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

[sololoquy]

I typically do not drink for the flavor. I was not listening when they told me what it was, but it is smoother than the others.

[Yikes. But, in spite of that, he points to the bottle he has pushed across the table, and then gestures to the glass he brought over for her.]

Go on. I insist.

[juniberries]

[She looks back down at the gestured glass, and having already tried the offered selection of sake once before, half recognizes the bottle, but cannot recall which flavour it had been.

But what he says makes sense. She knows not everyone drinks for flavour; some of the more potent ones (so she was told, she felt very little effect after drinking the whole sampling) lacked a particular flavour beyond 'alcohol.'

She takes the cup, holding it as you would expect a Princess to hold it, and she drinks it down as quickly as she's seen others do. Ah, she remembers this one, mainly because it didn't make her cough.]

Oh, this is one of the ones I had been fond of-- [She moves the cup aside, taking the bottle once more to look at it.] It has a rather warm flavour. Nutty.

[The mice, who have taken a seat at the corner of the table, perk up at that, and she laughs, pushing the bottle back to Kylo.]

No, you still cannot try any.

[Yes she's. Talking to the mice.]

[sololoquy]

[Kylo turns his head toward the mice to observe them for a moment before returning his focus to Allura as he takes the bottle back. Honestly, he wouldn't have minded if she decided to share. They were small enough.

But more importantly--]

Can you understand them?

[He could probably find out himself with the Force, but he's since learned that not everything translates quite the same between the multiverse. Better to get her take on it.]

[juniberries]

[Her shoulders hitch up a bit, caught off-guard by his question. She flushes a bit.]

I can. We are telepathically linked.

[She forgets how odd it may seem to others.]

[sololoquy]

[And in this moment, Kylo Ren ruminates on what it might be like to be Force Bonded to a pack of mice instead of Rey. Suddenly, it feels like he might have lucked out.]

Is that common, in your galaxy?

[He leans forward, suddenly very interested even through his drunken haze.]

Something similar exists in mine -- in a matter of speaking.

[juniberries]

[The smaller of the two mice scurries towards her, as though knowing what they're talking about (and...well, it does know). She places her forefinger beneath its chin, scratching it absentmindedly. Her expression relaxes a bit.]

No, it is not. Our situation had been rather unique.

[She then looks to Kylo Ren, curiosity obvious.]

What is it? Is it common in yours?

[sololoquy]

No. [Pause.] Sort of. [Pause.] It's complicated.

[He leans back, as if trying to decide how to explain -- or if he even wants to explain. The whole while, he passes the bottle back and forth between his hands.]

I do not know how well I could explain -- right now.

[He clears his throat, maybe slightly embarrassed at how drunk he's managed to make himself.]

We call it the Force -- energy, in all things. You can be born sensitive to it.

[juniberries]

The Force... [his explanation, as simple as it is, sounds familiar, and she looks back down at her mice thoughtfully. The larger yellow mouse has joined his friend, and she splays her hand palm-up for both of them to settle in.]

Where I am from, we have something similar. We call it quintessence, but...I am not sure if it is why I can understand Platt and Chulatt.

[a pause, and she looks to Kylo, as though searching his gaze, thinking to what she had initially felt from him, that energy similar to that dark planet--]

This energy, the Force...do you know how it feels?

[sololoquy]

[This time, Kylo clears his throat as he anticipates needing to further explain himself while not quite sober.]

Yes.

[He realizes shortly after that he...doesn't really have much to say about that. He imagined it didn't feel the same to everyone, else there would be no such thing as those who preferred the dark or the light. They would all simply exist in balance.

But he has no data to back it up.]

My sensitivity allows me to sense many things. Emotions. Thoughts. Intentions.

[He leans forward again and folds his hands, peering a little closer at Allura. The Force is not with her, but that was not uncommon -- he could sense some cousin of the Force in others on occasion. He isn't sure if that's what he feels in Allura -- but there is no question that she trended toward the Light.

Pity.]

[juniberries]

[If it's anything to be compared to the Force, the energy within her is certainly Light, likely destined to glow brighter should Kylo choose to pry forward. But it's untapped, unfocused, still practically unrealized.

But she doesn't notice anything as he leans forward, and she doesn't think to reach for something herself as he speaks. Instead, she remains curious, fascinated in what he says.

The only thing she does notice is the smell of sake as he leans forward, but she's not thinking of his drunken state as she asks yet another question.]

So it was how you were able to read the minds of the rebels?

[sololoquy]

Correct. I believe them to be the symptom of a larger problem, and that was the most certain means of discovery.

[He remembers vaguely that this is a potential sensitive subject and pauses to wet his lips in thought. He can sense the Light within Allura, so he does not detail the fact that he also coerced the rebels into turning themselves in. Instead, through his drunken haze, he attempts to read her reaction. As it turns out, that is still difficult, so he glances down at his fingers on the table, which he has begun to tap.]

Does that trouble you?

[She would not be the first. He does not ask for sympathy, but to know where he stands with a potential acquaintence.]

[juniberries]

If...it was to help people, and to find information to solve a problem, I cannot say that it was troubling.

[Her team had done the same to Sendak, after all, using the ship's technology to extract his memories despite being an unwilling participant.

These rebels meant to harm and scare the denizens of the Mountain Clan when they had attacked, and to further the rift between the clans. They were not good people. Plus he's keeping the more troubling aspects of his act from her, and unlike him she cannot read minds.

Still, she feels uncertain of her answer.]

What you had done helped to pave a way for our meeting with Empress Nama.

[sololoquy]

[Kylo finds himself nodding along. He had never doubted that he had done he right thing, but a few others had. The reaffirmation helps his ego nonetheless.]

That was my thinking.

[It is only coincidence that his contemplative tone also makes him sound regretful. He isn’t.]

[juniberries]

[She catches that tone. Not that she feels she knows him well enough to pry, but...]

Are you concerned that it wasn't the right choice? [She's running on assumptions, here. Maybe building her own narrative about this guy she doesn't know beyond being a teammate.]

[sololoquy]

No.

[One arm moves to prop up his sharp chin. His eyelids draw, and a hint of amusement crosses his expression.]

But many others were.

[juniberries]

I suppose it is jarring to those who have never come across such abilities before.

[But...it was done for the greater good. And while her thoughts still do sometimes linger on the future she had seen in an alternate reality, where the greater good had been taken too far--

The information Kylo Ren had received from these rebels through reading their minds had proved valuable.]

What you did has no doubt saved innocent lives.

[sololoquy]

[That's also weird for him to think about, given what the First Order had done to so many worlds. He shifts awkwardly on his elbows, clearly not used to the -- praise? Statement of fact? Acknowledgement of inadvertent compassion?

He leans back in his chair and clears his throat again.]

Frightening. That is the word you are looking for.

[He's used to people being afraid of him -- its more of an acknowledgement of fact, even if the young boy in him feels some resentment toward the idea.]