Story Quest Isulus Frayed Edges

Vashti

B
Messages
49
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
Word had it that there had been a terrifying event in the region some days before. Vash had made her way to Isulus based on whispers that there had been death and destruction. She wasn't sure what that implied in this world, but based on her small number of interactions with the Landers, she assumed that there were practical implications on the denizens who were not able to come and go from Terrasphere as they pleased. It would be a perfect opportunity, then, for her to learn more about how things worked in this world, and for her to get some exposure to those things.

What she did not expect were the sheer number of other Players that remained in the area, or the condition that things were in. The camp itself was nowhere near a proper "camp," and instead looked like something a few boy scouts had thrown together in haste. There was a large number of people hard at work trying to amend that fact, but she could feel the tension burning beneath the surface. Whatever had happened here had far reaching consequences, and there was some serious bad blood.

The Verpine woman's ears twitched reflexively as she overheard two voices that she did not know. Carefully, she crept closer to a pair of tents and glanced inside, where she found an armored Knight at odds with what appeared to be a researcher. "If you had been more prudent about the possible effects of the various components that you used to craft the serum, we might have reduced the body count tremendously," the man accused. "Don't think the rest of us didn't hear about how you all were bickering and throwing punches among yourselves. There was too much chaos involved, too many risks taken. We can't go gambling with-"

"Oh will you stop with this holier than thou garbage. You know as well as I do that we did what we could with what we had. There was no way for us to know without proper investigation and experimentation what the components might do. You should be thankful we were able to manufacture an antiserum for the affliction at all, and so quickly." The violet haired woman's gaze was fire as she stood toe to toe with the larger man, a finger in his face.

Vashti felt her face flush. She had no context but what she was hearing, but it sounded like fur had been ruffled and hairs were standing on end. This situation was a powder keg about to explode, and they needed someone to lighten the load. But could she do it? Certainly not alone, and not with a serious lack of rapport with either side.

"You mean to tell me with all the funding you get, all the researchers that you have, the Magical Institute of Technology doesn't have basic working knowledge of the flora and fauna in the Tangleweaves?" the Knight folded his arms and glowered down at her.

"I don't know if you recall, but Astorea collectively hasn't made a lot of headway into the region," she snapped back, "you know what we know, and for the majority of what you know, you know it because we learned it and shared that information with you. Instead of picking a fight with me, why aren't you trying to bring some relief to the victims or using that energy in some other productive way?"

Now, that was a point Vashti felt like she could capitalize on to enter the conversation.

Here goes nothing...

"Heeeeeeeeey guys..." she took a step into the tent and folded her fingers neatly in front of her, smiling sweetly.

"What?" Both of them turned to seethe at her in perfect unison.

Uhhh... help?

@Alexander The Great @Alice
 

Alice

M
Messages
68
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
OOC
PandaIsInSpace
Memento

Vivere


The Red Fever. A magical disease that appears to attack the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and limbic cortex of the subjects brain, inducing rapid and severe changes in emotion. Alice had heard of the disease from a carriage driver, and how it had been responsible for the destruction of a camp in Islus. And how they were looking for people assist in reconstruction.

Humanitarian efforts were key to the public face of a company. By extension, or perhaps it was regression, it followed that humanitarian efforts were key to one's individual image as well. And it would've been a lie if Alice had said she did not have a desire to assist others in need as well.

Having taken a carriage to the camp in need, Alice was greeted by a site in disrepair. Barely recovering. Tents had been hastily been put up, the remnants of the old camp still strewn about. And people who still felt the effects of the Fever. People everywhere shouted at each other, fought. It hampered their efforts.

"You mean to tell me with all the funding you get, all the researchers that you have, the Magical Institute of Technology doesn't have basic working knowledge of the flora and fauna in the Tangleweaves?" one man shouted at another.

"I don't know if you recall, but Astorea collectively hasn't made a lot of headway into the region. You know what we know, and for the majority of what you know, you know it because we learned it and shared that information with you. Instead of picking a fight with me, why aren't you trying to bring some relief to the victims or using that energy in some other productive way?" the woman retorted, before a second woman attempted to intervene, drawing both of their ire.

"Rome was not built in a day," Alice stepped in, recalling an old adage that her father had once told her. "Researching and cataloguing the various flora and fauna of a region often takes decades, and is often still incomplete. New discoveries are made frequently, despite much of the world being documented."

@Alexander The Great | @Vashti
 
Messages
39
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
0
Event
0
Special
0
Ah yes, Red Fever.

Alex had been briefed on the whole escapade, a veritable clusterfuck of mismanagement, miscommunication, and in general mistakes. Too many chucklefucks thinking they were heroes gallivanting off into the fray full cocked with hardly more than a plan to go apeshit, followed by cowards who were half cocked not doing much of anything else to help.

A classic blunder when you had too many chefs and not enough Indians.

Is that how that phrase goes? It wasn't like Alex (or Isaac for that matter) gave a damn, instead they were here to survey the wreckage of the raid. Like how the Clarke Company often found itself chasing disasters and offering aide for good PR, Alexander found himself grasping at the straws of missed opportunity. Had he not waited so long to make sure everything was on the up and up, he would have been around for the fun, perhaps even led a squad into the forray.

Or perhaps he would have died like a chump.

Hard to say, regardless, rumor on the street was that people were bickering relentlessly over the various failings that had occurred. Blame was being passed around like a cheap whore, though noone wanted to be the one footed with the bill. This simply wouldn't do, the powers that be needed to remain organized or it would spell chaos for the restoration of the camp. As he approached the meeting tent, he would overhear the argumentation from afar, and then an interjection as two women stepped into the mix. He would enter the tent and raise an eyebrow, surveying the crowd for a moment as they spoke.

"The blue haired woman is right, based on my understanding of the report not a terribly lot was known about this region and it's wildlife before approaching. This whole debacle was sparked by explorers and researchers going missing in the first place." His emerald gaze would sweep over the tent. "However," he would pause, frowning slightly. "That does not excuse some of the actions taken by those involved. My understanding is that the fever impaired people a great deal and caused a large amount of chaos, but the first step for any reconciliation is for those involved to look inwards first, make peace with the mistakes they have made, and then to reach out with an olive branch asking for forgiveness for their own mistakes, not apologies from others."

@Alice @Vashti
 

Vashti

B
Messages
49
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
She was at a loss.

There was so little context for her to go from, it felt awful to pick a side. When it was pointed out that there was a severe lack of knowledge about the region, it was hard to place fault with people who had to take risks in order to secure a response to the danger. At the same time, how much of the resultant chaos could have been avoided? There seemed to be a large number of holes and gray areas in the conversation, and scattered around those were some massive land mines.

"I'm with this big dude," Vash said, pointing at @Alexander The Great as she did. "All of this aside, if we're going to move forward and work together in the future, we have to show good faith. If you can't put this behind you, how do you expect-"

"Blight that," the Knight spat. "Better to cut our losses and expunge the enemy within than continue to pretend it doesn't exist."

"How fucking dare you!" the woman took a step forward and cocked her arm back, ready to throw a punch. "We ran the numbers, we took measures to be certain that it would be as effective as we could manage- without that vaccine, there's no telling how many people would have died! We averted the entire expedition being reduced to a mass grave!"

"Eight people!" the Lion roared back. "You don't call that a mass grave? Eight deaths, and at least one of them permanent!"

"Okay, steel pants, take a time out!" Vash poked the man in the nose and pushed, and he reeled backward, away from the researcher. "I wasn't here to see the whole thing, but I can tell you, it sounds like no one wanted anyone to die. I think it's a pretty big slap in the face to pin the losses on the group who ultimately managed to come up with a way to avert a no-win situation, don't you?"

"But...!"

"Nuh uh, I think you really need to take a minute and reassess things," she told him. "Think about it carefully. Who are your friends? Are you really willing to subtract from that number just because you have a bad taste in your mouth? Do you want to take away the potential support of one of the entire guilds?"

"You weren't there!" he shot back. "You said that yourself! You want to lecture me about "support" from these... these vagabonds!?" the Knight hissed. "Dishonor!" He wheeled on the researcher, finger outstretched in accusation. "You can't even fight your own battles, so you call on these Travelers to intervene on your behalf? You almost had me fooled! Bah!"

"W-wait, what's going-" the researcher looked on like a deer in headlights, confused about what exactly had happened. Only moments before, it was just a disagreement, and now it was outright slander. "No, that's not- hey! Hey!!"

The Knight had already begun to storm away without any further interest in the conversation.

Vash blinked.
"I... what even was that???"

Rolls


Expertise Check
1d100 (13) + 5 = 18 FAIL (Somehow, I've made this situation worse...)
Awareness | Vashti | 1065



Play Sheet

@Alice @Alexander The Great
 
Last edited:

Alice

M
Messages
68
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
OOC
PandaIsInSpace
Memento

Vivere


A second man decided to join in the conversation, his imposing form towering over Alice as she gazed at him impassively, listening to him support her point, and that of the dark-haired girl's Although this seemed to have little to no effect on the most emotionally impacted of the group. And neither did it seem that the dark-haired girl's argument was assisting, despite making a very valid point.

Alice was puzzled. This should not be as difficult as it had been thus far. As players, it should have been their goal to co-operate and conquer the difficulties of the unknown in this region. Such minor quarrels were better left in more established areas, where the competition could be afforded, and therefore bolster the economy. However, it appeared that this was not the case. This was most ineffecient.

"Dishonor!" the man then shouted at the researcher, pointing an accusatory finger at her, before turning around to walk away.

"Honor is a foolish concept," Alice stated. "Even within a meritocracy, honor discourages proper analysis of a situation, and encourages what might be a fruitless attempt at victory, ultimately leading to the deaths of all involved. Perhaps this is why eight people died. Compelled by honor, they continued to engage in fruitless combat, instead of retreating and preserving their remaining resources."

@Alexander The Great | @Vashti
Rolls


Expertise Check
1d100 (8) + 5 = 13
Fail, Alice has made things worse...what a surprise...
Knowledge | Alice | 1065C2

Therapy: -2/2

Play Sheet

 
Messages
39
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
0
Event
0
Special
0
"ENOUGH."

Alexander's words boomed out, causing all to pause. "What has happened happened. No bickering will bring the dead back, instead it dishonors their memory. This entire affair was created to bring unity between groups, and here you are spitting on the sacrifices of those who believed in that message." He would turn to the knight.

"I can understand your emotions, but if you let your temper run hot than all we have done is let the Red fever win, Kurungar's death be damned. Come sit back down and let's talk this out."

He would turn an emerald eye to his two...compatriots and motion for them to step outside. "Give us one moment," he would mutter to the group.

Outside the tent he would appraise both women, raising an eyebrow sternly. "The fuck was that?" He would ask turning to the blue haired woman. "You need to know your audience, shitting on concepts like valour and honor will get your nowhere with a man like him. Logic will get you anywhere with the scholars, but he's a man of Pathos, you will need to appeal to his emotions, speaking of." His gaze would turn to Vashti.

"You'd be doing alright, if you kept a tighter leash on your emotions. Don't let him get to you, he's all bluster, but he probably lost some friends in the fighting, or is suffering from trauma. These wounds are fresh, we need to help suture them, not rip them open and salt them. Okay? Lets get back in there and sort this out eh?"

@Vashti @Alice

Expertise Check
1d100 (83) + 10 = 93
Presence | Alexander The Great | 1065c2

Play Sheet
 

Vashti

B
Messages
49
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
Oh, yeah. That's not good.

When she heard the other girl mention something about the nature of honor, she winced. While she tended to agree that it was an old fashioned concept and didn't necessarily have a place in most logical decision making processes, there were people who acted entirely on principle. For her to swoop in and mouth off like that to someone who very obviously was such a person? Yeah, not winning any Nobel Peace Prizes like that.

She listened to the large, imposing man as he started to mansplain to the blue-haired girl, but before she could step in and bite back about it, she stopped herself. What he was saying wasn't wrong, even if his presentation was. So, she snapped her fingers.

"Hey, hey, Gronkowski," she said, referring to the burly man by the name of a famous, albeit now-retired American Football player. "I agree with you here, our approach wasn't great, but can you talk to us with a bit more tact than that? Like, imagine you're trying to get a date and you have to impress someone." She didn't insult him, because that would only add fuel to the fire and make things worse for everyone. "In fact, that's pretty good advice about how to talk to women in general. Just, like, forget about the part where she owes you a date for common decency."

Not that she was expecting things to get a whole lot better. On the whole, the situation had become slightly less tense, but the Knight from Lion Arms seemed intent on storming out. It was a miracle he hadn't done so yet- a miracle likely brought on by the intervention of the beastly man. She wouldn't thank him for it though.

She turned to Alice and lowered her voice, "alright sweetie, this time with a little bit of Splenda in your commentary. Pretend like what you're saying is like a bullet, and you need to do everything you can to make the impact suck less."

Vash looked back to Alexander. "Alright, trying this again," she said as she strode back into the room. "So," she looked between the two, the Researcher and the Knight, and then folded her hands. "Who wants to talk about how we're going to get the camp up and running, and how we're going to commemorate the Fallen?" she asked, smoothly transitioning the topic away from old wounds.

"Eh? Commemorate the Fallen?"

"You know," Vash smiled. "Some kind of memorial, a dedication, something to show respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that this camp could be actualized?"

"What a fantastic notion!" the Knight erupted suddenly with excitement, seemingly having forgotten his grievance for the moment. "Why yes, that might be the perfect way to make this whole ordeal taste less bitter for those involved!"

"Wh-"

Vash placed a hand over the woman's mouth and leaned in close. "Go with it," she instructed quietly. The woman blinked, then gave the slightest of nods. They both watched as the Knight turned to Alexander and grabbed his hand excitedly in both of his own, massive hands.

"What a prolific and inspired suggestion! Do you not think so, good sir?"

Rolls


Expertise Check
1d100 (47) + 5 = 52 (+1!!! uwu)
Knowledge | Vashti | 1605



Play Sheet

@Alice @Alexander The Great
 

Alice

M
Messages
68
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
OOC
PandaIsInSpace
Memento

Vivere


The large red-haired man was quick to attempt to repair whatever damage that Alice and the other girl had evidently caused. She had been about to open her mouth and state that it was a disservice to lie to the other man, to allow him to continue with his foolish beliefs that would surely lead to his death, and the deaths of others, but before Alice even had the chance, he had already turned towards the other girl, and began to chastise her as well.

Somehow, this turned into the girl chastising the man though. Alice stared at the two in blank confusion. What had just occurred? Also, what did a zero-calorie sugar substitute have to do with pacification? Bullets, she understood, though she'd prefer to not have to resort to. Also, why did she want Alice to reduce the bullet's stopping power? Why were her words bullet's at all? Was that a spell?

It clicked for Alice a moment as Vashti began to cheerily suggest doing something to commemorate the dead. A notion that Alice also believed was foolish, but understood as being a powerful tool in uniting others in a common cause. Alice was expected to put on her public face.

"Ah, yes, perhaps a monument," she chirped, her flat monotonous voice suddenly coming to life with a sweet smile. As if she were suddenly an entirely different person. "Perhaps a statue? Surely any geomancers present would be able to construct that quickly, and with a great deal of craftsmanship!"

@Alexander The Great | @Vashti
Rolls


Expertise Check
2d100 (Advantage) (15, 81) + 5 = 86
Success, bless (+1)
Knowledge | Alice | 1605

Therapy: 1/2

Play Sheet

 
Messages
39
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
0
Event
0
Special
0
"A memorial would be wonderful." Alexander would nod along with the sentiment. "Perhaps we could commemorate all who fought the Kurungar and undertook this perilous journey. Lander and Traveler alike." The other two had begun to pull their weight, and with a bit of prodding it seemed like they were doing much better than before.

Most excellent.

"I happen to know some artisans, we could have this designed and created within a week if we double time this. Perhaps we should turn talks from argumentation and blame to how best to honor those who spilt their blood, sweat and tears on this expedition." He would turn to the scientist. "Perhaps you could scramble a list of all in MIT who worked on the vaccine so we can make sure there work is immortalized in stone." his gaze would shift to the knight. "And perhaps you could give us a list of your brothers in arms? There is also the matter of the Explorers guild." He would rub his chin, frowning slightly. "They bore the brunt of the losses, we should seek them out and gather info on those who served valiantly."

He would turn to the other two players and shot them a polite smile. "An excellent suggestion you two, I think this will go a long way to bring peace back to camp."

Final Tally: 3/3 Success!

@Alice @Vashti
 

Vashti

B
Messages
49
Gold
0
Mastery
0
Valor
3
Event
0
Special
0
Well, however it happened, they seemed to have averted a crisis.

Vash still wasn't quite sure what was going on, but when the Knight dropped the conversation like a hot potato and scurried off she was more than thankful for it. "Well, that was colorful," she murmured, just quietly enough that if someone strained to hear her, they might be able to pick it up.

"I will never understand the proclivity of those types to be sentimental, even in the face of a need for pragmatism," the woman said with a sigh, shrugging her arms. "Still, he wasn't like to listen to me, and whatever idea you've put in his head will keep the peace between MIT and the Lions at least for the moment. We're wont to butt heads over things like this, but I'm not one to hold a grudge. I appreciate you stepping in, the lot of you, because I was ready to tell him to go mining for oxygen underwater with no breathing apparatus."

Vash covered her lips daintly with two fingers and managed to not laugh loudly at the comment. "My but you were running low on patience, I imagine."

"It's been a long couple of days," the researcher admitted, "tensions are high all around, and he's not the first meathead to show up and start harassing us over the fact that our experimentation was less than ideal. Granted, there were a number of uncontrollable variables that we had to accept on short notice, and thus we were unable to mitigate the greater amount of risk, and people were exposed to what most would consider to be an unreasonable amount of danger- and even lost in the crossfire. None of us wanted that, though."

"And that's really the thing people struggle with," Vashti reassured her. "They lost friends. Family. Loved ones. They're looking for someone to blame. It's convenient."

"It spits in the face of the effort we made, and ignores the fact that we saved lives," the woman snapped back.

"And yet, you can't control what other people feel. In time, they will come to understand what you had to do. That you did all you could. Grief isn't an easy thing. Nobody processes it the same way as the next person. It's never logical." Vash placed a hand on her shoulder. "If he needs someone to blame, let him have that. You can't control his feelings any more than you can the direction that the wind will blow. What you can control is your response. And you were already on top of that."

The woman eyed Vash for a long moment, then shrugged. "You're probably right," she sighed at last. "And anyway, for now, its a non issue. Like I said- thank you. You three have done a lot for keeping the peace between Guilds, whether or not you know it. I'll be sure to mention that to Ordnung."

At last, she bowed to the group, and she headed on her way. Vash smiled to the others, and she waved. "Thank you both for your help," she said. "That almost went very badly. Anyway, I'll probably see you guys around- for now, I need to hurry up and get this letter delivered. I'm in a hurry!" she called over her shoulder as she sped off without giving them time to respond.

@Alice @Alexander The Great
 
Top