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

[boxedcrook]

[Okay, look. He enjoys proclaiming proudly that he wants the Jewel for himself, and yet... being asked like this just makes it feel so dirty. Fuck.]

Yeah, it is. I’m gonna use the Jewel to become a full demon.

[mitthrawnaruto]

You must forgive me for asking, but the details of your world and culture are unfamiliar to me: to not be a 'full demon'— this is considered a lesser status?

Or perhaps [Thrawn muses, reconsidering his viewpoint based on Inuyasha's claim that there is no true hierarchy] it is only to have less power.

[boxedcrook]

[The way his face twists, sourly, defensively--it's apparent he's not angry at Thrawn, not the look in his eyes--but he's angry at something. Maybe the truth of the idea, maybe the implication he'd give away by agreeing.] Tch.

Something like that, I guess. I need to get stronger to fight the full demons. [And little is he aware that protag status is supposed to let him learn he can get strong along the way.] Otherwise, they're just going to kill every human they can get.

[Miroku: but inuyasha you realize if you become a full demon you'll probably be just like the rest of them and cant even hold tessaiga
Inuyasha: wtf i'm not like them at all!!!]

[mitthrawnaruto]

And you will stand as a barrier against this. [His tone isn't sharp or questioning, there's no sign of skepticism in his expression— though that isn't saying much when he's hardly shifted his browline by anything more than a centimeter or two throughout the entirety of their conversation thus far.]

For what purpose?

[boxedcrook]

Because-- [For a moment, he looks like he wants to say something, but the pause is a reconsideration. It seems less he's going to lie, and more he is typically too frank for his own good, and the answer he was gonna give maybe suddenly too personal.]

They can't ever protect themselves, not from demons. They're too weak. Then they're always crying or being stupid when one attacks their village.

Beside, I don't want to hear Kagome complaining when I don't help either. It's annoying.

[mitthrawnaruto]

I see. [Thrawn nods once, though his stare drifts casually away from his companion, then— settling instead on the nearby gardens and their graceful arrangement. A distant, indeterminable point.]

That is a very noble cause. A very selfless one, in fact. [The word 'pensive' doesn't even begin to accurately describle his tone.]

I hope the humans realize and appreciate the difficulties you are no doubt enduring for their sakes.

[boxedcrook]

Yeah right. [His own eyes cut back to see what Thrawn is looking at, but when he finds it’s nothing, he returns to Thrawn.] They treat anyone not human like a monster. That’s what it’s like when you’re different.

You’re wrong and anything bad that happens is your fault. They’ll blame you for whatever they can, even if you just saved their butt. They always think you’re gonna attack them or something.

They didn’t do that to you where you’re from? You’re blue, like some kind of oni. They even do it here. They act like I’m gonna eat them.

[mitthrawnaruto]

Then the humans from our worlds are not so dissimilar, it would seem.

[There were exceptions, of course: Yularen, Cheno, Faro, Pryce— Vanto. His crew aboard the Chimaera were fiercely loyal despite the Grand Admiral's status as a non-human, but it had been a long fought victory, and not one shared amongst High Command outside of Yularen, Tarkin and the Emperor himself. Not to mention his position as the Emperor's military hand now largely placed him above most forms of contempt and political sabotage.

A shield he had not always possessed.] They cannot help their fears— only grow beyond them.

[boxedcrook]

Easy for you to say. It’s how they’ve always been, and how they always will be. [He huffs a exasperated breath.] Maybe they’re the ones that look weird.

[But he’s getting better, no thanks to Kagome and, now, the rest of the gang. And... maybe Hathaway. He use to prefer an eye for an eye. Teaching them a lesson. Now he just feels jaded AF, fam.]

[mitthrawnaruto]

It is not 'easy for me to say'. [Thrawn corrects, his tone mild and patient— though his attention does drift back towards his companion at this point, as if to narrow the possibility of Inuyasha dismissing his claims.] I have been both imprisoned and revered by them, despised and sabotaged, dismissed— and occasionally appreciated.

They are short-sighted creatures, who do themselves no favors.

But just as you are not your brethren, they are not a perfect mirror of their peers. [He pauses, then, carefully studying the irritation pooling at the edges of Inuyasha's features.]

I suspect you know this already.

[boxedcrook]

Yeah, we'll just see about that. [The only thing he hates is Thrawn being right. Kikyo hadn't been like other humans, but that had been more than fifty or so years prior, and he had slept the rest.

But Kagome isn't like others either, except he chalks that up to being a reincarnation. Of course she wouldn't be, as insufferable as she can be sometimes. (Pot, kettle.) And yet... Kaede, Miroku, Sango... Dammit.] When they give me a reason maybe.

You just as forgiving of the ones that decided to throw fire in your face?

[mitthrawnaruto]

[Perhaps surprisingly, that question turns Thrawn entirely silent— his unsettling, inhuman stare flickering as it shifts downward, visibly reviewing information that doesn't physically exist. The question's a simple one, which makes it all the more vexing.

Because it's not just the rebels here, is it? Like Orbar and Turuy, like Gendling— who targeted a good man because he could not cut his teeth on Thrawn, like the countless others who made sure Eli Vanto stood no chance on his own, the question seems to extend to them, too.

Does he forgive them?]

I do not despise them, if that is what you are asking.

[boxedcrook]

For actually fighting back? [Maybe Inuyasha can appreciate that a little.] That's not what I'm asking.

Yeah, maybe you're right or whatever. [He doesn't sound particularly thrilled to agree.] Some humans aren't like the rest. I know a few.

But some people are just bad. Those are the ones you can't forgive no matter what. They aren't just messing with you. They're messing with everyone else, too.

[mitthrawnaruto]

And when such actions come from a place of fear, what then?

[Because there is a convergence. A point where otherwise good people fail themselves, unintentional and absolute. Thrawn has always championed patience even in remotely similar situations, but in looking back on Nightswan’s loss now, with a clear mind— ]

Do you forgive them?

[boxedcrook]

Give me a break.

What kind of lowlife hurts someone else out of fear? Especially if they're weaker. [Looking at yOU, NARAKU, you evil fuck.] Maybe they should work on not being scared.

I couldn't ever forgive someone like that.

[mitthrawnaruto]

[For a moment, Thrawn says nothing, seemingly mulling over his companion's response in detail— and then:] No, I suppose not.

[And so his head inclines; he returns to his paintbrush, lifting it carefully alongside the porcelain cup.]

I thank you for your insight and conversation, though I believe I've kept you long enough.

[boxedcrook]

[He gives Thrawn a weird look. “Insight” and being thanked for conversation. Lord, what a turn around from the usual being yelled at for having nothing to say.

See, he has plenty! Just—good luck getting it out of him.] Don’t forget to put that stuff on your face, or the witch girl will probably cry about it. [The ease in which he turns around and, with a fifty pound bag of rice, jumps up onto the terrace is something else.

But when he steps off with seemingly no concern, it makes a little of a ruckus on the landing, and hopefully Thrawn isn’t neck deep in taking another stroke on the teacup.]

[mitthrawnaruto]

[Inuyasha how is your timing so impeccable: he totally is drawing a very thin, fragile line. >:IIIIII ]