test drive meme #2

[fernwehmods]

SCENARIOS

01. Settling In

It's been a couple of days since you have arrived and once the fatigue from that multiversal travel has been fixed there is a town that you should probably get acquainted with. At least well enough that you don't get lost every time you venture away from the inn where you are likely staying for the time being.

Down the narrow streets to the south where most newcomers first enter Gazin, the tradespeople have set up their shops. Armourers, blacksmiths, bowyers and carpenters can all be found there, as well a few shady types who cannot pass up the advantage of ripping off an unsuspecting person.

Heading east, one can find the two apothecary shops, a bakery, a herbarium, seamstress and shoemaker. There is also a medical clinic set up and is equipped to care for anything up to moderate injuries.

The northern part of town is the district that most people tend to avoid. It's smelly and dark and trouble lurks in every corner. It's hard not to get an uneasiness that feels like someone is watching you. If asked, most civilians will explain why it is called The Devil's Mouth.

In the west district, it is bright and cheerful and generally happy. Music and celebration seem to happen twice daily, every day of the week with Saturday being the loudest. During that day, the marketplace comes to life with vendors selling their fresh food or wares. In the evening, there's typically a firework show and maybe a drunken fistfight or two that ends with more drinking and some laughter. Sometimes, but not often, trouble from the northern district trickles into the west. Those slow festivities but not for long.

02. Exploring

You have heard people talk about the places beyond Gazin and now you find yourself itching to get out and see them. Be it Vasari Forest or Roselake, you and your trusty legs (or horse) plan to be gone for a week or more. One must always be cautious of the dangers while travelling, however. Bandits and rogue soldiers often cannot pass up the chance to take what isn't theirs. There are also creatures and monsters hiding in wait to curiously check you out or worse, hunt you for their next human-shaped meal.

But, that's all part of the adventure! Take someone along with you and maybe some weapons, too. Make sure one is made of silver.

03. Quest

The Druid known as Bhalris has contracted you to head into the Oren Mountains to find and pass a message along to the dwarf known as Brazmas Steelbelly. What Bhalris doesn't exactly explain is where Brazmas can be found, only giving approximate directions to a certain landmark where a series of clues will be revealed that start an interesting, though perhaps frustrating adventure.

Pay attention to the white raven and other animals along the way. They may be there to help with your journey. How do you tell them apart from the other wildlife that may or may not be dangerous? You can't.

Good luck!

04. Celebration

Impromptu parties are quite the norm in Gazin and it doesn't matter what the occasion is or who it is for. There's music, plenty of drink, dancing and good times to be had.

Let loose and have some fun!

05. Wild Card!

Want something else? Feel free to choose your own adventure or mix and match to create something completely different!

NAVIGATION

Comments

[sawnoevil]

[ Without a sense of vision, Xingchen almost questions what he feels despite knowing exactly what it is. Zichen is so close? They had traveled together for so long and yet they'd never been so casual. Xingchen can feel the way his heart quickens even further. He'd been forgiven this much?

What has happened to Zichen while he'd been gone?

Xingchen doesn't know he's destined to die. He doesn't know that one day, he'll find out that he's murdered by the dozens. All of that is blissfully still in a future he's yet to experience.

For now, he's in a 'now' he almost dare not believe. ]

Zichen... I've missed you too. Very much.

[ Is it wrong to say it? Does it imply that he doesn't understand why Song made the decision? ]

It's been a long time. I didn't think we'd have the chance to reunite.

[ In a very real way, they don't, not outside of this world, not in a way that would make either of them happy. ]

[zichen]

[Some details will inevitably be revealed, but others might be kept secret. Xue Yang and Song Lan have no desire to see Xingchen grieving or broken. If they can protect him from the future - for a little while - isn't that preferable?

His chest is warm and he feels his heart beating stronger when his sentiment is returned. He gives Xingchen's hand a warm squeeze, lacing their fingers together.]

You needn't miss me any longer. [Zichen slows his steps to speak from his heart.] I never lost hope that we would be reunited. I carried on for all this time, trusting that I would see you again. I don't want to be parted from you.

[Everything hurts when there is an empty space at his side. Xingchen is part of him and they are akin in their mistakes and their naivete. By blaming Xingchen so harshly, Zichen was passing judgement on himself too.

And that path leads to nowhere Zichen wishes to be.]

[sawnoevil]

[ Once, they said words no different from this but they weren't quite so frank. They had a plan and a mission, one that would be achieved together. Because of Xingchen's decision to focus on Xue Yang, Song lost too much. That divided them. Since, he'd longed to return to what they had even while accepting it as impossible. How is it that, in this world, he gets to hear them again? Only, Xingchen can't deny that there's a lot more affection to them.

If what Zichen says it's true, that's too cruel. For both of them to be longing for the other while being unable to reach them. Xingchen didn't look because even if he found Zichen, he had no right to be by his side. The words that were spoken that day remain in his head. He believed every word and blames Zichen for none of them. ]

If I had known you were looking, I would have sought for you, too. Zichen, after what you lost that day, I thought you would never want to see me again.

[zichen]

What I lost...wasn't your doing. [Words spoke in pain and anger and frustration sent his soulmate flying from him. Song Zichen cannot allow that to happen again - under any circumstance. Xue Yang has taught him how to speak his mind; to not lose his way when emotions overwhelm him. He trusts he can protect Xingchen now - or, at the very least, speak his mind without lashing out irrationally.]

Then I lost you too and that was an emptiness I could not bear. [So his feet kept moving; he slept only when he was exhausted and then he followed the trail again soon after waking.]

Will you give a fool a second chance?

[sawnoevil]

[ Those words are amongst the sweetest he's ever heard. While Xingchen isn't capable of forgiving himself as easily as Song seems to have forgiven him, it's a great relief that Zichen doesn't think it's too painful to have him around.

The smile spreads across his face with a natural ease that he can't control, nor would he want to. Why would one hide their happiness? ]

If you're also willing to give me a second chance as well.

[ The guilt isn't abolished. ]

I don't think we can ignore the past, Zichen, but...

[ Xingchen hesitates. Should he express it? It's more negative than positive, more sad than happy, but the honesty Zichen displays finally makes the decision. ]

I've missed you.