❪ 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

[burglarize]

[ As long as the healing continues, what does it matter? Ann just needs a few minutes — she's still thinking and casting Dia on people one by one. It's a bit slower and there's a tension at her temples with each more. She feels her energy running low and partnering that with hunger and genuine confusion of what happens next? It could wipe a person out.

She needed to get a hold of herself — just let her feelings out briefly and get back to work. 20 people turns to 19, and so on... it'll continue until the waves stop. With how frantic they all are, spread thin, there's no direction. Ann has to do that but it takes 76's voice to cut any self-pitying she was doing.

Her eyes look up, mask slipping back fully down onto the brim of her nose. ]

N-No way! They assigned me here and I won't give up on anyone. I just need a second, okay?

[ Her voice was snappy and stubborn, but there was a tenderness to it that was almost pleading. ]

We can't heal everyone at once, Carmen's stuck doing it one by one — [ She sniffles, wiping away at any stray tears before trying to get to her feet again. ] If they don't like me taking a break, they can wait a minute to cool off.

[personalwar]

[ The mask and the overall outfit are strange, to say the least, but it's not like 76 can judge there. He may not be wearing a form-fitting catsuit, but he does have something covering the grand majority of his face.

She's determined to keep helping, which is all well and good if she doesn't run herself into the ground. If it gets to the point where she ends up dead weight, that won't help anyone. It's a lesson that most people have to learn the hard way, and she's still young.

(Granted, some could argue that a certain someone never learned this lesson.)

76's head tilts when he realizes that she'd been crying. He absolutely has no idea how to handle that, so he ignores it, looking up instead to "Carmen." ]

What is it?

[ If she needs a break, she may as well answer his questions. After that, he'll see about injecting some kind of organization into this mess. Twenty people shouldn't be waiting to get healed by one girl and her strange companion. ]

[burglarize]

[ Don't wear a form-fitting catsuit. 0/10 do not recommend. But, Ann deals with it much to her discomfort. She's not keen on it, but it lets her help people. It's a sacrifice that she makes to help her friends and summon Carmen.

Up she goes, standing up and looking over the additional healer who finally (but slowly) begin to lessen her load. 76 moves on and she's happy for it. Looking to her Persona, there's a small appreciative smile. ]

Right, you guys don't now about them. She's my Persona. [ There's a light shrug. ] Kind of like... a manifestation of who I wish I could be — a total badass. Her name's Carmen.

[personalwar]

[ A manifestation of who someone wants to be. Somehow 76 doesn't think there's a direct translation there, but "total badass" seems to be the shorthand for it. Her explanation still doesn't clarify much, honestly. ]

Them? So there's more than one?

[ It's hard not to stare, but at least the visor allows him to be somewhat discreet about it. ]

And she allows you to heal?

[ An interrogation probably isn't going to help her mood, but he can't help but be curious. For all that he's seen, so much has been brand new to him ever since he woke up on the space station. ]

hey i hate captcha but i hate overflow more

[burglarize]

Yeah — it's really weird to explain but I promise I'm not some nutjob. My — uh, friends — all had them. It was kind of like having a superhero that you can summon...?

[ Okay, she sounds like a nutjob. But, as Ann stands up and Carmen suddenly fades from her large, spiritual form into, well, nothing... she looks to 76 with a small smirk. It was a confidence boost but Carmen, in her opinion, was her better half. ]

She's the only way I'm able to heal. I owe like — everything to her.

we can suffer it's fine

[personalwar]

[ Isn't it the people who insist they're not a nutjob who are most likely to be just that? 76 figures that he can give her the benefit of the doubt, though, given that everything about their situation is off-the-wall. If he has to add "weird kid in a catsuit who can summon a giant superhero" to that, well. He isn't going to like it, but he'll do it.

All the same, said giant superhero disappears without a trace soon after that. It makes the whole thing more baffling, but also makes it a little easier for 76 to focus on the person in front of him. ]

I'm guessing she's only got so much juice, though. You're not gonna be much help if you end up taking a dirt nap.

[ He'll stop with the questions for now, in favor of getting things organized around here. He takes a look at the long line pf wounded behind him, already mentally sorting through how to split it up. ]

[burglarize]

[ Thank you, 76 for at least acknowledging how weird this was. Ann gets it but some people think this is totally normal. ]

We're kind of tied together. If I'm running low on energy, then she can't do her job. Carmen's left kind of following my command, which is why I want to be better — try better. [ She says almost as if she knows she's not at her best. ] ...Yeah... I can't do that. If I can't heal, I can at least try and help the people who are just acting as medics.

[ She looks to him with a curious look. ]

How skilled are you in — uh... setting bones? Someone back here dislocated their shoulder. I told them to rest until someone with better experience was here.

[personalwar]

[ All things considered, 76 isn't that surprised to hear that the girl's ability to summon her helper relied on her own energy reserves. It was similar with Genji and the dragon; he couldn't summon it at the drop of a hat.

Still, this girl clearly wanted to do everything that she could to help others, and 76 couldn't judge anyone for that, even if he'd lost the same earnestness a long time ago.

(Granted, he was still helping, so... make what you will of that.)

At the question, he gives a quick shake of his head. ] I could, but like you said, better to leave it to a professional. [ 76 had done emergency medic work when he had no other choice, but there are options here. ]

Just wait here for now. [ Without another word, he marches off and begins barking orders, splitting the line up into multiple ones of more manageable length, then rounding up any other healers or medics to begin splitting up the work. He even tells one of them about the person with the dislocated shoulder.

Once he's done and things are running a little more smoothly, 76 settles himself against the trunk of a tree near Ann. He draws in a breath that catches a little when his bruised ribs flare up with pain again. ]

[burglarize]

But —

[ If he's capable, she wanted help. Maybe she should have been more direct. Stop fiddling around and actually basically strongly enforce he help the short-staffed healers. It wasn't his fault, he has his own tactical mind and if he was better suited for something else, he acts according. Ann's told to wait and that's honestly something that flares her up a bit. Her fists clench at her side and once 76 begins to help (in his way, which was honestly the logical kind), she's following a few minutes later. ]

No way. You're hurt too! You think it's okay to help others when you're close to keeling over?

[ Her tone was passive aggressive, a slight taste of his own medicine in the regards of what's 'useful' around here. Ann's squinting at him pretty hard. ]

Tell me what happened and — just give me a few minutes and I'll summon Carmen back. I'm not going to let anyone sit around hurting after the shitstorm we've been through.

[personalwar]

[ Funny how 76 would chastise someone else for pushing themselves too hard, only to turn around and do the exact same thing. Yes, he's a hypocrite, but there's a reason for that. He has the enhancements that allow him to keep going beyond the point of all reason, and stay vertical. He's proved that to himself plenty of times over the years.

So as far as he's concerned, he isn't close to keeling over and the girl is overreacting. ]

There are other people who need your help more than I do. [ He says the words with a shake of his head, even as he sets one gloved hand lightly against his side. He takes a deep breath and groans at the way his ribs protest. ]

I got banged up when I landed. I'll heal on my own, within a few hours.

[ So really, she doesn't have to worry so much. ]

[burglarize]

So you're going to sit there suffering when I can do something now (or soonish)? Don't be drama queen.

[ Ann narrows her eyes, pointing back to the tent and the gathered healers and newly divided line. It's clear that ...76 kind of blocked himself into a corner. ]

You took care of people getting help. There's more qualified doctors and medics there with the line you split up. Guess that means you get VIP status right now.

[ There's a grunt as she flops down onto the ground, legs crossing criss-cross as she pulls her mask off. She weighs the panther motif in her hand, just letting her skin breathe for a few moments before she has to slide it back on to summon Carmen. ]

Are you use to this kind of stuff? [ It was idle chit chat. ] Like, total chaos, I mean.

[personalwar]

[ 76 would like to be able to say that this is the first time someone had called him a drama queen, but that would hardly be the case. It's been a while (years), but the memory of exasperated tones coming from friends of his distracts him for a moment, allowing the girl to continue to make her point.

There isn't much point in pushing the topic with someone who isn't going to take no for an answer, so with a tired sigh he takes a seat. Not quite next to her, but close enough that they can talk.

Getting a glimpse of her face under the mask, 76 realizes she's even younger than he'd thought. He still doesn't get what the outfit is all about, but... whatever. ]

I've been on battlefields before. The chaos here is similar to that. [ Large numbers of people, injured, that kind of thing. At least here nothing is trying to kill them, at least so far. ] Guessing you're not, then?

[ What's your deal, kid? ]

[burglarize]

[ Ann shrugs a bit. There's a dismissiveness in how she answers, like a kid who is trying to avoid answering. She has to choose her words carefully, mainly for her comfort. ]

Not like this, nah. I kinda liked to stick behind the scenes, I guess? Or in the shadows, rather.

[ STOP JUDGING HER OUTFIT, CYCLOPS. :/ She hates it enough as is. ]

I — uh, wasn't able to summon Carmen in front of people like this until I got here. There were special circumstances, so it's kinda invasive but. It's really needed right now.

[personalwar]

[ Behind the scenes, in the shadows. 76 doubts that she means it that way he takes it, that she had been covertly carrying out tasks like a Blackwatch agent. She's just a kid, after all.

(Ha ha... ha...)

Still, if she's got some sort of supernatural companion who she can summon at will, it's already obvious she isn't just a normal schoolkid either. So he's naturally going to pry a little more. ]

So what did you use her for, before all this? Also to heal people? Must've been hard trying to do that without getting noticed.

[ Yeah, something is missing here, he knows that much. ]

[burglarize]

I didn't really use her for much — uh... it's a really long and weird story. I don't think you'd even believe me.

[ She cuts herself off, careful not to just ramble that she was kinda trying to kick the ass of a sexual predator to avenge her best friend and somehow turned into a thief that stole adult hearts in some manifestation of inner conscience.

Yeah. So weird. ]

...She sets things on fire too...

[ Ann says sheepishly before sliding her mask back on. Like clockwork, a blue flame erupts behind her and Carmen sashays into life. She mentions Dia and before 76 knows it, he'll feel a little bit better. A slight green glow focused on his mid-section. ]

Since I woke up from one of the pods, she isn't as powerful as she was. She seems really limited. Have you noticed anything weird about yourself?

[personalwar]

I don't think there's much I wouldn't believe, at this point.

[ Sure, it might take a while for it all to really sink in, but look at their current situation. If he were to start saying that a story sounded far-fetched, it'd be pretty ironic given that they're currently on an alien planet.

If the kid doesn't want to tell him the whole story, though, he isn't going to push it. He doesn't want her to pry too much into his background either, after all.

He tilts his head when she mentions setting things on fire. That could also be useful in their current situation, though he's soon distracted by the relief he feels in his ribs as Carmen does her work. One gloved hand settles against his ribcage and he releases a sigh. ]

... Thanks.

[ At the girl's question, though, he shakes his head. ] Everything seems the same as I remember it. Maybe something about this place is messing with your connection to her. [ He has no idea how this "Persona" stuff works, so it's just a guess, but the information is something to file away all the same. ]

[burglarize]

Okay, like that doesn't sound ominous.

[ Ann says with a furrowed brow. He's definitely older than her — the silver tufts of hair obvious to that fact.

The fire thing was almost like a defense mechanism. Ann's insecure about her healing — she's not the one doing it and Carmen has been severely debuffed upon awakening. Anything she could do, she had no training for. She relies on mystics in the Metaverse to give her that strength — something she's totally not use to having.

The healing works steady enough, though. One less difficulty to contend with. ]

I guess. I don't know if I'll really get an answer until I speak with the people who saved us — well, woke us up. I'm missing my whip and machine guns too...

[ She says in the poutiest of fucking voices??? I'm Sorry. ]

[personalwar]

[ Their situation is pretty ominous, as far as he's concerned, so 76 doesn't have any apologies to give on that count. He only shrugs.

The healing she'd done to him isn't so different from the nanites that Angela would use to heal them up, both during and after missions, and so he chooses not to overthink it, even if it's some sort of mystical being that he owes this time around. ]

You could see about —

[ He's halfway through giving her some advice when the rest of what she says catches up with him, and then there's a few seconds of silence as he stares at her. ]

You have machine guns?

[ She's like... sixteen. Is this a McCree situation all over again, because he really didn't peg her as the type. ]

[burglarize]

[ He seems a bit shocked. Her lips scrunch up a bit, eyeing him with a curiosity. ]

Had. They didn't make it through the storm, I guess. I didn't wake up with them.

[ She seems a bit disappointed. Truthfully, they were only part of what she defends herself with. Not that she was necessarily the best at aiming... her accuracy was pretty low, actually. ]

Other people have things missing too. It's pretty crap, actually.

[personalwar]

[ No explanation given about why she's running around with machine guns back home, then. 76 could press the point, because ultimately it's a lot stranger for her than it is for a masked man like him, but he holds off for now. ]

Yeah, I don't have everything either. Got my rifle, but not my sidearm.

[ Even if it's only a handgun, it had been an important part of his kit. Then again, he also still has his enhancements to fall back on, and they haven't been tampered with as far as he can tell.

He sighs and leans his head back against the tree trunk. This is really the first time he's sat down since this all started, and some of the exhaustion has started to hit him. ]

Guess we'll just have to make do.

[burglarize]

It's all we can do. They didn't even give us the cliffnotes of what the hell we're getting into, but —

[ There's a tired shrug at that point. ]

As long as we have something to defend ourselves with, this great unknown won't be too bad. I hope. I just want shit to stop falling from the sky.

[personalwar]

I think it's almost done. I'm more curious about what's waiting for us out there.

[ 76 nods, but it's not to anything in particular. He means the world at large, this strange planet they've found themselves on through no real choice of their own.

He's quiet for a few seconds, then glances over at the girl. ]

What's your name?

[burglarize]

That's a whole 'nother thing to worry about.

[ Trust me, she doesn't sound excited at this point. ]

Ann. Uh — Ann Takamaki. You?

[personalwar]

You can call me 76.

[ No, it's not a name. He does make note of hers, though. Japanese surname, which he wouldn't have necessarily expected.

Now isn't really the time for small talk, though. He's rested long enough, so he braces his hand against the tree trunk as he stands. ]

I should get back to work. Thanks... for earlier.

[burglarize]

[ FUCK, SHE SHOULD HAVE SAID PANTHER? Codenames, codenames, codenames!! She does want to ask why 76 — but she refrains. ]

Not a problem, we're all kinda stuck in this together, right? I'll... see you around. Just don't be stubborn — you'll get hurt.

[ AND THEN WE FINALLY END THE THREAD. ]