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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Honestly, in Madoka's eyes it's purely amazing that the man manages to keep the sort of composure he has, even in the middle of all of this. Maybe it's since she's so young, or maybe it's just her level of nerves (it's definitely the latter), but Madoka can't help but feel incredibly nervous and scared in this situation.

Facing monsters is one thing. It's scary, but she's gotten used to the fact that she's got to do it on these missions.

But facing people? Who are being aggressive, but who she can't and shouldn't hurt in turn? That's a lot harder, and without this sudden suggestion on Wei Wuxian's end, she would have felt extremely helpless.

But at least now he's giving her something to grasp on to.

".. it's worth a try," she slowly says. What else are they supposed to do here? "I.. um, I haven't set any up yet myself.."

Since it's not like Madoka went out to any of the distortions.

"But I tried paying attention before when they explained how to do it, so I think I might be able to manage if we can get to the supply tents.." That's the hard part. Crossing this camp is difficult for Madoka. Even if she'd try to dodge all of the chaos, the chance of running into it all the same is so big right now.

"Then that's what we're going to do. You and me, we'll get to the supply tents. How steady are your legs feeling? Can you run following me? I'm unfairly good at sneaking around when I need to be, and I think we need that kind of gift right now."

Though tough as a call, because his need to help those who need it is so high, he can only take it as they go. Having a plan of action helps, and trust in the abilities of some Trainlings and the Ministry workers.

Right now, it's Madoka who needs his help too, in a real sense.

"We can figure out setting up the equaliser together. I know you've got a good head, I'm sure you'll surprise yourself with how much you remember from when they explained it to us. Much better than this old man, ah?"

"Y-Yes!" She quickly responds. Madoka's thoughts seem to buffer for a moment, and then her facial expression instantly seems to grow more awkward and flustered. "I.. I mean, yes, I can run following you! I d-don't think you're all that old, or that you couldn't remember what they told us..!"

Please, Wei Wuxian, you might just give her a heart attack here when you accidentally make her agree with statements that would be considered way rude in Madokaland.

"I'm not really sneaky though.."

You know, in case Madoka's everything didn't give that way. A bright pink girl can only be so sneaky, and even moreso when she is easily startled and flustered.

"But if you can lead us in that, I'll do my best to keep up..!" At least she sounds determined, so she can get full marks for that, right? For doing her best, even though this situation is pretty scary to her.

He smiles, and for a moment, the full of his attention is on Madoka as he makes himself meet her eye level.

"I know you will, and leave the sneaking to me. Now," he says, offering her his hand for her to take, because he may not have a golden core anymore, but he is and forever will be a cultivator of ways aside from the sword, and moving swiftly, supporting one slighter person, is well within his capabilities as a hale bodied man approaching middling years. "Here we go."

To set off at pace, winding through the tents toward where he knows the supply tents to be located, hearing the camp, the shouts of surprise and pain and confusion. Small blessings, that the refugees are not the overwhelming numbers, that camp does not make easy access for weaponised things, but he of all people knows how anything can be a weapon, and time is not on their side.

Honestly, he has no idea just how reassuring it is to Madoka to be able to hold that hand. It's the sort of thing she really wanted to do in the middle of this situation, yet at the same time is unable to ask for - because she fears it's too selfish, or that she might get into his way during an important time like this.

But.. behold. It's Wei Wuxian himself who is offering her the hand, without her having to ask for it. So of course Madoka doesn't hesitate to grab it in turn, allowing him to guide her through the camp. Her heart is pounding so hard in her chest that she can hear it in her ears - mostly from the suspense of this situation, from not knowing whether or not they might get attacked while they move throughout camp.

"A--"

She speaks up during the time they're moving, pausing as she needs to suck in a breath.

"A-Are we getting close?"

The tension is audible in her voice too.

"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.

"Yes..!" And gosh, is she ever happy that she paid attention while members of the orange team went in there to grab some of the devices before.. Otherwise they might have been even further stuck in trouble at this point.

It's why Madoka lets go of the man's hand now, figuring that there's hopefully nothing dangerous in the supply tent itself, and she dives into said tent - starting to look for one of the boxes that she's seen other people take with them out of camp.

She tries to grab it herself too, but.. well, obviously that's going to be a little too heavy for a noodle-armed young girl like Madoka.

"Mister Wei Wuxian..! I've got it, but.. um, it's a little too heavy..!"

H-Help? Please?

He sweeps in to take hold of the box, grunting exaggeratedly as he hefts it up in his arms. What better way to agree without using words? Heavy, heavy! Both are blessed to not be jumped by anyone with a spoon, fork, or particularly large bowl (or anything more weaponlike), and instead a moment to get out and...

... "Clear out these chairs and set this up here?"

In this area that's cluttered with chairs and tables and the camping necessities set out by the ministry workers the night before.

See, this is the exact trouble of being in the middle of a camp that is very much prepared for.. well, camping, but not so much for combat. There's no real space to do anything important when it matters. (Though, to be fair towards the Ministry workers, it's not like they knew this sort of thing was suddenly going to happen in the morning either..)

So Madoka quickly starts shoving anything out of the way she can manage to push away by herself. It means some of the chairs that are stacked up too high for the girl are still standing there, but at least she's managed to clear an area where the man can set down the box.

It even conveniently provides a kind of protective chair-and-boxes circle around them. Not that it would truly stop anyone determined to attack them, but.. you know, they'd at least have to hop over some stuff first, so it gives them a slight delay to work with.

"I'll set it up now.." As well as she can, anyway. "So.. um, please keep an eye out for anything dangerous that might approach.."

Because Madoka sure can't do both at the same time. In fact, she'd be able to do very little about a threat if it did approach, even if she wasn't doing anything else! That's clearly his duty here now.

He helps, mostly by hooking a foot around a stack of chairs and dragging them back a bit more, but the space they clear is enough for her to work. He nods, patting his chest as if the sound of his hand hitting and the smack over the hollowness of his lungs is reassuring.

"I have your back," he says, and it's a promise that ends up manifesting with him tossing out a talisman for gravity bearing, pinning down an overweight man carrying a pot lid when he comes stomping up ranting about freed godly truths when she's halfway through setup.

"Nothing to worry over, he's fine! We're all fine!" he says, winding closer to take the pot lid out of reach and pointedly press a pressure point, so the man slumps fully down and starts breathing deep, like one in sleep. He then... farts.

Loudly.

Wei Wuxian raises his eyes to the sky and sighs, not quite as loudly. Glorious morning battles.

The sound of someone approaching - something even Madoka can't miss, as she's staring at the device - isn't enough to make her look up. It does seem to startle the girl a little, since she shivers as her hands are moving to press the right buttons, to set the entire thing up, but she's doing her best to trust the man. If Wei Wuxian says that he will keep her safe, then.. surely he'll do his best.

He's done his best to listen to her before, after all. To take her concerns seriously. That should mean that he'll also take her safety very seriously.

But while she can at least trust him enough to keep working while it sounds like he's dealing with one of the very agitated people...

.. it's a little harder to do so when she hears a totally unexpected sound.

Madoka immediately turns her head, staring at Wei Wuxian, her mouth hanging open.

(Is she assuming that he was the one who let it rip that loudly? She's staring like she's dumbstruck!)

He blinks, then pointedly gestures toward the fallen man, somewhat overdramatically. No, that wasn't him! It was that guy! The guy who, after a moment of gesturing from Wei Wuxian, lets out a final, conciliatory toot, which doesn't sound any less like it might be coming from Wei Wuxian.

His pained look is utterly unfeigned, and he gives up gesturing with a sigh, even as said refugee, now out for the count, starts very softly snoring. He nods his head to Madoka, then looks to her progress with the equaliser, and then...

... The passed out man passes gas one more time, and he simply gives up on today on every level, including the concept of dignity. He catches sight of another person incoming, though they're tripping over a sleeping bag they're still wearing, feet peeping out of the bottom, head out of the top, and holding a rock that they attempt to throw with their arms still caught up in the sleeping back.

It's not a big rock. It's about palm sized. It also falls flat before them with a thump, and they look down, muttering. "The truth will be known, this falsehood will end, we will... rock... you?"

Today will now officially be known as the day that the last of Wei Wuxian's dignity died, for the rest of eternity. It will be missed.

Thankfully Madoka seems to have given up on tracking all of these shenanigans. She only looks up to see if the man is okay - which he seems to be, if not just mostly due to the sheer incompetence of the people trying to attack him. It's a relief, though it's a weird sort of relief. It makes the situation feel a little less high-stakes as she fiddles with the device, trying to get it to turn on. It takes a little while longer than it might for most people, since it's her first time actually activating it..

.. but then she manages to click just the right buttons, and it starts to work. Or so Madoka thinks, anyway. She takes a quick step away from the device just in case standing too close to it might be too dangerous, and then looks over at Wei Wuxian and his.. his sleepbag-rocking pal.

The two of them just standing there. Is Wei Wuxian making a new friend, Madoka wonders.. Would it be rude to interrupt.. The man doesn't seem like he's trying to attack him very hard, after all!

"U-Um!!" She manages to finally call out after a few moments' worth of hesitation. "I think it's starting to turn on!"

Just so you know, man.

Will it, though? Will Madoka hold the death of Wei Wuxian's dignity against him, or will she politely never mention it at all? (Bless her so.)

The activation of the equaliser has an immediate effect, albeit not a dramatic one. They cease staring down at their rock, or trying to figure out how to crouch down in sleeping bag to recollect it, and instead go still, then obviously confused.

"What am I..."

Wei Wuxian steps forward to catch their bundled, sleeping bag covered arm to prevent them from bowling over backward, reassuring them as he helps them sit down. His glance to Madoka is followed by a smile and a thumbs up, before patting the confused refugee and regaining his feet.

"We'll have someone from medical come check you over, unless you want to go there first." The refugee indicates hearing, if not necessarily understanding, before Wei Wuxian returns to Madoka, gesturing to the camp around.

"Not sure if one's enough for the whole camp, I can carry around a second one toward the outside edge of camp. Will you stay with this person until one of the medics arrives?"

"Of course!"

There's no hesitation in that answer. Madoka might be a little scared whenever it comes to taking the lead or anything, or having to think up some sort of plan.. But when it comes to following things other people are saying or suggesting, she's always ready.

Which means she will definitely take the task of watching over this person for now seriously, moving to sit down next to them.

But she does still look at Wei Wuxian, adding: "I definitely saw a second one in the tent, so you can take that one.. Will you be okay carrying it?"

He slapped his upper arm, shooting her a grin and a wink.

"I might not look that impressive, but I can handle one case, Miss Madoka. I could handle a whole grown human if needed!"

Please don't let it be needed anytime soon. That said, he nods his head to her, picking up to a trot to head back toward the tent and collect the equaliser in box. He gives a second look toward both previously irate refugees, but neither of them are showing any other signs of violence. The one on the ground snores, and he nods, lifting his arm with the SCA band visible.

"Miss Madoka! Call to everyone at once if anything changes in a frightening way. We'll be here for you as soon as we can."

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Fissures of Time: Ongoing

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