❪ 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

[steponme]

[It was true -- had Shell not had this recent experience with Chuuya, he might not have been able to find the words to suggest keeping up a similar relationship with Reign, even if they still haven't exactly delineated where, if any, their boundaries lie.]

[And as much as it might seem like he's approaching such a boundary right now-- well, if he were to be honest with himself, he kind of likes the attention and the little sparks of shame and humiliation it brings. And perhaps knowing that Reign doesn't feel jealous about what he did with Chuuya helps, too. He's never exactly had the opportunity to talk about his experiences with a third-party before, after all.]

[Though the mention of a new set quickly has his cheeks going scarlet.]

Th-That's-- they're only this bad because I fell asleep without treating them! I-I won't forget... next time.

[Because oh yes, there's gonna be a next time.]

[eaudevamp]

[ One of these days, Reign may sit down with Shell and tell him about a certain demon. A demon who made his heart go doki and filled him with conflicting emotions. But that day was not today.

Today, right now, was a time to tease Shell. However, rather than do that, Reign gently tapped Shell's shoulder, right at the spot he knew where the bite marks would be. A light tap, of course, just enough to possibly cause it to sting. ]

You should be more careful. Chuuya too. If it goes untreated, even for a few hours, the wounds could fester.

[ He didn't need to tell Shell about all kinds of unsavoury bodily fluid that could cause infections. ]

[steponme]

[A certain demon he'll never get to meet... alas.]

[But that just has him flinching again, a little shiver running down his spine.]

I-I know that! But usually One always took care of that for me...

[He mumbles that part a little with a pout -- not really wanting to spend too much time on comparing the two.]

Besides, we were... distracted.

[eaudevamp]

[ One less pretty vamp boy in said demon's harem. More for Reign to monopolise. Hah!

All right, Reign was going to stop touching Shell too much. ]

But have you treated it? After the distraction?

[ Otherwise, Reign was going to give Shell a pep talk on aftercare. Thank you, demon master, for the important lesson. ]

In fact, you shouldn't be soaking in the water this long.

[steponme]

[Oh, he's free to touch more, but that depends on whether he's ready to embrace his inner sadist and turn Shell on some more.]

Of course I did. I just came into the water to cool down... and maybe soak my back a little. We woke up on the floor this morning, so it's a little sore.

[..........]

[He just admits this kinky detail without even thinking about it??]

[His face flushes brighter as he realizes it, though. They really did have a pretty wild night.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign blinked, taking that in. It shouldn't be surprising, but hearing more details was definitely putting extra imagery in his mind. ]

Wow, you two must have been desperate enough to forgo a bed or couch, and tired enough to pass out after sex.

[ It must have taken a lot of energy and effort, seeing as vampires like them don't tire easily.

Props to Chuuya. Bravo. Have a pat on the back. Job well done. ]

[steponme]

M-Maybe a little. It was... pretty intense.

[It's not like Reign had too much of an idea of just how rough Shell liked it, beyond simply getting a look at his playroom and that whole "hit me with that whip" thing.]

[Of course, while Shell was starting to find it rather thrilling to actually talk about, it's not like he's completely ignorant of the company he's in.]

...this isn't too awkward, is it? We can talk about something else instead, if you want.

[eaudevamp]

[ Yeah, Reign could imagine that, having been a recipient to Chuuya's knife play once. He should try that again, maybe with some else who was just as experienced. If nothing else, then some kind of edge play. Yup. Jotting that down in his mental memory. ]

Urm... a bit? I think? I don't know if you want to listen to mine.

[ For example, a certain demon? Or even the possible hanky-panky he may or may not be doing with Diva in another thread. ]

[steponme]

[Ah, maybe he shouldn't have been saying so much after all... but that last bit has him curious. Since he has been curious.]

I've never said that. I mean, we never really talked about this kind of stuff back home, since... I was still hiding it. But I am a little curious-- since you did say you've been with others here.

[HE SAID IT TWICE, EVEN...]

[eaudevamp]

[ Shell had a point. It wasn't something they talked about, and even after Shell came out to him, there wasn't much chance to do so.

Now, time to sit back and enjoy some steamy story. Reign coughed a bit into his hand, and if the blush on his cheeks were anything to go by, he's already feeling embarrassed thinking about it. ]

So, urm... there's this person I met when I first arrived. [ How much should he tell Shell? He didn't want to hide from his best friend, but he knew what not to say as well, so... Reign leaned in and whispered. ] His name is Mephisto, but he goes by Johann Faust in public. And—

[ Reign did a quick glance around to make sure they're alone. ] He's a demon. [ He shared a bit more of his exploits with Mephisto, making certain not to reveal the demon's true name. Mephisto wouldn't have appreciate his secrets being shared, even if it was with Shell. ]

T-there you have it. [ However, Reign had yet to bring up the bit about Mephisto's death (and revival), and how he felt for the demon. That was something quite complicated that even Reign himself had yet to work out. ]

[steponme]

[Shell wasn't really sure what he expected. Reign had mentioned being with other people, but hadn't mentioned anyone in particular to Shell since arriving, so he figured they were more casual affairs--]

[But when he only mentions one person, well... that says a lot more than he probably means to. The demon comment has him a little confused -- maybe he doesn't mean it literally?]



[Just uh. Ignore the fact that Reign's vivid explanations of his sexual exploits are quickly having Shell red in the face and fidgeting a little awkwardly next to him. Bruh...]

Th-That's... wow. You've definitely been, uh. Keeping yourself busy. [With a literal sex demon, apparently??]

Why didn't you mention this guy until now? Were you just going to keep it a secret from me forever?

[He says it teasingly, but he can't deny some small part of him is sad Reign felt he needed to hide this from him. It's not exactly hard to tell from the sparkle in Reign's eyes that this person must mean a lot to him.]

[Not that Shell's one to talk, of course.]

1/2

[eaudevamp]

[ Yeap, Mephisto was a demon figuratively and literally. Insatiable sex demon was definitely a good title for Mephisto. Hah.

But even Reign was feeling embarrassed upon telling Shell about Mephisto, despite how shameless he'd been describing what they did. Sometimes a little bit too detailed.

Sorry Shell your buddy is like this.

Shell's response had Reign looking sheepish, chuckling awkwardly and suddenly being self-conscious. ]

Haha, you can say that.

[eaudevamp]

[ But the following questions had Reign dropping his gaze a bit, needing to collect his thoughts. ]

I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just... something happened after that and it affected me more than I'd expected.

[ He kept his eyes downcast even when as he continued, feeling a tad guilty for having kept that from him. Mephisto wasn't some sort of dirty secret to be kept in the closet. That wasn't fair to either people that he care for. ]

A few months back, some extremists went around kidnapping people. Mephisto was one of them, and he got injured pretty badly. [ Just the memory of seeing that mechanical, clockwork-like heart had Reign's breath coming out in a shuddering exhale. ] He died from his wounds.

[ Reign will of course, get ready to go on that Mephisto later revived and was fine, but that depended if Shell was going to cut into his conversation. ]

[steponme]

[Well damn if that doesn't just take the wind right out of sails. Any trace of his playful teasing evaporates in an instant, replaced with a look of shock-- and perhaps a bit of shame for what he just said.]

[He's heard bits and pieces about the kidnapping by now, but he had no idea that someone close to Reign had been involved -- let alone, died. That wouldn't have even been that long before Shell woke up.]

[Has Reign been in mourning this whole time? He's too stunned to say anything, other than a very soft murmur of Reign's name-- an apology close behind it, but no doubt Reign will continue first.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Ah, he needed to clear certain things first. Otherwise this will get even sadder than it already was. Them vampires with their soap opera stories.

Reign smiled as he lifted his head, giving Shell's hand a reassuring squeeze. ]

Honestly, I though I was better off dead too. I couldn't imagine living through day by day without him. He wasn't the only one I know of who died, but his death... I don't know. I've never have anyone I care dearly about die. He seem indestructible, being a demon and all. I even asked Chuuya to punish me for failing to save him.

What I did was also hurting my friends, those who are still alive and have lived through the worst of it. [ His lips quirked wryly. ] Even Diva scolded me, you know. But that's not all. I've no idea how the Orbiters do it, but they somehow managed to bring him back to life.

[ He let out a laugh, low and watery, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. ] I've never been so happy to see him again, Shell.

1/3

[steponme]

[Okay, but who said anything about unshed tears on this side of the water? Because everything Reign says hits way too close to home for him. Hell, even knowing he was alive and just sleeping in a pod up on Thesa, Shell still had nightmares about that day in the bank, watching One fall over the edge of the crumbling building after pushing Shell to safety.]

[And now Shell knows the context of just how Reign and Chuuya ended up hooking up -- and somehow the fact that he already knew that and had felt jealous about it just makes him sick to his stomach.]

[Remembering the pain he went through with One, and knowing that Reign's been going through the same thi--]

[steponme]

[Bring him back to life what the fuck]

3/4 I lied

[steponme]

S-Say that from the start next time!!

[IS THIS A BAD TIME TO SPLASH REIGN fuck it he's splashing Reign right in the face.]

[steponme]

[And now Shell's crying, but he looks mad about it. How dare you play with his kokoro like this.]

...b-but I'm happy for you, really. I'm glad you found someone like that.

[...]

[Another little splash tho as he wipes at his eyes to make the tears stop. Why is he the crypire now???]

1/?

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign thought Shell was going to be happy for him, and though Shell was, he didn't expect the face full of water before that.

He yelped, coughing as he quickly swam away from Shell's side while holding his hands up to defend himself. ]

S-sorry! Uwaah, stop splashing me!

[eaudevamp]

[ Urk, and now Shell was crying. He hadn't meant to make Shell cry too, even as Reign sniffled and wiped his face. Nope, those were definitely water and not tears. ]

I did mean to do it purposely. I just felt like explaining and...

[ Swimming back to Shell's side again. ]

Sorry for making you cry again.

done

[eaudevamp]

[ He reached up and wiped Shell's stray tears. ]

Thanks, Shell. I don't know if he feels the same for me though. I mean, I don't know if what I'm feeling is actually love, or deeply caring for him. I've never met someone like Mephisto before.

[ Maybe because Mephisto was a demon, despite being in a human host body. Reign didn't know if he could ever feel the same for a human, like Shell did. Perhaps one day. ]

[steponme]

I-It's fine. You're the one who went through all of that.

[STILL SNIFFLING Reign u jerk. But maybe this just makes them even -- seeing as Reign was still in custody while Shell was actively mourning One, and Shell was in stasis while Reign was going through his own personal tragedy.]

But I don't think it matters too much what to call it. [Just like the feelings that exist between them.] You care about him, and you like being with him... I think that's wonderful.

[eaudevamp]

[ Just hearing that from Shell confirmed to Reign that he had the bestest friend with him in the whole world. Universe. Everything.

Either way, him and Shell were good now, and Reign happily pressed back against Shell's side with a playful giggle. ]

Yeah, I do like him a lot, and enjoy being with him. [ He was quiet for a while before a cheeky grin formed on his lips. ] You know, if friend-enemy is frenemy, then friend-lover is frenover?

[steponme]

...please don't call me your frenover.

[Reign, no]