TDM #5

[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

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

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.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

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.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth 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! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

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

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[thecodexabides]

"Lying is a sin, and allowing one to persist in sin is also a transgression." Listen, Gadriel has spent plenty of time with the Chaplain. His religious instruction is solid. "It is our job to correct our brothers and save them from falling into corruption."

Well, their second job. Their first job as Astartes is killing in scientific notation numbers.

[preblessed]

"I thought the request was to handle some maligned bats?" Not to make friends, although that--is the kind of saccharine that he finds somewhat endearing, despite himself. Not that he's aiming to make a lot of friends with any sort of intentionality, either, but it's cute of her to say. So his question is rhetorical and faintly amused, one eyebrow raised.

"Regardless, I don't think the bats are for me. What were you seeking here?"

[preblessed]

"For fibbing about one's mood on a particularly rough afternoon? That is not corruption." He wags a finger, tsk tsk. Let people have their white lies or the whole goddamn universe is going to collapse, for real.

"Surely there are grander problems to save one's fellows from."

[miss_filed]

"The point of life, I suppose I meant. We make friends. And some become more than that." she thought fondly for a moment about Rick.

She steps closer, riffling through the posted quests. "Something that might help me figure this place out." Ideally. There's a mystery here and she is determined.

"Oh, not those!" She covers the ones that are...indecent, swiftly, pinning a nice one about mushrooms on top of it.

[preblessed]

He gives the quests another cursory once-over, thinking. The point of life surely is more than making friends and, he assumes, kissing a few of them. There's also comfort and stability, neither of which are on offer in these quests, either.

He's skimming yet another one about a beast of some kind-- how are there so many beasts-- when her startled and sudden movement makes him look directly at that mushroom quest. Yes, hello, what's this?

"What?" Don't look now, but he's lifting the corner of the mushroom page with a finger. "You don't want to be illuminated by the wonders of... running around town in your unmentionables? I wouldn't either, personally."

[thecodexabides]

"It is how corruption starts." Everything seems harmless...until it isn't. "Besides, what is the point? Why imperil your soul over an answer to a question from a stranger? It is inconsequential." If you're going to lie, just like if you're going to set off a melta bomb on your own location, you better make it COUNT.

"There is no greater service one can do than save one's brothers. Their lives or souls."

[miss_filed]

She would argue, doubtless with cliches and maybe even a Latin quote, that friendship and yes, even perhaps kissing, is where one finds comfort and stability.

"I don't know who posts such things! For others to watch!" Evelyn considers herself a very progressive woman--she is wholeheartedly in favor of the new American law giving women the right to vote for their government and she finds flapper fashion daring and bold, but...she does have some decency. "Some sort of pervert, obviously."

[lost_and_foundry]

"Oh, same," he says, with a flicker of amusement. You don't get raspberries in the Underdark, that's for damn sure. "We mostly grew various types of mushrooms."

"It's not even spring yet, here. You'll be seeing all sorts of vegetables becoming available in a month or so. Wildflowers in the woods."

He takes a sip of his tea and watches the stranger pick apart his pastry. Not the best way to eat it, in Barcus' opinion, but no one asked for his thoughts on the matter. Besides, let the man enjoy himself as long as it's harmless.

"Opinions vary on whether the food is worth the fact that we've effectively been abducted, I fear, but it is very good food."

[dontmindthedetails]

"It depends! Sometimes it's piles of gold, sometimes it's a magic item or five, sometimes it's even a divinely blessed holy relic!" Furfur shrugs, his tail swishing near his ankles much like an excited puppy. "You never really know until you find it. That's what makes it so fun to me. I like crawling through dungeons, solving puzzles, and seeing what we find on the other side."

With a smile, Furfur reaches out to boop Alma's nose. "Back home, you'd probably be somethin' like a School of Lore bard. They study everythin' from history to geography to monsters and animals. They make fantastic storytellers, and most parties are happy to have one around. Otherwise, they have to settle for a wizard," he adds with a chuckle and a wink. "And those guys are insufferable."

"It's fine, not the first time I've had to completely replace my gear," Furfur grumbles as the topic turns back weapons and equipment. "Just the first time I've had to do it with any kind of coin in my pocket to buy it with. Thankfully, there's a couple jobs on the board that are doable without weapons, and I'm more than comfortable slutting it up for cash."

[wrathstrikes]

"Maybe just... Don't tell him that." Look, Felix isn't his biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but he's starting to feel a bit bad for dropping all of this horrible stuff on him. It can't be helping his whole... Insanity thing. "We don't want him to snap. Again."

Classic Ingrid, giving sass right back to him. That's a good thing about her; she doesn't let him push her away. It's also annoying, but, pros and cons.

"What would you have me do, then?" It sounds like he's just challenging her and isn't actually interested, but the truth is, he has no idea what to do with himself anymore except kill beasts in the woods. Maybe if Ingrid offered him something interesting, he'd consider it, for whenever they go home.

"It's irrelevant what I deserve. Life doesn't care what anyone deserves. Good people die, evil ones prosper, things just happen. It's all meaningless." That's what war has taught him. That's what Glenn's death taught him, too.

[dontmindthedetails]

What can he say? Slutting for pay isn't his usual method of making money, but Furfur is not about to turn down a free night at a fancy hotel with someone as pretty as Lucifer if he can swing it.

"Depends on how you approach the review. Someone with personal experience would be able to find all the points that could use a little tweaking, know what I mean? But maybe you're right-" Furfur arches an eyebrow as he runs the forked tip of his tongue over his lips and smooths a hand over his horns. "Maybe I am playin' too close to home."

"Do you dance, then, if the Masquerade has your attention? Or do you just like the pretense of anonymous sex tied up in fancy costumes?"

[preblessed]

Oh he's far more basic in his expectations than that; a comfortable place to live and decent food, now that's a start.

"Is it more scandalous to perform or to watch, do you think?"

[preblessed]

"If that's what you prefer, certainly. My soul is anointed, so sinners' indiscretions simply slide right off."

Or whatever. He doesn't argue with zealots, as a rule, so sure. Great service.

"I am a boon unto the needy, even the liars."

[preblessed]

"Wildflowers," he repeats with mild awe. Any flowers at all-- real ones, not silk or paper-- are a wonder. Maybe he'll push back his plan to find a comfortable home and lock himself in it, for wildflowers.

In the meantime he pops a piece of torn pastry in his mouth and has another moment over it; ah, resplendent, magnificent, fruity and delicious--

"I can't say I mind very much at the moment, admittedly," he says, with a shrug. "Eat fruits or waste away on nutrient patties? The choice is obvious."

let's catch the wind, why not

[relocator]

The meadow is beautiful, certainly — it reminds Remi of home, a little, of the Kilnese countryside and the rolling hills, the grass bending in the wind as it does, now. The wind laughs in the trees, giggles as it tumbles over itself; Remi stands and listens to it, ignoring the way his questing partner has apparently decided to just lie there in the grass.

As for the offer, "Then I'll take double the Bones," he says in return, glancing at Oleander to see if he withdraws the bottle or not.

[preblessed]

Lying in the grass has to count for this, surely. Is he not one with the earth and air or whatever, down here? Is he not playing along with nature and all that shit? Just wait until something crawls on him, then he'll focus on the objective.

"Miser," he says, wagging a disapproving finger. "I know you know they won't pay double, either."

He wiggles the bottle anyway. What do you say, help him out.

[relocator]

Fine, call his bluff — he does know, of course, and it's with a huff that he acknowledges just that. And being called a miser, really, it's not that far off the mark.

"This is the laziest quest possible," he answers, dryly, and reaches to take the bottle as he continues, "And you can't even be bothered to do that?"

With a sigh, he drops one bottle in his pocket for now, holding on to the other.

"Fine. Let me catch the wind while you catch... bugs, probably."

[miss_filed]

Well, sir, congratulations, because you have the HIGHLY dubious honor of making Evie blush. She is absolutely scandalized. "I---I don't know?" Finally, also, you have asked a question she does not have a nerdy answer to. How dare you, sir. How dare.

She will try to recover herself, "I suppose it depends on how badly the audience behaves."

[preblessed]

Apparently he gets to be as lazy as he likes, since Remi is taking the bottle to do it for him anyway. QED, lesson learned: at least one person here will just do things when asked in the laziest possible way. Oleander is used to being indoors and not having to hike around so much (this is a flat field), so let him indulge down here. He is both tired and enjoying nature.

For now. What is this about bugs.

"Why be bothered when I have you?" See? Perfect crime. He pats the grass with his now empty hand, like, surveying for bugs. It better not be roaches, the only bug he's really familiar with.

"I believe we are bug-free." Guy who's never been in nature: no bugs here!

[thecodexabides]

"That is not how it works." Chaplains do not get special dispensation to be sinful. LEANDROS!!!!

Guess what, you're arguing with a zealot right now, so, ha! Gotcha.

"What sort of boon comes clothed in corruption?"

[preblessed]

He will mentally award himself ten points for that, thank you. He's a little surprised that she is so scandalized, but it takes all kinds, he supposes.

"How badly? Oh, terribly. I imagine there will be hooting, and maybe even hollering." And the audience isn't even getting paid! The degeneracy of it!

[preblessed]

No, he's not, he's shrugging and letting it go. That's how it works for him, ergo it works just fine. No need to fuss about it. He looks down at his robes.

"What's wrong with my outfit?" Ha ha, get it. Because he's not arguing.

[troubadamsel]

Hmph! ... I'll trust you to your word, then. You've never given me reason to doubt otherwise.

[relocator]

Yes, that is the secret — for however much he complains, however many barbs he flings, very rarely does he actually outright refuse to help when directly asked for it... even in a case like this.

In his defense: the guy seems like he's never seen grass before, or not like this in any case, and he feels slightly bad for him. Only slightly, though.

And he very nearly says that Oleander doesn't have anything or anyone, right now — the only reason he's here at all is by chance, and the only reason he doesn't mind catching the wind twice is because he happens to like the wind. And nature, and trees, and everything that lives and grows.

Bugs included. He can't help the grin on his lips as he says, mild and acquiescing, "Of course we are."

Don't mind him as he turns away to focus on the wind again, instead of the countless bugs that are bound to be there, in the soil, crawling along in the blades of grass, flying and burrowing as if they, too, can sense the approaching spring.

[preblessed]

He has seen plenty of fake grass and maybe one miserably small plot of actual garden-able land in his life, indeed, and can it really be called "land" if it was imported dirt in a flat square? Hardly. While Oleander doesn't share Remi's particular passion for spring and life and so on, he does have an appreciation for novelty— for this new thing, not nearly as horrifying as the vastness of the empty sky, just warm and pleasant-smelling and with the many sounds of nature.

He has no idea what those sounds actually are. A bird? He thinks he can hear a bird. He closes his eyes just to listen for a moment, and maybe to give Remi some time to actually do what they came out here to do. The quest itself is unobjectionable; he just doesn't want to stand around anymore.

When it looks like at least one bottle has been filled with wind (whatever that's supposed to mean), he pipes up again, "What kind of bird is that? Do you hear it?"