Hades 💀 Plot 1 - Planning Phase

[blessmefather]

Matt sends a message out on the network to his new allies at the beginning of the new month.

"I need a group of you to accompany me to a forest village at the foot of a mountain, population of about 200. We'll be leaving by airship on the fourth. We're either evacuating the town and taking them to join the refugees, or saving their village from getting crushed.

As I said before, this world is at risk of breaking down. In the case of the mountain we're headed to, it will crumble and crush the village at its base if we don't intervene. I can try throwing a magic barrier up around the village, but my power won't be enough alone. We'd have to take other measures to be successful.

So we need to decide; one, do we focus only on evacuation? And two, if we try to save the village, what approach are we taking to protect it from the landslide? Let's all discuss together. I'm open to suggestions."

[ ooc: -This discussion post will work just like the IC discussions for game events. Feel free to tag around between multiple characters.

-Please keep an eye out for the OOC sign-up. ]

Comments

[heaven_rooted]

What's the cause of the erosion? How dense are the woods in the area and around the village itself?

[blessmefather]

I'll ask one of The Vault librarians to put a map on here for you all. Give them ten to get that up...

It's an old, dense forest. Tall trees, centuries old. The village has mostly gone unbothered by the Empire because it's so far out of the way and they'd rather get their lumber closer to the shores.

The forest has gone a long way to help stabilize the mountain despite the state of the Pantheon, but the power from the gods that formed the mountain back in ancient times is almost spent. You could say the heart of the mountain has been depleted of power. The power can be restored in time with the restoration of the Pantheon, but these people don't have time for that.

[heaven_rooted]

If the forest is old enough, their roots go deep. Roots are the only thing that keep a lot of places from falling apart, but if the soil's no good, there's little even trees can do if they don't have the proper sustenance.

I'll have a better idea if I see how things are for myself. But that there's still a forest at all is promising. It might be willing to do its part.

[theriflespiral]

Ah, what you told me of. Is this Above or Below? A foothold Above could be a chance we won't get often...

[spacetogrow]

How long are we talking about for an evacuation? And do you know how the locals feel about it?

My magic will let me move some earth around, but I'd need guidance on how to most effectively build up something to redirect that sort of landslide, if the trees aren't holding it. And, honestly, even then it would be where solid stone needs to be in place, and having non-magical labor where earthworks will do.

Oh, we helped evacuating a bunch of miners! They would be good people to ask if we wanted to save the town. Or even if we needed to buy more time for an evacuation.

[bearsperminute]

My specialty's more in splitting earth than working it, but I can see what I can do... Maybe with a Zepter...?

[audio]

[blessmefather]

Unfortunately this is another Below. We'll have to wait on attempting to put roots down Above. I suspect the Above will face fewer issues like these because of the amount of Ether still present in them.

Re: [audio]

[theriflespiral]

[After a moment's thought, she switches to voice.]

Mm. Fair enough. I don't know if repairs will be done in time, but time will tell.

[blessmefather]

We're leaving as soon as the airships are available because the sooner we get those people out the better. I'd rather not evacuate them at the last possible minute. About 200 people onto a couple airships shouldn't take long to physically move onboard; it's the compliance and moving belongings I worry about. When I was last in the area, the people were friendly and welcoming to a lone traveler. But they've lived in this village for generations. Anyone would hesitate to walk away from their home, not knowing if it will still be standing when they return.

It sounds like we have one volunteer who might be able to encourage the trees to cooperate to some degree. If we work together, maybe the trees can take care of part of the effort and you and the others with earth magic and levitation magic can look after the rest. I can make educated guesses on what to reinforced based on the leftover Gods ether in the soil and rock but it would help if we had someone along who can survey the area or even calculate the trajectory. Is that something any of the miners might be able to do? Or another Corsair?

[blessmefather]

What kind of splitting are we talking about? Strictly soil or are boulders a possibility?

[bearsperminute]

Fissures in the ground big enough to slam enemy Armor with. So, yeah, most of the time I end up shifting bedrock.

... Only in an Armor, mind. On foot, I can just about manage to breach a bulkhead.

[spacetogrow]

We can ask the miners. There also might be a Corsair who can. I know we have people who work as scouts and such.

[redprayer]

It will be ideal if we can save the village, or as much as the area as possible. Resources will be stretched thin with the Vindess refugees as it is, and I suspect the villagers would prefer to remain in their homeland.

I can use earth magic and my own barriers to help redirect the landslide, though I do not have the power to stop an entire mountain.

[blessmefather]

I take it you can communicate with the trees? How specific are you able to be when conversing? Is it closer to talking or playing charades?

[blessmefather]

Impressive!

Even if we can maintain a barrier around the village for the length of the landslide, there will probably be stray rocks. If you can redirect them or at least break them, that would go a long way towards minimizing the damage.

[blessmefather]

Keep me updated. I'm sure I can still use your help even if you're not flying your own ship to the location.

[bearsperminute]

Sounds like a plan, though-- you say there's a retaining wall?

[theriflespiral]

I can, at the very least, bring supplies.

[heaven_rooted]

What's charades?

They don't really 'talk', but I can get a sense of what they say. I speak pretty straight forward with them. They can understand speech just fine.

[blessmefather]

Charades is the guessing game where you make gestures to hint at a secret subject, and the other players try to guess what it is. Ever played?

So if you told them about the landslide, they'll likely understand?

[blessmefather]

I think good food will go a long way to make them feel comfortable, and provide some distraction. They normally eat as a community in the village hall.

[heaven_rooted]

[His face may not be visible but the silence is telling. Really, does he seem like the type to play games?]

They'll understand. Landslides are natural occurrences, the shifting of the ground is more commonplace than something disrupted by a volley of cannon-fire.

[theriflespiral]

Makes a good practice run, besides. Medical supplies, food, and water it is. Expect the Humboldt in the days surrounding the land-slide, albeit at shore.

[blessmefather]

Right. I'm starting to realize it doesn't hurt to ask about any specialty among the Corsair ranks. There are all kinds of talents involved.

Anyone you personally recommend for the job?

[blessmefather]

Yes. It goes the full width of the mountain side of the village and reaches up to the rooftops of the houses, but it's an old wall of large rocks and clay. It will help a little but it's not something that will keep this much debris back.

[bearsperminute]

Hm. I'll want to take a look, make sure it's still whole, if it's old as you say it is.

[blessmefather]

It sounds like you have skills perfect for this emergency. If we combine our efforts, I hope we can spare at least a portion of the village. Their hall, where everyone regularly gathers together would be a first priority.

[blessmefather]

Not a fan of games?

[ Unusual, but besides the point. ]

I wonder if the trees have a sense for the ether in the ground. Has the topic ever come up? It could save us some time if it wasn't just me sensing for it to get an idea of how close the landslide is to occurring, or if the ground under the village is weak as well.

[blessmefather]

[ Perhaps they lucked out that this is Below rather than Above with the Humboldt as an option. ]

Thank you. We'll get the residents loaded onto the airships and rally with you.

[blessmefather]

It's generations old so you'll definitely want a closer look.

[heaven_rooted]

Who has time for games?

[Games are for kids! Says the stuffy treenager.]

Trees don't think in the same terms as people. Ether is a human concept, but it's for a natural occurrence. They'll be able to sense that the ground is brittle, they might sense the vibrations from deep beneath that we won't since we're only surface level. But they won't be able to tell much where their roots don't spread.

[blessmefather]

You haven't been invited by friends or the soldiers to pass the downtime with a game?

[ Sheesh! He sounds like Matt did once upon a time, in his youth, fresh out of narrowly escaping the clutches of becoming a cult assassin of all things. ]

Fair. I'll take whatever information on the ground status you can get quicker than I can sense it myself.

[heaven_rooted]

Not really.

[Young as he is, he might have established a reputation of being standoffish and intimidating for his methods and how he won't take any lip from anyone, especially uncooperative patients.]

All right. Once we're out there I'll check in with them and let you know.

[redprayer]

Will we be helping to rebuild any of the village that is damaged during the landslide?

[blessmefather]

I'd like to offer that to them. I'm not sure if they'll accept or not. The villagers are friendly but protective of their homes- they might prefer to do it themselves. I've arranged for supplies and food to be given to them.

[blessmefather]

You'll have to give a game a try some time. You might be surprised. You might like it. Just play with people you like.

Thank you!

[spacetogrow]

I'd have to ask around. I didn't get a chance to meet people in depth.

[heaven_rooted]

Hn.

[No promises. But...maybe he'll be spectator and see how these things go.]

Let me know if anything else comes up in the meantime.

[blessmefather]

I appreciate your help with that. Thank you.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt laughs under his breath. He might have to get Tau to join a game at some point. If he really is like Matt once was at a younger age, he'd come around. ]

Will do. Thanks, Doctor!

[redprayer]

I see. Well, there shouldn't be any harm in offering.

[And if they're refused, it really isn't any skin off the Corsairs' noses. It just means less work for them.]

[spacetogrow]

You're welcome.

[heaven_rooted]

[A challenge...?! Such plots unbeknownst to Tau, he just shakes his head, expression souring a bit at being called doctor. He's far from such, but at least he doesn't think Matt will neglect to inform him of things as they happen.]