thebastion | Day 151

Entry tags:

Day 151

Who: Zia, Zulf + the NPCs Nathaniel, Zanya, Zahi + YOU
Open: Open
When: Day 151
Where: Throughout the Bastion
What: Tension has fallen over the Bastion, and it's time to sort out truth and anger.
Format: Any
Warnings: Drama

A few days ago, some residents of the Bastion might have become aware of a confrontation happening at a certain Ura's humble abode. There was some yelling- although not clear- and the result was a very harried looking Rin Okumura forcibly dragging away resident Mancer Nathaniel. The next couple of days have been quiet, but today... Well, if anyone wants to ask about and see what the deal was, it seems like today is the day.

It seems like Nathaniel has finally quit his own self imposed isolation, if only so that he doesn't starve to death. Apparently anger can only sustain a man for so long. He can be seen storming through the Bastion, a thundercloud practically gathered about him, or at the eating area looking very much like he wants to be left alone.

Zulf has been less of a hermit. Anyone who has seen him since the argument has probably noticed his black eye and sore nose. He seems angry as well, although it's quieter and colder underneath all his civility. More noticeably, he's been hard at work building a few fences near the edges of the Bastion- mostly near his tent but also in other areas as well. They're not the best fences, but they're good enough, hopefully. You can approach him at the shrine, his tent, or anywhere, really... He's as available as he's always been. He might even approach you, just to warn about falling off the edge of the Bastion.

Seriously, this place has needed safety railings for ages now. Who's bright idea was it not to include safety railings? ~~RUCKS...~~

Anyone wandering by the Kitchens today will notice... Damn, that's a lot of yelling. And slamming of things. Should knives be used to chop that hard...? That's right, Rin is in a bad mood and anyone who comes near will immediately know it. The excess swearing is probably a good clue. Unlike the other two, she's unleashing her temper with wild abandon in the sanctity of her kitchen where no one will bug her. Well. Unless YOU bug her...

Of course, these three aren't the only ones noticeable about the Bastion today! It looks like the Ura residents are just coming out of the woodwork.

Anyone who's talked to either of the latest Ura additions knows that Zulf came in with Zia. While not involved with the row from a few days ago, she seems just as worried as Zulf seems angry. It's possible to see her wandering about with her pet Pecker chick. Might see her coming away after a discussion with Zulf, too... Maybe she knows what's going on?

There's also Zanya and her father Zahi who have been apparently a bit more sociable these last few days. There's apparently a subject they're both interested in which they'll approach people about, although they'll do so differently. Zahi will strike up friendly conversation, but Zanya will simply get right to the point: do you have any idea what happened?

Feel free to strike up conversation with any of them, or even try and talk to everyone if you wish.

[ooc: This is your characters chance to investigate just what the drama is all about! In such a small place as the Bastion, it's a bit hard to miss... Feel free to have your characters speculate or gossip with the Ura NPCs about what may have happened or if they caught onto a sliver of what happened (like Zulf and Nathaniel falling off the edge of the Bastion), or for them to go the more direct route by talking to either Nathaniel, Zulf, Rin, or Zia.]

[Long story short is that Rin went to get Venn's journal from Nathaniel. Upon realizing who exactly wanted it, Nathaniel went to confront Zulf. There was an argument on just who and what caused the Calamity... and then Nat punched Zulf in the face, they rolled off the edge of the Bastion, and Rin separated them after they got blown back up.]

[As a reminder! Mod Mandy plays NPC!Nathaniel and NPC!Zahi. Mod Jeni plays NPC!Zanya and Rin. Birdmod James plays Zulf. Helpful player Courtney plays Zia. We'll all get to you on our own individual time, and as soon as possible! Just make sure it's clear in your post who your character is approaching.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She's still a bit hesitant around him. Nathaniel omitting so much information certainly hurt far worse, but there was still a bit of a sting in the whole situation that left her feeling raw about both of them.

But Zulf was trying to talk to her, to help whereas Nathaniel had just shoved the journal at her, told her to hide it and had been quiet ever since.

She nodded, taking his hand and moving for a stool to sit down.]

[Once she's settled down, Zulf gets to removing most of his upper layers so that he's just in the plain white shirt underneath. It's as he's setting them down to the side that he remembers something and pulls it out from one of his pockets.]

Ah, I forgot. I was going to make this a part of my apology.

[That... sure looks like a rock he's handing you, Rin. It's not a very big one, just enough to take up the middle of her palm. There's a slight texture to it that brings to mind more of a sugar cube...]

I made sure to wash it, so you won't have to worry about getting dirt in your mouth. [...Oh yeah, he should probably explain.] It's something we like to snack on back home in the Terminals, although you'd find bigger ones further that way. It's rather sweet once you get past the thin surface layer.

[Absurdly sweet, actually. Like, ridiculously sweet. Being very much not-Ura, Rin might be unprepared for it.]

Hm?

[Obviously she hadn't been expecting an apology, let alone a gift of any sort, so she blinks her big eyes in confusion as he places it in her hand. Her slightly calloused thumb ran over the outside of it curiously.]

So it's like... candy?

That's right.

[He starts to roll up his sleeves so he can get to work.]

I hope you like it. You can't really find much of it this far west.

[Now excuse him as he starts to take care of all these messed up dishes...]

[It's not like any candy she's ever had before, though it does sort of make of her think of those American candies that are supposed to last for some ridiculous amount of time (not that they ever do) and are always advertised as being "everlasting" or something silly like that.

Still, it's worth trying. She fidgets on the stool, giving it a hesitant try.]

Hnn...

[Well, it's like Zulf said- the candy found around here isn't quite as strong or large as near the Terminals. It won't last forever... but it's still a bit of a shock. He smiles a bit at her reaction before sombering up again. It helps to focus on work while he speaks.]

So... Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll tell you what I can. If there's any questions, either... I suppose I do owe it to you to answer them.

[It's like stuffing an entire truffle in her mouth and sprinkling sugar on top of it just for good measure. She won't be eating that in one sitting, that's for sure.]

... why're-- ... why did the Ura and Caels start fightin' in the first place?

[A heavy sigh.]

The Point Lemaign War... I had just been born right around that time. You see, the Ura have been here longer than the Caels. Caelondia has always been an ambitious city, however, so they always wanted to spread outwards... Before the War, the Terminals was willing to do business with Caelondia. We sold them Burstone Quarry, for example, which certainly helped boost the city's strength. But that wasn't enough.

I will admit it can be difficult to tell where the Ura have settled- at least it was before when everything was still connected. I mentioned 'cavepeople' as an insult to my people before. We didn't make our homes like the Caels did. Instead, we lived underground. There were some Ura who could go their entire lives without seeing the sun. It's how we were able to thrive so well, really. Most of the danger of the Wilds was above ground- we could go right past it with our tunnels.

But...

You see, when Caelondia started to establish Point Lemaign... Well, that was their primary station for something known as the Grand Rail. It would help them bring in supplies they could get form the Wilds. The problem with this was that it ran right over Ura tunnels.

Nathaniel referred to it as a territorial dispute, and that is true... but in the Ura books, it's said that many died thanks to cave ins from Caelondian construction of that rail they were so proud of.

... so you helped them-- I mean, the Ura helped the Caels and then they just... walked right over them? Is that what you're saying?

[Dumb as Rin could be sometimes, she was starting to get an idea of what Zulf was saying without having to think too hard about it.]

I wouldn't say... 'helped', not exactly. The Ura did business with the Caels, when they cared to ask.

[Another sigh.]

Gods help me, but it would be easier if the Caels were simply the enemy. I can't say for certain- I was still young when it all happened. Zahi perhaps could tell you more. Still, I think it was half callousness, half ignorance. As I said before, Ura tunnels can be difficult to know the presence of if you're not used to looking for them. Caelondia couldn't know how much territory we truly had and I don't think they ever asked.

[She lets out a snort at that, though there's not much humor in it.]

My dad used to... to council newly weds. Y'know, couples that just got married? I know it's not much of a comparison but... he would come outta those sessions a lot and say that the biggest problem that people would have would be just talking.

Like... all that coulda been avoided if some one had just asked the right question.

[The slight laugh Zulf gives matches that snort of hers, his movements slowing and then stopping. Just talking... Hadn't Kid brought that up when they had talked? Just talk and it's amazing the kind of problems you could get rid of. As someone who made his life talking, Zulf supposes he should know better.]

Yes... It really could have been avoided. Maybe instead of enemies, at some point the Caels and the Ura could have been strong allies instead. [That's a dream he once held, wasn't it?] Yet no one asked that question, and so the war happened.

Anyway, that's how the Point Lemaign War started. Any other questions? I want to make sure I tell you everything before explaining my own story.

[It was making her wonder just how much of the constant warring between demon and human kind could be stopped by the same. After all, she and Kuro had become friends, and Shiro to Kuro before that. Familiars worked with exorcists well enough, even if they didn't like humans that much...

Ah... it was far less cut and dry when it was two different beings entirely going at each other's throats...]

I'unno. I'm sure I could ask somethin', but I can't think of anythin' right now. A lotta this still goes over my head a bit.

It's a lot to take in, I know... Do you want to go over it in your head a while longer? I can promise you the silence won't bother me much. I, ah...

[He's just going to look around the kitchen again.]

I think I'll be kept busy enough.

... I did kinda-- ... ugh... [She sighs, dropping her face in to her hand.]

Yuki would murder me if she saw this. I haven't lost my temper this bad outta battle in months...

If it makes you feel better, than I did considerably worse when I first found out about everything.

[To put it lightly.]

Just... sit there and catch your breath. Think on it.

... I guess it is just a kitchen.

[Talk about perspective. But that does make her wonder.]

... was he right? Were you at the Observatory?

[Well... That's a question. Zulf starts to wipe down the counters.]

No... I was being honest. Even with Zia being Venn's daughter, she wouldn't be able to get very far if at all into the observatory and I don't think she really cared to although I can't speak for her. Someone completely unaffiliated like myself? I wouldn't have been able to get a foot in.

But... There was someone besides her father that we both knew who was able to have regular access to the Observatory.

[Yup that was a question.]

... there was?

[Zulf comes to a stop, just staring down at the counter for a moment, before he reaches into his pocket again. What he pulls out is the spare Lemaign bracelet that she saw him take at the Festival.]

Rucks. I honestly can't even begin to tell you all the things that ridiculous old man has been a part of.. Mason, certainly, but perhaps a trigger as well and who knows how many other things... But he was also a high ranking Mancer. High enough that he could have regular contact with that accursed weapon.

But it's not what Nathaniel believes. Not one of us- Zia, Rucks, myself- none of us wanted that weapon to be used upon anyone. Not the Ura, not the Caels.

[He turns back to look at her, eyes heavy with sadness and pain.]

We wanted to make it so that it wouldn't work. Not even simply to turn on for a maintenance check. Even if just for a short while... We wanted it out of commission.

He-- ... he was tryin' to--

[Fucking hell what is that word. Rin screws up her face a bit, but the word doesn't come to her mind and she eventually gives up on it.]

Break it on purpose?

Sabotage.

[A dry smile.]

That's right. It's.... a long and complicated story, but some time after I came to Caelondia on a mission of peace, I ended up meeting Zia. Together, through her father, we learned about what the Mancers had planned. We knew that, once they had the plans, delaying tactics could only work for so long...

So Rucks was supposed to sabotage it while I would go through the city to see if I could find anyone else to get on our side. It... wasn't very safe. Ura in Caelondia are rarely treated well, and it would have been easy to pin just about anything on me. But we wanted to find people who wouldn't endorse the Mancer's plans and would do something about it.

But then... I don't know. [His fingers curl into the bracelet until he feels the metal start to bite.] The next thing I know, the Marshals- the law enforcers of Caelondia- were after myself and Zia. All we could do is hide... and then the Calamity happened.

[He drags a hand across his face- the uninjured side.]

We were going to tell the rest of the Bastion this eventually... The Kid thinks we should and we both agree with him. It's just- not an easy thing to tell.

Yeah, that.

[Thank you for putting up with her stupid, Zulf.]

It'd be one thing if it was just your world, Zulf. But it was all of ours. I'unno how many Caels there were. How many Ura there were. But... my world? The place where Bon, Night and I came from?

There were billions of people. They're gone now.

And that's just one... just one'a the worlds that got dragged to this fuckin' rock in the sky.

[She slips off her stool, moving to his side.]

They deserve to know.

I know.

[His shoulders slump, and exhaustion is starting to come over his face.]

We were going to tell everyone soon, after the Festival... I suppose we're going to have to speak up all the sooner.

If you want to know the truth... I'm actually more worried about telling my fellow Ura about all of this than any of you.

[Rin is with you there. This has been one hell of a way to end a festival...]

But wouldn't not tellin' them be worse? I know sometimes there's reason for it, but you can't keep it from 'em forever...

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