epidemiology | MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

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MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

The temporal insects have all either been squished or hopped into another dimension and all of Oska's inhabitants have gone back to their (relatively) normal selves. However, they didn't leave before chewing through some of the rift magitek, causing the new arrivals to end up in a slightly less safe place than the castle.

The new Audentes recruits are dropped right at the edge of this pocket universe in the untamed forest. It's easy to lose your way in here, and to make it even harder, it's dark and storming. Going off without a buddy or two isn't recommended; you may walk in circles for hours. Meanwhile, a select few recruits receive a frantic message from Dagny begging for their help in locating these members and bringing them safely home, promising a reward in return.

The forest is home to a whole host of unusual creatures, some friendly, some not. While you're avoiding a run-in with them, you'll also have to be careful not to step into the pockets of distorted reality left behind in the temporal insects' wake. Each pocket seems to be from the time before Oska was ALASTAIR's HQ, when it was still just a crumbling universe. The feelings and sensations are vivid; the earthquakes feel very real, as does the falling debris, so watch your head.

When everyone has returned safely to the castle, Dagny will be waiting with the promised rewards. Each established recruit who participated in the rescue and all the newcomers will receive two bracelets, both made of a thin gold chain, and the instructions to give the extra to somebody close to them to tighten their bond.

OOC NOTES

Established recruits are entrusted with diving into the forest and bringing the newbies back to safety. Once they have, everyone is welcome to get situated in Oska until the next mission starts.

Characters aren't required to give their second bracelet away, but those who do (or have their bracelet stolen/lost/found) will find that the moment both bracelets are slipped on, they'll share a significant memory of theirs with the other wearer and vice versa. This is a one-time effect and will not work after the first time, even with different wearers.

Please note again that this log occurs after the temporal bugs have been cleared out. Due to the OOC extension of the previous event as well as this mini-event, the IC time between the bug extermination and the start of the mission has been extended past the 24 hours stated in the dossier to around half a week.

As a reminder, this log is open to newcomers and those who signed up on the OOC post only.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( considering the mess of the timeswap, Graham actually appreciates the distraction of a rescue mission. it's a lot to consider, the uncomfortable realization that the man he'd been before the curse isn't one he wants to be now. so instead of processing, it's just better to do something. right? okay. maybe not. but he'll have to think about it later, because as always, when he has work to do, trying to understand a mire of distant emotions is pushed to the wayside.

he is here to rescue, so when he finds the small green creature hissing from her perch in a tree, he has to guess that's one of the new, soon-to-be recruits they are intended to save. so he does do his best to try and distract the creature after her, a bizarre spider-swan? that's new. an arrow slices through a wing, and the thing squawks in complaint, baring teeth and turning in his direction instead. did swan have teeth, or was that a spider thing? or a new thing all together? what a mess... )

I'm here to help. ( just in case Peridot thinks she's fallen out of the frying pan and into the fire. Brother bounds up and howls, and the monstrosity seems a little lost in how to react. ) The wolf is with me. ( also an important addition, considering the wood was full of bizarre creatures. ) Can you see any weak spots from up there?

[Peridot clings to her branch, one foot dangling off the side as she tries to maintain her balance. This is humiliating and disgusting, and while she's grateful for the rescue, she's not happy that it isn't Lapis or one of the other Crystal Gems. Where are they anyway?]

I can't even tell which spot is its face. [she growls in frustration.] Just... Just keep hitting it or something!

[she's such a help.

who would have thought disgusting animal hybrids would be worse than gem mutations.]

( well, he can't help the fact he isn't a crystal gem, Peridot!!! he's trying his best!

he can't actually tell which spot is its face, either. which makes it a hell of a lot harder to fight, frankly. he's an archer, more so than a sword-fighter, if he can help it. he'd rather attack from a distance than run in closely. that means looking for weak points, and if he can't see any, that makes the rescue part of this mission a hell of a lot harder.

thankfully for him, the wolf is far more perceptive than he happens to be. he's lucky to have his Brother. the wolf seizes one of the wings, pulling it out wide with a savage tear, and that reveals the face — giving the huntsman enough time to fire a sudden and brutal arrow, slicing through the creature's face. it moans and creaks over, landing heavily in the grass.

if it isn't dead, it sure looks it. )

Do you know if there are more of them?

( because if there are, they might need to move quickly. )

[she peers over the edge of the branch, observing this violent display with borderline sadistic glee. that's what you get for treeing her, you fusion monstrosity, and if she had access to something metal or could concoct a flawless Peri-Plan, you'd wish your end had been as simple as all that.]

There's dozens. [but feeling safer for now, she starts trying to clamber down the tree. "trying" because she ends up slipping and falling a good ten feet to the ground.] Ow.

[SHE'S FINE THOUGH. Totally fine. She even starts to get up seconds after hitting the ground.] Where is this place?

( Peridot manages more glee than both of them. monstrous animal or not, Graham doesn't savor killing them. he retrieves his arrow from the body and looks down at it reluctantly. survival was survival, yet he has to wonder if the thing would have attacked at all if they had not been intruding.

his company arrives on the level of the forest floor with an ungainly thump, and draws his attention back. the wolf winds closer to her, posture uncertain as he tries to sniff the air around her, baffled by the scent (or lack thereof?) that she gave off. )

They didn't clarify, exactly. Some sort of pocket reality, and an abnormality sent you here instead of Oska. Hate to break it to you, but getting back to the place you call home won't be easy. ( he feels obligated to warn that most of all. there are very few individuals that were coerced into joining ALASTAIR that did not miss some semblance of home. )

[smells like rock, Brother. smells like rock.

she balks at that response, as it's nothing that she wants to hear right now.] But I just started calling it home! [after being stranded there. she drags her hands down her face and flops down on the ground to showcase her childlike frustrations, complete with angry growling noises.] I can't do this again.

( it's not really the response anybody wants to hear, is it? he at least looks passingly sympathetic, even though it's not the deepest. he understands the sentiment, he misses the facsimile of home Storybrooke came to represent, even if he knows he will never return. he knows how she must feel, though he certainly didn't fall to the ground in a tantrum to show it. )

Why not, if you managed it once? ( if she's just found a feeling of home, surely she's capable then. it's unfortunate, but not impossible. ) They say that working for ALASTAIR will get you a ticket home. I've seen it happen, I've been long enough.

[she peers at him from between her green fingers, expression affronted] You mean I have to work for the people who-who gemnapped me to even have a chance of getting back to Earth? Like some sort of servant? Do I look like a Pearl??

( this is obviously a hypothetical question. he should know that. yet, he squints at her slightly, a glimmer of confusion in his features before he assures her, )

Despite your strange hue, no, you don't.

( pearls are small and round and shiny, and Peri is... well she's just not. )

I understand the frustration. They say they aren't responsible for bringing us here, though I don't know the truth one way or another. Still, that is the request they make of us, and I have seen them send people home again for their service.

[she tugs on her hair in frustration and makes agitated growling sounds. this goes on for a few seconds before she finally finds her chill.] Since I can't exactly stay here, fine. I'll go with you.

[at least she can pretend she has a choice in the matter. she starts walking, expecting him to follow her or at least point her in a decent direction, muttering all the while.] You save one planet, and suddenly you have to help everyone...

( and follow he does indeed, though he keeps behind. Brother is less cautious, trotting beside Peridot with unfettered and undisguised curiosity. this strange, walking and talking rock smelling creature was very interesting magic, after all. and seemed little afraid of him, too. )

Frustrating, I'm sure.

( his tone is absolutely level, it sounds perfectly like he's agreeing, even though he's more or less sarcastic. sarcasm is a hard note to hit heartless. )

Convenient to already have practice in. Not many recruits can say that, ah... did you have a name?

( because all he knows rn is that it isn't Pearl. )

That seems like a poor recruitment process- not even taking in people who have actual experience. [that sounds ridiculous and stupid, and it's no wonder she's here. they clearly do recognize her talents.] And, of course I have a name. It's Peridot.

[the indignance of the last is accompanied by a slight fluster- it's not really her name. it's a designation, a gem class. only the crystal gems really it as a name.]

Indeed, you should see their training procedures.

( there's some wry bitterness to that that has very little humor and a great deal of resentment. still, chances are he won't elaborate while they're in the midst of a rescue mission, and a dangerous one at that. his distaste for ALASTAIR was well documented, but they could surely discuss it later.

Peridot. he's heard of the stone and has known more than one to go by a gem as a name. he thinks of one in particular, Ruby, with quiet fondness. ) Nice to meet you, Peridot. I'm Graham, and that's Brother.

( the wolf couldn't say hello with words, but he offered the gem a wide puppy grin that seemed practically as good. )

[she grumbles in response, clearly curious, but also not eager to get into it when she's experiencing more rain than she has ever wanted to experience in one night ever and eager to get somewhere else- anywhere else.]

Hi. [she still looks a little hesitant about the wolf. her main exposure to animals has been Earth snakes and bees and... Well, Lion.

In fact, given Lion is the only animal she's seen thus far in the company of a human and there must be some functional purpose for keeping large animals, she's compelled to ask, pointing to the grinning wolf:] Does this animal have teleportation abilities also?

[never mind that he has no context for what she means by "also." it's Peridot. she never cares about these things.]

As much as he shows up in places I'd rather he not, no, not that I'm aware of?

( he finds that to be a bit of an odd question, and the inquisitory tone his comment takes is more or less just his accent. it makes it sound like he's unsure always, though he's actually quite confident his brother is incapable of teleportation.

as for the wolf, he does not note Peridot's uncertainty, or simply does not care to respond to it, trotting beside them both like nothing is amiss. )

Why do you ask?

Then... what's he for?

[she's accustomed to earth to know not everything has a functional purpose, but the idea of a "pet" is still foreign to her. Lion has value beyond companionship, so surely there must be something else to this creature.]

( what was the wolf for? it was a ... peculiar question, and spurred him into silence for a moment. Graham would not agree that the wolf was his pet, either; they were family, as absurd as that sounded to those outside of the situation. )

He has as much a right to exist as the both of us. ( an answer and not, all at the same time. ) Let's focus on getting to the waypoint, shall we?

( with or without further conversation, he'd be good either way. )

But-

[but she wants answers, but she also wants to get out of the rain and away from this madness, so she makes a noise of frustration and just focuses her attention on what lies straight ahead.] Fine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

a!

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wrap on yours maybe?

AND SCENE