little bit embarrassing.

Turning back over, she motions to the blade dropped down at the side of the bear. ]

Greatsword. [ A lift of one large shoulder. ] It is not my own, but it is servicable.

Most likely. Usually the paws are the best way to determine if a large animal is still growing or not, if I recall correctly.

[Alucard's certain that his wolf won't get larger. With the two rolling around in the dirt, he cannot possibly say for the bear. All he has is a best guess and old travel memories with guides who knew nature far better than he ever could.]

Mm. I doubt I could even lift that.

[He has a longsword, but it isn't on his person. Today wasn't the right day to walk around with extra weight at his side, slowing him down as he ran endless errands in order to prepare for something that would be all too demanding of him.]

What does your own look like?

Perhaps I will attempt a judgement one day. I have not spent much time with bears.

[ She's avoided animals rarer than horses for the most part, but this is novel enough for her. She's already fond of Two and would be loathe to give him up, whatever the future might hold.

Casually, Six bends down and picks up the greatsword in one hand, moving it to lean against the nearby fence. It's not necessarily to show off her strength but to show the blade itself, at least in intention. ]

I am as strong as I look, so I've been told. [ A sigh. ] Much the same, but weighted for me. It was a traditional blade, so it was not designed for anything more than long term use.

Bears I mostly keep away from, but I have had very skilled guides to get through the wilderness in the past. I recall conversations along these lines. Perhaps it'll help.

[Or else the dhampir will have egg on his face soon enough. Such as it is, his animas is content enough, both with attention and with friendship, and he can't ask for much more out of her under these circumstances.

As Six offers the blade for inspection, Alucard leans down to take a look. The thing in front of him is plenty practical. The weapon Six describes is even more so.]

I see. It's a shame that you don't have it now, as fine as this temporary blade is.

It would do no harm to investigate it, I suppose. It doesn't seem as though he is going anywhere.

[ Two, being as content as he is, doesn't seem to care that he is being talked about. He is far too excited about having a new friend and being able to roll around in the dirt and, maybe, bat out a paw to nudge his new friend's head. Pet! He's seen the humans do it!

Six looks somewhat chagrined each time she glances over, nose wrinkling. ]

A shame, but there will be other blades. If I perform well today I might be able to purchase one.

He's taken to you?

[That has meaning, far more than Alucard's lighter than air question could ever convey. Animals that have taken to another, those of strange sizes especially, that means another revived dead. Another with too many upsetting things in the past, brought back to a new world and...

...that is a thought for later, he chides himself. Alucard looks over just in time to watch his wolf boop an entire bear on the head. Because that's a thing that is happening right now, and then she does it twice more in quick succession. What. The ever loving. Fuck.]

Then I wish you the utmost success in the upcoming fights. The city's various smith shops should be able to equip you once you win.

He has. I'm not offended by his company.

[ Careful eyes flick over him for a moment. Perhaps this is something that more than she has; perhaps it is something familiar to more than just her. She glances down at her bear for just a moment before she relaxes, softening.

Two baws, almost too excited, and boops once back in return. This is a novel game for him, too. ]

Thank you. I've entered myself into everything in the hopes of success.

I see. Well, I'm sure you will remain inseparable.

[There's no undercurrent of a double meaning in those words, even if that's the reality of the situation. Alucard simply lets the statement be, just as he doesn't turn to observe the continued silliness between the pair of animas. The boop game can probably go on forever.]

Mm. Then you're bound to walk away with something. Hopefully I will have a moment in my day to add my voice of encouragement to what I'm sure will be a stunningly loud crowd.

I have no plans to get rid of him yet, and I think he would find me if I did.

[ Fondness in her tone, Six smiles at her little bear. He is far smaller than she would ever imagine someone of his kind being, but she feels a flood of adoration all the same. She has always had a soft spot for animals and this is no different; he is unique and wonderful. ]

I would be glad for the support, truly. I hope only not to make a fool of myself.

Bears have a rather good sense of smell, don't they? I would be amazed if he failed.

[Alucard has accepted that the wolf is going to find him, no matter what. Most days though, her interest in finding him is far less than her interest than in his companion's animas, which is to say she's frequently got a possum on her back.]

Somehow, looking foolish in a fight strikes me as something that takes actual effort for you.

That is something I will be trying to train him into. He will be a good partner, even without it, but some training will not be a problem.

[ She can't help the way she reaches out with her foot and nudges him just so. ]

... Thank you. [ She seems genuinely baffled by the compliment. ] That is kind.

He seems...spirited, at least. That ought to be beneficial for learning.

[Ellis, as entertained as she is with her new bear friend, sees that foot nudge. So she does the logical thing: puts her paw on Six's foot to say hello.]

I've traveled with goliaths before. [Okay, one very specific one, but.] I don't say such words lightly.

More than I imagined him to be, certainly.

[ Who would have guessed a bear might behave in this way? Looking down, she smiles softly at the wolf and flicks her fingers in a greeting. ]

Ah. [ Hesitance, but - ] Half. My mother.

A singular bear.

[That much is said with warm approval. Ellis just grins up at them both, all self satisfied wolfy smile, then returns to the Boop Game.

Alucard catches the hesitance,. He nods, and resolves not to pry.]

I see. Well, I maintain the compliment all the same.

I think I am lucky.

[ That is said fondly enough, and she lets her fingers drop away before she focusses on Alucard properly once more. ]

Thank you. It is a kind gesture.

Oh, I think that luck has been proven in this particular matter.

[Alucard inclines his head, and there's some shout in the distance. Something, something, match, and there's a shift in the crowd. There's no doubt as to what's happening: the next few rounds are about to begin.]

If that isn't your cue, that's mine to start moving again before this place grows thick with excited spectators.

Event #6 Arkoda's Awakening & the Wyrm Moon

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