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.
  • figlia_morbida: (Default)

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-02 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
    [If Trish said something wrong, she's not sure what it could have been.

    Like Alina's initial discomfort, though, Trish brushes over it, snorting at Alina's comment instead. Trish has no love for the Thessyx, so she's happy to hear someone say something not unfailingly polite about them, for once.
    ]

    You mean to say telepathic creatures still take photos?

    [That's hilarious, though Trish isn't laughing.]

    Back home, we have little toy castles we put in aquariums for our fish to swim through. I imagine their castle is much the same.

    [With a shoddy paint job to boot.]

    Though, if it is underwater, that might be another reason why they don't want you to tag along.

    [Wouldn't do to drown their god's Children, now would it?]
    spalten: (pic#14544660)

    [personal profile] spalten 2021-07-02 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
    Not surprising. Though this is the first I've seen interest from the younger ones.

    [ vidar gives a slight wave. ]

    Popularity and good looks are a curse, however. Interests can be fickle.
    morozova: [ used with permission ] (pic#14852819)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
    You do seem to enjoy bullying me.

    ( not that he sounds the least bit put upon or bullied. possibly because he enjoys it, actually, when she tugs on his metaphoric pigtails. the novelty of having someone so utterly unafraid of him, of the consequences of getting too close, is exhilarating in a way. )

    Though surely we can settle on a compromise that doesn't end in grievous bodily harm coming to one or either of us?
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
    [ with the boastful arrogance of someone who knows she has the upperhand, alina says, ] I'm listening.

    [ and leaning in, very close, turning her gaze upwards to meet his, but not before stopping for quite a long moment on the curve of his mouth. she hasn't let him near like this almost at all, but now that he's here, she's very aware of how handsome he is, how warm, and how she's missed this. it's hard to miss exactly what she's hoping he'll bargain with. ]
    morozova: @axisandallies (Default)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
    ( aleksander makes a show of considering this as if he's weighing all the prospective offers.

    eventually, he settles on bald honesty: )
    Ordinarily, I'd offer you something you'd want more; however, I don't think I know you half as well as I'd like to, Alina Starkov.

    So, tell me: what does Alina Starkov want more than to be selflessly heroic?


    sunmon: (pic#14981253)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
    [ her gaze drops and she sits up a little straighter, wincing when it jostles her leg. she gapes a bit, searching for the answer. what does she want? from him, from herself before she was the sun summoner responsible for destroying the fold?

    to be happy sounds too foolish. to be loved sounds worse. that had never been an option.
    ]

    That's a very serious question.

    [ the implication, of course, being that she'd like an easier way out of it. banter and flirting, not anything that makes her dig at herself that way. ]
    morozova: [ used with permission ] (pic#14852843)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
    All the more reason to think on it.

    ( but, he tips his head toward hers. and oh, they are very close, aren't they? )

    Until you have your answer, though, perhaps I'll look into bribery.
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
    [ her breath catches. the smile still in the corner of her mouth. ]

    You don't have much to bargain with.
    morozova: [ used with permission ] (pic#14852882)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
    I'm sure I could find something to snare your interest.

    ( it's unfortunate, really, that there aren't too many sweet things to spare. genya safin had had the right idea about getting in with the kitchen staff.

    he does miss those pastries. )


    Unless you could be persuaded to give me a hint?
    sunmon: (pic#14982502)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
    [ she pretends to think about it, and in doing so, comes up with a coy goading.

    in the meantime, while he's finding ways around giving her what she's obviously asking for, she smooths her hand down the front of his shirt. it's new. well, new to him. old to some dead adamant passenger. but it's not his kefta, and that's startling.
    ]

    Something you've already given me that never gets old.
    morozova: @axisandallies (Default)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    Something you don't have to fight me for, then.

    ( the corner of his mouth quirks, chin tipping down to watch her smooth her fingers over the patchwork fabric. he'd taken her advice to heart, ultimately, despite something in him still bridling at the thought of allowing himself to be reduced — even if it was necessary, even if it was his own choice.

    finally, he covers her hands with his own, fingers lacing together. )
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ only herself. but it seems like an obvious choice here and now, so she slots her mouth against his sweetly, raising her good hand to cup his cheek. she's careful not to catch her injuries too tightly between them. the painkillers are working, but she's not interested in testing them.

    but she's been afraid and alone ever since she got here, and he's right. he hasn't exactly been offering, but he won't fight her if she wants to be held.
    ]
    sunmon: (pic#14981221)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
    Are you saying you're too respectable for me?

    [ she scoffs. it's not like she hasn't thought it, though. hanging around her is a good way to get inevitably dragged into her problems. it might be to balthier's benefit to do what mal did and run the other way. but alina's not quite selfless enough to send him packing. ]
    sunmon: (pic#14981249)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
    It's not as bad as it looks.

    [ which is a lie, obviously, because the 'look' is entirely a result of her hobbling, which is a reaction to how bad it is. the reaction is merely automatic. alina, in ravka, has never been able to afford admitting her weaknesses.

    but this is balthier, who's never done anything to hurt her. reluctantly, she steps nearer, taking his arm.
    ]

    But if you're offering. [ she doesn't quite meet his gaze. ]
    sunmon: (pic#14982489)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    You think we might drown? [ alina draws a breath, something slotting into place for her — finally. ] Saints, I hadn't even considered that.

    [ which goes to show how much work went into this strategy, and how much it's clearly a move born of desperation instead. we'll not dwell on that too long. she touches a hand to her head, as if embarrassed by her own foolishness. ]
    morozova: [ used with permission ] (pic#14852099)

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-03 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( alina cups his face and he has a moment, barely half a heartbeat, to watch her, his expression a tangled mess of awe and hope and fear, and then she's closing the distance between them.

    her mouth slants so gently against his, impossibly sweet and oh. the yearning in him kindles. )


    Your injury. ( he wants to sound cautious, considerate, but it's difficult to think of anything but her when they're already tucked together like this. )
    sunmon: (pic#14850621)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-03 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ she laughs against his lips, drawing back only slightly to search his expression with wild eyes. ]

    What are you planning that you're worried about that? [ but she can't keep herself from him long. her eyes drift towards his mouth, like every second apart just to breathe is a second too long. hours had been too long to go without kissing him a second time. weeks between it and the third feels like a lifetime. ] I told you. Nothing's broken.

    [ whatever harm is exacerbated is harm that will heal, so she kisses him again, savoring the warm tickle of his beard against her face. ]
    sunmon: (Default)

    SO I LOST THIS NOTIF

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-04 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
    Do we?

    [ her smile only looks a little less sincere. ]

    Did you ever try to run from the Little Palace?
    figlia_morbida: ([say that])

    Alina....

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-04 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
    [Trish looks to Alina with a raised brow.

    She hadn't considered...? Well, these guys can walk on land, so it's only natural to assume they live on it too, at least in some capacity. Or perhaps they're like frogs, and will dry out ere long.

    She's feeling a lot nicer towards Alina, at least, so she won't linger on that either.
    ]

    I was mostly joking. But do I think a culture clash is definitely on their minds.

    [Bringing a pet human home to their water utopia would probably raise some scaly brows, she's sure.

    Trish tosses the hat she's holding into one of the costume boxes.
    ]

    Anyways, I didn't come to chastise anyone. I was looking for someone named Alina.
    sunmon: (pic#14982453)

    LOOK...

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-04 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
    You—

    [ alina's brain is ready to shift towards directing trish, but she comes up short. a sort of bewildered look lingers on her face. who's sending people around looking for her? a brief dark cloud crosses through her expression. kirigan, checking up on her? she pushes it down. ]

    Well, you've found her. I'm Alina.
    unfastens: (catch a kiss)

    he probably did

    [personal profile] unfastens 2021-07-05 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
    [ the hand was a long shot, and he didn't expect her to take it. The important thing is that it was offered, and she knows that offer's standing. Trish isn't the first person he's taken under his wing who's too proud to accept help unless they can do so of their own volition. He simply lets his hand fall back and slip into a pocket, giving her a nod before turning to leave the party.

    No one keeps them from exiting, though the process is no doubt smoothed by Bruno giving away his cup of bootleg liquor to an unhatched refugee who's clearly been hoping to scoop up handouts the entire latter half of the party. It's immediately quieter outside. He's not bothered by crowds, but he'll admit that he has a preference for more peaceful noise. ]


    Ah. You didn't drink any of that, did you? [ referring to the booze he gave away a few moments ago; he slows his pace and looks over his shoulder at Trish, waiting for her to walk beside him. Considering his distaste for drugs, one might expect him to continue this conversation in the manner of a stern parent, but: ] I hope not. It tasted like shit.
    figlia_morbida: ([inner universe])

    Bruno............................................

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-05 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
    [She's taken his hand before when she was vulnerable...perhaps it's a sign that while she's clearly anxious, she hasn't started to really believe in certain doom just yet.

    Trish eyes the pleased refugee as they depart, another reminder of how tenuous an alliance would be when this party is a hearty slap in the face for the Adamant survivors, what with begging for scraps at the literal and metaphorical table.

    She has to jog briefly to catch up to Bruno, blinking at his question when...oh my god.

    Trish immediately hides her mouth behind her knuckles. Whether she's startled or amused she doesn't show it, but it takes her a moment to pull her hand away so she can look at him with a straight face.
    ]

    Are you surprised? Everything here tastes like shit.

    [Wow!

    She's going to pick up bad language from you, sir (no). Trish maintains her flat expression, at any rate, almost like she's gauging his reaction.
    ]
    unfastens: (deprived of)

    🤐

    [personal profile] unfastens 2021-07-05 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
    [ maybe she's hiding her face, but judging by the smirk on his, he's definitely chosen to interpret her expression as amused. He huffs a laugh. ]

    Fair enough. I've gotten spoiled on Campanian wine.

    [ compared to his humble beginnings, he's become quite the fat cat from his mobster lifestyle. Bruno will blame his distaste for cheap alcohol on the fact that he was too young for more than a sip before he signed up with Passione.

    There aren't too many people around, on account of the feast, which is nice, in a way. He doesn't feel like they need to go look for a quiet spot to rest; they're free to just walk. ]


    You strike me as the partying type. Am I wrong?

    [ he hasn't been to high school, but he knows a little about it thanks to the media and Mista (Fugo was an exceptional case.) Trish is fashionable and pretty with a sharp tongue - the type of teenager who would be well-liked in that setting, in his mind. Before all of this happened to her. ]
    figlia_morbida: (Default)

    i love her

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-05 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
    [It's Trish, sending herself around. That's far less threatening than any other alternative, right?

    Trish runs a hand through her hair briefly, wondering how to approach this without seeming...too forward? The network is public, but she prefers talking in person if she can help it.
    ]

    Balthier [she pronounces that horrendously by the way] said you were working on a production. I sort of volunteered a music performance for the end. Admittedly I don't know what's concrete and what isn't as far as plans go.

    [She gestures to Alina.]

    Maybe it doesn't matter and we will simply act independently, but I wanted to see what you were thinking of...communicating with your production.

    [Which is even more interesting to think about with what they just talked about.]
    figlia_morbida: ([word up])

    oh shit i got boomeranged....blessed sib

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-05 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
    [She's honestly surprised he's humoring her? It's horribly transparent as to why, and she shouldn't let him because as dour as she was...it was a serious topic and she wonders if she wouldn't feel better wringing out the possibilities of each scenario and planning for them...

    But this is nice too.

    And honestly, it shocks her to hear him say anything bad about this place, at all, even if it is to make her laugh. That would suggest he had taste, and he never once complained. He ate a bug! What is the truth, Bruno?!

    God, and once again, Bruno would kill her if he voiced any of his thoughts. It takes her a long moment to respond to him, at any rate, and she peers at him the whole time she's thinking like she's suspicious of him.
    ]

    ...Not exactly. I don't do party games, but I do like people watching.

    [She has thought often about what it would have been like to take Narancia to one of her schoolmate's parties.

    Nothing would have been more satisfying than to watch him raise hell. She would have basked in it.
    ]

    And free food, I guess. This is by far the worst party I've ever been to in that regard.

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