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Expiation Mods ([personal profile] expiationmods) wrote in [community profile] expiationlogs2023-03-17 12:00 am

{EVENT #1} ADVERSITY 131425.845119

THUS DO WE HUNGER

MOD NOTES:

Welcome to the first event!

Please direct any questions to the corresponding comment below. Note that characters can be involved in multiple prompts (whether you choose to thread that out or not), and that character decisions and actions taken on these prompts will affect future events, storylines, and relationships with other peoples of Expiation.

In two weeks from this event, the moderator team will be posting a poll on the OOC community that will allow players to share what actions their characters took and two weeks after that, there will be an announcement made sharing said results, how those actions have impacted the state of the world, the game's story, what information can be used ICly, and so on.

The various prompts are, of course, optional, so you're not required to travel to Rumpitur if you don't wish to. You're not required to help the locals or other Chosen during the food shortage. There is an option to simply not be involved, and that too can have potential repercussions on the future of the game's overarching story and other characters.


 

WE'RE STARVING HERE!

HOW TO REPAIR A REFRIGERATOR 101

     

Do you remember the fishing tournament where a variety of locals and Chosen alike submitted a bunch of fish for a very modest and unimpressive wooden sculpture? Well... about that...

Aldrip's refrigeration has catastrophically failed and as a result, the food stores that the locals have been keeping are now on the verge of total and utter collapse. The townspeople are in an absolute uproar. According to them, this has never happened before and though they would normally just pray to Those Who Were There for a resolution, they kind of need something immediate. Otherwise, all residents of Aldrip are facing the very real threat of starvation.

The good news is that you can help!

The more handy of the Aldrip townsfolk are going to get right to work on repairing the refrigeration units. At present, the only units that exist belong to those who are making food and providing them to the townspeople. This means people like the tavern keepers, the inn, bakers, and other miscellaneous cooks, are those who possess and control these refrigeration units. If you've got some handyman skills, put them to work, though be aware that working on repairing the technological malfunction might just be an electrifying experience. Literally.






THE ALTERNATIVE TO COOKING MAMA

     

There sure has been a lot of opportunities to cook, but now Aldrip needs cooks and would-be cooks like never before!

Those not necessarily good with repair work might find themselves better suited for hunting the local wildlife, whether that's on the meadowland plains or taking, yet again, a fishing pole into hand. A good deal of the meat, vegetables, and fruit that was already preserved has spoiled and will need to be replaced hastily if people want to continue eating.

With bodies going to retrieve replacement food, there's suddenly an open and demand for people who either already have experience with cooking or just really want to learn. There's no better way to learn than some truly hands-on experience. For those with some cooking in their background, even if it's simple at its best, the kitchens are free and available. You might not have your choice cuts of meat or whatever else you might be accustomed to preparing, but fortunately the dried spices and herbs aren't impacted by the food shortage. Consider making something flavourful or just really spicy. (Alphen, we're looking at you.)

If you haven't cooked before and you're one of those who's just dying to learn, pair up with a buddy in the kitchen, or fumble along. Beggars can't be choosers, after all, and we're facing a crisis. Maybe the threat of having no food will encourage people to try whatever you make, no matter how black, crispy brown it might turn out.

The more innovative and creative individuals may find a way to dry / dehydrate anything caught or harvested. Or we can just have a huge impromptu grilling adventure where people hold raw meat over fire. Your choice!



 

WE'RE OFF TO SEE... THE NAGA?

WE COME IN PEACE

     

Aldrip is hardly the only settlement on the continent of Expiation and though the various peoples of these settlements can often stick within their own, when times are hard and adversity encroaches on livelihood, they're not against seeking the aid of others. Some of the more well-travelled of the Aldrip locals are planning an expedition to visit Rumpitur, an impressively-sized village on a peninsula to the east of Aldrip.

They are ready and willing to take all volunteers who are interested in accompanying them to barter for food and other potentially needed supplies. The visit to Rumpitur will require travel through the Pessiria Forest, a thick veil of trees that one can be easily lost in, but if everyone's together, then it shouldn't be an issue.

Consider joining the expedition and getting to know some of Expiation's other peoples.

Rumpitur is home to a race of naga-like people with scaled features, tails, sharp teeth, and forked tongues. Their way of life is considerably more simple in comparison to some of Aldrip's fancier advancements. They are skilled combatants and a fishing people, whose diet primarily consists of seafood. In Rumpitur, one may take note of their many-in-number stone constructs, depicting a notable and perhaps significant naga.

Although they may seem intimidating at first glance and can have terse ways of speaking, they are amicable enough and will be willing to do business with Aldrip and her citizens.






OR MAYBE WE DON'T

     

The visit from Aldrip, which is a rare occurrence indeed, results in much confusion for the Rumpiturian people, and this may or may not be considered a blessing to those who could be more unscrupulous in nature.

Although the visit to Rumpitur is meant to be one of peace, locals of Aldrip and the Chosen alike have the opportunity to steal supplies from the people. If they choose to do this, they may find that there are no immediate repercussions for this course of action. The likelihood is that this visit has caught the Rumpiturians so off-guard that they're not expecting to be robbed. Of course, how this will impact things in the future remains to be seen...

Individuals may grab as much as they can carry, depending on what they've brought with them. The locals of Aldrip who planned this expedition provided convenient-to-carry containers that can be filled with anything retrieved from the village and her kind. Larger containers will require at least two people to carry when filled, so perhaps you're inclined to work with a partner-in-crime. Just remember that for every action, there's a consequence, even if you're not seeing it right away!

Rumpitur will not notice that they are missing inventory until well after Aldrip has left and travels back through the forest to town, so no one need fear the chasing and hissing of snakes into Pessiria.

Probably.



 

HOLD ONTO YOUR VALUABLES

IT'S NOT REAL... RIGHT?

     

Those who've decided to brave the forest will find on their adventure to Rumpitur that it's rather straight forward and proceeds without incident.

The sky above the trees is a difficult thing to see, blocked out by the way the evergreens stretch and imposingly tower above. At times light may scatter through various openings in branches, but it is a largely darker atmosphere, and at night requires the assistance of candlelight or related.

Travellers with the courage to make way through the forest with the others may hear occasional snaps, cracks, whispers, and more enigmatic sounds that are difficult to justify with logic. Of course, whether this is all in the head or something truly more sinister at play is up for debate. Despite the strange occurrences that one may experience, no members of the Chosen will find themselves harmed or otherwise physically disturbed initially. That said, some may later find themselves haunted by strange dreams and visions of the forest in the future if they are especially sensitive to such things.

Were those sounds real? Were you just hearing things? It's probably wisest not to investigate further. At least, maybe not now...






COUNT YOUR NUMBERS

     

Aldrip has a great many stories about Pessiria Forest and many of the other towns, landmarks, settlements, and people scattered across the continent. Most of these stories seem to depict folklore or a certain mythological feeling about them, implying that many of the locals don't truly believe in any of the more macabre tales. Pessiria Forest has no shortage of poetry and song that pertains to its supposedly 'holy' grounds and mysterious happenstances.

There are several alleged accounts about people having gone missing in the forest, due to how complicated it is to navigate by one's self. The more people travelling together, the safer it is purported to be.

Before leaving for Rumpitur, heads have been counted to ensure that wherever they start is also where they end up, however, for the more observant, one may find that the returning party is short of a few heads. Maybe some of them stayed behind to further the diplomatic efforts with the Rumpiturians. Maybe they're going to catch up later. Maybe they took a different pathway through the forest with some of their mates. Maybe there's something more untoward going on.

If this is brought up to the locals, the leaders of the expedition will warily make note of it and conduct their own investigation. At least, they say they will. Either way, it's suspicious no matter how you may turn it. Perhaps put heads together with another and see if you're just miscounting.



suicideprototype: (知らないよ もう無いよ 宛ても価値も無いよ)

[personal profile] suicideprototype 2023-04-28 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Truthfully, Ritsu might've liked to see that himself.]

You came close to it during that argument, didn't you?

[Though, Eiji seemed to veer straight past the need for that entirely, deciding instead that threatening to murder him would be a better use of his time.]

If Mizuguchi Marie hadn't interrupted, what would you have done back then?
nonbinding: (catherine wheel)

[personal profile] nonbinding 2023-04-28 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[Eiji's complexion darkens at that. There were plenty of stupid, bickering arguments among the GHC, but Eiji can tell immediately which one is meant here.]

I'd have done exactly what I said.

[He says that in complete certainty.]

At that point, it felt like nothing would have mattered.

...Would you have stopped me, Ritsu?
suicideprototype: 壊された頼ってたセオリー (簡単に奪ってった誇り)

[personal profile] suicideprototype 2023-04-28 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah. He sees. Three days trapped in a place with no food or water does tend to snuff out a person's hopes like that — and if they're all going to die anyway, then why shouldn't they do as they please?

Really, that entire scenario was just more proof that Mizuguchi Marie truly was a fool. If she'd waited just a while longer, the Go-Home Club would have destroyed themselves.]


I think you would've ended up with quite a fight on your hands.

[If it were just Shogo and Kensuke that Eiji had to deal with, Ritsu thinks Eiji would have stood a decent chance. With the rest of the Go-Home Club in the picture, though...]

Ultimately, it would have been in your best interest for me to stop you.
nonbinding: (crucifixion)

[personal profile] nonbinding 2023-04-28 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I doubt it.

[He tsks as he says that.]

Most of the others would have been cowed. They wouldn't have stood up against me.

[He says that like he truly believes it. And if he was wrong? He'd set the whole fucking room on fire.]
suicideprototype: oh oh oh oh oh oh (もうこれ以上躱せない )

[personal profile] suicideprototype 2023-04-28 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maybe that was true of some of them. Ritsu is unsure Kotono was even capable of truly being upset with Eiji.]

There was a torture method in Rome that involved attaching a bucket full of starved rats to a person's stomach, wasn't there?

[The results were rather gruesome, but somehow, he gets the sense that the man who named all of his techniques after torture devices doesn't need to Ritsu to tell him that.]

As the saying goes, "Cornered rats will bite a cat."

[He's not going to insult Eiji's fighting prowess. It's better to go this route instead.]
nonbinding: (judas cradle)

[personal profile] nonbinding 2023-04-28 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Eiji at the very least seems to consider that.]

Perhaps I spoke too soon.

...How much did you know, of Wicked's plan to stick us in there?

[How coordinated were the Musicians? How much did you know there? Did you fully know what was going to happen? Did you just end up stuck there?]
suicideprototype: (fuck this world)

[personal profile] suicideprototype 2023-04-28 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's natural Eiji would think Ritsu knew at least some of it. The truth, though, is that humans continue to be more inept than Eiji can ever give them credit for being.]

Lucid didn't meet Wicked until after that entire debacle.

Though, even if that hadn't been the case, I doubt I would have heard a thing about it. Few of the Musicians got along with each other, and no one openly detested Thorn as much as Wicked did.

It's likely she came up with that plan on her own and didn't even feel it was necessary to inform any of the others.
nonbinding: (witch's bridle)

[personal profile] nonbinding 2023-05-07 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds like her. Caution is something she knew nothing about.

[And that is undoubtedly a bad trait, ironically, in Eiji's eyes.]