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

EXPLORATION

[futurologists]

Due to time constraints, we will only be allowing five replies per subthread. For this reason, we suggest grouping up to allow multiple characters to get to explore. We have put up an OOC post for players to group up, so head on over.

As a reminder, we do not answer follow-up questions that are not for clarification purposes. We aim to give players all the information they will need in our initial response; there is no "magic question" you need to ask, so to speak!

Players will have 72 hours from the start of this log to submit their explorations -- this means they will be due at 00:01 UTC on the 6th of February. Please let us know all the characters involved, what they will be doing/searching, and what they will be talking about/asking (if interacting with a person).

Please keep it to only one group per character. We would also like to ask that 'sub-groups' go in separate comments for ease of replying; each sub-group will count as a separate submission towards the 5 group total. We would also like to remind you that the more detail you give us, the better! What time the interaction is occurring, for example, and any specifics you can give us will help us in giving you a more detailed answer back.

BEACH

[futurologists]

The beach appears to be a popular area, but perhaps not for the same reasons a modern character might expect. Rather than being a spot for fun and relaxation, it appears to be many citizens of the empire's workplace. A fisherman sits at the pier, reading a book of poetry to pass the time while he waits for a bite. Down by the shore are two women who appear to be pearl divers; one chats enthusiastically at her more reserved companion as they survey their findings. Characters may also search the area.

What will you do?

ARTISAN DISTRICT

[futurologists]

Upon entering the Artisan District, it's immediately clear that the Empire of the Crashing Wave is very, very different from the Mountain Clan. There's a distinct air of pretension and pomposity throughout, and where the Mountain Clan sold mainly items of practical value or military significance, the Sea Clan focuses almost entirely on items of beauty and artistic value. A man plays a flute with a donation box nearby, in which passersby drop their coins; he appears to make a living entirely as a musician. On the other side of the Artisan District, an older woman waxes poetic about the intricately detailed pottery sold at her stall. Nothing she's saying is incorrect, but somehow, it all sounds a bit snobby. Characters may also search the area.

What will you do?

FLOWERLANDS

[futurologists]

Sometime during the series of skirmishes between the two empires, it appears the Flowerlands got caught in the crossfire. Two men and their daughter stand outside their farm, cleaning up the rubble of their grain storage. It looks as if a tornado blew through. Perhaps they would be willing to talk, but only if some generous strangers would lend a helping hand. Characters may also search the area, but be warned -- any suspicious-looking foreigners will be chased off their land.

What will you do?

Majima | Yakuza 0 | OTA

[justbeingknife]

Free diving;
[ "I think you're just scared," said the woman in the water, raising one eyebrow in what could universally be understood to be a dare. From his spot on the pier, Majima scowled. ]

Ain't afraid of some damn water. I just don't feel like gettin' in.

[ Not to mention that stripping down would lead to some super awkward questions for even an ex-yakuza. Thank god they weren't in the mountains, and that she wasn't ordering him to get in.

"It's okay. You're a tourist! I bet you can't swim, anyway."

gdi....... ]

Brew Can Do It;
[ Majima raised a glass of sake, dubious origin notwithstanding, waiting for his drinking partner across the table to reciprocate. It was evening, meaning that the day's heat was already well on its way out. Though the air smelled of saltwater rather than the river, he might as well have been home. ]

Been a long couple of days, huh? Bottoms up.

[ This was community service, ok? Get off his back, he was helping. ]

But Trouble Continues;
[ The cries of clashing blades and panicked farmers would be hard for anyone to sleep through, but least of all for someone who'd been unable to get to sleep in the first place.

Off in the distance, one of the farmhouses glowed a dull orange. A stray horse, panicked and separated from its master, galloped past, narrowly missing a small gaggle of armed ronin. Majima stepped out into the night air and immediately decked one of the warriors with a single punch. She was wearing the colors of the sea clan; her compatriots turned on him, weapons raised.

Good. If they were focused on him, they wouldn't be able to cause havoc elsewhere. ]

Anyone who wants to die, come at me! It'll spare me the trouble of chasin' ya down!

[ The quiet calm of his normal demeanor was gone, replaced by a sense of violence roiling right under the surface. More like the baying of a hound with its blood up than the smooth words of a buttoned-up civilian. ]

Wildcard;
[ u kno the drill ]

shots shots shots shots

[deemed]

[Odinson had planned to travel through the flowerlands, but on hearing there's a brewery in their path he changes his plan-]

Aye. Here's to the work we've done and to the days ahead.

[The glass is raised, he downs the small cup of sake.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima downed the cup, then pulled a face. ]

Hell, I knew they were supposed to be 'unconventional flavors', but this tastes like crab.

[ How the hell did you even make crab sake, tell him that

oh well ]

Gonna have to go with a 'no' on this recommendation.

keith | voltron: legendary defender | ota!

[secondnature]

i. a head start

[Keith is in a Mood when the rest of the guild shows up. He's been camping on the outskirts of the town in the meantime. After all, he and Rey had the brilliant idea of going ahead and finding answers. After all, that beat trying to negotiate with people, or ... whatever. It was a good idea at the time.

As it is, he's grumpily packing up when the guild nears, frown firm on his face.]

Be careful. They might decide that you're not welcome.

[Which is not at all why Keith got locked out.]

ii. the beach

[Once it's time to explore, Keith decides to hit the beach. Between fake beach simulations and stupid Altean pools on the Castle Ship back home, Keith hasn't had the opportunity to be on a real beach. Of course, the simulation was great, but it had come with a price: losing his training center. Here, he has a choice. And his choice is to head to the beach!

a Only when he gets there, he finds that the beach is a little less for fun in the sun and more for actual work. Keith ends up with a towel around his shoulders looking rather put out before long. Finding Keith brooding while debating where to go next isn't difficult. In fact, he might hit the beach more than once, only he won't come with a towel later on.

b: Eventually, Keith will just say screw it and decide to go swimming. It might be a faux pas, but there's a solid chance that he won't care enough to keep himself from trying. It's not like it's the first social situation where he's done what he wants. Time to be a rebel! Time to ... swim!

Oh, and if someone else is there?]

Come on. We have to do this. We won't get another chance.

[Which is a little less defiant than it could be. Keith, as always, is ready to argue if needed.]

iii: training montage

[Armed with a new spear, a knife, and a bayard (which turns into a sword), Keith will be training during his other down time. Well aware that some of his weapons might attract attention, he'll be finding open sprawls of land outside of town (or in what is more specifically defined as the Flowerlands) to begin his work.

While Keith is good with the sword and the knife, he looks awkward with the spear, like he's trying to get his bearings.

When he hears someone approach, he'll grunt to a stop, panting out.]

I could use a partner.

iv. ronin brawling

[It doesn't take much for Keith to decide to focus on the brawls once they begin to take place. Some part of him wishes that everything were simpler. Playing peacekeeper isn't really his style. Fighting for one side passionately is—but he knows what it's like to be caught between two wars. It's one thing when an Empire is evil, but it's another even when you're good, but what you're a part of typically isn't.

His goal with the brawls will always be the same: try to put them down and capture them.

a: During the capturing process, Keith will always be glad for the help, especially since he has a knack for trying to get all eyes on him. During these moments, his bruiser focus is in play.

b: Afterward, there will be the matter of questioning the captured ronin. Keith will definitely need some help for this portion.]

v. wildcard

[Feel free to wildcard me or hit me up here to figure something out. I'm always happy to write a special starter if you can't think of anything.]

Hayame | Jinba | OTA

[kisha]

０１ ↣ お出かけ ↣ SEA CLAN LANDS

SEAFOOD [Hayame has little experience with food caught from the sea, her master's stables having been located far enough from the ocean that the only thing that made the journey was dried mackerel. Yet here... fish and octopi and shells and crabs... they have the time, she isn't interfering with the mission...

So Hayame is sampling, making her way through the morning market that springs up in the mornings by the beach selling the freshest of catches, passing small coins here and there for a single fish, a single urchin, a single tentacle... until she glances about and accidentally catches the eye of a fellow Hathaway member, pausing awkwardly with a mouth full of raw fish.]

FIRST OCEAN [She's seen an illusion of it, back in Oska. A body of water so large that it stretches beyond the boundaries of her imagination. But knowing it had been false had dulled some of the wonder from such a sight, and though this one here is not the ocean of her world... it is real.

She's probably interfering slightly in the business of the people at work on the beach, standing where she is, stock still despite the salty breeze tousling her long mane and tail... but she stays put, staring out at the water.]

０２ ↣ 闘争 ↣ CONFLICT IN THE FLOWERLANDS

[Though she hadn't accepted the offer to stay within Doro's palace, Hayame had stayed close... close enough to see the flames bright on the horizon, to hear the sounds of clashing, to smell burning. It's an all too familiar smell to her, and it brings out an instinctual fear in her equine parts- but she grabs her weapons and sets off towards the conflict, tearing past local and Hathaway member alike until she spots the silhouette in the night of someone she views as martially capable.]

Grab on!

[There's an arm outstretched, but it comes from a centaur galloping at full speed. Going to take that offer?]

０３ ↣ 温泉 ↣ HOT SPRINGS COOLDOWN

[After the fire is put out, the attack quelled... Hayame drags herself to the hot springs she's been frequenting in this world, leaving ash-stained hoof prints behind, the scent of burnt wood and flesh clogging up her nostrils and her head. She doesn't cleanse herself beforehand, doesn't take the time to tie up her hair, merely strips her clothing and weapons from her body, unbinds her breasts, and wades in, letting the ash trail off her skin into the water, hissing as the hot water laps over a cut, a burn she had not noticed.

But she doesn't care, sinking exhausted into the water and tucking herself against the rocks on the side and closing her eyes.]

０４ ↣ 鬼札を引く ↣

[Hit me up for a custom starter! Please feel free to PM or plurk stormcoming. Bounties or further prompts to come below.]

02

[justbeingknife]

[ Hell yeah. Majima threw out a hand at once, scary galloping hooves or no, while several ronin scattered in the face of Hayame's approach. ]

Let's do it!

[deemed]

[Odinson's expression is a little more thoughtful.]

For those who enjoy seafood, perhaps? Certainly not I.

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima set down his cup, only to have another set in front of him. ]

Thanks.

[ Then he glanced at Odinson. ]

Yeah? That's too bad -- looks like you can get the real stuff around here. Be nice if saury was in season.

[kisha]

If Majima had hoped for a nice ride one might expect from a proper mount... he's going to be disappointed. Hayame hasn't been ridden like that since her childhood when she was broken for saddle, since the brief offer she had given her lord in the labyrinth.

Because more than actually grab his arm to pull him up... Hayame grabs it to haul him over. Over her withers, to be exact, as if he was a sack of grain.

She wears a leather harness, so.]

Hold on!

[At least there's something to grip as she speeds towards the source of the conflict.]

[justbeingknife]

[ This was kind of a raw deal, and frankly, Majima figured he was liable to bite his tongue and start bleeding out if he just hung on and hoped for the best. So instead, he dedicated himself to scrambling up and throwing a leg over her back, bracing his feet up against the harness as he snatched a spear out the hand of a mountain clan warrior's hands.

He lashed out with the butt end of the weapon, catching a ronin in the back of the head and dropping her as they passed. ]

[kisha]

[Hey, this is about fast transport, not comfort!!

Hayame dodges this and that, but aware of having a passenger she keeps her center of gravity as easy to balance on as can be, avoiding fast turns and jumps until the heat of the fire becomes palpable, until they enter the fray properly-

And then she pulls herself into a stop- giving Majima a few seconds to scramble off while she snatches her longbow off her harness and lashes out with a back leg to keep a ronin back until the man gets his feet under him.]

[justbeingknife]

[ PORQUE NO LOS DOS

Majima jumped off Hayame's back when she started to slow, whipping his newfound weapon around to clear a wide swath in front of him. Out of the corner of his eye, Majima caught a warrior, straying from her troop, as she battened on a fleeing farmer.

He acted without hesitation, smashing the spear's shaft into her retreating back so hard that the wood splintered and he tossed the weapon aside. The ronin fell; the farmer fled. Majima took out his bat. ]

You can see further than me. If there's any one of 'em looks fancier than the others, lemme know now!

[ BecauSE OTHERWISE he was just going to start mowing through the enemy. ]

veronica lodge | riverdale | ota!

[refashioned]

i: running down to the riptide

[While Veronica doesn't initially set out to the Artisan District to be an artist, it doesn't take long for her more artistic side of her personality to come out. She may be here to try to avoid her father's mob boss connections (and her own future in the mob), but she does have that side to speak of.

(Not that anyone knows that her father's a mob boss. Tight lipped, she is.)

As it is, it doesn't take someone as charismatic as Veronica too long to pull in someone playing a rhythm to her liking. The songs of choice? Decidedly not native to any part of Hanabira. Yes, they're pop songs, for the most part.

Whenever she spots someone she recognizes, Veronica will be eager to wave them over. No, they don't have to sing if they don't want to—but it might be a good time to dance. Which, well, is another one of Veronica's talents. She's right at home!]

ii: hanzo voice: SAKE!!!

[Should Veronica be sampling sake by modern understanding of legality? Maybe not. Is she definitely sampling sake regardless? Yes. It's not like her parents would mind. She regularly starts her days off with mimosas.

Naturally, Veronica isn't just here to take part in the drink but to be around others while they drink. One of the servers brings her a long role of sampler glasses just before she motions for a guildmate to join her.]

I couldn't possibly finish these on my own. [A beat.] Oh, and this is the floral flight. I really appreciated the alliteration. [Plus, unlike some of the flavors, this didn't sound as bad.]

iii: the gloomy prompt

[On what feels like a rare evening of peace, Veronica steps outside in the evening to take in the fresh air in the Flowerlands. That's where they were invited to stay, and she believes in preserving neutrality at this time. The appearance of that is important, at any rate.

Given the nature and all that comes with it, it's difficult for her to not be alert about the rustling in the grass behind her (or to her right or wherever). Not one to be spooked, she'll turn and smile.]

Hey—I was trying to enjoy a peaceful night. With how things have been, I've begun to worry whether we'll be able to restore the peace. You don't think the Empresses would be keen to marry each other, do you?

iv. wildcard

[I'd love to do political threads and stuff, but that might need a specific starter, so feel free to hit me up for something. Anything else is game! I never mind writing the starter myself.]

rey | now with open options!!

[forcevisions]

i. for keith and kylo ren | arrival (day 0)

[ there's something truly intimidating about the city where empress youmi kept her castle. perhaps that it sits so squatly on a rock in the sea and hasn't sunk back to the depths yet. it seems to be both a part of the nature surrounding it, as the mountain clan had, and somehow paradoxically at odds with it. some colossal defiance of nature itself.

mostly, rey's just angry about the fact that they won't open their gates. urahara and loki are off elsewhere, probably dealing with the guards on duty to figure out if there's a means for them to get through. ]

Even if we talk our way in past the guards, think of all the attention we'll draw! The only people to get the doors to open … the only foreigners!

[ she hadn't thought of these things before hanabira. it grates on her, a little, to consider them now. ]

ii. for yusuke and aizawa | ogre hunting and training (day 1-3)

[ a lifetime living out of an at-at has rey pretty used to bringing most of the things she owns around with her, so she has her bag and staff on her shoulder when they walk out to the back edge of a farm in the flowerlands. it's close enough to the sea clan that it's not atrociously out of the way, but it's a good place to double back to. convenient.

more convenient because it's quiet and secluded. the perfect place to train. ]

This should do.

[ she drops her bag down beside the post of one of the fences. actually, the fence looks … broken. she takes a minute to examine the hole where the post had been ripped from, taking with it two horizontal beams on each side that were splintered and lost.

huh. weird. whatever! she glances back at aizawa and yusuke. ]

Don't you think?

iii. for allura | sake-tasting (day 1-3)

[ exploring the territory of the sea clan seems like the best way to spend their time here, gathering information from the locals about who might be spearheading the effort to sabotage the mountain clan. people's lips tend to get loosest around liquor, if maz's castle was anything to go by, so when she sees signs advertising new flavors near one of the breweries at the sea, rey decides to make the hike.

the brewery isn't as crowded as she might have expected when she enters. it's quite low-key, actually, and the brewmaster explains that it's because they haven't settled on which of their new flavors to make available. ]

You need some to … test them?

[ rey asks, looking doubtful. she's not usually one to turn down free food or drink, but spending a day blasted out of her mind at a sake brewery wasn't precisely what she'd had in mind in coming here. ]

iv. open | beach (day 1-3)

[ this is the kind of ocean rey likes to appreciate. unlike the viridian sea, where the rock of the boats had forced her to spend much of it nauseous, rey is barefoot in the sand and strolling the boardwalk for much of the first few days once they're welcomed into the empire. she's … obviously super excited about it. splashing and grinning, but never venturing out very far.

she also spends time getting in good with the pearl divers, helping them sort through their haul but never going out into the water to participate fully. despite her love of the ocean, she seems markedly indecisive about going far out into it. but she and the pearl divers and fishermen seem to have a lot to talk about, so she's happy. ]

I grew up searching for buried treasure where I came from too. Nothing like this … it was an old battlefield. [ she prattles on freely, avoiding the mention of ships and scrap, but allowing her experience to endear her to them. ]

v. open | doro's castle (day 4)

[ other things rey doesn't turn down: free beds.

doro's castle is without a doubt the largest place she's ever stayed in her life, so once she has dropped her bag off in a room — she keeps her lightsaber in her belt pouch instead of in her pack. she doesn't trust doro quite well enough to think he won't send his servants rifling through team ophelia's things — she starts wandering the grounds.

it's honestly ?? really nice ?? she's feeling pretty good about this. the empress' proclamation earlier that day has her in a good mood. she feels vindicated. obviously the invaders had confessed, as she and kylo ren had compelled them to do, and it appeared to have made a considerable difference. an averted war. that's big. ]

I guess this means we'll be going back soon. [ she says when she stumbles upon another member of team ophelia in searching the castle grounds. ]

vi. open | skirmish clean-up (day 5+)

[ so much for that wishful thinking. as the skirmishes continue to escalate, rey chases stories of conflict. she's tired of spending so much of her life picking off corpses like a, well, scavenger, but she does keep showing up.

at some of the damaged farms, she recognizes they're isolated enough for her to just … make the task a little easier on herself. she reaches one hand out, her forehead creasing with concentration as she reaches back onto the peace and calm urahara has taught her to … lift.

the splintered and destroyed fence beams, a few hundred pounds worth of them, start to float, collecting in the air and following the guidance of her hand into a cleaner pile. off to the side. ]

vii. wildcard (day 4+)

[ ooc; hit me up here or at protects if you want a starter of some kind. ]

[kisha]

[What the hell is he wielding, is that some sort of club?

She doesn't have the time to actually focus on it, though, instead reaching her quiver now that the arrows weren't blocked by a yakuza man leg and notching an arrow, which she holds back by her cheek only long enough to aim...

And then it flies into the shoulder of a warrior with her arm raised to strike, the second slamming into the opposite shoulder of the woman she was fighting.]

Don't kill all of them! We need to find their leader.

[And as easier as it would be to kill them... they need to be interrogated. Even if they have a commander on the battlefield, someone had to be organizing these expeditions.]

[justbeingknife]

Ain't gonna kill any of 'em.

[ What was he, some kind of monster? I mean.... ok yeah but not that kind of monster. With that formality dealt with, Majima set to work, bringing his bat down hard on the shoulder of one sea clan warrior so hard the man dropped instantly to his knees. A follow-up strike sent him flying backwards.

From there, he waded into the thick of the action, lashing out with wide swings to the left and right. His blows were swift and brutal, accompanied by the dull thud of metal against armor and the snap of bone. True to his word, all of his victims were still breathing when he was done with them... though they might wish otherwise. ]

What's wrong?! That all ya got?!

[ A particularly astute observer might notice the wild flash of a grin amidst the chaos -- an expression of some darker joy. Then again, it was an awfully busy night. ]

Adrian "Alucard" Ţepeş | Castlevania | OTA

[reposing]

❧ brew can do it

[Honestly, Alucard has been at this for sometime, accepting samples of drinks and having a taste. There are several empty cups nearby him, yet he doesn't appear to be remotely affected in any kind of way. He is still as pale as ever, looking calm and in control of himself.]

Hm. Often, if I've had a drink of this nature, it would be red wine. I've not had something like this before.

It is pleasant.

[He has another drink, still completely sober.]


❧ in the middle of the night

[It feels like ages, but eventually the sun sinks into the horizon and the night arrives at long last. With a relieved sigh, Alucard has folded his paper umbrella, leaving tucked under an arm.

Already, he looks more lively.

Though many retire to the inns nearby, Alucard instead remains outside, looking out into the city thoughtfully. Should he notice you, he turns and says:]

Is it not late for you as well?


❧ flowerlands skirmish

[How grotesque for people to immediately feel the need to burn away their fears and hatred.

For a split second, Alucard stands before the burning building, his eyes wide. It is but a moment he is stalled, but quickly enough his eyes turn a blood red and he scowls.

He turns around to face you.]

Here. [He's holding out his impressively long blade.] Hold this. I will return.


❧ closed; for lucina

[As the meeting with Empress Nama comes to a close, Alucard lets out a soft sigh, frowning faintly to himself in thought. In his hand, he rolls his thumb over the seal of his family that he's kept with him.

He thinks very briefly of them. It cannot be for long.

The seal is pocketed, and he turns to Lucina after they have departed the palace.]

It did not seem to go poorly.

[They have a letter now, at least.]


❧ wildcard

[Please feel welcome to make your own prompt, or request one!]

Sieglinde Sullivan ⚗ Kuroshitsuji ⚗ OTA

[grunehexe]

01 ⚗ SEA CLAN MARKET ⚗ SCIENCE SHOPPING

[Though she has made some theoretical progress on her idea for a proper powder to replicate the one Bortz had provided a sample for, Sieglinde has yet to find the proper ingredients to test them out... which is what brings her to the fish market.]

No, no, it is a type of mollusk... the shell is white with a slight pink undertone, shiny in certain lights, with dull spikes along the curl, and the creature inside has this nail-like "foot" to it-

[Except the natives at the market are fare more interested in selling than trying to help what looks to them like a little girl find a particular type of shell, and so, shooed from the umpteeth stall, Sieglinde is all but pouting, arms crossed irritably. ... Don't suppose you've seen such a shell?]

02 ⚗ BEACH ⚗ SALT SOAK

[It's been a long time since Nalawi, since her first sight of the sea. It even seems a long time since the simulation in Oska... a world away to a girl who has begun dividing her life by "before" and "after" she'd become a murderer. But Nalawi had taught her the medical properties of a good salt soak, and so when she has the time... she takes herself down to tidepools by the beach.

She can be found apologizing to locals who want to fish in the area for taking up space, sandals set beside her and unraveled bandages piled behind her, kimono pulled up around thin knees as she slowly kicks her feet in the saltwater, staring out to sea.]

03 ⚗ ARTISAN DISTRICT ⚗ LISTENING IN

[Though she is disturbed by the goings on in the Flowerlands, Sieglinde isn't a fighter, and she knows there are those better than her suited to travel about and deal with any injuries that might crop up... so she places herself in the hustle and bustle of the artisan's district, sat upon a bench and listening to the whispers around her, the gossip regarding the Empress' announcement, the fighting in the Flowerlands...

Also stuffing her face on a particularly tasty bag of what had been to explained to her as balls of grilled batter with octopus inside. Very tasty.]

04 ⚗ SAKE BOUNTY ⚗ BREW CAN DO IT

[Now this is a task she can lend her expertise on. Sieglinde's feet dangle free from the seat she perches on, taking a sip from one of the offered sake glasses and closing her eyes for a thoughtful hum, smacking her lips just slightly before she opens her eyes again with a bit of a mouthed "ah ha" before she looks to her seat neighbor for confirmation.]

This flavor... juniper, do you think?

05 ⚗ WILDCARD

[Hit me up for a custom starter! Please feel free to PM, plurk stormcoming, or drop a comment on my plotting comment.]

[kisha]

[Hayame isn't used to shooting to wound and not kill. Not with humans, anyway, only with her master's expensive investments- her fellow jinba. She thinks to aim for the heart, but forces herself instead to focus on the shoulders, the thighs, around gaps in armor-

But she's close quarters now, and more than her bow... she uses her body. A half ton of corded muscle bred for battle, which she admittedly dislikes using in such a raw manner... because it's difficult to view a jinba as human in the midst of such chaos, especially with the whites of her eyes hinting at that instinctual fire fear.

As a woman rushes her, she rears up to towering height, front hooves lashing out and knocking her over the head- hopefully the helmet keeps it a concussion, seamlessly slamming her legs back to earth only to throw her weight forward and kick backlegs out at another near her flank...

Who goes flying backwards past Majima.]

Urahara Kisuke ⚛ Bleach ⚛ OTA

[predomination]

𝟶𝟷. 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚟𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 | 𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝚅𝙰𝙻

[Unless you're one of the four people who showed up early and had to camp outside the gates, chances are you haven't seen Urahara since the market attack. That's a bit odd, considering how "in your face" he generally is.

But as his guildmates begin to approach the now open gates of the sea clan empire, Urahara is seen gleefully waving at them, somehow not the least bit deterred by this setback. It was a good time for recon. Not that you'd guess he was doing that from his... everything.]

Hellooo~ It's about time you got here.


𝟶𝟸. 𝚒 𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 | 𝙲𝙰𝚃 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺𝙻𝚈

[The boardwalk might not be a place for play, but Urahara seems to be combining work with play, as some of the fisherman have noticed his fondness for the local cats and asked him, in exasperation, if he'd keep them occupied so they can focus on their work and not shooing cats away.

So we have Urahara, a bucket of fish heads, and a bunch of cats of various colors, sizes, and shapes crowded around his feet and in his lap.

You fucking thought he would have gotten over this after Terra Felis sated his cat-loving soul. You should wrong.]


𝟶𝟹. 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚢 | 𝙳𝙾𝚁𝙾'𝚂 𝙲𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴

[When the skirmishes start late that night, Urahara was actually sleeping instead of staying up all night tinkering and going over the information, so naturally when he wanders into the hall, tugging his haori on, he's looking a little more bedraggled than usual. But he's definitely wearing his hat. Does he sleep in that??

Either way, he's not moving at a speed that suggests urgency. There's a ton of people here. He doesn't have to break his back for everything.]

They couldn't have waited until morning, could they...? [He yawns.]


𝟶𝟺. 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚜 𝚊 𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 | 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝚁𝙼𝙸𝚂𝙷𝙴𝚂

[Despite his laconic take on the first attack, Urahara does take breaking up the skirmishes as seriously as he takes anything. It's easy for him to break up the fights, though, admittedly, not as easy to avoid outright killing them. That sets a very poor example for what they're trying to accomplish here.

But, really, they're making it very difficult. You can find him in the middle of skirmishes throughout the Flowerlands, sword out in full shikai (more for intimidation purposes than actual use- he could have easily fought them off with Benihime in her sealed form), as he keeps the ronin from one another by deflecting their blows or uses his kido to bind them while he chatters animatedly to them, despite them not being interested in anything he has to say, nor interested in chatting period.

Anyone looking to fight to kill while he's dealing with them will be met with cold hostility, but anyone else will be met with.... cheerfulness. He's enjoying himself over here.]


𝟶𝟻. 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 | 𝚆𝙸𝙻𝙳𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙳

[Any other prompt you can think of! Urahara will be keeping an eye on Doro and looking for further information about him, and investigating anything that might shed light on the situation, as he more and more feels that a third party is responsible for the attacks. He'll be interested in bandying theories about and putting pieces together if anyone wants to IC-ly brainstorm over some sake or cat fancying.

Hit up my plotting comment if you want a custom starter!]

SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS

[predomination]

[why is no one questioning this adult man and this young girl tastetesting sake together. this seems illegal. maybe they're just so nerdy about this that there's no way it could be anything but innocent.

yeah, definitely that. NERDS.]

I think you're right. [He takes another thoughtful sip and screws up his face in consternation.] There's something else... Maybe a hint of lavender. Bit of a bold choice, but it'll make your slumber before the inevitable hangover pleasant.