❪ 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

[devilcalling]

[ That's... almost kind of strangely endearing honestly? Funny, too, of course, and she has to choke back a laugh. Is this the fyrra talking or...? Ah, but then he asks that question and she perks right up. ]

I sure am!

[ She even does a little twirl for him. See? No ground contact! ]

Normally, I'd say flying, but seeing how I'm not going anywhere for the moment, I'll give it to you. You've never seen a girl sit in the air before?

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He hesitates before answering, because, technically, he has seen someone float before, but that was in outer space. This is markedly different.]

Not like that, no.

[He sits up, eyebrows knitting together as he takes a closer look at her, trying to suss out the physics of how she's doing that. No real answer comes to mind, however.]

How are you doing that?

[devilcalling]

Are you sure you want to get into the details of that sort of thing now?

[ She drops her cheek into her palm, canting her head just so. It's a fair question, she thinks, considering the state of that ripped pillow. ]

I'll tell you one thing, though. It's not a result of one of those flying potions that's being passed around here. I don't guess your eyes are either, though.

[jesus_is_gundam]

Hm?

[His confusion only deepens, as it's not immediately obvious to him what she's talking about when she mentions his eyes. Without thinking about it, he starts to bring his hand up to his face, moving more on reflex than anything else. He stops suddenly, however, when it finally does dawn on him what she's talking about.

Oh. That.

His hand hangs there momentarily, until his fingers start to curl into a fist and drop back to his side. His gaze shifts a few inches to the side, which is the only indication he gives that the subject is somewhat uncomfortable for him, to say the least.]

That's not from anything here, no.

[devilcalling]

[ Ryoko blinks, leaning slightly forward as she observes her company, his expression. Some people, she's noticed, become more exaggerated in the expression department when affected by the herb or other drugs. She can't really say with her present company, but she's pretty sure she's got a good idea what that shifting gaze means. ]

Well, they're pretty either way.

[ A beat. ]

So, tell me. You got a name, Stranger?

1/2

[jesus_is_gundam]

Pretty?

[He's more surprised by the compliment than anything else; no one has ever referred to anything him 'pretty' before. It's strange, though he doesn't think ill of it. Not that he has much time to think on it.]

2/2

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He gets to his feet, not that he has to, but there's something that feels rude about introducing yourself while sitting down. ]

My name is Setsuna F. Seiei. [He doesn't offer a handshake; his manners only extend but so far, but he's certain about who he is, give. The way his gaze meets hers.]

Who are you? [There's a slight pause as he continues, still curious about the floating girl before him.] What are you?

[devilcalling]

[ Setsuna's manners aren't the only ones that extend so far. Polite company would offer a bow in turn, but Ryoko's never really been guilty of being called as much. She does, however, meet his gaze with her own, steady and confidence. ]

I'm Ryoko. As for what, I'm about as humanoid as you. Most Earthlings would call me an alien, but who isn't?

[ Which... probably... doesn't... tell him much... ]

[jesus_is_gundam]

[It doesn't tell him much of anything, especially since he isn't sure exactly how human he still is. If anything, he's just more confused as he tries to figure out what she actually means.]

You're... not from earth?

[devilcalling]

Nope!

[ She gives her head a shake. ]

I guess you could've called it my mailing address before all of this mess, but I'm not a born Earthling or anything like that. I take it you are?

[jesus_is_gundam]

[Well, she's not the first person he's met who isn't from earth, so he isn't too shocked. And, while it doesn't explain her ability to float, it at least provides a reason for it. She's not from earth, therefore she's not human, therefore she can do things that humans can't. Like float.

Seems logical enough to him.]

I am. [He opens up his mouth again, but hesitates, his gaze shifting slightly, not quite meeting hers again, before he speaks.] I-I'm... not entirely human anymore, though.

[Not that it isn't obvious, what with the eyes, but its not a topic he discusses much.]

[devilcalling]

[ She blinks at his admission, wondering or a second at it, at the fact that he's not quite looking at her when he says as much. ]

Does that bother you?

[ She's... kind of wondering if it should? Or perhaps it's different from him than, say, those with 'alien' parentage born on Earth? Maybe? ]

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He was born human, but got changed into something else. It hasn't been an easy adjustment for him.]

... It's different.

[Which doesn't much answer her question, but it's the most honest response he can give. Even so, he still finds it lacking, so he adds a bit more.]

Everything feels different. [Even more so with the fyrra in his system.]

[devilcalling]

How do you mean?

[ She's... honestly curious and perhaps a mite confused for something like an inkling of similarity that doesn't quite... fit? Zero was a robot before becoming Zero-Ryoko and there's a difference there that Ryoko remembers, but it's... not quite the same thing, is it? Or isn't it?? ]

[jesus_is_gundam]

[Even under the best of circumstances, Setsuna isn't good with words. For something like this, he completely lacks the vocabulary to talk about it with anyone, let alone think it through for himself.]

I can feel things... sense things. Even the air in this place feels like rice.

I can feel what's in the hearts of others. And more, but... [there's a heavy sigh from him.] Its not something I can put into words. I'm sorry.

[devilcalling]

No, no.

[ She shakes her head at the apology. Lucky for Setsuna, she's infinitely more curious and interested at the moment than overly prickly. ]

I think I've got a pretty good idea what you're saying. It sounds to me like you're an esper of some kind. Maybe more than that.

[jesus_is_gundam]

An 'esper'?

[It's a term he's clearly not familiar with, given his confusion. But, at this point, any information is more than what he has now.]

What is that?

[devilcalling]

You really don't know anything, do you?

[ You sweet summer child. ]

An esper is an ee-ehs-pee-ur, a person with extrasensory perception if you wanna be technical. People with a lot of different sorts of abilities fall under that umbrella. Telepaths, empaths, psychokinetics -- [ she nods ] -- that's just naming a few.

[jesus_is_gundam]

[For Setsuna, 18 meter tall robots that shit glitter are perfectly normal. Terms like 'psychokinetic' sound completely insane to him, though the doubt only shows as a flat expression his face.]

And you believe I'm one of these... espers?

[devilcalling]

It's that or you've been hitting the fyrra too hard, which wouldn't be too hard to believe --

[ She looks pointedly at his victim, the pillow. ]

-- but I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here.

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He glances at the pillow, then back to Ryoko. He's not about to apologize for the pillow.]

These feelings have nothing to do with the fyrra.

[Which is true, though they are more pronounced since he's had the fyrra in his system. But even so...]

Esper...

[devilcalling]

[ She pauses a second, sparing the pillow another glance as she considers his earlier word choice. ]

You said you aren't human anymore, didn't you?

[ Which means he was human at some point and hey, she's not judging. She's humanoid herself, just... probably not what most would consider 'normal' or 'average,' to say the least. ]

How'd that happen?

[jesus_is_gundam]

[He's not too clear on the specifics himself, so he doesn't really know. There are a ton of theories and ideas, but he doesn't have any facts or answer.]

I changed. No one knows how or why.

I was the first.

[And now, possibly the last, but that was an entirely different subject.]

[devilcalling]

Huh. I wonder if the technology aboard the station could offer you any solid answers? It's not totally prehistoric.

[ Unlike most things on the ground. She's pretty sure Washu could if she weren't still napping aboard Thesa, but there's nothing doing for that. ]

[jesus_is_gundam]

[It might be able to, but going up presents an entirely different question.]

Do you trust the Natha?

[Because he is more than a little unsure on them.]