♥ April (Lasai) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

April (Lasai) Event Log
Lasai is a beautiful month. The weather is warmer, the sky is a breathtaking blue again, and with the flowers from Ainir growing nicely, the entire city of Havenwell just feels more alive with every breath. It's a time of renewal, of rebirth, of Ainea's greatest strength as her adherents open the temple gates to invite people and robots from all walks of life to enter and share together. What should be a joyous time, however, is suddenly interrupted as the earthquakes mount day by day through the start of Lasai. Those messages that people have been receiving since Nalom? It seems it's time for the gods to deliver on their promises.

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❥ PROMPT I: The Wild Wild West (East, South and North)

As Ainir gives way to Lasai, one morning the earthquakes, which had been growing more frequent again, suddenly mount in their intensity. The entire city is shaking and the native residents cower despite their faith in their gods' protection. The guards along the wall shout alarm and abandon their posts as the walls start to shift under the strain. When the last of them are safely away from the walls, the barrier and the wall itself quivers. The citizens cry out in alarm and fear until they realize that the walls aren't falling - they're moving. And they're moving further out. As everyone in Havenwell looks on, the walls and its surrounding barrier fluctuates and expands, sliding through the city streets as if on hidden tracks, avoiding buildings and ruins, pushing the toxic air and the storm further away. They finally come to rest and snap back into place, new walls rising from who knows where to fill in the gaps. The barrier strengthens and the earthquakes stop, and as the dust settles, a cheer rises from the citizens.

"Praise the gods! Praise the off-worlders!"

Among the din of their celebration, however, other cries start up among the newly incorporated ruins. Cries that sound like howls and screeches, and certainly do not sound human. Grab your weapons and steel yourselves, off-worlders, with the addition of this new space comes the need to clear it of anything potentially dangerous that got caught up in the expansion. Not all creatures you'll find are hostile, but some certainly are. Docile ones might just fetch a nice price from the Research Towers and the Conservatory if you can capture a mating pair.

OOC: These are the creatures you can encounter in the city as you go through to clear it. It's not an invasion level of infestation, as the majority of creatures will prefer to remain inside their known territory beyond the original barrier, but you will on occasion need to take up arms and fight. Next to their names are the frequency with which you can find them, ranging from common to extremely rare.

• Inky Black Spiders (common - hostile): These relatively small, black spider-like creatures have very basic melee attacks, using their fangs and their sharp legs to bite and claw at people. Those who were around in October when the wall broke will recognize them as the most common enemy back then. Their exoskeletons are hard and when they die, they smash into a black goo. They tend to travel in packs, using sheer numbers to overwhelm their prey.
  
• One-Eyed Lizard (uncommon - docile): An iridescent scaly purple and green lizard approximately 8 to 10cm in length from tip to tail. It has a single eye at the top of its head that can rotate to see 360 degrees around it. This creature's main defenses are its tough hide and a spine on the tip of its tail which it whips at predators to dissuade them from eating it. It's more likely to run than fight, however, and can usually be found sunbathing on exposed rock with its eye closed.
  
• "Bone Giraffe" (extremely rare - hostile): A nearly 20-foot tall, long-necked skeleton of a four-legged creature long dead with a single curved horn protruding from its skull and a sharp snout. It's usually found lying in a heap, as if it laid down and died that way. A black seven-petaled flower sometimes (but not always) grows from the skull and beneath the skeleton is an oily black film. Touching the oil slick activates the creature, which draws the oil up into the skeletal cage. Its main attacks are brute force, using its bony legs and neck to kick and slam against its prey, and its acid breath. It breathes a black fume that sizzles and burns anything it touches.
  
• Rive Talon (rare - hostile - medium): In the past these creatures may have been canines of some form, now they seem to have melded with the detritus of the fallen buildings and creatures of the landscape. Extra spikes, ridges, and protrusions extend from its body at odd angles. Many of them are metal or stone, rather than bone. And some of the bones clearly were not originally its own. (Suggested by Sierra!)
  
• Outskirts Hare (uncommon - docile): A shy creature, roughly the size and shape of an earth hare, covered in fuzzy-looking, curly pink hair and cat-like whiskers. Normally quite timid, this creature's poor eyesight causes it to flee when it feels threatened, and relies largely on a sense of touch to navigate its surroundings. Contact with this creature's fur is markedly pleasant, but its skin discharges an oil that causes mild skin irritation on contact when it's nervous. Active mostly at night time. (Suggested by Mel!)
  
• Ansaurini (rare - annoying): a bipedal feathered bird with sharp claws and teeth good for chomping; some possess flight capabilities, but the majority are prone to a lazy waddle. Mostly harmless and deceptively unassuming until you turn your back- and suddenly it's run off with something it stole off your person! They are excellent at escaping, though they can be traced back to their hoard, and if their collection is raided they will make a lot of noise in protest. Just watch your back- they will try again until you leave their territory. Truly, a horrible thing.
  

❥ PROMPT II: Welcome to the (Urban) Jungle

Once the creatures are mostly taken care of and the newly revealed area is deemed safe enough to venture into, the city council will put out a call for those willing and able to assist the natives with a clean-up effort. The city outside the walls is badly damaged, left to the ravages of the time and the ever-present storm, which means clearing dust, debris, and flotsam is a high priority before people can begin to repair the new districts and salvage material or live there. Thick brown vines cover large parts of the city, grime from the storm is caked onto windows, rocks and scattered rotted bones and twisted metal can be found in roads and crashed through buildings. The atmosphere in this part of the city seems to mirror the decrepit state of the land, too, feeling heavier and grayer and more depressing than it has any right to be. Going out with people and helping together, taking breaks to lean against one another tends to help clear away any negativity that this land seems to bring to your thoughts, however. Since it's dangerous to go alone, be sure to take a friend.

The biggest concern is the vines, so natives offer to lend machetes to the offworlders to help the hack them away. The vines look brown and dead, the leaves withered and curled up. When characters hack into them, the vines release a puff of yellowish dust. Inhale the dust or get it anywhere near your face and over time, you'll begin to get sleepy - very sleepy. It's hard to keep your eyes open, no matter your resistance to poisons or magic, and eventually you'll find yourself falling asleep wherever you are. And once you're asleep? The vines start moving, crawling toward you at a snail's pace. Hopefully you did bring a friend because you'll need their touch to wake up and stay awake long enough to get away from the vines before they pull you deep within their grasp.

❥ PROMPT III: Take a Load Off

Not everyone can fight or clean or even wants to do it, so while those who are more suited to being on the front lines are off doing their thing, those who remain behind must begin the effort of preparing everything that people will need to live in these new areas. At the temples and in the main square, the priests have set up large rest areas with blankets and pillows, and are busily putting together repair kits for mechanics and explorers to use as they go through the ruins. Those who want a place to rest that doesn't require going all the way back to their homes might find these waystations more convenient.

At each, characters can find hot soups with chunks of hearty replicated breads and both hot and cold drinks available for any who wish it. They're trying to replicate pain medications and bandages for people who have been injured while exploring or fighting off the monsters who were unlucky enough to be left inside, and will ask you to try it if you're injured. Taking this medication might have some unintended side effects, however, like a feeling of euphoria or delusions of grandeur or even something as banal as turning your hair a shocking shade of chartreuse - the effect, if you want one, is up to you! The rest areas also have robots "skilled" in giving massages that are looking to test their newly acquired skills and with four pairs of arms, they can work on two people at once! In fact, they're rather insistent about giving you a free massage if they hear even the slightest hint of fatigue in your voice and will usher people into their curtained off booths regardless of whether they know the other occupant or not. These robots are still learning though, so anyone curious enough to try may need to work with their partner to give these robots pointers. They're trying, but not having fragile little flesh bodies is a major obstacle in learning how to have a gentle touch.

❥ PROMPT IV: That Which Remains

With the opening of the city, there seem to be a lot of buildings that need cleaning. Some are so dilapidated that they're better off demolished than repossessed, and most are residential and commercial buildings reminiscent of the ones the offworlders are used to seeing everyday in the Havenwell they've all known up until now. However, among the ruins of these older sections, those intrepid enough to venture and explore may find a few unique gems awaiting them. Just remember: the first rule of urban exploration is to never go alone. You never know what might be lurking in those abandoned buildings or what obstacles might be in your way. Doorways blocked by rubble will need more than one person to remove them. Frightened (and frightening) animals might be lingering in the dark. And, most importantly, you don't want to fall through the floor and vanish into a basement. There seem to be quite a few weakened floors out there. In the following parts of the expanded city, characters can find these interesting ruins:

• Northwest: The Arena - In the northwest of the newly opened area, characters can find what looks to be a ruin of a large open air oval building. The building itself is almost 3 stories tall with walls overgrown with brown vines and dead foliage. There are doorways that have no doors, instead being high archways through which people can access in the interior. Stairs lead up into what looks like worn stone benches and down below is a rubble-strewn open area. Part of the walls have collapsed over time but it's very clear this place was used once as some sort of viewing area. It'll take a bit of work to clear this place until it's usable!
  
  There are archways with stairs that lead downward, but you'll need some help clearing away the rubble to get to what's below! If you're successful in getting beneath the arena, you'll find hallways with empty rooms that vary between large enough to possibly be some sort of training room to small enough to be just enough space for someone to put a slim single cot or bed and maybe a wardrobe to have a small private room. Some rooms have rusted metal that may or may not have been weapons at some point, while others have faded wall paintings, chipped and worn with age. It's hard to make out, but with enough reconstruction work, you may just learn who used to haunt these halls.
  
  
• Southeast: The Baths - In the southeast of the newly opened area, characters will find a domed building unlike the rest of the architecture around it. It's extremely large, for one, and squat, while the rest of Havenwell's buildings seem to be lean and tall. The walls are made of the same stone, but the dome above is broken glass. There are several metal sliding doors set in the walls, but many are fused shut with grime and years of disuse. One main door, larger than the others is sightly ajar, however, and with some help characters may be able to force it open.
  
  Inside, they find an expansive lobby with white floors that must have sparkled before all the grime, dirt, and broken glass took over. The dome overhead reflects the light, making the interior of the building as bright as outside. At the center of the lobby is a dry fountain with two broken statues - four armed humanoids holding urns. Their heads are missing and many of the arms are broken and lying in the dry basin. From the lobby there are alcoves in every direction and two hallways that lead further into the buiding in opposite directions. In each alcove are low stone seats and round basins sunk into the ground that are either dry with a black film around the inside, or full of a dark oily substance that's nearly coagulated.
  
  Go down the hallways and you'll find identical looking chambers. First, you enter an open area with broken sinks and mirrors, with stone cubbies on the walls. Then when you pry open and push past the metal sliding doors, you'll find yourself in a wide open semicircular area filled with baths of different sizes, shapes and depths. Some are free-standing stone tubs, others are large basins sunk into the ground, and still others are rectangular and just big enough for one or two people to lie down in. Each of these basins are like the ones in the lobby, either filled with that same coagulated black ooze or dry with a black film inside. Looks like it's time to get cleaning because each basin also seems like they might be able to be retrofitted to produce water perhaps.
  
  
• Southwest: The Factory - In the southwest, closest to the wall, the characters can find an imposing square building. It has small thin windows and boasts a plethora of chimneys and smokestacks on the roof, some of which are crumbling or broken with age and exposure. There are two square doors, both of which are large enough to drive a truck through and made of metal which needs to be pried open before accessing the inside. Once inside, the characters find a massive operation geared toward ore and mineral processing and metallurgical refinement. The machinery is old, but extremely well laid out, as it seems this plant was used to process huge volumes of minerals and ores before being lost to time. There are stations for every imaginable part of the refining process separated neatly so they can work efficiently, but all of the machines are broken or currently inoperable and will need significant work before they can start functioning again.
  
  Explore the refinery and you may still find one or two of the ores lying about. They contain an unknown metal that gleams a slick oily silver. At the back of the refinery is an industrial elevator which is currently inoperational. Peering down through the cracks, however, reveals that the shaft goes a long way down. The view of just how far is obstructed by a shimmering rainbow-colored barrier, not unlike the one that is just outside the walls.

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This event will run from April 15th to 30th, although due to the areas and effects not technically vanishing, feel free to continue playing with it for some time beyond. 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.

Comments

[iustaegis]

[ Somnus had suffered in silence. It had been a privilege to hear what he had to say, in the time she knew him. She recalls traveling to the top of the mountain with him within a virtual reality, of becoming privy to one of his memories when he had been young. ] He... stood up, after failing a warp. Dirt on his nose, a few scratches— Each time, he stood up again.

[ He too, did not want to be left behind, but it had been more than that. There were other things he had done. Amazing things, great things, and yes, frightening things, and he carried it all like a mourning shroud. ] With his magic... he developed incredible spells. [ The one they saw beyond the barrier, for instance, then the one he had shown her one other morning. ] He had to— [ There was an imperative at the time while he was still alive, a pressing need to develop skills he wouldn’t otherwise have. ] He had to, to tame the scourge’s spread. [ If he didn’t succeed, he and many more would have perished, others would have fallen. He had managed, but it cost him a premature death, a damaged family, and more. ] Then for Lucis... he worked with his Shield, his queen, and others of his guard.

[ ...As she suspected, it is too much to speak of him so much. Drawing a breath, she turns slightly to look at Noctis, because this— what she’s telling him— isn’t ultimately about Somnus. ] Practicing swordsmanship, refining magic, working with those one trusts, picking oneself up after falling....

You’re... just as capable as that. If not more in some areas. [ Because let’s face it, Somnus wasn’t a people person. Noctis is far more personable and relatable, he can easily work alongside others. ] We’re here to help you get there, as well.

[iustaegis]

[ From the way he describes it, it doesn't sound as if it wouldn't be useful cutting vegetables, either...

This world has its fair share of dangers. Perhaps he'll pick up another weapon? ] You can't protect me without a proper weapon. Did you happen to pick up a machete from one of the locals...?

[iustaegis]

[ She doesn't so much as stir when Zenitsu begins to carry her, sprinting away. Instead, she leans her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as if he's suddenly become the most comfortable personal carrier in the world. ]

...You're-- you're so strong. I knew it! I knew it. [ She laughs happily, but lazily. ] What else are you hiding, mm?

[iustaegis]

[ oh boy another landmine she's sure to step on

As for where they should start-- the entrance to the lower levels, which is just ways over to their right. She points. ] Over there seems like a good place to start. [ She begins to move, walking over to the entrance. With an airy, playful smile, she looks back at him. ] I hope you don't mind dark, spooky places...

[iustaegis]

[ Noticing the flash of irritation, she wonders if she had offended her in some way. And still she does not speak. It only causes her concern to grow. If this is how she survives, voiceless and with emptiness in her eyes, it seems so fragile-- and worse than she imagined. It's wrong.  She believes Era to be anything but fragile. Seeing her like this is heartbreaking, and these machines do not seem as important in comparison. ] Era...

[ She hopes it's a matter of progress. Ardbert is there with her, after all. Ardbert can reach her in ways others cannot.

It seems the most she can do for her is to offer what she can, that she is there if she needs it, wants it. Kindly, and quietly: ]  Then... if you need anyone to talk to about Asphodelus, or-- or help with anything-- I am here.

[ She glances down at her communicator again, then to the side as she looks upon one of the belts that feed into a rusted machines. ] As for these... I'm not sure. They seem so old, and I wonder if they would be safe to restore without the locals' permission.

[heron]

Unfortunately, it's not something others can do. Only I possess that ability.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

That was really the most he could have hoped for, to actually be important to Kai, that should make him really happy to hear! But having it come out of his mouth now just gives him that awful, faintly familiar sinking feeling that he's somehow tricked him into thinking as much.

He exhales softly, trying to focus on that hand on his back as an anchor point.

"Dunno," he mumbles, finally finding it in himself to reach out and lightly grasp at the back of Kai's shirt. Not quite the same gesture of comfort, but a clear sign that he wants him to stay near. "Even if I'm all I've got, I never really figured it out."

Being kind to yourself... is hard. It's hard to be kind to someone that you know all the most despicable parts of, but Kai's still managing to do just that, even as he learns more and more about Shinji. How could he not think he's somehow taking advantage of that kindness? He closes his eyes, forehead still glued to that one spot on the wall.

"I really am an idiot."

[firstbump]

No, that's definitely blood. Ardbert picked that glamour for effect but now he doesn't have any glamour dispellers.

He stirs awake upon being touched, blinking his eyes rapidly and startling as he looks around in a tired, confused daze. "What... what just happened?"

[astralera]

So is Ardbert.

[ Against all odds, though Era knows better than to expect him to remain with her. Not with the cruel deities of this world. Still, if Era ever talks to anyone about her partner it will be him, never Pyra.

She wanders nearer to one of the machines and scrapes at some of the rust with the tip of the dagger she pulls from a pocket. ]

If nothing else, the metal can be melted down and reforged.

[iustaegis]

"You fell asleep by one of the effects of the plants here," she quickly replies, still supporting him.

Inch by inch, the vines writhe closer. She looks over her shoulder at them, then back to him. "Can you stand?"

[firstbump]

Ardbert sighs and shakes his head. "Suppose I shouldn't expect anything less from you lot. It'll at least keep me on my toes."

[astralera]

[ She offers a tiny, understanding smile at that. While she hasn't taken many to the head in particular, she has certainly taken her fair share of hits elsewhere.

The smile disappears quite suddenly as she hears faint shifting from behind her. She jumps to her feet, stuffing her tablet back into a pocket and replacing it with the grimoire she keeps attached to her hip. Carbuncle leaps forward, standing between Era, Goofy, and the vines.

It's just as well that she has it aspected toward fire today, as earth would do very little and wind would only serve to aid in the spread of their pollen.

For all her experience in botany, she has never seen vines move so quickly before—save for the ones attached to Morbols.

Gross. ]

[gatescostmoney]

[ To be fair, there is someone Sasuke knows from here who has a sword and yet doesn't draw it against an enemy. Plus, some of these people don't look like they know what to do with the machetes they were given.

But he smirks when the young man steps into the shadows. Well well. That is interesting. ]

I'm sorry, canine youkai, but I can't let you go around hurting people.

[ He makes a few hand signals. From Sasuke's shadow steps out two shadow clones. The canine growls at the increased number of foes. ]

[scourgingstars]

He laughed quietly, twirling the massive sword around in one hand as if it weighed nothing.

"If nothing else, it'll keep you alert."

[whenyouneedme]

"Then that makes two of us."

It is hard to be kind to yourself. Kai knew that well enough. It's the whole reason he couldn't just deny that claim there, because what kind of hypocrite would that make him? "I never bothered to try and figure it out for myself, y'know? There was never a point."

"Then I met somebody that keeps trying to tell me good stuff about me, even if I'm a huge idiot. He's got everything weighing on his shoulders but he still tries to do that for me. Weird, huh? He's real nice, even if he doesn't know it."

[this_loser]

On it!

[He makes quick work of reloading and zeroing in on the opening she made for him. Moving targets are never easy, but as long as she can keep the thing distracted, it should be a fairly quick kill. He uses two bullets, one that takes it down, and another to be sure it stays down.

He blows out a breath and holds up his hand.]

Wow. Go team.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

how dare you turn around and throw that in his face

His grip tightens as Kai very casually slides those compliments his way - and truly, how dare you - but rather than try and bat them away, he allows what Kai's said to sink in. He's not sure he can completely agree, but if he takes a second to really absorb it, everything feels a little less turbulent. Or maybe just turbulent in a different way? But less like he's about to get swallowed up in a wave of depression.

"I'm sure... he wants you to know about your good points because you're always doing stuff like keeping an eye out for him, and listening when he's feeling bad." Thank you for inventing this very mysterious third person to project on to, real solid work with this one. He drops his tone again, a little quieter with this last thought, "You probably make him feel like he could be worth something, even when he hates himself."

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra dismisses her blade, jogging over and brings her hand to his for a nice high-five. Which, of course, she'll turn into a hand-hold to tug him along-- they can't linger here, just in case there are more.

But she can multitask by giving him both a compliment and pulling him along. It would be best not to stay out in the open. ]

That was incredible, Prompto! [ This is her first time seeing him in action. ] You hit its weakspot from that far away!

[wakemelater]

[He starts on his way again, this time with company. That Zenitsu is going to cling on to him is just a forgone conclusion. It makes walking a little annoying, but unless something is attacking, he begrudgingly allows it.]

I won't leave you behind. Did you bring something defend yourself with if we do need to fight, though?

[whenyouneedme]

If the mysterious third entity makes it easier to swallow, than so be it.

"That's cuz he already is," Kai murmured back firmly. That tight hold just made him drift in a little closer, the hand at Shinji's back moving in slow circles. "Even if it still hurts too much to know which way he's going yet."

[wakemelater]

[He doesn't really care where, but the lower levels are more intriguing than up here. He follows after her, and there. A smile that actually looks like a smile. Well, more like a smirk.]

Not at all. Love them.

[daikonrose]

[ Maybe he laughed, but at least he isn't trying argue and send her on her way. So Kyoko lets out another yell, even wilder than before. It's meant as an affirmation, though the "yeah!" might be kind of hard to decipher.

Keeping up all her frantic hacking and slashing, Kyoko does her best to bring down the bugs, though it's hard to say if she's making this battle that much easier for her more experienced partner. But her heart sure is in it! Even if killing giant bugs is super gross and she hates it! ]

[gatescostmoney]

[ He is not a roleplayer! And if he was a roleplayer, he would be one of his master in order to protect him! ]

We've been asked to explore and clear these vines. If you want to return, then you should do so now before we get further out.

[ Sasuke enjoys having something to do, and this is a little closer to his usual duties. More than planting flowers and wandering and studying all this new technology. He'd much rather be out among the nature, even if the nature has overgrown civilization. ]

[carbungle]

[Tenacity was built into their bloodline from the very inception, it seems. There's comfort to be found in her words, no vague implications but rather an obvious intent. She's trying to encourage him, though he can tell by her hesitation that it can't be easy for her to speak about Somnus. Is it better, or worse, he wonders- these reminders. It's not good that it hurts her, as she must miss him terribly, but bottling things up can't be good either.

...Not that he should have any kind of opinion about that, all things considered. Everything he's kept hidden these days... he hasn't even told his best friend, or his father. He's not sure when (or if) he will. In the face of that hypocrisy, is he really one who should be asking for her hidden thoughts or feelings about a man she'll likely never see again, someone she cared deeply for and shared months of her live with?

He ducks his head as they walk, trying to steer his thoughts back on topic, but his fingers curl more firmly around hers. It's like with Luna; those feelings and that grief are difficult to give voice, but he's not alone, as she said. Neither is she.]

I know. While I was gone... I learned a lot, but I had to learn it on my own. [Lonely, frightened, desperate and angry. Cruel teachers, all of them.] I don't want to do that anymore. What we had going before was better.

[They'd only just begun to shake things up, to bring swords into the mix now that she has one- it had been a fun new branch of the kind of training they were capable of. And his progress since meeting her had been leaps and bounds above what he'd managed to learn in Insomnia as far as raw power goes. Severed as he is here from the full roster of Royal Arms, that growth had been something of a safety net for him. He misses that. Feeling safe, feeling confident. Feeling good about his power and how he can share it.]

[thekingsshield]

But it's still great that you can do it! Give it a whirl, pal!