{event #5.5} adversity 3386435.8364

[expiationmods]

PART TWO: THE BAD END

MOD NOTES: Please direct any questions to the corresponding comment below. Note that character decisions and actions taken on these prompts will affect future events, storylines, and relationships with other peoples of Expiation. - The kidnapped and attempted kidnapped have been chosen. - All questions will be answered and addressed by the 28th, as half of the mod team is being slayed by Thanksgiving weekend. - If you wish, you may give a summary of what has happened to your character here. There will be no poll for this part of the event. - There is a CONTENT WARNING for prompt iv. RED SKY AT MORNING for brief mention of suicide. - Reminder that there is possibility for character death in this part of the event. The various prompts are, of course, optional.

Until now, the Chosen have enjoyed a fair bit of hospitality during their stay in Rumpitur, and Ketsora’s attitude aside, they’ve been made to feel quite welcome. After the first several days, the kidnapping investigation seems to hit a quiet lull, leading to Rumpiturian demeanors becoming…strangely relieved? Starting the 26th or so, Chosen will begin seeing news of various meetings–Rumpiturians only. They may think little of it, for now.

Overnight on the 27th, this changes.

NOVEMBER 28TH

i. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

     

The early morning brings a few discoveries–this will be different for different groups, as determined by results of the RNG selection. Those who didn’t sign up for RNG (or who were not chosen) will wake and discover that some of their friends are missing, with little evidence to point at what has happened.

The Rumpiturians are tight-lipped about this development, but some attempted kidnappees among the Chosen may be willing to talk about what happened to them. Those who go looking for answers will find a trail of struggle signs (drag marks, an occasional discarded rag or blunt object) leading from the inns all the way to the docks, where their one remaining boat is still chained up…at a different berth from before. One of the boathouses, previously locked and unavailable, also stands ajar: it contains a small stack of rowboats in various states of repair, all seemingly free for the taking.

Those who have made friends with the Rumpiturians will be able to access information a little easier. Tug on their heartstrings and they may even whisper that while they don't know anything for sure, they would check the island ruins off the mainland first.

ii. RED SKY AT NIGHT

     

The characters chosen by RNG have a very different experience. They wake in the morning with their faces in the dirt, cold and a little woozy, very much outside and in an unfamiliar place. They can see the water…some sort of island, perhaps? On the north side is a tall ruin, a building facade with no interior remaining. Those who have looked across the sea from Rumpitur may recognize it: the Ruins of Forlinet.

The Chosen have no idea how they got here, for the most part. They may hazily remember some hints of suspicious activity designed to get them alone, they may even recall being knocked out or rendered unconscious. Maybe they remember going to sleep in their bed. Either way, they are here now, and there are no boats. No way to get off the island. The only thing they can see is the ocean barring them from returning from the mainland, and a forested island to explore. They have no personal items on them–most kidnappers aren't kind enough to bring you your stuff–but those still wearing charms will find that they still work. They seem to be at the outer limits of their range, and there may be some static, but they can still send voice or text messages this way.

So. What now?

NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 4

iii. THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

     

Whether by way of clues or straight from the mouth of an attempted victim, the Chosen remaining on the mainland are slowly able to piece together what has happened to their missing friends: they have been kidnapped by Rumpiturians and sent offshore to the Ruins of Forlinet.

Why? A younger Rumpiturian, cornered after messing up and letting someone escape, is willing to talk. He's too terrified to say much, but the most useful thing he says is this:

”We haven’t been able to find another way! The monster…it drains the life from our lands! It leaves us alone if we feed it well enough, so…so…”

The Chosen are able to find, through this admission, that it’s the Rumpiturians who have been behind the other kidnappings as well, for similar reasons. That they thought the Chosen would be onto them, so they faked a kidnapping of their own to throw off suspicion. That they’ve been doing this for a long time to stave off the mysterious blight caused by an even more mysterious creature.

And now, it seems, they want to make the Chosen into its next meal.

Rumpiturians will offer resistance if the Chosen try to get past them, to the docks and the boats. If they save their friends, then the Rumpiturians will be left at the mercy of this creature. But can they really leave their friends out there…?

Any who dare to get past the Rumpiturians and to the boats will find that the waters are a little choppier than they had been days prior, and that it will take some effort to get to the island. But with enough luck, and some basic boating knowledge (we’re talking really basic, like “this is how you row”), they will be able to make it within the day. However, not all is as it seems: as the boats make land, human-sized octopus-like monsters will descend upon the shores, dragging whatever they can into the water and revealing unnatural rows of sharp teeth in the process. They’ll take whatever they can get: boats, shoes, weapons, people, and anything they get their tands (tentacles?) on will be torn apart. They may follow inland a bit, but not more than a few yards past the shore.

iv. RED SKY AT MORNING

     

Those who were unfortunate enough to wake in the Ruins will have plenty of time to explore during the next several days…and a good thing, too, because they can learn quite a bit about their predicament by doing so. The island is fairly long, but thin; find a high enough vantage point and they can see from one end of the island to the other. There is also a fair amount of rubble and garbage around–or what looks like garbage. Looking closer at it, it looks more like personal effects left behind by someone long gone. Items of clothing, weapons (swords, spears, and bows), perhaps the remains of some non-perishable food: canned goods, bars, things like that. These things look old, as if they’ve been left out in the elements for months, but most are still in shape to be used.

As they explore the island, the Chosen will see a number of alarming things. First, bones, all humanoid in appearance, some intact and some in pieces, as if they’ve been fractured by some force. There are some that form complete skeletons, but not all do, and they are scattered as if they’ve been tossed here and there. Second, they will see a number of trees that seem to have been downed either at the roots or by being torn in half. It looks like this island has seen some struggle. Most alarming, they will be able to find a handful of charms, not unlike the ones some of them wear. Not unlike the locals from Aldrip. One or two of these can be accessed for a moment, confirming what they may be dreading: this is where the missing locals were taken. And there’s no sign of the people these charms belonged to.

Near a small freshwater pond in the middle of the island, the Chosen will find the remains of a tent. There’s a cooking pot and a recessed firepit, as if someone spent quite a bit of time here: days, maybe weeks. There is some canned food here, and fishing materials, along with the freshwater in the pond. Inside the tent, they’ll find a number of articles of clothing, as well as another charm, this one a little more worn with age. They’ll find some text messages still embedded within it.

Ten of us were taken. May Those Who Were There protect us. We do not know why we are here or how we got here, but we will do the best we can to look out for one another.

Three days on this blasted island and no sign of any reason why we are here. Food supplies are dwindling, and so is morale. They look to me for advice on what to do next. I wish I had an answer. I wish I knew why.

Day five. Ainsworth flung himself into the ocean, attempting to swim to the mainland for help. We watched him swim into the deep water. We watched something grab him from below and pull him down. We watched in horror as the water began to churn, and pieces of him began to drift away. Are we going to die here?

Day seven. They’re dead. They’re all dead. The monstrous creature rose from the sea and swallowed them all. It took them into its tentacled arms and drained the life from them. I do not know how I escaped, but maybe it cannot reach me here, in the very center of the island, so far from the water. I am terrified. I see their faces when I close my eyes. This is hell.

Day eight. It came back. It has come back and it’s coming for me. I hear it storming through the trees. I know nothing but death awaits me here, but I will leave my charm in hopes that someone will find it. That someone will learn of what has happened to me. If anyone else is unlucky enough to find themselves here: run. Find some way to run, and never come back. All who come here are dead. All who come here will die.

At the south end of the island, a grisly sight awaits. Around a dozen human remains, decked in the tattered, weathered scraps of cloaks, their bodies worn down to bones and surrounded by the damp smell of decay. Those who have been in Aldrip long enough will recognize these robes: the cultists who previously caused so much trouble for them. So that's where they went. There are few personal artifacts around, though each of them seems to have some sort of small, handheld weapon. Looking close enough to one of the dead bodies, the Chosen can find scraps left in a leather-bound book: handwritten, clearly some sort of journal. The only legible article reads as such:

”Our final day nears, and having found no other way, we have reached our consensus. With the tools available to us, we will seal our fate for ourselves. We would rather die by our own hands than be sacrificed to their blasphemous monstrosity. May Those
Who Were There welcome us into their arms and into the loving embrace of paradise.

Damn these evil creatures and their accursed city. Damn them all.”

To the east, the Chosen will find the ocean; off in the distance, if the weather is clear and cloudless, they can see the mainland, a bare sliver on the horizon. If the drag marks in the dirt are any indication, this seems to be where the Rumpiturians have been landing on shore and dumping victims. For how long? It’s hard to say. There are no boats to be found, but there may be some scraps of old vessels: wooden boards, some tattered sailcloth. Not much, but it’s better than nothing.

DECEMBER 5

v. ALL WILL TAKE WARNING

The promised day arrives. Seven days after the weary Chosen woke up on the island, anyone left there will be set upon by the monster they have been inadvertently warned about. Those who have been here for a while will note that this creature, while slightly different, has some similarities to an old foe fought once before. It rises from the deep: gargantuan, a golden beast of tentacles with an enormous mouth, too many teeth within. It’s large enough that it could easily grab onto a person and lift them into the air, swallowing them whole.

This creature seems to be in control of the small octopus-like monsters reining terror upon any boat trying to escape the island. Distract the giant creature, and the smaller ones seem to go still for a little while, as if they’re in a trance–or maybe awaiting orders that have not yet come. The creature can be distracted by being made to fight, or chase…and of course, it will be distracted while eating, as well. But be warned: those chosen by RNG will be of particular interest to the creature, and the smaller monsters will do everything they can to stop those characters in particular from leaving. Perhaps it bonded with them over their seven days on the island. Perhaps it feels that it knows them better.

The smaller monsters can be thrown off in other ways besides distracting the big one, of course. They can be fought and injured, slinking away into the water, or even killed. For those not inclined to fight, they’ll follow sudden movements or sounds, such as something being thrown.

Anyone left on the island after the very last boat leaves will not make it back. They will become part of the creature’s next meal, and it will be an agonizing death. So. Now is the time.

Get out while you can.

---

vi. A RECKONING OF WILLS

As the Chosen head for shore, the giant monster sinks beneath the waves. Maybe enough people missed the boat that it’s gotten a good meal. Maybe it just decides that they weren’t worth it. Either way, the monster disappears, slinking back into the deep of the ocean, and the smaller creatures pull away once Rumpitur is in sight.

It’s a quiet moment, now, a good opportunity to tend to wounds and injuries. To mourn any who were not so lucky to leave.

The next question comes into clarity as soon as the Rumpiturians start appearing from their homes: what should you do with these kidnappers, who were so ready to feed you to the beasts?

WILDCARD

     

Just because there’s not a prompt for it doesn’t mean that your character’s actions aren’t acceptable. If you wish to do anything that hasn’t been directly addressed by the prompts, leave a message for the mod team to say what your character would do. If you choose to go down this path, note it as a comment on the OOC poll when it goes up, and leave a link to your threads so that we can take all actions into consideration for the next State of the Game.

Comments

QUESTIONS / COMMENTS / CONCERNS

[expiationmods]

[beshackled]

Do a lack of personal effects include that which is always worn on their person? (in other words, have they been robbed as well?)

Erichthonios always wears the chain and crystals at his waist, which could appear valuable as the chain is golden and one of the crystals has an obvious sigil ~of some kind~. His mask has silver designs on it as well.

[orphne]

hi hi!! according to the write up, "They seem to be at the outer limits of their range, and there may be some static, but they can still send voice or text messages this way." -- does this mean video messages are not available?

thank u love u

[drugsnotclubs]

Yo! For the Kidnapped! Were they all dumped together or like sporadically throughout the island. mostly like... would they as a group know who else/how many was stuck there or have to figure it out

Re: QUESTIONS / COMMENTS / CONCERNS

[breakin_ur_lore]

Medan is very disappointed in you, snakepeople >:(

Since he’s made a scrying orb, will he be able to scry on the kidnappees? This would only really show him where they are and maybe that they’re all alive (if…they are all alive when he does it lol), but it’ll make him feel better haha.

[conflictresolution]

Silco has no interest in being a hero to the victims, but he is interested in establishing more information from the Rumpiturians. For the first portion of the event, he has been providing a steady supply of medical essentials for them to build good rapport (but also strangle hold that part of the market but shush).

When the monster on the island does its thing, would it be possible for Silco to get more information out of the Rumpiturians?

1) How often they need to make sacrifices?
2) How many are necessary to keep the creature satisfied?
3) Does the creature come to Rumpitur if they fail to provide sacrifices? Or do the little minions drag Rumpiturians to the island?
4) What methods have been used to try to harm or kill the creature?

He will be coming at this in a understanding and sympathetic manner. As in the "I understand sacrifices are necessary to save one's people" kind of way.

[nullificates]

hi wife

few questions. considering dazai is going to strategically annoy the poor guard that kidnaps him until he is excused from kidnapping, anything he could have gotten from him? dazai is great at the bamboozling and dragging information out while appearing absolutely harmless, soooooo.....

another question. does no longer human apply at all in any part of this event? monsters, abilities, etc? anything that requires dazai's touch? in the first event, he was able to cut the connection between the monster and people via no longer human! so just so i know.....................

[cursegod]

Are the octopus monsters edible? Can they be made into delicious takoyaki?

also, if Dara were to get to the island, would she see spirits/ghosts of the dead people lingering around?

[feintofhart]

Hello, hello, I'm here to badger again...!

- Is the island a short enough distance away that Claude could ride there on wyvernback? (Sorry for all my wyvern-based questions, mods....... when you give a guy a flying machine, he wants to use it).
- This would not be done without consulting the rest of the Chosen, but if Claude were to suggest removing all of Rumpitur's seafaring vehicles to ensure they can no longer offer sacrifices to the beast, would this be a feasible course of action?
- If Claude speaks to some of the people of Rumpitur about this - including his kidnapper - will he be able to get any information as to why they specifically choose humanoid sacrifices? Have they tried animal sacrifices in the past?

[emet_sulk]

Adding on to Claude's question, can Emet-Selch ride his mount Grani in lieu of one of the boats over to the island? Grani is shown to be able to fly in canon but it can't carry more than its rider (unless someone really likes being slung over its barbed spines). He'd be using it for recon purposes, maybe drop supplies for the kidnapped if someone manages to convince him to help.

[solitarysoul]

Levi has a spell that causes an opponent's flesh to rot thus lowering their defense. Would this be usable on the big bad?

[beshackled]

Hi I am back. Will investigating the ruins yield any clues as to the creature or the civilization that once existed there? Or anything other than 'stones in roughly wall-shaped stacks'. Curious young men are curious.

Tsunayoshi Sawada | Open

[theskyaccepts]

[A - Detritus on the Shore]

[The morning of the kidnapping, Tsuna can be found lying on the shore.

He looks roughed up, like he's been in some kind of struggle or fight. His shirt is torn and he's definitely got a few cuts and bruises. It looks like he was just left on the beach for dead after that. Not worth bringing along to whatever they had planned.

Eventually, he forces himself up. He has to find out if anyone else escaped. He has to tell everyone else. So even if it hurts, he's got to stand up.]

[B - Kidnapped; Network; Video]

[Tsuna looks, rough in the video. He looks tired, and there's a few cuts on his cheek. Probably some sand and dirt to. His eyes are tired, but focused. Like he has to get all the information out before he forgets.]

I...I was kidnapped, last night. The Rumpitarians. They took a bunch of us.

I don't know where. I just woke up on the beach after I tried to get away. But I think there were boats?


[C - Takoyaki Time]

[There's no way that Tsuna isn't helping with the rescue effort. Not while people are in danger. He's still a little scuffed up, but he's fought with worse injuries.

The Octopus People come as a surprise and Tsuna has a familiar memory of Mafia-land and getting attacked by Skull and his Octopus. But he's a bit more prepared now and his power flares to life. Once again, a brilliant orange flame appears in his forehead and his eyes become a similar colour rather than their usual brown. He wears a pair of gloves, almost gauntlets, that cover his forearms. They're a bright red with a large X on them. He's done holding back.

Tsunayoshi Sawada, Neo Vongola Primo, is here to help.]

We just have to get through them, right?

[D - Brow furrowed and fists swung as if in prayer]

[Hyper Dying Will Flames can be used in a lot of unique ways. But Tsuna isn't really the type to show off so a lot of those tend to be hidden. Or at least, he remains tight lipped, because explaining Dying Will could potentially lead to eventually explaining about the Vongola. And once Vongola is part of the conversation, there is no avoiding the Mafia.

But when faced with this kidnapping, and a giant monster, that needs to be put aside. After all, people are in danger.

So as the boats get closer to the monster, Tsuna will eventually take to the air, launching himself up with a bright blast of flame. He's focused on taking out the tentacles mostly, striking fast and quick, with a grace that he probably does show on the regular. If there's a chance, he'll swoop down to get someone to safety or try to block an attack.

And he seems to be doing alright, until a moment's distract leads to a tentacle smacking him down towards the water.]

[ooc: further plotting can be done at urbaninja]

B

[beshackled]

[The response that comes from the other end is... decidedly garbled.]

Y-u e--ca--d?

Levi Jořdán | Open

[solitarysoul]

1. CW: PTSD, flashbacks, kids being sent to war, possible body horror

Sometime in the night, those in the inn might hear a couple of shots ring out. Levi never completely let his guard down, and doesn't sleep well anyway, so when the Rumpiturian comes to drag him away he wakes up. Then panics and grabs his gun; the first shot goes wild, but the second hits the snake-person as they flee.

He should go after them. He knows he should go after them. But he's shaking too badly, his vision going too muddled, to make it past the door. This was how they got you. The Bremens, they were supposed to take people from the battle field. Or in the night if they could. Take people away and send them to some lab to do experiments. Gods, he'd probably seen and fought some of those people. Its too much, he can't take it.

Anyone coming to investigate will find him seating on the floor next to the bed, clutching his rifle like the security blanket it is. His eyes will move to anyone looking or coming inside, but he doesn't really see them. At least not right away.


2.

One way or another Levi eventually manages to calm down and leave his room. He's still got his rifle in his hands instead of on his back, but he's keeping it firmly trained on the ground. Any Rumpiturians get the stink eye, though. Either way, he starts his search outside of the inn, looking for a blood trail or any other trail from the one who tried to take him. Its been too long for there to be anything fresh, but he's going to try anyway. He starts out near the inn but eventually makes his way to the docks.

He's trying to be focused on the trail that may or may not exist, but he's pretty jumpy. If any Chosen get to close he may manage to ask them if they saw anything strange or suspicious.


3. Even later on the network, [Text | Tablet]

its the locals
help me find what they did
where they took them

[Not the most put together or sensible of posts, but he's still not feeling well.]


4.

Enough time has passed, and enough people have started to make plans, that Levi's panic attack has calmed. He's still jumpier than usual, but he's channeling it into being paranoid alert for the coming battle. Before the boats depart he can be found pacing the docks, doing his part to watch over the preparations.

Once they're on the move he finds a spot near the side of whatever boat he's on. He's clutching his rifle and keeping an eye out for any issues from the water. He's spent what money he was able to amass doing odd jobs on ammo. Hopefully it will be enough.

On the island Levi will spend most of the battle in the back. He has the training and aim to be a sharpshooter, so he's doing what he does best and shooting threats before they can hurt anyone. He's got his charm around his neck, waiting for updates and orders.

While he stays near the back most of the time, a few times Levi makes his way closer to the threats. He's got a few tricks up his sleeve, but in order to play them he has to be closer to his target. He can only do it a few times, but he's got a spell that causes the targets flesh to rot, lowering its defense.
He also knows a basic healing spell, and if anyone loses an arm...well, he can animate it to attack the octopuses.
He's gonna need a drink once this is over, though, and the more magic he use the more paranoid and erratic his behavior gets.


((i default to log (except on network) but will match style. ConnectiveTrick or discord nvrknwsbst for plotting!))

2.

[conflictresolution]

Silco had heard the shot ring out, but he wasn't so brazen as to investigate inside an enclosed space. The evening hours were the quiet time where he did much of his thinking, and it was also the time when most suspicious activity was happening. He had witnessed a fleeing Rumpiturian, but he hadn't felt the urge to pursue.

If there was an injury it would need to be treated, and if it needed medical supplies, they would have to come through him. He would know who was wounded and with what weapon come morning when he had a count of the inventory and could quietly ask questions.

When no one came screaming out of the place, he moved off down the street to carry on minding his own business. The Rumpiturians were suspiciously absent he noted or they were at the fringes of his vision as he passed. They seemed to melt away to the shadows readily as he spotted a man with a rifle.

When asked if he had seen anything, he shrugged his shoulders. "The night is quieter than usual." He tucked his hands into his pockets. "You look as if you've seen something you'd rather not. Are you quite alright?"

mitsuru kirijo ❄️ open

[icequeenly]

the calm before the storm

[ It hadn't taken long Mitsuru to discover certain members of her fellow Chosen have gone missing. Particularly when she had been committed to keeping a close eye on a certain someone in particular. It therefore seems all the more incredulous that they could have simply vanished into thin air.

Talking to the locals hadn't proved all that productive, no matter how skilled she might be at negotiation or at getting what she wants. Still, the shifty expressions on the faces of some of the Rumpiturians, as well as their apologetic air, had been fodder enough for her to guess they know far more than they're letting on.

Leaving the inn in which she'd been staying and heading in the direction of the docks provides more clues: clear drag marks ... a discarded rag which she has absolutely no intention of touching. Her search takes her to the door of the unlocked boathouse, her frown deepening as her gaze moves from the rowboats that she can see inside, to the island on the horizon and back again. This is where anyone else in the vicinity will find her. ]

network

[ Following her investigations and after the confession of a certain Rumpiturian, Mitsuru posts the following text to the network: ]

The missing amongst us have been taken offshore by the locals.
We don't have much time.
Those who wish to do something: We need to mobilise and make our way to the island asap. One of the boathouses is now unlocked and accessible. We will have to commandeer what vessels we can from there.

the countdown begins

1.

[ Mitsuru is part of the group of those people who are absolutely willing to battle their way through the Rumpiturians and get to the docks. She hasn't resorted to using her Persona yet but is armed with a large fencing rapier.

Which she seems more than prepared to wield against the locals. She aims a slash without mercy as she attempts to clear a path through them - for herself and for anyone else fighting to get through alongside her. ]

Out of my way!

2. (cw for suicide-like imagery)

[ As her boat makes land and Mitsuru steps upon the shore, the ambush by the octopus-like creatures begins. As the creatures begin their merciless attempts to drag victims back into the water, the redheaded girl steps into the fray. She's clutching what looks like a gun. Anyone else would be forgiven for thinking she's about to aim it at one of these creatures. Instead, as one attempts to reach out a tentacle towards her, she aims the gun at her head and... pulls the trigger.

There is a flash of light, a noise that sounds like something shattering and you may see the towering figure which emerges near her afterwards. It only sticks around momentarily, but long enough to send huge fragments of ice raining down upon the creatures nearest to Mitsuru. ]

( Feel free to hit me up at flordelamar to plot stuff! I'm also open to wildcard options. )

Network | text

[solitarysoul]

i'm in.

[Its just text, but she sounds like she knows what she's doing. Or at least has a better plan than "idk look around???"]

tell me what todo

akira kurusu ♢ persona 5 royal/strikers ♢ open/one closed prompt

[chemex]

i; calm [locked to yu and akechi]

[He hates swimming, he thinks. It's never been his favorite sport, but swimming for ones' life tends to drastically change their perspective on it as recreation. He's tired and he's spooked and he's been swimming for what has to be a year now, just moving toward what looks like lights, and he catches a familiar acerbic tone. He stops only long enough to orient himself, blearily finding the shock of brown hair that belongs to Akechi Goro and swimming for the dock with something akin to renewed vigor. Really, it's just swimming with half-frozen coordination and determination moreso than baffled meandering in the water.]

[Unfortunately for everyone involved, he hauls himself up onto the dock and fairly promptly coughs up several lungfuls of water, probably on Akechi's shoes. He's also reaching out and immediately attempting to climb his pantleg, but he's shaking so badly he's horribly uncoordinated. He's too busy coughing to actually speak.]

iii; countdown: a [open/network]

[Akira isn't great, but he hasn't been in a while now, this just exacerbated some things. He's spent most of his time since found trying to communicate by text to anyone seeking information what little he knows. He remembers the mentions of the ruins but not the name for a while, when Forlinet filters back into his brain he's not sure it means anything. He's straightforward that the people who took him and Kotone were scared, but thoroughly settled on rescuing those taken over the fear of the Rumpiturians. If they were scared, the Chosen should likely be much more scared.]

i'm not good for much, but i'll be along for support.

iii; countdown: b [open]

[Akira is true to his claim of support. He generally sticks close to his group of Persona-users, behind him a translucent blue demon of varying types, but breaks away anytime he sees someone in distress.]

[In his shadow is always Arsène, and he casts very mild healing in passing to those who seem to struggle or need help back on their feet, and if you happen to be struggling with an octopus dude he's your guy.]

["Not good for much" is a hard status to maintain as a protagonist.]

v; take warning [open]

[If there hasn't been confirmation a kidnapped person was lost or has been rescued, Akira isn't leaving. He's absolutely frenzied about it, trying to ensure everyone else gets on a boat to get the hell out of dodge, all while asking everyone he encounters in as few words as possible if they've got everyone.]

[Someone please drag his ass into a boat before he gets eaten.]

vi; reckoning [open]

[Despite himself, Akira stands for the fair treatment of the Rumpiturians. Their actions weren't right, and he's as angry and upset as most anyone else, save maybe those closest to anyone lost, but to condemn them without discussion isn't much better than their own fearful action. It isn't their place to judge those who sent strangers to slaughter.] We should hear their reasoning. [He knows it won't make what they did okay. But maybe a solution could be found, to prevent the Chosen from being used as sacrificial lambs again while also aiding the blight of the Rumpiturians.]

[Ever the bleeding heart, Akira.]

i

[izanagis]

[Yu is drawn so tight it's hard to breathe, and each step closer to the docks makes the knot in his chest tighten even more. Stupidly enough, this seems to be where he excels the most, gathering himself more firmly where others might fall apart, bottling up the dread and setting it aside to deal with-- later. Eventually, maybe. But he can't slip up now. Not when lives could be at stake. Not again, he thinks darkly, and his mind is flashing back to small hands in hospital beds just as the water breaks into chaos.

He starts, but when he realizes it's a person emerging from the water, he reaches down automatically, offering a hand even as he's looking around for other signs of life. Because this sure isn't Yosuke or Kotone retching all over Akechi's shoes, it's--]

--Akira?

Tohru Adachi | Persona 4 | Open

[gotbrains]

[ It goes without being said that Adachi's in a bad mood once he wakes up.

He doesn't remember much of the night before, save for maybe a blow to the head before blissful blackness, and the irony of it all isn't lost on him. That's not the part that's got him all wound up. It's that even here, even when he's been doing his damndest at absolutely nothing, something or someone felt the need to drag him out to where some big to-do is probably gonna go down and thus involving him in it.

Fine.

He'll join in with the island explorations, just not attaching himself to any one group right away. Maybe that's a good thing, since eventually he picks up a worn sword among all the bits and bobs lying around in the sand, and he has no idea how to use it. If he finds some space far enough away from the eyes of others he can be found giving it some good ol' test swings looking much more like he's playing baseball than using a sword with any kind of proper form. It's close enough, right? As long as he gets hits in it doesn't matter if he looks pretty while doing it.

That in mind, he's back to the exploration efforts plus one (1) weapon. The campsite is of course an area of interest, especially the charm once he's stuck his nose in enough crevices to find it. He's having a little trouble with it, though, not having used his own much despite holding onto it once he knew more familiar technology was an option. He's squatted down by the firepit fiddling with it for some time, frustrated muttering to himself about menus and touchscreens or what have you.

The place with most impact, however, is the South. Anyone who follows either their curiosity or their nose to the smell of wet decay will find Adachi just...standing there, a few yards away from the remains, gaze fixated like a man possessed.

...Are his hands shaking? ]

south

[garbagecanned]

[it's not the first time that Yosuke's seen Adachi around. but he's ignored him for the most part, because he'd been trying to help out the other kidnapped people.

but then he finds him staring at the bodies, and even though it makes his own stomach churn, he grits his teeth.]

Yeah? You gonna freak out about a dead body now of all times?

Izuku "Deku" Midoriya | My Hero Academia | OTA

[heroondecku]

((Izuku is one of the kidnapping victims and will not be making it off the island. I will only thread this out explicitly if someone wants to, otherwise just know that it will not be possible to get him into one of the boats.))


A. Red Skies (closed to fellow kidnappees)

[Izuku hasn't felt this useless in a long, long time.

The fact that he was able to be snatched when he has Danger Sense is beyond embarrassing; that even with it, he was so slow to wake up that he could just be drugged without even putting up a real fight? Izuku certainly won't be allowing himself to live it down any time soon, that's for sure. Adding to that, he has no idea how to get everyone off the island at once, which is the same as not being able to get anyone off of it at all. What good even is he?

Even so, he's not going to give up. Everyone on this island is still within his reach, so he's going to save every single one of them, even if that means waiting to be rescued.

Until then, he needs to do something. Something other than sitting, and waiting, and wallowing in his own head. So if he sees you about to take on a task alone, be it exploring the island or basic survival tasks, or anything else not requiring privacy or that only one person can do...well. You're not gonna be alone for long.]

Hey - let me help? Two people are better than one, right?

[He needs to feel useful. Please.]


B. Watashi ga Kita (Open to all!)

1.
[Those having an encounter with one of the octobeasts, whether trying to escape pursuit or fighting one off, will find themselves receiving some rather explosive backup. The moment there's just the right opening (mostly, enough space between the octofoe and its Chosen target) Izuku bursts in, skin blazing with green Full Cowl sparks, and swats the creature away with an entire goddamn tree. Comet Home Run right down the beach.

He may not be a violent or aggressive person, but fighting off the smaller creatures is just firmly enough in Izuku's wheelhouse that he clicks to it immediately. Enough so that anyone who knows him will notice very quickly that his personality is...off, a bit. He hits as hard as he can, without a hint of restraint, screams and swears and generally throws himself entirely into fighting. He is not pulling any punches today.

It's time to save by winning.]

2.
[As consumed as he is with fending off and distracting the monsters, big and small, Izuku is still Izuku. Saving and protecting people in need will always be at the core of his heroism. So if he sees you fall, or get wounded, or anything else that could even remotely result in you being left behind? He'll be right by your side as fast as his Quirks can get him there, ready to give you whatever help you need to make it out of this alive.]

Come on! It's just a little further!

[If you're struggling to stand, he'll lift or pull or Blackwhip you up. If you're too injured to walk, he'll carry you. You are getting into one of those boats. He will not let you be left behind.

It's time to win by saving.]


Wildcard

((For any other idea you have! You can also get in touch with me by DMing Izuku's journal or at AngelLeriel if you want to plot out something specific.))

a

[garbagecanned]

[Yosuke nods as Izuku comes around to help him carry some of the wood. he knows the feeling of needing to be useful, especially because he's in the same boat right now.

he needs to at least try to help take care of everyone here.]

Yeah, at least it'll cut down on my trips I gotta take. I figured I might as well get a fire going before I start looking around, since it's cold out.

[some of the others might want to hunker down instead of exploring, he thinks.]

William G Maryblood | The Faraway Paladin | kidnapped

[strength_of_will]

1. Kidnapped

William wakes on the beach on a bed of damp seaweed. Not a pleasant awakening; his lips are dry, his back is wet, and everything smells like salt.

But at least he's not a baby again. (Funny how that's become his new bar for 'shitty places to wake up at'.)

A quick check of his possessions shows that nothing has been taken. Nothing is missing. In fact, he still has his spear and shield. So he gets to his feet with a groan, shaking off the sand as best he can whilst looking around. Where is he...?

"Hello--? Anyone else here? Hello?"

2. All Will Take Warning

"Watch out!!"

The octopus creatures are swarming the island now, and behind them he can see a hulking, golden monstrosity. William immediately thrusts out his spear and neatly impales one. He shakes it off but more are coming. He frantically looks around to see if anyone is in imminent danger. If he does, he'll rush towards them, shouting one of the Words.

"Tonitrus!"

A bolt of lightning will descend and zap whatever the target is.

3. Wildcard

If you've got other ideas or scenarios you want to play out etc, feel free to DM me!

1

[garbagecanned]

[Yosuke had woken up not too long before William, and he was checking on the states of the other Chosen when he hears him start to call out.]

Hey!!

[he remembers this kid from the maze he thinks, as he comes running towards him.]

I'm here! Are you okay?

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV | open

[emet_sulk]

(Will match format)

1. Grani to the rescue(?) (reference image)

When it becomes clear where the kidnapped have been taken, Emet-Selch mounts his familiar with only one thought in mind: to find his brethren. Hythlodaeus had managed to convince him not to ride out and threaten the townsfolk. Barely. He has a saddlebag of non-perishable foodstuffs for Elidibus and Erichthonios; he's not charitable enough to bring enough for everyone.

It's a long flight. Longer than he expects. His familiar is straining as the island comes into view and lands heavily on the sand.

"Elidibus! Where are you?" he shouts as he dismounts Grani. While he IS searching for particular people, his presence is sure to attract other attention.

2. Attack of the beasts

Unfortunately, since Grani can't take passengers, he can only offer aid from above. But also unfortunately, the monsters have taken a keen interest in his familiar and, although Grani is more than capable of defending itself, it's energy that it can't afford to expend if Emet-Selch wishes to return to the mainland.

And so Emet-Selch is unfortunately forced to participate in the fight - this time not a part of the horde but against it.

A large fireball smashes into the creatures and scatters them, the stench of scorched flesh rising from the sea. Grani screams at those which try to snake around its legs and crushes them under its claws. Its long horn impales others. If their attacks happen to help someone else out as well, then it's a happy coincidence.

"Begone!" Emet-Selch snarls, thrusting out an arm. Several creatures are blasted away from his familiar. "You will not take him!"

3. Wildcard

For any other ideas, feel free to DM me.

1.

[beshackled]

"Emet-Selch!?"

Having spotted the flying creation's approach, an knowing by that point that a rescue effort was under way in some form or another, Erichthonios had immediately moved to meet it upon its arrival.

Pushing through the vegetation, he makes his way hastily onto the sands.

"We are here!"

yu narukami | persona 4 | ota

[izanagis]

i—the countdown begins [boats]

[He's one of the first to push off from the shore. With no Personas currently at his disposal, and only a sword in hand, he knows—how could he not?—that some people are going to think he's acting recklessly. Doesn't matter. He's at least thought enough to make sure he's not alone. Everything else can wait.

Yu Narukami often prides himself on being composed. Generally friendly. He never means to, really, but he projects a certain chill calmness. Right now, that's not entirely the case; mouth set into a frown, jaw tense, every inch of him is tense, a rubber band drawn back and waiting to be let go.]

ii—all take warning [the island]

[It's chaos as soon as the boat hits land. The resulting conflict can best be described as an ambush, and Yu finds himself drawing his sword almost before his feet hit the dirt. He's cursing himself now, regretting every moment that's led up to this, every second he thought he would be fine if he just dealt with the consequences of his sentencing. Having so much power and not being able to use it—it's maddening, infuriating.

He's good with a sword, though. Practiced. It's not as slick as when he's with his friends—they've all had a year of fighting together to coordinate—but he holds his own. He even manages to pick off a couple of little guys, helping out people around him.

One of the monsters grabs his left arm and his sword, holding them tight, trying to immobilize him. In the heat of the moment, Yu winds back and slams a punch right into its stupid cephalopodian face.]

iii—a reckoning of wills [way back/rumpitur]

[The first there, and the last to leave. It happens so quickly he almost can't comprehend beyond the thunderous beating of his own heart. The look on Yosuke's face as he pushes him into the boat— Susano-o pushing it into the water with a wind spell— watching the island disappear as the boat carries him away—

His throat is sore from shouting protests, from pleading, from screaming, but it doesn't sink in, doesn't really become real, until he finds his feet back on solid ground.

The weight of it all— it's so heavy.

Yu does what he does best. He pushes it aside, focuses on what he can do to keep from thinking about what he couldn't. He's never been particularly free with words, but right now, his demeanor is even softer, quieter. He hands out medical supplies, food, blankets, whatever he can to people who need it. Helps clean things up. Helps tend to wounds.

Strangely, he doesn't seem to have much to say about what they should do with the Rumpiturians. Not yet.]

wildcard
[yall know the drill, hit me up if you want something else]

cw the littlest gore. a little gore. as a treat.

[invinciblemikey]

(manjiro bears no weapons. he is a weapon in his own right, fists bandaged and his uniform gives him an even more somber tone worn in its completion. he already has that air of leadership, authority, but his face is something else from the expected. it is serious, arrogant - but within a great reason, as shown as his foot sends a poor octopus flying so hard that it splashes open against the tree it lands.

and then he sees yu.)

Idiot.

(the only reason he hasn't dislocated the other shoulder is because he needs yu fit to fight!!!! but he doesn't look pleased in the slightest.)

Silco | Arcane | OTA

[conflictresolution]

November 28th

[Silco came from an environment where people disappeared all the time. Sometimes they were found, many times they were not. He was familiar with the signs of the kind of struggle that one would see when someone was being captured, and his mismatched eyes slid over the evidence of one such scene.

He folded his hands behind his back as he imagined the kidnapping in his mind's eye. How many had he played his hand in before? Dozens, probably hundreds. The chaos of the Undercity allowed for little mercy and entire sections of the city could be in an internal war if one played their hand too obviously. Undercity politics was notoriously messy and dangerous, but there were still rules.

Silco turned his head as a Rumpiturian out from behind a building and froze at the sight of him. Avoiding eye contact with him and the stiffness of that body told him everything that he needed to know.]

You there, I require a task and I'm willing to pay. My daughter needs to leave the city to attend to matters in Aldrip in my stead. Do you know someone who can take her and put up with her temper tantrum for the ride?

[Surprised, the Rumpiturian nodded almost too eagerly. He gestured for the other to come closer, allowing their conversation and negotiation to distort the evidence of the struggle under their feet.

Their conversation over, Silco paid the Rumpiturian and turned to view another Chosen.]

This place requires a little less chaos at present, wouldn't you agree?

November 30-December 4 - Open to anyone remaining in Rumpitur
i.
[Of course there would be considerable theatrics and heroics for those who had been taken, and Silco had no interest in being part of it. For one, the only person he would go to the island for was safely whisked back to Aldrip. For two, so many Chosen rushing off to an island they knew little about to save people they didn't even know if they were alive or dead across choppy waters meant that Rumpitur was decidedly running low on Chosen. That spelled opportunity.

He looked around for any other Chosen that had not yet left or seemed to not be planning on going. He approached, slipping through a crowd of nervous Rumpiturians who had failed to stop the rescue effort.]

We must plan for the inevitable return of our own. You'll assist in that, will you?

ii.
[Silco made certain that there were a handful on constant watch of the island to report back news of the rescue effort. He convinced a few Rumpiturians to open up an area where people could have a rally point, discuss information and set up provisions and medical supplies for potential wounded. Not all of them could be fighters, but the rest of them could provide assistance.

One of the boat houses was converted to keep those who were too invested to leave to minimalized housing. Cots with blankets were about all they could do. Supplies were inventoried in that space as well.]

We are going to require more food brought down here for any who return. I have a list of supplies still needed.

November 5
[He stood with a few very nervous Rumpiturians on the edge of the dock and stared off towards the island. He had managed to coax information out of them and build a certain level of trust through sympathy and experience. He made certain that the Rumpiturians remained taken care of for now, even if he knew that judgment would be coming.

He already had a plan to benefit from that. He knew where his ambitions lay after all.

There was a sharp inhale next to him, and he had to squint. The island was little more than a shadow in the distance, but there was definitely some kind of disturbance. Was that it? He couldn't see much at the distance that he was at, but the air around him had changed to fear and a stillness overcame those on the dock.

Then whatever action was over and there were the flying beasts again as specks coming back. He turned away.]

There will be judgment passed, and you'll remain weak if you can't find a way to overcome you various enemies. It's time for all of you to slip out from under the boots on your throats. Let me assist you in that; I have means to make you stronger.

Ragna the Bloodedge | BlazBlue

[rebellions]

1. closed to Silco; knock knock knocking

[ The first thing that pops into Ragna's mind as he finally manages to drag his body to the shore after his daring (and somewhat sloppy, thanks to his current condition) escape from his captors is revenge. Even as he's coughing up the seawater, he can feel anger burning in his chest. He will make those goddamn snakes pay for all this, no ifs or buts about it.

The second thought, however, puts his desire of vengeance on hold. Jinx, he remembers, is no better off than himself at the moment, so she'd obviously make an easy target for the kidnappers. That realization makes him push himself up and instantly break into a run, ignoring the pain of his injuries and the coldness of his wet clothes sticking to his skin.

If asked, he couldn't even tell you how he got to the place where the girl has been staying; it's all a blur, and he wasn't exactly thinking of what he's doing anyway. He doesn't even stop to catch his breath, simply kicking the door of the room open, rushing inside without even bothering trying a more civilized approach first. ]

Smurfette!! You in here?!

[ Desperate to find the girl, he's not giving his own state ─ wet, covered in bruises and scratches, and overall a mess ─ so him bursting into the room with zero explanation must be a sight to behold. ]

2. aggressive negotiations

[ Sure, it sucks that people got kidnapped, but Ragna's not overly concerned with that ─ if they make it back, they make it back, if not, it's not his problem anyway. No, instead, he focuses on the part that pisses him off the most, which is the fact the Rumpiturians invited them in, had them stick around, only to turn on them and attack them. Granted, he's never trusted the snake people in the first place, but even he, paranoid as he is, didn't exactly expect to get assaulted in his sleep. Needless to say, he's not amused by this development.

If you happened to stay behind in town, you might run into Ragna... "interrogating" some of the locals. Well, that's putting it mildly ─ it's more like he's threatening their lives with good, old violence. He does want to find the people responsible for arranging the whole kidnapping thing, but really? He's mostly just lashing out and taking his anger out on the Rumpitur residents, whether they were involved in the plot or not. In fact, right now he smashes one of the snake people into the wall of the nearby building, holding the man by his neck. He might not have all his fighting skill for some fucking reason, not to mention his right eye and arm still aren't working, but who cares? Brute force is still his preferred method of conversation, anyway. ]

Well? Got anything to say for yourself?

[ The poor Rumpiturian can barely catch his breath long enough to get out stuff like I-It wasn't me, I swear! and They said they would take care of it! Ragna isn't satisfied with that answer, however, narrowing his eyes at the man. ]

And who's "they", exactly? If I were you, I'd start talking. I don't need my right arm to rip your fucking tail off, y'know.

wildcard

[ Feel free to get in touch with me over at psychelocks or on discord if you wanna hash out something else! ]

1. Door Crasher

[conflictresolution]

[By this point, Silco had taken charge of much of the situation back in Rumpitur, including arranging for his daughter to be removed back to Aldrip. The main reason was that she would add a chaos that would turn this tinderbox of volatile situation into a full on magical nuclear apocalypse. He wouldn't deny a sense of concern that she could be taken as well, but he held high regard for her skills to avoid or escape capture. Still, a father could never be too cautious.

He was surveying the list of supplies that they had on hand as well as a crude map of the town for where he could set up the best use of the landscape for when the 'heroes' inevitability came back. Dead or alive was fine by him.

Imagine his surprise when suddenly the door to the room was kicked in and a bedraggled sloppy looking man stormed in. He had been at the mid-point of igniting his lighter when the intrusion occurred, and he stared at the man as he shouted for Smurfette. Oh he knew, but he could pretend he didn't.]

Wrong room, boy. No one by Smurfette lives here... though, aren't you one of Jinx's little friends?

closed to Vi

[bulleting]

[From the moment they stepped foot in Rumpitur, Caitlyn had had her nose to the grind, trying to figure out the truth of what was going on with the missing person in this city. She couldn't say why, but she had a bad feeling about it all. Things weren't adding up, and while the feud with Ketsora had been an easy answer, it felt like just that- an easy answer.

She knew better than to be out late when people were going missing, but sometimes walking in the brisk air helped clear her mind. She knew how to defend herself and never went anywhere without her gun, so she didn't think twice about any dangers. And yet, she was still caught off guard. She recalled hearing the familiar slithering sound of one of the local Rumpiturians approaching, but before she could even turn to acknowledge them, her vision went black.

When she came to, she had no idea what was going on. Her head spun and it took blinking several times for her vision to clear enough that she was able to determine she was at the docks in Rumpitur. Hours must have passed, because it was much darker out than she remembered. How she got there, she didn't know, but even in her dazed and confused state, she knew better than to linger. She pulled herself up and managed to get away from the docks without running into any of the snake people, stumbling along until she got back to the hotel room she was staying at with Vi. She knocked on the door rather than fumble with the lock and key, while resting her body against the doorframe. She was aching all over, but her head especially was pounding. She finally chanced touching her forehead, pulling her hand back to examine the dark and cold wet she knew must be blood.

Vi was going to be furious, wasn't she?]

YEP THIS SURE WAS THE THING I WAS FORGETTING GDI

[grappler]

[Caitlyn wasn't sleeping next to her when Vi woke up.

it's not like it bothers her honestly (lol) when it happens, but it's always a sort of strangeness to not have the other girl close at this point. when did that become such a thing she got so used to?

she knows that Caitlyn likes to take her walks, but she frowns as she puts her hand on the spot where she liked to sleep...

it was cold.

that's when she heard the knock at the door, and she sat up quickly. pulling a night shirt and some shorts on, she ran to the door to open it--

-- to a wet and bleeding Caitlyn.]

What the hell?? Jesus Christ, get in here Cait!!

[and she'll be trying to grab at her to haul her into the room, whether her not!gf is moving or not.]