EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

[futurologists]

THE BARRIER As promised, Arthur has the means to unlock that first, crucial step to saving the ALASTAIR recruits: unveiling the runes maintaining the barrier. He has sequestered himself in a rented room in the inn down the road from the prison; he’s at a good enough distance to keep his concentration unbroken, but near enough that he can reach the runes in question. The recruits are told to be ready, to wait for his signal before they take action. The signal comes just after the stroke of 5 on the town’s clocks, at what would be dawn in a world of less darkness. There’s a shimmer in the air around the brick building of the jail, like the surface of a bubble. Then suddenly the runes are there: glowing bright green, flaming into existence at various points along and within the barrier. There are at least 30 of them along the outside. They’re etched on walls, scribed into doors, carved into the very ground. These have to be destroyed first to make any progress, in any way the recruits are able to. Once these all have been broken, erased, or scattered (and some of them are cleverly hidden or out of reach -- have you checked the topmost brick in the clock tower of the jailhouse?), the first defense of the barrier has fallen. Then the jailhouse itself can be rushed, but magic is still hampered until every rune is destroyed. From there the runes can be found every few feet in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the jail, and only once each one is broken will the spell be completely lifted, magic and abilities restored to the area, and the inmates considerably easier to break out. The recruits aren’t the only ones that can see those runes, though. The jailers are quick to react, and some spring to the defense of the runes while others rush to sound the alarm, calling even more armed guards to the area. Even city guards start to show up in response to the alarm -- there’s definitely a time limit on this venture. Dispose of the runes, rescue your friends, and be out of the area quickly, or you might just be overrun with armed, angry opposition. THE ESCAPE By the time those in the cells are finally brought out, it’s pandemonium. The guards, jailers and city guards alike, might not have been able to stop ALASTAIR’s recruits from destroying the runes and bringing down the barrier, but they’re determined at least to stop dangerous criminals from escaping into the city. And these criminals were due to be hung, so they’re not looking to take anyone down peacefully. They’ll be going for the killing blows. The best chance will be to rely on numbers and scatter. In ones and twos and threes, people should be taking to shadowy alleys, slipping around corners, even dropping down into the sewers, if they have to. Anything to thin out and disappear. The most capable and destructive fighters are asked to stay as long as they can, giving the bulk of the rest of the escapees time to disappear into that unending night. THE COOLDOWN Those that helped free their friends probably won’t run into too many problems in the following days, unless you run into a guard with a few injuries and a long memory. The ex-prisoners, though, are another story. They were in there long enough that the men and women who guarded them know most of their faces quite well, and since they’re out of prisoners to guard, what else do they have to do but take to the streets and search? Ex-prisoners should play it carefully, then, if they don’t want to end up right back where they started. Guards are more than happy to cause an immediate fracas should they spot anyone that belongs in jail. That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out at all! Just, you know, take a disguise with you. As if anticipating the rising demand for them, all local merchant shops seem to be stocking up on scarves, shawls, and bulky clothing. Isn’t that nice? Most of them don’t really care what anyone did to end up in jail, they just want to share in on those ALASTAIR-paid wages. If spotted, townsfolk have varied opinions of the escapees. Some are mistrustful and bitter, and will immediately alert guards upon realizing who they’re dealing with. Some of them really don’t care. They’re tired of the darkness, tired of the conflicts, they just want to get on with life. One old man in particular seems to inexplicably love all ALASTAIR recruits, the ex-prisoners in particular, and will insist on buying a drink and playing a game of chess with any of them he runs into. The goblins, of course, have pretty good opinions of anyone on the wrong side of the king, and will be your best bet for finding lodging and food. Some of them might even think of you as a hero, or at least a roguishly charming vigilante. Spend your post-breakout time well, and try not to make any more enemies.

Comments

[promises_to_keep]

Overgrown fairy, really? Like people-sized, but with wings or something? [He scratches his head.] Who knew there were so many different kinds...? The only fairy I'd ever seen before I came here was about three inches tall but looked human, for the most part--nothin' like those mean glowy ones in the forest. [A chuckle then.] I hear ya, though. Once was more than enough for me, too.

[He's a little surprised when she asks about the solstice, until he remembers--ah, right, cavern under the ocean. No sun, so no solstice. He wonders absently what sort of light source they have in Atlantis, if they can't see the sun, but figures that's a question for some other time, perhaps.]

Ah, it's... an astronomy thing? I'm not sure exactly how it's determined, honestly, but there's two solstices and two equinoxes every year. The summer solstice is the day with the longest amount of daylight, and the winter solstice is the day with the shortest amount of daylight. On the equinoxes, there's an equal number of hours of daylight and darkness.

Where I grew up, we had festivals on these days, to celebrate the passing of seasons and stuff. Families all got together and had big fancy meals--winter solstice was breakfast, after staying up all night to welcome the Light coming back after it was gone for so long, and summer solstice was a huge feast for dinner, to celebrate the day the Light worked the hardest and could finally get some rest.

[He gives a bit of a laugh.]

Guess it sounds a little corny, when you put it in words.

[adlantisag]

[ Atlantis has no seasons, no sun, no way of telling the turning of the year. They have those that do, of course: those who count the years as they pass, mark time. But Atlanteans are so long-lived that it barely amounts to anything.

Listening to Lea explain all of this is...eye-opening, to say the least. ]

It is not shameful. [ She means it. Her eyes are bright with curiosity. ] That seems incredible. Your people worship light? The sun?

[promises_to_keep]

[Her eyes get wider and brighter the more he explains, and it's actually kind of endearing. He wonders absently if she'd ever even seen the sun, before being swept away by ALASTAIR. Had she been here in Chantes before the sun was blotted out? What had it been like, to see it for the first time?

[He's at least a little relieved that she doesn't think it's cheesy.]

Ah... yeah, Light in general. The sun is the greatest source of light in nature, so of course it's super important, but there's also stories about the Light in people's hearts. That's... obviously a more metaphorical sort of light, of course. But whether it's day and night or the equilibrium of a heart, Light and Darkness always have to be in balance, or everything gets all messed up, you know?

[He's looking at you, Xehanort. Way to fuck everything up, you jerk.]

[adlantisag]

[ The sun was already set when they arrived. Night had blanketed Anwick for the few hours they'd been there, and Oska had been overcast. When, or if, she sees it in Chantes, it will be the first time. ]

Balance is a good thing to strive for. [ She tilts her head, considering. ] Are there people who worship the dark, then? If they are meant to be in balance.

[promises_to_keep]

[He gives a slightly bitter laugh.]

Yeah, there are. Not so many, I think--I hope?--as there are people who worship the Light, but... [He heaves a bit of a sigh.] It's kinda complicated.

Darkness isn't inherently bad, the way the people I grew up with always seemed to think. That's something I got some firsthand experience in, I guess you could say. Darkness can corrupt people, it... twists things. Think like how you see things in the dark that often aren't there, you know? It screws with your head. It's not evil, in and of itself, but the people who seek it... [His expression hardens a little, and he hesitates.] The people who really seek it, they wanna extinguish the Light completely.

So yes, balance is good, but... maybe it's not so good to have an equal number of people praising the dark.