epidemiology | EVENT ★ WELCOME TO PERDITION'S REST

ARRIVAL

Recruits leave Oska at midday, with about 10 minutes of final warning given from over jewelcomms. Then the white mist rises as rifts open, and Oska is left behind. When they arrive in the new world, they’ll find themselves aboard a train, specifically seated in the coach traveling compartments. The other passengers -- humanoids with muted skin tones and bright eyes -- have already been notified of their arrival, so although there will be a good deal of curious staring, particularly from children, no one is going to be very alarmed at the strange, eclectic assortment of aliens that suddenly show up on board.

It seems that, for once, recruits will enjoy a peaceful arrival. The dusty scenery flashes by placidly outside the windows, the rumble of wheels is constant and soothing, and there’s even a snack cart that makes its way around (the snacks aren’t free, though -- recruits are provided a modest sum of Qorral currency, and the locals are already interested in getting in on it).

BAD COMPANY

The first sign of trouble appears about two hours after arrival when there’s a faint BOOM and each of the train cars gives a little shudder. That would be the rear train car’s back wall being blown open. The other passengers know exactly what this means, and some lock themselves into traveling compartments while others haul out previously put away shotguns and pistols, ready to do what needs doing.

And what needs doing is to fend off the troupe of bandits that have decided that this train looks ripe for the plucking. They board from the gaping hole they blew in the last car and begin shooting their way up the length of the train, robbing as they go, but they also circle out on their horses (mechanical and only vaguely horse-shaped four-legged contraptions that easily keep pace with the train) to provide an armed and unfriendly escort. They’ll shoot through the windows if anyone looks like a troublemaker, and are old hands at ducking to the other side of their horses to use them as cover from any return fire.

The conductor and all present passengers would really appreciate a hand from any recruits who feel like stepping up. Those not quite ready to engage in a shootout can always keep the civilians locked into the compartments company. They, especially the children, might need some calming words (and the sage advice to keep away from the windows, and stop making faces at the bandits).

The bandits put up a pretty good fight, but will eventually be driven away (hopefully without having snagged too many ill-gotten goods from the hardworking citizens of Perdition’s Rest), and peace falls back over the train. The passengers will be a bit frazzled afterward, though, and no one can quite ignore that whistling sound caused by the missing back wall of the final train car. It’s a long two more hours before they reach their destination.

WELCOME TO PERDITION’S REST

A dusty wooden sign swings on rusted hinges overhead as the train pulls into the station: PERDITION'S REST. The engine finally stills with one puff of smoke, and as the passengers begin to disembark, recruits will find a small group awaits them.

The Mayor, his aide, and the sheriff are gathered just outside the train station, and once everyone is more or less off the train and conveniently gathered, the Mayor will clear his throat for attention.

"I'm guessing y'all had a long ride here, didn't you?" He addresses the crowd calmly, with the kind of voice that doesn't need to be raised much to be heard. "Heard about them bandits.They ain’t gonna trouble you here in town, but best mind your wanderin’. I'm Mayor Mordecai Jones, and Perdition's Rest welcomes your company. You'll find our businesses hospitable and our services ready. We're a quiet place, keep mostly to ourselves and don't bother none. You'll do just fine here if you abide that."

The aide waits quietly as the Mayor speaks, while the sheriff eyes the gathered bunch with a resigned wariness. She, and a few other locals who would be willing to speak up if asked, are of the opinion that they've gotten by just fine for 30 years without anyone's help, and they don't figure they need it now. But they'll tolerate the meddling, so long as everyone plays nice.

Mayor Jones's speech draws to a close with a last note that trouble can be brought to him or to Sheriff Rosamund Holladay, and he, his aide, and Sheriff Holladay break the meeting without further ceremony and head away.

Welcome to Perdition's Rest. It's recommended that you look around a little, familiarize yourself with the place, and find lodgings. It's going to be home for a while.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Mission: Perdition's Rest! This mission will last for around three months, currently slated to end in mid-December. Depending on developments, this schedule is subject to change at our discretion.

You can view the dossier here, which contains information that is ICly known to all characters, no matter their arrival time. You can find locations here.

Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ.

The Bounty Board will be updated this weekend, so keep an eye out! Remember you can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sakura, though scared herself, seems more confident about stepping up. Probably because dealing with normal humans seems easier in comparison to capturing and sealing the Clow Cards back home and all.

Thus, when she spots Serene, she instantly steps forward to help, activating her necklace to change it to the usual staff form before slamming it down on the Shield card. This should stop the bullets to give them time to figure their next move. Or confuse or scare the robbers enough to back off, possibly.]

Shield! A-are you okay? [She turns to look to her fellow recruit, wincing at the continued sound of gunfire as the robbers attempt to take advantage of the supposedly suicidal girl standing in the middle of the aisle.]

Sakura?

[But she's different now. Serene's not sure if it's her adrenaline or the girl really had been affected by those time bugs, but seeing her is like a shock to the system. The shield barely registers as Serene is electrified by the realisation that this girl who'd stood in front of a charging unicorn was now in the line of fire. She's got no sense of danger.]

We're trapped! There's nowhere to run! Get down!

It's me.

[It was...odd, before. The different memories and all. But she's back to herself now. And she isn't intending on letting anyone get hurt if she can help it. Not now.]

No, we're not. We can get back through the rest of the train. But you have to trust me.

[The shield is after all kind of invisible. But it so far does seem to be working to stop the bullets actually hitting Sakura.]

[Trust...this is the girl who stood in front of a unicorn that would have trampled her down, or had been the girl who'd stood in front of a trampling unicorn. Serene doesn't trust, but she's suddenly very aware that if she doesn't move this little girl will be killed because of her. She nods shortly and forces herself up into a crouch, huffing shallowly]

Where to?

Any of the other carriages! I'll take care of things here while you head back and check on anyone else. I'll follow you soon.

[Yes, Sakura. Because most adults would feel totally fine about this idea, leaving the barely teenaged girl to handle things against multiple grown men with guns.]

[That's the thought that's sharpening Serene's mind. She grabs Sakura's arm in a hard grip and shakes her head.]

If we go, we go together. I will not sacrifice you for my own skin.

[Sakura pauses as she feels the grip on her smaller arm, a little surprised but giving a nod all the same. It's often the case, easy for others to not want to leave her in the middle of such situations, if only because they might feel protective or worried.]

Okay then. We both go.

[Serene starts to pant as she gathers up her scattered will, focusing her readiness as they head into the corridor. The screaming is coming from the back end of the train, and so when the pair of them sneak out the carriage door she pulls at the flooring several metres in that direction, sending up a wall of flame to shelter them from sight. In the enclosed place the heat hits them like a slap in the face]

Until this train stops, we can only find safety in the crowd. [She wipes her forehead, for maintaining the fire is as sweat-inducing as the heat itself, and points towards the front of the train] That way.

So we head to find and help them.

[Which. Isn't as easy, with the fire and heat in such an enclosed space, regardless of whether the train has windows or doors between the carriages open. Sakura coughs, wincing as she tries to catch her breath, just managing to make out the other pointing, giving a nod. At the very least the smoke should help cloud their progress a little from anyone trying to follow. Any robbers, at least.]

EVENT ★ WELCOME TO PERDITION'S REST

2

Re: 2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject