ironwood: (MISC / people)
ɪʀᴏɴᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴇsʜᴀɪ ([personal profile] ironwood) wrote in [community profile] tushanshu_logs2016-02-13 01:12 am

[EVENT; TRUTH COMPULSION] AFTERMATH OF CLAN JAGAIZ BATTLES

Characters: Everyone, NPC and Foreigners alike!
Date: February 12th-18th.
Location: All over Keeliai, with a grand party in the Courtyard of Public Opinion on the 17th.
Situation: As the main family heads return to Keeliai, they bring with them a very strange thought virus that seems to spread rapidly throughout the city. Before long, anyone who's been exposed to the source of the virus finds themselves not only incapable of lying when asked a direct question, but actually compelled to tell the truth.
Warnings / Rating: None yet; please warn in individual threads as necessary.

OOC NOTE: This is an opt-out event, but the compulsion will still affect Keeliai as a whole. That is, even if you choose to leave your character unaffected, nearly every kedan your character meets will be affected, and will act accordingly. Questions regarding this event can be asked on February's itinerary, located HERE.


The Inciting Incident:
In the Jagaiz exhibition matches - the ones the Keeliai family heads were invited to - several Tavimbian natives present kedan and Foreigner combatants who win their matches with odd little crystals. The crystals aren't very different from the Xunutane, for those who have been lucky enough to take a tour through the Artery Levels; they're meant to be little good luck charms, or souvenirs (though no one actually uses the word souvenir.) Each family head's combatant takes that little crystal home when they return to Keeliai.

The Problem:
Within twenty-four hours, anyone who's touched one of these crystals directly is physically incapable of lying, and strongly compelled to tell the truth when they're asked a direct question. The strange virus seems to spread by touch as well; within twenty-four hours after that, anyone who's come into contact with anyone who's touched a crystal is also affected, and so on and so forth, spreading out across the city.

The more removed a character is from the little crystals, the weaker their compulsion to tell the truth. On top of that, variances in the crystals themselves can also dictate how strong the compulsion is, which means how badly a character is affected is entirely up to their player. Has your character been fighting in Jagaiz matches? Chances are they're telling the truth to anyone who even looks like they're about to ask a question. Has your character been avoiding Hatal completely? Then they probably aren't affected, or are only affected at the lowest level. In between those two extremes, there's a lot of wriggle room for determining how affected you want your character to be and how badly you want them to screw up.

Please note that if a character is affected, then they are physically incapable of lying. The compulsion to tell the truth is what varies. Some people might get by simply by keeping their mouths shut tight; others might wake up one morning and feel so compelled to tell the truth that they can't stop themselves from turning on a console and telling it all their deepest secrets. (There's a spate of console posts from the kedan combatants who fought in the exhibition matches, for example, confessing everything from trips into the red light district to open hatred for the Snakes.) It all depends on how exposed to the source they've been, or on variances in the crystals and in the Dreaming -- how badly a character is affected has nothing to do with the character's own mental resilience, though characters are free to ICly assume that!

The really odd thing about this strange virus is that it seems to affect everyone regardless of circumstances. This means even characters without organic brains can be affected.

Anyone who asks the residents of Hatal about it will receive congratulations! Apparently it's not an uncommon effect, but not always a reliable one; the stones can be passed down but leave entire generations unaffected. Unsurprisingly, the effect has been appropriated by the Sabonile as evidence of the Xunutane's favour -- the priests will assure the residents of Keeliai that it's an opportunity for them to prove their character to one another (or an opportunity to change it, if need be!)

While the Sabonile can't cure the effect (and won't understand why you'd want to, being radically honest themselves), they will be able to reassure Keeliai's populace that the effects wear off given time. They also willingly provide 'comfort rooms' in their temples. These rooms are places of solitude for those who would rather meditate on their truths than blurt them to everyone they pass. Physically they don't really do much, but they're an option for those who are driven to interact with others yet don't want to embarrass themselves, and provide assurance that the Sabonile won't let anyone be bothered if they want to ride out the effects in (relative and non-harmful) solitude.

The Coping Mechanism:
Party!

No, seriously. The family heads, about halfway through the week, decide that if nearly every kedan is going to be compelled to tell the truth, then we might as well celebrate that fact and get everyone's dirty secrets out into the open.

All day on February 17th, kedan gather in the Courtyard of Public Opinion for a grand party. Several have bandanas or scarves tied over their mouths (or around their heads or necks) to indicate asking them questions might be dangerous; others gather in large drinking games, to which they'll happily invite any Foreigner who wants in. Each of the family heads will be in attendance, and each will be -- however grudgingly -- open to questions.

There will be a starter for the party below. For all other shenanigans related to the truth compulsion, please feel free to put up starters for your own characters! Threads can take place anytime during the week, and anywhere on the turtle's back or in Hatal.
redlightgreenlight: (cocky)

Xuiyu

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-02-15 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
She had buried Dante's sword, but her reluctance to do the same with his twin pistols had led her to the idea of offering them to Xuiyu. Surely the leader of the Metalworkers could find some use for them and it would keep them out of the hands of the Snakes for the most part. Perhaps it would even help the Metalworkers.

The woman's laughter drew Valdis in the right direction. As she passed the beverage table, Valdis snatched two drinks and then crossed to the woman, offering her a drink to replace the one she had just finished.

"I have a proposition for you."
forgediron: (xuiyu } a little funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-02-15 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm pretty susceptible to propositions from pretty women with drinks," Xuiyu said genially, waving Valdis to a seat on one of the many cushions strewn around. She was most definitely relaxed--for one thing, her pant-leg was rolled up and her false leg removed, her knee resting on a cushion of its own. She clearly wasn't intending to go anywhere tonight, or at least not in a hurry.
redlightgreenlight: (Kinda Happy)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-02-17 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Valdis took a cushion and made herself comfortable, taking a delicate sip of the beverage to test it. Of all the family heads, she actually liked Xuiyu. The Kedanese woman was confident, no nonsense and generally more agreeable than Zanru and Yunxu. She smiled.

"How is your family doing?"

Small talk before business.
forgediron: (xuiyu } not THAT funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-02-18 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
"You wanna know about my cousin," said Xuiyu without offence. 'Small talk' wasn't on her list of skills. She took a swallow of her drink and rested her head on her hand, looking at Valdis with glittering eyes and entirely not answering the assumed question. "Bug up their arses about Yunxu, the little sods. I'd rather they take their indignation out on the forges, but whatever."
redlightgreenlight: (Unsure)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-02-24 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes," Valdis replied, "Zanru has been on my mind as of late. I spoke with her during the Chihulean's visit."

She raised a brow, "I'm not surprised, Yunxu tends to rub people the wrong way. Though..." She hummed a moment, "I might be able to help them focus a bit."
forgediron: (xuiyu } not THAT funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-02-27 10:06 am (UTC)(link)
"She told me." Xuiyu keeps watching Valdis, not showing much emotion one way or another. It was a fun night. She was relaxed. She had something to drink and good company. It worked.

"Oh yeah?" she asked negligently. "How's that?"
redlightgreenlight: (Kinda Happy)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-02-29 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
"I have something that might interest you anad yours."

Valdis tossed back the last of her drink, signaled a nearby server to bring another and didn't answer until it was in her hand.

"Tell you what," She continued, "how about we make a game of it?"

She swirled her glass, letting the liquid almost spill over, but not actually spilling a drop.

"For each question we ask, we must finish a drink before the other person answers. Sound fun to you?"
Edited 2016-02-29 04:43 (UTC)
forgediron: (xuiyu } ilu cuz but you're a dick)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-01 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Sounds like a trap to me," said Xuiyu. Her tone hadn't changed at all, despite the words. "Seems to me like making a game out of it is a quick way for you to get the advantage and me to lose some shit I don't intend to put on the table anyways."

She knocked back her drink and took the one the server was waiting to give her. "If you've got something to offer, you do that without making conditions on the offering. If not, I'm not losing anything I already had and you're the one missing the chance to talk about my cuz."

Xuiyu was a drinker. An idiot she was not.
redlightgreenlight: (Happy 2)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-01 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I like you," Valdis replied, lifting her drink in Xuiyu's direction in salute, "Not even Yunxu could keep his wits about him in such a manner."

She finished her drink and took another. "I usually consider it poor manners to bring a weapon to a party, but..." she set her drink on the ground and pulled Ebony out of her bag, holding it out to Xuiyu.

"This is one of two in my possession," she explained, "Unlike the firearms that you may be manufacturing, which require physical bullets, this weapon harnesses dark energy."
forgediron: (xuiyu } a little funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-01 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Snake crawlers can be short-sighted," said Xuiyu. "Too close to the ground." Which made them useful in some respects, but not in others. The Snakes were a good paramilitary force. As a leadership? Not so much.

Xuiyu sat up a little more as Valdis brought out the weapon, but waved off one of her cousins stepping closer when it became clear Valdis wasn't threatening anyone. She reached out to take it herself instead, easily keeping her drink clear of the weapon.

"We've been looking into energy weapons since Stark showed us energy shields," she mused. "How's this harnessing happen?"
redlightgreenlight: (Unsure)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-04 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
She agreed that overall, the Snakes did seem short-sighted, more inclined to look at what worked immediately instead of playing the long game, however... "The ground is a safer place, but you can learn so much more from up high, as long as you don't stray too close to the sun that is."

It was an old story, but one that held some truth.

Valdis shook her head, at the question, "I wish I knew. Their previous owner never said, nor did the person who taught me to use them. What I do know is that the energy comes from my own power." She shrugs, "I suspect that a similar mechanic to your energy shields could be used instead of supernatural energy, but you are the expert, not I."

She eyed Ebony, feeling slightly guilty for handing off the weapon to someone else, "I would like it back, eventually," she continued, "But if you need to measure it's power, I'd be happy to fire it a few times for you in a controlled environment."
forgediron: (xuiyu } ilu cuz but you're a dick)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-06 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
Xuiyu grunted. "Magical, then. Less useful, unless we figure out how the channelling part of it works. Probably will need a demo for that. Got a limit on how long we can have it? Otherwise the lasses down in the lab will probably try to pretend they 'forgot'."

Not that they were deliberately deceptive, most of the time, but if they didn't get anywhere fast they might like to add it to their collection of long-term mental chewtoys.
redlightgreenlight: (expressionless)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-07 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Valdis tipped her head. Part of her reasoning for giving the weapon to Xuiyu was so that she could move on from Dante, but she couldn't release Ebony and Ivory permanently and that had been made clear by the fact that she had only brought one of the pistols.

"Would three months suffice?"

forgediron: (xuiyu } not THAT funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-11 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
"It'll do," said Xuiyu, setting the gun down on the nearest surface--barrel turned away from anyone. "Okay. What d'you want to ask about, then? I reserve the right to kick you off your seat if you're getting too pushy. Fair warning."
redlightgreenlight: (small smile)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-11 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Warning noted," Valdis replied with a smile, settling back to sip at her drink. "How is your cousin doing these days?"

She wished she could ask exactly where the woman was spending her time, but she didn't want to risk being shooed away too soon, especially when there was other information that could be gleaned.
forgediron: (xuiyu } a little funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-12 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Bugged and bothered," said Xuiyu, "so not much is new." Her dark eyes glinted at Valdis over the rim of the glass she lifted. "Gonna drag it out by inches, are you? Sure you have the patience for that?"
redlightgreenlight: (expressionless)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-14 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Valdis sighed, "Patience is a very useful virtue, but no, I suppose not."

She threw back the rest of her drink and was immediately brought another, which she accepted with a nod.

"What is Zanru doing with the Chihuelans? I know that she is in contact with Celauun."
forgediron: (xuiyu } ilu cuz but you're a dick)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-17 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
"You knew it before I did," said Xuiyu with a shrug. It wasn't a complete lie. There were some things Xuiyu suspected, but didn't know. "She went there to negotiate. S'far as my cousin is good at negotiating, anyway; but Celeunn wasn't really in on diplomacy anyway, as I remember."
redlightgreenlight: (Unamused)

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2016-03-18 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
Valdis' lip twitched. She couldn't see Zanru being very good at negotiating anything, much less something with Celaunn, who Valdis remembered as being just as grumpy.

"I see, did she have any success?"
forgediron: (xuiyu } not THAT funny)

[personal profile] forgediron 2016-03-20 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
"She ain't back yet," said Xuiyu, "so I'd say 'not enough to be going on with'. My cuz doesn't do well with half-measures, dunno if you noticed."

All this time her gaze was still on Valdis, alternating between speaking and taking mouthfuls of her drink. She didn't seem inclined to outright volunteer any information, at least, so she wasn't as badly affected as others.