TDM 011

[goldmods]

【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.

We are thrilled to announce that the Golden Peacock will be embracing autumn with a special outing. Current and new guests are invited to join us for a refreshing outdoor experience where participants can unplug, unwind, and connect with nature. During this time, all Watches will be disabled to the most basic functions (texting, calls, checking chip account) in order to encourage guests to disconnect.

Please look forward to two weeks of finding yourself amongst the trees. We hope you enjoy your stay, and have a fan-CAMP-stic time. 】

CAMPING

GETTING OFF THE GRID

As the resort moves into what it claims is autumn, the days grow shorter. The projected sun in the Vale sets in the afternoon, after which a faint chill falls. Then there’s the most excessive transformation of all – a portion of the Vale has transformed into a campground complete with a scenic lake, seemingly overnight. Statues nearby have been dressed up with flannel jackets and suspenders. Folksy banjo fills the air without any discernible source.

A section of the campgrounds have been reserved for tents. These tents vary in size, shape, and supplies. All tents, regardless of quality, are supplied with sex toys and lube. Staff and long-standing guests all agree — pretending to live in the wilderness and 'rough it' for a while is thrilling. This is what the peasants feel like all the time!

NOT ALL TENTS ARE EQUAL

► High-rank guests are allocated spacious and luxurious tents. These elaborate mini-homes come with TVs, beds, heaters, and plenty of supplies. Provided camping gear is high quality, ranging from state of the art flashlights to designer backpacks. It can't quite be considered roughing it in these tents, but glamping is camping too!

► Mid-rank guests are allocated moderate tents that comfortably fit up to three guests. These tents come with cots or sleeping bags, as well as standard camping gear to make their time living off the land fairly comfortable. While these tents lack the bells and whistles of the high-rank accommodations, they are more than enough for a comfortable but realistic camping experience.

► Low-rank guests are allocated the shabbiest tents. These sagging accommodations can shield one guest comfortably, but that doesn't stop staff from pairing low-ranking guests together in order to save space. Their 'sleeping bags' are a single blanket and hay bale pillow. There are no other included amenities aside from sex toys and a single lantern.

► Last but certainly not least: our Wildcards! All Wildcards have been randomly assigned. Whether they end up in a glamping tent or sleeping beneath a propped up sheet is left to chance. Wildcards also may find themselves waking up beside a current guest or another new arrival.

► Guests that "go camping" will discover that the door connecting the Vale to the rest of the resort has mysteriously vanished. Uh oh! Looks like there's no going back to the comfortable life anytime soon. Don't worry, the door will return when it's time to pack up and head home.

LET'S GET CRAFTY

► New characters still wake up naked save for a robe, as is standard for the Golden Peacock. This round’s robes are flannel gingham to embrace camping and autumn aesthetic. Some of these robes are much shorter than others; watch out that the lake breeze doesn’t reveal more than you wanted.

► Unlike the standard, there are no racks of clothes waiting for new arrivals outside of their tents. You're roughing it out in the woods, remember? Instead of clothing, Wildcards will find an assortment of raw materials to make clothes.

Fabric rolls, hemp, buckets of leaves, leather, and other assorted goods are waiting to be cobbled into something new. The staff have been kind enough to leave some small hunting knives and wooden needles to make crafting a bit easier. Of course, they won't stop anyone that wants to embrace the wild side and strut around naked.

HOME ON THE RANGE

Welcome to the Peacock Campgrounds! Nicknamed the Stomping Grounds by long-standing guests. Rustic and right off a sparkling lake, guests will find everything they need to live in the wilderness. Staff have expertly set up fire pits, benches, hammocks, and a wooden shed to act as a tool depository. There's even an outhouse, which is a real novelty to many of the long-standing guests. Do they just... squat over that hole and do their business? How wild!

Unlike previous resort-sponsored excursions, guests are expected to manage without the help of staff. That pile of wood won't be replenished once used; guests will have to go chop down trees and split their own. Food won't magically appear in their tents regardless of rank. Camping is all about living off the land. Though staff make themselves scarce to make the experience feel real, they lurk in the shadows, discreetly providing necessary tools and fixing broken equipment so guests won't struggle too much. It isn't fun if it's real hardship, after all!

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO COOK?

► On the first camp morning, guests will find barrels of ingredients and cooking utensils left beside the central fire pit. These barrels are stocked with fruits and vegetables that won't spoil quickly, many of which are seasonal to autumn. They have also been left a few protein options like eggs, jerky, and canned ham. These ingredients are communal and limited. Once they run out, guests will have to hunt and gather in the Vale to collect more.

► Guests must prepare their own meals while camping. Not even the high-ranks are given any special treatment on this! While oil and firestarter are included in the initial supply, these too are limited and won't be replenished after use.

► Staff would never let their precious guests go without a sweet treat. A generous supply of hot cocoa and all the fixings for s'mores has been left behind as well. While none of the other food will be replenished, the hot cocoa and s'mores goodies seemingly never run out. A night around a campfire without roasting marshmallows or sipping cocoa would be too cruel to subject guests to.

SUPPLIES RUNNING LOW

► Guests will have to hunt and gather once ingredients dwindle if they want to eat. The wooden shed is home to a selection of tools that can be used to hunt: bows and arrows, hatchets, axes, fishing poles and line, etc. All tools are rudimentary and can break if not taken care of.

► The Vale is lush with wild fruits and vegetables. However, much like in reality, not all vegetation in the Vale is safe to eat. While some berries and mushrooms are consumable, others are toxic or psychedelics. One must also not forget that they're in the Golden Peacock: some unusual plants that grow in the vale may trigger arousal. Watch out that you don't eat something funky by accident!

► Before 'leaving', staff will explain that guests can fish or hunt small game running throughout the Vale. One particularly enthusiastic staff member will suggest guests track down the snoggleboffs, as they're extremely delicious after roasting on an open fire.

ACTIVITIES

TWO WEEKS OF ROUGHING IT

Camping can't be all about survival. Where's the fun in that? Before 'leaving', the staff arrange activities and events for guests to enjoy. A wooden bulletin board outlines times for group hikes, camping experiences, and wilderness delights. Adirondack chairs line the edge of the lake and a few tire swings hang over the water, tied to strong tree branches. For the first week and a half the weather is pleasant and sunny. Perfect for camping.

At night, acoustic guitars and other wooden instruments come out so that guests can make music around the bonfire. Projected stars dapple the night sky, forming various constellations sourced from guest worlds. The moon enters a different phase each night, shining a gentle silver across the campgrounds. Why not pull your sweetheart in and cuddle beneath the night sky? It's so romantic.

IN CAMP

► Guests that don't want a cold shower should make their way over to the shower stalls quickly. These outdoor showers hold very little hot water and run cold after about five minutes. First-come first-serve!

► A wood-chopping competition begins around lunchtime. There are two goals: to split as much wood as possible and looking sexy while doing it. Guests that chop wood unsexily immediately fail! Alternatively, sexiness with a pathetic number of chunks is more acceptable, but still a loss. Those that achieve both goals will instantly win a large payout. Failing to sexily cut wood won’t have any penalties associated with it, and you can always try again tomorrow!

► Bear hunting is a popular activity that even the spoiled long-standing guests are getting in on! No, not hunting real bears. That would be insane. Peacock's version of bear hunting involves hunting down bear-like guests and capturing them! Any guest that fits the criteria of big, thick, and strong may potentially be assigned the role of bear. Hunters who manage to tie up, handcuff, net, or otherwise 'capture' a 'bear' will instantly receive a large payout.

THE LAKE

► This sparkling lake is rich with fish. Enjoy sitting back on the long pier with a fishing rod or take one of the wooden boats out for a row around the lake. It's also safe to swim in, for guests that would like to take a dip and rinse off the sweat of camp living! Don't mind the random swim trunks or drink umbrellas that pop up now and then. This water is definitely fresh and not recycled from the summer beach extravaganza.

► Guests that do decide to take a dip may encounter a familiar friend. Fernando the tentacle monster is camping too! This randy tentacle monster is as horny as ever, eager to embrace guests and stick slippery tentacles into any reachable orifice.

► Once the sun goes down, many of the long-standing guests strip off their shoddily crafted clothes and sprint into the water for skinny dipping by moonlight! What's a camping excursion without a lake-side orgy? The best way to drown out those erotic moans from the lake is to head to the central fire pit and join in on some campfire songs.

OUTSIDE CAMP

► Those that head out of camp for a hike or hunt can enjoy any of the Vale's usual wonders. With autumn, shiny apples dangle from the trees and pumpkins pepper beneath their protruding roots. Along with autumnal fruits and vegetables, canned beef and ham have been mysteriously left in pockets close to the campgrounds. A little act of kindness from the staff; not everyone is cut out to hunt their own game!

► For those interested in hunting down some fresh game, walking around the forest in the morning may come with a stroke of luck. Strange little creatures the size of an adult's fist are active during this time. These hairy beasts come in brown and white, and screech, "Scrun scrun screeee!" when agitated.

Yes, these are the alleged snoggleboffs! Don't feel bad about hunting them, they're an invasive species that are unfriendly and eager to steal from unsuspecting guests. Their main strength is their speed, but once caught, they don't put up much of a fight.

► Guests that explore deep into the Vale may find a dark cave mouth that leads downward into a damp chamber. The ceiling glitters with stalactites and, along the wall, they'll find a horizontal crease with what seems to be... hair? If touched, this crease will creak open, revealing a large eye that darts back and forth before focusing on whoever woke it. Black pupils and iris bleed into one endless abyss.

Those that gaze directly into the eye will freeze. Their mind will remain active while their body locks in place, not unlike sleep paralysis. This trance will break once the eye blinks, which it will do after some time... but it can also be forced into blinking by force if there's someone who hasn't made eye-contact around to help. Frozen guests will be overwhelmed with the fear of abandonment for the duration of their paralysis. This fear will fade after the connection is broken, as if it wasn't their fear at all.

Like a regular eye, dirt or debris can force a blink. If this route is taken, the eye will go bloodshot and shut, refusing to open again. Any guest that inflicts damage to the eye may find that their suite, upon return, has been trashed. As if someone or something threw a big tantrum in there while they were gone. Wonder why that happened...?

HOWLING

CALL OF THE WILD

Temperatures drop drastically at night as the camping excursion nears its end. Nights become so chilly that morning dew frosts over, crunching beneath guest feet. Every day the light and its warmth set a little bit earlier. Staff remain elusive and do not provide warmer blankets or clothes for guests, leaving them to cuddle for warmth or find other ways to sleep comfortably during nightly cold snaps.

The moon hits its apex on the final night of camping. Unlike the other nights, this full moon shines blood red. The Vale stills under this ominous sign, silent. Snowflakes begins to fall, spreading an endless clean sheet across the campgrounds. That reflected pink hue is inescapable.

THE WEATHER TURNS

► Along with chilly nights, the last few days of camping feature inclement weather conditions. Clouds overtake the sun and rain falls, alternating between light mist and heavy downpour.

► Winds pick up, with speeds threatening to whip away the less stable tents. Guests that don't hunker down and add additional support to their tents may end up chasing them into the storm. Other loose items around the campgrounds may end up blown away as well.

BLOOD MOON

► Wild instinct rises with the blood moon. As crimson moonlight beckons, some guests may begin to feel ... strange. As if they need to claw their true selves free. Those that answer the call to bathe in the light of the blood moon will undergo a transformation.

► Basking in the light of the blood moon triggers a were-transformation. While the standard were that the blood moon inspires is the classic werewolf, guests may transform into any kind of were. Along with hybrid transformation, the blood moon stirs mating and sex impulses in these new weres. Remaining humans are at risk of being eaten... in the sexy way.

► Transformation into a were is not mandatory. Other guests may step into the blood moon's light and not experience any kind of transformation or impulse. These guests are now actors in a sexy horror scene, given the task of surviving the night surrounded by monsters! At least they're sexy monsters? Giving in and fucking on the wild side may be more fun.

PACKING UP

► After the crazy weather and horny werewolves, the staff judge that it's high time to wrap this excursion up. Guests will once again openly see these diligent workers the morning after the blood moon. They come flooding into the site with clothing, snacks, and other comforts while praising everyone for surviving for so long without the resort's usual luxuries.

► A first aid tent and cleaning station are swiftly erected. All guests that volunteer to treat injuries sustained over the course of the camping experience or help clean up the site will be compensated with a large payout.

► Every guest that participated in the camping event, regardless of whether they help wrap things up, will be issued a spa voucher. Go relax, you've earned some pampering after all of that hard living!

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ BLANKET CW: altered states; eyes (descriptions only, incl. eye injury); exhibitionism; hunting (incl. hunting fantasy creatures); orgies; public sex; survival; temperature play; tentacles; transformation; violence

▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.

▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's September event. Camping will ICly begin September 15th and end October 3rd.

▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.

▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are prioritized and receive attention! If you would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header.

▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread regardless!

▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.

▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

[greatestworks]

[ Caught out, Phainon pushes a hand into his damp hair, scrubbing at the back of his head, then down at his warm nape. For a moment, just one, he's forgotten that he's as much an outlander here as Cale himself is, and feels that fleeting warmth wither. ]

Then, since we've nothing to warm our bellies and loosen our tongues, allow me to propose an exchange of tales, my new friend.

[ Resting his elbows on his thighs, he sits up a little taller; these are tales he could tell as easily as breathing. Maybe not so with the one calling himself Cale Henituse. It only feels fair to give him the chance to refuse. ]

For the tale of how scammers win the future you wish for, I'll tell you-

[ He stumbles audibly, thinking. ] Hm... telling you of the Titans of Amphoreus seems too paltry an offer for a personal tale.

[workingslacker]

[ Hmm. Titans of Amphoreus... Unfortunately, most of Cale's stories are personal ones. He has no issue hearing about another world. In fact, that's why one reads. It's just thinking about offering up what all has happened to him in exchange - ]

How about this. You tell me of your Titans and I'll tell you the story behind the Fire of Destruction.

[ In other words, the power that he had used earlier. Which also implies that the story isn't necessarily a personal one. However it is a story that can offer a piece of how Cale's world operates. ]

HOW DARE YOU HAHAHAHA

[greatestworks]

[ Something in Cale’s counteroffer steals the smile from Phainon’s face. His raised brows accompany his slightly rounded eyes. ]

Very well. As you wish.

[ The flames of destruction. An incredible title, but how much of that is due to the magnitude implied by those words, in the context of Amphoreus? ]

‘At the start of everything’ seems the right place to start.

[ He’s seen it. That primordial chaos, shaped, tamed, and eventually falling to ruin. ]

WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAID IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL?

[workingslacker]

[ Now Cale is the one raising a brow at the change in Phainon's expression. Just what it is that he had said that could cause the smile fading? Clearly it has something to do with the name of the ancient power, but what, exactly? What meaning could that hold to Phainon. ]

Yet, he's willing to "play" anyway. ]

Ah, a creation story?

that just makes it funnier tbh

[greatestworks]

Naturally, [ he leans, snatching a stick from the pile of gathered wood, as his camping chair teeters a little precariously. As his weight tips it back, he pivots it, turning himself and the chair to properly face him, and drags the sole of his sandal across the dirt to knock stray leaves and stones out of the way.

With the... possibility of flashing him, but thank the positioning for the deep shadows cast by the robe knotted around his waist? Or curse them, we don't judge. ]

I'm not the best at this, so forgive me if you find the story less than riveting, [ is a light-hearted cover. The end of the stick points at the patch of dirt. ]

According to legend, our origins began in chaos. They say the gods cast down divine fire, the Coreflames, giving birth to the twelve Titans of Amphoreus.

From the primordial chaos, these Titans gave shape to "existence"- [ the stick scrapes the dirt, drawing symbols - one resembles an eye, another a chalice, and the third... well, maybe a pair of crossed pickaxes over a mountain? ] Aquila, the Eye of Twilight and Georios, the Pillar of Stone created the sky and earth, and Phagousa, the Chalice of Plenty, filled them with the blessings of water. These three Titans of Foundation gave shape to the world.

Three more wove the threads of Fate. [ He draws three more symbols. One of them is particularly on the nose: a set of scales. ] Janus, the Gate of Infinity, knew the existence and destination of all pathways - even a man's fate. Talanton, the Scale of Justice, prescribed law and logic for all things. And Oronyx, the Veil of Evernight, wove for us the threads of time.

[ Phainon glances up, perhaps to gauge whether his, admittedly, insufficient attempt to summarize has lost him already. He may have retained the important parts, but the ones who taught and guided him were better at this by far. ]

i did cackle pretty hard when you pointed it out though

[workingslacker]

That applies to both of us then. I'm not much of a storyteller myself.

[ Not that it means he won't pay any less attention. As Phainon readies himself look the flash is bound to happen, robes do not do much to hide anything Cale gets comfortable. As though he could be anything less with how casually he sits.

Amphoreus must be the world at large then. Honestly, he thinks it a bit odd that the earth, sea, and sky had been "created" first and THEN law, passage, and time. One would think that the secondary would be needed to define the first. Well, what does Cale know... ]

I wonder why existence came first before the rules that govern existence did.

[ But that is about all he'll say. Cale is following along quite fine, but that is an interesting thought. Usually it really is the opposite. ]

[greatestworks]

[ Phainon probably should have listed them in order of occurrence, but again, he's... not a good storyteller. Cale's on to something, though; Janus was widely believed to be the first, but he's seen with his own eyes the chaos at the start of everything, and at its center...

He laughs, caught out on his oversight, dropping his palm on his knee as he cocks his head to the side. ] Legends say it was Janus who was born of the first Coreflame and defined the boundaries of the world. Following Janus came Talanton, and with them, the concept of balance, causality, and laws. Oronyx followed, bringing time.

But the verses don't rhyme if you tell them in order. [ He raises his fist to his mouth, clearing his throat, and recites: ]

'Three Titans carved the heaven and earth. Three wove the threads of fate. Three molded life with their hands, and three guided calamity's gate.'

[workingslacker]

That makes more sense.

[ Sorry, Phainon. He's going to call you out one more time. ]

It also still rhymes, even if you do it in order. Instead of it being A-B-B, it would be A-B-A.

[greatestworks]

You like poetry, [ he remarks brightly, even though that is not the point, ] Isn't that a surprise? I'm liking you more and more by the minute, Cale.

[ Is he trying to get a rise out of him? Yes. ]

[workingslacker]

[ Congratulations, Phainon. That's enough to get Cale to fluster a little. No one has ever thought to call him out on his reading choices before? ]

I just like to read, thank you!

[greatestworks]

[ got 'em ]

Me too! [ Phainon laughs through his words, his voice rich with good humor. ] Look at us, a couple of kindred spirits already!

[workingslacker]

Yes, well... Maybe this "kindred spirit" of mine should continue his story.

[ "Wet Cat" mode activated. Now you stop that, Phainon. ]

The Samoyed and his Wet Cat Cale

[greatestworks]

[ He'll ease off, but now that Cale's proven himself both sharp as a whip and fun to tease, he'll be keeping these observations in his back pocket. ]

Right, right. Now then. I can see you're a sharp man who is interested in details.

[ So he'll backtrack just a little. ] From Georios, the Titans of Sky and Sea were born, and as Aquila's thunderous spears crashed against the spine of the earth, so was Kephale the Throne of Worlds born, with dominion over the creation of life.

Another Titan of Creation, Cerces, the Bough of Rift, took root in the world, bringing Reason. Their dominion was wisdom, intellect, and all manner of growing life, whether it came from seed or spore. From Cerces sprang Mnestia, the Chrysalis of Gold, whose dominion over beauty and romance brought love and affection to existence.

[ With each Titan named, he scratches out their symbols in the dirt. ]

Aquila and Oronyx ruled over day and night, respectively. And not without their share of quarrels. But it was in this era that, they say, Kephale the Worldbearing Titan used Georios's divine body to create the first humans in their image. From the other Titans, they were given blessings-

[ The tip of his stick touches on each symbol as he names them. ]

As Aquila's eyes were open, bringing light to the world, mankind would labor. Under Oronyx's domain, they would rest. From Cerces came the fruit of wisdom, that mankind would gain the gifts of reason and thought. So that their eyes might enjoy beauty, Mnestia, too, gave their blessing. And, so that true life could be granted to their creation, Kephale cut their own arm, anointing them in their golden blood.

fdfasdf hahaha

[workingslacker]

[ Cale, eventually, gets a handle on himself again. He leans back in his chair and closes his eyes. That's how he chooses to listen to Phainon. Now it's starting to sound more like an epic rather than just reciting things that were learned. His eyes only open to watch the different scribbles. Symbols for each "Titan" though it reminds Cale of gods. Why the word "Titan" then? ]

So the first nine are tied into creation and the shaping of the world. So why are the last three called "Calamity?"

[greatestworks]

Nice catch, [ Phainon says, sincerely, ] The Titans of Calamity represent Trickery, Death, and Strife.

[ The stick scratches at the dirt, as Phainon pauses to draw out each of their symbols. One looks much like a couple of swirls, the other like a rake or a hand, and the other, a trident, or perhaps a sword with its blade pointed down. It's to the first that he taps the point of the stick, when he looks over at Cale to continue. ]

Zagreus, the Coin of Whimsy, is the Titan of lies, fortune, and trickery. Their capricious and chaotic nature makes them the only one of the Titans with no temples or shrines to their name, but those down on their luck might offer prayers in the hopes of a change in their fortunes.

[ The tip of his stick alights on the hand. ]

The Titan of death, Thanatos, is second only to Talanton in their sense of justice. The dominion of the Hand of Shadow is the end of all things that meet a natural end or fall in battle.

[workingslacker]

[ Trickery, Death, and Strife. All right, he can see where Strife might be considered something of a calamity. Death? Trickery? Not so much... ]

I'm saving my comments for after you speak of Strife. Don't think I don't have any thoughts. I'm Recording everything you are saying to memory.

[ Quite literally. It's been a long time since Cale has used his Record ability. ]

[greatestworks]

[ He's... recording? On a glance, Phainon doesn't see a photostone or even a teleslate. Perhaps it's a joke. Wouldn't be the first reference he's missed (or misunderstood); they're all outworlders here, each of them bringing a piece of their unique culture with them.

Honestly, he's getting a little tired, so pressing on sounds like the logical move. ]

Strife. The last Titan of Calamity. Their name is Nikador, the Lance of Fury that can fell mountains and cleave the sky.

[ The stick in his hand retraces the lines of that symbol in the dirt, and in a moment's reflection, his gaze wanders over the others he has drawn. Twelve in total. ]

Some say that the Strife Titan was a noble warrior who declared war on the gods, casting the world into endless strife. Their dominion is over disputes, battle, and fear.

[ Phainon's attention strays towards the fire. He lifts the stick, stretching out his arm to let it fall among the burning logs, ] Through extreme might, he is also a symbol of protection. There's even a saying in the Eternal Holy City, these days. 'May Mydeimos protect you.'

[ This is not the first time - nor will it be the last - that Phainon has lost his grip on the conversation, muddying the waters of his exposition with an unintended shuffle of information. ]

[workingslacker]

[ First "Nikador" but then referred to as "Mydeimos?" There's something in Phainon's gaze as he says it. Another thing that Cale could call into question that feels. More intimate than he wants to get right now. Though he wonders if him avoiding it is going to work in his favor in the end. Cale has tried numerous times not to involve himself too deeply with others.

...And he's not been entirely successful in doing so. Somehow these feels like it might turn out that way.

What he can say is that Phainon saved Strife for last. There is a significance to it. ]

That doesn't really say "Calamity" to me. Disputes, battles, and fear occur naturally. Without them, the world stagnates. No one is going to get along indefinitely and fear is like a warning flag that signals caution.

[ A shrug. ]

Death as well. As much as I dislike thinking about the concept, even I can't deny it's importance. Without death, there can't be new life.

[greatestworks]

[ Phainon's lesson might be concluded, but not the conversation; he crosses one leg over the other, a practiced posture as he gets comfortable. His head is still turned, looking past his shoulder at the fire. ]

According to legend, humankind enjoyed ceaseless days of peace in that bygone era, knowing not sickness, famine, or death. So, [ he says, with a swell of his chest as he sighs.

When he speaks again, it isn't with the hopelessness one might expect with these words, but it's not... not weary, ] In these dark end times, I suppose things that seem so natural to us now must have seemed like the greatest of tragedies then.

It is my hope that, when dawn comes, the new world greets our people with gentle breezes, free of the shackles of fate.

[workingslacker]

There's an argument that states that someone can't know true peace without struggles. That light and darkness are only opposite sides of the same coin, dependent upon one another since light can only shine the brightest in darkness and a shadow can only be cast where there is light.

[ In other words, good and bad come in equal measure. Cale doesn't know whether or not he truly subscribes to that theory, but there is some merit. If Choi Han hadn't wandered the Dark Forest for so many years, he wouldn't be as strong as he is today. If Raon had hatched like any other young dragon, then he wouldn't be who he is today. People are shaped by their experiences. That much is undeniable.

Cale continues to watch Phainon, wondering and decidedly not asking what it is that weighs him down so much. There is a weight there and that, too, is an undeniable fact. ]

You and I have very different ideas though. Be free of the shackles of fate? So you'd live a life where nothing happens? [ That's actually not the peace and slacker life that he envisions for himself. ] If peoples' lives are a storybook, then fate is the pen that fills its pages. Like all good stories, there must be a plot. Rather, there will always be plot points that are unavoidable. "A Henituse will be present at the plaza explosion" or " a young lord will seek to remedy his ailment" for example. Rather than desire a plotless book...

[ Cale reaches out towards the fire, a little smirk playing on his features. Then he makes a snatching motion. ]

I will grab the pen and fill in the details and determine the results myself. Then hand the pen over to the individual so that they can be the author of those blank pages themselves. If events are unavoidable, then let each individual write for themselves what they will become through it. I would see fate as not being a shackle, but the engine that pushes us forward towards the ending we want for ourselves.

[greatestworks]

[ With his gaze fixed on the fluttering flames, more or less motionless but for the steady rise and fall of his chest, one wouldn't be amiss if they assumed that Phainon wasn't heeding Cale's words.

Until he smiles, a subtle curve of his mouth. He closes his eyes, saying quietly, ] I like that spirit.

[ Amphoreus's laws are absolute. But, for some people, rules were made to be broken. That Trailblazing spirit has become a guiding light, leaving its mark on many a heart - his own, included. ]

A world where the possibilities are endless, where fate is what one makes of the twists and turns of life, not the boundaries and roles that bind them to one single, inevitable ending.

[ An endlessly repeated pattern that he tried to break, exhausting the limits of his creativity until all he could do was continue to try. As a pattern made from the same cloth, he couldn't change the tapestry being woven and rewoven. It took an outside element to rip the threads and show them a different way.

Perhaps Cale had meant to challenge, not encourage. When that gaze returns to Cale, it's a little clearer; his tone has tipped back towards its earlier warmth, ]

You speak like a man who enjoys a good book. [ Speaking of 'plot points' and 'storybooks', he's speaking Phainon's language, that recovering chuuni ] Have you ever read Legend of Celestial Skies?

[ Probably not, if the only place he's been able to get a copy was at the Grove of Epiphany. ]

[workingslacker]

[ It hadn't meant to be a challenge nor words to glean inspiration from. Cale is doing as he pleases. He is trash that expresses his opinion and doesn't really care too much about manners or decorum. That's the only thing that he is doing here. Hence the blinking when Phainon smiles and, well. He has a passing moment where Cale thinks he's found someone else that might be reading too much into his intentions. Is it too late to stop that particular thought train from leaving the station? Cale isn't sure where people start developing that...

Yet Phainon isn't wrong either. That's the sort of ending that Cale is seeking. Yes, he doesn't want to work for a living. However, he does want all of the people he's connected with to be happy as well. To have their freedom and to be able to make choices for themselves, not being bound to a destiny that is going to screw them over again. ]

All the while, I want that singular ending that has me able to sleep thirteen hours a day and just eat and read. Occasionally play with the children.

[ As he can't imagine his life at this point without the kittens and Raon in it. Eventually, they will grow up and they will become their own individuals with their own goals and motivations. That's fine. Until then, Cale wants to nurture that growth. Like some kind of real parent ]

I do like a good book, yes. Unfortunately, I can't say that I've heard of that book, just like I'm sure you've never come across The Birth of a Hero.

[ Inside joke because there's no way Phainon would have. Even if the book existed in Phainon's world, it's obvious that he hasn't read it. "Cale Henituse" had been in the beginning chapters, after all. ]

Now, we did say a story for a story. Should I start with mine?

[greatestworks]

[ The Birth of a Hero, huh? That sounds exactly to his taste. Although Phainon doesn't say as much aloud, there's a spark in his eyes that suggests he might be keeping them peeled for that title in the future. ...Watch the version of it here to be some sordid romp involving a lascivious protagonist and his or her harem of supporting characters.

Maybe it's better if there wasn't a cheap knockoff here at all. Cale goes further, telling him of a goal so self-indulgent that Phainon can't help the fond laugh that shakes his shoulders. The children, he says, and even if he seems a young man for children grown enough to play with, Phainon's aware of how easily children adopt trustworthy people who aren't related by blood. ]

Fair is fair. The floor is yours, Cale. The tale of the 'Flames of Destruction', right?

[workingslacker]

[ Wouldn't Phainon be shocked to learn that the "children" are really cat folk siblings and a dragon. Maybe some wolf folk as well... Since Cale does technically have custody of about a dozen of them. For now, Cale won't explain that. Rather it's his turn to share a tale. Maybe the The Cheapskate will appreciate his story being told a little. That seemed to be what The Glutton and a couple of other original owners wanted. ]

To begin, there has to be an understanding of how a power such as that comes into being. I am no storyteller and there aren't poems or epics to recite, such as you did, and I'm a fairly practical person anyway.

[ So this won't be a flowery tale. Just sharing one's "story." ]

Before divine power and magic existed, there were ancient powers that were created in nature. Periodically a human or some other sentient creature could create one of their own, but generally they are weaker than ones with a natural affinity. As you might guess, a single power is usually aligned with an element. [ Little guess as to what the Fire of Destruction has a natural affinity for, right? ] People in Ancient Times were either born with these powers or they obtained them after the original owner passed away.

[ Phainon might be left to guess whether Cale had been born with this power or if he had obtained it on his own. He won't tell at the exact moment. Cale hadn't intended on obtaining so many Ancient Powers, truth to be told. He had only really sought a couple. Yet here he is, containing far more than what a normal human body should contain. This is only because of how he went about collecting powers and the order that he collected them in. A stroke of luck, really. ]

They aren't easy to find, mind you. In order to obtain an Ancient Power, you have to be lucky enough to know where the original owner had hidden it. Then, before you can claim it as your own, you have to pass their test.

[greatestworks]

[ Oh, for sure. Shortly before his IQ plummets through the floor because who doesn't want to dote on adorable creatures? The real tragedy is he won't get the chance.

Phainon rests an elbow on the arm of his camp chair, the knuckle of his index finger and the side of his thumb resting against his lower lip. Cale has his full attention, but he's reserving his responses, piecing together what he learns and lining it up with the pieces he's gleaned over the course of their conversation.

Before divine power and magic existed... then, something primordial. Naturally, the equivalent in his own terms would be the Coreflames, and when it comes to that divine fire, Phainon understands their power intimately.

Cale's an intelligent and well-read person. He wishes for a life of indolence, surrounded by those he cares about, acts as though nothing else really matters, and yet he was willing to spark to life a dying flame. Is this that story? He has his suspicions.

Seeing an opportunity to ask, he glances at the campfire. ]

Then, is that how you came by it? Was this, [ He motions with that hand towards the flames, ] One of those Ancient Powers?