oh we never know where life will take us

[reddosmod]

FINAL EVENT

Due to the cyclical nature of Trench, prompts from the PREVIOUS JULY are available for use again. Please note when you are using this years prompts vs last years prompts when plotting or writing top-levels to avoid confusion.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A sea split in two. ]
[Image Two: Two hands reaching for each other across a map. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A person standing on a foggy cliff. ]
[Image Two: A compass. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

A TIME TO LEAVE

WHEN: GOING FORWARD
WHERE: ALL OF TRENCH; THE OCEAN
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A

---

Without a magic tie stay to the city, the question that hangs in the air is... What keeps you here? It's a question that some might find easier to answer than others, and one that some might not have an answer to at all. Maybe the item you receievd from the Reckoning doesn't feel authentic in its promises. Perhaps people are still unsure that they can truly, safely leave. After all, the city and the magic that has influenced it over the years haven't exactly made themselves trustworthy.

But all things come to an end eventually, don't they? There's a peace that might come over some Sleepers when they realize that it's finally time to depart. An acceptance that everything will be okay. The people you love in Trench will always be there and now you hold in your posession something that can always bring you back to them. Something that will tie you to the life you've known here, the one you built month after month as you laughed, cried, suffered, and rejoiced with those around you. You will never have to truly let it all go.

At the beginning of her reigning month, the Reckoning can be seen down by the waters. She lifts her blade high, before swinging it down into ocean, just as she did before. The waters part, sending a clear path between them, allowing for a way to the gates between worlds for those who do not wish to make the journey in their squid forms. It is a long path, a steep hill that goes deep into the depths. But the water never seems as though it will come crashing in. The creatures that swim in the ocean seem to understand the need to turn around when they get to the wall. It makes for quite the view while you make your journey.

Friends can join you on your walk. At the end of the long path, there's an entrance to what looks like a cave. There's a warmth that comes from it, a familiarity, and you know this is the way home. Your companions can no longer be by your side after this, unless you are both from the same world and the same time. This is where you can say your truly final goodbyes. No matter how hard they may be, you know the time is right.

Safe travels, Sleeper. We hope to see you again soon.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

A REASON TO STAY

WHEN: GOING FORWARD
WHERE: ALL OF TRENCH AND BEYOND
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A

---

For every person who could not answer their question on staying, there will be just as many who can likely think of a few reasons to stick around, even if only for a little longer. There is no compulsion to stick to any city, any safespot created by humans or Pthumerians. Same as for those who have chosen to leave for home, you who stay can now feel free to choose to leave for the open world. Perhaps you will choose one of the new settlements that have been offered to Sleepers through the Pthumerians. Or, perhaps, you will choose to reject the safety and venture out into the great unknown.

Those who choose to venture outside of Trench will find that the strange happenings, the "events" that have plagued Sleepers since their arrival, sometimes do breech the borders of the city. Not all, particularly not those tied to the Tower or cults within Trench, but some. It seems much of the horror this world has inflicted seems to come from the magic in its very soil rather than from the Pthumerians themselves. New horrors will await as well, ones you can only hope you are prepared to face in unknown surroundings. There's a reason it's always been best to travel this world in groups rather than trying to go at it all by yourself.

Leaving the barriers will no longer cause immediate corruption or beasthood, but levels will rise faster than when you are in an established city with multiple people around you. Be sure to use as much precaution and bring as many preventatives with you as possible. Gifts from Pthumerians, someone who is willing to provide physcial contact, or anything else you have discovered eases the mental anguish is invaluable now.

The world outside of Trench is mostly wild. Miles and miles of beaches, woods, and about 250 miles south of Trench, there's even a full desert. There are other signs of abandoned cities all around the country, broken down churches and temples, small villages that looked like they may have once belonged to various settlers. There are some towns that are still populated, though it seems that their number of citizens are far, far fewer than Trench, and they seem to have their own set of Pthumerians that protect them from the outside world. These towns are welcoming, though, even if the closest one to Trench is nearly two weeks of travel for the average adventurer. You can fly to these places if you have the ability to fly and you may use any sort of speed bursts you have to your advantage to cut the time. Lamps may also now be established anywhere in the world, making journeying outward that much more convenient for all who choose to stay.

Enjoy your adventures and happy exploring.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

CODING

Comments

Re: Luz Noceda | The Owl House |OTA

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz couldn't help laughing a little. Yup. Vira would be the one to be here, to see her change into something she'd not done in a long time. Funnily, doing it now made her realize how much she missed it.

"There's a lot beyond Trench. Different cities, like, SO many beaches, and this huge desert. I kind of want to explore it all! Thing is, as a bird you can't talk and you still have to eat. Might have to settle for using the Fathiers or the staff, until we can get lamps set up."

Luz looked excited though. While she was pleased with staying in Trench with her found family and girlfriend, that didn't mean there wasn't a part of her imbued with wanderlust. It WAS still Luz, after all.

[onerthes]

"I can only begin to imagine. We're going to have to use the lamps to set up waypoints and maybe store small supplies inside of their shield. That way people can travel between and get more of a view of what's going on." It would take years, decades, to map it all out. However, eventually it would happen, and with the lanterns, it could allow people to begin finally rebuilding society and population.

"But you'd better be taking a break today. WE can't very well have you collapsing on us, can we?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"Ooh, good point! And we're going to have to make maps, and probably take knapsacks when we DO venture out! Maybe I should only use the bird transformation when I don't have as long a distance, but so I can still see far ahead of me."

Yup, it would take a long time...and Luz honestly looked kind of excited about it!

"Yeah, good idea! I am feeling pretty exhausted now. I would keep going, but that's just asking for trouble."

[onerthes]

"It's a good idea to be careful how far you sojourn at first. Once we're more certain of what we're dealing with and have some better compasses? You can fly further and further. Step by step, we'll build a real map of the world." She fully expected that to be a goal of several people she knew. It would absolutely be their life's work to do that.

"Oh no, you're definitely taking a rest now. Might as well mother you a little after your trip, right?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"Good idea! I was just trying this out to see how far I could go and see what's out there. Now I have a better idea how far I'd have to go out to get there! I'll make sure that I'm more prepared the next time!"

A map would have been a good idea, yes! And Luz was going to do her best to have one ready.

"If you're wondering if I'm going to give you pushback on that, don't worry, I won't! I probably was pushing my limit there. Lexi's probably going to get on my case for it."

[onerthes]

"Naturally. She's definitely allowed to worry about you, after all." She gave her a wink and motioned for her friend to follow. "Though for the moment perhaps we can get something hot to eat, rest up a little bit and you can send her a text message that I'm abducting you for an hour or so? I'm pretty sure she'll forgive me."

[imaglyphwitch]

"And vice versa!" Luz pointed out, though she made a face. "Thing is, now that we share thoughts, she can see what I see. She's probably worrying a fair bit right now, but also getting to see what's out there with me!"

Hopefully she wasn't supper worried about Luz?

"Oh, she will!" Luz gave Vira a thumbs up. "She at least gets why I'm always hanging out with you. I'm still trying to figure out her affection for Johnny."

[onerthes]

"That would help. She'd be able to know if you were in danger by checking in from time to time." It wasn't too invasive if they were all on the same page, so that was perfect. Admittedly, the physical bond she'd had with Minako could feel that sort of thing more reflexively, but it was a good system.

"Pffft. He's a strange little man, but I think people treat him like a very vulgar lost puppy?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"Exactly! I mean, I'm going to start flat out telling her too, so she at least knows what I'm doing when I'm away, but at least she won't have to worry now! She ever said she'll want to come with me on some adventures!"

They couldn't just be bookshop owners alone. Luz would still be wanting to do other things!

"That sounds about right. Also, pretty sure he's a refugee of some of the worst traits of the eighties, if movies are to be believed."

[onerthes]

"I think that's a good idea. Something you two probably want to be careful of is that, even though you can speak telepathically? It helps to actually hear things directly. A physical, or in this case verbal, sign that you're involving each other." At least that was part of how she saw it.

"I have trouble picking out the eras of these films from that world... but I would not be surprised if he was very stereotypical in his own way."

[imaglyphwitch]

"I think you have a point. I guess we can just try to sparse out how this works. It'll take a little bit to figure out still, but we'll find a way."

It would be tricky, and Luz knew she'd have to be honest with Lexi about what and where she was going, or she'd worry her girlfriend to death. She definitely wanted to avoid that.

"Nah, that kind of era is...pretty noticeable if you know the tropes. It's before my time, but the timeline relative to his age seems to line up."

[onerthes]

"You know, one of these days, you and I should sit down and go over these eras. While it's not like it was in Deerington, every once in a while I'm starting to find that a little knowledge of Earth fiction is generally helpful." It was almost a survival guide, if she was being brutally honest.

[imaglyphwitch]

"It's been so long."

Luz couldn't help but look guilty though. A part of her would always wish to see her mother again, even if it had been that long and there was still a her that was likely doing her best to try to get back to her again.

"But if it's Earth fiction you're curious about, I could tell you tons of stories! I was a pretty big book nerd, to be honest!"

[onerthes]

They shared the wish to see certain people who they loved. That look of guilt was definitely something that could be commiserated with. Even if Vira-Lorr couldn't know what was going through her head, she knew well how bittersweet this all ways.

"Perfect. It will be like spending time with Chloe or Gwen. I don't think you ever knew Gwen that well, or did you?" Gwen Poole was ... hard to forget.

[imaglyphwitch]

It wouldn't be a hole Luz was sure would ever be filled. Vira at least knew her well enough that Luz would probably always have that regret in her. It would get better, but only in time.

"No, I don't think we got to meet! What was she like?"

[onerthes]

"She was always an energetic soul. Usually very bubbly, and I think... well, she was hard to understand at times because she had already traveled realities in her own world. She'd left a 'real' world to become part of one that was fictional. It was all very complicated, but she knew so many stories about Earth from time to time." She sighed and laughed a little. Gwen was ... something. "Really, she sort of looked at the world like a story she already knew the ending to, but she was still going to have fun."

Of course, that attitude had kind of pissed Chloe off in the end when she'd left, but that was another matter.

[imaglyphwitch]

"She sounds like she would have been fun! I could see myself begging her not to give me spoilers though. I wouldn't want to know what was happening with everyone I knew!"

Honestly, Luz tended to get swept in by someone with that bright a disposition, since it reminded her of herself once. The closest she had to someone like that was Ochako, and that was only when Luz was able to see her.

"I think that reminds me of Larxene. Do you remember her?"

[onerthes]

"Yeah, that was apparently one of her great vices. Spoiling the ending for people." She couldn't help but laugh.

...

"Larxene... do you mean the insane blonde woman who turned into a sparkling vampire at some point and was shouting over the network about it?" She might have heard of her. "I never actually did speak with her at all, but she was sort of hard to miss."

[imaglyphwitch]

"So maybe it was a good thing we didn't meet then?"

Luz snickered. "Ok. I know I met her way later on down the road, probably before the sparkling vampire part? The only vampire I knew back in Deerington took a bite out of me, and she sure wasn't sparkling."

Then again, Luz had been "high" at the time, so she might not have noticed that anyway. Or maybe she would have? It was hard to tell.

[onerthes]

"She always warned, even when I had no idea why. So you'd probably have been safe," she murmured with a little laugh. "As for Larxene? I'm pretty sure you would have been better off without spending too much time with her. She seemed... unhinged."

Admittedly? She didn't know her well. If Luz ever wanted the skinny? There were mixed opinions. Penny loved her, but Chloe haaaaated her so much. She was good at causing pretty different reactions, which was amazing at times.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Good to know!"

It at least gave her a chance!

"I'm pretty sure she was. I'm also sure she was way different before I met her. She told me so. But she was facing her oblivion better than most people. I could respect that."

Luz could also tell whatever she used to be, she was different from that when they met. It reminded her of Darth Maul that way.

"We've all probably had an unhinged moment though, whether we wanted it or not."