❪ 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

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Justice

[whatisright]

The Station

[Justice doesn't like how that broadcast cut off, so he goes to the Station to check on it.

Everything is empty. It puts him on edge. Of course he goes straight for the pods, a part of him afraid that something has gone wrong.

But everyone is still sleeping quietly, undisturbed. He counts off his friends before settling at Aura's pod. He hesitates, but he puts a hand on her pod.] I understand that I am not the one you wish to see, but I am glad you are alive. [He doesn't know if she can hear him, but he hopes.]

Khalo Library

[It feels a little like stepping back into the Fade, seeing all these things books writing themselves. Justice finds a quill writing about Thedas and he sits besides it, watching as it goes, before turning towards it with his permanent frown deeper than normal.] That is not what happened.

Smoking sexy space weed - Closed to CR, liable to get smutty

[Justice feels out of place in the lounge covered head to toe in lush fabric and laden with cushions, but the locals seem very insistent on showing him the comforts their town has to offer. And part of that includes giving him more fyrra to smoke.]

I am still uncertain how this is different from the fyrra I used to arrive here. [He says it as he breathes in a long drag. It's a weird thing to breathe when he doesn't have to talk. He's not used to it.]

Nude Baths

[Well, this is something Justice has zero problem with.

Don't mind him as he strips down immediately to his birthday suit, neatly folding his clothes next to the pool before sliding into the water, taking a moment to admire the world around him.

If he just got into the pool nude far too close to you, it was entirely unintentional. He doesn't seem to really care that everyone is naked right now.] This seems like an ideal social space. I wonder why they do not have baths like this elsewhere.

[whatisright]

That is not the sort of social space I was thinking of.

[Justice doesn't see what he would want in the red light district. Sex is great, sure, but he can't imagine the appeal in being so vulnerable with someone he doesn't know, like, and trust. But maybe that's just something that's different about him because of his nature.

Justice takes a moment to tear his eyes away from their surroundings to look at Anders. Justice has seen many naked humans before, and he's seen Anders without his shirt before, but there's something he likes about the intimacy of being comfortable and bathing together.]

Would you like help washing your hair?

[It doesn't occur to Justice that that may be an inappropriate question. All he sees is that Anders' hair is tangled and caked with dirt, and it would likely be slow and painful to work all the knots out himself.]

[whatisright]

It commonly happens when one wanders through the woods. At least I assume it is a common occurrence. I do not remember wandering the woods before joining the Wardens.

[Justice takes the soap and works it into a lather between his palms before drawing his fingers through Anders' hair. He works first on his scalp, then down to the tips of his hair, seeing to it that the soap has worked through before returning to his scalp to massage away most of the caked on dirt.]

I have enjoyed this city so far. It seems to be much more pleasant than Olympia.

[whatisright]

If you require assistance to gather potion ingredients, I would be happy to help you.

[Justice likes being helpful, even if the help he provides is only tangentially related to his virtue. It's part of the reason why he likes rubbing the soap into Anders' scalp, slowly working the tangles out of his hair--but also, he just likes touching Anders.]

I would like to visit again, when we are not needed in Olympia. I doubt that we will have a chance to see all the city has to offer in only one trip.

[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.

Library!

[poolhall_killer]

[It appears someone else has fallen victim to these "stories". Venom looks over to the next section and sees Justice frowning moreso than normal. Maybe one of the quills is spinning lies about his adventures, too.]

What did the story say, if I may ask?

[He considers Justice a friend so he hopes he's not intruding. His voice is low because library and all.]

[whatisright]

It is fictionalizing my first experiences in the mortal realm. It seems to have decided I had an affair with the Warden Commander and then battled my elven friend for Anders' affections.

[Justice keeps scowling at the quill, like the power of his displeasure alone will make it stop writing. It doesn't.]

None of that happened. Nothing remotely close to it happened.

[poolhall_killer]

They do seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to writing. They kept claiming I was married to a king and that my organization's founder was the true hero.

[He tries to swipe the paper that contains Justice's not!story, but it just keeps on writing.]

Determined little quills, aren't they...?

[whatisright]

I already attempted to stop them, but it seems that they are not to be deterred.

[But at least he has good company to disapprove of the quills with.]

Where do you think they arrived at these stories?

[poolhall_killer]

With what they're writing, who knows. Perhaps they're somehow in tune with us yet don't quite put the pieces together properly. Though where they got the royal marriage part is beyond me.

[Admittedly, the Third King is cute, but hardly someone he'd like to marry... his subconscious says otherwise.]

Was your story written as a series of haiku, as well?

[whatisright]

It was written as though it were a historical account. What is haiku?

[The quills feel like a sick spirit trying to interpret the thoughts they overhear--confusing and entirely inaccurate.]

[poolhall_killer]

A haiku is a type of poem from my world. My organization's founder was very fond of them.

Which is probably why these little mischievous quills decided to tell the story that way.

[And make him the hero and not Lord Zato. Venom did have a lingering childhood crush on the founder, but the quills didn't need to know that!]

[seagoing]

[Khalo after everything that's happened in the past few months is a welcome change of pace for Isabela from the back and forth of Olympia and Wyver, and the impatience of healing from her injuries. Her hand moves better now, burn wounds faded in the tan she's gotten in the warmer weather and when Justice asks her to come with him to the newly discovered village she'd beyond ready for a vacation.

What she doesn't expect is how comfortable the place is, how indulging it is to lay on smooth silk and soft cushions while being indulged to partake more in the plant keeping her awake. Even more surprising is seeing Justice go along with it beyond what's needed to be awake, but its certainly a pleasant one. She'd always figured he deserved time to relax, and no better time than now right?]

I certainly can't find it in me to complain whether its the same or not, not when it's made me the most relaxed I've felt in weeks.

[And she does, grinning at him as she takes a deep inhale herself. It reminds her of the various types of herbal blends she'd seen in markets and aboard ships, and she relishes in not feeling tense for once. For feeling comfortable, even more so than she's become accustomed to around Justice. Hard not to enjoy his company with the heady feeling from the potent plant.]

You think so too don't you? We've certainly earned a chance to relax, not worry so much about things. Admire the scenery, if you catch my drift.

[whatisright]

I enjoy admiring the mortal realm when I have the chance. It truly is beautiful in a way the Fade is not.

[Justice lies next to Isabela, propping himself up on his elbow to glance her over. He's been worried about her since the kidnapping incident, but it seems like she is recovering well.] Besides, I have been told that I should not judge mortals so harshly without experiencing their world properly. I believe part of understanding the mortal experience is attempting to do things that they find enjoyable.

[He takes another long inhale. It occurs to him that Isabela smells nice, and he likes the feeling of her presence wafting from her skin and washing over him. He's not sure where that thought comes from, but he lets it be. He's just happy that she seems to be okay.]

[seagoing]

More greenery here than I've been comfortable with to be sure, but at least nothing here has tried to get too handsy or rob me of my things so far.

[Because she's never truly forgotten her time in the jungles of Wyver upon her arrival, of the plants that kept stealing her daggers and hassling her as she made it to the city. At least here things are pretty to look at despite her wariness of them, but she made sure her stuff was secure just in case.

But it's hardly worth worrying about when she feels so at ease, a mix between relaxed and interested in everything around her. Justice too from the looks of it, as she sees how comfortable the man is himself next to her. It's her first time really out of the city since everything went down, and she'd wanted to avoid Olympia still to be safe, even with the truce they apparently struck together after such a high cost. Anyone potentially stalking her moves may be gone, but she'd rather play it safe to be sure. Khalo at least was more welcoming than Olympia and it's politics.]

Laying in the lap of luxury as we are is certainly a good start if you ask me. Almost as good as indulging in pleasures of the flesh, but I definitely won't turn down more of whatever this stuff is. [Another long pull of sweet smoke in her lungs, and she shifts, getting better adjusted among the many pillows underneath and around them. The smile she beams in his direction as he looks over her is playful and earnest.] You do have me curious though, what else do we mortals do that a spirit would be interested in? What's out there that's gnawing at you to get out there to try if you had the chance?

[whatisright]

I would like to try being in love and loved in turn, but I doubt I ever will. [The answer is automatic. That's what he's wanted since he possessed Kristoff's body and felt the ghost of his relationship with his wife. That's what he's wanted since meeting Aura and avenging her husband for her. He wants what they had with the sort of intensity that isn't appropriate for a spirit to want anything besides its virtue.

And of course he says it because he has no filter. That's spirits for you.

As he takes another drag of the fyrrah, he considers other answers to her question.] I suppose I am also curious about sex. It seems to be a central aspect of most mortals' experiences of life.

[seagoing]

Now that's something I can hardly imagine to be true. There's got to be someone out there who's got your attention or at least caught your eye out there. The being a spirit of the Fade might be a little weird to be sure but I think there's far stranger things out there, don't you think? [She thinks of the...robots she's come across, and the animal people she'd met and seen on the network. Stranger things indeed.] Besides, you're far more pleasant than say, Aveline and she managed to find a man at least twice. Twice! If a grumpy stick in the mud captain like her can find love I'm sure the same will come to you, so don't worry so much.

[Not that she's ever really seen the appeal for it herself, but she offers him the best advice she can for matters of the heart. Love was far from her field of expertise, but he was someone who deserved it if he wanted it with how good he'd been to her after the kidnapping and dealing with the aftermath of it all. So if he was interested in such things she's all for it, ready with the usual teasing fare once he does get tied down with someone.

Sex however...sex she does know, and the interest lights up her eyes as she takes in more of the smoke of the Fyrra. Part of her is surprised from how blunt he mentions it, but underneath all that she's interested...curious as to what in particular he'd want to know about. She laughs then, an easy chuckle as she reaches up a hand (her left, and it feels so good to use it again-) to ruffle his hair with a grin.]

Oh Justice, now you're speaking my language. I might not be the best source of knowledge to go to for love, but sex is definitely something I know plenty about. It's fun, enjoyable, and doesn't always need the strings that come with a relationship to make things too complicated beyond just enjoying yourself. And I don't know if you recall my saying so but you are a very good looking man here, so I'm sure you'd have little problem with finding someone interested. [Another laugh leaves her lips then, along with some of the smoke she'd inhaled.] What would you like to know about it then? Sex, that is.

[whatisright]

[Justice still has his doubts--he does not know if he's even capable of mortal love, and if he is, he doesn't know if he would even recognize it--but that's not something Isabela can help him with. He's prefer to focus on what she's clearly more confident in.

When she ruffles his hair, the corners of his eyes soften in what passes as his version of a smile.] I suppose I am curious about participating in the experience in general. I have engaged in such a finite amount of physical affection that I find myself at a loss for what in particular I would like to do.

[He has to think for a moment, taking another drag of the fyrra.] I suppose performing oral sex would be a good place to start. [Then he can spend the experience focusing on the other person rather than jump immediately into engaging with the physical sensations of a body that still doesn't quite feel like his.]

[seagoing]

[...oh.

There's much she expected from him given the topic and his more almost innocent take on the way humans behave, like 'what's the point of it beside reproduction?', 'how does one approach someone for it', or 'why do it at all?'. The direct and almost blunt way of stating it gives her pause, and underneath it all a pleasant surprise at where his curiosity has lead him. The smoke she holds in her lungs, exhales into air around them gives her a heady feeling, relaxed but daring and she looks at him with a teasing grin on her lips. If she's honest with herself being so close to Justice is nice, and she wouldn't mind getting even closer if he wanted her to.]

It is an excellent place to start dear, why can't there be more men around like you eager for such things? [She laughs while carding her fingers through his hair, unconsciously enjoying the simple feeling of touch as she lets her fingertips trail down the side of his neck. The fyrra has her warm, comfortable, and maybe more than just a little personally interested in the direction of this conversation.] I'll tell you now that giving and receiving are equally as important, and most men you'll come across are far more interested in what they can get out of it than what they can do for who they're with. I know the amount of men I've bothered to do it for that offered to do the same is a painfully small number. But an eagerness to learn is good, very good. I've experience with both, so I'd be more than honored to answer anything you've been dying to know about it.

nude baths

[bruxisms]

[ while male nudity is something that he has always been uncomfortable with, he does not have quite the same qualms about that of the same gender. after all, one could not be entirely picky when one is in a military environment. still, he tries his best for modesty.

be that as it may, he cannot help but feel slightly unnerved at how close the other man sits to him. he is not entirely sure why, of course, for he admires the other man deeply. ]

It is... not my ideal choice, but I suppose there are worse things.

[ such as... doing one's marital duties. ]

[whatisright]

Yes, I forget that you are squeamish with nudity.

[Justice still doesn't get it. It's not as though it is anything that Stannis hasn't seen before. But Justice knows he can't always understand humans. Although Justice still doesn't think to move further away from Stannis.]

Why are you so uncomfortable with it?