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

[futurologists]

"Pomarr," she answers, in the low tone of resignation. This has gone on for some time, the theft is no longer new or outrageous. "She grants it to my sister."

She's on her feet, and begins to make her way toward the stone bars. A thin, black line is looped loosely about one of her ankles, and trails away into the dark along the wall she's left behind. Her heat grows as she approaches, but never becomes unbearable, and as she stretches out one hand toward Laedo, the flames recede from her limb to leave smooth, black stone.

[asscan]

Laedo bristles with indignity. A thin line it might be, but he's familiar with spelled items. For all he knows that could be a charged wire with enough power to throw him off the mortal coil in an instant. If he'd had more of his own magic to work with, he could have sat and picked at it, perhaps, but for now he hangs his head in thought and frustration as Nalanni approaches. When she gets within reaching distance, he hunkers down on hands and feet, belly scraping the ground, neck arched so that he can interact with her. He extends one palm towards her, finger and palm-beans plain pink against the iridescence that flickers under her light. In a sign of respect, he does his best to sheathe his golden claws so that not even the tips are visible.

"Such theft cannot be abided," he murmurs, deference in every line of his posture.

[futurologists]

"Some outrages must be suffered," she says quietly. This battle is a losing one, she has no desire to stir up this mortal on her behalf.

Her hands come together over Laedo's, cupping together, palms down, hovering as she concentrates. The black stone of her hands radiates a warmth, but again, not an intolerable one. When her hands finally sink down to touch to his, it's a comforting heat. She leaves a single stone behind, about the size of a human fist. He will find that in dim lighting, holding it will cause a soft, golden light to emanate from his entire body, somehow always fitted to just the amount of light he might need.

Nalanni slumps weakly against the bars of her prison with this gift delivered.

"You must go," she says, voice gone into a whisper. "Pomarr will return soon, very soon."

[asscan]

Laedo knew all too well the sentiment--had he not suffered his entire life?

...And yet, not like this. He whuffled an apology, then firmed his resolve. "Your children will grow old on my watch," he promised. "Do not lose hope!"

A moment later, he pulled loose the plate of gold at his chest. Trying for a moment to underwrite its spelled shape, he wound up getting the tiniest fragment of magic from it. Catching it before it could wriggle from his hands, he fused the opal to the little groove it had left in its place. Turning on his tail, he cast a single look back to the prisoner and inclined his head, then he sinuously disappeared down the long corridor.

It would not be long before Pomarr's stiff wind caught up with him.