middleofsomewhere | Wings of Wonder: Finale

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Wings of Wonder: Finale

THE DAYS have been long and tiring, always a job to be done. If it hasn't been taking out the birds that continued to come over the days, it's been fixing and repair; if it hasn't been that, it's been working with the crystals, offering energies, searching for a way to make powers work on a world that refuses them.

The Voidtreckers know the sali's plan, and have been working with them to achieve it, as well as to add their own ideas. Both groups are to make a team to head to the West Island where the birds gather their numbers, singing a song that calls more to them. Taking an airship and craft carriers, they will blow at the Red Storm being generated by the birds, and then take out their numbers before it can be amassed to any dangerous amounts.

And for the Voidtreckers not going West, they're asked to go South. The East will be protected by the sali and the Forever Ones there, and Enshala will need any extra aid in taking out the birds by disorienting them, making them easier pickings for both sali and Voidtreckers.

Finally, 11 Nebula arrives. People who wish to risk going to the heart of the problem are to meet either to the North, or at the Centre island. Hemla is coming with them, along with the Shrinlo, to closely connect the powers of the Forever Ones in the battle to come.

Over the SCAs, a call goes out - and a voice comes through: young, perhaps around 20s in terms of human age, androgynous in tone. Small yet driven, clear to any who hears them:

"Help from skies far, this is Hemla. I thank you deeply for joining us. For coming to help, for working with us despite the struggles it has taken, the pain.

I want to speak to many of you so much, but now is not the time. Through the tools you call S-C-As, we Forevers will sync with its energies and meld them to ours. We will trick the world into seeing your powers as ours. There will be limitations, so be safe - use the crystals made by our crafters and yours too. Speak to each other, learn how they work. The sali - and your people who helped - know.

I...will be doing my best to protect those who go West. Everyone I have spoken to, you are in my thoughts. Reach for me in your minds if you need my strength, and I will do my best.

Thank you... thank you."

With those words, there is some time before everything is set into motion. Until finally, the airship rises and starts its travel to the West Island. Until finally, both Voidtreckers South and West-bound feel their body lighten, the first proper relief they've had for days. As the Southern skies start to show approaching wings from a distance waning...

WINGS OF WONDER: FINALE

A TL;DR notes version of event/prompts: (click to show)

EVENT BASICS:

West Island

Boss Battle

boss battle

TO THE WEST

The sound of music sings inside the airship, powering its speed, and winds that repel the Red Storm. It resonates with the surrounding air, offering protection to the smaller crafts following at the sides. "It is time!" A sali declares, and two come to stand by what looks like a mix of a megaphone-cannon, pointed out from the front. Sali and Voidtreckers have smaller versions, and are directed to prepare their places - take to the sides of the ship, be ready for combat.

Already the birds are coming for them, covered in red, but their united power pushes them away. The White Forest is under them, and the cannon-phone starts powering. Another signal is given as a hand is raised, counting down from three. The instruction is simple: At zero, shout.

And indeed, when the fist is made, a great chorus of screams join, and the weapon at the front glows, and blasts a magnificent whirlwind of air that encompasses the mountain the birds have been nesting at. Many are blown away, every which where. The Red Storm thinning out, the airship flying close to the mountain peak, usually a crater.

Except a bird emerges with large red wings and rocks the ship as it ascends from their roosting spot, filling the air with its shrieks and presence.

The fight begins.

ATTACK FROM DECK. Some of the Sali are on the deck, armed with their blowhorns and any voidtreckers who feel they would be most use fighting the birds at range can join them in the skies. Those with magic, music, bows or guns join forces with the Sali to fight off the swarms of birds.

GROUNDED. Not all the fighting is in the air. The blast from the air ship has sent many of the birds tumbling to the ground where more Sali and those Voidtreckers whose fighting skills are best served when on solid ground are waiting for them.

The birds try and recover, but most remain at least low to the ground, attacking those they see.

KING OF THE AIR. Through the chaos of snow, red mist and birds comes a beating of wings as another threat appears.

TO THE SOUTH

Those that do not go West will be asked to go South, to defend island and the Sali who are too old or too young to fight..

PAINT IT RED. The Sali have an area for those who cannot fight, protected as best as it can be by geography and Enshala's power. However with the birds swarming everywhere there is need of defenders to make sure that it remains a safe space.

Though before it seemed that certain birds had flocked to certain islands now the swarms were more varied, any of the different kinds of birds; swift wings, red wings and steel wings all dive down to attack.

SENDING HOPE. Of course the Forever Ones hold the key to all of this, helping the Voidtreckers be able to use their power better than before, helping hold back the birds from strategic places and creating a web of power across the islands that connects all the Sali and their allies in the Voidtreckers.

Enshala welcomes any who needs to rest and of course anyone who wishes to help by lending energy, or anything else they feel they can contribute in a spiritual sense. Her area is one of peace and rest.

It is also where those Sali who cannot fight are sheltering and though they are resilient, those who can help with food or persuading small Sali that they cannot fight birds, is also a task worth doing.

DIVEBOMB. Despite the attempts at shielding the area a swarm of birds has broken through to where the herds of woolies and headbutters are. Any Voidtreckers who can be spared to fight are asked to assist fighting the birds off. They arrive to scenes of chaos.

OOC NOTES

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

ABOUT POWERS: Powers are available around 40-50% percent. People can teleport easier if they stick around the area, but will still need to watch how often they do it. Manipulating the environment is still greatly difficult (the air, plants, gravity) etc, but anything that relies on one's own inner power (magic, chi/ki/qi) works easier.

ENERGY/ETC BEINGS: No longer feeling so much a drain. Will be able to run around and fight without being completely drained.

ABOUT USING STONES/SALI WEAPONS: During the battles, the Voidtreckers will be able to tap into some special weapons and elemental stones. These are:

BLOWHORN:

will

SLINGSHOTS, BOW AND ARROWS:

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:

banjo

AIRNADO:

FLASH BANG:

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He chuckles at that, showing off that amused shark grin of his just because it's kind of funny. "Sounds like the only thing he had goin' for him was lettin' you march out of there, or just bein' too shocked to do much about it."

He sort of has an idea what 'wifely duties' means. He's seen enough of it in slave form, of people expected to provide 'comfort'. He sometimes wonders if he was lucky that he was a battle slave rather than the other kind, sure he took a licking but he never ended up having to cater to anyone that felt they were entitled to his still kicking corpse. He just fought and killed.

Shit though, she was younger than some of the kids here when that was asked of her. Train is full of people that grew up too quick, whether they're still kids or the raggedy adults drag-assing through their duties. (Well, he drag-asses. It looks like she's doing fine.)

"Woman, if you don't speak your mind sometimes then you ain't quite got to 'good person' yet. You ain't doin' nothin' wrong. Sure some people oughta keep their opinions to themselves but every genuinely good person I ever met's got a talent for sayin' their piece. But if you ever see me sittin' around bein' lazy you can come join me. We don't gotta talk or nothin'. Consider that an open invitation."

Nell couldn't quite help the smirk. "The look on his face was pretty amusing."

Then she couldn't help it, she giggled. "Well, this here widow woman can get a little blunt spoken at times. Didn't know that was what would get me up to 'good person' till now."

It was awfully kind of him to offer her an entry into his quiet time. "I might just take you up on that invitation. And I'd be happy to try and cook you a good meal from wherever you're from sometime. Along with some good coffee."

She was surprised at just how comfortable she felt with - and then she realized, "My heavens, I'm so sorry. I don't believe I ever introduced myself. I'm Nell, Nell Ingram, and I surely am pleased to meet you."

[ooc: Thank you for adding the CW. I totally meant to put it on that last tag and it went right out of my head!]

"I'm Yondu. Yondu Udonta. Pleased to make your acquaintance as well."

Names are like that. Sort of a Cinderella thing where you'll have half a conversation and not remember who the hell it was with later other than 'that person that did that thing'. Not that he knows the story of Cinderella, and would be incredibly goddamn bitter about it if he did.

"I thought widow women mostly came in blunt? Came as a privilege with the curse. But I ain't gonna turn down food. Keep in mind, I prefer meat." He is more carnivore, but he'll eat other stuff with it. Those sharp teeth. Sometimes Soldat makes him food. He's not sure what to do with people taking the special time for it without him ordering it.

[ooc: No problem! I forgot too.]

Yondu. She'd remember that. And his kindness.

Nell couldn't help her laugh. "Not unless I was an elder like Sister Erasmus and a widow woman. Not that she's a widow woman, oh heavens no! I'm just a backslider, maybe, refusing to go back to the church where I 'belong' which is practically the same as living in sin to them. I can't even tell you what they'd say about me if they saw me in these clothes!"

"Sounds like your church is sorely lacking in a good time. But that goes for a lotta churches, let's be honest. All the best ones I knew involved clothes bein' shed, not dictated."

He chuckles at his own joke like a loser, but does feel kind of bad for her seeing as how she's got the history of that church following her like the worst kind of curse.

"It might be funny 'cause some of the most solid friends I got here are a priest, a demon, an angel, and I've been lookin' out for a preacher's daughter and the spawn of hell, but I ain't ever been much of the religious type."

Though after saying that he pulls a face, like he just realized how fucked up his pool of acquaintances are. She's a good lookin' girl though. "I'm a Ravager. Ain't gonna get no judgement from me for livin' in sin."

Nell blushed furiously, even as she smiled. "Oh my," she said. "My church certainly would not condone that!" Taking clothes off, my heavens! Still, rather amusing in a scandalous sort of way.

"I'm not a preacher's daughter, but I am the daughter of an elder and he does preach the gospel at the church sometimes, so I might sorta count there," she admitted. "M'not always sure about how I feel about religion myself, but I am relatively sure there's a God - though I might have a bone or two to pick with him should I ever meet Him. So iff'n you don't mind me being a backslider, I surely would be honored to count you'un as a friend."

She smiled at him, then remembered the rest of what he said and sobered up. "But I ain't never lived in sin. Just 'cause I'm not with the church and I won't let 'em marry me off again and I sometimes wear pants - that doesn't make me bad."

"Well, it weren't a Terran church so you don't gotta worry about it." He chuckles about that, but he wouldn't doubt such a thing existed.

"You know what? You oughta make friends with some of the train girls and let them dress ya up. You know you ain't bad. It ain't about how you dress or whatever. I mean, you might be happy in that. I like what I'm wearin' best." His burgandy leather uniform usually hit exactly the spot that he needed it to. It reminded him that he was free.

"But it don't sound like you had much chances to choose for yourself. I don't think I was much younger than you when I was turnt loose. I know just havin' people help me find my feet pushed me along." And it seemed like there was plenty of people who might.

Let someone else dress her up? She wasn't sure about that. Bad enough she had no long skirts to cover her up. "I'd have to think about that," she said. "Just wearing these trousers would be enough to get people talking about stoning me, back home. I wore big overalls from time to time when I was working, though, and I have to say that while I am not a true fan of the color orange, at least these are comfortable to wear and move in."

She thought about it though, about having the freedom to choose what she wore. No churchmen here to stop her or hurt her. "It might be sorta fun to try some different things," she allowed. "And you're right, I havent't had too many chances to choose things for myself."

"Who helped you when you were 'turnt loose'?"

He looks sad for a moment, a little wistful. Even with new friends, the absence of the old ones eats at him still. That he doesn't know if he made up for it.

"Had a team of Ravagers I joined up with. All of 'em sorta taught me how to act normal an' think outside of where I'd been boxed in. We were together about... nine? Ten years or so? Somethin' like that. Then I messed up an' I just... I dunno. But they did help me get my head outa that place."

She seems like she should be able to do little freedoms, even if it was multiple choices of trousers what she could wear.

"Ravagers?" she said curiously.

She dared to reach over and gently pat his shoulder. "I'm sorry if my question bothered you. I'm not sure how you messed up, but you seem like a good man."

"Ravagers are a uh... I guess mercernaries, thieves? Etcetera. So I ain't a good man necessarily. But there were good men that were a part of it. Never stole from someone that'd miss the loss. Used ever' chance the path gave 'em to do the right thing. Valued the loyalty in it, that Ravagers support one another."

Still. "A stray breeze can go an' make me sad, darlin'. You didn't do nothin'." He's melancholy that way. "Speakin' of bein' decent, you want me to take care of your mug for ya?"

Nell nodded, understanding what he was saying. She could understand people who weren't necessarily 'good' and yet lived by a code.

She smiled gently at him. "I have days when a stray breeze can just about knock the wind out of me myself. Make me wonder what the point of it all is. Still we keep going on, don't we?"

The sleeping child in her lap showed no signs of stirring, so she nodded. "If you don't mind, I'd surely appreciate it. I'd hate to wake him up before I have to." If it came to it she was happy enough to just rest her head back and sleep right here rather than wake him.

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Wings of Wonder: Finale

CW: General commentary on child marriages in thread

Re: CW: General commentary on child marriages in thread

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