EVENT ★ POKAREKARE ANA

[futurologists]

NALANNI Now as weak as any mortal, Nalanni only needs one person to dispatch her. Though Jason has been selected for the sad deed, it would be smart not to let him go it alone. Once Nalanni ceases to be, the ground quakes and roils. The planet's rock and earth can feel the loss of its mother, and with Ryba still living, the power imbalance throws the world into turmoil. Monsters stream forth from the cave Nalanni had been held on the risen Dakal island. But unlike before, when Pomarr blew through the side of Nalalona and left lava creatures in her wake, these monsters are made of stone. And they are gigantic. Ranging from five to nine meters (roughly 16-30 feet), the stone golems are slow-moving but powerful, capable of crushing anything in their path with their feet or powerful fists. The golems cannot be spoken to or reasoned with; all they feel is the loss of their mother and the vacuum of power she has left behind. Their mindless anger makes them easily distracted, so teamwork is the best way to keep them at bay. Roughly formed of rock and hardened mud, they are weak to water. Luckily, halfway through the day, a light rain begins to fall. The golems will continue to come forth from the earth until Ryba is defeated. Upon her death, they will simply collapse into inert piles of stone. RYBA THE DEVOURING ONE Pomarr stays true to her word and draws the sea goddess to the shore of the deserted island that once housed the Dakal. Without comment, Pomarr turns and steps into an ALASTAIR rift, leaving your team to its business. Ryba is impossibly large, a mass of twisting, searching tentacles with no discernible body. She is especially weak to electrical attacks, but can otherwise be defeated by simply wearing her down with brute force. Now that you've got your collective powers back, it should be a piece of cake. Right? ATTACKS: TENTACLES. Ryba's initial attack is waving her massive, numerous tentacles around to try and keep combatants at bay. Despite their size, they are surprisingly quick -- capable of snapping at anyone who dares get too close, whiplike, or simply crushing those who stay still for too long. Her tentacles are seemingly endless, impossible to count, and move about in a nearly hypnotic way. THE STORM. After enough damage has been dealt, Ryba will grow more desperate and begin to use her connections to the sea itself. Though the battle is near the shore, sudden winds whip at the recruits, pulling them away from the shallows. Drowning becomes a real danger: the waves are high and fast, and intensely swirling waterspouts crisscross with intent to sweep recruits up, scrambling them. SHARKNADO. Ryba's last-ditch effort calls upon the creatures of the sea as well as the wind and waves. She creates a swirling vortex with her massive body in the center in attempts to shield herself from attacks. But that's not all -- spinning around her at high speeds with the vortex are sharks. A lot of sharks. And they are all angry. If characters attempt to speak with Ryba through the battle, she will respond in a calm, dark voice throughout: she has nothing to say to the invaders who would dare take her from the peace of her trench, except that they must destroy her or she will kill them all herself, before the world crumbles to nothing. Once Ryba is defeated, her massive body will simply cease moving. Goddess or not, it seems her form is as physical as any other creature of the sea. ISLANDERS During the day-long battle, characters who choose not to fight are advised to stay behind with the Nalawi to keep them safe. Though the battle rages far to the west, on the once-sunken island of the Dakal, the storms may travel to the westernmost edges of the Nalawi islands. Recruits may attempt to temporarily evacuate the westernmost Nalawi, though there may be considerable resistance. After the battle, the Nalawi can instantly tell that their goddess is gone for good. Where there was once confusion and desperation in the face of Nalanni's disappearance, there is now only sorrow and directionlessness. All recruits are invited to return to Komo, the first island at the start of the mission, for a somber memorial for Nalanni: the Nalawi don't blame the recruits for what has happened, and only expect them to join in their grief. For the rest of the time on Nalawi, characters may spend their time as they wish. The locals will need help learning how to cope without their Gifts and how to live without the goddess on whom they had come to rely. They will need help learning all sorts of trades, from fishing to pottery to plumbing, so characters who have knowledge in the mundane will have their time to shine. But the Timeline is always in need of tending, so recruits can't stay here forever. Say your goodbyes, because soon a rift will open and you'll be headed back to Oska. OOC INFO Mods will not be NPCing the Ryba encounter, so you are free to NPC her attacks yourself. Please remember that defeating her is a group effort; no one person will have the "killing blow." The battle against Ryba will take one full day. After she is defeated, recruits will have 13 days to say goodbye to the Nalawi before departing for Oska. If characters wish to temporarily stay behind in Nalawi, see here for details.

Comments

3

[ex_adept136]

[Although Haise wasn't a willing party to slaying any gods, he does however want to support his associates. So when the suggestion comes that he can help those providing medical aid, he takes that opportunity to lend a hand. He hasn't the experience nor skill that someone like Sieglinde clearly has, but if nothing else he can endeavor to assist her work and lighten the load for her as much as possible.

But it seems running about fetching supplies and applying pressure to wounds isn't the full extent of what he'll be doing today, not when he hears Sieglinde's voice and the thud of something heavy lumbering in their direction.

He collects his quinque from where he's tucked it under an unused pallet, making purposeful strides toward the tent flap]

I don't know any spells...but I can certainly fight.

[A stone beast ought to be new, but he knows from experience that a kagune can lance into steel and cement - because his has. Composed of the same substance, his quinque should be more than capable of the same]

[grunehexe]

[Though he had presented himself as someone capable of fighting when they'd first met, and she'd had no reason not to believe such a thing, Sieglinde hadn't actually looked to Haise when she searched amongst the volunteers for someone to match against the stone golem-like creature thundering slowly their way.

When he stood, headed for the exit, she almost tripped, grabbing a cot for balance before she regained her footing and moved to try and follow him.]

Haise, wait- a sword will do little against such a creature!

[After all, thinking only that his weapon was what he'd said- a simple "sword", she felt compelled to try and stop him from making what seemed like a foolish sacrifice in the name of bravery, reaching as if to grab his shirt.]

[ex_adept136]

[It's the sound of Sieglinde stumbling that prompts Haise to turn, rather than her objection. He reaches his free arm out to brace her, to try and keep her from falling and getting hurt. The creature is far enough from the tent that he can afford at least this brief pause.

A sword would do little...perhaps he should have explained what a quinque really was. What a weapon being derived from a ghoul's predatory organ was capable of.

There isn't much time for that, but if he's brief-]

It may resemble a sword, but a quinque is among the few weapons that can slay a ghoul. Conventional weapons do negligible damage, if any.

[They had to be particularly formulated to kill ghouls, by harvesting their kakuhou and fashioning them into the foundations of weapons made with quinque steel]

[grunehexe]

[They were words she did not know. "Quinque". "Kagune". But the way he used them, with context, gave her what she needed to know. His sword was called that, it was meant to slay a particular creature, and he was confident that it could slice beyond what a normal sword should be able.

Still-]

But have you ever fought something like this before?

[She didn't know exactly how difficult it could be to fight a ghoul, (knew what it sounded like, though, how to make a weapon like one he held), and it wasn't meant to doubt his prowess, but-

She didn't plan on letting go of his arm until she was satisfied.]

[ex_adept136]

No, I haven't... Nothing quite like it exists in my world.

[Ghouls with a koukaku could have kagune very much like armor at times, and regular blades couldn't be used to break a ghoul's skin, but stone monsters didn't exist where he came from. Probably never would, for that matter. Such things were the subject of story and myth.

Regardless if not having experience with such creatures, it still fell to those who were capable of fighting to fend for those who couldn't. Sieglinde here was doing everything she could to tend to the wounded, others were out there fighting a battle he couldn't imagine...

How could he just stand by and do nothing?]

But someone has to keep this place safe.

[grunehexe]

[Someone did.

Those words sunk in, and after a moment, Sieglinde slowly let go, uncurled her fingers from Haise's sleeve and let her hand fall back to her side. Let her gaze move down to the sword in his hand, looking for some proof in it that it would cleave through stone.

In their brief time together, this young man had never given her reason to think he would be so very foolish as to charge out against such beasts when he didn't have some reason to think he might succeed... so she would have to trust in that.]

- of course. Yes.

[But that didn't mean she wouldn't watch over what she could, not retreating back into the tent, nor budging an inch.]

Be careful.

[ex_adept136]

[Haise offers her a soft, wan smile. It's the best he can give, under circumstances like these.

That creature out there is not going to be easy to deal with...but some things, one must simply do. Difficulty doesn't enter into the equation anymore]

I will, so please don't let me take your attention from those who are relying on your skills.

[He can appreciate the concern, having so seldom been on the receiving end of such sentiments in his brief memory. It had been impressed upon Haise early on that he was a living weapon to be used and wielded in whatever manner others saw fit. To that end, his utility was worth far more than his personal health, much less his life.

Where he to fail in the objectives set before him, there was no question that he would be discarded. That was simply the reality that he'd lived.

Now, at least, this is a battle he chooses.

He pats her arm gently before he ducks out of the tent, stepping into the daylight and taking stock of the hulking figure thumping its way across the shore]

[grunehexe]

[She didn't like this at all. Letting him go off with just a sword, even if that sword could supposedly cut stone. Without an escort, against the thing some twenty feet tall...

Sieglinde's gaze followed Haise out, stumbling after him a moment later, gaze caught on the golem at first, frozen, before she moved to look at her familiar, still growling in the creature's direction. The skull-faced dog's hackles were raised, exposed fangs bared.]

At least take my familiar- !

[Called to Haise first, before she anxiously looked to Isengrim, hoping she could somehow communicate with the beast. He usually did seem to understand her... but she had never seen him like this.]

Isengrim, go with Haise... make sure nothing happens-

[ex_adept136]

[He paused again, a short distance away. With Nalanni gone, his senses were back in full, and he could gauge the distance of the golem well enough by the sound of its advancing steps. The sand did little to insulate against something of such great size, and the terrain continued to shudder with every step the stone creature took.

Despite its size, it was quite slow. That would probably be to his advantage.

For now, it allowed him the time to turn and face her again]

I'm not sure if I could keep your familiar safe.

[That was his concern, because he didn't know what Isengrim could withstand. When dealing with something that massive, he was sure that it could strike hard if it did land a blow. Could Sieglinde's familiar recover from something like that, if it came to it?]

[grunehexe]

[As the golem took more slow, determined steps towards their encampment, Sieglinde shakily grabbed hold of her familiar, clutching his collar not just because she was trying to get the beast to heed her, but because the tremors in the sand threatened to send her to a knee or toppling onto her rear.]

Isengrim is far faster and stronger than I!

[It certainly did look it, corded muscle hidden slightly by thick fur, most of its head merely ivory skull, some sort of pinprick of light deep in the dark eye sockets serving as eyes, teeth and claws sharp and exposed. Teeth and claws would do little against stone... But she doubted at this point she could keep him from the fight even if she wanted to, already feeling him strain against the collar she was holding. Switched hands to the fur just at the line of its skull, tugging insistently for attention.]

Just distract it- Do not let it hit you-

[But if she had any other instructions for the creature it wasn't going to hear them, because the next tremor sent it wresting from her grip and shooting towards the approaching golem like a horse out the gate, howling in a way that called goose pimples to her flesh, shooting Haise a somewhat shocked expression. It was her own familiar, but... She'd never heard him make a sound like that.]

... Be careful.

[Wait, had she said that before...]

[ex_adept136]

[It seemed that regardless of any debate they may have had, Sieglinde's familiar had made a decision. When it tore away from her and bolted toward the golem, there wasn't much point in debating any further. He bit his lip as he watched its form dart in the direction he was bound to go, unable to fend off the thought that perhaps it was going to get injured, and unsure what such a creature would need in terms of medical aid.

But he supposed he'd have to look out for it as best he could, while dealing with the golem. He'd supported his squad in that manner before, when they were still learning how to fight as a team. The difference was that he'd known their capabilities back then.

He turned his attention back to Sieglinde, grey eyes distant for a brief moment. It really was a strange feeling, having someone worried about his well-being like this. So different from being told to tackle a powerful enemy alone, because it was dangerous. Because that's what he was there for. Having someone concerned for him was both touching and frightening, in some regards]

Please don't worry on my account.

[Haise said it, though he doubted the words would dispel the look on her face. He started to turn to engage the golem at last, but he paused, tugged an opalescent, egg-shaped stone from his pocket, and offered it to her. It was the gift Nalanni had given him, a stone that filled one's whole body with warmth just by holding it]

Could you hold onto this for me? I wouldn't want it to get damaged.

[grunehexe]

[Isengrim was fast. The canine tore over the sand, jaws open, and began to dance about the golem's legs- so perhaps he had listened, moving to trip the thing up rather than futile attempts at claws and teeth against stone and mud.

Worry was almost second nature to Sieglinde- not just to her, perhaps it was simply something that came with all healers. The expression wouldn't be changing any time soon... but she did look at Haise properly when he spoke, holding out her hand to accept the stone, marveling briefly at the warmth.]

- of course.

[Swallowed a bit, locking her knees to try and and stay upright, fingers curling around the stone with a nod before she tapped her sternum.]

... they have a sort of... concentrated core, right here.

[Something potentially useful to aim for, if the magical sight she'd been honing under Rin's teaching was any good.]

[ex_adept136]

[Knowing a weak point was often essential, and Haise could imagine that this would make a big difference where the enemy was so enormous. In the case of ghouls, their kakuhou were vital to locate, though that often had more to do with the CCG's tendency to harvest them rather than taking advantage of a weak spot.

Against a towering monster wrought of stone, any weakness could prove vital information]

Thank you, Sieglnde. I'll put that information to good use.

[First, he'd have to ground the thing. After that it would be an easy enough matter to target a weak spot, as it would become far more accessible]

We'll see you soon, then.

[And with that said, he turned to start off after Isengrim. He couldn't leave Sieglinde's familiar to do all the work]