As El Dorado is rich in pre-roleplay history and culture, it is understandable that sometimes there will be lots of questions for both newcomers and veteran members. Please feel free to browse here to see if any of your curiosities are answered, and if not then drop it here and I will answer it and add it to the list! Remember there is no such thing as a dumb question! Questions asked in the discord will also be added here.    QUESTION: What's the difference between El Dorado and Syn Cardrys? Why two names?    ANSWER: ICly the tribe has been known as the Syn Cardrys ("sin car-dree"), and identify as such. However, upon Kukulkan's arrival, he dubbed it El Dorado, and for various reasons the residents of the tribe let him roll with it, whether out of excitement for his entrance or just shrugging him off as an ignorant outsider. El Dorado was the original name of K's mother's empire, and he grew infatuated with its identity.    QUESTION: How long has this tribe been around?    ANSWER: As far as the members of the tribe are concerned, their history is ageless, as old as the gods themselves. Written records and relics date back at least 500+ years, though they boast an infinitely older existence.    QUESTION: Can I/my character have a bird of prey?    ANSWER: OOCly, you may roleplay a bird of prey if you desire, but please read up on the lore and culture of the tribe - birds of prey are symbolic of the gods' ferocities and therefore have certain connotations associated with it. ICly, your character may be friends with or know a bird of prey, but no one, not even the Phoenix, may have a bird of prey as their companion.  It is considered an insult to the gods to try and tame their fury and power for yourself.    QUESTION: What's the difference between a companion and just a regular smaller animal?    ANSWER: Animal companions are considered an intimately-bonded spirit to your character, one's energy is reflective of the other's. It is therefore shameful in essence to not have one, should you be rank-eligible, as this indicates your energy is negative or empty.    QUESTION: --    ANSWER: --

   When Celosia had been young, everyone had known that she would be one of the first to strike out on her own and see the world. They could see it in her starry eyes, how she wove stories and told tales with enthusiasm and longing as she looked toward the horizons. It was obvious that she would break their lines and strive for a new beginning, somewhere to make a mark and not be a simple sled dog, pulling sleds her whole life until she could no longer. One day she would break ranks and forge a path few before her had taken, freeing herself from her binds and moving forward. She would hope and dream, spend her days planning how she would leave and see new horizons and experience new environments.

   Frankly, it hadn't taken that long to beat such optimism out of her.

   No, it hadn't taken any time at all to turn her into a cynic, making dry comments and petty remarks. In fact, she had taken to it easily. Still, she had not entirely lost her dreamy outlook. She had still gazed longingly at the horizon when her higher-ups had not been paying attention. She had still planned her escape, clever mind working quickly. Her situation was not a kind one, one that had taken her too long to realize that she had to escape from. Her feelings weren't healthy, her cynicism was not healthy, her thoughts, more defeatist every day, would be the end of her spite and fire.

   But she was nothing if not spiteful, always happy to be petty and spit at the feet of those who had even somewhat wronged her. She wouldn't be alive if she wasn't spiteful, determined to prove others wrong. She had taken her spite and turned it into a weapon, cleaving her way to freedom with sharpened words and years worth of blackmail. She took pride in the returned cruelty, striding away with a light skip to her step and a wave to her curled tail. Freedom, at last, at the cost of her optimism. Seemed like a fair enough trade if you asked her. At this point, it wasn't like optimism would help her. She needed facts to make it in a foreign world.

   Admittedly, optimism would be a nice trait to have when you were stranded in the middle of a desert, too stubborn to ask for directions and walking right into the arid lands. Sun almighty, she was going to get herself killed with her stupidity. She had no water, she had no food. She had run out of resources half a day ago and by then she was too far in to go back to a forest she had passed to resupply. She was in the middle of a gods-forsaken desert! Without water!! Or food!!! She would end up like the sorry sap whose skeleton she had eyed warily two days back. All because she was an annoying dumbass. This is what I get for never cleaning up after myself, isn't it? For biting the human whenever they tried to tie me to the sled, huh? Can't see how this punishment ties to the crime, but I guess I'll accept it.

   Although she kept on walking, eyes on the horizon as she did. She would not let her former fatalism consume her, not yet. Perhaps she was meant to die in this desert, body left for the vultures as she baked to death beneath the sun. Or perhaps she was meant to survive by some miraculous means. Means about as miraculous as mountains appearing on the horizon as she loped along, pads cracked and beginning to bleed. Huh, maybe miracles did exist. Or maybe fate was cruel and petty and planned on having her die right before she reached the mountains' bases. Now that would be funny--albeit resulting in her death. Such was the price of ironic comedy.

   Picking up her pace in hopes of not dying an ironic death, the former sled-dog pressed toward the mountains on the horizon with a determined look in her eye. At the final stretch, she sprinted toward the rocky outcroppings in hopes of finding shelter in the shade they might provide. Just as her lungs began to reach their limit and her legs almost gave out beneath her, the exhausted mutt came to the beginnings of a tunnel. She gazed toward it, puzzled by the gentle gusts of cold air. Walking toward its source, the female was flooded with the smells of wolves.

   Fitting considering her mixed heritage, she supposed. Treading closer toward the tunnel's mouth, the small canine was careful in the placement of her steps. Yes, she ached. But she wouldn't let the pain be an excuse for being careless, especially in territory that clearly belonged to a pack. Still, she moved forward. Perhaps... Perhaps she could join, if they were accepting. She certainly was in no state to travel anymore, especially in this damn desert. If anything, she hoped she could rest for a while before setting out once more. That is, if she couldn't worm her way in first.

s v e y n

He was here too long. Much too long.

Countless nights have been spent in Gemini with minimal progress to show for solidifying an alliance, which was his ultimate reason for leaving his home. There would be minimal virtuous news to share with Rainer; it caused a glimmer of worry for Sveyn, concerned for how his King would respond. But that worry was not as prominent as the guilt he felt when he turned his back and retreated from the wall. While he may not be returning to Bacchus with success, he did not feel as
though the trip ended without reason. The relationships he’d be leaving behind were enough to make him feel full, he’d felt accomplished with those alone.

Paws as heavy as concrete dragged through the dried grass. When he arrived, there was a thin layer of snow covering the Earth. It had been long melted by now, truly making the time lapse true to what he already was well aware of; it was time to go.

Reath, much larger now than when he’d found him, was following close behind. He, too, was reluctant to leave. But the young boy wouldn’t leave Sveyn behind, their bond closer now than it was before they’d arrived. He would finally have the chance to bring him home to Bacchus. But would he love the tundra as much as
he’d grown to love the lush in Gemini?

Sveyn did not want to disappoint anyone else with his choice to leave.  

ooc: Charley granted permission to have Neoptolemus burn Rivian’s hut. This thread is open to one or two others, max. Please keep in mind that Neo is looking for someone to help him with his goals, so unless your character can do that or they start something with him for, uh… Starting a big ass fire, he’s probably going to ignore your character.