Fissures of Time: Ongoing

[voidtreckermods]

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FISSURES OF TIME: ONGOING

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... POI 10-12

FOR SOME, THE MISSION HAS BEEN MORE MENTALLY EXHAUSTING THAN PHYSICALLY. Distortions sprout around the domain without rhyme or reason, and the camps must be moved every new day to meet them, as well as stopping a distortion from deciding to form under them from their presence.

While there's bare-bones vegetation, at least they have their own resources to help one another, as well as what can be retrieved from the Ministry base during return trips to take misplaced civilians to safety. It's straight-forward so far...

...but that wouldn't be standard for the Voidtreckers, and some in their ranks don't want straight-forward. Starting during the early hours of Poi 10, there will be occasional rumblings throughout the land. They last for a few seconds and then stop, seemingly for hours; but then they return, and as the days go on, so do the tremors increase.

It seems the distortions too have become affected...

THE UNQUIET CITY. (CW: People unable to die/rising from the dead, body horror)

A city of rubble and ruin stretches far out around them, where once there were hills and vegetation. Much of the rubble is still smoking as fires smoulder. The fighting isn't over, heard before it's seen.

It must be connected to the same skirmishes seen in other distortions, and so most of you are prepared to meet warriors on foot and mount. But what awaits isn't only the horror of bloodshed. No: the reason that the fighting still continues even as the city lies in ruin is because fighters fall and rise again, as if death were nothing but a short rest.

Puncture marks litter skin and armour, holes from weaponry and blessed-magic visible in torsos, even the spaces of where portions of one's skull and brain should be.

Yet they cannot stop fighting. They cannot fall to the ground, rest. Whatever drove them to fight this war still inspires them to continue, screaming as much in pain as in some sort of twisted ecstasy. Perhaps they are too shocked to do anything else. A city locked in eternal war, distorted in time, doomed to repeat itself.

It's hard to set the equalisers here. Not much is stable and fights are likely to break out wherever there are people. The people of this city have their factions, but they will not hesitate to band together to fight intruders.

EYE OF THE STORM. They might feel this distortion before they enter it. A spine-chilling thrill, the feeling one might get at the edge of a storm.

—For a storm it is. The moment they enter it their vision will be obstructed, winds howl around them and rain lashes down furiously making a swamp of the ground below them. It's freezing cold and as they walk they will feel something in the storm. Almost as if there are icy hands, reaching out to grab at them, to pull them further into the worst of the weather.

It's hard to know where to place the equalisers, hard to see where the edges of this distortion are. Easier, not by much, to move further in, to find the epicentre and try and take it down from there.

It's a treacherous journey, but the centre truly is calm, water frozen like crystals. Yet temperatures are dangerously low, so it's in everyone's best interests to set the equalisers quick and get out.

MEAN AND GREEN. As the rumbling continues, there comes a strange and worrying distortion. Worrying, as this distortion can be seen from the outside. A hazy blur that seems to move across the countryside, along the left side of the camp you're stationed at. It gets dangerously close at times, and when it does...

Green tendrils of plant life burst out, entangling people to pull them into the distortion. Or chains of flowers spread from the distortion out across the countryside. Beautiful and colourful in the otherwise sparse environment, but those flowers work as anchors, spreading the distortion, expanding it.

To get rid of it they will need to enter, and inside is a thick jungle of vines and bright colourful flowers awaiting them. The foliage is thick and the air musky and sweet. It's easy to get separated, and getting lost is only a matter of getting turned around. The leaves are sticky and vines move seemingly on their own, curling around unsuspecting limbs, trying to trap people in this colourful paradise forever.

And up in the sky above, a woman's laughter can be heard, the heat of the sun bearing down that becomes uncomfortable quick. But don't look up - you may find a large yellow eye - yellow iris, yellow pupil, golden yellow everything - peering back at you, and find yourself being pulled in by the very ground itself by a powerful force.

NO SANCTUARY. Protecting the camps hasn't been difficult, despite it being a Purple task. Other than rowdy refugees breaking out into fights, little else has appeared to disturb them.

'Eiiiiliiifii.... Siiiiliiifiii...
Merios? Herios?
Don't hide... don't hide...

Everything will be so perfect soon...'

People are woken abruptly in the early hours of Poi 11. If by some special sense, or by a grab at their throat, by a body falling on top of where they sleep, someone else stopping the refugee who was about to take a knife to them.

The refugees have become uncontrollable, raving about wanting 'their Gods back'. The ground rumbles as the woman's voice from the hazy jungle - ethereal, so divine - speaks from below. Grass rises and the sky above burns with a brightness like an approaching sun.

Setting an equaliser will calm the refugees, but only those in the camps. Starting from lunchtime, more warriors and civilians will be found appearing from the distance and from thin air, seemingly knowing where to find the Voidtreckers' camps - and after some very specific people.

Those with divinity, control over weather, nature, and death will be especially targeted, along with anyone who received blessings from the Gods.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. Let us know about shenanigans here. NPC requests here, set up a thread here. Rewards go here.

TL;DR: Starting on Poi 10, there will be odd tremors around the domain, and more aggressive time distortions. From Poi 11 refugees will lose control of themselves and start attacking Voidtreckers, in and out of the camp.

It will happen abruptly to begin with, but some keen to reading energy will find that it is shifting; like something is breaking in from somewhere else (similar to the time distortions).

Extra equalisers can be picked up from the Ministry base and they will be there to help, but there are also more distortions happening around the domain, so they'll be dealing with those. The Ministry will advise that any non-combatants should stick to the base, and even use the scouting drones to help from afar, if they really need to help.

Undead warriors can be found outside of time distortions, and not all of the people outside of distortions will be 'permanent' people. Equalisers can be kept going for a few hours to keep these people away, but will also need go into recharge/cooling mode.

Don't worry if you're still busy with the Starting log! Or if you've been meaning to tag, jump in here!

Comments

[yondu]

Yondu didn't want to kill them. They didn't seem to be acting in their right minds. But it's hard to make such a choice when you walk outside and some guy is looking to arm themselves to come after you.

He's about to agree with Thrawn when the guy shouts that he wants his gods back and rushes Yondu. "The hell!?"

There are a lot of people in this camp. He doesn't know if all of them want his blood. He doesn't know why they would? But he does know one thing, "I didn't take your gods, go to temple or somethin'!" This said while he's casually clotheslining that enraged middle-aged untrained man when he rushes him.

He looks over to Thrawn, who he's absolutely had no time to introduce himself too, his own eyes squinting and brow furrowed as he takes a moment to listen to the SCA, before stooping and grabbing that guy by the back of his jacket and dragging him back to where he can tie him up. "This ain't the first time random people have been set against us, it just ain't been this bad."

Re: Unquiet City

[cureofmanyworlds]

"Thanks, Kairi." Nozomi said, smiling at her girlfriend. She turned back to give her a kiss to the cheek. "Please, stay safe..."

With that, she continued on her way, needing to hurry to Kairi didn't get overwhelmed.

[cureofmanyworlds]

Nozomi chuckled a bit at that. "Alright, then, wish me luck!" she said, dashing off into the gathering storm of attackers.

It would be a few minutes and a lot of fretting, but Nozomi would return to Madoka, beat up and her costume torn in places, but victorious.

"They're relentless. I was able to push them away for some time, but they're coming back..."

[happyends]

"That's true." Madoka can't disagree with that. Mordin is just presenting the facts, after all, and so all the girl can do is just.. nod in the face of it.

Even though she sure doesn't like the thought of any of this.

"I-I don't want to escape to the train though." She's hardly ever done so before, even though she's been in a lot of really dangerous situations by now. It's just never sat right with Madoka. The idea of fleeing, and leaving everyone else behind to deal with a difficult situation. "I.. I want to help too, I just.. don't know how.."

[fennu]

"As if I could forget, you never let anyone forget." It's said sourly, but more because Jiang Cheng is tired than because he's actually bothered by Wei Wuxian. It's harder to muster any level of anger or real frustration these days when a great deal of the ire and irritation has been talked out.

It helps that there's alcohol, too.

"We're trained, just not in the way they want us to be," he scowls, taking another drink before he breathes out a little. "What have you been doing, then, for them to be so worried?"

[art_of_war]

Thrawn clasped his hands behind his back and simply watched as the shouting man saved him the trouble of going outside and went for Yondu first. There wasn't much of a fight to see, though. Introductions could wait as far as Thrawn was concerned but he would be interested in them later.

"It is my understanding that it is not random, but appears to be the civilians recovered from the time distortions."

Thrawn glanced over the three already restrained.

"It is inefficient to restrain them one at a time but they do appear to be fixated on you."

Thrawn looked back at Yondu.

"Is the largest difference between you and I your skill with produce?"

[happyends]

This is such a child-appropriate activity.

Especially when the dreaded question comes. Madoka really was banking on Wei Wuxian having some magical third arm, or just being really good at holding down an adult with one hand and arm, because Madoka sure doesn't find herself capable of tying up an adult..

Even when she's getting instructions as she's doing so.

But she doesn't want to disappoint either. So even though Madoka looks extremely uncomfortable, basically physically wincing every single time the assailant speaks up, she still does her best. Like this is just the oddest kind of girl scout activity, and Wei Wuxian is just the resident girl scout leader.

"I really don't like this.." She softly says as she's almost done with the rope.

The true Madoka mentality. Really hating something, and doing it anyway because you're a doormat who doesn't know the word 'no'.

[flatteries]

Look at Soldat, still having.. well, some sort of spirit anyway. Inigo does assume it's a joke, but he definitely doesn't have the energy or the necessary attitude to reply to it at a moment like this.

Instead he just focuses on what's most productive and helpful right here - aka their question.

"Not yet." He thinks, anyway. It's hard to keep track of it in the middle of battle, especially this particular kind of battle. It feels like they don't have a moment's rest.

"Hold on--" Inigo says, quickly turning his head to check out the equalizer situation behind them. It's only a split second though, because he has to be ready to counter yet another sword strike a moment later. ".. Looks like almost! We just have to hold on a little longer."

[flatteries]

"A-- Alright, alright, I can't even hear you like this!"

Maybe Inigo picked up the first part of what the other said, but the last part? Well, this isn't exactly the most efficient form of communication, and Inigo is pretty sure that Jingyi is either giving some sort of excuse or he's just being snarky.

Given the fact that this is Jingyi we're talking about, it's probably the latter.

"You can put me down again though, I need to deal with this..!"

[weisexual]

He sighs as the dead flicker away, placing the instrument away in the bag for safe keeping. He is glad he has it for this mission, even if for the most part it becomes unnecessary as soon as the equalizers are placed. He finally feels more at ease having it back.

His expression becomes one of slightly annoyance as Wei Ying makes his way back over. Why does he insist on being the target when they have these kinds of encounters? There is a familiarity to it that doesn't always make him feel very comfortable. Although he doesn't worry about the other man as much on the train or on these missions, he can't help it at times. He feels unsettled when Wei Ying puts himself in danger.

"You seem happy." By being in danger. It is frustrating sometimes. But there is also a familiarity to fighting the dead that they haven't necessarily had on other missions. This is more like home...even with strange technology at their disposal.

[lucklessgege]

He nods and helps people to get into position. The silk bandage coming out so that Xie Lian can have each person hold onto a part of it. A way to keep them safe and also make it easier to pull them up if they get jostled.

"Be careful. I will keep an eye on everyone." The dragon merely needs to concentrate on flying. Xie Lian can take care of the passangers.

[deferences]

While Sizhui has no idea what Jingyi's saying, he still nods anyway, pinching his lips tight so they don't end up curving in a smile. It's inappropriate, he knows it is, but he can't help himself with such valiant effort, although he's well-aware nobody – not even Jingyi! – can communicate while carrying someone in their mouth. Not that many people have this ability, of course, unless they are large enough animals— but that's getting off-track here. Refugees are continuing to attack Jingyi and Sizhui's just dangling there, waiting for whatever will inevitably happen when he should have continued using that guqin he's clinging onto.

But it's alright, as he's being set down inside the safety ring of Jingyi's body, and this will give him some time to figure out his next eventual move; Jingyi's scales are resilient against these weapons, except Sizhui would hate feeling useless during a battle. Yet again, it takes far too much of Sizhui's willpower to not smirk following that remark, he manages it, however, and has the decency to even look ashamed too. “My apologies, Jingyi. I'm unsure how to, uhm, make that easier for you? I might have water in my bag—” which doesn't matter when Jingyi must swing around and handle another foe.

“I have no idea,” he admits with heavy consternation after Jingyi's handled that person, casting a glance over his shoulder as his dragon friend pins the refugee down. Jingyi, buddy, let him help, okay? Because he doesn't mind being protected, but two against many is better than one.

All it takes is just the slightest bump of energy and Sizhui is atop Jingyi's back, balanced steadily despite reaching for his qiankun bag where the guqin returns for now and then out come some talismans instead. They won't be anything particularly spectacular, given they're homemade butterfly talismans he's made from inferior paper, but they will do what he needs at this moment: cause a distraction.

He sends two off, glowing blue butterflies swarming other nearby individuals that are headed their way. “All I do know is that they want something we cannot give them.”

eye of the storm

[foxyou]

Jiu doesn't hesitate to jump on once any non-voidtrekkers in the area have been collected, restraining the urge to curse as he moves close to Jingyi's head.

"Hurry, before we get frozen to death!"

alcohol

[calmness]

To say that Lan Xichen is tired, well that's an understatement. The effort of setting up the camps as well as Equalizers is not an easy one. The younger Lan Sect leader looks more work to those who know what to look for.

Rest is needed and a moment of reprieve means a moment to meditate, when-- "Ah." He looks at the alcohol offered to him, offering Wei Wuxian a somewhat amused and skeptical smile though there's amusement in his eyes. "Even just one may not be ideal, Master Wei," and yet he's taking the offered drink. He can burn off most of it, after all.

[motherofresistance]

A lightsaber wasn't ideal for knocking someone out either, hence why Leia was keeping it deactivated until and unless necessary. The Force was somewhat more helpful in that regard, but given the situation, using it to calm people's minds directly was less effective than normal.

"For the moment, our best bet is likely to get more equalizers set up," Leia said. "We can't just keep knocking people out or tying them up one or two at a time; we need to cut whatever is causing this off at the source."

Insert the first of the yeeted undead soon?

[controlsthedie]

As the Chthonic Companions chatter, Thanatos gets half a conversation, yet it's enough to confirm some of the basics for both of them. They're both currently unharmed but targets for these undying wretches. Thanatos doesn't speak until he thinks they are at a decent enough height to avoid further pursuit from their attackers.

"Keep watch for an active stabilizer. That might be the only safe area for those targeted as not everyone can fly." And Thanatos has very limited carrying capacity.

[redmeguca]

Until we've got a better idea of what's going on we're stuck on damage control, yeah. Wouldn't be the first time I had to keep a bunch of people that weren't in their right minds from hurting themselves. It's... actually a pretty common problem for my type of Magical Girl.

[Damn Witch's Kisses.]

[strings_theory]

Nothing makes sense, everything continues on around them, out of their control. The only control they have being this connection and their own selves. Even if it feels like that's beginning to slip out of her grasp.

For the time being, she lets things go as they will, focused on keeping Emporio close and trusting that Weather Report will at least handle that part of the nonsense. Though the explanation of the god, the words of sacrificing himself, that they need to do something?

She actually can't help but laugh, the noise probably a little weird and a tiny bit unhinged in this situation. "You mean to tell me that this god thought it a great fuckin' idea to be fucking with us because of that? Jesus fucking shit, it's almost like suffering and sorrow fucking attracts one another. I already sacrificed myself one, you stupid fucker, don't think I got the self restraint to not a second time!" This is probably not the way Emporio meant for this to go, but she's gotten started and she might as well keep on going. Not that she has a single clue who she's actually yelling at anymore and is pretty much the embodiment of old man yells at clouds.

"How many goddamned times did I have the shit kicked out of me for someone else? How many fucking times did I put my life on the line for people I barely fucking knew? That I fucking failed to protect goddamned anyone while being shredded? But you know what you utter god cocksucker? My ass is fucking here and I sure the fuck ain't causing a goddamned scene over it!" Will this do anything? Probably not. Does she feel better getting it off her chest? Absolutely. Even if she's sure the frustration is extremely clear in her voice at this point.

[nutkrusher]

"I mean, we are sent to do combat missions," Cassie says. "And none of us signed up, our number just came up. We've all been drafted into the Busted-Ass Army, stationed at Fort Buttcrack."

[cureofmanyworlds]

Nozomi watched as Faux pointed out where the drone is and tilted her head. Well! That's a problem, but not one she can't handle.

"Don't worry, I got this." she said, nodding. She went for her CureMo and hit the buttons on it, transforming into Cure Dream, her train uniform replaced with the bright pink vest, boots, skirt, shorts, bracers and leg guards her form was known for.

"Be right back!" she said, crouching down and taking off into the sky, landing part way up the vines.

Yep, still impulsive as ever.

[mystic_mongoose]

"Woah, not good!" Mina shouted, hopping off from her seat and looking up, trying to figure out where the sound is from above. She drew her sword again as she kept looking.

"Keep driving if you can!"

[seacub]

Something- whether the fact that he's neck deep in the feelings of the deity Jolyne may or may not be shouting at, or the simple fact that he knows Jolyne, snaps; though fortunately it isn't the string around them, nor the desperate hold he has around her now.

"I KNOW!" he can't help but shout, the anger of the storm bleeding through. "BUT WE...HE'S HOLDING HER BACK FOR US, THE WAY YOU HELD BACK HIM FOR ME..!"

It's a last stand, Will be a last stand, the proof of it in Merios' mourning and the mourning of the rest of the gods.

Emporio's shouting quiets to a rasp, and through it all Weather Report continues to do what they can to harmonize with the storm.

"...he's helping us...he's protecting us from her...the way he protected the rest of his family from her," he chokes, eyes watering. "...If someone had been able to bring you back for me... ...can't we try to do the same for them...?"

[strings_theory]

Certainly she didn't expect for him to snap at her like that and it takes all the blustering and wind right out of her sails. She quiets, for the most part, jaw set hard. What does she say to any of that? What does she do?

She has nothing she can do in this situation as far as she's aware, this is some kind of storm and there's nothing for her to grab to or use or anything. Her Stand, and by extension herself, are completely incapable of being useful here. What else does she have?

"How." The word is almost hissed, the frustration still clearly there. Not at him, not at the fact she's here, but the clear lack of ability to be useful. "I ain't able to do shit, if you hadn't noticed."

[flameinthedarkness]

"Ahh, not just that kind of tired. I used a lot of magic today." Idia's a little drained from it all. He's been mindful not to push himself too far, to not cause too much accumulation of blot on his wand, but he still had only so much energy to put towards magic.

"Hm?" He asked, then looked down to his hand. "Oh yeah, I guess I can." Though wrapping your own hands were a pain to do, and Idia always had an... interesting way of holding stuff. Almost delicately, by the tips of his fingers. Unless it was tools, but he preferred to use ones that were specially designed just for his hands. The better fit the tool, the better use you got out of it.

Though... Romeo really looks like he wants to help, like really does, so Idia holds out the supplies he's holding. "Thank you."

[seacub]

He should feel terrible for shouting. Part of him does. Part of him is lost in the knowledge that the beating sun is only being held back from them now by the storm that will 'one day' die. How can the past be undone? It can't. Not really.

It could only be Cheated, perhaps- do something no one notices, will never notice, until the far beyond future.

Emporio lets one arm free, and focuses on the storm again.

"...Don't let me go," he tells Jolyne, and with a shaking breath, steadies himself for whatever might happen. "...This time...don't let me go."

(After tying him to his escape, she'd cut herself away from the string to fight Pucci alone.

No one should fight alone anymore.)