❪ 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

[willrevile]

[ Well, he's in luck, Jim's pretty used to the 'not emotionally forthcoming' type. ]

Alright, [ he says. Notes it, notes also that he doesn't say it's a preference. ] Can I call you Thomas?

[ He leans back a little, gestures next to him. Sit down? ]

[ettersberg]

( at the gesture, thomas crosses the distance and settles next to jim. there's still a respectable distance between them, but perhaps less of one than there would ordinarily be. )

Yes. ( he allows after a moment, gaze lingering on jim's face. ) If you'd like.

[willrevile]

[ His face is even free from being busted up this week, a first as far as weeks and his dumb face go on El Nysa. What lucky timing. Jim smiles, obviously pleased, when the other man sits with him. ]

I would, [ he confirms. ] And I'd like it if you'd call me Jim, too. [ A beat. ] I guess you could go for 'James', if you've got a thing for formality. My full name's considered by some without vision to be ridiculous, but I like it.

[ettersberg]

Jim.

( thomas says the name slowly, like he's trying it out. some of it is just that, but some of it is also the drug rolling through his system, making everything seem a little blurry and a little heightened at the same time, making him hypersensitive in a way that makes the sound seem like a sensation in and of itself, almost. it's an odd state to be in, but decidedly not unpleasant, he finds.

a beat, before he returns to himself again a little more, adding a dry: ) I'd prefer if you didn't call me Tom.

[willrevile]

[ He just watches, appreciating - the age is part of the appeal. (Blame the Vulcans.) Normally Jim might be leery of this with one person on any kind of substance, but he's free from those thoughts, today. Probably because he's also on said substance.

He laughs quietly. ] Thomas it is. I'll remember.

[ Jim extends one hand, palm open. Asking for one of Thomas's, apparently. ]

[ettersberg]

Thank you.

( thomas has made the informed choice to be on this particular substance. it is not the kind of choice he would ordinarily make, but it is one he's made tonight, for many reasons. he hardly thinks anything will occur that he'll have cause to regret.

he will not regret, for example, settling his hand in jim's.

(as for the age: he's actually much older than he looks still, but he won't be mentioning that. substance or no, some things are ingrained and this is something he is not in a habit of speaking about.)

the touch feels nice. more than nice, for as innocent as it is. )

[willrevile]

[ Is it innocent? Jim takes his hand, threads and unthreads their fingers, slides fingertips over the back of his hand between his knuckles, presses his thumb into the center of his palm, slips his touch over the heel, along the tendon just there at his wrist. (Something else to blame Vulcans for.) It's leisurely, but attentive. ]

How've you been? [ Not at all distracting, surely. ] Since the Coalition.

[ Since that's the last time they saw each other. ] You're part of the Guard, I remember. Welcome back to Wyver?

[ettersberg]

( it is innocent enough, objectively speaking — but it hardly feels innocent when jim's fingers start moving, exploring his hand with intent, touching and touching. it feels significant and like the precursor to something larger. thomas almost thinks it would feel that way without the fyrra as well, but the fyrra heightens the sensation until he's shifting in his seat a little, torn between focusing on his breathing and pressing closer to jim. he's not hard yet, no, but there's a tension building at the base of his spine that says he could get there from just this. )

Ah. Fine.

( he found out john watson's back in stasis, which — which he's not thinking about right now. ) I still don't appreciate the weather here overly much. ( he admits after a moment. there's a breathless note to his tone, but for the rest he sounds perfectly composed still. )

[willrevile]

[ Sometimes Jim is capable of subtlety, even the sensual kind. He likes it just as much as being direct. And sometimes-- ]

I, uh. [ A bright smile takes over his face, helpless. ] I just want you to know how hard I'm struggling against classlessly suggesting you can take your clothes off if it's too warm for you.

[ Struggling and failing, apparently. ]

[ettersberg]

( ah.

well, then.

for a moment, thomas is quiet, not quite frozen but considering. there's heat in his stomach because of jim's touches, because of the image that suggestion prompts. not of only him naked but of the two of them.

it isn't the drug, or not only the drug that has him sit a little straighter, looking at jim with what almost amounts to a challenge. ) Perhaps you could help with that.

[willrevile]

[ Jim can tell he's interested, stoic as he may be. And then - hey, you know, maybe he's been too rough on this planet, because his god awful lines work here with some regularity, which has to be a point in its favor. ]

Oh, I absolutely can. [ He's still got Thomas's hand, and he links their fingers again, staying this time, thumb pressing circles into his skin. ]

Would you like somewhere more private?

[ Jim's not actually an exhibitionist, despite his general lack of shame, though he won't object if Thomas wants to stay right here. ]

[ettersberg]

( frankly? it's not so much a matter of jim's line working as it is a matter of thomas being attracted to jim in general, terrible lines or no. he doesn't answer jim's question immediately, for a moment torn between looking at jim's lips and down at their hands.

then he glances up, looking around them. they're very much in public; he'd almost forgotten about that fact. been temporarily distracted from it.

he clears his throat. ) That would be good, I think.

[willrevile]

[ He likes the way Thomas looks at him; it makes him feel heated, inside, and whether the corny lines are helping or they're just easy to ignore while they're voluntarily on this alien weed, he doesn't really care.

Jim raises their joined hands and presses the back of the other man's knuckles to his mouth - since he'd been so distracted looking at it. His smile is now tangible as well as visible, before he lowers it and moves to stand, waiting to be joined. ]

Let's go, then.

[ettersberg]

( there's no sharp intake of breath, but thomas swallows at the contact, throat working even as he moves to stand. )

Lead the way.

[willrevile]

[ Jim does.

The room they're offered is cozy, perhaps owing to the slight stature of the Khali people, but the amenities are oversized to make up for it. Probably the nicest room Jim's ever been in, honestly; Earth culture isn't so materialistic in his time, and ship quarters are little more then barracks.

But it's not what he's focused on. The door closes and they're alone, and Jim turns to face Thomas, hands skimming over his chest to his shoulders. He leans in and presses a kiss to his mouth. ]

[ettersberg]

( it isn't the nicest room thomas has ever been in by any stretch of the imagination, but he's lived through a century that's seen england at the helm of an empire and he's been member of an institution interwoven with all levels of government. he hasn't always approved of it all, but he has benefited.

still: it's a nice room. nicer still is the kiss that thomas leans into, moving closer to jim and setting one hand on jim's hip, the other on his shoulder. )

[willrevile]

[ This is easier than trying to find the balance between goofy and charming; Jim speaks pretty good physical, even better making out, all confident touches and sensual pressure of lips and tongue. It's leisurely and warm and he doesn't feel any sense of urgency, happy to let this encounter move along at whatever pace they fall into. He steps in closer so they brush up against each other, wanting more contact. ]

[ettersberg]

( thomas is unused to physical, or at least he was before this place, before the moonlight of wyver and the red light district's influence. too many years as an old man, too many years suffering from the weight of age and the ghosts of the war, from the darkness of it all, with only duty to keep him going. he hadn't been overly inclined to the physical then. certainly not this kind of it.

things are different here, especially now. he moves into the contact easily, almost greedily — like it's been too long since he's been touched. )

[willrevile]

[ That energy and need is exciting, because it's always good - great - to be wanted; especially for Jim, who's got a bit of a thing about it. Always has, though that's not a unique story, for .. you know, hos. (Desperate enough for approval and affection that he greedily held onto the feeling of unconditional love directed at him-who-isn't-him, knowing it wasn't the same, accepting it wasn't the same, but keeping it anyway.)

It's exciting, and in a way it's calming, too. Grounds him in a way that he likes, because he knows he can give Thomas what he wants. Jim moves his hands lower, just feeling the other man through his clothes. When he comes to the waistband of his trousers he tugs his shirt out of them (if necessary?) so that he can get his hands on bare skin, sliding over his abdomen to curl around his back. ]

[ettersberg]

( thomas' shirt is neatly tucked into his trousers, or it was until jim pulled it out. he's becoming increasingly dishevelled, but he cannot bring himself to mind. not when jim's hands are warm against his skin, not when he enjoys the easy certainty jim portrays in touching him, the touch itself. he sighs into the kiss, pressing closer to jim. thomas isn't as quick to find skin, but his hands roam the expanse of jim's back above his shirt. )

probably nsfw -> definitely nsfw

[willrevile]

[ Because Thomas isn't quick about it, Jim doesn't rush - doesn't push. Soaks up his pace and nudges, here and there, not to put any pressure on, but just to see. To make sure Thomas knows that Jim wants him just as much.

To illustrate it, he pulls him in tighter against him, letting him feel the line of his body, the building firmness between his legs. ]

[ettersberg]

( thomas appreciates it. he appreciates the indication of how much jim wants him, too, and it sparks more answering heat inside him, his cock half-hard between his legs. the sensation of it all is not overwhelming but so much more than it might ordinarily be that it leaves him sighing his pleasure into jim's month, pressing closer. not quite tipping toward urgency but getting there. )

[willrevile]

[ Times like these are worth enjoying, anyway, drawing them out; if either of them were trying to score a quick fuck, he doesn't think they'd be lounging around in a place like this.

Jim kisses him more, pressed close. He rubs his hands over his back, presses into the line of his hips that curve up and over, slow and firm. It feels to him like Thomas wouldn't mind Jim being in charge, but they're taking baby steps. And that's just fine. ]

[ettersberg]

( thomas most certainly wouldn't mind jim being in charge. he'll say as much sooner or later, probably — or maybe not that he wouldn't mind jim being in charge, but that he'd quite like jim to fuck him. that, certainly. there doesn't need to be anyone in charge here, does there?

for now, he sighs into the kiss, scraping his teeth over jim's lower lip when he breaks it to kiss a line along jim's jaw instead.

jim really is very attractive. it's easy to admit, now. )

[willrevile]

[ Jim's happy to tilt his head to give Thomas all the access he wants, enjoying the sure, sensual press of his mouth. (Has he shaved in a few days or not, idk, u pick which is nicer.)

This goes on for a while - comfortable, slowly building - until the heady feeling prompts Jim to step back and tug at the other man. ]

Sit down with me?

[ On the bed and sea of pillows. ]