middleofsomewhere | Fissures of Time: Ongoing

Fissures of Time: Ongoing

FISSURES OF TIME: ONGOING

... 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!

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There's not much protesting he can do here. After all, Soldat is right. They do need more supplies, if not just because they simply can't get rid of a distortion unless they have enough equalizers with them.

Which means there's absolutely zero sense in jumping into one right now.

Hence why Inigo just nods before starting to move right along with the rest of the group.

"Don't know how much cooling off there is in this place."

But the lunch? Well.. he guesses he won't really say no to food, at least.

He watches the drone as Tidus fiddles with getting the eye view in place, and claps his hands, once, with a smile.

"No, that would be childish," he says, sounding utterly unconcerned in reality, "We could only perch on people's heads by accident. Clearly."

Which is plentiful in opportunity as the drone makes its way through camp, though Wei Wuxian has no idea anymore what it looks like. He simply holds his alcohol and sips at his cup, because downing everything doesn't help, and he's on the better side of alcoholic for the time being.

"I do not see the appeal of that," Xichen says softly, shaking his head. He had tried coffee on the train and found it too-- well, it taste burnt. "Coffee, that is. At least without something to mask most of the taste."

The other time he'd had it, he had not been himself. Or rather, not a version of himself that was familiar or without embarrassing memories attached. Cheng. Lan Xichen turns a bit pink over the bridge of his nose as he thinks about it, but does not let that distract him from the more important matter of tea.

Devero is actually reasonably aware of that, and doesn't press Soldat on it. He had to try, but he accepts the rebuff gracefully.

He accepts the redirect with clear-- well, not delight, because delight isn't really appropriate in the context, but there's no mistaking the way his eyes light up. "Sure, I'd be happy to check it out. I have my kit in my tent, we head that way when you're done eating?"

Romeo leads the group with quiet enthusiasm. He's trying not to draw any attention- or any more attention than a group of that size brought naturally but at the same time he is trying to keep everyone's spirits up.

So he makes sure to stay happy and confident as he weaves his way through the camp towards the supply tents. It doesn't take too long and luckily they don't get attacked at all!

"Here we go!" He pointed. "Everyone can wait in here and we will make sure no one gets through! But first we got to check it's empty."

He will wait for Esteban for that at least.

"Almost," he says, sending her a tight smile, regardless of it it's true or not. Navigating them through to avoid what comes down to several very close calls, his eyes narrowed, when they do make it to the first tent of the supplies tents, he gives her hand a squeeze.

"Now. Miss Madoka, you remember what the box looks like that has the equaliser within?"

Looking to her, waiting for a yes or no without seeming to carry a heavy weight in knowing one way or another.

Adoption, Jiang Cheng. Time to consider the time-honoured tradition in all sects not part of the perversity of blood lineages in their five region isolation, to the ones beyond, to the future that truly keeps the best going, and not simply limited by family pride.

(Not that Wei Wuxian will be the one to say. He already lives that, with Sizhui. He already embodies that, as the adopted child, the prodigal son, the horror overshadowing their youth under a matron's pointed, pushing words.)

"There's no too late," he says, voice soft. "No time where a child does not appreciate hearing stories about their parents."

Or considers their denial and the stolen glimpses they're offered, says one orphan to the brother orphaned first when he was orphaned yet again. Perhaps being Wei Wuxian's family is, indeed, the curse.

In other words, Jiu's taking advantage of a dragon's better nature. Devious.

"You realise we're dealing with echoes of people who have lived and died once already, right? If anything, I'm more concerned for their spirits and however they were fractured in the process of all this. Were they all delayed in reincarnation, but didn't know why, because this hadn't happened yet, and now it has, so they're finally freed? Or did it already happen and unhappen, and they're freed, or... is because of how this area's messed up by the gods, everyone is caught up in it, and once this is stopped they can all finally be whole enough to reincarnate?"

Welcome, Jiu, to where he's off track to what Jiu's saying and worried over his world's concept of reincarnation and the wholeness of a spirit to achieve that rebirth instead of end up stranded or destroyed.

"So when are you two separating? Because you're not where you were before, and this can't be healthy. For you or the demon."

Sai as he carefully, closely watches Jin Rulan, never going to be easy with this parasitic relationship, or the borrowing of powers from each other, because he knows that means it goes both ways. Maintaining the qi net is simple enough, though Jingyi simply releases it once everyone's unconscious. No point doing more with it right now, not where there are more people needing handling, elsewhere in camp.

Only agreement from Jingyi, so it's a pattern they can settle into: Jingyi netting aggressive refugees, Sizhui putting them to rest until a solution can be found. Which comes along the way, as at some point, the hum of the equalisers comes over the air as they're activated, and the formerly mumbling, aggressive refugees become...

... Confused, in the way of a deep sleeper coming out of rest quite suddenly.

Jingyi holds the qi net for a little longer before he drops it, breathing out in a long sigh as people come out of the compulsion, showing no lingering signs of poss... compulsions.

"Please tell me it's over..."

"... I don't think it'll need to be big, but yeah, I'm ready." In fact a big net would be very large, and largely useless with how camp is set up, unless Inigo manages to piss off all the compulsion suffering people and have them stampede after him and him alone.

Which is a thought.

"Are you really good at getting people to follow you? By making them angry?"

There are ways of getting that to happen with talisman assistance, when he thinks about it, but he doesn't know what Inigo's plan is on the gathering people side.

All cultivator things are through training, Tidus, keep up, bro!

"I... can, I think?" Sounding questioning because when the hell has he ever needed to, except... no, no, now he remembers that time where they were trying to net each other from the air and then that other time with the rabbits, and just like that, he's lifting higher into the air.

"Shout at me if you need something specific! I'll hear you!"

Shortly after, he's high enough to get a better view of the camp as a whole, and starts forming those seals. The problem, as Tidus might immediately notice, is Jingyi has a great perspective... and it tells Tidus nothing about where the people he's qi-net encasing are.

"No, wind. With some water I guess," he says, a nod toward his fog manipulation, but he doesn't control water the way that those of Yunmeng do, or some of the other Lan disciples. (Elemental prowess, after all, is partly genetic, partly random luck draw.)

Esteban may or may not notice that there's only gentle windpull on him, and he's kept warmer by being close to Jingyi's body; were he to extend a hand out far, he'd feel the temperature difference abruptly, and even the increased wind factor of Jingyi's flight. The dragon's only manipulating the air close to him or around the woman in his claws, and it's barely any time at all for him to arrive at the central supply tents and the associated medical tents, where he coils himself in a spiral with his head closest to the ground, providing access for Esteban to the ground in the open area far too small to support Jingyi's uncoiled bulk.

"Here, find the medics in charge, I'll keep any refugees from charging in new."

Meaning if any were already in those medical tents, that was slightly beyond his easy grasp.

"There was no indication of this kind of attitude earlier when we met. The people are mainly confused, and appreciative, as long as you don't push their boundaries too much."

Senku cleared his throat a bit as he secured the bandage on his arms, it wasn't deep enough to require more intervention.

"Let's go, he'll be alright. I'll check on him when we're done." He sounded terrible, but he was fine. He was on his feet, after all. Others could need help that he could provide.

"Hey! Let me go! I need to..." She had enough sense of self to call back her sword and shield cards as they past them, even as she struggled.

Another glance around, but seeing no enemies, she vanished the Keyblade. She had to get Taiki to Axel, Axel would know what to do. And she had to get away from whatever the danger was. She picked him up as best she could, trying to think about how Axel carried her. But she was usually passed out for that. So... she did her best, pulling him through the corridor awkwardly.

She just had to get to Axel. Had to.

"But.... he was attacking you..." she said in a near whisper, so confused. Wasn't she supposed to save the Somebodies from the train?

There is some muffled bleating, as the wooloo re-orients themself. Tidus shooting up sort of threw them off, sending them wobbling about like a bizarre 'weeble wobble'.

But oh, oh! Wouldn't he like to know. Blinking vacantly at the question, Amar just stares.

And stares.

And finally, for good measure, gives one more- "MEeeeeh."

Hm.

"Our orders..." right. She looked at the Somebodies she had knocked out and shuddered. If she went against her orders... what would the train do to her? Would it send her away? Could she be turned into a dusk now that she was a person? She wasn't sure.

But she was afraid.

Far more afraid than she'd been by the attack. She had to follow her orders. That was ingrained in her but she had almost... almost forgotten.

She raised her Keyblade above her head. "CURAGA!" she yelled, flooding the area with green light, healing the Somebodies she was aiming at and anyone else who happened to be standing too close.

If she wasn't allowed to hurt them she could... could...

Run. she could run away. Right?

"See, I can do dishes. I don't mind doing dishes. I won't poison anyone that way by accident." Raven kids a bit--she hasn't poisoned anyone yet, accidentally or not. "Have you written the recipe down, for others to be able to use?"

“Naja, it’s me!” Mina said, trying to keep hold of her friend, only for her cut back to cause her to skid to a stop, dropping to a knee.

“I’m… I’m okay…”

...

"...Why'm I talking to a pet...?"

Truly, what did Tidus expect. But he mutters that as he's shuffling to get up on his feet, sitting around no good. Despite the reflection, Tidus still tells the sheep, "Stick close to me!" before starting to move into a light jog, run, so long as the pokémon's following him!

Let's go find Katsuya, Amar!!

Is that close enough? It's close enough! And with the spell said, the small higgledy disappears from sight - not quite a god, but instead a special little friend. The whipping winds seem less frantic, but still blowing. Still wild, but in a way that's not as focused on them.

"Can we get to him?" Tidus can't see him now, though he thinks he can feel him out if they need to. They can't start moving without their higgledy friend!

"I'm fine! I mean, for once, I actually can do something on one of these missions." Rich smirks and holds up his guitar slightly. "I don't know if they just like music or if something else is going on, but they usually calm down after I play a couple songs."

They might be magical flames, but magical or otherwise, there's still a stinging to Tidus's skin, a pain that's fortunately numbing - for now - for the adrenaline sparked by everything else going on around him. There's the dragging he now has to worry about, fingers digging, scraping for any grip or refuge, but doing nothing but chipping his nails--

--except the grip around his wrist. Tidus doesn't see anything, doesn't know if it's friend or foe, except for the yank around his midsection of the lower root attempting to continue to take him away. A small struggle that Tidus can't even take a decent part in, but that doesn't last for long. Tidus doesn't know immediately, not looking up; he just pulls with his other free hand, arm, trying to pull himself away.

Except when - there's no resistance. He manages to raise his upper torso before he dares to pause enough to look ahead, and sees Taiki there holding onto him. The sight's perplexing, but he's not ready to believe it over, to get distracted just yet; flipping, still with his wrist in a way where Taiki can hold it but now on his back, to see if he needs to be ready with a spell.

But nothing's there. The vines, roots, whatever they are, dissipate into nothing as the spread of the equaliser's effect showers out. Not enough to get rid of them completely, but refusing any to exist within the sphere of the camp.

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Fissures of Time: Ongoing

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