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

[tolight]

If it were so simple. [ Her frustration is directed at the situation as a whole. All of it's hitting a little too close to home, the way that the citizens are getting riled up. The fastest way to war is civil unrest, she's found; no leader can ever deny the will of their citizens, no matter what they may believe.

Gangrel had known that a little too well — Aunt Emmeryn a victim, eventually. Lucina's face seems to be a little more grim than usual, as her hand finally moves to the hilt. It's not time to draw the blade just yet, but just in case.

( Maybe here, she could prevent it. Something. Anything. ) It's not long before she turns to Connor, eyebrows knitted together in mild concern. She tilts her head to one side, as if to listen for something. ] ... We should hurry.

I can't imagine they would be patient enough to let us pass.

[sadgay]

[Connor has never seen war up close. It is something that happens on the news, and in movies, and across the pages of history books, but never to him. It is something abstract, remote, like the symbols imposed over maps he has seen of Gettysburg, depicting the maneuvers of each general while never quite touching on what so many thousands of casualties actually looks like.

When Lucina reaches for her sword, his shoulders draw together, tugged by a knot of tension. His footsteps quicken along the narrow path.]

You don't have to tell me twice.

[Just then, an arrow penetrates the air over their heads, soaring from the direction opposite the unfolding scuffle. These must be reinforcement troops, or opportunists looking to take advantage of the unrest. Another arrow follows soon after, and Connor keeps his arms folded over his head as if this will shield him (spoilers: it won't).]

Holy crap!

[tolight]

[ The moment the arrow flies into view, her sword is unsheathed. Instinctive, even while she knows that arrows will do little against incoming projectiles — years and years of survival instincts compounding even in this moment.

And with is cry, she stops to turn. ] Keep going! [ The I have you gone unsaid, as her eyes narrow to look for their attacker. When they can't be spotted just yet, she wastes no time forming a shield around Connor's body.

An inhale, then an exhale — ] You're alright. I'm right behind you. [ For about... 5 minutes. But she doesn't have time to think about that, just yet.

The next arrow bounces off the shield with a noticeable klang. Gotta keep moving. ]

[sadgay]

[Luckily, he has some skill as a runner, but this hardly begins to make up for the deficit of his battle prowess. For now, it might be enough to keep him out of harm's way; with the assurance of Lucina's shield at his back, he runs as fast as his legs will allow. When the stray arrow ricochets from the shield, the noise of it is disproportionately deafening in his ears. His eyes cinch shut for a moment as he tries to focus only on running, on the sound of his feet beating the dirt path, and then they fly open to be sure of where he is going.]

Are they getting closer, or am I just freaking out?

[Or both?]

[tolight]

[ She says she's right behind, but at some point, she lags behind — the byproduct of watching behind both of their shoulders, as the arrows continue to aim for them. She needs to see them, have them in range, in order for to strike back, somehow.

Luckily, she's still within earshot. Just ... slightly further than Lucina expects. ] I can see them, but — [ in all honesty, it'd be easier if they were getting closer. She bites grits her teeth, desperately looks around— ] There!

[ Off to their left, just up ahead, is a small group of trees, enough to make some cover. ] Run that way!

[sadgay]

[Connor can hear her slipping farther behind him, but he doesn't dare try to look over his shoulder for more than a second snatched here or there as he dashes. When she gives the order, he runs for cover within the grove ahead. He stumbles as he skids to a stop once within the safety of its shade, and taking cover behind the thickest tree on hand he peers out to see what Lucina will do. His heart feels like a rock inside his chest, his stomach like a fist clenched tight, and his blood is loud in his ears.]

i'm skipping over action because i'm tired, ilu kath

[tolight]

[ With the instruction, she doesn't have time to make sure that Connor's safe — it's faith that he'll be able to keep himself safe while she takes care of the immediate threat ( it's foolish, stupid, almost reckless; she's not invincible by any means, and a sword will only do so much against raining arrows ). Because that's her role in the team, what she's been assigned to do, and —

She hides her body behind a big enough tree, near the front of the foliage; no where as well-protected as Connor is at the moment, but it does the job. At least enough to pick up unfamiliar voices, triumphant in their approach. Far from foolish to try and keep shooting arrows into dense foliage, but certain that they've got them cornered.

Lucina waits until their voices are loud enough, just around the other side of the tree ( and no more than ten feet away from where Connor's hiding, not that any of them can see ). Her sword already unsheathed, she steps away from the tree to smash the pommel of her sword into one woman's temple, continue the momentum to kick a second square in the chest, then—

A swing of the sword meets another in a clang that rings throughout the shade. The third attacker's got her sword out just in time, meeting Lucina's swing with one of her own. Metal grinds against metal, and Lucina grits her teeth as she tries to stand her ground ( but her position's off, from the two previous attacks, whereas the woman's had enough time to steady her posture; not an ideal scenario ). ]

ilu jaybo...sorry this is lame

[sadgay]

[If he had held onto any scrap of belief in God, he would be praying his heart out right about now. But because he's too cynical to have faith in an invisible guiding hand that reaches down from the heavens, what crashes through his thoughts instead is a wave of cursing, because fuck this.

Connor knows he should stay alert while the battle unfolds not ten feet away, but as soon as Lucina smashes her sword into the first victim, and he hears the dull thud ring against her skull like a warning, he presses his back flat against the tree trunk and squeezes his eyes shut. He doesn't want to see the bodies falling, like Sam Keating, like Emily Sinclair, whose corpses still weigh heavily on his conscience, but he can do nothing to block his ears against the metallic clash of weapons.

There is little he can do but wait.]

Re: ilu jaybo...sorry this is lame

[tolight]

[ The stand-off doesn't last for long. Even between two warriors, Lucina notes the hesitation in the ronin's actions, the split-second pause. It's all the opening she needs to deliver a similar enough blow using the flat side of her blade.

The third body falls without ceremony, and Lucina straightens. Looks around the trees while her shoulders heave from the exertion. ] That should be all.

[ Presuming he doesn't answer immediately — ] ... Connor?

[sadgay]

[Shortly, she'll hear his shaky reply as he peers out from behind the tree he had used as a barricade.]

Yeah?

[His eyes drift to the fallen bodies but immediately bounce away. His face remains blanched and his shoulders stiff, although he runs a hand through his hair as if to attempt a casual appearance, or as if to keep it busy while it shakes. He swallows, and all he can think to say is:]

Nice job...

[tolight]

[ There's a beat of silence, as Lucina takes in Connor's reaction. She's seen it once before ( maybe more than once ) — the tense air once safety returned, how shaken they look. She nearly wants to ask if he's alright, but ultimately decides against it.

Instead, she walks over — extends a hand to help him up. Her eyebrows are furrowed, but she tries to keep her voice calm. ] We should keep moving.

[sadgay]

[He takes her hand and rises without a word, trying to settle back into normalcy although he hardly knows what that means anymore. The question that rises in his mind like a dead body in the water is always How can you be so calm about this? But he is learning that it's all about practice; it's about habituation. He just wonders if he'll ever reach that point, or if he truly even wants to reach it.

Instead he just replies:]

Yeah...let's get going.