❪ october plot conclusion; wyver takes ❫

[natha]

THE END TO THE EPIDEMIC     On the morning of November 3, there is a palpable buzz on the streets as both the natives of Wyver and Olympian refugees share the same sentiment: excitement. Word will quickly spread that a cure to VIOLET2710 has finally been developed and is ready for mass dissemination. Throughout the city, the cure can be found at any of the numerous small temples and outposts of the Altar of Volkkra. The shamans of Volkkra will happily distribute the cure to any of the ill in need of it, without restraint. A joint venture between both Olympia and Wyver, citizens of both are granted equal access. As the lines form, the shamans will ask that able-bodied persons administer the cure to themselves and to others. Don't let the needles scare you! It'll only hurt a little. At each of these outposts, signs will be posted giving credit to those who aided in the creation and manufacture of the cure: Claire Fraser Amaterasu Pike Trickfoot Charles Xavier Alan Foster (Bruce Wayne) Keyleth Rosalind Lutece Shinjiro Aragaki Mipha Wrathion Dorian Pavus Merlin Morrigan Clarke Griffin Rose Lalonde Peter Parker Linnaeus Zelda John Watson You Watanabe Jean Grey Mikleo Daenerys Targaryen Dylas Frankenstein Waver Velvet As they distribute the cure, the shamans will note that those receiving the cure should give thanks to those named. Without their contributions, it may have taken much longer for the cure to be found and created in large enough quantities to save everyone. SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?     With Olympia and Wyver's fragile alliance still in effect and a cure to VIOLET2710 distributed, Olympia finally opens its gates once again to Refugees if they feel a little homesick. High-speed transportation will be available at record low costs as politicians, merchants, and other business owners desperately hurry home to salvage whatever they can from the terrorist attacks. Refugees are advised to remain in Wyver until food rations can be recovered and the water can be decontaminated. However, those more personally attached to Olympia may discover that the city is preparing a mass call for volunteers that will go out in the near future. In the meantime, and understandably, you should do what you can to help the Wyver people. The Dragon city has started posting quests, not only for you to do your part, but for the Wyver people to gauge your worth as visitors to their sacred land. Thesa also has an interest in the unfolding events. Refugees have now been exposed to both lands, and certainly some will find themselves more invested in one side than the other. Darma finally wakes from slumber to observe, and while she is thankful that Refugees are immersed in her world, there is something foreboding on the horizons. On the night of the 3rd, Darma will appear in your dreams for a conversation. It has been some time, Refugee... ah, no, certainly not for me. I am Darma. It is my hope that Sael as served you well in my place. The Natha do not feel, but I must express gratefulness that I am able to return to you. My greeting extends to both old and new faces. As we watch you, we see that this world and its people have begun to influence your hearts. In time, your loyalty to either of these lands, to Olympia or to Wyver, shall affect how you are seen by the other side. As observers, we are unable to provide either region a winning edge. Thus, once you pledge loyalty to one, you cannot use Thesa to teleport to the other. Choose wisely, or choose none at all. There is no war for those who do not wish to see it. For those who do... if I may be prudent— this alliance will not last. Keep your friends close, Refugee, for they may not remain so if your allegiances conflict. You will wake before you get a chance to reply. THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM IN THE UNDERGROWTH     The locals often speak of a cursed place deep within Wyver territory, confounded by the spirits of dragons who passed long ago: those who still wish for vengeance on the people of Olympia for their untimely deaths. Though these stories began as nothing more than urban legends among the raiders and shamans, over time the idea has become mainstream. So much that the rumors have started causing unrest between the people of Wyver and their guests. More than a few people within Wyver have used these rumors as justification for opposing the current alliance with Olympia. Many Wyver locals see these rumors as a sign that their ancestors disapprove of the alliance. As a result, those in charge have decided that it would be prudent to mitigate some of the anxiety from either side. Those who are willing to look into these rumors further will find themselves lead towards the darkest parts of Wyver, deep within the Undergrowth in a region devoid of light. The faint of heart will be advised against delving further. Common among these rumors are accounts of people being attacked by an unseen enemy, or talk of possession and out-of-body experiences. Those who press on will find that the culprit is none other than a new, undocumented beast. This creature is able to camouflage itself perfectly to its environment. This, paired with darkness of the deep Undergrowth, makes this beast nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye. The creature also release a noxious gas that can spark a range of emotional responses: some may grow hysterical, while others may be consumed by despair. The effects only last for minutes, though some may linger in the back of one's mind for hours after. While the creature does not actually attack people directly, the other beasts of the Undergrowth may take advantage of its victims. Fortunately, Wyver is not looking for the creature's capture. They respect the delicate balance of the jungle as they see themselves as its protectors. For now, they only desire more information about this creature in order to assuage the people. Good luck and do your best to keep your wits! ALRIA'S FULL MOON     While Olympians worship the ever-present light of Thesa, the people of Wyver are captivated by the smaller, yet ever-changing Alria. Alria cycles in and out of the night sky much like what denizens of Earth would remember as lunar phases, and those who are familiar with that may notice it is very similar to their own. And likewise, the creatures, men and women of Wyver are affected when Alria transitions into its full moon phase. DRAGONS & LUNATICS — The dragons are restless. Perhaps because this particular full moon is accompanied by far more human scent than they are typically used to, but there's no doubt that they are eyeing humans as they do fresh prey. That is exactly why humans or human-like refugees will be tasked to tame a particularly rowdy dragon stable. The dragon mounts at Lhongha Stables have broken free from their homes, roaming aimlessly in the deep undergrowth. You and another will be advised to strip down to your undergarments (it's hot, relax a little, human!) and lure the dragons back to the stables with your bodies. Rowdy dragons do love their human flesh! "Just a hunch," says the owner of the stables, "But I bet they'll come running faster if they smell your human blood." He laughs as he hands over a pocket knife if he sees you're not carrying a weapon. The owner assures you that the dragons have been trained not to attack unless told to, but who knows how serious he is about that? JUNGLE HEAT (NSFW) — The full moon affects Wyver in other ways as well. While Olympia has a district blessed by Thesa's light all year long, Wyver only feels it at a certain time of the month. "The Heat" lasts for a full week starting on a full moon. You'll see it everywhere. Olympia has its lust confined in a single district, but in Wyver, during the phase of the full moon, the lust is everywhere. The people of Wyver will be friendlier then, offering you ale and meat. They sing songs of destroying their enemies up north, but even the native Olympians won't be able to will themselves to be angry when Alria shines upon them. Perhaps you'll be find yourself affected, too, by Alria's light. And it's okay to get touchy; it isn't like the locals care about public displays of affection when they most certainly are getting handsy themselves. THE PACT OF VOLKKRA — Shamans, too, participate in celebrations of Alria's full moon. During the event, the shamans will give pairs each a couple of blessed dragon teeth necklaces. Wyver tradition states that if a shaman approves you as a pair, then you are granted a chance to form a Volkkran Pact. This pact, the shaman will explain, will bond a pair as an unstoppable team, granting one another a small influence on each others' powers. "King Shanrian and his Pact, Counsel Shenya benefit from this. Shenya was granted physical strength, and our King his Counsel's perception. It has made quite a difference." THE VOLKKRAN PACT AT NAMARAK SUMMIT     Despite being mistaken for a pair, there is no need to take the shaman's advice. The necklace will disappear if the Pact isn't completed in a week's time. However, if the Pact's benefits might be something of interest to you and your partner, then you'll be advised to travel further south, until you reach Namarak Mountain. At the summit, you'll find an altar, where you and your partner are expected to return the necklaces and make a vow to support one another. The shaman there isn't particularly interested in what you do to complete the Pact. In fact, many people who attempt the Pact tend to... go a bit further than is necessary, when it can be achieved through a simple kiss between the partners. The Volkkran Pact's effects are immediate upon physical contact. Each Pact can be broken through a special process with the head Shaman, but there needs to be at least a month's time before one can sever it. The pairs may be fake and still receive the benefit of the Pact, though they may find that sharing power with someone they are not truly committed to is a mistake. NOTE: Players may be creative about what powers can be shared. The recipients of the such powers can never be granted its full strength, but it may be strengthened with Wyver REP rewards. Please note that PCs does not need to pledge allegiance to Wyver in order to keep the Volkkran Pact; they will only need 10 Wyver REP in order to strengthen it. Refer to the questions thread below if you have any questions. BUILD-A-BLADE WORKSHOP     Sirod, the weapon's head shopkeeper, is interested in procuring a few materials for his clients. While these clients have already collected the claws of larger beasts and various other parts needed to create their new weapons, they are still missing some rare, necessary items. In particular, they are still missing the following: High Prisms — These tiny crystals attach themselves to the branches of older trees. They tend to hang near the tops of them, hiding in the shadows of the leaves. Unfortunately, retrieving them requires one… to climb. Hopefully you got a lot of tree climbing practice as a kid. Who knew that skill would ever come in handy? Crystal Drop — These are normally found near bodies of water. Especially water that has been enchanted, past or present. The drops tend to cling to the floors of these mystical streams and lagoons. Those seeking them will also have to be careful not to be affected by the water’s properties. Perhaps that's part of the trick of gathering them. Frozen Mylan Root — Mylans are a type of live vegetation that grows on Namarak Mountain. Constantly roaming in the warm seasons, they root themselves into fertile earth during the winter where they sleep until spring, making the snowy mountain ideal to acquire the roots. Plucking them from the ground takes strength, and slicing them will prove equally difficult... and of course, there is a blood-curdling scream when you wake it from its slumber. Well, it wouldn't be a real test of strength and emotional fortitude otherwise. Those who retrieve any of these items will be rewarded 100 Silver. FINAL OOC NOTE     An AC-eligible thread for 2 WYVER REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE by DEC 10th 11:59 PM EST. We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. 1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[sparsity]

[ It's a communication method he can respect. Or at the very least, not make a big deal out of. Whatever lives they used to lead, they're here now. Also making poor decisions. Immediately, his gaze cuts skyward. ]

They like to be high up, and where it's warm.

[ So either trying to find embers and shadows in the trees, or looking for broken branches and burned earth on the ground. ]

[wondie]

( Diana is not a woman easily delayed, yet it is difficult even for her to abandon Amaterasu. the wolf is charming in ways the amazon princess is entirely to weak to. however, if there's anything that can force Diana to focus, it is a sense of duty. she must collect these prisms, and better her than someone of weaker constitution and capacity. she steps into the water and it does not seem to burn or break her skin. that's enough to brave diving in, head first.

it takes her awhile to surface, though watching the clear water is enough to make it clear it's not for lack of ability to swim. it can be blamed on amazon capacity for endurance, that Diana need not surface until she's carefully collected all the spheres she thinks she needs. she returns to the surface, sucking in a heady breath of air, and there's a subtle shift her expression, even before she pushes herself toward the shore, a little blind to the lily pads offered to make her ascent easier, even if she uses them to climb free from the water faster.

she lies on the ground, and it'd be easy to think she is simply catching her breath. that is, before she takes another sharp breath that turns into a sob. )

[hylights]

...telepathy? I'm sorry, I don't know that term.

[It's just never come up in Hyrule. She wouldn't recognise the word, even if she might know the ability.]

No, my power is intended to prevent a great evil from overtaking my world.

[cutefaced]

[Of all the bad decisions they could be making, this is probably one of the better ones? They're not dead yet, anyway.]

Everywhere is warm in this country.

[#jungles]

Do you think we might find them if we climbed some trees?

[axiomed]

[ Charles coughs slightly at the wording. He's not expecting much in that regard. But he was lonely and if it fell through . . . well, it wouldn't surprise him if it did. Finally, he nods at the shaman and lets the necklace slide over his head, resting quietly around his neck like a heavy weight.

And then it was like their minds were alive. Every thought, every emotion felt like a live wire, crackling with energy. A connection stronger than the spoken voice. ]

[axiomed]

Communicating with the mind.

[ But he leaves that for now. ]

How does a power do that?

[wondie]

I remember.

( bringing this up may not be a good idea, Matthew. because she remembers everything that happened during that simulation, including reactions and close calls growing too precise to be luck. there's a reason she has not tried to treat you with kid gloves, and that is because she more than gets the sense that you are more than what you'd like people to believe. )

I did not need direct you then, either. You knew where your step would land, and never needed me to lead you. Why is this any different?

i am SO SORRY for the wait! some family stress really knocked me on my butt

[wondie]

( the guidance is a good one. instead of a plain and open runway, the trees provided cover and shadow, made her more difficult to track; even for eyes that were proving far sharper than she expected. Diana obliges, heading for the trees and winding her steps through the branches, her path as varied as the terrain and land under her feet. a part of her wants to hazard a glance behind her to know if the dragon still trailed, yet that was unnecessary when she could hear the beat of its wings and smell the sulfur of its breath.

she does not turn, instead focusing on picking her path and staying on her feet — when an obstacle comes, she leaps it with surprising grace. behind her, the dragon is not so lucky — branches and trees snap under the weight and impact of its wings. counting a hundred is not an easy feat when she has to calculate any distance she's made with a jump, yet when she thinks she's made it close to eighty, she turns toward where she can hear Jon running just beyond.

she's ready for the next direction, listening for it, even if she doesn't spare the breath for the guidance she knows will come. )

[hylights]

Oh! [Now she understands. And what a surprise it is, for being familiar.] Actually, I have done something like that. I could speak to Link when I was far away from him. I didn't know there was a word for it.

[She subsides a bit while she thinks about how to answer his question.]

The sealing power... it's something that has been passed down in my family for generations. It is the ability to seal Calamity Ganon, so that it cannot destroy the world.

[adelphoi]

[ would you look at that, he's clearing dishes; and here she'd assumed he had simply drowned in dirty laundry and cutlery the entire time she was out. what a good boy.

and less work for her, too. so alisaie stands slowly, raising her arms high over her head in a good, luxurious stretch before she's tossing another log into the hearth and shutting out the lights. the warm glow of the fire is soft and pleasant, and alisaie slides into bed beside him with a low, satisfied hum, immediately pressing right up to his side, peo hopping up to the foot of the bed just after her.

closing her eyes, she burrows her face into his neck and pillow. the sheets still smell faintly of skin and sweat and it's enough to make her mouth curve into a smile against him, one arm slipping over his middle. ]

If you wake me before noon I just may kill you.

[wondie]

( this is literally all steve's fault. if he hadn't spent all his time wildly self correcting, maybe Diana wouldn't have such a negative opinion of human intimacy. that said, the 1900s weren't exactly a time of free love... she's not totally wrong, even if she's talking in extremes.

she huffs a laugh at the idea of preferring promiscuity. no, that's not quite the ideal she is hoping for. ) I would prefer that if those that chose to be promiscuous were treated with the same understanding and respect as those that chose to abstain. There is nothing to be ashamed of in pleasures of the flesh nor the sensations they inspire. Do you not agree?

( archer....... i won't lie... she's low key testing you here... choose wisely bc amazon judgement is literally the worst )

oh good bc she's ready for one

[wondie]

( normally Diana would show some kind of gratitude for the hand free from the water. instead she simply grips his hand and takes the assistance to drag her to dry land, and the second she gets there she collapses to the marshy moss of the ground, breath heavy.

the profit of their efforts is about the last thing on her mind at the moment. she spares them a half glance at his mention, though that's all the attention they get. her shoulders slant severely downward as she reorients herself to air, and is forced to grapple with a flood of thoughts she is not a stranger to, yet had never truly felt the impact of. faces scarred by war, injuries that would never heal, bodies left behind for lack of anyone to save them, stony and cold faces that did not see death and destruction and disaster around them as it had quickly become all they had ever known — Diana had been a part of war so shortly one might almost think it would not leave its mark.

being in the water that drew out her sadness pulled her quickly into thoughts that weighed on her, even if her time at war had been short. she looks up at Victarion with suddenly teary eyes, as if she thinks he might be able to save her from the painful flashes in her head. )

[axiomed]

[ Okay, then a unique ability. Most likely tied to their world. ]

I assume it doesn't work for anyone else?

[hylights]

No. Only princesses of the royal family inherit the sealing power.

[As far as she knows, from legends and memories of her mother. And for the longest time, she had thought the power was not passed to her after all.]

My mother had it, and so did my grandmother.

[punshots]

[ He can be taught!! Maybe one day he'll learn how to put his clothes into a hamper instead of onto a pile on the floor, but one step at a time.

He has his arms ready to wind around her as soon as she slides into bed and presses close, and after a day like today, there's no way he'd rather have it. He loops one arm around her shoulders while his other hand seeks out hers between them and weaves their fingers together. He tips his chin down to bury his nose against her hair, and it's like he wants her to be at every corner of his mind while he sleeps.

He shuts his heavy eyelids, exhaling deep and long. ]

You can't kill me, [ He murmurs, half-asleep already. ] I'm your...dragon husband-boyfriend-student, or...something...

[rhygret]

Oh really? Huh. I guess you learn something new ever d--ow!

[ YEP that was Rhys carrying on all conversationally right up until the moment Dutch slices his arm and he starts a little, looking down at the thin line of red on his arm now. ]

That really stings, h-haha.

[rhygret]

W-what, you mean like... [ cough, wheeze. Rhys rubs the side of his face. ] like Lysa's potions? They worked but they made you feel all gross after.

[ He thinks he still has one of those bottles, actually. He's not sure. But he almost wishes he had it on him. Almost. because of the aforementioned reasons. ]

[lifespanned]

Okay, yeah, you're right! We can do it!

[ She's getting a little ahead of herself, but the other's increase in confidence makes her feel more at ease. That doesn't mean she's going to stray from her side though, and her chirping seems to have attracted some attention from something, indicated by a loud rustling coming from the foliage near them. Which, of course, Misa can only react to by nearly jumping. ]

Is... Is anybody there?

[ any..dragon.... ]

[unprays]

[ her expression twists — the "habit of reviving people", as Rosalind puts it, is a source of happiness as much as it is grief, is a gift as much as it is a curse. ]

No... it isn't. [ she can't help it, the coldness that seeps into her voice like frost. ] I don't know what to feel. It is like a gift from the Gods, to have my family here, know that those who were unfairly taken from the world can be given a new life... but it means we're never free of the monsters that we thought we had left behind.

[unprays]

Trust me, it's not.

[ she makes sure to soften her voice, to look at him with nothing but reassurance — it is the least she can do... and he couldn't be more wrong, thinking that merely having to draw some blood from him would make her shudder.

she may not be her sister, but a knife does not scare her. neither does what it is usually used for. ]

If I can make it easier for you, I will.

[unprays]

[ she is not easily deterred, not anymore — Jon had taken her to see the dragons, a sight that had only made her desire to see more of the land grow stronger. it is warmer here than she is used to, too warm for her to feel truly comfortable, but it is important.

she can guess that her brothers only focused on finding whoever was responsible for this, and that out of their house, it is likely that she is the only one who is now concerned with the future... with Darma's words, and what they meant.

she won't leave here and go back to Olympia, not before she knows exactly what kind of a place Wyver is, what kind of people it houses.

his suggestion gives her pause — she knows those who would counsel against it, taking the offer of an uknown man to walk with her, and yet she nods anyway. ]

If you wish, [ she agrees mildly, her gaze appraising. ] But first, I believe the courteous thing to do is let a lady know the name of her companion.

[unprays]

[ perhaps, were he to say all that... he would find that her thoughts, if not quite so strong or revolving around herself rather than her family, would stray much in the same direction. the girl who came to King's Landing was a different girl than the one who left it — and yet the girl who came to Winterfell, to be clad in white and red and black, was not the same as the girl who braved the cold of the North to leave her home, who came back with an army to take her home back.

she had been good, once. she wants to believe she is, still — and yet, she is changed. perhaps good is not the way to survive the cruelty of the world.

her smile is small, fleeting, but acknowledging that he caught her neatly in the question, or rather in why she wanted to know. ]

I would like that, [ comes the response, serious and upfront. she wants to know how to shoot a gun. she needs to know how to shoot a gun. ]

[guidetoblivion]

I have a sixth sense of sorts… that should help us with tracking this creature once I get an idea of its scent.

[One cannot hide the scent of their Heart after all. So really, she doesn't quite need to worry, Riku thinks. He is definitely going to pull his weight on this mission after all.]

I'll try my best to at least. To be honest, I'm much better at combat related magic and abilities.

[Or really, anything that has to do with Darkness. Darkness, he can do very well. Healing… that needs a lot more practice.]

[guidetoblivion]

[Riku frowns faintly as he gauges the distance between them – oh yea, he easily could take that jump, he concludes but thinks better than to mention – before he shrugs and starts climbing one of the neighboring trees.]

Hang on for a moment.

[No pun intended there.]

[emblazes]

[Alala, the needle presses into the only hue of green(ish) he can see, and very slowly he'll apply pressure to the end of it, injecting him with the cure. It should feel a bit cold rather than painful.]

Yeah. [A beat.] I got my blade from my mother -- I think. [Not...a thing he's mentioned at all to anyone.] I learned about it recently.