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ioduanlogs2018-09-15 07:13 pm
khuimods) wrote in ioduanlogs2018-09-15 07:13 pm
[EVENT] RIPPLES ON THE WATER
Characters: All
Date: September 15-30
Location: Aifaran and surrounding areas
Situation: The barrier is displaying increasingly strange behavior.
Warnings/Rating: In individual threads - please remember to warn!
The barrier that surrounds the archipelago is designed to keep the chaos of planes at bay, to safeguard the last great bastion of life in Konryu. The magic that created and sustains the barrier is immense - but not infallible. And a question that few have dared to ask in anything but a hushed whisper now descends upon the city: what if something stronger crawls out of the abyssal dark?
SHIMMER AND SHAKE
All month, the barrier has been markedly more visible than usual with swirls of rainbow color shifting across its surface, giving it the appearance of a giant soap bubble. This happens from time to time, and initially is of no great concern. Researchers prudently keep a close eye on it, recording the barrier's behavior in detail, and everyone carries on.
The first ripple appears at sunset on the 15th, warping the fading colors of the sky and spreading up and across the horizon until it vanishes. There is no outright panic in response - Aifaran is accustomed to strange events - but tension and uncertainty settle in quickly.
The Aisling Tower releases a statement in cooperation with the Ioduan Academy assuring the city that there is no indication that the barrier has weakened appreciably, nor any immediate danger. The best minds the archipelago have to offer are studying this event and advise citizens to avoid speculating about the cause until they know more. Apprehension diminishes some, helped in part by the coordinated efforts of the Tower, the Academy and the Sentry providing a unified front of calm and reassurance. Over the next few days, more ripples interrupt the cloudless skies, and no one can quite tell if the phenomenon is a physical disturbance or if the play of light and shadow merely makes it seem that way. The epicenter of each wave moves erratically, but it doesn't take the keenest of observers to notice they are marching slowly towards Aifaran.
A NIGHTMARE LOOMS
At midday on the 19th, a nightmarish figure of legend becomes visible on the barrier and sends panic through the city. Although never confirmed to be real, nearly everyone recognizes the writhing mass of darkness atop too many spindly legs: the Night Fisher. It towers high enough to be seen for miles outside the city. For half a minute, Aifaran and the surrounding lands are cast in eerie, shifting shadow as the abomination spreads tendrils questing over the barrier. Something beyond the edge of hearing sends a cold shiver down one's spine despite the warm afternoon.
And just as quickly as it arrived, the image disappears and sunlight returns to streets that are hastily emptied. City hall and the Aisling Tower are hounded for answers, while temples are packed by terrified followers seeking guidance and comfort. Hours go by and the skies remain clear. Cautiously, fearfully, people return to their homes.
The following day, researchers report that a swath of coral reef that begins off Shuyul Bay (which Aifaran overlooks) and extends beyond the barrier suddenly and mysteriously died off. Calls for skilled volunteers to help investigate are issued.
WAKING DREAMS
Another strange phenomenon that comes after the Night Fisher's first appearance is what the experts at the Aisling Tower are calling the Dreaming Sickness. Something in the Dreamfolk, and the native inhabitants of Aifaran who are sensitive to the Dreaming will find that they initially have trouble distinguishing dreams from reality. They may feel constantly fatigued and disoriented - with chronic migraines being a staple of the symptoms. As things progress, they will find they can lucid dream, and their dreams may even manifest in reality.
For example, if they were having a nightmare about a giant boot with teeth chasing them? It may just appear down the hall. Having a dream about soaring through the air? Anyone around them may also sprout wings. Fortunately for others, these visions don't manifest much further than a radius of about 30 feet, only last a few minutes, and the harm they can do is negligible at best. Experts at the Tower are unable to find an immediate solution to this problem, though they remind the public that these things tend to resolve themselves after a little while.
---
OOC Notes: The Dreaming Sickness is an opt-in event if you do not wish your character to be affected. This log covers the latter half of September and you may post starters dated anywhere in that time period. Have fun!
Date: September 15-30
Location: Aifaran and surrounding areas
Situation: The barrier is displaying increasingly strange behavior.
Warnings/Rating: In individual threads - please remember to warn!
The barrier that surrounds the archipelago is designed to keep the chaos of planes at bay, to safeguard the last great bastion of life in Konryu. The magic that created and sustains the barrier is immense - but not infallible. And a question that few have dared to ask in anything but a hushed whisper now descends upon the city: what if something stronger crawls out of the abyssal dark?
SHIMMER AND SHAKE
All month, the barrier has been markedly more visible than usual with swirls of rainbow color shifting across its surface, giving it the appearance of a giant soap bubble. This happens from time to time, and initially is of no great concern. Researchers prudently keep a close eye on it, recording the barrier's behavior in detail, and everyone carries on.
The first ripple appears at sunset on the 15th, warping the fading colors of the sky and spreading up and across the horizon until it vanishes. There is no outright panic in response - Aifaran is accustomed to strange events - but tension and uncertainty settle in quickly.
The Aisling Tower releases a statement in cooperation with the Ioduan Academy assuring the city that there is no indication that the barrier has weakened appreciably, nor any immediate danger. The best minds the archipelago have to offer are studying this event and advise citizens to avoid speculating about the cause until they know more. Apprehension diminishes some, helped in part by the coordinated efforts of the Tower, the Academy and the Sentry providing a unified front of calm and reassurance. Over the next few days, more ripples interrupt the cloudless skies, and no one can quite tell if the phenomenon is a physical disturbance or if the play of light and shadow merely makes it seem that way. The epicenter of each wave moves erratically, but it doesn't take the keenest of observers to notice they are marching slowly towards Aifaran.
A NIGHTMARE LOOMS
At midday on the 19th, a nightmarish figure of legend becomes visible on the barrier and sends panic through the city. Although never confirmed to be real, nearly everyone recognizes the writhing mass of darkness atop too many spindly legs: the Night Fisher. It towers high enough to be seen for miles outside the city. For half a minute, Aifaran and the surrounding lands are cast in eerie, shifting shadow as the abomination spreads tendrils questing over the barrier. Something beyond the edge of hearing sends a cold shiver down one's spine despite the warm afternoon.
And just as quickly as it arrived, the image disappears and sunlight returns to streets that are hastily emptied. City hall and the Aisling Tower are hounded for answers, while temples are packed by terrified followers seeking guidance and comfort. Hours go by and the skies remain clear. Cautiously, fearfully, people return to their homes.
The following day, researchers report that a swath of coral reef that begins off Shuyul Bay (which Aifaran overlooks) and extends beyond the barrier suddenly and mysteriously died off. Calls for skilled volunteers to help investigate are issued.
WAKING DREAMS
Another strange phenomenon that comes after the Night Fisher's first appearance is what the experts at the Aisling Tower are calling the Dreaming Sickness. Something in the Dreamfolk, and the native inhabitants of Aifaran who are sensitive to the Dreaming will find that they initially have trouble distinguishing dreams from reality. They may feel constantly fatigued and disoriented - with chronic migraines being a staple of the symptoms. As things progress, they will find they can lucid dream, and their dreams may even manifest in reality.
For example, if they were having a nightmare about a giant boot with teeth chasing them? It may just appear down the hall. Having a dream about soaring through the air? Anyone around them may also sprout wings. Fortunately for others, these visions don't manifest much further than a radius of about 30 feet, only last a few minutes, and the harm they can do is negligible at best. Experts at the Tower are unable to find an immediate solution to this problem, though they remind the public that these things tend to resolve themselves after a little while.
---
OOC Notes: The Dreaming Sickness is an opt-in event if you do not wish your character to be affected. This log covers the latter half of September and you may post starters dated anywhere in that time period. Have fun!
no subject
[The things Padparadscha is used to seeing loom in the sky are usually a little brighter, but still, the shadowy form on the barrier initially looks enough like a very strange sunspot to have their hand resting on the hilt of their sword.
Once they identify it as something else, though, their grip softens a little. The ripple of fear around them and discomfort within them says there's something of significance to this apparition, but once light returns and people begin to flee for safety, there's nobody left to ask.
Padparadscha remains watching the barrier for a while after, still as the stone they're made of, and expression completely unreadable.]
An unforeseen outcome, then... [Rutile really should have reconsidered.]
--
[B: Waking Dreams I]
[While Padparadscha can technically dream, usually it's limited to oddities of their inclusions. Manufacturing imaginative scenarios like humans do isn't how it typically happens for them, so their dreams don't hold much fear for them like they might for others.
Unpleasantness, though - there's plenty enough of that to go around. On occasion, in the later stages of the Dreaming Sickness, they may find themselves surrounded by strange, almost luminescent humanoids, bowing and reaching for them but seemingly presenting no actual threat - with such a short radius, they can't be imagined descending from the sky, after all. Not to mention Padparadscha now has a somewhat different impression of them than many of their companions.
Their smile as they walk between the strange figures is deceptively light, and they try not to spare too much attention.] This "illness" is getting quite strange, isn't it...?
--
[C: Waking Dreams II]
[The other effect they encounter from the visions is less troubling, if somewhat morbid in a way. The amount of times they've woken up to differently coloured chunks of gem filling up the holes in their chest is almost uncountable by this point, and so, on occasion, the only "vision" impressing itself on them is that of the gem segments filling their torso changing colour. Any kind of colour a corundum gem comes in might appear - deeper red, blue, green, purple...
It's a funny thing to see, honestly, though Padparadscha largely seems to be ignoring it.]
--
[D: Wildcard]
[[Feel free to hit me up at
A!
For everyone else, the moment ends as quickly as it begins. People flee the streets in chaos around Rutile, who stands at the center without seeing them go. It's not until the streets are otherwise empty and the sky has been clear for several seconds that they blink, regaining their bearings.
It's just Padparadscha at the end of the street. Even from this distance, Rutile has the sinking feeling they know what they're thinking.
But, there is no one else to approach. Their voice echoes down the empty streets along with their footsteps: ]
So. You saw that, too?
no subject
Of course. I'd find it hard to believe everyone else didn't see it as well. [Their mouth tilts up in some amusement as they look over the now-empty street, but it doesn't last long. Whatever that vision was, it's severe enough to have stricken fear into the hearts of the locals.]
I don't suppose you know what it is that was stirred up? [They avoid saying "that you stirred up", but the implication is likely obvious enough regardless.]