❪ 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

[meinwaifu]

--just how many strange fetishes do you have?

At this point, I'm honestly worried you may be an even bigger pervert than me!

[HE'S JOKING but also bruh]

[thetaintedsorrow]

I doubt that’s possible.

[But it sure is nice to one-up Mephisto for once, and Chuuya pushes his luck by giving the length of his tail another stroke.]

Well? Are you gonna tell me to stop or what?

[meinwaifu]

[Hnnng he lets out another little whimper at that, certainly enjoying the feeling of it, yes. Which is what has him so conflicted! He can't let their new dynamic start off with Chuuya coming out on top, it just wouldn't be right!]

[But neither would asking him to stop-- because he should have stopped on his own when those 15 seconds were up!!]

Is this really any way to treat your master? You're being rather rude, you know.

If anythi-- nnng... you should be asking my permission to keep going!

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya isn’t clueless enough to believe that this is going to become a regular thing, but isn’t that all the more reason to make the most of it?

He’ll just settle himself right in Mephisto’s lap and reach around behind him to grip his tail at the base. Not hard, but enough to get Mephisto’s attention.]

You’re right. I forgot my manners. Sorry, Master.

[The last word is breathed hot and heavy into Mephisto’s ear. He starts stroking the length of Mephisto’s tail much like he would if he jerking him off properly, and he won’t deny that he’s getting a little excited himself.

He’s going to pay for this later, he’s sure, but for now...]

1/2

[meinwaifu]

[Goddammit, Chuuya has no right being this sexy?? Since when is he letting him get the upper hand? Was he too careless in making that agreement? In allowing this to happen at all?]

[But he can't deny that some part of him is incredibly turned on by this turn of events, for all that no one ever manages to get the upper hand over him like this. He feels so explicitly at Chuuya's mercy, knowing that if he were even just a little rougher with that tail, he'd probably pass right out.]

[Those words whispered in his ear have him shivering, clinging to Chuuya before he even realizes what he's doing--]

[meinwaifu]

[--and then, very abruptly going completely slack in his arms.]




[Look, he's only done this like three times now, he's not sure at what point it becomes too much when his powers are still all out of whack from the Storm.]

[Should Chuuya push Meph back against the couch, he'll find his expression dazed and that he's drooling a little -- completely out cold, for the next minute or so.]

[But above them both, the little bat familiar looks extremely distressed, and will start angry chirping at Chuuya.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Give Chuuya an inch and he’ll take a mile apparently, at least when it comes to getting the upper hand. Whether it be fighting or fucking, Chuuya is very susceptible to power trips on occasion, and that’s clearly what’s happening here. To think that he’d have such an incredibly powerful being at his mercy, shuddering and clinging to him...

And passing out in his arms.

...

UH???

Chuuya pushes Mephisto back against the couch, his expression one of utter disbelief. If he weren’t a demon, Chuuya might assume he’d killed the guy.]

Oi! Faust!

[Chuuya gives Mephisto’s shoulders a shake, and he might just be freaking out a little bit. The bat chirping at him earns a pissy little glare.]

I didn’t mean to!

[HUFF.

Well. Nothing left to do but wait?? And poke and prod at Meph until he wakes up.]

[meinwaifu]

[He's definitely not dead, seeing as he's still breathing and all. But he will stay like that for a full minute, completely non-responsive to just about anything--]

[But eventually he moves, eyes and mouth sliding closed and scrunching up into a brief look of pain, before he sighs and shoots a very tired frown at Chuuya.]

...you're supposed to address me as master when we're alone. That would have been must nicer to wake up to.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Just gonna ignore that comment for a second.]

What the hell was that??

[Nevermind that he’s still sitting in Mephisto’s lap, which isn’t helping.]

Guess you weren’t kidding about it being a weak spot.

[meinwaifu]

To squeeze a demon's tail is to drain our body of its strength. While not enough to kill one outright, it's extraordinarily painful when bent or squeezed... but even when done with a gentle touch, we're still being drained.

[He tries to shift and push himself back up but... in the end, he winds up slumping forward against Chuuya, face resting against his chest.]

[Ahh, but this is fine. The connection created by the contract he had Chuuya sign is far too weak for him to actually draw power from him, but when he's this close, he can at least pretend that it works. He gives him a weak little pat on the arm.]

Just look at this... hardly my familiar for twenty minutes, and you've already exhausted me. I'd say that's a new record.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Damn. That’s one hell of a weakness.

[Chuuya is still a bit shocked that he’d been able to turn Mephisto to jelly so easily, but had it really been easy? He’d had to do a ton of negotiating to even see the tail. And he most likely won’t be seeing it again.

Worth it, though.

Chuuya huffs as Mephisto rests against his chest, and he just...pets his hair little, because why not?]

What can I say? I never disappoint.

[meinwaifu]

[He may or may not see it again, but for now, he can still see. Mephisto is far too tired to even think of hiding it, so it's just curled around the couch behind him. Though given enough time, without even really thinking about it, it might just curl up around behind Chuuya. And with how nice the hair petting is, his tail might even start wagging, just a little.]

You certainly haven't disappointed so far... though your manners could use a bit of work.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh no, that’s actually really cute?? Chuuya never thought he’d associate that word with Mephisto outside of his fluffy pupper form, but there it is.

Must...touch...

He does want to avoid causing the guy to pass out again though, so when he reaches for the tail this time he settles for sliding his fingers through the fluffy hair on the end.]

Don’t tell me you like the polite, shy type.

[Of course he does.]

[meinwaifu]

[Cute, and only going to get cuter, as his tail curls a little around his hand as well. The end wasn't nearly as sensitive as the base, and as long as Chuuya wasn't the one grabbing it, the only reaction it gets from Mephisto is a short huff.]

[...and maybe clinging a little tighter. He's not telling him to stop, either.]

Not the shy type, no... but you could afford to treat me with more respect.

[Face still buried into Chuuya's chest, he reaches up and pats the other side.]

--especially when you don't even have something soft for me to rest my head on. This position is much more fun with a woman, you know.

[He says this as if it were something Chuuya could work on?? Or maybe his teasing just falls a little flat when he still sounds so tired.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[OH NO...the tail is curling around his hand a bit...illegal!! Chuuya just keeps on petting the end, trying not to blush. It’s not like he’s enjoying this or anything...not at all...

Chuuya huffs at the pats. He supposes if he’s going to pet Mephisto then the demon can pet him too.]

Sorry I don’t have a nice big pair of tits for you to bury your face in. My ass totally makes up for it, though.

[The crudest...at least his touch is softer than his words as he slides his fingers along the length of Meph’s tail again.

Yup. Just floating above the library on a couch with a demon. No big deal.]

You gonna sleep like this?

[meinwaifu]

[Well, he can't disagree there.]

[But oddly enough, that question has him pause for a bit. Sure, the feeling of his hand now stroking down along his tail isn't helping but--]

I don't really sleep. [...] But actually, I just can't move right now.

[Well, okay, he can sorta. But he's very tired and doesn't particularly want to, especially with Chuuya's hand still on his tail. It's more of a pleasant tingle now, but still enough to keep him feeling rather boneless.]

Ordinarily I'd draw some energy from my familiars to recover faster, but you're a familiar in name alone, and the little one behind me is too busy holding us up here.

Of course, I do have others I can draw from, but... I'm not so sure you would appreciate me summoning them.

[thetaintedsorrow]

I can float you somewhere.

[Oh, but Chuuya perks up a little at the mention of other familiars. Color him curious.]

Why? Are they creepy or something?

[Now he really wants to see.]

Like I’d be put off by you summoning some more creatures. I’ve seen some shit in my time. I can handle it.

[meinwaifu]

Not at all. They're rather adorable, actually.

But you see, they have a certain effect on humans that many would find... undesirable.

[But he's not gonna wait to explain before he summons them, lifting a hand and snapping his fingers. And when he does, appearing around the couch in little puffs of smoke are three very round monkeys standing at about a foot tall each. The "theme" should be obvious, given how common three-wise-monkey statues were.]

[And while one of them (the one covering its eyes) hops over to Mephisto, the other two crowd around Chuuya, eyeing him curiously as they cheep and coo.]

[But strange-- there doesn't seem to be anything happening with them being here.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh, they really are cute! Chuuya is losing so many manly points for petting all these cute animals lately, but fuck it. He reaches to pet the one holding its ears. Maybe he’ll get bit. Oops.]

Wasn’t expecting something like this.

[He figured other familiars might be like, little horned imps or something.]

Can they transform or anything?

[meinwaifu]

[No bites! They're very sweet and affectionate, actually. And once summoned, as per his word, Mephisto is finally able to straighten back up -- even stretching a little and letting one of the monkeys squeeze into the spot between the two of them.]

No, nothing like that. But they are very powerful! Don't let their cute appearance fool you. Ah, let's see... that little one you're petting is Kikazaru, this one is Mizaru, and-- [The one covering it's mouth hops up on Mephisto's shoulder, only to tumble down and plop onto the one snuggled between them.] Ah, and there's Iwazaru.

[Their names, of course, being very bad Japanese puns combining what trait they lack (hearing, seeing and speaking) and the word saru for monkey. But it's not like the three wise monkeys and the whole concept of "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" is that obscure.]

[But as they sit there, being cute and adorable, Chuuya might just start feeling inspired... inspired to confess or say or even do something he normally otherwise wouldn't.]

[And Mephisto knows this. And maybe, just maybe, he was hoping for the opportunity for a little revenge after Chuuya turned the tables on him earlier.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh no, they’re fluffy and sweet...how did Mephisto manage to get such cute familiars? Chuuya will just reach over and give them all a few pets. Chuuya gets the reference to the three wise monkeys, but these ones are a lot rounder and fluffier than he usually sees then depicted. Not a bad change.]

They’re super cute. I love cute, fluffy animals. And when handsome guys have animal ears and tails. Or fangs. Fangs are good too. I like your fangs and tail a lot.

[Oh look, the effect seems to be working, because that is NOT A THING CHUUYA WOULD ADMIT ALOUD NORMALLY.]

1/2 Internally only

[meinwaifu]

[Nyeheheheheheheh]

[meinwaifu]

Oh, do you now? How flattering. But I could already tell you're rather fond of them.

[He knows better than to probe further -- if Chuuya has something he's going to say, he'll say it, whether Mephisto tries to lead him there or not.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

They’re nice. The fangs are good for biting, which I also like. Especially on my neck. I really like seeing marks the morning after. I’ve had three different vampires feed on me, and I liked it. I like it when you bite me too.

[He’s not even blushing as the words just tumble out of his mouth. Enjoy blabbering Chuuya, Meph.]

Sometimes I like just curling up next to someone and sleeping though. It makes me feel warm and safe, when I never got to feel that way in the Mafia. I can protect myself, but it’s still nice to be held in someone’s arms. Sometimes I’ll just crawl into bed with Atsushi because I don’t want to be alone. I say I don’t mind being alone, that it doesn’t bother me, but it does.

[...yup. He’s still talking.]

[meinwaifu]

[Ahh, human nature. The bit about the vampires really doesn't surprise him at all, and it's easy enough to guess who those three vampires are. But as embarrassing as the admission is, it does tell Mephisto he should keep an eye on Chuuya's general constitution to make sure he isn't letting himself fall anemic.]

[While it's definitely a strange connection the two of them have now, Mephisto is rather genuine in how he cares for his familiars. It's the reason they remain so loyal to him, even when his personality and mannerisms are hard to tolerate.]

[But while he may be looking at this from an almost clinical point of view, that doesn't mean he's outright incapable of empathy. Loneliness is certainly something a demon like Mephisto understands, even if he too would likely never admit it.]

[With an almost uncharacteristic gentleness, he reaches up to rest a hand against Chuuya's cheek.]

There's nothing wrong with feeling lonely. It's human nature to seek out emotional connections that make you feel comfortable and safe.

But should a time ever come that you cannot find such a connection, I would hope that you remember you're not alone anymore. Even when I am not by your side [His hand trails down, pressing a finger to the little gold tag on his collar that which now binds us means that I am always with you. And should you ever find yourself in times of hardship, you need only call my true name, and I will always be there to listen.

[This would probably sound borderline romantic if he weren't grinning like a supervillain.]