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]

[And with the raging white furball coming in close, his owner opens up the carrier and rushes in. Mandragora jumps to try and pounce on the other cat but Aymeric maneuvers his body that instead of hitting his target, he goes head first into the carrier with his owner zipping up the exit behind.]

You've been naughty, Mandragora. [And turning to the other two.] How is your cat faring?

[Wait, that cat looks different...]

[abgrund]

[ Orbis makes a jump onto Ain's clothes, climbing up his side and diving into his hair with an agility that one would not ascribe to a normal cat. It disappears and emerges perched on the top of his head. which brings questions as to what exactly is inside his two-toned ponytail. ]

He's not injured.

[ That cat looks very different indeed. Apart from having grey fur, there are several extra green eyes on parts of its body, as well as some hollow patterns. Luckily, those extra eyes are now closed. ]

I'm glad they're both safe.

[ How does Aymeric put up with Mandragora, really? ]

[onedrinkwithme]

[Ok, cats usually don't have extra eyes but they look to be a well behaved feline. Sadly Aymeric has no treats otherwise he would try giving one to the good catte.]

I am glad. Truly I am sorry that he chased your comrade as such.

[Meanwhile Mandragora lightly growls, only to have Aymeric put a finger on the carrier entrance. He might be a grouch but he is family.]

[abgrund]

[ Ain shakes his head slightly ]

Don't worry about it. [ A pause, and then: ] I find it a little surprising that your cat obeys you so easily, if he has a temper.

[onedrinkwithme]

He has been in my family for years; I know some ways to keep him calm and respect me. But when it comes to others it is a bit hard.

[Cats sometimes.]

[abgrund]

You must be a good person.

[ Cats won't like bad people, that he's sure. ]

I'm impressed.

[onedrinkwithme]

I try to be. Far from perfect but I try to do the right thing.

[He's only mortal despite what the Heavens say.]

How did you come across your friend?

[abgrund]

I adopted him. He was at a shelter that was advertised digitally, so I went.

[ It feels so long ago... ]

He was once crippled like me, so I healed him. He can walk freely now.

[onedrinkwithme]

[Is kitty ok with headpats? He would give the good catte pets but with some lava rock rolling by them, Aymeric's mind goes back to the main issue at hand. Mainly that damn volcano.]

And you have a good heart as well to take care of your comrade. But we may wish to continue this discussion away from the immediate danger.

we can wrap this one up here? :D

[abgrund]

[ Ain nods. ]

Indeed. I plan to return to the volcano to search for anyone who needs to evacuate. Perhaps we can talk again at a more convenient time.

Yep yep!

[onedrinkwithme]

Of course, I plan to do the same once I drop this troublemaker off.

[Murring from the carrier.]

Oh, I never introduced myself did I? I'm Aymeric.

[abgrund]

My name is Ain.

[ He would offer his hand but Aymeric's hands seem to be wholly occupied at the moment. ]

We'll meet again. I'm sure of it....