❪ 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

[offthatpath]

[Alec is surveying the area when Archer approaches, checking for any pods that may have been missed. There's a danger that some could have landed unconscious and in the rush of rescue were overlooked. There's always a small chance it could be someone he knows. So he's been very meticulous to check over every pod he finds, just in case.

His bow is currently slung over his shoulder, along with his arrows, and when Archer nods to it his interest is peaked. Another fellow archer maybe? Although he doesn't appear to have his own bow with him.]

Yes. [He doesn't see any reason to be humble about his abilities. He's been in training since he was a child.] Why do you ask?

[fakers]

[ archer had been mostly thinking the same thing, though the actual looting of the pods he's content to leave to others. his senses are good enough that in most cases he'd be able to ascertain whether any living being was in one of the pods, but there's no harm in being thorough. ]

Professional curiosity, I suppose? [ that's as good an answer as any. granted, archer himself doesn't ever actually carry a bow on him, which probably seems counter-intuitive. ] I'm not a bad shot myself.

[ ...whenever he actually bothers to do his role properly, anyway. ] I've heard people have spotted some wild game around here. [ and people need to eat, probably? ]

[offthatpath]

And what profession is that? [The question is part curiosity and part information gathering. Alec had mostly kept to himself on the Station, hoping for his loved ones to wake up. Now that he's here he doesn't have much choice except to adapt. And part of that is learning about the people he's surrounded by and what their capabilities are.]

I've never used my bow to hunt game before. [There could be several implications read into that, but demon slayer for a living probably isn't the first to come to mind.]

But I suppose there's a first for everything. Do you have a bow of your own?

[fakers]

Archer. [ ...okay, that's not really a profession, but that's really as much as he'll say. his actual profession is rather difficult to explain, if you can actually call being "guardian of the planet" an actual profession. ]

It's not much different than firing at anything else. Easier in some ways, harder in others. [ honestly, he feels worse shooting animals than people, but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. ]

I can manage. [ he hesitates for a moment, but ultimately decides it doesn't really matter - it's not like he's been hiding his abilities up till now, so why get bashful? with a flourish of his hand, a long black bow appears out of thin air. ]

[offthatpath]

[That's vague. Not to say that a person couldn't do archery professionally. But it's usually more of a skill used to assist in a profession. Either way, Alec doesn't question it and nods in acknowledgment.

If we can make clean shots it would be better. I don't want to make them suffer. [He doesn't like the thought of killing animals either, but it's either that or face starvation. And he has family here with them that he needs to provide for.]

How...[He blinks, staring at the bow that had not been there a moment ago.] Are you a warlock?

[fakers]

I don't disagree. [ really, he hadn't considered doing anything else. he's thankfully a good enough shot that he can all but guarantee clean deaths for any game they hunt.

though he pauses at that last bit, glancing at the young man a bit more quizzically. it was apparently he knew something of magic, but even so: ]

That's a term I don't hear often. [ a shrug. ] But not inaccurate. I usually prefer mage. [ he brings up a hand, gesturing towards the young man's runes. ] You aren't unfamiliar, I imagine.

[offthatpath]

[It's still taking him some time to wrap his head around the fact that things about his world aren't the same for everyone else. But he only has his experiences from home to judge others by. But perhaps mage works just as well as the term warlock carries a meaning for him that might not be true of other worlds.]

Mage, then. [He glances briefly at the runes covering his revealed arms.] No, I'm not. But I'm not one. A mage. Or warlock.

[fakers]

Oh? [ well, that was always a possibility. the tattoos don't necessarily mean he wields magic himself - just that magic has been used on him at some point. ]

Then what are you?

[offthatpath]

[He doesn't respond for a long moment, debating how much he should say. However, judging by the appearance of some of the other people in the group, it's clear that not everyone is a regular human. There's no real reason for him to keep it a secret, especially not after Archer has already shared with him.]

A Shadowhunter. We're humans who are descendants of the angel Raziel. It's our mission to protect the mundane world-the human world-from demons and other supernatural threats. [That's the gist anyways. But he doesn't explain the runes. Maybe if Archer asks about them he will.]

[fakers]

[ he quirks an eyebrow at that explanation, but if it really surprises him, he doesn't show it. it's certainly unusual, but at this point what isn't? ]

Descended from an angel? That's... quite a pedigree. [ "protect the world from demons and supernatural threats"... well, that he's at least pretty accustomed to. ] And so? Are you good at it? This shadow hunting business.

[offthatpath]

One of my Institutes' best. [Along with his sister and brother of course. He allows a hint of pride to enter his voice as he speaks. Not enough to seem arrogant, but enough that it's clear he's confident in his abilities.]

We train from childhood. It's what we're meant to do. [To be lacking isn't really something a Shadowhunter can afford to do.]