In the center of the court comes a strange cry and a flutter of green and red . How strange . Lovebirds , rather intelligent parrots native to desert and arid areas , an entire flock , come to deliver a scroll . They quibble and call out before suddenly taking off , leaving behind the scroll . Unfurling , it reads the following simple invitation ;
Dear Terrastella , you are invited to Solterra for a time of merriment and hunting , should you so wish it . This is a formal invitation , and you only need to show up to join in if you wish it .
Yours truly , Leviathan , new Sovereign to Solterra
From the flock of so many birds , several find new roosts among the Court , a gift from the new Sovereign . Lovely new plumage and perhaps a sign of turning tides coming from what was once considered a warmongering Court and bloodthirsty beasts ?
Maybe a sign of hope .
You have been invited to Solterra ! Any and all are welcome to show up to the Sol Festival and coronation party for Leviathan ! It's meant for fun and joy , and to allow mingling to occur . There is also a hunt for those inclined for such things !
Please come with good intentions , all ill-will will be promptly ejected .
In the center of the court comes a strange cry and a flutter of green and red . How strange . Lovebirds , rather intelligent parrots native to desert and arid areas , an entire flock , come to deliver a scroll . They quibble and call out before suddenly taking off , leaving behind the scroll . Unfurling , it reads the following simple invitation ;
Dear Delumine , you are invited to Solterra for a time of merriment and hunting , should you so wish it . This is a formal invitation , and you only need to show up to join in if you wish it .
Yours truly , Leviathan , new Sovereign to Solterra
From the flock of so many birds , several find new roosts among the Court , a gift from the new Sovereign . Lovely new plumage and perhaps a sign of turning tides coming from what was once considered a warmongering Court and bloodthirsty beasts ?
Maybe a sign of hope .
You have been invited to Solterra ! Any and all are welcome to show up to the Sol Festival and coronation party for Leviathan ! It's meant for fun and joy , and to allow mingling to occur . There is also a hunt for those inclined for such things !
Please come with good intentions , all ill-will will be promptly ejected .
The very beginning of the modern age of Sovereigns in Solterra were crowned with the hunting of a Teryr , a mighty beast that nests itself deep in Elatus Canyon .
Once upon a time , it was thought the very last were chased out , but there have been rumors of one that has lingered about , deep below the sands . Slumbering . Waiting . Biding . Leviathan , ever the one for a challenge , has issued a call for those daring enough to join him on a hunting party for this monster of the sands . It has been an age past since Solterra has gathered for a fight to take down the mighty beasts that crawled the canyon walls , and he wants to see just what Solterra has left in its bones .
The oldest of the old has risen from the sands and shaken free of its rest , and released a roar deep within the canyon walls . A threat , or an opportunity ?
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how it works
While all are welcome on this particular hunt , Solterrans will have a home advantage over others that will participate , giving them more of an edge to do a little more damage than others ( unless your character has a lot of attack , then , well , they’ll do a lot of damage too ) .
Each character starts off with health based off their EXP + their health . Their attack is their Attack + their EXP .
The Elder Teryr has extremely thick skin and defenses ( as well as a lot of health ) , which means even if you have incredible attack , you might not do a lot of damage even with your attack . Damage is all up to a dice roll which is randomized on a dice roll .
Some fine points here ; to guarantee this as a more randomized event , there will be no such thing as the use of extra attacks or blocks from the Agora .
You agree to hunt and go into this fully knowing your character can be hurt ( even badly ) but there will be medics at the end of the hunt ! This will minimize scarring and the time the damage will last , and you can join in the party at any point before or after this .
Rolls will be done on a d100 to make things a little more even since it's EXP + attack . The Teryr will have a base armor class that it will have . The d100 lets us know if you actually hit the Teryr . A d20 will tell us how much damage you do .
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the sign ups
Hunters: Leviathan ( will not gain the prize even if he lands killing blow ) , Below Zero , Pangaea , Israfel , Sol Bestiam , Faction , Tug
First place will get the title of killing the Teryr , as well as a specially forged weapon by Leviathan himself from the bones of the beast ( and 100 signos )
Second place will gain a set of specially forged armor from the bones of the beast by Leviathan himself , and 75 signos .
Third place will gain the Teryr's skull and some scales for whatever use they want ( and may have it forged by Leviathan later on into something ) and 50 signos .
Everyone gets at least 25 signos for participating in this thread ( as well as claiming it as a completed thread ! )
Everyone that participates in this thread will gain EXP for participating in an IC event as well as it counting toward completing threads as it will likely be more than 3 replies from your character .
The edges of Solterra are quiet , as is the mighty court itself . The hot desert wind blows through a sand streaked kingdom that has fallen away to silence where there once was the strike of hot iron and the shouts of training and vendors wanting to sell their goods against the heat of the sun , to bring in income and flow to the kingdom that prides itself on being able to stand on its own and be the holder of a large army .
That army has shrunk into nothing , has faded , and Solterra has grown comically soft .
It is here that the crier appears , shaking dirt and sand from fetlocks and mane , lifting his head against the sunlight and blinking against it . “ HEAR YE , ALL SOLTERRANS ! THE NEW SOVEREIGN HAS BEEN CROWNED ! ADONAI HAS VANISHED , AND TO TAKE HIS PLACE , LEVIATHAN , THE GRIZZLED SOLDIER ! IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE , FOR A HUNT ! FOR REVELRY AND REJUVENATION ! ” and so it goes , from the court to the next section of Solterra where citizens are gathered . A ringing chorus , a cry for the hope of a fading empire , and for the outreach to other lands , perhaps , a flock of birds to carry the message across . Formal invitations , so they too may join on festivities that they could mingle and perhaps reforge old friendships .
The festival will be opening , and there will be more after that ! Keep your eyes and ears open , and listen for what may happen next !
The meeting has been called first , but the festival is hot on its heels !
While a little uncouth , it is not unusual for Sovereigns to throw parties when they are crowned . Leviathan does not shy from his royal predecessors or from his royal past when he actually held a spot before .
This party is open to all courts , though those of Solterran will gain a bonus incentive of having completed at least one thread in the duration of the time frame of the coronation .
There will be no lavish ball , as it is not the Solterran way to simply go dancing the day away and waltzing about as if they were born into the noble houses . No . This festival consists of a lavish feast of all Solterran foods , and those that have been requisitioned from the surrounding Courts and been brought in by those willing to bring it . Sparkling wines and ales , rich meads , thick fruits , nuts , grasses , cakes , even meat for those of the more carnivorous variety . Solterra will welcome all into its raucous halls and allow them to celebrate a new beginning , including those of the vagabond variety .
The guard will carefully watch , because while Solterra has been quiet , it has not been without its protective soldiers and guard . So try to not cause much trouble , or you might just be thrown out .
Drinking certain ales , you’ll find , may imbue your character with qualities for the duration of a thread , soft magics that are more for show than anything else . These will do no harm to anyone else and are nothing but aesthetic for those that wish to use them , but you can use your own imagination for it , allowing creativity to flow and let people pick and choose .
For those that want to dance , you may dance among others with the musicians that have traveled from far and set up in the center of the court itself , and while it isn’t a formal ball , it’s something akin to a celebration of a time less noble and more homelike .
There is no sign up sheet for this , we only ask that you put ‘The Sol Festival’ somewhere in your thread title !
He didn't really expect his week to go this way , not entirely .
First , running off to nearly destroy the statue of Solis ( which he's certain is going to bite him in the ass now ) , and now .. Sovereign . Over his immortal life over the many many years he's lived , he's pissed off a lot of deities . They've toyed with him and played with him and they've pissed him off too , but he knows certainly that this .. this is something comedic and something horrifying all at once , and it makes him a little paranoid all the same .
Solis is going to either kill him or maim him , one or the other .
Ah well , he has enough scars as it is , doesn't he ? What's a few more , what's the loss of some other chunk of flesh ? He's missing half his vision , his horn is cracked and frayed . He isn't the prettiest Sovereign either .
Leviathan shakes himself from head to hoof , his thoughts going with it before he heaves his heavy frame out the doors , listening to his every step on crunching desert sand and clicking tile . Large ears swivel , catching the whispers of the Court as they speak . Even now , they've been gabbing between one another about it .
" Adonai has vanished , didn't you hear ? Taken , gone ! Then someone challenged ! "
" I heard he was just a merchant --- "
" No no !! He used to be a soldier! "
" NO! That was the Champion of Battle long ago !! "
" Long ago ? Then he's old ? "
" Immortal ! Back for Maxence ! "
" But that was ages --- "
And so it went on . Tongues wagging and gossiping as he walks . Leviathan's head turns as he steps into the middle of the Court and finally clears his throat , shaking himself again and leaning himself back , rising up , and letting out a call that thunders loud . Even as it tapers from his throat , it echoes throughout the Court , and he claps back down on all fours , tilting his head so a glowing blue eye can see the gathering masses of civilians that begin to move in toward him at the call of their new Sovereign . Some are still whispering among one another , but attention is on him .
He gets the gut feeling once more , an ancient and crumbling sensation that he hasn't had since his crown of the past that had broken from his fall from two traitors that had ripped it out from under him . But perhaps it had been for the best , when the power had gone to his head and had driven him damn near mad at that point . He had been in a terrible spot . Here and now .. he feels lazy , tired . But maybe that's because it's been a long time since he's seen so many faces in one place .
"People of Solterra ... it's been a long time since you've seen someone up here , I'm sure ." He snorts , his head lifting a little , feeling nerves stir in his belly . "I am not a beast built for this noble role . I'm not posh , I'm not well-mannered , well-spoken . Politics are something I don't like . I was born a warrior , taught to fight , and have fought my entire life up until recently , when I began making armor and weapons instead . Even then I still sparred and fought . I've done nothing but fight and be a grizzled grumpass all my life . Being a King is not new though . I've been a King , and it isn't as fancy as it seems . I've scraped and scrambled and spilled my blood like the rest of you in these sands , and watched as the Kings before me simply turned tail , or just let our Court die . " For a moment , he tilts his head , gazing upward , and then back down .
" I was dumb enough to go yell at Solis about it , too . Blame him for letting this place become idle . Then I came back , and challenged for it myself , when nothing happened , because something had to happen . I'm tired of the backstabbing . We are a proud people , not a bloodthirsty warmongering beastly people like the rest of Novus wants to think we are ." For a moment , his teeth grit , and he growls , deep down . " I want to change that perception . We are fighters , we are proud , but we are not beasts . "
He moves himself , beginning to pace , energy having nowhere to go as he talks , horn glinting in the light of the sun as he treks to and fro in front of the crowd that watches him back and forth . " I come before you as a servant of my people , as well as a leader . I want to revive Solterra , and I have plans . But I also need help . I need a counsel , a regime . I need those that have the courage to step up beside me . A new era , and new blood . "
all are welcome to this thread and are encouraged .
i tasted shadow long before i ever knew the light.
Silk over sand, shadows over cobbled streets, he is the moon and night sky, a shooting star given flesh to walk as a mortal among men. Golden feet ring over the cobbled paths of the Night Market. Alecto breathes in, he breathes out, he moves to the rhythm of the world around him. This is a place for magic and mystery, a place for thieves and opportunity. For one such as he, an enigma as much as he is a man, it is a place to become a mayfly. One who lives for just a night before dying.
Over and over. Again and again.
One night, he shares stories out of the dark alleys to awe and amaze, and then he's never seen like that again. Weeks later, someone whose voice is similar, but different enough that it seems a different person, appears along the riverside, laughing and flirting until the men and women in his company are too drunk on wine and berries, on the high of life, to remember anything more than the whisper of flesh against flesh in the dark of the night.
Now, he comes forth again. As much a ghost as every other night, and still enough of a spectacle to draw the eye, to draw attention. Eyes follow down his throat, to the faint tinkling of the ring around his neck. For a moment, he pauses long enough in a shop to grab a tea. There, he sips and thinks. Sips...and thinks.
The eerie quiet felt like a relief for some reason. Broken only by the sucking noise of the mud reluctantly releasing her hooves, Persephone had to admire the stillness of this humid place. She could feel that this place thrived with life, silent though it may be. Even the summer sun at its peak couldn't pierce through the gloom of the environment around her. Fog clung to her pelt, condensing into water drops that slid right off the opal streaks embedded in her coat like veins of precious minerals in stone. Persephone had to pause and shake the water off, feeling a bit uncomfortable with how soaked she felt just by walking on the soft ground. She might as well be swimming at this point.
The mare paused, sinking slightly into the muck as she watched a huge bird stalk past, it's long spindly legs navigating the waters easily. It was gray and so tall, unlike any bird she'd seen before (that she could remember, at least). While she watched, entranced, the heron snapped a small fish out of the water and gulped it down. She almost felt bad for the fish in front of this keen predator, but that was just how things worked. The bird paid her no mind, ignoring her as it waded farther away from her, interested only in hunting. Persephone wondered if she should feel so envious about how this bird seemed to know its own purpose so well. She was no hunter, after all.
At some point she realized she was sinking uncomfortably low into the mud and forced herself on. It took effort to get herself free, the horrible squelching noise making her cringe. She hopped awkwardly onto a more stable section of ground and finally walked forward, ignoring the sludge now covering her bright orange hooves. Maybe she should be more careful here--it was her first time to be in a swamp, after all. Who knew what predators lurked about, both above and below the water... Well, best not to think too much on it.
Something about this place felt even more familiar than the dry plains she had recently been to. Persephone stood in the lush field, head high as she took in the sweet scent of the summer breeze. The setting sun cast saturated yellows and oranges over everything, lighting up the grass in a spectacular show that made the mare pause simply to enjoy the sight. This land was truly beautiful, she couldn't deny that. Though she knew very little about this place and its inhabitants, it did pose a lot of fascinating opportunities that she was excited to try. She just wish she didn't feel so...lost and confused all the time.
The opal mare watched the horizon for a while as the colors changed rapidly with the descent of the sun. The clouds made for a enjoyable cluster of colors, though they were only wisps in an otherwise clear sky. The colors reflected and refracted off her jewel antlers, creating their own sunset show of flashing colors. Only when the sun finally dipped below the horizon did Persephone shake herself back to reality, thoughts scattering like the wind itself blew them away. As dusk fell, she finally moved forward. Her steps, careful and quiet, still disturbed some insects. To her delight, fireflies began blinking in and out around her, rising from the dark grass and into the air around her.
At last, Persephone smiled slightly, a change from her usual concerned or absent appearance. The sight of the little bugs filled her with an absurd amount of joy and peace and it even put a bit of a perk into her step. She picked up a springy trot, disturbing more fireflies and sending them out in a cloud of blinking lights. Slowly, the sounds of other nocturnal insects and animals also began to fill the dusky air, comforting and warm. She spotted birds taking flight as she bounded like a young filly, disturbed from their night time feast. Usually she would feel embarrassed, but for now she allowed herself to relish in the natural beauty of the world around her.
if today was your last day,
and tomorrow was too late
could you say 'goodbye' to yesterday?
would you live each moment like your last?
Had the courts always felt this quiet?
Even now, as she walked the streets, she was surprised by how . . . . still it was. But it was a stillness that was charged up, like a storm coming on the horizon, a storm that would promise to shake everything. She could taste it now, feel it like a tremor down her back, the very vapors that rolled over her spine chilling her to the core. What would become of her beloved home? For Dusk was truly her home. But, when was the last time Rhone had been seen? She hadn't seen him in a while, herself, she'd stopped going to their arranged training sessions where he'd been teaching her how to properly fight, since he'd not been there in a while.
Which was it's own problem.
Her magic was stronger than before, a whirlwind power that seemed to promise all kinds chaos when she released it. But, she was falling behind in using her own body as a weapon. What kind of battlemage could only fight with magic. What would happen if that magic ran out, what then? She would be like a sitting duck . . . well not exactly, but fairly close, fairly similar. She had the scars on her hip that proved she could take things on if need be. But she didn't do very good at fighting them off.
She sighed as she made her way from the quiet streets.
Her steps changed sounds, the cloven, slightly hooked hooves clack-scritching against the rocks of the cliff as she moved towards the edge, the breeze from the ocean sending salt air to her face, feeling comfortable with the sight of the ocean. Yuki slid from her shoulders, finding a raised rock to warm herself on, curled up like a normal snake of the land. Bel glanced towards her, before laying down, letting her forehooves dangle off the edge of the cliffs with little fear, eyes relaxed, and sighing quietly.
"Bel" Yukime
@Liam Notes:: Figured he can approach and they can strike up a conversation.
In the center of the court comes a strange cry and a flutter of green and red . How strange . Lovebirds , rather intelligent parrots native to desert and arid areas , an entire flock , come to deliver a scroll . They quibble and call out before suddenly taking off , leaving behind the scroll . Unfurling , it reads the following simple invitation ; 
