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

[unlucky7]

[Holy--!! Shinki can jump high on their own, but this is something else. Ginia keeps a tight grip on him and her phone, quickly snapping pictures and noting the most affected areas. The Western District isn't a complete loss, but it'll be awhile before people can move back into their temples.

Ginia also snaps a few pictures of the volcano itself, looming and ominous as glowing red and orange curl away from it.]

[pirateofdragons]

[They don't stay up in the air for too long, perhaps long enough for Ginia to get her pictures before they begin to descend again.

Jae-ha lands on the ground, safely away from the lava and he looks back at her.]

Did you manage to get a good look?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia hops off his back and flicks through the photo gallery to check the pictures. A few are blurry, but the majority are clear enough to work with. She sends a few off to Archer and Caster before smiling and nodding at Jae-ha, typing up a new message.]

Yes, thank you, I really appreciate your help. I've never met anyone that can jump that high, it's impressive.

[There's still something strangely familiar about his voice, but what?]

[pirateofdragons]

Always happy to assist a lady.

[A short bow.]

It definitely comes in handy for times like this, at least.

[unlucky7]

[It's not a perfect match in mannerisms and words, but the familiarity brings everything into clarity. Ginia blinks and immediately types out the question that comes to mind.]

Sorry, but have you met a man here named Archer?

[They look nothing alike. Jae-ha's overall voice is higher than Archer's, but the tones are similar enough to be uncanny.]

[pirateofdragons]

Archer?

[A clueless look.]

Can't say that I have.

[unlucky7]

[It was a silly question. Even if they had, what would the follow up have been? As surprise fades, Ginia feels a bit embarrassed and maybe amused. Does Jae-Ha enjoy cooking too? There would be a funny coincidence.]

No matter. [She gives a small bow of her head.] I'm Ginia. Thanks again. Do you want the pictures for your own reference or to send to others?

[pirateofdragons]

If you'd be so kind.

[Though he is curious about this Archer now...]

[unlucky7]

Sure. What's your name so I know where to send it?

[The built in contact list is good for not needing to worry about getting everyone's numbers, but without any faces to the names, it doesn't help in the moment.]

[pirateofdragons]

It's Jae-ha.

[At least she's so much more technologically inclined than he is...]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia scrolls through the contact list until she finds his name. It's interesting having a contact list for everyone but only faces to go with a handful of names. She opens up a text message and sends over the best of her photos.]

There you go. I'm going to check on some temples. Stay safe out there, okay?

[pirateofdragons]

You as well.

[He gives her a bow.]

And don't hesitate if you ever need a ride in the sky again.