Swirling Consequences Start

[voidtreckermods]

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

---

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

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WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

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ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

---

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

---

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

---

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

---

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

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RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Comments

scrublands

[monkeyinthewrench]

Jake's hauling ingredients to where they need to be. It's not much, but it's honest work...but apparently it's far easier for some than others! He boggles at the pure strength on display as he dodges a large log.

"---How did you---"

He redoubles his grip on his own sack of wheat, as it had started to slip from his hands in his surprise. He's absolutely not spilling vital supplies.

[wisdominshadows]

"I'm fine. Just preparing for the mission. Sorry, you don't mind-"

Her pet murderplant takes this opportunity to go for her hair. "Down, down!" A knife flashes out and the plant curls in on itself, while its owner sighs. "Sometimes I don't know why I keep this thing."

Farmlands

[averyusefultray]

Whether Hera has a setting other than going all out on work is a question for the ages. She's certainly been hard at work on escort missions and farm cleanup. Fortunately, while she's not always the best at remembering that sleep is something that organics generally require, she's pretty good at remembering to eat. Even if she'll just inhale a ration bar if left unattended.

She doesn't prefer them, they just fit her cooking skills. So the pancakes are much appreciated. "Thank you, those look incredible."

[silver_eyes_rose]

Ruby blinks in surprise as the plant goes for Zelda’s hair only for her to stop it with her knife.

“Ah… plant trouble…?” She uttered. She cleared her throat. “Did you need me to step out?”

[averyusefultray]

"The train doesn't carry much heavy equipment. But some of the passengers have abilities that would allow them to move more than you'd expect." She's used to accounting for Jedi in plans, she can work with subbing passengers in for machinery as needed. "Some can even get airborne if you know about obstacles."

It's as good a time as any to try to use her Diagad abilities a bit more practically. She gets pretty good altitude these days.

Re: Naptime

[bruiserprincess]

"There's that voting thingy, right?" She's pretty sure it got added to the train around the same time she did. "We get the chocolates now so maybe we can ask for nicer mattresses there."

[bruiserprincess]

"On a a train in another dimension at least means they know they don't need to keep searching every badguy lair and start checking all the people who are supposed to be good guys." The fact that she's considering this probably isn't a good sign about her world. But that's what they'd started doing. "It's weird, but at least it's an answer."

"I'm also good at getting through walls if there's a cave in or something." Once again from experience.

[bruiserprincess]

"Having superpowers means being very careful not to hurt anyone who doesn't have them." There are rules to these sorts of things and she's very careful about them. Power, responsibility, all that stuff.

Molly makes a face. She hates having to admit it, but without her friends around she should really be careful about pushing herself far enough to get sleepy. "It's probably a good idea to take a break. Just a little one."

[agathokakological]

Crowley makes an only momentarily confused expression at the word husband before realizing that there is only one being Yondu can be referring to and decides not to correct him. Besides, the thought of the angel in a wet shirt is a bit distracting.

He grunts, then brushes his hands down the front of his jacket in a firm sweeping motion, miraculously clearing his clothing of mud and water completely.

"Thanks, I guess." he huffs, "So... what do we do with that?" he asks regarding the goat.

[unrecovered]

God damn this guy is a pain. He catches a pair of horns - one of many - in his sword and twists the blade, but the beast doesn't go down - just staggers. "It's a request for you to go fuck yourself," he snarls, voice low, before going full volume without missing a beat. "Yeah, backup would be great!"

Re: Naptime

[silver_eyes_rose]

"Oh, that's riiiight." Ruby uttered. "Yeah, I should totally suggest that."

[redprayer]

Well then!

Rezo dashes to the side, making sure that the man won’t be in the direct line of fire in case anything goes wrong, and gathers together his magical energies. Wash may catch a snippet of the incantation…

“-Gather in me and be a flash, to shoot away the abyssal darkness-”

…Before Rezo unleashes the spell: “Blam Blazer!”

A beam of blue light whips out of Rezo’s staff and shoots towards the voidblob. The light sinks into the voidblob, and it may seem to have had no more effect than pointing a laser pointer would have.

Hm. Unfortunate.

Rezo’s next strategy is going to be trying for a Shadow Web spell, but it’s Wash’s turn now. Show the wizard how it’s done!

[flameinthedarkness]

"Eh? Oh, it's the currency from my world. Not this... exclusive currency like on the train." If only there was a pay store to exchange it... Idia would have so many points.

"No, no," Idia corrected him. "I've been using my computer," A wave of his finger towards his normal skull computer that was with him, it bobbing in the air like it always does. "For my projects, and it works fine, but," A sigh. "A temporary tool is not the same as one dedicated to the task." Why bother with something that would only half ass the job? A job with specific needs needs specific tools.

Idia's bottom lip poked out more as he rested his chin on top of his knee, muttering. "Need a dedicated computer and server room on the train..." He could make it! He just needs the space, and the parts.

[yondu]

"Uhhhhh.... I dunno. I didn't think that one through. I just sorta-" He gestures at Crowley. Totally knew the man could take care of himself, but that damn protective streak had him running in to do some stupid shit.

He rubs the back of his head and pulls a face.

"Maybe I could take it to that Inn place, have 'em cook it or somethin'." Or just, you know, drag it away from the stream and let the animals eat it. He moves to confusedly scratching his scruffy chin. Yup, just sort of murdered and didn't consider much the aftermath, just didn't wanna see Crowley get squished on instinct.

[renegadeprince]

Whether it's a good or bad thing, right now that arrow was ignored, especially as Vegeta takes that full ki blast straight to the face. A roar bellowed free from him as he turned away from the attack, one hand coming up to cover the spot where it hit. But the other hand quickly swiping at the air where Trunks was, it becoming very apparent that despite his size Vegeta hadn't slowed down at all, still able to move at the full speed he would normally.

A shake of his head to clear it from that attack, a low growl rumbling up from deep in his throat towards those annoyances getting in his way.

[ironchef]

"Yeah, I'm ready." He stays poised to grab the little fruit cup when it falls, and is pretty ginger about it when he does. Like he's worried about damaging it after all the trouble to get it.

Once he does he puts it in his pack.

"Remind me next time to bring an umbrella? Seems like a better idea than the stones, to be honest."

Re: Cleanup

[worthallthis]

"It might be easier to get a local to come here, cut it up, and take the planks and such into town instead," Soldat suggests, thinking. Because that sounds like it would require a lot less people. "Leave the parts they can't use on houses and such here. Shore up the hillside a little with them against more mudslides."

[persona_non_ratta]

Only an hour to plan? For things as dangerous and difficult as they might be asked to do? "Sounds like things get hectic before the mission even really starts then," Bruno said. "Or do people mostly know what they're doing getting ready, so it's more... I dunno, routine?"

He didn't forget what he was supposed to be doing as they talked, though, looking between the larger map and the copy he was working on a couple times before marking down another farmstead.

[yondu]

Yondu considers that maybe he should have grabbed someone else for this. He hadn't wanted to because of seeing what happened to Koumyou, but this is the second time he's been able to do fuck all to help his friend. Still he's trying, but now looking at the trees around him, seeing if there's anything he can convince them to do to stop this.

He supposes as long as he keeps trying to be an annoyance though.

So for the moment it continues to zip around, drawing curls around that ki blast and arcing up and back around. He needs to stop aiming for solid parts if he does hit. He's about one bad decision from poking this giant ape in the ass.

[persona_non_ratta]

'They' was as vague as it was ominous. Nothing in the mission information had mentioned any particular group on the world who might be hostile to the Voidtreckers. But somehow, it was easy for him to imagine Faux running afoul of some shadowy forest crime cabal, if there was such a thing.

Even the explanation didn't help much. The screeches, however, did, and Bruno suddenly understood the program's caution. Bruno clutched his basket of flowers protectively, then looked around trying to find a good escape route that was free of those sticky bushes. "Which way should we go?", he asked.

[wisdominshadows]

Zelda can't help but wince as she watches. Yes, it's pretty obvious no one's ever thought to introduce this unlucky man to climbing. And that his natural skillset lies... very much elsewhere.

"A product of time and practice," neither of which she can hand out at need, unfortunately. Not for the first time, she wishes the train was more free-handed with useful gear. Something like hover boots would be lovely.

"Can you use your feet to lead? You need to control your descent or you'll hurt yourself. Don't worry about the monkeys, I'll cover you."

[persona_non_ratta]

Bruno chuckled slightly. "Guess there's such a thing as being too popular then, huh?", he said. "I'm more used to the opposite, though. Well, aside from my rats back home, anyway." He was pretty sure no one was more popular with the encanto's rats than himself, except maybe Antonio.

He soon spotted a likely chick to begin with and carefully reached out to hook a hand under one of its wings, gently pulling it away from Taiki and toward his own arm, hoping he could stack another chick or two on his shoulders. Thank goodness they weren't too heavy. "Come on, little guy," he said gently. "How about a less crowded ride, huh?"

[ironchef]

"Okay, one foot... two food... one foot..."

At least as he gets lower his grip gets sturdier, the branches thicker, and he dusts himself off. She's right. His talents are in cooking, engineering, and fighting with a mech. In that order.

"Hi, thanks. Sorry about that, the monkey surprised me. I'm Hunk."

[longforgottenpromise]

His nostrils flare at the smell of the blood but it doesn't stop him, he pushes on, to help Kaiba.

He needs to get them out of here. He remains still as Kaiba mounts, even as one of the monkeys pull his tail. Once he is sure Kaiba is balanced he launches himself into the air.

Elidibus - OTA - Lowland Region - Red/Blue/Purple/Any

[wewillwewill]

[OOC: Elidibus is working in a 'team' with Emet-Selch and Pahja. While they may not be in a scene, they might be nebulously 'around' or brought up in a conversation. Elidibus took this step in part to cover his current weakness with potential backup, purely in a 'just in case' situation.]

Most people might look at Elidibus and think he's fully recovered. Outwardly he's fit. The near terminal seeming exhaustion had melted away by Platform Day and he'd been seen in the training room regularly before the start of the mission. Internally he is still operating at a diminished capacity; obvious to anyone who saw him before the events of the prior month and could sense the well of potential he'd had then compared to currently. It's slowly trickling back, but it'll take some time. Some who know Ascians might suspect he could take advantage of the world they're about to go aid and it would be perfectly reasonable to harbor such suspicions.

Elidibus won't be; other than what the world might naturally impart of its aether he has no intention of bringing further harm to it, even if one were to set aside the destablizing nature of voidstorms and the other very practical reasons why this would be a bad idea. Why? Well that's certainly a question and one the Ascian won't go out of his way to share.

Suffice to say at any preliminary gathering, after collecting the supplies, Elidibus professes his intention of focusing his efforts on the Lowland farm regions, for the sake of making sure the fields and future harvest are guarded as much as they can be. After all once the Voidtreckers leave, life will need to continue on and they would do better for it if their food supply was intact.

I. Perimeter Defense - Lowland Farms (Red)

Most of the time, Elidibus is fighting off threats to those working on the actual strengthening of perimeter defenses. Scaring off the chinchillas and goats, killing the voidblobs and making sure they're no longer a threat. Possibly with fire but definitely with whatever has been found to be a safe disposal method.

But there'll be times he puts in labor on the defenses themselves, finding advice to give to the natives about their tactics or patrol schedule. Or testing one, the other or both. The last, particularly against warded structures established by a certain individual he'd helped talk into the task, comes in the form of hard and heavy, aether-charged swings of the greataxe he's been wielding.

II. Fluffrats, Voidblobs and Goats - Lowland Farms/ Lowland Region (Red/Purple)

The last time Elidibus took to the field with more than a couple people around, it was the battle with the birds. And with a sword and shield. But he's been able to commission an axe from Q'uila some months ago. And this particular vessel he's using, even if it was train made, still has the build and muscle memory of a warrior.

For the Ascian, who is closer to mortals than he has ever been before, every advantage should be taken.

The style is designed to present a strong vanguard to shield others, wide and generous attacks to draw the focus of the beasts. Elidibus won't chase what is driven away though he has no problem striking down what remains stubborn. There's a lot he can do with weapon and aether alone, but he still has few pieces of armor. Things he might have borrowed or scrounged; the bottom line is no matter how skilled, he definitely needs support when the numbers grow large.

Like one leaping at his back while engaged in a wide sweeping arc toward three in the front; the Ascian will begin to turn around to try and counter, but he's a few moments too late.


III. Search and Rescue - Lowland Region (Blue/Any)

While his range might not be what it normally is, he can still use inborn gifts to narrow down the search for the lost and the stranded. Or perhaps even the buried.


a. supply escort
The landslides that cut through the lowland region have taken their toll in cutting communication from far-flung communities. After lending his aid securing the defenses of the main fields, he'd been willing to escort supplies. Roads might be clearer than they were but they were definitely still filled with danger.

There had already been at least one attack of the agressive voidblobs. Nearing the small village, there is a stir of anticipation among those being escorted at the thought of getting a break from the road. Maybe news, definitely some hot food and at least a place to rest before the journey back.

"What are your plans before we return?" Elidibus asks of a fellow Voidtrecker. Very few people he would ask that question out of pure personal interest; and even those it's probably a matter of making sure to know where his fellow passengers are. Good for communication and all.


b. landslide victims
"...There." After a long minute of contemplating a scar of rocks, logs and loose debris that cut into the land. Whether he'd been in active search for survivors under the rubble or he'd been distracted by the presence of a faded soul while passing by is irrelevant. The point is, Elidibus had been willing to divert his attention to pinpoint a life that determinedly clung to existence even now.

But as though he were turning the fate of the trapped individual over to others' hands, after the Ascian points out the location his attention returns to their surroundings. Not to look for others- there are none. But certainly to keep an eye out for threats. Protecting those that are able to dig their way to the trapped person is something he can do without wearing himself out quickly.

Certainly he could probably teleport them out of whatever bubble had preserved their life thus far. But unless those with him are incapable of reaching their goal, he'd rather conserve his strength.

Perhaps it is callous. But several of the locals with the group think nothing of it, immediately calling others over and starting the delicate work of trying to dig around and down without endangering the victim. To them it does make sense that the fighters do the protecting while letting them focus on the task. Or it simply could be they're ignorant of what Elidibus is normally capable of.


c. stranded voidtraveler
There was a voidtraveler stranded on a ledge about twenty feet up a sheer cliff. As it turns out, this is a good arrival point or a place she scrambled to in light of the three voidblobs snapping and snarling, trying to scramble up the loose scree to reach the scared figure. She's armed herself with a branch but's obvious that if they reach the ledge, it'll be over for her soon. So far, their agression toward each other as well as the struggle to get up the cliff has kept them from getting to their goal.

"I will draw their ire. Support me. Or rescue the woman, whatever suits your skills best," Elidibus tells those with him.


IV. Wildcard Lowland Region (Any)

[OOC: Have another idea? Corner him for a chat or catch him on the road? Voidtears also a possibility. One might even find him at the Inn for conversation before going back to his duties. HMU, either contacting me about a prompt or pointing me at your own TL!]