![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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.
2
... Until now.]
Sorry. That one was me.
[Now he's beginning to realize that sneaking up on someone with a polearm is a good way to get skewered, even if you weren't trying to.]
no subject
[She lets out a breath of air as a laugh, her posture easing somewhat as she shakes out her hand from where it had been tensed, ready to grab for her naginata. Turning with a smile, she instead clasps her hands behind her back and tilts her head.]
No, it's okay. You just startled me, that's all. I kept thinking I heard stuff in the trees... Has it been you all along?
no subject
[That earns her a bit of a curious look as he puts his hands on his hips. Considering how much he's been... let's call it exploring, rather than wandering off, Noel has to think back and retrace his steps a bit to answer.]
I just came back from that direction, [he gestures east, past where the group has been walking.] You've been hearing other noises?
no subject
[That's maybe a good thing, considering the last time people were hearing spooky voices, they'd wander unprepared into Tartarus and have to get rescued. Even as she says it, there's noise in the trees that catches her attention from the opposite direction he'd indicated, and she twists her neck around sharply as if expecting to see something there.
Of course, there's nothing, and she probably looks like a paranoid idiot. She covers it with a laugh.]
Maybe I'm imagining it. I'm not too used to forests, really.
no subject
I thought I was hearing an animal, but maybe it was something like that.
[Thoughtfully, and maybe a bit awkwardly, he scrubs a hand over the back of his neck.]
I'm not used to them either. I wasn't expecting the woods to be so...noisy.
no subject
[She sounds doubtful, though. It's a voice, she's certain of that, but if he doesn't hear it, he doesn't hear it. That's probably a good thing, really. Less chance of people wandering off to follow it in case it is like Tartarus.]
Want to stay together for now? You know, just in case there's something out there. I've always been told it's better to be in a group.
[She'd prefer to have a group of four, but what's the saying about two heads being better than one?]
I'm Kotone, by the way. Kotone Shiomi.
no subject
[But she's got a point -- it's better to stay together, to make sure no one goes missing. He knows better than a lot of people how reckless it is to fight alone...so he nods.]
Sounds good. My name's Noel -- nice to meet you.
no subject
[She gives him another smile before turning to keep walking through the forest, a little more comfortable now that she knows there's someone with her. As for what it sounded like...]
Well... voices and static, kind of. It's hard to explain, but it gives me a bad feeling. Like people might want to try to follow it or something.
[Could just be her own biases and experience talking, but he asked!]
no subject
Yeah. Wouldn't want that.
[Playing it very cool. Anyway, it's true that the noises were strange, so he tilts his head thoughtfully.]
I'm no expert on forests, but static doesn't exactly seem like a woodsy sound. You think something out there might be trying to lure us in, maybe?
no subject
Yeah, it's weird, isn't it? I don't even hear any animals or anything, just the weird... garbled voice. It doesn't feel right.
[She shivers and forces a laugh.]
I guess "a bad feeling" isn't really evidence or anything, though. But that's what it feels like, yeah. A lure. Does that sound crazy?
no subject
He thinks on her words for a second, though. If there were still any paradoxes to resolve, he might think this was related to that -- something wrong with the time stream making things go...weird. But maybe it could be related. After all, they're all --or mostly-- from different worlds, right? Could that have caused some anomaly -- or could one of them have brought that anomaly along with them?
... Something to think on later. For now, he shakes his head.]
Nah, it doesn't sound crazy. A "bad feeling" is just another word for instinct, right? It's your gut telling you something's weird. And you're right, something about it doesn't feel right. Wish I could put a finger on what, but...for now, we might just have to wait and see.
no subject
[She wasn't expecting him to take it seriously; she'd half-convinced herself that she was letting her own memories color what was actually happening. Her lip curves up in a small, genuine smile, and she nods as she keeps moving forward.]
I think we need to try to catch up to the others as fast as possible, then. If something is wrong, better to face it in a larger group, I think.
no subject
Got it. Lead the way? I'm sure we'll catch up in no time.