❪ 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

[bruxisms]

[ he lets out a hiss as the needle comes out of his hand, and his teeth clench, so hard one might think they will fall out of his mouth. ]

Attempting to help. They said they had need of able-bodied men and women, and it was my duty to respond. Is that a crime, woman?

[ his fury is barely contained. not at the woman, truthfully, but more at himself, for he had been able to do so little in the long run. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Lucky for him, Claire also knows how to pull teeth. Given the annoyance on her face, a thing that only increases when he calls her woman, she might actually enjoy it.]

Helping would mean you're not jabbing yourself with the bloody needle. This is the safe end. [The part with the plunger.] This is what goes in someone else. [The pointed end.]

But not this one, if you've stuck yourself with it. You need a clean one.

[bruxisms]

That much is obvious [ he is far from an utter fool. ]. I had not expected the top to move so easily.

[ yes, that was where the fault lay, in its design. he knows well enough he is wrong, but he will not be spoken to like a child. ]

Can this one not be cleaned yet again? I have read that boiling water and lemon should do the trick.

[ his tone remains harsh, though he attempts to be courteous. why must it be so difficult to speak to women? ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

It's meant to pierce skin. You must be careful. [She sighs. Unfortunately, her default these days is to talk to people unfamiliar with syringes and such like children because most are as stubborn as toddlers.]

Later, they can be cleaned. We have more clean needles to work quicker. Though I don't know if you should be sticking anyone if you're that unfamiliar.

[bruxisms]

[ his rage remained barely contained, and the tone of her voice only served for him to grind his teeth more. ]

Then show me how to administer it, instead of mocking me to my face. I was told nothing, and merely given one to work with.

[ it was hardly his fault that he was unfamiliar with the method of administration. initially he'd thought it might be a drink of some sort. how was he to know it would be some gods-forsaken contraption? ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I don't understand why these people keep insisting on the unskilled helping out. More harm is done than good. [The blood drive, this. She doesn't like it.]

Have you had your blood drawn before?

[bruxisms]

You speak some sense. [ though his expression is as dour as ever. ] A difference would have been made if they merely said what was needed.

Aye. Though only through leeches. My Maester did, often when I was ill.

[ Cressen had been much like a father to him, when his own had perished at sea. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Your Maester. I see. [She's yet to hear anything good about them. Biting back another sigh, she displays the syringe to him.]

This is what we call a syringe, or needle. See this, here? The needle part is hollow. fluid can be either pulled and drawn, or pushed and injected. We're doing the pushing, today.

[bruxisms]

Cressen was an able man who served me for years. After the untimely death of my lord father, he acted as a father to me.

[ the reply is instinctual, but he feels the need to defend the man. his end in Westeros had been unfortunate, and he had given him bad counsel, but he'd been nothing but loyal to him. he did not deserve to be insulted while he slept aboard the station.

still, he listens to her. ]

It seems simple enough, and far more effective at drawing blood than leeching. a pity we did not have such a device in mine own realm.

[ while he did have respect for the Order of Maesters, they did not know everything. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I didn't mean to offend the man. [Truly, though she'd like to hear some instances of Maesters doing some good. Assuming he's from the same (or similar) place as Sansa and Willem, she hasn't been too impressed.]

Lucky for us, injecting the cure is as easy as pressing the tip of the needle into the arm. Drawing blood is a little more complicated.

[bruxisms]

It was not Cressen you offended, for he sleeps. It was I.

[ blunt as ever. although, he would also point out that not all Maesters are particularly specialized in medicine, and some prefer their scholarly pursuits.

but grudgingly... ]

I gathered that. Yet when I tried to pull it out, it only went in deeper. I assume that was the mechanism at work?

[ if someone had told him this in the first place, he wouldn't look like such an utter fool. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

My apologies then.

[There is something a little softer in her voice. Before she gets back to the medical lesson, she decides to offer an olive branch of sorts: her name. He's trying, at least. She can give him that.]

I'm Claire Fraser. What should I call you?

[bruxisms]

[ his fury seems to subside for a moment. while he does not quite understand her intent here, he does offer his own name, in a stiff courtesy. ]

Stannis Baratheon.

[ a pause, as he seems to consider something. ]

In mine own realm, I was once a king. Be that as it may, it would be foolish to cling to a crown of a place that no longer exists.

[nineteenfortyfive]

You're a step ahead of the rest of the royalty here, then. [Ugh, the R word. It just makes her think of Richard.]

I wouldn't expect to see a king among the sick. [Trying to help.]

[bruxisms]

If they still believe themselves "royalty", then they are fools. One cannot be a king of a land that no longer exists.

[ even if he had managed to save his people, though they would never thank him. ]

They required able bodies. As I was little help with formulating the cure, I thought it my duty to aid with its distribution.

[ was that... a compliment? ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

You're the first one I've heard admit as much. [A miracle. He gets some points back for that, and it's enough to have the set of Claire's shoulders relax some.]

A noble endeavor. I've seen too many scoff at interacting with us peasants.

[Sarcasm. She's no peasant, but you'd be surprised with how some folk act here.]

[bruxisms]

I cannot say I am particularly shocked. Most nobility cares only for their station and their coin.

[ for him, duty always came first. well... except for that time he really wanted his brother to acknowledge him and make him Hand. but that was different. ]

For all the good that it did, barely being able to work that "needle". [ yes, he is still rather embarrassed about the whole thing. ] But, I have found that one's level of birth rarely determines their character. If anything, to be lordly is to be false.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Some part of Claire is entirely baffled. Nobility that acts like he doesn't shit gold? Maybe he's no king at all.]

Well, I won't tell anyone about the needle mishap if you don't.

[Quite the deal since she makes it a habit of complaining about people making their mistakes here.]

[bruxisms]

[ excuse you Claire, he is a TRUE KING.

but her response shocks him. ]

...Do you wish for me to do something for you in return?

[ for what other reason could there be for the kindness? ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[His shock confuses her.]

Do something...? Like what? It's nothing, really.

[bruxisms]

( continued )