❪ 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

[revlon]

[ Her hair? She reaches up to touch it; the curls are loose, now, more waves than anything else. And she suspects she'll have no way to set her hair for a long while yet. It's so minor in the grand scheme of things, but it's a bit of her sense of normal that must be tucked aside to adjust to how it has to be now.

Like the idea of different worlds, which this man hints at with such a casual comment. A couple of skies, he says. She's curious. ]

No, not at all. I've gotten through a great deal on inklings. [ She inclines her head. ] England, then? If I could hazard a guess of my own. Although if you're from London proper, I'd say there isn't much in the way of stargazing with the rain.

[exonerated]

[ Close. ]

Finchley.

[ His smile is soft, a trace of wistfulness.

>His memories of the place are far less vivid, than what he can recall of Narnia, but they come in increments. As if spending far too much time in one place makes you lose all recollection of the other. But he was young then, of course, and Edmund in particular didn't have many good memories of his children, some of which were of no fault than his own. ]

There wasn't much time for stargazing at the time, regardless, at least from what I can recall from childhood memories. You could only really see so much in a bunker.

[ The Blitz, you know?

It doesn't occur to Edmund at all that he might be to far back in the past for others to get the reference — neither does he care for what the future holds for him. He'd explain himself if need be. ]

[revlon]

[ She pauses, then smiles a little herself with the same sort of wistfulness. ]

Hampstead.

[ Just south of him. What are the odds? She hasn't been home in a long time, either; perhaps not as long as Edmund (not that she knows it), but the sentiments are the same. The woman she was in Hampstead doesn't exist anymore. She'd come into herself during the war — or rather, she'd rediscovered who she'd always been — and found that she was meant to be elsewhere. Maybe she'd outgrown home. New York was a better fit. Los Angeles is — was — on its way to being one, too. And now... this. Olympia.

Home is never really a place, anyway. ]

A bunker? [ That does get her attention. That reminds her of the war. But surely not. ] Surely you don't mean a bomb shelter.

[exonerated]

Yes, bomb shelters. They were bombing the city from the skies.

[ He looks to the sky overhead, as if recalling a memory. The sky is darker now, and the stars twinkle brighter in return. More reminiscent, to him, of Narnia and its ever glowing sky, stretching all the way to the end of that world, than London's dreary clouds. ]

My siblings and I were moved to the countryside as soon as it was safe to travel again. There was a professor, he was quite eccentric but he took us in.

[ And after that, Narnia. A whole new world, an a slew of experiences to follow. ]

[revlon]

[ Something in her expression shifts — it's curious, a softening and a hardening both, like recognition and sympathy all rolled into one. She watches him look to the skies and she imagines he's seeing what she thought she'd seen upon landing: air raids. She won't soon forget the wailing klaxon, the way the train tunnels shuddered under the barrage as people slept underground to weather the onslaught.

It sounds like he's referring to Operation Pied Piper. The government called for families to send their children to safety in the countryside; she remembers seeing the crowded train stations, the parents bidding goodbye to their offspring. The weeping. Peggy draws her robe close around her shoulders and says, ]

I was too old to be sent away on the trains. [ She went to Bletchley, to work as a codebreaker instead. She smiles briefly, quietly. ] You do mean the war, don't you? With Germany.

[exonerated]

Yes, the Nazis.

[ He remembers the group's name, the symbol, but he hasn't ever met one in his life. Instead he ends up fighting snow and witches.

He slants his eyes back to her. ]

You were in the war, then? Helping the soldiers.

[ She has the look of a strong woman, a vague image of the strength he remembers in his mother, echoed by Susan's determination and Lucy's valor. ]

[revlon]

[ She weighs her options. She could tell him the truth, but that isn't a truth she wants spread around. She could tell a variation of it — and that's what she's good at, really. Peggy's answer comes slowly. ]

Yes. [ She smiles a little, looking back to the fire. She gathered information to help, she charged the front lines with them. ] I hadn't expected to meet someone else from home. [ In all senses of the word: place, time. ] What gave me away?

[exonerated]

Just memories of my own.

[ He weighs his own options, too, wondering what he can say. He can hear Lucy in his head, reprimanding him for his hesitations — but Edmund, he's always far too careful now, for his own good. ]

My name is Edmund Pevensie.

[revlon]

Peggy Carter.

[ She frees a hand from the robe draped over her shoulders so she can extend it to him. ]

A pleasure, Mr Pevensie. Even if it seems we're a long way from home.

[ He looks to be just a few years younger than her, if that. Which makes her think he's from about a decade in her future if he'd been evacuated with the children during the war. But here and now, that gap's been narrowed by nature of the pods and Darma's involvement. This keeps happening so she's starting to get used to it, but it's still a little strange. ]

[exonerated]

[ A home that they can never return to, it seems. ]

Do you feel ready to build a new one, here?

[revlon]

[ She pauses. Then, lightly, ]

Not one for small talk, are you?

[ That's quite the question to ask of a stranger. But it's a question that's weighing on all their minds so it isn't entirely unusual or rude to ask it. She's been asking herself that same thing, even if she'd gone into this by choice. Is she ready? God, she isn't sure. She may have been if this hadn't happened; or, even, if she hadn't learned Steve Rogers was alive and walking around as she was.

"Building a new life" has such implications now. ]

[exonerated]

[ Lightly, ]

I did plenty of it, though I'm generally not a fan.

[ Being king and all that, you know. Edmund dislikes the sheer nature of it — talking without talking — though he knows the importance of knowing context. In politics, it's almost a necessity, and he's so very good at his job. It's almost a curse in itself. ]

Too heavy for a first conversation?

[ Though he won't apologize. ]

[revlon]

Forward, perhaps. Not the same.

[ And not a bad quality to have. She's as blunt as much as she isn't — she's a spy and she navigates conversations as she must. Now, with people she doesn't entirely know, she keeps her answers toeing the line of the dreaded small talk. But there's a quickness to her gaze that might just hint at something more wildly observant and calculating. ]

So to answer your question: as ready as I can ever be. Are you?

[exonerated]

I always try to prepare for unexpected circumstances.

[ It's good to be on your toes, when in Narnia. When it politics, generally. ]

[revlon]

[ continued! ]