expiationlogs | {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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really?

[He feels like they can probably get up to some real mischief, if that's the case.]

Then, the ones that you described... Do you think they were trying to appear more frightening?

Hm… I think it was because they were spirits possessed by… something else? If that makes sense.

[Less a thinking situation and more of that’s what was happening. They were the spirits of children turned and twisted by another thing.]

Their true forms weren’t frightening at all. It’s possible that all ghosts and spirits might be like that. I can’t say I’ve seen a whole lot of them. I definitely haven’t seen any of them here.

[Although she sure thought she was seeing things at first when she and Zack first reunited. That, she decides, does not count.]

[Usually, when people think of spirits, they tend to think of them as the ones that do the possessing. It sounds like Aerith's experience paints a completely different picture. Interesting.]

Well... With the vibes this forest is giving off, maybe today will be the day that changes.

[But even though he says that, he's not really convinced this place is haunted. There seems to be something in here with them, but ghosts?

He's not the type to immediately jump to ghosts as his first explanation.]

Let's hope they aren't hungry, whatever they are.

Not that I have anything against ghosts— [Really, she doesn’t!] —but I feel like I’d be just fine even if we didn’t meet some more while we’re here. Maybe they’re be polite and just let us go this time. I doubt this is the only time we’re going to be passing through, after all. At least, if the snake people liked us.

[Debatable, truly. She has no way of knowing just how many people were inclined to tick them off.]

That said, even if ghosts get hungry, which… I’m not sure whether they do or not, I don’t think we are exactly what they’d consider part of a well-balanced meal.

[For a brief moment, when she mentions the snake people, his brows furrow slightly. In any unvetted group this large, someone will always misbehave. He's been a leader for long enough to understand that. Regardless, it's frustrating that there are those among them who are being so shortsighted about this. He can only hope that any small acts of mischief or thievery that occurred won't lead to a diplomatic incident in the future, or the Rumpiturians no longer being open to diplomacy with them at all.

Anyway! Let's not ruin the conversation with that kind of heavy topic, at least for the time being!]

...To be honest, I was more concerned about the food we're carrying on us.

[Does that say something about his priorities?]

We went through all this trouble to finally get our hands on it, after all.

[He isn't sure that the people waiting for them back in Aldrip will take kindly to being told, "Sorry, we bartered a bunch of stuff away for food, but it was all eaten on the way back."]

I don't think ghosts are going to steal our food.

[Of course, as she's saying it aloud, the idea of spirits of anything taking their food or other supplies does sound a little silly. It might not be impossible, because surely ghosts of all worlds respond in different ways and ought not to be treated the same.

Aerith turns her attention back onto the woods that linger beyond where she can rightfully see. Just an endless, thick veil of trees with branches that don't really look particularly welcoming. When she stares like that, it almost feels as if the entire forest will just swallow her whole. It leaves her with just the smallest feeling of foreboding, an ominous weight that she can't quite rightfully understand or place.

Forcing gaze back onto her companion, she laughs suddenly.]

Yeeeeeeah. I'm pretty sure they're not gonna take our food. Although you've given me a great idea. Maybe as a peace offering or something, just in case there really are spirits, we can leave a little for them? Even if they can't use it, they might appreciate the thought.

Oh! It's segaki, right?

[Though, the moment the words leave his mouth, it occurs to him that Aerith likely doesn't know what that is. It might be best to explain it at least briefly.]

Where I come from, there were people who did that — left food for ghosts to eat. I've always heard that it was the sincerity behind the act that truly mattered, so even something as little as a single grain of rice would do.

[To think that Aerith would come up with the same idea... It's kind of amazing, in a way.]

You weren't kidding; that really is a great idea.

[He's exactly right. She has no idea what a 'segaki' might be, so she looks grateful when he's quick to offer up an explanation. She didn't know there was an actual word for it, but she doubts she's the first person to have ever come up with an idea like that.

Well, obviously not. Segaki likely predates her.

She looks a little pleased with the praise, however.]

I didn't know there was a word for that. Must be a pretty okay idea if someone already thought of it. I don't see the harm in it. We can still catch food back in Aldrip, so I'm pretty sure we can give up a little of what we have.

[Ritsu pauses to think on this. They definitely can't give too much when there's a food crisis going on, or the others will be understandably upset with them. It's the thought that counts, anyway, right?

In the end, he sets aside a couple of fish, placing them neatly on top of a few large rocks he's collected. If he gathers a circle of pebbles around them, then it's almost like an altar, right? It's the best he can do, at any rate.

When he's finished, he turns back to Aerith with a small smile.]

If anyone gets upset about it, we can tell them we're taking these out of my meal.

[He deals with hunger better than most, anyway.]

[She watches his display, careful not to interrupt him. Once he’s put pebbles around the pieces that he’s offering up, she takes a moment to offer some of what she’s taken from the Rumpitur people, as well, which seems to be somewhat unimpressive metal accessories. Stepping back once she’s done, Aerith eyes his handiwork and finally offers a nod, as if she’s offering something akin to approval.

He’s never needed that to begin with, however.]

Nonsense. I’ll share my food with you if needed. I don’t need to eat very much, anyway.

[Aerith doesn’t seem inclined to hear any protests on this one. As usual, she’s quick to make a decision on the behalf of another in what she feels suits their best interests.]

[Well, at this point, he's not surprised by that. He feels like he knew quite a few people who would have benefited from having someone like Aerith in their lives. (The subject of whether he himself would benefit, however, is one he chooses not to think on.)

Her offering of choice is a bit different from what he expected, and it piques his curiosity.]

That's an interesting choice.

I didn’t have a lot to give up. We shouldn’t give up all of our food, though. People need that to eat. They don’t necessarily need jewellery or stuff like that. I don’t think there’s anyone here who can eat that kind of stuff. Or needs to.

[A pause.]

Probably.

[She issues a quiet laugh as she folds her hands together with a grin.]

Either way, it’s something that was given to us in good faith. It still means something. It’s a worthy thing to offer.

{EVENT #1} ADVERSITY 131425.845119

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If too old, please feel free to drop. Sorry for the wait!

no worries!!

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