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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The...princes, were they called? [There had been some understanding of the system in Ren's head when he woke up, but he hadn't had a lot of opportunity to actually exercise that knowledge just yet. Better to do it here than in a situation where a faux pas might have greater consequences.

That train of thought is broken when Rhus makes that remark, though, and Ren turns his head, eyes narrowing as he tries to parse shapes out of the smoke.]

I can't tell from over here... [He can see something that appears like it could maybe be the edge of a shield amidst the low visibility, but that's the extent of it. Still, he moves a bit closer, somewhat cautious with the roof here in the state it's in.] Is this way where you saw it?

[He could be hallucinating. His eyes may be developed well for dealing with bright lights, but one really never knows, especially when Rhus has already weak sight in one eye.]

We might as well 'ave a closer look, just in case. [Bring two out instead of the one.]

Come, move faster!

[As fast as Rhus? Possibly who is already sprinting despite his burden.]

Mmm, not much point leaving it entirely... [When Rhus starts pushing ahead, though, Ren's pace picks up a bit, since it means he's not going to be the first person to walk into it if something nasty ends up happening.

He's still trying to peer through the smoke at the shape, though. Whatever it is, it...doesn't look green, at least, and he's kind of hoping that if it is a shield, it's a weaker one than what they came across before. However, while Ren might have both eyes intact, he's not used to trying to see through thick and heavy smoke like this, and with Rhus in front, he's still having difficulty telling whether there's actually anyone there or not.]

Can you tell what it is yet?

Person, definitely. I can see an outline of a... What is that colour? [Rhus squints through the smoke and heat haze, before giving up attempting to use his eyes and reaches out with other senses that have not been used much since arriving here in Draega. With the strange aether here, the way Blood Craft is so different from Eorzean magic...

But he reaches out with senses and latches on to that little psychic thread that's common in this world.]

Purple Dusk?

[Ren's not quite been here long enough to be used to the psychic thread system, but as soon as Rhus mentions Purple Dusk, a slight "ah" slips from his mouth, and he steps ahead a bit more readily.]

That I can deal with. So you can keep going ahead if you want, and I'll catch up. [He nods towards the worker Rhus is already carrying - there's no sense keeping that man in this environment any longer if they don't need to.

He peers through the flames himself - it's easier to see the shape of it the closer he gets, and the person inside the shield doesn't look like they're going to last a great deal longer if they stay in it. So Ren tries reaching for his jewel's power in the same way he'd reach for his own natural powers if he was using them, and a bolt of power responds, cracking forth and putting a split in the shield that'll easily cave under another hit. It's not exactly practiced, but it's functional for now.]

Bollocks. [That declaration is accompanied by a deep frown.] If'n you think I shall leave you behind, you've the wrong impression.

[Stubborn Miqo'te as he is, Rhus waits and waits, with his burden on his shoulders, though he's still a little impatient to get a move on, leave their rescued folk outside, and delve back into the depths of the power plant to see who else needs help. Tries not to be however, with what they're doing.]

Can you carry 'em? [He's reasonably sure he can support another body.]

[Ah. Honourable people. Ren knows more than enough of those to know that Rhus isn't going to budge on that point, so he doesn't bother arguing it, instead focusing on sending out another bolt and smashing the shield into nothing. The freed worker slowly starts to sink, and Ren heads over to loop an arm around their shoulders before they do.]

This one's lighter than the one you're carrying, so I'll be okay. [He pulls one of the person's arms around his own shoulder and pushes him upright, heading back towards Rhus. Ren might not be built very impressively, but he seems to be fine with the load. He might just pretend to collapse when they get outside.]

Let's keep going, then. They're both in pretty bad shape... [The one they rescued earlier seems maybe slightly better, but neither of them is going to be helped by hesitating to find the exit now that they've got a second person.]

Aye, fine. [The Miqo'te tosses his head to one side.] We were headin' thataway, and we best keep at it.

[And he begins at a quick pace once more, taking the loping steps his people tended to be known for whenever they ran.]

But if you think you cant carry that person any longer, give 'em to me.

Right, right... [Ren can definitely use the directional pointer, honestly, since his sense of direction gets scrambled pretty easily. While he doesn't really want to run like this, Ren has long enough legs that just quickening the pace of his walk gets him a similar sort of effect anyway.]

Oh, I'll be fine for as long as it takes us to get out. If we were doing it for longer it'd probably be worse, but the space of just one building is okay.

[Even if it's a pretty big building. He's had to drag his burly six-foot friend around on occasion, so a comparatively much smaller worker isn't too much of an issue for the moment.]

[Rhus grunts in return, a sound not unlike the rumble a great cat makes deep in their throat.]

Luckily for you, it ain't far-- I smell fresh air. [That sort of sweetness cant be hallucinated, so good in contrast to the burnt smoke permeating the building and scorching his nose.]

[Ren would probably find that noise cuter if it weren't for the situation they were in right now, so the smile he gives at it is somewhat fleeting. Though he does definitely look somewhat relieved to hear about fresh air.]

Oh, that's good...this kind of thing isn't really my strong point.

[He knows his limits and how far he can press them, and he's faced some pretty physically trying things in his past. But they're not usually this kind of endurance test, so he can't afford to be too frivolous in his rescue efforts.]

What, runnin' through dangerous buildings an' carrying folk 'round? [Rhus is definitely not judging him. This is, after, something rather dangerous, even if it's not too strenuous for himself. Indeed, carrying someone around through the rest of a dungeon or some sort of ruin... well. Isn't new.

But saying it out loud would be boasting, would it not? Even if he did not mean it as such.]

Mmm, kind of both, but the second thing slightly more than the first. [He's fled skyscrapers that had weird otherdimensional gates and stuff crashing down on them, so it sort of counts as running through dangerous buildings. He shrugs a little, as if it can't really be helped.] In my world we have people who do this sort of thing as a job, so people who don't have less experience with it, I guess.

[Despite his lack of experience, though, he seems comparatively unperturbed by the situation beyond his own personal lack of familiarity.]

You'd be lucky if we wont get more like this. [But unrealistic, undoubtedly.

Rhus pauses, to shift the man back up onto the top of his shoulders when the man keeps sliding, and to sniff at the air again. Adjusts his direction towards the sweet, sweet fresh air that's growing stronger and stronger. And eventually, up ahead, the open door and the open sky beyond.

Sodding finally.]

It'd be pretty boring if all of it was like this, wouldn't it...? [Granted, he's heard others mention the fire last month by this point, so he can't really say it hasn't been like that so far. Hopefully it's not a pattern just yet.

At the sight of the open door ahead, Ren lets out a faint huff that might be of relief.] About time...we'll be out soon, okay?

[He directs that to the person leaning against him, along with a bit of a poke to the shoulders, though the response he gets is mostly just a hacking cough and the person nodding rather than responding verbally.]

[Rhus sprints across the last remaining distance between himself and the doorway, only coming to a stop the moment he knows he's under open sky and clean air.

... Relatively clean air. He still smells smoke and dust and fire, and everything else in the power plant, but also the sweetness of fresh air, and he sighs, almost sagging with relief. He does lean over however to place the man he's been carrying around this entire time on the ground, rolling him onto his side. Then the Miqo'te adjusts the man's arms and legs in a very specific manner, and monitors his pulse with a hand on the throat, just under the jaw.]

Safe, still breathin'.

[Ren can at least be sure that his own passenger is still conscious from that reaction, but that's no reason to dawdle considering the nature of the response he just got. So while he doesn't sprint, he does pick up his pace to a noticeable extent until he passes the barrier, at which point he finds somewhere a little out of the way of the smoke pouring out the doorway and lays the worker he's been carrying on the ground.

Almost as soon as he puts his fingers to the person's throat, though, he grimaces slightly and puts an ear to his chest as well. The worker's heartbeat is a bit on the weak side, and he's definitely still struggling to breathe even now that they're outside.]

I think this one needs--oh. [A few of the guildmembers already outside approach to investigate, and Ren indicates the man he brought out.] I think this one needs a healer, or at least more attention than I know how to give him...

[There's a short nod from the guildmembers at that, and they gather around to set about lifting the worker up and taking him somewhere safer.]

[Rhus steps back from the man he's just finished looking over, allowing the actual medics to do their job-- and doesn't that sting? he thinks to himself. He used to be a medic, but that ability is not available to him here in Draega. Not with circumstances being what they are. And indeed he's learning the Craft... but learning doesn't happen overnight, especially a path as finicky, difficult, and precise as healing.

Then he stretches his back, working out the stiffness he'd gotten from carrying a man around for that long.]

Ready to go back in? Or are you needin' the fresh air more?

[Ren watches the guildmembers carry the man off elsewhere, only turning his attention away when Rhus addresses him. With a slight hum of amusement, he pulls down the makeshift mask that his coat was serving as, now bone dry despite him having gone in with it dampened.]

I think I'll need a few minutes, at least. But thank you for your help. [While he's decidedly not used to these kinds of physical rescue missions, having assistance definitely made the whole thing a bit easier on him.]

Aye, well. [Rhus crosses his arms over his chest, tail swinging behind him. He begins to survey their surroundings, taking note of the Strangers about, the workers rescued, the locals milling about or helping everyone else.

Though still he doesn't know who have been saved.]

We've still more people within to save. Best to just wait for you here until you recovered enough to brave it again.

[He does have a point about that, and Ren wasn't exactly planning to tap out permanently this early in the piece even if he does need some breathing room. The hum of assent he makes is only a little rough at this point.]

If you don't mind that too much. I'll need to find where everyone's got the water now, too...

[Obviously there'll be water somewhere considering the inferno, but he's pretty sure there weren't enough people carrying it to be covering the entire building at once.]

Aye, go ahead then-- I'll be... somethin'. Workin' out the kinks, prob'ly. [Because he's not so affected by the heat in the building, more the smoke, but Rhus is recovering nicely. When one's ancestors used to hunt in the deserts and sea sides, one tends to be thankful for that kind of resistance.

And true to his comment, he starts stretching, shoulders and arms, just because carrying someone taller than himself tends to be annoying.]

And mayhap look for supplies as well, if you need them, like a cloth for your face.

[Ren nods a little, taking a few more seconds before he stands upright properly again. As he does, he reaches up to untie the coat from around his mouth and nose, since that's what he's been using as a makeshift mask by this point.]

I don't know, I don't really want to be wearing my coat in there even if you did find a cloth...it's probably thicker, too. [Even if it is a makeshift solution, it's probably an okay one to be getting on with.] I'll see what I can find on my way around, though. More people are probably here to help by now, right?

[Rhus raises an eyebrow at that.]

Except everythin' is on fire, an' an extra layer would keep the flames off your skin. But if you need rest... [Then the Miqo'te will simply have to enter without him.] Then rest, I shan't be judgin' you for it.

That's what I've been shielding for, though... [It doesn't do anything for the smoke, considering he can't shield his mouth, but he's been doing okay in terms of the heat and flames.] Anyway, I might end up resting a bit longer than a few minutes...or taking longer than that to see what's going on out here. So I don't really mind if you go back in without me.

[He shrugs rather broadly at the mention. There's plenty of other Strangers here that he can probably tag along with.]

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event: a gentle explosion

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would it be ok to wrap on them going back in again?

sure o7

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