voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-09-16 05:59 am

Wings of Wonder: Ongoing

"We do not apologise for acting to protect our own. But Hemla has given you their trust, and we will pay back on the debt of any harm given.

You say you are here to help - then do. We will lend out resources needed, but expect to see results. Help at the farm, help us investigate - help in whatever way your talents provide.

'Give, get back' -- this is the way of our people. Every person has a purpose, a place, a skill. In return, speak to us your cost.

If you truly have the power to help, then you will be respected. We would expect the same rules to be applied to us."
Despite rough beginnings, relations between the Voidtreckers and the sali people are neutral. They do not fully trust the Voidtreckers, will not allow mindless entry into the East village (Nossofh as they call it -- 'Home'), and visits inside the commune building in the South will be limited. However, appointments with the sage can be made for those who have some skill with crystals, magics, and energies. Those who have spoken with the Forever One on the arrival island may also be granted access, if they wish to speak.

They will have tasks for the Voidtreckers to do, jobs that are necessary. Sali will be doing the same, and will be working within the same spaces at them. They will not stop Voidtreckers from setting up camps and give permission for them to settle on the centre island, under Helma's - the Forever One - protection.

While there may be some tensions, the sali will not attack the Voidtreckers. But now, plans must be made how to proceed, as the skies from the south bleed red...


WINGS OF WONDER: ONGOING

A TL;DR notes version of event/prompts: (click to show)
EVENT BASICS:
    Contact with the sali has been made, and relations have come out neutral. The North and East bridges have been fixed by Voidtreckers, with materials sent to the South too by them.

    Ongoing runs through N8 to N11, when the finale also starts. The following is a TL;DR for what will be going on at the islands, at the time.

    NORTH: Fixing the aircraft found on top of the mountain, finding missing sali in the woods, dead and alive. Helping to transport goods to the aircraft so it can be fixed, and also spruced up/modified. Also still good for fighting characters.

    EAST: This is where you send characters who would want to work on designs, magical crafting and so forth. They won't be in close contact with the rest of the Voidtreckers, but is good for nerds. Voidtreckers who help here will be allowed to ride mounts to the central island if they leave, as the sali recognise they will be too exhausted otherwise. And so you guys can still have threads with other people.

    SOUTH: Birds will be mainly coming from this direction, so fighters can still do patrols. Mainly needs those willing to do labour, rear animals, skin dead animals and so forth. Characters can also get involved with repairing clothes, washing and cleaning, if they can't last long doing land work.

    WEST: The Reds that went this way will have found out that going through the interior or around will not get them far, and more birds showing up makes the area more dangerous. On N8, there is an operation shared with the Voidtreckers that they are doing a mass transport of goods from the West, to take North. Help fighting off the birds they attract is needed. From then on, it's better advised to stick to the other islands. Reds who like to just fight will be good in the South as patrol.


[ TASKS ]
WORK TO DO. There is much to be done. Buildings need to be fixed, places need restored after the storms. But more than that the general needs of life don't stop. Farms need tending, animals need caring for. There are jobs for anyone willing to work.

The different islands need the following:

NORTH ISLAND: Fighters, those willing to labour and repair, and those willing to search are needed.
EAST ISLAND: Those with experience in magic and energy, crafting (making designs, modifying; blueprinting is involved) are needed.
SOUTH ISLAND: Fighters, those willing to help out with farm work, meat skinning, clearing up the surrounding farm area. Also those who can push back the birds.
WEST ISLAND: Fighters, during N8. There is help needed to protect the sali as they transfer materials and the Forever One stationed there, and to rebuild the bridge. Otherwise, the island will be deserted while plans are made by N9.
CENTRAL/ARRIVAL ISLAND: There isn't much that's needed but for birds to be taken down who might hover over, or get attracted by activity. Those who can supply Hemla with energy are appreciated. The sali here will act as communicators to other sali for Voidtreckers who don't want to make long journeys.

Voidtreckers should decide what will be a better use of their skills, and move accordingly. While faster methods may be found over time, initially, using those who can flight and walking are the only options. The North and East bridges have been patched up, and the South Island has materials for the bridge. West's bridge will be fixed by morning of N8.
[ ARRIVAL ISLAND ]

ON ARRIVAL ISLAND. Five sali will come on N7 to fix up the broken buildings here, using the cuttings of the long grass, and drying them out with their own talents. They will accept help in doing this, and will offer to show a few Voidtreckers what to do, but will expect them to fix up the rest themselves, unless they offer services for help. A few of the buildings may make a good resting point, with an enclosure to keep off the wind and a cooking hole to sit around, but Voidtreckers will find their attentions split between the islands. Still, the centre island is only of important as a crossing point, and for the Forever One that stays there.

There will not be too much activity here over the next few days. Voidtreckers are welcomed to camp here, and sali will also come through here, helping to move the leftover overgrowth, moving through the two areas. The South and West bridges still need fixing (while the East and North bridges have been taken care of).

FOREVER ONE: HEMLA. Two sali stay after the rebuilding on N7, to take care and help Hemla. Hemla is distracted, attempting to work on the energy problem for Voidtreckers, and keep the island safe. But the Forever One will take time for anyone who wishes to speak to them, and will accept help and energy.

By the morning of N8, they will have a request. The sali will explain it to any Voidtreckers who come through the island, holding out clear white crystal stones. Hemla is attempting to harmonise their energy and the world's, at least with a middleman in the form of stone. They warn there will be possible side-effects, and ask Voidtreckers to only take one at a time, and to bring it back later.
Through days N8-10, these crystals will have a variety of effects, lessening over time. Those with magical skills/who use energy are asked to take one. They will need to supply Hemla some power, and then after carry it on them. The possible side-effects are:
    - Dizziness
    - Exhaustion
    - Confusion
    - Weakness
They don't last more than a day but it might be best they find a buddy to watch over them whilst it does.

[ EAST ISLAND ]
EAST VILLAGE/NOSSOFH. It is still a treck to reach the East Village, especially for those who don't have any way to fly or cover large distances; and for those that do, they will arrive exhausted.

The village is still very wary of the newcomers, and those that arrive are stopped and questioned. Those with legitimate business are allowed in and as the days go on more individual sali will be willing to exchange information or help. There are sali who will roam out with Voidtreckers to fight the birds, and those wishing to patrol the East Island will be told to help in the North or South - the sali of the island can cover the vital areas.

The two main areas of interest within the village are:

( SAGE'S HOUSE ) The invitation to help the energy weavers comes during the call on the SCAs on the morning of N8. Within the village is the sage's house, the largest building that sits in the centre, legs supporting where it has be built out over the hill. Voidtreckers are welcomed here if they ask, and those wishing to learn means of purifying the infected sali, and to help with their crystal research are best suited to come this way.

Those needed: magical experts, those strong of mind, volunteers with energy.

They will work amongst the sages, the sages in training, and the Forever Ones. In truth, these people are all one and the same, and Voidtreckers that come here will figure out quick. The Forever Ones sit, completely stone, while the sages are in various states, with limbs crystallising. They rarely speak, though the less-formed may do so with the Voidtreckers if inclined. However, those training are the ones that provide the needs of the more experienced, as well as speaking.

Working here will be difficult, exhausting on the mind and body. The sages-in-training will communicate and explain, but much of the work is done through telepathy, and crystal work - tools that will be difficult on the Voidtreckers. But it is good for the Voidtreckers to be here, so that their reactions to the crystals can be documented, as well as a way to keep them safe during their stay, and also their companions.


( CRAFTING SMITHIES ) While the Sage House works on energy and modifying crystals, for those with experience building, designing, modifying, they will find their talents more useful in supporting the creation of prototype weapons that the salis have planned.

A request for help in this will come on the third day (N8), through the hacked SCA channel. Anyone who believes they can help make efficient blueprints - and even make them better - are asked to come on down, and those with experience crafting. The plan is to make an equivalent of air cannons and air megaphones, using a mix of air and power gems. There is sure to be a lot of backfires, especially for the Voidtreckers. The sali will also be taking crystals adjusted by the sages that will hopefully allow the Voidtreckers to use the weapons being made too.

Suggestions from the Voidtreckers will be listened to, and there are other gems around, ones that can be made for specific functions.

[ SOUTH ISLAND ]
STATE OF THE FARM. The South Island is a mess. There is a large clean-up operation in place and Voidtreckers that can help clean up and haul debris will be welcomed.

As well as the storm damage there are quite a lot of animals that have been killed, even by the storm directly or as a result of them turning and attacking the sali or Voidtreckers. The Sali are not ones to waste resources and so there is a drive to skin the animals and preserve the meat as quickly as possible. Any Voidtreckers who are willing to help will be paid in portions of meat.

FARMING, GARDENING. Here nature seems to have won the war. Many of the buildings look like they have been left to the wild for decades and not just a week or so. Buildings need fixed, plants need cut back and brought under control. Weeds need to be removed so that the plants for food can be allowed to thrive. Gardening at its most extreme, the first step is to identify which plants should be growing here and which ones are results of the Red Storm.

Many of the animals have escaped because plants burst open fences and gates. Rounding them up is one job, making sure there are enclosures to keep them is another. It's going to be a lot of hard work and of course the farm animals are not the only creatures out here, wild creatures will attack both the farm animals and any one else.

It's hard labour, but the sali will give to those that work with them. They will locate drinks safe for them, share the abundance of food, so they can see what agrees with their diets. They will answer questions about their people and their world during world and during breaks; and as the days go on, they will invite them inside to eat, or will join them at their own camp, bringing meals.


UNWANTED VISITORS. The birds still attack. Every day and night patrols are needed to fend off the constant threat of bird attack. The Sali have fighters stationed here too but there aren't enough, they need help.

The Forever One Enshala works to keep the red shroud from getting too close to the farmland but her power is still weak and so there are gaps in her defences. It is easy to get overwhelmed since the birds often flock together, concentrating on weak points and bringing the storm with them.

Keeping the storm away from the farm is vital, the Sali will share food and resources with any who join them in this constant vigilance.

FOREVER ONE: ENSHALA. There is a Forever One here, but unlike central island's welcoming Hemla, they will only speak to Voidtreckers depending on the subject. They will accept donations in energy, but otherwise they work hard to try and keep the island safe, to push back the red storms they return again through the days, birds carrying it on their wings.


[ NORTH ISLAND ]
NORTHERN. The sali will explain an expedition was taking place, to investigate the North Island in general. The group must have been assaulted by the red storm - the birds - while travelling, and crashed, scattering the survivors with the infliction of red storm.

MISSING. Help is needed to locate the still-missing sali, both dead and alive. Any Voidtreckers who offer to help will be asked their methods- the Sali want no harm coming to their own. They will hand out blow darts with sleeping powder laced bark stems and they will be asked to either bind or leave behind any powerful weapons. Especially powerful weapons that the Sali don't recognise like guns.

The sali will set up a small camp by the woods, where sali can be brought, dead or alive, to be transported by cart. There will also be one above on the mountain, trained sali using air-crystals to push back the lingering red storm from the site.

AIRSHIP, SUPPLIES. Hearing that the ship is still on ground, the Sali are keen to fix it up. Its state is no problem, and they believe it's the answer to meeting the birds head on. Initially on N7 to halfway through N8, materials will need to be transported by climbing gear and going through the forest.

However, they will then have access to carrier airships. With a crate/carrying space on the bottom, and a space on top for two people two sit, only so much material can be lifted up at a time. Voidtreckers will not be able to immediately, but by N9, and by being a familiar face, those who want to fly the ships can*. These can also be used to transport anyone from the upper mountain, to down.

Once the metal and materials are at the air ship, it's going to be all hands on deck to fix it together.

(* some of the mini-ships have a prototype attached that allows the air gems to be activated by the sound of music. singing, guitar playing - there's even an alboka and taepyeongso-esque instruments already attached on some, acting as a steeing wheel. )
[ WEST ISLAND ]
WESTERN. The Reds find that their attempts to infiltrate the mountain from the inside will not go far, with dead ends and the red shroud finding ways in. More birds come from the south and even west, spreading the shroud farther around the mountain.

Another method must be found. Fortunately however, it will not be an entirely useless endeavour, as help is needed - one that promises a fight.

TRANSPORT. The sali in the enclosure and those who come from the village to help need aid bringing supplies from the enclosures, and also extra of the metal trees (from the White Forest), repair equipment, to take to the North island.

This island is still circled by birds, so those gathering and packing supplies onto transport air carriers - small boxy airships with a lower crate area and an upper navigating section, no bigger than cars - will need fighters to take down the birds as they follow after them.

Bow and arrows can be exchanged, as the salis know how to operate the air carriers. They are also transporting the Forever One of the West Island, so the cargo is fairly precious to the sali.


OOC NOTES

NOTES: OOC info is here, map is here, info about powers/magic here. Ask questions here, submit shenanigans here, submit rewards here.

Ongoing starts on N8 and goes until around morning-noon of N11. Finale goes up on 21st September (later N11-N12).

This log gives more of an indication of what's going on, to let you play out going ons, or imply them in the background and focus on what you want for Ongoing. Consider putting in Island locations than team colours into headers.

Remember to let us know anything your character does/might want do under shennanigans! Any conversations you want to handwave with the sali or Forever Ones can also be brought up here for discussion. Actual threads can be requested here.
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-09-25 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay! I'll go over there!"

He nodded, she had such good ideas. "Yes we got to make sure they stick together and that will be okay! Because we both are good at teamwork so we can teach these woolies too!"

How to stick with their team and not wander off into danger! He is confident that they will be great! He skips off to the other side, where Madoka pointed him to.
happyends: (is that we can go forever)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-09-26 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
Madoka isn't too sure if animals can learn that sort of stuff as quickly as humans can...

.. but on the other hand, this is still their plan, and she's sticking to it! Even if they might not be able to teach these animals that, at the very least they should be able to just keep the flock together, right? So Madoka heads in the opposite direction, and the animals - seemingly a bit nervous at the presence of these unknown creatures - start walking as a big group in the direction the two are trying to guide them in.

"Okay, now we just have to make sure that they stick together..! No matter what!"
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-09-26 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes! We can do this!"

He grinned at her. "Okay! Let's aim over there, to those posts, so we go in one direction!"

He and Madoka need to work together to make the woolies stick together.
happyends: (so i'm not scared)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-09-26 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
For a moment Madoka hums, looking in the distance to try and find the posts he's talking about. Thankfully there aren't very many around, so that makes it easy to not accidentally pick out the wrong posts.

And as she nods, Madoka starts aiming for that destination. It's a little hard - since it's pretty easy to just walk somewhere yourself, but steering a group of other things in a specific direction is a lot harder. Especially when they can't just walk after you instead.

Not to mention that they have to watch out for wild animals coming from the side, or birds coming from above.. sure, it's quiet now, but Madoka knows that things aren't going to be like that forever. It's making her a little paranoid, trying to watch so many things at once while also making sure the woolies are still moving.

"If things are always this dangerous here, then this must be so tiring for the sali to do each day.."
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-09-26 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"It must be! They must work so hard!" They seemed like really hard working people.

"Especially going over all those bridges! It's a lot to walk and a bit scary, when you can't see the bottom at all!"

A brave and hardworking people! Especially when there were so many scary creatures living here!

Romeo danced back and forth, nudging woolies into formation as he walked.
happyends: (no matter what happens)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-09-27 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh-huh.. though I guess they don't have any choice, since they're so high up here."

It must be odd, being born into a community like that. Probably not to them, since they're used to it.. but as a kid who grew up on regular old Earth, the idea of living on a bunch of islands high up in the sky is extremely wild.

Not that she isn't paying attention to the woolies though as she walks! The moment she sees one trying to escape the flock, Madoka quickly moves over in that direction to force it back in as it gets startled by the sudden presence.

"It's not like they have anywhere else to go. Where would they even go..?"
myblueskies: (Alfredo is speaking!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-01 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka is a good woolie herder! Romeo grins at her and gives her a thumbs up!

"Yes do you think there's more places on this world? Or just these islands. Some worlds are bigger than this right?"

Many worlds were! But some were small probably. They still had lots to learn about other worlds!
happyends: (better than the rest)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-03 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Most worlds are.." Or so she'd like to assume, anyway. Earth sure was a lot bigger than just these few islands, even if they're not super small islands!

That's the strange part about all of this. Maybe some worlds just are this way - it's not like Madoka would know, other than what she's seen from all the mission worlds they visited - but it feels so weird to have one that's so.. contained. It's as if Japan by itself was an entire world.

"It could be that the actual world is.. um, all the way down. However far down that is.."

If there is even anything else down there at all, and not just an endless abyss you fall into if you fall off one of these islands.

"Really different people could live there."
myblueskies: (Alfredo is speaking!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-03 08:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh maybe!" He nodded at her, "This place might be like the heavens, there might be a whole world down there that has no idea about this one!"

Where everyone was really different and didn't have the sali or any of the animals or the storms and the birds! Madoka is really smart to think of that.

"I wonder if the sali know? If they ever went down there."
happyends: (no matter what happens)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-03 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka hums a little, moving to stop a woolie from separating itself from the herd. She speaks up again once she's sure that it's no longer trying to escape while they're still walking..

"I wonder." There's no way to be sure except for if they'd ask the sali. But Madoka thinks the sali are more than just a little intimidating, and she sure doesn't want to be the one to get a rude or dismissive answer for asking a dumb question...

"It seems like it'd be really hard to get back up here if you'd go all the way down, right?"
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-04 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
"I bet it would be! Unless they got things to teleport them down! So if they don't got those they might never of gone down there!"

So even the sali might not know if there was a world all the way down there! He skipped backwards to coax a woolie back into the herd. Not long now! They were nearly at the post!
happyends: (sharing both joy and sadness)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-04 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
So close to the end goal! So close to winning that gold medal in the woolie herding Olympics--

"Maybe the train brought us up here because the people down there might not notice anything about the storm..?"

After all, these islands seem so high up. If the storm is going around this high up in the air, people down on the ground wouldn't even notice that it was going on. There might be another part entirely to this world that they're not seeing.
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-04 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's right! They might not know about the bad birds at all!"

Just a bit further! Here and...

"Let's get that gate open!"

Then the woolies will be safe!
happyends: (we can live inside of a moment)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-04 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, but.. you'll have to move along with me!"

Because that means Madoka will have to move to the front of the herd, and if Romeo doesn't move along to the opposite side of where she's standing, it will leave a big gap for the woolies to sneak through, just when they've arrived at where they should be..! They don't want them running off now!

"I'll count to 3, and then I'll walk to the gate, and you go to the very back, okay? One.. two.. three!"

And, true to her word, Madoka is moving! She's opening this gate!
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-05 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course!" They can't give up this teamwork at the last minute! That would spell disaster and they might lose control of the woolies!

He nodded at her instructions and waited for her count! Three! He moved to the back, making sure none of the woolies tried to run away.

Almost done! He can't really see Madoka through the herd but he has every faith in her!
happyends: (i advance on)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-05 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
It's too late, Romeo. Madoka has been run over by the herd. RIP, Madoka.

.. okay, no, she's fine. She's just opening up the gate so she can let the woolies in - by quickly stepping aside once she's opened it, so the animals can flow in past her.

"Romeo, there's none escaping at the back, right?"
myblueskies: (they really are delicious apples!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-05 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course Madoka is alright! She is a woolie herding expert! Romeo grinned and shook his head, even though she couldn't see him.

"No one is escaping! It's all okay back here!"
happyends: (she is the tiniest light)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-05 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright then..! They're almost all in now!" Or at the very least, she's pretty sure of it. It's true that it's hard to see if the entire flock is present when you're as small as either of them, and it's hard to look over the crowd of animals..

"If you can get ready to close the gate when they're all in, then I'll try to quickly rush out after the last one is in..!"

You know. Just so Romeo won't accidentally lock her in with these animals. S-She's not a woolie!
myblueskies: (they really are delicious apples!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-05 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't worry! I won't lock you in!"

Madoka wasn't a woolie! He keeps herding them in. At least he's got a bit of a better vantage point at the back.

"Okay these are the last two! Get ready Madoka!"
happyends: (disheartened)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-05 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
She calls out: "I'm ready..!"

And she really is. Madoka is keeping her eyes on the gate, on the last remainders of the woolie herd moving past it, and she quickly sprints the slight distance that gets her on the other side of the gate, along with Romeo, the moment the last woolie has arrived.

"H-Hurry up, quickly close it!"

Before the woolies escape and they will have to start all over again. Thankfully it seems that people have already restored this enclosure, so as long as the gate is shut, the animals should have nowhere else to go!
myblueskies: (eternal friendship!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-06 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
Romeo grinned as Madoka ran out just in time and nodded at her before quickly pushing the gate closed after the last woolie. He doesn't want any of them to escape! That would be a disaster!

But no disasters happen and they have all the woolies in the enclosure. Romeo grinned at Madoka. "We did really well!"

High five time!
happyends: (the time that ticked away ceaselessly)

we can probably wrap it!

[personal profile] happyends 2021-10-06 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Succesful mission task high five!

"We really did it!"

Even though they might be tiny, and they might be young.. It really seems like they have found their own ways to contribute to these missions.

"Let's go tell the sali that we got the animals back!"
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

wrap! <3

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-10-07 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
Even though they were small there was nothing they couldn't achieve with teamwork!

He grinned at her. "Okay! Let's go let them know!"

And then there would be plenty more work to do! Missions were always busy after all!