EVENT ▸ THE END

[futurologists]

THE BEGINNING IS THE END If tensions were high in Drakstaden before, they're practically colossal now. With the infiltration of the Broadcasting Station, the revelation of Ivarson's plot against the lower levels, the attack on the Vakdir prison, and the newly set curfew, Drakstadish citizens are now more divided than ever. Rumor has it that Prime Minister Ivarson is getting more erratic than ever, too, and spending all his resources hunting down the rebel group responsible for the upset. After a spirited discussion between Ophelia members, it becomes clear what their next plan of action is. All that's left to do is implement it. The day of reckoning is Ivarson's birthday, two days from now, so if you have anything to take care of, you'd better do it soon. ▸ BIRTHDAY PARTY When the fateful day comes, the Vakdir are on high alert. Anyone on the higher levels who looks like they don't belong is forcibly removed, and any slightly suspicious activity is highly scrutinized. The party itself is taking place at the Prime Minister's residence, and only high-ranking officials and corporate heads are attending; numerous police officers patrol the premises to keep undesirables from entering. There is also a film crew to broadcast the party across the city As discussed with Rost, Ophelia sends a "truth wave" of sorts out to the entire city. The truth wave forces anyone in its wake to face the lies they tell themselves; unfortunately, this includes Ophelia, since they, too, are in the city. Keep it together, because you're going to have to get moving. While the guards are reeling, it's time to break in to the party. Inside, it's lavish and filled with extravagant-looking food and drink, far more food and drink than is needed for the number of people in attendance, and expensive decorations involving gold and precious gems are everywhere. But the partygoers are in no shape to enjoy any of it anymore, most of them in visible pain from having to face the lies they had to tell themselves to live under this kind of regime. There are still a couple guards who seem relatively unaffected by the truth wave -- however, they can be dispatched by intimidation, persuasion, or force. Once inside, it's time to look for the temporal crystal shard. After some searching, the temporal crystal shard can be found in the Prime Minister's bedside drawer -- good hunch, Ophelia! However, just as it's found, Ivarson himself will burst through the door. It seems he, too, is unaffected by the truth wave. He does not tell himself lies, but rather truly believes in the evil things he says and does. "What are you doing?!" he demands to know. "That is my jewel!" He clearly doesn't know the true identity of the temporal crystal, only believing it to be a beautiful, valuable crystal. He will attempt to protect it even if outnumbered, as if it calls to him, but if it is destroyed, he will stumble back as if in physical pain. Its destruction will stun him, allowing Ophelia to leave without issue. Next on the agenda? Freeing the political prisoners. ▸ VAKDIR HQ Now that you've blown your cover by crashing the party and breaking into the Prime Minister's home, there's no more reason for secrecy. Free to use the full brunt of your eclectic powers to launch an assault the Vakdir Headquarters, it's easy enough to make it inside while most of the officers are still under the effects of the truth wave. Still, like at the Prime Minister's penthouse, there are some Vakdir present who aren't affected at all; like Ivarson, they are at peace with their way of life, with no self-delusions and no regrets. You'll need to dispatch these in whatever way you like -- fight them, charm them, or do something else -- but remember to keep at least a handful cognizant, because you'll need them for questioning. However you go about that is, again, up to you, but the guards will not reveal the location of the secret political prison easily. Luckily, those who have completed the bounty for Rost to investigate political prisoners will already know where it's located: underneath the Vakdir Headquarters, separate from the main prison that some of you were broken out of just days ago. The guards are in the same state here as they are elsewhere -- most are incapacitated but some aren't -- but in addition to that, now you'll have to contend with locks on the various doors leading in. Break them or get some Vakdir to do it for you, but either way, it's a few layers of bolted doors before the political prisoners are found. They're in bad shape and are surprised to see someone here that isn't an armed guard, but aren't about to look this particular gift horse in the mouth. Free them and escort them back to the lower levels before the truth effect wears off. ▸ EPILOGUE Rost is grateful for your assistance in freeing the prisoners, albeit slightly shaken by the experience of the truth wave. Their hope is that everyone in the city will have felt the true horrors of their actions and that the first steps toward peace can now be made. With the temporal shard located and destroyed, it's time to leave Drakstaden and return to Headquarters, a simple matter of the familiar bright light of a temporal rift and the immediate relocation afterwards. Thanks to the fluid nature of the Timeline across the multiverse, Timeline Analysts are able to quickly decipher the fate of Drakstaden within hours of Ophelia's return; it seems as though Ivarson's sudden disconnect from the temporal shard caused his health to quickly decline to the point where he was no longer considered fit for office. The truth wave helped some see the errors of their ways but not all, ultimately resulting in a civil war. The war left many dead on both sides, with surrounding countries finally intervening and taking as many refugees in as they could. Eventually, Drakstaden was abandoned and left to decay out on the taiga as a looming, thirty story ghost town. The future beyond that is murky, but Hathaway will continue to monitor that universe's timeline. But try not to dwell on it! The nature of time is unpredictable, and no one ever said this job would be easy. Until your next mission, take advantage of the amenities that Headquarters has to offer, and try to relax. ▸ OOC NOTES This is the final log of Mission: Drakstaden! We hope you enjoyed your time here. Characters have returned to Headquarters as of the epilogue, so feel free to continue on from there. If you have questions about this log or the mission, please direct them to the dossier. Questions about the game in general can be directed to the FAQ. ▸ CR/Welcome Meme ▸ Drakstaden Dossier ▸ Drakstaden Locations ▸ Drakstaden Bounty Board ▸ May Calendar

Comments

[justbeingknife]

Ya think it wouldn't?

[ Sounded like the answer was 'yes' to those regrets. He could sympathize, especially since those people might not have died had Hathaway not intervened.

Of course, it was also entirely possible that they would have perished either way; he had few illusions about how bloody the elites' plan would have been. You could drive yourself crazy thinking about what-ifs, and Majima ought to know. He might be more comfortable in his skin now, but that was hard-won. ]