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

[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 makes a small sound when the food is just so suddenly thrusted at him, his hands instinctively coming out to grab the bag of... takoyaki? it looks like it at least. he peers down at the bag, suspicious, and then back to her. ]

Why are you giving me this?

Edited (tenses) 2018-02-16 01:54 (UTC)

You cannot have all of it, only one.

[... apparently there are rules to this glitch of a reaction, just.

Give her a second.]

I don't want any of it though! It isn't healthy to eat fried foods.

[ and he tosses it right back at her, like it's a damn hot potato. ]

- What?

[This is not what she planned on talking about, but she takes so much offense to this statement that she actually clutches the takoyaki to her chest, scandalized.]

It is perfectly healthy to consume them in moderation!

[ be offended, because he has plenty of Opinions to share. ]

Fried foods are bad for you, end of discussion, no matter what you decide to fry up. All things are best eaten raw or cooked, but never baked or fried.

[okay wow she's offended on behalf of Food Itself, the amazing power he just demonstrated momentarily forgotten in favor of arguing about one of the best things about being alive.]

Anything is bad for you if you eat too much of it!

[Moderation! Moderation was key!]

And there is little wrong with baked foods- baking is cooking!

[Or... did he mean something like steaming? Roasting? Basting? Grilling? Stewing?]

Baking is a form of cooking yes, but it can destroy vitamins in the food and--

[ wait... wait! ]

Wait! Wait just a moment, wait you little girl! Why are you arguing with me about this?! Do you think you can distract me - I know you saw me with that old man.

Wait? You wait, you overgrown... boy!

[She was not a little girl, excuse you?

Despite the fact that she actually had really wanted to question him about his abilities, she finds herself switching away from the opportunity to ask in favor of food.]

What are you, some sort of... ascetic?

[Who else was that militant about food???]

An artist.

[ he isn't sure what to be more offended at. being called an overgrown boy, or being called a monk more or less. ]

I'm also very strict about what I consume. To keep one's body clear and healthy is to keep it lasting longer. Art is the only passion that matters to me - what I put in my mouth to fill my stomach is irrelevant.

[An artist... that's almost even worse???]

Is art what you call what you did to that old man? By any standard of the word, it certainly did not look it!

Art, no. It was however research. [ he says with a smirk. ] You don't need to worry about him - as you saw, he wasn't injured at all, or aware of what was happening to him.

I was not worried about him at all!

[Well, that's a bluff, yes she was. This man peeled his skin off???]

I am more concerned with you potentially getting us caught by doing such things so openly in this square! We have been cautioned not to use powers so frivolously, you know!

[Child attempting to lecture a grown man? Maybe.]

[ that, for a moment, makes him lose his bluster. what she says isn't wrong, he can't quite argue that, and he does take this job seriously. it would be disrespectful not to. but it's the fact that he feels lectured by a child that ruffles him still. ]

I was trying to gather information. It's faster to use my power than to spend all day interrogating people who may not want to speak to me!

[ he is not a "people person" if that was not obvious enough. ]

Well, of course it is!

[She certainly didn't appreciate this no-power rule either, but! She still wags her finger at him as if she were a far older woman.]

But there are much more subtle places to employ it! Alleyways and private rooms! You could even spin a story and work with someone to have customers come to you, wherever you pleased!

[Loki's lie lessons were really coming in handy.]

[ he once again startles in response, immensely frustrated. he hates that she has a point, and is offering good advice, he hates it. mostly he hates being lectured to by people clearly younger than him, as if they have half the life experience that he does! the nerve. ]

You seem to have quite an experience in conning people, don't you? What great advice you have given - and how little I asked for it! Thank you.

[ (when in doubt, double down.) ]

More like over two years of experience with ALASTAIR and Hathaway, in missions both covert and overt. Surely you do not come from a world that does not respect one's senior employees... ?

[Triple down.]

Assuming not, you are most welcome.

[ --seriously? ]

How... how old are you exactly?

[ no, seriously, is he living in a world of his ultimate nightmares. ]

I will be fourteen, come the next snow moon.

[Said with the exact tone of a woman answering “I’ll be 30 next February.”]

[ rohan... doesn't answer her. he's too busy staring at her intently and feeling his soul evacuate his body in an internal distress. ]

EVENT ▸ EMPIRE OF THE CRASHING WAVE

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