❪ event ❫ THE DESCENT: PART ONE.

[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 2 will be posted on JULY 18TH and PART 3 on JULY 22ND, at 6 PM EST. In the event of CAPTCHA, we will be providing an overflow. In the event of a second CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals. 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 QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[getoutofmytemple]

It is not dissimilar to being tended to by magic then. You have found a way to replicate the effect without actually using magic. Interesting to see such applied to healing, it is not how I would expect humans to use their resources.

[He had expected some things to be able to be worked around without magic, but that had not been one he had anticipated. Healing could be a complicated process if one were to do it well. Not to mention he assumed humans would be preferable to finding new and inventive ways to set each other on fire.

Of course he would answer her question in turn. It was difficult to explain it briefly. His was a rather complicated situation, and an uncommon one. Not to mention his knowledge of the world outside his temple had been limited.]

Once it was something all Elvhen were capable of. Magic is as much a part of us as breathing. [He paused for a moment realizing there was no more "us", only him left now that his Sentinels were granted their slumber, but he quickly pushed the thought aside.] From what I understand, in the fall of our kingdoms the Elvhen declined. They are but a shadow of their former selves, and magic is no longer their birthright, some are born capable of a weaker magic yet others are not. I could teach techniques in wielding it, but they would not be able to accomplish wielding the ancient form without stealing it from an artifact, or from myself.

[He waved his hand and the fire vanished, leaving behind a wave of sparks and shimmering air as the magic dissipated. His hand now free, he pressed his fingers where she had touched. Tender still, but otherwise completely healed.

Satisfied he replaced the jacket, and pulled up his hood once more. He inclined his head in gratitude for the woman's help.]

You have done me a great service, is there a way that I could return the favor?

first aid and rescue

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Rogue's landing had been one of the better ones, with only a few bumps and bruises to show from the journey and climbing her way out of the pod. She's lucky in that regard, since she can see that quite a few others in her wave and the following ones weren't quite as fortunate. It's instinct that will move her forward, a driving need to help others in any way possible, and that's why she will speak to any of the medically-inclined she comes across, offering her assistance.

What comes as a surprise is when one of them asks her if she's alright. Having others worry about her isn't something she's used to, though the concern isn't unwelcome, just... unexpected. She gives the younger woman a small smile and a shake of her head as she answers in her soft southern drawl. ]

I'm alright, sugar, thank you. Coming down wasn't too bad for me. But what about you? Is there anything you need help with? I have some training in field medicine.

[otiosity]

You'd think that'd be higher on their priority list. Clearly they don't know much about keeping morale up.

[She props herself up on her elbow, yawning a little, but at least a little more engaged despite her exhaustion.]

oh boy. Let's see how we can fix this.

[smithandwesson]

.............. Move over.

[Sanzo was never really much of the type to help people out. But there was that occasional moment where someone just looked so overly pathetic in what they were attempting that he simply couldn't help himself.

This was just such an occasion.

Walking over, the priest bent down and looked over the set curiously.]

First things first take this mess apart.

[refashioned]

Ah, yes, the joy of what you might find in a regularly frequented bathroom ... [That's why you have to know the right places to be. Veronica hasn't suffered as much as most people, since she used to always have entry to just about anywhere thanks to her name, but that also meant that she knew what she'd find if there was a problem. Odd that her bathroom habits might be a major life lesson, but here they are.]

You mentioned cross-contamination. Do you really think we have to worry about space diseases coming down from the sky? [She's not asking due to some surprising naivety despite how she carries herself. She's asking almost because she wonders if he knows something. Veronica hasn't seen any dead and diseased bodies being pulled out of pods, but—well.

Frankly, she hasn't been looking.]

[coolerjunpei]

Seriously? It's a cool sword. Is he part peacock or something?

[Junpei has a limited understanding of why peacocks do that thing or how weaponized peacock feathers are. Never mind that. Is Taako part bird, yes or no.]

AFTER - Aka: "Atsushi, no."

[cassus]

[ Atsushi is a sight for sore eyes, though the wave of something akin to nostalgia feels a little excessive. They'd been in close company before, you know, that whole Planet-wide obliteration thing.

Nice as it is to see a familiar face, and one he's grown particularly fond of, Dazai has to relinquish any hope of lazily observing the spectacle of Atsushi doing what he does best. While some of the refugees struggle at selflessness, hording supplies or prioritizing their own needs, Atsushi is a natural born martyr. He'll give until there's nothing left for himself, and then still continue giving. And that's the problem. If Atsushi ends up a furry popsicle then he's short one orphan, backtracking on a particular promise and left with all sorts of icky complications.

In all seriousness, after surviving Earth's demise, their captivity and now crash landing here, it seems downright asinine for Atsushi to compromise his well-being now. Which is why one of the gathered timbers ends up discreetly pulled from the pile while Atsushi is preoccupied handing over his sleeping bag to none other than a complete stranger. Of course.

No worries, though. Dazai graciously reunites him with the long-lost-log. Abruptly. It's a small twack atop his head, delivered only hard enough to be felt through his thick skull and no harsher. It's one hell of a way to make a reappearance, but time and the opportunity for prior pleasantries weren't entirely an option when he hadn't been awake long enough for them. ]

Ah, Atsushi! Fancy meeting you here.

[ Casual and flippant as always, Dazai props himself into an absurd lean, using the branch as a makeshift cane. ]

I see you're playing nice with the other kids and sharing your toys.

[ His free hand goes to scratch at a itch on his scalp, flicking grains of sand away with a distractedly bored look of his fingers. At least until he pretends to finally notice Atsushi's sleeping-bag disappear with the stranger it's been handed off to. ]

Planning on stripping down and donating your clothes next?

[ He doesn't discourage it, but the absurdity of his suggestion should be enough of a clue that Dazai is essentially openly mocking the idea of further altruism. In case that doesn't sink in Dazai cups a hand around his mouth and declares in a whisper that's abrasively loud enough to draw some rather concerned looks from the peanut gallery nearby. ]

If you run around buck-naked in this cold something important might fall off!

rescue

[hoboish]

[ Wisely's been roughed up before, but this whole escape pod thing was tough. He feels like he had a particularly rough landing, and therefore looks mighty disgruntled in his pod, waiting for someone to open it up. He doesn't even care who at this point, someone has to get him out of this thing before he gets claustrophobic in it.

He takes a deep breath as someone finally comes and gives a kick to his pod, popping it open. It's like he just emerged from a pool of water, except it's just air. Wisely waves his hands all over the place like he's getting rid of bugs and rolls out of his pod after he takes the extended hand. Immediately, all five eyes are focused on his rescuer, and he's frowning. Almost pouting. ]

Not unless you can do something for headaches.

[refashioned]

Wow, all right. Hey, the good thing is that you're not alone. [There's no passing of judgment here beyond her surprise. Honestly, there's no point in that—Disney could be universal. That doesn't mean it should be.]

Well, here's your first journey into twentieth century America. It all begins with a friendly mouse named Mickey. And I'm meaning ... stands on two feet, wears a silly suit sometimes, squeaky voice. He doesn't look much like a mouse.

[otiosity]

Exactly.

When we all drop from the sky in little pods, it would look much more impressive if we all were wearing the same jacket. Or pin.

And also probably if they didn't drop us because honestly, that was nauseating and does a lot of harm to our "cool" factor.

[HAWKE DID NOT LIKE THAT DROP, NO SIR. Then she notices the flame and cocks her head.]

So you're a mage, then? Or something like that where you come from.

[ruffboi]

Shh, shh, shh. You're safe now.

[He's definitely princess carrying Lavellan off to the healers, but as he's going at a full sprint, it's a pretty bumpy ride and not so great for the noggin.]

Let's get you some heals, buddy.

[ruffboi]

Ahh!

[When he's grabbed by the arm, he starts and stumbles back in surprise. He definitely is bleeding from a cut to the head and a nasty wound on his knee, but he doesn't seem too troubled by it.]

Oh, me? I'm good. Save your spell slots, I've got a lot of HP.

[otiosity]

Lucky for you I can heal myself. Just... not right now. Mana is low hence the resting. So I'm only imposing a little?

[going into her tent is a lot more imposing than being healed but O K A Y Hawke.]

B

[hoboish]

Wisely had a particularly rough landing, and he isn't being very helpful with the rest of the group. He's barely helping at all, in fact, and is sitting looking disgruntled on the ground somewhere. He knows he needs to set up camp eventually, but the idea of it all is just so daunting. He still has a headache from the landing and from picking out various sounds and voices in his head. His powers are a little disoriented at the moment.

So when he sees a young man running around with water, he eventually flags him down, waving him over. "Hey, you," he calls, pointedly looking at the other. "I could use some water. I'm dying over here." He wasn't really, but it sure felt like it anyway.

supply b

[coolerjunpei]

[He sees a sticker and he wants to peel it off, he can't help it. It's so satisfying! But damn, okay, he'll pull his hands away like almost touching a sticker burned him, with a head-kicking threat on the table.]

Whoa, what? Is this like pulling tags off mattresses? I'm not trying to start shit.

Gather your bearings

[ofobedience]

[The fact is, with the worst of the mayhem over, he's left at something of a loss. The confusion and frantic activity of the initial impact, the scud and screech of falling pods, the injured and the bleeding and the cries for help-- he's an unlikely 'hero' perhaps, but they'd given him something to do. Something to pour his efforts into, to focus his own freefalling thoughts toward.

All that is already fading now, bleeding out into something softer-edged, something all the harder to deal with. Spaces are already opening up in him, quiet murmurs that sound too much like fear for comfort (this place with all its alien strangeness, the open sky, the natural landscape-- it's all so far away from what he knows that it makes something in him shudder, threaten to come undone). He's clinging to purpose as best he can, hunting down the remaining pods in an effort to locate survivors, or means of survival for those who need it more than he. Not out of any sense of altruism, no, but only because it's what's expected.

What he needs to do in order to repay the dept of what the Orbiters have already done for him. To appease them enough to keep certain individuals from his own world alive.

As such, he's approaching the edge of a crater when he hears a voice rise up from it, moves to stand at its edge, hips slightly cocked, mouth twisted into a serrated smile. It's that much easier to maintain the pretense when one has a living audience.]

A shipment of fine-tailored suits wouldn't go amiss, or perhaps some shiny new weapons, but I won't go holding my breath. Hahah.

arrival

[hoboish]

[ Wisely didn't have a nice landing either. He was bumped and shaken all over the place before skidding to a comfy stop, and he had to have someone open up his pod for him. As a result, he's not only grumpy, but he feels aches and pains in places he didn't know he could feel things. Not to mention he has a headache. His extra eyes are disoriented from the fall, and he's hearing all sorts of things ... not just the swearing from the girl not too far away from him. ]

Oi, oi... [ He rubs at his head, stumbling over in her direction. ]

Not that I don't agree with you, but do you have to be so loud?

[ayes]

Haha, it's pretty tasty, isn't it? It's not my best recipe, but it kinda goes with anything! So if you have a buncha stuff you don't know what to do with, you can just... throw it all in the pot together! [She goes back to stirring the pot, careful not to let everything thicken too much.] Once we get our supplies under control I can probably cook different things, but this seemed like a pretty good emergency dinner for the first night.

[refashioned]

Honestly, the problem is the moment you consider it being anything but chance, you start to wonder: what happened to home? Did a storm really take us, or have we been brought here in what can be called some elaborate ... scheme of some sort? And if that's the case, did we really need to go camping in a place where we have to fear wolves while chomping down on fish? [If that seems like a lot of words eventually swelling up into a huge statement acknowledging Makoto's every thought, that's because it is. Veronica gives in to the drama of the moment, in part because she's decidedly too freaked out to take the conspiracy theory route.

The route is right there, but is that a good idea right now? She thinks not. (She's already had this conversation with Jughead. It didn't go well.)]

All that said, we ... probably don't have to worry about wolves. We're loud, noisy, and a pain in the ass. They'll keep their distance. [Unless ... they're not like wolves of Earth and don't give a crap, but Veronica isn't voicing that particular thought.]

[planetary_bonds]

America, huh? I've heard of that place, but...

[Again, isolated boy. He still pays rapt attention though, even though it doesn't look like it, the way he's gathering more tent poles.]

Sounds...friendly. [A mouse that looks like a humanized caricature of itself and talks? Sounds like a Duel Monster to him.]

[circulets]

[ There's a brief pause of surprise on Mikleo's end, eyes widening a little before he frowns. ]

... It sounded like you were asking for a lot more than just gratitude. Still, thank you.

[ He's not really saying it for his sake, though. ]

fourth wave

[hoboish]

[ Wisely's wobbling around the place, trying to avoid debris and doing any actual productive work when he sees the harsh landing a short distance away. He can sympathize, his landing was not so great either. They really ought to work on that whole thing.

He thinks about abandoning the other to fend for himself. But he's already close by, and he may have been spotted already. That could come back and bite him in the ass later and he doesn't want that. Not to mention, someone might actually catch on to the fact that he's not been helping, and he should have some alibi to defend himself with. Yes. It's perfect timing.

So he takes his sweet time, but he gets over to the pod, placing a foot on it for leverage as he grabs onto the handle and pulls his hardest to get it open. With the kicking it should pop off in no time. ]

Well I've done my good deed for the day.

[exorion]

[Cayde has Regrets, but he's committed to this now, so he's just gonna keep patting Dorian's back until he's done.]

First time falling out of orbit there?

[circulets]

[ He lets out a startled gasp when he's hugged so suddenly, eyes widening before his expression softens. Being hugged like this makes it feel all the more real - Sorey's here - he's alright. ]

That should be my line. Are you hurt anywhere? [ Sorey is, after all, awfully reckless.... It wouldn't surprise him if he did have a wound that needed some healing. ]

a pair of grumps camping

[sweetwater]

[ the only vaguely useful skill Cheryl has in this situation is bossing people around, but no one wants to be bossed around by a 17 year old who has no idea how to keep people alive, ration supplies, or do any sort of logistical planning. so she's been doing a lot of wandering, some eavesdropping, and mostly feeling sorry for herself.

like Jughead, she's been reluctant to give up her clothes and managed a compromise of hanging on to her cropped sweater after finding someone to fix it. she's tucked that away for some other time, and managed to cobble together an outfit that makes her look like an extra in some post-apocalyptic movie. dirt-red isn't exactly her signature color, but it'll do.

she hasn't touched the food in front of her, so when Jughead asks she hands it over without protest. ] I don't know how you can eat at a time like this. Inevitable, impending doom makes me lose my appetite.