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

[kisha]

[No master...

Hayame actually spits on the ground between them, as if she herself had not been rendered masterless when her lord returned to his own world after ALASTAIR's mission had come to an end, as if she did not bear the same shame and stigma.]

And who would be proud to call a cowering man such as this their vassal? Have you no pride enough to even speak the truth?

[justbeingknife]

[ The man recoiled as if physically struck. "The truth?! I am telling the truth! I wasn't... I didn't plan this, I simply...! These farmers don't recognize us, anyway! They see us as usurpers, foreigners!"

And more importantly, they (or at least some of them) didn't give this man what he so clearly felt that he deserved -- respect. Deference. The absence of which was still stung after his personal fall from grace.

Majima had heard enough. ]

I think this guy's tellin' the truth. At least as he sees it.

Even if he was part of a larger plot, I can't see that anyone'd trust him enough to tell him what was really goin' on.

[kisha]

[Hayame fixes Majima with an incredulous look, fire still reflecting eerily off the whites of her eyes, gesturing to their captive dismissively.]

You believe this cur?

[justbeingknife]

Yeah. Look at him.

[ Yes, look at this dude, caught between bristling and cowering at this new insult. ]

All ya did was shoot him with an arrow and rough him up a tiiiny bit, and he's already spillin' his guts. Wuldn't trust someone like that with my lunch order.

[kisha]

Perhaps he is a liar with no dignity.

[She certainly seems willing to press to find out, leaning over the man even more aggressively.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima sealed his lips over his teeth briefly, an unconscious gesture of consideration. Then he glanced back in the ronin's direction. ]

You mentioned a 'Mine' earlier. Who's that?

[ The man grimaced. "He was.... one of our group. He was not discharged at the same time as I. It... it was he who struck the first blow." ]

[kisha]

Then maybe it is this man we should be speaking to?

[It might be just a threat, or maybe it's a bluff... but she looks to Majima.]

We don't need this one alive, then.

[justbeingknife]

Guess you're right about that.

[ Majima took it as a bluff. The man clearly did not. If anything, Hayame's words seemed to spur him to greater panic. She clearly made no bones about putting an arrow in someone's leg or pressing him (literally) for a confession; who knew if her temperament was more like an imp or ogre or some other creature?

"He's... he is younger than I! A former samurai of the sea clan!" the man blurted desperately. "But he always seemed so calm -- even I was surprised when he struck the first blow!" ]

[kisha]

And what did this man look like?

[It seems he would be a far better target to speak to- and to deliver for execution later, if need be.]

[justbeingknife]

[ "He's..." The man cast about, but it didn't take long. "...that's right. He is tall, and his hair is shorn short."

A bit unusual, considering the time and place here. "But no one ever questioned him about it. His face looks like one of a scholar, but he has an aura about him like ice."

So in other words, this Mine guy was pretty intimidating? And it didn't sound like he'd been too close with the other ronin. ]

Where'd ya last see this guy?

[ "He joined some of our fellows from the sea, headed towards the grove to the north. But he will tell you nothing!"

Yeah ok buddy. Majima drove a fist swiftly into the man's abdomen; he uttered a choked cry, then slumped over. Take a power nap. ]

Dunno if this Mine's got anything to do with planning, but it seems like he'd know more than this guy.

[kisha]

[It seems too clean, too merciful... especially when she's pretty sure she could have gotten more information out of the man... but Hayame doesn't linger on it. There's no waiting around for him to regain consciousness, not while this Mine could be fleeing.

... Not that she's lacking confidence in her ability to run down a human.]

Then let us find him.

[Now that he's out, she rips her arrow from his leg and replaces it in her quiver... and turns her gaze north.]