EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

[futurologists]

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.

Comments

[brightdawn]

[ Koltira slowly lowers his hand. Truthfully, he senses no foul magic about this creature; no reek of the Scourge at all. It's as though he isn't even truly dead, which is odd, because he is most certainly a skeleton. But no hateful lichfire burns in the pits of his eyes, and he's significantly more articulate than the average skeletal soldier, too. Some construct of the castle, then. That is well and good enough. ]

My apologies. The undead presently ravage the human kingdoms to the south, and we are somewhat on edge about their rapid approach. Still, it was wrong of me to make assumptions.

[ He gestures, beckoning. ]

Please, sit.

[boneafide]

Everyone seems to think I'm undead for some reason!! It's very strange!!

[ Papyrus replies as he takes a seat next to this mysterious elf man. ]

But no need to be sorry about it! Also, I've met some really nice undead people, so I think you should maybe give them a second chance!

[brightdawn]

[ He laughs--a bright sound, rich and musical. ]

Is that so? I'm afraid the only kind I've ever met were quite hostile, and interested only in taking my head. You must hail from a gentler realm, my friend.

[ He takes a sip of his wine, and pauses. ]

Ah, but here I go on, and without even a proper introduction beforehand. My name is Koltira. Koltira Brightdawn. What can I call you?

1/2

[boneafide]

[ You know, he's never drunk wine before! Or really, some of this food this strange elf has in front of him is totally foreign looking. Maybe he should ask if he can try some? At the very least, he picks up the wine bottle, and pours himself a glass. You know, to try it. He's an adult, he can totally drink wine. ]

Well, I'm from a place called the Underground! And the undead friends I have, well, one's this cat named Pomarr, and she's actually here! You know, somewhere...

[ Papyrus takes a sip from his wine, as mysterious elf man names himself Koltira-]

2/2

[boneafide]

[ And then immediately spits out his drink. ]

[brightdawn]

[ Koltira's eyes widen in alarm. He's not sure what to do--can skeletal constructs choke? So he awkwardly pats Papyrus's back, his expression deeply concerned. ]

Are you all right? Did something startle you?

[ He glances 'round the room, frowning. ]

Did you hear one of those foul insects skittering about? I'll take care of it.

[boneafide]

NO IT'S OKAY.

[ Papyrus yells, far too loudly, and tries to find a napkin to wipe his mouth. ]

I JUST FORGOT I HATE WINE!! NYEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEHEHHEHEHHHHH.

[ And he immediately throws the wine glass behind him. It shatters, elsewhere. So smooth. ]

[brightdawn]

[ Whoa. Koltira follows the arc of the wine glass as it smashes against the ground, his mouth opening slightly. ]

--well.

[ He takes another sip from his own cup, blinking slowly. ]

Clearly.

[boneafide]

...

[Papyrus sits there nervously, hands now clasped together as he thinks. Maybe he misheard him. Or maybe, you know, this was a totally different Koltira who happened to be an elf with some kind of last name involving nouns.]

SO. Koltira, was it??

[brightdawn]

[ This odd construct still seems quiet distressed, though Koltira's not sure what he can do about it. He watches Papyrus with concern, his blond eyebrows furrowed. ]

Aye. No other.

[ He picks up his wine glass. ]

It is not so unusual a name, is it?

[ Because Pap might say it was the wine, but he isn't the first person to react strangely. ]

[boneafide]

VERY UNUSUAL!! First time I've ever heard it, in my life!! In fact, I think I said it wrong, didn't I?

[ He didn't. ]

Was it KULTERA??

[ If Koltira was even the dullest crayon in the box, it's pretty obvious Papyrus is trying Way Too Hard. ]

[brightdawn]

[ Koltira's not a brilliant scholar, but he's no fool, either. Papyrus had no trouble with his name just moments ago, and it's discordant for him to put on a show otherwise. ]

Something troubles you.

[ He frowns into his glass. His eartips curl, very much like the undead Koltira's often do when he is confused or annoyed. ]

Will you not tell me the truth of it?

[boneafide]

Uhm.

[ He doesn't want to. He doesn't plan on doing it. ]

... Can you tell me about yourself, first??

[brightdawn]

[ He drums his fingers on the table. Kind of a broad question. ]

What do you wish to know?

[boneafide]

Um- where you're from! And what you like doing for fun!

[brightdawn]

Quel'thalas. Eversong Woods.

[ He pauses, shutting one eye. ]

Words that mean nothing to you, I imagine. Try 'enchanted forest' and you will have the right of it.

As for fun ...

[ He shrugs. ]

Woodworking. Metal, too, if I can acquire it. Practice the lyre, the flute. Dance. Train.

[ He takes a drink from his wine. ]

Harangue my brother.

[boneafide]

You have a brother?!

[ Sounding... a lot more surprised than really he should for you know, a total stranger. He realizes it himself this time at least. ]

I... have a brother too! His name's Sans. What's yours?

[brightdawn]

[ SO VERY STRANGE. ]

Faltora. He's younger than me by several years--I look after him. Is it the same for you?

[boneafide]

No, not at all- I'm the younger brother! But I still take care of him. And I do the haranguing!!

I've never known someone who can play a "lyre" or flute before!

[brightdawn]

[ He laughs. ]

Not such an unusual arrangement. Siblings must look after each other, regardless, yes?

[ He catches the odd emphasis on 'lyre', and raises his eyebrows. ]

It's merely a string instrument. Like a small harp, if you've heard of that. The sound is lovely. Soothing.

[boneafide]

Yes, they must!

[Which... brings up the question of what happened to Koltira's brother? He never mentions him anymore. Did he...die?]

I don't think I have! I'll have to see if I can find one for you- if I can, would you play it??

[brightdawn]

Certainly.

[ He raises his glass. ]

Bring it to me, and I'll play music such as you've never heard.

[ He laughs, taking a drink. ]

Quite literally, it seems.

[boneafide]

Yes!! Alright, that's a promise from you, yes?? I'll go find one!!

[ and it also gives him an excuse to FLEE SO HE SAYS NOTHING THAT GIVES ANYTHING AWAY ]