❪ 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

[tub]

[ all indicators point to it being little more than just talk (aka, yeah, he's also calling bullshit), but also not entirely knowing him made it relatively difficult to define how valid that gut feeling was. his tone implying it or not. hence, he doesn't regard it with anything more than a small grunt.

soft and subdued, as he barely turns to see ardyn there. as for his words? well—

this guy was likely sharper than he initially surmised. or, he was making a joke, but it seemed too ... purposeful for that. it makes shu debate for a few seconds how much he knew of him. or if it was just... idle chatter. one thing was for sure. he isn't really a fan of people who carried on like they knew something. whatever that something was. after all, it sort of reminded him of that old man. ] ... what are you trying to say?

That I'll bite you? [ he gives a dark chuckle. ] Sorry, but I've already had my fill.

[daemonized]

[Ardyn's choice of words are conveniently ironic, but little more than that. He has no idea what this man is -- though he has seen him wandering about the camp and general vicinity, here and there -- and he's quick to stick to metaphor for the sake of it. So, a snake and one that bites; a creature that one must always show caution around (Ardyn sure doesn't look like he's showing caution), for better or for ill.

In that way, it is purposeful. And what Shu tells him in return has him tipping his head a little in renewed curiosity.]

I'm saying that you should never trust a snake, or anything with fangs.

[And the follow-up question should be obvious:]

Your fill of what?

[tub]

[ he deliberates on its definitions. how literal or non-literal the words he utters are. but, then, shu eventually decides it doesn't particularly matter in hindsight. it isn't like he instantly believed the words that came out of the mouth of their supposed "saviors"— but, maybe it really didn't matter. not like it's ever mattered. unlike most of his kind. he's long forgone secrecy. rather, there wasn't much to oppose them anyway.

... yeah, that's what he's going to roll with. is he just brushing it under the rug out of convenience? definitely. still, he does admit the stranger brings up a fresh perspective. ] So, that's your life philosophy? Sorry, but I don't care much for what happens.

[ he lives with a practiced sense of apathy, after all. ]

You don't know? [ he makes a sound here, a drag of vowel. something laced with interest. ]

Why don't you try and guess.

[daemonized]

[And at that, comes a humorless sort of laugh from Ardyn. Shall they allow this conversation to delve into the realm of philosophy and other pointless musings? How much did this stranger want to wallow in Ardyn's own sense of apathy and fatalism, crystallized into something heavy over his long years of existence?]

My life philosophy? Hardly that. If anything, they're words of caution for any stranger, faced with someone so uncaring about another's personal space or their belongings.

[Ah, but he stands to his full height again. He'll not nudge Shu a second time with his boot, though the temptation is there.]

I'm not one for guessing games. Either you tell me, or you don't. Still-- if all you wanted was my sleeping bag, you should've just asked. I have no need for it.

[tub]

[ wow. that sounds intense,

and whether fortunate or misfortunate, shu would probably would have garnered a morbid sense of interest in that. rather, it was his specialty to attempt to sink his teeth into people's personal ideologies. if just to be contrary. regardless— ] Is that supposed to be about me? [ obviously, he knows the answer to that, but he still gives a small quirk of his lips at that.

he finds, it's pretty hard to read this guy. not in a bad way. though, not necessarily in a good way either. maybe that's shu's own indifference at work. at least they have that in common. sort of. ] You didn't seem that cautious when you left it here. [ but, not needing it? he pauses to think about that. ]

Do you not sleep? [ being a non-human himself, it's relatively easy to come to that conclusion. yet, it isn't like shu truly comprehends it. if anything, sleeping was convenient. a way to drown out reality. to not have to face anything. to not have to actively do anything. but, well. he knows that isn't the same for everyone. ]

[daemonized]

[he is needlessly dramatic ok, don't judge him

Ardyn walks over to where a few other of his supplies are set down, not that far from his sleeping bag. It looks to be various other materials one might need while camping; rationed food, mostly, and utensils to eat with. He crouches down again, this time to go through what's there for him, but showing only mild interest in any of it.]

No. [An answer which reveals why he was a bit careless in where he left the sleeping bag to begin with, if the word careless can ever truly be applied to him.] Or I should say, very rarely. Sleep is a slippery thing, eluding me at even the best of times, these days.

[tub]

[ sorry for getting to this so late!! i've moved it onto the overflow here! /)_(\ ]