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calderaevents ([personal profile] calderaevents) wrote in [community profile] calderamemes2024-11-29 12:00 am
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TDM #4



ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU
WINTER'S WHISPER A fragrant spiced tea that calms the nerves and inspires the drinker to share their hopes and dreams.

JINGLE BELL A crisp, bright drink...that makes jingling bell sounds as you walk. There are no bells, and yet you jingle.

S(LAY) RIDE This drink has an earthy, woody taste. Almost as woody as the tavern floor it forces you to lie down upon. You cannot get up unless someone else helps you.

MISTLETOE MEAD Made with honey from enchanted bee hives and a touch of mistletoe leaves. Time to find a smoochin' partner!

HOLLY JOLLY SPICE A bold and fiery blend of rum, cinnamon, and cloves with a secret twist—just a dash of enchanted holly berry syrup that makes your cheeks flush with warmth and your laughter contagious. One sip, and you're the life of the party, even if you're by yourself.

CANDY CANE CRUSH A festive burst of minty sweetness with a cool, refreshing sensation that tingles the tongue. The drinker’s mood subtly shifts the color of their surroundings, briefly changing the hues of objects or lights in the room to match their feelings.

GINGERBREAD MAN A thick drink that tastes exactly like a gingerbread cookie. However, candy and other delicious accents start appearing on you as if YOU were the cookie. Is that icing on your nose? Candied cherries in your hair? Gumdrop buttons? But on the bright side, free candy!

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”


You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.
Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.


If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.



If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.



Visitors in all starter cities are offered a standard home with basic necessities provided (your choice in design, etc.) that can house 1-4 people if they so choose. Home upgrades can be purchased via rewards.

FANNING THE FLAMES
The renewed seething of the lava flows brought on by the tempestuous events deep below the sea seem to have been dealt with, though city guards have been stationed around the crater and are barring anyone from approaching to investigate any further than the outskirts. Interestingly, not only does the crater seem calm, it appears to be changing. Any remaining lava flow is being directed as if by unseen hands, and when the light catches just right, the barest hint of a shimmer can be detected surrounding the glowing rivers. New rock formations take shape as the days pass, though one never can catch the presence of a mason working on the structures. It's as if something intangible or invisible is repairing what was broken, turning what was previously chaos and ruin into order and life.
SEASON OF LIGHT
The world remains unsettled, still bearing the scars of the trials endured just a month prior, not to mention the oddities happening with the volcanic crater and the ominous shadows creeping in from the sea continue to haunt the collective psyche, leaving both locals and visitors on constant edge, fearful of a sudden, unprovoked assault. Despite these lingering anxieties, the leaders have publicly reassured all that calm has been restored. They claim that the worst is behind them and that every measure is being taken to prevent such devastating magics from ever threatening Salt Spire again. The protective bubble holds, new Undine are being ushered into their roles, and the world, it is said, is slowly healing. Or so they claim.

Whether or not the assurances of the leaders ring entirely true, life, as it often does, presses on. The people of Caldera have once again immersed themselves in the comforting bustle of distraction, turning their attention to the imminent Season of Lights celebrations. This holiday, it seems, bears a striking resemblance to the festive cheer of Christmas (and a mix of new years), with gifts exchanged in abundance and decorations of shimmering silver and radiant blue casting their glow across the sky, sea, and land in harmonious splendor.

One of the seasons's highlights is the grand Feast of the Sky, a night when the people gather beneath a star-filled canopy to exchange gifts—ornate trinkets, hand-crafted items, and tokens of affection that carry deep personal meaning. In the days leading up to the feast, a tradition of "Lightwalking" emerges, where families and friends embark on midnight strolls through streets aglow with lanterns, singing carols and sharing stories of hope and renewal. Sea-going vessels, too, partake in the festivities, their sails and riggings festooned with glowing orbs that drift like stars across the waters.

The Season of Lights is, above all, a celebration of resilience, a time when the people of Caldera set aside their worries, if only for a little while, to bask in the glow of community, generosity, and the promise of brighter days ahead thanks to the Visitor's arrival...
THE GRAND MASQUERADE
Another highlight of the season is the Grand Masquerade that unfolds high above the world in Heaven’s Bow, the floating city where the wind dances in the sky and the stars seem close enough to touch. The event is more than just a celebration of the Season of Lights—it’s a gathering of hope, a last-ditch effort to save Caldera from its slow unraveling. Here, among the clouds and the wind, the people of Caldera and the mysterious Visitors from other worlds come together in a shimmering, ethereal celebration, their faces hidden behind elaborate masks and appropriately fancy dress provided when one steps through the threshold of the castle gates.

The palace at the heart of Heaven’s Bow is a breathtaking sight, its walls adorned with silver and blue decorations that catch the light from thousands of lanterns floating in mid-air. The atmosphere is both jubilant and tense, a world on the brink of collapse holding its breath in the hopes that this fleeting night will offer a glimmer of salvation. The sky above is painted with the colors of dusk and dawn, swirling in a palette of purples, blues, and silvers.

Sylphs—the free-spirited, airborn people of the Sky—flutter about, their wings glinting in the light, performing acrobatic feats in the air, their laughter and music mingling with the sounds of the celebration. Guests, their masks intricate and stunning, move among the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and stories, some joining in the dances while others linger near the grand tables, laden with food and drink from every corner of Caldera and beyond.

As the night unfolds, the guests find themselves drawn into different corners of the event—each space offering the Visitors a chance to prove themselves worthy of the leaders’ favor. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn, grow, and, perhaps, change the course of this dying world.
THE SKY'S ASCENSION



At one end of the palace's terrace, a floating platform hovers above the clouds, surrounded by shifting air currents. Sylphs glide effortlessly through the space, their wings leaving trails of light as they move to the lively music, which seems written by the wind itself.

Aella, Admiral of the Slyph, stands at the center of the platform, her cloak of shimmering feathers rippling in the breeze. She surveys the crowd, inviting those brave enough to take part in her challenge. Before them, a maze of floating platforms stretches out, some wide and stable, others narrow and swaying in the wind. The task is simple: leap from one platform to the next, navigating the shifting air and ever-changing obstacles.

The platforms move unpredictably, some rising higher, others sinking, and a few disappearing entirely. Guests must time their jumps perfectly, balancing agility with timing as they avoid falling into the clouds below.

Those who succeed will earn Aella’s favor (in the form of 100 Bones and a single white feather). And those who falter will simply reappear the start of the challenge to begin anew or give up with no repercussions for the latter save perhaps a bit of embarrassment.
THE SEA'S SECRETS
On the other side of the terrace, a serene water garden unfolds, its shimmering pools reflecting the stars above. Water flows in delicate, endless cascades, filling the air with a soft, soothing melody that mingles with the distant sound of waves. The Undines, graceful and serene beings of the Sea, glide effortlessly through the space, their robes flowing like gentle currents, their movements as fluid as the water itself.

Cordelia, Queen of the Sea, stands quietly on a raised platform at the edge of the garden, her presence calm and powerful. Her eyes, deep and unfathomable, seem to reflect the vastness of the ocean, and though she watches the guests, she does not engage with them. Her stillness holds an air of mystery, as if she is both present and yet unreachable.

The Undines move silently through the garden, offering peaceful company to those who wander nearby. The garden is a place of contemplation, where guests can simply pause and connect with the tranquil beauty of the water—its soothing flow, its quiet depths, and its promise of renewal. There are no tests or challenges here, only the peace of the Sea to calm the mind and soul.

Those who linger may feel the weight of ancient knowledge in the air, a silent understanding of the oceans' mysteries and the healing power of water. In this place, the answers are not spoken, but felt—a quiet reminder that some of the world’s deepest truths are best discovered in moments of stillness.

As the evening fades, those who have found solace in the garden’s stillness will discover, tucked gently in their palm, a lustrous pearl. Unlike any found on the shores, this pearl is soft and warm, its surface shimmering with an inner light. It is a symbol of the wisdom that comes from quiet reflection—the knowledge that some things, like the depth of the sea, cannot be rushed.
THE LAND'S EMBRACE



In the heart of the palace gardens, beneath a canopy of flowering trees, the Dryads drift gracefully among the guests, their earthy skin glowing with life and their eyes bright with the vitality of nature. The air is thick with the scent of blooming roses and jasmine, while the ground beneath the guests' feet pulses with a quiet energy, inviting them to pause and feel the garden’s magic.

Terra, the Lady of the Land, stands at the center, her form adorned in living vines and blossoms, moving as if the garden itself flows through her. Her presence is both nurturing and fierce, a silent invitation to those seeking connection—to the land, to love, and to one another.

Guests are drawn to the tranquil beauty of the garden, stealing soft moments with their partners among the flowers. Lovers exchange quiet glances, touch petals with gentle fingers, and share unspoken promises beneath the soft glow of lanterns. The garden hums with romance, as if the earth itself is blessing these tender moments, offering the quiet assurance that love—like the land—can grow in the most unexpected places.

As the night draws to a close, Terra’s gentle power is felt in the air, and for those who have taken the time to connect with the garden’s beauty, a soft gift of nature is bestowed. A flower—unique and radiant—appears in their hand, a token of love and growth, a reminder that even the briefest moments can take root and blossom into something everlasting.
QUESTBOARD [NEW QUESTS ADDED]

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.
OOC NOTES
Welcome to Caldera's fourth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored!

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

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inspiteof: (7WhdwkOv_o)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-11-30 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
He let his hand drop, just a touch uncertain about her response. He was uncertain about a lot of things in this moment. But, as he suggested, that could be dealt with later in a more suitable scenario. Preferably with coffee and no chance to be disturbed by anyone or anything.

His brows lifted. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I always fulfill my contracts, and even in this strange new world that vow holds true. I am leaving with that artifact, Rook." A hum. "But we can certainly make it look like you put up a good fight."
spellblade: (shifting under me)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-11-30 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh I wasn't planning on stopping you." Maybe that made her very bad at contracts, but, you know, fun fact, she wasn't an Antivan Crow with a reputation to uphold. Nor had she actually signed one to begin with, so there was that, too. "I just wanted to get a better look at what was so important it was worth hiring a bunch of strangers to guard it. Thought it might be something magical, or dangerous." A pretty fine example of how they both defined themselves, she supposed. She was no less a Veil Jumper here, just as he was no less a Crow.

Her lips curved, playful and just a touch flirtatious. Testing the boggy waters, perhaps. "Soooo, what. We rough each other up a little? Break a glass case or two?"
inspiteof: (o92S0XbV_o)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-11-30 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
He should have guessed, really. A Veil Jumper would be inclined to investigate the artifacts themselves and the histories behind them. Lucanis, of course, had no idea whether they were magical, mundane, or otherwise and, frankly, didn't care so long as the thing didn't explode the second he got his hands on it.

"And it is neither, then?" He asked, assuming she had had plenty of time to investigate while she had been standing around prior to his arrival.

A shiver rolled up his spine when he locked onto that look she had given him. Maker help him, he was so weak. "At least two." He chuckled, daggers sheathed at his hips. "I figured they'd break well enough if we are wrestling about the room."
spellblade: (the moon is humming)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-11-30 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
She would sincerely hope that no one would send someone in blind to steal an artifact that could blow up in their hands...but there were most definitely plenty of people who would do exactly that. This time, however, that didn't seem to be the case. "Not as far as I can tell. It's just..." Rook gestured at one of the displays, a clay pot behind a pane of glass. Well made, but mundane nonetheless. "Things. Bits of history. Nothing that glows, sparks, smokes, or crackles."

She braced her hands on her hips, acutely aware that she was standing between him and his goal, equally aware that she wasn't much of an obstacle for a master assassin, without magic at her disposal. And even then, well, when the assassin was known for well known for killing mages... "You know you have me at quite the disadvantage, right?"
inspiteof: (pic#17546939)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-11-30 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"History meant to be returned to its people, as I was told." Ancient Dwarven artifacts from the Deadlands, supposedly. How accurate that claim was, he did not know, but a contract was a contract.

It would have been easy enough to subdue her, especially knowing she did not have her magic thanks to his conversation with Bellara and a few others in the tavern. "I'm aware. Should we even the playing field a little more? I will hold my hands behind my back and allow you the first blow." He pointedly clasped his hands behind his back, smiling wryly at her.
spellblade: (I'm chasing the bunny)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-01 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
Maribel didn't disagree with that, really. If the people that came from this civilization felt it was akin to grave robbing, well, they should be listened to. Her curiosity and potential involvement in any of it started and ended with making sure no one was trying to take advantage of, or acquire something dangerous. Call her paranoid (she is, she is paranoid).

"You want me to just...what? Take a swing at you?" Like...it wouldn't hurt. If it connected at all. And she was pretty sure it wouldn't unless he just let her hit him. Rolling her shoulders and blowing out a breath, Rook shifted her weight and brought her hands up into a defensive position and attempted to take a quick jab at his shoulder.

inspiteof: (pic#17546898)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-01 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes." He replied. They very easily could have like... walked outside and smeared some dirt on themselves before coming back in, but if he was going to fake this encounter — he was going to do it right. Lucanis was not worried for actually being hurt — although recalling the way she clocked the First Warden, he made sure to brace appropriately regardless.

When her fist connected, Lucanis bit back a laugh. "Come now, is that the best you can do? I am thwarting your efforts at guarding those artifacts, Rook!"
spellblade: (want to turn off just have some peace)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-01 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm a mage, I don't punch people unless it's a dire situation," Rook replied with a scoff of a laugh, gamely attempting a quick side step and hook to his side. "...Or, in the case of the First Warden, if they're an insufferable ass." Which was to say, even with the baiting, she didn't consider Lucanis insufferable, or an ass.
inspiteof: (o92S0XbV_o)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-01 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Oof." Okay. That was a little better. "You are without your magic now. You should start considering more hand to hand combat training — or obtaining a dagger. I have seen you wield a one well enough for a mage."

A beat. "What exactly were you planning to do if someone besides me came and wanted to fight for that artifact?"
Edited 2024-12-01 03:39 (UTC)
spellblade: (let it once be me)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-01 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Sorry! Sorry. You told me to hit you!" Wincing, Rook darted back a few steps, loosening her curled fists to hold her hands up in apology. She huffed a soft, sheepish laugh, because he most definitely had her there. "Honestly? I wasn't about to fight someone for it...though, as it happens, I do have a knife on me, so I'm not completely helpless." Where was said knife hidden? Good question. Want to look for it, Lucanis?
inspiteof: (pic#17546927)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-01 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
Lucanis couldn't keep from chuckling now. His own hands shifted forward, gently pressing against his shoulder where she had hit him earlier. "It's all right. We do want to make this realistic, don't we? I can handle a few bruises."

He glanced down the length of her frame, then back up (maybe a little slower than necessary. Maker she was gorgeous—).

"Hidden in your boot, perhaps? Not ideal if you happened to be, say, surprised from behind by a man with a blade to your throat?"
spellblade: (Just breath in and breath out)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-02 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Rook tucked her tongue between her teeth and her cheek, then huffed softly and lifted her leg enough to grab the dagger and sheath she'd tucked there and pulling it free. "If I'd left it on my belt, I'm fair certain you'd have just stolen it," she pointed out, holding her arm out to the side and dropping the sheath and blade. "I'm also pretty sure if said man had wanted to kill me, I'd be dead, so lucky me. But alright, what should I have done?"
inspiteof: (38)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-02 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course." He also wouldn't have announced himself when he came up behind her either, but that was all besides the point.

Lucanis crossed his arms and looked her over again. After a moment, he stepped closer and reached for her arm, lifting it up and gently pressing his other hand to her side (definitely on the side boob let's go). "A sheath here would be one of the last places anyone but a master assassin would look."
spellblade: (working on regulation affirmation)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-02 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, hello. Rook's spine straightened instinctively, warmth blooming across her cheeks beneath the dark brown branches of vallaslin. "Can't imagine there's too many more of those around," she quipped, lips curving. "But, ah...good to know, for the future. Just in case."
inspiteof: (pic#17546922)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-02 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucanis's eyes locked on the apples of her cheeks, following the lines of the vallaslin like he had done plenty of times before when he hoped she would not notice. All he wanted to do was slip his arms around her properly and kiss her, still reeling from seeing her again and knowing now that she knew what lie ahead.

Instead, he slowly retracted his hand. "Best to be prepared. Now, shall we get to breaking these displays so I can hurry away with my prize?" He asked with a smirk. "And when we are finished — perhaps we can meet somewhere more... private?"
spellblade: (slow is the quicksand)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-02 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
She thought he might actually do that, for a moment, holding a half drawn breath in anticipation, but then he eased back...again. Rook rolled her lower lip between her teeth and nodded, side stepped to scoop up her discarded knife and tuck it back into her boot. Since she didn't have a proper shoulder harness to tuck it away as he'd recommended. "Let me guess, somewhere there's coffee?" she replied with a smirk, strolling over to one of the display cases and tapping the glass. "Not to tell you how to do your job, but if I were going to steal something, I'd go for the brass statue."
inspiteof: (67)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-02 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Not here. Not with the uncertainty in the air and the terrible knowledge he just bestowed upon her. If Lucanis was going to do this, he'd have to do it right and not in the middle of a museum heist.

"Yes. Maker - for a moment I thought coffee did not exist here." And nearly died. "But yes. I've decided to stay in a tavern in the dryad lands — I cannot imagine you want to venture down under the sea with me." Even he didn't, apparently. Reminded him of the ossuary. No thanks.

He leaned over her shoulder to examine the statue. "Noted. I will let you do the honors of breaking the glass."
spellblade: (change the prophecy)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-03 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
"They sent you to the Salt Spire?" Rook's eyes widened a touch; that just seemed cruel, considering the prison he'd been confined to and experimented on. "I mean, I'd like to go there sometime...though I, well. I, uh, can't swim." Taash had to haul her out of a lake once while she flailed like a feral cat. It had been quite embarrassing. She walked away briefly to grab a candelabra off of a nearby table--unlit, thankfully--and strolled back over. "I actually live here in Grey Ward, but I'd like to find somewhere big enough for all of us to live comfortably, like the Lighthouse. If anyone else shows up."

Because who was Rook, if she wasn't taking care of the team. She used the base of the candelabra to smash the glass with one good whac, because if there was one thing she was good at, it was breaking things. Sadly, much better at breaking than careful restoration, but both skillsets had a place among the Veil Jumpers.
inspiteof: (44)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-03 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
"You know, I could always teach you." He offered. He might not be inclined to remain down in the big bubble under the sea, but he knew how to swim well enough and did not fear the water itself.

Of course she wanted to find somewhere where they could all live together, and of course Lucanis was more than happy to join her in that endeavor. "So long as there is coffee and a pantry to hide in." He said with a soft laugh, watching the glass shatter. He carefully plucked the artifact from the pedestal it was on and weighed it in his hand. "What about an actual lighthouse, or is that too on the nose?"
spellblade: (walking side by side)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-03 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
"...Would you?" Just spending more time with him would be lovely, but she couldn't lie, it would also be really useful not to almost drown in any body of water over head level. "That would be nice."

On a sigh, Rook watched him liberate the artifact, shifting her grip on the candelabra and eyeing the rest of the displays to see which one would set the stage best. "Or we could live dangerously, and you could pick an actual bedroom instead of sleeping next to the potatoes? Just a thought." Casually, she gave a second display case a good whack to crack the glass. "...You know. If we could find one big enough for everyone." It would be kinda funny.
inspiteof: (pic#17546938)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-03 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course." He wouldn't say no to spending more time with her either, especially with how long they had been apart, and how long he had assumed he would never see her again.

"And risk someone coming in to steal my precious potatoes in the dead of night? Perish the thought, Rook." He joked. Sort of joked. The pantry had been nice because it was secluded and only had one way in and one way out. Impossible to sneak up on him. Impossible to sleep most nights too, given how uncomfortable that bed was. That said... "I would not mind being closer to you, however." And he hadn't fully intended to sound any sort of way... a little. He had to test the waters still.
spellblade: (Can't I just calm down)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-03 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Right, of course. Must protect the potatoes. Harding can't live off of cheese alone. Well, she might be able to. Fereldens are a hardy bunch." Rook, of course, was oblivious to the heartbreak about to be unleashed on her with regards to Harding, or the bucket of cold water she'd likely unintentionally thrown on their attempts at flirting. "Closer than being in the same house, or...?"
inspiteof: (OHMNixTL_o)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-03 12:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucanis steeled his expression at the mention of Harding. Given that odd time discrepancy between them, he knew already that she had no idea what had happened to the dwarf during that fight with Ghilan'nain — how he wouldn't have been able to strike that final blow without her sacrifice.

"If you would allow it." He offered lowly, taking the moment to grab the newly exposed artifact. "I think we're done here. Meet me in Grey Ward when you are finished, hm?" And imagine he named some tavern when he said that.
spellblade: (But i keep on running)

[personal profile] spellblade 2024-12-03 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I'd like that, Rook started to say, but then it was back to business, which, well. She supposed that was fair, if frustrating. No doubt people had heard the glass breaking and were on their way to see what happened. She shook her head vigorously, so her hair looked appropriately mussed and disordered, like she'd just been a tussle. "Right. You better get out of here. See you in a bit. Oh, I'm gonna chase you out of here, by the way."
inspiteof: (pic#17546894)

[personal profile] inspiteof 2024-12-03 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I will look appropriately harried. Good luck, Rook." He flashed her a faint, fleeting grin and then turned on his heel, artifacts tucked under his arms as he hurried off through the museum. Lucanis made an appropriate show of weaving through the remaining displays in case anyone saw their chase unfolding, making his escape through the window he had arrived in with a dexterous leap.

He ran for a few moments longer until he was certain he was out of sight, then slowed to a trot the rest of the way back to hand in his reward for those Bones. Rook would find him, whenever she was through, in the small tavern in Grey Ward he had mentioned — a hole in the wall establishment with only a handful of patrons.

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