EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

[futurologists]

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

Comments

fiona / open

[cachemoney]

i. BOARDWALK.

[This is about Fiona's second time ever seeing an ocean, and while she can say she's pretty much had enough for a lifetime after the Viridian Sea mission, it's nice to see it from this perspective instead of rolling around on a boat.

The electric lights are reflecting off the water, making everything all romantic and blah blah blah. Fiona's more interested in eavesdropping than on anything schmoopy, and she pauses to pretend and adjust her sandal as she listens to a nearby couple speak to each other in hushed tones.]

ii. PROCLAMATION.

[The empress has given her speech and has retreated back into the castle, leaving the citizens to talk among themselves. Some of them are excited and happy by the news, and some are upset -- there are so many people around that it's difficult to guess at a ratio, too many voices coming from all directions.

Instead of commenting on this, though, Fiona turns to the closest guildmate she can spot and says,] Is it just me or was she super hot?

iii. HOTEL.

[It's the night after the empress's proclamation, and Fiona is outside a fancy-looking hotel, talking to the proprietor. She's dressed in her nobility disguise for the occasion -- a fine silk kimono with elaborate embroidery -- and acting the part, haughtily tossing her head.]

Look, if you don't have my reservation, that just means you lost my reservation. If you don't get me a room -- at a reduced rate, because of this egregious mistake -- I'm giving this place a zero star review. And I have clout, buddy.

iv. WILDCARD.

[ hit me up with anything! fiona will be in the city during the first four days, after which she'll be in the flowerlands, so anything your heart desires is possible. if you want to discuss something with me, i'm on discord at theresa#5038 or plurk at bloodmoney ]

ii

[healstaffs]

[ Super hot? Being as ye olde as she is, it takes Lissa a moment to fully wrap her heard around the new-fangled term, and then another second to give the question its proper due. ]

She is really pretty. [ They can both agree there. ] And her hair was sooooo smooth!

[ At least from what she could see, so far away. ]

How do you think she gets it that way?

[cachemoney]

[Fiona was probably addressing someone else because Lissa is a baby and she doesn't want to discuss hotties with babies, but it would be awkward for her to be like not YOU, so she just rolls with it. Waving the person she was originally talking to off, like you do when you'd rather talk to a cute kid anyway.]

Umm, well, [she says, smoothing down her own hair unconsciously,] special oils, maybe?

My boyfriend [only the tiniest bit of hesitation in saying that out loud, gross] knows more about hair stuff than I do. But if she's an empress, she's probably got access to the best of everything.

[healstaffs]

[ Wow!!! Babies can find people attractive too.....just a in a pure way and not a I want to jump your bones way. Regardless, thanks for treating her like a grown-up in this instance. ]

Must be nice to be an empress....

[ So much free stuff, all the time. And no one can tell you to go to bed early! ]

Do you think she has a bunch of people running up to her and asking her to marry her too?

iii

[justbeingknife]

[ She did actually have a reservation, right. Either way, Majima was about done with innkeepers suddenly deciding there were no vacancies when one of the team rolled up. So as the clerk screwed up her face, trying to figure out what 'zero star' meant, he stepped up to pile on in his own fancy clothes. ]

What's that? I've always heard that The Azure Wave took especial care to ensure its patrons were happy. It seems the management here has changed its practices.

[ The clerk looked from Fiona to Majima, face turning ever-so-slightly darker in shade. "I... apologize, madam, but your name simply isn't in the register." And it wasn't going to appear any time soon, or so her expression seemed to say. "Could you provide me the name of the staff member you made your arrangements with?" ]

[cachemoney]

[Thank you, kind stranger, Fiona says with her eyes, before turning back to the clerk and sighing exasperatedly.]

I don't remember. Why don't you tell me the names of your staff and I'll tell you which one sounds familiar?

[justbeingknife]

[ Uh oh. Majima was fine with someone giving them the runaround a little heat, but it wouldn't feel right to screw over someone that might not even be at fault -- especially if said individual was pretty low on the totem pole. Shit rolled downhill at places like this one.

He looked around. Any establishment worth its salt should have...aha.

"What seems to be the problem?" asked an older woman, sweeping up to the scene. Her dress wasn't flashy, but the clerk instantly took a step or two to make room for her. ]

ii

[refashioned]

Honestly, from the way they all responded to her, she reminds me a little of their very own Madonna. Given how artsy this place is, you don't think she does musical numbers, do you? [Veronica can't help but wonder if that's a part of the culture. Would she be able to rise up the ranks without having some power in that arena? She can't help but wonder.]

[cachemoney]

[Madonna is nowhere near as timeless as Taylor Swift, apparently, because Fiona has no idea who Veronica means. She gets the gist from context clues, though, and scoffs, the corner of her mouth curving up.]

I don't have a lot of experience with royalty. Do they usually get treated like rock stars?

[refashioned]

[Considering the floating timeline of Riverdale, it's hard to say whether Prince Harry's marriage has been announced ... but Prince William is a safe better. She tilts her head from side to side like she's weighing it.]

Definitely. Honestly, the Queen of England is a trend setter. [A beat.] And not always in a good way. Naturally, Youmi up there has a lot more going for her. For one thing, she seems to actually rule.

ii

[undeserved]

[ naturally, she turns to find another gorgeous white-haired woman... congratulations. this one has a blindfold on, though. ]

... We should be paying attention to what she said. Her appearance doesn't matter.

[ not that 2B really has any frame of reference. She just looks like another human to her - androids don't pay much attention to physical appearances. ]

[cachemoney]

[What's with all these HOTTIES. Something in the water, maybe, until Fiona realizes that this one is wearing a blindfold like 9S. Obviously this makes them from the same place -- it's a weird fashion statement -- so she must be Hathaway, too.]

It matters to the locals. [She shoots a finger gun at her.] People are more likely to listen to someone who's attractive.

[undeserved]

[ staring at the finger gun briefly before deciding to ignore it... she hopes she's not missing some kind of human social cue she's never seen before. Alas. ]

They are?

[ humans... are weird. ]

ii

[pummelling]

I guess.

[Fiona. C'mon. Jin gives her a skeptical look, stopped still as sea clan citizens seem to flow all around them in every direction.]

Is that really what you're getting from this?

[cachemoney]

[Look, don't judge her. The average age of Hathaway volunteers is, like, twelve. There aren't a lot of people around for her to ogle.

She gestures a little helplessly up at the balcony where Youmi had just been standing.] I mean, I can't help it if I have eyes.

[pummelling]

Doesn't help her base of supporters if she's easy to look at, I suppose.

[HE'S JUDGIN', even if he's also among the upper-mid range for Hathaway ages.]

You got any other observations than that?

ii

[moneyman]

—Huh?

[ sorry, he was too busy staring at the magitek info on the empress. lactose intolerant, huh? what a bummer. ]

...Oh, uh... I guess? I didn't really notice, honestly.

[ he doesn't tend to notice these things. ]

[cachemoney]

[Vaughn... She pats his shoulder sympathetically, like he just told her he's never seen a sunrise or smelled a flower or touched a boob. Maybe he hasn't done the last one, she doesn't know.]

Well, trust me. Extremely hot. Whiiichhh... makes me wonder why she isn't married. Or at least the dossier didn't say she was.

[moneyman]

[ yeah... maybe..... ]

Huh, good point. Maybe she doesn't want to share her power with anyone? Or maybe she's one of those people who never end up getting married and just have cats?

[ it feels like he's rapidly approaching that point himself. it's okay, though. he likes cats. ]

Or, wait, do you want to marry her? Because I think Rhys would take that pretty hard.

[ it's not Rhys's fault he's not as hot. ]

NOTE

[cachemoney]

[ hello! i am no longer taking responses for ii. PROCLAMATION. if the other two prompts don't work for you, let me know if you'd like a wildcard or if you want me to tag you elsewhere! ]

iii

[dbag]

Yeah, clout, [ he repeats, for some reason. It just felt like the right thing to do. He's backing her up, he's being good back-up! But he's also done enough back-up work now, and it feels like what she's doing isn't going to be enough, so he smacks his fist against one of the outer walls for dramatic flair, attempting to hide how much it hurt by sticking his hand behind his back and biting his lip. ]

And... we've got some wealthy friends, guy, ones whose business you'd have to be an idiot to miss out on. So why don't you run along and get that room before we tell them all about this little misunderstanding and they find some other moron's dump to stay at? [ Oh, man, being a rich asshole is exhilarating, he misses it so much. Maybe too much. ]

[cachemoney]

[The proprietor gives Rhys a look and opens his mouth to challenge this claim, but Fiona immediately talks over him, loudly.] Uh, yeah. The fishmongers on the entire west side -- we have connections to all of them. And everyone knows that west side fish are the best... side fish. [That one got away from her a little. MOVING ON --]

Look, it's been a long day, and we're tired. Just give us whatever room you have available and we'll let this slide; I'm feeling generous. [She'll let Rhys play Bad Cop this time, since he seems to be enjoying it so much. The proprietor stammers for a bit, but finally turns to let them follow him into the hotel.]

[dbag]

[ That. Was. Amazing. Honestly, half the time things go terribly wrong, especially when it's them, so whenever someone doesn't start screaming incoherently at them, it's a good day.

Behind the proprietor, Rhys elbows Fiona, whispering, ] I did good, right? I feel like I did good.

i!

[tolight]

[ It's ... calmer this way, probably. When they aren't at the mercy of the waters, or a particularly bad storm. Maybe that's why she ends up here in the first place, to simply just ... watch.

Because even if Fiona's interested in actually doing her work, Lucina's taking this time to be schmoopy. Absolutely. And you know what's better than being schmoopy by herself— ]

Fiona. [ Not loud enough to disturb the conversation happening a few ways away, but the smile is still welcoming. ] Have you come out to watch the water, as well?

[cachemoney]

[Oh, my god. Fiona freezes in the middle of surreptitiously adjusting her sandal, and slowly looks up to where Lucina is standing. There goes eavesdropping.]

Y...es. You caught me. [She'd feel too guilty in the face of Lucina's ~Purity~ to tell her that she was listening in on strangers' conversations, so she might as well roll with it.

Standing up, she brushes off her kimono.] It's peaceful out here. Way different from the, uh... you know, the last time.