EVENT ▸ WELCOME TO HANABIRA

[futurologists]

LAND OF CELESTIAL MOUNTAINS Following guild Ophelia's first mission, after which the temporal shard was found and safely disposed of back on Headquarters, Guild Master Imogen informs them they've received a contract to help ease tensions in a land known as Hanabira, on an unnamed planet designated as Hathaway-484. However, the contract is from a third party and the Hanabirans themselves do not know about interdimensional travel, she explains, so it'll be best to announce Ophelia as visitors from a foreign land. Any strange appearances or abilities will be able to be brushed off as magic, as the Hanabirans are no strangers to things such as ogres and imps. They're given five days to look over the dossier, and then it's through the rift they go. Those who are new to rift travel may find themselves a bit dizzy on the way out, but overall, everything seems to have gone according to plan. Upon arrival, their magitek projects words in front of their eyes that only they can see: Location reached: HANABIRA. No events scheduled. You may wish to survey the surrounding area. » LAND OF CELESTIAL MOUNTAINS A militaristic society that values strength. Main sources of income: mining, foresting, hunting, blacksmithing. Heavy matriarchal ideals. Empress NAMA resides at the HEAVENLY SUMMIT. Those who attempt to reach the Heavenly Summit, which turns out to be the name of a castle situated on the tallest mountain peak, will not make it very far. Empress Nama's guards have no time for foreign strangers attempting to enter the castle without an audience, and there are plenty of them. It looks like that plan of action is going to take some time to rethink. There's still much more to look at, though. In the Merchant's District, you can stock up on everything you'll need to blend in. A cursory look at all the clothing and it's clear that the Mountain Clan style focuses on a more powerful look, with broad shoulder accents and thick fabrics. Both men and women wear kimonos, but it seems men's fashion changes depending on their age and marital status. Time to figure out those backstories! There are several more items for sale as well, as long as you're willing to pay -- or if you're particularly good at sleight of hand. The Commoner's District, derogatorily called the Slums by some, is where many of the lower class Mountain Clan work and live. Those who don't have the coin to buy a space in the Merchant's District sell their wares here; they are at a lower price, but often of lower quality as well, unless you're particularly lucky. This is the most densely populated area of the Celestial Mountains, and also the most egalitarian. Here, both men and women must do the same work to provide for their families. However, you will still find that the prevailing cultural attitude supports the matriarchy. On the other side of town is the Noble's District, which is patrolled by guards on regular routes. Men on their own will arouse suspicion in this area, as will anyone in any garb but the noble disguise. Troublemakers will be asked to leave and unceremoniously escorted out. Those who manage to stay will be able to find conversation with the nobility, many of whom are high-ranking military leaders. The rest of the town belongs to the lower to upper middle class, who are friendliest to women or groups with at least one woman in them. Women's reactions to sole men may range from dismissive to awkward, although men alone are not in any danger of angry or violent reactions (as long as they don't provoke anyone). ▸ SPRING FESTIVAL After a bit of time for exploring, a new message flashes in front of recruits' eyes. New event scheduled: MOUNTAIN CLAN FESTIVAL. » INFORMATION: Analysis of all mentions of 'festival' since the arrival of OPHELIA suggests heavy HANABIRAN presence at this time, during which guild members may wish to gather intel. It appears as though Ophelia has arrived just in time for the Spring Festival, a yearly celebration in honor of the changing of seasons. Plum and cherry trees throughout the Celestial Mountains flower in white and pink blossoms, creating a cheerful atmosphere as the population goes about their daily business during the day. Workers view the flowers during their lunch and tea times, and nobles can be found strolling through gardens in the Noble's District at all times. In the early afternoon, food stalls begin to appear in the Merchant's District, and by the late afternoon, the festival is in full swing: dumplings, noodles, persimmons, and skewered meat are available at various stalls, as well as plenty of sake. Other stalls sell beautifully designed kites, fans, and kimonos, and as the sun begins to sink down, some stalls begin to sell incense-stick fireworks. There are also games to take part in, from the light-hearted collaborative ball game kemari, to an archery competition, the winners of which are rewarded with plums and sake. An old man near the archery competition invites any passersby to join him in a game of Go, and he'll even offer to teach foreigners the rules of the game. There is also a falconry competition for the nobles, but unless you have a disguise, you'll just have to content yourself with watching. With so many people milling around, it's a good time to ask questions and try to get a feel for the political opinions of the people of the mountain clan. They are all in favor of their empress ruling Hanabira, supporting the spread of their traditional culture over the more lax culture of the sea clan. If asked their opinions on how to ensure there is no war, suggestions will range from preemptively killing the sea empress and her army, to banishing them across the sea. It should be noted that the mountain clan is not especially known for their expertise in diplomacy. As the sky darkens, fireworks light up the sky. It's very beautiful, but also very distracting -- the perfect time for something to go wrong. ▸ AN AMBUSH The fireworks are loud, and everyone -- even guards milling around -- are looking skyward toward the display. No one notices the danger until it's too late. A scream pierces the air, and everything after that happens quick and sudden: people are running in all directions, panicked, trying to escape. Stands are knocked over and food goes flying through the air. A merchant struggles to reach her wife, caught across the fearful throng of festivalgoers. It's chaos. As the panicked crowd begins to thin, those of Ophelia who stay behind to help will see the cause -- women wearing clothes of the sea clan and masks covering their faces are laying waste to the festival ground. They begin to set stalls ablaze, and though they aren't targeting any civilians, a handful lay dead or injured, crushed by the panicked stampede. Guards rush in to stop the women, and they could probably use help; they will be trying to capture them, but if your character is killing an ambusher instead, please let the mods know with a link to the thread. For those who aren't the fighting type, there are plenty of other things to do -- direct traffic, try to rescue civilians from the stampede, or go find someplace to hide yourself. Once the immediate trouble is dealt with, the festival unceremoniously ended, the civilians drift back to their homes to begin a restless sleep. If your character hasn't found lodgings for the night yet, they'd better get that matter settled soon. The morning after the ambush, there is tension and unease in the air. The people of the mountain clan mutter about taking revenge or continuing peaceably; the ambush and its effect on their relations with the sea clan is the topic of the day. Was this an attack sanctioned by the Empress of the Crashing Wave? Were these sea people acting of their own volition? Does it matter? The festival grounds could use cleaning up, and tending to the injured can be a good way to ingratiate foreigners (that's you) to the mountain clan. Otherwise, the forests of the Celestial Mountains are open for exploration, or the Flowerlands and its farms below. ▸ OOC NOTES Welcome to the first mission of the season! Apps are now closed and will remain closed until the mission is over. If you have questions about this log or the overall mission, please ask them on the dossier. Questions about Futurology in general should be directed to the FAQ. ▸ The festival and ambush lasts one IC day, after which characters may continue to explore. Areas currently open are the Land of Celestial Mountains or the Flowerlands. The Empire of the Crashing Wave will be introduced in the next log on 3 February. ▸ The Bounty Board is now live, as well as an items page. The February calendar will go live in late January. ▸ January AC will go up on 1 February. You will only need to supply one proof. February AC will require full activity.

Comments

3!

[tenthousandmiles]

[Luckily, Ginko happens to be in the near vicinity when Sieglinde falls. He's familiar with this kind of panicked mob, unfortunately, and he knows that trying to get the crowd to give her a berth is a lost cause; they'll only listen to their own fear and panic, regardless of any attempts to calm them.

And so...without enough time to ask her if she's alright before she gets trampled (or he does), he merely scoops her up and starts making his way to a less...overrun area. He may or may not regret this later??? Especially since he literally just grabbed a random girl and ran off with her in front of various mountain clan guards, but right now he doesn't care, as long as she's safe.]

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde had learned back in Perdition's Rest that just because she planned and made efforts to keep herself out of the battlefield, where she would become a liability... it didn't always work out that way. She'd escaped that ambush with only a hole in her foot, but this time she was afraid she wouldn't be so lucky, biting back another cry as someone's foot kicked into her curled spine, trying to force herself to get her feet back under her, crawl to safety if she had to-

But then someone's hauling her up, and though she almost tugs away for fear it wasn't help, she recognizes it eventually as that, even if she doesn't recognize the person themselves-

And so she clings to his arms like a momentary lifeline, eyes squeezed shut.]

[tenthousandmiles]

[Ginko's got a strong grip, fortunately; even as she initially struggles, his hold doesn't loosen at all. Eventually, manages to get to a place outside the main throng of panicked fleeing, and when it seems safe to, gently puts her down.]

Are you alright?

[He looks her up and down, searching for any sign of injury.]

[grunehexe]

[Only once she has her feet on the ground, now missing a shoe, does Sieglinde manage to get her eyes open again and try and take stock of herself. There's a bruise already swelling up beneath her eye, but any other bruises are hidden by her dirtied clothing, and she's pretty sure that it's nothing too serious-]

I am fine-

[She hasn't... actually uncurled her fingers from the tight grip on his clothing, though, looking around in alarm.]

Are those women from the other clan?

[tenthousandmiles]

[The bruise under her eye isn't great, but it doesn't look too serious, luckily. It can probably wait a little.]

I'm not sure--they might be.

[He doesn't look like he's particularly eager to go back and find out.]

We should be safe out here, but it might be better to go inside, just in case. Can you walk?

[grunehexe]

[It's something she wants to know, but she knows that it would be foolish to try and find out now, in all this chaos, when she is as small as she is and unable to easily use magic without arousing suspicion on themselves.

Still-

His question brings her back to earth, and she stares down at her feet, bandaged carefully with each toe individually wrapped away from sight to accommodate wearing sandals for the first time in her life. Well- one sandal, now.]

Not quickly.

[As much as she hated it... honesty was the best policy.]

[tenthousandmiles]

[Not quickly. That...could mean any number of things, honestly. Technically Tanyuu could walk, on her crutches, but it was certainly "not quickly." And he won't do her the disservice of asking how quickly not quickly is.

Instead:]

I could carry you again, if you want. On my back, this time.

[While it served in a pinch, he imagines bridal style wasn't particularly comfortable. Or dignified.]

[grunehexe]

[Indeed, she could clarify if he truly wished, and though she did not like it... she was too logical a mind not to be free with that information, but. Now wasn't the time.]

Then, please-

[She could at least watch his rear, do something to make herself feel of use.]

[tenthousandmiles]

[He gives a short nod, kneeling down on the ground before her so she could climb on before carefully rising, arms securing her legs as he walks briskly toward the residential area.

Fortunately, getting out of the main thrust of the panicked stampede means that the path is more or less clear. As they walk, he asks:]

What's your name? I'm Ginko.

[grunehexe]

Sieglinde. Sieglinde Sullivan.

[She clings tightly to his back, to his waist with thin legs, looking nervously back behind them. As much of a relief as it was to clear the chaos... the moment it died down, she knew she would have to go back to try and help the wounded, and she cannot help but add, rushed.]

Please do not go so far. I must return once the situation is under control-

[tenthousandmiles]

I don't mind taking you back. But it's safer to get inside first.

[His offer is clearly sincere, with a firmness to his tone that suggests he's not willing to budge on the matter.]

[grunehexe]

[Despite how guilty it makes her feel... she knows it's technically a decent choice for now, so she bites her lip and nods, forces herself to agree.]

Just stay as close as is safe-

[tenthousandmiles]

It'll be alright. We won't stay away long.

[Finally, he stops at what appears to be an inn of some sort, and bows to the old lady who runs it.]

Hello. My...sister was injured in the attack, earlier. Might we have a place to stay for the night?

[The old lady squints at him a little, as if suspicious. Are you sure that's your sister and you're not some kind of scandalous unmarried man with a daughter????

Ginko carefully glances off to the side, hoping to catching Sieglinde's eye. He might need a little help selling this.]

[grunehexe]

[If only they looked alike... but Sieglinde at least has learned well how to lie in her years, and she forces her lips two tremble, eyes to water, as if she might cry.]

Please... just until this all settles down, I-

[She doesn't enjoy this act, acting her age, how people expected her to... but it's easy to sell. It's what people want to see.]

I'm scared-

[tenthousandmiles]

[The act has its desired effect; the inkeeper might be able to display suspicion toward Ginko, but she has no such defenses against a little girl on the verge of tears. She very huffily leads the pair toward a room with brusque instructions that they need to be out by morning, muttering something or other under her breath as she departs.

Once inside, he sets down his box first, before easing Sieglinde onto the ground as well and taking a seat across from her.]

Let me take a look at that bruise under your eye.

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde carries her act on while the woman is about... but the minute she leaves, her fake near-tears and trembling lip are gone, sitting and stretching out her thin legs with a wince, bandaged toes curling anxiously without her one shoe.]

It is fine-

[She gingerly puts a hand to her face, feeling for the bruise.]

I can heal it myself...

[tenthousandmiles]

[It would almost be unsettling, to see the way she so quickly drops the act, if not for the variety of people he's met over decades of traveling. People who've lived strange lives, like the girl who was unable to go out in sunlight or the one who voluntarily stopped talking for ten years because her voice attracted a certain kind of mushi.

If it troubles him at all, he gives no indication.]

"Heal it"? [For a moment, he's confused, before he remembers some of the terminology used by Hathaway, in terms of their members' specializations.]

Ah, you were designated as a "sentinel", then?

[It seems a little irresponsible, to place that kind of burden on what seems to be a young child's shoulders, but then again....in his own world, she would probably be married off in a few years and expected to bear the responsibility of motherhood not much longer after that.]

I would be interested to watch, if you don't mind.

[grunehexe]

I was.

[She thinks it was perhaps a fitting place, had expected it if not the Inventor team, but it wasn't about that, in the end.]

But I do not mean those abilities Hathaway is granting.

[She finds the bruise on her face with a wince, feeling out the size with her fingers.]

[tenthousandmiles]

...A natural ability, then.

[It seems strange to him, certainly, but so are spaceships and magitek and inter-universal travel. Many things here are out of the realm of his experience, way back in medieval Japan.]

How does it work?

[grunehexe]

[She doesn't correct him. It's too long a story and too strange an explanation, and right now... she's more concerned with how she's going to get him to take her back to the scene of the chaos.

The bruise is going to to smart, and it's already swelling something fierce, but she'll live. And to waste the energy she might use to help others...]

It is magic that returns flesh to its previous state-

[Already her ears are focused on listening for sounds of violence, itching to return.]

[tenthousandmiles]

[There's a pause, and then he says, gently as possible:]

It'll probably be a while longer until the crowd thins. You should tend your own injury first.

[Hello, is this the stop for the Hypocrite Express? All aboard........]