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tushanshu_logs2014-09-30 04:21 pm
ironwood) wrote in tushanshu_logs2014-09-30 04:21 pm
EVENT | INTERMEZZO | Palace Exploration Log
Characters: ALL!
Date: Sept 28 and onward
Location: Palace of the Landed Sky, Keeliai
Situation: In the wake of Malicant's bold taunt, and the death of the Emperor and five hatchlings, the Palace is left abandoned and open for the Foreigners and kedan alike to explore.
Warnings/Rating: CONTENT WARNINGS are noted in the various subject headers, please take note of them!
---
zwischenzug | (ˈzvɪʃənzuːɡ) | intermezzo | n. (in chess):
1. A tactical move interpolated into an exchange or series of exchanges to improve the outcome.
2. "in-between move". An unexpected move tossed into an expected series of moves. (German)
---
Where once the Palace of the Landed Sky was a majestic and beautiful thing to behold, it now seems to pulse with negative energy. The outer walls are crumbling in most places, unsteady and fallen into disrepair. The walls of the Palace itself remain for the most part sturdy, minus a few fallen stones and the ruins beside the Courtyard.
The Palace is empty. Though some bodies can be found scattered haphazardly about the halls, most of those who were working in the building have disappeared entirely. There’s no question as to whose doing it was.
Small groups of kedan have also ventured into the Palace in order to loot whatever rooms they can get into, feeling confident that the reward will outweigh the risk of facing off against Foreigners who may feel the need to repel them. Mostly they'll be in groups of 3-5, though individuals or larger can be encountered as well. Some will engage the Foreigners in hostilities and some will grudgingly be sent on their way without challenge, depending on how bold they feel.
No banners, rugs, lanterns, or furniture within the Palace remain in pristine condition (with the exception of Eshai’s room). Everywhere one looks, items are torn, scratched, or smeared with blood. Even the interior walls are often cracked or caked in what one hopes is only blood. Perhaps more unnerving are the ‘veins’ that run through the walls, floor, and ceiling. These thin black tendrils, equal parts within and without the surface they spread across, are textured and feel like pine needles to the touch. These veins run throughout the Palace, yet never seem to thicken, intensify, or coalesce in any one room or area.
Though the walls are still made of white marble and the floor remains interlaced with rose quartz and mother-of-pearl, the shine has gone from them and something of the life and light they brought has withered away. Though the structure remains intact, it feels in some areas as if the walls have closed in, making the previously grand rooms now seem shrunken and constrictive. An air of eerie calm and discomfort can be felt from the first step on. The building is not the Palace anyone remembers.
LINKS
Throne Room | Eshai's Room | Storage Armory | Library
Ritual Chamber | Prison | Courtyard | The Turtle's Head
OOC NOTE
The Palace becomes available to explore as of the 28th, but will remain accessible until further notice. Please direct any questions regarding this log to the QUESTIONS section in the original OOC post.
There will also be a State of the Shell post coming soon to address the current status of the city and its key players. Thank you!
Date: Sept 28 and onward
Location: Palace of the Landed Sky, Keeliai
Situation: In the wake of Malicant's bold taunt, and the death of the Emperor and five hatchlings, the Palace is left abandoned and open for the Foreigners and kedan alike to explore.
Warnings/Rating: CONTENT WARNINGS are noted in the various subject headers, please take note of them!
---
zwischenzug | (ˈzvɪʃənzuːɡ) | intermezzo | n. (in chess):
1. A tactical move interpolated into an exchange or series of exchanges to improve the outcome.
2. "in-between move". An unexpected move tossed into an expected series of moves. (German)
---
Where once the Palace of the Landed Sky was a majestic and beautiful thing to behold, it now seems to pulse with negative energy. The outer walls are crumbling in most places, unsteady and fallen into disrepair. The walls of the Palace itself remain for the most part sturdy, minus a few fallen stones and the ruins beside the Courtyard.
The Palace is empty. Though some bodies can be found scattered haphazardly about the halls, most of those who were working in the building have disappeared entirely. There’s no question as to whose doing it was.
Small groups of kedan have also ventured into the Palace in order to loot whatever rooms they can get into, feeling confident that the reward will outweigh the risk of facing off against Foreigners who may feel the need to repel them. Mostly they'll be in groups of 3-5, though individuals or larger can be encountered as well. Some will engage the Foreigners in hostilities and some will grudgingly be sent on their way without challenge, depending on how bold they feel.
No banners, rugs, lanterns, or furniture within the Palace remain in pristine condition (with the exception of Eshai’s room). Everywhere one looks, items are torn, scratched, or smeared with blood. Even the interior walls are often cracked or caked in what one hopes is only blood. Perhaps more unnerving are the ‘veins’ that run through the walls, floor, and ceiling. These thin black tendrils, equal parts within and without the surface they spread across, are textured and feel like pine needles to the touch. These veins run throughout the Palace, yet never seem to thicken, intensify, or coalesce in any one room or area.
Though the walls are still made of white marble and the floor remains interlaced with rose quartz and mother-of-pearl, the shine has gone from them and something of the life and light they brought has withered away. Though the structure remains intact, it feels in some areas as if the walls have closed in, making the previously grand rooms now seem shrunken and constrictive. An air of eerie calm and discomfort can be felt from the first step on. The building is not the Palace anyone remembers.
LINKS
Throne Room | Eshai's Room | Storage Armory | Library
Ritual Chamber | Prison | Courtyard | The Turtle's Head
OOC NOTE
The Palace becomes available to explore as of the 28th, but will remain accessible until further notice. Please direct any questions regarding this log to the QUESTIONS section in the original OOC post.
There will also be a State of the Shell post coming soon to address the current status of the city and its key players. Thank you!
STORAGE ARMORY - [content warning: drug references]
The room itself is nearly as long as the Throne Room, stretching far beyond what one can see from the doorway. Its ceilings, however, are considerably low - only twelve feet high at most, with some areas dipping down to only eight feet. The ceiling and walls are carved out of stone, uneven and rough to the touch. There is no other entrance or exit. Filling the room are enormous assortments of crates, sacks, and other such storage containers.
A selection of storage cabinets meant for weaponry is tucked off to the right. Characters who investigate this area will find a selection of purely energy-based weapons (no actual projectiles involved) which emit a blast with a wide range of results. One weapon may fire a narrow beam that burns through the nearest wall (somewhere outside of this cave), while another shoots a golf ball sized lightning orb that bounces around the room until it hits a target, friend or foe. These weapons can be identified as being a result of the satellite debris that fell on Keeliai some time ago from the ARSHEPELIOS orbital defense platform, including being constructed of salvaged pieces and offering energy signatures close to those of the spectres from the satellite. [If your character would like to take one of the handgun, shotgun, or long gun style weapons, please note it in the subject line as a limited number are available.]
To the left are rows and stacks of well crafted, wooden barrels. All of the barrels are empty, yet most are stained with a reddish liquid; whether that is wine or blood is impossible to tell in the dark; perhaps a mixture of the two. Beside the barrels are crates of Dust, packaged neatly in small pouches for distribution. It will be impossible for characters to accidentally take a hit of the drug in these conditions, but the bags are easy to pocket for those looking to score. As a reminder, Dust is a hallucinogenic drug which causes increased violence, disorientation, reduced inhibitions, and makes one generally more susceptible to Malicant.
Also accessible, down a clear path in the middle of the room and given space in what would suggest importance, are a few crates of a new discovery. These crystals are beautiful, comprised of small and mostly transparent formations which catch the light and come in a variety of colors (not unlike rock candy or some precious gems). No one could blame someone for confusing the crystals for valuables. Be careful though! Every crystal has one protrusion longer than the others which is sharp enough to draw blood. When it does, the color drains from the crystal, injected into the affected bloodstream.
Which means your character just took a hit of the hottest new drug. Known as “Lucid” (or “Crystal” for those who don’t know better), these little babies cause an extreme increase in emotion, though which emotion that is relates to the color of the Crystal: red affects anger, blue sadness, green jealousy, yellow happiness, purple love/lust, orange fear, black hatred, and white calm. Though a few hits of yellow might seem like a good idea of the time, too much of any one emotion will lead to clouded thinking and make one more susceptible to outside influence. The effects of this drug will last up to 24 hours, with newer users lasting longer on a single hit than repeat offenders -- and, like all the best drugs, it comes with an addiction and withdrawals.
taking a handgun
Blaming himself can wait. Maybe now that the palace is opened something useful can come from this. Might as well try to find a silver lining in this mess if possible. While the others search together Hawke breaks away from the group to explore on his own. Eventually he finds himself in storage, or maybe some kind of armory. Whatever its use, it's far bigger than Hawke imagined.
The first thing he stumbles across is the rack of odd weapons. The closest comparison he draws are the weapons made by the people Bucky, Kaine, and himself saved months ago. Hawke grabs one of the smaller ones and examines it for a moment before sticking it into his belt. Maybe someone here can tell him more about it.
Further exploration leads Hawke to a much more familiar sight. Dust. Hawke's had a few run ins with the substance in his smuggling ring. He knows enough about it to know that its bad news. All of it appears to be completely ready for distribution as well. "Seems like I might have found the source of my competition," Hawke says to himself with a mirthless smile.