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

[heelies]

[He likes not Laedo's arrogance, and so when the askan looms over him from where he perches atop the step, Achilles too leaps up the staircase that he may stand ever higher. Never has he felt the need to prove himself so strongly as he feels it now, for in his father's house all knew precisely who he was and who he was destined to be: there he was regarded with reverence. At present, however, ire stirs within his breast for this low treatment he receives. Thus he looks down upon the other.] Just as I know not your people, you have heard not of mine, and so I suppose I might forgive your ignorance of the great deeds of my father which do burnish his worthy name to a splendid gleam. Do not look down upon me therefore. [So speaking, he descends to stand upon the same step where stands Laedo, that they might be equals.] Come now, what is this you are saying about metal men?

[asscan]

[Whereas Laedo, used to the imperiousness of his family, his community, everyone around him vying for just a little more favour, takes Achilles' need to stand on higher ground for granted and merely gives a draconic grin. Ears perked, eyes briefly closed as his whiskerless muzzle punches in a toothless smile, he bounds up alongside the child, keeping pace without crowding, as much as that can be done in this tightly winding stairway.]

Tell me about your father! Is he a politician? Or... or a priest? [He's already guiding Achilles up onto the next landing, free of bugs (at least so he determines, poking his head out left and right and listening with his extra sensitive sense of hearing for their chitinous chittering!) to show him one of the armour stands he's seen all up and down the halls.]

[heelies]

[Achilles follows close at Laedo's side, ascending the stairs in the way that the sun climbs to its place in the sky with a sense of burning purpose. When he answers his chest swells proudly.] My father Peleus is a most worthy king. In fertile Phthia he rules - his house is filled with fine treasures and all revere his counsel. He is companion of both Jason who fetched the golden fleece and Heracles who bested the twelve labors set forth by Hera, wife of Zeus. [As they reach the top, where the winding staircase delivers them into the mouth of a long corridor, his gaze falls upon the row of armor standing upright as if each set encases a man composed of naught but air. His eyes light up with wonder to see such splendid and curious armor.] Are these the metal men of which you spoke? This armor must belong to the lord of this house.

[asscan]

[Laedo keeps his ears cranked to Achilles' boasting, enchanted by the tale. It occurs to him to mention that he doesn't know his blood-father, though distracted as he is, he passes it over. It is probably just as well, for the armor is more interesting in any case.]

They might belong to the building itself! You cannot see it, but they are surrounded by an aura of magic, each of them connected to the walls. Hello? Excuse me?

[It's time to whip out the stops: Laedo has interacted with a suit before and knows the secret behind them, and he'll need something big to impress Achilles, for whom he suspects there is little to excite or astound the other boy.]

Can you help us, please?

[The nearest suit of armour comes to life, stepping down from its plinth to passively regard the children. Now for the big moment.]

May we borrow your spear, sir? We are in need of it, for the safety of the castle.

[The armor remains still, and Laedo, looking less sure of himself, clears his throat.]

I suppose you cannot hear clearly, not having proper ears. That spear, in your gauntlet, may we have it, only for a little while?

[heelies]

[His shock is plain upon his countenance as he witnesses so singularly peculiar a sight: after a pause the helmet seems to nod, as suggested by the movement of the crimson plume which streams from its crown, and the suit of armor offers the spear it holds fast.] What manner of godcraft is this! I can see quite clearly that no eyes peer forth from this helmet, yet how could armor move absent of man? Surely such can be the contrivance of only the lame-foot god Hephaestus who in his forge crafts the most splendid of treasures. [So surprised is he that he has not yet moved to take the proffered weapon.]

how about a wrap-up where they charge off looking for trouble?

[asscan]

[He needs not move hastily! Laedo, eager to please, accepts the spear from the iron-suited golem by rearing up on his haunches to balance the long shaft between his delicate hands. Not a moment passes before he presents it to Achilles with a challenging grin.]

You mentioned you were a wonderful human; does it not surprise you that you are in a world with such other wonderful things in it? Let me see your talent with this weapon, since you speak so highly of your skill!

done and done! (belatedly)

[heelies]

[Readily does he take up the spear that he may prove to Laedo the sharpness of his skill.] Very well - behold, then, what eminent Chiron has taught me. [So speaking, he moves to the middle of the wide corridor that he shall have room enough to boast his spear forms and thrusts, which are burnished to a bright gleam by the grace and strength of his limbs. Even green with youth as he is, he is already a sight to behold: what unfolds before Laedo is a dance as elegant as it is fearsome in its precision and power. So passes the afternoon, with these two youths ever eager to outdo one another as they explore the sprawling grounds of the castle.]