❪ 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

[nysan]

I know your... state of being, your affliction, is not natural, like... like what wracks the heart of Ysverai. Preserved too long, doomed to be twisted into a purpose it never wanted. Maybe you should have remained dead once, too.

[ Zain cannot possibly know of anything before Ardyn's arrival, but in defeat, he still carries a sharp insight. The man unsettles him in a similar manner that the future does, and so he applies his inexplicable advantage to what is familiar. ]

The people that rule these lands sit in their ivory towers, believing that your meteor showers have been blessings of Thesa, that you are the divine intervention that will bring enlightenment to these our people. But I know... I know the pedestal you sit, like Mad Nithor's, is a throne of lies.

[ There's a sort of resignation in his tone, now that he's bested. He knows not if Ardyn will keep his word, spare his life, but it's abundantly clear that he never had a chance to get away from the start. He must speak freely lest he not speak again. ]

You are a bad omen, intervening with the natural order of this world. It is your presence that drives Raysc to drastic measures, and it'll kill us all.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[RUDE. Chuuya tries wiping the ink off, but it’s staining his face pretty bad. God damn it.]

Whatever.

[He wonders what would happen if he just grabbed the quill and snapped it in two...

Just then the quill starts writing something else, an AU with vampire Chuuya...]

Heh. I bet I’d look good with fangs.

[daemonized]

[Zain paints a parallel that is painfully accurate in its summation of what Ardyn is, comparing him to the heart of that dragon. Irritation flares at presumption, but perhaps even more so at presumption that rings with truth. That he is a twisted thing, delegated to a purpose that he never wanted, never asked for.

Maybe that much could be seen in his eyes, if the other bothered to look at him. But he'll not say as much, he'll reveal nothing about himself. His answers shall be dismissive and frustrating, even if his mind treats them with more weighted import.]

Perhaps, perhaps not. I am no clairvoyant, able to peer into the future. Nor am I an expert in omens, good or ill. And yet how strange that you would shunt the blame unto those who are not participating in these 'drastic measures'.

[That much, maybe, is a lie. He was once nothing more than a walking bad omen.

Ardyn releases his grip from Zain's neck, only to replace it with the sharp edge of his blade pressing against skin, with enough pressure that it may draw a very small trickle of red.]

Raysc? Your leader?

[nanamari]

You could do worse. [ Credit where it's due. Most men are terrible. ]

The longer we go without something actively on fire, the more antsy I get waiting for it to happen. [ It's hard not to be cynical, even if she wants to hope for the best. ] But I admit, it would be nice to be wrong.

[steponme]

[Gonna just reach into his pocket and offer Chuuya a handkerchief... it looks like some bizarre mustache by now.]

[But yes, here we go, Vampire Chuuya AU... except Shell isn't in this AU.]

[Nope. Instead he's gonna get an eyeful of Vampire Chuuya dominating a blue-eyed human named Eric.]



[Shell's face tho--]

...I don't like this one.

[nysan]

[ The fact that his analysis of Ardyn rings true brings more satisfaction than any of the blows he attempted. Though his expression hardly changes, he meets Ardyn's eyes with his own brimming with an undisguised pride. It doesn't last long, though, because he wouldn't be able to resist grimacing at the blood rolling down his neck if he tried. He stands his ground, knowing better than to flee, but makes some attempt to lean away from the blade. ]

Shanrian's son. He never believed his father was suited for the throne, working to undermine him in the shadows. Inciting violence to bring your people to Wyver. Inciting the recent attacks. He believes Olympia took too much from our land when they eradicated all the power we once took pride in, and he will see it burn before we make peace. To rebuild. To live freely.

[ There's a certain fondness and defensiveness in the way he speaks. Ardyn had a point in the fact he's taking part in what he fears, but it seems he can't help it. Whatever was promised by his leader was compelling enough to get him here. ]

He won't be able to control Ysverai. It won't be Ysverai.

[inaurare]

Duo...

[he's usually a lot faster at pulling up names and how he's encountered them, but it eludes him for a few moments - like he's flicking through pages of a book and landing on the first thing associated-]

Ah. You give black eyes.

[...not the sum total of their conversation, but the first thing that comes to mind right now]

I feel all rubbery.

[like his arm has no bones in it - like it is waving and bending as he fans himself. That isn't right, surely...]

[willrevile]

[ Oof. Jim manages to swerve to avoid a total collision, reaction time a teensy bit slower than what it is normally, by virtue of how chilled out he's feeling. When he sees who it is, he offers a smile. ]

Hey, [ he greets. ] Mantis, right? It's been a while.

[ Since he crash landed, in fact. But Jim's got a good memory. ]

[personalwar]

[ When Cain explains that he had earned his position back home, there's nothing like bragging in his tone. Somehow he manages to explain that he'd been the right person for the job while still sounding humble. He's got nothing to prove, it seems like. That's the sort of person who 76 could come to respect, if it turns out that there's truth to his words.

If his information turns out to be as useful as he's building it up to be, then that will definitely be a point in his favor.

76 could try to wriggle out of giving out his real name, but it doesn't seem worth it. In all seriousness, it's a pretty small price to pay, depending on what he's told. Even so, he shifts uncomfortably in his seat, sending a glance to some of the quills situated closest to them. Can they listen in, somehow? It certainly feels that way. ]

All right, it's Jack. [ Cain didn't give him anything but a first name, so he at least tries to get away with leaving off his surname. ] No fancy title on my end. [ At one point he'd had one, but not anymore, so he isn't going to mention it. ]

[willrevile]

Excellent. [ Jim smiles. ] Oh, and uh - if you're planning on heading down via transporter sooner rather than later, be careful, maybe clear out so you're the only one. No one's sure if the 'once per 24 hours' thing is a Natha rule of conduct or an actual safety precaution. Recombining people once they've been de-atomized and scattered into space is beyond my skillset.

[ Maybe not Chekov's or Scotty's but they ain't here. Stay in one piece, Clark. ]

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.

:')

[willrevile]

'Out there' is not somewhere you want to be. If you're outside without a suit, you're dead. [ Internal shrug emoji. ] If you're in here, and there's a hull breech, or if you're working somewhere in a suit and it ends up with a hole, you'll have between ten and twenty seconds to try and get to safety. The first thing you want to do is exhale, which I know feels counter-intuitive, but if you hold your breath, the pressure change is going to collapse your lungs and kill you instantly.

[ FUN REAL LIFE FACTS. ]

It'll get hot before it gets cold, and the moisture in your mouth and eyes will start to hurt, because you're being exposed to the unfiltered radiation bouncing around in what makes up 'space'. So you exhale, and you get your suit, or you cover the patch, and you move your ass as fast as possible while staying calm and trying not to inhale.

[daemonized]

[The talk of upending institutions and thrones alike is not an unfamiliar concept to a man like Ardyn. He knows such changes come swiftly, suddenly, violently, leaving only blood and sorrow in their wake. If he were a more empathetic creature, he would be worried, disgusted, hearing all of these revelations hefted upon him today.

But his expression is hard to read; eyes searching, but the rest of him oddly unaffected. Curious more than concerned.]

And yet you still aid him in this mad endeavor, regardless. Why? [He tilts his head, oh-so-slightly.] Does your loyalty truly run so deep?

[willrevile]

[ Jim makes a disgusted noise. ] Why do people design stuff like that?

[ He's seen tandem piloting systems from other worlds, and wacky prototypes from Earth, and just - why. Just why. ]

Maybe they could be reprogrammed. [ Muttered. He exhales a sigh, then. ] Yeah. And we need to know if they left because they decided we're all fucked and might as well, or if they went off to meet something before it got close enough to put us in crossfire range.

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?

[araearyrha]

[That makes sense. It's something she tries to remember as she leans over to take a puff off the hose while its still in Diana's hand. Sitting back she blows out the smoke and giggles.]

It's really not that bad once you get used to it.

[nysan]

Is that so hard to believe?

[ He turns his chin up, raises his brows as he searches Ardyn's expression. ]

Or is the concept of true loyalty too foreign for a man as lost as you?

[personalwar]

[ It had been pretty unexpected, the way that the Khali flocked to all of them with such interest. If they'd been so curious about them, 76 has to wonder why they hadn't opened their proverbial doors before now. Granted, with the way that Olympia and Wyver seem to be at each other's throats half the time, maybe the Khali had figured the easiest way to stay out of it was by hiding themselves.

No, 76 definitely isn't comforting himself, and he doesn't think there's anything amusing about this either. He frowns at the stranger for a few seconds before he shrugs. ]

I have some experience working with them. [ Dated as that experience might be, there are some things you don't forget. ] That, and having a reliable mode of transportation around here can be useful.

[ Walking everywhere gets old, so he has Apollo for those times when he leaves Wyver for one reason or another. ]

[daemonized]

[His gaze visibly hardens at that. Ardyn is silent for a moment, slowly retracting his sword from Zain’s neck, though there is nothing particularly comforting about the gesture.]

‘True’ loyalty? Don't you know? True loyalty is merely another form of enucleation.

[Ardyn attempts to bring the tip of the sword back down on Zain, to skewer whichever part of his arm might be closest to him if he’s not nimble enough to avoid it — shoulder, forearm, open palm. It doesn’t matter, he just wishes to return the favor as he promised, feeling particularly cruel after this exchange.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya manages to wipe away a good bit of the ink with the handkerchief Shell hands him, still grumbling about the mess when he notices the look on Shell’s face.]

What?

[Chuuya glances back down at the story.]

Who’s Eric?

[Nobody Chuuya knows.]

[nysan]

[ Head, neck, and left arm already throbbing with pain and leaving him dazed from the previous ordeal, Zain doesn't have the reflexes that he had when he first made the mistake of encountering Ardyn. He draws his already bloody open palm up to shield himself, letting out a cry of anguish as the blade pierces through bone and tendon.

The pain is great enough for his knees to buckle under him, dropping to his knees and curling in on himself as he waits for the withdraw of the blade. His free hand covers his mouth and catches the tears that escape him. ]

[steponme]

That's... not something I think I'm allowed to tell.

[...]

At least, not until he wakes up.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Right.

[Now Chuuya is definitely curious, but if Shell says he can’t tell, then there’s no point in prying.

Vampire Chuuya has quite a voracious appetite, apparently.]

It must pull people from our memories or something.

[steponme]

Does that mean these things are reading our minds?

[That's... kinda spooky??]

[Also Shell isn't looking but uh. Someone new has entered the scene.]

[Someone who just so happens to have the most extra™ name on the goddamn planet: Pain Overlord.]

[summertimeblues]

[The miniature glare doesn't go unnoticed. Whoops? It was hardly a night to write home about, Gamora hadn't even spoken to him in months.

Though if she were to start making house calls he'd be hard pressed to shut the door — she's out of this world in stupefying ways, a hard-boiled alien assassin. But hell, Richie has eyes. And she's got a cinematic mystique to her severity, the coyness of her rare smiles. The carefully concealed consideration she harbors underneath both.

Just saying, if Star Lord here doesn't lock that down he might be shit out of luck. Richie bets she turns more than a few heads wherever she goes.

But Peter's quick to cut back to uglier matters.]

Hmm? Uh — in a fashion. [Richie draws back from the shelf, hands seeking shelter in his pockets.] It's not a lot of happy endings, is all. Kind of a drag if I'm being frank. Making me itch for a stiff drink. You seen any likely spots on the way down? I think I'm done rubbing my nose in the books, all I'm going to smell for the next week is old parchment and sweaty fairy palms.