❪ event ❫ THE DESCENT: PART ONE -- the overflow.

[natha]

THE PROLOGUE     Your sleep on the night of the 15th is not a restful one, unfortunately. It’s unclear whether you are in a state of half-wakefulness, or dreaming. The voices you hear certainly sound very real. What is it, Sael? —Is everyone asleep?! Every one, yes. Sael, it appears you do not have good news to deliver...? N-No! I don’t know how it slipped past us, but there’s something powerful coming this way. Something hostile. I can barely keep the core systems online! ... I don't know what to do... I see... and we cannot protect Thesa and Alria in addition to transferring the Refugees to Olympia. This force, they waited for this moment. They knew I have been Intervening, and that I have become weak from such Interventions— ... We've been had. It cannot be helped. To save the Refugees on the Stations, we must eject the awoken unto El Nysa. My remaining energy shall go into shielding Thesa— left defenseless, every being we have saved on this station will perish... Sael, where is the ideal location for the landing? Hmm. There aren’t any people within a ten mile radius of The Outlook, and there shouldn’t be any for a few more days. I think that’s the best location right now. Very well. Instruct Zasere and Roman to begin preparations for an emergency eject. This is the only way we can save everyone. I am counting on you to ward off the enemy on the space front. The rest... is up to our Refugees. The alarms are blaring. It shouts against your eardrums, calling you to wake again. This time, you are in new pod, strapped down completely and cushioned tightly against the walls. In truth, you had no idea when you’d gone to sleep, but it is reminiscent of when you had been saved from the force of the Storm. A voice greets you when you come to, while the conversation between Darma and Sael is still fresh on your mind. Despite their voices playing like an old tune in your memory, you still know it is something that happened. Something has gone terribly wrong. You hear Darma speak, her voice loud in your head. Fellow Refugee, I wake you with regrettable news. A force equal to our own is attempting to engage Thesa, no doubt to steal the souls contained here. My energy is near depleted with this last Intervention, so I cannot send you to the grounds safely as originally intended. However, there is hope yet.This power shall instead shield Thesa and Alria — and believe in me when I swear no one shall be hurt. Your loved ones are safe with us. —Unfortunately, that is at your expense. Your descent will not be an easy one. This pod that contains you shall pierce through El Nysa's atmosphere and land you on an island west of Olympia, simply called The Outlook. Travel east. Find the West Outpost, then continue east until you find the Olympian North Gate. There is a method to this madness. You shall be sent in waves. The inhumanly strong shall be first. The parachute will soften the landing, but I am aware of all your capabilities. The first wave will survive the drop, and will work tirelessly to secure the others. Find your bearings, and ensure the safety of the second wave. They are the healers and medics. Catch their pods, ease their landings, make certain that they shall not be harmed, because you will need them for your wounds. The third wave are your strongmen. They shall help clear the debris and take people to safety, making way for the fourth wave, those can conjure magic to help. Bring everyone to a safe distance. A supply drop will follow soon after; it shall contain tents and tools that will be useful for the long night. The fifth and sixth waves are largely vulnerable humans. With your combined efforts, you shall survive this great misfortune. Forgive us, Refugee. Leave the Moons to us, my promise to you is still in tact— focus on what you can do for others like you. Helping at least two (2) Refugees will earn you one (1) Natha REP. Threads must be AC length to qualify, and can be submitted HERE by JULY 31st. THE DESCENT     FIRST WAVE. The instructions are clear. Those who are a part of the First Wave should be equipped with physical strength and fortitude to survive the drop or the power to regenerate and heal their own wounds. While the pods are already designed to cushion some of the impact, as this is the first group, it will likely to be the most jarring. In all of the waves, some of the pods will malfunction and offer no cushion at all. They will be expected to quickly find their bearings. Their mission isn’t simply just landing, after all. The first wave will be expected to help the next wave, and the wave after that. Whether through their abilities or brute strength, they will be expected to help soften the landing for those who are falling. They will also be expected to pry open hatches, carry people to safety, and to just... survive. It’s not always easy being first. SECOND WAVE. Within the next hour, it’s time for the Second Wave to make their descent. You were selected based upon your aptitude for healing and/or being able to administer first aid. Perhaps you can help the tired and weary. Maybe those who have landed have have strength, but no stamina. Either way, it may be unwise to exhaust all their abilities at once. The night is long, and you may want to conserve their energy for the next waves to come. At least you’ll have help in getting settled. THIRD WAVE. Akin to the First Wave, the Third Wave will possess some durability, and some manner of strength, making you a reliable ally. Especially in a time of crisis... Or so we hope. While the landing is tough, and some of you may need first aid. As soon as you’re all healed up, you’ll have no time to dawdle. Your help is required. “Please help those still trapped in pods. Carry those unconscious to safety. Lift debris, and rescue all you can.” May be a vague message still stuck in the back of your head. Something whispered to you while you were just waking. Well, might as well roll with it. It’s the best shot you have, after all. FOURTH WAVE. Those in the Fourth Wave, as Darma projects, were selected due to the versatility of their abilities. No one expects one man to do the same as the next. Rather, that’s precisely the point: to be different. To be able to accomplish something unique. While one individual may be blessed with powers that assist in putting out fires, another may have the ability to shield those from oncoming debris. Maybe one even has the ability to channel all of these. Regardless, it’s up to you and your quick wits to see what tasks are open. It’ll take some coordination, especially as there are more people mixing into the fray, but, you can do it, can’t you? FIFTH WAVE. If you are in the Fifth Wave it is likely that you have a specific power or ability. One that isn’t easily channeled or called upon. Or, perhaps, you were merely placed here for insurance. Whatever the case if, your expertise will presently be put to the test. Maybe you’re quite proficient in survival skills, and you’re already eyeing the supplies that were dropped between the Fourth Wave and now. Goods all ready to be salvaged. Okay, maybe some can’t, but as they say, “it’s the thought that counts.” Besides, the injured from earlier certainly need a space to rest, and camp isn’t going to make itself. Regardless, maybe you feel more comfortable joining in the efforts to assist those who still require it. Whatever it is, you are sure to find your place and use. Darma obviously held the same faith. FINAL WAVE. The Final Wave is fortunate in a variety of ways. With Thesa Station a bit more stabilized, Darma utilizes the last bit of her powers in insuring that these last remaining pods are met with the softest landing, right beside the fifth, that is. The fragility of life is nothing she is unfamiliar with, after all. Still, that isn’t to say nothing is expected of you. Most of the individuals that have dropped earlier will likely be exhausted. An hour stretched between each one, makes several hours for the first couple of waves. They'll need a place to relax. You will act as the final group of helpers. Settle into whatever role feels best for you. Are you an excellent cook? Great at rationing supplies? Perhaps, you have a secret skill in ______ that might come in handy here? Or, maybe, despite the gentler landing you still managed to get hurt. The sky's the limit, and you got this! Meanwhile, in the distant kingdom of Olympia, the Empress and her loyal subject discuss matters late into the night... I’ll have the results of that dragon toxin study ready for you soon, Your Highness. I just need a few helpers to— oh wow, is that a meteor shower? Oh yes, it appears so. How beautiful.. hehe. Let us thank Thesa for this blessing. GATHER YOUR BEARINGS     All in all, the descent lasts for nearly seven hours. After the deployment of the last wave of refugees, it’s only natural that you may be feeling pretty worn out. A. Within the remains of the pods, Refugees will find basic camping supplies such as small tents, sleeping bags, and compasses. Not all of the supplies remain intact, thanks to the impact of the crash. But, sharing resources will ensure there is enough for everyone to rest for the night. Can you really in good conscience leave that stranger next to you without shelter? B. Although you may be tired after such a life-threatening ordeal, there is still work to be done to ensure your survival. Fortunately, it works out because now there are plenty of empty hands. There are stray debris and metal parts that should be collected and disposed of. There's firewood that needs to be collected, and campfires to upkeep. The nights in the Outlook are particularly chilly, and so it will be imperative to keep warm! C. Your clothes are tattered or too bloodied to sleep on with comfortably. Fortunately, Darma thought ahead. There will be various types of clothing provided, mostly robes that resemble her own in earthy tones, all to help them camouflage you for your next big adventure. FINAL OOC NOTE     This INTRO event will be broken up into three parts! Please keep this in mind when plotting your threads/tag load. PART 3 Will be up on JULY 22ND, at 6 PM EST. We will not provide an additional CAPTCHA for this overflow. Players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals in the event this overflow gets close to CAPTCHA. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. The NETWORK is currently down, as Sael must concentrate all of his efforts on warding off the invading force. Characters may still message each other's personal IC inboxes. Submit two (2) AC-eligible threads from this log for one (1) Natha Orbiter REP point here by JULY 31ST. Recommended Listening: Alex & TOKYO Rose PART ONE | PART ONE (overflow) | PART TWO | PART THREE QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[song_of_ice]

[It was a bit surreal to describe the Wall to someone who had never seen it before. Others of his world would know without having it explained, but that was a habit he was going to have to break out of. He'd have to assume no one knew now.]

It's a wall of ice that stretches up thousands of feet high. It acted as a barrier between the realms of men and what lay in the true North. The Night's Watch is...was an order that protected and manned the Wall.

[refashioned]

And what lies in the North isn't just ... people, right? [It's not that Veronica isn't following along with the implication, but walls are typically built in her world to keep people—good, honest people—out, while insisting the people on the other side are the ones who need protecting. For her, the clarification feels a little ... important.]

[song_of_ice]

No. It's something else. [His gaze lingers on her for a minute. She was observant enough to guess that there was something worse beyond the Wall than people. It was surprising, but not unpleasant to know she could easily guess these things.] We were told stories about what else existed beyond the Wall, that the dead walked.

[refashioned]

[Wishful thinking wins again! ... Or for once, considering how this has all turned out for her. Veronica nods, pleased that that's the case. ... Though that is also a bad thing, what with the mention of zombies. At least he doesn't want to keep people out who are probably not bad.

(They're probably just bad because they're dead now, and eating brains? Possibly true.)]

You "were told." Does that mean you don't know for sure? [A pause, but a corrective one:] Didn't. And—I guess I have to ask. What are the odds that that those dead might walk on in here? [Would they be worth saving?]

[song_of_ice]

We didn't know. They were legends or stories that were told to children, but no one had ever seen them. It is easier to assume stories and legends don't exist. The seeing makes it true.

[He will never forget the moment he witnessed the Night King, raising the dead to their feet, tripling his army. Men and women that had fought alongside, suddenly a part of the great threat he had little idea of how to combat.

He shook his head.]

I don't know. I didn't see them in stasis. The magic that they wield might not exist in this world.

[refashioned]

[Magic. Veronica files that away as a thing that just is now. Someone here knows about magic, so she decides, ubiquitously, that a lot of people probably do. That will help save her from the surprise and grief of hearing it referred to casually later.

(Grief as in trouble, not grief as in sadness.)

So, accepting that remark, she says:] Whoever brought us here has the ability to revive the dead. [Never mind that Darma has a name—to Veronica, Darma is still a "whoever."] It might be different, but there was definitely a dead boy from my town sitting in one of those pods. I can't even begin to look into that, but it might be something for you to check out.

[song_of_ice]

I know. [He had seen his share of dead family in the pods as well. His youngest brother, the death that still pained him the most, had been pulled from Westeros and placed into stasis. It seemed impossible, but he had seen his share of impossible things, even before this world.] It's different, I think.

The dead the Night King raised are mindless. They march on his orders and attack without thought. It isn't like here. The storm did what I was aiming to. It stopped the war that my world was heading towards...

[But drew him into another one.]

The dead in those pods, they are meant to be further incentive. Our last chance to save them.

[refashioned]

I hope you weren't planning on ending a war by obliterating your world ... [That feels like an odd way to put it. But maybe he hasn't decided to accept that his world is gone. Or he has no choice to adapt. Given some of what he's shared, it might be more the latter. Adapt or don't: the latter can only lead to misery.]

Either way, I can't say I'm feeling comfortably motivated. Motivated, yes, but ... not terribly comfortable with it. It's like hanging bait over our heads and telling us to chase it as it's pulled away.

[song_of_ice]

[It's a harsh way to put it, but she was right. His world was gone, something he had yet to fully embrace. The guilt and frustration were there, but without that loss accepted, they were aimless emotions. He would adapt and move forward, as he always did.]

I spent so long preparing to fight them, thinking they would kill us all. Now look where we are.

[There that frustration was again. He struck the poles into the ground, letting that serve as a target for him.]

I thought that as well, but we don't have a choice yet. They are only people left from our world. [Friends and family.] But they still found ways to force us into a fight that's not ours.

[refashioned]

The real question is: what happens if we don't fight? You strike me as someone with a bit more experience in that area than I do. [Veronica is currently of the mindset that she will fight against the idea of fighting, but that doesn't mean a lot in the long term. She knows that if someone threatens to take away her mom, dad, and best friend, she'll likely be the first to give in. It's hard to put her foot down when she's terrified of the actual consequences.

After all, she gave in to her father's threat to ruin her mother. She knows she wouldn't last here.]

[song_of_ice]

We had to promise to fight for them to protect our family. If we don't fight, I think they would try to use them against us. They are being held over our head.

[He didn't know these people he promised to fight for. Their cause wasn't his completely, save for the wish to protect more innocents from dying. Would he have agreed to fight if it hadn't been for his family being kept in stasis by them?

He didn't know, but he knew that they now had leverage against him.]

[refashioned]

We don't know that they'll threaten to take them away from us, or pull the plug on them. [That doesn't mean that they won't. Veronica wants to have a long talk with Darma about these stipulations, but she knows there's a chance that n matter what comes of such a conversation, she likely won't appreciate the end result.

So, maybe she shouldn't try to have it in the first place. It's odd for her to be divided between action and inaction, but this is unfamiliar territory. She's powerless here, and her naturally defiant nature can only help her s much.]

[song_of_ice]

I wish I could believe that.

[Trust wasn't something he was capable of. Rather than appealing to their desire to help others, they had to promise to fight against the storm in exchange for something. It was difficult not to see some sort of leverage being used against them.]

Do you know anything about those that dropped us here?