❪ 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

[meinwaifu]

I know better than to underestimate humans -- as well as the importance of distributing sensitive information to as few individuals as possible, regardless of loyalties.

[He thinks on it for a few moments, before clapping his hands together.]

But very well! In exchange for information about that which lies inside of you, I'll tell you the weaknesses of a demon.

--but not here, of course. These things might be listening, you know.

[GESTURES AT THE QUILL it's totally writing porn right now. Clearly having a demon around is a bad influence on them.]

[eaudevamp]

[ This time Reign just laughed as he moved away, shielding himself with one hand while using the other to splash back at Shell. When was it that they've ever played like this? Never, since they don't live near the sea. Or even a river/lake. ]

Uwahaha...! No way~

[ He stopped trying to escape and swam back to Shell's side, small smile on his lips as he shrugged a shoulder. ]

I don't know. I'm surprised I wasn't jealous. I thought I would be. But if it's with whom I think it is, then I've no problem. I mean... [ He twirled his index fingers, sliding a bit deeper into the waters. ] I've been with others before, so I shouldn't judge.

[impavid]

"It's not exactly pleasant, I wouldn't want to get used to it."

He makes sure she's steady, squints around at the area before banging on the carriage to let it know it can move again.

"Better weather where you're from?"

Less rain, by the sounds of it. He begins walking alongside he carriage again, half keeping an eye on the wheels and the road ahead and half glancing back to make sure Allura isn't limping.

[tutorb]

[ Mission accomplished, he's off on a roll, and she settles in beneath the high like a warm and heavy blanket to enjoy her spoils. Her face twists amusedly at the concept of a man chatting away with himself through a marionette. She knew of bards and fools to take up similar tricks of the voice, but if she could picture anyone doing such nonsense, Richie would be no stretch of the imagination. ]

[ As he bolts upright mid-story, the pillows shift, and Sandra half sinks into the void he leaves behind him. It earns as much of a chuckle as his strange and passionate story. ]

Of course you would dream of a career talking to anything with ears from the moment you knew what words were.

[ And of course, if he was shit at them from the start, his dedication had done him well. Now, he possesses a voice she's sure could read the Book of Rites and she could still remain enthralled. It really is a lovely thing, at least when not being used for evil, and so freely given. ]

[ She falls quiet for a moment, lying behind him, before extricating herself and finding his chest with a hand to shunt him back down into place, returning the pillows to their proper shape. Those flittering recollections of her visage and figure had never crossed his mind unnoticed, but they were largely disregarded, never unwelcome but never the sort of thought she went delving for either. Now, however, they seem to have made themselves harder to ignore. Harder with these borrowed pillows and shared herb, harder with every visit in which he made the effort to sneak her in some small comfort of the outside world, more and more frequent. There's pity in it, there never isn't... But it's nice. ]

[ Her hand stays put as she settles in closer and her brow furrows, trying to parse the concept with... marginal success. ]

Did anyone ever talk back? Or did you just spend your days talking into the wind and hoping someone would listen?

[ How anyone could make money off of this is beyond her. Also, what is a duck? She has many pressing questions. ]

[colorature]

Shouldn't you provide more in that case? To give them what they want?

_{[She lets her fingers flex and uncurl, the action akin to a kneading cat.]}

There's no reason not to.

[eaudevamp]

[ At that, Reign wagged a finger at Diva, playfully tapping her nose. ]

But that would mean "Diva" will no longer be a unique novelty. It's part of the marketing and business scheme. Of course, that doesn't mean I won't have another batch ready, something like a special sale.

[ Not only that, Reign wanted "Diva" to be one of a kind, just like Diva herself. ]

[colorature]

_{[Well in that case...he sort of has a point, doesn't he? The tap to her nose has her blinking, before she settles more firmly against him.]}

I suppose that's true. The more limited something is the more people covet it.

[eaudevamp]

[ The press of Diva's soft breasts against his chest would have made Reign feel self-conscious, but the fyrra was messing with his mind, making him relax and receptive of whatever Diva wanted to do to him.

He smiled wider, pleased at how quickly she picked things up. ]

Exactly! You're a fast learner. Keaton mentioned something else about your scent. I mean, the way you smell. I might come up with another version of "Diva".

[ But how would Diva perceive it if the perfume had a "sad and lonely" smell to it? Something tinged with blood as well? ]

[colorature]

Keaton did?

_{[That gets her to perk up considerably, eyes bright as her lips spread into a wide, fanged smile.]}

He's got a good nose, just like me. I like him a lot.

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign nodded, chuckling at Diva's reaction. ]

I can see why. He's a very friendly sort. He'd been looking for you during my shop's opening.

[colorature]

He was?

_{[Aw Keaton...what a good boy.]}

He's my best friend.

_{[Don't mind her as she opts to snuggle closer, wrapping her arms around Reign's neck as best she can from her position.]}

He wouldn't make a very good perfume though.

[eaudevamp]

Is he? I'm glad he's your best friend.

[ That was a relief to hear, because Reign knew Keaton would somehow take very good care of Diva.

He giggled as Diva snuggled closer, his arms resettling around her waist, fingers drawing random curves on her back. ]

Ah, a perfume that smells like a canine wouldn't be very popular.

[ Reign replied with a soft laugh. Oh wow, it really was getting kind of warm. Diva was such a comfortable weight that Reign didn't want to let her go. ]

[whatisright]

I visited the library, which seems to be home to disembodied lying and confused quills. I visited the lounges up the trees, where they share more of that herb that you must smoke to arrive here.

[As Justice slowly works out the tangles in Anders’ hair, it occurs to him that Anders might want to know about something else he did. Anders has shown a great deal of interest in his sexuality in the past.]

I also discovered that I enjoy sex. I see why mortals participate in it so often.

I

[gekkajuu]

[Now here's a mission that Atsushi can be exited about! He's been interested in Nithor since he first heard the stories, and he's eager to get the skull back to Olympia, even apart from the political improvement that the exchange is proof of.

Of course, the reality of it all isn't that glorious. It's also a lot more rainy, and Atsushi's Royal Guard uniform - something with short sleeves and pant legs that doesn't flatter his skinny figure - clings to his skin.]

Carrying it does seem a little disrespectful...

[Which sure didn't keep Atsushi from sighing dramatically when the cart had gotten stuck yet again. Oh well, they have to keep going.]

Let's try again. I can lift the cart up, if you could give it a little push after that?

[gekkajuu]

Silly question! (Logic-ing magic is always a little....) If someone falls asleep on the way to Khalo due to failing to smoke the fyrra properly, could they be carried there by someone who finds them lying around sleeping? Or would they just have to try smoking it better?

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?

[daemonized]

[It all happens rather quickly, the way the dagger connects and draws red; momentum swinging him around as the animal careens to the side, startled, and a kick directed straight towards his chest. Ardyn’s laughs, more than willing to let it connect, for it’d be easy enough to grasp at the sleeve of a startled and frightened man, and take him tumbling down with him—

But there’s no need. The horse (skittish creatures, he’s noted) is too spooked, and suddenly it’s down on the ground, stumbling over something in the path, sending the both of them flying. Ardyn warps mid-air, before he can crash to the ground, reappearing just a few yards away from where Zain has fallen. He ignores the pained whinnies of the animal, straightening, and steps quickly towards the man still clutching the skull.

Dagger still in-hand, he twirls it lackadaisically as he approaches.]

Stay still, now.

[Those three words are the only preamble to Ardyn darting forward, swinging the dagger at the other’s shoulder in a downwards motion.]

8)

[colorature]

<sub>[This isn't the first time that Diva's coiled her arms around Atsushi's middle and it certainly won't be the last. She's fond of the weretiger boy and as far as she's concerned he's enough of an anomaly that she doesn't group him in with the other humans she's met.

Snuggling right up against his chest Diva cares little for whether or not Atsushi wants her invading his personal space. Basically, he's doomed.]</sub>

Mhmm! It's really comfy here.

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

>:{D

[gekkajuu]

[Thankfully for Atsushi he doesn't mind Diva's hug attacks at all, and possibly less so under these particular influences circumstances. Smiling, he huffs a light breath at her response.]

It does look like a nice place. Are you enjoying yourself?

Re: >:{D

[colorature]

I am.

_{[What's there to complain about?]}

But I think I'll enjoy myself even more now that you're here.

[braidedwonder]

It's more annoying that they're tandem ships, honestly. I have a feeling it would be much easier to find competent pilots and train them if you didn't need two to a stupid ship. [ Yes, Duo has a lot of emotions about these stupid tandem ships and how needless it was to have two pilots to one ship - it cuts down on their fleet size in a very large way. ]

Anything is possible I guess.

Still, what's coming makes me a bit more concerned than the fact that the Natha are missing. They know what they're up against by now, but we sure as shit don't.

[personalwar]

[ Is that another admittance than this group of bandits has some connection with the shamans? It's getting harder and harder not to just beat this kid's head in, but 76 knows that this is one situation where he can't let his anger get the best of him. There's a line he still isn't so ready to cross, even now.

A pure dragon heart, still beating. Apparently this heart is far more valuable than they could have guessed, if it's true that it has the power to put an end to entire nations. How it's capable of that remains unclear, but 76 is getting a lot out of the bandit. He can confer with others later to try and piece together what of it is actually true.

When the bandit gets a little bolder, 76 frowns and seizes him by the throat, shoving him back down. Maybe the kid's right and they're already screwed, but 76 has faced tough odds before. He isn't going to assume they've lost until he knows it with certainty. ]

If none of it matters, then why not just tell me everything? What's this ritual?

[ If the stakes are as high as they sound, then this is something they need to act on immediately. ]

[nysan]

[ Stay still, now. Please. Zain has enough sense — and increasing fear of his opponent — about him not to take that advice, just barely managing to roll out of the dagger's path before the blow can land. The skull, fragile thing that it is, rolls with him less successfully. With a sickening crunch of bone, the jaw slides from Mad Nithor's head, embedded into the dirt between the two men.

Horrified by the break, but desperate, Zain scrambles to grab the piece so that he might have something to swing towards Ardyn's face. ]

[gekkajuu]

[That makes Atsushi blush a little in spite of himself. Diva is very cute, after all, and anyone telling Atsushi something like that would be flattering.]

Should we sit? As long as you're having fun here.