thebastion | Event: Core [Day 61]

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Event: Core [Day 61]

For more details, or if you have any questions, please see the OOC post.

For this event, Player characters will be split into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A consists of any characters who arrived in the Bastion before Day 61. Group B consists of any characters who arrived in the Bastion on Day 61. Please keep your posts to the threads that have the heading that corresponds to your respective group.

There are two goals that need to be met:

1: Group A must locate Group B and safely bring them to the Bastion.
2: Someone must bring the Core back to the Bastion.

The second goal is time sensitive. If the Core is not found in time, it will disappear from the Skyway.

This event will consist of free-form tagging. There is no set tagging order, so feel free to have your characters respond to occurrences as you see fit.

All important threads are listed below:

Group A starting thread
Group B starting thread
Group A: at The Melting Pot
Group A: searching the stalls
Groups A and B meet up
Boss battle

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[Early in the morning on Day 61, the NPCs Nathaniel and Mireille call a meeting, inviting everyone in the Bastion to attend.

At this meeting, Nathaniel is the first to speak up.]

First off, I'd like to say that it's good to see so many people here. We've grown from five people to over fifteen in two months, and if we keep finding more people out on the Skyway then we might just be able to build a little community here.

But as we grow, we have to worry about accommodations for everyone. To put it frankly, We're stretching our food supplies a bit thin right now. Mireille here thinks we have enough for four more weeks, supposing we don't get any more newcomers. We can look for more food out on the Skyway, but by now a lot of the stuff we're coming across is rotten. We really need to work on making our own food here in the Bastion.

Which brings me to why I called you all here. The Bastion has its own food supplies, and it'll grow food on its own with minimal care from anyone else. I managed to find the settings for it, but we need more power to the Bastion to activate it. That means finding another Core.

[He pauses there for a moment, to let the reality sink in for everyone. He might also be looking to gauge how others respond, since he's still new to being the head Mancer for all Bastion-related things.]

[There's a quiet that seems to permeate the group even after Nathaniel speaks, but not surprising it's Rin who pipes up.]

I've gone after Cores before. It ain't easy but I'm willin' to do it again. If anyone can take hits from those damned Windbags it's me. 'course I'm willin' to go with anyone else who wants to help, too.

[This is important, after all. They need it to survive and she's risked her neck a few times already.]

[ Little guy tugging on the hem of big girl's shirt. ]

What's a 'Core'? Can I eat that?

Shiro, shh.

[Rin puts a hand over the little guy's mouth to silence him.]

You can't eat Cores, we need them to make this place better, ok?

[ He looks thoughtful for a second. 'Better' is good! But he still wants something to eat. ]

If I open my mouth big enough, can I eat it? Will it make me better too?

No, if you eat it we won't have it anymore and that's bad. If you wanna eat somethin' you can get food from the kitchen.

Unfortunately, we're on rations until we find another Core, so he can't just go get food when he's hungry.

But it's not all bad news today. Early this morning I was able to pick up an energy reading from off the Skyway, and I'm pretty sure it's a Core. I couldn't pinpoint the exact location like last time, but I've got it narrowed down to one section of old Caelondia, so it shouldn't take too long to find.

[He hesitates for a moment before saying this last part.]

I hate to do it, but I gotta ask you guys to go get it for us. I'm the last Mancer here, and if I died out on the Skyway then there'd be nobody left to keep the Bastion running smoothly. Do you think you guys could do it without me this time?

[Ugh, rations. No amount of prep could make rations in to decent meals. But they were meals and she was grateful for that. But she would be more grateful if she could keep the kitchen running.

She had already said she would help, but if Nathaniel was staying behind...]

... I'll lead the group then. You're right, we need you here.

Then I'll go too, to make sure you don't get lost on the way.

[He's not about to let Rin almost get herself killed again. He wasn't around the last time, but he had heard stories.

Besides, he wouldn't skip out on helping like this, not when it was something everyone needed.]

I'm more used to knowing the lay of the land when I lead things anyway. At the very least, I've got three... uses, for healing while we're out. It's not the best healing but its better than bandages and splints.

[ Even if the knight would rather go in with fireballs and meteors. And there's no way Duke is going to sit here while a bunch of kids - flame powers or not - go out hunting for anything. ]

... Out of curiosity, are there known monster types that are edible.

I can only use my Soul Perception once per day, but maybe it can at least get a read on what's around us to avoid it. Maybe what direction the Core is in, too?

[Though that last part is just hopeless optimism, the Core doesn't feel very much like a soul.]

Whatever you guys can do will definitely help.

[This seems like a good bunch of people, so he has high hopes for them.]

The place you're going to is the old city markets, the Melting Pot. It's somewhere within that ward, so if you keep to the shop stalls you should eventually come across it.

Hazard-wise, there should only be Windbags and maybe some Peckers. If you stay in a group they should be no problem for you guys.

[Though he does wonder if sending a small kid like Shiro on this mission is a good idea. Hopefully that kid has some hidden talent.]

Also, since it's the market area, keep an eye out for anything useful there. Even if you don't find the Core, you might be able to find some rice or flour that's still good for eating.

[Rin has her own concerns about bringing Shiro along, but she's not about to tell him to stay behind. He was almost as protective of his friends as she was, and he probably wouldn't take well to that.

Bon's comment, of course, earned a glare, but she thankfully didn't start yelling at him like she normally would. There wasn't really time for that.

Also, edible monsters? Ew, no. ... though if Duke could find one that wouldn't kill them all from being disgusting, it was an alternative to the Core.

... frankly Rin would rather find the Core. Thanks.]

Okay. I think we can do this. We'll definitely bring that Core back.

[Rin spoke with confidence, but not the usual bravado or false arrogance that she tended to spout off. It wasn't an impossible task, just a difficult one, and it looked to her like they had a pretty decent group here.]

[ Duke saw that face at the suggestion, Rin. ]

Not the windbags. Who would even think about trying to cook something that spits acid? I suppose if boots ran out, they'd be an option-

[ The knight grimaces at that too. Yeah, actually having the core would help a lot- ]

But peckers sound like birds. Has anyone tried?

[In every gathering, there's one person hanging out right next to the door so they can leave if it becomes even slightly necessary.

Crona is that person.]

[ And Marie is right by Crona, hopefully reassuringly so.

It is debatable as to how effective she is. Either way, what needs to be done is a given. ]

Let's focus on finding the thing first, and talk about taste-testing the local animals later. No time like the present, right?

Excellent point!

[Oh look here are some supplies! Health potions mostly, but there are also a couple black bottles with white labels mixed in.]

Here's some stuff you guys can take, just in case you need 'em. And be sure to hurry, you're not the only ones out there who will be gunning for that Core.

[And with that, the NPCs will leave the PCs to their task of going to the Melting Pot for the Core.

The Melting Pot itself starts off with a long walkway that leads from previously explored areas of the Skyway to the Melting Pot itself. Said long walkway is very long, narrow, and lacks guardrails, so be careful!

There are also a few Peckers milling about on the path, though they are far enough down that they have not spotted the group yet.]

[In spite of Bon's insistence that Rin was going to get lost again, the half demon led the group, walking at the front of their lined up numbers carefully so as not to get too close to the narrow edges of the Skyway.

Spotting the birds ahead, their occasionally flapping wings and erratic movements alerting her to their presence, she raised a hand and slowed.]

Peckers ahead. Not a lot, but they're gonna make a lotta noise if we get too close.

[ Shiro isn't very intelligent, but he is pretty fast. He has, in fact, already closed some distance between himself and the Peckers. He's never seen birds before! He's waving his arms at them excitedly. ]

Hey, you guys over there! Are you 'friends'? Or 'foes'?

.... I have some ranged, but I think at this point it may be best for me just... to go catch up to that kid and beat things off-

[ Why did they bring Shiro again-

Hopefully Rin knows, because Duke is just... going to get closer, sword ready to defend. ]

Edited 2013-04-27 21:56 (UTC)

[Because he wants to be able to protect his friends.

That's what he told her anyway.

... yeah she's kind of questioning it now anyway.]

Shiro!

[The name was said in a frantic hiss, trying to get his attention before he got too far off.]

[Shouting at the birds actually gets their attention. They don't speak a response, but the one closest to Shiro will hop over to Shiro and tilt its head curiously as it makes a cawwing noise at Shiro.

Then it will try to steal Shiro's hat.]

[ And no one is surprised—not even Shiro. Shouting at them was supposed to get their attention, after all. He laughs, casually holding onto his hat as if an unruly child were making a go for his lagomorphic headwear. ]

Haha, wait, what's caw mean?

[ He points at the Pecker and turns back to Rin, completely oblivious as to why Rin was trying to get his attention in the first place. ]

Look, it said caw.

Yes, we can. Now shh. I'm trying to hear Nathaniel.

[Yeah that's a hand going back over your mouth again Shiro. Quiet now, adults are speaking.]

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