[OPEN] sorry for being a dark sorcerer. as if it's my fault

[techmaturgy]

WHO: viktor and YOU
WHEN: some nebulous time during/after the village hunts
WHERE: ke-waihu and out and about
WHAT: hi I have just rolled in from the woods with the werewolf delegation and what is this
WARNINGS: possible reference to terminal illness, will add more if they come up

i. from ke-waiar with love

[At some point, after the hunts begin, a delegation arrives from Ke-Waiar. They have a new arrival with them, apparently as part of the negotiations with the Beastmaster. He looks, uh

not great.

Pale and gaunt and terrible posture with wild, uncombed hair—almost like he staggered out of the forest outside of Ke-Waiar just days ago (he did). Probably it’s because he’s had a weird few days, right? Wandering out of the woods. Lack of sleep. Disoriented, trying to make sense of where he is and how he got here. That must be it. No other reason.

It isn’t long before he’s recognized as someone not from here, and that’s about when Taksui slides in. Maybe you happen upon this guy arguing with Taksui about changing hands, or a vague lack of technology, or access to his work, or something, all in an accent that is extremely out of place. Then there’s arguing with what seems to be a young villager, who insists that she’s been assigned to assist him while he’s here—and he insists, in turn, that he doesn’t need any help.

Actually, it seems like this guy is doing a lot of arguing, and is very animated about it for someone who looks so thoroughly exhausted, apparently not at all concerned with attracting attention or any potential faux pas. Also, sometimes he coughs a lot. He’s not having a great day, or series of days, and it seems he wants to let everybody know it.]

ii. out and about

[Except, this would be a terrible open log if Viktor was just fighting with everyone for the whole thing, so.

He gets his bearings. Viktor has always been industrious, and given the alternative, he’d rather be busy than not, so he sets about exploring Ke-Waihu. Though he avoids going too far into the forest, he can be found on the outskirts, most notably at various Witches’ huts, engaging the purveyors with interest (and possibly arguing with them as well, generally about esoteric nerd stuff, oops). He will absolutely stop and ask for directions if he feels like he needs it, or maybe where he can get his hands on some of that dark water stuff (yikes). Thanks in advance!

Barring that, he seems to take interest in the small temples, though apparently not out of any religious conviction. He is—he is going to touch that offering, or otherwise move it out of place. Tell him not to do that (or don’t, I’m not your mom), he’s definitely cursed enough.]

iii. house #6

[It’s not until he gets to his designated housing that he finally allows himself to let the implications of his displacement sink in—still alive, for now. Just misplaced. Somehow.

Viktor finds it almost too much to take in, and it's not until he's alone that he allows himself to fully process what all this is supposed to mean. He needs to recuperate from the whirlwind events of the last few days, but he doesn't have time, so instead of attempting to clear his head after being shuffled from one town to another, he gives in to his frustration. There's a chair near the door that he jostles violently with his free hand on the way in, and he all but throws down the crutch they've given him before sinking down onto the nearest (un-overturned) chair with some effort, scrubbing a hand through his hair and letting out a long, shaky breath.

That's about when he realizes he isn't alone (it's you, you're here, walking into this, congratulations).]

Sorry. [He seems to have the wherewithal to be embarrassed about the temporary outburst, but at the same time there's too much exhaustion behind the apology for it to seem fully sincere. Viktor knows, vaguely, that he’s meant to be sharing this house with others.] I didn't realize anyone else was here.

[Just, you know, forgive him for having a Moment. Also he’s your new roommate. Hello!]

iv. the network option

[In other circumstances, such a device would be entirely fascinating to him. Voice transmission. Real-time image transmission, like nothing he’s ever seen before. He wishes he were in a better position to really appreciate it. Part of him almost wants to dismantle it and see if he can put it back together. There are, however, better uses for his time, which is what has him addressing the network.

No fanfare. Just the following message:]

The villagers of Ke-Waiar informed me that I was found wandering the forest while in an altered mind state. I do not remember any of this, but my physical state upon “awakening” corroborates the story.

My understanding is that this is a communication channel for the similarly displaced. Although I am under no illusions that the information I'm requesting will solve any real mysteries, please detail the following if you're able to do so:

1. The circumstances of your arrival, including any involvement/assistance from those native to this world
2. Whether or not you were lucid upon arrival, and, if not, at what point you regained your faculties

Any input is appreciated.

V

v. wildcard??

[hey I’m BRAND NEW and down for anything. Happy to write bespoke starters, or feel free to toss me a wildcard of your own. Hit me up on plurk at whitticus OR on discord at whitticus#8139!]

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ It still sounds like he’s missing some details to why they wanted him as a spokesperson. How far did that get before it reached the Merchant? ]

That would be a first. Do people usually trust you that easily?

[techmaturgy]

[People usually don't pay attention to him at all, is the thing.]

I must be very convincing.

[somebadnews]

[ …exactly the ones you should watch the most. ]

Most of us had to escape from where we first arrived, in one way or another. The exceptions usually happen when they don’t come in with a group.

[techmaturgy]

Understood. [Yikes, okay. Between this and Lan Wangji, he is starting to see why this might be. Problematic.] I suppose I'm one of those exceptions, then. Am I correct in assuming you find this suspicious?

[somebadnews]

[ He's suspicious of everyone, as a general rule. Someone has to be. ]

Most of the villages operate like a cult. They worship an undead warlord and believe in human sacrifices, so I'd probably wonder.

How far did you get with them? Were they preparing for anything?

[techmaturgy]

Well, I’ve escaped it, for the time being, though my understanding is that this village is not much better. They took me in when they could have easily left me for the wolves in the forest, so I can’t complain about that, at the very least.

[Despite everything, he thinks he would have liked to help Ke-Waiar with their lycanthropy issue, somehow. He’d appreciated the fact that they handled the afflicted with compassion.]

Aside from the delegation I came with? They were mostly preoccupied with their local affliction.

[Werewolves.]

[somebadnews]

[ Five twitches at the mention of wolves, but not for the reason Viktor might guess. Not to mention how annoying it is that he doesn't Know Everything already. It's been a bad time lately. ]

What affliction?

[techmaturgy]

Lycanthropy, apparently. Some version of it.

[You know,]

[somebadnews]

[ So that's what he meant. That's... interesting. Do they just think they're wolves, or-? ]

Part of a curse?

[techmaturgy]

Isn't everything a curse here?

[somebadnews]

More or less.

[ But he still didn't know about that one. ]

How many did you end up with?

[techmaturgy]

At least one. Though, sometimes I'm not sure what's a curse and what is simply the nature of this place.

[somebadnews]

[ Probably hasn't seen the effects yet then. Five doesn't like being the one to break it to him, because that would be admitting how much he's struggled with his. ]

There is some merit to their superstitions.

[techmaturgy]

I don't doubt it. You sound like you're speaking from experience.

[somebadnews]

Most of their beliefs are bullshit, but the curses are real. We've already seen fox-people, so I can't be surprised that there's a tribe of werewolves running around.

[techmaturgy]

I was surprised. [No werewolves where he's from. Sort of.] However, they treat the afflicted with compassion. It was heartening, despite the circumstances.

[somebadnews]

[ Five wouldn't give them too much credit. If they shunned everyone who was cursed, they'd have no one left. ]

Did you see how it spread?

[ His brother is really into wolves lately, so he should keep an eye on that. ]

[techmaturgy]

No. I'm not sure it's contagious. It seems to simply manifest, without much explanation.

[somebadnews]

[ Thanks, he hates that answer. ]

Lucky you got out of there then.

[techmaturgy]

Well, if I spontaneously transform into a wolf, please be sure to take notes.

[somebadnews]

Sure thing.

What does ‘V’ stand for?

[techmaturgy]

Oh. My name is Viktor. Apologies--a communication device such as this is new to me.

[somebadnews]

[ Not that he's partially asking because he wants to make sure it's not the roman numeral. He just likes to keep accurate lists is all. ]

Is there anything here you are familiar with?

[techmaturgy]

Most of this place is entirely foreign. I'm not a stranger to magic, but...curses? Spirits? Outside the realm of my understanding. Beyond that, I find the technology lacking.

[somebadnews]

[ A more modern world with magic. If he had more time, he'd really like to narrow that down more. For now he'll just get the basics. ]

Can you do magic without it?