EVENT ★ THE FRACKING FIELDS

[futurologists]

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.

Comments

[ex_adept136]

[Haise can't deny the truth of what she's said; people wouldn't be sinking into the sand if there weren't sand to begin with. Even so, he thinks that she managed to last longer in trying to haul the man out than others might have, and there's something to be said for that. If there had been some solid ground around the sinkhole, he doubts that she'd have needed a hand then]

It's good to meet you, Lucina. Please, call me Haise.

[Since most of his associates conform to western conventions, he offers his given name rather than what would be his family name. Granted, both of his names have been given to him...]

I don't know whether the townspeople are particularly powerful, but some among our ranks are rather strong.

[Haise can think of a few off the top of his head, though he doesn't know how their strength compares with his own, only that it's assuredly beyond the average

[tolight]

Haise. [ She lets the name roll off her tongue, head tilting just a fraction as she considers it. It's foreign — she should have expected it, considering this definitely isn't Ylisse anymore. After a second she nods, letting her expression soften.

Perhaps the townspeople are what Lucina's more familiar with. Save a few exceptions, the strength her rescuer ( Haise, she mentally corrects ) exhibited is ... unheard of. It makes her equal parts nervous yet comforted by the fact that she's surrounded by capable individuals. Though at the same time, she briefly wonders what her purpose will be, here. ] I'll look forward to meeting everyone. [ And she will — considering they're her comrades from this point forward, it'd do well to get to know everyone.

But for now — ] He should be taken away from here. [ The guy who seems to be sitting down, eyes dazed. Lucina crouches down, supporting his weight on hers as they both stand, slowly. ] It wouldn't do well for us to idle while others need our assistance. [ She wishes they didn't have to part so abruptly, but ... things need to be done, or something. ] Thank you again, Haise. I truly appreciate it.

[ex_adept136]

[Their squad is so large that Haise has yet to meet everyone, and he wonders with the fluctuations in their membership if it's even possible. Still, he hopes that Lucina gets to know a great many of her squadmates. It's hard to feel like part of a team if one doesn't have the chance to get to know them, and maybe after the chaos dies down here she'll have proper opportunities for that.

He nods along with Lucina's assessment. Right now there's quite a lot for them to take on, and people remain who need their assistance. With that thought in mind, he thinks to make a suggestion]

Given the circumstances, why don't we combine our efforts?

[That's what a squad is for, after all. They're a unit, and they're stronger for having one another around]

From here on, we're part of the same team.

[And so it remains the case that no thanks is necessary...even if, were their positions reversed, he'd surely thank her too]

[tolight]

Oh— [ Her eyes widen in surprise, pausing a moment. ] I...

[ Under most circumstances, she'd decline politely. They can work more efficiently if more of them are on the field working separately, cover more ground. She knows she's capable enough to hold her own, in the least.

But... maybe not here. The combined efforts of an unfamiliar terrain with an even less familiar world, where she doesn't know anyone: it's daunting, even for her. While Haise doesn't necessarily fix all of these problems, he at least mitigates some. She'll learn, refuses to allow herself to be a burden like this, but she's also going to need all the help she can get. ]

That would be... yes, let's. [ A nod, followed by re-adjusting her hold on the man. They are stronger for having each other here, working together. ] I'll be in your care, then.

Shall we? [ At least begin by bringing this man over to wherever he should probably go. ]

[ex_adept136]

[Haise nods and follows along, drawing his weapon from his coat in case any of the strange birds circling overhead decide to take a dive in their direction. He's seen hulking sandworms too, which strike him as equally unappealing visitors as they escort this worker to safety]

He should be safe with that group there.

[With his free hand, he points out a small collection of miners grouped together with some recovered equipment. They look just as sand-covered as the rest, but they're stationed away from the less than steady fracking fields.

At least the opportunistic birds don't seem inclined to go after larger groups, which works in their favor right about now]

wraps this up!!

[tolight]

[ Lucina has yet to face off with a sandworm by herself — her primary focus has been the people, driving off the occasional vulture as they try to find their next prey ( or drive a sword in to their bodies, which ever is easier ).

Lucina's eyes follow Haise's hand, spotting the group of the survivors huddled together. The man's eyes also seem to light up in recognition, which is more than enough confirmation for her. ] Yes, let us go, then.

[ And this is how Haise and Lucina probably went around the fields pulling people out of the sand and killing birds, or something. ]