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expiationlogs2023-03-17 12:00 am
- !event,
- ai tsf: mizuki date,
- arcane: violet / vi,
- bungo stray dogs: nikolai gogol,
- final fantasy viir: aerith gainsborough,
- final fantasy xiii2: noel kreiss,
- fire emblem geneaology: ethlyn,
- my hero academia: izuku midoriya,
- original: astralin turnont,
- persona 3 portable: kotone shiomi,
- persona 3 portable: shinjiro aragaki
{EVENT #1} ADVERSITY 131425.845119
| 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.
haunted
When the others decide to abandon the animal to the forest, Ethlyn draws in a quiet breath. She can understand the math they've done, and the horses are theirs and not hers, but nevertheless the thought of leaving an animal behind in this sits uncomfortably in her stomach.
She's debating how most diplomatically to argue when Marianne speaks up, volunteering outright, and Ethlyn relaxes. Of course, that's the best solution. Well, it's half the best solution. She meets Marianne's pleading gaze and nods.]
I'll search with you. This is no place to be wandering around alone, person or horse.
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[ Marianne sighs in relief to see a friend - if she can be so bold to consider themselves friends - speak up and choose to search with her. It gives her the strength to voice what is on her mind. ]
I understand getting food back to Aldrip is important, too. The rest of you please go on ahead. We'll find the lost one and rejoin you in town.
[ Of course, there's no guarantee that they will, and there's a certain risk to lingering, but for once, she's feeling positive. ]
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We'll be all right. I have my blade and my healing staff. [It's addressed both to Marianne and the locals, who are looking a little uneasy in the conscience to be leaving them in the dark woods, but Ethlyn's confident smile as she pats her sword-hilt seems to be enough for them to continue.]
...All right. [She looks around the forested gloom until she reorients herself to the point where the horse ran off.] We need to be careful of our footing--otherwise the rabbit holes and tree roots will have us.
[Just those. Not ghosts, or anything else spooky, not without very good proof--just normal dangers, Ethlyn tells herself very sternly as she starts away from the trail.]
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Oh, yes. The holes...
[ She murmurs distractedly. Marianne is not thinking of the dangers. Not the roots under her foot nor the ghosts, just the safety of the poor lost horse. So be it courage or folly, she proceeds down the path the animal fled, calling her name. ]
Willow? Are you there, Willow?
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She hurries to keep pace with Marianne, doing her best to scan the ground for both of them.]
She'll probably have headed for a clearing--or a clearer patch, at least. [Horses being fonder of grassland than trees. Ethlyn puts a hand on Marianne's arm, gently warning her away from a sudden dip in the ground.] Can you recall seeing one near the trail?
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We're still far away from the Aldrip meadows, but there was the pond we passed earlier.
[ A pond in a small clearing where waning sunlight had shown through the trees. She can imagine anyone scared making for a bit of light in the darkness. ]
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Good idea. We'll start in that direction, then. [Almost unconsciously, Ethlyn is taking charge of this search. Marianne seems a little too anxious--maybe inclined to stride off into danger without realizing it. But it's only almost... maybe this is a good opportunity for Marianne to become more confident in herself.] Can you lead the way? I'll keep an eye out for anything untoward.
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[ ...And she's off again, hitching up her dress so it doesn't snag in the bushes, her single-minded concern for her friend driving her forward. The forest could be crawling with beasts and she would still have walked into it. She usually isn't so reckless or so bold. Ethlyn is seeing a new, determined side of her. ]
I wish we had some light. It's getting dark.
[ Her eyes squint in the dimness as she searches for footprints or broken branches. There are shadows everywhere, and any slight movement causes her to glance twice. The forest feels alive. ]
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She follows, eyes going from side to side and even up to the branches occasionally to make sure that there's no danger sneaking up on their heels... and she nods in agreement to Marianne's remark.]
Yes... lanterns would be a help. The healing staff glows when I use it, but that's not something we can do wastefully. [Next time they venture into these woods, Ethlyn is definitely making sure they have light with them.] But the sooner we find her, the sooner we can return to Aldrip.
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[ A torch or two should do the trick. Marianne isn't about to let the darkness discourage her. She hopes Ethlyn will have no cause to use her healing staff, for it would mean something has gone wrong.
Speaking of which...a noise in the forest makes her turn her head. A distant, animal-like sound, but not that of a horse. More like growling, accompanied by the ghostly wailing of the wind. ]
Do you hear that?
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But Marianne's question makes her tense up--the question, and the sound. It isn't a rabbit hopping about the leaf litter and it isn't a lost horse either. Larger... possibly hungrier. Ethlyn's hand immediately grasps the hilt of her sword.
She doesn't have the experience in fighting wild creatures that others here do--all of her enemies at home were other human beings, and if there were animals involved then they were trained mounts, not hungry beasts. But at the same time, they aren't going to find Willow by running away, and sometimes animals can be scared off by a show of force.
With that in mind, Ethlyn draws her sword and steps forward boldly, towards the sound.]
Away with you! We're no easy marks.
[It's absurd to address a wolf (or who knows what) in such a way, but she's just trying to make a sound, really.]
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Stay back!
[ Maybe by joining their voices, they would appear more threatening to whatever lurks out there. Predators can easily chase prey that's strayed from the pack but will find it harder to pick off animals that flock together. The poor lost horse, though...they must find her and quickly. The growls in the distance don't subside, but the creature, whatever it is, doesn't appear to be crawling any closer. To Ethlyn, she says in a hushed voice. ]
We should keep moving, but let's not turn our backs on it.
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[That the owner of the growls isn't coming closer is almost as unsetting to Ethlyn. She'd rather see what the two of them are up against here. But if it's content to stay there and growl, she'll take it.
She lifts her sword so that it's ready without being a hindrance in the dense foliage, turning slightly to keep an eye on what's behind them, eyes darting about in search of suspicious movement, as she begins to move forward cautiously again.]
Maybe we're just in its backyard and it values its privacy.
[It's an attempt at lightening the mood a little, although her delivery is a little flat. This place is a little too eerie for easy joking.]
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[ Though it's a joke, Marianne seems to consider Ethlyn's words seriously. After all, even a beast has a home, and the expedition that went traipsing through the woods would be the intruders here. As they continue to push slowly onwards, she calls out into the shadows. ]
We don't mean to intrude.
[ Yep, she's trying to communicate with the creature. While it's doubtful they'll understand, she's giving it her all. In her heart, she would prefer not to harm the animal and part ways peacefully. ]
We're looking for our friend. Then we'll be on our way.
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It seems like that's gotten us past it. [She speaks in a low voice, and she's making a real effort now not to let her footfalls sound too loudly on the dry debris of the forest floor.] I think I see a break in the trees--we may be nearing the pond.
[And hopefully, Willow will be waiting for them.]
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Willow!
[ She sighs out in relief to see her friend. The horse grazing by the pond looks up at their presence. Half the load she'd been carrying had loosened and been lost in the woods somewhere, but that hardly mattered now. ]
Oh, Ethlyn, you were right! [ She crosses over to Willow, not moving too quickly in case the horse grows frightened again, murmuring softly. ] That must have been frightening. Don't worry, we're here.
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It looks like much of what the horse was carrying is scattered around the woods, but that's of much lesser import.]
I'm so glad. [She stays where she is, allowing Marianne to approach alone and unthreatening, and also keeping an eye on their surroundings, but she can't help but give Willow a gentle little ribbing.] Looks like you managed to get rid of some of that extra weight, hm? Don't worry, we aren't going to dig it out of the underbrush.