❪ event ❫ THE DESCENT: PART ONE -- the overflow.

[natha]

THE PROLOGUE     Your sleep on the night of the 15th is not a restful one, unfortunately. It’s unclear whether you are in a state of half-wakefulness, or dreaming. The voices you hear certainly sound very real. What is it, Sael? —Is everyone asleep?! Every one, yes. Sael, it appears you do not have good news to deliver...? N-No! I don’t know how it slipped past us, but there’s something powerful coming this way. Something hostile. I can barely keep the core systems online! ... I don't know what to do... I see... and we cannot protect Thesa and Alria in addition to transferring the Refugees to Olympia. This force, they waited for this moment. They knew I have been Intervening, and that I have become weak from such Interventions— ... We've been had. It cannot be helped. To save the Refugees on the Stations, we must eject the awoken unto El Nysa. My remaining energy shall go into shielding Thesa— left defenseless, every being we have saved on this station will perish... Sael, where is the ideal location for the landing? Hmm. There aren’t any people within a ten mile radius of The Outlook, and there shouldn’t be any for a few more days. I think that’s the best location right now. Very well. Instruct Zasere and Roman to begin preparations for an emergency eject. This is the only way we can save everyone. I am counting on you to ward off the enemy on the space front. The rest... is up to our Refugees. The alarms are blaring. It shouts against your eardrums, calling you to wake again. This time, you are in new pod, strapped down completely and cushioned tightly against the walls. In truth, you had no idea when you’d gone to sleep, but it is reminiscent of when you had been saved from the force of the Storm. A voice greets you when you come to, while the conversation between Darma and Sael is still fresh on your mind. Despite their voices playing like an old tune in your memory, you still know it is something that happened. Something has gone terribly wrong. You hear Darma speak, her voice loud in your head. Fellow Refugee, I wake you with regrettable news. A force equal to our own is attempting to engage Thesa, no doubt to steal the souls contained here. My energy is near depleted with this last Intervention, so I cannot send you to the grounds safely as originally intended. However, there is hope yet.This power shall instead shield Thesa and Alria — and believe in me when I swear no one shall be hurt. Your loved ones are safe with us. —Unfortunately, that is at your expense. Your descent will not be an easy one. This pod that contains you shall pierce through El Nysa's atmosphere and land you on an island west of Olympia, simply called The Outlook. Travel east. Find the West Outpost, then continue east until you find the Olympian North Gate. There is a method to this madness. You shall be sent in waves. The inhumanly strong shall be first. The parachute will soften the landing, but I am aware of all your capabilities. The first wave will survive the drop, and will work tirelessly to secure the others. Find your bearings, and ensure the safety of the second wave. They are the healers and medics. Catch their pods, ease their landings, make certain that they shall not be harmed, because you will need them for your wounds. The third wave are your strongmen. They shall help clear the debris and take people to safety, making way for the fourth wave, those can conjure magic to help. Bring everyone to a safe distance. A supply drop will follow soon after; it shall contain tents and tools that will be useful for the long night. The fifth and sixth waves are largely vulnerable humans. With your combined efforts, you shall survive this great misfortune. Forgive us, Refugee. Leave the Moons to us, my promise to you is still in tact— focus on what you can do for others like you. Helping at least two (2) Refugees will earn you one (1) Natha REP. Threads must be AC length to qualify, and can be submitted HERE by JULY 31st. THE DESCENT     FIRST WAVE. The instructions are clear. Those who are a part of the First Wave should be equipped with physical strength and fortitude to survive the drop or the power to regenerate and heal their own wounds. While the pods are already designed to cushion some of the impact, as this is the first group, it will likely to be the most jarring. In all of the waves, some of the pods will malfunction and offer no cushion at all. They will be expected to quickly find their bearings. Their mission isn’t simply just landing, after all. The first wave will be expected to help the next wave, and the wave after that. Whether through their abilities or brute strength, they will be expected to help soften the landing for those who are falling. They will also be expected to pry open hatches, carry people to safety, and to just... survive. It’s not always easy being first. SECOND WAVE. Within the next hour, it’s time for the Second Wave to make their descent. You were selected based upon your aptitude for healing and/or being able to administer first aid. Perhaps you can help the tired and weary. Maybe those who have landed have have strength, but no stamina. Either way, it may be unwise to exhaust all their abilities at once. The night is long, and you may want to conserve their energy for the next waves to come. At least you’ll have help in getting settled. THIRD WAVE. Akin to the First Wave, the Third Wave will possess some durability, and some manner of strength, making you a reliable ally. Especially in a time of crisis... Or so we hope. While the landing is tough, and some of you may need first aid. As soon as you’re all healed up, you’ll have no time to dawdle. Your help is required. “Please help those still trapped in pods. Carry those unconscious to safety. Lift debris, and rescue all you can.” May be a vague message still stuck in the back of your head. Something whispered to you while you were just waking. Well, might as well roll with it. It’s the best shot you have, after all. FOURTH WAVE. Those in the Fourth Wave, as Darma projects, were selected due to the versatility of their abilities. No one expects one man to do the same as the next. Rather, that’s precisely the point: to be different. To be able to accomplish something unique. While one individual may be blessed with powers that assist in putting out fires, another may have the ability to shield those from oncoming debris. Maybe one even has the ability to channel all of these. Regardless, it’s up to you and your quick wits to see what tasks are open. It’ll take some coordination, especially as there are more people mixing into the fray, but, you can do it, can’t you? FIFTH WAVE. If you are in the Fifth Wave it is likely that you have a specific power or ability. One that isn’t easily channeled or called upon. Or, perhaps, you were merely placed here for insurance. Whatever the case if, your expertise will presently be put to the test. Maybe you’re quite proficient in survival skills, and you’re already eyeing the supplies that were dropped between the Fourth Wave and now. Goods all ready to be salvaged. Okay, maybe some can’t, but as they say, “it’s the thought that counts.” Besides, the injured from earlier certainly need a space to rest, and camp isn’t going to make itself. Regardless, maybe you feel more comfortable joining in the efforts to assist those who still require it. Whatever it is, you are sure to find your place and use. Darma obviously held the same faith. FINAL WAVE. The Final Wave is fortunate in a variety of ways. With Thesa Station a bit more stabilized, Darma utilizes the last bit of her powers in insuring that these last remaining pods are met with the softest landing, right beside the fifth, that is. The fragility of life is nothing she is unfamiliar with, after all. Still, that isn’t to say nothing is expected of you. Most of the individuals that have dropped earlier will likely be exhausted. An hour stretched between each one, makes several hours for the first couple of waves. They'll need a place to relax. You will act as the final group of helpers. Settle into whatever role feels best for you. Are you an excellent cook? Great at rationing supplies? Perhaps, you have a secret skill in ______ that might come in handy here? Or, maybe, despite the gentler landing you still managed to get hurt. The sky's the limit, and you got this! Meanwhile, in the distant kingdom of Olympia, the Empress and her loyal subject discuss matters late into the night... I’ll have the results of that dragon toxin study ready for you soon, Your Highness. I just need a few helpers to— oh wow, is that a meteor shower? Oh yes, it appears so. How beautiful.. hehe. Let us thank Thesa for this blessing. GATHER YOUR BEARINGS     All in all, the descent lasts for nearly seven hours. After the deployment of the last wave of refugees, it’s only natural that you may be feeling pretty worn out. A. Within the remains of the pods, Refugees will find basic camping supplies such as small tents, sleeping bags, and compasses. Not all of the supplies remain intact, thanks to the impact of the crash. But, sharing resources will ensure there is enough for everyone to rest for the night. Can you really in good conscience leave that stranger next to you without shelter? B. Although you may be tired after such a life-threatening ordeal, there is still work to be done to ensure your survival. Fortunately, it works out because now there are plenty of empty hands. There are stray debris and metal parts that should be collected and disposed of. There's firewood that needs to be collected, and campfires to upkeep. The nights in the Outlook are particularly chilly, and so it will be imperative to keep warm! C. Your clothes are tattered or too bloodied to sleep on with comfortably. Fortunately, Darma thought ahead. There will be various types of clothing provided, mostly robes that resemble her own in earthy tones, all to help them camouflage you for your next big adventure. FINAL OOC NOTE     This INTRO event will be broken up into three parts! Please keep this in mind when plotting your threads/tag load. PART 3 Will be up on JULY 22ND, at 6 PM EST. We will not provide an additional CAPTCHA for this overflow. Players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals in the event this overflow gets close to CAPTCHA. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. The NETWORK is currently down, as Sael must concentrate all of his efforts on warding off the invading force. Characters may still message each other's personal IC inboxes. Submit two (2) AC-eligible threads from this log for one (1) Natha Orbiter REP point here by JULY 31ST. Recommended Listening: Alex & TOKYO Rose PART ONE | PART ONE (overflow) | PART TWO | PART THREE QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

Prompto

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ She nods in affirmation, standing up fully. ]

Where should we begin?

[punshots]

Let's start at the very beginning. I hear it's a very good place to start.

[ He starts pacing in a small, pensive circle. ]

One of the most important things is staying warm and dry, right? So the best way to do that is to - well, start a fire, obviously. [ That's straightforward enough. ] But not all wood is created equal. It seems like it should all just burn, but it doesn't. Not well, anyway.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ Angel picks up one of the sticks from the pile she set down, holding it up in front of her for Prompto to see. He's speaking about things that she at least knows a bit about from research and observation: dry things burn better. But he also seems so earnest in this that she doesn't want to break his stride. ]

So what about these? Are they adequate kindling candidates?

[punshots]

[ An encouraging smile as he nods. ]

I'd give them a B+. Great to get started, but they might burn out quickly. Variety is the spice of life! And also firewood.

[ Can't have all the pieces too small or too large, you know? ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

I don't think I'll be of much use when it comes to gathering larger pieces, unfortunately.

[ She gestures to all of herself. She's still paper thin, recovering the muscle mass she lost from entropy. She won't be lifting any time soon, even a couple of logs would probably topple her over right now. ]

[punshots]

[ He takes it in stride, shrugging casually. ]

Then you can point out ones you think'll be good and I can carry them. I'm not as good of a pack mule as Gladio, but I'll do in a pinch.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ Angel looks back at the still empty trap before choosing a path back into the forest. It's not the one she emerged from, and is a little thicker in foliage. As they make their way in, she tries to avoid awkward silence with some easy small talk.]

You mentioned you traveled a lot where you came from. Was that part of your work? Or were you simply a wayward explorer?

[punshots]

Would you believe both? [ As he walks next to her, he tucks his hands behind his head, casual posture constructed to cover any note of hesitation in his voice. Talking about home...it's still not as easy as he'd like it to be. ]

My friends and I - we were...monster hunters. [ Even if that wasn't the main objective of their journey, they sure as hell spent a lot of time tracking down beasties for gil. ] But we...were known to wander off the beaten path every now and again, too. That's when all the endless camping came into play.

[ He drags out the words "endless camping" so they themselves might seem endless. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

We had people like that in my galaxy as well. Though if you truly wanted fame and fortune, you would become a Vault Hunter.

[ Angel looks off to the side of the path they've been forging and spies a fallen tree, some of its branches broken and scattered around it. ]

What about that one?

[punshots]

That's perfect! Great catch.

[ He steps over to the tree in question, crouching down so he can start gathering up the wood. ]

So, what's a Vault Hunter do? Hunt...vaults?

[ Of treasure? ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ She brightens up a bit at his encouragement, approaching one of the branches. It's decent in size, but it's also the smallest, so she's going to take a go at lifting it regardless. ]

Yes, the name is fairly apt but- [ bend knees and liiiift ] [ hff- it barely makes it a couple inches of the ground before she's dropping it back down ] hah. The Vaults are somewhat specific.

[ She tries again, bending knees, firmer grasp this time ]

They're ancient- [ She drops it again, not making much more progress than the first time and makes a small noise of frustration ] This is going poorly.

[punshots]

[ He purses his lips together, watching her from the corner of his eye as she makes her attempt to lift the branch. Man, she's in rough shape, isn't she? Reasons why a person might end up like that are never good, and he's not about to ask, but he doesn't reach out to help, either. If she's going to try, it's probably important that she tries all on her own.

Then at her words, he shakes his head quickly. ]

No, no, you're doing fine! Everyone has to start somewhere.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ She gives him a smile that says she knows he's just being nice. ]

In this case, I feel like I'm starting somewhere less than zero.

[ When she bends down again, this time she simply rolls the log over, maybe the other side will have better grip- ]

Eugh!

[punshots]

[ Alright, this might be a little harder than he thought, but he's not about to give up! Far from it.

He'd never really "trained" anyone before, but it's not so hard to picture what someone like Gladio would say in a situation like this. Granted, Prompto will put it more gently than Gladio would, but the message is the same. ]

Try lifting with your legs instead of your arms. You'd be surprised what the ol' walkers will do for you.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ Angel had backed away a bit from that particular branch piece, bushing phantom creepy crawlies off of her arms and making a face ]

Perhaps we should move on to the next lesson...

[ Cause if Prompto comes over to get a better look, he'll see that Angel has revealed a small centipede nest from moving the wood. And even though she's seen dudes get shot point blank in the face enough times that she's desensitized, bugs are always super gross. Especially the ones with too many legs. ]

[punshots]

You sure? We could -

[ But any suggestion he was going to make dies in his throat, because he has moved closer and spotted the mass of wriggling centipedes underneath the wood. Nope. Noooope. ]

On second that? Yeah. Let's...move on.

[ Physically, too. Ugh. He can already feel them crawling on his skin. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ Euuhg she doesn't want to look at it anymore, so she looks to Prompto instead, giving him a sharp nod. ]

Wh-what do you suggest we try next?

[punshots]

[ He shifts his bundle of wood from one arm to the other. ]

Well, we've got enough wood to make a small campfire, so how about we try that?

[ He doesn't have any matches, so they're gonna have to do it the old-fashioned flint-and-steel approach, which he doesn't have that much experience with. Still, they can figure it out...probably. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

Should we go back to where you placed the trap? Perhaps by this point you've caught something.

[ Also she left her stuff back there so. ]

[punshots]

Great idea! If there's something in the trap, we've got our dinner!

[ ...He hopes it's not a cute bunny. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ Thankfully it's not a cute bunny...it's uh, nothing. The red lily pad remains untouched. ]

Oh. I must have misunderstood the animals attraction to it.

[ She looks back to the stream where there's a cluster of them, hmmmmm ]

What about fishing?

[ Though she knows typically one needs a rod for that, and string? But Prompto seems to know a lot about the wilderness, maybe knows of other effective methods. ]

[punshots]

[ ...Damn. Well, it was worth a shot! ]

Now we know how to not catch them! [ That has to count for something. Eventually what they try has to work, right?

Fishing, though, there's an idea, and a nostalgic expression crosses his features momentarily. ]

I've never been great at it myself, but... [ Shockingly, he's not terribly patient. What he is good at, however, is accuracy, and there's more than one way to catch a fish. ]

Let's look for some nice and stabby-looking pieces of wood. Spear fishing! [ Why not? ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[ She gives him an "are you serious" look. That's about as primitive as one gets, though she supposes they are kind of at that point in terms of options. Extreme roughing it it it.

Finding a long enough stick is easy enough, but ]

Do you have a knife of some sort?

[punshots]

[ Look, when in Rome... ]

...No. [ Not even a pocket knife. He's never really needed to carry one before with Gladio around to take care of anything survival-related. Definitely seems like an oversight now. ] Maybe we could make a trap instead?

[ Since his first trap attempt went so well. But fish are dumber than mammals, so...maybe! ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

...Do we have supplies for something like that?

[ Her tone remains friendly, and she's trying to be optimistic here but it's getting pretty late. And cold. Angel hugs her arms around her chest, she isn't used to temperature change. ]