asgardmeridiem | EVENT LOG: DOWN THIS ROAD

EVENT LOG: DOWN THIS ROAD

Who: EVERYONE going to Ginnungagap
What: the Down This Road mingle log!
When: Days 401-404 ( Feb. 9-16 )
Where: Asgard, Ginnungagap, and the road inbetween.
Rating: PG-13. Anything higher than that should be taken to a private log, please!

Day 401 ( Feb. 9/10 ): Waiting by the Gate of Fire will be several carriages all prepared to take the Travellers to their destination. Natives will help them load into the carriages and provide a personal pack of food and blankets to those that need it, all with a grim face and averted eyes. This journey is one few outside the immortals have ever made, and only several thousand years ago. It's a sacred place, and one they are not entirely comfortable with seeing entered. But their King gave them orders, and so the caravan will depart by midday with Mimir and Honir at the head to lead the way onward.

They will continue riding through sunset and stop to make camp by nightfall. The gods will tell the Travellers to rest up, as the rest of the journey will be a strenuous one.
Day 402 ( Feb. 11/12 ): The caravan will pick up again for a few hours, but it will come to a sudden halt with a cry of pain from the leading carriage. The accompanying gods will be feeling the same inexplicable wrenching as the gods in Asgard, but this far from the city, its effects will not reach the Travellers in their party. A moment will be spared for their recovery before Honir announces that it's best they continue on foot; from there on forward, it's a hike, and not a particularly friendly one.

Ginnungagap sparsely littered with old trees and short, soft grass on the outskirts of the canyon, streams flowing from varying mountain peaks into the vast space below; deeper within, it is sheer rock and sharp edges that are harsh and unyielding. If one were to look at it from above, they might think someone stabbed a knife into solid stone and carved out a jagged wound, and so it is moving through the canyon itself, where one false step can lead to certain and painful death.

The vast majority of the day will be spent moving slowly and carefully, with few breaks to stop for water and rest while Honir and Mimir negotiate the safest paths. By the time it goes dark, they will be too deep into the canyon and its steep cliff faces to stop without risking losing someone to the jagged rocks hidden in the darkness, and so the gods will conjure small orbs of light to follow each Traveller as they direct every footfall very precisely until they reach their destination.

They will stop just outside the path that leads to the cavern of the Earth Giants' final resting place. There is ample space to make camp and rest for the night; Honir and Mimir will have to vanquish their lights in order to regain their strength, so they will urge the Travellers not to go off wandering on their own. The sound of slowly streaming water and the echo of emptiness will linger just outside their reach in the darkness as they try to sleep.
Day 403: By early morning, very little sunlight will be able to reach the company from their position on the small plateau, but the gods will wake their companions and relight their guides to lead them further in. It takes less than an hour to reach the entrance to the kingdom of the Earth Giants, and sunlight will flood the ruins in abundance. It may be easy to tell that the sprawling city was once something of magnificence, the architecture careful and precise to maximise their position in the sun carried down into the canyon.

However, nearly all buildings lay in varying states of destruction, as though a large bomb went off at the centre and blew outwards. Every surface is overgrown by moss, weeds, and chaotic tangles of vines. Waterfalls that were contained and utilised in artful structures and fountains have worn down the walls of the cavern and flow freely throughout the ruins, leaving the earth a sodden constant. The kingdom has fallen into complete disrepair in the eighteen-thousand years it's been deserted.

Most notable, however, is the distinct lack of life anywhere throughout the cavern. Ginnungagap on the whole is not terribly occupied by wildlife, but there are animals and insects that can be found roaming the cliffs; here, there is absolutely none to be found. Nothing stirs but the sound of water echoing off of empty walls, and there is, it seems, a very unnatural hollow sensation from simply standing in this space so devoid of life.

It has long been believed that the tragedy of the Earth Giants' obliteration starved this land of its will to thrive, but this is an extreme the gods did not foresee. The Travellers will be free to explore for a few hours, but will be ushered out at the insistence of the unnerved gods before midday. They have a long journey ahead of them, and they will not stop for anything until night has fallen and they are far from this barren wasteland.
Day 404 ( Feb. 13/14 ): Travel back to Asgard is otherwise uneventful in the wake of their discovery in Ginnungagap. They will arrive to the city pulling itself together after its latest blight, and the gods that accompanied the caravan will give hurried farewells before quickly making their way to the castle to bring news of their experience. The natives will once again help the Travellers unload, this time even more grim than before. Strange things are stirring, and the confusion on both sides will leave many questions unanswered.

[ OOC NOTES: This is the mingle log for the Down This Road event! Remember that you must leave Asgard on Day 401 ( Feb. 9/10 ) if you want to opt out of this month's body horror event! Please put [OPEN/CLOSED] in the subject of your comment, as well as the time and location. Both Honir and Mimir will be around in this log, so feel free to contact us if you'd like them in a particular thread somewhere. Let us know if you have any questions! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Huh? Master Maglor, is that you?

[ one of the shadows sits up, and Maglor swings down to stand by Kili's side ]

Aye, it is. Well met, Lord Kili. You are looking much improved on our previous encounter.

Thank you, Master Elf, I am feeling much better. Rest and food was what I needed. And Fili did manage to find me not long after you left.

I am glad - it would be an ill start to your journey here to fall to injury! That you are reunited with your brother is equally a blessing. You heard the river as well?

[Kili nods.] I thought we might do with some more water for the journey.

[ Maglor considers for a moment then ] I doubt that such an endeavor would be unwelcome. If you mind not a companion I would be glad to accompany you.

Yes, thank you, Master Elf.

[ Maglor tips his head to listen then starts to move in the direction he hears the water ] How have you found Asgard so far, Master Dwarf?

It's a nice place, and it has good beer and food. But it's very different from home.

[Kili follows Maglor.]

It is. [ Maglor moves slowly - it is dark, and he doesn't trust his human senses on the rough ground ]

But there are good people here, and I find myself not minding overly. What of your brother? [ ah! he stumbles a bit before catching himself ] Have a care, Lord Kili - the ground here is unstable. Can you hear the stream still?

I would not mind being here, if we didn't have to help Uncle Thorin. But have a duty there.

[Kili looks behind him.] It seems he went back to camp. I hope he is not lost...

[The Dwarf kicks the ground a bit to test and hears it crumbling a bit.] It seems so... I think I hear the stream to our left...

The ties of duty are strong indeed, but at the least if our patrons prove not false you will see your duty done - eventually. [ Maglor looks behind as well, but in the dark about all he can tell is the direction of the camp ] I am sure he will be well. [ he hopes ]

We must be close then. The ground being what it is, perhaps we are near a ledge? You might be able to tell better than I, Aule's child.

I wish it could have been done before I came here... But I suppose that was not to be of our choosing... [Kili looks worried, and only hopes his brother is fine.

He stops for a moment and listens carefully.] We should go forward and to our left. The stream is not far.

Alas, no - at the least our patrons have not been unkind. I do wish we had been able to come of our own choosing, however.

[ Maglor obediently starts moving in the direction indicated slowly ] I trust your senses more than mine here, I think. I fear I am not used to these human bodies as yet.

[The Dwarf nods.

And then he guides the Elf towards the water.]

My eyes and ears are not as keen as they are home.

[ when they find the stream Maglor will check the water carefully ]

Nor mine. I wish they might have left us as we were in our homes - it would be easier for us all that way. [ the new powers are nice, but he'd rather be himself ]

It smells safe enough, I deem, and seems to be nought but water to me?

Yes, at least we have been able to meet interesting people here. [Most of them, Thorin wouldn't approve.]

Maybe we should take some back to the camp and look at it better with the light...

I had never dreamed that there would be so many different worlds. [ Maglor nods and scoops some of the water into a small flask ]

Aye, that might be for the best - it seems safe enough, but one can never tell in foreign lands.

Nor did I... It's very surprising... [Kili takes some too.]

Yes, it could be enchanted, for all we know.

So many different worlds - some here have even travelled through time! [ his roommate, for example ] I wonder if our world will ever reach such heights.

Hm, well, I hope the enchantment is not so strong as Mirkwood's river, else we might both be in trouble. Let us return - perhaps there are some there who might be able to tell.

[He nods and then looks surprised when he mentions time traveling.] Is that true? Through time! It must be some kind of magic!

[Kili nods and puts the bottle of water away.] If it's safe, we can come back tomorrow when there's more light.

[ Maglor grins back in remembered wonder ]

Tis true indeed! Have you met Master Irving? He is my roommate - and aye, he has told such tales! He says it is "technology" but not of earth. His people, although they are human in seeming, are of a different kind altogether - a starfarer, he is, and by his tales I think his home far distant from Arda. There are several of his people here, although I have not met them all.

[ Maglor turns to head back ] Well, neither of us are feeling sleepy or forgetful, so that spell is not these waters at least. The fresh water will not go unwelcome I think, if it is safe.

[Kili shakes his head.]

No, I don't think I have met many people yet... I heard about "technology", some worlds have devices that can be used much like the bracelets we have here. Yet, I cannot imagine any kind of machine that allows travel through time...

Yes, let us go back and examine it.

I will have to introduce you at some point then. Aye, this technology is utterly fascinating - tis not my usual area of interest, [ Feanor, Curufin and Celembrimbor on the other hand... ] but I find myself very curious as to its workings. I suppose Master Irving's people, being starfarers, may well have greater skill with it then those of Earth?

[ the way back is easier than the journey out, if only because they can retrace their steps ]

That would be interesting, yes... [Maybe something he could learn to use back home?] It could be, Master Elf. I wish we could see worlds like that...

[And they know where to find the camp.]

EVENT LOG: DOWN THIS ROAD

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