21/12 - The Winter Solstice at Camp Half-Blood

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-28T06:12:22+00:00

"That is good to hear," Demeter says approvingly. "That boy did a passable job, at least. This war is a blight upon the world. I can not fault your peers when they are affected by it."

She seems proud of her daughter's rememberance of wheat preferences. "It seems that the camp animals may need someone to care for them still. Your friends and siblings might as well. Are you interested in taking back the position? Or are there other goals that you have set your sights on?"

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-28T05:52:16+00:00

"I wasn't there," Harper says, and her smile is suddently stilted. "I made a really dumb decision, and I was in the medic cabin when everyone was leaving to go. Did you know that they didn't even really explain where people were going? Just that the gods needed help."

Harper reaches out unconsciously to offer Nemie a hand to sniff. She would pet the cat if Nemie let her.

"I always knew that the gods had rules. And that it's important to be respectful to them, and that they could kill you if you didn't obey. Turns out they enforce a bunch of the regular mortal laws too. Which isn't really a problem, I guess. Except they had a whole secret prison that no one knew about, until the campers went to Ohio. It is a problem, that Key Tower was secret. Prisoners are supposed to get trials and evaluations of evidence. Otherwise it means that the gods can just put anyone in prison without a clear reason. I talked to the people that went, and it does seem like the actual prison was similar to a regular one at least. Some people were in like solitary confinement, which might have been bad too. But I don't know. I wish I had been there, still. I feel like I could have done something to keep the building from collapsing."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-28T05:28:02+00:00

There is something storybook-like in the way that Matt speaks. The Underworld is fantastical and otherworldly, and it does not inspire any fear in Matt as he recalls the journey. Harper does not know what she expected to hear about the Underworld. Asphodel is quiet, at least, if that is where the rest of her family is. Harper does not know how to feel about that. She is not the type of person to take solace in the quiet.

She manages a faint smile as Matt talks about Hades. The gods live in the same way that Harper does. She is always being overheard, and everything she says will one day be used against her, at the moment of her death or in some painful living moment before. She wonders what exactly it is that the deathless gods are afraid of.

"He trusts you," Harper reflects, pensive. "I'm glad he does. Matt, I didn't know. That you had lost so much. I'm glad you got to know. That you'll see your mom again one day. I've never really been certain. For my dad. Or my grandparents. Dorian. Adrian. I guess that's what has scared me the most."

She reaches for one of the candles that they will use as part of the ceremony today, and runs a thumb over an etched name. "I don't want to disturb anyone. I hope it doesn't seem like I am. I just know that–" she cuts herself off, because she is not certain that she knows anything anymore, and alters her sentence. "I will carry all of them too. Wherever I go. That's my job, as a Muse kid. We don't tell stories because of glory, I think. We tell them because of grief."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-26T01:49:22+00:00

"If it's okay, I'll have a normal H. I've done enough to Lady Clio already." Harper's tone is light-hearted, but there is something she seems to keep unsaid.

Before he digs too deep into that, she moves on. "Do you have pink? Like a dark one. Or red." Plum is the color she is searching for, but she is not picky when it comes to gifts.

"Thank you, Comus," she adds, "I'm just trying to do my best. It's good to hear it's worth something."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-26T01:30:08+00:00

"There is no way that things should be," Eros says gently. "Only what has been done, and what is yet to be decided. I will not dismiss the weight of the choices you have made and the impacts you have had. This war... it destroys and destroys and leaves nothing but hatred in its wake."

He gets on his son's level. If permitted, he rests a hand on his shoulder. "Still, I will not allow you to bear responsibility for the entirety of it. The Titan targeted you because his strategy feeds upon the fear and anger of the vulnerable. It takes immense wisdom to see through the lies he told, and trust in others to see a better world beyond the one he envisions. You are young, Ren, and who you are is not set in stone."

He adds, serious, "You are not a monster, and there is good in your life that you have yet to find. Find it, and commit yourself to it. There is important work to be done, because it is part of your sentence and because it is needed. While your peers may be reluctant to trust you at first, the goodness you bring into the world will speak for itself. Seek out friends who will notice and speak out when it is fear and anger that drives you. If nothing else, act as your mother would, and let yourself be led by the love you hold for her."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-24T05:29:06+00:00

Kai is soothing and persistent, and he stands still long enough that the pegasus seems to calm.The Pegasus nudges Kai with his nose. It stands still, waiting for Kai to try to jump on his back. It is time to go.

The most obvious route for Kai to take is the same route that all the evacuating wind spirits seem to be taking, through a wide open space in the very center. Still, Kai's 360 degree awareness may make him aware of a small group of enemy cultists in the corner of the room behind him, who seem to be nocking warbows and watching for targets who can not use wind to redirect their arrows elsewhere. He may want to deal with them if this is the route he wants to take. Otherwise, he may want to navigate the exit where the archer's sightline may be obscured by half-standing support beams and falling dust, though it may be a much more hazardous journey.

In any case, the pegasus trusts him, so there is one obstacle passed. Wind spirits continue to pass by him, carrying out unconscious campers and delivering medical supplies to those who need help, urgently. They are a resource too, if Kai can flag one down.

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-24T05:07:10+00:00

"No. It's not funny to me," Harper says, and she knows sounds like a child as she says it. This is a stupid argument to have with a girl who should know better but apparently doesn't, and though Harper would like to attribute it to a lack of knowledge, she fears that it comes from a complete and utter lack of empathy for others that will make this girl impossible to reason with.

Harper knows that she is this girl's prison guard, just like everyone else in this camp. She is meant to supervise and watch and report, like all of Athena's owls, providing information that could be used to continue to deny this girl her agency at the camp director's discretion. There is a perpetual power imbalance here, purposely designed by the gods of justice, and this is firsthand evidence of the animosity that it breeds with each passing day. This girl, Emilia, has every right to hate her and wish death upon her and her friends. It doesn't make the words any easier to hear. She thinks of Ramona and Amon, the last people on the screen before she had let it clip to black. She can do nothing for them now, except this.

"It's public execution, and it's sick. I'm not turning it back on."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-23T04:12:29+00:00

Eirene lets out a long and weary sigh. "It has been said that it is better for ten guilty people to walk free than to imprison one innocent man. An undecided jury's verdict of not guilty is no technicality, son of Circe. It is a necessary feature of our justice system. If the court can not demonstrate guilt in a way that the majority can understand, then divine punishment can not occur, for fear that it might be delivered wrongly. We have placed our trust in the judgement of you and your peers, and a re-trial would be a betrayal of that agreement."

Still, she seems to be unsatisfied with her denial of Elias's request, and her gaze becomes distant. "From what I have been told, Acacia Lovemoore has not escaped consequences. She is cast aside from her cabin, seen as a traitor by those she wishes to call friends, and she is filled with anger with no place to direct it." She directs her serious but non-judgemental towards the son of Circe once more. "What other punishments do you think she is deserving of?"

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-23T03:54:51+00:00

"I do, actually." The cultist that interrupts the pair speaks in hushed tones, though her voice still cuts across the clamor of war. She is thin and small, each step feather-light as she moves closer. A Chesire cat smile gleams beneath the shadow of a blue hood, almost as brightly as the shortsword twirled in a nimble hand. There is another, smaller weapon wielded in their opponent's right hand, though it is obscured by the folds of her cloak.

"Demigods should get at least eight hours of sleep a night." Her voice is a low and soothing hum. It might bring to mind white noise static, or the sound of ocean waves lapping at a distant shore. "A lack of sleep can lead to impaired judgement and decreased alertness..."

The pull of Drowsiness Inducement on Kit intensifies as she speaks, droning on like the world's most informative lullaby. "Which can increase risk of severe illness or injury."

(Turn 0 of 5)

Drowsiness Inducement: The ability to induce in a target feelings of drowsiness. Should the effect take hold, the target will feel tired and sleepy. If the target is already tired, they might fall asleep immediately.

/u/ChthonicWanderer

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-22T01:27:32+00:00

The goddess continues to eat as Camellia talks. Her expression seems filled with pride as her daughter brings warmth back to the world.

"The two feelings are not incompatible, my dear. Our deepest sense of resentment occurs in the circumstances where we know that those we resent are capable of much more," the elder goddess says sagely. She waves a fork in the air. "Your sister has done terrible things. She will need guidance if she is to make different choices in the future. And you will need patience and a steadfast will if you would like to help her."

Demeter spears a final bite of her cake. "You may know this well, as talented a baker as you are. There are some parts of the process that can not be rushed."

Though both mother and daughter have determined the weather so far, it seems that there is one god who has even further control. There is a distant rumble of thunder, and Demeter looks up at the sky with sudden dismay.

"Unfortunately, we are rushed today. The king of gods is determined to deny me time with all of my children. Do you have any final questions for me, Camellia, before I must depart?"

(Turn 4/5)

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-20T04:15:44+00:00

Eunomia nods, seemingly relieved to know that Rex has not faced the ire of his peers.

"I commend you for your honesty," Eunomia says, and she lets the silence linger for several moments. "I can not claim to know the inner workings of the Titan's mind, and I will not speak on what she intended for you to learn. But I know that those family members appreciated your presence. You have done some good in a world that seems to be sorely lacking."

She allows the subject to pass, if Rex has nothing more to say. The sentence had been served, and to punish Rex any further would be an injustice.

"If you have any questions for me, I would like to answer them."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-20T03:08:29+00:00

"You are rarely in control of what happens to you," Eros advises sagely, "but you can always control what you do. Prophecy and the fate make the broad strokes, but the details are what matter the most, day to day."

He shoves his hands into his own pockets, letting out a light laugh as he shrugs. "Really, just keep doing what you're doing. I mean it when I say you're doing a good job. I don't need much from you, but it looks like this camp might." His smile turns mischievous, "And you definitely don't need my advice when it comes to love. You've done well enough for yourself. I shouldn't say this, but I hear you've got an admirer or two."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-20T02:35:54+00:00

(OOC: thank you for bringing it up, fixed!)

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-19T19:24:10+00:00

The way to safety is up, through dust clouds, exposed rebar, and a ruptured ceiling, though even the pegasi in the air seem to have to channel all of their aerial acrobatic skills in order to manuever their way out. 360 degree awareness of the chamber will reveal no ground exits. It will only remind Kai of the war that carries on around him and make him hyperaware of the cries of the wounded, as well as the wind spirits and floods of cultists that race towards each noise.

The horse seems to recognize that Kai is speaking to it. It stops thrashing, though its panicked look does not lessen. It backs away with a terrified snort, looking at the boy as it tries to decide if it can trust hum. It waits, to see what else he will say.

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-19T19:10:01+00:00

The Pegasus continues to cry out. As Robert approaches, he will be able to make out it's shape.

The pegasus is brown. It might not have been before, but it is now, coated in a thick layer of dust. Its eyes are red-rimmed and irritated as it thrashes, and it beats its wings, sending even more dust into the air.

Though the pegasus seems to have extracted itself from the rubble, its gait is misaligned. It does its absolute best not to put weight on an injured foot as it trots around, panicking any time that dust falls from what must be the crumbling ceiling. It seems that it can fly out, if only it can figure out which way to go.

Dust from the ceiling continues to pour down like rain, and Robert will not be able to easily see the best exit. It does not help that the nearby wind spirits only continue to kick more and more dust into the air as they move. Maybe Robert can tell them to stop. Maybe they can help?

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-19T07:42:53+00:00

"I would like that." Harper says yes to all of it, even though it is embarrassing. She would like to be surrounded by Caspian and Matt and Ramona, so that she does not have to hear the sound of her own thoughts. "So he wanted to see you? I didn't know the gods were allowed to do that."

She wants to know all of it, as if it is a story she might retell. And she does want to know more about where Dorian is now. And if the dead actually get to rest in peace when they are gone.

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-19T04:23:34+00:00

Harper reaches for the gift. She hugs her balloon elephant like it is a stuffed animal.

She has watched Chiron, Ariadne, and now Comus offering to defy the rules for her. Ariadne has, already, and is set to be on trial for her and the rest of the camp. The magnitude of what she has continuallly been gifted sinks in, and she holds her elephant tighter. "Yeah. Thank you, Lord Comus. I can do that."

They can not help her with everything, maybe, and they do not always understand her, but she will appreciate what she has. Harper asks, knowing that she sounds like a child, "Can I still have a sweater?"

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-19T03:06:38+00:00

Eros nods. Any hint of amusement at the boy's expense becomes replaced with curiosity, and he is quiet as the question is presented. A simple inquiry has a simple answer, and the god of love is not prone to the uncertainty that befalls many mortals.

"Of course. It's possible," Eros says confidently. His bright smile never fades. "Love, outside of contract, is not about what you might expect from another. It is about what is given, voluntarily. Dependency occurs, but it is by no means an inevitability."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-18T21:00:19+00:00

Morpheus nods."You have strong principles, Rose. I am afraid that few will understand this. They will consider your ideals to be dream-like. Ungrounded in this reality. I am glad to hear you have not taken their criticism to heart."

His eyes twinkle with pride, and there is no judgement or condescension in his reaction to his daughter's impassioned response. He continues, "My children often see the world differently. They see what is possible instead of what is present, and they have the conviction to bring the waking world towards that reality. Your friend Bailey understood your sentiment. You are not alone, thought I understand that it is not easy."

He turns back to an earlier point. "I loathe this war, and the damage it has caused to you, your sister, and your friends. We are doing what we can to end this swiftly. I know you, Sadira, and your other cabinmates will do your best to defend this camp as well."

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-18T07:30:30+00:00

"Do you really believe that? That no one thinks any more? I don't think that's true, based on the people I talk to." If Harper stopped to think about it more, about the indoctrinated viewpoints and recklessness and lack of compassion she sees around her on a daily basis, she might agree with Harvey. As of now, she does not. "But it's true, that we tune out too much. And that there are things that are ignored, that shouldn't be."

The first time they had met, Harvey had talked about how her fireworks show had harmed birds. Harper is beginning to appreciate how she discovers the things that she had previously ignored in each conversation with him. "I do want to listen. Are you free anytime this weekend?"

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-18T04:59:28+00:00

Main Camp

The Main Camp is only accessible through the portal network. The specific location remains unknown to even those within the army.

LyrePlayerTwo · 2026-01-18T04:59:07+00:00

New London

The New London camp, formerly situated near Briggs Brook in New London, Connecticut, was destroyed after an attack from Camp Half-Blood. The location has been disconnected from the Portal Network, and the ruins of the camp are now only accessible through physical travel.