raiamods: (Default)
raiamods ([personal profile] raiamods) wrote in [community profile] ethyraia2021-06-10 06:01 pm

EVENT #01 —

WHO: All PCs
WHAT: Guests arrive at the basecamp
WHEN: June 10 - June 17
WHERE: Basecamp Leviathan
NOTES/WARNINGS: None currently (let us know if we should update this because we missed something)


EVENT LOG 001 — JUNE ❀
CONTENT WARNINGS: None currently (let us know if we missed something and should update this!)

Please note that several of these sections have deadlines, so it's a good idea to prioritize your plotting for the earlier section of the event first.

A calendar of events and deadlines is as follows:
IC:
June 10 -
The thessyx arrive with the shell.
June 11 - Dinner with the thessyx, gifts distributed.
June 12 - Scrimmage interrupted by the formation of a sinkhole.
June 14 - Critters emerge from the sinkhole in the gymnasium.
June 13-17 - Two more sinkholes open up, with more critters emerging within the day.

OOC:
June 13 -
Last day to ask about your character interfering with the shell.
June 16 - Last day to ask about your character joining the closed-door meeting with Childe and the thessyx.
June 30 - Last day to register the way your character engages with the thessyx and the critters directly. (Mods do not anticipate replying to these comments.)
❀ UNEXPECTED VISITORS


At noon on June 10, a dozen visitors arrive. The Thessyx carry themselves quietly, moving through the base as if they were attempting to enter a body of water without disturbing it. Lightweight robes of some native skein cover their green-grey amphibian skin, but do not obscure the fact that each of them possesses four arms. Once inside the base and in the leviathan’s embrace, they will lower their hoods and additionally reveal fins of varying colors along the back of their scalps. These creatures have slit noses; wide-set, irisless eyes; and mouths that stretch the full width of their skull. With them, they bring a great shell about three meters long and as tall as a small adult human.

The security force of the Adamant greets the visitors on their entry to camp. These strange amphibious creatures inform the security force that they are the Thessyx, and that the shell is full of gifts. The security force is ordered by Chief Security Officer Rémi to lock the shell away until Captain Childe has had the opportunity to decide what will be done with the contents. If you intend for your character to interfere with the shell in some way, please reach out in the QUESTIONS thread below BEFORE JUNE 13TH — this includes if your character would try to stop others from interfering with it.

Three of their number with blue fins on their head go to speak in a closed-door meeting with Captain Childe. If your character would like to attempt to get access to this meeting, please reach out in the QUESTIONS thread below with an explanation of how they would attempt to do so BEFORE JUNE 16TH.

The next day, more Thessyx arrive, and they will remain on the base for about one week. They move around the camp fairly casually, mingling with the Adamant’s crew. They are particularly interested in the hatchlings. If your character would like to ask specific questions of the Thessyx they encounter, please direct them to the QUESTIONS thread below.

Just before dinner the next evening (June 11), Captain Childe announces that there will be a special celebration in the mess hall, courtesy of their guests — all of their guests. The announcement is as follows, and goes out on the communication devices camp-wide:
I'm sure some of you have noticed the Thessyx walking among us. In light of their arrival and the gifts they've brought with them, we've decided to have a joint celebration in the mess. They have agreed to have guards from their city patrol our perimeter, so everyone has twelve hours off. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it's strongly suggested.

They've brought gifts for our new arrivals as well. These gifts are to be distributed later. I know some of you will think it's unfair that the Thessyx are favoring them, and that in three years of being here this is the first time they've initiated contact with us. Tensions are bound to be high — but the first person who picks a fight is getting thrown in the brig, I don't care if you're a civilian or not. We could all use this break.

Don't offend them. No fish jokes.

Childe out.
At dinner, a few crew members get out their instruments, and Captain Childe even looks the other way when Senior Engineer Thorkil Bjørnson opens up a barrel of the moonshine he’s just finished. It means going without later, but they’ll share some of their modest wealth with the Thessyx. The mess hall is cluttered with revelry, and some of the tables have been pushed together to make room for people to dance.

The feast is made up of various mosses and seaweeds, pickled insects, and a few mollusks. Whether this sounds appetizing or not, it’s the freshest food anyone on the base has had for a while, and it seems it’s only intended for the Children of the Leviathan. Some crew members look on jealously or externalize their bitterness. Others may be pushier — after all, they’ve been providing for the hatchlings out of their own supplies for a while now. Still others will be surprised if any of the hatchlings offer trades or pawn the food off on them preemptively — they may be inclined towards favors and good will.

A few notes:
  • The Thessyx refer to the hatchlings as ‘Children of the Leviathan.’ They do not appear to sleep, nor do they step out from under the leviathan’s embrace when the sun is out. The three blue finned Thessyx who meet with Captain Childe are not the Thessyx’s leaders, only representatives. They prefer to ask the PCs questions about them and where they came from rather than answering questions about themselves.

  • To interfere with the shell, attempt to be involved in the closed-door meeting between Childe and the thessyx, or to ask questions of the thessyx, please visit the QUESTIONS sub-thread. These options have staggered deadlines so that we can account for each stage while responding to the next; these actions of some hatchlings will reflect on others.

  • By JUNE 30TH at 21:00 EST, please respond to the mod comment labeled THESSYX GREETING with a brief description of how your character would greet the Thessyx. Feel free to write multiple characters in a single comment. We just want to check the temperature in the room.

  • ❀ A DISTURBANCE UNDERFOOT

    On June 12th, the thessyx’s visit is disrupted by the appearance of a sinkhole in the gymnasium. The basketball court, which was already in disrepair, suffers the worst of the damage. In the midst of a scrimmage between PCs and NPCs, which the thessyx observe quite rapturously, a 5-meter hole opens in the middle, with concrete and steel and earth crumbling underfoot. Any injured PCs will have their sprains and scratches treated well by the medical team, and the gymnasium will be closed until further notice. Don’t worry! The Adamant’s engineers are on the case, figuring out how the soil’s stability gave way. This could be bad news for the entirety of the basecamp if it’s an ongoing issue. The engineers could probably use some help addressing the issue — to volunteer, reach out to us in the QUESTIONS thread.

    Over the next couple days, two more sinkholes appear — one near the Memorial Wall, and one in the showers (though it thankfully doesn’t seem to have affected the plumbing). Anyone injured by a sinkhole will also have their sprains and scratches treated well by the medical team. Cartagena shares a helpful (“helpful”) PSA about the dangers of sinkholes and how to protect yourself, which is clearly dated and has nothing to do with whatever is going on here on Ethyraia:

    Hello, Children of the Leviathan! Isn’t that a silly name? I guess it’s the most accurate, since you did come from eggs. Soon you will be one month old! Hahaha! Biology can be odd sometimes.

    It’s not just biology, though! Ecology is certainly strange and confusing, and nothing is stranger and more confusing than the ecology of Ethyraia. I’m sure you have all noticed the sinkholes appearing more and more often these days. Do not be alarmed! Not because there is nothing alarming, but because alarm leads to panic and panic leads to more danger!

    For the time being, please follow these helpful tips for sinkholes:
    1. If you see a sinkhole, go the opposite direction.
    2. If you fall into a sinkhole, try not to cry. Instead, yell for help!

    I think these are sufficient enough guidelines to follow, yes?

    Remember, be careful out there! And protect your squishy selves. You never know when you might be useful later. Then it would be a shame if your squishy self was gone. We’d all be very sad. Or most of us. Or some of us. At least me, to the capacity that an AI can be sad.

    Stay safe! Cartagena out.

    On June 14th, the first of the critters emerges from the sinkhole in the gymnasium. These creatures are roughly a meter tall at the shoulder, blind, with enormous clawed forepaws and supernumerary hind-legs that appear shrunken and shrivelled and barely provide function. These creatures have tough, armored hides and truly, truly awful breath. They are capable of tearing through metal with their claws, and small arms fire does nothing to them. Within the day, dozens of them have skittered into the base. They seem as confused and afraid to be in here as the basecamp’s residents are to have them here. However, these are wild animals; they react to their fear with sharp teeth and claws. A few perseverant critters find their way into the cafeteria, sniffing out food, while others can be found gnawing on cables that power the lights for the basecamp.

    Chief Security Officer Rémi will be quick to pursue an extermination plan. The problem is big enough that the PCs are encouraged to help out, and those who volunteer will be quickly accepted, as long as they aren't trying to offer their own bright ideas.

    A few notes:
  • To volunteer to help out with engineering, please visit the QUESTIONS sub-thread.

  • If your character would volunteer to help security exterminate the creatures, or if they would disregard the security force and go after the critters on their own, please let us know in the QUESTIONS thread so we can talk about what this would look like. Rémi isn’t well-known for liking people who subvert the chain of command.

  • By JUNE 30TH at 21:00 EST, please respond to the CRITTER WRANGLING comment with how you vote the critters get dealt with — extermination, rehoming, or something else. If someone has already commented with your characters’ IC preference, please add your +1 under other people’s comments, so it’s easier for us to sort.
  • trassel: (08.)

    [personal profile] trassel 2021-06-28 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
    [ She got some of them to sleep? How? He's not completely comfortable with any magic being involved, but Matthias never mounts an argument with results. ]

    Are they still sleeping? I can help you with them.

    [ A beat. ]

    What do you think we can learn from them?

    [ Because of all the conversations he's been having this week, that's a new one. ]
    hootlem: (Why do I always think that'll work?)

    [personal profile] hootlem 2021-06-28 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
    [The witch just shrugs again, turning on her heel to address the problem of the door.]

    Heck if I know. Haven't thought that far ahead yet. Just... if what the crew's been doing isn't working, or's barely been working, then we need to do what they haven't, you know? I don't know how we might get ideas from a giant, burrowing... claw-thing, but that's what innovation's all about, right? And we need all the innovation we can get.

    [Especially Eda, until she could find a way to replicate her elixirs. Time was growing short.]

    I don't think so. The one in the gym might be, but it's been a couple hours and someone might have bothered it. Can't hurt to check.
    trassel: (35.)

    [personal profile] trassel 2021-06-28 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Matthias nods, as he listens. To be honest, he's got no battle plan of his own, chasing the creatures out one by one is very slow, but not having another means to corral more, this is what he's got. ]

    If nothing, that perhaps there are tunnels beneath the base that should be explored or reinforced.

    [ He can live with that. ]

    After we have settled these two, I can accompany you to the gym.
    hootlem: (Dang. I look great.)

    [personal profile] hootlem 2021-06-28 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
    [There. She couldn't blame the crew for being so paranoid about their points of entry, but damn if it wasn't a pain in the ass. Eda steps aside, dusting her hands.]

    There you go. Two catch-and-releases. You're gonna have to show me how you do this.
    trassel: (23.)

    [personal profile] trassel 2021-06-28 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
    [ He has a way with animals — even the dangerous ones. Case in point, the wolf that is now keeping a perimeter around them, making sure that no one scares the critters or shoots at them as Matthias and Eda chase them out, and they disappear in the outdoors. ]

    Humming and promising some pleasant scratches. It helps when the space is not enclosed, so they don't feel cornered.

    [ Nodding, he gestures for her to move forward and lead the way to the gym. In case she has to put the critter there to sleep again. ]

    Let's find our straggler.
    unfastens: (you thought money would save you)

    [personal profile] unfastens 2021-06-28 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
    [ this is the way. bruno's natural kindness will bite him in the ass once again. ]

    ... No, probably not. It's too small. [ answered very earnestly. ] But it's not impossible that they could fit weapons or poison in there.

    [ a beat. he doesn't want to start trouble, though. ] Of course, these are only possibilities. I have no evidence there's anything dangerous inside at all. We're simply putting a lot of trust in them for not knowing their intentions.
    unfastens: (every child)

    [personal profile] unfastens 2021-06-28 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
    [ IT SURE DOES SUCK!!! Bruno has no idea what to make of apparently being birthed post-mortem by an alien dragon creature, so for the time being, he's just rolling with it. Being a Stand user for a while makes you really good at just accepting whatever weird things get thrown at you. The important thing for now is having the knowledge; they can try and understand it later. ]

    You shouldn't. We don't know their intentions.

    [ he doesn't trust them either. ]

    The idea that we're broadcasting some kind of signal to the creatures of this planet is troubling by itself. [ maybe the Thessyx are peaceful, but they might not be the only things that noticed they're here, if the animals on this planet are sensitive to some kind of psychic energy... ] For the time being, I don't believe they're going to harm us, but we should watch our step.

    [ he pauses, then tilts his head at her very slightly in question. ]

    How are you holding up? You look uneasy.
    figlia_morbida: ([promises promises])

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-06-28 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
    [The tension in the room leaves, and Trish's shoulders slump with some relief she wasn't expecting.

    Trish waves a loose hand at Alina.
    ]

    Don't worry. I wouldn't have come back here to talk to you if I wanted to make a spectacle of it.

    [She can be mean, but not that mean! Or that willing to spite everyone else, since Alina is correct that this shouldn't spread around.]

    If there's any comfort to be found here, it's going to come from our little group, and not aliens sitting comfortably in their gilded castle.

    [And probably not the survivors of the Adamant either, even if their company isn't terrible. It's still too distant to be real camaraderie.]

    The fact you say as much only proves that to be true.

    [The Thessyx were honestly cruel getting people's hopes up that aid would come. There was clearly a price attached if they did, and there's no anticipating what that could be. Anyways, Trish watches Alina curiously. A familiar face, and yet one she finds she hasn't put a name to yet.]
    figlia_morbida: ([promises promises])

    throws tags at u like a boomerang

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-06-28 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
    [You know, the last time someone was able to sense Trish remotely, she was at least able to sense them right back.

    The fact this advantage is entirely one-sided this time is chilling, and yes, she'd thought about who else could have been alerted along with the Thessyx...though they were infuriatingly unhelpful, calling the rats and mountains their neighbors when she subtly asked about other races. Ugh, forget rats and mountains! What else is out there waiting?

    She cradles her elbows, as if to appear somewhat smaller. Is she being that obvious? Damn her anxiety...
    ]

    I'm fine.

    [Like, she's not injured, just queasy.]

    I just...hate waiting for something to happen. There's no way it's going to stay peaceful here.

    [There was upheaval already, but with the Thessyx it's different? She can handle dumb rat monsters and acid rain. Those had no intent behind them, only the simple tenets of instinct and incontrovertible weather. But an intelligent race, with plans and goals and the power to act on them?

    She hates being powerless to do anything about it. She wishes she could stomach Bruno's entirely reasonable approach of watching and waiting. He's right, of course he is...but still.
    ]
    neversmall: (Default)

    [personal profile] neversmall 2021-06-28 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Nina is almost happily derailed at this: ] Fairy dust? Why should that make any difference?

    [ It is a bit of a Grounding Tactic, but then she's had rather an extraordinary day and could use the grounding. ]
    hootlem: (Well okay but I've got a 60/40 record)

    [personal profile] hootlem 2021-06-28 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
    Can't be too hard to find. These things are hard to miss.

    [Eda leads the way, as indicated, tapping her staff thoughtfully against her shoulder. ]

    If you can pull your creature wiles on it, great. I'd rather not use another sleep spell if it's not threatening anyone. Longer we're here, the more I've got to watch my strength.
    ulfrkysst: (fuðork haniast bjalmyr fuð fuðork)

    [personal profile] ulfrkysst 2021-06-28 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    [She folds her arms over her chest and fixes him with an incredulous look.]

    It seems more effort to me. [The creatures are walking slowly, and he's escorting only two at once. She can kill triple that amount in half the time, she's sure.

    She eyes the creatures again, trying to wrap her head around just why Matthias is treating them so kindly, then sighs.]


    Where are you bringing them?
    ulfrkysst: (ásjá angan tjá tjá tjá)

    [personal profile] ulfrkysst 2021-06-28 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Eivor finally glances over, smiling mirthlessly.]

    Only if they were birthed from the eggs, I think.

    [She's not blind to the marked difference between how the Adamant received them versus their current visitors. She's annoyed by it, but more curious than anything else: she doesn't want to cast judgment until she's got all the pieces in place. Which, it seems, may take a bit more effort.]

    It is curious they seemed to be expecting them. More than the "Children," anyway.
    ulfrkysst: (ou mi galdr maðr áss áss æt)

    [personal profile] ulfrkysst 2021-06-28 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Eivor's lip curls slightly at the mention of killing things from far away. Not that she's derisive of it, but she's just irritated that with all the things that came along with her in the eggs, her longbow wasn't among them. It would be easier to pick them off from a distance, especially since she doesn't know what kind of defensive (or offensive) capabilities the creatures have.

    She follows his gaze to the axe.]
    It is sharp as Odin's wit, and I surely do not lack the strength.

    [She easily slips the axe from the loop at her hip and into her hand. The light is low enough where it doesn't glint off the metal and alert the thing to their presence.]

    Have you something that will destroy it once its shell is cracked?
    annoyware: (pic#14869568)

    [personal profile] annoyware 2021-06-28 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Claptrap somehow manages to look disappointed that there aren't people inside the shell, because that would be really badass and he was excited to have solved the mystery so easily.

    But he perks up when Bruno continues, pointing a claw into the air in triumph.]


    Oh! Oh! What if we find evidence?
    annoyware: (pic#14869568)

    [personal profile] annoyware 2021-06-28 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Claptrap has to think for a second, basically because he doesn't even remember what he just said.]

    The who? Oh! Yeah, the ones who were exposed to too much Eridium. As a robot, it doesn't really bother me, but I think humans are sensitive to it or something. It also makes them crazy. [You know. Normal sci-fi stuff.

    The little blue light shines down on Alina directly.]


    Are you still down there?
    portolan: (a r m s c r o s s e d)

    [personal profile] portolan 2021-06-28 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    Did you not hear the meeting report? Varric described me as a sultry thunderstorm and regaled my arm-wrestling the thessyx. And I've been here three weeks.

    [ He winks, flashing a grin. This is fun -- and easy. This is the way they blew into towns and dazzled taverns or diplomats while looking for marks. This is how he tried on a hundred personalities when his didn't seem to ever fit quite right. ]

    Some of us are simply born great. But act a little mysterious, offer a few choice details, dress a little strange -- others will start fanning the flame you began, and soon you're a legend.

    [ A legend that provides anonymity and plausible deniability. You're never the one telling your own lies. ]
    portolan: (w e l l l l l)

    03 - Network follow up re: sinkholes

    [personal profile] portolan 2021-06-28 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Steering the hoverbike through the crowded, narrow streets to the Aid Station is difficult. Fran was usually pilot on this, while he shot and navigated. It's also harder to reach the Mist here. He imagines that he'll improve with time. He did all right driving it back from the hatching grounds with Nina -- he just has to pay attention to his energy.

    He reaches the outskirts of the station and parks the bike. There's no real worry of it getting stolen -- people here aren't prone to that anyway, but even if they were, he's fairly certain it won't work without Mist connection, and the only ones who might have that are other Hatchlings.

    He wades among the tents to where Alina is lying on a medical cot. Her leg is heavily bandaged, and she's absorbed in something.
    ]

    Your chariot awaits, madame.
    sunmon: (pic#14982449)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-28 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
    Supposedly, it makes children fly.

    [ her nose crinkles like this is OBVIOUSLY ABSURD and what kind of domovoi would do THAT??? but her expression melts into one of amusement and affection because, well, kids. she's not going to be the one to point it out to them. ]
    sunmon: (pic#14981254)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-28 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yeah.

    [ it's hollow, though. alina's gaze drops at our little group and never quite lifts back up. she rubs at some invisible spot on her palm, a nervous habit that never went away when the scar did. she can't tell the truth: that not everyone in their little group can be considered comfort, either. it would be too easy to narrow down.

    and she's evidently got no way out, yet.
    ]

    I don't think it's gilded. Their palace. Sort of waterlogged, actually. Though I suppose that works for them. I got one to show me a photograph.
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-28 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
    I don't think I can climb. My leg...

    [ she struggles over the words, like admitting that weaknesses takes something out of her. alina has always solved her own problems. she's never had the kindness of strangers to count on. ]

    It's okay. I'll figure it out. I'm sure it just needs a good stretch or something. [ a little more of the earth around the tunnel caves in, sprinkling soil over her head. she sputters and dusts it off. ]
    sunmon: (pic#14982478)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-29 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
    That sounds right up your alley.

    [ she smiles with genuine affection as she says it, even as it finally melts and gives way to something sad. she rubs at her neck, ducking her head a little as she lets the fantasy go and actually admits, ] I'm trying to keep my footprint a little smaller than legend at the moment.

    [ it doesn't really sit right, though. that desire. like it's somethings he's doing out of obligation and not out of personal drive. ]
    sunmon: (pic#14873903)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-29 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
    You make it sound very grand.

    [ she's not sure what to expect, honestly, and from here, she doesn't have a good view. so she eases herself up off the cot, careful of her leg. one of her arms has just been freed from its sling, fortunately, but she still keeps it bent a little bit at her side. ginger.

    she doesn't reach for help. instead, she starts at a steady limp towards him, head as high as can be expected.
    ]
    annoyware: (pic#14869578)

    [personal profile] annoyware 2021-06-29 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
    [Worry that isn't directly related to self-preservation is not part of a standard CL4P-TP unit's programming. So he doesn't quite catch on to the fact that Alina is in, you know, imminent danger. Instead, he is taking her deflection to heart: maybe she does just need to stretch her leg; he doesn't know anything about human biology.

    But I'll figure it out actually does trigger something in his programming: the preservation of his ego.]


    Don't worry! I'll come up with a plan! A better one than anything you could come up with! [This is all very enthusiastic and obviously not meant to be an insult.

    And then he rolls away, out of sight. Maybe his plan was just to abandon her.]
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-06-29 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
    Wait —

    [ she grabs onto the rope for a moment as if she means to just climb up after him, but of course, she can't. instincts are no good. but it would have been nice to at least tell him who to look for.

    she shakes off the dust again, sighing, and looks down at her comms device. well, at least she's not completely on her own.
    ]

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