TDM #4

[calderaevents]

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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Comments

Lucifer Morningstar | Hazbin Hotel | Sylph

[youknowwhothisis]

[I. Arrival- Have A Sippy (Pick his poison! All are fine, even the mistletoe)]

♫ Laughs echoed, nights remembered, good times kissed.
A shot downed, a drink savored, a drop of liquid fire.
A toast lifted, a glass raised, a celebration higher... ♫

Generally, he kept to himself for most of this particular evening. But with a little sing-song, the rather audaciously-dressed man began to line up a bunch of pretty little shot glasses. Numbering six in total, they each held a different colored liquid, and he was lining them up in a color order. He couldn't make a fun little rainbow, but he could at least get them in a line that looked nice.

But he sure had been packing the drinks away for a good chunk of the evening, as if they were water. It was enough that the Tavernkeeper was looking at him with a level of quiet concern. Lucifer thought he could ignore them and avoid eye contact, but it eventually was enough to make him itch.

So, with a quiet sigh, he took but three of them and slid them further down the counter to the stranger a few stools down. Then he turned and gestured.

"There, see? Social drinking! We good now? These are my last three. Cross my heart." He offered his best smile. When the keeper turned away, however, the smile turned into sticking his forked tongue out at their back.

He'll stop when he feels like it!


[II. The City in the Clouds]

Did this place bother him immensely? Yes. He hadn't really seen a place like this in a long... long... long... long time. When his eyes adjusted and he bore witness to this place at first, Lucifer had to battle a spike of 'animal brain', a panic that threatened to steal his breath and send him running and reliving old and terrible memories.

Once that (mercifully) passed, he was left feeling a bit sour. Hollow. He supposed that he'd need to deal with that terrible, shining city eventually once he got back home. This could be a means to desensitize, he supposed.

Gotta do it for Charlie.

He could go for a fly, though. That always helped him clear his head. To open his wings was like breathing, and he could just kick off and sail on the next breeze-

WHUMP.

He instead hit the cloud-mixed ground face first. He'd made a rather dramatic hop, like a fool trying to dive into a pool with no water in the middle of the square. After a moment of pause, he scrambled onto his hands and knees, eyes wide. He watched as a thin dribble of gold fell from his lip and dissipated among the clouds, the facial impact cutting the inside of his cheek against one of his teeth.

...What...?


[III. King's Quest]

He ran his hands down his face, hoping it'd give him a 'fresh perspective' when he looked once again upon the board bearing a bevvy of tasks that needed doing. None of them somehow changed, much to his dismay.

...Was that a quest to test lingerie? Do people normally throw their name in for that kind of job around here??

Lucifer sucked in a deep, cleansing breath, held it to a three-count and eased out slowly. Sure, he didn't have his powers. Alrighty, he didn't have his wings... but a challenge was a challenge, and by GOLLY he was no yellow-belly!

He jabbed an amicable elbow against any old individual within reach.

"Hey-hey! Need a Quest Buddy~?"


[IV. Improv! (Wildcard)]

[Open for any quest, or other prompts if you like those more! HMU over on MechaPony if you're feeling saucy. I don't bite. Happy Chrismth.]

3

[helluvaboss]

It's not the person that Lucifer elbowed, rather, a little red fella tearing up and holding the request from the dragon mother that answers Lucifer. "I've only ever been a single dad, but... lil dragon baby guys..." he blubbered, pointing to the flyer before sadly pinning it back up.

...Wait. Double take.

"--You look kinda. Familiar."

[youknowwhothisis]

Oh. Shit. That's an imp!

Stand tall. Stand tall, keep it together, get ready to-

'Kinda familiar'!? There's that helpless spark of temper behind one of his temples. His was THE most recognizable face in Hell, how does this guy not know--

...Wait, this works. This works, because he was trying to keep a low profile until he figured everything out.

"Yeah? I get that a lot." Maybe it helped that most of the folk here were more his height than the 7+-foot bean poles that thrived back home.

[helluvaboss]

Hmmm... Blitzø tapped his chin in thought. Where did he know this guy's face from? It's weird, definitely looks more like someone from home...

"Hmm... Sinner, right? You don't look like any of the Overlords that're fuckin' around all the time making life hard..."

[youknowwhothisis]

...God, he wanted his everything back.

"Huh! Good guess, you nailed it. I'm, ah... I wasn't 'big time' back there, but what's that matter since I'm not stuck in Pride anymore, right? That old place, eugh."

He flourished a hand. "Here, I'm free as a bird~"

2 Haha...FUCK YOU! 8D

[lonelysmiles]

This was both the best and worst day ever.

How it was the worst: That diminutive idiot king Lucifer was here.

How it was the best: Getting to watch that diminutive idiot king faceplant into the ground.

It seemed that just because one was born with wings didn't mean they got to keep them here. At least Alastor could console himself with that.

"Having trouble, Your Majesty?"

fuck-a YOUUU

[youknowwhothisis]

His shock and distress turned to ash from the moment he heard that familiar, grating timbre.

Don't tell him. Do not tell him-

Lucifer lifted his head, and his scowl tightened. Hell. He truly was in Hell now, sitting flightless in a shiny city that looked like the place that booted him out next to this asshole.

He scoffed as he stood and dusted himself off, calm as can be. "Looks like the powers that be were desperate enough to grab just anybody, huh?"

[lonelysmiles]

"So it would seem. I got a little over a blissful month before you ended up crashlanding here," Alastor needled. "I suppose they couldn't keep up with quality and settled for simple quantity."

[youknowwhothisis]

"HA! Oh, what I wouldn't give for a month!" He straightened out his hat and turned away to mop at his lip with a hand to get the gold remnant.

"Your mind going already, you old bastard? I literally saw you the other day back home!"

1

[notyournhaama]

A white feline ear twitched a bit as she looked down at the shots that were slid in front of her. "I'm afraid I must disappoint you. I don't drink these little things."

She was however, on her second glass of red wine. Shots were something that Thancred would likely drink, but he wasn't here. She looked the oddly dressed man over, her blind eyes seeing things that most others couldn't. To her, he almost seemed as if he was voidsent.

"But if it's company you wish, I suppose I could spend some time with you," she said with a light shrug.

[youknowwhothisis]

A choosy sipper. He turned his eyes to regard the miqo'te, taking in the curious combination of feline and human. His aether, in kind, was something akin to a voidsent on the Thirteenth who had made a number of those Faustian deals and won a wealth of power for his efforts.

He plucked up the first shot glass, but used that same hand to point a claw-like finger the woman's way. A brow lifted.

"Oho! When you put it like that, you make a guy sound desperate." But the grin that grew was one of amusement before he raised the little glass to his lips.

"...It's alright if you can't handle shots, though. No shame in it." He drank.

[notyournhaama]

"I did not mean to imply desperation," she said as she raised her wine to him. "I simply meant that I have nothing else that must be done."

She raised an elegant eyebrow at the dig about not being able to handle shots. "You are bold to assume things of a woman you do not know."

[youknowwhothisis]

He drank and he immediately startled. This drink was weirdly thick, like someone had mixed in a hefty bit of... not tar, but... molasses?

He tasted spices, brown sugar, warm ginger. He eyeballed the drink that looked as thin as everything else, but that was a like sipping on a cookie-flavored syrup.

Festive. Weird, but festive. Lucifer finished the rest, then chuckled. "What? Liquor's sneaky, y'know! I've got a pal who can drink anybody under the table, but her private reserve? Sweet as sin, but it'll put you in the ground if you're not caref--"

Lucifer blinked, disturbed when something rolled off of his hat. Somehow, joining the apple decoration atop the brim was another made entirely of candy shell. It bounced off the countertop, scattering candy shards, before it hit the floor and rolled. He looked around to see if someone was throwing fruit.

"Careful..." He paused.

"Did you see who threw that?"

2 City in the Clouds

[hellrider]

"Nine hells...are you all right??" There's a mix of bemusement and genuine concern in Zevlor's voice, and he hastens to the stranger's side, crouching slightly. Rather than touch him uninvited, he offers a polite hand up.

Golden blood? That's not a Sylph trait he's aware of. Clearly this is another Visitor. "What on earth were you trying to do?"

Perhaps the sight of a tiefling will make him feel a little more at home. Zevlor certainly looks closer to a demon than Lucifer does, although he wouldn't exactly be pleased to hear it.

[youknowwhothisis]

His head turned dully with the voice, and for three very convincing seconds, he wanted to slap that hand away and demand to be left alone.

His will won in the end, and after clenching his jaw, he quietly pushed himself to his feet and avoided the offered hand. Ignoring his scuffed jacket for the moment, his hand flew to his lip to wipe off the gold remnant. The other adjusted his askew hat.

"Tripped!" First word that tumbled off the tongue. Then he gave the ground beneath him a triple-tap with a heel.

"Y'know, it's real bumpy here. All it takes is for the mind to wander a little bit and BAM, dirt lunch. Somebody really should send a letter to the, ah... hhhead guy around here." He shrugged casually. They could practically be talking about the weather! Whoever this fella was, they didn't seem bothered by the tiefling's appearance.

"...You're not from around here either, are ya?"

[hellrider]

This is, in fact, the second time Zevlor has encountered a denizen of Hell in Heaven's Bow, though he's not aware of that yet.

Well. Clearly the newcomer doesn't want physical assistance, so he withdraws, standing up and letting the man get himself together. He doesn't believe tripped for a minute, but he's not about picking fights, either, so he just nods patiently along as he explains himself.

"Aella," he says. "That would be the faction leader here. Admiral Aella, I think. But good luck getting her attention, or any of the others. They show up periodically, but only when they have a mind to."

"I'm one of the Visitors, yes. Like yourself, I assume, only I've been here for several months. My name is Zevlor."

[youknowwhothisis]

Admiral Aella. He was terrible with names, but he could probably remember the title! That was something, at least. Good to know they'd be hard to find, too.

"Lulu."

His eyebrows lifted as his brain slowly caught up to the information given to him. "Uh- wha- wait- several months? How long are Visitors expected to stay here?"

3

[holdshisown]

"I would not say no to one," Maedhros awnsers with a polite smile. "Never hurts to have someone to watch your back during things like these, right?"

Especially since this man seems new and probably does not have a lot to help make things easier for him.

"Is there any quest in particular that you'd feel more comfortable with undertaking?"

[youknowwhothisis]

"Exactly!" He chirped, accompanied by the snap of his fingers. This wasn't a means to keep his mind off of everything! He absolutely wouldn't be lying in bed unmoving for days on end if he wasn't standing here in front of this board!

But he approached the board again to look things over. If he was in his prime, this would all be a snap and a Hell of a bunch of stories to tell his daughter, but maybe he should try not to throw himself into possible death.

"Hmm... Someone needs mushrooms, another person needs herbs..." He peered closer. Wait, a Selkie? An actual Selkie, and not just something from an old story? Just when he thought he was getting a teeny-tiny feel for this place-

"...A counterfeiting operation, eh...?" He scratched his chin. Playing hero could be interesting.

You're the most hated being in ALL of Creation...!

Lucifer set his jaw, the memory still all too fresh in his mind. "Well, if you're seasoned in all of this stuff, I wouldn't want to drag you down with a simple errand. I'm thinkin' these counterfeiters need looking into, though I admit I'd read enough about Selkies in old myth and legend books to be interested in meeting one in the flesh. It's a real toss-up."

[holdshisown]

Hey, he's not going to judge you even if that were the case.

Maedhros let's the man look through the quests without offering any comentary of his own, he simply waits for him to find oe to his liking. Once it seems his oppinion might be sought after he decides to speak again, though.

"Oh, I don't mind. I've had enough exitement in my life that I do not mind running a few simple errands once in a while. If you were to ask me, however, I think we should help the Selkie. From what I can tell from the notice it does seem like she truly needs aid." It seems a great injustice to him that someone would steal something so integral from another and trap them where they would not wish to stay.

[youknowwhothisis]

The look he gave the (very, VERY) tall elf a look of mild surprise. All told, how often did anyone get to meet a mythical creature? Er- His entire being and many of his friends around him aside, anyway.

He brightened and brought his hands together. "Well, that's settled! Let's not keep her waiting. We just... sign the paper, right?"

The City in the Clouds

[featheredflames]

If there was one thing Joshua Rosfield would be able to empathize with, it would be the loss of his wings. While he had managed to regain the Phoenix's flames and healing magicks thus far, he still was without the eikon's wings and, unlike Dion who was able to semi-prime once more, Joshua was still bound to the land even if his heart ached to take to the skies.

Eventually though, he would have his wings back. He just had to be patient.

Noticing the stranger who was on his hands and knees, Joshua hurried his way over to him, offering an outstretched, gloved hand to help him back on his feet. The gold liquid coming from his mouth is certainly strange (as is, well, his entire appearance quite frankly) but he doesn't give it much thought. What's important right now is to help if he can.

"Are you all right?"

[youknowwhothisis]

It burned and prickled along the back of his neck before Joshua even showed up in his peripheral, the distinct feeling of being watched.

He was nothing if not decent enough at improv, and with the offered hand opted instead to get back on his own two feet unassisted. He made a show of brushing off his coat, but kept his face and body turned a bit away.

"Holy infrastructure damage, haha! They gotta- they gotta do somethin' about these weird uneven spots in the sidewalk before someone else takes a little spill and busts their head open like an overripe melon, am I right?" He used a sleeve to mop the gold from his lip.

[featheredflames]

"It is rather dangerous to have uneven ground to walk on."

Well, Joshua can respect wanting one to get up by themselves - pride and all that - but he's still concerned as he watches him wipe away the gold stain from his lips. He'd done that countless times himself, after all, the gesture painfully familiar from years of coughing up blood.

"...May I see?" He means your face, Lucifer. "If you were harmed I can fix it."

[youknowwhothisis]

Good. Glad we're on the same page on the tripping alibi. That, or this guy knew better than to press the issue.

He quirked a brow at him curiously, however. "Heh? Why, is it-"

Suspicious, the king brushed a finger against his lip and checked it. "Is it bad?"