❪ 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

[inaurare]

My first master's son.

[he would rather not go into it much further, but given Dazai's next question-]

...he was a dear friend to me, yes.

[and perhaps that is all the sense Dazai has taken from his words - that it was close childhood friendship, childhood foolishness. The silly things children do! And if, perhaps he has jumped to some other meaning, well. Linneus can't stop that, can he?]

That would be nice.

[rising to his feet with his last bundle, glancing around his area to make sure he hasn't left anything, that the plants are ready to grow back again as he leads him back to the entrance of the field]

I've seen a few areas... mostly it has all been things that grow, though.

[cassus]

Is that so? [ Dazai gives a soft hum of thought, then another quiet addendum. ] Lucky him.

[ He'll nod in agreement that this place is in no shortage of greenery. That said, the forrest from floor to 'ceiling' isn't all that resides here. Linneus must have been to the village already, but did he know about everything it had to offer?

Dazai has done his own digging on the local culture before deciding how to bide his time in such a often secluded place of rustic wonders. He knows that they could spend more than a day just soaking up the festivities on one level alone, if Linneus didn't need to hurry back to a home-bound egg-baby, who surely was eagerly awaiting his return in Olympia.

But even if this kind of trip can't last long, there are plenty of options to choose from. In fact, Dazai will pose a few, in hopes that Linneus has enough choices to make more than one selection to fill up the day and at least some of tonight. ]

There's an entire village to explore, with three different levels.

[ He rattles through a few ideas, counting the options off upon fingers as they walk back towards the entryway. ]

Plus the pools, the library. ...If you're up for a bit of reading or a soothing dip, later.

[ He muses some, doubtful either Linneus or himself are the type for enjoying the arena or the potential for a sporting event of skyball therein. ]

The taming fields are supposed to be popular, since they've opened the place up to 'tourists'.

[ Shoulders shrug as he considers these himself, having little preference when the company is companionable and there's no real downside to any of them. ]

[inaurare]

[a glance back - a half sort of smile, because Xanthe was dear to him too, but a shake of his head]

I'm not entirely sure that he thinks so. [and lightly, a little too much so for what he means] I've caused him entirely too much grief...!

[humming and nodding his head as he listens to Dazai. He's taken to Khalo quite well, actually, despite the initial difficulties in getting there, and all of the things Dazai mentions are things he would like to explore - or has already, but would love to explore with Dazai. Glancing back to Dazai every now and again as they talk, he... is not looking where he is going. So when his foot lands on a mushroom, it feels like a mis-step - like his foot has missed some height difference in the ground, only far more drastic. Because the fall feels like it goes on forever; much longer than it has any right to.

From Dazai's point of view, there's a brief, startled shout and Linneus... simply disappears. The fyrra bundle, about the size of Linneus' upturned palm, drops to the ground, Linneus' hat following soon after, floating down at a much gentler pace.

He lands heavily and although it's a near miss, he manages to dodge the falling herb. And then the hat drops on top of him before he can full make sense of the situation, plunging him into near-darkness with the barest pinpricks of light peeking through the weave.

Help - help!]

Let me know if it's okay for Dazai to work his detective magic.

[cassus]

[ Dazai swallows the brunt of his thoughts, despite putting several pieces together. Linneus had obviously grown close to the child of his master, a man who owned him and therefore condoned the idea of possessing less fortunate people like property. It's not difficult to imagine that a parent such as that would make it hard for Linneus' friend to outgrow his father's beliefs or even his practices, even if their bond had been made early on. It's easy to assume they must have meet during childhood, when all ranks and classes are erased by a want for companionship and play. And yet this first master hadn't been Linneus' only one, but there had been no mention of being sold away, nor any suggestion that this friend was someone long forgotten in the past. If anything, Linneus speaks as if the man is still present in his life, going so far as to repeatedly instill in Linn the belief that he's been burdensome.

It's hard not to draw the conclusion that perhaps the childhood companion had become the master. And considering Linneus' profession- Dazai tries to imagine the difficulty of that on both sides, and how someone like Linneus would ever pose himself a problem to anyone. ]

When you put it that way, then I perhaps I should take what I said back.

[ Dazai gives a soft chuckle, but there's a dry undertone that clips the laugh off short. If that person only saw a problem in Linneus, where Dazai saw something precious, then instead of lucky perhaps the man was simply blind. ]

Yes, I can only imagine all the headaches you've wrought, Linneus: Fabled Bringer of Grief.

[ There's a scoff at the playful title, proving that he's anything but serious. But that dies when his companion all but vanishes into thin air, leaving behind the bundles of gathered fyrra and his floppy hair behind. ]

Linneus?

[ Dazai is cautious by nature, not prone to react on instinct or gut feelings alone. So when the other man disappears from view, he doesn't immediately rush forward in search of where Linn has gone.

This little Houdini act must be the result of a powerful sort of magic that's been activated, and to prevent triggering it again, Dazai stays rooted in place. Careful to not budge his feet an inch he simply reaches forward to pluck up the hat in search of a clue, only to get the surprise of his life beneath. ]

...Linn, is that you?

[inaurare]

[he's all set to panic, until the hat is removed and light comes back into the world again. He would have been bumbling through the dark, otherwise, bumping into grass blades almost as tall as he is.]

Dazai? Dazai!

[his voice... seems about the same to him, but that might just be because his throat and his ears have been sized down proportionately. He hopes the man can hear him, but just in case... he will resort to jumping and waving. Yes it's him. If you get him out of this, please don't let him fall...!]

[cassus]

[ Linneus is so small that Dazai dares not try to pluck him up with the pinch of fingers that ultimately may do more harm in the long run. His hand makes for a much better alternative with less likelihood of doing any damage to a tiny body that's too easily injured. With his palm open and fingers extended out flat, it offers the perfect sort of bridge to escape up and away from the towering grass and weeds. ]

Here, climb up onto my hand before anything else happens.

[ Still unwilling to trample forward he'll just lower that hand within reach of the downsized version of his traveling companion, ensuring it's not too high to crawl onto with bitty arms and legs. ]

[inaurare]

[he's quite keen to clamber aboard, even if he doesn't cut the most dignified figure as he scrambles up onto Dazai's hand, a little wary of his weight (though it's more likely that he tickles, if anything). He's careful not to slip or get his foot stuck in the crannies between the man's fingers.

From his new vantage point he can see... what he suspects to be the cause of the trouble; a wide-capped, purple mushroom, peeking up out of the grass. Or it had been - its poor stem is snapped, now.]

I thought those were cleared...!

[cassus]

[ Doing his best not to laugh or show any signs of amusement remains harder to pull off than one would think in this situation. Linneus is miniaturized down to such a tiny size that it's difficult to not instinctively find him all the more endearing. And when he tries to scale Dazai's hand like it's an obstacle course, well- At the very least a smile or two gets by without being stopped short. ]

Apparently not well enough.

[ His following sigh is one mostly built around a growing sense of relief. He's grateful that the source of Linneus' shrunken size is an issue familiar to the Khalo people, and likely not a terrible ordeal to fix. Yet at the same time this does pose an unfortunate hiccup in their plans to spend the day exploring Khalo together, when it may take some time to fix. ]

We'll have to find someone in the village who knows how to reverse this.

[ All the while his biggest concern is not succumbing to the same fate, which would make a return trip either impossible or last for ages. That, and dropping Linneus from an elevated height could prove disastrous. All around, the last thing either of them needed was to run into any perils on what was supposed to be a vacation of sorts from the city. ]

Or, we could leave you like this. [ As he moves to stand upright, his hand gradually elevates as well. ] You could easily make a home for yourself in my pocket.

That way I could 'pick you up' for a date whenever the mood struck me~.

[inaurare]

[All right, at least he made it to a wobbling stand in the flat of Dazai's hand. It is fantastical, yes, the idea of a person being shrunk down to such a size... but this is not funny, this is a disastrous turn of events, and what if he is stuck like this?]

Do you think they can-- turn me back...?

[oh - as careful as Dazai is, the height and movement isn't very good for him, and he falters a moment on his feet and drops to a sit with a heavy 'oof'. He has no issue with heights, so long as he is someplace sturdy, but he struggles a bit more with high places that move... and he isn't sure of where to hold on, exactly. How does he?!]

I'm not sure I shall do well in your pocket. What if you should forget me there?

[cassus]

If those mushrooms have been here as long as the Khalo people have, then they must have a solution.

[ As if Dazai would ever be able to simply forget Linneus, pocket or not. ] I could never, cross my heart.

[ Still, he has no plans on holding Linneus hostage, let alone in someplace like a mere pocket that's prone to being flattened out or rolled over onto. A little dollhouse, though... ]

Whoops! ...Are you doing okay down there?

[ It's not an intentional height joke, but once the words leave his mouth that familiar urge to tease has to be practically bitten down. Linneus isn't accustomed to Dazai's particular brand of taunting flirtations, and now that his pride is already wounded, with frayed nerves likely on edge, the entire point of pestering him would likely get lost in translation. ]

Unfortunately it'll be difficult to walk, keep my hand steady and look out for obstacles ahead.

[ But even as he says that, Dazai isn't sure where to place a person that's been turned into something tiny enough to sit in a teaspoon. Every option has it's risks; most of which even disallow him to keep an eye on Linneus, and at his current size not being able to be seen sounds like the ideal way to lose track of him. ]

But taking my eyes off you isn't the greatest plan either.

[inaurare]

I-I think I'm okay...

[he hasn't tried to get up, still braced as he'd landed with his hands behind him - he'd probably only fall again...! But so long as he keeps in the centre of Dazai's cupped hands he'd be all right, even if it's hard to see outside...]

Perhaps you'll be all right staying to the centre of the path? They can't have their harvesters disappearing left and right...

[it was Linneus' fault that he strayed a little too close to the edge, to a shady part where mushrooms might decide to sprout.]

I could probably sit in your buttonhole? Or on your tie...

[there are still the chances of falling from either, of course. But the stitching around the buttonhole would at least give him something to hold onto.]

[cassus]

We can give it a try.

[ He isn't about to force Linneus into traveling within the palm of his hand if it disorients him this much. It stands to reason that without a single hand-hold to grab onto anyone would feel a loss of control and an inability to steady one's self. So Dazai assists in Linneus' transfer from his palm to either the medallion of his bolo or any buttonhole of his choice upon either a black wool vest or soft blue button-up upon his chest.

Either way, his palm isn't going to be drawn away anytime soon. He plans on holding it beneath Linneus' chosen perch in order to act as a safety net, in the event that he should he fall. Losing him at this size would be a disaster, both due to likely injuries or the struggle of finding him once more. So Dazai is not about to risk it, regardless of how peculiar he might look to anyone who may see him walking along cradling what looks like the teeniest tiniest figure against his chest. ]

Whenever you're ready, we'll make the trip back.

[ He still needs to pluck up the bundle of fyrra before taking off down the manicured path back towards Khalo's main village, otherwise this little escapade would have been for nothing. ]

[inaurare]

[the bolo is a little easier to manage, though the size he is now the string of the tie is proportionately like a tree branch to him. But he's certainly climbed enough trees that he can figure it out, and after a little bit of scrambling he's able to get himself situated well enough that he doesn't expect he will fall.

Dazai's hand is a helpful reassurance, though, and he will be careful not to overbalance the opposite way and lose himself inside of Dazai's clothes.]

I'm ready.

[or as ready as he is going to be. Now he's still, though, and a little more at peace with the situation, worrying though it is, he can pay better attention to the goings-on around him.

...no, not completely still. He is moving with the rise and fall of Dazai's chest.]

[cassus]

[ A soft chuckle escapes him, low enough not to harm tiny ears. It's due in equal parts to the absurdity of their situation and how cute Linneus is at this size. Still, he's not about to lose sight of the goal here, so eventually both hands are present, cupping below his makeshift bolo 'swing' to create a protective barrier. And all the while he gazes down, keeping a watchful eye to ensure there's no misstep or slip during the transfer. ]

Ah, I wonder what people would think if I bragged about this little rendezvous of ours.

[ Despite how very aware Dazai is that it could go badly, he's not immune to finding amusement in being used as Linneus' personal jungle gym. So the smile on his face is slow to leave, even after Linneus is safe and sound. ]

I bet it'd sound downright scandalous-

[ The rest of him isn't quite so eager to linger here more than they have. So he retrieves the dropped fyrra without wandering from the mushroom-free path and sets off towards the village, Linn in tow. ]

...If I described how eagerly you climbed all over me. Soon as you had me all alone in a romantic setting like this.

[inaurare]

[at least he was more dignified this time around, when before it was just... anything he could to pull himself onto Dazai's palm]

I think they would not be quite so scandalised as you think, if they were aware of my size at the time.

[but of course he fully expects Dazai to omit that particular detail in favour of shock value and, well. Linneus can't do much about that beyond hoping that the person he recounts his story to is familiar enough with him to recognise the obvious exaggeration.

He holds tight while Dazai grabs the fyrra; relieved at least that he isn't jogged or jostled too much with the movement or as the other man begins to talk. Goodness, but they are moving so quickly...]

...how tall exactly am I? I fear I've lost all sense of proportion...

[and seeing things from this perspective is so strange - things he wouldn't be able to notice, normally, like the weave of Dazai's shirt, the stitching of the top buttonholes nearest to him thick like rope, almost, and he reaches out to see if it feels that way as well.]