EVENT ★ LOST IN TRANSLATION

[futurologists]

RETURN TO OSKA Upon arrival in Oska, new and returning recruits alike will find that something strange is going on. Any attempts to communicate with someone who doesn't speak the same language as you will be just that -- like you don't speak the same language. Let's hope everyone is good at charades, because you're going to be out of luck for a full day. On the second day, a text comes across -- surprisingly intelligible to everyone. Is it over? Well . . . crowley: Hello, Audentes. We are currently experiencing magitek difficulties, as you may have guessed already. Temporal insects have arrived with our latest arrivals, and as you may imagine, we have had our paws full. cherenkov: We are working out how to mitigate the pest problem for good. For now, please put your unpleasantly huge feet to use and stomp them out. Or other such methods. crowley: We have created a quick patch to facilitate text-based communications, but verbal translation will continue to be down until the insects are exterminated. Thank you for your patience. It's not over. TEMPORAL INSECTS This invasive species has worked its way in through the rifts along with the newest batch of arrivals, and information on them is available in the library (provided you can read the language it's written in!). It seems they behave like locusts, living quietly within the space between rifts for many years until their numbers suddenly balloon and they begin to swarm in search of food. These bugs move fast and pack a nasty bite, but are unarmored and easily squished. Each one is about the size of a football, and leaves a little tell-tale slime trail that makes it easy to track. They can cling to any surface, and won't hesitate to leap onto attackers and bite if they feel threatened. One can take a decently sized but non-lethal bite out of someone, but a number of them together will pose a real danger. If punctured or squished they tend to explode into moderately acidic goo that can cause caustic burns if not immediately washed off. They are attracted to any area of high temporal energy, which can be literally any surface, corner, or point on or within the castle and its grounds. As they begin to feed they cause temporal distortion in the area. This manifests as the immediate area seeming to flicker backwards and forwards through time. An insect gnawing at a table leg in the dining area, for example, might cause the area to stutter between years and years of dinner parties, ghostly attendants of all fashions and species appearing and disappearing as they enter and leave the affected area. An onlooker can't interact with temporal distortions directly, but if the insect is left to its own devices, it will eventually eat through all of the temporal energy and render the immediate area gray, frozen, and completely inert. It's highly recommended you kill or otherwise chase off an insect before it manages this, as it can do irreversible damage to a world. For affected Oska locations, please see this post. OOC NOTES The translation errors will continue through the rest of the month. For more information or to ask questions, please check the plotting post here! New bounties are available in Oska! Please remember to fill out your squidge success form before August 31, 23:59 UTC! Filling the form out is mandatory, even if you do not have the 3 squidge threads. You will not pass AC if you do not fill out the form. Characters who have been accepted on August 20th are exempt. Please direct questions relating to the success form here.

Comments

[regiment]

I'm just glad you're here.

(a genuine proclamation, walking forward when he's sure he hasn't disturbed much. shiro's gets within arm's distance of lance and stops. go in for the embarrassing hug, or pat his arm in a manly way... (choices...) but eventually settles for a neck clasp with a very human hand, patting a damp spot between ear and shoulder. a sort of "it's going to be alright", for a guy who never wants to show he's feeling vulnerable. in this place, oska, maybe they'll have a little bit of time to reflect on this—as well as save the universe in a strange, roundabout way.)

Need a hand with some of these things? (literally, ha ha ha.

hand-to-hand combat is a little dicey with these bugs, as they explode when punctured or lacerated, but he has no readily available weapon that isn't attached to him. so, suffice it to say, shiro has been burning his forearms quite a bit. the rain soothes some of the worser wounds; he's in generally good spirits.)

All of this time-warping really gets to your head. I saw a ghost in my bed and that was enough for me.

[competing]

[ lance instinctively opens his mouth to respond — because he's lance, and he's always got something to say — but after a half-second he realizes he can't say he shares the same sentiment.

it's an inherently selfish thought, actually, and it's what has him stalling on it for a second. he doesn't know if he's glad to be here, because he doesn't know where here is, and where here is in relation to earth, his earth, his home, and he can still feel the raindrops pool at the collar of his suit where shiro's hand has trapped it.

he swallows thickly for a moment, then lets out a light laugh instead. ]

Yeah... At least they're easy enough to exterminate. [ they sure aren't any galra, that's for sure.

a pause, a quick glance to the remaining bugs, and then he's hefting his rifle once more. pick up, keep going, move on. ]

Wanna make a contest of it?

[regiment]

(when it feels like his hand might stick to lance's skin with the muggy climate, he removes it with a pat when his teammate laughs. that's as close as he'll get to a breakthrough in serious ground covered with this guy, but so long as he knows he's not alone—well. that's the most important thing to him.

a sidelong look at the scattering creatures; some linger, distracted by their binges for empty stomachs.)

A contest? (with acid-filled insects?) Hey, why not? Might as well make a chore fun... Just be careful. These things shouldn't be underestimated. The rain'll help with the burns, though.

(with a step away and a raise of his hand, the sizzling starts anew, violet underlighting his features—which are far easier now, eyes creasing.) Alright, the one with the lowest score after clearing this room... is a slowpoke... (he tried.)

[competing]

[ oh space dad... no. lance actually looks pained. ]

Uh, yeah, that's kind of a given.

[ his hold on the rifle loosens just a fraction, so he can give the older man his full (mildly incredulous) attention. ]

I guess being such a natural at everything back at the academy didn't really leave you with a lot of competition, huh?

[regiment]

A natural?

(ah. shiro acknowledges his prodigal titles and the simple fact that he was someone to look up to for many, but the garrison always had ways of pushing even the most talented cadets. and he is pretty damn modest.)

I paid my dues, like anyone in training. There were a ton of opportunities to compete against one another, Iverson made sure of that. Everyone had different skill sets, so every day was a great learning experience.

[competing]

[ the look lance gives shiro is rather dubious, because while he's sure there is some truth to his words (despite him sounding like he's sitting down for a job interview), he's also pretty sure a good majority of that is shiro's kind disposition at work. ]

Iverson must have been a lot softer back then, if "slowpoke" is the worst thing you could be called for losing.

[regiment]

I'm not a sore winner, so why would I use any other word? (read: he's going to win.

a hand on his hip, the corner of his mouth quirking.)

If you want to raise the stakes, Lance, be my guest, but that could be making things a lot worse for you. Could be great training, though...

1/2

[competing]

[ did... did his hero just school him? ]

2/2

[competing]

Oh it's on.

[ he reclaims his grip on his rifle, already peering down the scope as he maps out his plan of attack. ]

We'll see who's training who here, Shiro — don't forget you're in my house now!

[ after all, the name of the game is nothing more than target practice at this point. despite his alien prosthetic, shiro is still very much a human when it comes to speed, which means he'll be no match for lance's highspeed precision shooting. ]