acatamods: (Default)
acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_logs2019-01-04 10:22 am

PHASE 3: AKVOS: THE END.






the great escape.
The Circle has quite a lot on their plate, this time around. Multiple players are fighting for the control of Akvos, and many difficult choices to make. No matter what path you choose, though, one thing is for certain: it is a bitter fight to the death to ensure that Akvos remains standing, one way or another.

There are three main areas for the characters to explore in the final log of Akvos: (1) The Kingdom of Akvos, where the King is fighting to seize control; (2) The Rift, where the characters will encounter the Dreamscapes; and (3) The Kingdom of Polankos, which is where King Ka'pouli has reigned since his arrival in the pocket dimension. Decisions made in all there areas will affect the outcome of Akvos, so get to exploring.




THE ASSAULT ON WAHINE.
The King’s forces will attack in three different fronts. There will be mermen attacking from above, riding saddled giant seahorses and manta rays, launching spears at the mermaid-warriors below with terrifying precision. They seem to be indiscriminate, in their aim -- the weaponry, charged with the same dark energy that the shadow creatures seem to be made out of, find their target in civilians and warriors alike, raining down a sea of terror upon the central stronghold of the Kingdom of Akvos.

The mermen will also be attacking at the ground-level, attempting to burst their way through the Palace Gates to flood the city with numbers. While the mermaids outnumber the mermen, the mermen are certainly more brutal than the mermaids. Some of them, though, in finding the city, are more concerned with looting it than with senselessly murdering everyone inside. Indeed, this is the most food they have seen in a long time -- and markets are destroyed in grabbing as much food and riches as they can, pressing closer to the Palace, and toward the Queen's stronghold.

And, finally, they will be attacking from below, navigating their way through a network of tunnels meant to transport goods and bursting their way into people’s homes, to sneak their way closer to their ultimate goal, which seems to be the Palace itself.

The Circle's main goal, here, is to protect civilians, usher theminto the underground strongholds beneath the Palace, and fight for their own lives should they attack the mermen first. Man the wall, if you so choose, to attempt to block the air attacks from the mantas. Fight on the ground, to protect Akvos from destruction. Or make your way to the underground strongholds and tunnels, to block access to the Palace. All of these will certainly assist in keeping Akvos safe.

In addition, please remember that shadow creatures (which can only be killed by magical means) are still making their way through the entirety of Akvos. While King Ka'pouli's forces are targeting the Palace of Wahine, the shadow creatures are still present everywhere. Get to killing!



INTO THE RIFT.
Some of you, however, have elected to traverse into the mysterious rift that appeared in the midst of the Fields of Akvosia. It looks like a black hole into nothingness, crackling with odd energy . . . and passing through it feels as though you have stepped through an icy waterfall. For a moment, you cannot breathe -- and then, you are treated to beauty.

The gaps between time and space are full of sparkling lights, bolts of rainbow starlight winding around you as you move through the uncertainty that is the void. It seems endless, but something inside you is tugging you forward . . . and, suddenly, there is a soft voice in your ear. A familiar one, to those who reside within the Circle . . . the confused voice of Astoria.

"Hello? My Travelers? How are you within the Void?" The Void? That word hadn't been used to describe whatever this magical place is before, but . . . well, a witch with the ability to send you all across the universe probably knows what she's talking about, right? "That should not be possible . . . who opened this doorway?"

You can tell her, or you can not. It seems to matter not, because: "Is this not getting through? Why can I not hear you . . . but I can feel you, I can -- please, if you can hear this, be careful. The Void is not something for mortals to interact with, and it can show you terrible things -- terrible things, so please--"

And, right before you have the opportunity to respond to our benevolent witch (or captor, depending on your point of view), you see a bizarre glass-like surface in front of you. It looks like a mirror, and you see a perfect reflection of yourself. It is absolutely captivating, and it beckons you . . . almost urging you to touch it. And Astoria's whisper grows a bit louder, more urgent:

"My dear Traveler, be careful what you encounter here -- can you hear me? Can you see me? I am trying to get you out of there, to bring you back home--Akvos is--"

But it is too late.

Your fingers graze the edge of the mirror, and you are pulled -- a sensation that is familiar to you, the same pull in your stomach that you feel whenever Astoria thrusts you across the universe, into new realities. And, when you blink your eyes again, and look around . . . you are no longer in Akvos, or the Void. You are somewhere entirely new.

Welcome to the Dreamscape.




THE KINGDOM OF POLANKOS.
Once the Circle emerges from the Rift and the Dreamscape, they will stumble into another world . . . but this one's wateris shallow, in comparison to the massive depths of the crystal-clear kingdom of Akvos. You can quite clearly see the surface, here, and there are shallows that allow you to come up onto islands, tropical in nature with fruit, odd creatures that appear to be multiple-headed monkeys and parrots, and sandy shores. It's a bit jarring to see, after spending so long underwater. Indeed, you emerge to trudge onto land, and look around, somewhat mystified that the deep-dwelling mermen would be from a place like this.

However, exploring the islands (which is not very difficult to do, as they are all small and will not take very much time) will yield the discovery that on the islands themselves are tunnels -- underwater caverns that thread through the islands to much deeper water. It's almost as if the islands themselves are barriers to the underwater caverns below -- shallow water, a layer of land, and then a (mer)man-made bubble of water below the barrier of land. And that whoever lived on these islands tunneled through them to find deeper water. Princess Kea, (who will attend on these journeys, while remaining in the water), will tell the Circle members that King Ka'pouli told her that when the mermen were cast out, they landed on solid land, and had to slowly dig deeper to their salvation.

Navigating through these tunnels will be somewhat perilous -- and the Circle members will need to carry Princess Kea to the nearest tunnel to get her into some water, because while she can breathe on the surface for a certain period of time, she cannot navigate the land as quickly as you people with legs. Additionally, underwater caving isn't exactly a blast, but the deeper you go, the more clues of civilization you can find. And, eventually, once you go deep enough, you emerge into a massive underwater cavern to find the small Kingdom of Polankos.

In comparison to the Kingdom of Akvos, Polankos is witheringly depressing. It is not brightly colored, nor open -- indeed, it is tiny, with mermen huddled together waiting patiently for the forces that went through the rift to return. There is not a lot to find here, save for some interesting weapons that possess a dark energy, versus a lightning energy -- and those weapons will be given to the Circle members who ask for them, because those who wield them are in no condition to fight. There is little food, little room to sleep, and these are a people clearly in need of assistance.

In order to get them out of Polankos, you will need to usher them through the tunnels back up to the Rift above -- it seems that King Ka'pouli opened the Rift on the surface, rather than risk the city below in case it did not work. The mermen there (who seem to be elderly and weak) will be eager for the assistance to get out Polankos, and at the promise of being brought into Akvos, they will happily go. There will be no resistance from them.

You may also see Princess Kea, who has filtered in and out of the Rift to assist on the journey -- teary-eyed, heartbroken at the sight of these individuals who require rescue, organizing the mermen with the promise of keeping them safe in Akvos.

"Hurry," she tells you, as she rouses another merman into getting to the nearest tunnel. "We do not have a lot of time to pull this off, and we must work quickly."

Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These areas of the world are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore -- you may use as much leeway as you want in order to come up with what your character will do, especially in the Dreamscapes.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the various threads back in the OOC post from before!
archaeo: (01.)

[personal profile] archaeo 2019-01-14 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah?

[That maybe sorta explains the other woman's expression, if she cared enough to worry about that.]

So my main guess right now is this is how you died, but feel free to correct me except make it short because I do not care at all beyond the basics. Aside from that, you got any idea what the problem is or should I find an astromech and ask them?
archaeo: (10.)

[personal profile] archaeo 2019-01-14 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't call me that.

[It makes her feel like she's talking to a certain smuggler, which makes her remember a certain farmboy said the two of them spoke similarly which she certainly hates.

But she does put her hands up, so there's that.]


You got any better ideas? I was just gonna stun you anyways. I've got a ship out there waiting to pick us up, and it's really not that bad! Your body only shuts down momentarily! And then you take a little bacta bath and you're fine!
billionaires: (241)

[personal profile] billionaires 2019-01-14 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the clouds stay but start to fade to a paler, more friendly gray-white. he's used to being attacked okay and he really doesn't like being knocked out, though it does curry some favor to know her phasers were set to "stun" after all. ]

I'm at least 89-98% percent sure I don't wanna know what that means. So- lead the way, sweet-tart. Get it? Cause you're sour.
nogoldenmirror: (assist ☽ circling)

[personal profile] nogoldenmirror 2019-01-14 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
You are one of the few who believe that, then.

[An amused glint in her eyes says far more than she ever can voice: that only makes two people in her life who trust her that much. In all honesty, it's kind of impressive. Stupid, but impressive. She almost laughs, but... then he all but offered knowledge on a silver platter.

He's about to learn just how bad an idea that is to offer a mage of any walk of life from Thedas. One breath, aaand the deluge starts.]


What exactly is this place? What were those things you were watching Keith from and what was he doing? And the device you were leaning against in the desert? [She'd ask about the compound in the drugs the Galra used on him but she at least has some semblance of decorum even if she's most curious as an herbalist.] How many different planets have you seen? The advancements in science, medicine, and magic it must have taken...

[Oh no. Someone stop her. (Good luck. There's no stopping this particular train. Choo choo.)]
paladorable: (018)

[personal profile] paladorable 2019-01-14 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He has half a mind to protest, but she moves too quickly – or else his mind is still stuck back in that room, with the weeping figure of his mother – for him to say anything. All he can do is bend slightly while she cleans his face. Whatever wound his mother had inflicted aged like the rest of him, scarring over in ugly, hateful lines that occupy the spaces on his face and brow usually covered by his warpaint. ]

Ah, it isn’t your fault. You didn’t ask to be here any more than I did.
billionaires: (267)

[personal profile] billionaires 2019-01-14 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
All versions of me are a genius, so.

[ he swallows, letting the rain go on. it's cathartic for him somehow, but if she stands far enough away she can avoid it, the cloud seems to follow him like a really sad metaphor. ]

We could go, too. We've earned it, right?

[ schawarma then finding the way out of here? don't mind if they do. ]
rightfully: (pic#12064668)

[personal profile] rightfully 2019-01-14 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Stopping mid-step, fingers just shy of the door, she glances back at him. It isn't difficult to get a gauge of his expression. It's somewhat she's seen too many times, across too many different people. He's frightened. So is she, truth be told. The smell of gunsmoke is hard to place, but it feels dangerous in a way she isn't used to.

None of it changes the fact that, real or not, past or present, people are dying. Firmly, she nods. Despite his fear, what she sees in his face convinces her. ]


I'll do my utmost to keep you safe.

[ Honour and chivalry before, uh, logic. It's the Lucina way. ]
paladorable: (004)

[personal profile] paladorable 2019-01-14 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Something about those words flips a switch, takes him back to a conversation he had with Connor not long ago. I’m done keeping my head down while others do the fighting for me.

He may be bereft of his usual armor, but he has a sword at his hip and a shield at his back. He places his hand on the hilt of the former, summoning some resolve into his expression. ]


Only if you allow me to return the favor.

[ He’d hate to have dragged her into this mess only for something to happen to her. Mayhap this is a dream, and the bullets and blades of the Garlean soldiers cannot harm them, but there’s no way to know for certain. He’d rather not take the chance.

With a nod, he beckons her to open the door. It seems that reality in this dream world is fluid. What should be out here are the ruined corpses of A’aba and Aulie and the slew of Garlean soldiers they cut down to protect Arenvald. Instead, it is a long and empty hallway, with a T intersection at the far end. ]
valuedstrength: (someone who's there)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2019-01-14 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[Steve follows if only because why not? His day can't get any weirder. Maybe if he doesn't get too close he will resist the urge to punch this guy. Soon he's face to face with Peggy and you know what? Fuck it. He's getting his dance.

It's exactly what you think it will be. A little awkward and mostly cute as Steve follows the lead of his clearly more skilled partner. Steve couldn't be more smitten. Like a classic Cinderella story, it stops when the clock hits midnight aka the dance finishes. Everything disappears. They're left with only each other for company in an empty dance hall.]
What happens now?
rightfully: (pic#7535322)

[personal profile] rightfully 2019-01-14 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lucina pushes the door open. It swings mightily and dramatically, because she's Extra. The sounds die out as soon as her hands touch it, though, and by the time the corridor is fully open to them, it's completely devoid of life. Not a scrap, not a hair, not a speck of blood. The utter, soggy silence is more than a little disquieting to Lucina, who is used to the sound of battle but not the ghosts of it, and she casts a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure Arenvald is still here.

A deep breath - not a sigh, desperate what her sister may insist, pouting - and a hand safe at the hilt of her sword, Lucina begins to walk. Her eyes skim the walls, a careful gaze that deliberately misses nothing. It doesn't matter that this space is technically empty, she's still expecting to be attacked. ]


...Is this part of your home?
valuedstrength: (don't you know I'm human)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2019-01-14 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Steve nods slowly, pushing down a bout of anger at himself. He should better. He fell in hard. Lucky him that Zari is around to bail him out.] I remember. I just don't....

[He swallows thickly, struggling to put his problem into words not for the first time around Zari.] Why is she here?
theseuschip: (↻ so my mind is covering it up)

[personal profile] theseuschip 2019-01-14 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The hand on his shoulder gets his attention — it probably wouldn’t have been obvious before, how Simon reflexively looks to 9S’s eyes the way you would with anybody else when you’re hoping you’ll learn something from doing it. Even when you can’t, because they’re covered.

Surprise flashes across his face. It’s not an unpleasant surprise. He figured out a while ago that the androids can’t fathom the things humans intrinsically feel the right to be able to expect from their own existence, and that most of his angst is either that, or falls into the “mundane facts of everyday YoRHa life” category. It’s not something he really thinks about consciously, not something Simon can even blame him for, but maybe he always works under the assumption that he’ll never manage to impress his anxieties on 9S. Plus, 9S is kinda just like that.

But now he’s being reassured, and with a pledge to protect him from harm?? In a 9S sort of way, but still. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it; scratches his temple quizzically and taps the Omnitool against the side of his leg, disproportionately thrown by this. ]


Yeah, well... I survived it the first time. If staying away from them doesn’t work out, we’ll do it your way.

[ He sneaks a glance at 9S’s feet, but does not disclose this epiphany he’s having about how he’s extremely tiny and Simon never noticed. I mean wow. With the boots, huh? Wow. ] But, uh- I found an Omnitool, so we can go.
nifties: (040)

[personal profile] nifties 2019-01-14 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he watches from his soldier's strong arms - they really are sweet. and she's so patient with him. really, this is one of those love stories that will stick with him a long time. he really is a romantic deep... deep down. then everything starts to disappear and he smacks a kiss on the man's cheek in farewell before he vanishes with all the others. what a shame. peggy is the last to go and john gets a better look at her face as he makes his way across the scant space to steve. ]

Now we get the hell out of here, mate.

[ he holds out his hand and lifts an eyebrow. if steve takes it, they'll be back in the rift. hopefully it's the real deal this time. ]
nifties: (Default)

[personal profile] nifties 2019-01-15 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
If I'm not mistaken... my magic should work just fine here.

[ he stands and flicks out his wrists, eyes glowing gold as he starts to chant. oh yeah, that's the stuff. it seems he's stopped time, to what consequence he doesn't yet know. john holds out a hand to her once the spell is in place to help her up. ]

Now. You know where that bomb is?
valuedstrength: (Calls of the guilty thrown at me)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2019-01-15 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[He hesitates briefly. It's hard not to cling to the past for anyone, but especially him. Steve has more of it than the present by far. He got his dance. He can't strand this weirdo here forever because it doesn't feel like enough.

Steve glances at John's hand before taking it.]
They teach you how to get out in demonologist school? [He smiles at his own joke.]
valuedstrength: (days fell away with nothing to show)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2019-01-15 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Steve shuts his eyes. Tony is right. It's an annoying habit of his. That doesn't make it easier to accept. The what-ifs are actively sabotaging his ability to just acknowledge the truth.] Are you really missing a marble?

[He asks out of the blue seemingly. Steve needs the distraction.]
valuedstrength: (All I have to do is worry)

[personal profile] valuedstrength 2019-01-15 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[He can take a hint. Steve starts to make his way down to the village with her. He has no idea what a jinba is, aside from her, so he follows along as best he can.] America, but across the sea works too. I think this will work.

[He shrugs.] Worst comes to worst, say I'm some rich guy's son. They're usually clueless.
bestaround: (pic#12608511)

[personal profile] bestaround 2019-01-15 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ He appears more grounded now, unaware of how his actions only left Simon baffled. With that settled, 9S steps back slowly and turns. ]

One sec—you said you didn't recognize where we are, right? [ Back at the terminal, 9S taps at a monitor with the back of a knuckle. ] This thing mentions "Upsilon". Does that ring any bells?
nifties: (059)

[personal profile] nifties 2019-01-15 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah, it was right after Possessions and before tea time.

[ he looks down at their hands, steve's is a bit larger than his but it's soft - surprisingly so for a man so built. he runs his thumb along the man's lifeline idly, his thumb calloused from flicking pages in magic books believe it or not. but then he's letting steve go and looking around like he's not sure if they made it out of the matrix. ]

She's the one that got away, huh? [ murmured softly as he swims deeper. if this is gonna be one of those jump-scares he's officially done with this place. ]
rightfully: (pic#7915150)

[personal profile] rightfully 2019-01-15 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Lucina does notice the change in word choice, even if she can't begin to guess what it means. An affectation his employment relies on. Slipping into someone else's mannerisms to make them feel at ease. Spy tricks. In the face of it, she does her best to keep her expression circumspect and lukewarm. ]

Yes. I'm afraid I misplaced something at home. Its safety is imperative.

It is...

[ Her eyes flicker a little, peripherally observant, even as her head remains in one place. ]

- an earring. My grandmother's, in fact. She was very wealthy.

[ That last bit was pretty unnecessary to her guise. ]
billionaires: (348)

[personal profile] billionaires 2019-01-15 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ he lifts his eyebrows. ] Several. [ but the truth is: ]

Howard threw it into the Pacific Ocean when he got mad at me one time.
foundafamily: (Ouch)

[personal profile] foundafamily 2019-01-15 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Ice?

[The only "ice" slang he knows is "icing" someone as in killing them, but that obviously doesn't fit. And dealers?

Suddenly, violently, Firo shakes his head and flings one of his arms out in a wide arc, as if he can wipe away everything Hank just said.]


Wait, wait, wait. You think there're drugs in there?

[Goddamn it, was it a false tip? Some cop jumping to the wrong conclusions? Firo's barely wrapping his head around the fact that his whole casino is getting taken down; the fact that the warrant's on a crime he didn't actually do is too much.]
foundafamily: (Default)

[personal profile] foundafamily 2019-01-15 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Indeed, the worst kind of bar. Firo stares sullenly at the bottles lining the shelves and wonders if it's worth it to get a drink if this isn't even real. There's only one way to reconcile John's presence--and the other oddities--with being home: the admission that he isn't actually home.

With a groan of dismay, he drops the attempt at being quiet. No need for it now.]


It just seemed felt like everything finally went back to normal.

[Another phantom door slam, this time accompanied by measured, marching footsteps on concrete.

Well, for a relative meaning of "normal."]
fairysong: (64)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-15 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
They were definitely with us when we entered the tunnels from the palace. [Sheryl says after just a moment's thought.] The parents all had their children then, I think.

[Though, would they have said anything? They would have, right?

She decides to not doubt herself.]
So they must've gotten separated some place in the tunnels.
foundafamily: (14.1)

[personal profile] foundafamily 2019-01-15 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
An earring? What, do you think it's gonna crawl away while you're gone?

[He doesn't bother trying to hide his surprise and skepticism, feeling free to act normally since he wouldn't expect her to drop any money here. He can't blame her, after her experience so far; were he in her shoes, he sure as hell wouldn't plan on patronizing the joint.]

And you just realized that after you got here?