❪ 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

[illuminating]

[There are so many brave and capable people here. Or there seems to be. Perhaps she isn't the only one who feels they could've done more staying behind, but that nagging feeling still remains, that if Darma had kept her on, she could be protecting this boy and the others. Let them stay safe down here.

In all the time she's been alive, she's never felt old—tired, maybe, often, but not old. But now…

With weary, fed up, whine-groan, she practically sinks into the cup of his hand, heavy head sagging there, and sighs. All the customary sniffing, canine tendencies for acquainting will come later. He's frustrated, she's frustrated, let them just sit together.

Bit by bit, she wriggles closer, partly to smell and lick over little cuts she discovers and partly to comfort. It's no question that he will soon find her leaning into him, and this has nothing to do with what she feels is mandatory: it's merely her sitting close, affectionate, but resting against him (so long as he allows her), she paints that circle around him, invisible, no alterations in her movements to show this, aside from perhaps the waving of her tail (which likely, isn't directly connected, being that all her painting must come from somewhere like a separate plane—one she takes with her, opening scrolls of what she sees—but a subconscious movement, the wolf and god synched together).

He won't see any, but there is the unmistakeable aroma of flowers, and if everything went well, a warmth, soothing, will surround the both of them—him, especially. And those cuts will close up, bruises will diminish to leave behind healthy skin, and it may even increase his vitality a bit.]

[sparsity]

[ Funny, how she perfectly describes what he's feeling with a single noise. It shows in the thinning line of his mouth, expression fading to mirror that tired, wishful thinking that pulls him — both of them maybe, skyward. But here they are, tethered by gravity, all soles and paws firmly on the ground. And while he's never really been this close to any kind of animal, least of all one of her bearing or size, he finds the cues easy enough to pick up on. Maybe even moreso than what other humans give, sometimes, as surely as it seems like she'd understood his crude attempt at comfort.

So his arm lights with threads of muscle to support the weight of her head when it tires there, glad for the camaraderie that comes from accepting something tough to swallow. No matter how many teeth between them. When she gets to moving again, he's still, sturdy beneath her soothing despite being dwarfed by her. Battlefields had long since dulled his body to pain, but he's instinctively aware of a shift in the air. A sweet smell like a wish long gone. Then cuts knitting, bruises mellowing beneath tough skin.

Expression smoothing, Mikazuki waits until her nosing and licking subsides to inspect her work. Better than a doctor... he lets her lean there, shoulder-to-shoulder, just long enough for him to lift his hand and settle it atop her head. His wide palm barely bridges the space between those long, blunted ears. Thoughtfully, he rubs with callused fingers, unbroken by wounds. ]

That's amazing.

[illuminating]

[For a second, she thinks, as if replying: It's nothing, it's nothing! We all do what—

But she imagines Issun interrupting with something like, "You're not fooling anyone," knowing the size of her ego, and how she gloated when she flexed what she was capable of and made that first lily-pad after a too-long nap (though not long enough, in some respects). So her sham of humility gives way to her mouth virtually breaking into grin, and she huffs in succession, reminiscent of muted laughter, but tail thwacking itself on the ground at his words should surely cause no doubt in her being tickled by them.

It is a pretty useful thing to be capable of, isn't it?

Ah, really, impossible mother. She should be thinking humbly, but it is so nice to do what she can, and everyone benefits from a little praise now and then, right? She's certain in time she'll witness his capabilities too, and content with this thought, she hunkers down, partially lounging in his lap, curling her legs, relieved in light of everything that at least one more person isn't enduring anymore pain than they need to. She can't always do much in the way of mental anguish, but those physical wounds will be one less thing for him to have to be concerned about, whether he would've been or not.]

[sparsity]

[ Her show of teeth has some warmth seeping back into his expression. Mikazuki keeps scratching the divot in her skull, sloped right between her brows. ]

You think so too, huh?

[ He'd usually be humble too, even if it's less out of humility and more out of the way he thinks about necessity. Everything he is, what he can do, it'd all been a product of battlefields, both chosen himself and chosen for him. Pride only nestles in him based on what the result is — how many are left alive, when the stakes are high. Speaking of... he lifts his head to look around, the surrounding planes upturned and tossed with strident wind. For now though, it's quieter, a brief respite. ]

It looks like we're in between waves... there's still a lot of things we need to do.

[ But he feels a little less poorly about sitting here with a wolf in his lap knowing it's an offered breath rather than a stolen one. It's an Experience, both regarding wolves and mothers. ]

So thanks. This'll make it easier.

[illuminating]

[He has her eyes going lidded and lazy; for a little while, doing nothing more than basking in his scraping fingernails and voice speaking to her. From a sidelong glance, she watches him look up, and this opens up her own eyes more, shifting them to follow his line of sight from her lying position.

The sigh she gives is weighted, expanding her chest before it sinks again, and reluctantly she sits up, though slouching. Sulking, she groans, still clearly displeased with how things have turned out, and being stuck on the ground, but his gratitude means something to her, and after he thanks her, her complaining grades into a bounty of whines, ears folding, while she leans over to lick, lick, lick his cheek. Doting, badgering.

Stepping away shortly after, she stretches her forelegs out long, groaning once more into it, and the stretch goes down her until she's extending one hind leg after the other. A sigh through nose, now, when she's finally standing normally, and she glances back at him. Shall they tend to a couple or few people together, before the next wave hits?]

[sparsity]

[ It's not sitting any easier with him, though maybe he's a little more stubborn in his ability to just take things are they are and go from there. He can't even view it as an injustice so much as a measure of protection, though he knows if he had Darma's trust like she has his loyalty for her bargain, he'd be much more formidable. Still, his temperance glows like embers, waiting for the right motion to unearth the flame still contained beneath.

Taking her battering of kindness with a low flick of a smile, Mikazuki climbs to his feet after her, dusting off his pants and coat. A look around yields thin tendrils of smoke and dirt rising into the sky from every direction. Not quite a battlefield, but a prolonged aftermath they have the ability to mitigate. ]

Let's see... maybe we go that way?

[ A long look at where the plumes seem to be clustered, farther down the plains. ]

[illuminating]

[A mother to all life watches boy consider his next step, even if small. When he makes his choice—asks her—her eyes smile softly at him, then she leads the way, putting herself into slight trot, moving with purpose.

Taking herself out of the trap of too-much-thinking, and trying to guide him toward the same.]

[sparsity]

[ Her gait is swift and strides long, but his pace is quick when there's a mutual destination in mind and responsibility burning at its core. There aren't any trees, only shallow plateaus of long grass and soft dirt. Mikazuki supposes if they had to crash like meteors somewhere, this would have to be it.

As they draw closer, the smell of heated metal and smoke weighs in the air. Like home, to him. So familiar that he can think through it to ask something on his mind: ]

You must have a name, right?