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

We don't know that! What if it's one of those hellions that Gramps told us about?!

[ Tugging at Sorey now, albeit he's still hiding behind Sorey's back. He's both skittish and protective of Sorey. Go figure... ]

But if it were, wouldn't we be able to tell? He said they are made with that Male--Malevol....that stuff from other humans, right?

[Or something like that. Sorey turns a little at the continued tugging, allowing Mikleo to pull him back a little more from the creature. Mikleo probably has reason if he's this nervous. Maybe he should take it slower. Neither of them have much if any idea about this place or the creatures in it.]

Gramps said that it can make all sorts of things mal--male--malevolent! So, it could still be just like that!

[ He looks to Sorey meaningfully. ] I'll tell Gramps, Sorey!

[ If anything will get Sorey to move, maybe the threat of getting in trouble will do it... ]

You think so? But it doesn't seem to want to attack us?

[Maybe it's some kind of trap though. It isn't like Sorey has much if any time to really consider that when Mikleo brings up their guardian. That has him all but pouting in protest.]

Wha--you wouldn't! You're outside his domain too! So if I get in trouble, you would too!

[Yeah. Great child logic right there, Sorey.]

Where else did you wanna go then? If you think the water isn't safe?

[Or more specifically.....whatever is in said lake.]

Nu uh! No I wouldn't! You're the one who's gonna let a hellion eat them!

[ Mikleo pulls away from Sorey at that, putting his hands to his hips in a near rebellious way. Not that... Not that he'd let a monster eat Sorey, mind you... ]

I dunno. ... Where is here, anyways? I don't remember reading about a place like this before...

I am not!

[Because, yeah. Even at this age, Sorey instinctively trusts that the seraphim, that Mikleo, will be there for him if he did get in trouble. Still, that huffy pose of the water seraph's does get almost something of an amused look before he focuses on that question.]

I dunno either. I don't think there was anywhere like this mention in the Records. It must be really far away! I just hope Gramps doesn't get too mad at us. But we may as well make the most of this while we are here and check it out, right?

[There it is. That adventurous spirit the other probably both resents and admires about his best friend at times.]

[ Those next words cause Mikleo to go quiet, frowning heavily at the thought of being that far away from Elysia.

If it wasn't their faults, would Gramps really get all that mad...? ]

... We should try to find a way back, though. Gramps is gonna be really mad if we don't look.

It's worth looking. Or asking around. I'm not sure which way to start with....

[Beyond the obvious of not being whatever way they already came from, from this point. Still, either way, this requires exploring and adventure! So Sorey is totally okay with this idea to keep looking and see if they can't find a way back home.]

You don't think that thing could help?

[He points to the tentacles. Hey, you never know?]

Sorey!

[ Mikleo scolds, jumping a little. ]

No way! Come on! Let's hurry up and get away from it!

Okay, so we'll ask someone else then?

[If Mikleo is really this scared of....whatever that creature is. Sorey will relent and agree to explore and look for some adult to ask for directions then, if they have to. If it means they can explore in the meantime while looking for someone to ask what is going on.]

Which way did you want to go then?

[ Mikleo points to the forest aka the opposite direction of where this monster is. He just wants to make sure that Sorey is safe... He still can't heal very well at all sans scrapes and cuts. ]

Let's go to the forest.

Okay.

[It's as good a place as any? They could find someone else out camping or wandering lost just like them wherever they went, Sorey figures. So it's a good enough suggestion for him.]

Race ya!

Okay!

[ Mikleo looks at Sorey, stopping in his steps to pay close attention to his friend. ]

What do we get if we win?

Um, ice cream?

[It's the one thing off of the top of his head that is possible. Because Mikleo can make it so easily and all. Still, he gives a grin, looking to the seraph, readying himself.]

Ready?

Ice cream? But, you can't make ice cream like me, Sorey!

[ That's not a very fair condition!! ]

I'm sure I could ask someone to help me. Or there might be some. This place has to have food somewhere, right?

[It was the first thing that came to mind okay? Plus he might be hungry and want some ice cream right about now. Yeah.]

Maybe... But, it doesn't look like there's anyone here except us...

No way. There's gotta be others around somewhere. We just haven't found them yet, is all.

[Ever the optimist. Always. Not that it wouldn't be odd to be the only human, or one of a few children around, for him. But still.]

Then... let's go find them! Or at least get out of this forest, Sorey...

[ Though, he'll be sticking really closely to Sorey - to keep himself and Sorey both safe. ]

EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

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