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Most of you long-timers know this already, so this is more a PSA for the folks we've gotten over the last few months that might not be aware yet.

My name's Dean. Me and Jo run a dive bar in the Horizon called the Roadhouse. It's wide open to any summoned that feels like swinging in. If you like decent imaginary beer or playing imaginary pool, you're welcome any time. If neither of us are behind the bar, it's self-serve.

Also, don't touch the jukebox or I'll kill you.

The main clientele we cater to is hunters, so we've got a board where people can leave a heads-up about anything monster-y you happen to run across out there in whatever faction you're holed up in. If you're looking for tips on a job, odds are you'll find somebody seasoned here to hook you up.

If you're a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed up-and-comer looking for a career change, look somewhere else. This ain't a recruitment ad.

( ooc: this is your helpful periodic reminder that The Roadhouse is wide open for anyone to use as a setting for their threads, if you're looking for a Horizon-neutral domain to use as an excuse for two characters to meet, or you need a neat backdrop with a dartboard, feel free to make use of it! The Jo player and I are also totally cool with handwaving Dean and Jo serving anyone that looks over the age of 18. Hit me on plurk at

paingravy for any questions! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't know for certain but one guess I would have is they don't want us to have access to the kind of spells that could return us to our homes. If we used a banishing spell on one another, that would take the power out of their hands. I believe a few of us are trying to figure out how the Summoning spell works, but that is top secret, no one has access to it. They don't want to give us chances to take our fate into our own hands here, I don't think.

I feel the same way and I've tried to learn what I can in the past year, but there are many doors still closed to us. I also think there is plenty going on that no one understands, not our factions either. They didn't expect the experiences that have happened here. The entity, the gods, these weren't planned as far as we can tell, everyone is only reacting.

It is possible. They are ripping open the multiverse to drag people from one sphere to another, none of this is natural, they could be creating holes in the very fabric of reality by doing so. I think Thorne started bringing us here in a hope to get closer to the Singularity, and the other two factions started doing it just to keep even with Thorne. But it was stupid to do this and extremely dangerous. They could be setting into motion the end of all universes and don't seem to care.

What progress has been made on the Summoning spell? I know teleportation magics, though they do not function correctly here. I am attempting to remedy the situation or at least determine what is causing the problem, but I may be of some assistance if that would be welcome.

I am coming to the conclusion that our hosts are not very good at long-term planning or thinking through the consequences of their actions. That is exceptionally dangerous - I am not somebody who cares overly much about being safe, but it is not right for them to involve their citizens in their messes. Or the Summoned.

How do we know it is not natural? Many destructive happenings are natural.

Have the nations been informed of the danger? Are they ignorant or completely deranged? I have only seen a hole in reality and someone banished to a different plane once, but it was magically created which would lend credence to our hosts being able to do so.

No progress. They have it locked up tight. We also have to be careful in Thorne because they'll get suspicious if they know we are trying to study it. They won't like us meddling or taking it into our own hands.

[ Welcome to Thorne, they love getting in the way. ]

You would be correct. The particularly infuriating part is that they ripped apart everything and they haven't even indicated how they want to use us. They're just having us continue to live random lives here, surviving through all these odd experiences, with no clear purpose or goal. I'm not saying I want them to use us, but at least it would make sense.

They keep doing Summonings, they're not slowing down. I don't know that I believe they do actually know who they are taking. They claim they do, but it doesn't make rational sense. If you wanted to take people, you would only pick the people who would be helpful and easy to manipulate. Some of the Summoned are extremely dangerous and powerful, there's no loyalty to the factions. I think they're flying blind and being extremely reckless and arrogant.

Inevitably the natives will start turning on us, if they haven't already, and I understand why. We're interlopers, it doesn't matter if it was done to us.

In that case, if I am imprisoned due to my research on my warp magic and the Summoning we can assume I was making progress and continue on that path more steathily. Do you know if warp or teleportation magic exists in the timelines of other Summoned?

[Not researching it is not an option. Linhardt needs to know. If he does not research, the questions will never stop and they will bother him every time he uses his magic.]

That's terrifying. And I was relaxing too. I should have known better.

I had the same thoughts: I'm a very capable scholar, but I am also notoriously...I do not believe anyone would call me helpful or easy to manipulate. My liege is similar, and she was here.

They will. If we wanted to prevent that when the time came, we should ally ourselves with the 3rd or 4th most powerful faction in Thorne or with the citizenry - if the rulers of the three nations are being so reckless, then we can safely assume they are also reckless when it comes to their protection of those within their borders that do not hold power. Focusing the rage on the rulers and playing kingmaker ensures that we would be owed a debt.

Or we could leave. I hate politics. Let Abraxas tend to its own problems.

Yes, several other spheres have teleportation spells, mine included. But teleportation is limited, I used to be able to portal across the continent, now we can't go outside of borders. Whatever they're using to block it is effective.

They've also never really attempted to build loyalty between us. You would think that is the first thing they would try, if they wanted Summoned who could help them. It's very bizarre. I have thought before that it is possible they have an enchantment or spell on us that we're unaware of. One that could perhaps force loyalty or action. There is nothing I can detect on us though.

Yes, we have looked into assisting Nott as they are anti-Thorne royalty in many ways, frustrated with the lack of attention they've received when things go wrong. But they don't have the type of clout that would challenge the power, not even with us. It is in consideration, but there are less than thirty of us in Thorne.

There is also the reality that we are outsiders and it may not be our right to try and alter the culture here. While some areas may not be happy with their factions, many are and do have loyalty and lives here that are not to be overturned. I hesitate from doing anything drastic that could overturn the safety and happiness of the natives here.

Have we compared everyone's teleportation magics? I have also found my abilities limited - it is like trying to see through a very thick fog and move through chest-deep water. So you used to be able to teleport here? In Abraxas?

That is strange. They are either stupid or there is an unknown reason for them to leave us be. Perhaps letting us be is how they're attempting to engender loyalty - I myself was quite inclined to view Thorne in positive terms as I was allowed to spend my days as I wish.

Leaving may be the best contingency plan.

I hesitate to abandon the other Summoned in favor of the natives. Both the native citizens and the Summoned are innocent in this question. Everybody has a right to prioritize their own survival - nobody has more right than anyone else.

I can still teleport in Abraxas, I can't teleport the distance I was able to before. It seems we can't teleport outside of certain boundaries within our faction. Which I understand, then we could easily jump anywhere we wanted. It seems like it just stops you. I also can't take anyone else through my portals.

The native teleportation controlled by the people here have much greater distance and control, but that is theirs, obviously they don't have limitations.

I think it is possible they think they can build our loyalty over time, and some of us have made connections with locals and with the authorities. It's not to the level of 'help you wage war on another country' type of loyalty. Probably. I don't know what they want from us. Thorne started this. At one point they did intentionally throw the Summoned into the crater around the Singularity, which brought everyone to the Singularity. It was an experiment. They are very interested in our connection to the Singularity, so they must think we are potential weapons. They simply haven't directed us anywhere yet.

I am not suggesting we abandon the Summoned. I am more inclined to have us leave, although that would leave any potential Summoned stuck here the same way. But I'm not inclined to cause a coup or change the politics of Thorne directly.

I can teleport myself, but not anyone else. Which is interesting as teleporting oneself is more difficult than other people. I'm also very limited in the size of what I can move, and I seem to need to see what I'm doing. That would seem to suggest some kind of blanket dampening rather than specified restrictions. That we can be targeted so easily is concerning.

It likely depends on how the Summoned feel about war. I will not fight for any country. Some people enjoy fighting; they will be easier to convince.

If they threw the Summoned into the crater, perhaps we are not the weapons. Perhaps we are the ammunition. Maybe that is why they are not trying to do anything with us other than keep us here: It doesn't matter what we do, only that we and our energy are accessible for whenever they need it for their own purposes.

I agree we should create a plan to leave if necessary.

I would rather not interfere, but I do not think all the Summoned agree, and as you've pointed out, we are going to be seen as a coherent group even if we are not. Us being here is already going to change the politics of Thorne. How secure would Ambrose's position be if he weren't successfully Summoning?

We don't belong in this world, it's possible that we all have a specific energy that can be tracked by those who know it. I've speculated for a while that they have ways to find us. It doesn't mean they'd go after us, they didn't go after the Summoned who fled before, but I do think they know where we are. The ones in their boundaries at least.

Thorne wants to get close to the Singularity, they want to be able to use its power as their own. They can't get close to it without dying, so we were brought here, because we can go near it without dying. They tried to take our connection through experimentation before, but it didn't work. I don't think their minds have changed at all about their priority involving us. We're still a path to the Singularity.

I don't know, but I worry that the Summoned forget we're under a hundred here. There are millions of people on this continent. There are a lot of ways that they would turn on us. Including us making decisions for the greater population because of our opinions or needs.

Some of us may want to stay here for the rest of our lives. I just want us to be cautious. Especially people who are new here.

That's unnerving.

I appreciate the information. It also makes me want to flee to the woods. The problem is that the woods do not have libraries.

I agree that people are too aggressive. They've tried to draw me into political discussions knowing nothing about me. I agree caution is warranted, and I have no intention of acting politically.

Abraxas has freed me from that responsibility. I will not take it up again. I cannot speak for the other new Summoned, however.

Welcome to Thorne, it's very normal to consider fleeing into the woods to get away from them. Or across the continent to another land. But next chance we get, we'll take you to Hayle. The libraries there, the university, it'll make you forget for at least an hour everything else going on.

There's a bookstore in Nott that's not bad. It's one of those very old and cluttered stores that is sort of chaotic but have fascinating and older texts not found everywhere.

[ Istredd loves those kind of books. ]

From what I've heard, the other nations would not be much better. Maybe we should have a hidden Summoned village. There are hidden settlements in Fodlan.

I would like that. Why can't we go there routinely?

Oh. I'm going to need money if that book shop is as you say it is.

[Linhardt needs books. Needs.]

It has been discussed, to make a Summoned community. The problem is that we'd have to think about trade, supplies, locations, safety, and also what we do when all of us get out, but they continue to Summon new people. Staying here is one of the better ways to protect new people.

The Duchess Anastasia has not given us permission. We requested it, but she refused, and we were given regular access to Borrel instead. I plan on continuing to press until she changes her mind. The High Mage Ambrose is her sibling and they apparently loathe one another. It may be clouding her judgment.

Money is hard to come by here. Thorne wants us to rely on them for everything. They allow people to work in the local shops. We've managed to get some coin from hunting in Nocwich and selling parts. But the owner there has been very indulgent of me spending a long time reading without buying.

I want to sit in a closet.

I hate everything about what you have just told me. I need to process it in a way that will not result in me being emotional in your presence.

Take time to process then. But for the record, there is nothing wrong with being emotional.

I found a broom closet.

My emotions are not your responsibility. I appreciate the shared information.

Can I ask what your arcana is?

The High Priestess. I am not certain if the traits associated with the Arcana fit me, however. Have you found the traits observed with each Arcana to hold with the Summoned who share each Arcana? Or is the correlation much looser or non-existent?

I asked because I am a High Priestess too and much of what you've said reminds me of myself. I didn't find a broom closet, I hid in the library in a corner where I set up bedding where no one could find me. I'm very insistent my emotions are not other people's responsibility and I tried in the start to be only logical.

The High Priestess is the arcana for knowledge seekers, people who want to learn everything they can, information gatherers. I think most people would associate themselves with multiple signs, no one is all one thing. But I know that some people have found familiar qualities in people who share their sign. The arcana is considered important in this sphere.

So I am redundant? That is good news. I cannot imagine being irrational is going to help me in this situation.

That is an accurate depiction of my nature, but I feel other aspects of the arcana would be too kind.

[Linhardt doesn't feel himself to be particularly wise.]

It is an interesting system, and it bears many similarities to the Crest system of Fodlan. I wonder if there is a connection.

No, you're just the first Summoned I've met who is one.

[ Apparently they're a rare sign! ]

There seem to be connections between spheres, it's possible. I suppose I think it has to mean something, if even we are assigned them when arriving.

Oh. Maybe there aren't many of us because we are annoying.

Are we assigned them or are they discovered? I think the likeliest explanation is that one must have an Arcana to be Summoned. It just may be irrelevant or unable to be discovered in one's home sphere.

Very annoying, this is true.

I truly don't know. There are differing opinions about the arcana even in this sphere. It does seem to have applicable qualities in common, but any group of people would have that. The Fey don't do the arcana though. And they live here just fine, so it may be unnecessary. They worship a different god than the humans here.

It may be that an arcana is not required to live here, but it is required to be brought here. I need to study more. Is there any useful information about the Fey in Thorne or is it all in the Horizon library?

Everything I learned about the Fey from the Feywilds is in there. Thorne doesn't know anything about them, they tried to genocide them a few thousand years ago so they disconnected from everyone until recently.

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Lin: Yeah this doesn't fit. Also Lin: Answer my random questions I need to know things

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