32 - Blow Your Top

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: A volcano eruption threatens the Western District
When: Jan 14 - 16
Where: The Western District of the Heavens
Summary: The Western District volcano is erupting again, endangering nearby temples and sending ash sprinkling down across the Heavens. Is it natural, or another attack? Those who dare climb the volcano can find out.






Earthquake Warning

On the morning of the 14th, an earthquake rattles windows throughout the Heavens. It's not strong enough to knock down buildings -- unless they're about to fall down anyway, like some of the older abandoned temples -- but it's strong enough to knock things off shelves and startle any late sleepers out of bed.

After the earthquake, strange sights abound around the Heavens. The poetic koi are swimming in organized schools in all of the canals, heading upstream towards the east. Springs of pure water burst out in some areas, and in others, normal springs or fountains have gone temporarily dry. Blue and green lights bob and weave across the landscape.

Falling Rock

The volcano begins erupting with a roar and a bright scarlet glow on the horizon. Ash and bits of rock fall across the Western district, and may even reach into the Southwest, Northwest and southern Central districts. Volcanic glass fibers that look like golden hair collect on trees, fences and buildings.

Trails and fountains of lava are also erupting from freshly opened fissures and wending down the sides of the volcano. Gods and shinki who live in the Western District are going to need some help clearing ash and glass from their roofs, trying to re-route lava flows (the good news is, if you cool one side down enough, you can turn them! the bad news is, that takes a lot of work) or just offering them a spare room to stay until things calm down.

Swamp Gas

It's not just lava and springwater erupting from mysterious new crevasses -- and it's not just mundane volcanic gases, either. Divine volcanic vents are blowing mind-altering fumes all over the Heavens. Anywhere across the Far Shore, but especially as characters get closer to the volcano, they may experience one or more of the following effects:

• Confusion
• Intense emotions
• Anger and irritability
• Impulsive behavior, loss of emotional control
• Hallucinations
• Unusually clear insight into other people and situations
• Coughing, eye and throat irritation, difficulty breathing
• Irresistible impulses to speak in poetry

Most symptoms will clear up after a few hours in fresh air, and all of them will be gone within 48 hours of the last volcano gas exposure.

Mountain Climbing

Natural disasters don't just happen like this in the Heavens... do they? Amaterasu's white-robed shinki are convinced that something is wrong, and they're organizing into search parties to go up the mountain and seek out the cause of this eruption. New and old gods and shinki are welcome to join them, or form their own groups. All of the hazards -- tremors, lava, ash, and volcanic gas -- will get worse as characters ascend the volcano. Strange little spirit flames, in shades of red and blue, dance on the rocks, dazzling, confusing and threatening to singe interlopers.

And there's someone up here, too. A mysterious figure with glowing red eyes is keeping watch on the intruders and vanishing behind boulders whenever someone turns his way. He won't let anyone traveling with one of the white-robed shinki get too close, but solitary gods or shinki might manage to lure him into conversation, if they try....

OOC: Please comment to the 'NPC REQUEST' thread below in order to talk to the mysterious figure on the volcano.

Those climbing the volcano will have a chance to battle the mysterious figure should their characters choose to do so. If you're interested in a fight, please comment to the 'NPC FIGHT' thread below before the top-level is posted. A top-level for the fight will go up on IC Jan 16/OOC Sept 4.

In Summary:

• Don't get rattled
• Help out the Western District with their volcano problem
• Watch out for volcanic gases
• Find out who's behind the eruption
• Have fun~

Comments

[hellskitchen]

Ah...

[ Rin looks around for an easy way for them to get on. He's not the most agile either, but he could definitely jump if he needs to. There are a bunch of trees around, as well as shrugs and rocks. They could probably use those as leverage. He then points it out to her.]

There's a tree close to that temple. Maybe we could climb it and hop onto the rooftop.

[hellskitchen]

[ Rin moves along with Celestia, getting out of the way, while also maintaining the borderline. There are not many places for them to run, but if it's higher ground, Rin sees a hill close by. He points it out toward Celestia.]

What 'bout there?

[reloves]

[ Wow. Hold on a second here, because Minako sure didn't see that coming. She was trying really hard here to be focused and serious abotu what she should be doing here, but that's slightly more difficult when she's literally swept off her feet by a charming guy.

So just give her a moment to swoon here. Just a moment. What's a(n after)life worth if you can't enjoy the moments during which you're sure that you're truly living your best life? Her eyes sparkle with energy and life as she looks up at him. ]

Wow, is there anything you can't do..? [ Because it sure doesn't seem like there's anything.

Her expression turns just a tad more stern though after saying that - although it still looks kind of playful with her tone, keeping it light. ]

Only carry me if it won't get in the way though! Unless you're saying you can do your magic thing even without hands.

[reloves]

[ Sorry, Aymeric, you're stuck with the whole "old" thing now..

She smiles though as she turns to look at him. ]

It seems like your cat is just fine! Thankfully we found him in time. You know, before everything got even worse.

[rockthemonkey]

[He tends to have that effect on people.]

Alright! [Why is he in charge. He doesn’t know where to go. Goku looks around, watching the lava that no longer has Nia and her Blade blocking it’s path slowly easing it’s way down the mountain.]

Um, maybe we better go down there first, to make sure everyone’s outta the way and everything?

[rockthemonkey]

[Goku doesn’t think it’s particularly interesting at all, but if the kid wants to talk about it he guesses it’s fine?]

Maybe that’s coz you’re breathin’ smoke all the time. It’s messed up your nose!

[Mind-altering fumes don’t have a strong scent, but there’s something lurking in the corners of Goku’s senses and annoying him. Luckily he’s not actively hallucinating at this exact moment.]

Why’s fire your thing? Do you just think it’s pretty?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Zelda's guess at Shun's reaction isn't wrong - his fingers clench slightly at the suggestion, and he already looks like he's about to argue with it. He can't say she doesn't have a point with her follow-up, though...and even he knows he's not going to be in ideal shape to continue investigating if he keeps seeing things that aren't there.

Though he's visibly reluctant, and his expression shifts in a manner that implies he's essentially having to argue himself down on continuing onward, he eventually gives a rather curt nod.]

Do what you like, then. If you think it'll get this over with quicker. [He'd suggest his own temple instead, but it's slightly closer to the eruption and only partially underground, so it's possible it might've been compromised by the gases.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun continues eying her off somewhat doubtfully at that.] I don't consider myself a good person either, but I've had plenty of people disagree with me about that. I'm sure it's the same for you.

[Shun himself isn't really the type for being overtly sympathetic and reassuring, but Ginia doesn't seem any worse than him, honestly, and is certainly better in some ways. So if people can decide he's a "good person", then he would assume the same goes for her.]

Obviously it favours gods, but that doesn't mean we have to buy into it. You can know something is a fact without building your worth on it.

[He's known altogether too many shinki who do that, and it's never sat right with him, even as a god.]

[revolutionfalcon]

Shun inclines his head slightly in agreement with Ginia's summation - he doesn't have a problem with how Celty worked, himself, and her suggestion is a good one. With one last glance back towards the quieted volcano, he brings Final Fortress Falcon back from the edge and gives it a grateful pat on the head before leaping off, letting it disappear back into motes of light.

"I'll be doing that as well. I don't completely trust that he's gone, but if we can get a start on cleaning up the mess now, it's better than nothing."

They can send out a warning later on if necessary, as well, and see if anyone else encountered the kid on the way up the volcano.

[redotiertwo]

Damn straight, it needs to be at least seventy-five percent cheesier than that. [Cheesiness is an exact science that should never be underestimated, Hakkai.]

I guess most temples are probably built well enough that shit's probably not falling down on anyone, and since it's only fucking over part of the Heavens there's still safe ground to escape to. Could've been worse.

[Considering the close proximity of the volcano, it could've been much worse, in fact.]

[boneofsword]

[It's a sudden relief that almost makes Archer's eyes burn. Ash and smoke, nothing else. Gently he wraps one arm around Caster, supporting him. They're lucky Caster has only his staff; waking up to see him all bloody would be much worse.]

I had to take the risk. [to let no one else see Cu Chulainn from this one day in the past. To stop him from staining hands with blood.]

Can you take us back home? [he asks quietly, his voice suddenly raw.]

[abgrund]

[ He's realized that; the fact that he can't see this boy and the fact that it makes Zelda agitated.

For extra caution, he summons several void eyes to look; still nothing. ]

I can't see him. To me, there's nothing there. Even my other eyes cannot detect any life force... is he hidden by some kind of spell?

[ Or that he is an illusion... but, he doesn't want to voice that yet. It'll be safer if Zelda comes to that conclusion herself. ]

falling rock

[abgrund]

[ Ain is around, carrying a lantern in one hand. He flies instead of walks; two large tattered wings fanning out from his back and letting him glide along the heated air.

He spots Aymeric in the Western district. The other god is alone and carrying something, maybe he needs help. Ain alights a polite distance away, winching in his wings. ]

You should leave here, it is not safe.

[abgrund]

I don't know. I think someone is trying to cause trouble.

[ There's a pause as he hefts a rock with his shadow hands and sets it down ]

I couldn't fly over the actual top of the volcano. There was too much gas. Unfortunately, it seems the volcano isn't going to stop anytime soon.

[priforprince]

Save your breath.

[ For someone who cares.

And, just as Hibiki thinks that, she sees a silhouette in the mist. Her head lifts, and she blinks. That's...that's impossible.

What would she be doing here? ]

[priforprince]

If you went into acting, perhaps.

[ Hibiki winks. She knows her audience.

Here is a drawing room, however. Hibiki will set down this lovely lady...standing if she looks up to it, on the chaise lounge on the off-chance of a swoon.

Hibiki always plans for the off-chance of a swoon. ]

[boneofsword]

[Archer ignores Caster's jab, he's used to his snarky remarks. The kid gets his attention; behind the visor his eyes narrow. It's a complete stranger that Archer haven't seen between the new arrivals nor on the network. Sure, could be someone staying out of the crowds, but there's also a possibility of a rogue god.]

Yes, we're sightseeing. [his words are underlined with heavy sarcasm.] And you are?

[priforprince]

Rrrnnnnggh.

[ Hibiki's fists clench. She raises her sword, then lowers it - that is not "nicely". ]

You won't....yield through combat.....?

[ Only through.... ]

[onedrinkwithme]

A thing I do not wish to see while we are here.

[The carrier is still open so there's enough time for a quick head pet for the cranky cat.]

We should see if there is any others who need help.

[priforprince]

Not to fear.

[ Hibiki puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles. ] I'm always equipped with top-class accoutrements.

[ There is a faint galloping noise from afar. Here comes Maxie the large purple horse! ]

[sageprincess]

[Their ascent gradually slows and evens out, and she can feel the shift in momentum as the giant begins taking its long, lumbering journey towards the lava flow. This, combined with the soothing brush of Caster's hand through her hair convinces her to peek out from her hiding spot, breathing a soft exaltation as she does.]

Hylia's grace...

[The haze of smoke and gas obscures much past a certain point, but if she squints she can almost see the shape of Amaterasu's palace far off in the distance. In closer range, she can spot various people running around, evacuating and investigating and so on, seeming as small as ants. It is quite the perspective change, but she's distracted from thinking about it for too long by Caster's commentary.]

... Let us reserve celebrations until after the lava flow is diverted.

[Her plans never work out exactly the way she envisions them, alright. She still hasn't convinced herself that something terrible won't happen the moment the wicker giant decides to start digging.]

CW: Blood/Heavensward Spoilers

[onedrinkwithme]

[What he should see is a friend coming to help him out. However, the gas makes his vision swirl and construct a ghost of his past. Instead of the courier with the cat helmet, he sees an elezen reaching out with a smile...but there is blood trickling down his mouth. Not only that but there is a large gash in his armor that Aymeric can immediately know who it is and recoils from her.]

I...I am sorry my friend...

[How often does one see the man they accidentally had a hand in killing? If he hadn't gone running into the Vault...]

[nopixiedust]

"I'm fine! Everything in the Central District seems pretty stable." Well- She pauses for a second, finger to her chin. "I mean, besides the fact that a bunch of water spurted up in our front yard, but it's only a little bit of water. Nothing is going to flood or anything. At least, it would take a lot more. Mostly things just fell down a lot. It woke me up out of bed."

It wasn't even the shaking, although that certainly helped a little bit. More like it was the clatter of so much stuff falling down. Sure, their teacup poltergeist sometimes is to blame... but usually not with so much.

"I didn't know stuff like that could happen around here! Do you think it was a giant monster of some sort?" That's her first thought, not even thinking of anything like a natural disaster.

[kokuyoyo]

"They're at least smart enough to compose poems... So I guess they'd be smart enough to notice if their water levels were getting low." He knows there's specialized kind of intelligence, and that moon logic is sometimes just a thing in the Heavens, but, listen. He's trying to be at least a little down to earth here.

Although if he's going away from earth... Chikusa's chin tilts a little down towards his chest. "...We can't really discount supernatural, so... The more obvious sign would be someone with a control of water taking it for their own purposes, right...?" They've already had a god who can clearly control trees- an entire forest in fact. And that was just a rebel god with apparently not a lot of followers... Who knows what else could happen.

[shiitan]

I can use a borderline. That'll have to give me enough time to get away.

[The alternative was going back to that truck, and he was not doing that unless he was dragged there kicking and screaming.]