❪ 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

[impavid]

WHOOPS I'll have to edit my thing then. Thank you!

ಠ_ಠ can't we do sexy smoking instead

[summertimeblues]

[It's the worst sort of toss up. Does he check on his friends first, or the monster that might slay them? If the pods falter then the medical mist keeping Mikey in shape might cut the last tether he has to the living. It's been nearly six months and he's been frozen in the same state of exsanguination he'd fallen asleep in. Outside of that, busted pods could mean the air supply was hacked off, in which case Richie might be fucked no matter how fast he ran or what wires he tried to cross. Matters like that would be out of his hands.

The one threat he could deal with was if the pods had opened. Perhaps...

Upon entry, everything looks kosher. There's mechanical humming, silence. Slumbering faces. Richie dashes forward, the path memorized by now. He'll check It first, then his friends. Make sure, make haste, make it all safe.

There's a man waiting in the dark.

Richie skids to a halt, hand slapping on glass just over the face of some unfortunate soul. The figure is a familiar one.

But of course, It could be as familiar as it pleased. Richie stops cold, jaw drawn tight. It would be useless, but his hand drifts back to his pocket, over his petty knife. Useless indeed, and it was unlikely that Alan Foster would be the prime shape to take, but caution was key. Nothing could be guaranteed.]

You're right. You mind stepping out for a sec? I'll meet you in the kitchen and we'll check if the coffee machine's on the fritz.

[summertimeblues]

[Richie only flips the book to the next page, squaring up a second picture with the man before him. (Slender, and effeminate in the same way Prior moved. The accent had to be affected or annexed from old timey movies, make no beans about it.)]

Looks like it to me. But maybe I'm seeing things. [As Peter makes his way over Richie finds his fingertips tracing over the black-lined shapes along the page. The monster in particular nabs his attention: some goobery looking thing that Ed Wood imagined space terrors to be. Too many limbs and eyes to manage much of anything, let alone world domination.

Yet he can't forget where he is. When he is. What the people around him are like.]

Where's the part where you grill up cosmic calamari? I'm sick of looking at this ugly thing.

[summertimeblues]

[Conversely, Richie might be running but he is on the highest alert for strangeness and sounds. The footfalls heading his way give him pause. He slows, but doesn't stop, listening, turning to check behind him and to the side.

The fucking echoes in this place. It's their fault he checks the wrong direction first, one hundred percent.

Richie's bowled over by some two-hundred pounds of Soviet swagger and clatters to the ground in an ungainly heap. He goes down with a yelp and an open palmed swat to whatever part of the assailant he can reach.]

Augh — get off!

Group B!

[impavid]

Not helping.

[ John is walking along outside the carriage, tolerating the weather so he can keep a better eye on their surroundings. ]

Have you never seen a movie? That's exactly how you invite trouble.

[ Saying things like 'It would be a shame if something happened', or 'Nothing can go wrong'. All that kind of stuff. ]

And if any of you tell me this is your last mission before retirement, we're having words afterwards.

[ Because that is exactly the kind of red pop-culture flag that would have had him bringing twice the number of people and weapons. ]

ii-a.

[arcane]

[ the malevolence that the heart bears is impressive in its own right. especially, as it stands alone in its display, no circuits of veins or other organs to surround it. no actual dragon or its bones. it's amazing in its own right that something so simple, so small and compact could carry such weight. arjuna would debate that it's similar in property to a demon's heart. or the ones he may have encountered within his time alive.

still, arjuna doesn't explore it any further than he has to. or at least that's the plan. in reality, it's a lot more difficult to separate his thoughts from it than he expected. it's almost as if it lulls people into this state. the only reason it likely hasn't caused anything more severe is the fact that if there is one thing arjuna knows... it's about magic and the people and beings who can wield it.

it's why he finds himself on oddly high alert, and when he turns his head he sees the man next to him in a state of... well. discomfort? is what arjuna guesses. ] Is there something wrong? [ as if to solidify his question, he places a hand on the man's shoulder, as if to ... shake him out of this state.

he wonders if they're usually in the habit of displaying something so dangerous? well, considering this whole set up...? probably. ]

[summertimeblues]

[too much horror in real life, preach sister. p r e a c h.]

Aaaah. A vehrry braaaahve laaadyyy... [Bela Lugosi couldn't get you laid, but hell if his "Transylvanian" timber wasn't fun to pull out come Halloween.

Richie has to laugh at the comparison though. It's all too apt for comfort.]

I wonder if Simwe hasn't been biting her nails to the quick with this thing bumping under her floor boards all night. [He touches his fingers to his lips, thoughtful. Perturbed.] Still, I'm trying my best to wrap my head around all this hookum and spookum, but it still boggles me that something like this might be the root cause of all this mayhem. Sacred objects that aren't just trumped up tin hats and holy cups. If I was a kid I'd buy it easier, but even so...

[Richie shakes his head and relents with a tired huff.]

We're living in a mad, mad world.

iii.

[arcane]

[ it isn't that arjuna had intended to spy on the other. or maybe more accurately— to read into a very unwanted situation for the ... creature. but, regardless of his wants, it seems like he's witnessed the whole thing anyway. the interest, the way the raccoon's eyes had focused in on the trees and their clockwork of picking up random bystanders and khali and placing them up and upwards.

even those careful steps towards the tree guardians.

arjuna was an archer at heart and so observation came naturally to him. hence, when he locks eyes with rocket, he speaks simply. ] Are you not interested? [ he doesn't mean for it to sound punitive, but knowing his general demeanor, it likely comes off that way.

still, a brief cant of his head probably shows some of his ... more curious intentions. ]

[summertimeblues]

Useful how? [Richie makes small work of smoothing out the rumples in the paper. He does remember this man. Humorless and trigger happy, but not someone to be written off altogether. He'd had a good head about him, gun-blazing aside. So long as he doesn't start blasting the quills Richie's willing to give him a stamp of relative sanity and hop on board. Provided the idea's good, of course.]

What's the plan, my man?

[inaurare]

When you walk.

[he's not doing well - but he is aware of it. Sitting upright would probably help a little, but there's nothing to lean against and it's probably for the best he keep his head down anyway - the better to direct some of his stranger statements to the ground.]

I could feel it through my body and up into my jaw.

[nysan]

So you're saying you can be convinced?

[ That’s always a good sign. Sort of. Truthfully, she had never been very proficient when it came to negotiating. That was more of her partner’s job. Much like how her partner normally handled the close quarters fighting. It’s really a shame they got separated, she thinks.

But as long as they’re able to complete their task, she supposes it’s a worth it. Besides John being means the envoy is one person weaker. Makes another comrade’s escape all the easier. ] That seems easy enough, but you know I tend to get bored when it's so straightforward.

Why don't we turn this into a game? [ The Boss would hate this, but he's not here so it's fine, right? ]

[impavid]

A game? Well, I do like games. But, see, I have this problem -- I'm a little impatient, and I really don't like losing --

[ He subtly begins to lean his weight into the blade, just enough that it begins to nick at her skin. ]

-- and when I start losing I get angry, and when I get angry I get clumsy --

[ You get the idea. ]

[nysan]

[ They say impatience is a sin, and now that she knows why they say it.

The blade breaks her skin easily enough. A good blade, she thinks with a dark chuckle. Her laugh drags the blade further across her neck, and as much as it hurts, her humor doesn’t completely go away. ] Okay, okay, I get it. You really should get that temper checked out.

I just thought it’d make it easier on you. After all, you don’t know if I’m telling the truth… if you played along I would have been willing to guarantee that. Besides, death doesn't really make a good threat. Only the strong survive, and that's always been the truth for us. [ If John was the stronger of the two, then that was that. That's always been the principle of their people, even if they have gone a little soft over the years. ]

[impavid]

Oh, you thought death was the threat? Here I was thinking it was the pain part.

[ Death is easy, death isn't a threat -- she's right about that. ]

Why don't you start telling me something with more substance?

[ He's not going to lead the questions just yet, since there's every chance he'd be asking the wrong questions. ]

[nysan]

I was thinking all roads lead to it.

[ She doubts that he would simply let her leave, after all. ]

We need the heart. What more could you possibly need to know?

[ Honestly, she doesn't know what people don't know. Within their own ranks, it's well known what power the heart yields. Considering who it belonged to, it's no surprise. ] If it makes you feel better, it's probably easier this way. Less dangerous.

[impavid]

I was thinking where you've taken it would be a good start, so I can weigh up who needs it the most.

[ Play it off jokingly, maybe it'll blur how serious he is and therefore how much he knows. ]

[nysan]

Unfortunately for you, very few know where it's going to be taken. Incidentally, looks like you didn't luck out with me. [ She seems genuine about it too. Almost dismissive if just for how little it seems to matter to her. After all, there's not much she can do about not knowing something. ]

Do you even know what the heart is used for? By the sounds of it... [ She moves her head a little, the blade continuing to slide into her flesh as she gives a wry smile. She stops, if just to let the pain settle for a few seconds. ] I'm guessing a huge fat no?

3b aka horrible fanfic ahoy!

[eaudevamp]

[ Sorry Mephisto, you're getting your fuck-buddy pal here getting curious about all that shouting and yelling, in addition to the giggling group of female khali. It was bound to attract Reign's attention.

So here he was, sneaking up from behind to peer at what was being written by the magic quill. Hearing that it was about Mephisto had the vampire perking up. ]

Oh, I want to read too!

[ Of course, the khali women were all too eager to let him join, opening a small path so he could step closer for a better read. ]

a

[eaudevamp]

[ While Reign wasn't part of the game, he did join the spectators in cheering for the respective teams. Skyball hadn't catch his interest until he spotted Yusei as one of the team member against the Khalian team, and that was when he joined along in the cheer.

Watching Yusei play reminded Reign of the first time they did the flight simulation. That had been a wild ride, and it showed in the reckless way Yusei handled the issue with the flight potion. That practically had Reign's heart in his throat, sighing in relief only when Yusei managed to produce a second dose of the potion. Golly! He thought Yusei was going to fall to his... okay, not death, but close enough. The man could have been badly injured!

He waited until the game was done, and whether Yusei's team won or not, Reign was there to give his congrats or game well played. ]

Wow, Yusei, that was quite a stunt you pulled there. You were so cool!

3-B

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya isn’t exactly a huge fan of reading, but this enchanted library had drawn him in with how unusual it is (not to mention the magical quills), and he’s just having a look around when he hears a familiar voice yelling...

At one of the quills...

And now Chuuya simply has to investigate, a shit-eating grin breaking out on his face when he catches a glimpse of what’s being written. This is way too good to pass up.]

Wow. Didn’t know you were such a blushy bottom, Faust.

those that seek peace and those that seek--

[torchwoodteaboy]

[Ianto is in a similar situation, wondering exactly what it is that he's doing along on this mission. Well, he knows why he's here, so he supposes it's really more that he has imposter syndrome more than anything else. He's an admin, not a soldier, and certainly not a diplomat. He has experience with strange artifacts it's true, and tense situations. Less so with these carriages and this method of travel in general.

He glances aside as the other man speaks, his words only serving to compound the anxiety he feels himself. The riots.]

A few months? Have things really improved so quickly as that?

[Hello, don't mind his questions, it's just that he's new here. Almost too new, it feels, to be on such an important mission as this, but that's neither here nor there.]

2-C UN: MrFancyHat

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Okay...that sure is a text he just got.]

That’s too bad.

Being naked and covered in glitter is goals.

[inaurare]

I just... I suppose I have never seen such colours before. And I grow a little afraid to add the colour, if I feel I can't get it right...

[no one would expect a perfect rendering, of course - certainly not with field watercolours of all things. But perhaps for what he can do, Linneus can be a little bit of a perfectionist.

But, juggling his watercolours and his sketchbook in his lap, he shifts up his things - a roll with few brushes and a pencil whittled to a point, two small bottles of water. One with an eye dropper for diluting paint, one for washing brushes - neither for drinking, but there is drinking water in the pack near his feet.]

Come, sit.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Yeah. Maybe it’s more powerful than you’d expect.

[Just staring at the heart makes Chuuya feel a sense of paranoia, but he pushes it to the back of his mind for now. He really doesn’t want to believe that he’s already under the influence of whatever ancient, powerful magic surrounds this thing, because surely his will is stronger than that.

He glances over at the stranger curiously.]

Don’t think we’ve met. Name’s Chuuya. What’s yours?

[impavid]

Well I know what I've been told, but I'm guessing you have your own angle. So, why don't you tell me all about it -- I love a good story.

[ Fake it until you make it: The Sheppard Family Motto. He's pretty good at acting confident now, and pretending he knows what's going on. ]