epidemiology | 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She nods with a small smile.]

My world is seventy one percent water. I went to the Atlantic once when I was a kid, and it just has a way of making you feel ... really small. But in a good way.

The Atlantic ocean?

[Sieglinde perks up at that, recognizing it from the maps she had examined in Oska's library.]

I have heard of that one! You are from... the American continent?

[Her face brightens a bit because oh hey she's heard of Earth.]

Yeah! I'm from Central City, in Missouri.

Missouri... is it a "State"?

[That one doesn't ring a bell, though, it will be clear enough by her expression. Perhaps it was like "New York" and "Washington". She's heard of them from other recruits.

But the subtle differences between worlds could be astounding, she's learned that. Just because one thing matched up...]

Do you have a "Germany", in your world?

Yeah. It's more in the middle of the US, so people don't really talk about it much.

[That being said, she does nod eagerly at their being Germany.]

Yeah, there is. I've never been there, though.

[In the middle... what was there- farmland? She had only read a brief treatise on the country, during the Woodhurst mission, but she remembers most of it.]

And... I know this might be a strange question, but. Do you use the Ad Domini system? What year is it?

2042.

[She is not before Christ, though ... she has traveled there. But basically she is Future Girl.]

What about you?

[2042... that is a bit farther than many of the answers she's gotten that align with that calendar. She looks a bit impressed, even.]

1889.

[Before she laughs a bit awkwardly, moving to scratch at the stiff wax in her native hairstyle.]

I am aware of course that this does not mean we come from the same world, or that our histories even align, but-

I just find it interesting to ask...

[She nods a bit with a small smile.]

No, me too. And there are so many people from different worlds here, it's kind of cool getting to learn about all of them.

It is kind of "cool".

[She's learned that word- and many of the others more modern people used in her two years with ALASTAIR. It is sometimes fun to use them.

She also learned how to shake, holding out her hand.]

Forgive the delay- I am Sieglinde. Sieglinde Sullivan.

[Zari turns and holds out her hand as well, meeting Sieglinde's with a firm shake.]

Zari Tomaz. Nice to meet you.

[And then, a pause:]

Were you with ALASTAIR or are you new?

[Sieglinde smiles a bit, counting off in her head to three seconds, (the amount of time she was told was appropriate to shake) before she releases Zari’s hand.]

I was with ALASTAIR for two years before joining Hathaway.

[Sometimes she surprised even herself when she said that. Two years. Over two years since she’s seen her world, the people she had once known, the things that had been hers.

How long ago it seems, and yet, thanks to a keen memory... also just yesterday.]

Wow. Can't remember the last time I stayed anywhere longer than a few months.

[Life at home is Complicated. And it doesn't help that the Legends are constantly on the move.]

Well, it is hard to categorize ALASTAIR's work as "staying anywhere", considering how many worlds we visited... a few months sounds right.

[Though she is... aware, at least, that it is not "normal". Unless one is from a nomad culture...]

It seems Hathaway will follow a similar model, so perhaps you need not adjust your lifestyle?

Maybe. But ... even having similar people around is a bit of a new thing.

[Excluding her family, of course. Her family was always there, but beyond that, people were always in a constant rotation.]

... that might not change so much, either.

[Ah. People.

It reminds her of how many she's lost, along the way, at all those worlds. One to death, some to death back in their own worlds, some to team transfers, and more recently... some just to returning home.

But here she is. Still.]

Depending on your luck, I suppose. If one would call that luck.

Well, for right now none of my people are here, so ...

[She shrugs. She hasn't been paying super close attention to who is coming and going.]

I'm just working with all the new faces.

Well, in that case, you may count me among them.

[She tries to shove the darker thoughts away, to focus on what she ought to- which is inducting a newer recruit into things. One of the duties of a veteran such as herself, let alone the Green Witch.]

I have been around for longer than most, so perhaps you may become used to me no matter how many others come and go.

I look forward to that, then.

[There's a small smile in return, because veterans were actually some of the people she'd been looking to talk to.]

If you don't mind my asking, why did you come back? Just for the incentive?

To say "just" seems a bit lacking, with all that they were able to promise us, but.

[She nods, tucking a lank of dark hair behind her ear.]

I actually did not ask Hathaway for an incentive. Only for the guarantee that I would be allowed to return to my world with all my notes and anything gathered in my journey with them.

[She tips her head to the side curiously.]

That's all? So you're just in it for the adventure?

EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

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