agentlelog | event: a gentle explosion

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event: a gentle explosion

I see a world just out of reach
With shoulders of giants at my feet
There’s not a challenge I’m afraid to meet

► The OOC plotting post for this event can be found here.

► Direct all questions to the mods at this link.

STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND
You wake, warm and comfortable, and realize that you’re no longer where you were when you went to sleep. The dream was real. As you clamber out of bed and open your door, an impassive footman greets you and leads you to breakfast in a large hall filled with many, many people. They sit around a hodgepodge of tables in a mishmash of furniture—nothing matches anything else, and no two chairs are the same.

The woman from your dream catches your eyes. She stares at you with open shock. “Well,” she says, as a number of males turn to her with withering looks. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” She smiles at you. “Welcome to Draega, Stranger. Please, join us.”

Join them at the table and have your breakfast, Stranger. There isn’t much to offer: porridge, water, a bit of milk, some wrinkled fruits, and bread. Coffee, thankfully, is not in short supply. Meet your fellow Strangers, both the ones choosing to live at the Queen’s Residence and those who arrived in the night with you.

As breakfast draws to a close, the Queen’s Steward, Prince Loren Sorey, explains that you may choose to find your own home or stay in the residence for as long as you please. Those who stay will receive a modest stipend but are required to participate in Allairavar’s morning trainings every day. At dawn. Before breakfast. Those who go will need to find their own homes among the ruined buildings of the city and make their own money.

The court begins filtering out of the Great Hall, dispersing to attend their many duties. Linger, Stranger, and overhear…

“What did you mean?” The man leaning over the Queen is Prince Allairavar. His membranous wings flare around him, and his expression is menacing. “This wasn’t supposed to happen?”

Queen Fayura doesn’t look at all alarmed by the massive man caging her against a wall. “It was a one-time spell,” she says. “The web was—” Her eyes go wide. “I need to go look at the web.” She ducks under Allairavar’s arm, which could put a tree trunk to shame, really, grabs Prince Verim, and drags him from the hall.

Allairavar bares his teeth at the wall and snarls. The sound rumbles through the room, and dark temper washes briefly through the residence before all the tangled webs tucked in corners absorb it, leaving the building peaceful and clean of psychic feeling once more.

A TALE OF TWO IDEALS
At exactly 5:46pm, an explosion rocks the city of Draega. Black clouds belch fire to the northwest of the city. Concurrently, in Old Town, a mob of landens armed with Breakers and Muters descends on The Last Meal. They surround an older, Blood woman.

i. Black Out
The power plant maintained by the Tinkers and the Elektrics has exploded. Across Draega, e-line appliances shut down and the city plunges into darkness—the sun set some 45 minutes ago.

Prince Loren reaches out to approximately half the Strangers, asking them to go to the power plant. He shares a mental map with them so they know how to reach the building, as well as the Craft used for air-walking. The tutorial is quick and hardly complete, but now you’ll be able to run above the city to reach your destination.

The power plant burns. Black smoke pours into the air. Master Elektric Doriah organizes the Tinkers and Elektrics who were able to escape on their own. A quick glance reveals how absolutely exhausted she is. When Strangers approach, she sneers but isn’t about to turn away good help.

“There are still people inside. The Blood who did this trapped us in shields.” She hesitates only a moment before collecting Breakers from guildmembers carrying them. “Take these. Your Jewel may not be able to break through the shields.”

Inside, well-ordered building is a mess of fire and melting steel. Airwalking protects your feet, and shields can keep out the heat, but you’ll need something more to protect your lungs. Put out fires, stop systems from overloading, save the machines from complete destruction, and rescue missing workers who are suffocating and cooking inside shields. The guildmembers trapped in the power plant will assist the Strangers who free them, helping mitigate the damage done to the plant and keep it from exploding the rest of the way.

ii. Death of a Councilwoman
Councilwoman Vera enjoys dinners at The Last Meal, and this is well known by everyone in the city. Today, public knowledge of her schedule doesn’t work so well in her favor.

As she approaches the restaurant with her family, a group of landens descends on them. Muters prevent the Blood from taking any action that isn’t purely physical, and this is enough to throw most of them off their stride; they’re used to relying on Craft to fight. The landens separate Vera from her family in a short-lived brawl. She shouts and screams—“Let me go! Don’t you know who I am? The Queen will have you executed for this! Your families will be thrown out of the city! You’re making a mis—”

A shot rings through the air.

The landens peel away from one of their own, a young man gripping a Breaker in both hands. He trembles as he stands over Councilwoman Vera, whose expression is frozen forever in shocked disbelief. Her body crumples to the ground, blood from a gunshot wound on her chest staining the white fabric of her blouse.

In the silence that follows the shot, Allairavar shoves free of the crowd. “Go home!” he snarled, Craft powering his voice.

No one moves.

Except the young landen man. He takes off at a run, and the crowd is still too horrified to do much to stop him. Allairavar wastes no time. He plunges after the young man. At the same time, he reaches out to the minds of the Strangers closest to Old Town. *The Ebon Council is, collectively, a sack of reeking shit, and Lady Vera was a bitch,* Allairavar tells the Strangers. *But if we don’t get between the Blood and the landens, we’ll have another war. We can’t afford another war. Keep them from killing each other while I deal with this idiot.*

AIR TIME
Whether you catch the news on a Far-caster in the city or you’re spinning the dial on your own device, you’ll hear…

the news
…angered local landen families by her hard-line position that Blood homes should receive priority as the city continues to recover from the fires set by the Hunter Guild last month. [The man speaks at a brisk pace, hurried and harried as though he has too much to say and not enough time to say it.]

Councilwoman Vera is known for her vocal disdain for the landen Guilds, isn’t that right, Garret? [Another man, nasally in tone. He doesn’t sound rushed so much as put upon.]

[Garret:] Correct, Wilt. She—excuse the interruption, but we are just now hearing— [The feed abruptly cuts off. Static pours from the Far-caster regardless of what local channel it is tuned to.]

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Oh, you know. Typing memos and filing papers, that sort of thing. [ She waves her hand. It's not preferred work, as she'd find it beneath her, but there's no doubt she could do it. She'd probably have to practice on the typewriter a bit first though. Her speed is definitely not where she would need it to be.

Mary cocks her head at his quizzical look. ] Or perhaps you don't know?

[ Oh, she's picking up what he's putting down, but she's not inclined to look for similarities and let herself look for a false familiarity. So far, everything they've talked about has been general enough. Seems like the best way to find out is just to ask. ]

What's the name of where you're from?

I - just wasn't expecting to meet anyone from my world here. Even if -- I don't think what you're saying has happened yet, for me. Which is -- weird. Annabeth is one of my best friends. [ And then, she realizes Alex has no reason to believe her, so she offers some confirming information that Alex hadn't given. ] If you're talking about Annabeth Chase. And Percy Jackson.

[ And the whole 'gods and goddesses' thing is still relatively new to her. An entirely different pantheon was also a little brain breaking. ]

[It's fake, but he'll get to that in a moment after the punching— and then the splintering, and then the desperate rush to pull the hostages out of their bubble prison. He is not elegant about it, but at least this is... efficient?

It gets the people out of there, and that's what counts.]

That's— [wheeze, physical activity] Is that everyone?

[ She blinks, slowly. Devils. Okay.

Piper wonders what devils mean in his world. It's certainly a... cautionary word. But she is very aware that different cultures have different beliefs and reasons for those beliefs. How much moreso a different world?

All that said - judging people on heredity is... not something she is comfortable with, even with what she's heard about Titans. So. ]

What's your name?

Jason. [ Her entire demeanor changes as she says her boyfriend's name. She is young, and he is her first love, and the wonder of both of them being here is a happiness that causes her eyes to gleam. ] He arrived last month. Which - is strange, because I didn't know he was gone until I got here. But I'm glad we're together here.

[Oh. Okay, wow. Daylight picked Emil up like it was nothing already, but Emil is tiny and one tiny person is way different from several not so tiny people - it's all he can do to gesture at the freed hostages like, no no, this is fine! This is safe and normal! once they're scooped up into the air.]

That's— okay! Go!

[He'll follow! He isn't a gifted runner and the oppressive atmosphere of the chaos in the collapsing building is making it worse, so he starts to lag behind before they can reach the way out... but that's fine, Daylight can get those people to safety, and Emil will catch up in due time, huffing and puffing on his wee human legs. He extends a hand to Daylight, either to get his attention or because he's about to just wobble and fall over, one of the two.]

There are... I heard more people back there!

Edited 2019-03-10 00:28 (UTC)

[At least it's not a trash can... or moldy... Emil is, frankly, a snob, but he's slept in enough questionable places in the past months that "dry and cold" is leagues above past standards.

Anyway, allow him to dole out the breakfast from his little parcel. The porridge looks like it's in something of an old-fashioned to-go cup, which he definitely had to bargain for because someone definitely thought he was trying to hoard food for himself. But look: it's still warm.]

Here you go! This stuff is better if you put the apples in it.

[He says this like it's a genius breakfast hack no one else has ever come up with.]

[ It's considered the highest crime where she comes from as well. How awful that this might go unpunished. ]

It is not our decision to make anyway. I do hope that there is some sort of justice system here.

Oh, uhhh, hmm— [Actually... here's a new idea... What if: they don't do that, for the simple reason that Emil has a terrible track record for "splitting up." Getting lost, attacked by monsters, covered in grime - there isn't a single "splitting up" incident that's ever gone well for him, so.

After he stands there for all of two seconds, looking awkward, then glances up at the smoky haze hiding whatever part of the ceiling is going to fall next:]

I think we should stay together, actually, if that's alright. I'm not— Let's just not risk it?

I suppose we could bring it to Fayura or to the Ebon Council but I'm not sure how it works, honestly. I know the Prince is going after the culprit, so perhaps some justice will be served.

( Sansa casts a glance at the people, who seem restless, and invites them again to come speak with her. She really wants to allay concerns if she can. One woman comes forward, a Blood woman judging by the Yellow jewel around her neck. )

My lady, did you wish to tell us something?

[Most of that is gibberish to him.

Scratch that, all of it is gibberish to him. Yes, he understands the need to feel better about oneself, but this sort of blabbering... No, that's of no use to anyone, is it?]

All of what you've said makes no bleedin' sense, an I think it best if you drop the subject.

Eh, I liked knowing things. Then again, my mom was messing with my life for as long as I can remember [He shrugs, unconcerned.]

At least as an einherjar I get to screw with her life in return.

[She nods] Yea, them. It does seem kind of weird, but weird's been the watchword of my life since, well, forever. You get used to it.

[ Rolls his eyes!! Shakes his head!! What nonsense... ]

That's not what I... [ sighs ] Forget it. Talking to you is like talking to a stupid child.

[ surprised to hear a voice that isn't shouting at her for interfering in their fight, she turns to the source of it because it sounds so familiar...

oh! it's clarke. zita is unable to hide her relief upon seeing a friendly face, happy someone is willing to try and voice reason in the anger and the frustration.

but before zita can call out to her, someone moves forward and shoves at zita hard. ]

Ah-!

[ He gets the sense that something has shifted here, and that the tension isn't the same as before.

There's a bit of intrigue from his end, though he keeps his tone casual. ]

Depends. Is there an "off" button on you?

That's very true. I've only recently been up north when it started getting colder and I didn't much care for it. [Blood on the snow, he thinks. The last thing he remembers besides Lorenzo's face covered in his blood from where he spat at him before the glaive came down.] But I run hot. Cold... doesn't suit my whole... Y'know.

[He gesticulates to himself.] Infernal thing.

[ This is all moving along way too fast??

Haein at least has the decency to stop pointing when asked. He can kind of understand where Daylight is coming from... He probably wouldn't want attention on his prone body either.

The only difference here being that Haein isn't a large robot.

And before anything else can be said, Daylight is off once again. There's a bit of hesitation on Haein's end before he follows, though he doesn't make much of an effort to keep up.

He might still be looking for an opportunity to slip away, but he's also strangely involved at this point, and maybe it would be best to stick around to see the outcome... ]

I suppose.

[ ... she has a point.

zita finishes cleaning off the blood and the dust and the smoke to the best of her abilities, taking a step back to assess her work. it gives her a chance to also have more room to think about what mordred said.

better to try than not try at all. what's the worse that could happen...

... hrm... perhaps she should not jinx it for the man's sake. ]

I hate to ask so much from you since you came to me for help but- [ she takes a deep breath, making her mind up. ] Could you help me? After I patch you up, I'll heal him though I might need help in keeping him down.

I'll need to my physical contact with the wounds and that will hurt.

[ to be frank - zita isn't used to physical affection. especially the spontaneous type. she freezes up, a little surprised and a little unsure of how to go about this. she usually tries to push the person away to establish her boundaries but-

-but after what they've been through in the last few hours? she's not going to question it. in fact, she's relieved to have physical assurance that someone else is by her side.

she pulls back while giving one of molly's hand a squeeze in gratitude and in thanks, quick to rub at the corner of her eye with with her free hand. ]

It had but- [ she makes a face, realising she's being too negative. maybe focusing on the positive for now will help her nerves. ] It had and I'm glad it did. It could have been so much worse if you hadn't stepped in, Molly.

Percy and Leo.

[ He echoes, because it is. ]

And I think that's a good idea.

[Aw, it's the straightforward option. Still, Ren doesn't allow himself to actually look disappointed, instead just tilting his head with a light smile.]

Oh, I'm from Earth. Or Japan, if you want just the country and not the planet.

[It occurs to him that might be a good thing to get into the habit of elaborating on slightly, considering there's probably plenty of people here who aren't from Earth.]

[Well, it might cause problems if they hang around too long, but Ren can understand not wanting to risk it. Given that, though, he turns towards the edge of the room nearest them, gesturing for Emil to follow as he starts heading in that direction. While Ren isn't built for physical exertion, he is skinny and long-legged, which means he's absolutely fine for speed when he needs to be.]

We'd better be quick about it, then...I don't really like the look of that. [He nods towards the middle of the room, where there's a visible downwards pitch to a section of the roof, the shape of it visible through the smoke. It's holding for now, but that could change at any time.] Hopefully if we find anyone, they're not under green...

[He's seen a few green shields here and there, but most of them seem to be purple dusk or lower, which is a whole lot more useful for him even if he does have a Breaker. If the Breaker can't shatter a green shield in a single shot, reloading would waste a great deal of time they don't really have.]

Oh, maybe there's even less modern people here than I thought... [Ren doesn't look too surprised at that, honestly. Of the people he spoke to at breakfast, Piper had been about the only one he'd thought might be from a similar time to him.

Ren sighs a bit at the mention of jumping right into things, though, finally managing to get his coat off and starting to fold the sleeves back the right way.] Mmm, I don't really have much of a choice, do I...? If people are going to be rude and uninteresting and do things like this...

[That is probably an extremely polite way of putting what exactly the people who did this are, but Ren's actual opinion of the matter is staying right there in his head.] This sort of thing doesn't happen often, does it?

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event: a gentle explosion

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