EVENT ★ WILL O' WISP

[futurologists]

WELCOME TO NALAWI When the newest recruits are surrounded and taken away from Oska by the white mist of an opening rift, they’ll find themselves brought somewhere no one meant for them to be. There is stone all around, and recruits seem to have been transported into some sort of cave network. If the recruit in question has any sort of non-human powers, magic, or abilities, they will find that this has been either severely dampened by an unknown force, or removed altogether. There isn’t any sunlight to be had anywhere, and some places in this strange, sprawling labyrinth are thrown into deep and complete darkness. In other places a subterranean, luminescent fungus grows on the wall, providing an eerie sort of green-blue light. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around to provide guide or explanation; recruits are free to explore this strange, silent place as they will. It’s no use trying to keep from getting lost, it’s a hopeless maze of unending stone hallways. But at least they have each other in this stifling darkness, right? Be careful, though. Small clicks sound now and then in the darkness: little shelled insects that scuttle up the walls and across the floor. They seem to feed on the fungus, and are peaceful enough if left alone. If approached, though, they’ll lash out with the stinger on their long tails before rushing away again into the darkness. The stings from these creatures are painful, and temporarily paralyze whatever limb has been struck. It will last for at least an hour before wearing off again. There is one other creature of note within this stone labyrinth: there is exactly one large cavern in this mess of halls and dead ends, and it contains a woman. She is hard to define, her form is made of living flame that casts dancing shadows from the bars of her cage. She sits peacefully against the far wall of the room, and thick bars of stone, shaped from the ceiling and floor themselves, provide her cell. She can be approached, and will speak if spoken to, but makes no attempt to move or escape. No matter how ALASTAIR’s newest arrivals spend their time, eventually there is an interruption. Maybe you’re in that single, occupied cavern when she arrives and you spot her, or maybe you’re still lost in the maze and never even found the cavern or saw either creature at all. It doesn’t matter. A tall, cat-like woman with eerie blue light gleaming from her dead eyes arrives in time, and she knows immediately she and her captive are not alone here. She will say nothing, she will allow no time for questions. With one wave of her hand, a fierce wind stirs to life and begins to howl through the maze. It’s strong enough to literally pick you up off your feet and hurdle you through the darkness, and somehow avoids smashing its prizes into any walls. This wind knows exactly where it’s taking its captives, and it knows the way. All at once the recruits will find themselves blasted straight up into the open sky, and into the middle of a powerful hurricane. This windy, dizzying experience lasts a good ten minutes as recruits are buffeted and spun end-over end in the hurricane as they leave land and travel over the sea, but it does end eventually. They are dumped unceremoniously on the western shore of a new place, the island of Pu’ulai, Nalawi, and the storm dissipates instantly after leaving them there. Those recruits that have been on Nalawi a little longer are welcome to spot the odd, impossibly brief storm along that western edge and investigate. They’ll find that Pomarr has delivered them a few wayward recruits. Welcome to Nalawi. Sorry about the local gods. OOC NOTES Characters will arrive in these caves first and spend an unspecified amount of time within them. This section of the log is closed to new arrivals only. You may choose to have your character run into the fiery lady (please see the thread below to have an encounter) solo, with another character (or characters), or not at all. Either way, they will eventually be brought to Nalawi proper, where any character in the game may encounter them. To catch up on the recent goings-on, there's an OOC post here that should answer your questions, accompanied by this IC post. The mission briefing your character received is here, and you can find more information on the island your characters ended up on, Pu'ulai, here. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the subthread below!

Comments

[ofobedience]

[The magical network...it's something he'll look over just as soon as he's fully collected himself and gathered his bearings-- the briefing he received seems to be missing some of the more recent details, if his experiences are anything to go by.]

They ought to just follow orders. That should simplify things, don't you think?

[And then almost as an afterthought, his tone bleeding disinterest...]

Giovanni.

[strikingtwice]

Not if they're orders that aren't clear or easy to follow, or have other problems. [He points out as reasonably as he can manage. It's clear that the topic is a little close to home however, as there's a clear undercurrent of tension in his voice and Meallan looks for another topic as quickly as he can.]

Giovanni? I take it you got as much of an introduction as I did before coming here then? Are you familiar with how the jewellery works?

[Because explaining that seems far more preferable right now.]

[ofobedience]

[there's something in the way Meallan speaks that has Giovanni's head tilting subtly to one side, ignites a muted spark of curiosity-- there's tension there, perhaps discomfort, and distantly he feels compelled to push it further, to investigate the source of those feelings like someone scratching at a closed-over wound, but ultimately the compulsion isn't strong enough and it dies back as swiftly as it arose. This man's feelings on the matter of their mission have nothing to do with him.

he shrugs it off, focuses instead on the question.]

In theory. I've yet to attempt it for myself.

[strikingtwice]

From my understanding you can see anything that's been recorded on there even some time after it was said or done. It's likely a better source of information on our situation than I might be, since I have some... bias on the matter.

[Meallan frowns, trying to think of another topic that isn't too obviously an attempt to avoid that one.]

Do you mind if I ask if you had any abilities as well? Something appears to be affecting them here, so you might find that they don't work as well now. My own magic is rather limited compared to how it usually is.

[ofobedience]

Then I'll be sure to take a look.

[There it is again, that tension, and almost he asks this time, only Meallan continues on so quickly that there isn't the time, and what he says strikes a note in Giovanni that cannot be ignored.

He's noticed it, of course. The slight haze over his senses, like the world has been subdued, turned low as a faltering light. And the thing in him, the wild dog lodged in his back-- the scrabbling and panting and pressure of it has quietened, feels more like something skulking about than the ceaseless noise that he's used to. Infinitesimally, his brow creases.]

I suppose you could call them abilities.

[He says no more than that, and although he perfectly retains his surface composure something stutters and sparks inside of him, that sick lurching feeling one feels the moment before a fall. As if the loss of his glasses and guns weren't enough. The thought that he may have been stripped of his control over the Kerberos Spine is almost more than he can bear. It's too much like back then, too much like being something small and weak and worthless and he does not want it. Not at all]

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan nods, not blaming a stranger for being cautious to say what his abilities are or how they might be affected. He knows caution such as that well, remembers all the warnings to keep his magic hidden when around human settlements. It makes sense that others would have their own reasons to avoid letting on too much here.

So he doesn't press for more information, imagines that Giovanni will tell him if he wants to, and instead offers to share a little of his own instead. A sign of trust, he hopes.]

From what I understand, some people don't have anything at all now, but others, like me, still have a little power here. [Holding out his hand, Meallan conjures a little glowing ball of magic to his palm.]

It's not as much but it can still be helpful if used well. Otherwise if you can fight with other weapons, you're likely doing better than a lot of us.

[ofobedience]

[Sadly, Giovanni is not the sharing caring trusting kind. He watches, though, as the man before him holds out his hand palm-upwards and something appears at its centre, that small orb of flickering light. His head tilts slightly to one side in that same expression of detached interest and he tries to focus on this, on what he's seeing, uses it as a way to calm the rushing thoughts and the fear that threatens when he thinks of his own sickening losses.]

What does it do?

[he keeps his eyes fixed on that ball of light as he continues, as though keeping his gaze elsewhere helps shield him in some way.]

As for myself, can use weapons, but I'd have to acquire some first.

[As to the rest of his abilities...well. He'd have to test them out to determine by how much they've been diminished. It's not a prospect he relishes.]

[strikingtwice]

This? Not much of anything, don't worry. [Meallan isn't certain if the other man really was worried - he didn't seem to show an awful lot of anything so far - but he feels like it's safer to at least try and be reassuring. Just in case.]

It's just a simple spell, my Keeper taught it to me when I was young, to help me focus my magic. It creates a mote of light and that's all. I can still manage a few more powerful spells, they might do more damage, but it's difficult and draining now.

[He banishes the wisp with a gesture and gives Giovanni a considering look.] What kind of weapons do you prefer? Maybe I can help you find something.

[ofobedience]

[He gives the stranger a look then, one pale brow infinitesimally cocked, lip curled in something that lies between the margins of a smile and a sneer. Don't worry-- hahah. This small display of unknown power doesn't cause him any fear. The things that unsettle and disturb him in this moment are far more nebulous and personal than this.

He makes no comment in this regard, however. Says nothing to either confirm or deny it.]

Well. As far as I'm aware, this isn't a known skill in my world. A pity it's dampened at the moment.

[But there are plenty of things from 'his' world that he knows nothing about.

He shrugs then, focusing in on the question, the matter - to him at least - of greater importance.]

Guns, preferably. Anything will do, but if I had the option of choosing, there's your answer.

[strikingtwice]

Guns? [The confusion in Meallan's face is obvious; he can't even picture what that might be, the word has absolutely no clue to it as far as he's concerned.]

I can't say I've seen any of those around, but I'm also not certain what they are. Maybe if you gave me more information, I could let you know if I've seen them here before? Otherwise we could try finding you a knife or something. It's not much but still.

[ofobedience]

[He cocks his head at that, his expression mildly incredulous-- hard to imagine that there are people, perhaps even entire worlds, for whom such a weapon is unheard of. Not when they're so deeply ingrained into his existence as to almost be a part of him.

It's partly this that makes him feel so unsettled to be without them-- he can fight just fine with his bare hands should he have to, but his weapons are all bound up with who - and what - he is. Their absence only adds to his disorientation (his hidden fear)]

A gun is a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force. They make a lovely loud bang. Very flashy. Ha ha.

[strikingtwice]

A metal... [Meallan's brow furrows further as he tries to imagine what Giovanni is describing, but the only thing he can picture that's anything close to that is basically a metal bow and arrows, or...]

Like a crossbow? It's not a tube exactly but it does have a place to put arrows, I suppose.

[He sighs, well aware that this isn't exactly helping the other man with finding a weapon really.]

What about a knife or staff? That might be easier.

[ofobedience]

[The incredulity remains as he shakes his head, one quick little movement. Clearly this is hopeless, but it would be too much to hope that he'd easily find what he's looking for. What would settle something in him.]

Not like a crossbow, now.

[But he shrugs, lets out a breath.]

Any weapon will do in a pinch. Any is better than none.