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

B because MY FEELS :(

[darkestbefore]

[ She'd gotten waylaid on her way to him but when Yona does finally break away to make her way to him, it's not in time to keep him from inhaling the strange smokes and gasses of the volcano. And when she finds him, he's already slipping into the hallucinations he sees that she cannot.

She's about to call out to him when she sees him drop into a defensive crouch and kick outwards into the air around him. It's a move she's familiar with, having seen him fight so many times, but she's not sure what he's defending against here and now.

Worried, she increases her pace, rushing towards him, her gaze searching his surroundings, looking for what he'd been lashing out at. ]

Jae-Ha?! What is it?

[pirateofdragons]

[Yona's voice.

Yona.

Jae-ha growls. Did they capture her too? No, no no. He can't let them have her.]

Don't touch her!

[darkestbefore]

[ She stumbles to a stop at the sound of that growl in his voice. Confused, she studies him for a moment before carefully edging her way into his line of vision. ]

Jae-Ha? Can you hear me?

[ She has no idea who he could be yelling at, but that didn't bode well for his state of mind. ]

[pirateofdragons]

[--!!!

Her voice jerks him out of it, just enough so that he can recognize her.

Jae-ha stares at her, frozen.]

Yona?

[darkestbefore]

[ She holds her hands out to him, waiting where she is when he looks at her and sees her finally. ]

It's me, Jae-Ha. I'm right here. Come to me, alright?

[pirateofdragons]

Yona--

[He staggers a bit to her, but then freezes when it feels like there are chains around his leg. It tightens around his leg, voices screaming at him that he's a monster.

They can't dare to let a monster loose and let them be found.

Jae-ha chokes a bit, reaching up to his throat as if there's a chain being wrung around his neck as well, to prevent him from moving forward.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Her eyes widen as he gives a sudden stagger - Jae-Ha is always graceful in his movements and to see him suddenly falter so badly has her moving again. Hurrying towards him, she reaches out, catching his arms in her hands to steady him, but his eyes have gone unfocused and hazy once more, seeing and hearing things she can't. His fingers scrape against his throat like he's choking, but there's nothing there that her eyes can make out.

So instead, she reaches up to slide her hand against his cheek, turning his face towards her. She calls his name again, voice a hint sharper this time, her expression worried. ]

Jae-Ha! Look at me. What's happening?

[pirateofdragons]

[He jerks when she touches him, almost curling in defensively. His eyes are wild, hazy and unfocused but there is fear. Sharp, palpable fear that Yona can feel. A dreaded feeling that overcomes him as his body trembles, as if some part of him is fearing that he'll get beaten.

Even when she touches his face, Jae-ha recoils, his right leg sliding back unconsciously as if something is tugging it back.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She can feel it, which is a little terrifying in itself, because she'd never even imagined Jae-Ha could feel a fear this deeply, this viscerally. She has no idea what has him so terrified, only that he's seeing and experiencing something she can't. But her own pulse speeds in feeling his fear, so sharp and potent, and she has to calm her breathing as she can't help but react to the panic in him.

Yona keeps her hand steady and warm on both his arm and cheek, even when he flinches, stance defensive, continuing to talk to him, trying to break through to him. ]

Jae-Ha, it's me. I'm right here in front of you. Listen to the sound of my voice, follow it if you need to. I'm not going to let anything happen to you.

[pirateofdragons]

Yona.

[He breathes out her name, eyes slowly fixed on her.

Her presence stands out to him, like a red beacon that shines brightly in the darkness. It's almost like a flame that scorches him if he gets too close, but it's a comforting warmth. It calls to him louder than anything else, almost as if he's hearing a dragon's roar coming from deep inside to her presence alone.

This is Yona.

His goddess.

His friend.

Gradually, clarity returns to his eyes.]

Yona. [He surges forward, arms wrapping tightly around her as he pulls her to him.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She makes a soft sound of surprise when he suddenly lunges for her, but then his arms are wrapped tightly around her, clinging, and she can't help but hold him in return, wrapping her smaller arms about his waist. She lets him cling to her, sensing he needs that for reassurance right now, not even minding that she's all but crushed against his chest.

Through it all, she keeps up the same even tones, trying to talk him out of whatever this nightmare was he'd been caught in. One hand lifts, tangling in his long hair as she strokes her fingers through it soothingly, trying to help calm him. ]

Yes, it's me. I'm right here with you, Jae-Ha. I'm not going to let anyone or anything harm you.

[pirateofdragons]

[Slowly, he can feel his body beginning to calm down, all of his senses focused on her. He tries not to think about the feeling of something catching his leg, trying to tie him down. He tries not to think about the whispers that seems to go into his ears, trying to fill his head with nonsense.

His breathing gradually becomes even and clarity returns to him. And as it does, Jae-ha begins to realize something else: Yona's in danger, too.

Quickly, Jae-ha suddenly lifts her up into his arms and jumps into the sky, away from the gases, trying to get a breath of fresh air despite the volcanic ash and sulfur that comes otherwise.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She yelps when she's suddenly scooped up in his arms, pulse jumping into her throat as fingers reach to curl in the front of his clothing, clinging to him. This isn't the first time he's ever done this, of course, but she hadn't been expecting it and it still takes her by surprise - and wonder - that he can do this. ]

Jae-Ha? Jae-Ha, where are we going?

[pirateofdragons]

Away from here. This place is dangerous.

[He lands far from the gases, but he doesn't relinquish his hold on Yona. A part of him still feels that if he does, then she'll slip away from him and he can't have that.

She's too important to him to let go.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She can feel that tension in him and, hoping to reassure him, she wraps her arms tightly about his neck, laying her head on his shoulder. ]

It is dangerous, yes, Jae-Ha. But you are not helpless, and neither am I. We are here to help the others, remember?

[pirateofdragons]

Yes.

[His answer is a little terse, but not with her.

Whatever the gases did to him, he doesn't want to affect her as well. He takes a deep breath, holding her close and lifting his gaze to the top of the volcano.]

We'd get a better sight of who's trapped in there from the sky, but I'd prefer if we try to avoid that smoke as much as possible.

[darkestbefore]

[ She hears that tense note in his voice and reaches up to press a hand to his cheek, turning his head back towards her. ]

What is it, Jae-Ha? [ Her voice is soft as she searches his expression. ] What made you so afraid back there?

[pirateofdragons]

...

[He turns to look at her.]

I just felt as if I was being chained to the ground.

[darkestbefore]

[ Her eyes widen at that, and there might be a moment of something that almost looks like understanding in her gaze before she's quick to shake her head. ]

There was nothing chaining you down, Jae-Ha. I would never allow such a thing. The vapors and smoke from the volcano... they've been making people act strangely when exposed to them for too long Or maybe just exposed to the worst of them. People have been growing angry and fighting and several have started seeing things that weren't there.

Let's get you somewhere you can clear your head for a little while, hmm? Can you find us somewhere safe to rest, perhaps?

[pirateofdragons]

...Are you sure? What about the people still on the volcano?

[He looks at her.

He's torn between half accepting and half refusing. He's stronger than this, right? He can still keep on going.]

[darkestbefore]

Some of them are better equipped to handle the gas and fumes and there are many of them seeking out answers. Don't worry, Jae-Ha. [ She gives him a warm smile. ] Perhaps we can help at the bottom of the volcano for a while instead, make sure everyone is evacuated.

[pirateofdragons]

Alright...

[Jae-ha slowly begins to nod.]