[Open] Intro + April Catch-All

[badsunrising]

WHO: A scrunkly new arrival and YOU
WHAT: Intro and Catch-All for April
WHEN: Throughout April
WHERE: Mostly in Nightwake, with a little in Amberfall



ARRIVAL
[ His head still swims with the memory of the last few moments. The phantom scent of fresh flowers was almost intoxicating. The dazzling bursts of living color and the powerful sense of rebirth were mesmerizing. As if he had been walking through a brilliant dream.

And then it was gone, melted away. He's left only with the moving crowd around him and the feeling of confinement he always felt among walls. A frustrated growl rises silently in his throat. He'd let that vision distract him. He needs to know where he is and how he'd gotten here. He strains to listen among the faint din of confused conversation.

The eventual explanations that come from the one called Olwen do little to alleviate his irritation. He offers skeptical glances toward the bits about a troubled world and seasonal powers. But his most dismissive reaction, a sharp "tch" forced through his teeth, is saved for the line about the necessity of physical touch. What a bunch of nonsense.

As soon as this Olwen is through, he's moving again. His pace is slightly staggered, as if he hasn't moved too much recently. But it's essential to discover how much truth was in Olwen's words. Which means finding others to observe. (Instead of just talking to people like a normal person.) Something he was not especially skilled at doing with any degree of subtlety, being used to doing it in a slightly different form.

Whether he's leaning against a wall and obviously people-watching or staring from behind some restaurant table is entirely up to you!

OR maybe you catch him browsing deeply through books at the Amberfall library while muttering to himself:]

So I'm just supposed to ask a random person to hold my hand?

WINDS OF CHANGE
[ He's gathered enough basic information to learn that he's allegedly been appointed to the Spring season. Whatever that means. Apparently, there were more details to be found at the Spring Guild in Blossomcrown.

After more half-believed explanations, finds himself in the practice area, trying to visualize anything dealing with wind. So far, his focus has resulted in a faint orange-red glow from the amulet beneath his shirt but little else.]

What does spring have to do with wind anyway? Shouldn't it be rain?

[ As he mutters it, a gust smacks him directly in the face, disheveling his already messy hair even further.]

HERE KITTY KITTY
[ He hadn't actually intended on questing. Sure, he'd seen the posters talking about some sort of strange cats roaming about. But his focus had remained on gathering as much information about this place as possible. It was only when he'd noticed his amulet feeling oddly hot that he decided to track down the source of the magical disturbance.

Just when he thinks he's discovered its location, he notices the glow fading entirely from the artifact. Something that's never happened before. Alarmed, he looks around himself to find the culprit.

A light mewl startles him, followed by an inky black creature dropping down from a ledge.

A kitten. His brows furrow in concern, as the animal's fur bristles. Hardly an unfamiliar reaction.]

It's not a good time, cat.

[ He goes to nudge it away with his foot, as he continues to search the place with his gaze. Despite its lack of brightness, his amulet still feels warm against his chest. To make matters worse, any light around him seems to be slowing fading as well. The kitten hisses at the motions of his foot and takes a quick swipe at him.

Sighing in frustration, he scoops the animal from the ground to make a quick exit. Only to watch more lights flash out as he walks briskly. All while the cat yowls in protest.

Sorry if you happened to be enjoying any bright technology along the way!]

Comments

spoilers!

[nilhilistic]

[ hm. he notes the reaction quietly. ]

Yes. Everyone had died. I was the only one left.

Re: spoilers!

[badsunrising]

[ His tone is quieter now, gaze turned. ]

How did it happen?

[nilhilistic]

[ what should he say? he doesn't want to cause trouble for the divine dragon. as for his own . . . well, nil couldn't care less what others thought of him. ]

There was a war between Divine Dragons and Fell Dragons. The war wiped out the population.

[badsunrising]

[ Ah, a power struggle. He's read of such things in the history books. ]

And your allies had the means to send you somewhere else. Where the war had not touched.

[nilhilistic]

Not quite. The world I traveled to resembles my own to a great deal — including the war. But their war has yet to end.

So I offered my aid when I traveled there.

[badsunrising]

Has your insight helped?

[nilhilistic]

I'm not required to. My allies know what took place on my world and I've left nothing out.

Now, all they require of me is my power.

[badsunrising]

[ Well, he can relate to that. He's never been much for strategizing. When brute force works just as well. ]

So not too different from this place. That explains why it is so easy for you to take its extreme elements in stride.

[nilhilistic]

Indeed. There are many worlds. Countless, all varying in nature. There is a difference between naivety and acknowledgement of that.

[badsunrising]

[ That irritation returns but the bite is less pronounced. ]

It is not naivety when you've had no reason to even consider such a thing before now.

[ His world might have its own eccentricities, but it is still just one world. As far as his research has ever revealed. ]

I trust what I can see. Or what can at least be proven.

[nilhilistic]

[ he smirks, amused, setting the book back. ]

And now? Do you still intend to believe only what your eyes have seen?

[badsunrising]

[ He straightens up. ]

I intend to seek proof.

[nilhilistic]

A much better attitude than scoffing at it.

[ though he does find the idea of "seeing is believing" to be a bit ludicrous. what you see isn't always the truth. his fingers flick through the spines of the books. ]

Good luck on your endeavour.

[badsunrising]

We'll see.

[ He pulls another text loose, going momentarily quiet as he seems to consider something. ]

What are you seeking here anyway?

[nilhilistic]

Books on the nature of life in this place. It seems to possess a range of species and allow us to transform rather easily. I find that strange.

[ mostly because transforming isn't as easy as it sounds. ]

[badsunrising]

[ He flips idly through his book. ]

According to some old legends, the difficulty of a transformation depended on the combability between the shifter and their intended change. Perhaps this place works off a similar concept.

[ Honestly, the idea of animal transformation is among those that's easiest to accept about this place. ]

[nilhilistic]

[ nil narrows his eyes briefly at him. was he . . . helping? ]

I can transform, but I've always required the aid of a stone. Not using one and having a variety of creatures to choose from is unusual to me.

[badsunrising]

[ He stops flipping abruptly and seems to freeze. ]

A stone? What kind of stone?

[nilhilistic]

. . . A dragonstone.

[badsunrising]

[ That pushes away whatever he was going to say next in favor of the inevitable, impossible conclusion. Because what else could it mean? Especially when paired with previous statements about dragon wars. Which he had originally taken to mean elaborate banner names.]

To change into a dragon?

[nilhilistic]

[ dryly. ]

Obviously. What else?

[badsunrising]

[ He rubs a hand over his face, processing this... ]

I would mention that those aren't supposed to exist, but it's obvious that statement is now premature.

[ He lifts his hand to stare at Nil with deeper intent now. ]

Either way, I have heard of such a thing. In part. Using ancient stones to evoke transformations into various animals.

[nilhilistic]

[ hmm. ]

So it is somewhat consistent. Curious.

[badsunrising]

[ Somewhat guarded: ]

I've only ever seen one, until now.

Does the stone allow you to transform into anything else? Or just the dragon?

[ Though, honestly, a dragon transformation would be more than enough! ]

[nilhilistic]

I am a dragon. So the stone only offers me that.