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4.0 June Event Log
4.0 June Event Log
Air Quality Alert
In the ON world, Avisle's storm has fully cleared as of last month, but something still lingers in its usually beautiful skies. Not enough to obstruct trade, not quite, though those steering their airships may grumble a bit about the turbulence. Ash flutters in the air, clouds are replaced with dark plumes of smoke; it gets harder to breathe in a game where that shouldn't matter, and there's a strangely luminescent sheen in the sky, like oil, or the scales of a beast…
The air pollution will have effects over time, so those that overextend themselves exploring (or are just naturally sensitive to smoke) will find themselves with stinging eyes, chest pains, shortness of breath, etc. Overexposure can cause someone to collapse altogether, so be careful out there! Those aligned with fire or water may be able to soothe symptoms somewhat, both in themselves and others.
1. Guild Wars: GBF Do Not Interact
Despite the air quality warnings, the City is as active as ever, eager to carry out another time-honored tradition. Avisle’s Guild Hub has the honor of hosting Guild Wars this year, an all-month event run by the Interguild Alliance (IGA) to test (and reward!) the mettle of its members across Duocaeli. It has the hype of the Olympics, albeit with less sportsball and more RPG chaos.
Historically, Guild members band together to compete for accolades by demonstrating adventure-worthiness: completing quest board tasks, raiding dungeons, discovering new flora and fauna, etc. Guilds can also resort to ye olde methods of competition, like actual sportsball, epic party games, what-have-you.
This year, in addition to the above there is special focus on assisting a family of gemwalkers who have been separated by the ravaging storms from April.
The winning Guild is determined by overall group effort—whichever team brings in the most gemwalkers, bounty, discoveries, and victories will be crowned champions across the skies, and be rewarded with sweet, sweet loot. Participation perks are also quite generous, and all players are encouraged to join in regardless of skill level or willingness. In fact, the entire city seems quite obsessed with Guild Wars, and anyone caught sitting out will be eventually coerced into activities one way or another.
> Gemwalker Reunion
Only one of the golems has made it to Avisle City to request aid after a long and perilous journey, its core barely intact, and the remaining family members need to be located and brought back to the city. These missing golems will be inert after having sustained damage in the storm and are lost in the smoke, meaning each team will need to invent ways to transport heavy rocks through difficult terrain and smoky conditions. (Yahaha?)
Guild members will be given a device that senses when a missing golem is nearby, however they’ll be left to their own devices to figure out a way back to the City. Their search will take them to two potential locations, so players can tackle whichever is better suited to their strengths (or both!):
1. Windhaven Woodlands: The first of the gemwalkers hasn’t been blown too far from its original home, Aria’s Grove, however a pack of mischievous bloobettes of the woodlands have absorbed pieces of the poor golem into their gelatinous bodies. To make things even more difficult, the pervading smoke makes the woods even darker than usual. Characters will be virtually blind in here, and even the guiding wind that periodically blows through the trees is ashy and unpleasant.
2. Dandelion Fields: One of the golems is trapped high up on one of the floating, miniature islands… While typically one could hitch a ride on a wind whale, the smoke has temporarily beached them all to the ground. To make matters worse, the massive dandelion seeds collect soot and ash en masse, and tend to explode with both when they hit any surface. Whether it's by dealing with the altitude, the whales, or the seeds, characters are on their own to reach the golems above!
2. Dandelion Fields: One of the golems is trapped high up on one of the floating, miniature islands… While typically one could hitch a ride on a wind whale, the smoke has temporarily beached them all to the ground. To make matters worse, the massive dandelion seeds collect soot and ash en masse, and tend to explode with both when they hit any surface. Whether it's by dealing with the altitude, the whales, or the seeds, characters are on their own to reach the golems above!
OOCly, players can opt to thread this out if they'd like, but we'll only be reading submissions filled out here. We'll be choosing a grand 'winner' based on creativity!
> Exploration
Besides the main gemwalker event, there's plenty of other ways to score a win for your guild(s)! Two new locations have been released specifically to celebrate the event:
Starstuff Crater: In the furthest reaches of the isle, the land suddenly gives way to a crater that rivals the size of Avis Isle City itself, apparently from the impact of a falling star long ago. Rising from the bottom of the crater are hundreds of tall earthy spires that house an array of bird species and alien flora from the dissolved starstuff. While smoke rises at the higher points of the crater, cool, clean water pools in the rocky crags at the bottom, and those with an alignment with darkness may notice that their powers are stronger here, nearly uncomfortably so. Meanwhile, those aligned with light may feel ill at ease, and drain of mana more quickly.
Bigge Tunelle: Within the mysterious depths of Windhaven Woodlands is an ancient tree that long ago tumbled to the earth, leaving behind a vast hollowed tunnel. Ever since the locals can remember, the tunnel has had a powerful gust of wind running through it, making it near impossible to traverse the tunnel. That is, if you're on the side where the wind exits. Those wandering close to where the wind enters might find themselves getting sucked into a weightless tunnel experience before being spit out the other side. It's possible to get stuck within the air currents of the tunnel itself; being aligned with wind or earth may make it easier to traverse, but everyone else should be prepared to be billowed by the suction and blown about! Try not to hit anything (or any monsters) on the way down.
Bigge Tunelle: Within the mysterious depths of Windhaven Woodlands is an ancient tree that long ago tumbled to the earth, leaving behind a vast hollowed tunnel. Ever since the locals can remember, the tunnel has had a powerful gust of wind running through it, making it near impossible to traverse the tunnel. That is, if you're on the side where the wind exits. Those wandering close to where the wind enters might find themselves getting sucked into a weightless tunnel experience before being spit out the other side. It's possible to get stuck within the air currents of the tunnel itself; being aligned with wind or earth may make it easier to traverse, but everyone else should be prepared to be billowed by the suction and blown about! Try not to hit anything (or any monsters) on the way down.
Exploring these two areas may lead to new discoveries! Players can submit flora or fauna ideas for all to play with here for Guild Wars rewards. A reminder that smoke will be present in both these locations as well, and may agitate the local ecosystems… and also you?
> Earning EXP
Finally, characters can also earn points for their Guilds by participating in any of our the permanent quests and dungeons that are available! Completing threads or meeting a comment minimum is not required to earn points; we'll just be looking for an honest effort.
2. Dungeon Crawl - Smoke & Mirrors
Not looking to traipse about old dungeons? Raring for the newest content? Those Guildies searching for more still to do will be tasked with discovering the source of all the smoke surrounding Avisle to help ease the overall search for missing Gemwalkers. Directed to the very heart of the haze (where there's smoke, there's fire), they will begin to hear muffled voices–familiar ones.
Guess the Gemwalkers aren’t the only ones about to face some reunions.
Chamber 1: Into the Deep
Yet as you step through the smoke, you might suddenly find yourself sinking into the sand, greeted by the distant call of gulls. Blink once, blink twice - blink as many times as you’d like, but the image of the beach surrounding Crane City does not disappear. Weren’t you just in the ON world? You must’ve been. And yet any attempts to forcefully exit or quit the dungeon ahead of time fail - here you are to stay.
Explore a bit if you’d like, but do your best to keep your footing. Every now and then, the ground trembles beneath your feet as an earthquake reverberates through the area. The seas get choppy, but as you look out into the distance you might see a hand reaching out from beneath the waves. Along with it, the sound of a loved one from your home world calling from you. However, you will be the only person who hears this voice - your partner will not.
Will you be able to make it to the second part of the dungeon? Or will you get carried off by the waves before you even try? Once in the water, you will begin to feel deeply fatigued, yet calm. Maybe it’d be alright to let the waves lull you to sleep…
Chamber 2: An Offer You Can't(?) Refuse
Eventually, one earthquake hits harder than any of the others, falling just short of rupturing the sea open. A large silver serpent slides up from the waves, but rather than a roar or a cry heralding its arrival, there is only a flood of whispers.
Listen to me. Trust me. It’ll be okay. Don’t go. Close your eyes.
Different assurances - if they could be called that - flood your ears, but eventually the Serpent’s ask becomes apparent:
Images flash through your mind - inherently, you know the serpent refers to your guildmates, your false memories, your friends here in Crane City. In Duocaeli. Either. Both. (Neither?) Will you accept the whisper and make a promise to let go of these people who might very well be strangers in favor of the ones you can no longer see?
Those who choose to accept will find themselves slipping down the serpent’s throat. Inside the creature, a crimson red engulfs their vision and they will face a nightmare of betrayal. Their companion in the dungeon will also bear witness to the dream. Yet when they awake, they will have completed the dungeon and are free to take their spoils before leaving.
Those who deny the request will have to fight the Serpent in its element. It’s a strong foe - but there are moments in which it seems to entirely glitch out of existence. When it returns, it comes back weaker, more erratic in its movements. When it attacks the characters fighting it, it does not inflict physical wounds - no, instead it only gives feelings of despondence and guilt, and other emotional weights. It seeks to strip your will before your life.
BOSS: S̵̱̆e̴̝͋ŕ̵̙p̶͎͐ẻ̴͓n̷̯͠t̵̞̕
HP: 1̶͉̾0̴͖̃0̷̤̋0̷͍̕0̵̏ͅ
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Weakness: Light, Dark, truth
Resistance: Water
Attacks
HP: 1̶͉̾0̴͖̃0̷̤̋0̷͍̕0̵̏ͅ
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Weakness: Light, Dark, truth
Resistance: Water
Attacks
- Traitor’s Twist: Inflicts emotional scars and wounds that linger for hours afterward.
- Sleeping Sweep: Summons dark clouds of ash that linger both in the air and water - getting caught in one will sap at an individual’s strength and willpower. Inhaling too much will cause them to become passive, even submissive, and more likely to yield to the serpent’s suggestion. Mana transfer can dispel some of this effect.
- Sleeping Sweep: Summons dark clouds of ash that linger both in the air and water - getting caught in one will sap at an individual’s strength and willpower. Inhaling too much will cause them to become passive, even submissive, and more likely to yield to the serpent’s suggestion. Mana transfer can dispel some of this effect.
As always, choice submissions will have an effect on the overall state of the game the following month, and can be submitted here!
OOC Notes
June's OOC Event Plotting Post is also here for your reference! Please visit it for submissions top levels, plotting, and results from May's log!
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duocaeli duologs duolingosTaken / Applications / Hiatus & Drops
FULL NAVIGATION
no subject
[THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING!
That endless ire does reduce from a boil to a simmer however, conceding defeat as she grumbles out an introduction.]
Fukawa. [And with a huff and a tug of her hair:] N-not that you'll remember it. Ugly women are nothing but dingy afterthoughts, totally f-forgettable.
[Before he can interject she hugs her middle and turns on her heel, stalking forward. Skittish though she may be, there's an antsy itch in her feet. They need to get a move on. Find whatever's lurking in this stupid ass crater and get the hell out before it gets them.]
Let's just get this over with, then. Are you used to this sort of stuff? D-daring exploration or whatever?
no subject
This time, he's the one looking to BD-1 for assistance, but the droid just makes a noncommittal boop. Cal shakes his head, then extends his hand so that BD-1 can hop on, scuttle up his arm, and settle onto his back—Beedee's usual perch, judging by this practiced routine. ]
You could probably say that. [ He's underselling it. You could absolutely say that. ] Beedee is actually an exploration droid. It's what he was designed for.
[ BD-1 chirps from over Cal's shoulder. He sure was! ]
I'm guessing you're not used to this?
no subject
[As if that weren't obvious. Her footfall is cautious and her eyes dart around too quickly, as if behind every rock and leaf there lay a malevolent threat.]
And before you say anything, I've f-faced plenty of danger before! [Said with another sharp glare, cutting off any chance of criticism before it can leave his lips.] Just, usually in the city. Or in our school.
[Which she doesn't particularly want to get into now. She huffs and kicked a pile of leaves out of the way.]
I j-just don't get why this place is making us waste our time trekking through a simulation of the wilderness. They've definitely laid some kind of trap in here, or th-they wouldn't be so eager to get us into this stupid crater.
I hate being jerked around like this.
no subject
Dank farrik, should Kata be in school???
Help him, he was eleven when he passed the Trials and got shipped off to war. He has no idea how real life works. And he kind of wants to ask, but Fukawa changes subjects so quickly that he gets the feeling she doesn't really want to talk about it. ]
You really don't trust whoever runs this thing, do you?
[ It's a rhetorical question. Cal almost has to admire this level of cynicism. Maybe if he were less stupidly trusting, like Fukawa, then—
Beedee, always uncannily in tune with Cal's mood, beeps inquisitively from over his shoulder, checking in on him. Cal reaches up and pats the droid on the head. ]
Why are you out here if you think it's all a trap?
no subject
Of course not. [It may be rhetorical, but she has a hell of a chip on her shoulder. She turns slightly to properly give him a scathing overview, but catches that soft exchange instead.
Fukawa's mouth purses. It's weird. Does BD-1 feel? Like in a physical sense. The gesture seems to give him comfort. Maybe it's because he's stuck with mere beeps and boops for speech, but right now he strikes her as more akin to an animal than a Monokuma. Well — the ones with actual AI in them, not a hidden pilot or a drone-like directive.
God. Remember when life was simple? She was miserable, but at least she understood the world.]
...Sometimes, th-the only clue you've got is the bait laid out for you. We're completely at the mercy of whoever's brought us here. [She fidgets. Then flaps her hands.] I d-don't mean just this stupid virtual reality thing, either. To the city. We don't know anything about h-how or why we were brought here, or by who. Or what their objective is, making us bounce b-between these two places every few days. Completing inane quests and l-letting them dig into your head, your emotions.
I know a guy who was m-made to give up his memories to "save" people here. Does that st-strike you as something a well-meaning benefactor would f-force you do to? [She grumbles, hugging her middle as she stomps through the underbrush.] They're up to something. They h-have to be.
So, if they're n-not leaving any breadcrumbs elsewhere...all I've got to go off of is their shitty games.
no subject
When he'd opened his eyes, he was in Avisle, confused and unmoored. Dismayed at losing his family and his purpose—again—just when it had finally become clear. Frustrated. Afraid for the people he cared about without him there. A little relieved too, to his horror. So much has changed in such a short period of time—so much he's lost. He's starting from nothing again.
No, not nothing. But the path ahead won't be easy or its success certain, and sometimes he's tired of persistence.
But Fukawa is asking good questions, and she's right to be pursuing them. Merrin would probably do the same thing, actually, because she has much more sense than he does. (Karabast, he really wishes she was here now.)
BD-1 boops softly again, drawing him out of his reverie—in his contemplation, he'd been staring ahead unseeingly, his brow furrowed. ]
That's smart. [ Credit where it's due. ] What makes you think they—or whatever it was—brought us here on purpose? Could it have just been an accident?
[ Hey, all things are possible with the Force. ]
no subject
[Anyway that's enough bumping up along the fourth wall. She sighs, scratching at her arm, stepping ponderously forward.]
Just you wait. T-talk to anyone, ask them about themselves. They'll tell you the stupidest life story you've ever heard, and then you'll hear even w-worse from the next guy. I've n-never waded through so much bullshit in my life, and I had to b-be locked up with a phony idiot clairvoyant!
[Get smoked, Hagakure.]
no subject
I don't know. In our galaxy, stupid life stories aren't that uncommon. [ He puts a wry emphasis on that word. Stupid. ] Not the magic part, but... the Empire has taken a lot from a lot of people.
[ There is a galaxy full of people who have suffered as we have. It's always possible it's the will of the Force. Personally, he'd much rather believe they're dealing with incompetence or ignorance than straight up maliciousness. But what does he know anymore?
He sighs, letting that line of thought—the daunting state of his home galaxy, the three pyres he just burned on account of his misplaced trust—go. It's too depressing for casual conversation. ]
Not that I'm saying you're wrong. It's probably a good idea to explore all possibilities.
no subject
Galaxy... [She mutters under her breath. Of course. Figures. That explains BD-1. Space operas were so fond of their talking tin cans.]
Well we're exploring now, aren't we? Wh-whether we like it or not. [No mystery as to which camp she's in.] Talk to me when you've b-been here more than a week. Maybe then you'll be worth discussing theory with.
[Then her steps slow. She squints ahead. The foliage and smog make for piss poor visibility all around, but she's certain there's something up ahead. Something large.]
D-do you see that?
[The shape shifts. Fukawa jumps, scraping at his sleeve and pointing frantically, hissing into his ear.]
There! It m-m-moved!
no subject
[ He's being a little sarcastic, but it could be worse. Maybe he's too easygoing, but with the amount of people who try to kill him on the regular, a little insult isn't going to ruffle too many of his feathers. Lots of people in the galaxy have their guard up, usually for good reasons—even him.
Besides, he may not be good for theory in her eyes, but apparently he is good for meat shielding. Small wins? ]
Buddy?
[ BD-1 scales Cal's shoulder and fires up his scanner, which is better able to penetrate the smoke. Cal steps forward, reaching for the lightsaber attached to his belt as he peers ahead. A moment later, he hears a very familiar groaning sound just as BD-1 finishes his scan with a cheerful beep.
The spamel moves out from behind the tree as Cal strides towards it, his face lighting up at recognizing the creature. For Toko's benefit, he explains: ]
A spamel. They're native to Jedha in my galaxy.