event: a gentle explosion

[thestewards]

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.]

Comments

OTA

[hardlyanangel]

I. Strangers in Strange Land

The change in the breakfast did not bother much. After all she had subsided on much worse for far longer, though that was another story.

While not aloof, and rather polite when interacting with those attending, Aithne settled in a solitary spot. New faces were about and some she had not seen since that first arrival. A curious thing.

Her porridge and dried fruit consumed, she sipped her coffee and tore at her bread.





II. Death of a Council Woman


Aithne had a habit to walk through the city outside the castle. Often times cloaked due to the weather, and the partial anonymity it gave her. She wanted to see and understand the situation better with her own eyes. And it was dire in many ways. And that is how she found herself on the street just as the altercation between the mass of landens and Councilwoman Vera’s entourage began.

At first she was going to simply observe but something seemed off and she moved closer. And then words became action as the landens, somehow separate the woman from the rest. Now she was in the crowd, working her way closer to the center of the matter. Every instinct she had said this was not a good situation.

Just as she was almost close enough to intervene the shot rang out and her wings instinctively clasped around her.

That was not right. They were dismissed…Aithne unfastened the broach of the cloak and let it drop, her right hand dropping to the hilt of her still sheathed sword as she scanned both the groups, then glancing to the woman struck on the ground, already too far gone for anything she could do. The crowd parts and the apparent assassin was a young man, and from his reaction was his first kill, or possibly something else that caused his shaking hands.

If there were any reactions to her true appearance she ignored them as she started to move when the crowd parted. Allairavar, is noted as well as he command, there is enough to handle his aim, though this. This did not set right, especially given the ability of the landens to suppress their Jewels.

“Do as he says, for your own sake if nothing else.” As the Valkyrie pushes through the mass and beats her wings hard to get off the ground. Harder than it should be, and she was slower, though her wings served her well to keep her high enough to ensure her sharp eyes wouldn’t lose track of the young one.

Gently, for this is something new to her, and others may hear as well. “I have him Allairavar, he just ran in an alley. Be wary.”

( prompt i. )

[sunborne]

Aaaand here comes a giant robot, making their way to her table as they try to carefully hold a tray of their share of breakfast. Due to their size and their colouring, they're definitely one of the new faces to this place.

"Hi there!" They - he, actually, judging by the voice - wave at her in greeting. Or try to. He really doesn't want to spill their food. "Can I sit with you? There's a lot of space here and, um, it'll be nice to have my winglets get some breathing room."

[hardlyanangel]

If the woman was shocked she hid it well. With a smile AIthne gestured to the space opposite of her. In fact she looked rather amused, though that was due to the last bit of his entrance.

“Feel free.” Though she did wonder on what seemed to be a machine being concerned about food. The bread temporarily forgotten as she took a sip from her mug.

“Winglets do need their room.” A serious nod, before she smiled. “Break your fast, and welcome. I am Aithne, an obvious Stranger as they call us.”

[sunborne]

The fact she isn't reacting at all is a breath of fresh air for Daylight - After being gawked at and having someone actually scream at his presence, casual amusement is something he'll happily take.

"Nice to meet you, Aithne!" He would offer his servo for a shake, but he's painfully aware of him possibly smacking into, like, a bazillion things in one wrong swoop. Better to keep his servos on his stuff for now. An excited wiggle of his winglets will need to do. "I'm Daylight vis Lornlit. You can call me Daylight or Day if you want!"

It's a lot easier to say than his full name.

[hardlyanangel]

She cocked her a bit studying him. And no, it ranked low on the gawk or panic list for her. Though her smile did increase a bit at the winglets movements. Taking a bite of her bread and another sip of her coffee, she repeated his full name.

"Daylight vis Lornlit. It is a good name. Is Lornlit your family's name?" She would not be as rude to suggest if it was his maker's. Though after a moment's thought what real difference would that make in the scheme of things.

"Day then. You are definitely new to this place, I would have recalled you from before. How are you finding it?"

[sunborne]

"Oh no! 'Lornlit' is my main worldclaim." He pauses for a second, thinking maybe that needs an explanation. "The place where I was born. My mom gave birth to me on the Lornful Light, so the name got-"

Here, he makes a squishing gesture by clapping his servos together.

"-smooshed together to make a new name from it. So 'Lornful Light' became 'Lornlit' for me."

He admits, that's not the most elegant explanation he could have given about himself but! He's trying! Uncle Leeds would have been proud. "And thanks! Um..." He scrunches up his nose, trying to find a way to condense his answer so he doesn't chatter the poor lady's ears off. "It's alright? I'm new here so I'm trying to get my bearings. Been thinking of getting work at these Guilds I've been hearing about. That way I can move out of here soon."

[hardlyanangel]

That earned him an arch brow, though she still didd not question.

"It is not an unheard practice to do the same from my home. Regardless it has good omen in my mind.

Well it would make sense if she were to judge things as they were. A golem, or robot (the Valkyrie was not completely ignorant of modern things in her home). She leaned her chin into her hand and asked simply.

"Why is this keep such a thing to move from Day?" Her eyes focused on his, here it could be called habit.
"Though the Guilds, as I understand may suite one such as you. I have to ask why?"

Her tone is easy and casual, and curious.

[sunborne]

He laughs, a little shy now while he rubs the back of his neck.

Funny how it made so much sense in his processors when he came to that decision, and now he finds himself hesitating a bit in sharing the thoughts that have lead up to this decision of his. He almost doesn't want to explain but... she's being nice and friendly in his opinion. Certainly that deserves some measure of honesty...

"Um... I guess... I guess I want to help out in my own way." He gestures to himself and than to their food. "I heard some rumblings when I was coming down here. Something about 'more mouths to feed' and such." His winglets hitch down, as if hiding in shame. "I know I'll be extra, um, difficult to watch over for. And since there are so many here already..."

Daylight trails off, shrugging in the end. "I thought it made sense and make more room for those who really need it, you know?"

[hardlyanangel]

She smiled at both his response and Day's....body language. "There is nothing wrong with that wish. In fact I find it rather honorable."

She paused a bit to sip from her mug. Honestly she understood how to use technology but was rather ignorant of its origins and crafting. In a way it was a grounding point for her when dealing with mortals.

"As well as selfless. Have you made contact within the Guilds yet, to see what they have available?"

[sunborne]

Daylight looks relieved and happy to get approval for his choice, a sort of tension he didn't realise he was holding now melting away. "Not yet- This is going to be my first time meeting them. I've heard a bit about them when I talked to some folks-"

And they didn't simply gawk at him or ran away.

"-and it sounds like some of them could help me out in turn." Because he's going to need all the help he can get, should his worries be justified at the thought of being the only mechanoid here. "Unless you happen to see someone like me walking around?"

He's trying to joke but he sure wouldn't complain to find it if someone else is hanging around somewhere.

[hardlyanangel]

"That I shall do, though I have not seen any quiet like you." It was fairly perplexing to her really. In her years she has encountered many different species, as it were, but Day. Day fit nothing of her ken. Perhaps a golem, but that was not close to being correct.

"Help how? Are you..." She paused at her words. "..injured?" She understood that there was some maintenance involved but how this fit with the one across from her...

Even with her unspoken questions, which really had no sway on the matters discussed. Aithne looked genuinely intrigued. "It seems an ideal match then. However mind your surroundings, as you know there is some ill will among some of the factions."

[sunborne]

He's about to reassure her that he's not hurt, simply in need of something to help him out, but her warning/tip for this place has him easily distracted enough.

The peppy expression falls off his face, concern shining through as his winglets perk up in surprise before pulling back as if trying to keep themselves from being seen, from being a target for some unknown force.

"... Ill will?" Well. That sure is ominous to hear from someone who's been here for a while. And Aithne doesn't strike him as the type who would joke around about this sort of thing, too, so he's going to take this seriously. "What do you mean by ill will? Are there, like, fights and stuff with the factions?"

Are the Guilds part of it... He sure hopes not. Last thing Day wants to do is make it look like he's taking sides with others when he's only looking for help.

[hardlyanangel]

She did not answer his question directly, but asked one of her own. "Does your world not have the same?"

She was poised and listening to Day. The Valkyrie rested her chin on her interlaced fingers and she watched him.

[agentlenpc]

Allairavar had issued a very clear order, or so he thought. After mentally reviewing the last thirty seconds, he was certain that his words had been crystal clear. Bending a look of thin-lipped disapproval on the woman flying over him, Allairavar bit back a snarl. He didn't have time to argue. Later, though, he'd have a talk with this one about following orders.

*Stay on him,* Allairavar sent over a psychic thread of Purple Dusk as he plowed through the crowd. They might still be in range of the muters, but raw muscle would do until he was out of range.

The man rushed ahead, barreling through the street in a direction so forthright that it took no effort to know where he headed - the Guild Halls.

*Watch out for - * Allairavar didn't get a chance to finish the thought before the sound of gunfire overtook the roar of the crowd behind. *Breakers. Be careful, Lady. They'll do more than clip your wings if they ground you now.* The man took off down a narrow alley where clothes lines and makeshift shades muddied the view from above.

[hardlyanangel]

If she took exception to his tone, even if he avoided the wanted snarl, it would not register in her even response of a simple ;

“I am.”

She was also scanning rooftops as she tried to slough off the effects of the muters, because pacing the assassin was not the most difficult task of the day. And then the shots rang out, some targeting her, some the Prince, Aithne being the more difficult shot unless these landers were accustomed to fowling. Which in truth would be unfortunate.

She rolled and tucked her wings, reducing her altitude but gaining her speed as she banked into the alley, under the roof top level yet above the entangling clot lines and shades. *I will take the exit, he will either retreat to you or into one of the buildings.*

And as a test, she called flames at the far end of the alley. Hot and blue, which would simply stand in place powered by her Jewel, if they were indeed out of range or within new ranges, leaving the buildings untouched. With a final push the Valkyrie landed just ahead of those flames and drew her sword.

*He should be between us now.*

[agentlenpc]

Aware that a caged animal fought all the harder when trapped, Allairavar called not the warblade, but his long knife to hand. Eight layers of shields wrapped around his body and he mapped every door and window that extended down the length of the alley. Further down, but not quite insight, Allairavar heard the frantic rattling of locked doors.

"Put your breaker down and kneel on the ground, boy." Craft directed his voice down the narrow corridor. "This is not a chase you want to extend."

"You'll kill me if I do!" The man shouted, terror clogging his voice. "I know what you Bleeders do to us!"

Broken glass his the cobblestone streets and sounds of scrambling could be heard.

*He's going to try to run through the abandoned buildings,* Allairavar sent as he barreled down the alley way, silently damning that he needed to keep this one alive. *I'm going to put a Gray shield on the doors and windows, but you'll be able to pass through. Take him alive if you can.* As he spoke, dark power rose to Allairavar's bidding - a shiver of weight that edged towards the call of midnight. In less than a second the doors and windows were sealed tight.

A breaker could get through them if the man detected them soon enough, but that would still give Aithne and Allairavar his location.

[hardlyanangel]

*A true believer or an ignorant child, both are dangerous.*. Though her ears on one the boys voice, regretting she did not just immolate the laundry lines. Estimating his range by voice and the cracking of glass, she dismissed the flames at Allairavar's word of the shield about the building and with beat of her wings landed on what would pass as balcony above her. Sheathing the sword AIthne pushed past the tattered clothes that made a makeshift door.

"Peace, my quarrel is not with you. Is there a basement?" She spoke to the lander woman that seemed surprised at her sudden entrance. The woman nodded assent. "Quickest way to it?" to which the woman replied "There is a stair case just down the hall, it runs the entire height."

She had not stopped moving as she spoke and opened the door. Her wings dismissed in such tight quarters and she pulled two long daggers, almost dirks in shape and length. Again to the woman. "Lock it after me, and be safe." And with that she was moving quickly down the hall, listening for the tell tale sound of running feet on wooden floors.

*There is a basement under the building. Does your shields cover any possible tunnel exits?*. She was now on the staircase and depending several at a time. If she were lucky she would catch the man before he hit the basement if that were his intent or at least catch the direction he planned to escape.

[agentlenpc]

*The tunnels in this area collapsed years ago,* Allairavar informed Aithne as he simply passed through the walls and shields to get to the basement. *He has to be in here somewhere.*

Hiding probably.

*Take the south end of the basement. I'll take the north. Use at least six layers of shields. If he has one of the revolvers, he'll be able to rip through multiple layers fast.* Carefully, Allairavar picked his way through the debris littering the floor around stacks of old building parts and forgotten boxes. The smell of decay lingered, musty and unpleasant.

A sound came from Aithne's right that was too faint to identify as human or vermin. Stacks of old, discarded wood blocked any easy line of sigh and it looked as if the entire stack might teeter over with the slightest push. A push that someone gave it a moment later, sending the pile straight for Aithne.

The figure behind it tried to rush past her towards the stairs as he haphazardly fired off the three shots he had left.

[hardlyanangel]

*Given recent events, perhaps that should be-* And her thoughts were cut off at that rustling. Normally she was not one for dramatics, but unused to this method of communication and had to concentrate on the sound instead of banter. A shift of her grip, and taking Allairavar's advisement on the shields she approached the stack cautiously. Honestly she would have preferred a more indirect approach but the the clutter of forgotten things really made that nigh impossible.

And then, there went the stack and the rabbit flushed. In the confusion of both dodging the mass of aged crates, and the panicked fire of the man, one shot easily breaking a shield, she missed her opportunity to simply scruff him and end this chase. This led to several choice and loud curses, as she flicked the weapon in her left hand at the assassin's right knee before she sprinted after him, regardless if her aim were true or not.

*He is heading back up, I may have him..* She would be more specific, though she was fairly intent on securing him now.

[agentlenpc]

The young man howled in pain, staggering against the stairs as he clutched his wounded leg. Blood oozed from between his fingers.

"You could have killed me!" He wailed, ignoring the reason they were in the basement in the first place. "You're just as bad as the rest of them."

Wings tucked tight around his body in the enclosed space, Allairvar came around the corner. His expression flickered between displeasure and anger until thinned into a general sort of unhappiness that could be dealt with later. Prying the emptied gun from the young man's grasp, Allairavar vanished it to give to the Queen later.

"Well, that could have gone worse." The young man opened his mouth, a scathing glance from Allairavar closed it. "But I do recall giving very specific orders." He reached down and pulled the other man up.

[hardlyanangel]

"No, if I were intended to kill you, you would be dead." Deadpanned, as it were, though she ceded Allairvar his space upon his arrival. The only intrusion would be to retrieve her knife, which was cleaned before sheathing.

"It could have been better. I did not wish him to escape, though he needed to be taken alive. I would had preferred he simply offered his surrender." She crossed her arms reckoning she could not assist further, except in one matter. Aithne gave a nod to the last statement by the man. A quick look at the wound, and a healing touch as the assassin was brought to his feet. "It would have healed on its own well enough, although he will not have a scar to add to his tale."

"Yes you did. I have good cause to ignore them though this is not the place to air such Prince." Certainly she knew she had flirted, and likely did flirt with the Prince's wrath at this point. Aithne would not allow such a disagreement be fodder which would feed propaganda by who knows what faction on how the Blood or maybe the Queen herself had brought in these Strangers that even the Prince chaffed at. In a more conciliatory tone than her former of assessment. "Now that you have him, what is next?"

[agentlenpc]

One brow arched and Allairavar who had no issue with the landen hearing this, stated his cause plainly. "I take suggestions from precisely two people, Lady: My Queen and the Steward. When I give orders, I have a good reason for issuing them. In this case, it was to prevent any of you from getting killed while keeping a mob from tearing each other apart." The hard look in his eyes left no doubt that Allairavar hadn't the patience to entertain a debate.

Hauling the landen out of the basement, Allairavar wrapped to Red shields and a Gray around the man.

"Now, he goes to the Queen." The young man attempted to struggle again until the large hand wrapped around his neck until something threatened to pop. "Everything has a price, boy, and now Queen Fayura will decide the price you need to pay."

"Keep your guard up," Allairavar said to Aithne. "There's no telling who might decide a futile rescue is the right thing to do."

[hardlyanangel]

Aithne maintained her poise at the initial exchange, though she tilted her head a fraction.. "My aim was to ensure this was not some ruse to position you for assassination as well, and to capture this one."

There was that analytical tone, even if Allairavar was unconcerned speaking in such conditions that was where she would leave it. Now she had another task to perform and that helped her keeping her tongue. Picturing the position of the building they were in, there would be a relatively short but rather susceptible to ambush path home. Aithne gave a bit of scowl before saying.

"To the roof and take to the air. It would negate any ambush that may have been set along our suspect path out. Also gives us speed, as well as more ways to dodge any incoming fire. Perhaps avoid it entirely by simply going higher first, yes?""

Her tone implied, yes another suggestion, though this one in matters tactical.

[agentlenpc]

Allairavar gave Aithne a purely incredulous look and then it softened - if that term could be used - to one more contemplative. On a psychic thread to match her Purple Dusk, he sent a thought.

*Lady, I am a Gray Jeweled Warlord Prince. The Hunter Guild might want my head. They might dream of it and one day they might be stupid enough to try to take it. But that day is not yet here and your Jewel will make you more vulnerable than I.* He could allow that the Strangers may not yet appreciate what a Gray Jewel could or that while a muter might strip Allairavar of his power, he was far from helpless.

"Flying with this one -" He shook the young man hard enough that it sounded like his teeth might have clanked together. " - Won't be easy. If I tie him up - " The landen man made a strangling noise. "- can you carry him? I can shield you both from below."

[hardlyanangel]

She gave a nod of her head, a look of approval or perhaps more a respect at those sent thoughts. *No disrespect was intended. I have been taught to consider what many would think impossible. * An actual broad smile, that would likely give the landen a feeling of confusion, she added. *No, not this day.*

A pause as she added. *Aithne*

A nod switching back to speech. Looking at the young man sternly. “I would venture to say he would struggle unbound to attempt to plunge hundred or thousands of feet to his death, rather being brought before the Queen. Binding would work. Arms in front of him and legs at the thighs, knees, and wrists.”

She paused, and without disturbing Allairavar’s grasp ran her hands over the man’s body searching for anything hidden. Unless she found some random bit, she would continue. “I can carry him, and I agree with your idea. Odin willing, it will be a sound plan.”