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

[shieldborne]

Steve matches his grip strength, smiling back. "Thanks. Same to you."

He leans back in his seat a little, enjoying the increased warmth of the cloak around him. "...okay. Good to know 'Earth' is sort of familiar, at least."

It's a feeble ray of familiarity, to be honest, but it's better than nothing. "I'm afraid I haven't heard of your place, either, though. You, uh, want to sit and compare notes? I get that we've been brought here to help somehow, but the instructions aren't that specific."

Also, it's completely surreal. He's not sure he's not just hallucinating, under the ice.

[shieldborne]

Oh, Christ. He's going to get arrested for being a peeping Tom. Steve claps both hands over his eyes as if trying to reassure her he's really not there to ogle. "Sorry! I'm sorry! I wasn't expecting there to be women here!"

Shit, that sounds a little questionable, too. "No, no, I wasn't trying to hide, I just...was freezing cold when I got here and I'm still getting over it. Hot water. I don't think I had a hot bath in a month, either; I've been on the front lines in the Alps for a hel--heck of a long time."

"I can go, though, don't let me scare you off!" Aaaand he's backing out of the water, waist deep in it now, with the shirt clinging to him like a second skin, so have fun with that.

[thecodexabides]

"Many. To sustain their dome on Avarax, they created small altars, each with a powered crystal. Each had to be captured and destroyed." It had been exhausting, even with three teams. Of three men. "Most Chaos sorcerers carry staves with charged crystals as well. And there was the power source we needed to destroy, from Graia." It was a lot, okay? For his first introduction to the Thousand Sons, it was a lot.

"I understand. I wish nothing more than to get back to the war and my brothers, who need me." And he needed them, he knew. To keep him stable, and focused, to give him purpose. To just...understand him. "Starting again feels impossible without losing what I am." What he's good for, which is pretty much one thing, and scintillating conversation isn't it. "If it helps, you can regain anything they have taken from you."

Well, that's another topic entirely and Gadriel has very strong feelings but. "Our leaders deceive us, and give evasive answers. They cannot or will not tell us if we were selected randomly, or for our abilities. They say we are here to save this world, and frame things as 'tests' for our worthiness," a little growl because Gadriel did not have to prove his worthiness to anyone, "to aid them. It makes little sense." Then there's all the SORCERY and HERESY but those are other matters.

He shrugged. "There will be a mingle soon--a get together. If you are social, you can ask others, and make your own assessment."

Steve Rogers/Captain America | MCU | Sylph

[shieldborne]

capsicle hours

[shieldborne]

The thing is, Steve would probably love to listen to her prattle about history. People who are truly passionate about a subject are always interesting, and even after all that's happened to him--the war, the serum, the plane--he's still an artist somewhere deep down.

Her question pulls him up short, though. "The Treaty of Vers--" Uh-oh.

"Well that's...interesting. I was born about a year before they signed the Treaty of Versailles." He worries his lip, genuinely sorry to have to tell her the War to End All Wars...was not. "My father fought in that war. I'm talking about a different one. It was 1945 when I crashed."

"But, I mean, they brought us from different worlds, right? Maybe it won't be an issue in yours." He has to hope, for her sake.

He nods lightly at the Tavernkeeper. "He's full of answers, only none of them are particularly enlightening."

[angelarmor]

Sir, please, she is fully covered save for those scandalous shoulders and legs, there's no need to be that dramatic about it. Please ignore how dramatic she had been upon seeing him, too. Thanks.

"Well I didn't expect there to be a guy here, so I guess we're even on that." Sienna replied, still crouched on the edge of the pool like she was ready to bolt at any second. Somehow, however, he seemed more stressed than she was about the whole ordeal. "You don't have to leave, you were here first. I'm just a little—" traumatized. Expecting the worst. Pretty sure she was in some kind of elaborate hallucination. "On edge, being here."

She did her best not to be the ogler here instead, but Jesus Christ was he built like a brick shithouse. "It's big enough to share without getting in each others way."

[lost_and_foundry]

She's not the first newcomer he's attempted to offer guidance and help to! He's made a few friends that way. "Yes, the Bones. I think they actually call them that because the artisan who makes them is named Bonita."

"Well, a few of them will buy you a week at most of the Taverns. But if you're willing to tolerate my company for a half hour or so, I don't mind getting you something to eat at the cafe. I could do with a bit of tea, myself."

He offers her a handshake, reaching upwards politely. "My name is Barcus. I've been here a few months, so I have some idea what to expect. Not that this place doesn't like to throw surprises at us on a regular basis."

[swordbreaker]

Trustworthy? Him? Perish the thought. Dimitri would not argue it, however.

"Certainly. I can tell you all I know currently, which I fear is not much. We are assigned to one of three 'factions' upon exiting this tavern — Sylph, Dryad, or Undine. I could not tell you how they choose which suits you."

[miss_filed]

If he gave her the slightest opening, she would become a veritable wellspring of ancient history knowledge. History was her refuge, even after it became a little too real.

"Oh." She took a moment and then laughed, "I guess I am history, then, to you!" She might need another sip of her drink after that realization and all that it meant--another war, another generation of young men thrown into combat. "I know nothing of war outside of poetry, but I have read Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est' many times," It was one of her father's favorites, "and I cannot imagine...." she trails off. She can't imagine facing those horrors in person--the gas attacks, the fear of a bayonet charge, the exhaustion and fear. History books were clean and tidy and safe. She wondered if that was responsible for something behind his eyes.

"I am no mathematician, but I think the odds of you knowing the name of a very specific treaty and year...we cannot come from worlds that are too far apart." As for the tavernkeeper, her smile returns. "Well, Steve, it appears we have a mystery to solve. Possibly several."

[angelarmor]

She couldn't help but smirk. Bonita? And she made Bones. That was kind of funny.

"Sienna." She said as she shook his hand. "I'll pay you back when I get more... Bones." Yup. Weird. "What kind of surprises?"

iii

[coldsong]

A tender exchange with Night Sky has calmed Loki down by this time, else he'd be all too eager to respond to that question in the most direct way possible. He still feels a little twitchy and on-edge, but he's aware what's causing it now, and what soothes it.

He blinks at the stranger, unable to see her face through her visor. It strikes him as a little eerie. "...Genuinely? I feel rather neutral about it, seeing as how we've just met. On the other hand, killing people for no good reason is a bit of my past I've been trying to leave behind me."

Even if, chances are, the faction leaders would bring her right back. "Can we backtrack a bit, here? Actually, first let's get out of the moonlight, that seems to be what's causing the problem." He moves under a nearby cafe awning, beckoning her after him.

Ember Veil

[holdshisown]

Maedhros does notice him, but since it seems to him he's trying to escape notice he is doing the polite thing and acts as if he does not. Unlike Steve he does not seem too concerned about modesty seeing as he's wearing nothing at all as he's soaking in the hot water. Why would he, after all? Seems strange to him to wear clothes when you are bathing.

It does put his rather nasty looking scars in full view, however, which he does worry might make people a little uncomfortable so he'll be keeping an eye out for any signs of discomfort from Steve. He'd rather prefer not to move away from here but he will if his precense start to cause distress.

It Belongs In a Museum

[holdshisown]

It does not escape him that it is a bit ironic that he of all people have agreed to stand guard over some artifacts like this. But he likes to believe he has learned something of a lesson of his own. Sometimes it's just better to let things go.

He knows, of course, that there are other guards as well. So he's decided to introduce himself to them so they don't mistake eachother for an intruder. Which is how Evie comes face to face with a guard that does look rather intimidating as he towers over her without truly meaning to.

[miss_filed]

Was it face to face? It certainly wasn't for Evie, who basically came up to his chest. Thankfully he stood far enough away that she did not have to crane her neck--too much--to see his face.

Which was rather handsome, in an elegant way, once she got past the pointed ears.

She gave a guilty flinch, because she had been distracted from her work of guarding these artifacts, leaning over to read the placards. He clearly came over to call her out on her lapse. "I'm sorry! Apparently I am not much of a guard."

[holdshisown]

Well... when you put it like that there are very few people able to meet him face to face. Nothing he could do about it, though, seems like it would come of as rather condecending if he crouched down to greet someone.

He smiles and waves dismissively at her appologies. "No matter, my lady. You do seem rather new at it and my people do tend to step rather lightly despite our size. If you want I can keep you company and help you keep an eye out, though?"

BONE!!!!!

[miss_filed]

[The line between graverobbing and the academic quest for antiquities has never been more uncomfortably drawn for Evie than right here, as she stands on the lip of the hole, jotting down his findings--well, a lightly redacted version of his findings--in a notebook. ]

How many of the long bones do you see in situ?

[miss_filed]

"Many things here are new to me." She was trying, and not entirely succeeding, to not stare at his ears. Rude! She had been raised with better manners.

"Have there been many attempts on these artifacts? I was wondering what made them so special."

[holdshisown]

"Ah. You are a new arrival then? It can be a rather jarring experience to be ripped from your own world. So I do believe that to be rather understandable." At least she's not staring at his prostethic hand.

"A few. There are those that are not too happy at having them put on display like this, which I suppose I can understand but since they have been unearthed now I don't really know if it's a possibility to bury them again. So I might as well be here to help keep things from spiraling to far out of control should someone try something."

CW: characters views do not necessarily conform to mun's own .__.

[miss_filed]

"Very new! The Tavernkeeper said there was a museum and I, of course, made this my first destination. And then they were asking for help and...," she could not refuse. To spend a night in a museum was always magical, just you and all of these ancient things, whispering their secrets.

"But these artifacts tell the story of their own unique history! Surely they want to share that with the world?" U-unless the history was one of unbridled brutality. But even then, it would serve as a warning and corrective, right?

[holdshisown]

"The concept of a museum is rather new to me, I must admit. This is the first one I have seen and I am honestly not quite sure what to make of it." It did make him uncomfortable in some ways. These were all the belongings of other people that had been put on display like this and it did not sit entirely right with him.

"They do..." He concedes. "But they were also someones private belongings and so the stories they might tell may very well be equally private ones. Things they would not wish to share with strangers. It is... strange to me to put things of those that have passed on display like this. I'm not sure I entirely agree with the practice, but then these things work a bit different for my people so it may just be a cultural thing that makes me look at it with somewhat unkind eyes."

[miss_filed]

"A museum brings the wonders of the whole world to where anyone can see and learn from them!" Excuse her while she gushes about museums.

"Many struggle to learn history from books alone," can't relate, "but once you let them hold a faience bead, or see a mural that adorned the walls of a private citizen, and they realize that, well, these were people, too, just like us, who had lives and loves and worries."

[holdshisown]

"My people live very long lives. Most of us have lived through several millenia of history... so I still do not entirely see the point of it." Just the perspective of an Elf that's old enough to have seen the first rising of the sun, you know?

"I suppose..." He can't really relate either. His father invented their written language so he was pretty damned invested in it. "But... does it not feel wrong to peek into their lives like that. On private things and precious memories that are not for others to gawk at? I know my own people would not appreciate it."

[miss_filed]

"Fascinating!" And she means it and all the implications. This man is walking history...of his world, at least. "My kind...we almost never reach a century. We do not have your living memories for the past." Hence the importance of all of this.

"I...suppose it might seem like that, but isn't it a way to realize that our ancestors, these ancient dead, were not so different from us? When we learn what they ate, and how they dressed, it gives us a connection to them." Besides, they were dead. In a sense, it's hard to die of embarrassment if one is already dead.

Commander Shepard ⭐ Mass Effect Trilogy (The Games CRAU) ⭐ Dryad

[earthborn]

i. The tavern
The difference in light and sound is a slap in the face.

Shepard had expected... quiet. But the waiting quiet, before the storm. The kind of silence you got when breaking it meant an attack. What she got instead was... the sound of someone in another room, clinking glasses together. The quiet noises a wood-construction house makes. She had gone from screaming cacophony of one warzone into another into... peace.

Or something like it.

She looks around the room with the wary eye of someone who has reason to expect something quite dangerous to happen, any moment. When the room continues to be a room, and nothing particularly untoward happens, she eventually slides up to the bar and, with some caution, starts asking questions.

And then, why the hell not?, she starts asking for a drink. By the time you found her, she's a few into it, sipping whiskey with a couple of empty glasses at her elbow, and burping flames. She's had a long fucking day.

ii. dryad lands
Shepard has been walking the streets of the Dryad's Grey Quarter and beyond for several hours and she's come to a few conclusions. First, it's either the most incredible setup she's ever personally experienced, either in terms of lying, mind-fuckery, or some kind of holographic suite, or... this is real.

And if it's real, then... Maybe Snow wasn't entirely full of shit to begin with. Maybe he really hadn't had the power to pull whoever he wanted, whatever his reasons. And that meant— well, maybe they'd been a bit premature in killing his engineers. Bit late for regrets.

Still, she's more comfortable now that some charitable soul has traded her for a set of local clothes: charcoal-black and wool, thick against the late-winter chill. She can't quite shake the lost feeling, though, despite the confidence of her stride. Was this what she'd left for?

No. Hell no. But you can't deny, it's better than home. Whatever home meant anymore.

iii. ember veil cw: violence against minors
Of course, one cannot long wander without encountering the good news of the day: there's a hot springs and you can drink while submerged in it. Those who come upon Shepard will find her lying back in the water wearing underpants and a bra a little else— both are black embroidered with a stern red D5. There is a bottle of wine, with a good few fingers missing.

The water appears to be showing the ghostly images of children with bows and axes running through the forest, or— no, there are some adults, and— they're being chased? By dinosaurs? As she takes a long pull from the wine, one of the creatures leaps onto a child's back, shredding it liberally, blood like wet confetti, and as it does so the others continue to pursuit.

"Figures that even here, I can't get away from the damn Hunger Games," She mutters, certainly more to herself than anyone nearby. She sounds very tired.

iv. questboard
Shepard's boots are thick and well-insulated, military-style, crunching on the rime-over-snow texture of the street in front of the questboard. Her arms are crossed and she's dressed all in charcoal-black, her red hair a brilliant blaze in the otherwise-grey day. She's considering her options; is this why they're all here?

Save the world? Sure.

Inane chorelist of a missionlog? Yeah, why not.

Honestly, it's just a novelty, to have the option to say no. And even if none of it matters all that much, all of it matters. These read like actual problems people have. Paying jobs. Never thought turning merc would look so appealing.

[holdshisown]

He simply shrugs at the obvious fascination. To him it simply is what it is and he'll never really be able to see things like that the same way humans do. "I know... but it is hard to truly understand for us. The way you see things like history and time. You humans are still relatively new to us. In my world you just started to turn up some few centuries ago... barely any time at all to one of my people." Hardly enough time to get any true understanding on how humans saw things, even though they did try.

"I suppose I find it hard to understand how it would be hard for people to understand that. My grandfather was not so far removed from the first generation of Elves so I've always been able to simply speak to my ancestors and know they are very much like myself." And, well... death was an entirely different process to his people. It would be rude to put someones posessions on display like this when they may very well return for them in a few centuries or millenia.