❪ 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

Jade

[politrick]

(from here)

[Mistakes were made here, again. Merlin is listening, honest, at least 50% listening - and he can even mostly keep up, until she starts throwing in words like "quantum" and "atomic." Whatever those mean. His expression goes from about halfway there to dreadfully lost, perking back up to sort of getting it by the end.

Cause and effect. That's simple! He knows that one!]

Yes—sure. Certainly. Kind of a... guarantee of consequences. I'm familiar with the term.

[Sort of, and only that one.]

[witchhooded]

[ For what it's worth, Jade can see that he's at least attempting to keep his brain focused in on the conversation. She can also tell that she's gonna need to get one of those clickers for training pups to keep his attention, though. She's also pretty used to people checking out on her science rambles, admittedly - John definitely didn't think they were as cool as she did and preferred the layman's terms over everything else she had to say. ]

That is kind of the idea behind a lot of physics. There is a reason for everything and explanation for it. Magic is included in that - or at least, my abilities are. I don't think Rose's can bend logic, either.

[ ...Which then gives her an idea. Surely, even Merlin's magic must have rules, and Jade would wager before people understood science, it was attributed to magic. Who is to say that magic and science were and are not one in the same? Philosophy gives way to the thought that perhaps the best way to get to this man is simply relate to him - so she asks a question. ] How do you even learn magic? Ummm, that is, you personally.

[politrick]

[He needs a dictionary and a notebook and maybe even a small encyclopedia to keep up with this, okay. He's listening as best he can! But a clicker might help.

He's never thought of magic in terms of logic - surely, there are few things logical about aging himself 60 years in a few minutes or using a cup to raise the dead. Still, he'll try to tackle this question as best he can.]

I was born with it. [....so.] There are a few spells I've had to look up, but besides that, it just... comes to me? I've been doing magic since before I could talk.

[witchhooded]

Hmmm, I guess that would make you most like Bec, then.

[ Becquerel, the omnipotent dog guardian and god protector of Earth, who seemed to radiate....radiation wherever he went. ]

You wouldn't happen to like irradiated steak, would you?

[politrick]

[Don't tell him that. That's not flattering.]

I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean. No?

[witchhooded]

It's radioactive steak!

[ Does he know what radioactive steak is? ]

My dog ate it for every meal.

[politrick]

[what the actual heck]

I'm fairly certain I'm not anything like a dog. If that is indeed the same creature I'm apparently like.

[witchhooded]

Well, duuuuuh, you're a person! It's just that Bec just kind of does... things!!! Like you do, apparently.

[ The same things Jade can do, but Jade can at least pinpoint where and how she knows how to do those things, or learned them. ]

It's not like I am calling you a dog, it was a joke. [ ..........maybe. ]

[politrick]

[Okay.......... he'll believe this.]

Kind of an odd joke. And - it's magic, like I've been saying. Magic is the life that runs through all things, so of course it just does things.

[witchhooded]

Uh huuuuuh. Sounds like physics!!!

[ For good measure, she sticks her tongue out!! It's good natured, but still a touch bratty, probably. ]

I don't think what Bec did was magic? So what I do isn't magic, it's just the Spacey thing. [ She wiggles her fingers as if to...accent this, somehow. ]

[politrick]

Can't it be both?

[Like, why not... Magic has rules and everything, just not very many. Please stop wiggling fingers at him, have mercy.]

Here, let's simply have a look. [Magic time!! He holds up his hand, his eyes glow for just a second, and a golfball-sized ball of light appears to float over his palm.] Tell me what physics has to say about this.

[Like, for real, besides gravity and other basics, what does physics even mean??]

[witchhooded]

It's manipulation of light.

[ A near immediate response, with her hands on her hips. ] But I guess you're not wrong. Your magic probably can explain how I do my teleporting and stuff.

[ So, really, Jade and Merlin are just on their way to a much longer argument that will span the entirety of their acquaintanceship. Friendship? Who knows. Jade's not sure she likes him yet??? Well, he's sorta spunky, in a way, which isn't too bad. ] Can you use the light thingie to help people?

[politrick]

[That doesn't actually explain anything to him—putting a word on it that just isn't "magic" isn't an explanation! How can he learn!! But he won't nitpick it to death... this time.]

Well, it's as helpful as any torch, although it doesn't go out unless I want it to. [Or he gets the shit kicked out of him or something, but that hasn't happened yet here.] It's not much compared to something like healing, but a light is useful.

[witchhooded]

[ Matter of factly, Jade raises a finger. ]

Light is extremely useful! Maybe even more useful than you realize right now. Sometimes a light is the exact kind of healing necessary. Depending on the situation!

[ It's a sort of cryptic statement; Jade would blame it on the part of her that was a sprite before. Light players are incredibly adept, though Merlin is... probably not a light player. She'll peg him for his aspect later, probably??? ]

By the way, I am Jade, and I may request you light my way sometime!

[politrick]

That's... very poetic? [Surely she means it metaphorically and not literally, right? That must be the answer. Either way, he doesn't need this little light blob anymore, so he extinguishes it neatly and lets his hand fall back to his side.]

There's light to spare, so just ask. I'm Merlin.

[witchhooded]

Yes, it is a sprite thing I suppose, to speak like that.

[ BUT... UM. ]

Merlin, like the wizard?

[ cus. awkward. ]

[politrick]

[A what thing?? Like a water sprite, jesus, when will he understand anything Jade says?? Never.

And: oh. To Merlin's credit, he's already resigned to this.]

Warlock, if we're being pedantic. Yes. I know, I'm "too young" for it, but I wasn't born old. Or bearded.

[witchhooded]

I can see that! I do not think you are too young either, you are just you.

[ And there's nothing wrong with that! Even if he refuses to acknowledge physics. ]

I was more curious about... well, have you heard of a sword named Caledfwlch?

[ She just... wants to know how legitimate the legend is, basically. ]

[politrick]

[Physics are confusing... But that's a strange question. He frowns, just because, uh - well he totally made up that whole legendary sword thing without expecting it to get folded into the lore, but - oops?]

Of course. It's—well it's not mine, but it's kind of my responsibility.

[witchhooded]

The legendary piece of shit is your responsibility? I mean, ummm, the legendary sword.

[ Juuuuust going to slide pass that slip of the tongue, maybe Merlin won't focus on that? ]

How is it your responsibility?

[ ...she feels bad Dave broke it now? Like, if it's something Merlin has to like, take care of then... Oops. ]

[politrick]

[THE LEGENDARY... JADE!!] Oh, that's very nice. Love that. It's an exceptionally fine sword, you know.

[Just calling it legendary doesn't matter if it's still a piece of shit!! It's very nice! He put effort into it!]

I helped forge it. And- hang on, can we go back to the other thing?

[witchhooded]

[ oh god it's like talking to grandpa all over ]

Which other thing? There have been. A few other things in this conversation, Merlin!

[ JUST SAYING PLEASE? DON'T LET IT BE THE PART WHERE SHE CALLED IT THE LEGENDARY PIECE OF SHIT? ]

[politrick]

[No, it's the legendary piece of shit thing!! Sorry!!!]

I know it's only a sword—an incredibly valuable one, mind—but at least hold off calling it- well it has a name!

[He's not going to call it a piece of shit, he's PG-13.]

[witchhooded]

[ UUUUUGHHHH ]

Umm, okay, I am sorry. My friend is actually the one who calls it that. I think it is because he broke it when he took it out of the stone...? He explained it when he was upset, so it's a little fuzzy for me.

[ He breaks a lot of swords. ]

[politrick]

[He BROKE it... There are so many things to say about that, but first—]

What was it doing back in the stone? There's no point to putting it back.