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

[burnseternal]

[Saint Walker had just finished ushering one group to a safehouse when he notices River wandering through the Sector. The fact that she is wholly alone is alarming enough, and assuming that the chaos has disoriented her, Saint Walker makes his way towards her in short notice.]

Are you unhurt? [He asks her, voice gentle.]

[problematical]

No injuries.

[ She answers him promptly but without looking up, her eyes still fixed on the ground and there's dirt and small bits of debris in her dark hair. ]

But there's too many cracks, they're everywhere, things are breaking.

[burnseternal]

They are at that, [Saint Walker says, voice grave.] But there are many who have already sought out shelter. Come, I will show you the way.

[problematical]

[ River shakes her head and takes a step back from him, even though nothing about his demeanor was frightening or threatening. ]

You have one too, like Kyle. Yours isn't as noisy.

[burnseternal]

You speak of my ring. It is correct that mine is similar to the Green Lanterns; I am a Blue Lantern. [He doesn't move forward any more, troubled by the way she shies away from him. He speaks again, just as gently as before,] I am here only to help, friend. I give you my word.

[problematical]

[ River mouths Blue Lantern silently, like she's hoping a revelation will come if she hits just the right pitch. When it doesn't, she seems neither surprised or disappointed; she's used to things not quite clicking into place. ]

I know. It's strong, you use it like a shield. Shield and sword and tool and gift.

[burnseternal]

[Right away, Saint Walker can tell that this girl - whoever she is - is built... differently from most of those he's met. She's not an easy soul to interpret, but that won't bar him from trying - though safety is his primary concern at the moment, not understanding.]

I prefer to use it as a shield. [He forms a construct in the palm of his hand, little more than a small glowing ball, to show her precisely what he can do.]

I can use my ring to form a shield around your mouth and nose until we find a place with fresher air. It will look quite similar to this. [Normally, he'd do it without prompting, but her demeanor leads him to take it slow.] May I?

[problematical]

[ She duplicates the movement, though of course no matching construct appears in her palm. River hesitates for a moment, then slowly nods. ]

All right. Yes, that's fine.

[ Despite the permission, she still looks uncertain. ]

[burnseternal]

Thank you.

[Saint Walker is doing this for her benefit, but he thanks her anyway, glad for her acquiescence in a situation both new and frightening. With a single wave of his hand, a ribbon of blue energy covers her mouth and nose. If she looks closely, she will see the way the debris clings to it, but flies away with every exhale, unable to break past the energy's barriers.]

There. No, all that is left to be done is to find sanctuary.