the tides shift.Darkness has begun to spread, rapidly, throughout the entirety of Akvos. Different areas of the Kingdom are plagued by different instances of terror, but one thing remains clear: the Circle does have the available tools to help . . . of sorts. Many of you have discovered different areas of Akvos to focus on, but by and large? There are no shortage of people to help, of people to fight, and of creatures to save. Hurry quickly, Circle members. Akvos needs your aid.  SHADOWS IN THE DARK.Shadow creatures have begun to multiple en masse in the Depths of Markolos, and are spreading to every which corner of Akvos. They will be at their highest density in the Depths, and take the form of terrifying creatures with massive claws and gnashing teeth. They seem to be impervious to non-magical damage, so some unique tag-team action may be necessary in order to actually kill the things.
As the monsters multiply, mermaids from across Akvos will fall prey to their attacks, drifting listlessly in the currents of the sea as they fall unconscious, the life-force drained from them by a shadow creature. In order to wake them again, the shadow creature that drained them of their energy must be killed. Act quickly, and you may be able to rally the native forces necessary to stage a proper fight back. But the more you fight, the more exhausted you begin to get.
Those who cannot fight will not find themselves of a shortage of ways to help, though. Shelters are being set up within the Palace of Wahine, a fortress unto itself. Children are corralled there, the injured are kept in the impromptu hospital beds that are guarded by the Royal Guard that are still conscious from the onslaught. They will desperately accept help to care for the children whose parents are unconscious, or to console parents who have lost their children in the mayhem of the sudden attack upon their city.
Food still needs to be gathered, supplies still need to be run from door to door. People need to be evacuated. And from each area of Akvos, there are "runners" of powerful merfolk who have set up caravans drawn by dolphins to quickly whisk people from place to place. Each caravan is under threat of attack from shadows, though -- sign up for the evacuation committee, keep your heads down, and fight back as much as you can to protect these people from whatever the hell is going on.  THE SEVEN SEAS OF WHY.In addition to the shadow creatures, each area is plagued by a different onslaught of dark magic. Each area has different needs, and each area will require your attention. Focus your energies where able, and do your best to stem the flow of chaos before it is too late. (Check here for a breakdown of types of effective magic.)
The Palace of Wahine is facing an onset of red algae, blooming through the alleyways and infecting mermaids rushing to seek cover. Inhaling the algae doesn't seem to do much to you, in small doses, but it causes violent coughing fits with the mermaids, preventing them from breathing properly underwater. Getting into contact with the red algae will turn your own skin a brilliant shade of pink, and it will cause it to itch uncontrollably (something that is, apparently, impossible to alleviate under the water). It will wear off within a few hours, but the same does not hold true for the mermaids. The healers in the community say that certain herbs in the Fields of Akvosia can be harvested in order to help cure the illness, but they are notoriously hard to find . . . and in the middle of the sharpest parts of the coral reef, naturally. Tread carefully, and be careful not to anger the shadow creatures in your quest.
The Depths of Markolos is the hotbed of chaos, and seems to be where the majority of the shadow monsters are lurking. In addition to the shadow monsters, ice is cascading out of control from the western wall of the depths. Melting it will do the trick, or controlling it to move it out of the way, but it seems to persist. Some of you may find your way to the far back wall, to discover what appears to be the source of whatever this ice seems to be . . . but it will be tough going, and will require some teamwork to make it there. The ice, too, seems to fight back against your forces, and may curl its way around your legs, your legs, to freeze you into place. Hopefully you have a buddy that can get you out of there, before you become a frozen popsicle under the sea.
The Fields of Akvosia's beautiful coral reef is quickly dying, and the mermaids are working as hard as they can to curb the death by harvesting the essential food sources they can before it is too late. Schools of fish desperately flock from reef to reef in search of shelter and food, and soon meet their demise the moment they settle in to a new habitat. Working to cure and reinvigorate the coral reef will be met with great relief from the merfolk, who are desperately trying to cure what they can. Beware the shadow monsters, here, and be on the hunt for herbs that can assist the merfolk falling ill in the Palace of Wahine. Caravans of dolphin-pulled carriages will be whipping by to refill supplies, too -- jump in and help guard them on their way back to civilization.
The Thunderdome has a fresh stock of weaponry that is particularly effective against the shadow monsters, electrified with old runes that the merfolk will happily give to the Circle free of charge to fight back against the monsters. In addition, the jellyfish of the Thunderdome are darkening at a rapid pace. Electricity seems to do the trick in reinvigorating them, but touching them will still turn you a brilliant shade of blue . . . so tread lightly, in that regard. The electrified weapons will do the trick to jab the jellyfish into feeble light in addition to magic already gifted by Astoria, but the mermaids are a bit busy trying to fight off the shadows that are growing increasingly prevalent in the Thunderdome. Help wanted?  THE WHISPERS OF KEA.Throughout the duration of this battle, investigations taking place by members of the Circle will begin to unveil certain . . . clues. The Princess is still missing, but members of the Circle are getting close to unlocking where she is. King Kathashun, at the beginning of this journey, indicated that she was the key to stopping all of this, and while most of you have no idea who that guy is, he seems to be genuine. (Right? Right.)
But where is she? The Queen is unavailable, for the duration of this event, and who knows where this mysterious "King." is. But as the Circle battles for the life of Akvos, certain messages begin to pop up through your magical watches. Riddles, if you will -- pleas of assistance, begin to trickle through, popping up on your watches in a series of nonsensical words.
The only problem is that the messages seem to be all scrambled up.
lktmohidionl.
hsdpepelgnyeiaior.
herywaeoleeahhthpyveneto.
ehdtetirviarcaeshrasmaohmitnrn Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the various threads back in the OOC post from before! NOTE: The Princess' messages will unlock a hint to their meaning (if they aren't solved by the time this happens) once this log hits over 750 comments. :) We are pretty sure this will happen well before the End Log for Akvos happens in January, so we won't be putting a time limit on it. ;) Have fun! |
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acatalepsy_logs2018-12-03 11:47 am
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They’re gone.
[ Gods, she’s shaking, her fear still very palpable. He keeps his arms wrapped around her, squeezing lightly. ]
I’ve got you, Konoha.
[ It bears repeating, he thinks. ]
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That knowledge begins to sink in, but as of yet her nerves are still frayed, still coming down from the panic high and her words are choked by what feels like both her hearts in her throat, short nails digging what would probably be painfully into his back if he wasn’t clothed or armored. Breathe. Well- do whatever it was they were doing inhaling water instead of air.]
Thank you-
[She manages that even though she’s still shaking, forelegs trying to find an anxious purchase on him and unable because of the difference in their biologies, finally giving up and just... pressing her face into his chest. Underwater it’s hard to tell when people are crying, but the quake of her shoulders probably gives it away.]
I’m sorry, I should have been more careful-
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Ssh, ssh. It’s okay. I’m only glad I got here when I did.
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And if he hadn't been here... If he'd been a minute away instead of seconds-
Konoha finally pulls her face up, tries to pull a hand off him to wipe her tears, but. Okay, one step at a time.
She does manage a tremulous smile.]
You were really cool, though.
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[ Nice to know that even after as worried and frightened he was, he can still manage to feel embarrassed. The color that rises to his cheeks goes unseen thanks to the way he’s still softly glowing, but the way he glances away for a split second is rather telling.
He takes a second to compose himself before his gaze flicks back up at her. ]
I’m glad you’re alright.
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Her nails accidentally dig in a bit harder when her fingers spasm in an attempt to pry them off him, still attempting (and failing) to stop trembling. Last time she'd been in a situation like this her knees had been so weak that she coudln't stand, but...
Thankfully, they're floating in water.]
There's a fish woman back there that the shadows got... We- We should take her to the shelter...
[Moving... seems really daunting at the moment, though.]
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Hey, let’s get you sorted first, yeah?
[ Finally, he releases his embrace, but only enough to slide his hands around to her shoulders ].
When things get too overwhelming for me, I have to close my eyes and focus. Can you do that for me? Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Just focus on breathing and count to ten, okay?
[ He usually counts to four, personally, but he gets the feeling that Konoha would benefit from going all the way to ten. ]
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Konoha gulps, nodding along. Close her eyes. Focus. Count to ten. Though she can’t help but quickly look around, fear dilated pupils darting about to make sure no other shadows lurked nearby before she did so, she finally does close her eyes.]
One...
[He might have meant for her to count in her head but she’s counting out loud, trying to even out her shuddering breaths, come down off the spike of adrenaline, slow the terrified pounding of her hearts. It’s fine. The shadows were gone. Arenvald was right here, so even if more came... she’d be safe.]
... Ten.
[Only then does she crack an eye open cautiously, looking... a bit calmer, admittedly. Still a bit shaky, but not to the point that she seemed unable to move.]
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So, he waits patiently as she makes the slow climb from one to ten, breathing deeply and willing the worst of the shaking from her limbs. He gives her shoulders a little squeeze. ]
There. Are you okay to come with me now?
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Y- yeah. I can... I can swim, I think.
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[ It’s a bit easier to manage now, since they’re all floaty. She could probably use the comfort. ]
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Just a little bit-
[She moves to hold tightly to one of his hands with both of hers, still trembling just a little.]
Let's- Let's get the merwoman and... can we head back to the shelter... ?
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Of course we can. I’m not about to make you stay out here, after all.
[ It’s a little awkward, swimming with one hand, but he manages it okay as they head back the way Konoha had come. ]
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It's here...
[She tries to point out the alley from which she'd come running, the body of the merwoman she'd stumbled upon after she'd been attacked by the three shadows... and the poor woman herself, still floating unconscious in the water.]
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He glows a bit brighter as they approach the alley to ward off any other creatures that may be lurking. ]
Can you help me carry her back?
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She doesn't know enough to realize this means there must have been more shadow beasts before she'd stumbled along the scene, that the woman would remain asleep until the one that had wounded her was destroyed... but they can at least help her.]
Yeah- Yeah, of course-
[It's something to help pull her together, and she manages to release his hand and calm her shaking fingers enough to reach and gather the woman up, leaving Arenvald the tail.]
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I think you’re being very brave right now, Konoha.
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[Her swimming is still a bit jerky, awkward with how shaky her knees are, but.]
If it wasn't... aha... I think I'd need you to call Mikuni...
[The stallion wasn't as obviously strong as Gonta was, who'd carried her the last time she'd been this scared, but... Mikuni could still manage it. As is... she manages to help with the merwoman, even if her swimming isn't the best.]
My knees feel like gelatin...
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[ Konoha is really out of her element, but Arenvald does truly admire her for pressing on. It would be very easy to cower in the shadows, or to live in denial, like a certain Lieutenant he could name. ]