middleofsomewhere | Day 11 Catfish

Entry tags:

Day 11 Catfish

Who: Rath, Curufin, Danny, Fëanor, Romeo, Elfnein, Reigen, Raven, Joss, Tony
What: Going to rescue the final group of people

OOC: Here is thread for the bonus mission for those who signed up. There will be a final evacuation post for everybody else that will go up in the next couple of days.

For this post.

Part A: Is a normal mingle/search thread where characters can top level and tag out into each others top level while they look for the entrance into the mountain.

Part B: Is the thread for finding the colony and escaping the mountain. Please tag only once per 'round'. The NPC journal will tag, which starts a new 'round' everyone can then tag in a thread underneath- do not worry about tagging order amongst the characters, just tag when you are able and do not worry if you miss a round, just tag into the most current one.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Damn right these children shouldn’t be here, but there was no way Joscelin was going to let Romeo and Elfnein do this alone. He’s fine with staying in the middle. He may or may not use the pause for instructions to give his best friend’s hand a quick, but firm, squeeze; a silent reminder of their pinky promise from back before the last mission.

“All right there?” he whispers to both of them.

Romeo squeezed his hand back and nodded. "I'm okay Joss!" It's a bit scary in here, especially when the ground shook and it felt like the walls might crumble down on them. But he stuck in the middle like he was told, one hand in Joss', one hand reaching out for Elfnein.

"We'll be ready!" He has his shield device in his hand, ready in case anything tries to fall on them!

"I can help guarding the back. I have a sixth sense myself, after all."

Sure, Fëanor's there too and probably judging him in some way, but Reigen wanting to keep an eye on the disproportionate number of kids outweighs worrying about the opinion of crabby elf man right now. Honestly, even if a lot of them can handle themselves, it's no reason for them to be risking their lives along with adults! Youth these days, always so reckless.

Elfnein held Romeo's hand, even if people didn't like the idea of them helping they had a lot of valuable skills for this mission.

"We'll be ok Romeo"

Danny stays near the back of the group. He spares a moment to think about how weird it was to be working on a team. Especially one with this many kids (not counting himself as one, of course.) If he'd been by himself he would have already transformed and gone searching from the air.

But since he wasn't really ready to show off that much in front of a group, he figured the back would work just as well. This way he had a good view of almost everyone, and more importantly, what was around them.

And even more importantly, it gave him the best chance of slipping away and transforming, if it was needed.

Curufin nods to his father and steps up to stay at the front with Rath and Raven, keeping the map in mind and keeping a close eye on their surroundings. It worries him less that so many of the expedition members are children than it might worry another, because he knows that children are resourceful, especially children who consciously and knowingly take risks. But he is very glad that Fëanor and Reigen are taking the rearguard and that sharp-eyed Danny is with them, and that Elfnein is in the middle with Romeo and Joss.

He hefts his shield device lightly and hopes he doesn't have to use it.

He looks for signs of a colony of people living in here. There must be some; it would be impossible for even one person to take refuge in a bunker cavern without leaving a trace, much less a number of people.

More people with sixth sense, at least this one was an adult. Rath nodded at him and led the way as the group formed up. It was quiet in the bunker, almost eerily quiet after the chaos outside.

They weaved their way further into the system. A few times rocks tumbled down, hopefully to be caught on shields and thrown safely aside.

Eventually they heard noise from ahead. "Hello?" Rath called into the darkness, "Science division, we are here to evacuate."

Anyone who could see well in the dark would have some warning before shapes surrounded them. Five adults, all point weapons at them.

Fëanor is at the back when he spots movement in the darkness. It's not enough time to react before they're surrounded. The benefit of knowing your terrain is clearly on the side of the natives.

We should have brought weapons. It's the first thought that crosses his mind the moment he sees the other group is armed.

He picked up enough obsidian, earning himself a couple of surprised glances, that he should be able to sacrifice some to fashion himself a dagger. Even if he had to divert it from its intended purpose. For now, it's useless. Just rocks weighing him down. That's the second time he lacks arms and he'll make sure that's the last.

Good news, if there can be any in this situation, it's five of them against five of the locals. Fëanor is not counting the children for obvious reasons.

Raven had kept her senses open, and is not surprised by the appearance of more people. Her hands are brought up, and out--although she's not calling any energy to them yet. She hasn't had to yet, but she can shield all of their group if needed.

Unfortunately Danny's one useful sense only worked on ghosts and his night vision wasn't great when he was human. He tenses as the people surround them and gets ready to move. He could cover the group with a shield or take a couple of them invisible or intangible if he had to.

He was really hoping he wouldn't have to. Because turning half the group intangible would be really hard to explain later.

Curufin lifts his shield several times to catch falling rocks, bang, bang, bang! This is a minor hazard, but he keeps an eye on the others to make sure he shields anyone who doesn't lift their own shield fast enough. However, a greater hazard manifests itself soon enough -- the people they have come to save. He goes on high alert as the five people surround them swiftly.

"We are here to help you escape this dying planet," he says, looking around at the five faces, which he can see because Elves have wonderful night vision. "We received a radio message, a mayday call, an emergency request for help. Does anybody know who Viyanli is? The one who sent the call spoke that name, though it wasn't clear to me whether or not it was the name of the caller. In any case, we are not here to hurt you, but to help you survive. You can see that we are not armed and mean no harm."

Edited 2019-11-22 03:51 (UTC)

“People were in here,” Joscelin cautions, following his nose, “recently. They...”

Then they turn a corner, and suddenly they’re surrounded by people pointing guns at them. Joss sees perfectly in the dark, and can make out their features clearly. Part of him wants to draw his own weapon, but that would be a Bad Idea. So instead he raises both hands and indicates to the others—at least the other children, anyway—that they should do the same.

“We are armed, actually,” he calls out in his child’s voice, taking pains to sound even younger than usual, “but we mean you no harm. Please lower your weapons.”

Tony was the last to enter, he had taken up the rear guard with Feanor. He was attempting to let the natives lead this endeavor- mainly by trailing behind and keeping watch of any of the kids who might have trouble or any attack from behind them.

His large, transparent shield of blue light was starting to lower when he was alerted to others moving around them. His eyes narrow at those surrounding them, ready to change from a defensive stance at the first indication of aggression.

He was just glad no one did anything too drastic at having weapons pointing at them. But from what he had seen so far there was a smattering of discipline in these void warriors.

"Viyanli? A woman hissed, looking around behind her. Those who are able to see in the dark who look that way will see another group of people, huddled at the back. About ten figures, all of them quite small.

One of them, a girl in her mid teens stepped forward.

"Yes. I called them." Her voice was defiant but there was fear there.

One of the men shook his head. We do not need saving. You may leave."

Joscelin pushes his way to the front. He looks very small next to the adults, and maybe that’s the point.

“Your children are going to die, and soon. Have you made your peace with that?”

Edited 2019-11-22 05:37 (UTC)

"Hey, the kid had the right idea. You should be thanking her for making the call to save you guys."

Reigen spoke up, inching forward a bit to be heard more easily. If Joscelin wasn't going to pull any punches on telling the situation, Reigen didn't see reason to dance around the issue either.

"Look, I get the sentimental attachment to your planet, guys, but there's a giant volcano that's gonna take us all out if we don't get moving. You can find a better mountain somewhere else, trust me! I know a lot about real estate."

“Is that so?” Fëanor asks as he moves in to face the man. The others, Joscelin, Reigen, have spoken the truth but he doubts the way they phrased it is going to convince anyone.

“You may believe that you are safe here. With such strong walls around you what could possibly happen? That the world is not ending and all this is just scaremongering to some unforeseen end. Maybe you don’t trust those scientists. Your world has been like this for years upon years and yet it hasn’t ended. Yet you live when they told you that you will perish. But perish you shall if you stay. Your world is ending, it’s demise is happening right now. Consider this, worlds die far slower than people.”

He did not address the issue of the kid that called them on purpose. She’s a brave soul but she’ll be branded traitor by her own. He doesn’t need to add to that by drawing more attention to her.

Curufin is mentally kicking himself for naming Viyanli. Apparently, she made that call without telling anyone she was going to, and now they know who made it. The best thing he can do now is to help convince this group that they must leave to save their lives. He'll have to add his persuasive skills to those of his father. He'll use his ability to cast a spell with words if he has to, but people don't like it later when they realize they've been ensorcelled, and so he won't do it unless there is no other way.

"My father speaks truly. Please listen to him, for he knows whereof he speaks. Our world came to an end, and many died who might have been saved." Never mind that he's simplifying. It was only Beleriand that came to an end, drowned in the raging tides as the continents cracked with the fury of the war between the gods. But Beleriand was his world, and he grieved its loss still.

"Please listen. Worlds really can die. Save your children. You will have help in finding a new world where they may live and grow, and all of you can create new lives."

His patience was already shot to hell. These jackasses had three minutes to listen to reason- and so help them if they take one step toward that brave girl- before they were all getting dragged out by their ear.

2 minutes 59 seconds. 2 minutes 58 seconds...

Romeo was being good, sticking in the middle and deflecting rocks. It was a little bit scary to have weapons pointed at them but scarier still when he realised that Viyanli had made the call on her own and the grown ups wanted them all to stay on the planet! Even though it was about to be exploded by volcanoes!

The kids all looked really scared, even if Viyanli sounded brave at the same time! at the angry glances the adults were sending her way... Everyone was talking now. Romeo took a breath and spoke quietly. "Ringoki. Umbra."

He disappeared. He hadn't actually tried any spells since arriving on the train but he had to believe it would work. If he didn't believe in himself it wouldn't!

He moved as fast as he could towards the children and reappeared. "Don't worry! We will get you out of here!"

The man looked at Joss, a small child speaking so frankly threw him off enough that he had no time to speak whilst the others threw in their opinions.

Rath let the void warriors speak, they all spoke sense and truth and frankly had more experience with other worlds and planets than Rath did.

"This is our home, we will stand protecting it or die defending it. We do not run." The man shook his head at those who had spoken, "You say our world is ending yet they have said that before. It did not happen then. It will not happen now. You are not welcome here. Leave."

As if to undermine his point the ground shook violently as another tremor ran through the rock, rocks tumbled down around them.

One of the other women had turned to check on the children and she swung her weapon around when she saw Romeo stood with them.

"Get away from them?"

To his defense, he tried talking. It just didn't work. Stubborn fools. All that was a waste of time and time they do not have to spare.
Fëanor gives them no more chances. They are just Men, they can't stand against him. His movements are but a blur to those unaccustomed to the sight of the Eldar. It is no more than a heartbeat before he's right at the man he spoke to, a half more before he has the man disarmed with his own weapon now in Fëanor's hands pointing at his chin. Fëanor counts that at least Curufin and Tony would follow his example and the rest have their shields ready. That would take three out of five adults. But it needs to be done quickly.

"Enough!" he cries letting his voice echo with authority he once wielded. His words as powerful weapons as the one in his hand if not more. "You will come willingly or we will make you. Recalcitrant fools that you are. Be glad there are still some that want you saved. I would let you burn."

Oops... Did he get carried away a little?

Edited (spelling duh) 2019-11-23 15:25 (UTC)

Raven sensed the currents of magic, from Romeo and Feanor and called dark energy to her hands. As the chaos of voices and actions hit, one hand came up while she intoned "Azerath Metrion Zinthos". A shield of dark-energy, marking a barrier but not blocking sight completely, dropped over the group of children and Romeo.

Letting herself levitate up, other hand held ready to block or disarm or shield as needed. Ready and waiting, and if need be she could add her own Empathy to boosting the Elf's Command.

Curufin summoned his own magical powers. He smiled and said nothing for a moment, and then he spoke, using his voice as a vector for a vision. Unless the people had strong natural defenses against the intrusion of his energy, they would begin to see in their heads what he was describing, and the visions would carry a powerful emotional charge. They would most likely respond with a profound impulse to do as he was suggesting.

"Heed, all you who hear my voice. Your planet is dying, it's fiery core blasting out of the ground and from the tops of mountains. The stars are falling, the meteors that surround your world in a cloud, and the sun is flaring with fierce electrical energy that will lick the face of your world and kill beasts, birds, insects, and possibly you. But you are not alone. There are ships floating high above this welter of ruin, and if you will come, you and your children will be saved. Do not delay, but assent to our offer of help. You will not regret it."

Not a vision of war, but a vision of rescue.

Edited 2019-11-24 01:09 (UTC)

"Line!" Romeo threw up a borderline the moment he saw the woman point the weapon at them, shielding himself and the children. A moment later there was another barrier, not a borderline but something purple and darker. Also protecting them.

That was good! Two barriers.

"Don't worry! They will talk to your adults and then we can all go up on the space ship to the stars!"

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