sticksandbones | New Moon/Zahliya Event START!

Entry tags:

New Moon/Zahliya Event START!

NEW MOON, WHO DIS?

!
"INVITATION"

Everyone will get a recounting from Mizuki about his encounter with the creature in the woods, regardless of whether or not you had your own run in it with. He knows it was brought up before, but he just wants to make extra sure everyone is up to speed! He gives a general outline of information that he learned from Ydalir, the Trader. (And, yes, he calls her that to everyone.)

One, the creature's name is Zahliya, but has many overall titles. His full title seems to be "Zahliya, The Purifier, He Who is the First Sentinel, the Grove's Guardian". It's kind of a mouthful, but Mizuki seems adamant you do your best to remember it all.
Two, "Purifier" seems to imply his capability to ward off and, well, purify corruption from the forest. This is obviously going to be very useful to the Grove as a whole.
Three, the fog is apparently at its weakest during that of a new moon, hence the timing. Which is tonight, Mizuki happily reminds you!
Four... "Zahliya needs our help."

He doesn't seem to elaborate further on that last point. Feel free to ask him about it, or just go to your fellow neighbors and be like "hey, what the fuck is that cryptic twink on about???" Regardless of what you do with that information, Mizuki strongly encourages your to meet with everyone at the edge of the fog closest to the inn tonight.

!
GATHERING

...And by "strongly encourages", it means he will drag your dumb ass to the meeting if you need an excuse to have them actually show up. Mizuki seems very adamant about this. Zahliya is their friend now! We don't leave friends behind.

Mizuki explains that it seems relatively simple, all things considered. Simple relative to other things within the Grove, anyway. They just all gotta... "wish" for Zahliya. Sort of like believing in fairies, or calling out one's name for them to appear. Sort of.

He's certainly not going to lead in this, however. He's just here to provide the information! If anything, he's more hopeful that someone else will take the reigns from him the moment all knowledge about this is out there.

!
OOC

The OOC post about this event is here. I figured I should make the post about it initially, considering Mizuki dug for the lore about Zahliya, but considering he is not the leader-type, he will simply defer to the group from here. This is helpful for both chaos reasons and so everyone can more easily be involved. I also left the first prompt open for any pre-discussions about this you'd like to get out of the way, though if you would just like to read through Mizuki's discussion with the Trader and handwave knowing it, I'm totally fine with that, too. Mizuki wouldn't make any attempts to hide information from anyone, assuming they asked him the question first.

Recap of the Event so far! (Click to Expand!)

The event begins with characters learning and talking about how to go about the information above. Caoimhe's brought a song. Natsuno brought knives. BB brought herself (unfortunately). Add brought... medical attention. All's well!
Until it isn't, as when the moon is at its zenith, there's a horrifying roar and two mysterious sets of footprints within the fog. Using the goggles from the Shopkeeper, Add is able to find a twisted looking creature and a humanoid. It's decided that it's now or never to call out for their Guardian friend.
And he does, in fact, appear! But he certainly doesn't seem to be doing so hot...
...but taking care of him might have to come second to the very angry monster beyond Felicity's barrier.

Threaded | Flat

[So all of this sounds sketchy as shit, but just sitting around waiting for disaster to strike never got anyone anywhere. Natsuno figures they'll have to deal with the risk of the "ritual" going horribly wrong.

He arrives with a large bag full of candles, pieces of chalk and an alarmingly large number of knives, just in case they have to spill their own blood. When you spend a year hanging out with a nerdy necromancer, you pick up a few things.

Sounds like all they need to do is focus their intent, though. Thankfully, Natsuno has been through enough shit to keep the eye roll internal.]

We should come up with a phrase. If we all say the same thing and mean, it might work better.

( a moon bitch gonna moon witch, honestly- by which i mean, despite a still-lingering, bone-deep exhaustion from death, she's here, leaning against a building like a cool kid. but what IS that cryptic twink on about? well, that's why she's here. )

What do you mean, he needs our help? Did something come up?

i. Setting up (invitation)
[ A ritual? Yes of course, Caoimhe will take this very seriously. The next few days into the week she is preparing. Focusing hard on creating items that she will bring to this ritual - it is also the time when the moon has Waxed and left from them.

To her, this means the Beast no longer is with them, that Beithir has carefully distracted the horrifying entity away from Mortal kind once again. That this is a time for celebration, and peace. So she is at ALL ENDS, excited, that there is this being called Zahliya, here to protect them. Of course she blindly welcomes them into her life. When the moon has gone, and the fog is weakest - this is all connected to her people clearly(its not specifically).

She is a simple country bumpkin who never lived much her life in the Kingdoms. A little mermaid, an outlier of sorts.

So yes, this superstitious shit - MAKES HER GO UNGA BUNGA!! She is FASTING! You do not see her EAT! She drinks only, WATER! She does not talk to anyone, and keeps herself focused. Ordinarily if there were others of the Tuatha de, she would not have to be so arduous in her tasks in getting ready, but she is only one now. Attempting to make up for a whole caravan of people, who would ready for this.

Anyway feel free to! Help her make things for this, she is gunna make wicks, incense, drugs - I mean, herb mixtures, scavenge like all hell, and ready herself! Every night she sings to the moon within the Inn since this is where most people are lately.

If you ask her what she is doing and want to just hand wave it she will mention Chung teaching her a song, so she is preparing to sing it! ]

ii. Setting down (gathering)

[ Caoimhe's already got incense out - WHERE DID SHE GET THEM? She made them, of course. Twigs cut open and lined inside of it with fragrances she has mashed up from flower petals, herbs, and all manner of things. There were also candles, more like wicks she created that ebb and burn away at the tips and carefully inside glasses filled with all manner of trinkets and things she had seemed to found.

She has a jug of clear water beside her. Has fasted 3 days and 3 nights prior to this, and is currently settled down upon the floor. With Midna - BC SHE HAS miniature - I say minature because these things on her world are fucking huge like mamathos. They carry a house full worth of items on their back, and walk along the mountains - these bitches are huge!! But here within stixs, this lovely Bison is horse sized, er regular bison sized.

Carefully and rather beautifully, decorated bison is laying behind her eating a pile of dried grass carefully cut and pulled by Caoimhe!! If you notice the bison is dressed in items that can be found throughout the inn that is unused! With tons of braided pieces of fur through out its mane and hair. She does a lot of wandering, farming, taking care of shit.

Anyway, she is there with burnt wicks inside glasses full of strange things. All aligned around her, and incenses that seem to make the air around her smell well - however, if you get too close you are certain to adhere to some drug effects. Be careful! Nothing to crazy, you will simply feel a lot calmer if you approach her and sit there for a while. She is quiet, still, and unmoving. Your eyes will wander other things of ritualistic notion, and notice antlers wrapped up with twine that she, again, has made. Wreathes of floral decadence, that can be easily found throughout the grove. Upon a cut out blanket It seemed she went all out here... SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN ONCE, but then, she takes her harp out and starts to sing!! ]

Enclose my hands, my head a drift;
A statue of stone, of gray and guardian withstand
Inside you, oh dear,
Dear, Mister Gargoyle.

[ Then she Sings the rest of the song, she will keep singing it on repeat until all is good!! She will not stop! Do not worry she is okay, but DO NOT BOTHER HER! You get a strong feeling if you try to talk to her you probably shouldnt do that... But I mean I dont control you, DO YOU!! Smiles. ]

[Add is here, standing like normal with only a bit of a lingering limp from his broken leg, still missing an eye (still covering it up with way too many bandages). It's hard to be sure what a gargoyle might need, so he brought extra medical supplies, bandages, towels, maybe a big blanket they can lay the patient on in case he has to operate...

He's putting up his usual calm and cheerful front, but if left by himself for too long his gaze always ends up towards the forest, staring blankly into the fog. He might be a little... nervous? Maybe?

but before he can do anything else, they have to do this... "ritual".]

... Rituals aren't really my area of expertise, so just let me know when my services are needed. [wishing isn't scientific sorry he's not doing this part]

[When the New Moon is at its highest point in the night sky, the fog begins to pull back from the treeline. Slowly, slowly does it uncover tracks the size of your heads, pacing along the barrier of the fog wall in back-and-forth motions, as if something has been waiting to get in.

Within those tracks are much smaller ones, roughly the size of a human foot. Next to each are still-wet droplets of blood.

Something within the forest roars, a large shadow flinging itself against the fog barrier. A set of blood-soaked antlers pierce through it before they're quickly covered again.

...

Whatever you're going to do, you'd better do it now.]

[Those of you making wishes, and those of you singing songs, and even those of you who are literally just standing there with popcorn (WHERE did you get that at this hour), will see several things happen in succession.

The first, beyond the fog, is a flash of those green lights that have been there since August, like lightning in a stormcloud. It momentarily lights up the grove, strobing brightly, before going quiet.

The second is that, through all of the wishes for the Guardian and food, apparently, those wishes seem to become tangible. There's a thin, reddish line emanating from the centre point of where all of you stand that gets clearer and clearer with each wish made, stretching out toward the fog like a rope. It seeps into the barrier, which further thins. Thins, and thins, yet remains clustered around the furious creature within.

The third is that finally, something reaches through the fog; a small hand grips the red thread and pulls, as if a wish is tangible. Slowly does the battered and bloody figure drag itself from the fog, blades in tow...]

[While the doctor-types treat your local injured gargoyle, from within the fog wall, Moder screams. Again, and again, and again, does she scream, banging her antlers into the fog wall.

Felicity's barrier can only hold so long. As the minutes tick by, the fog wall continues to pull back, and this time, Moder does not go with it. Whirls of white whisper across her monstrous form. The long arms dangling from the side of her head rise, and sinewy hands reach for the barrier. Moder pushes. With nothing but spite and raw fury to aid her, the barrier begins to slowly crack.

You think you hear a childish laugh somewhere deep within the woods, recognizable to everyone who found themselves so recently thrown into that volcano. "Sorry! You have to win rewards like the Guardian, after all! I can't just let you have stuff without a game!"

The voice laughs. Moder stands on her hind hooves and punctures the barrier with her forelegs.

Now would be a good time to go on the offensive.]

Ah . . . [ BB begins to tip over, the popcorn in her hand falling out. She rather suddenly begins to bend over. A hand clutching at her stomach with such urgency, and soon after she begins to cough up blood along with it. Mana circuits of her body cant handle the crazy shit BB does!!! Experimenting is fun though!!!

At any rate... You can't just expect to keep using power, heedlessly. Especially, at the capacity BB is. There is no Chaldea here to meta manage her massive amount of data - and although, her saint graph is contained in a physical body now. Along with its spirit core.

She has been using her abilities at maximum capacity, with her most recent delegation a selfish endeavor warranting far too much 'manausage.' As it were. While everyone is trying their best to save the grove, she is just being selfish and possibly making it worse.

It matters not, she falls over. Clattering on the floor! Fainting. The likely hood of death around the table. ]

Congratulations, the Grove is safe (???) and here is a short, well-earned recap:

Everyone fought well, with only one (1) casualty and several (many) injuries

Moder has died thanks to being shadowed/shot/grailed/shot more/shot even more than that/thrown up in the air several times/everyone thank Irene for the carry, and thank Mizuki for ripping her goddamn head off (and eating her). Rhodes Island Operators get Help challenge—

Zahliya has been recovered! He is sleeping on top of Add right now thanks to sedatives. His injuries have closed and he will now be contactable on the NPC Contact Page for any followups.

The fog wall is black. :) This is one of several effects but currently is the only one that is very apparent to player characters. Touching the black fog will burn characters severely, and will also incite a sense of dread within them that lasts for about half an hour after touching it. Do not touch the fog wall.

The rest of you are probably fine, if you want to die please contact Amity.

Thank you for participating in my dumbass event, my chaos urges are now satisfied and we will return to your regularly-scheduled mod posts.

Edited 2023-09-17 01:55 (UTC)

[ Mizuki absolutely is going to get to work on "getting rid of the evil". What does that mean? Well, it means that, he's going to plop himself right in front of Moder's corpse in front of God and Everyone, and just starts ripping and tearing pieces of flesh away from the not-moose's body.

He doesn't care about the blood the oozes out as he shoves his hands in, or how much more of a mess he's causing in doing so, or that he's just shoving whole ass raw meat into his mouth. Hey, what the fuck, you freaky little jellyfish—

He's going to assume the healers can handle the injured. He wouldn't be any help there, anyway. ]

( dearest darling life: stop sucking. you have five minutes to get exponentially better or else. this is a threat.

by which i mean, despite the severe injuries felicity's experienced due to trees and roots, she's stumbling around because several people got fucking pinned, hand glowing an eerie black, and with a touch... disintegrating trees to ash. enjoy freedom and also the scent of something very clearly wrong. )

( currently he is. pinned under a tree, and oh god his lungs. if blood seeps from his mouth as he tries to shove the thing off of him futily, ignore it for right now.

once he's rescued, he'll- well to be honest he'll wait for medical attention because the grail does not reset broken ribs and he has so many- )

[After getting thwacked with vines and nearly getting a tree dropped on him and watching Mizuki eat a moose-monster... he flies off to go find where Add and the gargoyle ran off, and it doesn't take him too long to find them both wedged between felled trees. Add is on the ground... Zahliya is dead asleep on top of him. Elsword's shoulders relax almost immediately; seems like they're alive.]

Hey.

[Announcing his presence... and then he will scoop the gargoyle (oh wow they weigh a lot more than he thought they would) and put them against one of the trees to sleep. Elsword has no idea what the problem was earlier but he figures Zahliya will be safe there.

And then he sees Add is bleeding and he immediately freaks out again wow—]

Let me see. Where are you hurt?

[Once Add is done shoving his hand in the fog, he'll be going around to everyone to make sure they're not dead. If anyone has broken bones or looks visibly injured, prepare to be doctored. He's holding back on his instant-heal drugs (that shit is in limited supplies), but he does have plenty of bandages, painkillers, and stitches, if needed. And also, y'know, the knowledge of how to set a bone properly.

... but he does also have a secondary goal, because he learned a fun new trick w\ the golden glasses. So, even if you're not injured, there's a good chance he's still going to stop and put them on to stare for at least a few seconds. Just making sure everything's normal, don't worry about it.]

Threaded | Flat

!"INVITATION"

!GATHERING

!OOC

Gathering

no subject

no subject

gathering.....

MIDNIGHT.

< Creature Summoning >

!
"INVITATION"

!
GATHERING

!
OOC