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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[He sounds totally baffled. Because he is. Then he tilts his head, looking thoughtful.]
But uh, if it happened more than once people'd maybe blame it on those monster things, so. But no, Sumo's back at the shelter. You think I'd let you blow shit up if my dog was around? Come on.
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[It's more like G11 is walking and talking to herself at this point. There's an out of place chuckle as she kicks off from the ground and floats over the top of the bar. Time to check the shelving underneath. Hank can feel free to do whatever while glasses are clinking around.]
By the way, if your dog disappears back on base...it's me. I'm the dog stealer. I've decided Sumo will be my nap buddy.
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[He wanders closer, trying to see what she's doing.]
Also, you sure that's why you're not in the field right now? I mean, being in the middle of all that bullshit sounds like work and it kinda seems like you'd rather be doing, like, anything that's not that. At all times.
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How do you know my secret?! [Pfft. Back to rummaging around.] What if I want to nap with him at night, huh? Don't tell me you're gonna say we can have sleepovers and stuff.
[She pops back up with a shit-eating grin. She's like a groundhog at this point.]
Unless you want to join in some cuddles too, Old Man? I'm sure Sumo and I could allow it. [Everyone can enjoy a giant cuddle pile, right? This isn't even G11 being perverted.]
Oh hey, I found the keeper's stash. Guaranteed not poisoned. [Though that might be an absurdity of her world. All the bottles on the racks behind her seem fine.]
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I, uh. Think I'm too old for cuddles, probably, so you're gonna have to take day shifts with Sumo. Is poison a thing I was supposed to be worrying about?
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Who knows. Maybe mermaids line the rims with puffer fish toxins. Not that it'll affect me. [...She may have been looking for a safe source for him. Not that she can test for poisoning. Eh. She tried. G11 takes a quick swig of the drink...
...Only to turn her head and spew it out. Gagging and pounding her free hand against the bar:]
URGH, GAH. You really weren't kidding!!! Why does it taste like anchovies?!
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Put the top back on, it's gonna float out all over the place! Ugh.
[And the mouthful she spit out is just kind of... floating there. Gross. He waves his hand through the water, trying to push the robo spit away back toward her.]
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G11 manages to screw the lid back on while continuing her coughing and gagging fit. It wouldn't be so bad if she had water, but that's exactly what they're in!]
Stupid [bleh] dumb [cough] WATERY HELL. [She ducks down again, only to come up with some sort of kelp-like material. A few waves of it through the spittle seems to soak it right up! Don't ask how she learned about the material properties here.
It may involve a story about drooling on the princess' bed.Once she's able to catch her breath and have most of the fishy taste out of her mouth, Hank is getting a very tired and annoyed look.]
Was this a prank? [Completely ignoring the fact that they just met in person.]
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[He wanders closer - cautiously, now, wary of any leftover gross shit in the water - and looks behind the counter himself.]
I guess that thing with that guy you wanted to do didn’t happen then, huh?
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But nah. She already used up most of her spare energy trying to clean the first mess. You win this round, Old Man.]
Not while we're stuck here, nope. I've mostly been napping the days away whenever or wherever I can.
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Huh.
[Fuck it, he's got nothing to do except hide from his problems, might as well chase that a little bit and see where it goes.]
So, this guy. You meet him here?
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No. Just texts. [A pause, then with a disdainful look because she's piecing things together:] Look, I just want to hang with other mercs. I'm not programmed to be without a squad.
[Because that statement is totally reassuring in itself. Though for G11, she kind of dislikes how much energy she's been putting into everything that isn't combat related. Where's her laziness-induced apathy when she needs it?!
in my head i'd already replied to this XD
So, your social circle's pretty much limited to 'people who shoot people for a living'? Or is that part just a bonus?
It's all good
[G11 watches what he chooses, half-wondering how he can bother with the taste.]
What-- do you have suggestions on how my new social circle should look here?
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[He's not looking to drink any of this, particularly - not yet, anyway. He's just holding the bottle up to the light, squinting and trying to see if there's anything weird in it. There might be. He shakes it, trying to make out the stuff floating around inside.]
And I tell you what, if you find anybody willing to go out drinking while we're supposed to be nobly battling the forces of evil or whatever, you let me know who they are. Unless you'd rather hang out with responsible, upstanding members of society, anyway, I think the tactics might be a little different there.
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[Depends on whether she decides it's worth the energy. As for the alcohol, maybe it's fermented fish guts floating around. That would at least explain the taste. Looking at her own bottle--]
...I can't even think of a food this would go well with.
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[He eyes the bottle for another second and then settles back, studying her.]
So. You don't like being alone, cause you're not used to it. But you don't like anyone here either. That about the shape of it?
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I wouldn't say I DON'T like anyone. You're okay. It's easy to talk to you. [He can decide if that's a good or bad thing for her standards.]
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It'd be a lot easier to be easy to talk to if you wouldn't remind me what a weird fuckin drug trip I'm living in right now. Can you be normal, would that be okay with you? So I can go ahead and keep giving an android friendship advice without Alice in Wonderland flashbacks? That'd be real cool.
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Well, at least my power is good for something! [Being annoying which is one of her finer skills.] Go on, Old Man, gimme that friendship speech.
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Okay. Now it's safe to look, he does, and then he pulls a face.]
A speech, that's what you want? Okay, let's see uh... Friendship. Friendship... is... uh, magic.
[That's really where his brain decided to take that, huh? Thank god everyone here's too busy being extradimensional weirdo aliens to get his references. Hank spreads his hands.]
Look, I was going to ask about why you don't like those people you say you don't like, you sure you wanna hear me rip off some shitty friendship platitudes instead? I think we'd need to drink a lot of this for that shit to come out of my mouth sounding good.
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Okay, yeah...Put a pin in the friendship speech until we get REAL alcohol. Not this fermented fish crap. [Besides that--]
I guess the easiest explanation is that I don't want people forcing me to do stuff unless it's for squad stuff. I don't wanna hang out with people who think they can change that. [So basically Being Lazy is top priority.]
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[Astoria'd better step aside, cause the fact that Hank can say that without any self awareness at all, without even a microscopic trace of irony, that's the real magic happening here.]
That'd be like me never talking to a redneck again just cause I watched Maury once. Nevermind, that's uh, let's pretend you got that and it was an amazing analogy, whatever. The point is, if being by yourself's getting to you it's kind of a shame to count everyone out without even giving em a real chance.
[Hank's brain has now been renamed The Hypocrisy Machine. Go, Hypocrisy Machine, go.]
And it's not like you're gonna get lots of squad stuff happening here anyway, so. If that's all you're gonna let people do with you, what kinda action are you actually gonna get?
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Which why G11's smile as she listens becomes more blank-faced halfway through his oh-so-wise advice. Her expression stays like that even after he poses his question to her. She's internally debating between laughing or throw disbelief at him...
...Eventually the T-doll decides to take a quick swig, turn her head away from Hank, and purposely spew out the mouthful. Following up with:]
Holy shit! What was all that garbage you just threw at me?
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[He casts a disgusted look over to the mouthful of fish booze and robo-spit in the water.]
As long as you don't wanna do gross shit, come on, if you're gonna drink that, drink it.
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