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

[onedrinkwithme]

Earthquake Warning

[Aymeric is usually up pretty early and during this particular day, he's checking on the winter vegetables he's planted. That is until he feels the ground shake. He looks up and takes notice of the pots that fall down and set them back up but also how the hawks are reacting, screeching and flying further to the rooftop. It's enough to get him running out of the yard and to the road of the district.]

What in Halone's name...?


Falling Rock

[Being in the Northeastern District, Aymeric's temple was safe from harm minus the earthquake earlier. But he very much knew people who lived in the west and had the need to check on them. What he found was lava going all over as well as rocks falling throughout and landing on abandoned temples and the strange glass like fibers floating through the air. Buildings can come back but lives, even as shinki, cannot and that's his focus.]

What can I do to assist?

[Some may notice that he has an empty cloth cat carrier on him as well. That's because that damn furball of his wasn't in the temple and very well may have wandered here. But that was a slim chance. Maybe.]

Swamp Gas

[It's during the evacuations that he feels light headed. Rubbing his temple, he leans on the nearest tree, breathing deep and unknowingly breathing in the gas surrounding him. And no lie, it's quite a bit. The light headedness goes deeper as his vision blurs and he begins to see things...]

What-?! How-!

[He heaves forward in a coughing fit as he clings onto the tree like a lifeline. Help?]


Mountain Climbing: Closed to Goten and ???

[They needed to get to the source of this problem and stomp it out immediately. He quickly calls Sukomi and goes to find Goten since this may be a bit of a battle. He doesn't know for sure but Aymeric can feel the effects from earlier get much worse. Well, minus the hallucinations. Last thing he needs with his kids close by, he needs to at least appear to be in the right mind and in decent health. He's careful to stay away from the white robed shinki and to not engage with the fiery spirits as they climb upwards. But he keeps his guard up and speaks to the other two:]

Be wary, this is much more dangerous than below.

[Sukomi nods and stays close by her god. Meanwhile, Aymeric keeps Naegling sheathed-or rather in a position where it isn't battle ready since there is no actual sheath as he leads the three up the volcano.]

Falling Rock

[saiyanhybrid]

[When Aymeric comes to check out the situation, Gohan is flying above him with a particular T-Rex held above him. The poor dinosaur looks terrified, curled up and not even moving a muscle.

A blink upon seeing Aymeric.]

Oh, hey Aymeric!

[onedrinkwithme]

[That poor dinosaur.]

Do you have a place where your comrades can stay?

[He may not have ideal land but it is land. The hawks may be moved to the roof for the time being but he can't leave Gohan alone.]

[saiyanhybrid]

No, not at the moment.

[The T-Rex roars.]

So far, I've just been moving the dinosaurs to the farthest side of the district. Raichi, too.

[onedrinkwithme]

...take them to my temple. I have room for them.

[It'll be fine.]

[saiyanhybrid]

Are you sure?

[Aymeric, please be sure. Gohan's dinosaurs are mostly carnivores, especially this one that he's holding.]

falling rock

[reloves]

[ Minako is actually feeling a little helpless in this situation. Her powers aren't that great yet as a fairly new shinki, and even if they had been great.. Well, what could she do in this situation? Borderlines are meant to help with fending off Ayakashi, not with stopping a vulcano from destroying the entire place.

So she's just been running around, trying to help with small things but still not feeling very useful. There's something about Aymeric's appearance that helps with it a little though - since she immediately spots that carrier. She seems a little lost for words at what he's asking, but then instead says-- ]

What's that you have with you? [ It does look kind of cat-sized.. ]

[onedrinkwithme]

[He sees Minako and instead of hearing what he can do, she asks about the carrier.]

My cat likes to explore the Far Shore and he was not at my temple when the quake occurred. I would hope he is not here but the possibility can not be ruled out. But I am capable of both searching and helping others who need it.

[reloves]

Your cat is missing?!

[ Okay, so maybe not everyone would put that at the top of their priorities list in the middle of all this chaos. But Minako knows there's not much she can do about the whole vulcano situation - she simply doesn't have the powers for it.

Finding a cat though? That's something she could do. And something she feels passionate about, considering she likes cats. ]

What does he look like? I'll help you find him!

[onedrinkwithme]

He is pure white with long fur and blue eyes. Tis common that he does have a temper and it would not surprise me if he tries to swipe at anyone or a stray rock.

[This...is a housecat, right?]

[reloves]

Well, it's not going to do much if he swipes at these rocks.. [ If only. Minako would accept the existence of some sort of superpowered cat if it meant the poor kitty could defend itself in these terrible conditions.. ]

You don't think he'd be around here, right? The koi all seemed to flee away from here, so maybe your cat was smart enough to get out of here as well!

Mountain Climbing

[veiledflame]

You bet it is!

[The boy who's calling out to the two of them seems to be standing dangerously close to an open, glowing vent. It's not fountaining lava, or even oozing, but the glow suggests it might do either soon.

He's wearing a gray hoodie that shades his face, and his eyes glow blood-red from the darkness of the hood. He props one hand on his hip.]

So what are you doing up here?

[sonofson]

[Goten is a couple feet higher on the mountain than Aymeric. He's been hopping along despite being able to fly. But blinks and looks down to the other boy. The glow of his eyes catches his attention first. The red eyes are kind of eerie but also really cool looking.]

Exploring! We wanna see what's going on and maybe we'll find something else out here.

[He blinks at how close he's standing to the vent...its hard to miss so maybe the other boy just likes lava? Still he waves down to Aymeric]

Mrick, c'mon! I think we're almost there

[onedrinkwithme]

[Unlike Goten who thinks the boy is just some kid who likes lava, Aymeric cannot help but wonder if this is another case like Votelli.]

Aye, we want to know what is going on and see what we can do. People are getting hurt by this.

[So which is this child? A god or shinki?]

But you seem to be unphased by the happenings.

[veiledflame]

[The boy looks pleased by that -- it's probably a compliment, right? -- and laughs, lacing his fingers together behind his head.]

Well, yeah! I came up here to check it out too.

I'm not scared. I can't burn, see?

[He crouches, putting one hand on the steaming rock right next to the vent.]

[sonofson]

[Goten stares at him, eyes widening. He actually stares skidding down towards the other boy to possibly stop him before he sees him place his hand on the rock and not flinch. He waits and waits for a reaction and nothing happens.]

How.....how do you do that?

[His thinking the boy likes lava is justified, at least he believes so. Still, even though they were making progress before, Goten can't help but hop over to him. His hops are very floaty and get a lot of air but he lands next to Sotero]

That's amazing!

Swamp Gas

[lookingforhead]

[Celty's been fortunate, at least as far as she knows. Her unique biology has protected her from the gas that fills the area, at least for the time being. This has made her efforts essential in clearing out the last of the wounded and afflicted in certain parts of the disaster area.

The hopefully familiar and hopefully not amplified whinny of her bike sounds as she pulls to a stop near Aymeric and his tree. Quickly she dismounts and rushes to his side, not bothering with her phone as she reaches out to offer aid, or at least a shoulder.]

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...]

Sorry, my inbox buried this one

[lookingforhead]

[Celty pauses, hand still outstretched but her helmet cocked a bit to the side in question. Is he turning her down? It doesn't sound like it come to think of it. More like he's apologizing? Is he seriously hurt?

She fishes out her phone to type up a message for him.]

Aymeric. It's me, Celty. Are you alright?

All good

[onedrinkwithme]

[The phone in his mind changes to a cracked and broken shield which makes Aymeric move away further.]

It shouldn't have been you...we need more good men like yourself out there. If it wasn't for me, you would...

Re: All good

[lookingforhead]

[He isn't making any sense at all, but by his ramblings she can guess this is something about a friend. Someone that something bad had happened to.

Giving up on trying to get through to him she instead tries to maneuver herself under him, trying to offer him a shoulder to lean on so she can walk him away from this place. It can't be safe for him to linger here like this.]

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.

[onedrinkwithme]

[The voice is familiar as Aymeric turns to face Ain, recalling giving him a milkshake back at the amusement park.]

I am also offering any assistance that I can. However, it seems that someone else believes he can help: my cat has wandered from my temple again.

[abgrund]

[ His cat.

That is indeed very worrying. He considers the location of his own cat, whom he's left at his temple. Orbis is prone to wandering around but with the powers he's given the feline, it should be fine.

Or will it? ]

I'll help look for your cat. How does it look like?

[onedrinkwithme]

He is the average size for a feline but with white fur, rather long with blue eyes. He does respond to Mandragora and can scream rather loudly.

[Hence the nickname]

He also has a habit of attacking things.