welcome to joikull.QUICK LINKS
You're lying in bed, when it happens. There's an odd pulling sensation in your stomach, and people who have been through this before know that the Jump is about to occur. You have time to grab what's closest to you, and that's about it, before you suddenly wake up in... a bed? But not your own. The first thing you notice: the temperature. You were comfortable when you fell asleep, but now it’s very, very cold. Even if you pull the blanket up over your head, the chill seems settled into your bones. How did it get this cold? You were sure the flurries at the Temple last week were not in your bedroom. When you finally peek out to face the rest of the world, it will start to make sense. Your room appears to be made of ice now. You are, as far as you can tell, inside an igloo. Your blanketed bed is made of wood, but everything else inside is ice. The door. The desk. The floor. It’s all carved out of the stuff, to an expert degree, sure, but it’s still ice. Just when you begin to wonder what in the hell is going on, there is a ping on your watch. A NOTE FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH. "Hello, dear Traveler! It worked, it worked..."
Astoria's expression is cheerful and chipper, on the watch. Those who have done this for awhile know that Astoria typically reaches out before the Jump, but for the second time in a row, she seems to have managed to contact you afterward.
"You are now in Joikull! It appears to be a bit cold, so I sent you with some coats and things in your rooms! Make sure you wear them. ♥ I feel a darkness in that world that is hard to explain, a bit warm but -- "
Astoria's voice suddenly stops there, and her brow furrows slightly. The image wavers, ever so much, and Astoria's eyes suddenly shift off-screen, her mouth opened slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. There is a sound of a voice offscreen, but it's a bit too muffled to make out. And then, Astoria says:
"How did you get here?"
But the image cuts, after that. You have little time to wonder what the hell that was on about, though: you're busy pulling on the fur-lined coat that Astoria has seemingly left you, and set off to explore . . . what had she said, again? Joikull?
WHEN YOU WAKE UP.Welcome to Joikull!
➜ It hits you in waves — the icy cold, biting and relentless. Whether you’re accustomed or unaccustomed to the cold, the temperature is a drastic contrast to that of the Temple’s. The walls around you are a transient white, and it’s not long before you realize that they too are forged from ice. There are 2 other beds in your room, both of which are occupied, and the wood underneath you begins to creak.
Suddenly, an elderly woman enters the room, clanging a silvery white (is that more ice?) pot and pan. “Rise and shine, darlings!” she crows out before standing at the center of the room. “It’s time for breakfast! She beckons you to come downstairs, and should you follow her, you’ll be sure to discover that practically all of this newly discovered...inn? is also forged from ice.
➜ The dining room is grand — it’s fitted for a castle of sorts, but this appears to be the norm around here. The tables are overflowing with food, ranging from warm stews and breads to chilled meats and sweet, frozen delicacies. And when one plate runs out, Joikull’s civilians rush to simply fix another one out of thin air. And while there are plenty of other natives here, none of them seem to be eating. In fact, they seem to be looking excitedly at you to eat instead. You've got to be hungry, don't you?
➜ People are quick to make conversation with you, and if they notice that you’re cold, you may get wrapped into somebody’s embrace or asked if you need to huddle for warmth. Perhaps you’re better off asking one of your Circle members?
 JOIKULL: MORE THAN JUST THE COLDThe city is built on the top of a mountain, with cliffsides surrounding each side. With the help of the stone and the ice, the city itself is grand in scale. Buildings and homes and places of business have all been expertly crafted and carved. Lives happen here, as they do in any city, and they all seem to surround themselves with ice, snow, or the continued existence of it. The magic is particularly curious, as it doesn't seem to match the rest of it, but there doesn't seem to be any clue as to why.
➜ Do you want to build a snowman? No, really - in one of the parks there seem to be a large group of natives (all swirling snow and ice and all) who are collecting snow into forms and figures. They'll ask for your help, if you're willing to grant it, and while putting together the snow and ice you'll find that you're able to create...a new person? Or at least a new native, with an energy, personality, and appearance all their own! They will also want to be your new best friend, so I hope you're...ready for someone to follow you around at least for a day or two. No worries if you've decided to do some crafting on your own, though. They definitely need the magic of the natives (and not the new, warm kind) to actually come alive. So if you want wanted to make something on your own, you're quite safe.
➜ The city seems to basically be made of ice. And by basically, we mean almost entirely. The use of wood and fire and food and really, anything that isn't ice and snow, is all vaguely new and foreign to the natives. You may be asked, even walking down the street, how to use a specific item or what to do with it. If asked, they got it through the magic, it looks quite fun! They just need....some help! Or it's possibly you can see a native using something in a very incorrect way. Will you step in?
➜ You're more than welcome to explore the city. The natives are all quite trusting and eager to welcome you into their lives! But something you may notice while you do so is the...well. Way that everything seems a bit off. It's subtle, so much that you might not even notice it, but the walls of this building definitely seem to be...melting. No, that can't be possible, can it? The natives will argue with you, say that everything is fine, but actually no - you're looking at it now - and it's definitely melting. Like. Very much so. But what can you do?  A CELEBRATION OF VISITORS
Joikull’s people are more than amiable enough — and they’re at their prime during their festivals. This celebration has been hosted with the intention of welcoming the Circle, and it certainly shows. They’ve up and concocted makeshift buildings to accommodate their festivities, and a circle of flora forged from ice surrounds the premises. There are stalls, games, and food for all, alongside people eager for your company.
➜ It's only natural that in a winter wonderland, you're expected to get creative with snow: well, it appears as though Joikull has taken a bit too far. There are games ranging from the average game of rope tow to full fledged snow wars. People have gathered into teams, and fortresses have been constructed from the ice — the objective of this game seems to be to destroy your enemy's defenses. With the power of magic, everyone has a bit of an advantage...and a disdvantage. Apparently, the winners will be receiving a day's worth of shopping fully on the house.
Or you could play rope tow. That's an option too.
➜ Food is integral to any festival. Today, plates of curry are offered from vendor to vendor — now, curry may seem a bit random, but this is the first time they've been able to make it due to the sudden surge of magic! Does it taste alright? Some plates are far spicier than they should be, but it's the thought that counts. Wash it down with pineapple upside down cake-on-a-stick, or a few gourmet popsicles (all of which which happen to be enchanted with a random side effect unbeknowest to you.)
➜ Keeping warm is likely on your mind right now. The vendors have rustic, sizable antiques to offer, varying from lanterns to wooden carvings to glass orbs, but they also have a collection of weavery to offer as well. Oversizes dresses and jackets seem to be in style right now — but there are ponchos and hats to suit your needs as well.
➜ Once the sun begins to set, Joikull’s citizens get into position, all circling the center of the festival grounds. Suddenly, they hook arms, joyfully dancing and shifting from person to person. It appears as though they’re square dancing — either find or a partner or get roped into a dance unwillingly! The goal is to dance until you’re the last pair left; the flashier you are (perhaps with the aid of magic), the more attention you’ll draw to yourselves.
 BEYOND THE WALLS.The decision to venture down under the fortress to get beyond the walls is one you will need to make on your own, as the natives are quite adamant about the fact there is nothing wrong and nothing to see out there. It will actually take you, and other Circle Members, to even find the door that will lead you out of the city - an old, dusty, boarded up doorway. Boarded up with wood, strangely enough.
Your decision to investigate is entirely up to you. If you signed up here, it will be your or your team’s decision on when, and for how long.
The natives weren’t wrong - the trip will be dangerous, but there are enough supplies for you to bring with you to survive, as long as something else doesn’t get in the way.
For those who have decided to go off into this journey, direct your attention to The Beyond The Walls Log!
TEAMS/GROUPS/ADVENTURERSZari, Wanda, Steve, Bucky, and Nate.
Hisoka
Pigdge, Shiro, Firo, and North.
Roy, Riza, Maes, Molly, and Konoha.
Vex, Vax, and Percy.
Ruby, Ren, and Carmen.  HELP NEEDED:➜ Calling all able-and-solid-bodied workers! The festival is in need of some hard working hands to help, you guessed it - CARVE SOME ICE. There are new structures in need and new buildings that need help and they need as many hands as possible to carve into these huge blocks. Their new magic just isn’t working fast enough!
➜ Are you interested in food? Cooking? What about trying to teach the natives about said food and cooking? Because somehow, this magic has created a way for them to find food - mostly veggies and salted meats - but they’ve never eaten before! And this looks fun! Share some of that knowledge and experience, yeah?
➜ There are booths set up all along the main street of Joikull sporting a variety of games, crafts, fortune tellers, drinks and food, and everything else in between. And boy- do they need help managing! Ever wanted to work in the service industry? For an entire population of ice people? Now’s your chance.
➜ Clean up! Each day, as the sun begins to set, it will be time to clean everything up and put it away. Even with the new and fun lights everywhere around, making the job much easier than it would have been previous, it’s still a bit more…..difficult. Can you tell a small ice statue from the next? How about sweeping up snow off of…snow? Have fun! Because the natives are leaving you pretty much on your own.
➜ One of the larger establishments (Marietta’s Mansion is the name carved above the front door) is a working and busy tavern of sorts. Natives move in and out of the large open space chattering loudly an excitedly about all of the newest and brightest things they’ve seen. But what Marietta, yes the owner, can’t seem to keep any of her native workers on task. Spend too much time in here and she will put you to work - carving new seats out of the walls, cleaning the tables, figuring out some way to keep everything from wearing down and melting…it never used to be this difficult for her before!
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acatamods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
acatalepsy_logs2019-06-13 09:27 am
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That's a pretty abysmal joke, but Ren gives it a light smile nonetheless.] Sounds like a plan. I'm sure fortune telling will be the coolest thing they've seen all week~
[That even worse joke comes with a cutesy hand flourish for bonus points.]
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So is cooking one of your many, many talents? [They have breathing room now that allows them to talk without having to hustle wayward natives around, and Molly is quick to take his respite. Most of the natives aren't even eating what they've made, but are rather showing it off as if it's artistry.] Maybe you should have taught them plating.
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At that remark from Molly, Ren gives a soft laugh and sets down the last of his own plates, all of which are plated in a very cutesy manner. There's even some food shaped to look like cat faces and things on there.]
Mmm, I don't have to cook for myself very often back home, but I know how to. One of my friends is even better than me, so I can't let him show me up, can I~? [A not very apologetic shrug comes at that.] But you're right, they seem more interested in the artsy part of it and not the eating part.
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And when that fades out, he goes oddly solemn. There's just something about the Joikull that seems unerringly sad to him.]
Usually I'd be all for a culture that only cares about beauty and aesthetics and the like, but there's just something off about all of this. [He rolls his eyes, tail flicking like an agitated cat's.] Which we wouldn't be here if there wasn't, but the last time we weren't presented with a straightforward mystery, we ended up getting ripped apart.
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Molly kind of has a point in what he's saying about the Joikull, though, and Ren tilts his head to one side a bit.] I think it's weird in the...utopian kind of way, if you know what I mean by that. Trying to pretend nothing's wrong and things are perfect, when the city's definitely melting and nobody wants to admit it.
[Unfortunately, utopian stories tend to go one way, ever, and that's badly. So Ren's not really inclined to be at ease with this either.]
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[He blows a lock of his hair out of his face.] Maybe we're meant to make them comfortable before the end comes.
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That seems a bit morbid compared to the witch's usual tastes...I'd say maybe we were meant to be more diplomatic, but it's hard to be diplomatic with people who outright won't listen.
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[He takes a plate of cookies while the Joikullians are cooing over something else and takes a few before offering the plate to Ren. Time to stress eat.] At least they're not shite at baking.
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[It's not that big a place, especially compared to places like the Horologium that they've investigated before, so he can't help but think the answer probably lies somewhere beyond here. Still, he leaves that aside for now in favour of taking some cookies.]
As long as you don't think too hard about how weird baking is for a world like this one. [Or ovens in general. Or not melting from the ambient heat.]
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He's a hypocrite, and now he's a hypocrite full of cookies.] The only answer is to go out and see what else is out there. Maybe there's fire fairies or something.
[Fire fairies are an act that Gustav and Ornna came up with and probably not real, but boy if this is solved by making some Genasi stop being pricks he'd be thrilled. He's sasses Ornna enough to feel good at that.]
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But I don't think I'll be staying around here the whole time if we get a chance to go outside. A city this small only holds my interest for so long. [They'd been stuck in what was a "small city" to Ren in Faerun as well, so he's not too interested in going for a round 2 of that.]
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Though I suppose you can probably call it something other than stupidity when we don't have much of a choice.
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[He has mixed feelings about it, but eh. Let's be gods, then. The perks are great. Kind of.]
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[...When he thinks about it like that, his normal powerset basically constitutes godlike interference as well, but then, the people of Cray do call people like him "prayer-granters". So maybe this isn't all that unfamiliar territory for him.]
Though I guess the actual god here would be the witch lady. [Ren...still doesn't call Astoria by name, because reasons.]
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[He shoves another cookie into his mouth.] She's either brilliant or daft and I can't figure out which.
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I suppose people will call it brilliant until it fails. Maybe that's why opinion seemed to turn against her so much after Akvos.
[He wasn't around for that, but he'd certainly seen the aftermath going on on the network when he'd arrived.]