natha: (Default)
ɴᴀᴛʜᴀ orbiters ❰ mod collective ❱ ([personal profile] natha) wrote in [community profile] nysalogs2018-02-21 09:48 pm

( event ) FIRE & BLOOD

The atmosphere has been tense in both cities ever since the new batch of refugees were shot down out of the sky. Natives and refugees alike will note that things are steadily growing worse and worse... until suddenly, the tension snaps. Chaos erupts on one seemingly ordinary night and will continue until early March, when it all comes to a head. The question is, as always... what will you do?

You may submit an AC-eligible thread set in either Olympia or Wyver for 1 OLYMPIA REP POINT OR 1 WYVER REP POINT respectively, HERE or HERE, so long as the thread involves your character complying with their faction of choice's goals and responsibilities.

As a note, faction compliance in this case refers to actions that benefit the faction in the long term. Meaning that while citizens might be revolting against one another temporarily, assisting their fellow people and business will be considered as faction compliance for the purposes of submitting REP. (For example, raiding the palace in Olympia would earn 1 Wyver REP, whereas helping put out the fires in the palace would earn 1 Olympia REP.)

You may write threads and prompts in both cities, but ICly, they should take place on different days. Please also note that travel between factions is heavily scrutinized during the events of this log. If your character travels between cities, please report it here.
EMBERS IN OUR BLOODLINES    
CHAOS ERUPTS. The city hasn't been exactly peaceful for some time — discontented grumbles have been directed at anyone who exhibits even the slightest amount of pro-Wyver (anti-Olympian) sentiment — but now, the tensions have not simply worsened: they've outright snapped.

It wouldn't be unusual to start your day to the sound of breaking glass. Perhaps it's a neighbor's window, or if you're truly unlucky, it's your own. Regardless, it's clear that there are a number of people who decide that violence is the answer. Well-armed shops such as The Sharper are left alone, but The Silk Wyrms, The Wyvernest, and other smaller businesses aren't so lucky. Visit the tailor, and you'll find that someone has broken in and slashed many of the in-progress custom orders; at the dragon cafe, someone has set many of the miniature dragons loose in a bid to purge the city of anything tainted by Wyver's influence. Many shopkeeps are fearful that the culprits might return. They're offering good silver for anyone who will retrieve stolen goods, round up the missing dragons, or find proof of who the culprits were — and for protection in case the culprits return. Linger, and you'll be in a position to potentially stop a repeat attack when the rioters come back with torches and bricks.

Members of the Royal Guard have their hands full with the fights breaking out to attend to every instance of violence against the businesses. Shouting in the squares escalates into bloody brawls — and if you spend any time outside, you'll soon see why. There's a strange mist in the most populated parts of the city, which you may recognize as having similar effects to the waters of Flona Cove that lower one's inhibitions. It spurs those who would usually agree to disagree into shouting matches, and influences people who would normally shout into throwing punches. Members of the Guard, usually a mediating force, are joining the fray themselves.

Even you aren't immune to the mist's effects. Whether you're protecting your home or place of employment, chasing down vandals, rounding up escaped dragons from the dragon cafes, or even just observing what's going on with someone else, you're likely doing it much more aggressively than you typically would... but then, this level of aggression seems to be becoming Olympia's new normal.



SINNERS TO PLAY AS SAINTS. The theaters are miraculously untouched, but The Life and Death of Nithor the Exalted is no longer being put on. Instead, passers-by are being pulled onstage to play out other scenes from Olympia's glorious history. Those who don't want to play along don't have much of a choice; those orchestrating the scenes have people out in the crowds to bring people up by force if necessary.

The base scenario is simple enough: the noble Olympian puts the pathetic Wyvern in their place. Perhaps it's a fight scene: the Olympian comes out on top, of course, and the crowd roars for blood. Wyver weapons are only props, however, but the Olympian weapons? They're very, very real. Or perhaps it's a callback to when the Olympian people marked captured Wyverns with brands to assert their dominance — there is real fire, and real brands, on stage.

If you pass as Olympian, you may be pressed to perform. If you don't want to really hurt someone, you'd best learn how to fake it — refuse to play your part, and the crowd will very quickly turn against you. If you're too obviously not Olympian, or if they recognize you as someone who went off-script last time (and they have very good memory), you'll likely be pressed into the role of an unfortunate Wyvern. Hopefully your co-star is gentle...

Break a leg. Literally, as the case may be.



CRITICAL CONDITION. With all the chaos, it's only a matter of time before people start to seek medical attention. However, along the way to The Sanctuary, they'll be faced with an almost insurmountable barricade. It isn't immediately obvious who put it up, but it's clear that nobody will be getting through it without significant effort.

Approach, and a voice will ring out warning you to keep back. It's one of the employees at the clinic; she has a crossbow in her shaking hands, and if pressed, she'll admit that they put up the barricade to keep out rioters. She understands that there are people who need their help, but the decision was made to keep themselves and their supplies safe so that when the dust settles, they can set out en masse and help more people than they could if they were raided.

If you're accompanied by someone with grievous injuries, or if you're terribly injured yourself, you may be able to convince her to let you in for a quick patch-up, but they're not giving any medicines out. If you need more supplies, you'll have to figure out another way of getting it — either by overpowering the woman on watch and raiding the clinic yourself, or distracting her so that other members of your group can sneak in and take what they need.

Making matters worse is the gigantic vulture-like creature, much larger than the birds in Murkwell Hollow... and much meaner. This beast doesn't wait for eye contact before it attacks: it swoops down out of the sky when people are gathered at the barricade, snatching up anyone it can grab in its talons, fixing on whoever's closest. However, if someone who killed a vulture is present, it pursues them with relentless determination. If not dealt with, it will attempt to eat the dead and the injured without discrimination. It can be driven off with high difficulty using weapons, magical abilities (except fire, which doesn't affect it), and the terrain to your advantage. It will retreat before it can be killed, presumably so that it can regroup and harry the next batch of people to get close to the barricade.

As it retreats it will drop feathers that can be sold to the Institute for study for 100 silver; one feather per character, please. Sales can be reported here.



PALACE BURNS. Chaos reigns for the better part of a week, and toward the end, it escalates past the point of rioting in the streets — the violence reaches Empress Simwe's palace. In the gardens where Olympians and refugees alike had lit lanterns in unity and remembrance mere weeks before, one careless (or perhaps not so careless) flame catches, spreading to the rest of the grounds and to one of the palace walls. The members of the Royal Guard, already stretched thin, are too preoccupied with trying to contain the blaze to stop anyone from pouring in through the breach.

It's an opportunity that looters and dissidents do not pass up.

Follow them in, and you'll find the elegant surroundings being torn apart. Many of the rioters are those who have it out for Simwe and are hunting for her. As she's nowhere to be found, they settle for the next best thing: setting torch to her portraits. Portraits of the late emperor, on the other hand, are left untouched. The vandals are incredibly vocal in their displeasure with Simwe's policies, and almost fanatical in their opinion that life in Olympia would be much better if Simwe had perished in her husband's place. They turn to violence when the frightened maids and other servants don't have the answers they want as they leave a trail of fire in their wake. Will you use them as a smokescreen for your own venture, or will you intervene?

Further inside, the sticky-fingered will find furnishings, clothing, jewelry — anything that isn't bolted down is fair game. In the library, the gilded titles of priceless books glitter on the shelves; in the wine cellar, Simwe's personal collection of extremely fine vintages waits to be sampled; a mirrored room furnished entirely with pillows is draped in lacy underthings; fragrant salts and bottles of perfume sit in a steam-filled bathing room; in the treasury, looters are hard at work squirrelling away silver and carrying off golden baubles. Nobody looks too closely at anyone's face unless given a reason to, but in the morning, heads will certainly roll. You could make off with your own treasure from the palace with none the wiser, or you could stop one of the looters — maybe it's even a fellow refugee — and turn them in to the guard to help restore some order to this night of chaos.

In the depths of the treasury, there is a group trying to get past a sealed door. They're an unpleasant, volatile lot, and they make a lot of noise about how if they can just get their hands on the heart of the legendary dragon, they'll be able to wipe Wyver from the map once and for all and put someone competent on the throne. After multiple failed attempts, they start offering a reward of 50 silver to anyone who makes an attempt at opening the door.

ABOUT THE DOOR: The inner treasury door is enchanted to stand up to all manner of assaults, both magical and physical. Any attempts to dispel the enchantment will fail, but characters are welcome to make attempts in exchange for cash. While minor force will be harmlessly absorbed by the shields on the door, anything of great strength will be reflected back at its point of origin — so be ready to dodge!

Whether you help the Guard put out the fire, steal from the palace, try and get past the enchanted door, or make attempts to stop the looters, your actions may have consequences later. Please report any significant actions you take here.

NOTE: Characters are welcome to steal a single minor, setting-appropriate item from the palace. Mod approval is not required. Any items of greater import in the palace are locked in a vault and inaccessible.

BLOOD ON MY HANDS LIKE THE BLOOD IN YOU    
FOR GLORY. Meanwhile, in Wyver, the holiday celebrating Nithor's death may have finished, but the spirit is still high. The citizens, eagerly awaiting the results of the contest from earlier in the month, congregate at a large stadium in the East End on the morning of the 21st and encourage refugees to join them — not only will the contest winner be announced, but there will be a series of physical trials to select Wyver's best and brightest. This yearly event is considered the true end to the holiday. They honor those who excel at the arts — whether they be standard arts or the art of combat — and with these trials, they will honor those who excel on the battlefield. King Shanrian himself speaks to kick off the festivities, holding a distinctly human skull in his hands the entire time he's in view.

Everyone, join me in praising the winners of our citywide contest! I was, heh... quite delighted with the meat jelly dish submitted by citizens Clair and Frederick. Such creativity! Meanwhile, dear Shenya loved hearing the beautiful music provided by Diva and Tani Umenosuke. And as you all well know, his vote is my vote.

Now I speak to you on a more serious note: I encourage all of you to join the legacy of those who helped bring down the mad and oppressive Nithor. I ask you all to join the trials. Show the world that we are a people of honor. For we do not seek glory, but fairness, liberty, and truth. Citizens, do you have what it takes to represent your home?



Signing up is simple. Interested parties are to submit their name at the registration desk, and by high noon, the festivities will kick off in full.

First up is a tournament — to thin the numbers down and ensure that only the best of the best make it to the end, participants are matched to a fight until one side is incapacitated. The air is thick with excitement, and bouts continue all day and through the night. Vendors have set up temporary stalls to sell food, toiletries, pillows, and blankets for those who don't wish to miss even a moment of the action.

If you're participating, you will take part in three fights before the finalists are determined; if you are not, you will be free to watch from the audience or, if you're acquainted with people who are fighting, to go behind the scenes to assist them by bringing them water or medicine between matches or even just give them moral support. Either way, you'll notice a slight shift in the air as time goes by.

Midway through the preliminary matches, the atmosphere changes from enthusiastic to outright bloodthirsty. Observers who were content to see a knock out will call for blood. People will start to clamor for the losers to lose their lives, and audience members will find themselves itching for a fight. One wrong look and the fighting might not just be constrained to the ring.

Make it through to the finals, and your trial will be more focused on teamwork: after all, the assassins who took down Nithor had to work together to get their job done. Finalists are paired off to face a variety of beasts, some from Wyver, some from Olympia, and some from other, far-flung parts of the isles. There is no set number of winners — anyone who performs well will be honored with a prize of silver at the end — but the beasts are ferocious, and it will take coordination and exceptional skill to make it out unscathed.

Either way, it's sure to be a spectacle.



HEARTY DIETS. The city's atmosphere does not become peaceful with the conclusion of the trials. Wherever you turn, the people around you seem to be more combative than usual - and in this city, that can be quite the feat.

To mark the end of another successful set of trials, the shamans of the Altar of Volkkra make dragon's blood, which they partake in for one of their rituals, more widely available to the public. Most drink it straight, although there are some who take it mixed in with other drinks. Either way, the effects are the same:
Drinking dragon's blood will feel like drinking liquid fire. It will burn the entirety of its way down and leave you with a presence in your chest that you will carry with you for three days before wearing off. It is a warmth that seems to imbue you with the strength and confidence of the dead dragon. The adrenaline will minimize any great pains, and you will have the sense that the path you choose is right.

Unfortunately, there is a downside. The dragon blood will keep you restless until the effects wear off. Confidence will turn into mindless arrogance. If you and your companion both drink the blood, you will butt heads because you will believe the other is wrong. Additionally, you may experience the need to hoard. The shamans say it is a trial you must endure to learn not to overindulge, but to someone who has never drank before, the feeling will be overwhelming.
Dragon's blood isn't the only variety to partake in. This time of year, the blood of a variety of monsters can be found to drink; it's said that consuming a creature's blood will imbue you with that creature's power. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen — some insist it's a rumor, while others swear its veracity — but fueled by the confidence the dragon's blood has drawn out of them, the natives are very insistent that you try it out, and some may even challenge you to a blood-drinking contest.

There are some who say that they've managed to procure the blood of Olympians, and that ingesting it will sap the strength of the Olympian people and bestow it upon Wyver instead. Some Wyvern natives aren't willing to allow the blood of their most hated enemies past their lips and would instead use Olympian blood to paint out scenes of their destruction, either on the walls like the murals or on charms from the Altar of Volkkra, as it is said to have the same effect. If you're offered some of this "paint," it's probably better to accept. After all, refusal would be very un-Wyvernlike, and you wouldn't want to be marked as the next target for someone hoping to procure Olympian blood, would you?



FANNING FLAMES. Since the trials, natives have lit bonfires throughout the city as a way of showing support for their favorite contenders; the belief is that as long as the flames continue to be fed, the contender will continue to fight well. Even now that the trials are over, the flames burn bright. These contenders are Wyver's hope of victory over Olympia, after all; isn't it better to keep the fires ablaze until they've brought the Olympians to their knees?

But it isn't just wood that they're using for kindling. This time they want a more personal offering. Many of the natives will shed their own blood to throw into the fire, and still more roam the streets in search of people to feed to the flames. You might find yourself one of their targets if you've been too noticeably traveling between the cities on a regular basis, or if you've made the mistake of donning the Olympian colors of white and gold even in a subtle way. Perhaps you come off as a loyal citizen of Wyver, and they've tapped you to assist them with feeding a person to the flames — If you refuse, you might face scrutiny yourself.

Chaos is on the rise. It's a bastardization of celebration that has long since gotten out of hand, although few seem inclined to try and contain it. Those who do are mainly shouted down or silenced by other means, and if you're looking to assist them in quelling the unrest, you'll have to be subtle lest you wind up facing the citizens' ire.

Luckily, there is something to provide a distraction: a gigantic vulture-like creature, much larger than the birds from Murkwell Hollow, has come to hunt . When it descends, it makes to grab anyone with its talons, with one exception — if anyone who killed a vulture in Murkwell is nearby, it will ignore the others and focus its attempts on tearing them apart with a relentless, single-minded determination. If not driven off, the dead and the injured will become its next meal, and it has no qualms about diving into the flames to snatch up bodies, as it's unharmed by fire. It can be driven off with high difficulty using weapons, magical abilities (other than fire), and the terrain to your advantage, but will retreat before it can be killed so that it can regroup and make another attempt at snatching up bodies later.

As it retreats it will drop feathers that can be sold to the Altar of Volkkra for experimentation for 100 silver; one feather per character, please. Sales can be reported here.



BEASTLY EXHIBITS.The shamans of Volkkra, perhaps under the influence of dragon's blood, have their own way of dealing with the unrest. Throughout the week, those protesting the chaos start to vanish, and either from rumors or direct observation it will soon become obvious why: they're being brought to the main Altar of Volkkra, all the way up on Namarak Summit. If you have been attempting to calm people down, you might just find yourselves taken; otherwise, you can tail the shamans to the summit to find what's going on for yourself.

Those taken to the main altar are blindfolded and thrust into the labyrinthine halls without a flame to guide their way. Shamans guard the entrances and exits; inside, all light but that of the Eternal Flame have been extinguished. Other shamans, who take part in the rumored experiments, roam the halls with wicked-looking knives in search of new test subjects. If they come across you, you'll need to either fight or run.

It is possible to escape this, either by overpowering them or by using your wits. It's even possible to find your way to the entrance and fight your way past the shamans guarding it — but the when the first person sets foot out of the halls, the shamans call for backup. Menacing shrieks and roars sound from inside the mazelike halls, and strange, mishmashed creatures emerge from the darkness.

They're angry, and they're willing to lash out at both refugee and shaman alike.

ABOUT THE MONSTERS: They are amalgamations of people and creatures from all over the isles, and each one is different. One might have the head of a Duldrum, the torso and arms of a man, and the lower half of a Glowing Snake; another might look like a Wispurr with a second head of an Unlucky Cat grafted onto it, and the abilities to match. The shamans seem to have been mixing and matching the features and abilities of both named and unnamed creatures as they see fit, and they've whipped them up into a frenzy — these chimeras crave blood, and will not stop until their targets are dead, or they are.

They can be killed with medium difficulty using your own weapons, supplies from the Altar, and any abilities you might possess; survive, and the shamans will let you go with 200 silver as compensation, having decided that you've proven your worth and that your strength may be an asset to Wyver in the future. If your character successfully kills a chimera, please report it here.


FINAL OOC NOTES    
An AC-eligible thread in which your character complies with their faction's goals for 1 REP POINT FOR EITHER OLYMPIA OR WYVER may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD FOR OLYMPIA OR WYVER HERE OR HERE RESPECTIVELY BY MARCH 14th 11:59 PM EST.

We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP.

1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR.
sheriffing: (🌟012079813)

ii

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-24 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's not quite a group of guards and civilians, it's a group of civilians and Emma Swan, who tried to be the voice of reason when she caught these guys trying to break into a tailor's shop. seems like they think they can use their numbers to intimidate her into a turning a blind eye to the chaos, when the savior's not doing a great job of keeping her aggression in check, either.]

Go away before I make every last one of you wish you'd left while you had the chance.

[ it's more a promise than a threat from where she's standing in front of the shop, a few feet away from the door with them laughing as they step forward to challenge her. her sword is sheathed at her side for now, but it won't stay there for long if they continue.]
vladpire: (Tense - 1)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-24 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Vlad has been around for quite a long time -- though, that time was spent in his own world and not this new one he'd found himself in. Still, men were men, and people rarely seemed to differ that much, no matter what land he found himself in. So when he came across a familiar face and a mass of bodies that seemed to be ready to turn against her, that spike of annoyance drove further into his mind, and he reacted without thinking overlong of the consequences.

One thing men feared the world, or worlds over, was death. Certain death. So as he came up through the back of the growling crowd, he reached out and grabbed a man by the back of his neck, fingers digging into flesh hard enough to cause the man to let out a pained cry, which drew the attention of the others, as he'd hoped. Lifting the man with seemingly no effort, he ignored who he held and instead glared down the rest of them.]


The Lady has asked you to disperse. I would suggest you do just that.
sheriffing: (🌟 1555)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-25 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's not only the men who turn in his direction, there's also Emma, whose surprise only registers for an instant before she draws her sword, raising it to the man closest to her who steps forward in defiance. her anger may not mean certain death, but it's bright and unyielding all the same, burning in her eyes as one man steps aside after Vlad's outburst, then another.

when he said he'd offer her backup, she wasn't thinking she'd need it this soon. the world's gone to hell faster than she thought it would, with Olympians turning their backs on everything but their own selfish impulses. she used to steal, there's an extent to which Emma understands stealing, but like this? to the point of destruction? she doesn't quite get it, and she probably she never will.

the more people who step aside, the more she realizes the fight she'd prepared herself for isn't coming. Vlad is frightening when he wants to be, and Emma's pretty sure she should question it. in the moment, it just makes more sense to be grateful.]
vladpire: (Look - Intense 1)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-25 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[The man he held whimpered in pain, and he responded by tossing him to the side, a little harder than he'd intended, which showed more than he'd meant to. But fear was working, and the men were quieting and stilling, like a rat that had caught the scent of the cat stalking it. He took a step towards the man that stood between him and Emma, the rest of the crowd flinching back.]

I'll ask you one last time to take hold of your senses and go. This will be the last time I make it a polite suggestion.
sheriffing: (🌟012079813)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-25 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ to no one's surprise, it takes more than polite suggestion. the man wastes no time in raising his blade, and while he's fast, Emma is faster.

in one hand, she lifts her sword - but as she waves the other, their opponent loses hold of his weapon. it falls to the ground with a clatter that causes the remaining members of the crowd to disperse, until the man is left unarmed and alone between them.]


Polite suggestions aren't your thing, I get it. If I were you, I'd still take it. Last chance.
vladpire: (Vamp Sight - Angry 1)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-25 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[He was unarmed and Emma was not, and that should have been enough for him. But that bloody mist was an insidious thing, and his control had been straining for so long. In a blur of motion, he came up behind the man who'd threatened her, grabbing him by the hair and tipping his head back, eyes drawn to the man's bared throat as he felt himself warring internally over his actions.

There was blood in the air, sweet, coppery, and it made his mouth water as he growled an animal sound at the man he held. The scent of blood was masked for a moment by the pungent, acrid scent of urine as the man wet himself. Vlad didn't laugh or sneer. Just continued to try to not give in to the ache in his gums, the desire to let his fangs grow and to have his fill of this... vermin.]


It seems you do not listen well, nor move quickly enough. Perhaps I should show you the error of your ways.
sheriffing: (🌟 242329)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-26 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ if not for that mist, she'd speak up sooner. there's some part of her that wants to see this man suffer. he deserves it for the way he'd led a crowd towards destruction, ganging up on her because she was alone and in a position of authority. it's even better, somehow, that she doesn't have to do it herself. Vlad's already in the middle of this now. whatever harm comes to this man, it's not her fault. he's the one who made the choice to defy them.

she could stand aside as so many have lately. that's what it is to be a part of the guard now, isn't it? they're expected to let this madness thrive.]


Vlad. [ somehow, as much as she wants it, she's sure that this isn't right. it feels like she should know that, like she shouldn't be tempted.

she is, but one of them has to stop this before it's too late.]
vladpire: (Talking - Angry 2)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-26 08:19 am (UTC)(link)
[It takes more effort than he's willing to admit not to snarl at her, but, grip tight on the man's hair, he lifts his gaze to her, taking in all the scents around him and filtering them out to pick up hers. And her heartbeat. Steady and a little fast.

He closes his eyes and pushes the man to the side, hard, hearing him stumble as he unexpectedly gains his freedom.]


Thank the Lady for your life and go.
sheriffing: (🌟865)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-26 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it's probably something resembling a thank you that the man mumbles as he glances up, eyes wide and body trembling as he rushes away. for her part, Emma can barely face him. the store's fine and the crowd has moved on, but she's not quite sure what to make of her protector.

is this normal for him? it sure as hell isn't normal for her. she's still tense as she slides her sword back into place and crosses her arms against her chest. not afraid - not of him, anyway - it's more that she doesn't trust herself right now. she should have put an end to it sooner, so why didn't she?]


Remind me not to piss you off.
vladpire: (Tired - 1)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-27 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
My apologies, Emma. It would appear as if I am... not entirely myself.

[No. Not with the sweet song of blood rising higher with each moment, sharp cries of pain audible to him from all over the city. He could count each heartbeat, each drop of blood that left the bodies it belonged to before soaking into cloth or dirt. His hands fisted, curling in so that short nails dug into his palm, hoping the pain would snap him out of that fervor.]

I feel there is magic at work.
sheriffing: (🌟111_0626)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-02-27 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think any of us are.

[ she's not going to speak for the native Olympians, they want war whether everyone else does or not. the refugees, on the other hand, typically don't get mixed up in all of this with the rest of the city. right now, it keeps getting more difficult to resist.

she's quiet for a moment, looking him over. this is more difficult for him than it is for her, but she'd been just as ready for a fight a few minutes ago.]


I appreciate the help, it just... seems like it keeps getting harder to know when to stop.
vladpire: (Tense - 1)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-02-27 10:34 am (UTC)(link)
This is not my first war, nor my first attempt to avoid one. I would think I would have better control than this. Yet...

[Yet the need for violence still sang under his skin, and that bothered him more than anything. He'd done what he'd done in the past out of necessity, not desire. This? This felt like an entirely different beast. An insidious craving that lurked within, waiting to strike.]

I wonder to what end it would play. To have us all at each other's throats?
sheriffing: (🌟01027)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-03 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
I can't make any promises about my self control, but I don't do this.

[ she fights, that's what comes naturally to her. Emma Swan is nothing if she's not a fighter, and she's not afraid to punch a problem in the face. the anger that rises up in all of this is aggression on a level unlike anything she's ever felt. it's senseless, unrestrained rage.

she glances around for a moment, taking in the area that surrounds them. there's plenty of damage, and as usual, she's sure Wyver will get all the blame.]


If you wanted to start a war, that would probably be a good way to do it.
vladpire: (Up - Uncertain 3)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-03 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[That small thread of sanity snaked through the light fog around his brain, perking him up and making him look at her with a newfound interest. She had a point, and as he looked around them, he nodded slowly.]

It would indeed. Many wars have been started from within the very walls they claim to protect. But to what purpose? What would a war gain anyone? I've heard only of the two cities, Wyver and Olympia. Are there others? Another faction, perhaps?
sheriffing: (🌟 123)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-04 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Another faction, or a group we don't know about.

[ nevermind the power it took to keep all of them alive, in stasis, after the storm. she'd question all of this if she could, if her family wasn't sleeping under the care of those who she'll have to trust with their lives. they don't know this world, and that makes it hard to tell who the good guys and the bad guys are, especially when there's no right and wrong in this war.]

Not that we could notice when we're all busy with this.
vladpire: (Default)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-04 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
Which may well be the point. Stir the nest enough to draw the hive out, then plunder the honey -- to put a terrible example to it.

[But what was there to plunder? With whatever magic was causing this chaos, there may not be many lives or bodies to harvest for anything. The castle was being raided by the villagers, so there was little hope that it was meant as the goal of whoever may be causing this ruckus.

But what did he know? He still hadn't learned the politics of this place. Who ran what; who held what cards. And that was his own fault.]
sheriffing: commission; please do not use (🌟00166)

[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-04 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
Depends on what they're looking for. There's nothing obvious they could plunder.

[ which just leads into another scenario of them not knowing what to look for in El Nysa. they have magic here, and if there's anything Emma has gotten used to, it's magic users leaning towards the darkness to get what they want. people fighting like this, tearing into each other for no reason? that earns a few red flags.]

Unless this is somehow built into the world, but then it wouldn't be unusual - people would be familiar with it. I've been to a world than ran on magic, but even then, Neverland had someone pulling most of the strings. And a reputation to go along with it.
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[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-06 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[The name 'Neverland' rings a bell, but in a childish context and he files that away to speak of later. Perhaps. For now, he's more concerned with the fact that the city seems to be bent on tearing itself apart.]

So have you heard of any reputations that would fill that void here? Any... factions or parties that might enjoy a bit of chaos?
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[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-07 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
That's just it. Aside from our usual Olympia vs. Wyver fighting, I can't think of anything.

[ no one with that reputation, not knowledge of anyone that powerful besides some of the leaders on either side. if there is another group at work here, it's either very small, or very good at concealing itself.]

I won't claim to be an expert on the politics here, but something like this would stand out.
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[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-07 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
Unless it's something that's been festering awhile. But conjecture will get us nowhere.

[Not that he had any idea of where to go in the first place. The city itself was the enemy, the very air they breathed twisting through them to bring out urges and emotions best left repressed.]
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[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-07 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
That means it might be time to do some research. As soon as things settle down - if things settle down, there are plenty of places that might have some answers.

[ the time for it assumes things will get better, but while there's a chance at worse, she has to believe there will be enough of a break for her to check out the places that have been locked down due to the sudden aggression, and to learn what she can about the fire at the palace.]

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[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-10 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
And you would know of these places?

[Being new here himself, Vlad was still adjusting to life on a new planet -- to there being a new planet. He'd not had the time to think about politics or detailed information gathering. There'd always seemed to be one thing or another distracting him here.

Perhaps he was getting old.]
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[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-10 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
I know enough to have a few starting points. The Sanctuary, the palace, the institute.

[ she'd like to know why the Sanctuary locked down against people who needed help. to her, that's more than a little suspicious. why call it a Sanctuary if they're actively refusing to provide attention in times of crisis.]

I was a sheriff back in Storybrooke, this is the sort of thing I would've investigated back home.

[ but with the usual result of a storybook villain usually pulling the strings - something she can't imagine happening here.]
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[personal profile] vladpire 2018-03-10 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I've heard of the first two, but not the last. What, exactly, is it?

[He'd have the same questions if she voiced them aloud. He remembered the sanctuaries and monasteries of his older time, and closing them to those in need would have defeated the purpose of them being made.]

And here you are in the guard. It seems old ties and habits are hard to break. I hope, for the sake of those afflicted here, that you are good at your job, Emma. No insult intended, but this is something that needs to be found out and stopped.
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[personal profile] sheriffing 2018-03-11 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
Simwe Institute? My understanding of it is magic school.

[ there's a Hogwarts reference she's dying to make, but if he was unfamiliar it'd just drag things out and make her day worse. might as well get to the point.]

You've met the rest of us, right? I can't be the only one looking into this.

[ there's no shortage of people here who'd work towards getting to this bottom of this. she lets out a breath and nods, his point already taken. they can't keep doing this, the city won't survive it.]

I'll do what I can.

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