asgardchrysalis | AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Who: EVERYONE
What: the August intro log and first god house competition, More Than Meets the Eye
When: August 8
Where: Gladsheim Palace for breakfast, around Asgard for the game/curse
Rating: PG-13; please take anything higher than this to a private log!

morning: a warm invitation

Everyone wakes up to a friendly invitation to breakfast at the castle with the gods. For most of you, this comes as a message on your bracelet, reading:

Join us at the castle today to welcome some new Wanderers into our midst. Breakfast will be served and a lively game will be available to all of our guests, both new and old.

New Wanderers are curious on their own, and this is the first there's ever been mention of a game. Perhaps it's enough for you to make the trek to the castle, to see what all the fuss is about, or maybe even to see if there's someone you know. Perhaps you want to learn more about the game, or maybe you just want the food.

For our new guests, this comes as a bit more of a surprise. Wherever you were before in your world, without even realizing it, you wake up in a strange new place. No time or space inbetween, just an awareness of There and then Here. A matronly figure tries to explain your circumstances with a sympathetic smile, but ultimately invites you meet them all for yourselves: the Gods of Asgard, and the Wanderers that arrived before you.

The sight that greets you on the castle grounds is a rather festive one, regardless of where you're coming from. Colorful streamers and flags are draped above large tables with room for several guests. Natives bustle about, cheerfully offering food and drinks to anyone that wants some. Everyone is welcomed to mingle and greet the new Wanderers on this bright summer morning.

the game: a friendly competition

Among the brightly decorated tables are ones highlighted in a specific color for a specific god house, and most of the gods themselves can be found sitting behind it with a few of their district's natives. They are here to welcome the new Wanderers into Asgard - but they're also here to explain the rules of today's game. There are coins hidden throughout the city and disguised as mundane items, and the god house that returns the most of their coins will win an upgrade to their god housing! No hints will be given, but the natives are excited to help facilitate the activity and happily invite you to wander through their districts to find what you can.

But you don't have to know about the rules to be playing the game! The coins are already hidden throughout the city, and no one knows what they are until they've been picked up. Whether you're banding together with friends to find as many coins as you can or blindly stumbling over an unpleasant surprise, the game and the curse are in full swing!

evening: a fair prize

At sundown, all of the coins in the city disappear at once, whether they're in your pocket or still disguised as a bowl. Points will be tallied and a winner will be announced (OOCly, on August 17) - but Asgardians are keen to celebrate regardless of who wins a rather inconsequential game. The same colorful display of tables and chairs is still spread across the castle grounds, although now they twinkle with fairy lights haphazardly blinking throughout the air. Snacks and drinks are made available, as well as more dinner-shaped meals for those that request it. Mostly the natives simply want to bask in the strangeness of these Wanderers from other worlds for a moment longer - but they're also eagerly listening to any stories from the day's mischievous game. Relax, enjoy yourself, or again, just stock up on some freely served food. Whatever suits your needs today. Welcome to Asgard, dear Wanderers.

[ OOC NOTE: This is the intro log for August, as well as our first god house competition/curse: More Than Meets the Eye. You are free to play with the curse prompts and searching the city in any way you want! If you would like to submit a map to earn points for your god house, please check out the rules to learn what to do. We will accept maps until August 17, at which point a winner will be announced and members of that god house will be allowed to vote for an upgrade to their god housing. As always, please let us know if you have any questions or need any help on the mod contact page. Enjoy, friends! ]

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So there were Elves here. Ariadne noted that with some alarm. She'd have to keep her eyes open for them. It was funny to think about. After all, Elves were the most prevalent species in the realm. Yet in such a minority here...

She frowned a little, glancing up at Fran. "Alastrian," she muttered. She didn't include 'demon,' wondering if she could escape the dreaded epitaph here. Delicately, she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. "Have you never seen one of us before?"

Possible. But it seemed extremely unlikely.

Elves indeed. Though it would appear most of them came from the same world, as far as Fran knows. They've met a couple of them so far.

At a whopping five foot nothing, it's unlikely either of them had to tilt their heads much to speak. The nymph nodded, blinking without recognition. "I can't say I have... I thought you might have been some sort of... Anima? Maybe a spirit like me?"

They shrug, crunching into the apple once more.

"But that's interesting! It's fun meeting new people, I think. Perhaps when you're settled down, I can ask you more about your world?"

As a spy, Ariadne prided herself on not sharing more information than was absolutely necessary. But that was different. At least in her own realm, everyone already knew most of the stories she had to tell anyway. Was this a new sort of freedom being offered to her now? She didn't know, exactly. But it was a tempting possibility.

Her father had been the pack's storyteller. And Ariadne could still remember every story he'd told. And more than that. Each cadence and pause. Like a song she'd memorized.

It would be fun to return to that sort of simplicity.

She smiled. "If you like," she said. "But only if you tell me about yours. I have to admit I...I don't know what your race is either."

At that, the nymph's smile grows, beaming for a while as their head nods. Stories are very much their way of life in the old world of spirits and war. The opportunity to sit down and talk with someone was plenty appealing. A few months ago, it would have been such a rare chance they would have jumped at the opportunity!

"I very much would!" They returned, holding back a gentle giggle. "I'm not sure what you might have called me in my world... But I've often heard Nymph, Spirit of the land, fey... I'm a creature of nature!" It's not an easy concept to convey without some sort of mutual culture.

"Did you have anything like that?"

"Faeries," she replied, her smile growing a bit. "They live in the forests of the more magical lands. The ones inhabited by Elves. They protect the trees and wildlife. And for some very special Elves, they'll even bond and enhance that person's magic for the course of their natural lifetime."

They were picky little creatures. And Ariadne had only ever seen a couple in her life. But she understood what a high honor that was, to be chosen.

Obviously, faeries never bonded with Alastrians.

"They're...much smaller than you, though," she added, a slight purple flush rising in her cheeks. "About the size of my fist. And they fly on delicate wings. Pretty much all the time."

They give her a little nod as she explains, holding back a gentle laugh. "That they are!... Good company if you don't mind how playful they are." That she has any experience with fey is a good start, really. Too many times, Fran's been met with 'only in stories'.

With a delighted step, the Nymph settled close by. At about five foot nothing, the short comparison wasn't terribly uncommon. "Think of me like a fairy that bonded with the land and plants, instead!"

A gross simplification, but it would do.

Simple enough. "Most Faeries back home bond with a tree." One large, somewhat sentient tree, if the stories were to be believed. Ariadne had never actually seen it. Travel through the forest up north was strictly regulated, in the age of the Red Dragon. But she had no reason not to believe the stories.

"Now that I think of it," she said, "they're more or less the only race with wings that isn't considered a demon." Probably because of the significant role they played in Elvish history. A reward for their services, or something like that.

Other winged races weren't so lucky.

For a brief moment, Fran's lips purse, looking over Airy with a newfound curiosity.

"It's a funny term, isn't it? 'Demon'..." Their tone softens to something more introspective. "Humans liked to use it a lot for another group in my world... But it doesn't seem to have much definition."

With a light sigh, their head shakes. "But, that's a topic best left for after we know a bit more about each other's worlds, no?"

The gods knew how much Ariadne hated that word. And the politer 'demonoid' really wasn't much better. She gave Fran something of a grateful smile. It was the best response to the word, really.

Of course, Humans weren't the worst offenders in her realm. But that was neither here nor there. Both because they weren't in her realm. And because these days, the Humans had bigger worries.

Ariadne shook her head. "I'd like to hear more about yours. Travel's terribly restricted back home, these days. I don't get to go wandering quite as much as I would like." Which made this whole situation one of those 'be careful what you wish for' sort of things, really. She was sure she'd just traveled farther than anyone could ever have imagined, back home.

Not yet making the connection, Fran merely nods at the gesture to move on. They turn for a moment, looking behind them and deciding there would do. With a light sway, the nymph settles down on whatever passes for a seat at this little party--be it a log, a low wall, or simply a patch of grass--head gesturing for Airy to sit beside them.

"You would?... Well, I'm not quite sure where to start..." Fran pauses, one hand reaching up to tap on their chin. " I travelled a lot, following the moon through the night sky and seeing all sorts of different lands! Nymphs are- Hm, a bit odd about that, you see!"

That's not terribly specific, so they clarify. "We all end up.. 'aligned or connected to something or another. Be it trees, the ocean, a spring, an entire forest... Those connected to something specific, like a single tree, might never stray far from it their entire life!"

"I fell in with the moon, so I followed it during my travels. I've heard wanderlust is fairly common for those of us without a physical anchor. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about my world?"

Ariadne took a seat on the grass by Fran's feet, settling into the lotus position. It was a bit like being back in school, albeit without the severe eyebrows of the missionaries and their constant sighs.

No, she corrected herself. More like listening to one of her father's stories. Yes, she liked that analogy much better.

"I suppose I'd want to know about the people," she said. "Customs and traditions and legends. That sort of thing."

Or three things, but who was counting?

She shrugged, a little embarrassed. "Or anything you think is most interesting."

Their head gave another nod, seemingly settling in for a longer conversation. All they're missing is a small campfire, and this would be quite reminiscent! They hardly seemed to mind the extra questions.

"I mostly met travellers. It wasn't safe to go near towns, not for very long." The reasoning for that is only slightly implied. "They have some interesting customs, though! Not only do they wear clothes, they have different ones for different occasions!" A concept that's entirely strange to the nymph.

"One man I spoke to was from an area that saw a lot of fighting, it's common there to greet people or show gratitude by raising your head and tipping it back, like this." Their head tilted back, stretching out and exposing the front of their neck, pausing for a moment, then dipping back down. "He said exposing your neck to someone showed you had faith in them."

Lacking any clear direction, the nymph is just hopping from note to note, diving into small specifics.

Clothing was nothing new to Ariadne. She wasn't sure how the custom had evolved among her people, but she'd never questioned it. The only the waste that came with investing in silks and satins when the world was falling apart. But that was a separate issue.

But exposing the neck? Now that was something.

Ariadne imitated Fran's movement, arching her back a little to completely expose the dip of her throat. It was a primal feeling. And she couldn't help but shudder with a sense of vulnerability, quickly righting herself again, her fingers absently tracing the lines of her neck.

"That would get exhausting," she muttered.

"Eheh- You don't need to tip back that far!... But I suppose you wouldn't need to do it very often, right?" That vulnerable, primal sense was very much the point of the gesture though. After a little chuckle, Fran's explanations continue. "Other travellers did what they called a 'bow', leaning forward at the hip, some even got on one knee!"

They try to perform a bow while sitting, but it looks more like curling up with their legs crossed. "They had a lot of different formalities for greetings. Some placed light kisses on each cheek, others on the hand, humans can be quite diverse, can't they?" It was a wild journey, for Fran at least, learning all these different things.

"Though, I feel I've learned more about them in a few months here than I have in decades before. I had never even entered a building until I came to Asgard!"

Ariadne leaned forward a little bit, trying to think of the best way to word her question. She could obfuscate and dissemble. But why bother? Fran could plainly see what she was. Why mask her fears?

"Are they...kind to you here?" she asked. "The Humans. And...anyone else you've met so far? Do you ever feel...unsafe? Among them, I mean?"

She lowered her eyes, a little ashamed to ask. There were forces at war within her. On the one side, her faith in the kindness and goodness of people. On the other side, her mother's stern voice. The one that warned her that humanoids were good for nothing but trouble. That they would only lead to heartache, pain, and death.

Fran's voice settled into something softer, eyes flicking up to linger on Ariadne's and offering a gentle nod,

"Most of them have been very kind, yes. The elves especially, I live with one of them, and another is a good friend." Of all the complex things Fran tends to not notice, this is very much something they're familiar with. "It took me a while to get used to it... But I think we're safe, here."

The nymphs head tips, gesturing towards the crowds closer to the festivities. "I'm still a bit uncomfortable out there, with so many people... But that's not because they've been unwelcoming. Something like this is much better though." Just two people, sitting off to the side, well out the way and enjoying their conversation.

(( Doing replies at work, can't change icons! Alas ))

She ran her palms along the thick, rope-like braid over her shoulder. A nervous gesture whenever talking about the relations between humanoids and demonoids. That could be blamed on her mother, no doubt. Her mother's hatred. And her mother's constant fear. The one of which was more justified, perhaps, than the other.

"Back home," she said quietly, "I hid. In plain sight, but hid still. I don't know...I don't really know how to be myself. Around them."

Not for lack of wishing.

It was just a little strange.

A few months ago, Fran might have asked how she managed such a feat... but given their magic given by Honir -- the ability to change their appearance -- the idea seems far less strange that it would have.

A gentle hand reaches out, making to take one of Airy's hands in their own, though they pause for a moment to check. "May I?" Whether she accepts or not, the nymph's expression shifts into a comforting smile.

"That is, perhaps, one of the best things about this place... I don't need to hide." A concept that was both exciting, and a little scary. Fran still hadn't quite adjusted to this place.

Ariadne curled her fingers into each other. The touching of palms was far too intimate a gesture to make, but she allowed Fran to touch her closed fist. And she gave Fran a quick, encouraging smile to make it clear that she wasn't upset.

"I can't imagine a life without hiding," she admitted. "Which isn't to say I find the idea unappealing. Just...extremely contrary to everything I've ever been taught."

And she couldn't blame it entirely on her mother, either. Her uncle and auntie had played their parts. And she'd sacrificed her wings, willingly, to live the lie.

Not lying felt a little bit like trying to go back in time.

They're more than happy to hold the closed hands instead, soft slender fingers giving a light squeeze in an attempt at comfort. They've encountered enough different people to be somewhat aware of cultural issues with touch.

"It'd be quite hypocritical of me to expect you to figure it out right away... I'm still not there." In this moment, at least, one could maybe see a bit of that nurturing nature in the nymph, always trying to help. "Take your time. My home is always open if you would like to talk, or just need some company." A mental note to show her where it is, at some point. Honir's houses can be tricky to find.

Fran's kindness was both appreciated and completely unwarranted. Which made Ariadne appreciate it even more. She smiled, looking up from beneath her eyelashes. So completely grateful to have found someone who could understand this unexpected struggle she was going through. "That's very generous of you," she said. "Thank you."

No flowery language. No courtier flourishes.

Just the simple, sincere words.

They were all that Ariadne needed.

If anything, Fran was in the same situation, indescribably happy to have met someone who they didn't have to explain everything to. Selfish as it might have been, it was comforting to know they weren't the only one.

Not wanting to break that moment, the nymph nods, holding her gaze for a long few seconds before finally leaning back with a little sigh.

When they finally speak, it's with a soft tone just above a whisper. "Could you tell me a bit about yourself? What kind of things do you enjoy, Airy?"

She wasn't used to talking about herself. That wasn't something a spy was expected to do. So Ariadne took a moment to consider the question carefully. As if she were wondering it herself for the first time.

What kinds of things did she enjoy?

"I like plants," she said, surprised by the simplicity of it. "I think, if I could choose any profession for myself, it would be as a gardener. Or...no. Not something that meant staying in the same place all the time. Maybe an herb merchant. I'd like to travel and collect all different kinds of flowers."

A corner of the nymph's lips twist upwards, a good choice, it seems. Not that there were any bad choices.

"Of course... " It was always interesting, to Fran, how most people thought of things as a form of work. "And if you didn't need a profession, would you simply travel to collect?"

"I suppose so," she replied. "And maybe become a storyteller like..." She hesitated. And then realized that she didn't have to. "Like my father. He was our pack's storyteller. It always seemed like a terribly high honor to me."

Feofan had called it a 'burden.' But Ariadne was imagining a perfect world right now. And in that world, Alastrians were at peace. Both with each other and with the humanoid races.

There was no harm in dreaming. At least a little bit.

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