January (Lasra) Final Event Log / World Status

[hugtopiamods]

❥ State of Havenwell & Aellyn

• Lasra (January) brings with it the lightest winter yet; the temperate is mild, the snowfall light and fluffy, and the wind does not blow quite as hard as one might expect considering the time of year. This weather is consistent throughout the city limits, with the exception of one area: the central plaza, where the egg's nest is laid. That area is actually quite pleasant, heated by the cooperative effort of the residents who opted to cuddle with the egg and each other, creating something of a bubble, almost like an incubator. If the slight chill of the still-mild winter has you shivering, swing by the center of town to warm up.
  
  
• Speaking of the egg, it has been a long time coming, but in early Lasra, cracks begin to appear across the surface! Days pass with little change, whatever is within the shell chipping slowly against its confines. It draws in an eager, anxious audience of locals, keeping a respectful distance but ever-hopeful that whatever hatches will bring good tidings. Eventually, though, the shell at last breaks apart, and what emerges is a pony-sized griffon, golden coloured and iridescent, wings damp and wilted, chirping curiously as he witnesses the world for the first time. Despite being newly born, the reincarnated Winged Lord carries within him a surprisingly wise look to his eyes, and as its body dries in the light of the sun, it begins to radiate a gentle glow, demonstrating to any detractors that this is, in fact, the final lost god. He remains in the center of town for a few days, meeting the people of Havenwell, accepting gifts and prayers and simple greetings, happy to experience both the world and the company of the people who helped bring it back from the dark. After some time he will venture underground to the tunnel from which his egg was originally rescued. Should anyone worry for him, his answer will be simple, calm, and to the point: "Don't worry, I am going to visit my friend. We have a lot to talk about." There is a subtle joy in his tone as he speaks. Once he enters the tunnel, he will vanish from the city and no longer be found, but the air continues to feel brighter, the city abuzz with warm energy. The world has changed for the better, and everyone can feel it.
  
  
• By mid-month, the priests of all four temples have come forward to begin separating and reverently dismantling the nest in the center of town. What once were pillows, blankets, bits of string, and fluff are now fragments of the Winged Lord, blessed by his light, and they intend to save every piece. There are exceptions, however. To each and every offworlder, the priests send a message: come to the temple, we have a gift for you.
  
  Should you go to the temple of your associated god, a priest will present to you a small, strange charm. It is a fragment of the Winged Lord's egg, bound and fastened with a string pulled from his nest. It looks fragile, but is astonishingly strong, seemingly unbreakable. Take care of it and do not lose it, you are told by the priests, for this is your way home.
  
  
• After the eggshell charms have been distributed, news travels quickly that the underground tunnel has changed yet again. The Crawling One has devoured the earth surrounding the original gateway to its realm, and has encircled it tightly multiple times to create a new doorway, just as nebulous and wispy as before, but without the poisonous atmosphere of the prior portal. Its gate is lined with glimmering golden feathers, and it glows with a warm, inviting light. Should you venture close to it, you will be overwhelmed with the nostalgic feeling of familiar. It smells like your favourite recipe, it feels like an old blanket from your childhood bed. It gives you the distinct and unmistakable feeling of home, and very gently, it calls to you. You need only walk through.
  
  1) Should you wish to forget Havenwell, Aellyn, and your time in this world, crush the eggshell after you cross the threshold of the Crawling One's doorway. This will send you back to your world as you were when you left, and everything will be as if it were a dream: fading into nothingness when you wake up. (Only within the doorway will the shell be fragile enough to break.)
  2) Should you wish to remember, hold the eggshell charm gently, and carry it with you into your world. As long as it remains unbroken through the doorway, you will remember.
  3) Should you wish to journey with someone else and reach the same destination, hold your eggshells together, hands entwined, as you cross through the doorway. Whoever's world is the intended destination MUST lead the way, taking the first step. This choice comes with a warning: you will be lost from your world, and might not be able to return. Choose this option carefully, as the consequences are your own. Those who arrive in that world may find themselves separated, in different locations, but the charm will help to guide you, magically drawn to others who carry a fragment.
  4) Should you wish to stay in Aellyn, you need only refrain from crossing through the doorway. Your presence will be welcome wherever you go; the world still has a good deal of recovering to do, and many hands make light the work.
  You will not be judged, for whatever option you take. The door will remain open until every offworlder has made their choice.

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❥ Current God Status & Effects

• The final god power balance, from strongest to weakest, is:
  1. Rawna
  2. Diacht
  3. Ainea
  4. Ohma
  
  Thanks to the awakening and reformation of the Crawling One and the revival of the Winged Lord, the gods have regained their ability to balance their own power. There still remains a long road towards true collaboration, but thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, they are well on their way to resolving their own issues. Collectively, Hugtopia netted a total of over 29,000 hugpoints! Well done, and thank you everyone!
  
  
• And Thanks For All The Fish
  
  In celebration of the rebirth of their god and revitalization, while the priests are carefully dismantling the nest the rest of the city's natives are hurriedly working to express their gratitude. By the time the offworlders receive their eggshell charms, there are eager residents wishing to see them off with charms and trinkets; some made with Havenwell's trademark fabrics and ribbons, some with seashells traded from Shoremere, and many with a mixture of both as a tangible mark of all that the world's visitors have aided in accomplishing. While they of course ask for nothing in return, if one should ask then the native residents can only think of one form of payment:
  
  Leave nothing unsaid or unspoken. Share your secrets, confess your uncertainties, speak your thoughts and have them be heard by more than just yourself. Should you do so, in addition to a lovely charm and heartfelt well-wishes you may just feel a little warmth in your chest helping you onward in whatever decisions you should choose to make.
  
  This prompt was suggested by Carrie (connectsthedots)!
  

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❥ A Final Message from the Mod Team

• This is the final event log of the game, a farewell finale where characters can say their goodbyes and go on their way, or decide to stay if they wish. No further updates will be made, but the community is yours to do with as you please. All that said, if you have any comments or final questions (related to either this event or anything that came before!), things left unanswered, please use the mod comment below and we'll do our best to satisfy. Otherwise, our job is done.
  
  Thank you so, so much for playing with us. It's been a joy. Thank you for sticking with us through ups and downs, through the slow periods and the fast-paced shenanigans. Many of you have stuck with us since the very beginning, and we know how rare that is! It's been an amazing journey. Wherever we end up going forward, may your stories always be joyful to tell.
  
  Goodbye, and have one last hug for the road!
  
  -Akai, Jade, Kaze, Nao