EVENT ★ RECOLLECTION DAY

[futurologists]

RECOLLECTION DAY On the recruits' return to Oska, they will find some dreary weather, plus the entire castle and town decorated in purple and silver. Ribbons, streamers, and lights in ALASTAIR's colors fill every populated space, and there are more people milling about than before: humanoids and others in equal measure, all of them dressed in ALASTAIR uniforms of some degree. Dagny, Uruz, Cherenkov, and Crowley can be found among the others, as can recent recruit Pomarr, the undead Dakal from the last mission. The weather seems to be due to Pomarr. It's generally overcast around Oska, but the in area nearest to their newest recruit it will always be softly raining to some degree. THE FEAST Inside the castle, one of the many studies is decorated lavishly in the same purple-and-silver scheme as the rest of Oska. Today the kitchen is porting food directly into this room, where it's set out along long tables at the edges of the room. You can find anything here, food to suit any kind of diet from any kind of planet at all. There are no promises that all food will suit all diets, though. But still, if you want to try the bubbling pot of orange with the little worms that keep trying to struggle out of it, no one's going to stop you. A well-dressed, gently green lady stands at the center of the room, nursing a wineglass full of something silvery and addressing the room at large. She seems to be going over the history of Oska, to anyone who will listen. The gist of it is that Oska was once an entire world, densely populated and well known for its music and carefully bred hunting companion animals. However, its energy was severely unbalanced, and the world was swiftly coming undone. ALASTAIR recruits of the time realized it was the very animals the natives so loved that were the focus of all of the planet's energy, but by the time they had finally figured it out and began to cull the animals, it was too late. This little scrap is all they managed to save. What locals remained eventually died out, being too few to repopulate by themselves, and ALASTAIR opted to move in and reclaim the space, so as not to let this world go entirely forgotten. With their very base of operations as a reminder of what can happen to any world at any time, ALASTAIR of today is not likely to forget the necessity of their mission any time soon. Come for the food, stay for the slightly depressing story, and leave again fuller and maybe a little more somber than you were before. THE OBSERVATORY This room is usually home to a large telescope, a ceiling that slides open, and a lot of gauzy, ethereal decoration. Today it's been cleared out for what seems to be a room-wide, three dimensional documentary, playing on repeat throughout the festival. Images of a vast star system are projected into this room from no identifiable source, floating holograms the viewer can walk between and admire from any angle. A deep, soothing, presumably male voice speaks over the moving images, describing the action as it unfolds. In the beginning, there was one universe. It was vast and eternal, and most importantly, self-sustaining. There was no reason to doubt it would go on forever. The images at this point are on a cosmic scale, an impossible number of tiny stars swirling in silent patterns. We don't know what shattered the harmony, we only know that shatter it, it did. We call this the Cataclysm. This part is clearly an artist's interpretation. Slivers of light snake across the universe like the cracks in a broken window, shaking apart the entire scene. Some of the broken sections implode onto themselves in beautiful colors; some of them spread out and consume their neighbors. It's beautiful in a way, and probably completely visually inaccurate to whatever the real event looked like. The voice continues: The Universe became the Multiverse. The harmony is broken, and the energy no longer balances out. Worlds are thrown into disarray and chaos, some burning out immediately while others struggle on as they are able. There are even dozens of iterations of the same reality existing in some places, just barely splintered from one another and overlapping in impossible ways. The shards of our formerly united reality are nearly limitless. There are flashes of worlds as the narrator's voice continues. Each one lasts no longer than five seconds, filling the room and then flashing into the next scene. These are flashes of real worlds, broadcast up from the mysterious Viewing Hall and all of its mirrors down in the dungeons. Recruits watching diligently enough may even catch sight of familiar scenes. This is ALASTAIR's duty. We travel from reality to reality, doing what we must to equalize the energy. The necessary tasks can vary wildly, as wildly as the realities themselves do. In some worlds we find great success, snatching them from the brink of destruction and allowing them to continue on, rebalanced. Some worlds cannot be saved. The images shift, this time replaying old, completed missions. The variety is huge here, too. One team of blue humanoids dressed in ALASTAIR purple struggles to pull a mammoth out of a tar pit. Two small, doglike recruits dash through a dark alleyway, dodging laser fire. A team of something human-shaped but bundled up in spacesuits climb carefully through the weightlessness of space along the outside edge of an enormous spaceship. The narrator has just one more line to add: Ours is no easy task, but if not us. . . who? The informational recording fades out, and five minutes later, plays again from the beginning. THE COURTYARD Down in the courtyard, the festivities continue, this time led by Dagny and Uruz. They have a great number of temporary pens set up in the middle of the area, each one holding a strange, fantastical animal, which doesn't seem at all happy to be there. These are new mounts, Uruz will explain. Each one of them was personally rescued from a dying world by Dagny and herself. They're not quite tame yet, though, and so they've made a competition of it: anyone who can convince a creature to let them sit astride its back and then guide it into a pen in the stables proper will win a prize. Dagny would like to request that you be really careful, please! Those tusks and spikes can get really sharp. The prize given to any winning recruit will be a small, silvery musicbox. Opening it plays a soothing tune that will calm anything within the area for about 30 minutes. It can only be used once. Feel free to make up what kind of creature your character runs into. The stables of ALASTAIR are well known for their variety! LOST ORBS Have you ever wondered how Oska is powered? Well, obviously it's plasma orbs, how else? Oska's resident cats have been hard at work creating more of these, to the point that those not yet in use need somewhere to be contained. The problem is, these things are mobile. They'll float anywhere they please with some kind of debatable mind of their own, and lately it's not been uncommon to see two or three of them floating idly down the hallway together. Crowley and Cherenkov have requested recruit assistance in corralling these things and bringing them to a room set up to keep them in on the third floor. They're a bit like slowly deflating helium balloons, and can be guided with gentle taps to get them floating along in the right direction. Touching one of them is a strange experience that tends to leave hair standing on end. Touching more than one of them at the same time, however, is not recommended. Simultaneous contact with two or more plasma orbs has been known to have strange effects on people, including but not limited to developing the power to fly, sudden weightlessness, animal shapeshifting, ice breath, teleportation, and creating a protective and impenetrable bubble around oneself. None of these effects lasts longer than two minutes, and in each case, the following magitek hangover will make any orb-toucher feel awful for at least half an hour. HOTSPRINGS There's a new addition to Oska, down by the lake. It seems another team recently extracted an enormous, very hot core from a sentient and murderous AI. The core's power source isn't expected to run out for at least another thousand years, and unsure what else to do with it, the team dug it a pit not far from the lake. They failed to realize that this would accidentally have a very, very pleasant outcome. There are now hotsprings by the lake, nestled into the small grove of trees that grow around it. The water bubbles softly up from the ground in a new (technically man-made) pool, and some enterprising recruits have built wooden decks and stairs around and through the whole affair. It's a little bit of a hike to get there from the castle, but anyone who has visited can agree: it's worth it. OOC INFO Welcome to the festival! This will ICly last for 3 days (and OOCly for 2 weeks), at the end of which the other teams visiting the party will ship out to other missions and leave the PC team to unwind with Oska all to themselves. Through the duration of the festival, recruits will find themselves asked one question repeatedly: do you new guys have a team name yet? It seems everyone else has a team name! Really, it's just sort of sad that a team this big doesn't have a name, isn't it? We'll be including a section for characters to ICly suggest team names, and later on will be hosting an IC vote to pick a team name. Characters who signed up to remain in Nalawi for three months will arrive late to the party, but how late is up to players.

Comments

hanbei, open.

[advance]

I. wildcard
[ after the standard introduction, hanbei begrudgingly shoves a jewelry piece into his tunic for good measure and makes his way down. he certainly sat through everything, heard it all and can immediately recall the words that were spoken to him through that earpiece– but it all makes little sense. no sense, actually, and the only shred of familiarity he currently has with his surroundings is the superficial, second-hand image of a western castle. the rational part of him guesses he’s dreaming, but as brilliant as he is, he isn’t quite this inventive. he’ll find his answer soon enough.

he spends his first half hour in oska peeking into whatever rooms he has access to, and listening in to the places he doesn’t. catch him flipping through books, observing the view from balconies, bumping into you as he rushes about? ]

II. observatory
[ when he’s finally prepared himself enough to venture into the crowds, he still spends a good chunk of time taking in notable details. the decor— hanbei almost wonders if the colors are there to mock him– as though each purple and silver ribbon were personally insinuating that this is where he belongs, that this is his purpose now. it only sets his bad mood further in, but he needs information, so he continues his search until he finds the observatory.

he listens incredulously and as the story wraps up, he speaks up in proper downer fashion with a huff in his tone. ] The Multiverse, hm? What a fairy tale.

Should this duty fall to them? Fufu, that’s a good question. And one I hope they consider more carefully. [ he’s just so bitter right now ]

III. courtyard
[ once hanbei has ultimately given up on trying to acclimate to his new situation from within the depths of the festival, he meanders into the courtyard. at this point, he appears properly tired, but the sight of these… creatures helps to finally ground the idea that he is somewhere incomprehensibly bizarre, but real.

the monster he approaches is one that catches his eye yet remains within the realm of things he can probably handle. something that resembles an eagle, as spindly as a mosquito and with feathers made of thin amethyst crystal trots about a shack-sized bird cage. it’s a little short of twice his size, and leaves a thin trail of blood wherever it goes.

he picks up a pair of reins hung nearby, and prepares to open the cage door. ] Somehow, you remind me of a certain someone I know...

IV. orbs
[ finally, he resigns himself to their given tasks, albeit pretty mindlessly. despite the symptoms he observes from other recruits, hanbei guesses his gloves coupled with a little bit of extra precaution might save him from any after effects. as he slowly but surely guides a crowd of the strange orbs with his sheathed sword, his thoughts wander, and when a few escape his meticulously put together hoard, he touches a few. ] ... !

[ soon enough, he’s floating a few good inches off the floor and when his breath catches it is notably… colder. in the middle of attempting to right himself, his arm guard is in crossfires, and freezes over. ] —How annoying...

II.

[wardance]

[ The more people he overhears in this place that are unfamiliar make it almost surprisingly easy for Masamune to recognize ones from back home. Reflexively he cringes as it cuts into whatever had his previous attention and his head snap in the direction of the voice.

In this room, it's hard to make out people properly with the documentary being the main feature and the room mostly dark save the lights the holograms give off. It doesn't matter, though—the reflective light of the moving pictures accompanying the voice are enough for him to make out enough when he focuses to cause an outburst from him. ]

Oh no— it's you. Why did it have to be you?

[ The little bubble around him he calls his reality is suddenly changing, and he doesn't like it. (Matsunaga is easily more of a problem by far, but certain small dragons are going to have their cake and eat it, too, in terms of making any dramatic fuss.) ]

[advance]

[ hanbei almost mirrors, phase by phase, the reactions masamune had upon hearing his voice. his shoulders rise for an instant, before he lifts himself from the wall he's leaning on, and very carefully looks at the male.

well, that sure is masamune, isn't it– it seems this entire day is teeming with stunning encounters. ]

... My, Masamune-kun. [ the smile that adorns his face is frighteningly effortless. ] You're here too, are you?

What a relief.

[wardance]

[ There truly are few things he feels he would like to do more right now than knock that smile off of Hanbei's face with his fist. Except something something something behave appropriately something something no picking fights reminders from Kojuro are going off in his head like a time-set alarm.

Instead, Masamune snorts, forcing a bit of a sarcastic smile in reply. ]

Ha! So glad to help your arrival be a less uncomfortable experience. [ Except not at all. ]

Does that mean you're here alone? That's too bad.

[ He almost means that last part, in all fairness. Almost.

He actually has no way of knowing if any of the other Toyotomi are here or not, but if he's missed Hideyoshi's presence, too, Masamune feels he may as well go dig himself some holes in the castle garden and contemplate putting himself in one of them, while at it, already. ]

[advance]

[ at this point, hanbei is probably not opposed to the idea of exchanging punches, but his smile doesn't last long anyway once masamune responds.

there's only so much sharp looks and biting friendliness can do for that attitude, and it seems hanbei had somehow forgotten just how well versed the one-eyed dragon was in sarcasm.

don't let him know you were almost sincere, because he'll hold it over your head forever, masamune. ] That's right. And you have Katakura-kun here. How lucky.

Not so much for him, though, is it? [ and a look that's almost demanding. ] I can't imagine what ALASTAIR must have seen in you, Masamune-kun.

Tell me, what menial things are you having him wasted on here?

[wardance]

[ Yeah, well, as far as what ALASTAIR sees in Masamune being a mystery, that would technically make two of them because he sure as hell hasn't figured this out himself, yet.

Good thing he's stopped wondering about it and just does his thing-- like always.

Yes, he feels very lucky about Kojuro, thank you (for more reasons than he is willing to admit). So while Masamune can mostly let the insult of having nothing to offer ALASTAIR go, the one that once again recycles the constant putting Kojuro to waste/Masamune not deserving him... not so much. Even if it's true. ]

Having him cross paths with you here would be one of them, apparently.

[advance]

[ there's an attitude he can deal with, despite the roller coaster that actually was his conversation with kojuro. he could make a quip about masamune apparently controlling the corridors he ventures down, but he's not that petty. not yet, anyway. ]

Yes, we had quite an interesting little chat... [ his gratefully suggestive tone contains the lie, despite his words not being one. ]

If I have you to thank for it, then perhaps I should do so.

[wardance]

[ Wow, don't leave him sea and stupid about this conversation, he wants to know about your miserable ending, too??

Hanbei hasn't forgotten how to get under Masamune's skin, it seems: even if he 110% knows there's no possible way anything about their conversation could be even half as suggestive as the tone suggests, his actually intelligence is no match for his possessiveness of Kojuro. His jealous temperament is laced thinly in his retort, but it's there. ]

Don't do me any favors especially when it was obviously a mistake.

I (also is that a Mitsunari bird)

[kikoku]

[Law may have been making off with some supplies that he's not 100% sure he's allowed to take, so when Hanbei peeks into the storeroom he's currently raiding, Law's response is probably unnecessarily curt.]

Do you want something?
[Said with a biting glare as his hands remain elbow deep in the box he's stealing from.]

(not here -- but I want to know if it's a Mitsunari bird too!! pls don't mind me...)

[wardance]

(you got me)

[advance]

[ there's a good long moment where hanbei just stands in the doorway, hand on the frame as he gives law a very unimpressed once over. ]

Not at all. [ he matches curt in the flatness of his tone.

and, despite his response: ] What is it you're taking there? [ he peers at him, something demanding about the way he's seeking that answer. ]

(it was the bleeding that really sold it)

[kikoku]

[The frown remains on Law's face, but he does look back at the box he's rifling through. This guy is a new face, so Law figures he's not going to think to tell on him to one of Alastair's more senior officers.]

Sterile gauze packets and.... [more rifling] surgical tape. There might be more.

(best part is it was 100% randomized)

[advance]

[ no, he wouldn't. there's a slight catch in his breath that tells how much he's been looking and how quickly he's been trying to get through it all; he's as close to outwardly flustered as he would be in a situation like this. (which would be, hardly visibly so, but you know.)

somehow, the conversation provides a bit of normalcy, though, and despite telling himself to wait to get information from the other recruits, he lingers.

also, he's tired. ] Really.

Is someone hurt, then?

(Amazing)

[kikoku]

Not yet.
[The low tone of voice Law says this with makes it sound like some ominous threat. Normally this is where you'd expect clarification to remedy this, but Law leaves it at that.]

You're new?

[advance]

[ that is rather ominous, and there's little hanbei can pick up on this man's presence alone, so he'll stay quietly aware. ]

That's right.

As you can see, [ by his peeking into what is apparently a storage closet ] I've been... familiarizing myself with the area.

[kikoku]

Understandable. I'd have done the same myself if I'd had a chance when I arrived.

[A pause where he looks at the boxes before returning his attention to Hanbei]
I'd offer to show you around but I honestly don't care enough to do so.

I, probably later on

[sengetsu]

[Kojuro is late to this metaphorical and literal party, having opted to stay longer to help the Nalawi find their new footing. A day here in Oska, but three months to his point of view. As nice as the islands were, he's rather glad to be back in a place sized for humans. A bath and a change of clothes have eliminated any leftover sand, and he's headed towards the dining hall and food he doesn't have to prepare himself.

When he sees Hanbei, though, any hint of good mood vanishes abruptly, and his left hand goes for his sword - which is still back in his room. Three months of not worrying about a fight have led him to relax his guard.]

Damnit-!

1/2

[advance]

[ well, his mood had been far beyond the reaches of salvageability, so they're both in for a rough ride.

hanbei hears that shout at his back, and whirls around just in time to see kojuro with his hand reaching for empty air. ] —!

What— [ he squints, hard and discerning because kojuro is the first person he's had the pleasure of recognizing. and coupled with his aggressive greeting, all he can really wonder is what the universe is trying to accomplish here. ]

[advance]

... Katakura-kun. [ after a pause, he lets out a sharp huff, remembering the sword at his hip. ]

That's a healthy reaction.

[sengetsu]

[Kojuro's eyes flick to their surroundings, assessing his chances without his swords. Thankfully, the corridor is probably too narrow for Hanbei to use his whip-blade to it's full extent, and if it comes to a grapple, he has the definite physical advantage - but that would be risky. If he can avoid a fight, that would be for the best]

Damned right it is.

[advance]

[ hanbei can see where his eyes are moving, and he can't humor so much as a glance at their "battlefield" before he sighs. with begrudging form, hanbei lifts his hands in an attempt to settle him down. ( although, kojuro forgets about the way his jointed sword launches straight and true, and if the power within the initial shot doesn't pierce something, the trailing edges of the blades retreating might do some damage. ) ]

I'm not quite certain you can tell, but I've just arrived here. [ somehow, kojuro's strong reaction balances him out a bit. ]

As much as I would like to resume business with you, Katakura-kun, I'm afraid I'm not here to attack you.

[sengetsu]

[Kojuro can't quite resist the urge to snark back, even though he knows he shouldn't provoke a fight]

Just as well, because then I'd have to kill you again. [and yes, he knows you've just arrived, Hanbei. He'd have known if you were here before this] But you're here for the same reasons the rest of us are - ALISTAIR thinks you'll be useful.

[advance]

... ?


Hah. [ the laugh he emits is nothing but a breath– humorless and almost defensive when he hears those words. ] Have you lost all your rationality here, Katakura-kun?

[ kill him? again? ] I'm well aware of why I was brought here, as they informed me so graciously when I awoke. [ ... ] But do you care to explain yourself?

[sengetsu]

[There's the briefest expression of surprise on Kojuro's face, because it doesn't seem like Hanbei is lying - he genuinely doesn't remember. But - timelines. It hasn't been an issue with any of the others, so he hadn't considered it before now]

...Ah. It hasn't happened for you yet, has it. [He sounds less defensive, now - he knows something Hanbei doesn't, and in a fight between strategists, information is powerful.]

[advance]

[ this is all utterly ridiculous.

being made to accept that he has “fallen through a rift,” taken from hideyoshi and subsequently recruited for some cosmological need. time traveling, world jumping— ... on top of this? he doesn't take kojuro for such a flawless liar, either, and that unsettles something in him– creates something misaligned beyond what has already been thrown into disarray.

the response is beyond frustrating, and he lets out another sour laugh, this time as harsh as the words it proceeds. ] Slip of the tongue, was it? You seem rather composed for someone speaking to the undead.

[ his last word is punctuated with a kind of contempt that threatens to give rise to something else. something he smothers for now. ]