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

[earthborn]

"To finding the biggest bastard on the planet, and kicking its ass."

Something about way Nina compares a Reaper to an Ogre makes Shepard feel like this chick is definitely thinking about punching one. And, in all honestly, she isn't completely convinced that that wouldn't work. Magic was apparently real after all, why not... magic punches? Damn, she owed Pavus an apology, if she ever met him again.

"You gonna take that?" Shepard gestures at the shot in front of Nina with an opportunistic eye, "I think I'm being cut off; mine's water."

[wildwarden]

"Night Sky." She was quick to correct. "No need for formalities." Have you seen her? She was anything but formal.

She nodded and gave him a once over. He kind of... reminded her of someone, and the thought, brief as it was, made her expression soften. "I like adventures." She said when she caught herself. "Mind if I join you? I've been here a while, so I won't be a useless tour guide."

[loosed]

Solas dips into melancholy, and Felassan refuses to follow him there, speaking with a tone like an elbow to the ribs even if his literal elbow stays where it is: "With the humans too? Were any of them more fun than I — " Tenses are difficult, under the circumstances; he does his best. " — was? And before you say something cruel, think carefully about the fact that I have not asked about your hair even once."

[dontmindthedetails]

"In that case, call me Elias," Furfur replies with a wink. And oh yes, he's seen her. A lesser man might outright leer at her state of undress, but a lesser man would also have better view of more than her rack and her cleavage.

Not that he wasn't enjoying the top-down view of her cleavage.

"Sure! I was thinkin' about climbin' up a building and running from rooftop to rooftop, but I won't turn down the chance to be lead around town by a lovely lady."

All Is Well {IT REALLY IS}

[channelmyemotions]

"They got a good pitch, you have to admit."

The voice pipes up as she's turning--and when she does, Cinna is standing there.

He is, inwardly, so relieved it hurts. His insides feel hollow, aching, knowing what he does about what Finnick's endured and what Katniss likely went through in the aftermath of his execution. He wasn't sure it was her when he spotted her face in the crowd, but as he drew closer it became more evident he wasn't seeing things.

So he's here, smirking at her, when everything in him is screaming to just reach out and pull her close.

Except he doesn't know when she's from. He doesn't know what she's seen.

So he will maintain his mask, because if she doesn't know? He's not going to hurt her that way by making too much of seeing her again.

"Good to see you, Girl on Fire." he continues instead, to see if she's at least been Reaped yet.

arrival- owo hello!

[odare]

Finnick likes to come to this tavern for brand-new Visitors, to try the weird drinks and to... Well, to hit on everyone, yes, yep. Even after so many months in this place and dying in Panem, that part of him hasn't really changed. He's as gregarious as ever.

He's chatting with someone, probably flirting, when his practiced smile falters at a familiar voice. It's loud, and hoarse, and so undeniable he immediately gets chills. Suddenly he's back in Thirteen and she's screaming at Haymitch.

His gaze snaps over to Katniss at the bar and he completely zones out of the conversation he's having, to the point where the person loses interest and he mumbles a 'sorry' as they walk away. He stares dumbfounded at her until she leaves the bar, at which point he springs into action, ordering the calming wine on the menu and running out after her. He wants to catch her before she goes through a portal.

Thankfully she's just trying to cool down out here.

"Katniss." Nope, no clever opening line, not this time. Neither of them have the wherewithal for that game right now.

[dontmindthedetails]

"My friends call me Elias," Furfur purrs as he turns into Lucifer's touch and kisses his palm, eyes going half-closed in contentment. "But you can always just call me Eli though, if Elias is a bit too much."

A toothy grin and an exaggeratedly suggestive waggle of his eyebrows accompanies the suggestion, and he releases Lucifer's hand in order to place both of his on the demon's hips to emphasize the difference in size between them. And how easy it would be for Furfur to bend him over, should the King of Hell so request.

"And what about you, sweetheart?" he asks in return, giving Lucifer's hips a light squeeze before running his hands up his back. "Unless it's your desire, my mouth won't be full all night."

[utulien_aure]

"And Bor did not?" The poor man. Even if he did survive, his people would likely be taken as guilty by association by non-Easterling survivors.

"It was a risk, but it was a risk we both felt we had to take. You know that. That we were undone by treachery does not make the underlying logic of the campaign unsound. Nor does it excuse what was going wrong already before you took the field."

Because the plan was already undergoing contact with the enemy. It wasn't unsalvageable, he thinks still, but once the Nargothrond contingent was loose things needed to be improvised.

A sigh. "And Ulfang was Caranthir's man, if I remember aright; if you are taking responsibility for the errors of your vassals, why are you excusing me from doing the same for mine?"

He pauses to hear those last words, looks a long time at his cousin's face. "You think yourself a danger at present? So far from Arda?"

is it? is it??

[thehangingtree]

"Remember, I'm still betting on you, girl on fire."

Her insides are hollow too, her heart broken and beaten until she can't even recognize the beat in her own ears. As she stares at him, she feels like she is drowning, like all the air has been sucked out of her lungs and she can't breathe while she tries to make sense of what is in front of her.

"Cinna." Her voice is as broken as her heart, strangled by the fact that she can't pull in enough air to actually say his name.

He looks whole, standing there with a tiny smirk despite the fact his eyes are screaming at her. He looks as shocked as she feels but he also looks...

"How are you alive?" She takes a shaky step towards him, swallowing thickly. "You can't...you can't be alive. I saw you. I saw them beat you."

[thehangingtree]

Having already lifted her head, she glances up as a shadow falls over her, already stiffening as her hands curl into fists against her thighs. She looks like she is expecting an attack but then she is stunned.

"Finnick?" She pushes to her feet, confused. She had seen him before, after she had woken up and before they drugged her again, but she hadn't expected to see him here. Why is he here?

"What...what are you doing here?" Not that she knows where 'here' is. Not really because she doesn't buy the story they are telling her. Truthfully, she is half convinced this is another twisted game of the Capitol's.

[odare]

Wow, it's been months since he's seen Katniss, and he really didn't think she would ever show up here, especially since he's spent the last couple of months wondering if she was alive or dead. He wants to hug her, but that's not for right now.

"That's... A long story," he says slowly, carefully. This is delicate- he can't just launch into a huge explanation. From her yelling inside, and her general demeanour, he's going to hazard a guess here.

"Did you come here from Thirteen?" He thinks it's probably better to ask where she came from than when- it's a question that makes more sense to someone who isn't used to timeline fuckery and world-hopping.

[thehangingtree]

When isn't everything a long story? That's what she wants to ask.

Except he is staring at her like he cannot comprehend that she is there, a feeling she echoes as she looks at him. He asks about Thirteen which makes her think of Twelve, her jaw clenching before she nods slowly.

"Yes." A pause. "Did you come from there too?"

[soldforless]

She shot him an amused look at the little fist pump but who hasn't felt like doing a good fist pump before? At any age?

"That's what I think too. It doesn't do any good to offer evidence if we can't offer the actual suspect." She nodded while they continued to walk. "Did the suspect in question have any theories on who else could have set the fire? Anyone that might have wanted to see her get in trouble?"

[needsexcitement]

"You're forgiven!" she said in a mocking imitation of some of the more insufferable nobility around Canterlot. She then grinned, propping up her chin on the back of one hoof. "And honestly I don't blame creatures too much about thinking I'm just some airheaded with a crown. I don't look as regal as Aunt Celestia or exude her centuries of wisdom. Standing next to her, I look like a little filly playing dress up." She then gave a wicked grin. "Sometimes I play into it since I'm a much less intimidating Alicorn. It's annoying but it can come in handy."

[odare]

That's a great question, Everdeen, an absolutely marvellous question that Finnick would also love the answer to.

"I... Didn't..." He trails off and his mouth sort of hangs open, looking away like he's very deeply contemplating whether he should say more. It's all so hard to explain, and she's definitely from a point in time where her psyche was more... Fragile. Not that either of them were ever quite stable, while he knew her, thanks to all the shit they put them all through.

"I'm from a different point in time. I've lived a little more of our story, so to speak." Not even that much more.

[holdshisown]

"No." Though it might have served him and his family better had he done so, or at least not actively stood in the way of those of his kin that had. "He and his sons remained loyal to the end. Little good that that did them..."

He does know that Fingon is right about it, of course, but he has grown so used to blaming himself for it that it's hard to truly believe it. "I should have known. I should have. I knew how our enemy worked. I knew his tricks... and still I failed to anticipate the one he's most known for."

"And Caranthir was under my command." He says mulishly. "Because... because you died! How could I hold you accountable for anything when you died?! They did not even leave a body behind of you! They... all they left were a puddle of blood and gore that would have been indistinguishable from the rest of them had it not had your banner in it!"

Maedhros himself pauses for a moment before he awnsers. He want's to say yes, to claim he's never going to be anything but a danger to others. But it wouldn't be the truth. Not in entirely, at least. "I'll always have the potential to become one," he says. "But... less so here, perhaps. There are no silmarils here to rouse my oath."

[goethbeforethefall]

"Thank you for not mentioning it," Solas says, on an eyeroll, "You might have enjoyed their company. Beleth's highest General, a former Templar named Cullen, was particularly easy to rile, if one was of a mind. Though I don't doubt that your most stalwart companion would have been Sera, an elf of the alienages. You have a compatible sense of humor."

He says this not because he believes it to be true, but because the thinks they might begin a war of pranks, offensive language, and attrition with one another, if every they were to meet. And if that terrible future comes to pass... then perhaps he can find peace by offering them a better target, in one another.

"They are... were, good people, by and large. Have you met the Iron Bull?"

[halfling_dad]

"They'd love it," Orym agrees. The little robot would have plenty of people to help and new experiences to have. And they would have their friends too. It was everything Orym could have wished for for them. But for now Orym would have to do his best to live for their little missing friend and hope it was enough.

He'd have to be the rock Ashton needed too, something he was very good at even though most of the time he was so at the expense of himself. But Orym was the protector..it's what he knew and felt comfortable with and what made him feel useful to the group. He needed to feel useful.

[inspiteof]

Lucanis waited for him to join him before starting down the road properly. Thankfully, the trip down to Grey Ward did not take much time at all once they were on the ship.

"No? I find it the most pleasant of all the major cities. I suppose many would, however." Given that it was, you know, normal and not underwater or in the clouds. "Have you only just arrived, then?"

[wildwarden]

"You do that a lot?" Running from rooftop to rooftop, that is. "I mean, if you really wanted to, I could join you for that, too. I run pretty fast."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Ah, such mercy...! The Princess is as merciful as she is lovely." He leaned back as best as he could in this body, a dramatic half-swoon.

"...And please, have you got any idea how often I get the same thing, looking the way I do compared to how people with pull are depicted in picture books?"

He sat upright. "I think so far I've been called a homunculus and a party clown. The opposite of handy, and very annoying."

[preblessed]

Oh, the muttering, that's a delight. He might actually enjoy this quest yet. He gives Remi a completely innocent look, like, he has never said something stupid and annoying in his entire life? But at least he's quiet for the bird calls.

He even steps back when told, but that's more because he really wants to see a real bird than any eagerness to listen to Remi. Show him the bird...

But alright, he can't resist leaning over a bit to whisper, "How many bird sounds do you know how to make?"

[holdshisown]

I have not used it much, in truth, but it did seem like a thing that might come in handy to have. Especially since I did not arrive with any armour in this place and this skill can conjure up something like that made out of rocks.

[preblessed]

Oleander hums, a little skeptical. Ground cities are a luxury; he's only seen the surface of his home while in the spaceport. He wouldn't know to find it pleasant, as it kind of sucks.

"I have," he says, tucking the folded napkin somewhere into his robes. "I was born in an underwater city, and I have had enough of that routine. The sky seemed the furthest I could get from home." And he only panicked a little bit about not being in an hermetically sealed space, so he's doing great!

[relocator]

So it turns out Oleander has decidedly a weird metric for what delight actually means... that's just fine, Remi meets that innocent look with a flat one of his own, before he focuses on the bird stuff.

And of course it would be too much to ask Oleander to, hm, stay quiet while they wait for the bird. Remi sighs and answers, his voice pitched low, "Around five, I think. Maybe a few more. Now, shut up and don't move."

Because the bird has hopped down one branch... and as long as they stay silent and still, it'll fly to the ground, its orange beak standing out against the black feathers, pecking at the seeds.