❪ 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

[worldlyafflictions]

Sounds like a good way ta get knocked out of a tree and get eaten. Wanna go first?

[cutefaced]

...you're not as chivalrous as I remember.

[What happened to the boy who gave her a piggyback ride when she was too weak to walk, she wonders? Well, whatever. Maybe he's just scared of dragons.

So she nods, and heads straight for one of the trees.]

Just make sure you catch me if I fall, got it?

[punshots]

[ Prompto's not exactly sure how he's supposed to ignore the floating, um, pirate man, but okay, he's got bigger things to worry about right now. Like...getting down from this tree in one piece. They can get back to that later. ]

Umm - yes, please! And quick - I don't know how much longer this branch'll hold out!

[ If he sounds desperate, that's because he is. SAVE HIM... ]

[punshots]

[ Pretty stuck, don't look at him. He has a true talent for getting into these kinds of situations. ]

Oh, yeah? You should give it a try! They're, uh - really tree-y! Nice 'n'...leafy -

[ Ah, there they go. Prompto doesn't free himself so much as the branch gives out under his renewed struggling against it, and with a panicked squawk, he tumbles unceremoniously down towards Merlin's "safety circle". SAVE HIM... ]

[worldlyafflictions]

Haha, well ya seem hale and healthy now, and already running headlong inta trouble! There's only so much I can do against that, ya know, I'm trying my best! [Kind of]

Either way, my manly arms await!

[The view from under the tree isn't bad, anyway.]

[daemonized]

[What a lark, these necklaces. He thinks that much as he holds his own up to the light, quite dubious of their symbolism and exactly how it applies to both himself and Rosalind. But, as always, he feels more amused than indignant -- and if he were to be honest with himself, all that it entailed (this promise of being able to share abilities and powers) was something that he could not completely ignore.

It doesn't look like it, with how he acts, but Ardyn's already given it some thought. What if he were able to teleport much like herself? Without any reliance on his magic, without the same kind of restrictions that came with it? There were advantages, to be sure, but the other side of the equation meant sharing his own abilities with her.

This is... not an issue, so to speak, so much as it is a very odd gesture of... solidarity that he's unused to making. Not so much trust as it is camaraderie between two immortals, or would be if he decided to see this through. As always, he weighs the pros and cons, making sure the latter isn't stacked too far against him. If he were granted a new set of abilities, what did it matter if she possessed a few of his? As long as it did not affect him in a detrimental way, perhaps it would be fine for her to do whatever she likes; maybe it would even be interesting to see how she would utilize them.]

Well... [He parrots back, without even looking at her yet.] It sounds like you're interested, if you're asking me "well".

[An annoying grin.] Sell it to me, then, Madam Lutece. Tell me why I should consider creating this pact between us.

[punshots]

[ HE'S MADE A HUGE MISTAKE.

Maybe he should have taken it a bit slower, he probably didn't need to get in that close to catch their attention - but there's no time to regret that now. There is only time to run like hell, because he sure has dragons on his tail. ]

Shit shit shit shit shit shit -

[ He beelines straight for the stable. Remember his camera? Oh yeah, he's still got it, and you better believe he turns around to run backwards for one moment so he can snap a pic. If he dies, at least he goes out doing what he loved! ]

[meinwaifu]

You didn't sound as though you were in danger, so I took my time! I do have a life, you know. [And he was kinda far away, so he had to teleport a few times to get here -- and didn't want to be out of breath when he finally appeared.]

[Well, that and he was b u s y. If Shima makes the mistake of looking at him too closely, he might be able to tell what he was doing before... his clothes definitely have that put-on-in-a-hurry look. Or maybe the undressed-in-a-hurry look, considering his collar is still undone and he has the faint smell of cologne... which isn't his, but that might be harder to deduce.]

So, what do you need?

[enarms]

[ jesus christ.

it's always far too late that he remembers just going along with it here rarely, if ever, has a desirable outcome. and here he is, proving that to himself yet again. about to embark on what is seeming more every second to be a far more involved local custom than he was under the illusion they were investigating. ]

Can I just remind you that you're the one who wanted to go on a day trip into the further reaches of dragon country?

[ it's hissed at this point. partially because there are, in fact, a lot of people with a lot of weaponry standing around here and there, partially because something of the Brit in him still won't allow for drawing focus at a dignified ceremony. and this does, he supposes, count as dignified. they may have entered the alter hall to the sounds of something not very dignified at all going on down the other end, but at this point fucking seems to be a staple religious custom and John's past the need for questioning it.

what he will question are Dirk's frankly horrible judgement calls, and his own frankly horrible judgement calls in going along with them. ]

There's getting along with the locals and there's— whatever the hell we've walked into here.

[ a Whatever The Hell that they seem to be slowly shuffling toward as part of a rolling queue. ]

[fractaljesus]

[A good time... Is he having a good time? He finds some amount of this enjoyable, but isn't quite certain what is "fun" about it. He is enjoying Venom's presence, at any rate. How strange that he feels drawn to him in this moment. Is it the alcohol, or perhaps the influence of something else affecting his physiology? It's not the same way he feels when he looks at Shindo, but it is a very similar sensation.]

It suits you. [Olympia does, that is. For a moment, his stoic mask softens a bit, as he becomes more comfortable. Even this is strange, he thinks. He'd never thought himself uncomfortable to begin with.]

Olympia is very ordered and stable--steady and consistent in form. Wyver is these things as well, but possesses more variance of factors. It is consistent in its inconsistency. [And yet still he can see the lines, the vertices and axes. It is ordered in its own way, just with many architects.]

You prefer less variance, more unity. Is that correct?

[meinwaifu]

[Don't worry, that's the one thing he can't get from drinking!! Not that saying as much would be very comforting.]

You don't have to worry about me, Miss Yona. I've been drinking for longer than you've been alive -- I can hold my liquor just fine.

Ah, but someone like you certainly shouldn't attempt that! It would probably make you sick.

[politrick]

[He has to look or he can't help, sorry buddy. Leafy, though... very interesting. He just hums the way you might hum at a child talking nonsense about their day, looking back at his totally empty space—

Ah, and here comes the guest of honor. Merlin startles and throws his hands out, his eyes flash gold, and the tree abruptly sheds half its leaves to pile in that empty space and give Prompto something soft to land on. Tada?

Merlin comes over to make sure Prompto's still in one piece, considerately.]

Not what I had in mind, but I was rushed. [merlin......]

a!

[likethelight]

[ At the lament, there's a brief rustling in the branches above Lance. Before Allen pops up from the leaves, a fluffy-haired mess of white among the green. Quite brightly! And with the most... actually it's kind of a scary smile.

Or is it... pops down. As he's likewise swung from above and is upside-down, his ankles hooked with oddly natural ease on a branch above and seeming quite at-home like that.

what? he was a circus brat ]

Mr. Sirod wouldn't want us to come back before we'd filled all our bags. ♡ [ burn?

So cheerful. With the effortless radiance and Customer Service Sparkle™ of someone all too used to doing soul-deadening work. Look he hates this too but at least it pays. ]

[cutefaced]

[The look Yona shoots him is more than a little incredulous, but she nods and turns her attention back to climbing the tree a moment later. It's a little easier said than done, and the bark is uncomfortable on her bare skin...

But she manages to pull herself up a few branches! She's making progress! And she hasn't even fallen yet.

She shimmies out along a branch and pushes some of the leaves aside, then gasps.]

...there's one! It's really far away, though... how can we catch up to it?

[cutefaced]

[...see, Mephisto, that just sounds like a challenge.

Yona frowns ever so slightly and looks down at her drink for a few moments, gauging exactly how much is left in the glass (it's a lot) and how difficult it would be to down the whole thing.]

It didn't taste bad or anything, though. It just tasted like peach.

[aaaaaaaand she's going for it

r.i.p. yona's liver]

[meinwaifu]

[Well, that's not the reaction he was expecting -- not that he expected her to fall for his teasing, but he was aiming for another blush! Instead, she asks her question, and he tosses his head back to laugh.]

Hahah! My, what a question to ask! Have I teased you a bit too much already? You'll have to forgive me, I simply couldn't help myself after seeing that blush on your face before!

[Of course, he's not going to answer that question -- it's a bit more serious than he'd like tonight to be, even if it's most certainly one he'd answer with a lie.]

[punshots]

[ It's easy to let go of what had been troubling him when they're like this, easy to forget all else except for her next to him, warm and alive and kissing him so sweetly. It's a blessing, really, to not have to think. It's been so long since they've been able to escape like this, and his mind is grateful for the reprieve. It offers him more peace than sleep would right now, because when he's awake, he can be sure he hasn't just dreamed up something so good as this.

And it is so good, so familiar yet fresh, a shudder shooting pleasantly down his spine when she parts her lips against his. His breath rushes out in a sigh as he slides his tongue slowly along hers and into her mouth, his fingers catching on her scalp. There's nothing rushed about it - the way he savors the taste of her mouth, the lingering flavor of mint from her toothbrush as his tongue slips along the inside of her bottom lip. It's as if he's forgotten the shape of her mouth and is eager to relearn it, deliberately and intimately, in no hurry at all. ]

Jungle Heat. No regrets.

[fractaljesus]

[This is not the first festival zaShunina has attended, but it is the first one without his guide, and without Shindo, he is less inclined to participate directly and more inclined just to watch. He'd still had a drink or two foisted upon him by friendly locals, so by the time he recognizes Jae-ha in the crowd, he's had a few cups in him already. Still, he's a very quiet and subdued drunk, and despite the warmth coiling in his stomach, he doesn't react much until he finds the taller man's arm around his shoulders.]

The flavor is unpleasant. [He protests to the offer to drink, face flush from alcohol despite his assertion that it hadn't tasted good.]

((I'm up for wherever this leads ICly.))

ii

[juniberries]

[She's still a bit thin and haggard from having spent nearly an entire month sick and essentially near-death in the last few days of her illness, having bled profusely from ever possible orifice, but she's better now. Enough to actually explore Wyver properly, taking on missions and responding to rumours as a Princess formerly on the Royal Guard would.

So of course she's ventured to the undergrowth, even when she should still be looking to laying low until fully recovered from being Patient Zero.

The mice have stayed in Wyver, so she is properly alone, though their telepathic connection does tether them together in case something should go wrong. At least, she thinks herself alone, until she sees a figure just up ahead through the darkness.

It stops, and...wow, small world. It's someone she actually knows.

Taking a few steps forward, she approaches his, hands up. Her pink markings and the fuchsia colour of her pupils are slightly illuminated in the dark.]

It's only me. I did not realize you were here exploring as well.

1/2

[meinwaifu]

[YONA NO--]

[meinwaifu]

[...pfffttthahhaha. Okay, this is kind of a hilarious situation though. Or maybe his own drink is starting to hit him, because his look of concern only lasts a good few seconds before he's bringing a hand up to try and stiffle a fit of giggles.]

--oh dear! Miss Yona, simply because you can't taste it doesn't mean it isn't there.

Well, now just who should I call when you get too drunk to walk?

[For both of them tbh]

[razzledazzles]

Stay down!

[Jae-Ha is having difficulty moving at all with this despair gripping his chest, but having someone else with him really helps him try to fight past it. It feels hopeless, but that doesn't mean he should stop. He can't. He moves automatically, trying to push past anything and move to help JJ.]

Cover your nose and don't breathe anything in! [He can't tell what's going on, but just in case... Just in case.]

[razzledazzles]

Well?

[When he needs to stop for his breath, the cheery little song comes to a nice end, and Jae-Ha smiles at her. It's nice to feel her so close. Too nice. And he's already realizing he must have made a mistake by giving in to his wishes to be alone with her.]

What did you think, Yona dear?

[razzledazzles]

That's another question on its own. [He teases, but tilts his head a little.] Go ahead. What do you want to know?

[razzledazzles]

[No, stop... now he's feeling bad. He'd heard rumors of the legends of this place, but he didn't know how much was true. But...]

And what if their choice is to destroy all of the other species here in this world? [He's not even sure if he should keep trying to help them, though, since he doesn't know if that's the case. They haven't run into them yet...

He pulls his robes back on as they walk.] That's all that I'm thinking about.