epidemiology | EVENT ★ WELCOME TO PERDITION'S REST

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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

[Arrival at Perdition's Rest had been haphazard, to say the least, which is exactly what Jin had been looking for-- the thrill of action, the excitement of a new location and a new mission. Something besides sitting around a castle punching bugs for days, really. That much, however, doesn't last. It soon becomes clear that, to keep that momentum going, he's going to have to work on something he likes to think he's good at: reconnaissance.

He's eavesdropped where he could, heard whispers of bandits and 'special' customers on the air at Corbucci's, but it'd been too risky to push further while sleeping there. Even he wasn't enough of an idiot to risk putting himself out on the street-- not again.

To the bar to nose about, then, it was. And with his fabulous streak of luck, who should he find perched on a barstool and intensely studying a collection of paperwork but... Asher Millstone. Odds are they're important, otherwise Asher wouldn't have been so focused on them instead of the waitresses. Or the alcohol.

The million dollar question: how do you talk to a guy who told you to fuck off on a public network?

Jin approaches, craning his neck to peer over Asher's shoulder--] Got something interesting there, cowboy?

[Totally disregard it and proceed as usual? Yeah. Sure.]

[Ugh, who does this guy even think he is.

Asher's initial response is one of fright, as the other's sudden and ungodly presence startles him, but as soon as their eyes meet Jin will watch Asher's brows furrow and his lips purse, while his nostrils flare in silent protest. He could and should probably make small talk or come up with some witty response, but he's said all he's needed to say and it's infuriating that the man would just act as though everything was fine between them. That's erasure, in a way, as if that little tiff never happened, as if the young law student's feelings don't mean anything.

Instead of delighting the monk's presumably idiotic banter with a response, Asher shifts away from the him and pulls the notes he's made to the other side of the table. He then rests his forehead in the palm of the hand that sits between them, physically blocking Jin altogether.]

[im not even making this one a gag tag tbh, is asher ignoring him??? he's ignoring him, isn't he.

jin can't have someone ignoring his efforts to look cool hes NOT GONNA STAND FOR THIS]

[Jin, in a grand show of douchery, totally rebuffs all of Asher's attempts at blowing him off by moving past Asher... and then around to the side of the table that Asher's rotated himself over to.]

Whatever you've got there is definitely not the morning paper. [he says, neatly sliding into the seat directly in Asher's line of vision. fuck you pay attention to him]

I'll ask again. Did you get something from ALASTAIR the rest of us didn't?

[Jin gives Asher a once-over, thinking, then--]

Trade you what I found out if you did.

[Asher's initial dismay melts into something far less intimidating: Exhaustion.

While he's intrigued by the promise of information, there's a good part of him that's tired, quiet even. His classmates would be surprised to see him like this. Since when has Asher Millstone tried to lay low? How times have changed.]

I just asked for it.

[Those words are so quiet, an adjective that hardly ever describes him.]

What do you care anyway? Get lost.

[Jin notices the difference in his demeanor, but he doesn't especially care: he's here to do his job, not to care about Asher's feelings. Not to mention that he's still somewhat sore about the on-network 'fuck you', but that's neither here nor there..]

I care because now that ALASTAIR has us actually doing something with ourselves, I want to do it as best as I can-- which means tracking down all the information I can get. Including yours.

[Get lost? Did you mean "lean closer to read the documents over Asher's shoulder" because lmao

he's doin it]

Looks a lot like that dossier they sent over the Magitek. What else is in here?

Edited 2016-10-02 08:57 (UTC)

[Crick, crack.

One more straw will break the camel's-]

You son of a-

[Asher is about to yell, but he restrains himself, eyeing the others surrounding them. His actions have clearly caught the attention of a few of the more dangerous-looking customers. Clenching his fist and his jaw, the younger Millstone restrains himself.]

What is your goddamn problem?

[Jin will notice that there is something brewing inside his fellow teammate, like a festering storm. The lightning is there in his eyes.]

Some of us have other ways of helping. And I'm sick and tired of being bullied by assholes like you! I'm not here to just be some guy you shit on.

Is this how all that crap happened, huh?

[He tilts his chin upwards as if initiating a fight.]

Is this how you ended up on your own?

Edited 2016-10-02 09:15 (UTC)

On my--

[At last, Jin's confidence falters. He blinks and straightens up, stunned momentarily, then leans back in, voice lowered to just above a harsh whisper:]

Listen. I don't know where the hell you got that idea, [what exactly had he figured out about him? does he know, really know? did his younger self let something slip-- no no no some guy can't know this about him, he just can't--] but you need to shut your mouth before your yelling hurts these sensitive snowflakes' ears.

[unfortunately, this has necessitated him actually being forthcoming about the info he'd wanted to trade.]

These bandits are buying from Corbucci. They're only playing nice while they're here so they can get their share of toys. You need to--

[Jin swallows the lump in his throat.] Whatever issue you've got with me, and whatever you know about me? We are gonna take outside.

[Not because he couldn't take these jobbers with one hand tied behind his back, no. But he can't afford for Asher to start blabbing his deepest darkest secrets to an entire bar.]

[Asher's still pissed, but Jin's information has clearly gotten his attention.

He steps close, too close for some, and lowers his voice. God, that fivehead of his is having a field day, look at those wrinkles.]

Wait. You mean, like-

There's a deal goin' down in this joint tonight?

You tell me.

[To tell the truth, Jin had been speaking in a general sense: he'd really only heard whispers while working odd jobs around the munitions shop. A quick glance around the room, however, makes it apparent that things are happening a little more quickly than that.

A lot more quickly than that.

Jin, who'd gotten to his feet the moment Asher had, takes a step back and warily surveys the room all over again. It's... not looking great. The fingers of his right hand twitch: if he's going to need to grab his bow off his back in a hurry, he's ready.]

I'm serious. Outside, Asher.

Edited 2016-10-02 09:59 (UTC)

Yeah, yeah, you don't have to tell me twi-

[After an eyeroll or two, Asher turns to walk towards the door. Someone else is standing in his way, however, a man far taller and broader than himself.]

Whoaaaa, boobs!

[Said excitedly, before he takes a closer look-]

Ugh. Manboobs.

[That's a lot of chest hair.

His eyes flit upwards, meeting dark ones buried beneath furry brows. Asher's mouth immediately hangs open in shock as he registers the other's features, which include a gnarled face and a scar right beneath the eye.

Ah, shit. He's messed up big time.]

Fan-friggin'-tastic. [Jin's muttering under his breath, just a couple of paces behind.

Meanwhile, the bandit, who towers at least a head above Jin's teammate, has paused to take stock of Asher. from the way his expression darkens and his eyebrows furrow together, it's probably safe to assume he's not just striking up some casual conversation.

"Wanna try that one again, kid?" he sneers-- just as Jin appears at Asher's side. Asher probably hasn't noticed (Jin wouldn't blame him, wall of angry muscle in his face and all), but he's affecting a leisurely, calm tone with the bandit: playing it for however long it's worth, hopefully long enough to get both of their asses out of the fire.]

How y'doing tonight, gentlemen?

[He rests a hand on the back of Asher's shoulder. To the outsider, it's a gesture of friendship; for Jin, it's a way to ensure he can yank this jerk out of the bar by the arm in about a minute if he has to. He smiles pleasantly up at Big McLargehuge, but it's already too late. For all his efforts, there's still another few men, equally enormous, equally menacing, rising from their tables around the bar. He can't help an apprehensive scan of their surroundings, grin faltering.]

...Mmmore gentlemen.

[shit lmfao the yre so fukcing boned theyre gonna die]

Listen. [All right, new plan. His hand slips from Asher's shoulder and over his upper arm, then, instinctively, Jin angles his body toward the imposing bandit, blocking Asher out of harm's way by a shoulder. Voice low, words calm and slow:] Why spoil your evening just 'cause you roughed up a couple of strangers? That's not worth risking the Sheriff showing up and tossing you and your buddies in the clink. Is it?

Edited 2016-10-03 03:14 (UTC)

[thiS IS ALL JIN'S FAULT HE JUST WANTED 2 STUDY!!!! BITCH

U BROUGHT THIS DRAMA WITH U, U DRAMA HO, with ur rihanna ponytail]

I-

[Asher surveys the room, head whipping and following Jin's. He knows for a fact that he isn't prepared to throwdown just yet, and that any hope of getting chummy with the locals will be foiled by reports of rough-housing.]

I'm so sorry, it's been a long day... We were just on our way out.

[As screwed as they are, that touch to the shoulder really is reassuring.]

We don't mean any trouble.

[What an earnest plea.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work.]

[That should be enough to talk the bandits out of this, right?

"Fair enough," he answers, voice a low rumble, "You seem like a couple of good boys."

Jin relaxes, and the man in front of them seems to relax, too, exchanging sidelong glances with the men who are now approaching. But because their lives are hell, Jin's eyes land flat on the one who is cracking his knuckles, and dart quickly to another who's putting something on his knuckles and hahahahahhaa fuck they are still gonna die aren't they, shit.

"Real shame that's not how shit works around here."

Jin's eyes go wide as the surly man reels his arm back, and he can only manage an] Asher-- [before the bandit's letting loose, fist poised to slam into the closer of the two young men.]

[Trouble, fear.

Asher has never encountered anything like this, and although the others warned him he certainly isn't prepared. No amount of working out can truly prepare you for your first real knockdown, drag-out fist fight, as there are more dynamics to it than just throwing punches.]

No, don't-

[A yell, not at all timid but certainly very afraid, that seems to come out instinctively.

His body moves before he wills it to, and while Asher is to keep the blow from hitting Jin, he isn't able to properly defend himself. The fist meets his face with a sharp crack, the sound of flesh changing shape in a matter of seconds almost as harsh as the searing pain. It knocks him backwards and onto a table, which his cheek and nose hit first before he grips feebly at the thing.]

Fuck.

[If Kung Jin has learned anything over the years, it's how to take a hit. He's been through too much in his life to not know how to let the pain course through his body, to move with the momentum, to hurl himself back in the direction of the strike. To retaliate. He braces himself for the punch; he anticipates the way that his bone might crunch, that weightless, frozen-in-time sensation of pain, reverberating like a shockwave through him at the point where the man's knuckles collide with his jaw.

It never comes.

Instead, he's shoved backward. He blinks, momentarily stunned; a fraction of a second later, he hears the crack of the punch connecting and hears moreso than sees the rapid arc of motion that is Asher's body slamming backwards onto one of the bar's tables.

He barely has time to process that Asher's taken the punch meant for him before it's time to move.] You wanna play it that way, fine! [In a single movement, he pulls his bow off his back and swings it like a heavy bludgeon into the man's side. He spits out a swear, staggering with the pain. Jin takes the opportunity to whirl around for a worried look back at Asher, but the moments he's bought with his attack aren't nearly enough for that. A glass shatters out of his range of vision, and Jin realizes he needs to twist out of the way in time to save his own life-- but not quickly enough to avoid earning a long, bleeding slice in his shoulder.

Jin, too, stumbles, teetering back in Asher's direction.

Starting a bar fight was not what he thought he was gonna be doing tonight.]

[And as Asher lies there, fumbling while blood oozes from a sore spot on his lower lip, something occurs to him.

Despite the pain that sears through his head now on the side that's been hit the hardest, he does not regret his decision.

Remorse is something that often comes with the actions he takes, in a form of general malaise or a lingering unpleasantness in the back of his mind, but he has made a commitment. Being here does not erase all the terrible things he's done or said, but it's a new beginning, a fresh start for sure.

He rises to his feet, still teetering around, and crashes into the other's back. There's no choice but to stare their attackers right in their grimy, grinning faces.]

You wanna go?

[Paltry words, as Asher knows he is going to lose. Who knows, maybe he'll even die here.

At the very least, there'll be somebody else with him.

Somebody who will remember that this time, Asher Millstone did not cower in the face of adversity.]

[The gash in his arm isn't deep, but it stings like hell: it's jagged, bitten into by the dregs of alcohol that'd been inside the glass before it'd been used to cut into him. Jin breathes a short sound of surprise when Asher's body bumps clumsily into his-- but that pain, it's dulled, shoved to the back of his brain as the adrenaline takes over. Without thinking, he moves apart just enough to pull Asher to his feet, hand giving his shoulder a quick squeeze. A wordless affirmation.

Asher will fight with him. They're in this together. And in this moment, that's the only thing that matters.

Neither of them have got too much time to dwell on this temporary setting aside of differences, however. One bandit makes a move to seize Jin, the only one of the two who's got a weapon. He uses his bow as leverage to kick out at his attacker (in the head, too, thanks Shaolin training), but that only means that the apparent leader's now got an opening to advance again, knocking him upside the head with a fist once he's landed, then driving an elbow hard into Jin's chest. He yelps in pain, winded and dizzy, but definitely far from down.

As the bandit prepares to barrel into Asher, Jin's using the distance gained from being shoved back to shakily notch an arrow. His head's pounding, but if Asher can hold this guy long enough...]

[What happens in that moment is something Asher would have never expected.

He's seen this move on television at least a dozen times, although a part of him knows that this won't go the way he might like it to. Leaning back on his left foot and aiming with his right, Asher sends his fist flying into the jaw of the attacker closest to him. With the punch goes all his weight and every miserable, shitty emotion he's been feeling.

The crunch is terrifying, and not just because his knuckles are going to be sore for god knows how long after this, but because he knows what it's like now to destroy.

No matter how terrible, a human life is precious, no? And to harm something so vital...]

Ohhhh my god...

[Thankfully, that hit is not enough to send the bandit flying too far back.

A knee slams Asher in the stomach seconds after.]

[He's got a mean right hook for a preppy rich kid, that's for sure.

Asher's hesitation doesn't surprise him much: all in all, he never looked like the kind of person who'd been in a fight. Not one like this, anyway. But it does the trick, sending the man staggering a safe enough distance away to give Jin the opening he needs. He breathes deeply, ignoring the way his brain rattles in his skull; he aims his bow for the bandit's shoulder, hands at last steady; his fingers let loose; the arrow flies true. It shimmers with a blue light as the arrowhead penetrates deep into the man's flesh-- further disoriented by the stunning magic, he's an easy target for the second shot Jin fires. The bandit yells out in agony and stumbles away in retreat.

His movements are smooth and practiced. Every strike is made with purpose. In stark contrast to his teammate's panic, Jin's calm and cool: completely in his element.

In spite of the couple remaining criminals, the crowd in the bar seems to have thinned out somewhat, oddly. Jin's back at Asher's side, warily looking around the area.]

That's all you got?

[He shouldn't be watching. God, he really shouldn't.

How can someone keep so goddamn cool in the midst of all this chaos? Absent-mindedly, Asher jams an elbow into one of the bandits closest to him, although he's barely paying the gruff man any mind. Sure, he's seen sports on TV a million times, as an avid fan of anything hyper-masculine, but never once has he witnessed a move executed so perfectly.

Admiration and jealousy, a bitter cocktail, almost as bitter at whatever's building up in his throat from all the excitement (and terror).

Once he comes to his senses, Asher blinks several times, looking back in the direction he just stepped.]

Are they clearing out? Du-uuude!

[He raises his right hand in victory, clearly enthused.]

Up top!

[Jin may or may not notice that, while Asher celebrates, a different kind of crowd seems to be trading places with the one that was just present. These men look more professional, to say the least.

Asher himself will feel something cold and hard being slapped around his wrist. Oh dear.

Are those handcuffs?]

Edited 2016-10-07 07:10 (UTC)

[They certainly are, which means Asher's high five is gonna get left hanging indefintiely. The small, but slightly stockier Qorral deputy who's slapping the cuffs on Asher's wrist is grabbing his other hand, now, too; she scowls deeply, forcing both of the man's hands behind his back with more force than one'd expect from someone her size.

"Thought you ALASTAIR types were more behaved than this," she says with a huff.]

Hey! We were just-- huh? [Jin breaks off, looking around helplessly. The bandits have all weaseled their way out of this one and are nowhere to be seen-- there's no such luck for him and Asher, though, as one of the men grabs Jin and does the same.

"Man, the sheriff ain't gonna like this. C'mon, boys," she continues, yanking Asher along by the chain that joins his cuffs, "time to cool off. Let's go."

Jin hates it, but he knows that fighting the law's useless. Shooting Asher a cynical expression, he lets himself get herded off to the drunk tank.]

[Cold, the floor is cold.

Asher shifts uncomfortably in his place at the edge of the cell, leaning as far against the wall as possible. Silence is one of the things he hates most, partly because of what it does to you. Quiet forces a person to ruminate deeply about one's circumstances, and once again Asher is reminded that in his life he has gotten many opportunities that he may not have deserved.

Even this chance is a blessing in disguise- He's still alive tonight, and he has one person to thank for that.]

This is your fault.

[Way to go, Asher.

His face and stomach ache, as do his knuckles, which are now purple in color.]

If you hadn't insisted on bugging me back there, when I was minding my own business-

[don't spit that's not cute at all]

None of this would have happened.

Edited (edited bcuz u kno he is a fucking nerd) 2016-10-07 22:27 (UTC)

[Jin, equally uncomfortable, equally petty about being in jail, sits at the opposite end of the cell, but the tiny room still leaves the two of them only a couple of feet away from each other. Not nearly enough room for Jin to ignore him when the doucheface speaks up. Incredulous, he finally turns, glowering over his shoulder at Asher--]

I'm sorry, my fault? You get hit in the head one too many times back there? I w-- [Mid-sentence, Jin grimaces, though: the blows from not so long ago sudddenly throb in pain.] --ah, shh... frick.

[That certainly took the ferocity out of him. He can already feel an ugly bruise blooming on his chest; he'll have to deal with that, and the bloody cut that his ALASTAIR uniform is sticking, sooner or later. Jin's tone turns sullen, and he tugs his uniform top up over his head so he can check his own wounds.]

Maybe I wanted us to work together, huh? That ever cross your mind before you started making a scene in front of them? [He turns away, gingerly pressing fingers to the bruises on his chest: ouch, that's going to be really nasty later.]

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