timeskip ;; eachdraidh

[extramural]

THE OUTSIDER COURT Unseelie. TITLE Seaspeaker, Giftgiver. OCCUPATION God. ABLE TO FAST-TRAVEL Yes, to seaside locations at night and for the night only. RESIDENCE IN 2,701 A small ship, Lumina's manse. RESIDENCE IN 2,702 A small ship, Lumina's manse. MAJOR EVENTS THE VOID WALKER During the Roc's deepfreeze, the Outsider obtains a ship. [ ✖ ] HIGHLIGHT Description [ ✖ ] HIGHLIGHT Description [ ✖ ]

PLANS The Outsider will spend the timeskip immersing himself in the ocean culture of the Drabwurld and building his base of worshipers. He may or may not sire a new terrifying race of sea beings with Ceit the Siren. With Caer Scima destroyed, he will move out entirely, moving what few possessions he has to a small ship that can sail both the oceans and rivers. He will spend most of the year traveling on his ship, taking in the sighs of the Drabwurld and attempting to learn more about it. TIMELINE OF EVENTS SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May) MARCH - The new King of Birds, the Roc, brings late snowstorms across the drabwurld; shardbearers must combat its magic to un-freeze each other, natives, and whole areas. The Outsider uses his fire magic nightly, thanks to the gem in the Drowned Crown, to thaw out bits and pieces of the world. During this, he locates a small ship frozen entirely, captain dead and crew gone. After laying the captain's soul to rest, he takes the ship for himself. APRIL- Shardbearers shall be struck at various moments by the sound of harp-playing which inspires distractingly, disablingly intense and wild emotions, but be unable to determine the source! Shardbearers will discover that they can follow the sound only in their dreams to the dream-image of a harp which magically plays itself. Smashing the harp in their dreams will disable the spell which affects their waking moments. Unused to having most emotions, much less strong ones, the Outsider has a difficult time handling this event. He laughs, cries, and lashes out only to become incredibly distressed at his lack of control. A rendezvous with Ceit the Siren leaves him so worn out that he sleeps on his own for the first time in several thousand years, smashing the harp in his dream; still, the experience has marked him. MAY - Golden swans will migrate to the mainland from the southern coast, devouring newly-planted crops and seeds; slaying them turns them into solid gold swan figurines. The Maidenfish and wolfhounds are quite happy to hunt and kill the swans, and the Outsider is quite intrigued by the magic that occurs when they're killed. He collects the figurines and stores them on his boat. SUMMER IN 2,701 (Jun, Jul, Aug) JUNE - Lumina comes for a boat trip; the pair go whale watching. JULY - Whale-watching trip with Lumina ends. AUGUST - Laethann's Festival of Lights is the second week in August, a curious local celebration timed to the arrival of fireflies which will this year mark the induction of the new Oracle; overnight the boats which comprise the Water Market all seem to have vanished, and natives float candles on the river out to sea and let paper lanterns fly, while in the distance the Tower of the Oracle glows golden through day and night. The Outsider visits Leathann, sometimes frolicking as as a whale under the floating lanterns. FALL IN 2,701 (Sept, Oct, Nov) SEPTEMBER - The magical power which allows shardbearers to understand Drabbish and each other goes haywire; affected characters will be heard speaking their native tongue! All their writing, however, will still be seen as Drabbish. Time to learn languages. OCTOBER - October 25-30th: SAMHAIN! Sun does not rise; characters can go wherever they please; Black Shuck makes another appearance; giant party on the Cathraon. The Outsider leaves an offering for the Shuck for the second year in a row. This year the Maidenfish help him with a costume; he arrives shirtless, wearing a necklace of shark teeth and with swirled designs painted over his torso and arms. His mask is made of small shells. NOVEMBER- Inmates from a magical island prison-colony of Laethann have escaped, and some manage to reach the mainland and begin causing havoc! The government of Laethann posts rewards for the return of these criminals, dead or alive. Many are legitimately dangerous mages and sorcerers; others are simply individuals who are debtors to the state and couldn't pay their taxes! Some of the escaped prisoners attempt to take the Outsider's boat by force. It does not go well for them. WINTER IN 2,701/2,702 (Dec, Jan, Feb) DECEMBER - YULE! The Outsider still does not understand Yule presents, but a few special CR mates may get bone charms. JANUARY - Caer Scima is at last entirely rebuilt, and grander than ever! The Outsider visits to see if they've gotten any new books. FEBRUARY - Possibly still reading at Caer Scima. Oops. SPRING IN 2,702 (Mar, Apr) MARCH - The skeletons of unburied soldiers killed in battle begin to rise, devouring whatever living beasts or people they come upon until their skulls are struck off. The Outsider assists in defeating these skeletons and laying their souls to rest using what he was taught by Lady Red-Hand. APRIL - Great numbers of imps and fairies begin to go missing in both castles, to the point where many everyday tasks go unfinished! ... probably doesn't even notice. MAY - Unearthly black-eyed young children begin appearing at various coastal locations in the Drabwurld after hatching in spring. They pretend to be lost or drowning in currents, crying out for help... but inevitably attempt to drown and eat their would-be rescuers -- unless those rescuers have a history respecting the ocean and the life within it, in which case they are given bone tokens charmed for luck. Aw, look at his kids!

( codes by whambam )

Comments

Middle of March!

[raavashing]

[Wan found the shrine along the southern edge of La Llorona. It was an odd thing to him. He was used to shrines being made to honor the ancestors. Usually with incense sticks and a painting of the person, or the names of many written in fine calligraphy. Often times set on a simple table, though he suspected (but had never seen) the more well-to-do humans of the Lion Turtle City had more ostentatious displays. So while the shrine had elements he associated with a shrine: a table, a place to burn something, a picture (sort-of), that was where the similarities ended and it left Wan wondering what the display was for.

Sticks had been bundled and tied together with sturdy strings to form 'logs'. Three had been laid together and bound again to form the flat of the 'table' of the shrine with an actual log split three ways to form a sturdy set of legs. There was a flat rock with a shallow stone bowl on it set to the front of the table and an odd 'picture' made mostly of bird skulls and wing bones tied to a 'weave' of threads set into a stick and string frame.

And on top of being strange, it seemed to be set up in the middle of nowhere. The people of Azure didn't generally go as far south as Wan had gone and the road was no where near the shrine. The closest landmark was probably the river that flowed south and fed Loch Noa several days down stream. And even then, that was a good half-day's walk from the shrine.

It was enough to make Wan curious and willing to stick around it for a day. He set up camp across from it, a simple oiled cloth tarp to keep the snow off during the night and his bedroll on the ground beneath it after he cleared it of snow. He was curled up there, nearly asleep, when he realized he wasn't alone anymore. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he sat up and tried to make out who was there.]

Hello? Is this yours?

[extramural]

[ The voice that responds from the darkness is perhaps not comforting, but it is familiar. ]

Hello, Wan.

[ The Outsider sounds just as monotonous as he had back in Caer Scima. If he is cold, there isn't any sign of it in his voice; no teeth chattering, no slight tremble. He does not move from his place in the darkness, hands behind his back as he looks at the shrine. Unlike at Caer Scima, he is alone; the four Maidenfish and two wolfhounds are nowhere to be seen, even if the sun were to rise at that very moment. ]

Keeping warm? The King of Birds does seem rather intent on forcing all to freeze. For what, I wonder?

[raavashing]

[He was groggy, but aware enough to make sense of the questions he was being asked. He didn't shiver like many would, despite the light blanket and otherwise threadbare clothes - the same exact ones he'd been wearing at the feast where two met. Though he did have benefit of two new pieces he'd gained when the castle inhabitants had been giving things away: a pair of simple black flats (dressing slippers) and a new fur lined coat. The latter of which was probably the most expensive thing he'd ever owned. And though he was clearly dressed warmly, he really wasn't dressed warmly enough for the elements as they currently were.

Wan rubbed at his eyes to get the sleep out of them as he sat up, legs crossed beneath him, still comfortably in his make-shift bed.]

'm fine. I've never heard of the King of Birds. Is this winter it's doing? I thought it was just a oddly cold second winter.

[Because those did happen in his world to areas far enough north or south.

After a moment, Wan became aware enough to offer:]

Do you want me to start a fire?

[The Outsider didn't look cold, but it was second nature for Wan to offer.]

[extramural]

Yes. You may have noticed the distress among the birds on the first, when the cold began. That was its doing.

[ It happened in his own world as well; March was hardly a strange time for snow and cold. Still, this cold was unnatural. No other cold winters could freeze a being solid and expect them to still live when they were thawed. ]

No need, [ he says after a moment, referring to the offer of the fire. Reaching into his coat, which (despite possibly being the only item of outwear the god wears) shows no wear or tear, the god pulls out an old iron circlet. In one of the spaces on it sits a red gem, winking in the low light of the moon and stars that reflects off the snow.

Setting the Drowned Crown upon his head, the Outsider hums thoughtfully and withdraws a hand from his back. He opens his palm, leaves it flat, and watches as fire springs up and sits in his hand. ]

Wood or other things to burn, however, would be of assistance. Even the wild creatures of the forest do not fear fire on these nights, not in this cold.

[raavashing]

[The only surprise Wan showed was that the Outsider apparently felt the need to put a crown on his head before drawing forth the element of fire. But if that's how he did it, that's how he did it. Wan shrugged and stood up, leaving his blanket on his bed.]

I can go find some. Give me a minute.

[He said it even as he was walking off. A flame of his own lighting up over the palm of his right hand to give himself a light to see by while the snow under his feet actually melted in the wake of his steps. He ended up taking several minutes, about ten, to gather an armful of still wet sticks of decent size. He wasn't worried about drying them out and the Outsider's flame was enough light to guide him back when he had to put his own out to hold the wood.

Wan yawned as he set the pile down in the middle of the small clearing, then melted the snow away with a few waves of his arms. The water in the wood came out as well. Most of it, anyway. With another yawn, he gestured for the Outsider to light it as his leisure.]

I was wondering what was wrong with the birds. Usually they don't act so strangely.

[extramural]

[ He has time. While Wan searches for wood, the Outsider examines the shrine. Snow is cleared off of it carefully, pushes out to create an indentation around the base. Small animals may find shelter beneath it now. Through it all, the flame doesn't go out.

When Wan returns, casually displaying his power to manipulate the snow, the Outsider lights the wood. It will smoke, but that is good; any traveling through here will need the fire, and he is rather certain that Wan can handle himself should any bandits come calling. ]

Do you speak to them?

[ He would assume yes, but one never knows. He highly doubts, in any case, that the birds stopped to speak with Wan as the Roc traveled. ]

[raavashing]

The birds? Sometimes. When they get close enough to say hello to.

[Not that his ability to speak with them was in any way supernatural. He just treated them the same as he had the Outsider's wolfhounds and the maidenfish. He treated them like people.

Unless he was hunting for food. And then it was just a matter of making sure he wasn't taking a mother from her children. He tried to be very careful when he went for meat of any kind and usually chose fish over fowl or other small animals. But he wasn't so picky that he wouldn't take what he could get and many areas he traveled through didn't have easy access to waters with fish in them.]

But they've all been pretty absent. Normally I would think of it as the effects of this winter, but even when I checked trees for owls and birds that nest inside to make sure they weren't frozen, they were gone. Like they had all just abandoned the forest.

[Wan settled back under his tarp and on the bedroll, drawing his blanket up around him as he spoke. It took a lot of energy to keep himself warm, whether he wanted to admit it or not.]

I was worried. But I'm glad to know they're not in danger.

[extramural]

I am not so certain of that. Rulers are not always kind to their subjects.

[ If they were not in danger, would they have acted as they did? They had become frightened, taken to the air or run, each and every one of them. Even loyal friends and mounts had tried to flee in the face of the Roc's ice and snow. ]

But they are likely safer than those out in this weather without protection, yes.

[ This is said with a rather pointed look at Wan and his clothing choices. ]

[raavashing]

[If wan noticed the look, he didn't show it. He was perfectly fine, after all. The power of fire was dampened a bit by the cold, but he was doing well enough to be comfortable.]

I've noticed. I've had to help a lot of people, mostly lone travelers after leaving Azure, the last couple weeks. Not as many around here, though. I didn't think anyone was out here, but I found the shrine and I figured if anyone was in the area, they'd probably come here. It looks like it was probably frequented before the second winter came.

[extramural]

Azure?

[ The village isn't exactly known yet, and besides -- the Outsider is sometimes easily distracted. Other times he's just far too easily bored. ]

There are animals in need of assistance, if nothing else. The naiads in the river appreciate ice being broken as well.

[ He himself isn't overly invested in helping out people, because people- are people. Boring, predictable, greedy, proud... and yet he has friends among them despite himself. Such a strange life in the Drabwurld. ]

[raavashing]

A village in La Llorona, near some ruins called Quendi.

[Wan explained as his eyes drifted in the direction of the river.]

I didn't know there was anyone trapped there. Fish are usually okay under the ice... but I can melt it as I follow the river south.

[A pause before he looked back at the Outsider again.]

What brought you here so late at night?

[extramural]

I see.

[ He will remember the name, the location. He remembers a lot, but for now it is of little interest. ]

They are part of the Sisterhood. Fresh water is their domain; they are quite friendly, but winter sends them into hibernation. Still -- they were awake, and to be forced back into sleep is hardly polite.

[ And Wan will help. So... enough about the naiads. ]

I do not sleep, and I felt the presence of someone at one of my shrines.

[raavashing]

[So it was his. The Outsider hadn't answered the question before and Wan wondered if that was on purpose or if he felt it should simply be that obvious.]

Nice of you to check on me. Do you have a lot of shrines?

[extramural]

[ A bit of both. That and the fact that the Outsider doesn't exactly have the best social skills. ]

More in my own world, of course. But several in this one, made mostly by friends.

[raavashing]

In my world, shrines are made to remember family and friends that are dead. I thought maybe that's what this one was for. Since it has the bird skeleton. Not that people usually use skeletons for shrines in my world, but...

[He shrugged and stretched his legs out as his eyes slid to the side, catching sight of some movement. The fire had indeed drawn the attention of several wild animals already.

Wolves.

They eyed Wan and the Outsider warily from just outside the circle of light the fire cast, their eyes glinting yellow and giving away their positions.

Wan's eyes moved back to the Outsider as if they weren't a concern at all and he continued on.]

Is the skeleton symbolic of anything?

[extramural]

[ The Outsider does not seem overly concerned about the wolves either, tilting his head to study them before simply urging the fire to grow. If the beasts do not wish to come closer, then they can send more heat out.

He's grown a bit more fond of canines since acquiring the two pups of his own. ]

You would have to ask the person who made it. Each shrine is unique, a reflection of the person who built it more than of myself.

[ He likes them like that. You never know what one shrine may hold. ]

In my world, they are more uniform, but that is hardly a surprise -- people in my world share a common cultural background, associate me with specific things.

[raavashing]

What do they associate you with?

[He was curious, now. This was a new concept to him and he wanted to see how much the Outsider would tell him about himself and his world. He wanted to learn.

The wolves backed up as the fire grew, wary of it still. At least they were until one of the females decided to trot closer and nose around the edge of the cleared ground where snow no longer was. She gave the Outsider a wide berth, but after a second of hovering moved around to where Wan was and started sniffing at his thin bedding. Wan absently reached out and rested his hand to the side of the wolf's head before turning it over and starting to scratch at her ears. The wolf, for her part, gave him a cursory nudge with her nose before accepting the action and curling up to lay down next to him.

He was warm and not a threat and that went a long way as the rest of the pack started to follow suit at a much slower pace.]

[extramural]

The Void -- the realm of magic, of dreams, what began and will end the world. I am a being of chaos, every shade of grey; not good, not evil.

[ And he is as much here, though perhaps not everyone sees it that way.

He watches the wolves, head tilting a bit further at the way the female reacts to Wan. Not a threat, not food. The Outsider is other -- that they avoid him is no surprise, not when he smells like seasalt and deep, dark places. ]

[raavashing]

[The other wolves were a bit more wary of Wan, but they, to came over to the fire now that one of their own had deemed it safe. Most chose to curl up with each other just outside Wan's reach and in the snow. For the moment at least.]

Is there a being of peace in your world? Someone to balance the chaos?

[He found the description the Outsider gave himself even more curious. That he felt the need to specify 'not good, not evil'. Granted, the Spirit of Chaos in Wan's world was what many would consider evil. But that was because Vaatu was also the Spirit of Darkness. Both were inherent to what he was, just as Light and Peace were inherent to what Raava was. To what Wan now was.]

Is there a balance in your world?

[extramural]

Perhaps before me. Perhaps there will be again, after me.

[ Still, he watches the wolves. He knows where Wan is, doesn't feel it necessary to look at the man when he speaks. ]

The Void chooses. Who and what it picks reflects the world.

[ And his world is full of chaos, full of the struggle to live. ]

Yet few know, or understand, or care to.

[raavashing]

Is the Void a spirit, then? A... what is that word Minda used... god! Is it a god?

[Despite being the closest thing his world had to a god, Wan had no actual experience with them. And thus far, he didn't realize the Outsider could be considered one, either.

The wolf curled up against Wan let out a huff a few seconds after Wan's hand stilled and stopped brushing against her. At the reminder, Wan absently began his petting anew, palm drifting down to the wolf's stomach and lingering there for just a little too long. As though he were feeling her over very carefully.]

[extramural]

More than that.

[ He continues watching, eerily still in the winter night. ]

The Void is a realm outside of the world, the source and the end of the world. It is where magic comes from, where dreams are known, where the dead return. I was chosen to be its god, until my time ends, as others before me were.

[ And, with absolutely no transition- ]

Is the wolf pregnant?

[raavashing]

She is.

[Wan answered easily as he continued his careful touch.]

Four weeks at least. Maybe six. It will be a few weeks before she gives birth. No later then the end of next month, though.

[And it wasn't surprising that she was so willing to lay up against him. She needed the warmth to combat the severe second winter. Her pack had probably been huddling close to keep her warm before the light of the fire drew them.]

You're the first god I've ever met, I think. My world doesn't have any.

[extramural]

Can you tell how many?

[ He is idly curious, not terribly invested but bored enough to ask. ]

My world does not always have them, either.

[raavashing]

[He shook his head.]

Not really. I never learned how to count them by touch. Mostly I'm going by how swollen her breasts are. She doesn't mind my hand being on or around her nipples, but she tenses up when my fingers get too low, where the babies sit inside her.

[The milk she was starting to produce and the extra weight was probably irritating enough that a light rub probably felt relaxing, anyway.]

What I mean is, my world doesn't have any gods. You are a god of your world and even if your world doesn't always have one around, it still has them. There have never been any gods in my world. The closest I think anyone in my world gets to that are the spirits. And even the most powerful are far from being gods.

[At least in terms of what he understood of gods. Which, admittedly, was not much.]