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! |
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acatalepsy_logs2019-01-04 10:22 am
cw: mind-control, experimentation, body horror, ptsd, clones
'He still believes there is good left inside you, which leaves him vulnerable to persuasion. You will exploit that weakness.'
...only one was viable? Her blood runs cold, yet she never turns away.] ...She almost sounds like Mother.
[And from her tone, it's obvious she realizes this isn't a good thing. Her fists clench and she keeps watching, glowering at the sights as she listens and steels herself by the time an ephemeral version of him appears by her side. The next words out of one Shiro's mouth cause that to go out the window.
He's died before. His likeness used against those he cares for most. Something deep inside claws at her, begging to be set free but she keeps it caged. The way she hears the clone's voice break on the name...
It's the same way her voice breaks when she says his name and remembers just how much she has to lose. Morrigan subconsciously places a hand on her own stomach. Soul collection. Right. She isn't good at comforting; she has nothing to go off of for experience. What she does have, however, is knowledge. She steps closer as two merge into one, yellow reflecting a similar certainty. The words on her tongue are foreign, ancient and filled with a song that flows naturally, yet the dreams translate them anyway.]
I am filled with sorrow for what was lost. Yet t'would seem two have become one. [She blinks, bringing a hand to her mouth, as though she can hardly believe that escaped her mouth, before shaking it off.]
...Fear is good, so long as one does not become consumed by it. [She raises both hands to either side of his head and lets down her guard, lets the mixture of both see the glimpse of her time visiting another Circle months ago: mages and enchanters trapped in magical bindings, shaking and barely maintaining their own wills as others unbound grin, snaking tendrils of power around their minds. One boy, no older than twenty, is being held up in a "T" pose by two monstrous entities that were once human until the screams crescendo. Their leader, a bald man, cups their chin with one hand as they hang there suspended and forces them to meet his gaze. Do you accept the gift that I offer? He nods and the screaming continues as humanity gives way to the same corruption as those who had held him up, transforming him into an abomination.]
There is a way to combat it in my reality. [Her voice echoes before she and three others begin to fight the ringleader when her own leader and love denies this "gift" of Uldred's. The same power flows over an elderly man and the man in green who shows up with her holds up a scroll of some sort. The power is nullified.
Morrigan's barriers return as she lowers her hands, the dragon within reflected in her gaze.] If there is a way here, I will help you find it.
cw: mind-control, human experiments, ptsd
Following a stray instinct, he shuts his eyes. It's like opening himself to the lion. The connection forged shares with him something terrible. He doesn't flinch away from the visions. She shared with him for a reason. His eyebrows come down and his mouth presses into a thin line of distaste. It reminds him faintly of the druids. But the druids are precise.]
...If there's a way we will find it. I won't let any of you be controlled either. ...and this is what they were like.
[He becomes the Lion again. He lowers his head and her hands brush his nose. The world shifts.
The cells are cold and airy. He's so used to them it feels like he's known nothing else. The sounds of the prisoners in their cells around him have become familiar. Heavy boots on the metal flooring make him wince. He's to fight another challenge.
The door to his cell opens. Two Galra soldiers and robotic sentries bring their pulse rifles up. He stays still and frowns as a Galra soldier leads a robed figure in. The robe is almost pitch black and edged with a deep purple. The mask over the druid's face would be something to haunt his dreams for years.
'Yes, this is the one. I feel it even from here. Bring him.'
He starts to back up but the soldiers move in and haul him upright. "What the hell do you want with me?" He snaps and the druid reaches a hand out for his face. The guard catches his chin before he can look away. 'You will learn.' Was all that was said before it all goes black.
The expanse returns bit by bit. Her hands are by his human face but his eyes are the yellow of the lion. He's outlined in the same purple. It fades away as he takes a step back.]
We will find a way. [He repeats and his voice drops to a whisper.] Thank you, Morrigan.
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It hadn't just been the one. Both halves of the now-whole had been a prisoner at some point. A draconian snarl echoes in the back of her throat before she can kill it. She looks into those eyes with those of the dragon she was here and will one day be in her own world.]
You are welcome. [It takes a moment for her to kill the gold fire in her eyes, but she will keep that image in mind if she ever once thinks of crossing those standards she poses upon herself.] ...And I should warn you, that unlike that untrained fool I showed you, I know how to be that precise. Yet I shall never use those spells. I have standards.
[She offers him her hand. See? She'll even do that stupid human society thing and shake on it.]
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He smiles and looks at Morrigan, his eyes bright.] I know I never have to worry about you.
[He accepts her hand and clasps it briefly then lets go.] Feel free to ask any other questions you want to ask. I haven't found our exit yet but I'm close.
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[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.)]
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And the screen is a view screen, it's fed information from cameras and sensors inside other rooms. A camera is a device that records what it sees and stores those images or like with the screen sends them on.
[Ah a scientist or at least a scholar. Either way, he's pleased to talk about anything that isn't his own memories or problems.]
The machine I was leaning against is a hoverbike. I can give you the specifics of them anytime. Or, next time I get the chance to build one...we can show you while we work on it.
As for planets, we're seen a lot of them. Not all of them have advancements in magic but...I can bet you would like the Olkari. They've melded nature, magic, and tech like ours into one. I might be able to focus and show you.
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So akin to our watches, but on a grander scale.
[Shiro, she's a mage and herbalist. That's technically both. Technically. No formal training, but... Saying her mother is Special would be an understatement
oh, if only she herself knew.]I'd like th- [Excuse her, Shiro. Did you just...?] Truly?
[Her eyes spark with interest. Uh oh. What have you done, Shirogane.]
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One by one the Lions are brought down to them by the people firing arrows. Shiro watches and waits, and when the leader of the Olkari gestures for them to follow, he walks after them. The scene shifts and they stand on a walkway leading upwards over the city made of plants and magic.]
It never fails to take my breath away.
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If they figured out a way to replicate what the Olkari just did, she imagines archers like Leliana would be unstoppable. Perhaps she simply won't tell the bard, were she ever to appear here. It would be fun, lording over her with information she doesn't know. It would probably annoy her, too. Spies usually were like that.
For now, though? She's focused on her surroundings. Especially as they're suddenly on the walkway.]
'Tis beautiful...
[Aaand she's already trying to think of how it was done; she and her mother had built and rebuilt their little hut enough times that she knows the basics as well as how to waterproof... Hm.]