middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Ongoing

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Swirling Consequences Ongoing

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: ONGOING

QUICKSAND 11-13 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
COMMS ~ ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

OVER THE YELLING HEIGHTS...

As they arrive at their destination, the Voidtreckers are quick to get to work into the various jobs that need them. The Blues have slowly but steadily been doing their best to fulfil all three of their tasks. They've worked to locate locals and to get them aid after being cut off, and have been searching for those from other worlds. A few helped with the dralite work, but took priority in helping people and leaving the dralites to others.

Orange have largely focused on collecting herbs, doing some work to help farmers relocate their animals, but only a few helped the dralite with their nests. At least there will be plenty of potions, teas, and craggy leaves to hand out, with the leaves sure to help the stressed out animals yet located.

For the Purples, they've been working well to clear the roads and ruined layouts of farms and villages to give better access around the Yelling Heights. A few have helped in escorting their fellow team members and the locals in getting around.

As for the Reds, they did what they do best: going on the offensive. They've been working to get rid of the voidblobs, but don't have much interest in setting up safe perimeters. A few voidtears, however, have been located, and hopefully that will help everyone push forward in the next few days of the mission.

Overall, the farmers are thankful for the help so far, and a good decent have been assisted. They will help Voidtreckers as they need it, and have tools on hand that can be borrowed. They will be willing to assist with the voidtears, if only able to push back any voidblobs, or to make sure Voidtreckers get back somewhere safe afterwards.

The storms have increased, changing the spotty but sunny days into more rain and wind. The choral singing can be heard more, even if one isn't near a voidtear, causing an increase in animals becoming stressed and spooked. Fortunately, transgates - quick travel gates - have been set up between the Weary Wanderer (near the forest and scrublands), one in the largest village on in the farmlands, and one can be accessed around the scrublands. These will help with some of the travel.

Animals are scattered around the scrublands and fields between farms, some unfortunately perished over the first few nights, but also some safely brought back to their appropriate farms. Adult dralites will be more hostile around people, spreading out father and bothering farmlands, screeching up a storm that stuns most people even from a distance. Their young can still be found, alive or not, and they will leave with either, though with wails for their deceased child. Even capturing them and leading them back into the forest will do some good.

↪ Prompt: There's a farm not too far from the Weary Wanderer that Albany asks for people to go to - some earmuffs can be taken along to help with the sound, along with earplugs. The reason becomes clear as soon as Voidtreckers approach it, where dralites can be circling around it. A woman greets whoever comes - "Thank ya for coming out here, I know you're working hard" - and leads them to the cause.

There's a ditch where trees have fallen, their farm bordering the forest. The cries of younger dralites can be heard, but the adults are squabbling amongst one another, and people who try to approach the fallen wreckage can thwapped at by the adults.

What will be the best course of action? To bruteforce the paralsying wails and peckings and to get at the trunks? Or to pacify these disagreeable winged things? Voidtreckers can also come here and find a displaced person or two taking shelter. (B2, B3)

While a good portion of the roads have been cleared and managed, there are areas away from the Weary Wanderer that need help, where the Ciyesia mountain suffered its damage and plenty of the farm animals and more secluded farmers have been cut off from help. The great chinchillas and the voidblobs are taking advantage of the ruined roads to kill and take animals (the chinchillas), or just to ruin them as they're found (the voidblobs).

↪ Prompt:"We're gonna need all the hands we can get. Can some of your folks come with us 'round Ciyesia? We're having trouble to getting to some of ours in a tricky part, and the animals that way - oh, they're nasty."

There's a trail - or most of a trail - that goes around the side of the Ciyesia mountain, leading over to a smaller collection of hills. While good work has been done on clearing up, around this area there's still a fine slide of rubble that's scattered over the walking paths. Those with sturdy arms are necessary to clear the wreckage, but also to deal with the voidblobs, great chinchillas, and even the dralites in this area, with the latter preferred to be pushed back to the forest. The farmers coming with the Voidtreckers will help to round the animals, but they'll need help dealing with the trouble along the way.

Doing this will help them gain access to a few farms, grateful to find visitors, though their families will be around, trying to deal with trouble. Find them on the road, with animals or in a troubling situation with a voidblob, and do what you can to help. (P1, B1, R1/R3, O2)

While Voidtreckers have worked hard to get rid of them, larger voidblobs have been spotted, and are becoming a bigger issue across the community. Further perimeters will need to be set up to keep them away from the farmlands scattered around, using good coordination to cover as much ground as possible. The voidtears as a result are easier to find, as blobs can be easier to spot if people are on watch, but are tougher than the result blobs: as tall and wide as a newsagent storefront, they will take more than one or two people to deal with them. Their speed can be unpredictable, and they're sturdier than the smaller variants, having a more gelatinous ability to move - even to rise high or to spread out.

It is advised stronger Voidtreckers deal with these - coming in with little experience or just a blade will be dangerous.

↪ Prompt: "We're seein' some of those big boys out around the fields. I'm telling ya, they're fast bastards. Think you can help us get rid of 'em? Anything you need, we've got your backs."

The locals of these lands are doing their best to help the Voidtreckers, as well as each other. Getting word out to the farther communities is hard, but they have set up a system - flags. Flags made out of any bedsheet that can be found, then put up on wooden logs. They're a call for help, being used especially if they spot voidblobs. It's a desperate attempt at communication, but the voidblobs are troublesome - and more so their larger variant. No fence or barricade works to keep them back, and the best the farmers can do is hope they won't come towards their homes when they roll into their lands. It's also worse if there happens to be a voidtear nearby...(R1, R3)

Finding displaced people will be all the more important, though some have been put forward to aid. Glowing marks around the Yelling Height's forest have been put on the tree trunks to help guide people out of the forest easier from different spots, and another Voidtrecker has been encouraged to create crystal trackers, that can be picked up. These crystals will glow the closer they approach a non-native, nor non-Voidtrecker sentient being - which means both displaced people, and the voidblobs.

Sending people home will require the same anchoring technique used during Jinnjar, Diagad, and similar to the recent events. It only takes one Voidtrecker to return someone to their world, hand in hand they will cross a metaphysical void river, seeing flashes of the visitor's world and life. And Voidtreckers will be just as exhausted as they were getting their own returned to the train... Probably best to share this burden out between as many who are willing.

↪ Prompt: Some displaced people have found their way out of the woods, found around the escorts for those keeping check, or even making their way to Albany's inn or a nearby farm. The locals themselves can't help send them home, but they're used to helping outsiders, warming them up and getting them fed. Some will accept help easily, but others are less keen on approaching unknown houses. (B2)

To approach a voidtear will be a challenge, but as they're found, planning a route straight to them that minimises time will help. Closing a voidtear will require more than one person, a small group even - with each getting under a voidtear and then pressing their anchor button. They will need to focus on keeping themselves grounded and to resist the pull of the void, as they offer their own energy in stitching up the tear. For smaller tears two people should be able to close it but more voidtreckers will be necessary for the larger ones. Colours and music entice them, to just give up, let themselves float into the void... They will need to support each other to keep steady.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
Notes: A conclusion post will go up on the 26th. Feel free to put toplevels put up at the end of the start log here! Or to re-use portions and to put up fresh posts here. Or to just link them here, have a blast.

Here is a TL;DR of the above tasks: Dralites are everywhere, more aggressive and hostile; farm animals are more scattered and harder to reach, being attacked by chinchillas and voidblobs around scrublands; displaced people need to be found and sent home, and voidblobs now have a larger variant; the voidtears are becoming easier to find, but the effects of the storms are worsening, closing them will be a priority.

Please have your tasks submitted by the 25th to help determine the conclusion of the mission! We will start to count mission rewards around this time too.

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It's a quiet moment in the weary wanderer, pretty unusual when there are an extra hundred guests. But it seemed many were out and busy and so Albany was just putting the main room to rights, sweeping brush in hand as she moved stools and chairs around.

"Maia!" She called out to the back. "Please remember to fetch more water, take your brother."

There was an answering, grumbly, call and Albany sighed, looking up at the voidtrecker who had arrived in the room.

"Kids eh?"

Something about the 'singing' that they'd all been hearing lately unnerved him. Well, more than his usual levels of being unnerved. And that was even more true now that it sounded more like wailing. He was simultaneously repelled by it and found himself wanting to listen more closely to see if he could make out what the voices were singing about.

But no. Focus, Bruno. Listening to Tidus was much safer than listening to the half-formed, half familiar voices in the wailing. Watching him was much safer than looking at the colors, and much less difficult than trying to ignore how much that swirl of teal was starting to look like Julieta. 'Hernando' nodded. "I'll follow your lead then," he said. "I've patched dangerous cracks before, but not quite like this."

Okay, now he's unsure if he's feeling bad about sniping at Lea, or annoyed at implications. The humour in his voice suggests doubling down is not the intent.

Faux huffs out a tired sigh before slapping another larger crawling bug on his arm. Yeah, this isn't improving things. Choosing the stump just across from him is probably the safer bet. Lea doesn't want to get too close. Lampposts often attract unwanted guests after all.

Stargazing. Another term he hadn't known. "Is that what it is?" Looking back up at the darkened sky a clump of clouds are coming in dulling the lights above, "As much as I can fair with the weather."

Yondu wanders in with some purpose in his step, waiting as she moves around some chairs. But the sentiment as she shouts orders at the kid soften him a bit.

"Yeah, well, they always turn out best when they got a little bit of troublemaker in 'em somewheres." He reaches into his inner coat pocket and pulls out a metal cigar case he'd gotten at a stop, tapping it against his hand.

"So I wanted to talk to ya about somethin'. I got some people willin' to help set up some fences for ya. Electric ones- not strong enough to kill nobody-" usually, anyway "-just they ain't all that good for touchin'. Good for wardin' off pissed-off animals. But it means settin' y'all up with a power system that ain't gonna shut down easy on ya. So.. I ain't got a clue who I go to about that."

Edited 2022-03-25 06:15 (UTC)

"Well in that case Maia is going to grow up to be the best of us." Because she was at least ninety percent troublemaker.

Her attention went to him when he said he wished to talk about something, her head tilted to the side.

"Do they hurt the animals?" Was her first question as she looked at him steadily.

Hey, if it worked, it worked. And the veneer of confidence and dramatics had allowed Bruno to patch more than a few dangerous cracks. Bruno really had nothing to twirl, but he drew himself up to his full height- which wasn't that tall, but the effort was still there- and tried to focus on the task at hand rather than the wailing music or the swirling colors that half-resembled faces.

Fortunately, the younger man's confidence was contagious, and bolstered 'Hernando's display of it. "Of course!", he said. "We'll make sure that it doesn't bother the good people here ever again." Since Edge seemed to know what he was doing, Bruno followed his lead and moved forward. And if he couldn't quite manage 'stalking', he at least managed to walk a great deal more confidently than he actually felt.

Bruno was almost surprised when young woman approached him, though no more than that. It was strange how quickly he'd gotten used to people with unusual appearances once he'd stopped doubting his sanity because of them.

Still, that didn't make him any less awkward, especially since he currently had two eggs tucked into his hoodie. "Me? Oh, I mean... yes, I could use some," he said. "I've been trying to gather up all the abandoned eggs I've found laying around and put them somewhere that's a least out of the rain, you know?" He indicated the rocky overhang a short distance ahead, partially screened from the wind and rain by a curtain of hanging plant life, under which 18 dralite eggs sat clustered together on a bed of moss.

"Trouble is, I don't know how to actually keep them all warm. Or even how to tell if anything is wrong with the chicks inside."

He will whole-heartedly advocate turdly children having the full potential to grow up to be good rebels and strong thinkers, but they also make for exhausted and frustrated parents.

"Nah, not really. No more than gettin' your hand smacked." Saying, Oh I've been shocked with tasers and shock-prods before and it's way less than that is not the most helpful description, he realizes, so he doesn't.

"Mostly somethin' touches it, it shocks 'em a li'l bit, and after once or twice they go 'nah I don't like that,' and stop makin' motions to get by it."

"The dragons on your world look like dralites?" That is not how he would've expected a dragon to look, but...well, world differences.

"No. I'm better helping people than I am in a fight." It's a simple answer, and the one he's going with right now.

"Let's switch for a time, child." Elidibus's voice comes gently, trying not to startle the young girl from her focus. But he will also reach out and seek to place a hand on her shoulder to draw her attention.

He's been there a bit, dressed in the raingear and being part of watching to make sure threats don't bother the ones currently putting energy into this. But also watchful. He knows very well that many of the Voidtreckers would overtax themselves. Well, that aside it's best to watch and be sure they're not being overwhelmed by the sirensong of the void.

So he offers to stand in for the little one. Not because she's weak. Not at all! "You should eat to keep up your stamina. This will take a while. I'll take your place in the meantime." Because he did bring basic foods and warm drink good for endurance! There's a tent for shelter from the wet. But also craggle leaf poultices and the like to ease the pains brought on by too much void.

Elidibus may have been seen dropping by inn with the concept crystals for tracking at another point. But this time he's here to meet with Ryo specifically.

"I've come to ask about a supply of potions and salves. I plan to aid in closing one of the voidtears and having some on hand will probably turn out for the best."

At least he uses the transgate and not his own personal method of teleportation right now. He shouldn't be really startling; at least not in the same way. Ryo's Sense might very well discern his condition.

While he's recovered a little, the Ascian is far from the power he normally carries. By comparison of before, barely a dim light compared to a nearly blinding incandescence. He might almost seem human.

"Do you have some to spare still?"

"I'm trying something else - it should help." Hopefully. He edges closer to the dralite, ducking a flailing wing and scooting in under the creature's guard, slipping the leaves into his hoodie pocket for easy access. He'd never be able to do this on his own - the dralite would have run roughshod over him. He puts one hand on its beak, gentle but firm, to keep it in place as best he can, and works at the knots in the cord with the other. It's not easy going - the knot really needs two hands, but he also needs the beak to stay still to undo it, and he doesn't have enough hands for everything he needs to do. "Shhh," he says gently, doing his best to keep the dralite's head in place. "It's okay. Calm down. We're trying to help you." He knows the dralite can't understand him, but hopefully the even tone helps.

The effect might be negated by the note of desperation that creeps into sad tone. "Tidus, do you have anything that can help keep it still? Any- any magic or anything?" Magic is different on Tidus's world than it is on Ryo's - does he have something up his sleeve that Ryo doesn't know about?

(Probably not - if he did, Tidus probably would've tried it already - but he can hope.)

Edited (Goodbye, Head On joke) 2022-04-03 02:05 (UTC)

T'Challa hadn't been quite as fortunate regarding weaponry, having to make do with a staff he'd fashioned from some of the materials he'd...borrowed from the farms while helping out. It worked well enough in any case to drive the goats and chinchillas away from the lands and back into the forest.

He had just sent another one away when he'd picked up what sounded like screaming, and following the noise led him to Yondu facing down one of the giant chinchillas.

And his handmade staff isn't quite a spear, but it works well enough as he sends it hurling towards the beast, trying to get its attention.

Yondu's about to shield the over-sized chick as the Chinchilla is thinking very sternly about trying to test out the taste of leather britches, but then there goes the spear flying by. Yondu jolts, standing straighter and looking over at T'Challa, hand resting at the back of the bird's head out of a habit to calm distressed kids (even if it isn't really smart enough to be one).

The Chinchilla does veer course, and Yondu does his level best to put the chick down so he can help fight it. Even just using his arrow would be helpful right now, but the animal has its little legs clinging to his coat and he can't get at his holster and this, on his part, is just a shitshow.

"Punt that furry bastard an' make the idea stick! I think it's been on my ass through half that forest."

[ Tidus is following with him, the noise from the birds making him hate to be the one getting paralysed in his movements every time there's the hint of a screech in the air; please, only he's supposed to be able to do that. To other foes!

But there's a barn not too far from where they are for them to duck under, for whatever good it'll do. Not stone but wood, but there's large doors for them if they want to close. Will the nearby farm house mind? They probably won't notice. ]

I am so glad I didn't bother in the forest with the Blues.

"Let's see how we're feeling and what comes up after we're done doing up a tear," Tidus suggests. He might be a tinsy holding back on the killing discussion for Taiki's sake, but his mind is considering more on what they'll be capable of doing after sealing up a tear. Anchoring wasn't an easy experience on the body and mind.

Anyway. "You good with climbing on? Taiki," he switches his attention to, some mirth in his tone, "--we should see if any of the people here have a two person saddle for you!"

Heh heh.

Phew. For the hectic moment there (rather on Tidus's side -- him chasing a frantic dralite), things have been alright since bumping into Amaya. He nods at her direction and stands up with her, watching her set the dralite while he goes to where she pointed to, to wait.

"It should find its nest on its own." It's the one thing he'll bother to say when she comes over. At least, that's the hope - that it was trying to fly there in the first place, than just trying to escape Tidus.

She began working on the fence with him. Spending days (sometimes weeks) at a time on Jax's farm, she was well acquainted with keeping animals within bounds, even though the farm itself was more about crops than livestock, they still kept a few horses and chickens.

"Course she was," They were on the same squad after all, but more besides, that was just the person she was. "Though now I'm curious as to what sort of trouble Trunks got himself in."

In a way, her guess is correct. He is hiding something more severe and if possible, he hopes to continue to hide it.

There’s a brief pause when Lioriley mentions the inn, mostly because the idea of returning hadn’t even occurred to Rezo. Still, the moment he thinks about it is the moment he rejects it.

“No,” he says, as firmly as he can manage. “There is still work to do.”

Even if he’s tired. Or running out of magical energy. He shouldn’t be, he’s worked for far longer under more severe demands.

“If you have more to spare, it would be appreciated,” Rezo says. “They’re light enough that an excess won’t slow me down and I would prefer to minimize the amount of trips I have to make to restock.”

Though if he does run out he assumes he can just spam his recovery magic at any problems he encounters, since he’s always had an unnaturally high magic capacity. Still, it’s good to have other options.

He wouldn't need his sight to know that she was frowning; her displeasure evident in her voice.

"Your work is done for now." She countered, "if healing others is affecting you physically, and you can barely stand without swaying, then you need to rest. This is not up for debate either."

She looks up at him, face blank. Still deep in the emptiness. Of course it was Elidibus. She had known he was close and she studied him through the rain.

She doesn't think she needs a break but she might feel differently once she lets go of the emptiness. It can mask a lot, inside as well as out.

"If you do be wishing so."

Rezo himself is also frowning now. He has, alas, already conceded that he is Not At His Best, although he thinks Lioriley’s suggestion that he can’t stand without swaying is rather exaggerating. ~~It’s not.~~

“While I appreciate your concern,” he states, his tone growing curt, “It is not your place to give me orders. It is unnecessary for me to return.”

Oh. This is what they were doing?

"Unnecessary? You have clearly overworked yourself to the point of exhaustion. And while I do respect your willingness to assist the locals, it should not be at the cost of your own well-being. You will not do them much good if you collapse mid-rescue." She said, hoping facts would sway him even a little bit, her own voice wavering slightly with concern. "Did you forget why you called me here to begin with?"

“I haven’t forgotten anything-” He pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose. This argument would be much easier if he didn’t have a damn headache. Which, admittedly, in and of itself is undermining his stance that he isn’t useless just yet.

“There is logic in what you are saying,” Rezo admits. However, it’s clear from his tone that he intends to follow it up with a but, as soon as he can come up with a protest that he thinks Lioriley will understand. Because he doubts she will understand his need to avoid the sidelines. Or that his well-being isn’t what matters at this point.

At least, not without having to explain several things that he would rather not explain.

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Page 7 of 19

Swirling Consequences Ongoing

Weary Wanderer

Re: patching a crack

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Re: Patching a Crack

Re: Egg collecting

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Voidtear.

Potion and leaf pickup!

I'M VERY GOOD AT THIS I PROMISE

Chinchilla Hunting

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Re: Voidtear.

oh boy, i think they're having their Very First Argument

Fuckin stubborn ass

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