epidemiology | EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

EMPIRE OF THE
CRASHING WAVE

The royalty of Guild Ophelia has managed to hold an audience with Empress Nama of the Celestial Mountains, urging her to meet with the Empress of the Crashing Wave in the interest of finding an accord between their clans. In return, Nama requests that Ophelia take two letters to the Crashing Wave's court, where, as foreigners, they should be received better than any of her own people.

The Empire of the Crashing Wave is a week's travel by foot from the Land of Celestial Mountains, through the forests and farms of the Flowerlands. There is no visible indication that this universe was once two, with even the road leading through the Flowerlands heading seamlessly toward the sea.

The farms and villages in the outskirts of the Empire of the Crashing Wave are decorated in seashells and motifs of the sea, and the closer one gets to the city, the stronger the scent of the ocean becomes. Once the city proper is reached, Ophelia's magitek projects words in front of their eyes that only they can see:

Location reached:

» EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE
A progressive society that values innovation. Main sources of income: fishing, pearl diving, jewelry crafting, shipbuilding. Politically matriarchal; socially egalitarian. Empress YOUMI resides at the PEACEFUL TIDE.

No events scheduled. You may wish to survey the surrounding area.

The city is built right on the ocean's edge, with some parts of it even jutting out into the sea on bridges and piers. The castle, Peaceful Tide, is built high above the rest; guards will stop anyone at the gates and, if shown the correspondence from Empress Nama, will deliver the letters directly to Empress Youmi. Attempts to seek an audience with Youmi will be rebuffed for the time being, so you may as well take in the sights...

▸ A PROMISING DEVELOPMENT

Unlike the Land of Celestial Mountains, men may move freely here, the matriarchal rules of the land only extending to politics. Men and women work alongside each other in all sections of the city, nobles and commoners alike, and even the guards have men among their ranks. In the Artisan District, potters, musicians, and artists line the streets and sell their wares, work, or discuss their craft with each other.

Closer to the Beach, there is a boardwalk where young couples stroll alongside grandparents chasing after their grandchildren, electric lamps bathing the wooden planks in a warm glow at night. Fishermen haul in their daily catch in buckets and nets, trailed by a gaggle of hopeful cats. Beachcombers and pearl divers populate the beach as well, making it a clear place for work instead of play.

A few days after Ophelia's arrival in sea clan territory, a bell rings loudly in the late afternoon, drawing citizens toward the castle. Guards stop anyone from getting too close, though the populace seems to know what to expect -- soon, a beautiful woman in an elaborate blue kimono appears in an upper balcony.

When viewing the woman, Ophelia's magitek will tell them:

» EMPRESS YOUMI
Leader of the EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE.
30 years old. SPECIES: Human. MEDICAL CONCERNS: Lactose intolerant.

The crowd cheers at Youmi's arrival, only quieting once she raises her hand. She speaks clearly and confidently, her voice carrying easily across the assembly.

"I have received a letter from Her Imperial Majesty Nama of the Land of Celestial Mountains. She informs me that their spring festival was interrupted by an attack from our own people, working without my knowledge or consent," Youmi begins, holding her hand up again when a displeased rumble begins to ripple through the crowd. It's unclear if they're perturbed by the ambush or by Nama herself. Once all is silent again, she continues.

"She has detained the criminals, for that is what they are, and assures me she will not bring this to the battlefield. I will send her an agreement to the terms, but hear this: any who escalate this further will be slain by my order. I have spoken. The spirits of the sea watch over us all."

Youmi then retreats back into the castle. While some citizens cheer their empress's decree, others mutter unhappily amongst themselves as they disperse and go about their business.

▸ BUT TROUBLE CONTINUES

The rest of the day following Youmi's decree goes by without incident, leaving time for Ophelia to stop by the sake breweries near the sea or travel back through the forests of the Flowerlands for hunting, hot springs, or simply enjoying the nature of Hanabira. With war averted and the empresses in communication, it seems as though Ophelia's time in this universe will draw to a close soon.

As the sun sinks down, finding a place to sleep might be a good idea. There are hotels in the city, but for those who are trying to be a little more frugal, the Flowerlands is a good place to set up camp for free. Doro, the Lord of the Flowerlands, has heard of Ophelia's efforts in starting communication between the empresses as well, and offers rooms in his castle in thanks; if war were to start between the two, his land would suffer for it.

During the night, those who accept Doro's invitation will hear a commotion very nearby, steel clashing against steel. Doro and his daughters rush out, weapons drawn, and straight into a skirmish between sea and mountain clan ronin. The warriors are fighting to kill, and in their fervor, someone's fire arrow alights a farmhouse on Doro's property. The farmers need to be rescued and the fire put out, and while the warriors will likely kill each other, they could also be subdued to prevent further damage. Please let the mods know with a link to the thread if your character is killing or capturing any of the ronin.

After the skirmish, Doro must be brought back inside his castle, having been wounded during the battle. He pleads with Ophelia to continue to help, as it looks like a tentative truce by the empresses is not enough to calm the citizens. Since they were so successful in receiving an audience with Nama, he believes they can propose a way the two empires can live in harmony.

Throughout the next two weeks, skirmishes between the clans are peppered throughout the Flowerlands, some leaving bodies behind and some leaving damage to farms and forest. It looks like Ophelia's peacekeeping mission just became a lot more hands-on: keep the skirmishes from getting out of control while still working toward a way to end the conflict once and for all.

▸ OOC NOTES

This log will last for two IC weeks: the first three days will be free exploration, and day four is Youmi's proclamation and the skirmish in the Flowerlands. Your characters are free to explore for the next ten days, during which further skirmishes will occur. 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.

▸ Coming next log: Peace proposals! Get your brainstorming started now.

▸ Activity Check is due on 5 February 23:59 UTC. We do not accept late submissions, so make sure you fill it out!

▸ Uniform Design Contest is open! Submissions are due 28 February 23:59 UTC. Gamewide voting will be in March.

▸ Bounty Board ▸ Items Page ▸ Exploration Group Planning ▸ General Plotting ▸ February Calendar

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

It was... something I am not sure could be explained even if you had all day.

[Two years of her life had been ALASTAIR, two chaotic, wonderful, accursed years... and though it takes effort, Sieglinde refuses to let her gaze cloud in memory just yet, turning to focus on Ginko himself.]

It was... composed very similarly to this organization, of people from all worlds and walks of life, but. Unlike Hathaway, that has offered a choice... ALASTAIR did not. They pulled people from rifts in time, "rescued" them... but there as no choice involved in arriving. Only in how much you chose to participate from there.

I was involved with them two years, myself. Nine worlds.

You are exceptionally observant.

[Coming from Thrawn, that's nothing short of high, high praise, despite how tamely he delivers it— and so between that unique revelation and Rohan's cautious acceptance of the offered invitation, the Chiss opts at last to concede:] Very well.

This is Sy Bisti. [Icy blue fingers lift the porcelain cup yet again, shimmering when they catch the light. Unknown symbols mark its lip in a circle, winding down towards the base in a steady curve.] A trade language spoken within the uncharted regions of known space, beyond which my people dwell. Much of it is expressive and...unified, with many terms overlapping; a repetition that makes it easier to understand.

It was the first language my species used to interact with small clusters of nearby human settlers.

[Settlers of all kinds, eventually. The Chiss receded into myths and legends, but the language they'd passed on became a valuable resource for farmers, merchants, thieves and refugees in need of a secondary— or even tertiary— language. One unknown to anyone from the core worlds or charted space, completely foreign to their protocol droids and translators.]

The struggle here has reminded me of my own galaxy's chaotic turmoil; I cannot be sure what will become of my people.

And so I thought that perhaps it would be best if I left something behind.

[Whaaaaaaaaat had she just witnessed?

Sieglinde's mouth shuts so fast her teeth clip, emerald eyes wide as she glances between the departing man (whose hand seems perfectly fine now, somehow) and Rohan.

Had she seen something she wasn't supposed to? The natives weren't supposed to have powers, so he was definitely Hathaway... but-

Unsure of what to do, or what to say just yet, unable to gush questions about the ability here in public while both of them were apparently uncover... Sieglinde thrusts her food at him.

Takoyaki anyone?]

[he purses his lips and shakes his head.]

That was — it wasn't even about Rey. She — [he shakes his head again.] I patched things up with her. Doesn't change how I feel about some other things, but I made it right with her.

As you say.

[He draws himself up with unwavering resolution, hands slipping behind his back to clasp tightly in a pose better suited to interrogators and intellectuals alike. In this case, however unkind the work, the two are one and the same.

And he is no stranger to the concept of bearing an ugly task for the greater good.

As she sputters back to consciousness— held firmly in place by the hardened, unseen grip of the Force itself— pain sinking into her features, Thrawn's voice is a pool of glacial ice:]

Good of you to join us again. Rest assured, this conversation need not end in your death or...disfiguration. So long as you provide us with the answers we require, you will leave this place alive.

I would think it preferable to face your Empress intact as a champion of your actions, rather than a disgrace to your people.

[It isn't a necessarily lengthy process. In part because she did not have much to give, and in part because yielding came quickly: a certain fluidity between Ren's skill with the Force, and Thrawn's careful diplomacy— within less than a half an hour, she is unconscious again from exhaustion, but alive.

And they are infinitely more informed, though the news is grim at best.]

So it is as I had feared.

[Weariness sinks at last into his shoulders as he turns from Ren and their captive, feeling his way towards the side table to wind his fingers around a cool cloth that had been soaking in a basin of water.]

[The bandage is tied off, its pressure eased when he loops his fingers beneath the knot and tugs briefly in the opposite direction, though he is no less focused on the conversation at hand.]

'Other things'?

[He knows a stubborn mind when he sees one. Tommy still finds that to be a leap in logic truth be told, but he's not so invested in appearing non-offensive to engage in a losing battle like debating with this man. Now, if it were something he cared about, this conversation would probably look very different.]

And you're the one who decides that for them, eh? What's criticism and what's offensive?

A conversation starter?

[Tommy is not so much questioning whether or not that's true. After all, it caught his eye and attention enough that he spoke up, so it's not entirely unlikely that it's done the same for others.]

[But is that really why he doesn't mind? Tommy is skeptical.]

[Tommy glances over in his direction when there's a response, eyes going back to the painting in front of him for a moment before returning to Jhin.]

I haven't much of an eye for art admittedly, but it seems to me that would be like wanting a painting of me factories hanging up.

[The factories are everything to the people of Birmingham after all. Without them, they would have little alternative means for survival or hope that their boys would never start to follow Tommy in his less than legitimate business ventures and their girls would stay far away from any boy who didn't stay out of it.]

[Tommy has no idea what the hell tonkatsu is, but he trusts Majima's palette to be on the money as far as what the flavor is supposed to emulate.]

Can't say I know of anyone in the business who would consider this. [So, it's, uh, unique?? But Tommy is right there with Majima. This was a bad idea and she might want to go back to the drawing board as far as flavors are concerned.] She should consider sweeter flavors. Draw in people who don't normally drink.

[Of course by "people," he's referring more to women because his only point of reference for women outside his family and immediate circle (at the time) preferred her drink sweeter. In truth though, Tommy really doesn't know squat about how women take their drinks except maybe he'd consider leaving a little room for tonic when he pours a woman a glass of gin now???]

[She continues to scrub, lightly, in consideration for bruises and burns, until the words sink in properly and she self consciously feels the ring on her left hand. The one that gave her a human shape if she moved it to her right hand. The one with only two uses remaining.

And she's all the more glad that his eyes are closed, because the red in her face is no longer something that could be blamed on the heat.]

Of course it isn't- your type are all equally untrustworthy.

["Men", that was...]

[he shouldn't give thrawn this information. he knows this on some level. fighting alongside an imperial officer and confiding in them are two very different things. ... but man if he's not annoyed enough to dig into this with everyone he's ever met.]

About using mind reading as a means of collecting information. Everyone else around here may be okay with it, but not me. Applied the right way, it's a torture technique. I tried to talk about it with Rey, but she got defensive because she thought I was calling her a monster and then I flew off the handle.

[They are players seated at opposite ends of a game board. Free to talk, to offer advice, to laugh or criticize one another however they see fit— but eventually (perhaps not now, perhaps not for a very long time) the game will resume. Pieces will need to be moved.

As it was with Nightswan, it may again be with Dameron.

But for now, it is conversation. Advice. Sincerity.]

I see. [Not dismissive, but his tone is careful. Mild. Tall as he is, he dips his head lower in an instinctive play at reducing his own silhouette, so as to appear as less of a threat, and more of an ally.] A monster for being in support of it...

Or a monster for performing it?

[Perhaps the gods had made a mistake, giving jinba the teeth of predators and the bodies of herbivores. Teeth that again snap awfully near the man's face, the light of flames in the night reflecting eerily off those pearly whites.

That answer isn't one that Hayame cannot understand- at least, at its root. There were some disgraces that cannot stand, that could not be overlooked without losing face. But this-]

And these farmers? What slight did they hurl upon your honor? Or would you have us believe that that you people are such poor warriors that you cannot even contain a battle? Do you think us so foolish as to not know a raid when we see it?

[he sighs. here's the crux of the matter re: rey. the part where he was a dumbass. commander poe dameron, impulsive and thoughtless??? sounds fake.

this is fine, though. if he keeps it to things that are specific to their time at hathaway ... it's fine. he decides on that.]

That's the thing. She was being all defensive because she can do it, but I wasn't thinking of that. I thought she was just in support of it. I didn't stop and think how that'd sound to her. Because I was -- it wasn't even her, it was Kylo Ren. I was mad because Kylo Ren did it and everyone was treating him like some hero.

[eyes emoji i can't make on my work computer]

Perhaps, though that depends on just how much meaning your factories hold.

[Jhin doubts factories can hold the same amount of meaning, but who knows with how some worlds are.]

The sea is more than just a means of life, it can represent a multitude of things. Life, death, hostility, varying moods, mystery, to name a few. Consider it like a symbol that doubles as nice scenery.

He is your enemy. [Thrawn says simply, seeming entirely unsurprised by Poe’s confession.]

Were you not here in service, presumably you would be at war with him.

Morality aside, it is only natural to feel a sense of animosity and resentment when confronted with someone so integral to the First Order being heralded as a hero.

[Also, definitely not going to talk about helping Ren tap into someone else’s mind. Don’t worry about it. 👀]

[there are bright red warning signs and sirens in his head saying NO NO NO DO NOT ENGAGE DO NOT TALK ABOUT KYLO REN WITH THRAWN. IN WHAT UNIVERSE IS THAT POSSIBLY A GOOD IDEA?

but you know what. here ... we are. how close can he toe that line? he's gonna ... find out.]

Yeah, you've got a point. Maybe if he ever actually does something heroic, I'll be okay with it.

[ there's a little thrill that thrums through him at edge in her voice. the last syllabal of home comes from her lips before he catches them. it's a grab, rather than anything calculated and deliberate (which he has been known for), like a rush of want. ]

Fine ... fine.

[ he breathes between them. ]

Hold on.

[ she doesn't need to, but why not? ]

Well, why didn't you just say so to begin with? [It sounds curt, but the tone of his voice is a lot softer than most of what he'd give other people.

And anyway, they're going, and she's fine, and he's fine, so there's no use in arguing.

On the roofs, he steers clear of the busier streets and the edges. Point A to Point B without stopping or lingering, only jumping across the gaps of buildings when he has to do it, though there's only a handful between them and the destination.

The edge of the section turns suddenly into rocks and wood and wall. He jumps from last building to wall top, then descends down jagged dune rocks until he can get to the first sugary sands of the beach. Along the coast, a few men and women are fishing, but most are posted on the bit of pier jutting out into the sea.

He turns away from all of them and heads down the beach toward a spilling of rocks and water further out. A lone woman mills about between the rocks with a wicker basket, sleeves and pants tied back and up to dodge the waves.] Hey, lady! [He stops by the larger bucket wedged in the sand. Looking down, Sieglinde can see it's full of a certain mollusk.]

We want some of your stuff.

[""""""""asked"""""""""" is about what Inuyasha's expression looks like, honestly.] We tried to catch some of the ones that busted up the festival in the mountains, but they escaped. Their scent came back here, but that's nothing new.

So you caught some of them, and they don't know anything because there's no rhyme or reason. Great. [He sounds more frustrated that there appears to be nothing to go off of than Thrawn's deliverance of that sort of news.] That's really gonna help us get a lot done.

Some people are saying they should get married, but those guys are probably gonna start trouble if that happens, too.

[That’s deep.

But also unlikely, he thinks. There were still some similarities in the universe that he is certain he would have recognized, even on a backwater (which is what he considers this place to be thanks to its lack of technology.]

Even so widespread, you tend to spot similarities...even the poorest planets in my galaxy posses blasters, for example.

[Therefore, it was unlikely they were situated there.]

But I cannot make those assumptions for you, I’m afraid.

[ So it's personal to them both, but in different ways. Well, his assessment is fair enough. Rey finds it difficult to contest the fact that the Empire's fall played a role in why her life looks the way it did. He, perhaps, attributes it to a lack of stability in the galaxy (and, well, Poe's description of the New Republic doesn't exactly contradict that); Rey will concede it at least as far as the obvious direct impact of the Battle of Jakku on her situation. Jakku can only be what it is because of the graveyard buried in its sands.

There's something there, too. Something in the way he separates her from Poe that resonates. They're not the same; he's right about that too. She came by the Resistance secondhand. It's Poe's inheritance. She's more like Thrawn himself. She permits his assessment to go uncontested, and for that reason, avoids further discussion on the subject in favor of getting back to her earlier question. ]

Why do you feel that neither the First Order nor the New Republic can be what the galaxy needs?

[ She makes a face, but stuffs her fingers into her mouth all the same (as if the point of doing so hasn't already been defeated). ]

Like that's so much better. [ she says around her thumb. ]

Legacies.

[ She says the word, lingering on it. What she'd thought she might have behind her. What she'd never have. She thinks of Ben, then, you have something better than bloodlines. It doesn't feel like it. Not entirely. The water seems to soothe away some of the aches of her past, but not entirely. They just ... simmer there. At the edge of her awareness.

She can't even remember their faces. She's not sure she would want to. ]

Even those are the children of people like you, right? [ Testing her understanding. ] All of these powers are in your bloodline, even for the people who have slightly less, or slightly different.

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EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

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