welcome to joikull.QUICK LINKS
THE EXPLOSION.It’s thunderous — the sound of it wracks the village, causing the ice beneath everyone to splinter ever so slightly at first. A light becomes to consume the sky, and before everyone realizes it, the festivities have become a mess of magic and panic. Some civilians are quick to run, and the chaos that ensues leads to what can only be described as an impending disaster.
Your magic no longer functions properly. In some instances, it is debilitatingly strong to a point where it will cause harm to either yourself or those around you. If you need to stabilize, find someone who can handle the heat or calm you down. Either way, you’ll need to take care of this. The citizens are ridden with fear and anxiety, and should they see you, they may regard you as a threat.
In others, your magic will produce the reverse of the effect you’re accustomed to. If you produce fire, you’ll be producing ice. If your powers are more on the abstract side, the effect in question will be up to you. Feel free to get creative!
And in an especially bizarre case, you may find that you’ve swapped powers with someone intermittently. You may have to guide one another through this — it flickers on and off like a light switch, so do exercise caution.
 DANGEROUS INVESTIGATIONSIt is a couple of days after the initial explosion that the rising tension and fear reaches a peak. Specifically as the result of not only the property damage that has occurred due to the rise in temperature, but the way it seems to be affecting the natives themselves. Over the course of just a couple of days, there have started to be disappearances. Sudden, and seemingly out of nowhere.
Many natives have abandoned the festivities, choosing instead to hide within their homes. Others try to continue on as usual, try to keep the energy up, but there is still a strange sense to the city.
You get word of a meeting taking place in the center of town - a square that had, not a few days ago, been the center of the festivities. Three figures stand among the crowd, and all members of the Circle have been invited.
What we are facing is like nothing we have seen before. But a few of us have met, and discussed the next course of action. You will, of course, not be forced to join either group. But if you do wish to investigate this sudden danger, and find a way to save Joikull, we suggest you pick a path.
We leave at dawn.
IN THE CITY INVESTIGATION➜ The city is in disarray — the denizens are at unease, but are willing to cooperate in spite of their reluctance. They’re quick to discuss matters of privacy, and it’s been decided that an investigation into each and every house must be conducted. Some families are more amiable than others, and will cook a meal or allow Circle members to stay the night afterwards. Others...may be eager to get you out of their hair. The city is melting, and the citizens are becoming increasingly stressed. Tensions are rising, and people are becoming more reserved by the minute.
➜ The biggest worry is the missing natives. Some of the citizens have started to panic because of it - what has happened to their family members? Their friends? Where could they even go? Whether or not you believe the fate of the these people at the hands of a slowly rising temperature, they made need some help calming down. Panic, in mass numbers no matter who the masses are, is dangerous - and will show themselves in many ways. You will be tasked with protection, with stopping those who plan to take advantage of it, and do what you can to keep the city running.
➜ Another task at hand is patrolling the streets. Keeping an eye on the city - night and day. With the craziness of the magic, no one quite feels safe, and they may ask a bit more of you than you are willing to give. Sleep will be shortened, and your shifts will be long. But you said you were willing to help, didn't you? They need help.
➜ The labyrinth is akin to a maze: there doors upon doors, and stairs upon stairs, both of which can lead to dead ends or...other strange little places. Some pathways may lead you into different pocket realms entirely (a beach episode, for example), while others are of a more abstract nature, serving as portals into old memories of yours. It will do everything in its power to draw your attention away from the matter at hand: the source of this magic.
Ultimately, you will find yourselves at the same doorway you have descended into only days prior to this investigation. The Circle has made the decision to wait for their allies.
OUT OF THE CITY INVESTIGATIONThe journey is rigorous, and will not leave you unscathed. Joikull is as cold as can be, but the trek ahead poses more issues than expected. Suit up, pack appropriately, and slip your boots on — it’s time.
➜ On the first day, the path is rather straightforward, but Circle members will find that acclimating to the near-constant blizzard is a challenge. A life threatening challenge. It only takes a few hours for the group as a whole to make camp out of sheer exhaustion. With the aid of magic, warm food and rest are within reach, but the weather won’t make easy to sustain either of those things. Lo and behold, the tents will have be carried away by the wind or shred to pieces, leaving you to fend for yourselves. The journey continues. Grab onto a hand, or make sure you have a partner of any sort, as you’ll likely find yourself lost if you don’t.
➜ ...Should you get lost, you’ll find that while many animals have underwent hibernation, others are on the prowl. Be careful around the snow owls that will lead you to yours death, and the territorial wolves that will attack if you show up unprompted.
➜ The fourth and fifth days are the most difficult of them all. Your amenities are now frozen over, and fire is needed to keep them intact. Others have spoilt entirely, and the wind is as harsh as can be. Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel...quite literally.
➜ The temperature spike is notable. The ground underneath you is chipping away, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see. However, the Circle members will find themselves practically thawing, as will Joikull’s citizens. The intensity of the magic everyone has been gifted will reach an all time high, now capable of impacting areas at large — collateral damage is now a possibility. The natives stay back, unable to endure the effects of the “glow”, and leave the rest to you. It’s reminiscent of a large orb — akin to the sun or a glowing planet, and the closer you get, the more overwhelming it is. A massive. all consuming orb of light.
➜ ...It seems to be responding to magic. Elemental magic will cause the “glow” to spit out effects that correspond to whatever element that user is wielding (inflicting burns on someone who might be using fire magic, as an example), but the “glow” seems to lose a bit of its energy as well. It appears to be weakest to dark magic. Other forms of magic, such as those on the more psychological spectrum, will hinder the “glow” as well, but may overstimulate the user by extension. Either way, keep at it — attacking the “glow” will weaken its power, but it’ll be at the expense of the Circle.
MOD NOTES.Remember, you can always ask more questions if needed on the earlier OOC post, linked up top! Enjoy the end of Acatalepsy 1.0, and stay tuned for a lot of big announcements in the future!
Stay warm, Circle members. :) |
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acatalepsy_logs2019-07-08 07:14 pm
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[Ruby's shrinking had been a bit more extreme over the last few days. She wasn't exactly sure what she saw the last time she tried it but she was pretty sure they were germs.
There's a nod and she follows Maes along toward the stream. She's got Crescent Rose at the ready just in case.]
It's worth a shot. If it is like Akvos is there anything I should be on the watch for? I wasn't around for that one.
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[Not that he was necessarily afraid of heights. But why do something unnecessary like that in the first place? Seeing Ruby prepare her weapon, Maes casually reached behind his back, reassuring himself of the presence of his daggers. It had been a nice keep sake from Faerun and he felt would probably see some use in the coming days.]
Oh, right. Well, I can't say for sure if this is exactly the same...but if it is then this is somewhere between an illusion and [Pause as he thinks for a moment on the term some of the others used] some kind of pocket dimension. We'll follow it and there should be an edge. Just be cause because the stuff here can seem pretty real.
[He's reminded of another aspect of Akvos and as soon as he thinks about it, he does have to admit that this scenery seems familiar.]
Sometimes the places are from your own memories and I'd say this does look a little like the woods I used to play in as a kid.
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[Ruby gives a small sigh of relief. At least Maes seemed to have an idea as to what was going on here. On the bright side she had seen something like this before in her own world. She kind of wished she had the relic here with her so she could confirm that with Jinn.]
Just how real are we talking?
And on that note these woods weren't super dangerous where you're from, right?
feel free to prove maes wrong and make this a mix of ruby's memories if you want XD
[Not to mention how to follow orders and shut off that part of your brain that says you shouldn't kill a person.]
Real enough to see and touch and interact with. [He pauses, plucking a twig from a low hanging branch to show Ruby. He tosses it into the stream.] Any injuries or anything though seemed to disappear once you were out of the space though.
[Of course, there was no way of knowing if that would hold true here. He could only guess this was the same, it wasn't a guarantee.] Let's be cautious in case that isn't true anyway. But the woods shouldn't be any more dangerous than your typical woods. [Wait...he's talking to Ruby.] That is, we didn't have monsters living in them. Probably the most dangerous animal would be running into a bear or something, but those are just as likely to avoid humans anyway.
no subject
So they taught you all that but they left out landing strategies of all things? That just seems like one of the basics.
[Ruby couldn't really talk though she was still only just getting the hang of hand to hand combat.]
Okay. That's real enough to be tricky but we can handle that.
[It's about then that they can hear the sound of something heavy padding it's way through the woods toward them. Ruby gets up on her tip toes to try and get a better look but she can only vaguely see hints of black fur and bone.
She recognizes it well enough that her expression becomes a bit more grim.]
Just a hunch, I'm starting to think it might be a bit more dangerous than that. Maybe we should find a better spot to hold up.
[If it was just one Ursa, Ruby was confident she could fight it without her semblance or aura. But she only had so much ammunition with Crescent Rose. She'd rather not waste if it she had the option. She motioned forward and along the path and started to move.]
no subject
[How often does this kid launch herself from high places in order to need a landing strategy? Seriously? He shakes his head in amusement though, o the plus side maybe he doesn't have to worry so much about Ruby injuring herself if they DO somehow teleport into thin air.
Maes pauses when he hears the noise as well. It'd been a long time since he'd lived in the country, but he was fairly certain that was bigger than any bear he'd ever encountered.
Which could mean...shit. Was this not his woods after all? His thoughts are only confirmed by the look on Ruby's face -- more serious, determined. He picks up the pace while also moving closer to Ruby. If they're about to get into a fight, he'd rather she be close by for a quick escape.]
Sounds good. We could cross the stream...maybe find safer passage on the other side.
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Good idea. One thing about Grimm is that they don't really track by smell. They're attracted to negative emotions. So just... Try and stay positive?
[It was odd advise to give but it was the truth. She moved toward the stream and dipped a foot in. It wasn't terribly deep but was definitely going to get soaked.]
I can take it if we have to but it's going to be awkward. Without my powers from back home it'll be better to save our strength.
[She can't help but feel awkward to be avoiding this fight when she's been gung ho to go up against almost anything that she doesn't recognize while she's been here.
Maybe she was just more aware of her limits here against a familiar foe.]
no subject
You won't have to handle it alone, remember?
[Even if it didn't track by smell or sound, Maes kept his voice low so as not to attract attention. Maes could teleport, even if he'd rather not try out his newly 'on-the-fritz' powers. He started making his way across the stream. They would hopefully be able to find a way to dry off before they went back out into the cold or maybe the wetness would disappear as soon as they left -- though he wasn't sure they should risk that.]