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

[veiledflame]

Sooo... [He draws the word out, sing-song like a schoolyard taunt.]

What do you think did all of this?

[priforprince]

Would I be wandering if I knew?!

[ Tsukkomi: one of the many divine services we offer. Tsukkami, even, though Hibiki would not appreciate such absurdity.

Once she has pointed out that her companion is being an idiot, however, she is free to consider how much she wants to tell him. He's not off the hook yet, in her mind. So.... ]

An insurgent is possible, but it's likely the Far Shore's system has run amok.

[ Her voice is laced with distaste for that last one. ] I seek the administrator.

[veiledflame]

So you're up here looking for the manager in charge of mountains or something, huh?

You'd think he'd be in his office.

[You know, wherever that is. Probably not on top of a mountain that's erupting, though.]

[priforprince]

And what of you?

[ Wouldn't the volcano be the office of such a figure? Wouldn't they just be, say,

hanging out and watching? ]

This isn't a fitting spot for winter vacances.

[veiledflame]

Maybe not for you. I like it up here. [He presses his hands against the rock, heaves in a big breath, and scrambles up it to balance on the top, smirk widening. Look: he's way taller now.]

It's nice and warm.

[priforprince]

And you wish to see that "warmth" spread?

[ If she presses you, sooner or later you will trip up, and reveal what she wishes to know. Then she will get to gloat. Hah.

She is even getting to gloat about knowing that, in the future, she will get to gloat. ]

[veiledflame]

What's that supposed to mean?

[The boy's look is half wary and half just confused.

Poetic drama might be a little above his education level.]

[priforprince]

[ .....ngh.

The sudden realization that she is up a volcano talking to a mysterious idiot is a heavy blow. ]

You aren't merely an observer.

[veiledflame]

[Truly, her life is filled with suffering.]

Who says?

[priforprince]

Your outfit matches the terrain and your eyes are glowing.

[ Hibiki snorts. ] Don't deny the part your entire character design proclaims.

[ Don't worry, mysterious child. She also complains when people's roles don't match their character designs. ]

[veiledflame]

Ash fell on me. It's probably getting on you too. Hey, you match the terrain, it must be you that did this, huh?

[Really, now he's just being petty.]

[priforprince]

Stop hiding your intentions!

[ HIBIKI IS NOT VERY TOLERANT OF PETTY

She produces a glove from her pocket and holds it up in display. ]

I'd intended to duel you to stop the eruption, but you're forcing my hand. State your identity or be forced to do so at swordpoint!

[ hibiki, stop, you're not in the fight sign-up thread ]

[veiledflame]

[She's not, but that doesn't seem to be stopping Sotero, whose expression ricochets from shock to annoyance to real anger in a few seconds of staring at Hibiki and her dramatically upraised glove.

He balls his hands into fists, and stomps one foot, hard. The stone opens under his foot, a crack zig-zagging its way towards Hibiki and widening as it goes to reveal an ominous orange glow in its depths. By the time it reaches her, it's almost wide enough to swallow down a motorcycle.]

[priforprince]

!!!

[ Hibiki barely has enough time to let go of the bike and flip backwards, turning several somersaults in midair before alighting, on one knee, atop a large rock. Her motorcycle, she abandons, and it rests near that crevice. ]

So you're done denying it.

[ She doesn't especially care what happens to the bike: to a prillionaire Celebrity, such items are disposable.

Being able to say "I told you so," however? Priceless. ]

[veiledflame]

I'm not anybody's administrator, so maybe you better figure out what you're accusing me of before you start saying you're gonna kill me!

[He scowls more darkly.]

Like you could.

[priforprince]

[ Ugh, she wasn't going to do anything as gauche as -

So be it: she'll ask point-blank. She has such a good angle for looking down the bridge of her nose at him, and everything! ] Can you quell this eruption?

[veiledflame]

Maybe.

[His expression is flat.]

But only if you ask nicely.

[priforprince]

Ghk.

[ Hibiki swallows, brows twitching. Nice....ly.

This prospect somehow seems to daunt her even more than a duel to the death... ]

[veiledflame]

[He laces his fingers together behind his head, and waits.

Nicely.]

[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.... ]

[veiledflame]

If you really wanna fight, we can fight, but I'm not gonna tell you anything even if you can beat me.

[Not that he thinks she can. Besides, it's a lot funnier watching her struggle with trying to say 'please.']

[priforprince]

I demand to meet the parents that taught you such cheek!

[ ...NOT JUST NICELY

BUT ALSO WITH "PLEASE"?! ]

[veiledflame]

Demanding's not asking nicely.

[... he's definitely having too much fun with this.]

[priforprince]

How am I supposed to entreat the person who caused this mess?!

[ and hurt Wendy

and hurt Wendy -- ]

My filming starts next week!

[ and the volcano hurt Wendy

She has the solution in her sight, and yet, for it to be this.... ]

[veiledflame]

You're the one who decided all on your own that this is my fault!

[He scowls: whether it is or not, he sure never admitted it. He doesn't think. Not in so many words, anyway.]

I don't care about your filming or whatever.