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.

main navigation

Comments

[odare]

He can certainly explain it more later, though it's not bound to make much more sense anyway. Thinking of it as magic is probably for the best.

"Mm," he nods. "Not just during the war, either, but always. Death matches for children are essentially a national sport there."

Monsters...

"Some of them, yes. Some are just brainwashed." Snow is a monster. Gamemakers, monsters, minus Plutarch. But many in the Capitol are just... It's part of their culture, it's all they know.

The hug takes him a little off-guard, but it's nice. He leans down into her a little, putting hands on her back and closing his eyes.

"It's okay." It's not. There are many types of grief he carries from Panem, and having a child there he's never met is one of the strangest and hardest kinds to cope with.

casual cw: warhammer aka space racism.

[thecodexabides]

Gadriel is willing to help his fellow Visitors, and the civilians who live here. But their leadership? They have done nothing but lie and obscure. They do not deserve his loyalty.

"None were but some have chosen to make their lives here." And he could understand why. No judgment.

What heretic sorcerers? "All of them. All sorcery is heresy." Except the few sanctioned psykers that fight for the Imperium. "But especially the faction leaders."

[dreamflowers]

It certainly wouldn't have been the first time Jade has ever dealt with something like this either... firsthand or otherwise. It's why she keeps to herself, lives alone so as not to trouble anyone with her condition.

But usually that happens when she wakes up. This feels... different. Like she was in her own head as much as someone else's. Finnick's. And it's not too much unlike one of her visions.

Again. Different.

Blinking hard, biting back a choked sound, Jade leans back. She shakes her head, trying to ground herself by focusing on Finnick's voice.

Not her father's. Not even her sister's. Nothing from that vile period of her life. Jade feels dizzy; if she wasn't already sitting down, she'd worry she might fall over. Instead she grips her hair by the fistful, steadying her breathing.

In. Out.

"I know."

In. Out.

"I'm okay."

In. Out.

"I think."

No, she's really not okay. She hasn't for a long time, if there's been a time in which she ever was.

[his_gardener]

"Yes, just arrived though I'm still not entirely certain of how or where."

Same stared at the elf though, so tall and just as he remembered, it was a sight that he would never be used to or forget. Especially not since all the elves had left for the west, for Valinor; as had Frodo.

"Samwise Gamgee, of the shire. And far from ideal they may be, that just makes it all the better to find new acquaintances and friendly faces."

[his_gardener]

Well, it was good to see there were others besides just tall folk here. And if it was meant to be some sort of identification it was awfully strange to be made from something such as a gem. Not that it being jewelry would have changed much of how Sam had received it, having never been one to wear such things. Maybe a nice brooch or pin, but something like a ring or earring would be all but ignored.

"I am, not but a few hours ago. And I'm afraid I don't know much about this place, but it's awful kind of them to do something like that."

((Glad someone is excited to see him.))

[his_gardener]

"Samwise Gamgee, of the Shire. And thank you, I'd be most grateful for the help given. I don't know much about this land, besides what bit the Tavernkeep with the world dying and all."

But he thought the land had been called Caldera, perhaps the magic had taken him to one place that wasn't dying. Or he'd just heard wrong, but either way Sam was glad for this fellow's help and kindness.

[wrathstrikes]

"I know! I thought he was crazy. But he's here. People say there's other worlds with different timelines or something, I don't know." He gives another irritated wave and a shake of his head, this time about the multiverse shit, because he doesn't really get it.

Anyway, her words confirm that this is probably his Ingrid. The one who also defected from the boar and fought under the Emperor with him to win the war.

He huffs. "What do you care?" A stupid question, like it doesn't occur to him that they're friends and friends care about each other and try to reconnect. Maybe it doesn't occur to him, one or even both of those things.

tw for children's deaths and burning to death

[arlathvhen]

"They killed children?" She had been horrified by the idea of broadcasting the deaths of enemy forces, a vile idea on its own. But it paled in comparison to the idea of showing the deaths of children. What crime could a child commit to earn such a punishment? And who could enjoy such a thing?

"The desire to protect children is ingrained within us from our youth -- I do not think the Dalish alone in this. I can't imagine what kind of brainwashing would allow someone to be okay with murdering children." There is a long, quiet pause that follows that statement, as she thinks. "Though, humans can be plenty monstrous to elves in Thedas. I've heard stories -- and you heard what Empress Celene did." Setting the alienage of Halashiral ablaze. Plenty of children had been there, burned to death in their homes.

"I suppose it just depends." Brainwashing? It made sense enough.

But she's glad he doesn't mind the hug. Though she's not one to offer physical affection easily with those she doesn't know, once she's comfortable with someone, it comes naturally. "It's alright for things to not be okay, Finnick. And what you've gone through... None of that is okay."

CW: suicide

[buffleheaded]

"Death isn't freedom, neither. Whatever else, I need you to know that."

Imoen wrings her hands, agitated. As fascinating as death is for the bhaalspawn, she has plenty of views of what it can mean to be dead.

Even if she tries picturing it the way Jade has envisioned.

"Back there, I just thought - you were a bit hurt, maybe. Stressing. A bit of fun could have been good for both of us."

CW: suicide

[dreamflowers]

"Perhaps. I'm not sure if I agree."

But Jade isn't going to argue, either. Everyone has their own feelings when it comes to death. As a Phasmalist, hers is a rather unique perspective...

Even if she didn't command spirits of the deceased, however, her feelings would still be the same. Jade starts to speak, but bites down when she sees Imoen's hands. Her fingers twitch, wanting to reach out in some way. Comfort. Contact. Just to touch someone again. Given her outburst earlier, she can't fault Imoen for keeping her hands to herself.

"You couldn't have known. It's not like it's something you just casually bring up with random strangers in taverns," Jade says softly. "Besides. It was kinda nice not being alone for a little bit."

Especially without her Apparitions, she was particularly lonely.

[wildwarden]

"Anymore than a few and I might start sounding stupid." She joked. Night Sky never thought she was particularly eloquent, but she was very honest and forward with what she wanted. It didn't leave much room for confusion.

She leaned in to kiss him again, hand smoothing up his back. "I'd like to hear you sing more, by the way. Not now, if you don't want to. Just... in general."

[coldsong]

"Oh, some things can definitely be measured scientifically. Some magic manifests as one kind of energy or another, and then if you have a way of studying quantum wave-forms there's an awful lot that can be gleaned from that, but--"

He blinks, trailing off as Hayden waves his hand and the light shimmers around his fingertips. Well, then! The methodology, and the color of his magic is so familiar it's almost like looking in a mirror. Except a snow leopard has never been the end result of Loki's casting.

He looks from Sabu to Hayden and back, and grins. "Oops?" A shrug. "I was powerless when I first arrived, but mine returned when I least expected it, too. Maybe you slipped through the cracks because you're a spirit?"

[lost_and_foundry]

The gnome's smile is warm, and therefore hopefully reassuring. "I've been here since autumn, and winter's coming to a close now. It's..." He trails off, searching for words. "Its got a lot of good points. Most people are upset to have been brought here against their will, though. You're really taking it in stride."

That's going to be an asset. Better to approach things with a can-do attitude, in Barcus' humble opinion, than begin with resentment. Even if you're the victim of a supernatural abduction, you'll get further with action than with irritation. "They want our help, anyway, so it's only fair they make sure we have shelter and food. You'll probably find money in your pocket by tomorrow morning, or Bonita will leave some at your door. The currency is called Bones, but they're...not actually bones, they're just coins."

He offers a handclasp. "My name is Barcus. Barcus Wroot. I'm sort of a tinkerer and smith, here."

[lost_and_foundry]

Barcus is exactly as light as he looks. His grip strength tends to surprise people, but not his weight. He watches the elf make the mental calculations, and gives him a little grin at the offer of physical assistance. "Oh, better to request forgiveness than ask permission? I suppose I can play by those rules."

"This house is a total loss if we don't replace the whole roof, anyway." He approaches and takes a few seconds to knock the excess dust from his boots before accepting the step up--it's the least he can do. Once lifted, or thrown, whichever occurs first, he proves himself reasonably nimble, scrambling the rest of the way onto the roof, and perching on the eaves.

He sits there for a moment, frowning, then leans over the edge and offers a hand up. He's less likely to be an asset this way, but maybe a little extra pull will be enough to get Felassan topside as well, under his own steam.

"The angle needs to be adjusted," he says. "The best option would be an organic shape, curved--but that's tricky to create on a building. I could do much better than what they've got here, though, just by lowering some of the beams."

The question is, should they go for the easy fix, or a more complicated solution that would be a template for bigger long term improvements?

[holdshisown]

"I'm not anyone is quite sure how it is we are brought here." He says with an apologetic shrug. "As to where we are, however? Now that I can help shed some light on. This world is called Caldera and, as I'm sure you've already been informed, we are supposed to help save it."

And Maedhros was tall even for an elf. He'd be surprised to hear that his people have left for Valinor, though, for he was under the impression they were not allowed back after the kinslayings.

"It is an honor to meet you Samwise Gamgee, though I can't say I've ever heard of the shire before. Now isn't that the truth of it? And your face strikes me as an exceptionally friendly one, if you don't mind me saying so?"

[halfling_dad]

"I'm glad to have known them too," Orym says, taking comfort in the hug, "Letter's tried so hard to keep us together and sane.....and they got so little in return." When they go home poor FRIDA is going to have to learn their partner is gone. Orym is so grateful for Ashton, he can be strong when Orym can't be. The halfling leans up and presses a gentle kiss to the earth genasi's forehead his heart pounding as he does.

Feelings are confusing and Orym is fighting a lot of them when there is nothing to fight and no crisis to run to like there is at home. Can you love two people at the same time, Orym has no frame of reference and his parent's relationship was so....broken he doesn't know what the right answer is.

"I wish I'd talked to them more....shared more experiences with them," he admits.

[lettersfrombel]

"I'll save the obvious joke about how good you are being to me right now," Bel said. Because he has to acknowledge it, even if he knows that's not what Finnick means.

"But I think you're a better man than I am, so we can agree to disagree." And it was probably time for a distraction from this conversation anyway. Bel adjusted his balance, and moved a hand to touch Finnick's hair.

[lettersfrombel]

The line got a laugh. "It's a regular joy in my own life to break so many of the rules I learned in my youth," Bel admitted. "Or just what people expect of me. Never doing things I wouldn't want to do, but..." But there was a part of him that liked thumbing his nose at convention, especially because it always seemed like something that he was made to serve, not that served him.

"I trust you, too." he added more seriously. "I don't think I'd be doing this if I didn't."

Of course, now he had to remember if this place had table service or if he'd have to get up to get a drink.

[utulien_aure]

"A refugee camp."

And not just of Sindar, it seemed. Gondolin gone as well- so had Turgon been among those Maedhros had attacked? What about careful, clever Idril, or Lomion, the sad-eyed boy with the face of lost Aredhel?

"I had thought, perhaps, that there was some small mercy when I saw you retreat. That if I would not make it, at least you might yet be safe. But you tell me that you spent a century after my death doing the work of the Enemy for him?"

A sob chokes in his throat.

"And now you just throw this at my feet, as though I can find some justice in this horror? If I took your head here and now, would it make you feel better? And if it would, is that a point in favor or against?"

[coldsong]

"You're so...warm." He murmurs, and closes his eyes against the bitter moonlight. "I know you have many lovers, and yet I can't imagine any of them feeling slighted. You give all of yourself to the moment, don't you?"

He curls a little closer around her, stroking her back idly. "I spent most of my life out of sorts. Watching my brother hailed as the golden child of Asgard, never fitting in and never understanding why. It hurt."

"And I loved him, but he didn't care that I was hurt." He squeezes her tighter for a second, then relaxes. "Jealousy is a bit part of who I am. Watching other people struggle with it is..."

"I don't know, maybe it actually makes me feel like less of an aberration."

[featheredflames]

"It is a pleasure, Lady Cadence. I am Joshua."

He probably should call her a lady, right? Offering up a reassuring smile he nods her way, conjuring up a second satellite of flame, leaving the original to hover nearby her still.

"It would be unsafe, I imagine, to hold fire so close to one's mouth. Would you like me to accompany you?"

[swordbreaker]

"That is the appropriate way to feel in these circumstances." Dimitri replied dryly. "Perhaps some are immune — we are all from different realms, so the magic may not affect us as much?" Shot in the dark, but what the hell else could it be?

[borelblue]

Imagination becomes reality soon enough; Aymeric slides Halsin's cock through his lips and into the warm embrace of his mouth. He takes the head and a few inches after to start, while using his hand to work the rest. His tongue massages the glans under the head with each back and forth shift of his mouth.

Once he gets a rhythm going, his other hand slides along Halsin's inner thigh towards his ass. Two fingertips begin prodding his entrance. They just barely breach before pulling back - and again, and several times more, until he lets them rest there.

All the while, Aymeric looks up at Halsin from beneath, his blue eyes framed in wisps of steam and his drifting hair.

Jealous Moon

[utulien_aure]

A laugh rings out from the crown of a nearby tree, where Fingon has been doing his own musing upon the moon.

He turns to look for the speaker, and upon spotting Sam, calls down to him. "A wise and kindly thought, friend! May it lighten the spirits of all who hear it!"

[senriofmagic]

Hayden smiles, a soft sort of look with a deep sigh. At least he can feel that small tingle of his own magic.

"Guess we're lucky, huh Sabu?"

"Or I'm too powerful for them to hold back." The leopard huffed, shaking his head a few times before addressing Loki directly. There is a long stare at the man before the Anima finally gives him a bow that is more a lowering of his feline head.

"Well, at least that means it'll be easier to prove I'm not just talking to myself sometimes."