epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

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EVENT ★ THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

A message is sent to teams Audentes, Unicorn, and Ambrosia via magitek early in the morning, alerting all users to expect to be rifted back to Oska in three hours. Shortly after that comes a message from the Queen of Terra Felis, requesting that recruits stop by the palace briefly to receive her blessing. Any recruits who oblige her will find that her blessing is actually a very physical gift: a feeling of peace that washes over each person as soon as they step into the palace. This feeling will persist for the next 12 hours, and comes with a boost to either strength or speed for the duration of it. It's the Queen's way of wishing her departing guests good luck.

Then comes the rift, and finally, Oska.

ARRIVAL

Oska isn't doing well. The devastation is immediately apparent in the blistered and blackened stone of the castle, completely blasted apart in some areas. Plantlife about the castle has been completely shredded, entire trees reduced to splintered stumps. The area recruits are rifted into is temporarily safe, guarded by team Mariposa, all of them of a large, fiercely warlike species, each heavily armed. There are only five of them, but that's enough to defend the little corner of Oska set up to receive the incoming teams.

The largest, most battle-scarred member of Mariposa issues no orders, but fills arrivals in on the situation: there are several models of robots focusing on the destruction of the castle. Hear that distant, repetitive thud? The largest robots, the 15-foot (457cm) models, area busy hammering at an interior wall, trying to break into the Mechanical Room. They're the main priority -- but don't lose track of the flanking and defensive models, they're there to cause whatever carnage they can while the largest ones tear down the castle itself. Basically, take out every robot you see, as fast as you can.

Those who can't fight have another, even more important job. There are defense nodes scattered throughout Oska, some inside the castle, some outside, even some in the village. These are small panels that blend in with the scenery. They each need to be opened up and rebooted with an access code put in via number pad. When every single node has been rebooted, the cloaking device will fully activate throughout this entire dimension, getting it permanently off of Zymandis's radar once more. Any recruit who volunteers for this job will have a map of each node location sent to their magitek. The robots don't seem to realize the importance of these nodes and usually ignore them, but will attack anyone they see working at one.

OPPONENTS

The biggest models are the PW15s; with sledgehammers at the end of their arms, they're programmed just to break down and tear apart foundation. They're currently working on busting their way into the Mechanical Room, where the TIMELINE.exe is kept. They must be stopped. Without the TIMELINE.exe, ALASTAIR is left aimless and adrift. These machines work ceaselessly at their task, and can only be distracted by focusing temporarily on a target right in front of them. Otherwise, they will ignore any attacks on them and keep working on the wall in front of them until they are torn apart themselves.

PW15s are guarded by the Shielders. These are the basic eight-foot (245cm) models, but each comes with a large light shield it will use to defend itself and the PW15s. They stay behind these impenetrable shields and fire lasers from safety, but don't have very advanced programming. They will swivel around to face their target, leaving themselves open to attacks from behind. Tag teaming these robots is very effective.

Airbombers can be tricky to navigate, as these robots fly. They're light and fast, but shots from their canons don't do much more than issue small but severe burns. The real danger is in letting one get directly overhead, as once it has done so it will release two to six bombs, which do great damage to people and property upon impact.

The last model to look out for is the T15, which is small but tenacious. These are no bigger than a large dog, and will scuttle quickly forward until they've spotted a target. At that point they plant themselves and begin to fire a concentrated beam of laser at whatever they've spotted until it has stopped moving. These models have very simple programming and few defenses, but are impossible to dissuade from firing while their target is still in sight. They have no sense of object permanence, though, and even ducking behind scenery will confuse one into thinking it's eliminated its target.

THE FIGHT

The arrival of the three teams from Terra Felis do a lot to tip the scales in Oska's favor, but the fight still rages for a full day after their arrival. Team Kittypaw can be seen engaging throughout the grounds -- Uruz and Dagny fiercely defend the stables and the squidge garden, and are tired but nowhere near ready to give up. Cassie leads attacks into robot-heavy areas with gun-blazing gusto and seems to be having the time of her life, but even her energy isn't unlimited. Cherenkov and Crowley are on defense node duty, and can be spotted as a black or white streak on their way to activate the next node, avoiding the bulk of the fighting.

Anyone who needs a break will be instructed to visit the library. Not even the robots are a match for the librarians, who have made it their utmost priority to ensure that nothing unauthorized sets foot among the books. Food and pillows have been brought in, and the area can be used as a base for resting and refueling between fights. Between fending off robots, the librarians will still warily scrutinize anyone eating or drinking too close to a book. They've allowed it, but don't push your luck and get messy.

The fight drags on for almost a full, exhausting 24 hours, but just as dawn begins to come to the little scrap of Oska's dimension, a shimmering races briefly through the sky as the last defense node is rebooted and the shield is reactivated. Any remaining robots jolt and then go still, permanently offline. (Friendly robots might also feel a jolt, but are spared any damage thanks to careful programming.) The collective teams of ALASTAIR finally have a moment to breathe and relax. The fight is over.

AFTERMATH

There is a lot to rebuild and, unfortunately, some mourning to do. Services for those fallen in the fight will be held the following day. They are quick but heartfelt affairs, with friends of the downed recruits speaking a few words about what will be most remembered and missed about their comrades.

Overall, though, the mood is grimly triumphant -- they've just managed to fend off Zymandis, after all. Or at least, a fraction of Zymandis. There are quite a few murmurs of gratitude for the shields being restored in time to stop anything bigger from finding them.

The castle begins to slowly rebuild itself, rocks teetering their way back into place and tapestries slowly restitching themselves. Left to its own devices, it would probably take several years of this for the castle to fully restore itself. It very obviously appreciates recruits lending a hand to rebuilding, though. Suits of armor will bring workers little trinkets of gratitude, or food from the kitchen, which produces it in generous heaps. The castle's rebuilding efforts will even focus a little more strongly on the rooms of anyone helping out, down to any personal effects that were damaged in the fight or otherwise.

Welcome home, Audentes. Rebuilding will last for the full three weeks given until their next mission, and still won't be complete by the time they ship out. But still, try to relax before your next trip out.

OOC NOTES

This log will last ICly and OOCly for three weeks (with the initial battle lasting one day), with the next mission beginning on 21 May. Please use this post to plot amongst yourselves!

The other ALASTAIR teams in Oska at the moment are Unicorn and Ambrosia, who were with Audentes in Terra Felis, Kittypaw, Mariposa, who greeted the new arrivals, and Kraken, a 10-recruit team made of various aquatic and amphibious species who use the lake as their home base during the fight. More teams will be rifting in to help with reconstruction, after the battle is over.

Questions about this log can be directed here. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may also submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

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[The storm outside the castle sings to Odinson, it has been building in strength over the last few hours and is beginning to break. His arms are beginning to tire, but it is a good ache he feels- the ache of a fight well-fought. If it was needed, he could fight for months yet against these machines. He longs to lose himself in the fight, to rend metal from metal with his bare heands.

But he cannot. He does not know this team well enough yet, cannot trust that they will not be able to get out of the way if he throws a robot arm over his shoulder. So he keeps as much cool as he can, tries to be aware of the others around him. He shouts as he goes, hoping that the masters of these mindless robots will hear his lack of fear or concern and know that Odinson is here, and he will not give way.

Out of the corner of his eye, he realises someone has gotten close to the fight, someone he hadn't noticed before. He's about to call out, to warn them of the danger when- of course. It's Loki.

There isn't time to process the emotions that his brothers arrival brings. He's already paused long enough to bring a fist hammered down on top of him. He catches it, muscles straining as he pushes back.]

Come to get your hands dirty for a change?

[ it's a rare thing to see Thor exercising his restraint. he's not sure if he likes it or not. Loki had always found Thor's points of pressure, poking them until he released. it was a means of getting a reaction, as well as the self-satisfaction of it. there was something about this that troubled him, in a way that such a thing would trouble a god of chaos.

it's the T15 that's the first of Loki's mechanical casualties. it takes a leap for him, and by Od's blood, Loki catches it through the middle, forcing it in half with the sound of grinding gears and metallic shrieks. it falls to pieces in front of him, raining down metal bits and bolts. ]

You seem to be doing plenty of that for the two of us.

[ not that he was against battles, but there was always a better way in his eyes. he was a creature who wanted to win, so he'd sooner scram if loss was in the air, but he'd take the fight. Thor was here, there wasn't much of a chance of loss with that kind of brute strength.

there was no time for anger or bitterness to well up inside him, and when it threatened, he swung his sword in the direction of the next droid. ]

[Muscles bulge across Odinson's back as he strains in his glorified pushing contest against the giant machine.] Hand me the sword, brother, and I'll end this invasion in minutes.

[The PW15 begins to slide backwards across the stone floor. That's all Odinson needs- with the machine beginning to lose its footing he grasps the fist and pulls, yanking the machine forward and dropping the fist. The machine lurches forward, dropping both arms to the floor to steady itself and putting its head and chest within Odinson's reach.]

[ the crunch of the metal on the stone is satisfying, perhaps not as satisfying as a Zymandis agent, but satisfying nonetheless. the Shielders that have already fallen are being replaced with others, and Loki can hear them marching in the distance, heading to protect their robotic comrades.

twisting the sword around his wrist, he glances cooly over at Thor, pauses for just a moment to let out a long-suffering sigh,
and then tosses it over his shoulder at him. ]

Just don't break it this time, okay? It's been useful.

[ they wouldn't have gotten those answers out of Percy without it. ]

[The thing is: he hadn't expected Loki to do it.

It's reflex to catch what's thrown. It takes a second to realise what he's holding, another to stare across at his brother in consternation. A third, glacial second to look back and shift his grip.

Another second and sparks blaze and his roar resounds through the castle as he stabs it up into the chest of the machine above him up to the hilt. He doesn't pause, slicing up the torso, through the neck and out the top of the head like the metal offered no more resistance than silk.

He leaps onto the shoulder of the sparking, twitching PW-15, sword in hand, and surveys the robots around.] Come, metal agents of Zymandias! Come and meet Gram, your doom! Bear news of me to your masters, that they will think twice before sending such unworthy foes to face us. [He twirls Gram, the blade catching the fire from two Shielders who've been drawn to him. High above, outside the castle, there's a boom of thunder.] For Oska is now under the protection of the sons of Odin and you threaten it at your peril.

[You're protecting it too, right Loki? Of course you are.]

[ well, Loki couldn't say that he wasn't reluctant to give it up. it was his only weapon, after all, and the last time Thor had it he had snapped it in two. the memory is still vivid, and he can still hear the brief shriek of metal as it broke between Thor's hands in all of his fury.

Thor had hurt him, abandoned him and beat him, but he still loved him fiercely, and to some extent, he still trusted him. while his hesitance is apparent, he still risks his better judgement to offer Thor a blade where he was weaponless. while Loki was at a lack for anything physical, he wasn't at lack of anything sharp. he still had his sorcery.

the tips of his fingers begin to glow green as Thor speaks. ]

You've taken to the blade. Just remember, it's on lease! I'm the one who swindled it, fair and square! [ he calls while dodging the shield of one of the droids that bears down upon him. Loki invokes a force field, squeezing the droid back with a metallic hiss. ]

[It will be much later before Odinson recalls the last time he held Gram. The battle is on him, and he is fully in the moment.

He laughs, relishing in the battle rather than mocking Loki.] Do you fear I will steal your glory?

[He jumps off the PW15, launching himself at the closest of the Shielders attacking him. It's shield is no match for Gram, which cuts through to bury itself again in sparking circuitry. A split second later, he hurls Gram at the other Shielder, catching it through it's face.

One day he'll stop throwing away weapons that don't come back to him.]

Only my weapon.

[ there's enough pressure in the sorcery that it rips the small robot in two.

Loki twists the sword in his hand as he pulls it from the Shielder, perched on its back like some poised, ostentatious bird, his jacket the large feathers. when he falls back he immediately moves to block the hammers of the PW15s closing in. the robot puts pressure down, and Loki force upward, holding himself steady before flitting backward, the PW15 toppling forward under its own force.

the next T15 jumps up, and Loki elbows it as he tosses the sword back Thor's way. ]

[A closer boom of thunder, directly above the castle, makes the walls shake and dust fall. Odinson has called it up and now the storm is in full swing outside, raging without his control.

He feels the lightning crackle in his blood, his hair almost standing on end. He feels himself.

Gram flies to his hand, drawn there either by Loki's good aim or magic, and a part of him misses Mjolnir with a fierce ache which leaves him nearly breathless. But there's no time to dwell, no time to be surprised that Loki had thrown Gram back.

He grins, eyes bright with battlelust, spinning to cut the legs out from the nearest PW15. Gram is sharp enough that it takes a second for the robot to waver, wobble, and topple over backwards directly onto Odinson.

There's a moment of stillness as the PW15 lies on it's back, arms reachig helplessly up, then another. Then with a roar, Gram appears through it's chest and Odinson rips his way through. He's not even half out when he sends the sword flying back to Loki.]

It'll do until I find a better!

[ there's one thing that particularly comes to mind as they fight: Thor always expected Mjolnir to come back. not in the most literal sense, where the hammer would return to his hand no matter what, but in the broader sense where the hammer would find a way back to hime.

some way; some how.

Loki's not sure the hammer will come back. he wonders what's for the best, and realizes that he doesn't know. it's thrilling in some way. maybe it's not just Mjolnir that he believes would come back, but everything else as well, Loki included. it's a time of change with the ground breaking up around their feet. it feels good to swing a sword, to get lost in the heat of battle. there's adrenaline that takes him, screams filling his ears as he sears the blade across metal.

the sword goes back and forth between them, tossed as robots came nearer, fearless and heavy with metal. a wild grin crosses Loki's face as they fall one by one, over and over again.

it feels good. ]

[The pile of twisted, sparking metal grows under their feet as they fall into a rhythm. Odinson falls into it as easily as breathing. He knows Loki well enough to predict how he'll fight and where he's likely to be, and doesn't have to worry if he drops a PW15 on him (it happens, but only once).

The ache for Mjolnir doesn't fade, but he can put it aside with his other doubts and fears and just fight.

Eventually there's a pause, the robots in this part of the castle lying under their feet. Odinson tears the head off a Shielder to find nothing else within reach. It takes him a few minutes to return to himself. A sharp pang in his chest suggests he's broken more than one rib, but he isn't concerned.]

Our foe has underestimated us, it seems.

[ it's a dance that they had learned since before they were hailed into battle, when all they would do is get into trouble. this feels familiar in a way that he hadn't felt since they had left Heven. Loki flits across the robots (taking the long way over a PW15 when Thor drops the damn thing on him).

there are sparks and fires, piles of metal casualties at their feet. they aren't the foes that they're accustomed too, but they were enough of a sacrifice in the name of fraternal bonding. ]

Zymandis does not see us. [ it's better to have the upper hand. ] They're still blind to our abilities. I'd like to keep it that way.

[Odinson doesn't immediately respond, but his face expresses how ill that sits with him. Sneaking and subtlety and tricks have never been his strength, and if he had his way he'd find the Zymandis stronghold and punch everyone in it until they surrendered.

Slowly it dawns on him just what has been happening in the past few minutes. He looks down at Gram in his hand, frowning.]

I broke this. How...?

[ well, that's what Loki's here for: sneaking and being tricksy. where Thor was good at punching things, Loki excelled at setting up and executing plans. ]

We're in the middle of the timeline. It's not like the sword never existed.

[ but there's a side-eye look that he gives him, as if the memory is filling with something that the bitterness that wells inside of him has to protect. ]

I requested it.

[He remembers how it felt to break it, how good it felt to break and ruin and destroy-

He knows how good it felt to fight alongside his brother just now.

Odinson is not fully pleased with Loki continuing to wield the sword of Asgardia's first hero, but the work is not yet done. They can sit and talk about it until the aurochs come home after the battle is over.

He tosses the sword back and stares away down a corridor where the sounds of fighting continue. ]

I hope you will be worthy of it.

[ as the adrenaline wears off there's a little war that wages inside of him, one between affection, thrill and bitterness of abandonment. does he think he can come back to me when he chooses? he wants to say it, but he holds his tongue, and just manages to look off into the distance.

fuck worth. ]

An evil future self went back in time and produced it so he could take over the present. [ there's a pause. ] I'll settle for being unworthy.

[Nothing can ever be easy with his brother, and Loki's words are bitterness itself to Odinson. He cannot parse their meaning, does not want to. The words had been well-intentioned, if clumsy.

Odinson holds himself still, eyes looking towards the sound of fighting. That's a battle he would take over this any moment, were it Thanos himself causing carnage around the corner.]

It is not in your nature to settle.

[It never used to be, but Odinson does not know what else to say to his brother. He is not the trustworthy brother he thought he'd regained, nor is he the mad god of chaos he once was.

Rather than stand around feeling off-balance, he starts walking towards the sound of battle.]

[ the weight of the sword in his hand suddenly feels heavy, and he wonders if Mjolnir feels this way at times. he had never thought himself to be worthy, as desperately as he wanted to be so long. the worth was a byproduct of his real desire: acceptance.

the bitterness inside of him goes from a boil to a simmer to regret as he watches Thor take his long, lumbering steps toward the next battle.

there's a lot to be said, but the words don't come. for the first time, the words don't come. ]

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EVENT ★ THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

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