❪ 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]

[There's a moment when he considers commenting on the other's presence, but he did do him a favor of sorts. Abelas looks back down to the damaged piece of armor and continues his work, bending the malleable piece into proper shape. His way of welcoming the company.]

I am capable of foraging out on my own.

[It wasn't stated in an argumentative way, more like he was clarifying an accidental misconception.

With the one piece finished he set it aside to cool, then took up his damaged pauldron and scowled at it. It was far more damaged, and it would likely be better to discard it than to try and fix it, but he would make the attempt anyway. He inspected the leather strap that had been supposed to hold it in place and found it cracked and brittle. Probably should have kept up with it more between slumbers.

He let out a sigh and summoned the flame in his hands once more to warm up the metal.]

[agradecido]

[Zevran purses his lips at the statement. Dalish elves. Shaking his head, he lets the thought leave his mind. That wasn't fair. It wasn't a Dalish thing, it was a this-particular-elf thing.]

Capable still doesn't mean it's a good idea. We have no idea what's out there.

[It's rather amazing that he's able to do that at all out here, without a forge, and he falls silent while he watches for a bit. Not that he's about to act impressed. Zevran watches Abelas grumpily inspect his armor, and then summon the flame again. Maybe he should mention the mage--wizard, he corrects himself.

And then he sits there, staring off into the quiet woods for a bit longer, leaning back and forth over mentioning it, since he's about as fond of this man as this man is of him, but eventually practicality wins out and he rolls his eyes up to the heavens for a second.]

...There's a fellow here who can repair that, perhaps. Magically. It's quite impressive, I had no idea that was a thing people could do.

[getoutofmytemple]

I have grown accustomed to such.

[Every time he woke the threats they lay outside his temple walls were always foreign to him. Though he did not face such adversity alone, he had his Sentinels support, and they were the ones that suffered the brunt of it. Perhaps this one had a point.

In something of a concession of the disagreement, he paused in his attempt to salvage a lost cause, and reached over to take some bread from the bowl.]

You have my thanks regardless.

[The silence did not bother him, and for the moment he did not seem as adverse to company as usual. Likely because he could not judge one's competence when it came to sitting by a fire. It also was easier to let himself forget the differences between them and pretend the other elf was something familiar.

He was not surprised when the other spoke, but when he said something worthwhile Abelas was caught a bit off guard. He looked down at the pauldron, and hesitated a moment. Normally if armor was damaged, they would replace it with parts from the armor of those that had fallen. That was not an option he had any longer, which meant that this was now all he had that remained of his world.]

You are certain of his skill? [He turned the damaged piece of armor in his hands, and his tone almost sounded sentimental when he spoke of it.] It is very old... I would rather keep it as is than see it destroyed.

[agradecido]

[It's a jarring, unpleasant, lonely feeling, that's for sure, and one they definitely all were sharing at the moment. Zevran looked back at the man, at the pauldron in his hands and lifted an arm to show his own armor--perfectly intact, despite their less than gentle landing.]

It is nothing short of miraculous, I would say. I can give you his name if you like.

[getoutofmytemple]

[There was a part of him that wanted to point out that his armor was undoubtedly more complex than the others, but he bit his tongue this time. He couldn't fix it on his own, as much as he wished he could.]

That would be appreciated.

[agradecido]

[Of course it is, it's full plate. They both know that. It didn't need to be said. Still, he appreciates the small effort at making nice, and decides to make nice himself.]

He goes by "Newt." A human, about this much taller [--holding a hand above his head--], with curly, reddish hair, and a boyish face. He wears a long brown overcoat and you will most likely find him carrying a small wand; this he uses to perform his magic.

It's just as likely you'll find him playing with plant samples, I think. He seemed very interested in the medicinal and magical properties therein.

[getoutofmytemple]

Newt?

[His first thought had him wondering why someone would name a child after a small pathetic lizard, but he shook it away. It was not relevant to the discussion. It merely earned a slight shake of his head.]

I shall seek him out then. I suspect the technique to forge such armor has long since been lost to time, but he can reshape it with magic then perhaps I need not worry.

[He set the pauldron down next to him, it was better to wait to attempt to salvage it himself if there was a better option. He did not get his hopes up though, he knew better. Even he knew little of the forging processes in his day, beyond it using magic, thus he suspected any attempts to repair it would wind up partially being guesswork.]

Even if such is beyond his skills, he should have valuable information on the native herbs in the area. With any luck he has found something the healers can make use of.

[Because even when actively not at work, he was still working one way or another.]

[agradecido]

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