epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

THE EARTHQUAKE

One day, early in the morning before the mechanical rooster at Amos Zephyr's farm even crows, there's a sudden rumble in the distance. Perdition's Rest shakes and the ground roils, knocking things off shelves and startling the mechanical horses in their pen. Look out the window and you'll see Qorral locals blearily stepping out into the street, murmuring anxiously amongst themselves: Earthquake.

Ever since the argecite mines started to dry up, the Qorral colonists have been turning to fracking in order to pull all available argecite out of the planet as quickly as possible. The technique has caused more and more earthquakes to shake the planet, though the fracking fields are far enough away from the town that damage is minimal.

However, the fields and mines aren't as lucky. The mayor rushes out into the street, his assistant and Sheriff Holladay flanking him, and asks for any willing heroes and adventurers (that means you!) to venture out to the fracking fields and assess the damages. Though the tunnels aren't being actively mined, there were likely miners and other workmen inside, so there will be rescue needed as well. Get your provisions ready and hop on the train: you're going to work.

THE FRACKING FIELDS

The fracking fields are a wide open swath of land peppered with looming, iron machines going on for miles. These machines are the Qorral's final attempt at scraping the last remnants of argecite from the planet before abandoning the colony and moving on for good. This destructive practice is causing obvious instability to the planet, but they don't seem to care. This is what their species does: seeks out argecite, mines it, and moves on.

The fields are dry and dead, with no plants around -- and now, after the earthquake, there are sinkholes. The iron machines are falling into the sinkholes, slowly being swallowed by the planet, with desperate workers trying to pull them back out. They could use the help -- but be sure not to fall in yourself.

Grotesque alien birds circle overhead, searching for the dead or the dying, workers caught in the collapsing earth. Save them before they're swallowed by the earth or swallowed by carrion birds -- and if you're too late, the locals would be happy to have their loved ones returned to them intact.

Also found in the fields is the Argecite Refinery, a massive factory filled with machinery meant for the refining of the crystal before it is to be shipped back to the Qorral home planet. The outside of the factory is surrounded by a 610cm (20 ft) tall electric perimeter fence, whose energy shorts out sporadically after the earthquake cracked the service box. If you're quick enough to make it through one of the gaps in electricity, don't relax quite yet -- there are malfunctioning guard drones throughout the facility, the earthquake rattling their sensors and making it impossible for them to tell friend from foe. The drones resemble dogs, though they are capable of folding their legs in for aerodynamic superiority when they take flight. They are equipped with energy lasers to destroy, sticky glue to slow trespassers, and a thin blade in the tail to poison attackers. The poison is quick-acting, causing hallucinations and fever, but it is not deadly.

Inside the factory, the machinery has collapsed in on itself from the earthquake; electricity sparks from damaged wires, dangerously nearby spilled oil drums or pools of standing water. Fire can start at any second. There are factory workers here that need rescuing, but also a variety of inanimate objects, including barrels of argecite, machinery parts, files, computers, etc. Anything that isn't bolted down needs to be moved outside of the factory before it explodes. Of course, no one is really keeping track of what's inside...

THE MINES

The Qorral have been digging in the mines since arriving on this planet 30 years ago, but recent efforts have shifted to fracking after the argecite veins slowly became depleted. The mines are still maintained by a skeleton crew of workers, making sure there is no build-up of dangerously flammable gas and patrolling the tunnels to look out for cave-ins -- which, after the earthquake, have happened in spades.

The tunnels are winding and deep, turning in on each other and ending in dead ends or sudden, steep drop-offs into the dark. There are workers trapped within, and some at Perdition's Rest have said that their thrill-seeking relatives -- typically teenagers -- have gone missing. It's possible that they have found themselves trapped in the mine, so it may be a good idea to look out for them as well.

And even deeper in the mine, there is a writhing, pale danger: sand worms, blind and hungry, wait in the dark. The earthquake has begun to drive them further up the tunnel, their tooth-lined maws open as they slither through toward the surface. Those focusing on the fields above may find a straggling sand worm or two, thrashing wildly in pain from the unfamiliar heat of the sun. This will definitely put a damper in the rescue and recovery efforts, so take them out as quickly as you can -- with as little damage to the fracking equipment, please.

OOC NOTES

Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ.

If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Bounty Board for side missions! Remember you can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Lucina would like to think she's worked with... her fair share of characters, before. From outrageous ones to ones that would not speak unless prompted, but at the end of the day in battle they are her comrades. Those she can trust to keep their wits about them as they fight through the opposition.

This? This however, is new. ] What—

[ She can't help but stare, dumbfounded, as the man walks towards what could turn him into the next meal. And the commentary — she grips her sword tighter, trying to shake the equal parts surprise and confusion as she readies herself for an attack.

And there it is — one of the worms, hissing loudly before it moves to strike the stranger, teeth first. ] Watch out! [ And Lucina begins to move almost at the same time, sword raised. ]

Watch out~?

[Ban stopped and turned to look to Lucina, who kept her sword drawn as if faced with a threat. When Ban's eyes met hers--he understood immediately what her concern was. The worms. Turning his head in slow motion, he watched as the serrated, spinning teeth of the monstrosity itself bore down on him as if to sever his lower body from his upper half.

In the moment he finally registered the creature for what it was, Ban leaned aside with uncanny ease and balance. He hefted himself back up without taking another step as if performing a ridiculous limbo act and then reversing time on it in the next instant. He came up with a sharp backhanded strike with a few knuckles curled up that dented the side of the sandworm and compressed it against the wall through what sounded like the hammer of a cannonball. Ban stood up straight, his knuckles smoking from the speed of the blow.

The sandworm slumped, motionless.]

Mmm. Well, can't say it'd hurt to tenderize that meat a little more, later... If there even is any.

[ Bless Lucina's reflexes — she manages to stop herself just before she swings her sword at the monster ( or at Ban, accidentally, who's spine allows them to move like that?! ). The weapon's still held up, in the event the worm decides to come back to life, or something. She's seen weirder things than that, probably.

Moments pass, and when it appears that she definitely won't be getting attacked anytime soon, she pries her eyes away from the monster to the stranger. ]

... I don't believe the meat will be very ... appetizing. [ Let alone edible. But who is she to judge? And more importantly — ] Are you alright? [ He sounds fine, looks fine, but she needs to check, just in case. ]

[Ban had taken a few moments to look over the decrepit looking remains of the sandworm. He hadn't really put much stock into actually wanting to cook the thing--at least at that particular time. There would be time later to see if something was left that he could salvage but the current moment didn't seem to be that.

He nudged the corpse with the tip of his boot.]

Oh, I'm fiiine ♪. I'm not somebody you gotta worry about.

[At the moment, Ban recalled there were people that were worth worrying about. He stood up straight and inclined his head towards a dark and dusty tunnel adjacent to where Lucina had been standing.] Down there's where you've got folks that need help.

Anyway, the preparation is what turns bad stock and ingredients into something savory~. Don't underestimate peasant chefs, missy.

Edited 2016-10-12 05:05 (UTC)

[ Something about this man unnerves Lucina. Maybe it's the way he treats what could have been a potential near-death experience ( "potential", because she can see that her assistance was unnecessary ); it's ... too casual, with the singsong in his voice and the easy way he nudges the corpse. The fact that he just punched a giant worm to death.

She knows better than to speak her mind, here, especially to a stranger. She can't quite help but grimace that passes over her face when she looks at the dead worm again, but the expression is masked soon enough. ]

... Of course. [ And so, Lucina nods instead, plus a quick glance at the path the man pointed towards to make sure nothing else is coming. Some part of her is still wary, preferring to return to the task she had come to the mines for. But — she blurts out the next set of words before she can really think about what she's asking. ]

Are you a chef? [ Why does a chef need superhuman strength????? ]

[It certainly wasn't the question he usually got at a time like that. Admittedly, Ban realized he had been openly prioritizing the sandworm's meat but it seemed as if it would have made more sense for someone to question his sanity rather than his profession. Even he wasn't oblivious to the ridiculousness of his behavior.

Ban clapped his hands together, grinning. It was a question he didn't mind answering at all, fortunately.]

Sure, I am~. Were you lookin' for some tips?

[The dangerous nature of the tunnels, the urgency in the situation and the overall mood set between all the other recruits hadn't bothered Ban in the slightest.

He seemed perfectly content.]

[ She's from a world where everyone's a bit of a ... character, including herself. While the comments on the monster's meat make her confused enough, it's the last sentence that has her ask the question in the first place. ]

... Er— no. [ But luckily, that's just about as far as her curiosity wants to go; or more accurately, that's as far as she's going to allow herself to go. Partially because she's not much of a chef, but more importantly because there's still individuals to be rescued ( sandworms to fight ) in this mess. ] Though I appreciate the offer.

[ There's a small pause, and then — ] My name is Lucina. I ... apologize for my initial misconceptions. [ No matter how harmless they were. She'll have to work remembering there are those much more powerful than her here. ]

[Unless Lucina decided to add in an additional surname or title, Ban wouldn't have mentioned his own. He offered a small smile before returning to the scene of demise he had created.]

Mine's Ban~. Though, I'm confused--is it bad to be a chef where you come from, missy? I'm sure that misconception wouldn't be close enough to offend me, otherwiiise.

[Even then, he wouldn't be bothered at all. Ban equated himself to a 'scoundrel' without even opting for the dramatic flair of that word, itself.

Despite his nonchalant disposition, Ban didn't seem ready to dig into the sandworm to try preparing it quite yet. He had the same idea in mind as Lucina--that they had other places to be.]

Course, I'll admit--my services as a chef aren't needed quite as much right now. Sounds like your sword would beat my spatula in this scenario~.

No, not at all — [ Ah, time to clear up the misunderstandings, one by one. ] I... my initial assumption was that you were someone who needed to be protected. [ Even as she says this, she can feel the shame in her gut. ] When that was not the case at all.

[ She pauses a moment, the sword returning to her side as her eyes land on the sand worm, lifeless and slowly growing cold. To think — a simple punch had rendered this monster incapable. ] Still, you possess formidable strength.

[ Even without a weapon, he's deadly. ] Shall we? [ Continue the journey through the rest of the mines. ]

It's nothin'. [It really had been--he didn't mind anyone underestimating him or thinking less of him. In most instances, he was a very sloppy person. Strong or not, Ban didn't think he was a significantly reliable looking guy. Sighing, Ban pressed on. Lucina had shown herself to be a rather forthcoming and honest person, thus managing to completely take Ban off his guard. He was used to people who at least wanted to hide one thing about themselves right off the bat.]

Jeez, you're really the serious type, aren't you? [He nodded and began to walk back down the corridor, running his fingers through his hair with a look of brief consternation. He definitely wasn't going to have the time to gut the sandworm and try to wrap it up for later. He'd return if there was anything left of the mines.] Guess we might as well head down~.

[He might have been a little sullen by Lucina's calm and collected decision to evaluate him by his actions. While it was completely reasonable, he wasn't sure how to deal with it. It even sounded a little like she was apologizing for underestimating him and that in upon itself was strange. It was weird, dealing with people with such level heads.]

Edited 2016-10-20 06:10 (UTC)

( ooc we can probably wrap this up somewhere around here?? we'll say they went around saving people in the mines, or something... )

[ "Too serious" — how many times has she heard that, now? Enough that it no longer bothers her. With a history like hers it's hard to be as lighthearted as Inigo, or as flamboyant as Owain. Though, perhaps that's what makes them stronger than her, in some ways. She finds that she can't quite respond to his ( rhetorical ) question with a proper answer, so instead she nods quietly. ] Perhaps.

[ All she's known is being levelheaded. She can't imagine anything else — some part of her notices Ban is ... less than impressed with her antics, but there's more important things to focus on. There are still people to save, after all; so she gets right on it, walking down the hallway. ]

(OOC: Perfectly fine! The conversation portion hit a natural threshold, seeing as they're more likely to be all business from here on out. |D)

[Ban didn't really enjoy taking on missions with the Order of the Holy Knights in most instances. Among their ranks they were grave and intent on completing all of their goals with piety and indifference to vices. The Seven Deadly Sins kept him entertained because of their ridiculous attitudes and because a few of them even enabled his own.

Flipping open the buckle of a looped sack around his belt, Ban removed a three-sectioned, metal staff, which he rolled over his shoulder. He followed along behind Lucina, humming pleasantly despite the atmosphere.]

That's fine~. Sometimes, you serious types can be pretty fun--and there's no saying we can't have any of that while fulfilling our mission ♪.

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EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

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