❪ event ❫ hour of ruin

[natha]

HOUR OF RUIN     Sometime after midnight, after preparations have been put aside in favor of drinks and rest, a thunderous beating of wings shatters the air — the High Dragon Ysverai, once again risen. The sound echoes high off Namarak Mountain, but travels easily to both Wyver and Olympia: scream after scream rends the still night, as though a creature were dying rather than being born again. Having only had days to plan their defense against the creature, Olympia and Wyver snatch up their arms. The Royal Guard and the Knightryders can be seen on their steeds hurrying through the cities, because Ysverai doesn't remain isolated at the mountain's peak for long. There are pictures of Ysverai in abundance throughout both cities, but the creature that circles in the sky looks nothing like the majestic creature spoken of in history books. Even from far below, wounds and lacerations can be seen marring what should be smooth scales, and blood falls with every beat of the dragon's wings. The damage becomes more clear when moonlight illuminates Ysverai, revealing the rotting dragon for all to see. The sight of flesh peeling away and thick blood where it oozes from his cracked, greyish hide is as frightening as the power he possesses. REASON'S TRANSCENDENCE     Mad from the anguish of his forced revival, Ysverai will show none of his renowned wisdom or compassion, mindless and seeking to inflict his pain onto whatever emerges in his path. His very presence creates chaos: animals (Olympia | Wyver) domesticated and wild, flee from the merest hint of his approach, panicked and stampeding in wild droves. The reason is obvious: organic matter exposed too long to his presence begins to rot and decay. A field he lands in rots and lies fallow. Buildings crack and crumble, their supports pitted and corroded as though they've been left in disrepair for years. Even the ground that Ysverai walks upon is tainted; a corrosive sludge bubbles up in his massive, clawed footsteps, the ground beneath him putrefied and toxic, oozing corruption. This sludge can be tar-like, poisonous and sucking people in like quicksand; panic, and you'll only sink faster. Prolonged exposure to Ysverai takes a mental toll on anyone in his proximity as well. Effects similar to those from being near his heart — selfish desires and lowered inhibitions — will begin to fester in those around him. Every time Ysverai roars, pain will run through all those that hear him — a pain not just physical, but of true, anguished heartbreak. Those who hear Ysverai will feel (to a degree of your choosing) a sharing of his pain, the agony of flesh rotting from their bodies, blood oozing from under their skin, and a terrible, incandescent fury — and beneath that, a gut-wrenching sadness. This effect is further enhanced by any exposure to Ysverai's blood, and being drenched in greater quantities will cause one to become more in sync with the dragon. Finally, Ysverai is aggressive, attacking anyone and anything that approaches. He starts by breathing out a smog, acidic and putrefying — characters caught directly by this attack will find that medicine and healing magic of any kind hurts them for hours after exposure. The dragon will ignite the smog to breathe fire, if sparingly. IN WYVER     Ysverai's shadow falls over the near reaches of Wyver first. Upon hearing Ysverai's cry, the dragons in Wyver become completely frenzied, turning against their partners among the Knightryders without the slightest resistance. Those familiar with dragons might deduce that they're in pain, though they don't show any sign of injury. The dragons knock their riders off their backs in midair and dive at citizens, jaws wide. Any attempts to soothe them will be long fought, achieved with great difficulty, and will see them retreat into a cowering state. It's not just the airborne Knightryders taking to the defense of the city however, and people on the ground are mobilizing as well. On rooftops across the city are cannons set to fire harpoons. And if the spearheads alone aren't enough to injure the beast, they're coated with a paralyzing poison as well. Unfortunately, the soldiers stationed on the rooftops are prime targets to the frenzied dragons populating Wyver's skies, leaving the cannons open for ordinary citizens to use should they choose. Left alone too long, and cannons may fall under the control of the few remaining radicals that had opted not to flee the cities to join up with their leader Raysc, choosing instead to wait for an opportune moment to unleash their anger on the people of Wyver. These radicals will need to be dealt with before they can turn the cannons upon Wyver's defenders. IN OLYMPIA     In Olympia, the gryphon partners of the Royal Guard react with immediate hostility to anyone showing signs of Ysverai's influence. Their keen senses allow them to pick up the smell of Ysverai's blood and they attack anyone with so much as a drop of tainted blood on them. Those who bear lingering effects of Ysverai's mental attack and who remain in sync with the dragon after hearing Ysverai's cry are also targeted and must face the gryphons' wrath without mercy or restraint. The gryphons must be disabled, for Olympia will not look upon any injury to their prized steeds lightly. However, the gryphons also show some resistance to Ysverai's cry, which is a great boon in battle against the dragon — gryphons that have lost their riders will be available for use, able to carry two passengers at a time. The people of Olympia aren't planning to restrict their offense to pure brute force, and the mages of the city can be seen across Olympia wielding enchanted chains, using telekinesis in the hopes of restraining Ysverai and assisting in the airborne troops. But like the decaying buildings and wildlife, Ysverai is warping the magic around him, the chains faltering as they approach him, whipping back toward the city instead to cage whoever happens to be closest. It's not just the enchanted chains either, but other magic might behave erratically in his presence, as if the very essence of the spells have been corrupted. VIRTUOUS VERSE     Both cities realize they need to seek survival rather than victory against Ysverai, switching gears to carry out diversion efforts and evacuation plans. It falls to refugees to continue the offensive while the Royal Guard and the Knightryders devote their attention to ensuring the safety of the citizens as they flee. With official forces stretched thin, civilians and refugees alike will also need to step up to help herd citizens toward safety among a maze of collapsing buildings. Others will need to see to gathering resources for the evacuation, and while gathering non perishables is easy enough, it's considerably harder to wrangle livestock into cooperating amidst such chaos. Those fighting may be asked to act as bait for Ysverai. Chatter through official troops speaks of a switch in strategy: the objective now is capture the dragon's attention and draw him away from the populous cities and towards the South Outpost. Whether or not it's possible to defeat the dragon remains uncertain, but there's no question that it will be easier to battle him without worrying about civilians. THE RAGE     Luckily, the dragon is indiscriminate in his rage, and easily lured so long as a suitably infuriating target is before him. It doesn't take long to draw him to the South Outpost, but the trail of destruction he leaves in his wake is vast. Once there, the combined forces are greeted not just by Ysverai, but also by the appearance of Ysverai's master. How bravely you've all come to meet your doom! Great heroes, one and all, ha! I welcome you, bring your best. Show me the power that's protected Olympia and Wyver, all that you have to offer me, whatever pitiful excuse for valor you seek to cling to when the fear has you cowering in your beds. All will be for naught in the face of Ysverai's might! Let history witness the day the glory of war is reignited — the day that Wyver remembers its fangs once more! Come, Ysverai, last and greatest of the High Dragons! Come, and restore Wyver to its rightful place! Come, fulfill the promise as our protector that you could not in life! Raysc lifts a gleaming device as he issues his command. Red lights blink and blood, the same oozing liquid that drips from Ysverai's many wounds, runs in clear tubes through the device. Ysverai rears back as Raysc makes adjustments to a control panel — and then lunges forward, mouth agape. With a single swallow, Raysc meets his end. Raysc's attempt to control the dragon has only enraged him further, spurring Ysverai on to new heights of fury. It's become more vital than ever to face the dragon and take him down here and now. A few effective strategies are learned from research efforts and observed while defending Olympia and Wyver: goading the dragon into breathing fire will hurt him, burning him from the inside out, and attacks to his joints, eyes, wings, and exposed bone are effective. Ice is a natural repellent to dragons and can be used defensively or to weaken the dragon's hide. Healing spells will also react unnaturally to Ysverai's flesh, hastening his decay. However, while concentrated efforts will lock him down, Ysverai cannot be permanently killed in this state — his flesh constantly rots and spawns anew. Attacking him here is to protect civilians, keeping him busy to avoid mass destruction elsewhere. Therefore, the battle is one of attrition, a matter of a race against time. You must destroy his flesh faster than it is able to regenerate to have any hope of victory. Finally, when Ysverai is weakening, little more than bones with a few last vestiges of rotten meat hanging from a skeleton, the pathetic remnants of the last High Dragon takes to the skies. His wings are barely intact enough to carry him, yet desperation lifts him, higher and higher, until he lets out one great, earth-shaking roar. A roar that carries across the battlefield, sending all who hear it to their knees. A roar that shatters the swords in soldiers' hands, that rends apart the very air itself — Ysverai's last act, a great curse upon El Nysa, to bring down the sky. AND THE WORLD STOOD STILL     The terror of Ysverai's destruction hangs overhead — a tear in the sky, darkness pouring through, tendrils reaching down towards El Nysa to swallow up the planet in the dragon's final act of revenge. And yet nothing moves. A halo of brilliant light surrounds the rift in the sky, holding the grasping, hungry tendrils in check. And on the planet, not a creature moves. Not a blade of grass stirs. You're not able to even draw a breath. No matter where you are, not even the heart in your chest is beating. Everything has stopped — time has come to a standstill. In a wash of light, an aurora of transport, you find yourself delivered to Thesa Station. Darma stands before you, her expression solemn, perhaps even grim, though that may just be a trick of the station's harsh lighting. She explains what has happened in short order: planetside, time has been completely frozen. We have seen the birth and end of worlds. The rise and fall of civilizations infinite times over. We have seen all threads of possibilities that could have lead to this very moment... Or should have. Perhaps you might doubt our sincerity when we say this comes as a surprise to us, as well... Special technology has been used to blind us. To this day, we only know of one region capable of creating and utilizing such technology... you will find this technology in a city known as Nadril. We understand that you have created a life down in Wyver and Olympia, but now we must ask that you put that life on pause. We ask you to travel to Nadril and find the original Refugee, and with him, answers. As you will discover, he does not wish to speak to us. It is no matter. By now it is too late to keep the Nysan public unaware of our existence. We commend the efforts of those who wish to protect their comrades on the battlefield below, but a creature like poor Ysverai, twisted and warped, given unnatural life with terrible magic and technology, does not simply go down with manpower. Please, leave Ysverai to us. Time on the planet will remain stopped while we determine how to deal with the dragon. For now, rest and recover your strength. We have returned, and soon, there will be new refugees awakening. Perhaps you might like to prepare yourselves to greet them? I'm sorry that I can't answer more questions, but for now, all our attention must turn to finding a way to stop what Ysverai has wrought. A bank of monitors behind Darma displays the battlefield below: Ysverai's frozen, looming figure and the breach in the sky, and the Natha's halo, holding the destruction back. Though time passes normally on Thesa Station, El Nysa remains frozen, and all Refugees are unable to return to the planet until Ysverai's menace is dealt with. Luckily, with the Natha's return, full functionality has also returned to the station. The lights and environmentals are back to full power, access to all areas has been restored, the cafeteria is serving its normal offerings, and there's no evidence of any glitching or malfunctions. Doubtless, the period of rest is much needed after the hard-fought battle. For now, with time on El Nysa at a standstill, there's little else to be done but enjoy the reprieve aboard Thesa Station. FINAL OOC NOTE     Characters that reach an AC length action thread in this event will receive 2 rep for all factions, including Natha. Note that while these are split up for ease of processing, players may submit for all three. OLYMPIA | WYVER | NATHA Players can expect this event to run three days ICly before everyone is teleported to Thesa Station! From thereon, all characters will be grounded at the Station until the Test Drive Meme later this month. 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]

I can avoid what I know to expect -- do you have such little faith in your master?

[No, he knows he's just worried -- which is cute in it's own way. But as charming as that little blush is, Mephisto isn't going to indulge in teasing right now. Even if it does manage to bring a smile to back to his face.]

And in any case-- you forget, I won't be alone.

[He snaps his fingers, summoning a small spare umbrella into his hands, this one pink with bright white polka-dots on it. He counts backwards from three in German and tosses it in the air -- and with a poof, it transforms into a creature identical to the bat familiar from before, except now covered in the very same white polka-dot pattern.]

[And as if to prove that it's the same one as before, it flutters down over to Chuuya and perches beside him, chirping as it looks over him curiously.]

Demons can still survive, even after their vessels have been destroyed. By comparison, you're far more fragile -- one of a kind, you could say! And I'm not going to risk losing you now that you've proven yourself worthy to be called my familiar.

[As if he wasn't worthy before... but nah, he's just trying to make a point.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

I guess...

[Oh, the bat familiar is back! Chuuya is actually rather glad to see it, and he reaches out to try patting it on the head. They still need to make friends once all this is over, after all.

Chuuya isn’t expecting to hear all that...praise? Is that what it is? Either way, it only makes him wish that he could get up and fight again already, because even though he’s already proven himself worthy, he hates sitting things out when he could be helping.

His little blush hasn’t disappeared yet, either.]

What do I do if you don’t come back? If your vessel is destroyed?

[meinwaifu]

That's something only you can decide for yourself. What you choose to do as a free man has no bearing on me.

[Really, what Chuuya does with his life in the event that Mephisto dies first matters little to Mephisto -- because to him, it's not even a possibility worth considering. Maybe it's one he should, but he has his reasons.]

[Reasons that he needs Chuuya to understand. Which is why he takes a step closer and brings his hands up to either side of Chuuya's face, ensuring that he's looking at him -- even if it's just through the mask.]

But what I need from you is to believe in me.

I am your master. And your master is a god. Demons draw strength from humans, feeding on their fear and anger-- but also their hopes and prayers. As my familiar, as a human, you are a being I can draw strength from. And above all else, I need you to believe in me.

Even when no one else does... even when I cannot believe in myself.

[Just as he did the day before, when Mephisto was blinded by sorrow and rage by the dragon's blood. If Chuuya hadn't been there, if he hadn't believed so strongly that he could bring Mephisto back... he doesn't want to think about what might have become of him.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Right.

[It shouldn’t be a possibility, but Chuuya has learned over the years that the things he finds valuable or worthwhile always seem to slip through his fingers, and he can’t help but wonder how long it’ll be before something else happens to throw off his entire world the second he gets it righted again...

Chuuya’s eyes grow wide when Mephisto takes his face in his hands, and suddenly memories of the night that he’d drunkenly broadcasted himself over the network come flooding back. There’d been a moment then too, when Mephisto’s touch had almost seemed gentle, like Chuuya really is something to be treasured. It definitely works to get his attention, and he reaches up to rest his own hands over Mephisto’s.

Believe in him...so that he can draw strength from that belief...? Chuuya has always been a realist, and though part of him still wonders if they’re going to make it out of this alive, believing in his Master shouldn’t be too hard. He’s seen what Mephisto is capable of, even in his weakened state, so he should know better than anyone that he won’t go down eaaily.

He nods in understanding, though he doesn’t pull away just yet.]

...okay. I can do that.

[He means it, too. If this is the only way that he can help right now, then he’s going to do his best to make it happen.]

I’ll believe in you.

1/2

[meinwaifu]

[He gives one of his cheeks a gentle pet before pulling back himself, smiling under his mask. The moment was just a touch too intimate for him, but that's just how things go when the world is ending-- or at least, that's what he tells himself.]

Now that's the spirit. And I promise not to do anything to diminish that belief you have in me.

[And he turns to leave, lingering in the doorway as he looks back at Chuuya.]

...I'll return for you in an hour. Rest yourself, and if you're still in need of it when I return, I'll take you along with the rest of the evacuees. Otherwise--

[He won't get to finish that sentence.]

[meinwaifu]

[Without warning, a horrible sound ravages through the air, rattling their bones and shattering every glass and window left in this dilapidated shelter. It sends Mephisto to his knees, hand over his head as if the sound threatened to split it in two.]

[This is different than before. It's too close -- the dragon couldn't possibly be this close right now.]

[He bounds up as best he can and runs out the door to see what's happening. And should Chuuya find the strength to follow, he'll see it too -- the strange, black mass of creeping tendrils reaching out from a hole torn in the sky, as if meaning to swallow up the entire planet itself.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[You had a sweet moment with Chuuya, Meph. Deal with it.

Chuuya is about to agree to those terms when an unholy cry pierces the air, and Chuuya clutches the sides of his head with a whimper. Without words the dragon is vocalizing every ounce of pain and anguish it’s experiencing

Ysverai is dying, and he’s taking the world with him.

Chuuya forces himself to his feet to stand beside Mephisto, and what he sees in the skies above Nysa chills him to the bone.]

This is it. This is the end of the world.

[Those will be Chuuya’s last words before time suddenly stands still, and Chuuya’s heart literally stops beating in his chest. He can’t move, he can’t breathe, and he’s aware of none of it. It’s not until the both of them are transported to Thesa Station in a flash of light that they’re unfrozen and informed of the situation by Darma.

Well. That’s a thing that just happened.]

What...the hell? They just stopped time??

[meinwaifu]

[The end of the world. For the second time. Or maybe it's more than that -- just how many times has Mephisto witnessed the end of times in all his efforts to prevent it? And yet somehow, right now, he feels even more powerless to stop it than ever.]

[And then time stops.]

[Dharma's words quickly fill whatever moments others may have used to collect themselves, to try and figure out what happened. It's only when she's said her piece and left with the others that they're given that chance to let it all sink in.]

[But Mephisto doesn't answer Chuuya. Instead, he immediately turns and stalks over to the nearest viewing window, staring down at the planet through his mask in all its unnatural stillness.]

[He may need to be called to a few times before he'll reply, as is single-mindedly distracted by what was going on (or not going on) down below.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[It’s clear that something is bothering Mephisto, because Chuuya’s attempts to get his attention go ignored as he gazes out of the large viewing window at the world below. He can only imagine what he must be thinking, but instead of questioning him he simply comes to stand by his side and look down at the frozen planet below.]

Time magic...

[He should’ve known the Natha had these kinds of tricks up their sleeves. He’s sure he’s supposed to be grateful, but something about seeing his home completely still is highly unsettling.]

I wonder if their plan is gonna work.

[meinwaifu]

The Natha are fools.

[The words are spat like poison from his lips -- betraying just how angry he is beneath that mask. He's always held a certain animosity towards the Natha that he did well to hide -- knowing he was more or less forced to play the role of a dog on a leash, staying in their good favor in the hopes of regaining all that he had lost.]

[But to think that someone down on the surface managed to gain the upper-hand over them... how truly pathetic.]

Their half-hearted approach at manipulating the lives of the Nysan people is disgusting. They should have done this ages ago... well before they made the choice to interfere in our lives. Imagine! All the suffering they could have prevented! The petty squabbles between Wyver and Olympia would be nothing in the face of the knowledge they could provide!

Oh, but then they'd run the risk of losing their little dollhouse, wouldn't they...

[There's a reason he's so angry with them. In them, he sees the same choices and mistakes he made back in Assiah. Stopping time to delay the inevitable is only one of many similarities that fills him with an unfamiliar feeling of self-loathing in need of a proper target.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Maybe Chuuya can’t see Mephisto’s face, but he doesn’t need to to know that he’s furious. He can hear it in his voice and feel it in his words, and it gives Chuuya a whole new perspective on how the Natha must view the refugees. Rescuing them from the storm then expecting them to earn back what they’d lost...

It really does feel like they’re nothing more than pawns on a chessboard.]

What do you think we should do?

[What can they do is a more appropriate question. Wait and see what happens? Attempt to assist? Rebel? Whatever they do, there’s always the risk of losing everything no matter what.]

[meinwaifu]

Certainly nothing worth talking about in earshot of already omnipotent beings.

[Some part of him can't help but wonder if the man they're being told to seek doesn't have the right idea in stopping the Natha's influence over this world... but Enron thinking such things could be dangerous. Who knows how far the Natha's power over them extends...]

I suppose we should feel grateful -- and in a way, I do. Had they not used that power that ought to be mine, I might have just forgotten how it feels to be in tune with my own element.

[He reaches up and grips the front of his chest, hands trembling -- but it's not pain. That's just how angry he is right now.]

Seeing time frozen to such a horrifying extent... feels like a vice grip positioned over my very soul. Do they even realize the harm such a thing can do to the fabric of reality? Do they not care? Or are they truly powerful enough to negate it? I don't know which is worse...

[...he really should get away from the window.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[It’s an unsettling thought, to be at the mercy of beings they don’t fully understand, but Chuuya has never been one to wait and let his life be guided by others. Whatever their next course of action, Chuuya will make his own decisions while staying by his Master’s side.]

This is really messing with you, huh?

[Chuuya can’t hope to understand the repercussions of fucking with time, but he does know that Mephisto needs to chill, and in order to do so he needs to step away from the window.]

I dunno what they’re thinking, but we might as well clean up and rest some before anything else happens, right?

[He doesn’t try pulling Mephisto away from the view, because that would probably end badly, but he does tug on his sleeve like a child wanting attention.]

C’mon. Let’s just get away from here.

[meinwaifu]

[For a moment, it looks as though Mephisto is going to snap at Chuuya, and he even turns his head to do so. But he says nothing, directing his attention back at the planet below and falling silent.]

...I suppose I should take this opportunity to heal you properly now that we're safe. [And it makes for a convenient excuse for himself to get away, certainly.]

And it would be nice to change into something that smells a bit less like blood and burnt flesh. [He turns now to face Chuuya, gesturing for him to lead the way.]

And perhaps a stiff drink while we're at it.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Honestly? He’s totally expecting Mephisto to snap at him, so it’s a pleasant surprise when he gets begrudging acceptance instead. He could be fine on his own now, but he’s not gonna turn away more healing to get him back to full strength.]

I only know of the smaller rooms here, but they should work I guess.

[Chuuya remembers exactly where Atsushi had stayed the day Chuuya had first met him after waking up on the station, and Chuuya feels a little pang of guilt when he remembers little Daifuku pouncing his feet for the first time ever in that same room. He assumes the pets are fine, but still, so much has changed since that day...

First thing’s first though, time to raid the alcohol stores he conveniently remembers the location of as well for a bottle of whiskey.]

Do you have clothes you can poof into?