epidemiology | EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

BENDED TIME

As outlined in the OOC post, things start to slow down and grow quiet in Oska for a few days as the bugs crawl away and slowly disappear. But then the cocoons hatch. Fully grown temporal insects claw their way out of them, each about the size and temperament of raging bulls.

They come out far more aggressive and eager to fight, are are willing to take on anything that moves with jaws and claws alike. Except, of course, another insect — when two of them encounter each other, they enter into a mating dance and then slip away into another dimension, leaving behind only the temporary ghosts of years gone by. If you can’t find a way to pierce that thick shell to take one down, better find another one to pair it off with instead. Just try not to get bit while leading them around and find yourself suddenly 5 years old again.

The insects aren’t the only thing going on in Oska, though. As it turns out, unicorns really hate this adult form of the temporal insects, and will start kicking their way out of their stalls in the stables to get at the insects in an attempt to impale or trample them. According to Uruz they’re gallant warriors, but not always quite cut out to take on a bug, and can easily get themselves hurt or killed. She would really appreciate recruits taking a moment to recapture any stray unicorns they may come across and leading them back to the stables. Try to avoid any insects on the way, or you’ll find yourself suddenly fighting insect and irate unicorn, which is no one’s idea of a good time.

The lake is getting more active, too. All the fighting has woken up something in the depths of it. Dark red tentacles sometimes creep up onto shore — and don’t worry, this time they don’t belong to a sea goddess. The tentacles don’t attack unless attacked, and can in fact be quite agreeable. Nodes along the length of them act as primitive eyes, which see well enough to interact with anyone nearby. They’re also all a little peckish. Toss a tentacle a bit of food and watch it curl around and ingest it using tiny mouths on the underside. It might even be willing to play a few rounds of fetch or slap a bug into the sky for you if you put it in a good mood with a morsel of food.

The senior ALASTAIR members can be seen out and about and doing their part, too. Uruz and Dagny fight as a team, centaur and elf, sometimes fighting back to back and sometimes as mount and rider. They’ll stop and lend a hand, but the cats are a little less generous. Cherenkov and Crowley fight inseparably and use magic and science in deadly combination to ward off and destroy the bugs, but can usually only be seen darting on their way from one place to another. They have a lot of magitek to repair in the destructive wake of the insects. Pomarr, neither as senior nor as invested in actively picking off the bugs, offers shelter near a tentacle-free portion of the lake, calling down storms to toss away bugs for her and anyone in the vicinity.

OOC NOTES

This log spans a week ICly. Characters will find themselves beginning to understand each other again as the bugs first vanish, as the effects of the cats’ work on the magitek pays off. The translation problem will be completely fixed by the time the cocoons hatch. All of the bugs will have been killed or shipped off by the sixth day, leaving the last day before their departure to the next mission blissfully relaxing. Any temporally misplaced recruits will be back to normal by the last day, as well.

A reminder to anyone still texting: the texting feature of magitek jewelry operates based on thought! There are no physical keyboards, recruits merely think the message that they’d like to send to another recruit.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A whole book about legends and mythologies from places he never heard of. This is quite the find, Herve thinks, and he's trying to find a place to sit down and have a good read. As he walks along, keeping an eye out for bugs, he notices a kid walking past him and gives him a quick and shy smile. His hands suddenly feel lighter as he moves along, and-]

[Hey, wait. Where's the book? Herve blinks, instantly looking around to see if he dropped it. Of course, it isn't on the floor. If it isn't there, then it must be-!]

[Herve swerves around, raising his voice and stepping after the boy with a brisk pace.]

H-Hey! Give that back! It belongs to the library!

[ well, that's a bit ironic. myths and legends being stolen by someone out of myth and legend. Loki's swaggering down the hallway like it's absolutely nothing (because people need a break between bug matchmaking and everything). the hood on his head gets tugged down a little further, and he looks over his shoulder innocently. well, it's not that innocently, he sort of has a scheming face. ]

I didn't don't anything!

[ he announces, loudly, and starts picking up his own pace on skinny little legs.

all the while he's trying to shove the book up his tunic. it's not working, but he gets an A for effort somewhere in there. ]

Yes you did!! Thief!

[Don't lie to him, you trickster god you! It's a little hard for Herve to keep up the pace, but he's determined enough to make up for the innate weakness of his body - he tries reaching out to grab Loki by the back of his hoodie.]

I-It isn't yours!!

[ he's gonna lie that's what he does, he totally lies.

when he notices that it's difficult for Herve to keep the pace, he keeps just out of his reach, lingering in his foresight before disappearing around corners. he takes a few step backwards, holding the book behind him. ]

Is it yours?

[ he asks with some level of smug satisfaction. ]

Well... [UM]...it's not really mine, I borrowed it, b-but still! I need to return it, you can't take it!

[This is very frustrating - Herve balls his hands into fists, really unsure what to do. He doesn't want to fight the boy, he doesn't know how he can even catch him, but that doesn't stop him from going after him - he's not going to let that book go.]

[So, he'll use the only thing left at his disposal: acting nice.]

...Could you please return it back to me?

Very important book, then! I've heard possession is nine-tenths of mortal law.

[ while it still comes out with a certain arrogance, it's not without some levity. the tone in his voice is light, if not enthusiastic. the easiest way to get people to engage with him is by being a jerk, so here he is, being a jerk. ]

Since it's mine now, and you want it, I suppose a trade is in order. [ he opens the book, keeping two arm lengths between them as they go between walking and jogging, flittering through the pages with his thumb. ] So, what will you give me for it?

What? A trade?

[That stops him in his tracks, but only for a moment - Loki is still going, and Herve lets out a huff and continues following.]

I-I don't really have anything? I mean, I suppose I could tell you some cool stories, maybe? I mean, I can't think of anything else...

You truly can't think of anything?

[ he looks up at him suddenly from between the pages of the book, green eyes open in mock surprise. ]

EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

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