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epidemiology2018-02-17 04:33 am
futurologists) wrote in epidemiology2018-02-17 04:33 am
Entry tags:
- ! plot,
- aloy (horizon zero dawn),
- bellamy blake (the 100),
- daenerys targaryen (asoiaf),
- fiona (borderlands),
- giovanni (dogs: bullets & carnage),
- hayame (jinba),
- jason grace (camp half-blood chronicles),
- jin kung (mortal kombat),
- keith (voltron),
- khada jhin (league of legends),
- laphicet (tales of berseria),
- lucina (fire emblem: awakening),
- rey (star wars),
- rhys (borderlands),
- scott summers (marvel comics),
- shouta aizawa (my hero academia),
- simon jarrett (soma),
- veronica lodge (riverdale),
- wylan van eck (grishaverse),
- yusuke urameshi (yu yu hakusho)
EVENT ▸ DIPLOMACY
DIPLOMACY  As the skirmishes between wandering Mountain and Sea Clan groups continue in the Flowerlands, by this point enough attackers have been interrogated by Guild Ophelia to paint a compelling picture of unorganized chaos. Each time a skirmish is interrupted, both sides blame the other for starting the impromptu fight, claiming no knowledge of or participation in an organized cabal; the conflicts are entirely coincidental, they say, just a situation where enemies clash in neutral territory. The Flowerlands are suffering, crops trampled and livestock traumatized, and more and more Mountain and Sea Clan people are terrified to leave their cities, lest they be set upon by warriors from the opposing clan. Under this type of political strain, Hanabira threatens to erupt into full-out civil war at any moment, with or without the sanction of the empresses. Two weeks after Ophelia's arrival in the Empire of the Crashing Wave, Doro sends word: Empress Nama and Empress Youmi have agreed to meet and discuss the term of an alliance. Doro's castle will serve as a meeting place, but the difficult part is bringing the empresses there safely. You foreigners have already proven yourselves to be capable and invested in seeing the conflict to a peaceful conclusion, so Doro contracts Ophelia to act as escorts and guards. This might just be the perfect opportunity to whisper proposed solutions to advisors or, if you're lucky, to the empresses themselves. ▸ THE RETINUE Ophelia has a few different options if they choose to take Doro's contract: escort Nama or escort Youmi and/or guard the Flowerlands castle.  It's a week's worth of travel to return to the Land of Celestial Mountains from the Empire of the Crashing Wave, so the sooner Ophelia starts out, the better. Skirmishes between clans still dot the forests and farms of the Flowerlands, and each time the retinue encounters one, they must decide if they have the time to interfere or if they must push on. After all, the longer there is no peace in Hanabira, the more dire the situation becomes. When the group finally reaches the Land of Celestial Mountains, they'll find that the entire city is locked down. Guards bar the gates, but upon seeing Doro's seal, they'll let the guild members inside and explain the situation: Mountain Clan rebels have stormed Heavenly Summit, cutting a large swath through the castle. Much of Nama's court and guards lay dead inside, with the rebels holding the remainder hostage -- including Empress Nama herself -- unless war is declared against the Sea Clan. The city guards are afraid to approach, worried that this will only anger the rebels further and cause Nama's death, and have directed all townsfolk to stay in their homes until the situation has been resolved. The guards caution Ophelia not to try any rescue efforts themselves, and instead ask them to either find a building to barricade themselves in or leave the city. Of course, it's not like they're keeping a close watch on everyone. Those who choose to slip into Heavenly Summit Castle will find guards surrounding it, trying to stop anyone from coming in as well as keeping arrows trained on all windows in case a rebel shows her face. Stealth is the name of the game, or at least enough brute strength to knock a guard out in one blow before she sounds the alarm. Inside the castle, rebels stalk the halls of every floor, masked in the green color of the Mountain Clan. Some are heavily armored and some only wear peasants' clothes, carrying farmers' sickles; it seems as though the attack on the castle was planned very quickly, too quickly to evenly distribute armor and weapons. There are corpses left where they were killed, with splashes of bright red blood beside them; there are hostages huddled in the corners of rooms, wide-eyed but silent at the sight of foreigners ostensibly here to save them; and, in the heavily-guarded throne room, Empress Nama herself. Fight through the rebel guards with Nama's help, or find a back door and snatch her up before the rebels notice. Either way, once Ophelia lays eyes on her, the magitek will project words in front of them that only they can see: » EMPRESS NAMANama doesn't ask questions, recognizing the foreigners of Ophelia as those who were meddling after the festival attack and trusting they're here to help her escape. Longbow in hand, she leads the group through secret passageways in the castle, insisting they rescue the nobility on the way out. From there, Nama suggests stealthily escaping the castle and quickly riding out of the city to the safety of Doro's castle, unsure who she can still trust in her own empire. With Empress Nama and her surviving courtiers added to the retinue, it's time to ride back to the Flowerlands -- and hope you aren't chased by rebels along the way.  It takes half a week to travel from the Empire of the Crashing Wave to Doro's castle in the Flowerlands. Youmi and two advisors ride in a carriage, with an entourage of royal guards on horseback in front and behind; those in Ophelia who choose to escort this group will either be on foot or must find a mount themselves. The journey is peaceful, allowing for time to make camp by forested hot springs and in farmhouses (in which case Ophelia might need to sleep outside, depending on the size) along the way. The Sea Clan guards are open to idle chatter with the foreigners, curiously discussing cultural differences and indulging in quick lessons in archery. Everything seems to be going smoothly until the entourage enters Flowerlands territory and is confronted by a winged spirit of the forest, angered by all the recent bloodshed in his home. There is no time to talk; the spirit does not wish to negotiate, only to stop the crew from moving any further into his territory by any means possible.  Once he is finally defeated, his spell on the forest animals is broken, and even the most aggressive of them scatter. His feathers are black, but up close, seem iridescent in the light, differentiating them from a common bird's. Youmi's guards suggest everyone take a feather to prove they felled a legendary beast. GUARD ▸ FLOWERLANDS CASTLE. Until the empresses and their escorts arrive, it's very uneventful at Doro's castle. It's a smart idea to keep an eye out in case someone hears about the summit and tries to interfere, but so far, things seem to be peaceful. Take the time to bolster defenses, relieve a guildmate of guard duty, or explore the castle. ▸ THE SUMMIT Youmi and her entourage reach Doro's castle first, her royal guards immediately making a sweep of the castle and the grounds to ensure there is no danger lying in wait. Once the castle is cleared, Doro and Youmi disappear into a guarded room to begin discussions. Youmi's advisors are left out of this initial meeting, making now the perfect time to start some discussions of your own. Days later, Nama's retinue arrives, and Doro and Youmi (and the rest of her entourage) meet her at the castle gates. The two empresses step cautiously forward to meet each other, bowing politely. Moments later, Doro steps forward to gather Nama into a hug, which she gladly returns, giggling like the young girl she is. She's had a rough time, which she quickly explains to Doro, and asks if she can first have a bath and a moment to breathe. Doro and Youmi are more than willing to give it to her after hearing her experience. Doro tells Ophelia they have their run of the castle until dinner tonight, when Doro, Youmi, and Nama will all be together in the same room with the team. Sounds like the perfect time to propose a plan, so you'd better finish up discussions about what to do! There's a bit of a time limit. ▸ OOC NOTES 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. ▸ Up now:
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no subject
The duties of seniority were terribly heavy.]
It is rather difficult at times to estimate the night of the full snow moon in my own world and year when one has been to as many worlds as I have, you know.
[Okay, it still comes out a bit know-it-all-ish despite best efforts, but... Sieglinde tears her gaze from the moon to properly regard her companion, smoothing out her kimono.]
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She has a point. He probably couldn't tell you when his birthday was right now, what with time seeming to blend from one mission to another.] That would definitely make things difficult.
Now that you've remembered do you have plans to celebrate it?
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Indeed.
[As for plans, though... she looks around a bit helplessly. Here, in Doro's castle, with the team debating hotly what ought to be done from here on, the threat of war in the mountain clan lands, ravaging the Flowerlands...]
... It does not quite seem an appropriate time. I had hoped to hold a banquet, at least.
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I can't offer you a banquet, but what about a song? [He pauses again, before unearthing a flute from the depths of his satchel.]
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[Despite herself, she perks up a bit at the idea, pleasantly surprised to see him pull an instrument from his bag. (Not that she was opposed to vocals, of course, just- without accompaniment it was a bit wanting wasn’t it?) When was the last time she heard something like that? Something familiar to her own world, live, not from the “recordings” on the magitech.]
It is a very gallant gesture... if you are willing, I would be honored.
[And it was very gentlemanly, as well!]
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The honor is mine. I'd ask if you had any requests, but I doubt our different worlds share music...
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[Though she has learned to appreciate music more than she had in her own world, especially more so since she finished her cure for the Ultimate Magic, there would be little point in naming something. So instead she shifts her silks about to face him better, pulls her bandaged feet up under her and situated her hands in her lap like a proper listener.]
Perhaps the song you consider your best? I would gladly hear it’s explanation as well, at your leisure.
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[He doesn't wait for an answer, opting to sit on the ground in front of her and starting to play before he loses his nerve. For as much as Wylan loves music and is skilled at it, he doesn't often play for an audience beyond his instructors. His father considered his music a waste of time, and Wylan can vividly imagine the teasing he'd get if he offered to play for any of his friends back home while they were on a mission. (The teasing would be endless, but, he hopes, not entirely mean-spirited. Some of them might even enjoy it.)
The piece itself is rather simple, a slow and uncomplicated melody. But it's executed well, not just technically, but emotionally. It's clear that the song is one Wylan knows by heart and plays from his heart.]
no subject
Having only learned to truly appreciate music after her recruitment to ALASTAIR, it is still new enough to have a certain magic to it, a fresh discovery that lends a veneer of excitement to even just listening to a single instrument at work. Technically, it's even more interesting, in a way- this way she can see all the more clearly which finger movements and angle of lips produces the sounds... though she thinks she might be enjoying music wrong, in a way, to focus on such aspects.
So Sieglinde closes her eyes to just listen. Just try and follow along... but all too soon, it is over, and she opens one eye to peek... and claps sincerely, albeit quietly. (The mood didn't seem to warrant breaking with something most enthusiastically loud.)]
Bravo!
no subject
It's not as grand as a banquet, but I hope it makes today feel more like your birthday.
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[Because if he wasn't here... she'd be able to sit by herself and think about her last birthday. About the mission on Woodhurst. About how momentarily happy she'd been then, despite the mission they'd been sent on, and how Patroclus smiled... and how she'd picked his bones from the ashes not two weeks later.
Listening to flute music... it was far better.]
I do appreciate the thought. It is my first time to receive such a present... it seems more precious for its lack of form.
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[There might have been a time she would have sided with such a thing, deep in the throes of her research, allowed no distractions or unrelated foolishness... but she's been exposed to a lot of things, since leaving that village. And even if she'd never heard it with her own ears-]
The voice of Lorelai lured men to their deaths ! The song of a nightingale restored an emperor to health! Orpheus could play the lyre so well it soothed wild beasts!
[.... it's not uesless, is what she means.]