Event | Console Crash Chaos | Phase One

[cherrywood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: April 17-30, 2014
Location: Keeliai
Situation: In an unexpected and bold attack by Malicant, the console system is completely shut down while food and supply locations all around the city are targeted by bombings.
Warnings/Rating: Explosions! Possible descriptions of related aftermaths, injuries, death, etc.

Shortly after eight in the morning of the 17th, the consoles experience a strange glitching effect. They'll display 15-20 seconds of static, interrupting anything being done on them at the time, before going utterly dark. No power, no signal, completely offline even to detection of their normal bio-mechanical signatures. No amount of energy influx will get them going again, though taking them apart (or trying to) will still cause them to melt into goo.

Within minutes of the console shutdown, explosions will begin ripping through Keeliai. The bombs are all timed as close to simultaneous as coordinating a city-wide attack can be, with many going off within seconds of each other, throwing the thriving morning rush into chaos. They tear into businesses and across public spaces, collapsing walls and blowing piles of debris into the streets. Places of high traffic quickly become evident as prime targets: marketplaces, hospitals, schools and cafes. The streets take only moments to fill with panicking, screaming kedan trying to pull their injured fellows out of harm's way. All told, the explosions take place across approximately a 10-minute stretch and their explosive yields are fairly high.

In addition to the bombs that cause destruction through their blasts, smaller bombs are going off around the city that specifically target food and water supplies, particularly where large stocks of it were kept such as grocers, produce markets, and the like. Rather than cause mass damage, these explosions spray out a fine mist of spores. Any perishables in their immediate area that are splattered develop an oozing black mold within minutes, eventually breaking down organic substances that turn to foul smelling rot and release their own mist, perpetuating the cycle. While skin contact with the mist doesn't harm, inhaling or ingesting it will produce shakes, fever, vomiting with a cumulative effect that has the potential to be fatal. It is much slower to infect the water supply but the sheer volume of rotting perishables will eventually put enough of the spores to taint water sources, approximately 6-8 hours after the original bombings.

The police force are out as soon as possible and within the hour are helping move the injured to safer locations with Evandau in charge, right in their midst and shoulder to shoulder with his subordinates. Not being stockpiles for any of the apparent targets, many of the Foreigner residences have been left undamaged and, wary of putting them in further danger by collecting large groups in public spaces, Foreigners may even be asked to take in a few individuals or a kedan family.

Despite the number of explosions, there are far more reports of injuries as opposed to casualties. The person or persons (or That Bad Guy) responsible for this were, for this attack at least, more intent on damage than on death.

---

LINKS
Fire Sector | Earth Sector | Metal Sector | Water Sector | Wood Sector
Treating the Injured & Safe Houses | Investigations | OOC Plot Post

OOC NOTE: Remember that the consoles and network will be completely offline for the duration of this aspect of the the plot running April 17-23, though Foreigner tech is not affected. Plot questions can be directed to this comment. Have fun!

Comments

[problematical]

River has been moving farther away from the Water Sector where she'd been woken by the string of explosions. The smell of the trees was making her uncomfortable as well and she kept rubbing her hands as though there were an actual residue on them when she spotted Akito and the hatchling turtle.

"You shouldn't stay here," she said.

[akito]

Akito makes no move to get up - not yet, at least. No point in wasting energy if he doesn't know where to move to. He watches the girl curiously; the way she rubs her hands isn't something he can blame her for. The air feels dirty in a way that he can't blame solely on the smoke.

"Is there anywhere better to go?"

[problematical]

"It'll make you sick," she answered, whether she's aware or not that she hasn't answered Akito's question. "You and him too," she adds, nodding at Quintus who recognizes her; River has spent a good deal of time in Hawke's company, including when the man takes care of the hatchling.

[akito]

He had thought as much, but it's nice to get a second opinion. There really was no other explanation for feeling so sick; he'd suffered similar wounds before back home, and didn't feel nearly as ill afterwards. At her nod Akito lifts his good arm to rub Quintus' snout affectionately.

"Where won't make him sick?"

[problematical]

"Earth Sector," River replied, looking in that direction as though she could actually see the damage or lack thereof. "It's the least broken, and the driest. The water isn't going to be safe."

She approached Quintus, holding her hand out to see if the hatchling would respond.

[akito]

Akito looks in that direction as well. He had been there before to pick up some clothes (no chance of getting a job if you look like you can't even take care of yourself) and has a good mental picture of the layout. Quintus knows it better than he does and tells Akito such as he stretches his neck out to bump his nose against the girl's hand.

Rubbing Quintus' neck with his hand, he uses the hatchling as support as he pushes himself to his feet. Moving is dizzying, and if not for Quintus being a crutch, Akito is sure he would have just falling straight back down.

"They were aiming to contaminate the food and water," he realizes. It makes sense. If they're at war why wouldn't they take out the most important infrastructures? Send everyone into panic. Take the resources to recover fully away from them.

"We're going to the Earth sector then. Thanks, miss stranger." Akito feels lethargic and fuzzy. Everything is muddled. But he was trained for situations of battle - to help people whenever he can. And despite his injuries he still can. There are sure to be people he can help take to the Earth Sector.

"Will you be okay?"

[problematical]

River rubs Quintus' head gently, taking the psychic feedback as a guide to show her where he likes to be touched. She nods at Akito's deduction about the food and water contamination and that makes the Earth Sector the logical choice, where there is a minimum of both in public spaces.

"River," she offers, when he calls her miss stranger, even though he hadn't asked for her name. "I can go too, if you want."

[akito]

Thinking it over, Akito can see no downside to River joining them. Even if she can't take care of herself, she can offer an extra set of eyes and more insight into the geography than he has. He also can't in good conscience leave her on her own if that was the case. If she can take care of herself, that would be infinitely helpful since Akito wants Quintus to have as much protection as he can get.

Quintus has his own opinion on River's company, which is what matters to Akito the most. "Quin-kun would like Miss River to come with us."

[problematical]

River raises a finger to her mouth as though imparting a secret. "Can't make too much noise," she said. "Or they'll hear us and it would be bad. So it's like a game, all right?"