❪ 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]

[Oh, so he didn't-- well, this was a few years ago for Reign. It makes sense he would have never mentioned it.]

Ah... yeah, it is.

...but we're not married. He took it back a few days later.

[gekkajuu]

He... took it back...

[Wow. Atsushi considers himself something of an expert in embarrassing himself, but he's not sure even he would have done something like that.]

Isn't that a little -... He must have wanted to marry you, right? Those kinds of feelings don't change overnight.

[steponme]

He did, yeah. But... it's complicated.

[Complicated in a way that has him looking disheartened.]

[...and in a way that the quill will be more than happy to spell out, going on to include some narration about how the two of them could never work -- since they were both abnormal vampires.]

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi doesn't mean to invade Reign and Shell's privacy, but seeing the quill in action holds his attention more than it should, and combined with the lack of answers he's getting...]

What does "abnormal vampire" mean?

[Aren't vampires always abnormal?]

1/2

[steponme]

[Please excuse Shell while he tries in vain to take the paper away from the quill, but after a few seconds, it just materializes a new one and keeps on writing.]

[SIGH]

[steponme]

It's a term used for vampires who... aren't the way a vampire is supposed to be. Or at least, how most of them tend to be.

[Maybe he can explain this in a way without touching on the TMI aspect -- even if that part is kinda sorta the only part that explains why he and Reign wouldn't really work as a couple.]

[After all, Shell is shameless enough to confess his sexual deviancy to a stranger why is he like this is I stg, but if it's something Reign isn't going around telling people, then he should respect his privacy!!]

If I were a normal a normal vampire, I probably wouldn't even be talking to you. Most of them see humans as just... livestock. [God, even he winces now when he says it. The longer he's here, the more terrible his world really starts to become in his eyes by comparison -- and he already thought it was a dreadful place.] They're cold and cruel... and they use their pheromones to exert their dominance over everyone around them-- humans and vampires alike.

[gekkajuu]

I see... [Sorta kinda. Reign did touch upon the topic of most vampires being mean, Atsushi seems to recall, but if details were mentioned, he's long since pushed them out of his mind.] In that case, I'm very glad I only know abnormal vampires.

But why would you and Reign sharing such opinions be a problem? If anything, it seems like feeling the same would be easier in a relationship.

[Bless this sweet summer child.]

[steponme]

[DAMN so close.]

Atsushi... how well do you know Reign?

[gekkajuu]

Enough to be his friend?

I know he's a kind person, and he likes fragrances, and he's fond of animals too...

[Not at all. The answer is: not at all.]

[steponme]

[He's not sure whether to be mad at the quill or Atsushi's curiosity or his own big mouth-- but for some reason, his mind just decides to think this is all Reign's fault somehow.]

I see... that's good! That you're friends.

[Come on he can do this he's an Overlord!!]

But you know, sometimes there are things friends don't tell each other about. And I-- I kept something from Reign for a long time. I didn't tell him until after he proposed... and it changed things a lot between us.

Being abnormal was only part of it.

[gekkajuu]

Is that so?

[Well... that explains that, then - and if it's a secret that Shell even kept from Reign, then Atsushi won't ask to be told. Even if he doesn't understand why Shell seemed to point at Reign as the leading cause first, and now it's all about the secret he kept, himself.]

For what it's worth: I think it's good that you told him. Everyone has their own secrets, but if you're going to be married, it's important to be completely honest and open with each other.

[... Wow, look at him sounding like he knows it all.]

I mean - that's what I guess, anyway!

[steponme]

[Why is he getting schooled in marriage by a teenager, this is rude??]

[But okay, he has a point. Even if that point just has Shell sighing -- it's not like he needs the reminder, but going any further into why he had to keep those secrets might touch on that TMI again.]

I guess that means you and your boyfriend Akutagawa must be pretty honest with each other too, huh.

[Oh how the turn tables... he never said what parts of that story were wrong, okay.]

[gekkajuu]

[W O W how did it come to this?!?]

AKUTAGAWA IS DEFINITELY NOT MY BOYFRIEND!!

[He's just one of the few people Atsushi dislikes, and one of the very few who doesn't get a honorific!! Neither does Reign, but that was on request, so...]

Apart from anything else: he plans to kill me!

[steponme]

Wha-- kill? Why!?

[But they had such good chemistry?? In weird Bungo Stray Fanfic at least. Shell may have been aggressively shipping it the whole time he was reading, how disappointing.]

[gekkajuu]

Because! That's what he does. He never does anything but cut people down like they're blades of grass.

[DAMN LAWNMOWERS!

Ah, that moment when you realize the only date you'll have with your would-be boyfriend is a date to fight to the death...]

[steponme]

[METHINKS THE GENTLEMAN DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH-- or maybe Shell is just too prone to reading between the lines for something like this, given he's the one who fell in love with a human who hated him and all.]

So... he just kills anyone?

[ur not special?? Oh no, how sad.]

...he kinda sounds like a vampire when you put it like that.

[God if he only knew how much he kinda looked like one too.]

[gekkajuu]

[Wouldn't you just love an Aku boyfriend... So much kink!!]

At least vampires need blood to live! [Most of them! He thinks!] Akutagawa just kills. Not because he needs to, or even because he likes it, but because he thinks it shows his strength.

[It's ridiculous. With that kind of ability, what skill does killing even require?!]

[steponme]

[Dem bondage powers, man. Just think of the possibilities.]

In that case, he really does sound a vampire.

[Even showing off his strength through murder sounded better than culling the population of humans every year just to keep their blood profitable.]

[Shell wasn't exaggerating when he said they were cruel.]

He's not someone who's awake, is he?

[gekkajuu]

[Bondage powers, sex toys in any shape you want, gags that can expand to fill your whole mouth... So wasted on the lawnmower.]

He was. But he went back to sleep.

[Atsushi still isn't sure how to feel about that, and it probably shows: he's never been great at hiding his emotions. If only Akutagawa had stayed awake a little longer, they could have had their fight, and things would have been over, one way or the other.]

It's better that he's not here, but at the same time... there is some unfinished business between us that I would have liked to settle.

[... He really does sound like a jilted lover, doesn't he?]

[steponme]

[Stupid sexy lawnmower]

[And yeah... yeah. That's not really escaping Shell's notice. Why would he make a face like that over some murder machine who just wants to kill him if there wasn't something else lingering beneath the surface? But seeing as Shell wouldn't want to be prodded with questions about One from someone he hardly knows, he'll leave his assumptions to himself.]

I've heard that people going back to sleep is common... but has anyone who's gone to sleep ever woken up again? There isn't really a lot of information available anywhere about it.

[gekkajuu]

[At least he dresses stupidly 23/6, so the sexy is well-hidden. Dress him better more often already, Gin.]

Yes! It's happened several times, actually. Off the top of my head, there's been at least four cases of people waking up again that I know.

[steponme]

That's a relief, at least. But it still seems strange we'd have to worry about going back to sleep at all. I'd hate to think of leaving Reign behind after how long it took for me to wake up in the first place.

[But they're totally not married. Totally.]

[gekkajuu]

It's a little scary, isn't it? Even if we may well wake up again, the thought of being away from everyone for any length of time is just -...

[It's uncomfortable. Just thinking back to how he felt when he thought he'd lost someone close to him, the idea of making someone else feel that way is enough to make Atsushi sick. Even though he doesn't think he's as important to other people as other people are to him, it's just not something he wants to be responsible for.]

But I think... that's another reason to stick together, as refugees. That way, we can support each other when things like that happen.

[steponme]

[Yeah, Shell still remembers all too well the strange feelings of guilt he couldn't quite shake after waking up. Though it didn't help that in his case, Reign made it perfectly clear that he was visiting him damn near everyday, sometimes crying because he missed him... b-but they're not married ok.]

That's what I think too. After all, we're the only ones who we can talk to about all of this, or the things we've experienced back home. Or at least, without needing to embellish a lot. I wasn't even sure whether it'd be safe to tell anyone I'm a vampire or not, but none of the natives I've told have been too freaked out about it.

[Which is at least a little odd, since he hasn't actually met any native-equivalent of a vampire. Just people who enjoy drinking blood for one reason or another kinky bastards, the lot of them.]

[gekkajuu]

[Definitely not married. Reign cries all the time! (Maybe he's named for it, too. RAIN, get it?)]

You've told people?

[Given that Atsushi has, for a long time now, been pretty open about his ability, he really has no right to be surprised, but he is. People don't know what a weretiger is, let alone whether it's dangerous - and it's something that can be undone; a shape that can he shed. A vampire... is something else entirely. Atsushi doesn't judge, but he kind of expects other people to judge.]

You're braver than I am.