to: everyone

[assembles]

Hey there, everyone. My name is Steve Rogers and I'm one of the people most recently summoned to the Free Cities. I'm also a good friend of Sam Wilson's — we've worked together for a number of years. I know he's made quite the name for himself here.

I've only been here for a little over a month, but in that time I've noticed a sudden increase in military activity within Cadens. There's increased drills and training exercises, equipment moving in and out, that kind of thing. I went by Fort Wilbridge and tried to ask some questions, but all they really had to say was that they were acting out of an abundance of caution. Almost like they're expecting something.

It seems suspicious, so I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in how the factions are behaving, whether it's something I haven't picked up on in Cadens or something going on in Thorne or Solvunn. I figure it might be a good idea to compare notes so we won't be completely blindsided if something else is coming our way.

That's all I've got for now, but it's nice to meet you all. In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Comments

[carmesi]

Religious is one way to put it. They believe in old gods.
They have shrines all around that they visit often and keep clean, and they do a lot with offerings this way.

A few months back they actually started treating us Summoned as if we were connected to their gods. We've been getting offerings, wine and flowers and... a lot of cheese. A very special treatment throughout.

There has definitely been more movement around the shrines as of late.

[assembles]

[ Then the Free Cities has new magic and technology, Thorne has more traditional magic, and Solvunn has their gods. It's the sort of thing Steve might have scoffed at once upon a time, but he knows better now. ]

Do you have any idea why they think the Summoned have a connection to these gods? Is it because of the Singularity?

I wonder if that movement means something. With the Free Cities gearing up for a fight, maybe the people of Solvunn are hoping to ask these gods for a favor.

[ And what does Thor make of all this? ]

[carmesi]

Remember when we were in the nightmare? I had mentioned something similar had happened before.
We all could walk into each others' memories from just touching each other, or just from being in the Horizon. Distance didn't matter.
It was after that happened that they began treating us like there was a connection.

Has Sam had the time to tell you about Eifstide?

[assembles]

[ Steve can't help but be relieved that he hadn't been around for that. The nightmares had been bad enough, but sharing memories, potentially with complete strangers? Not his idea of a good time. ]

How did they know that was going on if the Summoned are the only ones affected? I was wondering about that this time too, with the nightmares.

I don't think he got around to that, no.

[ But Sam's also been recovering. Steve wasn't going to press him for every single detail about what he missed. ]

[carmesi]

[it was not a good time for anyone]

I imagine that we were the only ones having physical symptoms.
Our connection to the Singularity must have clued them in, too.
Not to mention they have mages, here. We were asked to tell them what it was we had witnessed in those memories.

Eifstide. I was not here for it, so perhaps someone else could explain it better.
Long story short, though: it was a spell done by Solvunn's mages gone wrong.
I was told that the spell brought the dead back to attack the other factions.

There was no real explanation for it, as far as I know.
Seems to me that Solvunn would rely most on these kinds of rituals than having an actual force for attack. Like what you see in Cadens.

[assembles]

Do you think the mages can sense when the Singularity is interacting with us?
I've heard that the Horizon is more or less a black box for them.

Huh. Well, if that's what happens when one of their rituals goes wrong, I'm not sure I want to see what happens if they go right.

[ An undead army doesn't sound like anyone's idea of a good time. If that's what Solvunn's bringing to the table, they definitely shouldn't be overlooked or underestimated. ]

[carmesi]

I'm... not sure about that. It seems like they can't even approach it.
They seem to like to keep to their secrets, so it isn't a surprise they haven't told us much.

It's worrisome.
Again, as much as they "venerate" us, we don't get told much.
Being considered something of a god is already awkward enough.
Perhaps Thor could tackle the diplomatics of it all better.

[thunders]

WELL, I PROBABLY CAN'T MAKE IT WORSE?

[carmesi]

You do have experience with god diplomacy, right?

[thunders]

I DO. THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME.

GODS ARE MUCH LIKE HUMANS. THE POWER WE WIELD CAN BRING OUT THE BEST OR THE WORST IN US. OFTEN IT WILL BE BOTH, UNQUESTIONED AND UNCHECKED.

NOT ME THOUGH, I'M A COOL GOD.

[sorser]

[Sorry, what.]

Thor?

[WHAT.]

Is there a reason no one tells me anything?

[assembles]

If they keep asking us for our help and our input, you would think they'd return the favor sometime. We're going to have to make sure we leverage our own knowledge to get more out of them, if they won't give that info willingly.

Thor would at least be more used to that kind of attention, at least. I guess it's no real surprise that Solvunn were the ones to bring him here.

[carmesi]

I just suppose we haven't really been in any position of being of "use" to them in any way that really showcases why... we were even summoned in the first place?
All I know is that the past couple of months we've been struck with malady after malady.

Sorry, by the way. Feels like everything just kind of exploded out of control just now.

[thunders]

THAT THEY MIGHT CALL ON MAGIC BEYOND THEIR KEN, OR OBFUSCATE THEIR REASONS WITH A LIE - NEITHER BODES WELL.

[assembles]

We need to know what they're planning. At least with the Cities and Thorne, we have some idea of what sort of guns they're going to bring to this fight. Solvunn's much more of an unknown entity.

If you and Wanda can try to dig into things over there, I'd appreciate it.

[carmesi]

[mental salute! she your girl for this]

[thunders]

YOU CAN COUNT ON US, CAPTAIN.

[ofthesword]

Look, I think we're quickly approaching the appropriate usage of the c-word where Solvunn's concerned. I'm just saying.

[And there's some time where he doesn't add anything, but then realizes he should add:]

Not the -- not that c-word. I mean. The one that has altars in the woods and people disappearing.

[carmesi]

The fact that you had to explain it wasn't that other word made me think of that other word.

[ofthesword]

I'm just keeping miscommunications off of the mindweb, all right?

[carmesi]

I'll leave the c-word expertise to you.

[ofthesword]

You'll killin' me here.

asdkflj she loves nero

[carmesi]

Your words, not mine.

he has to love her to tolerate this nonstop BULLYING

[ofthesword]

I know, OK? The mindweb reminds me every time it adds a damn signature. Look, my point still stands.

[carmesi]

I know your point stands.
I think we still don't know enough of what is going on in the other settlements to really know what really is happening, though.