❪ 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

resting!

[insurgent]

[ when the worst is over, jyn begins to wander somewhere. elsewhere. farther from the clusters of people, even if it means distancing herself from the warmth of their fires. this camp is as bustling as a rebel base, flooded with chatter.

on her path away, peter's rambling catches her attention, as it brings another boy to her mind — one who never made it to the ground. and so she stops her journey to listen, drifting closer. when peter finishes his chatter (cool, an emergency landing in unknown territory is cool now, is it?), she nudges his torso with her foot. testing, maybe, or teasing. ]

[ wryly, with only the hint of a smile — ] Doesn't look like you've too many muscles.

[ let's go, stringbean. ]

[webdesigned]

( ouch. jyn. that hurts. okay. string bean or no, a guy has to have a bit of pride!! he has a few muscles, unbelievably, though all of them were granted by a spider bite — they're just all hidden under the layers, and that's pretty intentional.

nerds aren't supposed to have muscles, not really, and he has more than he knows what to do with.

despite the dent to his pride, he wiggles at the kick and plays along. Jyn may be on to something that he's being a bit over-dramatic... he might be overdramatic on rare occasions, that's not a crime. ) Not now, but I am going to look like a body builder after today, just watch me. Abs in 60 days? Try abs in 6 hours. ( he is genuinely sore, but he does seem capable of propping himself up until he's sitting up, canted to one side and looking as weary as he feels. ) This is far enough, right?

[insurgent]

[ she mirrors the way he cants his head, as if attempting to decipher him. he does seem terribly tired. perhaps it's the same for him as it was for her, landing in a pod she couldn't escape and bloodying her knuckles in a failed attempt to escape on her own. her grip on her satchel loosens as she considers remaining close.

the weight of her indecisiveness is betrayed only by the way she shifts her weight from one short leg to the other. ultimately, she exhales, almost a laugh (but not quite, pal). ]

Mm.

[ abruptly, she drops down next to him, body sagging as it's finally allowed to rest. okay, maybe peter has a point. ]

I'm sure you'll impress everyone with your ability to stand and your abs tomorrow.

[webdesigned]

( that certainly was a part of it. he's pretty grateful for the fact the pods were done landing, because they've been a nonstop assault on his senses since he was suddenly ejected. he'd been completely disoriented on landing, and luckily had the strength to break himself out immediately. it's good that he'd been too dazed during the drop to do that; he probably couldn't have handled no atmosphere, super senses or no.

apparently, just sitting up is good enough. Peter isn't known for a good posture to begin with, yet being as worn out as he is, it's not surprising he's still in a bit of a weary slump, even if he's sitting instead of flopped on his back. he laughs despite himself at her teasing, and it kind of hurts a little. both the fact his entire body is sore, and the reality of what has happened over the past few weeks. )

I'm gonna be the real deal. A two for one, usually you only get one or the other. ( he glances at her, and she seems like she could use the rest. he has no protest in her doing it next to him. ) Looks like you'll be coming into some abs tomorrow, too. Who knew being thrown from space was so great for your core. ( i'm sorry he's like this, jyn )

[insurgent]

[ it makes her laugh this time, a light sound unfamiliar to her ears, despite her efforts to remain stoic. she's too tired, and he's too chatty. it's...disarming. people don't normally joke with her, not like this. she recalls laughing in exasperation, when cassian told her their secret weapon was hope. she laughed in wobani, too, when the warden told her she was in for the worst pain of her life. please.

none of that was particularly funny.

not to be outdone by someone she just jibed, she remains upright, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around her knees to give her calloused hands a rest. when she replies, she doesn't look at peter, even if her tone stays light. it's too vulnerable to do that, when she already let herself sit and laugh with him. ]

I've been thrown from space before. [ how many times now? ] That should double my chances.

[ at abs. so, she's a space badass and not just some giggling girl!! ]

[webdesigned]

( laughter is sort of his intention, so Peter won't be the one to hold it against her. maybe it's frowned upon by some, yet he'd always used humor — especially bad humor — as a coping mechanism. he tells dumb jokes instead of letting himself get weighed down, or at least, try to keep it at bay for awhile. he likes it when he can do the same for others, so earning a laugh? that's something that makes him smile, no matter how tired he is.

Peter likes to help people, even when he doesn't have a mask to hide behind. his attempts are notably simpler, too, but it's still nice when they help someone. even a little bit. )

You're going to be a full on body builder by tomorrow, then. ( his eyebrows lift at the idea of someone being thrown from space, twice — that's definitely something he's going to have to ask about sooner or later. ) I'm Peter. Just in case you can't recognize me in my new ripped and upright form in the morning.

[insurgent]

[ she allows herself a sidelong glance, for the purpose of a slick retort and smooth lie. peter looks knackered — and like he might appear ridiculous if he were as ripped as his quips imply. he must be younger than me, she thinks. or perhaps it's that she feels older than she really is.

still, he manages to keep the smile on her face, though it stays small, just a hint of her lips pulling upward. ]

Your jokes will give you away, I'm sure. [ because they're A Lot. ] I go by Asta.

[ because that's nicer than my name is Asta, seeing as it's slightly less of a falsehood. ]

[webdesigned]

I've been recognized for worse things. ( he can handle being remembered for horrible jokes. he probably deserves that, actually. anything is better than being known as weird, or the loner, or as a nerd always hiding behind a camera. bad jokes, Peter can handle.

if he's supposed to question at the odd phrasing, he doesn't. he's probably too worn out for that, and honestly? Peter is still pretty trusting, unless he's given reason not to be. Asta. that's a pretty name. ) Nice to meet you, Asta, ( he answers, and since he is sitting up he holds his hands up to the warm glow of the fire, even if he probably doesn't need the warmth. something about being half spider makes him less reactive to extreme environments, yet the warmth is still comforting. ) Though I know the circumstances aren't great.

( pretty much the opposite of great. worlds had been destroyed, they'd been thrown onto a planet without much care for their safety. there wasn't a lot out there for them to hold onto, trust or believe in. it was pretty much as far from good circumstances as they could get, yet meeting a potential friend isn't something he's going to spurn. not even in the worst of circumstances. )

[insurgent]

[ peter's reference makes her look up, as if she'll see something familiar in the night sky. everything destroyed, despite her father's efforts, among others. on the station, she met people who said they were striving to save their worlds, too, but they all failed. maybe peter is one of those people.

if the alternate universe theory going around holds any weight, nothing will remind her of home — but perhaps this star system is just isolated. when she replies, her voice comes out softer than she expects, lighter than it should be when they're discussing how they ended up here. ]

Circumstances could be worse, too. [ could be alone. in the ruins of once lively planets. ] Do you recognise any of the stars here? Sometimes, you can see them, even after they die.

[ or after they've been destroyed, as they would have been in the storm. ]

[webdesigned]

( Asta looks up, and with her question, Peter looks up too. his expression finally fades to something a little more despondent. as much as he tries to run away from the truth with bad jokes and simply not thinking about it, he's not incapable of feeling homesick. pretty far from it, actually — it's hard thinking about the city he loved so much being torn apart in the storm. it's equally hard to think about how he'll never see it again, and how his aunt is still on the station that had been victim to attack just as they left it.

he scratches a spot behind his ear, dark eyes searching for any sign of the familiar. just like when he'd been on his back, able to stare at the sky endlessly... no. there's nothing he recognizes. )

Astronomy was never my thing, but no. I don't recognize anything. Which says I've got to be some ways out of the Milky Way by now. ( if the Milky Way was even left — the Storm was eating entire universes. maybe the stars he'd looked up at every day without fear he'd outlive them were all gone. ) It's crazy to think about though, right? That our eyes can't even perceive that it's gone until sometimes years after it happened. ( he's not an astronomy buff, but he still knows the basics, like the human eye can't perceive star death until the light from the event has a chance to reach them. which, considering the span and distance of space, could take weeks or even years. )

[insurgent]

[ the Milky Way, not a name she recognizes, though she likes the sound of it. silly, like the places in her mother's stories or the holo dramas on Five Points. she'd believe it, if a silly boy were from a silly place, so she accepts the unfamiliar term without question.

she buries her face deeper in her scarf, still sitting with her knees flush against her chest. ]

The craziest. [ which, muffled by the fabric, sounds lamer aloud, but it's true all the same. their eyes can't perceive things, no, but sometimes Jyn thinks their heads or hearts can. intuition or the force — something hits you, and you know because it leaves you aching. it pulls them both into melancholy now, she's sure. and she feels responsible, for steering the conversation this way. lifting her head again, she gestures towards a cluster of stars. ] My father made me memorize every star and planet, from the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim. So, I keep thinking I'll find something familiar, if I just look again. [ she turns to observe Peter and laughs at her own joke before she says it. ] Guess crazy's the watchword.

[webdesigned]

( it is kind of a whimsical name. the reason for it was a little less ridiculous, based on the light spreading across the view of sky from earth, but it made him think of milk and cereal more than space or galaxies. Peter's heart grieves, however silently, for the entire galaxy he's been forced to leave behind. he'd have never imagined it was possible if he didn't see it, watch it happen to others.

Peter is devoted to his science. magic, even the force isn't a medium he conceptualizes, he's more likely to believe it's simply something that has yet to be explained. it'd be hard for him to wrap his head around simply knowing without proof...

though these days, he's faced with a lot of things that are hard for him to wrap his head around. it might be time to open his understandings a little. )

Sounds like a dad thing to do, ( Peter notes, a bit wistful. even he had memories of things his father had impressed on him, and Richard Parker had died before he turned five. he huffs a laugh at Asta's joke, but it's lacking. ) Crazy used to be a positive adjective back home. Crazy deals, crazy good, crazy fun. I'm ready to get back to that kind of crazy.

( he's not sure he's a fan of the entire universes being destroyed, staring up at stars and not recognizing a single one kind of crazy. )

[insurgent]

[ his comment niggles at her, just a touch, for the way he delivers it and what it implies. it had been Saw, not her papa, that she was thinking of when she spoke. Saw told her to memorize the star maps, commanded that she must always know where to go, where to run, where to hide.

is it a dad thing to do? making certain your daughter knows how to go on, when you can no longer carry her. it must be.

now, she focuses her attention on Peter, like he knows something she doesn't. something about dads, maybe, or "crazy fun." his wistful tone could be longing for the past just as easily as longing for the unknown, after all. it's all an ache. and they've said crazy so much that it doesn't sound like a proper word anymore. ]

Don't think I know that kind of crazy. [ she hums in thought. perhaps it was the look on Reece's face when she flipped him. or taking a speeder to the edge of the atmosphere. good crazy. without warning, she untangles her limbs to shove him with enough force to unbalance. ] You'll have to give me tips.

[webdesigned]

continued here!