lifeaftr | August Event: The City is at War

August Event: The City is at War

AUGUST EVENT: THE CITY IS AT WAR

Who: Everyone!
What: You pick a side, or you pick up the pieces
When: August 16th to August 23rd
Where: Primarily Nastrandir, though also Ensō
Warnings: Violence, injury, forcibly altered mindsets via magical influence, possible character death. Potential (and fully optional) dissociation and identity crises. Potential (and fully optional) spontaneous combustion. Otherwise, tag as you go!

We All Lose in the End
On cue, the recently uncovered...and decidedly faulty merotome shatters on the morning of August 16th. Those close enough may recall an odd popping noise, like a lightbulb exploding, or find a shard of some odd, rubbery substance caught in their hair. The wave that shoots out across both islands barely seems to stir the air, but the aftershocks of its passing are to be felt for the week to come.

Whether or not you noticed the sweeping burst of light as it roared over just about everything, you're bound to hear the loud, wailing sound that starts to emit from all over Nastrandir. It sounds like the world's worst kind of alarm, and it just keeps on going.

That's to say nothing of the automatons rising steadily from the murk, or the fact that you might find that some of your fellow explorers are suddenly seeming a lot more trustworthy...and some of them are seeming a lot less. Maybe you latch onto personal terrors and preexisting grudges to justify the new onset of violence that starts to divide you from some of your fellows...or maybe it just feels right in some unquantifiable sense.

Regardless, those impacted by the merotome will find themselves gravitating towards Nastrindar sooner rather than later. Members of the Red Team are likely to initially head towards the ruins on C4 and D4. The swampy water flooding the island will eventually drive you to seek out more mountainous areas; the need to keep dry will vary from a strong desire to an absolute necessity, depending on the individual. As territorial instincts rear their head, this group will find that the war automatons no longer view them as hostiles. Now, these mechanical killers may even take basic orders, such as watching a certain location, fetching some basic materials, and, of course, upon whom they should aim their primary fire.

Meanwhile, the Blue Team will congregate along the shorelines, striking out inland through any route that keeps them close to a body of water - or in it. More likely to travel and fight in a pair or group, it's unlikely that members of this group will stay from the main party for too long, as their power is largely in numbers. While no automatons accompany them into battle, the waters surrounding and soaking into Nastrandir are their greatest ally, as they are capable of replenishing strength and healing minor wounds. Members of the Blue Team will be capable of continuing the fight for much longer than their Red counterparts, and their affinity with the waters will make them difficult to locate or pursue unless they wish it.

You Don't Get Another Shot
For those more resistant to the effects of this sudden shift will find that they're now unfortunately adrift between two warring factions, potentially with friends on either side. There is hope, however - those previously silent sirens are now blaring constantly, and it's very possible that their destruction could turn the tide against this needless bloodshed. The more of those you break, the looser the grip of this altered mindset will become, and the less hostile the automatons will be.

Keep in mind, however, that while you may feel unaffected, the possibility stands that you've been marked for one side without your knowledge. And though this may prove advantageous to getting through to those that identify you as their own, those that do not may take your attempts to shake their morale badly.

Even violently.

Stick Around and See How It Ends
Thus far, the teams are as follows. If you see any problems, inconsistencies, or wish to change teams, please don't hesitate to contact us! While we're no longer accepting sign-ups to be RNG'd into a team, you can still decide retroactively which side you'd like your character to be situated on, if at all!

RED TEAM	BLUE TEAM
Alexei Dinoia Amaterasu Anthony J. Crowley Asgore Dreemurr Connor Murphy Edward Elric Erika Fisher Jules Dagger Samari Leonard Church Muffet Tim Wright Yukio Okumura Zidane Tribal	2B Alisaie Leveilleur Agent Washington Ben Hargreeves The Drifter Epsilon Héctor Rivera Herbert West Horatio Nullbuilt Kravitz Legion Mollymauk Tealeaf Ren Rin Okumura Steve Rogers

In the meantime, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC Event Info and Plotting Post
[ ♆ ] Nastrandir's Intro
[ ♆ ] Nastrandir's Locations Page

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] August 16th: The merotome breaks, issuing a mind-altering wave; the sirens go off, and definitive sides in a conflict start to form
[ ♆ ] August 23rd: The conflict ends when those who have not been freed from the mind-altering influence either break free or burn to death
[ ♆ ] August 24th: The monthly Storytelling occurs late; characters who have died are revived in time to participate
[ ♆ ] September 4th: Extra time is allotted to those participating in the monthly Storytelling to compensate for the later date, and the Storytelling closes

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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[He moves his hand away when it becomes apparent it won't be needed, holding himself with poise. All his movements are as fluid as he can muster them, emulating the deity he serves. There is always something. At the gaze, Kravitz gestures them to follow; they hadn't fully figured this place out yet, but the first thing they were always able to find is fresh water, where they can congregate and purify themselves if the ocean is too far.

Ironically, the first clean source he knows of is the Mana Pool. Ironic, for things he no longer remembers. But the area there looks like an oasis when it's quiet; a spring, surrounded by fruit and shade. He gestures for the Drifter to go forward before turning and bowing towards the Water as well; a thanks, of course. It's only proper.]

[The respectful fluidity to his motions is well-warranted, and even commendable. If the Drifter were in a better state to appreciate, they would be doing more to acknowledge it. As such, they can only move as though through a viscous sludge. The air feels the density of honey, and their lungs struggle to take it all in.]

[The water should help. They dip one gloved hand into it, then try and drink at the water between cupped hands.]

[They end up spraying most of it up in another heaving, pinkish coughing fit.]

[He watches carefully, but as soon as it becomes apparent there is a problem, there is damage, he rushes to the other's side. Kravitz kneels down, putting a hand on their back, looking concerned.]

Wh-- What happened, what's-- right, don't speak, don't speak.

[Kravitz can't see much through the cowl, but reaches up to try and remove it, suspecting some manner of injury there. The Water should be able to heal them, of course, but maybe they need something stronger...]

[No, no don't - ]

[The Drifter immediately snaps a hand around his wrist, their eyes dark and blazing and the closest they get to wild that it's possible to get.]

[Don't touch it, they can feel themself wanting to say, but the words are retches and formless, rasping sounds without shape or solidity. There's a panicked edge to the motion, something frantic.]

[Something about someone trying to remove the mantle seizes at them, arrests their heart in their chest.]

[He draws back as soon as they hesitate, giving them a look of concern.]

It's alright-- I won't hurt you. But I must see if you're injured.

[Mmmm perhaps he'll need to find another flow, if not to distress them.]

I will not look, if you need to check yourself. But you must allow yourself to heal if you are hurt. Are you in pain?

[Yes. Yes, they're in pain, and they hadn't realized just how much pain they were in until it started making its presence known. That low-level, constant throb in their nerves and in the center of their chest and emanating outward hadn't been a problem until they started coughing, and then it got worse.]

[And worse, and worse...]

yes

[The response comes naturally from the sprite at their shoulder. They don't think twice about it.]

not important

[His eyes take a quick snap to the sprite and back, enough to catch the words being presented. It just causes him to narrow his eyes as he drops his hand from the cowl.]

It most certainly is important. How do you think you'll properly serve the Water if you're injured? Wearing yourself out is no assist to anyone.

[It's... not the most comforting thing, but here we are. Kravitz sighs, like he's an annoyed secretary trying to organize a filing cabinet.]

You're just going to need more assistance and not so much stubbornness.

can still fight

[That's the important thing. They can still fight, and run, and do everything that's required of them. And besides, more important than that - ]

may be poison
may be sickness
may be contagious
thin our ranks

[What if the blasphemers wish to fight with subterfuge, and deceit? What if this is their attempt to lay their forces low, without having to fight and face them directly?]

Then why is it you think you want to go back to the fray? If one of us is harmed so is the rest already. You must be handled.

[There's probably an implication there, one that he doesn't know he's making, but that the memories in his head do. After all, he truly knows nothing of the Water, but... well, he's heard so many stories. And what happens when someone is no longer fit to stay?]

Stay here and accept my mercy, or I will be forced to detain you.

[Handled. Detained.]

[The Drifter straightens, coldly. He is on their side. They shouldn't feel this urge to push against him, to reject the idea of being told what to do. And yet...]

do not stop me

[His form stands more rigidly than he wants it to, locked into a position of purpose. This is simply what happens. He fills a need. He keeps things organized.

He weeds out the toxins.]

I think I've seen enough to know you should be stopping yourself.

[They're still in close proximity, and Kravitz wastes no time making a grab for them, for whatever ideas he may have or purpose he thinks is in his head.]

not in charge

[Their blade springs to life with a blitz of neon blue. They skitter back, holding the blade out and aloft.]

[They don't want to hurt him. He's on their side. But they can't...stop. It's important that they don't stop. That they do not allow someone else to stop them. They're stronger than that. They're stronger than any of this.]

[They draw a blade and Kravitz springs back to avoid being in it's radius, but not so far as to run off fully. Oh, so they want to bring weaponry in-- well! How dare. He stands back to his full height, extending his arm and finding the familiar grip of his scythe under his fingers.]

I am in charge enough. Certainly better than yourself. Now, by the order of the r--

[And he stops. What... what was he about to say? The words feel like they were right there on the tip of his tongue, but for some reason he can't think of what he was actually trying to say. Who else would he be fighting for? It must be the Water, their great deity, why--

Kravitz hasn't dissipated his weapon, but he is stunned, caught in a mounting headache. If Drifter were to make a strike, he would be open.]

[He stops in the middle of a sentence, and does not complete it. That doesn't matter, very much, they're finding. While you were having identity crises, Kravitz, they were studying the blade.]

[So they charge him. They rush him with a blitz of blue and a fierce arc of their blade, despite that every instinct screams that this is wrong. He is an ally. He is on their side. And yet - ]

[And yet, if he wishes to control them, he has another thing coming.]

[He snaps back to attention as the color whirls in front of his eyes, not so much trying to parry as bringing his scythe down in the arc of the blade to stop it from hitting him, gaining some of the lightness on his feet back as he concentrates.]

How-- stop!

[He is being attacked. He must fight back. It matters not who it is, if there are dissenters in the ranks. So Kravitz springs backwards before swinging the scythe in a wide semicircle in front of him to attempt to use the weapon's reach to his advantage and put some distance between them.]

[Immediately, they're forced into a retreat. Dash in reverse, then swing their blade up, try and form it into a point as they dart forward in a blitz of violet, trying to seek a gap in his defense.]

cannot stop me
do not stop me

[He's good at defense, even if he doesn't know how. Mostly he's keeping them at an arm's length, using the height of the weapon to his advantage.]

I'm not going to let you go out there and destroy yourself! If you are hurt, you-- stop!

[Even if at this point he's not swinging to kill.]

you'll hurt me more

[Traitor. Does he think that justifies it? They're a whirlwind, and they don't stop - they don't even slow down.]

[He's adept at handling the onslaught of blows, but it doesn't help him at fighting back.]

I will not! You know what is necessary! Only the Water will judge--

[The sword swings dangerously close for a moment, cutting through the edge of his arm with a thin but increasingly bloody swipe.]

I will only harm you if I have to, and you are making me have to!

not making you do anything
you
choosing to

[One should not posit one's betrayal as necessary. None of this was necessary. It was all avoidable. If he had elected to stay in his lane, so to speak, instead of deciding he outranked them in some arbitrary fashion, this would have been less of a problem, now, wouldn't it?]

[Don't get all high and mighty about this, Drifter. That's his seat. He's got his dumb ass right in it and he's going to have to suffer for those decisions.]

Then stop! Stop and we can-- if you keep--

[Well, now he's making quite the swing back, blade out; if that doesn't hit them, he's hoping to hit them with the handle and knock them off balance.]

Fine! You want to do this, fine!

[Their muscle memory doesn't recover fast enough when the butt of the scythe crashes into their chest and mows them back several paces. Their recovery time, however, is blazingly fast as always - and they're quick to dart back, in spite of the stumble.]

you
CHOOSING to

[They're supposed to be fighting the enemy. Not each other. It's just that he thought he should stop them from doing that.]

If I stop now you're going to dice me!

[No, you know what, he's not dying for this. Kravitz has a moment of room, and he brings up his scythe and cuts the air, opening a spiraling portal that he leaps through. It's not hard to tell where he's gone- it's not immediately visible, but the inertia he carries through immediately jostles and shakes a nearby tree. At least he's kind of high up trying to catch his breath, not looking to directly divebomb.]

[And then, in a moment - he's gone. He's gone abruptly and without warning, and the Drifter stumbles forward several paces in shock, their blade slicing into empty air. They twist frantically on the spot, breathing hard. The ground beneath their feet spots with bright pink droplets.]

[They look up, then - at the tree that trembles with the weight of someone new and unexpected inside it.]

[They back up, and point their sword upward at him.]

do not stop me

[He's trying to catch his breath, so the fact that the Drifter doesn't charge him immediately is a welcome one. It conflicts with what he wants- to keep order, to ensure the ranks are fit, to entrust everyone is devoted. But he can't keep sitting here and wasting his time if this soldier has a death wish.]

Fine! Go get yourself killed! The Water can only help you if you let them in!

[But he sure isn't coming down, so like....... sure.]

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hyperlit - 2019-10-06 05:14 (UTC) - Expand

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