❪ 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

[beatupgrass]

Someone else named you "Tracer?"

[He knows it's not her real name- he can tell when something is a nickname, generally, but he assumed it was something she picked out herself.]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket looks askance at him, expression caught somewhere between sympathy and incredulous, like he was trying really hard not to feel an emotion but failed.]

Don't get all sentimental on me, kid. We got enough crap to worry about without fussing over what we can't do anything about.

[At least he's trying to be nice.]

[beatupgrass]

Bad for aimin' too. I'd have to divebomb somebody to do any damage.

[Because that's what Groot's shoulder is for- a sniper's perch so Rocket can shoot at things that aren't the lower bodies of whatever enemy he's facing. Sure, a crotch shot is nothing to scoff at, but he likes to be tall.

He heaves a sigh that isn't just a disgruntled huff.] Gotta admit... Place don't look so bad from up here.

[beatupgrass]

It's readin' my mind like some feathery teep is what it's doin'. He finally gets a hold of it and grins triumphantly, but it just yanks itself free and Rocket faceplants onto the table.

It has a very cat and mouse air to it.]

[chickenhearted]

[ He is a brat. He deserves what's coming to him.

But he still shrieks a little as the Wolfskin hops in and makes a splash. And then more when he latches on to Waver and smushes him. Does he not know that Waver is naked?!?! Jeez! ]

Wh- What are you doing?! Let me go! Let me go this instant!

[chickenhearted]

I suppose a "fireball" is in the realm of possibility.

[ He nods. As for whether he can make one, that's anybody's guess. Waver sucks. ]

There are a lot of different types of magic. I suppose I am best at alchemy and memory magic.

[planetary_bonds]

[There was an attempt. That alone is enough to make him smile a little.]

You're right. It's just hard for me to remember that sometimes.

[How many times has he been told to focus on the here and now...?]

[natha]

Snooping around will surface a few details that reinforce some of the information the captured bandits had said (specifically in the Enchanted Library):

- The bandits are not actually bandits, but are members of the recently dissolved organization: Mythi's Fang

- Their leader is the Wyver extremist, Rasyc, also the son of the Wyver King Shanrian

- Khalo is not so much the point of interest, but they point further south to where Namarak Mountain lies; they said that is where the ritual had taken place

- Khalo NPCs will crowd around John as he is already vaguely recognized a hero - rumors will have spread that he had captured a bandit and delivered her to the authority.

What you have now is fine for a turn-in! If you feel like you're missing important details, you may edit before the 8th at 11:59pm EST.

[braidedwonder]

Honestly they probably could. I saw them and sat here wondering if that's really all they had and if I got one if I could make my own changes... [ Because, clearly, he's used to some high brow shit. A few key strikes and Deathscythe fades from the camera's view, melting in to the inky blackness of space as if it had never been there. Even the shimmering outline fades as the jamming completes, and Duo moves away from he camera coordinates to move above, scanning everything he can see and everything Deathscythe's systems can see for safety's sake. ]

But I guess it could be said I'm spoiled, huh?

[notwagging]

Why? [ huff! ] I'm just getting clean, like you.

[ as his tail starts to wag and start to cause ripples, the water behind him starts to look a lot less transparent. there's been quite a bit of buildup in that bit of his! ]

Or what? Should I get out?

[baguablade]

Eh, wait a minute...

[ The possibly haunted artifact is forgotten in favor of this entirely new development. Cain turns away from it to give Chuuya a long, measuring stare. ]

Did you tell him that he can't measure up?

[ That blush sure does look kind of guilty in this context. ]

[baguablade]

All works of fiction to them. The truth hiding right in plain sight, and they don't have any idea.

[ He shakes his head, rueful and a little bemused. What is there to even do about this? It's a valuable resource certainly, although hard to navigate. The indexing system leaves something to be desired, and it's hard to say how much sifting through will actually turn up something of real value. But still... the possibilities seem limitless. ]

I wonder how much is really in here... If there's information about the Natha, or even the Storm?

[baguablade]

[ He makes a note of that look, but he doesn't press. There are more important matters at hand. ]

Plan C... We'll have to man the station in their place. Set up rotating watches, see if we can find anyone with enough knowledge to monitor the Storm, or teach ourselves. If the Natha aren't here, we can't simply give up on their work. It's too important to us, and to the other worlds out there. Plan D is to see if we can find anyone with the right sort of locator or tracking spell that'll let us find out what happened up here, or at least someone who can who can break into their computer systems and help us identify anyone in stasis with the technical knowledge to help us run things, and then see if we can wake them up.

[ He pauses, then adds, a bit grimly: ]

I can keep going, but somewhere down the line we get to the plan where the Storm starts brewing in the sky. Then we clue in the natives on the planet and see what they can do to help us save this world. If the Natha don't show up again, it's something we may have to prepare for.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Eh? Maybe. But it’s a bath, right? Might as well get naked.

[Says the man without a hint of shame. He doesn’t expect anyone else to follow along, but Chuuya himself is used to public baths in Japan, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if he decided to take a dip later.]

We had hot springs in Japan. I really miss being able to soak in one.

[baldesion]

Really?

[This time she might be, for real and true, interested.]

Have you found anything written down that proves this hypothesis?

[inaurare]

Perhaps. But I tend to prefer to do so in the comfort of my own home...!

[there is a time and place for nudity - in public isn't really it for Linneus.]

What is a hot spring?

[he knows both the words individually, but Chuuya can't just mean a little trickle of warm water burbling up from under ground...]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter keeps a firm grip on the guardian's— head? Thing? As it lurches forward, slow and sedate. Molasses-like. It's just as well they're not in any sort of hurry, otherwise Peter would be sighing hard enough to fill a hot air balloon.

At Rocket's comment, he casts the guy a sidelong glance, huffing out an almost disbelieving laugh. ]

It doesn't look so bad from the ground, either.

[ But Peter has the benefit of being six feet tall, so. ]

What, you didn't think this place was kinda cool to begin with?

[steponme]

[Well, he can't exactly stay away when he's the one holding her... He can try holding her a little further away?? But he's too worried about dropping her or having her tumble out of his hands to hold her out too far.]

I-I'm sorry! I'm not going to hurt you! It's okay!

[Ooh, he should be careful. If he lets himself get too distracted, he might just step I the same mushroom that made her tiny in the first place.]

[steponme]

Oh! Yeah, we do... that's what I am, actually.

[Is it safe to admit that without knowing what vampires are like in this guy's world? He seems too nice to just squash him, but he might still drop him.]

But we're a lot different from any vampires I've heard about in other worlds.

[impavid]

Thanks!

There was a rumour that Rasyc & the bandits might have fled to/through Khalo/might be laying low there. Was it more that the passed through on the way to the mountains, and are all gone now? That's really part of what he'd be looking for -- if any of them are still hiding in Khalo.

[impavid]

[ Yeah.

Yeah, these plans were about where he was too. ]

I know a guy. He's good at getting into pretty much anything and making it do what he wants. He's -- in the pods, here, too. The problem is we don't know how safe it is to wake people up. Knowing how to start the wake cycle on those things is one thing, knowing the implications is a whole different ballgame.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[At least Chuuya doesn’t know that Waver sucks, so he can talk himself up if he wants.

He leans in closer, clearly interested.]

Alchemy? Like turning shit into gold or whatever? Or like mixing potions?

[steponme]

That's a relief, at least. But it still seems strange we'd have to worry about going back to sleep at all. I'd hate to think of leaving Reign behind after how long it took for me to wake up in the first place.

[But they're totally not married. Totally.]

[steponme]

[Th-Those eyes tho.]

D-Didn't you hear me before? I almost passed out just from going inside because of the heat! Even the weather right now feels too hot for me.

[And while it's certainly warm and humid, it's nowhere near unbearable.]

[whatisright]

I do not know how I will react.

[Justice is really not being graceful about this, but he honestly never imagined he would be in this position. He has no idea how to react, what to feel, but he knows that he doesn’t want to hurt Anders and he doesn’t want him to leave. When Anders takes his hand, Justice holds on tightly.]

Before we were—Anders, I was inside a corpse. [He says it like Anders needs reminding, like maybe he forgot the fact that Justice was in a rotting body literally held together by willpower. Even Justice knows that’s not attractive.] Why would you be in love with me?