❪ event ❫ khalo? can you hear me?

[natha]

In normal circumstances, this would have been near the time in which you're called upon to greet the newly awakened. Unfortunately, I speak to you to inform that we must postpone that — there is trouble on your horizon. What, I cannot see for sure. We shall continue to monitor the situation, however — we - ... we — [feed cuts off.] OLYMPIAN PRESERVATION     The city of Olympia is preparing the send-off of its most prized artifact: the heart of the ancient dragon, Ysverai. In doing this, they've transformed the palace court into an exhibition detailing the centuries-old war between Wyver and Olympia. Sculptures of Nithor the Exalted and his men and women in clean, white marble, while their armors are polished in perfect gold. Among Nithor are the sculptures of stallions in all shapes and sizes that also aided in the great war. Further in the exhibition, one may also find other artifacts of much older weaponry, rusted by its time in the earth, and items found from a time when humans feared the dragons. The Royal Guard has increased its numbers in wake of such a public event, particularly because the heart will be in display also. The heart is not what one might expect it to be: about the size of an average human, the heart's core is surrounded in stone, a red glow emitting from its still beating core. If that were not unsettling enough, one might also find that lingering around this particular exhibit will have undue affects on one's inhibitions. You'll notice your heart has fallen into sync with the organ, and your more selfish desires will come forth. Things that have long been buried will rise up and place you in a state of unease, encouraging paranoia about your companions intentions. Allow it to fester, and one will carry this feeling with them long after you've left the scene. It's probably a good thing this is leaving Olympia — perhaps it's a source of so much conflict you've endured. It's easy to become mesmerized by all the historical artifacts that are present in Olympia's exhibition. Some even seem mystical or, like Ysverai’s heart, to hold unspeakable powers. Others are just a little eerie. Either way, Olympia prides itself in its generosity and their grand displays, and so refugees are urged to learn more about their artifacts by spending the night in Palace Court. Though, someone should probably mention that there are rumors of strange, almost occult things happening around these relics at night. People speak of armored soldiers casting shadows that have the ability to walk on their own, or gemstones that catch the moonlight in a certain way and show you visions. But those are just silly ghost stories, right? TALL TALES OF KHALO VILLAGE     Because of Khalo's proximity to Wyver, it's no surprise that they would catch wind of the peace talks between Wyver and Olympia. In response, for the first time in centuries, Khalo Village has willingly granted passage to outsiders — but visitors will immediately find out that one cannot just simply walk into the village. Visitors will need to inhale the smoke of a fyrra herb in order to enter the premises without falling into slumber. Khalo is notably different than what refugees are used to. Visitors, specifically refugees, will find that they are exceedingly accommodating. The Khali are very intrigued by the outsiders, thus they're treated with much respect and given instant access to some of the best lounges and fyrra the village has to offer. In exchange, the village is interested in hearing about your journey thus far. Whether it be through a conversation with another individual or the Khali themselves, they'll very likely to have been eavesdropping and recording the tales of their exploits. Why, exactly? Perhaps it will not be immediately clear, but if you happened upon a venasou, a tamed Khali creature, it may have guided you to their Enchanted Library. Upon entering the library, visitors will notice that it is quite the happening place — but not because it's occupied by the Khali, but because there seems to be an assembly of magical quills seemingly writing on their own. The quills are mostly undisturbed by the intrusion and will not stop writing even if parchment is taken from it; it will simply produce another piece of paper and continue its tales. If you happen to read the parchment, you may notice that there is a daunting similarity between your story and the ones being written here. Tales of Thesa birthing new races and sending them from the sky, for example, are very popular in Khalo Village. They mark July 15th as the day in which the Moon Goddess, Thesa, created more people in her image and brought them to El Nysa as saviors. The coincidences don't end there: specifics about your home world might be found in the writings if you search deeply enough — but it's not without its exaggerations. These stories are given all sorts of poetic and literary forms, from short stories to limericks, biographies to something similar to haiku. If asked, the Khali will inform visitors that the enchanted library has access to vague parts of your memories, and thus it is duty-bound to record. The Khali have not seen stories as strange as the ones being made by refugees, which is largely why they are interested in them. NOTE: This is entirely optional! You may make up your own "stories" (fanfiction) and it could be as accurate or inaccurate, or as serious or silly as you'd like. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors of the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works — KING AND KIN. If one is willing to delve deep, they may also find parts of Wyver's past that have been removed from their own archives. These pages will recount the tales of Shanrian and Rasyc. Though a lot of the narrative seems to divide at certain points in the story, it becomes obvious with some quick reading that Rasyc is not only the son of Shanrian, but that he glorifies the Wyver of old, more bloodthirsty and brutal than it is today. Unlike his father, he does not take kindly to Olympia and the threat they will always pose for their people. He has not forgotten Olympia's past sins and he believes that, in his foolish quest for peace, the king has gone soft and no longer possesses the real will to fight. His present voice in affairs of state is not a loud one, as he chooses to speak in whispers and move in the dead of silence. In these quiet murmurings, he boasts of his unwavering belief in the power and dignity of his people. Of how they should all return to what they once were — the kingdom, its citizens, and naturally the father who he had once admired greatly. Though perhaps it can be argued that any estranged son would wish the same. It's difficult to pinpoint what becomes political and what is and always will be more personal for him. But, it hardly matters. It's clear that Rasyc will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, even if it means never returning to place he calls home. Even if it means turning his back on his own father, Shanrian, King of Wyver... DRAGONFIRE. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors to the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works. In particular, tales of Ysverai, the last of Wyver's great high dragons. Ysverai is most commonly known for being slain by Olympia’s past king and legendary hero, Nithor, but here in Khalo he is depicted in another light. Ysverai is known to the Khali people as a wise being, old as the first inhabitants that walked El Nysa. The creature spoke in the common tongue to the early settlers, guiding them to refuge when his kin began to dominate the land at the cost of its own isolation. It ultimately becomes a tale of sacrifice, for its stand with Nithor became a testament against the Olympian Empire's long reaching influence. At the bottom, there is a quotation: Your hearts will fill with greed and malice the moment my own stops beating. Take care in the Eye of the Storm. Find strength in one another, before it is too late. It seems to end there. Refugees are naturally allowed to question the natives. However, keep in mind that many of their replies will seem more like speculation than fact. But maybe that can be fun too? If you have no interest in the library and the tales they've woven, feel free to explore any of the other areas of interest. Khalo Village is thrilled to be open for you all. THOSE THAT SEEK PEACE, AND THOSE THAT SEEK --     The morning of the 20th is marked by fairly dismal weather. The sky is overcast and a downpour seems imminent. Regardless of the poor forecast, those who signed up to assist in this mission will be required to come early in order to receive their briefing. Members of Group A: ▸ Jon Snow (song_of_ice) ▸ Daenerys Targaryen (dorzalta) ▸ Loras Tyrell (triplerose) ▸ Terra (earthy) ▸ Alisaie Leveilleur (adelphoi) ▸ Solider: 76 (personalwar) ▸ Ardyn Izunia (daemonized) ▸ Mai(maipokerface) ▸ Olivier Armstrong (wallsofbriggs) ▸ Atsushi Nakajima (gekkajuu) Members of Group B: ▸ Kale (kaleorbekaled) ▸ Diana Prince (wondie) ▸ Pheonix Wright (objectionattourney) ▸ Revolver Ocelot (shashka) ▸ Frederick (pebblestone) ▸ John Sheppard (impavid ▸ Ianto Jones (torchwoodteaboy) ▸ Lena Oxton (quevarly) ▸ Allura (quintessent) Due to the rain, members of Group A will have to immediately stop by the checkpoint at the East Watchtower. Additionally, the Royal Guard and Knightryders are well-prepared with extra cloaks for those who may require it. They also will provide basic refreshments such as water and bread. People are encouraged to take what they need prior to their departure on this mission. The checkpoints are a bit far between, after all. Members of the envoy will also be encouraged to utilize this time to become familiar with one another. Maybe some introductions are in order? You never know who will end up having your back... For both groups, the paths will be relatively straightforward with evenly spaced checkpoints along the way. The only issue seems to be the downpour, really. The rain is unforgiving and the roads easily become unstable and increasingly difficult for the carriage to be drawn through. Hence, there may be more than one occasion where you will be expected to lend a hand in prying out its wheels from a particularly pesky (and muddy) pothole. Or perhaps you will be called upon by a fellow guard to assist in getting a particularly stubborn creature out of the path ahead of you. Seems like it may be a longer journey than you expected. Dirtier, too. While weathering the conditions may have been a bit tiring, this journey isn't too bad, right? Well, maybe not. GROUP A. Once the carriage gets through the worst of the terrain and finally manages to depart from the watchtower, it won't be long until the group is met with a physical roadblock. A large tree trunk will be set down the center of the road, acting as a blockade. But, before the group can react or begin crafting a plan around this obstruction, the carriage will be attacked without warning. At first, it's unclear where the attack comes from or from whom, but you don't have the leisure to deliberate this. You hear one of your fellow guards mention something about bandits frequenting these parts, but maybe there's more to it? Either way, your task is clear: protect the artifact, Nithor's skull, and fight the bandits off. You'll be encouraged to try and capture them so that they may later be turned and questioned by the authorities. GROUP B. With clear motives to restock and collect a few more materials for the carriage, it's evident that the envoy will appear restless to arrive at the second checkpoint. However, despite their unspoken delight at seeing the South Outpost from a distance, it's clear something has gone awry. There will be several hooded figures awaiting them right where the mud path meets the cobblestone of the Outpost's road. Soon, several more of these figures will come to flank them from both sides. While they seem like bandits, at least from their physical appearance, there is something far more polished in their movements. They will be attacking the envoy in concise, practiced formations. For those who are more perceptive, it becomes obvious that they are moving around and acting as decoy to one central figure. This member is likely the "leader" of their group, but no matter how one may try to close the distance between themselves and this mysterious leader, someone will constantly get in the way of that. The fighting also seems to act as a distraction since by the time everything is cleared up... only two things are missing. The leader of this group of bandits and more importantly — Ysverai's heart. NOTE: Those RNG'd to thread out the capture and questioning of the bandits will have starters below. For everyone else that signed up, you will still have the opportunity to capture the assailants even though they were not selected to thread the interrogation; you are free to make up your NPCs with the same basic guideline: they will not reveal their motive or their organization. You may turn them in to authorities (Wyver or Olympia or otherwise) or find creative ways to get rid of them. FINAL OOC NOTE     To reiterate: you may use this log as a general mingle for everything from the May Outline, including all Khalo Village activities. In other words, your top-levels don't necessarily have to be related to the prompts written here. An AC-eligible thread in which your character participates in anything mentioned in the May Outline and/or Khalo Village location page may be submitted for 2 REP POINT FOR EITHER OLYMPIA OR WYVER. SUBMIT THE THREAD FOR OLYMPIA OR WYVER HERE OR HERE RESPECTIVELY BY June 10th 11:59 PM EST. For those who participated in this month's plot-related portion, to receive IC recognition for it, a summary of the thread must be submitted HERE by June 8th 11:59 PM EST. Please direct all queries to the question thread below. Thank you, and have fun! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs ● bestiary taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp ● quest bulletin calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

Shuusei Kagari | Psycho-Pass | OTA

[hedonistic]

i. a case of heart-burn [ olympian preservation ]

[So Kagari doesn't exactly love Olympia, generally based on the fact that he landed in Wyver first out of mere coincidence, and then Olympians were aggressively rude about his entire existence because of it, but. He couldn't not go see a fucking dragon heart on display. He gets as close as he is allowed before the Royal Guard start getting tetchy, and he's absolutely enthralled by the whole thing. Morbid? Maybe, but Kagari's never really shied away from ugliness.

It's probably where he spends the most time, but he does explore the rest of the museum, focusing mostly on the mystical artifacts because who cares about history, that's boring??? But anyway. At some point he hears some of the rumors floating around about the strange shenanigans that occur at night, and far from being spooked, he actually seems...excited?]

So, sleepover in this place, am I right? Who's with me?

ii. come fly away with me [ khalo village ]

[Was there ever any doubt Kagari wouldn't jump at the chance to go to a place like Khalo Village? Because he absolutely does. Just the idea of being surrounded by a magical barrier that requires smoking a special herb to bypass feels like something right out of one of his old RPGs, and he is here for it.

Know what else he's here for? The flying potions. Sure, they're expensive and not permanent, but he's always dreamed of having some kind of superpower, and he is definitely not above paying for one, even temporarily. Plus, it's just fuckin' cool??

Kagari feels a rush of adrenaline when he takes literal flight that he hasn't ever since that first moment the hangar doors opened in Thesa and he made his way down to the planet for the first time. It's thrilling, having so much pure control over one's movements, being able to perform a loop de loop in the air or walk upside down on nothing if he wants. This is the best day of his entire life.

He's having such a good time that he definitely ...... loses track of time. So uh, he may or may not be careening through the air in a fairly densely populated section when the potion wears off, and he may or may not .... be about to crash ... directly into you...

look out belowwwwww--]

iii. this disney prince shit seems fake [ taming fields ]

[Just about everything in Khalo Village is thrilling to Kagari--from the Enchanted Library to the Sportsball games to the fyrra lounges to the wandering Tree Guardians, but the main attraction is definitely the taming fields. The fact that anyone can learn taming magic is the best thing Kagari's experienced since he's arrived here, and he's experienced a lot of awesome things.

That...does not mean he's good at taming. He's trying (emphasis on trying) to ride an Eighrei that has thrown him at least three times, and that saying about getting back on the horse seems to be easier said than done at this precise moment.

Kagari is full on sulking]

Come oooon, let me ride youuu....

[Lend him a hand? Laugh at him? Rub your superior taming skills in his face? Up to u my friends.]

iv. throwing some serious rougeshade [ fyrra fields ]

[Kagari definitely wants to come back to this place, so he decides to lend a hand in harvesting fyrra. Which is all well and good at first, but given his approximately 0% experience in dealing with plants/nature before El Nysa, it was perhaps inevitable that he'd end up brushing against the rougeshade. A lot of it.

And thus he can be found laying dramatically face-down in the fields, his wrists already somewhat visibly red from scratching. He mutters, miserably, from the ground:]

I would literally kill a man for someone to scratch my back right now.

ii

[constellationy]

[ Normally, it's Cinnamon who'd doing the falling on others from the sky. And she certainly doesn't appreciate being on the receiving end of it. What a boooother.

So he comes crashing down right on top of her, causing her to fall to the ground under him, and groan after a moment. Once the initial shock is over, she speaks up. ]

... You're heavy.

[ Cinnamon that's not very nice. ]

iv

[inaurare]

[there is the sound of a quiet sigh as someone settles in the fields beside Kagari and one of his hands is taken carefully - the hand the grasps it is covered in a cotton glove, but Linneus's other hand is bare, to better apply the ointment sitting in his lap. Linneus' arms and legs are fully covered, too. Clearly someone has worked with plants before and is not keen to make the mistake of being stung.]

Must I always find you in some trouble or another, Mr Kagari?

[gently amused but not mocking; lightly dabbing the ointment on his poor irritated skin.]

I promise you will have your back scratch after this, but if I start I wager you shan't want me to stop. So this first.

iii

[unprays]

[ personally, she has very little interest in either taming the beasts or racing, or any of it... but she is interested in all kinds of magic, and so here she is, mostly wanting to observe how it is used.

by her side, Lady stands, watching the beasts warily, moving to circle around her whenever one of them gets what she deems to be too close to Sansa.

she's not laughing at Kagari's whining, but it's a close thing. ]

I doubt they'll be persuaded like that. Are you sure they're worth the trouble?

reign fear | blood bank | ota

[eaudevamp]

a. dragon tales
[ While it had been fun reading other people's life stories, whether fact or fiction, Reign found himself gravitating towards a section where there were a few completed works. One of the tale he decided to pick and read was about Ysverai, one of the last great high dragons. Truth be told, he'd always been a tad bit curious about these ancient dragons, what was it about them that strike fear in the Olympians.

So he sat down and read through them, realising just what a misconception the Olympians had painted about these ancient dragons. He was quite sure that not all dragons were bad. The same applied to vampires like himself. Humans too. But it was the quotation at the bottom that caught Reign's attention which made him pause. ]

What if that's what they've been planning all these while? If the dragon heart stops, then there will surely be chaos!

[ His exclamation probably came out louder than intended in the otherwise quiet library. ]

b. that's not fyrra
[ Now that Reign had his fun of the Khalo Village, he travelled towards the area where fyrra was planted. Maybe he could get a few samples in exchange for helping the local Khali in harvesting them. If his research prove beneficial, he could probably use them as ingredients in his future perfumes.

With the more humid weather in Khalo, Reign had removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to pick the fyrra. It also meant that he was more susceptible to accidentally brushing against other types of plants. Unfortunately, that would be the rougeshade.

Only when he returned back to the village did Reign realise how itchy his hands and arms were, with red patches and marks from scratching. A little help here would be appreciated. Otherwise, Reign may very well scratch his skin off, which wouldn't be pretty. ]

c. have a smoke (possible nsfw | pref for m/m if smut)
[ After the entire fiasco with the roughshade, Reign was ready to just lie down and relax. That encounter hadn't been pretty. So he headed for the smoking lounge, splaying his entire body across one of the couch decked with cushy pillows, his jacket gone and the top two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned.

When one of the Khali offered him a smoking pipe, pointing out that the fyrra was a slightly different kind, Reign instantly sat up straighter and accepted it. There was a bit of hesitance before giving it a try, because his initial attempt gave him a coughing fit. Thankfully this one was milder and sweeter, easier on the lungs. The effect was quite instant as Reign settled back down and leaned towards the closest person, a lazy smile on his lips. ]

Have you tried these? They're really gooooood~

wildcard.
[ Reign can be found elsewhere watching Skyball, riding on one of the giant tree guardians, exploring the Taming Fields and the wild beasts, or taking a night dip at the Cresent. Poke me at miershyk if you wanna plot something else. Smut kinklist is here. ]

a

[uglybug]

[The library has held Mantis' attention for nearly the duration of her stay here. She loves it; all of the stories, silly or not, enchant her. Even dry historical tomes, full of simple dates and facts, hold her attention.

She's quietly -- and intently reading -- when just the tail end of Reign's statement breaks through her concentration. She looks up, frowning.]

Where will there be chaos?

b

[underwhelms]

[ If there's anything that can put JJ in a good mood, it's either a) talking about himself, or b) reading about himself. Unfortunately for literally anyone in his vicinity, he'd had the chance to do both of these things today. It's a miracle that he even manages to pry himself from the library where he'd been reading about his own adventures, but he does, and just in time to find Reign clawing vigorously at himself. ]

Hey!

[ Thankfully, JJ's in such a good mood that he feels nigh unstoppable, and he doesn't waste any time before jumping in to grab Reign's wrists—pardon the stranger danger—expression obvious in its alarm as he stands there. ]

What are you doing? You're going to peel your skin off like that.

b

[ofseraphim]

[ Sorey, personally, has been having a field day exploring Khalo village, somewhere he’s never been in his -- what is it now, nearly a year? -- extended stay on the planet.

One’s experience may vary from person-to-person, of course. Wildly, even. And the gentleman to his immediate left? Not having such a great time, it appears. He's a passerby, nothing more; still, his state warrants a pause. ]

Hey, are you alright?

[ Normally, Sorey wouldn’t intrude; not quite so bluntly, at least, and not in a place where strangers may or may not be hostile. But this particular person seems to be in some great level of need. ]

Looks like you’re breaking out in some kind of rash...

Terra | Khalo/Thesa OTA + Group A

[earthy]

I. CALM BEFORE THE STORM (KHALO VILLAGE) ―

― I-a. The Heart (and very naked bodies) of Khalo
[Terra's just been exploring Khalo since he made it into the village, familiarizing himself with the layout of the place and learning a little about the secluded people who live here.

In his wanderings, he finds the pond called Crescent.

(He can't believe it, it's so much worse than that one bra encounter he had so many months ago...)

Terra comes very close to beating a hasty retreat from the pond. Except he hasn't had a proper bath in... well, he can't remember the last time he had a proper bath, really... and the water looks so clean and inviting...

Reluctantly, he shuffles away. Equally reluctantly, he returns a short while later, wearing swimming trunks. And with a black strip of fabric tied over his eyes.

Some foreigners have stranger sensibilities than others, it seems.

Pardon him, excuse him, he is sneaking quick peeks at the ground on his way to the water to try and avoid running into anyone, but... he really can't see a darned thing here.]

― I-b. Dragon Tales
[Terra's never been much of a bookworm (a good sparring session is way more satisfying than getting stuck reading some musty old tome about the history of magic use or whatever), but he recognizes the value of a big library full of information. There might be all sorts of useful things to learn in these books and scrolls.

Also, the enchanted quills are neat. Was a powerful Khali sorcerer responsible for their creation? Something to ask one of the Khali sometime.

Feeling it might be rude to peer at the pages the quills are still working on, Terra gathers a couple of those more complete works that have been set aside and heads to a table to skim through them. Sure enough, there's some interesting information there. Someone (somequill?) seems to think King Shanrian's son may cause trouble someday. Maybe not a tip to act on but definitely something to keep in mind.

Then there's the stories of Ysverai, that last great dragon he keeps hearing about. The quote at the bottom of one page catches his attention and he reads it out loud:]

'Your hearts will fill with greed and malice the moment my own stops beating. Take care in the Eye of the Storm. Find strength in one another, before it is too late.'

[He glances up at whoever's happened to join him in the library. Another Refugee, thankfully.]

Ysverai's words. Wyver's last great dragon, the one who fell to Nithor? [There's a short pause. Terra looks around for any Khali nearby and, finding none, goes on.] Eye of the Storm. You don't think the dragon was talking about...?

[The Storm? The Big, Bad World-Rending Storm? The Storm you wouldn't think anybody here ever knew about?]


II. TROUBLE ON YOUR HORIZON (THESA STATION)
[Terra stands off to one side of the door to the stasis unit, his right hand gripping his big, key-shaped blade, his left hand awkwardly holding his phone. He stares down at the phone's screen as the lights above flicker off and on again, and Darma's message sounds once more over the intercom.

There's nothing. Nothing on the network, nothing in any of the station rooms he knows about. No signs of any of the Natha anywhere, no obvious signs of an attack or enemies in their midst, no information on what just happened...

He snaps back to attention at the sound of footsteps drawing steadily closer. Hastily thrusting his phone back into his pants' pocket, he hauls his Keyblade up and out to try and bar the door from the very threatening presence of... another Refugee. Terra sighs out the breath he didn't know he was holding and lowers his weapon back to his side.

The look he fixes the other Refugee with is frankly pretty desperate, though.]

What do we do?


III. THOSE THAT SEEK (GROUP A) ―

― III-a. When It Rains
[Terra's mood is about as gloomy as the weather when it comes time to transport the skull to Olympia. As the group assembles and prepares to disembark, he can be found a ways off from the carriage, saddling his wyvern in (maximum brooding) silence. He steals uneasy glances up at the sky every so often as he does up the saddle straps and ties on a few small packs containing extra food and water. His wyvern's on edge, too, shaking his big, horned head, fluttering his wings, snapping his tail. He grumbles and rumbles his dragony discontent to anyone who'll listen.]

You've never melted in the rain before. Not even a little bit. [Terra pulls himself free of his thoughts long enough to address the wyvern's complaints.] You'll be fine.

[When they set off, Terra and his wyvern take to the skies... right up until those skies open up and unleash a torrential downpour. Knightryder and wyvern drop back to the ground in a sopping heap. Terra dismounts to trudge on foot for a while. If only the wyvern were a four-legged dragon instead, he could have walked alongside the group and kept a wing outstretched like a giant umbrella. Alas, needs those wing thumbs for clambering along.]

You think all this is going to work? [Terra asks later on in their trip, while helping lift the carriage free of yet more sucking mud. (The wyvern's proven useless for the task: too big, too strong, too liable to knock the whole thing over.)]

Olympia gets their skull, Wyver their heart, the Council helps bring lasting peace... somehow?

[It's an honest question, not a cynical one. He's very new to all this 'factions that'd like to wipe each other off the map' business.]

― III-b. It Pours
[He supposes he should have seen this coming. The last escort/delivery mission he helped out with had been ambushed, too. Though those thugs had been rogue shamans. These people are... bandits, did that guard just say?

Terra's not so sure about that but decides almost immediately that it doesn't matter who they are. They're not getting the skull. They're not ruining the cities' chance for peace.]

Stay, guard it! [He 'parks' the wyvern behind the carriage, in case any of the thieves gets the idea of sneaking around, and then rushes forward to engage the troublemakers. Anyone need any help or is this Team Kicks Butt and Takes Names?]

naked shenans

[adelphoi]

[ alisaie is not a terribly modest girl, though still she has at least some regard - while she had quite enjoyed the bath houses in kugane, more often than not when the clothes were off they were separated by sex. so okay, she's a bit of an old fashioned girl sometimes, and besides, a certain someone would probably get huffy with her were she to just bare her tiddies to the world.

so here she is in her skivvies, ready to settle into the water when something - or someone - bumps her shoulder.

ah. somehow she is not surprised. this is the guy who wore an entire suit of armor at high noon in the summer heat, after all. but it's been quite some time since last they'd spoken; alisaie smiles warmly, and though he may not be able to see it, he may hear it in her voice. carefully, she sets a hand to his elbow and grips strongly. ]

You are liable to break your neck, walking around like that.

thesa!

[willrevile]

[ Jeez, why does this keep happening. Jim knows by now not to tense up, at least, with so many people up here who are upset. Still, he raises his hands in a gesture of 'I come in peace'. ]

Hey, [ he greets. Just the tiniest bit dry for the almost-violent welcome. Nice key? At least it's not a gun like the other guy, and so Jim gets to skip the do your really think that's a great idea in here!! fussing. ]

Well. We're going to not mess with the stasis chamber because it appears to be on its own redundant power grid or backup that's not connected to the rest of the station. [ GOOD NEWS! ] And we're going to keep looking for accessible terminals that can run without putting a strain on abused systems. [ Less.. good news? Not quite bad news. ]

Krile Baldesion | ota

[baldesion]

Entering Khalo
[Krile is...not much of a smoker. At all. The eruption of coughs over her first few attempts to manage taking in the fyrra are a very visible testament to that.]

Gods! [Drawing harsh breaths, and trying not to insult the otherwise captivating Khali ambassador escorting them from the outpost, Krile eyes the gathering smoke with new apprehension.]

Are you certain this is required in order to continue on?

--

Exploring the Village
[It isn't far past the guardian mushrooms that her headache sets in. At first, she thinks it a side effect of the smoke, and she presses onward, chalking it up to irritation and unfamiliar air.

And for a while, it is only a headache.

Then the whispers start, while she is in the midst of looking into arranging for accommodations, such that she might stay for a time and learn aught of the creatures and customs of this utterly fascinating landscape. Krile can be seen looking over her shoulder with some concern, over and over, while making her way along the lowest level of the village layout; at times she stops to rub her eyes with the heels of her hands and try to rub her neck as well. It's only getting worse.

At last someone suggests a bath in the waters of Crescent. It takes some time to procure (borrow, really) a suitable swimsuit, but unless someone stops her she will submerge herself in the crystalline water entirely for a moment.

Coming up for air, and no less in pain than she was a minute ago, Krile looks around for a place to sit or float and relax. And when her eyes pass over someone nearby, it is as if her consciousness changes a switch, and she recognizes the headache at last for what it truly is.

If the vision to follow is strong enough, or long enough, she'll sink under the water, half-insensible.]

[[The effect of the fyrra on Krile includes enhancing her Echo...in ways both good and bad. She is more likely to sense what resonates from others, (intentions or specific memories of the past); what she senses is far more likely to be unpredictable and wrong. If you'd like her to walk in your character's past a bit or get a read on their thoughts in general while she's trying to banish her headache in the bath, full steam ahead!]]

--

The Library
[Several days into her stay in Khalo, Krile is delighted to at last make the acquaintance of a venasou; she learns she is delighted only when it takes her gently and with all the meandering grace of a soap bubble to the library.

She had not realized, until now, quite how much she missed the comfort of books and ink.

Amid the whispering scratches of quills with no hand holding them and the mixed scents of old plants and old parchment, Krile wanders the tables and shelves, poking now and again at a book or scroll that seems enticing. It has been an age since she was able to avail herself of so much information all at once. For a time she lets her whims guide her - the Echo does not direct her steps here as it might at home, but she has always believed in her own keen intuition - and she reads stunningly written tales of beast and man and conquest and rebirth.

She doesn't know how long it has been when she comes across a particular text, in a section of books that seem different somehow. Enough skimming of its contents and it becomes apparent this is an informative text, specifically focusing on Wyver and its history. Its recent history, if the names within are to be taken at face value.

Catch her at wandering the stacks? Or overhear her pondering aloud:] Well, well. A tale of succession and uncertain allegiances. I've not read the like of that before.

[That's sarcasm so strong you can probably smell it.]

--

Text - Open
As embarrassing as this will swiftly become, I have lost my way in the process of returning to my lodgings here after a foray into its archives with one of their most helpful drifting guides. Any helpful direction is much appreciated.

[And the headache is returning, which has put her well on edge...and prevented her, thus far, from seeking guidance in person, though that can hardly deter any helpful souls that spot a lost-looking Lalafell squinting into the shadows among the trees.]

library!

[punshots]

[ Prompto hasn't been here long — and won't stay here long, if left to his own devices. There's too much to see in this village to stay cooped up inside a stuffy building full of books — words he is wise enough not to utter to his wife, though his position remains unchanged — but he's caught wind about some strange rumors about the books within and he has come to check it out for himself. Already at the barest of suggestions, his mind flies to possible conclusions. If there is really a written history of Eos here, could that mean...it held the history beyond his last memories of his home world? Years only alluded to by Gladio and Aranea? He has to know.

Still, his patience for this sort of thing is hardly bounteous, and though he sifts through pages and pages to find what he's looking for, he is losing focus quick. Hearing Krile's voice from the next aisle over is something of a godsend to deliver him from book-learning hell. How did people find this fun?!

He scatters his pile to the side as he hops up, turns the corner, and greets Krile with a wave and a grin. ]

Krile! Hey! [ He speaks far too loud for a library, but oh well. ] Came to check out some scary stories, huh?

[ Get it? It's a joke, because reading about politics would be a nightmare for him. ]

libarry

[adelphoi]

[ krile is by no means the only one attracted by the library. though she has done her fair share of research in wyver, it is a state far more focused on combat and war than learning; not since olympia has she been able to properly settle into so many tomes. her study at home is steadily growing its stacks, but there's no substitute for a proper library.

to find krile here is certainly no surprise; alisaie would recognize that jacket anywhere, of course. with a broad, warm smile she approaches. ]

Have you stumbled across anything particularly interesting?

Diva | Blood+ | Khalo | OTA

[colorature]

SMITTEN OR BITTEN? (Optional NSFW)

<sub>[It would be no surprise to anyone familiar with Diva that she can be quite affectionate when she wants to be. Dressed in a white dress with embroidered flowers, she's made herself comfortable in the lounge, having smoked a bit of the Fyrra provided simply because it had been offered to her. While most of the time she's spent in the lounge it's been stretched out, barefoot, on one of the plush sofas, it's when she sees others coming to inhabit the area she gets a bit curious.

Whether you're sitting or standing you may suddenly find yourself with a lap full of vampire or two thin (but surprisingly strong) arms snaking around your middle in an attempt to be close to another person. The smoke's left her feeling famished, more so than usual, and although she's not really sure what she wants to quench her "thirst" so to speak, her default go-to is to stuff her face or aggressively demand attention.]</sub>

Mmm...you smell delicious.

WATER SPIRIT

<sub>[To say Diva feels at home in the Crescent pond would be an understatement. The nudity of others around her doesn't phase her at all as she herself stripped out of her own garments awhile ago. The water is clear and refreshing, and if it weren't for Diva's long, black hair falling over her shoulders and front she'd be on full display. Currently she's made herself home on a submerged boulder not too far in past the pond's edge, a few aquatic plants scattered around her form. She looks like she belongs where she is, an ethereal figure of sorts or some water spirit. If her legs weren't visible one might be able to mistake her for a siren, especially with the way she hums to herself, voice carrying and filling the space around her, the sound enchanting, if not hauntingly beautiful.

Of course she isn't alone for very long and if you catch her eye she'll be more than ready to splash you with a devious laugh. You might even get a lily pad to the face.]</sub>

Come in! It's nice I promise!

WILDCARD

_{[Have an idea or something you'd like to explore? Hit me up and we can do it! As for the first prompt, it doesn't have to go into nsfw territory by any means. Diva will just be aggressively affectionate.]}

time to get smitten (by solomon offscreen)

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign was utterly enjoying the fyrra, especially the effects it gave him, making feel extremely relaxed and... floaty. If he had one of those flight potion, Reign was certain he would be lying on his back in midair. So instead, he sprawled on some cushy pillows, eyes closed as he breathed in the smoky air.

So when he suddenly felt a weight upon his chest, Reign slowly opened his eyes and blinked, a lazy smile spreading across his lips. Without thinking much, his arms came up to wrap loosely around Diva's waist, not at all minding her close presence. Honestly, he should be more careful, less a certain Chiropteran spotted them, but Reign couldn't care less now. ]

I do? Thank you, my Queen~

smitbit

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi doesn't particularly care to do any more smoking - he'd done poorly enough the first time! - but he's looking around all over Khalo, eager to discover what he can, and he doesn't skip the smoking lounges. The fyrra smells pretty good, he has to admit... even if all the smoke heavily hanging around makes him feel a little lightheaded. Must be the lack of fresh air.]

Diva-chan!

[He's almost used to being hug-attacked by Diva, but that doesn't make it any less nice to see her again.]

You came here too, huh?

offers you up some weird-smelling boy for smittenbitten

[phykios]

-- whoa, personal space.

[ percy had just been standing nearby and now....and now there is a girl clinging onto him?? he half-lifts his arms out of the way, has to check the impulse to grab for his sword (concealed in his pocket in the form of an ordinary-looking pen).

and then his mind catches up with what she said. ]

Wait, what?

wildcard!

[defenses]

[ since he laid eyes on them, he had his own personal project to see if he could manage to hitch a ride on one. granted, it's been a lot more daunting than he suspected. he isn't sure whether to try and gain some height advantage and hop on, if he'd be better off clinging to its roots. but, while he seems to be mulling over this, he manages to catch sight of a familiar face. instantly, he waves his arms around wildly as he sits on the top of the branches of a fairly large tree. ]

Diva! Over here!

[ he gives a good-humored laugh. ] I'm happy to see you here. What were you up to? [ honestly, diva had always seemed so full of life, and somehow that felt comfortable to him. he half-wonders if she'd be interested in trying to travel on one of the big guys, too? but, it's a question he pockets for later, for now...

he should probably come down now. ]

Atsushi Nakajima | OTA

[gekkajuu]

1. THOSE THAT SEEK PEACE - GROUP 1

[As a member of both the Royal Guard and the Council, Atsushi is extremely eager to be a part of this mission. He cares about his new home, Olympia, and he cares at least as much for its hero, Nithor, whose supposed ambitions of peace and unity Atsushi can only applaud. Returning the man's skull to his hometown feels like finally giving him a proper resting place, and Atsushi treats the mission with all the dignity and respect it deserves.

That said, even he gets a little fed up with all the rain after a while. At this point, fighting some would-be bandits might just be welcome, and Atsushi for one intends to defend the skull fiercely.

Watch him slip in the mud with his giant paws when transformed at least once, though. Speed and agility may be useful in a fight, but the mud is a definite handicap.]

2A. KHALO - THE WAY THERE

[Even now that he's 19, Atsushi isn't old enough to smoke, nor is he very interested in smoking. Having to smoke to reach Khalo, then, is a little uncomfortable, but Atsushi really does want to see the place, so smoke, he does.

At least: he tries... and ends up coughing ridiculously before he can even inhale properly. He's definitely going to fail to get into Khalo the first time...]

2B. KHALO - LIBRARY

[Atsushi can't pass up a chance to check out the local library, and seeing his own memories written up -... Well, it's a little strange (and he thinks those quills are embellishing quite a bit!), but he has nothing to be ashamed of. It's even kind of comforting to read about Yokohama, and have a record of that place.

It's different when the stories almost-explicitly mention the Natha, and how the refugees came here in the first place. Suddenly, Atsushi realizes just how bad this could be, and he starts to panic, trying to grab the quills and stop them. Is it an exaggerated reaction? Probably - but he knows that the Natha would hate this, and he doesn't want them to get upset.]

No! You can't write about that!

[Talking to inanimate objects: always a sign of great mental health. Find Atsushi when he's trying to fight some quills, and stumble on some stories from his world - or, alternatively: run into him as he's poring over some parchment or other with a very serious frown, reading stories about Rasyc or Ysverai.]

2C. KHALO - TAMING ANIMALS

[This course is supposed to take a while, Atsushi has been told, but he's dedicated to learning this particular skill, through magic or otherwise. He's always liked animals, and while he isn't bad with them to start with, having some practical lessons will be very helpful.

He just hopes that some of these creatures are not as dangerous as they seem.]

3. WILDCARD

Options include but are not limited to:
- general exploration of Khalo
- helping to farm that fyrra
- anything in Olympia, before or after the mission

2B

[inaurare]

Write about what?

[Linneus' voice comes hushed slightly from one of the stacks - it's a library, one shouldn't shout, but he won't venture too much closer, not if Atsushi is getting upset with the quills. That means there must be something there he would rather people not see, and Linneus knows that feeling all too well.

His own stories, they ended up reading like some torrid romance story through the words of the quills, and while he might have torn off one or two (or three or more - his teenaged romance with Xanthe, his budding relationship with Gilder, even renderings of conversations he'd had with Argent and Claret and Yvette, if for no other reason than saving the moment, saving the memory...) but of all of the strangely... gilded stories... most of them didn't deserve half of the light in which they were rendered.

As if sensing his distaste the quill reverted to a long, rambling genealogy of the Royal House of Ivore not long after, but it still sits poorly with Linneus the idea that the quills may just keep writing in his absence. That his personal history - by rights his to tell - might be out there for anyone to stumble across.]

Is everything all right, Atsushi?

2Bish!

[steponme]

[Somehow, despite getting totally wasted at Atsushi's mansion during Chuuya's birthday party and spending the night in the birthday boy's bed, Shell hasn't really spoken to Atsushi that much! ...okay, maybe the fact that he let Chuuya get him wasted in the first place has something to do with that.]

[He doesn't actually see him in the library at first, aimlessly reading a short story about an evil organization trying to kidnap an innocent werewolf... but as fate would have it, around the time that the werewolf's identity is revealed, he happens to notice Atsushi not too far away.]

This place is really something, isn't it? I think I just found a story about you being a werewolf.

[...and no, he has no idea about the whole tiger thing.]

2Aish since the mods approved

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya is already pleasantly high on fyrra as he makes his way through the forest, feeling nice and warm and relaxed-

Until he spots a familiar figure laying prone on the ground. His senses may be dulled right now, but he still feels a little concerned seeing Atsushi faceplanted right in the middle of the forest. He kneels down next to him and pokes at him, relieved when he sees that the guy is still breathing.

Did he fall under the sleeping spell? Maybe he wasn’t aware of the fyrra? But that seems unlikely, considering that it became common knowledge once the village opened up.

Maybe he’s just resting? Weird spot to rest, though.]

Oi, Atsushi. Can you hear me?

Asseylum Vers Allusia | OTA

[versianvirtue]

1. Enchanted Library — Of King and Kin:
Her venasou has become something of a companion for her to speak her thoughts aloud to.

"Rasyc... I don't ever recall him being present at the coalition."

She remembers Shanrian, but never his son. While her understanding of Wyver's contrast with civil, orderly Olympia is young, it's tough not to garner an impression of Wyver as a somewhat barbaric culture lurking somewhere south in the jungles. It's not like she has ever stepped foot in the country, save for the holographic presentation at Thesa Station, so her opinion gets colored by Olympia. Her heart rattles in her throat.

Asseylum's uneasiness draws her face to match her feelings. She may have left her old conflicts behind, but now that this is her reality, she has stakes in what happens between Wyver, Olympia, and all the other surrounding territories. She may be a princess no longer, but the burden of responsibility still settles over her shoulders. It's not a personal responsibility, not one coupled with the guilt of her actions, but the kind that urges her to do what she can as a citizen of Olympia who does not wish for anyone to be caught up in the throes of another bloody war that may have been preventable.

If King Shanrian's son is truly like this, then... ...Asseylum readjusts herself on the mossy cushion of the cozy-looking reading corner in Khalo's library, picking through her thoughts like a reluctant child and string beans.

2. MYCOSCOPIC MANIA:
She's not sure how it happened, but the fungal forest has ballooned in proportions, and all the dainty little shrooms that used to be just the size of her fingers are now big enough to be signposts.

It's disorienting and alarming, to say the least, and it doesn't help that she's been fyrrtwenty the entire time. If you find her, you her a tiny, pipsqueak voice beeping at you from the understory. Look down, and there's a minibarbie waving her hands to get your attention. H-Her voice is so small, you might have to bend down just to make out what she's even saying...

"Excuse me! You up there! I'm sorry, but my situation is getting dire!"

3. OVER THE MOON:
A flight potion?

When she heard of this from one of the local guides, the ignition on her determination went off. She clamored up the vines, lodging leaves and twigs and sap in her hair as she scaled the tangles and nearly fell off a few times. But she made it, and she reaped her reward.

Now that she's triumphant, she's also airborne, and soaring on a high in every sense of the phrase. Flying is every bit as fun as she had imagined, just like zero gravity, but there's so much to explore. She will float past you, elated, pausing midair before you on her swooping journey across Khalo to greet you on her way, laughter permeating her voice.

"Hello!"

4. SLEEPING BEAUTY:

Uh-oh... She's fallen asleep in the middle of... of... gosh, who knows. Whatever must have happened, she has a pipe still in her hand, or lying somewhere near it. Looks like the princess needs a bit of a pick-me-up. Or a wake-me-up, but most likely, she could use a bit of both. (Can be combined with 'mycoscopic', and she can be asleep in just about any spot you can dream up.) Hopefully it's not somewhere dangerous, embarrassing, or inconvenient...

wildcard
Hey! Hit me up @ wingything or paingel#4140 on discord if you want to hash out something entirely different! You can also heckle me into tagging YOUR top-level prompts if that's what you'd prefer. Also, I know I wrote in prose, but feel free to go comment-bracket style if that whirls your girl instead.

Smol Sleepy Hime...!

[steponme]

[There's a very... very very smol human drifting down the murky water of the swamp atop an equally small leaf. How did this happen?? We just don't know. Maybe she's just so light that the leaf she decided to use as a temporary bed got carried away by the wind. But regardless, having had something very similar happen to him earlier, there's no way Shell is going to just let some fish or bird make a snack of her.]

[It takes a bit of wading through the water to reach her (covering his pants in algae in the process, a tragedy) but when he does, he carefully scoops up the leaf. Is she really just asleep? Or...]

Hey, are you all right? Can you hear me?

dorian pavus | ota (olympia & khalo)

[flashystyle]

I. AND IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT YOU'LL SEE DESPAIR

I'm certain a microbe of what's in this room is worth more than your family has for the past few centuries, please do not touch any of the artifacts—and you're gone. All right. There you go. Get your grubby little hands all over everything you possibly can, that's exactly what I requested. Good job. Gold star!

[A very exasperated tour guide drops his hands, staring after a group of young children running off ahead of him. He's dressed finely, well-groomed, exactly the type of person that you'd expect to stand around and wax poetic about the nostalgia a certain exhibit provokes in a person. But rather than doing that, he's holding a clipboard of things to do (with notes on how not to age ten years doing them) throughout the entire day. He's mite exhausted already, and it's hardly noon.

Muttering under his breath, he turns his gaze away from the "demons in the making" to look towards the looming statue of a dragon. Apparently, he's speaking to it more than anyone in the vicinity, but it isn't as if he's lowered his voice beyond being overheard.]

Volunteer to babysit your coworkers children, Dorian. You'll get a promotion eventually, Dorian. You could be cracking the secrets of this very universe at this very moment, but this is a better way to spend your time, Dorian. I've made the right decision? How kind of you to say so.

II. DUMB DUMB WANT GUM GUM?

[Long after the little demons that some might call children returned to the Hell in which they came, Dorian finds himself back in the exhibit hall for the grand purpose of finding some little girl's Ysverai plush. It's well past the hours of when one would already have started drinking, and that's precisely what Dorian was in the middle of when he got the call from Robert Dickass (Dickens, but Dorian's decided he's going to spread this nickname throughout the Institute) in Potions who claims his daughter can't go to sleep. And that brings us to the present. Dorian is tipsy in a museum at midnight.

However, the fact that Dorian is tipsy is not the reason the area is this particularly creepy. With the sound of its day visitors gone, the sole consistency through silence is the loud heartbeat of a long dead dragon. It'd sound like the foreboding drum of Jumanji, if Dorian knew what that was. It leaves him on edge, on this quest to find a plush, and in desperate need of another drink.

Perhaps you're there, too. In fact, you must be there, because the second Dorian turns around the corner and spots you, he lets out a little gasp of surprise and fills his hand with flame. Illuminating an otherwise dim room, he blinks several times, then knits his brows.]

You can't be looking for the dragon, too.

III. WHERE DO YOU SUPPOSE THOSE RIDDLES LEAD? A POT OF CHOCOLATE? FAIRIES?

[The Enchanted Library is already flitting with objects to run into. Books are flying about like some kind of scene in Harry Potter, quills are brushing noses and surely invoking a sneeze or two if the dust doesn't. But perhaps you're making your way down an aisle when you come across stacks and stacks of books directly in your path. Hardcovers, paperbacks—hardly any relation to one another aside from the fact they are in the same monolith. Upon closer inspection, you'll find a there's a man behind the mountain, crouching to one of the lower shelves to retrieve yet another for his pile. He hasn't noticed you yet.]

Oh— [Until he does. Rather than make matters somewhat better, though, you've caught him by surprise—he knocks his arm into the stack. Think fast, stranger, or lose a leg to knowledge.]

IV. BLAZE IT

[It rained, because of course it did. The weather, apparently, won't ever be predictable after the last arrivals. For a time, water rolled down the winding branches of the canopy, dripping onto the heads of those down below. But now the showers have subsided, and rather than complain, Dorian comes to appreciate the glistening of the dewdrops reflecting the luminescence of the plants around them. Some glow blue, others orange, most a delightful little pink. That, and the perfect humidity it leaves them in, leaves Dorian blissful.

That, and the fyrra he's currently smoking. He's currently sat on the steps outside of the ground level accommodations, watching the distant musicians play as the Khali people perform acrobats he hardly thinks anyone else here can manage. Take up a seat beside him, and he might offer you his smoke. Regardless of whether or not you accept, he'll follow up shortly afterward.]

Do you think we could have a life here? [A beat.] July 15th... I've been here nearly a year now. All I've succeeded in is not dying.

iii.

[latkje]

[ Nash is, himself, only halfway paying attention where he's going. It's unlike him. But it's difficult to walk and read at the same time. Just like life is difficult. There's a lesson in here, somewhere.

Maybe the lesson is "don't read and walk", because he doesn't move out of the way in time to not get crushed by a stack of falling books. ]

Hnnn. [ It's a wincing noise of obvious pain. He hasn't lost the leg, but it feels like it could be twisted up pretty bad. ]