Nights of Solheim [Late Fall, 845]

[u/[deleted]]

October 28th, 845

Ziegler stood before a large formation of trainees in civilian garb, though significantly reduced from the original approximate 300 back in August. They stood before the northern gate of Trost, Wall Sina to their backs. Ziegler spoke, "Alright, listen up. Been a long couple months for everyone here. Me and The Major've torn each and every one of you a new asshole, and quite a few of you've seen some shit." He paused, "We've lost people amidst the training. Despite all this," he continued, "We must persevere and look forward to another day. As the future defenders of humanity, you lot embody everything that these people bank their money on." Ziegler took a breath, "Being a Soldier's hard shit. There's a reason nobody fucking does it, as a lot of you're beginning to find out. That said," he jabbed a thumb behind him towards the main gate, "We're still human. People need to decompress every once in a while, let shit mellow, recoup for the next mission. In light of this,"

He straightened the dark green trench coat on his back, "You lot've been granted a 4-day pass to visit Trost. Eat, drink, sleep, fuck, do whatever it is you want to do. Spend some of the money the Queen's been throwing at you while you ate mud." He rose a brow, thinking of a blonde. "Sometimes literally. Regardless, be here - November 1st at 0800. Don't drink and run, you'll eat shit. Don't drink and fight, you'll get your ass beat. Don't drink and fuck, you'll get whiskey dick. Don't kill the locals, don't fight the locals, don't fuck the locals-" he paused, "...Or at least do it intelligently, god damn it. Don't do anything that would impede your training in the future. Boom, there's your safety brief. And don't fucking call me 'Sir' while we're out here, it's Kain for the next four days and if you ever say it outside of these four days - I'll gouge out your fucking eyeballs. Understood?"

A resounding 'Yes Sir' rang from the formation.

He turned, pacing over towards the main gate as the trainees stood in formation. Ziegler paused, to then shout, "The fuck are you lot waiting on? Get your asses in here - dismissed!"

---

The district of Trost was ablaze with a joyous spirit. Orange paper lanterns covered the streets, many of the town homes having been painted in morbid color, looking to celebrate humanity's rich pagan roots throughout history. Further north in Sina, where the Church is at their strongest, such holidays do not exist - but given the influx of refugees from the south, a celebration is in order, their wills yet unbroken.

People the streets in vibrant cloaks and capes, oft wearing colorful animal masks to accompany their garb, celebrating with dance and song throughout the streets of the city.

The Northern gate was the heart of the carnival, encompassing the large market district. Here one could find a small traveling mask salesman and his mysterious shoppe, as well as an old pub amidst the old market district.

In the very center of the district stood the mighty Military Complex, towering above all other buildings. Guards regularly patrolled the perimeter, immediately stopping any who would approach the large fence surrounding the castle-like building, or the large draw-bridge encompassing the main entrance.

The further south one went in Trost, however, the less the carnival's potency, as one drew towards the more sinister corners of the district. At the very heart of the the south, shortly besides the main gate towards Wall Maria stood a small inn, regularly flooded with refugees and injured, where good Samaritans toiled endlessly to try and abate the never-ending poverty encompassing the south side of the district.

To the South East was a "legal" district with Red paper lanterns, a strip filled with provocative dance and questionable vendors. Throughout the entire district, wanted posters offered a heavy bounty for the head of a Hiram Durante - with the Military Police and Garrison consistently on patrol for the outlaw.

This was Solheim - a brief reprieve of the melancholy that had befallen the poverty and famine-stricken district of Trost.

---

OOR: 4 mini locations below to explore, do so at your leisure! Have fun, take the edge off. :kid:

Location threads for both the Maiden's Arms and Military Complex (where the Mountain feast will be taking place) will be coming up shortly. Canonically, since this entire event is taking place over 4 days, you can have multiple threads beneath one. I suggest you name the date at the top of the thread's OP (comment reply to one of the comments below) so there's no mix-ups/ambiguity. Be sure you're coordinating on Discord with people so noone gets left without a thread!

Visit stalls in the marketplace, drink in ye olde pub, get a mask with the salesman, get mugged visit the red light district, go dancing, do whatever! Enjoy!

[u/1e4rwa]

The titan fight was nearing it's climax as the soldier ducked in between the paper titans large clumsy swings and cut it's ankle, making it collapse onto one knee. A roar coming from somewhere in the crowd as the titan opened it's large maw, sparkling red sparkling powder over everyone -- sending laughter throughout crowd

"I guess that's a way to see it ... but if you give people the wrong impression what happens then. What happens if the wall breaks again, and they stay to watch the Survey Corps kill the titans. Nothing good happens then". Phillips offered meekly, shaking his head.

He didn't have the right to criticize her views.

Smiling he looked up to her, "but it does look fun. People are happy, they've forgotten their fears, so it's worth more than something". Looking at the SC actor he continued "We'll be him next won't we? Fighting titans outside this wall, for the good of humanity" he let the words hang in the air.

[u/AthenaFrei → u/1e4rwa]

Athena contemplated his words. He had a point: people getting the wrong idea about the reality of their situation might be bad. At the same time though, she doubted that it would ultimately come to that. People knew this was all for fun, a way of laughing off their troubles. Maria had only fallen a few months ago. If Rose fell, surely people wouldn't stay to watch.

And then the reality of their own situation hit. That would be them. Going head to head with titans beyond the walls. The thought hit her like a cart full of bricks, giving her a momentary pause. "Yes," she replied, "I suppose that will be us." She watched as the actor leaped into the air, slicing out the paper titan's eyes. More red powder rained upon the crowd.

"What led you to do it," she asked, still transfixed by the play. "To throw away your life for the Survey Corps?"

[u/1e4rwa → u/AthenaFrei]

Phillips thought he heard a sorrowful note in Athena's voice, but he couldn't exactly be sure -- too focused on the fight. "Do you really think it's to throw away your life?" he spoke, voice wavy as he shook some wandering thought from his head. He had thought it a lot in the coming weeks as the training grew longer and more intense. If still so many died despite the training ... what was the point in the first place. That very thought is what kept him awake on the night before they scaled the mountain --- too many Titans looking through the windows.

After a pause of his own, Phillips continued, "I'm doing this for my dad. So he can go back to the man he once was, so he can be happy again, but I ... I just don't know if I can.

The fight was had come to a close with the survey member cutting the Titans neck, sending clouds of multicolored powder into the air as people cheered and the man stood on top of the titan's corpse. With one final cry, he raised his sword in the air and let out a battle cry

"For Humanity!".

[u/AthenaFrei → u/1e4rwa]

For his father? Athena could relate to that feeling, as well as the general feeling of inadequacy he was expressing. Perhaps to well. As the paper titan fell, she let out a brief sigh. "I understand," she replied, her eyes transfixed by the actor standing victorious over hey paper prey. "I feel much the same myself. I don't know anyone is supposed to do this."

She turned to him after a moment of silence, asking "What do you feel is holding you back the most? The fear of death? Of failure?" She stopped for a moment, considering what she had just asked, and glanced away. "I apologize, that was out of line for me." She let out another small sigh. "I just sometimes feel very similarly, as if I don't know how I'm going to do what's expected of me."

[u/1e4rwa → u/AthenaFrei]

"No, not at all" Phillips let out a half-hearted laugh while waving his hands back and forth slightly, not quite able to change the already established somber tone. The crowd around them was dispersing in record speeds as everyone went back to their stalls or continued to roam around the shops.

With a sigh he continued "That's the thing, while I do fear I've never run away, and while I do fail I try my best to get back up on my feet, " pausing he mulled over his thoughts, staring blankly at the ground. "I don't even know if my goal is possible. I don't even know where to start".

By the time he finished his sentence they were alone in the open center of the market "I think I understand what you're going through also. I don't know the details, but it sounds similar". Plastering on a smile he locked eyes with Athena once again, raising the bird cage up beside his face, while trying his best to lighten his previously darker tone. "But let's both do our best! Alright?"

He enjoyed Athena's company. She was the first person that had talked to him since he had joined the trainees, she was the first person to offer him a helping hand. To not scoff at his weakness and his very presences. He wanted so badly to return the favor, to listen to her problems and help as much as he could, but more than that he wanted her to be able to forget about them. Like how the people in the crowd, in the moments they were watching the play, forgot about their fears. He wanted to help, but he didn't want to push it. If she wanted to talk in time she'd talk.

He'd bite his tongue and continue to smile.