Town of Virulen

[ 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐄 ]
[ Date: Saturday, May 28, 1700 ]
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When natural disasters strike, the animals are the first to know.

The multitude of strange, exotic, Echillusian fauna began to stir in the Menagerie, restless, like they were trying to get away from impending doom.

And they were right, as the sky turned vermillion over Mount Maru not moments after. The red tinge bled through the sky over Virulen, casting eerie red light over the town.

A loud C͛͛͛R͛͛͛A͛͛͛C͛͛͛K͛͛͛!͛͛͛ of lightning strikes the summit of Mount Maru, and from it bursts forth an aurora that descends into the streets and engulfs the town.

Fionntan is awakening from her dream.

…and the Dream is now here.

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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱

Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/148642757734735?__cft__[0]=AZUd5CT_1XHCMMiGWbpxNMCgnd59AOUIclQ34dt-d4iV-zTazW-T1TTR01Pq4iAzV4xUwnUfDshtDtpPpe3pWkvMXNHvz6JcqDunMn5HiJl9sq-nogkCGmyJN7Z-l7LBbRmxvBT8w13Wx0Qa1sHc2ry4&__tn__=-UK-R

Final Dream: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/148667517732259?__cft__[0]=AZUd5CT_1XHCMMiGWbpxNMCgnd59AOUIclQ34dt-d4iV-zTazW-T1TTR01Pq4iAzV4xUwnUfDshtDtpPpe3pWkvMXNHvz6JcqDunMn5HiJl9sq-nogkCGmyJN7Z-l7LBbRmxvBT8w13Wx0Qa1sHc2ry4&__tn__=-UK-R

Development Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing&fbclid=IwAR08DaxVt1Oc0KesMc1NOo3iIxYOenzlvjA7x4NynRWlydGLl1YooU_RR9M

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/?fbclid=IwAR1148MO6UtyLSFl5_aDbM_kmvqD3siXkDRQfEo1fR-Mc3GLl2YAQZIla5E

Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR1yPLj9BOI3NfiapTpCdA7VNLlPX05XwVVjzcYouyz5U_fbHEC1M5vgoAo

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[ Art by Aster Clarke (Edited) ]

[ Free Roam — Day 51 ]
[ Finale Week | May 24 ]
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⇲ TODAY'S WEATHER ⇱

[ Daytime ]
Sunny Skies
High 39° C

[ Night-time ]
Clear Skies
Low 22° C

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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱
Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/148642757734735
Final Dream: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/148667517732259

Development Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/
Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR0yecR3ONYPsYdHE4b8Wt6vrld83gCoUzewt_pwK2QtFkUey4l_aX1utLE

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[ Artist: Kevin Harger ]

[ Free Roam Megathread — Day 43 - Day 49 ]
[ Week 7 | May 16 - May 22 ]
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⇲ QUESTION OF THE DAY ⇱
May 16
Why do we keep secrets?

May 17
Who do you trust? Why do you trust them?

May 18
Who was the last person you lied to? Why did you lie?

May 19
When was the last time you communicated how you truly felt to someone?

May 20
Why do we, as humans, tend to hide the truth?
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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱
Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/.../a.1281879064.../146642454601432
Expedition Thread: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/146643297934681

Development Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/
Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR0yecR3ONYPsYdHE4b8Wt6vrld83gCoUzewt_pwK2QtFkUey4l_aX1utLE

Expeditions Form: https://forms.gle/kW985AfbpFk2okeA7
Developments Form: https://forms.gle/7PLfw4HLwYhbHvqi7
Wild Tales Form: https://forms.gle/H6faBdusvS9oK9Vp7

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[ Artist: Daniel Dana ]

𝙍𝙐𝙎𝙏 • 〚 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 〛
0𝟻/0𝟿/𝟷𝟽00 - 0𝟻/𝟸𝟸/𝟷𝟽00
𝙴𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 (𝚄𝚙𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐), 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚜 & 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜

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This open thread serves the purpose of headcanon & in-canon discussions + coordination involving 𝙍𝙐𝙎𝙏.
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Upcoming Expeditions & Events:
• 𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟬: 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 •
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢. 𝚁𝚄𝚂𝚃 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢. 𝙰𝚜𝚑'𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜' 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎, 𝚒𝚗 𝚁𝚄𝚂𝚃'𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜, 𝚗𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝙽𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚗𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚏. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎.

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.npcs/photos/a.123498620262943/139853065294165
𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.npcs/photos/p.139857501960388/139857501960388?type=3

• 𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟭: 𝗠𝗥. 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 •
𝙸𝚝 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜— 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.

𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/142633498335661?comment_id=716321946482495

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𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: allustrationss (twt)

𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙻𝚄𝙳𝙴: 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶?!
▐ 0𝟻/𝟷𝟻/𝟷𝟽00
▐ Featuring the Kadmons, Ash Tartal, Vincitore Halcon & RUST

After months of chasing dead ends and dead leads, and no Jasper Kadmon, the Kadmons (plus Sebastian a.k.a. Stabby) did not have another choice but to accept Lady 𝙍𝙐𝙎𝙏's help, even if the plan she suggested was — a little outlandish even for their tastes.

𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 Kadmon agreed to it immediately. Of course, she would. Not that Sebastian had any right to criticize her.

He had gotten lost trying to find Virulen, and ended up near someplace called ‘Arete’ where he met a man named 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 who confirmed his whereabouts and offered to take him to Virulen.

Either the stars had been lining up for 𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 or it was mocking him. Sebastian had the instincts of a hound, he can sniff the 'suspicious' the moment it touches his nose. But he was blindsided. Vincitore's offer was met with noticeable trepidation, but Vincitore wore Sebastian down with his exuberant personality — self-assertive, dripping with that opulent ichor. It reminded Sebastian of a certain blonde woman who charged to save him when there was no danger to save him from.

So off they went to Virulen, eventually meeting their expedition coordinator called 𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧, and the little girl who tried to lasso a Peryton again. 𝗔𝘀𝗵, she said her name was.

The four of them talked. If 'talked' was what you'd immediately call a prolonged staring contest among three untrusting parties until the young girl clapped them back to their senses. 'Focus!' This wasn't just about them.

It boiled down to this 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 at the heart of the problem. Their concerns about it differed. Sebastian and the Kadmons were for retrieving 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿 Kadmon from their clutches. RUST, who was naturally immune to paranoia, saw them as a possible threat, given how much the town had invested in the democratization of different magic studies. Ash first came to her about it, and RUST clearly understood where the she was coming from. Meanwhile, Vincitore was there for his own intents and purposes, and he dressed in the same concerns as RUST and Ash had.

Nonetheless, it was settled. Ultimately, they were concerned with the same dangerous group of people.

Another discussion needed to be had — this one Sebastian needed to involve the rest of the Kadmons in hence their current situation and their current plan. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.

“Let me summarize.” Sebastian steepled his fingers together, arranging the facts in his head. No, it did not seem any less outlandish even after being lined up.

“On the outskirts of your town, the Kadmons and I will hold a magic show called ‘Magic the Gathering'." RUST nods fervently. She likes and is proud of that name.

"It will be advertised as a display of our magic and your townspeople's who will also demonstrate theirs. After the display, the Kadmons and I will ‘offer free magic’ to whoever wants to learn magic. Particularly the non-magic people, which will draw out the anti-magic organization.”

It made sense somewhat, from what Vincitore told them about the organization. Sebastian and Ash wondered about the same questions: Where did the man get his information? How did he get his information? RUST, as the two eventually agreed on, realized they didn’t have a choice but to trust his offer to help. Vincitore seemed to draw it out of Sebastian's narrative, and if there was more he was sourcing it from, they no longer asked.

"You do not know me as I do not know you. If betrayal shall hold you by my name, then you may have my head." Vincitore assured them, and RUST confidently retorts, "I shall, even without your permission."

“Vincitore will hopefully recognize them in the crowd and then we capture them and force information out of them.” Sebastian looked around the table. RUST, Ash, Vincitore were nodding.

𝗕𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗲 shrugged smiling sardonically and 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗮 Kadmon, who had been quiet this entire time, looked ready to explode with impatience. But he always looked like that. Sebastian didn’t blame him considering it was his husband that had been kidnapped.

And Swanhild slapped the table with both hands snapping.

“Yes! Stop waffling about it, Stabby!”

𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲, the matriarch leader of the caravan, the only Kadmon that Stabby believed to have common sense (besides Blythe) patted Swanhild and told her to calm down.

“Then we are in accord, Lady RUST. Thank you very much for helping us.”

"It's a give-and-take." RUST redirects their gratitude to Ash with a gesture. She wasn't trying to help them. If she had no stakes here as Vincitore did, she wouldn't quite linger unless there was a promise of knowledge and adventure. Fortunately, the Kadmons' case checked all those boxes.

This 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 was about family. RUST did not know family. Ash's eager confession of protecting her home and the Kadmons' plea for help were, in RUST's books, no different than finding missing people. No leap of blood, no grief. Just the need to do what must be done.

"RUST?" Ash asked the expedition coordinator who seemed out of it when they reached the plaza after the meeting was adjourned. "Is everything okay? We'll be able to do it, I'm sure!"

"Yes, let us call for the others."

And so RUST and Ash set off to draft the gathering's cast.

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[ source: https://www.artofit.org/image-gallery/790100328370600222/ ]

[ May 13 | Cyrus Cristobal Travieso's House ]

| SIR NILSEN THE WATCH! |

Ash can say she is close to Cyrus, loves him even. Not in the way she loves Anselm but she would jump in front of a charging Fear Deer for him, and knows he would do the same.

She saw him last after the trial and knows that she should talk to him; but lacked the courage and the composure to. He lost Bartholomew his roommate, he lost Baltazar his--she didn't know what Baltazar was to him and didn't want to pressume. But when he spoke of the loss of the grizzled old man on stage, it was an open wound that bled raw and deep.

Only now with time passing could she believe she could face him without crying too. It was unfair to Cyrus but she couldn't separate him from his passionate defense that Baltazar didn't have and shouldn't have to die.

Good riddance to Lucas. She wouldn't miss him. If she could trade him for Baltazar she would in a heartbeat, even before she knew of his zealotry, his radicalism that led him to murder.

It still hurt that Baltazar was gone. But she can put her hurt aside for now and offer comfort to Cyrus'.

Ash looked for him, her gift for him in her hands, small and compact in a box. Anselm had made it for her after she asked. He's not the best woodworker, its not fancy but its serviceable and she hopes Cyrus will like it. Standing outside his door, first raised tentatively she knocks.

[[ hikarusolaten ]]

[ May 14 | Morning ]
[[ Ash Tartal to Trinidad Verano (Aaron) ]]

Paz's encouragement made Ash feel brave or, at least if it was bravado it was enough to get her to Father Trinidad's front door. She was Toretto, she could fake it till she made it, exercise her bloodline pride! Hopefully.

It was neither too early in the morning, nor too late, a perfect time for brunch. Ash had already packed for the expedition later, all she needed to do once departure time came was to pack up her bags and run.

Similarly she had prepared everything she needed for this. Everything, except the gumption to actually knock on Father Trinidad's door.

She stared for a long moment at the brassy doorknob and slapped her checks once, then twice, muttering to herself.

"You can do this. You faced Fear Deer. You can ask a boy out to brunch." The pain from the slap was distraction enough for her to knock on the door twice, a nervous double tap before she could think too hard about it.

"Is--is Aaron here? I've come to see him."

She told Trinidad about her plans to spend time with Aaron. Not quite asking for his 'blessing' and more declaring her intent, but he let her. He hadn't protested when she brought it up, and even more telling he had told her that celibacy was Aaron's own choice to make. The Father gave the impression that he approved of Aaron spending time with her, a child of his own apprentice's age bracket.

Her fist thumped against the solid wood just one more time, whatever reserves of courage she had were too depleted for a second knock.

Alright-- if no one answered the door, she was going to wait for ten minutes, and then she was going to run to Paz's house, vent (flail uselessly) then plead the woman to come with her.

Good plan.

[ Free Roam — Day 37 - 41 ]
[ Week 6 | May 10 - 14 ]
[ LAST UPDATED: MAY 14 ]
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⇲ TODAY'S WEATHER ⇱

May 10
[ Daytime ]
Mainly Sunny
High 35° C

[ Night-time ]
Clear Skies
Low 18° C

May 11
[ Daytime ]
Cloudy
High 35° C

[ Night-time ]
Cloudy
Low 15° C

May 12
[ Daytime ]
Sunny
High 36° C

[ Night-time ]
Mostly clear skies
Low 17° C

May 13
[ Daytime ]
Sunny Skies
High 38° C

[ Night-time ]
Mostly clear skies
Low 18° C

May 14
[ Daytime ]
Sunny Skies
High 38° C

[ Night-Time ]
Clear Skies
Low 20° C

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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱
Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/144680744797603
Expedition Thread: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/144680501464294

Development Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/
Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR0yecR3ONYPsYdHE4b8Wt6vrld83gCoUzewt_pwK2QtFkUey4l_aX1utLE

Expeditions Form: https://forms.gle/kW985AfbpFk2okeA7
Developments Form: https://forms.gle/7PLfw4HLwYhbHvqi7
Wild Tales Form: https://forms.gle/H6faBdusvS9oK9Vp7

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[ Artist: Sin Jong Hun ]

[ Free Roam — Day 36 ]
[ Week 6 | May 9 ]
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⇲ TODAY'S WEATHER ⇱

[ Daytime ]
Mainly Sunny
High 32° C

[ Night-time ]
Clear Skies
Low 18° C

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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱
Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/144680744797603
Expedition Thread: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/144680501464294

Development Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/
Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR0yecR3ONYPsYdHE4b8Wt6vrld83gCoUzewt_pwK2QtFkUey4l_aX1utLE

Expeditions Form: https://forms.gle/kW985AfbpFk2okeA7
Developments Form: https://forms.gle/7PLfw4HLwYhbHvqi7
Wild Tales Form: https://forms.gle/H6faBdusvS9oK9Vp7

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[ Artist: Anthony Garcellano ]

[ Free Roam — Day 34 ]
[ Week 5 | May 7 ]
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⇲ TODAY'S WEATHER ⇱

[ Daytime ]
Mainly Sunny
High 35° C

[ Night-time ]
Clear Skies
Low 18° C

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⇲ HELPFUL LINKS ⇱
Bulletin Board: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/142633498335661
Expedition Thread: https://www.facebook.com/virulen.rp/posts/142632988335712

Development Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NAsQWWHjz2-__1EeJsQ4F70wuW792Nk4HRU7Aa-VBMs/edit?usp=sharing

Town Records: https://view.genial.ly/61ad792ee078940d6d423581/
Report Archive: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/96ace807-c5e5-4a2e-b806-229a05501b55/page/uxKkC?fbclid=IwAR0yecR3ONYPsYdHE4b8Wt6vrld83gCoUzewt_pwK2QtFkUey4l_aX1utLE

Expeditions Form: https://forms.gle/kW985AfbpFk2okeA7
Developments Form: https://forms.gle/7PLfw4HLwYhbHvqi7
Wild Tales Form: https://forms.gle/H6faBdusvS9oK9Vp7

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[ Artist: Maria Leticia ]

|| ☞ 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕀ℕℚ𝕌𝕀𝕊𝕀𝕋𝕆ℝ'𝕊 ℝ𝔼𝔻𝔼𝕄ℙ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ ☜ ||

[ Character Quest ]

☞ 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟕, 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 || 𝟏𝟏 𝐏𝐌 ☜

His departure was sudden. It had all the signs of a routine trip into the woods, as a man like him was wont to do most of his hunting alone, early in the morning.

His housemates, Lucas and Rakuyo had both departed to hunt for themselves, a few hours after Baltasar had left Virulen. Night falls, and only Lucas returns from the Northreach Vents, bleeding and haggard.

"He's done it now, the old sod. Baltasar is in grave danger. I-I couldn't find Rakuyo. I must return to the forest posthaste."

He only asks a handful of people for aid. Some go with him, and others are organized into separate search parties in order to cover more ground.

As you find yourselves walking deeper and deeper into the forest, an unearthly howl meets your ears, barely resembling that of any animal. Echoing into the night, you can feel the timbre of it, the desperation racing up your spine. In the night, the trees around you almost look like wizened fingers, monstrous hands that threaten to close in and crush you.

Stay safe. Stay together.

And pray that whatever has taken Baltasar Nilsen does not take you too.

==========

[ Pixiv Id 2600327 ]

[ Ambrose Jacinthus ]
[ 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟖, 𝐇𝐲𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 ]

“What were you two thinking?!” Aurora shouted.

Ambrose was home at Hyacinth Mountain, shortly after getting suspended from Lakedaimon’s military academy. His and Milo’s attempt at going to Echillus across the Devil’s Sea in a rowboat stolen from the academy had splintered.

And now, Ambrose was home, his eyes red and hair ruined from the caustic waters, with no plan on returning to school.

“I have to go after him, Aurora. He could get himself killed.”

“Why didn’t you think of that before you did your stupid plan?” She was furious. “And were you just going to leave without saying a word to Dad? To me? To Daphne?”

“I wasn’t planning to be gone forever. You, Daph, and Milo are the three people in the world I care about most. I can’t just leave him alone there!”

“But you were going to leave us?? How would you even begin to explain something like that to Daphne, if you just decided to disappear one day? Are you that ready to throw your whole life away? Who would take Dad’s place in the Senate and carry on our family name?”

“We both know that you’d make the better senator between the two of us.”

“Look, I care for Milo’s safety too! I don’t understand. If you were both planning to go, why would you abandon him in the middle of the sea?”

Ambrose took a deep breath before speaking. “Remember when we were little, and Mom always knew when we were up to no good? She told us she could see the future.”

“She could use Moira, I know.”

“I had a vision in the rowboat,” he revealed. “It was exactly like how she described it.”

Aurora was still angry, but listened intently to her brother.

“I saw that I had to leave, so that Milo would make it safely to the other side. There’s a Lamentean on the other side that he can trust. I don’t know who he is, but I knew he could trust him. I needed to go so he’d be safe.”

Aurora stared at him, dumbfounded. “You’re not making any sense!”

“I KNOW!” Ambrose reacted. “I know, okay? I know it doesn’t make sense but it doesn’t matter now! Milo’s out there and I need to go after him!”

Silence.

Aurora crossed her arms with palpable disappointment. “Well, I’m not going to stop you,” she began, “but at least say goodbye to your family before you go. And take Shelby through Span. It’ll be less dangerous than the sea.”

Ambrose nodded solemnly.

“You’ve fallen for an Icarus,” Aurora said, “and he’s flown too close to the sun.”

[ Source found on twitter ]
[ Milo’s Story Compilation : https://bit.ly/3JOz9RB ]

[ Milo / Ambrose ]
[ 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 | May 4, 1700 ]

Milo lay awake in Ambrose’s bed, his lover breathing softly beside him. The feeling of unease gnawed at him.

They had argued earlier that afternoon, over the means by which Ambrose had planned to bring them home. Ambrose had given Markos Rodeas a back entrance to Lamentis through his family’s land, in exchange for their safe return.

It didn’t sit well with Milo.

“I want to go home with you,” Milo had told him. “I do. I just don’t think this is the right way to do it.”

He didn’t dare bring the argument up again while he was in Arete. One could never be sure if one was being eavesdropped on in this place.

Having to be apart in Virulen and Arete, being able to spend only stolen moments with each other, reminded him of the myth of Tantalus. He could be with Ambrose, and yet circumstances have made it so he was just out of his grasp.

What consequences would await them if they dared to fully reach for each other?

Who would pay the price for their happiness, if they followed Markos back to Lamentis?

Ambrose stirred next to him. Still asleep, he cuddled him tighter. Milo felt a pang in his heart—he missed him terribly. He missed the life he had with him in Lamentis.

A life without dangerous encounters...without crypts of dead bodies...without terrifying creatures...without the land itself trying to kill him...without dangerous people he couldn’t trust...

A life of comfort...filled with books and hot chocolate on a snowy day...a quiet house with a crackling fire...Ambrose playing the piano...or making pastries at the stove...an ordinary life of small joys and mundane moments...

Was the price too high for such a humble wish?

He closed his eyes and drifted off, thinking of a quiet, cozy life with Ambrose back in the Lamentis. Maybe going back with Markos Rodeas wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all...

[ Source found on twitter () ]

[ Milo’s Story Compilation : https://bit.ly/3JOz9RB ]

🅳🅴🅲🅴🅽🅲🆈

[ 𝔽𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 ℙ𝕖𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕣 ]
[ 𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝔸𝕣𝕖𝕒]
[ 𝕄𝕒𝕪 𝟝, 𝟙𝟟𝟘𝟘 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 ]

[ 𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕠 𝕍𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒 ]

Azul had caught the man trying to make his usual morning rounds even if the doctor's orders were to stay in bed and recuperate. Not only did the Spaniel's body suffer great injuries their mind had been twisted by the repeated use of their magic.

But the Spaniel was a man of routine. He followed his usual routes and watered his plants but somehow met Azul and this became the compromise.

Watch the prisoner he said. It will be fine he said.

Leonardo sighed softly not wanting to get on the sherif's bad side. As came to detention area quietly noticing how eerily quiet the cells were. He pulled up a chair and took a seat right outside the the cell that house the leader of the bandits.

He sat leaning against the well looking away from the cell minding his own business as pulled out a book fron his pack and started reading. After a while the Spaniel took out an two apples one for him and one for his quiet companion. He rolled it into the cell as he bit into his.

"........eat I heard you haven't eaten."

-------
Raito on twitter
------

𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟖, 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧

The choppy waters of the Devil’s Sea tossed and pummeled their little rowboat. Milo and Ambrose clung onto it for dear life, the waves spraying them with caustic sea mist.

“Maybe this was a bad idea!” Ambrose exclaimed.

“Just hold on! The current will carry us to the other side!”

A large waved rocked the boat. Despite his desire to see their plan through, Milo began to panic. The dark red waters of the sea reminded him too much of blood, and he was trying his best to keep his fear and trauma at bay.

They weren’t too far from shore yet, but the waves were already getting bigger and choppier. Ambrose glanced at the shore behind him.

“It’s not too late to turn back!” he yelled over the roaring waters.

“We can’t! I won’t!” Milo couldn’t turn back now. Not when he had a shot at finding his mother.

Another large wave crashed into the boat and sent Ambrose’s mind spinning.

𝐻𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑜 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑. 𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑, 𝑡𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠.

𝐴𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑎𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡, 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑜. 𝐻𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑚. 𝐻𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑚, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑎.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑢𝑝. 𝐻𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜𝑤.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑛𝑜 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛.

“AMBROSE!”

He snapped out of his trance and the vision collapsed. In the space between seconds, he had seen two versions of their immediate future. One was where he came along with Milo and they both drowned. The other was where he had jumped out of the boat, and Milo made it safely to the other side.

He didn’t know it at the time, but Moira was about to save them both.

The point of no return was nearing.

“Listen to me,” Ambrose grabbed Milo’s shoulders and spoke urgently. “I can’t come with you. No time to explain.”

“WHAT?”

“You’ll be safer without me!”

“Ambrose—”

“LISTEN! Trust the Lamentean you find on the other side!”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Wait for me in Virulen. I’ll find you!”

Ambrose kissed him one last time and jumped out of the rowboat.

“AMBROSE!”

The waves tossed the boat into open waters. Ambrose kicked it away and swam for his life back to shore. It took forever to overcome the strong current that kept sweeping him out to sea. By the time he got to shore, he was exhausted, mildly burned from the caustic waters, but alive.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦?

Ambrose looked out to the Devil’s Sea and searched frantically. Milo in the rowboat was just a little brown smudge on the horizon. The waters seemed oddly peaceful from the shore.

𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.

“I’LL FIND YOU!” he yelled out, knowing that Milo probably couldn’t hear him or see him amidst the waves.

“I’ll find you...”

𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦...

[ Source not found, edited from the original ]

Theatre Room - Library | Afternoon
May 3, 1700

The Charon coin brought him to the right building now, and he was pleased to find that Milo’s room had a complete makeover. Things were actually arranged nicely, and he had a new (bigger) bed. Imagine his surprise to find a new theatre had been built over the library.

Now theatre, that was something they both enjoyed. He recalled fond memories of winters with Milo at the manor, where they had a good laugh reading the works of William Spearshakes, out loud, and outrageously.

Milo was delighted to see him again, despite being a little worried about him skiving off guard duty again. All Ambrose wanted to do was to just have fun with him for a little while.

Milo made a beeline for the section of Anglaise literature and headed up with Ambrose to the Theatre room.

The stage was free.

Milo had picked out one of Spearshakes’ comedies, which he favored due to it being set in Ancient Lamentis. With feelings and jest, they performed the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe.

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐨:

“𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘐, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴.
𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥,
𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥;
𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺:
𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵;
𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵”

Milo took a prop sword and stabbed himself.

“𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘦! 𝘥𝘪𝘦! 𝘥𝘪𝘦! 𝘥𝘪𝘦! 𝘥𝘪𝘦!”

He collapsed against the wall and dropped to the stage, barely able to stifle his laughter. The pinned the prop sword under his arm and waited for Ambrose to deliver his line.

𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞:

“𝘈𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱, 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘷𝘦?
𝘖 𝘗𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦!
𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬. 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘣?
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥? 𝘈 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘣
𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴.
𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥:
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥;
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘦:”

He took the prop sword sticking out from Milo’s arm.

“𝘈𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴;
𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴:
𝘈𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘶, 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘶, 𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘶.”

Ambrose faked his death and fell into Milo’s lap.

The absurdity of the play had them both lying on the stage floor, overcome by laughter at their fake dramatic deaths.

ᵀʰᶦˢ ᵗᵒᵗᵃˡˡʸ ᶦˢⁿ'ᵗ ᶠᵒʳᵉˢʰᵃᵈᵒʷᶦⁿᵍ ᵒʳ ᵃⁿʸᵗʰᶦⁿᵍ

[ Script from A Midsummer Night’s Dream ]
[ Source not found ]

[ 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟕, 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 ]
𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑔𝑜.

Ambrose waited nervously for Milo to arrive for their date. He’d booked the best restaurant he could find in Lakedaimon, had planned the night, had everything ready for their anniversary.

But Milo was nowhere to be found.

He went to the Archives where Milo worked, only to find him sitting on the dusty floor in the middle of a flurry open books, maps, and papers.

“You weren’t at dinner. What’s going on?”

“I found her,” Milo replied, looking quite panicked and crazed. “I know what happened to her!”

Ambrose looked at the scattered books and maps. They all seemed to be about the same topic: Echillus. Milo stood up and handed him the journal of Thaddeus Bob and showed him the portrait of Susan.

“Is this your mom?”

Before that night, Milo didn’t know what had happened to his mother after she had killed his father. Milo just thought she was dead, but it turns out

“She was exiled! To Echillus.” Milo hurriedly explained how he found this journal in the archives. How it detailed where his mother had been sent to. About the town of Virulen and the settlers and Thaddeus Bob. And the Equi, and the Lost City, and the Fear Deer, and the Pyreflies and—

With every sentence Milo spoke while pacing furiously around the room, Ambrose felt his mind spin faster.

“Hold on, this is a lot to take in.”

“I have to go find her,” he insisted.

Ambrose stared at him in disbelief. “In Echillus? Have you lost your damn mind?!”

“I have to, Ambrose!” His voice was becoming more desperate. “I have to know what happened to her. I have to—”

“Milo, be reasonable—

“—look for her. If there’s even a small chance that she—”

“Can we talk about this first?”

“— could still be alive out there and—”

“You’re not thinking straight!”

“—if I could see her again, I have to—

“Milo, please!” Ambrose grabbed his wrist.

“LET ME GO!” Milo yelled angrily, yanking his wrist away.

The look of surprise and hurt on Ambrose’s face made him relent.

“I’m sorry...I’m sorry...” Milo began to sob. “I 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to go. I need this..so badly. If there was a chance that 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 mother could still be alive, wouldn’t 𝘺𝘰𝘶 take it?”

Ambrose tried to make heads or tails of the situation. He wanted to support him. To help him find his closure in Echillus. But that meant Milo would have to go away, maybe forever.

Still, Ambrose held him as he sobbed. “Alright, calm down. Breathe. Just breathe. We’ll figure this out, okay?”

His eyes wandered around the maps on the floor. It was an unexpected turn of events at a most inopportune moment. The thought of Milo leaving him weighed heavily on his mind.

As did the sapphire ring in his pocket.

[ We’re back with daily Milo/Ambrose assembly posts! I had to rest last week from a big workload, but hopefully I’ll get back to being consistent with these. Thank you to the ones who actually read these, it really keeps me going :) ]

[ Source is deleted twitter ]