❪ 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

A/B

[winddaughter]

[She's got a lot of firewood in hand and doesn't seem to have any problem.

Which means the look she's giving him is 100% Judging.]

What are you, stupid?

[By now she's doing mildly better, which means her rudeness is back.]

[coolerjunpei]

[Please, let him rest. Or rather: it takes him a moment to realize she actually spoke to him, at which point his delayed reaction probably doesn't... help his image, here? But whatever.]

Was I talking to you? Don't butt in.

took me ten centuries to write a sentence that wasn't "with your wood"

[winddaughter]

I'm sorry, would you like some alone time with your failure? [She shifts her stance just a bit.] Or should I take those logs from you? I can carry them.

i'm almost genuinely disappointed

[coolerjunpei]

[Automatically he shifts as well, holding the wood closer to his chest like it's offensive she would even offer. He's got this!! He hasn't got this.]

I'm doing just fine! Watch me. [He takes a step that is theatrically large, and like the stooge he is, drops like 3 pieces of wood at once. Freeze frame on this. He has no words.]

you and me both

[winddaughter]

[She bursts out laughing. She can't help it. She really can't! And in some twisted way it feels so good to laugh, because she hasn't. At all.

Still.

She actually tries to reign herself in.]

Oh. Oh, you're something else. I really needed that!

[There's a few chuckles left.]

goals tbh

[coolerjunpei]

[Oh... oh. Give him a moment to rein in his deep and powerful shame before he straightens back up and, after an awkward pause, stoops down to pick up those pieces. He drops another off the top in the process; ignore it.]

Well, at least one of us is enjoying themselves... I'll, uh, I'll be here all week. Probably.

[winddaughter]

[She supposes she might cut him some slack. He did, in a way, help her out.]

Come on, it's okay to ask for help.

[Pot, kettle.]

Or you can come back for them. I won't tell!

[coolerjunpei]

You're doing this on purpose.

[Telling him to ask for help after laughing at him... He knows sass when he sees it. But fine, fine.]

Alright, alright. Give me a hand before half of this goddamn wood is in me.

[Give him a minute. A minute........ he hears it now.] Splinters. As splinters!

thank you, you're a delight

[winddaughter]

[She's stares at him, but the comment goes right over her head. Obviously he means splinters. Or a chest wound. She's back to thinking he's an idiot.]

Sheesh. [She approaches him, carefully balancing her own pile, still about the weight of her pet Gulliver, takes some of his, then puts some distance between them before she says more.] I hope everyone else that came down with you isn't this hopeless.

takes a bow tbh

[coolerjunpei]

[Oh my god... no!! No, this is worse than if he hadn't realized what he was saying! He'll never win, at this rate.

Now with his seriously depleted and frankly pathetic stack of firewood, which he just stares at like it's personally disappointed him and at fault for this, he needs another moment of shame before he moves to actually, like. Walk. Back to camp.]

No idea. I've only got the one friend, and he's blind. [so at least 2 of them are hopeless, yeah.]

[winddaughter]

[At least he has a friend.]

Well, someone here will whip you into shape. Probably with an actual whip; people are crazy around here, didja know?

[She doesn't know how to use a whip, thank god.]

[coolerjunpei]

Wait, what? How many people are going around with whips?

[Just what kind of crazy has he been missing out on??]

[winddaughter]

Well lots of people, of course. [She hasn't seen anyone. She was barely even aware during her first, what, hour?] I thought you said your friend was the blind one?

[coolerjunpei]

[What the hell?? Surely, she is fucking with him. He can't have missed a whip arsenal. A whoopass...enal.

Know that he is refraining from saying this aloud.]

I've been trying not to become a human steak all day. That's one well done I can do without.

[winddaughter]

[Gosh, she sure hopes you're proud of that pun.]

Well, you'd better start paying attention. There's a lot of people that have fallen from that sky. A lot of people have been here for a few hours.

They're scattered all over this place. What was it? [She tries to recall the conversation. It keeps falling away from her, the memory like water in her palms.] A ten mile radius? So, you never know, okay?

[She's definitely fucking with him.]

Let's get this firewood back to camp.

[coolerjunpei]

[He's never been more proud of himself, thanks.]

Yeah, but— Nobody was swinging whips around on the moon. [God, that is a sentence he just had to say in seriousness. This is his life now.]

Not anybody I noticed. [please... let's go.....]

[winddaughter]

Why would they have to? We were safe up there. Even if it was a false safety.

[She is going to ingrain in his mind that there are people lurking around this planet with whips if it kills her.

She sighs.]

And look where we are now! [She starts to head back towards the camps.] I thought something might go wrong, but not something like this!

[coolerjunpei]

I guess... [This is terrible. He hates this.]

Pretty sure things already went wrong. That's, uh, why we're here? Generally speaking? You know, that big hungry cloud thing?

[winddaughter]

[She instantly stops and turns a sharp, cool glare his way. Her entire posture's tense.]

Don't. Remind me.

[coolerjunpei]

[Uh. Whoa!!]

Hey—alright, alright. Never mind. Tell me the one about the whips again.

[winddaughter]

[Her silence ticks on. The only way Anemone has managed to be functioning since the drop is when she doesn't think about the Storm.

It isn't like he made her mad on purpose though, similarly to how he didn't mean to make her laugh.]

Don't think the whips are a joke, you're going to get caught off guard otherwise.

[Her tension slowly leaves her again. (She needs to find someone that knows how to use a whip ASAP.)]

We need to focus on the here and now. The Refugees down here and the attack Darma is dealing with. I can't think of stuff like that Storm right now, okay?

[coolerjunpei]

[...Well, now he feels bad, so that's great. He'll just plod along in silence with his wimpy wood pile for a bit, here...]

Sorry. I, uh... guess I kinda forgot not everyone is dealing with this crap the same way.

[Junpei for example wants someone to blame, but he's coming to terms with... it. Sort of.]

[winddaughter]

We haven't really even had time to deal with it. I wonder if that was planned, too? It'll catch up with everyone, eventually. [She lays her chin on the top of her wood stack. Quieter, she adds.] It'll catch up with me.

[She shakes her head and laughs it off. Coping mechanisms, gotta love them.]

Anyway, you made me laugh, so thank you again for that. I hope you and your friend manage for the night. I'm not sure when everyone is expecting to try and head towards... Olympia?

[coolerjunpei]

You think they might have planned being attacked? [He'll totally find someone to blame real fast if that winds up being the truth. He looks up as he walks, at the moon, like that will tell him whether or not everyone still asleep up there is safe. Fuck this, really—]

Wh- oh. Uh, thanks. We should be okay. [...] I'm Junpei. If you want to... hang out I guess, come find us?

[winddaughter]

Not them. I mean the attackers.

[She looks over at him oddly, not expecting the offer. She's still used to keeping people at arm's length, and she hasn't exactly been treating him well.] ...Anemone. Maybe I will.