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
no subject
[Gripping his hand tight, he looks over the state of Arenvald, eyes glancing at the wound. Even if it's a shallow thing, it still needs to be tended to as soon as possible, and Connor readjusts his priorities to getting his injury seen to.]
You should've let me handle it. I could've taken down that shadow creature on my own, in time.
[And then Arenvald wouldn't have been hurt, Connor wouldn't have felt some awful creeping anxiety clench itself around his chest after he had seen the man lose consciousness.]
Can you move?
no subject
I didn’t want you to get hurt.
[ Whether Connor could have handled a shadow of that size on his own or not isn’t the issue – his wellbeing is. He realizes now that their combined efforts would have probably been more effective, but in the moment, that hadn’t occurred to him.
Valiantly ignoring the way his shoulder protests, he reaches over with his free hand – which is sort of an answer to Connor’s question – and loops it around Connor’s shoulders to tug him close. ]
I’m glad you’re okay.
[ They can work on moving in a second. ]
no subject
[-comes that automatic, easy reply. Indicative of how much Connor cares for his own well-being in the face of protecting someone else — a barely-there thing at best, especially in the heat of the moment. When there’s a shadow monster caught between them, and the choice is Arenvald or himself, he’s more than ready to fling himself into the fray; knee-jerk that reaction that it is.
Even if, this time, he felt a heated lance of anxiety to match.
But Arenvald tugs him close, cutting off whatever he was going to say next. And for a moment, he has nothing else to add — nothing but to lose himself in their proximity for just a second, to reaffirm that he’s safe and uninjured, and to let something hard to pin down spark in his chest.
Relief comes next, and he manages to breath out past the noise of water—]
Next time, please let me handle it. All right?
no subject
[ There’s an awful lot of fire in those words, a strange mixture of desperation and barely-contained grief. He has lost so much, buried so many friends, and he’ll not see another comrade throw their life away – especially one as precious to him as Connor.
He pulls away, enough to look at Connor's face, but his fingers remain clenched in the fabric of his friend's shirt. ]
Next time… next time we’ll handle it together. I’m done keeping my head down while others do the fighting for me.
no subject
And that, he thinks, makes something spike in that (not so) little collection of errors Connor keeps locked away. It feels unpleasant and cold -- it feels like guilt.]
I... all right. If that's what you want. Statistically, at least, that would be for the best.
[The last part is added on so half-heartedly, it's almost a wonder why he should say it at all. A deep frown, and Connor places a hand to brace against Arenvald's back, trying to help straighten him in the water.]
Are you able to swim? We need to get you back.
no subject
Aye, I should be alright. Not the worst I’ve ever had.
[ But of course, this goes both ways, doesn’t it? Surely Connor doesn’t want to see a friend hurt any more than Arenvald does. ]
… Sorry if I worried you.
no subject
[Worry is hardly something he should admit to, something that rings too personal and too much like human emotion to neatly cross that line. But how can he say otherwise at this point? Jawline gone taut, eyes flickering across his face as rights his friend, it's like he's been smothered in the stuff, barely released from its touch.]
Hopefully we can avoid circumstances like this in the future, so that you don't have to.
[Arenvald's injures are not serious, but his energy levels may still be recovering (and despite everything, Connor does feel worry pulsing still in his chest, mixing with relief and leaving him feeling like an anxious thing).]
Latch onto me if you have to. I can do the majority of the swimming if need be.
no subject
What a sorry excuse for a protector he is.
He amends, right then and there, that he will do better next time. Next time they’ll work together, back to back, so that neither of them has to worry. ]
My legs still work just fine… I think.
[ He still feels a bit sluggish, if he’s being honest. He hopes he can fake it, but a few lame kicks quickly make it apparent that he cannot. ]
But I probably do need a hand.
no subject
He extends an arm, leaning close, letting Arenvald hold on in any way he deems necessary and not too awkward.]
Then I'm here to give it to you. Come on, we'll move slowly.
[While Connor keeps an intensely sharp eye out for any danger that might still be looming.]
no subject
Yes, it’s rather slow going. ]
Not my finest moment by a long shot, eh?
no subject
[He says that easily, because it loops back around, subtly, to what he knows about Arenvald's lack of self-esteem. This kind of comment, even if it's presented as something of a joke, isn't surprising to Connor's analytical mind.]
Though I'd prefer you not try to handle the brunt of a fight -- or a dangerous situation on your own -- your tactic was a valid one. And it's admirable, wanting to help others even at your own potential detriment. 'Honorable' would be a good descriptor for it.
[Slow going or not, Connor will keep the swim steady, determined to get his friend to safety as they speak.]
no subject
Something in his chest contracts with a subtle sort of warmth, and it’s not unpleasant. ]
Funny, I could say the same thing about you.
no subject
I was only doing what's necessary to ensure the safety of my fellow Circle members. And my friends... you included, of course.
no subject
Somewhat clumsily, his fingers flex, giving Connor's shoulder a squeeze. ]
Yeah, and I'd say that makes you admirable as well.
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[That it’s own sort of rebuttal. Doing what’s necessary, a mindset only focused on expectation, is not always worthy of praise. Perhaps one need only think of Connor’s own ongoing mission, the reason for his creation, to realize this.
Not that the android will lead the subject past implication, instead opting for a safer route.]
At any rate, exchanging compliments can wait until we actually figure out a solution to this shadow monster issue. I have a suspicion that things will only get worse from here, which is motivation enough to get you back into optimal shape.
no subject
Connor changes to the subject, anyroad, and Arenvald gives a small grunt in the affirmative. ]
If only we could find where they’re coming from. Stop them at the source.