— MEMORY & DESIRE, STIRRING | TERRITORY SEEKING.

[ This place is precisely the opposite of his domain. Where he rules the desert, the silent castle is the domain of frost. It is cold and blue, where he is arid and red. Still, characters may come across evidence of his travels -- the most direct path taken, walls and doors shattered apart by forceful blow where able to be, and alternative routes opened cleverly. Set uses as little Sand as possible, apparently, to get wherever he goes.

For anyone who follows his route, they will find that he has vanished near a pool of crystalline water, the blue of it rich and dark towards the far wall, as though a staircase leading down into the bowels of the castle. It seems that Set has immediately begun seeking out the sub-levels for some reason, and the stillness of the water suggests some time has passed since he came in that direction. ( He is definitely looking for something in particular. )

[ ROUTE A. Characters who brave the waters at the end will find themselves traveling a long hall, with multiple branching paths into adjoining rooms - some closed, some open to reveal what might be guard quarters or bunk rooms. At the far end is a great door wrought from black ice, pushed open far enough to allow the room's natural lighting to illuminate the otherwise dark hallway.

Entering the room at the end of the hallway reveals that the room beyond, the room that Set has sought, is the armory. The entire room is submerged, save for small air pockets at the very top of the arching ceiling. Countless weapons and armor lay scattered among the pale, timelocked vault -- twin polearms with frosted, crystalline blades pierce the floor as if to guard the contents within.

And within, is the god of war himself; having shed ( and hidden! ) his cold weather gear, he is brilliant and red in an otherwise frosted room, floating ten, twenty, twenty-five feet from whomever has just reached him. In his hands, he clutches another polearm. Trim, sleek and clearly far more ornate than other weapons within the armory; his eyes narrow, hands wrapping tight around it, and it is ON SIGHT, that he lunges through the cold water.

After all, anyone who has managed to follow him must be a threat to be handled, and swiftly. ]

[ ROUTE B. Rather than risk the waters, the waiting game is played. Eventually, the redhaired god of war must return, and return he does. Soaking wet yet barely shivering, he surfaces with a faint gasp for air; clutched in his hands is a beautiful trident, tri-pronged and gleaming with gems embedded upon it. There is no sign of his cold weather clothes upon him. In fact, there's no clothes on him whatsoever. Ruthless in his nudity, he places the trident to one side, far from whomever is there with him, before readying himself to climb out. ]

There is an armory down there, [ he declares, loftily. ]

I have found the only item left untouched by the decay. It's not worth the dive any more, I recommend you do not bother.

[ His gear is located, pulled from its hiding place ( you didn't steal it did you ) as he wrings his hair dry of the water. It must have served as a buffer against the cold, or perhaps that is to do with the his claims that he is a god. As he begins to shake water free of his limbs before re-donning his clothing, he adds: ] Unless you do not trust my word?

[ That seems like a loaded question. ]

( OOC. Route A! is one of two combat/competition opportunities for Set. As an underwater encounter, characters may run the risk of drowning if unable to reach the air pockets at the top of the armory. This is obviously at your discretion, and Set will ultimately haul them to safety once subdued - and possibly steal sand from them, if you're agreeable! The items within, per event mods, are Blighted, except for the trident that he has his hands on. He is VERY UNWILLING to hand it over. I will not be RNG'ing this fight, as he will yield if he deems the situation too dangerous for himself or the other character.

Furthermore, Set's focus in terms of territory is pursuing resources, spaces to claim as his little war room, and he is largely ignoring people unless convinced otherwise. This prompt will happen EARLY IN THE WEEK, for timeline's sake. )

— I WILL SHOW YOU FEAR IN A HANDFUL OF DUST | FROZEN BATTLEFIELD

[ A. [ Exploration and rest, exploration and rest. The process of seeking the Oracle is a gradual one, rife with quests for information, battles for resources and the acquisition of Sand to fuel one's might. Set is not at all difficult to locate, being that his coloration is brilliant as an open wound against the pale blues and frost of the Scorched Isles. He carries with him the spoils of his own explorations -- a pretty trident of obviously unique origins, and elects to prove himself as

the greatest freaking nuisance to you all.

Bold and smiling ferociously, this is the time where he recoups his early losses -- doing battle with those who seek it from him freely, and potentially pursuing those who he believes could stand to lose some of their own Sand. ]

( OOC. Here is the second of the two combat/competition fights, of which I am customizing starters for all! Simply reply under my tlevel with COMPETITION or COMBAT for a starter that is either focused on PVP for the pleasure of it, for you lunatics that just want to Test Your Might and Cut Loose, or for those who would like to RNG Sand gains and losses between Set and your character.

'Competition' is Sand-less, 'Combat' is Sand-focused. He will be all over the castle in various locations, and his challenges range from strict combat to steeplechases to debates -- something for everyone! Lmk if you have a particular style of "combat" your character might engage well in, and I'll design the battlefield/location! )

— FEAR DEATH BY WATER | PRESENT & FUTURE

[ OPEN TO ONE (1) CHARACTER. The moment he lays eyes upon the Siren, it is obvious.

The red of his eyes follow the cradle of her arms, gazing into the Shard that rests between them -- the Shard that she sings her song to. It is obvious, that there is some sort of rapid connection being made in Set's head. Whether that connection is true or false, it happens within moments. Though he and the other soul have entered the room prepared, nothing seems to have readied him for what sight is before him -- and immediately upon being able to move, he steps back. Back again, and outside of the Siren's doors, gait stiff and trident held firm in his hands. He crouches there, beyond the doors where her voice becomes muffled, and tucks his brow to his knee, red hair spilling across the ground. ]

It's her child.

[ He says it, unwaveringly. ]

She believes it is her child.

[ And why wouldn't she? The song she sings now sounds like a lullaby to his ears, the hook of her arms that of a mother lovingly holding her offspring to her -- the world fades away, in a moment like that. And in her song, Set feels the numbness choking him; on the ground outside of her domain, he speaks in divine tongue - the lyrical, elegant flow of someone whispering as if not to wake someone. Whispering secrets into an ear that may only remember the words as a dream, upon waking. When he looks up, it is

with eyes that

understand the Siren, far too intimately. ] I cannot harm her. I will support you, and I will protect you, but I will not lay a hand upon her in violence.

[ It is a far cry from who he has been upon the field thus far. But, he is resolute in his will. Familiar, with her, perhaps. ]

— OED' UND LEER DAS MEER | WILDCARDS

[ OOC. For all other threading options, go wild! Following battles, Set can be found in the library, enjoying something hot to drink and anything to eat and is available for non-combat related conversations, plots and other types of thread. He can also be found seeking maps of the castle and surrounding environment, will barter for information and trade in both information, Sand and his own body ( not like that! to guard and guide others! ) at any time, so feel free to pretend like your character has managed to hire him as a sturdy go-fer if they want to explore some difficult terrain or have someone hot on their heels.

I'm down for anything! ]