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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.



twelfthsong: (pic#15991401)

[personal profile] twelfthsong 2023-03-19 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Exactly!

[ Agreement with his pondering is met with unbridled enthusiasm brimming in his expression. It makes him look younger. There's something borderline wild in his eyes at the thought of an adventure, a delicious, glorious mystery out there waiting to be discovered. ]

Things that go bump in the night, or in this case snap in the woods, always have an explanation to them. They can't just be noises for the sake of noises. If you had to guess what do you think is out there in the woods?
sincleavers: (012)

[personal profile] sincleavers 2023-03-20 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Adventure is something that Alphen lives and breathes, and his face lights up at the idea of talking about it, much less taking off in pursuit of some random new direction.]

If I was at home, I'd say probably a zeugle...a monster, [this place and its weird non-zeugle words, geez-] or maybe a soldier. Here...your guess is as good as mine. We don't know what this world is really capable of.

[Which is a bit scary, but honestly...he's confident that there's a lot he can handle. After a pause, he looks back at the Doctor.]

You said something about myths and stories, right? Anything about creatures stalking in the woods at night?

[ha ha ha...ha...]
twelfthsong: (pic#16000076)

[personal profile] twelfthsong 2023-03-23 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The Doctor would definitely agree that the unknown can hold some level of scariness, but scared seems to be the last thing he is right now.

The question sparks something that looks akin to delight in his expression. He slows his pace, letting the group meander a little further away from them. ]


Oh plenty. There's some about creatures that sound a lot like wendigoes and others that are a little more vague in terms of what they are since most of the people who have encountered them never return.
sincleavers: (028)

[personal profile] sincleavers 2023-03-23 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[They're enabling each other and neither of their keepers is in the immediate area to stop it. Alphen offers a bit of a grin.]

I heard stories like that at home all the time. Usually it's something making a hideout somewhere scaring people off.

[Zeugles, monsters, bandits. Didn't matter -- there was always something real behind them.]

From what I've heard, there are dragons here somewhere. I bet there's something else in these woods making people believe stories like that, too.
twelfthsong: (pic#15987641)

[personal profile] twelfthsong 2023-03-27 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Fortunately, or unfortunately for them, (it's definitely the latter if the Doctor has to stop to think about it for more than five seconds) the Doctor's keeper probably won't be here for the foreseeable future which leaves him room for plenty of trouble of the mischievous kind. ]

It can't be the dragons they're up in that volcano. It has to be something else. [ It isn't said dismissively though because he appreciates the speculation. ] Do you think they're trying to keep people away from the woods because there's something here they're trying to protect in here?

[ It's hard to believe even though he's voicing it aloud. They've stuck to the paths which means there hasn't been much time for exploration and everything he'd seen so far is just trees. ]
sincleavers: (014)

[personal profile] sincleavers 2023-03-29 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
It's hard to say for sure, unless we split off and take a look.

[Which wouldn't exactly be the most responsible move, since they're trying to keep their numbers from reducing any further...but Alphen loves a challenge, and he loves an adventure, and this sounds like both of those things put together, wrapped in a burrito of intrigue.]

But where I'm from, if someone is trying to keep people away from something, they make it sound like poking your nose around in it will get you killed.
twelfthsong: (pic#16262545)

[personal profile] twelfthsong 2023-04-02 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
That trend tends to stay pretty true to form in other worlds too.

[ Then again, there's sometimes cautionary tales for a reason. ]

The locals seem rather convinced, so it could be all the more reason to investigate it to see what the real truth is. [ His eyes trail off to what seems like a bit of an unbeaten path. As he tilts his head, there's a glimmer of something in his gaze. Is a trick of the moonlight or is he scheming? Probably both. ]

We could find out if you want. We'll be back before they know it.
sincleavers: (005)

[personal profile] sincleavers 2023-04-06 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Listen. Cautionary schmautionary, that's what JRPG characters are for. Need to investigate something? Send in an armor-clad lunkhead to get the job done. It'll be fine.

That is to say that Alphen debates the idea for maybe a few moments, for the sake of not wanting people to worry, but he has never in his life (or in his one year of remembered life, at least) turned down a chance to explore the untrodden path. He's not about to start now. So he nods, looking for all the world like he's ready to take on a challenge.]


It wouldn't hurt to take a look. [Maybe they'll even luck into finding one of the missing people.] Do you have a weapon with you? If not, I can take point. We wouldn't want to run into a stray zeugle unexpectedly.
twelfthsong: (pic#16240286)

[personal profile] twelfthsong 2023-04-07 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I have a sonic screwdriver, a spoon, and - [ He ruffles through his pockets. He's still wearing the pack from earlier carrying all of the traded belongings, but there's nothing in there that's remotely a weapon. ] a yo-yo.

[ From his tone it's apparent that he thinks all three of things are sufficient to keep the both of them safe. How? Maybe they'll find out here or they won't, either way he doesn't leave any time to scrutinize it. His attention is already directed towards the mention of a new creature entering the chat. ]

A zeugle? Is that a creature from your world?
sincleavers: (041)

[personal profile] sincleavers 2023-04-14 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Four words out of the Doctor's mouth and Alphen is already a bit lost.] I...don't think I know what any of those things are.

[But it's impressive that he has such prolific pocket contents? ... ... ... Oh, wait--] ... I mean. I know what a spoon is. But the others... [He shrugs. It's fine! He can take point. This'll be no big deal. He's fought enough zeugles for the both of them.

Ah. Another oh, wait moment.]


People I've talked to here call them "monsters." Beasts and constructs that are...not quite like normal animals. Most of them aggressive to the point of being deadly.