[DROP] It'll take your breath away

random event the cold was so intense that she could see her own breath; it came out of her mouth like smoke The Labyrinth is beautiful in the snow, truly. Why not go for a walk - why not indeed? Only, before you can even set foot within the maze an ominous rumble reaches your ears. The creak of ice. A thump like the beat of a heart. Then the ground gives way beneath you (does it?) and you plummet, tumbling, falling in an avalanche of snow and rock and ice. You land on light feet, inexplicably. Like a dream, you reflect back at yourself from the ground. Oh no, wait. That's ice. You are in a cavern made entirely of ice. The world has sealed above you, like you never fell at all. And you aren't alone, either. Others are here - did they get there before you? After? Who knows. It's damned cold, though. Welcome to CotF's Deepfrost Drop! There are no requirements in order to participate; all you need to do is complete whatever strange challenges await you! You have 72 hours to respond to this post before the games begin! (Please respond IC, having your character arrive in the cavern and reacting etc.). There can only be ONE winner in this drop. The winner shall receive a mythical companion appropriate to their race!

The labyrinth was on his list of places to visit and explore in more detail, but with everything else going on it had taken the lorekeeper a while to find his way out there. Notebook in hand for mapping its path, grey furred cloak bundled up tightly around his slender frame to stay warm, the tall man stepped carefully over the snow, picking his path with the rueful thought that perhaps he should have traveled in fox form.

But opposable thumbs were just so damn useful, weren't the--

"Damn!" He cursed as the snow collapsed beneath him, biting the word off as he scrambled to stop his slide into the sinkhole that had been hidden beneath the snow. The notebook was dropped in his search for purchase - less than seconds as he tumbled down...

down...

DOWN.

He should have been lying broken and bleeding on the rocks below. He knew that. And yet... Soft boots touched slick ice and he settled, feather-light and unharmed on the ground beneath the world. The lorekeeper settled into a crouch, looking around in startlement, then up from whence he'd come.

There was no sun, no sky, no snowy pit. Only his own reflection, white and grey reflecting through the blue, blue ice into infinity. And around him...

Silence.

Shivering, pulling his cloak closer as fear and cold both struck a physical response from his slender frame, Jigano straightened. Dream? Portal? Or something else? His face settled into grimly thoughtful lines as he settled in to wait before taking another step he might regret.

It wasn’t unusual for the young healer to be out and about in dangerous places, as more often than not he would find someone in need of some kind of assistance. Today, it seemed that he was the one in need of some assistance.       Desmond found himself approaching the labyrinth, but before he entered the mysterious place, the ground seemed to collapse from under him, trapping him in an icy cavern. He looked up and realized that he was sealed inside, yet it wasn’t necessarily as dark as he would have imagined.       He shivered against the cold that bit through his thick coat, quickly checking himself for injuries. Shock could do a number on the body, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with him. This couldn’t be real… Could it? desmond AWAKEN THE SOUL AND REACH FOR MORE

Exploring was far from a strange thing for the tigress, and she enjoyed going on adventures on her own. Something of a hobby for the young woman. She wandered near the labyrinth, scuffing the ground lightly with her boot, long dreadlocks braided down her back with the hood of her olive cloak over her head. Her pacing might have distracted some, but it was a natural thing for her to always be moving. Rhea heard a low rumble accompanied by ice creaking, and her feline reflexes were just a touch too slow as the ground gave out underneath her. As she fell in the frigid avalanche, Alorhea shifted into the large tiger, a more durable form than the woman. Plus, the feline’s fur protected her from the cold, which seemed even more noticeable than it was above ground. Rhea remained a tiger, her teeth bared and tail flicking, as golden eyes surveyed the area to determine whether or not there was a threat. Once she didn’t see anything, the tigress shifted back into a woman, hugging her cloak closer to her body with wary and cautious eyes on her company. rhea Be Humble, But Be A Beast

a m a l i a The ground beneath her cracks, opening like a maw to swallow the girl whole, and all Amalia can think is: Ah. At least I have a lamp. It started as a normal day: go out, train, gather wood, return and work on tomorrow's bake. She did not expect to fall through a hole in the world, or to wind up underground, in a cavern of glittering ice. Yet the world is full of surprises, and though Amalia finds herself looking around in wonder, it is not the strangest thing to happen to her this year. Since her adventure in the Underground and subsequent meeting with the Voice the girl has opened herself up to the strangeness of her world. Caido, she knows, is a wondrous place, full of beauty and terror and the whims of the gods. The lantern in her hand illuminates softly the shimmering walls of the surrounding cave. She is grateful not to have dropped it in the fall: always cautious, Amalia has been extra careful to carry her light since the encounter with The Voice. Glancing around, the girl spots Desmond, the healer a welcome spot of familiarity in this unusual scene. She draws near him, a curious expression on her angular face, gesturing to the sealed ceiling with the right hand that holds the light. "Another mystery?" the girl asks, wry humor illuminating her alto voice. "Perhaps the gods are testing us, again."

Zariah Be dangerous darling, for the world rises and falls at your feet. Zariah was not a happy camper. Why? She had just now found out her child had been attacked by talking squirrels. How did she find that out? Well, let’s just say 9 year olds are not the best at keeping secrets when they think they can use said secret to gain some sort of an advantage. To be clear – that had not worked out in Beatrix’s favor who was now sitting in her room because she was grounded. Ugh. The nerve of the little monster! But as angry as she was with her daughter for not telling her (thank goodness Beatrix at least did not rat out anyone else who might’ve known about this Edrei) she was more angry that anything would have tried to hurt her child. Enter, momma bear. Zariah was going to go on a talking squirrel massacre that would be talked about for millennia to come…or so she thought. The ground cracked and suddenly she was falling…but somehow landing on her feet. She looked around in surprise, not recognizing anyone else in the ice cavern. Thank goodness she had worn a decent cloak or she would be freezing. No one else seemed to know what was going on either. She sighed and crossed her arms, her irritation growing. ”Fan-fucking-tastic.” she grumbled.

BASTIEN Soon everybody, everywhere will be The envy of the gods above Bastien tumbled down beneath the earth with a cry of 'Che due coglioni!' and a lot of undignified flailing he would regret later. He smacked to the ground with a cringe at the pain in his joints, the impact not doing him any good. Still, he was well enough to stand and brush himself off, trying to appear smooth and collected to the people around him. He looked up -- then stumbled backwards, shocked, as he saw the sealed cavern above them, no visible hole or crack into which he had fallen. This was surely something supernatural, something strange; how else would there be so many of them gathered in this relatively obscure place? Clutching at his pendant and whispering a prayer, he stepped towards the other people, hoping to listen in and see if they knew what was going on. Perhaps it was all a strange dream, but his dreams involving himself and many other people generally didn't go like this. The whole situation felt tense, as if something was about to happen. The cold didn't help with that, Bastien hissing under his breath as the floor's freezing temperature leaked into his thin shoes.

Lily hasn’t been here long, and thus far she’s had to rely on the continuous generosity of strangers (something she doesn’t particularly like), like she’s got nothing to offer. Except, she does. Lily is a warm fire and a comforting glass of alcohol on a bleak winter’s night. She is a roller coaster of emotions, she is joy and sorrow and skin-tingling lust; she is an escape from reality and an always welcoming, sassy face. But these little insecurities are neither here or there, all her self-pitying thoughts fly out the window when a false step sends the silvery ground a-creaking and then whooooosh, down she tumbles, a scream flying from her mouth. Somehow, Lily manages to land on her feet (let’s call it those really good dancing skills of hers). After a quick self-assessment… she determines that nothing is physically wrong. Ok. She looks up to find a shiny, sheer room filled with some other people, utter strangers… except for Bastien. Oh! Ok. Um. Sheepishly, Lily edges towards him and when she’s near enough, kind of leans over and whispers to him, “So… more magic, right?” Exactly how she feels about the magic is indecipherable, but there is a definite look of apprehension on her face. It’s a lot to swallow. lily as if you were on fire from within the moon lives in the lining of your skin

RexannA but darling, in the end, you've got to be your own hero. One moment she was admiring the Labyrinth in the snow, and how much it had changed since the time she had been here with Kalt. The next moment, she was tumbling through the world as the ground gave way – as cracks of ice reverberated in her eardrums and confusion wafted through her mind. This couldn’t be real, could it? There hadn’t been any kind of water or strange accumulation the last time she was here – it made no sense? The fall was real, however, as she landed and the wind got knocked out of her lungs. Her arms caressing her ribs as her sapphire gaze lingered on the ceiling of the strange cavern she found herself in. Sitting up carefully, she glanced around to find that she wasn’t the only one and huffed out a small sigh of thankfulness. At least she wouldn’t have gone missing in this strange labyrinth – there were others here too, but there was an odd wind about that caused her to tighten her jacket and sit up all the way. She recognized Bastien but that was about it out of the group so far that had gathered, and she managed to gather herself to her feet and the bundle Remi had made her as it had gone flying during her descent. She cradled it close to her chest, running her free hand through her dark hair as she surveyed the cavern and did her best to refrain from shivering like a leaf. because everybody's so busy trying to save themselves.

coding

The last time he'd been here he'd saved a young girl from being abducted by a group of talking squirrels? Chipmunks? Gophers? Honestly he could hardly remember, but here was here to check. Before he could make his way into the maze though, the footing beneath his feet suddenly disappeared and he felt as though he was falling. But before he had time to shift and save himself, he had landed quite unhurt, and not alone. Furrowing his brow, Remi glanced around to see quite a few faces that he recognized. One in particular—Jigano—made the alchemist frown slightly and feel the need to turn away. Instead though should the bard turn his way, Remi would offer him an easy smile before moving toward Rexanna. "Here—" Remi said gently, removing his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. Before she could protest, a thick layer of tawny fur sprouted from Remi's revealed arms and around his neck former a strange collar. Remi never had a shift that could keep him warm before, and while he'd not last terribly long even with lion's fur coating him, it would do for now. REMI Everything looks perfect from far away

Isla had explored the majority of the ruins, but she had yet to enter the Labyrinth. And now she had new eyes and new insides and (furiously avoiding the reality of what had happened) had no reason not to. She wore a fur trimmed coat with a wide hood, drawn up to cast her face in shadow. The sky might be clogged with snow but she wasn't going to risk bursting into flame. Her gloved hands were buried in her pockets when the world disappeared beneath her feet, and she didn't even bother to try and steady herself as she fell. Her eyes widened, lips parting in an inhale she didn't necessarily need... and then her boots touched a glassy floor as pristine and perfect as the Voice herself. Glancing around, Isla spotted only one truly familiar face, the Ascended stepping up on Remi's other side. "Nice coat," she remarked with a smile. ISLA pray for me pray to me

random event the cold was so intense that she could see her own breath; it came out of her mouth like smoke "What a wonderful gathering..." The voice rings around the cavern like the peal of a bell, resonating sweetly in the ears of all who hear it. But the owner of the voice is nowhere to be seen... until you look down. Within the ice stands a reflection with no owner. She stands closest to Jigano - a beautiful, nymph like young woman whose attire shimmers like frost. Reaching out, she clasps his arm almost playfully - he would feel it, as if she were standing nearby. "I did not expect so many visitors." So saying, she would drift about the cavern, touching each reflection in turn. "Shall we play a game? The winner gets a prize!" She claps her hands together - in response the entire cavern rumbles and shakes, as if it might collapse at any moment. "First, tell me - what is your biggest regret?" There is no post order! Please respond within 48 hours or the drop will disqualify you!

Others appeared around him, mostly strangers— Until a familiar young pup landed with a grace that the bard admired, even as the familiar surge of exasperation welled up. Of course Remi had gotten pulled into this… whatever it was. Though because Remi was involved, the bard had to wonder if there were gods involved in this little magical mystery dream as well. He raised a brow at the young man, tilting his head as if to welcome the familiar face over, but the boy just smiled and turned away, immediately offering his coat to someone Jigano didn’t recognize.

But he hoped the boy did, at least. It wasn't as though Jigano had wanted him to stop helping friends, after all.

Just when he thought that all who had been drawn – fallen? abducted? – to this icy cage were gathered a final attendee caught his eye. His eyes brightened, a sense of both worry and relief on his expression as he took a step towards her, across the cavern and all those who stood between them—

The lovely blond head of his friend turned towards the pup and she stepped to his side, oblivious to the lorekeeper’s presence.

His mouth, open to call greeting, closed as his arm fell. The cold – already bitingly worse than the air above had been – seemed to sink a little deeper into his chest as he turned away, determined to make neither a fool nor a pest of himself as he instead distracted himself by taking stock of all those milling around him. Once more he drew in a breath to speak, to try and coax order from the chaos—

Once more he was silenced, this time by a voice of glorious purity and precision. Tilting his head back to savor the resonance, it took him a moment to realize it came not from one of his fellows, but beneath his feet. A silver brow rose in surprise, joined by a second a moment later as he took in her form and attire, lovely and pure – a winter morning personified. Her touch earned a sharp intake of air, a gasp that drew ice down his throat even as her hands left the memory of warmth on his arm.

Childlike, sweet and innocent she seemed at first, and he watched her spin away in breathless appreciation at her inhuman grace. But… a game? His stomach clenched, the bottom dropping out of it as his eyes widened. ”Oh, sh—“ he started to whisper, but the sudden vibrations of the cavern as it shuddered and shook around them swallowed his curse.

He dropped swiftly to one knee, pressing his hand against the ice to stabilize himself while the echoes of her question ricocheted through his heart and mind like flensing knives. A score of moments flickered through his thoughts, images of pain, of horrors, of being too late again and again. Family lost. Friends lost. Friends—

Betrayed.

”I couldn’t save them,” he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut as three faces paraded past his inner vision. None of them human. All of them precious. All of them—

Dead.

”I tried but… it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough. And they… were already too far gone.”

BASTIEN Soon everybody, everywhere will be The envy of the gods above Bastien saw several people he recognised enter. He didn't see Lily drop in, but as she came close and asked her question, he nodded and tried to smile comfortingly. "It would appear so. But I'm afraid I cannot say what specific kind of magic..." He was about to put forward some theories, ideas of potential divine causes when the woman appeared before them. For just a second his heart leapt, thinking Safrin was about to materialise. But no, it was just....a woman. A magical woman though, definitely. The question was surprising. He wondered how she expected to hear everyone's answers at once - were they to form an orderly queue? But other people simply began to speak, and he supposed the way of magic was to just go with it. "My biggest regret...back in the refuge, in Venice. There was a man. About three years younger than me...he had had the hardest time in life. But my God, his paintings. They changed my life, allowed me to see the canvas as a place where things could happen instead of just a picture before me. I had to have not just his art but his mind, his body. And I did." "Until..." Bastien sighed and looked down at the ground with a frown. He had not spoken about this in a long time. "I found him in bed with another from the refuge. We had always had a policy of free love and we had never made any promises, so he was in his rights, but...I still lashed out. Jealousy got the better of me. I gave and gave so much to those people and I just wanted...that one thing to myself. He left the next day. I never saw him again."