❪ 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

[colorature]

<sub>[She can heal, sure, but this is something beyond healing. She'd been sterilized on a level she had no control over. It wasn't as simple as they had gone in and made little cuts here or there. As far as she could tell it was irreversible.

Solomon...seems less upset than he should be, in her eyes, and she lifts her head to stare straight at him, eyes wide, gaze haunted.]</sub>

Before the dragon. Mephisto told me...he's a demon. He'd asked the Natha a bunch of questions and that was one of the answers he'd been given.

[semblant]

[Listen, he's in no condition to throw a tantrum. That can come later. For the time being, he's fine with feigning mild concern. His lips are drawn into a taught line, brows remain knit to mark his displeasure. She'd done nothing wrong, so it seems. If this is all true, it's the Natha who are to blame. And even then, such a curse should be easy for them to undo.]

And you trust this demon?

[Again, why does Diva find the weirdest people to talk to?]

Demons tell only lies, you know.

[colorature]

_{[Enjoy your future tantrum, Solomon Goldsmith. As for weird people, you're just as weird as the others she talks to okay.]}

He has no reason to lie to me.

_{[That she can at least be certain of.]}

Humans lie just as much.

_{[In her experience they do, that is.]}

I even tried to make one but I don't have a baby so it didn't work.

_{[Yeah...wait what?]}

[semblant]

[He'll heave a sigh at that. Somehow, her vying for his honesty makes him all the more suspicious, though her second point is a fair one. Her third, well...

Wait, WHAT?? INDEED....]

Ah...? You tried to produce something with him?

[That's the most logical...thing...he can gather from this horrific stretch...]

[colorature]

With Mephisto? No, I didn't mate with him.

_{[That would have been a most unholy union. Beyond cursed. Thank God.]}

I did it with a friend... _{[Atsushi, to be specific.]} Not Reign.

_{[Best to clarify just in case Solomon assumes the worst.]}

[semblant]

[Good that she's not having sex with demons. Reign would've been his next assumption. Even so, there's some fullbody tension at the mere mention of his name.]

Someone else? [Skeptical, though Diva isn't one to lie.] Certainly not the dog...?

[Every friend she's ever told him about has been bizarre in some way. Mating with someone not of his choice is questionable based on that alone. Nevermind that the whole arrangement between them is fucking weird.]

If it's something you've just done, it's far too early to tell whether or not it worked.

[colorature]

The dog...Keaton isn't a dog! And no, it wasn't him...they're human.

<sub>[No, instead of a dog it's a cat. Thanks Atsushi.

The whole arrangement between them is fucking weird because Solomon is bizarre and has weird priorities and interests. It may be true that the company she keeps is strange but that's par for the course when looking at the bigger picture.]</sub>

It didn't work.

_{[She just knows, okay, and it wasn't something she'd just done. Adjusting her position she squeezes Solomon a little tighter.]}

And besides...you never told me that even if I could have one that it would hurt, that it would last a long time.

_{[It would have been important information to have!!!]}

...You're not jealous, are you? Are you upset?

_{[A part of her kind of wants the first part, in a way, if only because she craves his attention, regardless of whether it's positive or not.]}

[semblant]

[Well, that's a plus. Of course, still not specific enough, but where it wasn't Reign he's not so persistent to draw a name from her. Maybe when his brain isn't so addled from the Rot Dragon.

Moreover: funny she should fret over his concerns as she fusses over the nitty gritty of it all.] I'm not. [Going with the worst possible answer.] Did you attempt because you heard the news, or because of something organic?

[Now he's just prying.]

Bearing a child wouldn't be so difficult for you. It's a fleeting moment, considering our lifespan.

[colorature]

...I did it because I was upset.

_{[He's not wrong in that regard, that she had impulsively decided to do such an act because of the news she'd received. She shifts slightly, so she's not muttering against him anymore. Whether or not he wants the tmi he's going to get it. Sort of.]}

I wanted to feel wanted and desired, because I thought you wouldn't want me anymore. At first he refused because he said your first time is supposed to be something that shouldn't be given away so easily so we went to bed instead. The next morning though it was still something I wanted to do, even though I wasn't as upset, so we did it.

_{[So the answer? It started as the former but ended up being something that had been fueled by actual mutual desire.]}

It felt good. I'd do it again.

_{[Uh. Yeah. Good to know? Maybe???]}

It doesn't matter if it would be easy or not, you never told me the finer details. I thought you made a baby and it just...happened.

_{[It's not like she knows how Chiropteran reproduction works either okay.]}

Besides, JJ said that you shouldn't ever have a baby unless you want to be a mother. You and Amshel never told me what you wanted to do with the baby either.

_{[Ah...seems like a lot of people have been putting a lot of thoughts into her head lately. Ignorance may have left her seeming stupid and easily manipulated, but the more she explores the new world they've to live in and talks to others the more her opinions have been shifting and changing. She's not exactly under Solomon's thumb anymore, it seems, even if she does still feel she has to defer to him.]}

[semblant]

[Well, he's not wrong. Her intentions -- reasoning strikes a cord somewhere inside of him, but he's too disillusioned to react as someone on Lifetime: The Channel For Women would. A sigh marks the start of her explanation, a paltry protest.

Morning sex, though? Gross.]

At least you enjoyed it.

[Similarly, while sitting up. He doesn't seem happy, but he doesn't exactly seem mad either.]

More than that, the logistics of this planet mean very little to me. As far as I'm concerned, this whole arrangement is temporary.

[Including whatever they may have done to her bits. Worse yet is: bringing JJ into this, who's advice nobody should take for any reason.]

Is that who you've been having relations with -- JJ?

[The fact that she still feels like deferring to him is all he needs to be satisfied...for now. She's been exploring, obviously, and he hasn't kept her on a short enough leash. Good thing her birthday's coming up so he can have a looksee at everyone he has to kill eventually.]

He's a Christian, you know. Any advice he provides concerning children is objectively worthless.

[colorature]

<sub>[Excuse you, it wasn't gross...and she did enjoy it, tyvm.

She shifts as he moves to sit up, sliding off him to give him enough room to bend and reorient himself. It's true that he doesn't look pleased, but he's not pissed and that's what matters at this point.]</sub>

JJ? No. I've never had such a relationship with him...and besides, he surely hates me by now.

_{[Since, y'know, she murdered a bunch of people before his eyes...]}

It didn't seem like worthless advice to me...

[semblant]

What makes you say that?

[That's a relief, now they can proceed to question 2a: what did u do to JJ. What did u do in front of JJ? Depending when she received that advice, it's possible he doesn't hate you girl.

On the other hand, it's better for JJ to hate her than Solomon right...]


It sounds worthless to me. Haven't you formed your own ideas on the matter?

[All opinions minus his very own are Bad, but it's worth exploring considering all the networking she's done.]

[colorature]

He saw me get carried away and slaughter a bunch of people. I didn't mean to make such a mess or scare him...

_{[It's true what she says. She hadn't meant to lash out like she did back then under the dragon's influence. JJ's advice had come before said disaster.]}

I have, and I think I agree with those I've talked to. If I were able to have a baby I don't think I would have one. I would be a bad mother...and if you really wanted one, then you should have been the one to make one with me...

[semblant]

[Diva hadn't been making a sincere effort to hide her...abilities? Capabilities? In general, otherwise he may have more sympathy. Some part of his brain as some kneejerk Better You Than Me feedback -- nothing like that finds a voice.]

I wouldn't worry about it, unless you murdered one of his friends.

[Nevermind how traumatizing all of that is...........]

Are you saying you'd like one, then? You're griping about two things at once, and one contradicts the other. Of course, none of it matters if you're barren...

[Saying that outloud carries some unexpected weight, like a science fair project failing in front of all the most important people after thorough (enough) research and proper work cited.]

At any rate, at least you didn't try it with him.

[colorature]

I didn't hurt anyone he cares about! _{[So maybe...he'll be less upset in the end...maybe??? She hopes so.]} His knight helped bandage me up though...he said as long as I try to be better that's what counts. He's right, right Solomon?

_{[Also Look. She doesn't see a contradiction here. You're making things complicated.]}

Whether I'd like one or not doesn't matter. What matters is that I wouldn't be a good mother, and a baby needs a good mother, doesn't it? I don't know why you didn't tell me that before.

_{[And honestly, she's a little miffed at that.]}

If you wanted me to have a child so badly, Solomon, you should've mated with me years ago when you had the chance. Although I don't think Amshel would've liked that very much...sex is quite tiring, did you know that?

_{[Yeah...he probably does know that...but she'll tell him anyway.]}

JJ only wants to have a baby with the person he loves. He doesn't love me like that...and besides, he's too perfect. No one should touch him unless they're worthy of doing so.

<sub>[Yes, that's right, Diva puts JJ on the same level as thirsty teen girls do BTS members. He's Untouchable and anyone who dares try deserves to have their hands cut off in her eyes.

Which means don't ever let her find out you two banged or there'll be trouble to pay.]</sub>

And what's that supposed to mean anyway? JJ would be great to make a baby with I think.

[semblant]

His knight? [Again, Diva's somehow prone to meeting the weirdest people with the weirdest of claims. It's not something he can personally gripe about considering their very own arrangement, it's just, uh, interesting. No longer as trifling as it once was.] He is correct, you don't have to fret about it.

[He isn't so prepared to have The Talk with her. Not while he's borderline bedridden (read as: feeling the shittiest he ever has in some while) after hearing some equally as shitty news.]

I was aware, yes. [For the record.] It seems you've addressed your very own question. Amshel wouldn't have liked it very much.

[..Ah....and somehow, she manages to say Words and Things that are somehow far more infuriating than Amshel is by name alone. It doesn't reap any particular response from him, the way she puts JJ up on some pedestal. She had been speaking of him as royalty all along, it shouldn't be so immediately grating.]

So even you aren't worthy? [One second he's mortified at the thought, the next he's egging her on.] Forget it. It isn't worth discussing if none of it matters.

[Nails on a chalkboard. He could never brag to Diva about his banglist, it's improper and juvenile. Fortunately. Solomon gets to feign ignorance another day -- until JJ inevitably runs his mouth about it.]

Is that all you wanted to discuss?

[colorature]

Mm...his name is Cain.

<sub>[A biblical name, much like Solomon's own, although Cain is very much the opposite of the murderous brother of the Old Testament.

Crawling closer now that he's sitting up, Diva's face finds his shoulder as her bandaged arms wrap around one of his. She's Needy right now, after all. It isn't everything she's wanted to discuss but she doesn't know how to articulate herself much further.

So she doesn't. She simply clings instead.]</sub>

You care about me, don't you? Even if I cause you trouble, you still care, right?

_{[Reassurance is something she craves and needs right now. In the past it would have been more Amshel's duty to soothe her heart, but in his absence everything now falls to Solomon whether he wants it to or not.]}

[semblant]

[Cain, huh. He may be privy to a fruit basket in the future, but that isn't a name he's familiarized himself with just yet. Then again, he's got a bad habit of not collecting the names of everyone he comes across. Something about having met too many people as it is...not a gripe he can voice in front of Diva.

Just in general. An extended life has made some banal interactions even more so.

He'll let her adjust and cling -- he does mean to embrace her with that arm, but she's clung to it. His hand merely curves, cradling what he can reach of her.]

Did someone tell you otherwise?

[Randos filling her brain with shit...it's always worth checking ahead of a response.]

Of course, Diva, you're quite important to me. Because of that, we'll figure out some way to fix you.

[It's said confidently, but he's not so sure. The orbiters done fucked up bigtime.]

[colorature]

<sub>[A fruit basket...nice.

It's not an optimal position she's found herself in, and wanting to be held properly she lets his arm go, sliding up into the vacant space she finds waiting for her. Her face finds his chest, cheek pressed to it.]</sub>

I think most people I tell about you think you're not very nice...but they don't know you like I do. They don't understand.

_{[They couldn't. They've spent the better part of a century together, throughout various ups and downs. Of course, even Diva will admit she doesn't know Solomon as well as she probably should. More often than not she hasn't a clue what he's thinking. It used to not matter as much in the past but now...]}

You're important to me too. I've had other Chevalier and still do _{[Even if they're technically asleep.]} ...but you're one of the few I could never replace.

[semblant]

[He'll support her, letting her rest atop his chest without any qualms. She isn't very heavy, the weight isn't unpleasant. Fingers weave through her hair, slightly, but it's a notable motion.]

I don't mind that. Others can think whatever they'd like. If everyone were to think of me the same way as you, that would create bigger problems.

[He's already aware, that isn't such an easy pill for Diva to swallow...hence her bringing it up. Morever, he already knows he's a piece of shit. He isn't concerned with others understanding it one way or another.

He very nearly chuckles at her next confession, however...]

Oh? I appreciate you saying so.

[Of all the furries and weirdos she's met, he still ranks above them. Something that goes without saying, but it's amusing all the same.]

I'm glad, to have you here with me.

[Fucked up uterus or not.]