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.
  • baum: (s c r e w)

    [personal profile] baum 2021-07-12 12:11 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Okay so she's actually...much better than him at this, who'd have thought? He tries to snag it when she bounces it behind, fails utterly, and smiles at his own failure. Yeah, this is gonna be fun. ]

    I think I want to hear what they have to say. They don't act like our coming here was a surprise. They're more interested in us than the settlers. Makes me think they know something, or think that they do. I'd like to know what.

    [ He pauses, then makes a dash to get around her. ]
    trassel: (37.)

    [personal profile] trassel 2021-07-12 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ A sharp, amused noise. ]

    Do not worry. I will do that.

    [ Used to it. They're getting used to him, he can't quite tell the difference between them yet, but he could swear there've been a few recently that come along very readily... ]

    This way, I think. Did you see any more sinkholes?
    dissemblance: (pic#14842245)

    [personal profile] dissemblance 2021-07-12 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    Too bad, you're really missing out.

    she caps that water bottle again, slow and deliberate. then:

    But my door's always open.
    sunmon: (pic#14981246)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-13 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
    You have a door?

    [ what luxury. ravka's phrase for the same meaning is probably Slightly Different, so alina's not quite putting together that it might not be literal. ]
    neversmall: (easystreet-s&b1x8-38)

    [personal profile] neversmall 2021-07-13 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Nina gives a slow nod of assessment and agreement. ]

    Well, knowing the rest of the world is out to kill you, enslave you, or cut you up into little pieces does tend to foster a certain kind of bond. [ She hesitates, then: ] The Little Palace is too full of politics to ever feel like a home, for me. It's a function - a tool, to make us better tools. But it does give us the opportunity to find a place with each other. [ She does not touch her locket, but a wry, painful expression flits across her face. ] If we're very, very lucky, anyway. And - just for the record - you do belong.
    needfully: (pic#14877857)

    IM SO SORRY this is so late... feel free to drop if it's too old!!

    [personal profile] needfully 2021-07-13 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
    [ It doesn't show on his face, but her suggestion actually is the best of both worlds for him— how lucky! If at all possible, he'd like to avoid sticking out his neck, so to hear she's confident enough to take it out herself at close range makes him glad that he made the suggestion in the first place. ]

    Mm, sure. I'll wait until you're in range of its tail.

    [ He meets her clear look of disapproval with measured serenity, seeming agreeable despite her incredulous reaction. Truth be told, he doesn't mind a change in the course of direction so long as the chips still fall in his favor. Illumi is selfish, but he's also efficient: it would be incredibly messy to deal with this by himself, so he can be convinced to collaborate and work together if it's advantageous. Why not speed the process along, afterall: ]

    You'll have a few seconds when I immobilize it with my needle. [ Illumi speaks lowly, flicking his eyes over to the beast instead - there's a spare crate that he can wait behind, as things turn out, so he creeps in that direction. ] I'll distract it so you can advance closer.

    [ And with that, he flicks another needle across the room, shattering some stray light-bulb that got burned out to draw the mole's attention away from the two of them. The sound of the glass breaking immediately puts the mole on alert, but its focusing its attention on the source of the sound, sniffing around confusedly for what could have caused it. Now's their chance!! ]
    needfully: (pic#14877873)

    [personal profile] needfully 2021-07-13 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
    Well, that's what I'm curious about. For others to feel jealous of our position... we don't know what the Thessyx will come to expect out of us. So be upset over the difference in treatment is irrational.

    [ In his view, it's giving very worship-esque energy, which makes him think the Thessyx expect the Children of the Leviathan to do something, or serve some kind of greater purpose. ]

    If it turns out we're some piece of a prophecy for them, I don't think the Adamant's people will be as quick to want to share the association.

    [ Because, like the other man says, it's quite possible this will turn into a burden very soon. ]
    annoyware: (pic#14869516)

    [personal profile] annoyware 2021-07-13 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
    [The lens stares right back at him, his expression inscrutable because, again, he has no expressions.]

    I hear what you're saying... [he starts, slowly,] And I... disagree.

    [He then abruptly zips away, singing a "spy song" a capella. Most of the base has learned to ignore him by now, so they all instinctively step out of the way while he wheels through the crowd.]
    annoyware: (pic#14869552)

    [personal profile] annoyware 2021-07-13 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
    [If Claptrap notices that Alina is beginning to lag behind, he doesn't do anything about it; he keeps wheeling on at the same pace, unhindered by the rubble. As long as they don't encounter stairs, he's unstoppable.

    The little blue light is getting further and further away.]


    Absolutely! My sense of direction is impeccable!
    figlia_morbida: ([times like these])

    u stole my power

    [personal profile] figlia_morbida 2021-07-13 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
    [It's true...Bruno's impassive expression reveals nothing to her. But regardless of what his face says, his actions reveal far more, as do his words.

    So really, Bruno isn't ever opaque, regardless of how much Trish seems to think so.

    Not even the fact he can tolerate eating bugs is a true mystery! He'd be a long-suffering gangster if he had the capacity to be grossed out left in him.

    She makes a small noise at his comment, and it...bothers her. She doesn't care if the Thessyx know how much she distrusts them, but Bruno being aware of how obvious she is...of course, he was going to look out for her no matter what. What good is that to him, though?
    ]

    ...Maybe.

    [She says, noncommittally.

    If she's not meant to be watching like a hawk, then what is she supposed to do? That question dangles on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn't voice it.

    His other question is an easier one to jump on, at least, and she wrinkles her nose, turning it up for good measure in a manner that could only be described as haughty.
    ]

    I didn't touch a single thing. All of it looked disgusting.

    [And...]

    And even if I wasn't ill just from that, the fact they brought us food in front of a ship of starving people made me sick to my stomach. Every share I had I gave away to someone who wanted it.
    portolan: (w e l l l l l)

    [personal profile] portolan 2021-07-13 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    Quite the contrary. I am the definition of infamous with a reputation that precedes me. I believe I have already arm-wrestled a thessyx, seduced a storm, and influenced Childe's decision making. We'll have to get Varric to retell it to get the details right.

    Point being, I'm terrible company for avoiding legendary status. Excellent for tea and cards though.

    [ Balthier doesn't actively notice her shutting down, but he's socially savvy enough to intuitively steer the conversation to something lighter. ]

    So, my dear, are you too respectable for me? Because I am a pirate with a heart of gold and a moral compass like orichalcum. I could not possibly corrupt a gentle young lady who only wishes to preserve her humble and modest life out of the limelight despite her excellent penchant for piracy and mythmaking.
    portolan: (l o o s e n y o u r c u f f s)

    [personal profile] portolan 2021-07-13 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Balthier takes her weight easily. He's done this with Fran a hundred times, usually in private; she didn't like to show physical need either. And with Ashe, a few times -- rarer and more intimate. Alina is more like the former in relation, if more like the latter in temperament.

    He senses she does not want a big to-do about healing, so he settles for a base cure spell as he's already touching her. It won't heal anything so bad as a break, but it will ease the pain and promote healthy recovery. If she's amenable to that, he can do a stronger spell later, when she has time to eat and rest.
    ]

    Shouldn't be too much farther to the craft.
    dissemblance: @megascopes (pic#14842346)

    [personal profile] dissemblance 2021-07-14 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
    Metaphorical door.

    a wave of her hand.

    Not, you know. Actual. These folks aren't big on privacy.
    dissemblance: (pic#14842231)

    [personal profile] dissemblance 2021-07-14 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    she could play dirty. stick her foot out, trip him up. but instead, she lets him go and doubles back around, guarding him carefully with a sure-footed backwards waltz.

    Guess it's not every day transdimensional settlers wake up in what I'm kinda assuming are dragon eggs, huh?

    she fakes a grab to the ball with her right hand. while he's distracted with that, she sidesteps and tries to go after him with the left.
    dissemblance: (pic#14842307)

    [personal profile] dissemblance 2021-07-15 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
    We don't have to like it, it's still happening.

    maybe she should have said that with a menacing russian accent. if he dies, he dies. she takes an idle sip from her cup, and then leans forward, arms braced against the tabletop.

    If things go sideways, we're going to need a contingency plan.
    dissemblance: (pic#)

    [personal profile] dissemblance 2021-07-15 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
    How'd you guess?

    she dusts herself off. she had to let go of the bracelet — she couldn't retract it like that, and so it's consigned to the deep, amidst screaming metal and memories as fresh as a wound.

    her stomach is clenched into a hard knot. but she breathes. smiles.


    Thank you.
    portolan: (c o n v e r s a t i o n)

    [personal profile] portolan 2021-07-15 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
    I forgot to mention I'm psychic. Your favorite color is blue and you always hated the smell of lemons.

    [ He glances into the hole as the device she'd been holding clangs into it. ]

    Did you need that back?

    [ He hesitates, because it feels corny and oddly vulnerable to say it, but he's still raw from another loss, and he regrets the things he couldn't say. ]

    And you're welcome. Truly, any time.
    unfastens: (every child)

    [personal profile] unfastens 2021-07-15 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
    [ "Not exactly," huh. It could be that he's just the type to take extreme precautions. Bruno's certainly met those types, too. With any luck, that's the only thing Illumi has in common with his former boss.

    He doesn't answer directly, only shaking his head in a vague fashion. ]


    I can't say you're wrong to keep them at arms' length. [ a beat. ] Did you notice? They seem to have some sort of telepathic ability. That's how they knew we were here.

    [ in other words: he's not sure how persuasive a physical disguise will be against them. ]
    morozova: (pic#14874461)

    wrap it soon?

    [personal profile] morozova 2021-07-16 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
    ( hand to heart, he looks the picture of chastened sincerity.

    or he would, but for the twitch of a smile hovering at the corners of his mouth. )


    My sincerest of apologies, solnyshka. However shall I make it up to you?
    sunmon: (pic#14982507)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
    [ a smile breaks out on alina's face like sun peeking from behind clouds. full and bright and genuine. it's hard not to. despite the grim subject matter, nina has offered her something she's always wanted. it doesn't stop feeling good just because it's complex, just because she has a hard time accepting it. ]

    Thank you.

    [ it's the kind of affirmation that makes her want to set everything else aside and worry only about chasing more of that feeling. alina could escape into a kind of life where she belonged. but that precise thinking had been what got her into trouble that baghra had tried to sneak her out of (or murder her, she wasn't quite sure yet which). so though she wants to set everything else aside, alina does not squander the chance to prod at that explanation. ]

    ... The King's tools? Or the General's?
    sunmon: (pic#14885787)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
    [ alina holds out a hand, lets one tiny orb of sun swell in it as they get further down the tunnel. it grows and grows to the size of a bowling ball. ]

    Claptrap? [ she calls after a few moments, when she can scarcely see the tiny blue light anymore. ] Claptrap, slow down!
    sunmon: (Default)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
    [ the same warmth from before blossoms through her as she's walking, and alina notices that her next hobbled step doesn't come with pain shooting up through the bones of her calf. she sucks in a breath, startled, and glances over to search him briefly.

    but he's right. she doesn't want to draw attention to her infirmness. so she quickly averts the gaze, looking vaguely ashamed, and just mutters,
    ]

    Thank you.
    sunmon: (pic#14852472)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
    If the First Army couldn't corrupt me, I doubt you can.

    [ more accurate, she thinks, is that she's not the bastion of modest morality that he makes her sound like when he says gentle young lady. but this will do.

    anyway, the army had been a humble life. her life at the little palace had appealed far more than that. it wasn't that she wanted to leave life there behind, to stop being something wonderful, to stop feeling celebrated even if it came with the double-edged sword of being criticized, feared, and heaped with expectations.

    but she couldn't. she could not be the sun summoner and stay safe from kirigan, and if she was not safe from kirigan, then ravka could not be safe from him.
    ]

    Anyway, it's not like I idealize a humble life of no renown. It's ... [ she snaps her fingers. ] Do you have martyrs in Ivalice? People who are well-known because they're miserable? I think I'd rather be a farmer than a martyr. And I hate farms.
    sunmon: (pic#14852197)

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
    [ she frowns, folding her arms under her chest. a long silence stretches. the full meaning laid bare only makes alina more uncomfortable with the whole offer. it sticks out to her, thorny and confusing. ]

    Do you want something from me? [ what's the alternative? that alina just looks pathetic enough? ]
    sunmon: (pic#14982449)

    sounds good

    [personal profile] sunmon 2021-07-16 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
    How about we just agree that you owe me one?

    [ 'one' is ambiguous, but her voice drifts back to a somewhat suggestive tone. she had, after all, had clear intentions, whether the outcome is possible just now or not. ]

    I should probably rest more, anyway.

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