♥ March (Ainir) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

March Event Log
Spring has sprung! Or at least, in theory. The month began monthly unremarkably, besides the priests of Ainea's temple prepping for the first month in their deity's season, which tends to be a little sleepy as the city traditionally shakes off those winter woes. The earthquakes still has everyone feeling a strange anticipation for change, but with how long it's gone with no noteworthy shifts yet, excitement has grown somewhat muted. All of that is about to change...

---

❥ PROMPT I: Let the Rain Fall Down

The month begins with something peculiar: a sudden rainfall occurring sporadically, not just in sections of the city the way it does when the weather system is malfunctioning, but rather consistent across the entire city. The natives in town are flummoxed; this rain is natural, passing harmlessly through the barrier, and the water that falls to the ground is clean, unpoisoned by the perpetual storm and toxic air outside. The rain comes in waves, from a light drizzle to a steady stream, and while it is not raining all day every day, it is probably best practice to travel with an umbrella on hand for a while.

Before long, the effects of this natural rainfall will become apparent: the city is undergoing an unexpected period of growth. Flowers, fauna, and all sorts of greenery are sprouting up in all areas of the city where grass or soil exists. It appears that at last your effort is paying off, and life is returning to Havenwell in a big way. The types of plants that grow will range in type, colour, and species- many of them are live versions of the extinct plants that have been on display in the museums, or whatever is already on display in the gardens. Some of the plants that grow might also be familiar to the visitors of this world- a small slice of your home, adopted by the gods that your touch have rejuvenated.

One downside is that since all these changes are happening at once, in such a short span, the botanical community is ill-equipped to make sure all of these new plants have a chance to thrive on their own. Many things that grow can be left where they stand, but the seemingly randomized placement means that certain plants aren't in a good spot. A tree sapling sprouting in the cracks of the sidewalk, or a sunflower tucked away beneath a rooftop, for example.

Thus, the community is asking for volunteers to help relocate plants to the proper areas. Most should be going to the parks, gardens, or temples, areas with clean, existent soil but with nothing yet growing there. These locations have been tested, and have been determined to be safe for planting- it seems that the rain has purified whatever sour ground that the barrier hasn't kept clean, to make way for the new plants. They can also be relocated to personal residences, for those houses that have gardens or a bit of soil if you're willing to install your own. As the rain continues to fall, plants will keep growing, so when the flora and fauna are relocated there will be more growing in its place before long. Lots of work to be done if you're to save the new life in town!

If you wish to include a specific plant from your canon: please request it in the PLANT FROM HOME APPROVAL thread on the plotting post!

Please be aware that much like the rest of the plants growing around town, those from home will begin as seeds and grow gradually over the course of the event. Keep that in mind!

❥ PROMPT II: Hold My Flower

As the days pass, and there seems to be no end to the growth in town, the natives are growing increasingly excited, and when the collection of flowers becomes such a plethora that there are too many, they explain that the timing of this is very on-point: years ago, before the world began to die, they celebrated a Festival of Flowers, to welcome the shift of winter to spring in their corner of the world. In previous years, the tradition lived on in a simpler form, with paper or synthetic flowers, but it isn't really the same without hair so interest waned.

A major part of the festival involves flower weaving, in many intricate patterns and arrangements, all of which have different meanings, like an arranged bouquet might. These flowers are sewn together into crowns, or woven directly into the recipient's hair, a delicate and rather intimate act done between friends, family, or lovers alike. Since the robots of town can't really benefit from this shared experience (of neither physical interaction or hair weaving), instead they happily pass along their knowledge of arrangements and techniques, floral symbolism. You can follow along with their directions, or just make something up/create something new, though certain unwitting combinations are bound to earn some curious (or amused) looks from the locals. For those of you who lack long hair for such acts, despair not! Crowns placed on short hair are just as socially welcome as the weavings, as you'll see from the robots wearing similar designs around town.

However, there is a chance that the rain is also causing something other than plants to grow around town… namely, exposed hair. Those who get caught in the downpour might inexplicably notice that their hair is an inch or two longer the next morning… and then longer… and longer… there is no hard or fast limit to how much it grows, and cutting it may help for a time, but it does not stem the growth either. Maybe you should just relax and enjoy it for a while.

❥ PROMPT III: Scheme of the Wyrm Queen

Developed by Noctis and Pyra, in collaboration with the VR cafes, Havenwell officially presents: King's Knight 2.0: Scheme of the Wyrm Queen, a game that will be available going forward and premieres this month.

This game is designed to be like an MMO/mobile game, except in VR- every player gets an account, and to an extent their avatars are customizable. There are a set number of levels per playthrough, you can stop and pick up any time after a level ends, and you can re-arrange your party members at the start of each play session.

You can charge through levels just smashing away at enemies, but part of the game mechanic is that physical contact between characters in-game will provide stat boosts, enhancements, occasional heals or buffs, soft revives at 0HP, etc. The effect can vary depending on the nature of contact, but is also randomized to an extent, to allow for player freedom. Let's just say that intent plays a part... so touch someone and wish with your heart, and maybe something nice will happen. Or at least something kind of cheesy. (Noctis would like to establish that he did not program in that part.)

Noteworthy features:

• The plot: The evil dragon queen Nebula has kidnapped the prince of Oriens and absconded to the realm of monsters with him for some nefarious purpose. The gods of Totally Not Aellyn bless a group of heroes with the power to travel through that realm in order to rescue the prince! ...That's it. What, do you think you're here for plot? Nah. You're here to fight monsters and collect treasure.


• A party can consist of 2-4 characters of any class arrangement, though a somewhat balanced party is encouraged to survive each level. Repeated training (or grinding) can help characters acquire better gear drops or level up if they get stuck, but there is an emphasis on teamwork to get you through it!


• "Death" in-game causes a character to become translucent and unable to interact with the game until healed or revived, or until the level ends. If all characters reach this status, they fail the level and the game is over. All characters are healed to full once a level is beaten.


• Levels are randomly generated based on a set amount of algorithms, to shake up the experience and make each game a little bit different. There is a plot as noted above, with some dialogue and programmed NPCs, but interaction with either is simple and can be ignored or skipped after the first run-through if you so choose.


• Certain accounts of people who were a part of the development (AKA those who Noctis pestered about designing things) will gain access to unique costume options upon initial log-in, like a pre-order bonus. These items are cosmetic only, but look pretty nifty.


• The difficulty setting can be adjusted according to player skill, so if anyone feels like Normal is beyond their ability, don't be ashamed to turn it down a notch! Player accessibility is more important. There are leaderboards for each difficulty, but it's mostly for bragging rights and don't earn you anything special.

Available Classes:

• Knight - a well-rounded swordsman with a shield, built tough for the front line and defense


• Thief - master of finding hidden objects, detecting traps, disarming foes, the fastest class


• Sorcerer - commanding the elements, attack from a distance and overwhelm your enemies; glass cannon


• Battle Cleric - wielder of a magic weapon that recognizes friends from foes; striking an ally will heal them without injury, striking a foe will tear them down


• Dragoon - specializes in aerial assault, heavy hits and safe retreats, can reach high areas


• Archer - speedy attacks at long distance; inexplicably great at parkour and glitching out of bounds for treasure

Enemies:

Monsters in-game vary between generic beasts of lore, parody versions of creatures found in Final Fantasy XV, and some monsters based on descriptions that Noctis or Pyra acquired from asking people. These are subject to change on request, as the game will be developing gradually to improve itself.

If you have suggestions or requests for monsters, treasures, or equipment, please submit them to the additional information page on King's Knight, where such updates will be tracked!

❥ PROMPT IVish: A Final Reminder

The soft earthquakes in effect since last month are still ongoing, however they have spread out more and are no longer occurring every day, but instead with a handful of gaps in between. As noted in the Intro Mingle log, there are new messages that characters can receive:

1) "Change is coming." this message is passive, almost like a greeting.
2) "We thank you for all you have done." this message is softer, almost apologetic.
3) "We shall do all we can to keep you safe." this message is gentle, almost parental in its affection.
4) "Share your bounty and your joy." this message is kind and encouraging, tugging you toward people you may not have met yet.
5) "Remember to keep the balance." this message is plaintive, but without urgency.
6) "Do not approach the walls." this message is LOUD, insistent, and the most frequently transmitted.
7) "Soon, change." this message is a gentle reminder.
8) "We welcome you to our home." This message is sent most frequently to newcomers.
9) "Be not afraid. You are safe." this message is polite and reassuring.
10) "Keep your footing and watch your step." this message is cautious, a firm warning.

Most of the residents have stopped linking up, since the messages are mostly on repeat, but the local temple priests still do it every time… just in case. Otherwise, it's easy enough to ignore for most people. The anticipation hasn't faded, but they're simply waiting for whatever comes next.

---

This event will run from March 13th to 29th. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread on the plotting post.

Comments

[necromanswers]

Well... I guess it's not unheard of that some people might just get sick out of nowhere.

[Might be unusual for their kind, but this is still an alien planet. There's bound to be some weird toxins around.]

Worth observing, anyway, just in case. We should get you to bed, can you walk?

[shroudedsecrets]

I should be, though it may be slow going. I was planning on heading there first, but...

[ As Lup could see, she'd been stopped here, from the combination of dizziness and weakness. ]

[necromanswers]

Yeah, noticed that. Just lean on me, I'll get you there.

[She holds her hand out, intent on lifting Honerva up and getting her to her room in whatever manner is needed.]

[shroudedsecrets]

... Okay.

[ Honerva gives herself a moment to mentally ready herself to persist through the discomfort, before reaching to take Lup's hand, allowing her to guide her up to her feet, and then lean against her, shakily but grateful for her presence.

Her cloak's a little splotchy, though it's difficult to tell if it's just from the weather; she has it wrapped so close because despite her fever, she'd been more distracted by the chills that came with it. ]

[necromanswers]

[Lup is keeping her eyes open for any signs of what kind of illness this might be, if it's normal or something new. She's not a doctor, but she's been around for a while, so she's doing what she can. Nothing about the illness stands out, though, so she focuses primarily on getting Honerva up and into her bedroom so she can lie down.]

I'll grab some extra blankets, so we can get you cleaned and bundled up. No need to go to bed covered in dirt.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Once they start moving, Kova hangs back, meowing again but knowing better than to brush up against them at this time.

For her part, Honerva is still more unused to the sensation of illness, since that brush with it from their trip outside the barrier those months ago, and that had hit hard enough, much like this. The walk to the room is mostly uneventful, though she winces sometimes. There was much she could power through if need be, but this sudden physical toll was not an easy adjustment to make; she'd have been quite fine with just curling up anywhere and waiting for it to pass, but Lup was more sensible than her feverish thoughts. ]

... Sounds good.

[ She'll keep huddled in her layers, sitting on the edge of the bed when they reach her room, waiting until Lup gathers what she needs to. No need to sacrifice warmth until the alternative was available. ]

Perhaps... the outpouring of these new plants was intended to counter some new disruption... a distraction from any questions.

[necromanswers]

[She doesn't say anything or stop to pet him, but at Kova's meowing, Ditto finally reemerges and bumps up against him, also keeping his distance to watch.

Within a minute or so Lup heads back in and dumps a pile of blankets pilfered from the supply nest she and Taako had collected over the months as habitual supply hoarders, gesturing towards Honerva's clothes.]

Maybe. Or maybe you're discovering a new allergy to some weird alien plant. Either way, off with 'em. Get that dirt off the bed.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Kova's meows are a little less, once Ditto returns to take vigil with him, a little kitty-cognizant of the familiar's odd behavior, but some helplessness there as well. ]

An allergy? ... It could be a possibility. All of these plants are new to me, though I cannot recall having such adverse affects before.

[ Not since they were outside, anyway.

Grimacing, she relents at Lup's request, finally slipping off her soft shoes and then wriggling herself from her cloak at the promise of waiting warmth. The sleeve of the shirt underneath is stained, too, accompanied by a few tiny holes on the fabric. Honerva doesn't even seem to notice; she's already reaching toward the blankets. ]

[necromanswers]

Have you got scratches or punctures anywhere, do you feel any pain in a specific spot?

[She's looking, but it's faster if Honerva can point her in the right direction.]

[shroudedsecrets]

... What?

[ She was just about ready to curl up despite their conversation. She does pause, though, during the half slow grasp for the blanket, finally seeming to take in the state of her clothes that had been under the cloak. ]

... I didn't think that I had, but... perhaps I've misjudged this pain. I thought I had... aggravated that soreness in my arm from -- before.

[ From their brief captivity, she means, though she hadn't wanted to bring that up. But now it seemed she had to remove another layer and a half, and at this point she was wincing more actively at the movement. Whatever she had encountered must have gone right through the clothes, and her skin was already far too sensitive; the revealed part of her arm seemed discolored as though bruised, accompanied by a loss of pigmentation in some areas. ]

[necromanswers]

From before? What happened?

[She tilts her head to glance at said arm, noticing the discoloured nature of it. Something about it looks... familiar. Eerily so. She reaches out, trying to nudge Honerva's arm closer to get a better look without touching the spot.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She shifts to cover the rest of herself up due to it just being colder now, though reluctantly lets Lup take a better look at her exposed arm. ]

I had just... been getting caught on things lately.

[ And it's a little embarrassing, so she'd been dealing with it quietly enough, save for when others would aid her or she'd return home with newly decorated hair. ]

Freeing myself is more effort than expected, though I suppose it may be that the nature of the vegetation that has been spreading has been more... lively due to the acceleration of growth.

[necromanswers]

[Getting caught... hang on. Leaning forward, Lup grabs an unmarked spot on Honerva's arm and pulls it outward to see the rash up close. It's dark... too dark to be normal. Like it's turning black, almost, with lines like spider legs crawling outwards from it in all directions.

She can feel her heart pounding, heavy and painful, and she fights the rising panic.]

Did you see it? The plant that caused this?

[There's no way. There's no way.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ The worst of the offending area is in the middle of her forearm. Reluctantly she shifts herself once more, trying to get a better glimpse of what seemed to be causing Lup more alarm now, when her entire body was already aching for sleep, her mind trying to tell her, don't think about anything else, an insistent fogginess she'd struggled to ignore.

What was Lup asking? Had she seen... what? She struggles to fill in the blanks. ]

... I am not certain if it was the cause but there was... one plant that was more difficult to disengage from. It was not similar to ... others. I had to use some of my magic to remove it.

[necromanswers]

Listen- listen to me.

[Don't panic, don't panic. It could be nothing. Surely- she'd be dead by now if it was-

Lup leans in, gripping Honerva's shoulders, her expression intensely serious.]

Focus here. What did it look like? Was it a vine? A black vine?

[shroudedsecrets]

Lup...?

[ It's not easy to focus. She can sense the alarm in Lup, the more insistent she becomes, the way she's looking at her even if Honerva can barely keep her eyes open to focus on her. What had happened, anyway...? It was such an easy, throwaway moment. She had gotten caught on... something, and something had curled around her arm, quick and dark... even through her layers, she must have vaguely felt it pierce, but... it was still nothing she had thought further on. ]

... it was... dark, yes. The vine was... dark. But it must have had... teeth? I could not grab it.

[necromanswers]

[A dark vine. With teeth. There are so many things that it could be, surely- this is an alien planet, all the plants are different, but-

-but gods, she knows that mark. A tremor passes through her body, and she can only stare at the wound. What does she do? What can she do? There's no cure for this, there's no treatment. If this is what she's dreading, Honerva is a walking corpse, alive only by technicality.]

How long ago... did this happen?

[They don't have long. If it was recent enough, maybe there's a healer in town better than any she's ever known, maybe there's some miracle... god, let there be a miracle.]

[shroudedsecrets]

... How long?

[ Of all the questions, it had to be about time. On the good days she at least had some sort of routine to measure by, but this hadn't been a good day. Not a cafe day. And this was an incident that was strange but she had surely brushed it off. Had she talked to anyone after...? The discomfort was there but it had not been instant, hadn't fully started to hit until she had gotten herself through the door when she'd felt the escalation, that sudden inability to take a single step further, and she shivered.

Lup was scared. Why was Lup scared? She can barely see the wound herself from that angle but there's something... something she should know about it, isn't there? She forces herself to speak as much as she can manage. ]

... Check my device. I made some notations there before it happened... it will give us a better frame for time.

[necromanswers]

[Device... right. Okay. This, she can do. Taking a deep breath, Lup grabs Honerva's communicator and hurriedly checks whatever recent document was being used, scrolling through the relevant notations. For Honerva to tell her to look for them, rather than saying it was a matter of minutes ago, has the alarm bells already ringing: that it's something else, similar but different enough that it would explain why she didn't come home to a corpse. A delayed death is still a death, though, and the signs all point in the direction of Silverpoint, so that still leaves a need for something beyond her capabilities.

Gently she presses a hand to Honerva's shoulder, urging her back.]

Lie down, I'm gonna check around, see if we can get you on the mend.

[She hopes. Gods, but she hopes. Who does healing? She knows precious few. Didn't Cor and his king open a shop for that recently? Worth a shot, at least... lifting Honerva's comm to her ear, she gives him a call.]

[flawed_immortality]

[He answers quickly enough, once again thanking the gods he was finally smart enough to get the headset he was so accustomed to. It certainly made things easier when he was up to his elbows in fresh soil. Things have been chaotic, adjusting to the changes in living situations, the sudden flood of plant life, Regis finally awakening.

He really should have called her before now but, given all of... everything it's nice to see her reaching out this time. Something that makes it impossible to keep the smile off his face or out of his voice.]

Honerva... it's good to hear from you.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Unfortunately for Cor, it is not Honerva on the phone. She is following Lup's instruction, quietly retreating into the blankets at that gentle press and curling up with eyes shut, no need to tell her twice when she feels this bad. It's cold. She trusts Lup, even if she doesn't see her making the call.

Of course, she's still listening, sleep isn't something to come so easily. Especially not with her active mind. ]

[necromanswers]

[Oh. She probably should have switched comms. Too late now...]

It's me, hold that thought. You've got something that helps with poisons at that new shop of yours, right?

[A beat, and then, preemptively-]

No questions, Cor. We don't have time.

[flawed_immortality]

Lup?

[That is not at all what he was expecting. Cor frowns, immediately on alert.]

Antidotes and potions both. I'm there now, where do you need me?

[necromanswers]

Stay where you are- get it ready and wait at the door for me. Thirty seconds.

[She hangs up before he can reply, tucking the communicator back by Honerva's hand and leaning over her, resting a hand on her forehead. Still hot... they'll need something for that, if she lasts that long.]

Stay down, stay awake, don't move. I'll be right back. [Her voice is firm, fighting against the tremor of fear she's absolutely feeling. She takes a deep breath, then adds, in a murmur,] Don't die.

[And then she's gone- in a flash of arcane energy she draws a doorway and disappears through it, teleporting to a location she knows as far between here and the shop as she can reach within the spell's limit. Another drawn doorway, another teleport, just a few steps and she's there. At some point she'd really like to get around to creating a proper circle at the house, but that's not possible until she gets the materials... either way, this is the fastest method she's got.

And as stated, she's pushing through the door of the shop under a minute after the call, her expression urgent, underlaid with barely veiled panic, and her hand is already outstretched for what she's after as she calls out,]

Cor!

[flawed_immortality]

[The fact that she hangs up so quickly, no explanation, no assurances. It has his heart in his throat. She'd called from Honerva's phone. Why not her own? Was Honerva in trouble? There's no time to panick, though.

Cor is already standing at the door, both blades at his hip for once, a couple bottles in hand and more in the Armiger. So when she reaches out he takes her hand instead, twisting their fingers together tightly.]

I've got it, let's go.