middleofsomewhere | Fissures of Time: Finale

FISSURES OF TIME: FINALE

... POI 12-13

DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF POI 11, A RHYTHM SETTLES TO KEEP EVERYONE PROTECTED. The rumbling of Kolokifi's domain continues to persist, as do the more intense distortions, but the Voidtreckers are not alone. The equalisers keep the camps safe, as does the Ministry base, and as well the Voidtrecker Express itself.

Late into Poi 12, the Voidtreckers receive a call from Zhak through the map on their SCA.

"Hey, hope everyone's doing alright. You're all doing great so far." Zhak is nothing if not encouraging. Though it's a very textbook encouragement, he quickly moves on to the next point of business.

"It seems reports were right in that you lot are effective, and troublesome. But considering all that has happened this last week we believe we are at a crucial changing point on this world. We have been working on a device for a while which we are hoping could... reboot things as such. Give us and the Gods some idea how to move forward, anyway. We plan to set it up tomorrow, and we're expecting resistance. Any help you can give will be great though it's a bit above and beyond your mission brief so I'd like to make it clear you can say no.

We're not expecting this to fix anything, but if we get even a small somethin' out of it, it'll do some good for this place. We'll need some people to help defend the device, and some to keep the area we're working in secure. We suggest some fighters stay in the camps in case anything untoward happens, but we'll have some guards come and boost your numbers."

POI 12: THE FINAL NIGHT. Whatever the voidtreckers choose individually or as a group, it seems that this mission is coming to a conclusion. There is one last night in the camps altogether; one last night where the sky hangs in an unending sunset. The refugees have been subdued since the day before, and it's a quiet night for the most part.

Some of the refugees, perhaps feeling bad about the commotion and trouble or perhaps just thankful for the help the voidtreckers have given them in the last few days, have made foods out of the ingredients from the supplies shared by the Ministry. It's messy given the camps, but they show their cuisine of flavourful dips, vegetables roasted in a special cooking oil that adds an unusual taste, and skewered meats.

Tonight is a night to prepare, but also to rest and save their strength. Tomorrow, they will fight.

MORNING DAWNS. Bright and early the next morning, the camps awaken. There is much to do, to pack and be ready for the day ahead. There are three main tasks to be done: People to go and help the ministry with their plan to mend this people, people to stay and keep dealing with the smaller distortions, and people to stay and defend what camp was left.

If any Voidtreckers decide to stay behind. Regardless, they won't be alone,

... THE FINAL FIGHT

THE MINISTRY ARE ALREADY AT WORK WHEN THEY ARRIVE, having set up a large device that looks almost like a mirrored horn. Around the area there are a ring of equalisers that sets the arena, ready for trouble.

That trouble comes quickly. The ground is already rumbling when the voidtreckers arrive, but as they draw close the air itself seems to erupt, throwing some people backwards towards the equalisers and pulling others inwards as a distortion envelops around them.

INNER CIRCLE. Those who are pulled into the centre find themselves stood in the grounds of a temple. The place is frozen, in temperature and in time. The ministry workers are still there, but they are not alone, golden tendrils swarm out of the temple towards them, picking one of them up by the ankle and pulling them into the air.

From the very centre of the temple a figure is emerging. A woman, growing larger than the temple, bursting out and reaching for the voidtreckers with many golden arms like rays of sun, bent and disfigured. Her face is a cracked mask symbolic of the star, surrounded in a halo of tendrils that whip out everywhere in wisps, crackling lightning and winds thrashing in level with her head.

Help the Ministry contractors, and help each other against the tendrils of gold - the equaliser guns work best. But watch out - each touch of the golden ribbons will leave a burning sensation that can't be healed while inside the distortion. A divine curse.

OUTER CIRCLE. For those who were pushed backwards, they find themselves looking at a swirling whirlwind. Getting through is impossible, but that is not their only problem. The distortion is growing and it takes constant use of the equalisers to keep it under control.

As well as growing, the distortion itself seems to be fighting them, with gusts of wind trying to trap them, vines reach out to fling them away. There are also the warriors from history, more transparent and less stable, but their attacks just as damaging as before. Sometimes, stepping in the wrong place might suddenly drop you - and you'll find yourself somewhere else, at some other part of this chaotic mess.

Everything is attacking everyone - the Voidtreckers, others with the Ministry. Help each other, as well as yourself.

CAMPS. Here, things are calmer at least. The minstry workers who have been sent to help out try and organise people to take shifts manning equalisers just in case, but for the most part, tasks are practical ones. Keeping people calm, keeping people fed. There are some smaller distortions that still appear nearby, and so teams are encouraged to go out and deal with them.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. Rewards go here.

TL;DR: Later on Poi 12, the Voidtreckers receive a message that the Ministry are going to attempt a weapon that's been in the works to help do something for the state of the world. Voidtreckers can come help, but don't need to feel obligated to.

We included a few prompts in case anyone wanted to do something lax, if anything at all on the finale log!

Poi 13, those who decide to come to the spot (located on their maps) will find a large area of land bordered by equalisers, as well as a camp. The weapon the Ministry spoke of is a large mirror, which can be seen inside and outside the distortion, reflecting each.

The goal of the boss battles are: 1) to protect the large mirror from attacks. Equaliser guns will be provided, but also trying your own attacks can help.

2) To keep Kolokifi in line with the mirror before it and the distortion starts to crack.

Assume Ministry people are around in the boss battle and outside. To make it easier to read, we won't refer to Ministry folks unless necessary (because boss battles get hectic enough!).

The boss battle is done in rounds with the NPC tag marking the start of the round. Please tag once in each round and don't worry about tagging order between players. If you miss a round don't worry just jump in the next. If you are late don't worry and just jump in the current round. If you accidentally post over someone just repost in response to them. If you need any help just ask a mod.

For those fighting on the border of the distortion (non boss battle) please feel free to play with anything from earlier in the mission. Things are fracturing and going a bit mad so use what you want and have characters be bounced the outskirts for team ups with other voidtreckers.

NOTE FOR BOSS BATTLE PARTICIPATION: 1 character per player per boss battle. Your character can't be in both threads. The Kolokifi fight is more suited to characters with high power levels whereas the mirror protection fight is more suited to characters with more mundane fighting skills.

Don't worry if you don't feel you can post or keep up with this - there won't be any negative consequences for not participating! A conclusion will go up on the 28th.

Art credits: Whirlwind, camp2, sunset, second header

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Thank you." He takes Hera's hand and the refugee's uninjured hand and holds them together for a moment, meaning clear: for now, hold her hand. He can take care of setting the bone, but he can't do that and distract the refugee at the same time.

"You were telling me about the god's fruit, weren't you?" he says gently, prompting the refugee as he readies a splint and bandages. "About where it came from?"

"Right." It's pained, but it's something to focus on, and the refugee haltingly tells an old story - a fable about a blessing from Silifi - as Ryo meets Hera's eyes. He's ready - hopefully she can see that and keep going with the distraction.

Hera knows basic battlefield first aid. She has to. And she also knows all about dealing with people and that sometimes what they need is a hand to hold and crush for a while.

"What would you do, if you found that fruit?" The goal is really just distraction so Ryo can work unimpeded. SOmething to think about besides the injury.

Thank the gods, Hera gets it. He readies himself to set the bone, silently counting down on his fingers where Hera can see but the refugee cannot - three, two, one-

"I think I'd share it," the refugee answers, focusing on Hera now that she's asking questions. "They're made to be-" The word cuts off into a shriek, the refugee clutching Hera's hand in a death grip as Ryo snaps the broken bone back into place. "It's okay," he murmurs gently, starting the process of applying the splint. "You'll be okay." This is never fun, but at least it's more straightforward than some other fixes.

"That's the brave choice. Just like letting Ryo help you." She smiles and gives a gentle squeeze. Yep, her hand still works, good to know.

She glances over at Ryo to see if he needs anything particular next.

"Well, I want to be able to use my arm," she grouses through tears, though there's no bite to her words; it's sarcasm to cover up pain. "Kind of hard to do anything without it-" She yelps again as Ryo finishes tying the splint in place and starts bandaging it, then pointedly looks back at Hera. She knows this is happening, but she doesn't want to think about it.

Ryo pauses to look up at Hera, nodding meaningfully to the refugee, then gets back to work. He doesn't need to do anything in particular, aside from staying here and keeping the refugee busy until he's done working.

One would think that wanting to be able to use the arm would be reason enough to let Ryo work. But she's met her share of very stubborn people who are bad at cause and effect. "What do you do, normally? Or want to do?"

She must have something in particular in mind.

"I want to be a soldier," the girl says staunchly. "I'm going to protect Kolokifi's lands, just like my mother and my sister."

Ryo manages to give nothing away and simply keeps bandaging her arm. Hopefully Hera has a good poker face.

You don't get far as a covert insurgent without a half decent sabaac face. The girl doesn't need to know about anything that's going on surrounding all this. Here and now matter.

"My kids are about your age and all I want is for a day to come when they don't have to fight. But it's good that you want to protect people."

"This land always needs protecting," she continues, and her tone is stubborn and vehement, with an undercurrent of darkness that makes Ryo hesitate for just a moment. He'd woken up to a stranger standing over him with a knife two days ago, and while the equalizers had helped stabilize things, he still doesn't trust that peace - not with the chaos that had overtaken this entire mission. He doesn't trust that violence not to return, and that darkness all but promises it.

So he changes the course of the conversation as he finishes tying off the bandage. "You have kids?"

Probably best to keep off that particular line after that look.

She smiles as Ryo moves it to what is hopefully less provocative. "Not biologically, but yeah." The math doesn't add up on that, even if no one has seen them to ask why her kids aren't the same species as her. "They were already teenagers when we took them in but anyone would be proud to call them their kids."

Luckily, the change of subject works, and the refugee goes along with it. (The fact that she's still in pain and therefore more easily led likely has quite a bit to do with it.) Kids her age, but not raised in the loving embrace of Kolokifi. Huh. "What're they like?"

Ryo just offers Hera a grateful smile outside of the refugee's line of sight and sets about tying a sling.

Oh, she can definitely keep up this line of conversation as a distraction. And also because she likes the topic. "Sabine's a fighter, loves explosions. But she's also an incredibly talented artist. Ezra used to act like he was only out for himself, but as soon as he got a chance to make a difference he was determined to change the galaxy. He has an amazing talent with animals."

Fissures of Time: Finale

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