EVENT #07: ASPHODEL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

[vivalamods]

EVENT #07: ASPHODEL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PLANNING

The Corsairs have been mobilized and preparations are underway. As negotiators are dispatched to Vindess to prepare for the evacuation under Imperial noses, the crafters and suppliers set to work, preparing the new settlement and whatever airships can be spared for the evacuation. Some Corsairs have even taken it upon themselves to build or “liberate” more airships for the effort.

As always, when the goal is certain the Corsairs move as one. Together, they will see Asphodel completed. All hands are needed, the question is, where do you lend yours?

MISSIONS

Prepare Asphodel: Get the new settlement of Asphodel up and running to receive the refugees from Vindess.
Priority: Critical
Challenges: Corsairs will need to keep the settlement hidden while also making suitable housing and preparing farms and other amenities to sustain life. It will require a large amount of excavation to get in order, as well as construction of homes, furniture, and other facilities. The work will be backbreaking and the timetable is extremely aggressive.

Prepare Citizens for Evacuation: As the citizens of Vindess toil under Imperial lockdown, the Corsairs must prepare the entire population for evacuation.
Priority: Critical
Recommended Roles: Negotiators and Infiltrators
Challenges: Corsairs will need to convince the entire population to evacuate. There are a number of methods that can be employed, while many are going to be reluctant the Imperial crackdown has shaken the settlement and unease is high. There is evidence within the Imperial offices that Infiltrators can recover that show mass executions with lists of “dissidents” have been scheduled for April which the Corsairs might make use of if they choose to investigate. Other options include capturing potential dissidents and taking the entire willing population while executing or taking prisoner loyalists, or other methods the Corsairs determine for themselves to make this happen.


Acquire Airships: The Corsairs always need more airships, and moving an entire population will require heavy effort and can use as many ships as can be mustered.
Priority: Optional
Recommended Roles: All
Challenges: The Corsairs don’t have the major Ether Stones that serve as the airship engines and will need to either capture or salvage resources to increase the size of their fleet. While the Corsairs have been investigating airships that don’t require Ether stones, that research is still a distant dream, but some Corsairs may want to spend some time pushing that investigation along to see if they can make it a reality sooner rather than later.

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Comments

QUESTIONS

[vivalamods]

Re: QUESTIONS

[spacetogrow]

Will characters have the ability to assist in multiple places or is this a one place per character sort of mission?

FINAL GROUP PLANNING

[vivalamods]

[thirdtenkaistar]

Thomas will stick his neck out and try to help with Evacuation of Vindess as it's sorta his fault

Re: FINAL GROUP PLANNING

[theriflespiral]

Natalia will work on salavaging airships, for obvious reasons.

Prepare Asphodel

[newmemorywhodis]

1. Excavating with explosions
Excavating out the site might be backbreaking work, but Link doesn't shirk or complain. He just goes where he's needed, pulls out a sledgehammer, and gets to work.

Every now and then though, there's a large section of rock and dirt that needs to be dislodged. Something where hammers would take too long...and where there isn't anything delicate that they need to be too careful about.

At which point Link will pause. A curious, intense energy will come over him. And he will pull from his pack a flower that looks oddly like a bomb...

2. When the one ability that would be real useful is the one you don't have
Link can be found practically everywhere over the new settlement. He gathers all sorts of material and carries it where needed; bundles of wood, tools, nails. But when it comes to actually constructing anything, he's not as useful as he'd like to be.

If only he had Ultrahand. It would be real useful right now. There'd be no need for hammers, no need for nails. He could just stick together what needed to be stuck together.

He's gotten back Fuse, and Ascend, so...why not Ultrahand too?

So every now and then, Link can be seen holding out his right arm towards various random objects, as if he's hoping something will happen. But it never does, so Link just sighs.

1. Excavating with explosions

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl is interested in the flowers, but Ilphyl can read Link's body language well enough to stay back, and maybe behind some form of cover while Link works.

2

[singlemilletgrain]

Giant worm monster, check. Field excavation, check. And now to till the soil for proper turnover and prepare the beds for acceptance of the seeds. It is when Shu is breaking up a particularly ornery clump of earth that she glances up to see Link using his psionic powers to telekinetically will a small wheelbarrow to move.

"..."

Nothing happens.

...Shu helpfully walks over and wheels the tool towards Link.

VILLAIN: Vindess

[allthepowersofhell]

[[As usual, please refer to Maleficent's opt-out / permissions post! Threads can be individual or in groups.]]

1. The spying of ravens
Wherever you go in Vindess, black birds are watching.

In fact, there are so many ravens that their numbers are startling; their caws a frequent sound across the beleaguered town. And there's something curious, as well.

If any Corsairs are not careful - if they are seen doing anything suspicious in the presence of the ravens - they'll find that there's more ravens about. That they seem to be following them.

And if the ravens see any citizens of Vindess talking to the Corsairs, those same citizens soon receive a visit from Imperial soldiers.

These ravens it seems must be avoided - or perhaps dealt with.

2. A casual stroll
Perhaps even more alarming than the ravens is the woman now walking the streets of Vindess.

With green skin and horns, she's clearly Planetouched. And with her rich, fine robes and escort of high-ranking Imperial soldiers, she's also clearly nobility.

As her squadron of soldiers harass the locals - interrogate them, rough them up, in some cases even execute them on the spot - Maleficent stands to the side. Watching, with a small smile on her face.

Until she sees someone who strikes her interest, for whatever unknown reason.

"Tell me, dear," she says - with that same smile that she wears when her soldiers beat a civilian to the ground - "Tell me of your life here in this quaint little down, under the sweet protection of the Emperor."

1. Tag in here rather than giving Maleficent a prompt in Ilphyl's TL

[spacetogrow]

Since Ilphyl's plans for helping in Vindess involved their own wildshape, they had noticed the ravens. At first it was simply because they knew ravens were smart and social enough that they could drive off even a larger bird, and a hawk suddenly becoming an elf was a big clue that something magical was going on.

But enough trouble linking Corsair contact with Imperial attention made Ilphyl inclined to focus on the ravens as an area they might have some expertise. Especially seeing some out to sea over the last month. Cue a black and white stray cat trying to watch for ravens returning to the roost one evening, without seeming like it's doing more than noticing some very large birds that might take offense to its presence.

They will need to occasionally duck back into a safe spot to take a breather, so it's not perfect. Especially if they are trying to also get other work done that requires hands or a voice.

[OOC: Malificient can catch Ilphyl either as a cat, or when they are recovering their use of wildshape by resting. Let me know if I need to change this.]

(Ilphyl did mention to the other Corsairs they were investigating the ravens, because they are aware that things could happen. On the other hand, getting caught by Imperials is also possible.)

1

[freearcadia]

Harlock was merely passing through Vindess on his way to scout a path to something more near and dear to his heart, trying to keep to the shadows and backstreets. The pirate's steps slowed as he grew increasingly convinced that he was being watched, his good eye scanning - seeing naught but ravens.

...He has been seeing a rather lot of ravens lately, it is rather strange but he can't figure out why that is as he tenses.

Prepare Asphodel

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl is focusing on the 'farms' aspect. Yes, shelter is a more immediate need as food stores will have to be brought in. But the farms are what will permit the settlement to survive without constant resupply missions, which can be spotted. Hopefully they'll have the expertise to keep things going -- Vindess is a mining town, but some of the people might have roots in more agricultural areas.

It is hard to conceal the fields themselves, but Ilphyl has some plans to keep some of the gardens less obvious -- either shade tolerant plants and mushrooms under tree cover, or plantings designed to appear as meadows from the air, but with a remarkable mix of edible plants. Design work has to be done in the sun, they can do a lot of the manual labor at night, both for their own comfort and to hide the activity.

Catch Ilphyl during the day studying the grounds, or at night working, or at dawn, expending whatever magical energy they can spare into the newly-planted seedlings via magical ritual.

Prepare Asphodel

[singlemilletgrain]

Combat? Lame. Hijacking airships? Passé. Farming?

Now this was Shu's time to shine.

In her previous life, her role as Nongye Tianshi meant she was responsible for the food production of an entire quadrant of Dahuang, overseeing workers, mentoring apprentices, managing granaries and storehouses, and keeping tabs on all manner of statistics from soil pH to nitrogen levels. In truth, of course, as the physical embodiment of the land itself, she oversaw quite a bit more behind the scenes.

There was much less to work with here. But this, too, was familiar. It reminded her of times long ago, when it was just Shennong and Ji by her side, working the land.

1
Shu is gentle and kind. This is not mutually exclusive with being stern, and when tasked with a deadline, there was little room for error. No one has placed her in charge, per se, but it is obvious to most of the Corsairs that she knows exactly what she is doing and that she has little tolerance for foolish mistakes. And so it is that most people simply obey her instructions without question. This is a slightly different side of her than the woman who feeds anyone who happens to step within 100 feet of her house.

"This earth is not ready. Please be more thorough. You must fully aerate the soil."
"You cannot lay fertilizer like this. You will suffocate the plants. ...Moreover, this mixture is too high in phosphate."
"Do not just toss seeds about randomly! Watch my movements. Even - and sparsely. And the soil here is too wet. Why have you flooded the earth? This is not a rice paddy."

Still, despite the harshness, she is a wise teacher. Anyone who heeds her instructions will find their work proceeding much more smoothly.

2
And of course, in the evenings, when there are few people around... Shu is the last figure in the budding fields, often still working even when the last of the Corsairs have gone to sleep. Here underground, no sun or moon could govern the passage of time, and they were reliant solely on the power of the ether crystals to complete their farming. It was a strange state of affairs, and one she did not totally enjoy.

But at times, when she thinks everyone has gone, she sighs and falls backwards into the earth, arms and legs spread wide.

"Ah, Shennong. What would you think if you knew your teachings would be spread across the span of all universes? My old friend... Weren't you satisfied with immortality in our home?"

And spreading out beneath her, a gentle green glow arises from the land as tiny seeds and shoots stretch up from the earth, radiating out around her. The effect is slow at first, each seed budding, each stalk unfurling, reaching up and pushing aside the dirt and the pebbles in their effort to greet the sky. Then it speeds as vines crawl along the earth, flowers explode into glorious bloom, fruit hangs heavy on stems, and lush vegetation fills acres and acres of earth. Shu gently makes a dirt angel as all around her, a Garden of Eden springs to life, a paradise of crops and harvest manifesting from sheer nothingness, turning Asphodel into Elysium bedecked with beautiful blossoms.

But it is just an illusion. When she sits up again, it all recedes back into the ground in an instant, retreating back to the safety of the seed, slumbering until it is the right time for the harvest to come.

"I still miss you, if you must know."

2

[straykitty]

Shu might, if she is attentive, sense the presence of another, artfully concealed through ether suppression, but still there.

1

[bearsperminute]

While Kanna had turned over earth and steel before, with precision and focus to bury opponents, it was one thing to turn monsters into pulp and undeath into death, and quite another to harbor new life.

(besides, someone needed to be on guard here. And considering she kind of feels at fault for all of this needing to be done in the first place...)

She's enthusiastic, at least. This was a side of the earth she'd rarely had contact with, and if there was anything recent events near Elysium had given her, it was a new respect for plant life.

But...

Well. She's much stronger than most of the others, and her efforts, while following instructions Shu made to others, tend to be a bit ham-fisted, overcorrecting before Shu could even mention she needs correction.

2

[heaven_rooted]

Underground ultimately isn't a great place for plants, even if roots thrive, and climate can be controlled to a degree. But artificial light simply can't compare to natural sources, but the plants that have been cultivated here have learned to grow with what they've been given. And Tau isn't going to begrudge the Corsairs for such practices, not when he knows what's done is out of necessity, and actually quite resourceful. Preparing the new space for such fields as follow the respectable establishments in the Vault will be work, but not impossible.

Tsuyukusa is impressed by the work already done. Maybe for those not too familiar with him, they might think it strange seeing someone who's otherwise mostly been associated with the work of a medic, strolling carefully along the freshly tilled earth, somehow managing not to leave any footprints in his wake. He pauses, sensing the rush of something almost familiar, and yet at the same time not, eyes widening as he watches the rush of greenery that sweeps past him, a glimpse of what could come with care and time.

And then it's gone, but he can still almost sense a thrum from the seeds awaiting their time.

The woman's voice isn't addressing him, her attention elsewhere, it seems, but it doesn't keep Tau from speaking to her.

"What are you?"

Blunt, he can be.

2

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl had grown up underground, and still was a person who preferred to work nights; even on the surface, moonlight or the glow of the post-dusk or pre-dawn sky was their preference. So they might catch Shu working her magic, though they are going to wait until she finishes before approaching.

It didn't help that whatever words Shu spoke were clearly not for Ilphyl's ears. "Shu? Are you doing all right?"

1

[testygirl]

Aira has slotted herself into the duty of running supplies, and the process of developing an entire farm from the ground up certainly requires its fair share of attention on that front. Whatever Shu needs, Aira will work to get it for her.

The first delivery consists of two bulky creates: seeds, fertilizer, fencing materials, replacement tools, and more. Each must weigh hundreds of pounds, but the power of Aira's yokai form gives her the strength to carry them both—using her hair. Two long pink tendrils are coiled around the crates, and she plops them down near where Shu is supervising.

Aira's appearance changes while using the power, and so does her voice; the latter sounds deeper and more theatrical. For a moment, she folds her arms and observes the scene, waiting for Shu to finish giving someone her instructions.

"I did not expect you to be quite so strict. But, I approve! Particularly when there's such urgency."

ACQUIRE AIRSHIPS

[theriflespiral]

When it came to calculations for war, when it came to understanding travel, when it came to dead reckoning and the ability to show up just about anywhere--

Well.

There was one person who had proved herself consistently at intelligence analysis as a member of the Elysium Network.

But while she has aided in the recovery of airships, the boarding of other ships, the analysis of shipping manifests, the calculation of demolition charges... Natalia Koutolika is only one person. For all her virtues, she knows there are holes in her knowledge, errors in her maths, and far, far too much both to do and at stake for one woman to work on things like this alone.

And so...

I -- Tracking Lost Baggage
While enacting her plan would have to rely on Flotsam support, there were no end of ways to find a lost airship. Start with missed shipments-- something she has received complaints of often enough in the past few months, as a world-ocean's weather can prove unpredictable at the best of times.

"... Of course, last month, there were several scuttlings, in response to attempted boarding actions by the Corsairs. Those ships were scuttled in approximately these places--" here she marks positions on the world map carefully with fouled anchors-- "based on rutters and witness accounts of various landmarks. But the Empire knows where those airships are, as well. I'm much more interested in the inter-island merchant aerine that have gone missing and not shown up for more than a week. These are almost certainly damaged. While some of them will be simply in distress and forced to land and affect jury-rigged repairs, it must be noted that many of these ships would be falling from such a height as to render survival for the crew highly improbable.

"If we can find these wrecks, I think we can salvage them with none the wiser. And if there are survivors, we can demonstrate that the Corsairs have better respect for their lives than the Imperial Companies."

II -- One thing to say...

... And another to do. The winds were starting to pick up, but the anchors were holding. Natalia listened to the waves, checked her chronometer, and kept a weather eye on the skies. Anyone out here, at this place, on the Eternal Ocean, might draw conclusions about anyone out here.

Though, if this foul weather happened as threatened, no engagement would happen today, regardless. She gives a nervous glance to the barometer, and wishes she knew who controlled the weather around here. "Perhaps still vacant...?" she mutters, in annoyance.

1 - Tracking like a BOSS

[supersmashbrother]

"Raph approves of this plan."

With arms crossed, the large turtle nods sagely from where he stands.

Having him as one of the representatives for Flotsam may not be the best for the planning stages, but he has experience with this. More or less, anyway. At least, he's been better at it lately. (Maybe not exactly within this particular context, but it's better than not having an opinion about any of it at all.)

"Salvaging shouldn't be too hard! An' I'm all for showin' what we can do as helping hands. 'Sides, if we're the only ones there, they'll have no choice but to see that we're doin' good!"

Evacuating Vindess

[thirdtenkaistar]

Thomas was on a rather tight leash in recent weeks, but it seemed the stars aligned in that his government job mandated that his department was to go to Vindess, updating the census and writing down the orders of the soldiers. His heart kept hammering away as he played the role so dutifully around the Imperials, distant and meticulous with paper and pencil. When he's dismissed - often with a distracted wave of the hand or a snarl to put his nose somewhere else, he takes it.

For literate residents, they would find when he handed them forms to fill out - demanding their household status and loyalty to the Emperor - the carbon paper used to duplicate the form had little cuts so that if overlaid on the form, it would revealed marked letters that would instruct them on how to get to Asphodel and when.

No one really give carbon paper a second thought.

I. Patrol

While it looked like he was doing nothing but following soldiers or shoving papers in the faces of residents, he kept an eye open for his rebellious colleagues, knowing they too were scouting out avenues of evacuation, warning people, and watching for potential spies.

Thomas spotted one of them - hiding a smile behind the sheaf of papers before his eyes widen, realizing another patrol of soldiers was heading their way, as he rapidly tries to get his colleague's attention - warning them to hide.

II. Go time.

It was time, the Imperials had commandeered the local inn and the bar next door for the influx of soldiers being brought in, and the majority of them had retired for the night to drink the night away while the newest recruits were stuck with the unenviable job of patrolling in the dark hours.

Thomas quietly whimpers as he forces himself to climb down the trellis of the inn, squeezing his eye shut until he touches the ground. Once he gets a good distance away, he signals his fellow corsairs that all is clear, time to group up and assess the readiness to evacuate.

II

[theriflespiral]

What's more unsettling than the patrols or the sharing of information or the sidelong glances, Natalia decided, was the fact that she could still blend in to imperial troupes by being real Conskriptovic material and acting like the fucking new guy.

But, well, getting her hands on the papers was going to need more than a cover, she'd learned.

It had been her suggesting the inn, and her faking being drunk, and her stumbling outside in a uniform that concealed most of her features, likely about to give Thomas a heart attack.

The only thing that betrayed she was neither drunk, nor inclined to be so, was when she winked.

Acquire Airships

[freearcadia]

There was one ship, only one ship that he really want - but he knew it wasn't quite time yet, he needed to set the stage of that. In the meantime, there were other things he could do. As one of the people who came from a world with flying machines that don't need Ether, he regularly had his ear pulled by the scholars, asking countless questions on designs, power, anything that might be of interest, and he wouldn't be the only one who was asked to join what's essentially a Think Tank in the library of the Vaults - offworlders from technologically advanced worlds, tinkerers, pilots, and mechanics both native and offworld were invited to come up with an alternative to Ether.

Harlock was more than willing, sketching out what he can on mechanical engines, and when asked about power sources, he started to tell the group about Aviation gasoline, something he felt like was the most feasible with the technology he has seen. "-You will need a means of distilling and purifying crude oil from the earth before you can use it for that purpose, but..." The man hesitates before adding a caution. "It is a dirty kind of power source and finding a reliable source of crude oil will take time on top of creating the means to process it."

As the scholars broke into a very animate discussion among themselves, gesturing and pointing at his crude sketches, Harlock leans back rubbing his temples - wishing more than ever that Tochiro was here... in the flesh. "Though someone may have better ideas for a different kind of fuel," He suggested.

[purplexing]

"A different fuel or power source is the main problem in general," Donnie points out. "Why would there be oil in the earth?" He's not sure where that fits in but he's pretty sure he's never read anything about it. Then again, studying rocks and its relations have not been something he's been particularly interested in.

"Burning anything will take a great amount for a single ship alone. And that'll make things dirty quick, with all the smoke. I was wondering about the possibilities for steam, but I that'd still require a heating element..."

He frowns thoughtfully. "And I suppose the rockets you talked about will still require the same sort of power."

Prepare Asphodel

[purplexing]

I. Construction
If there's one thing Donnie has never shied away from, it's some good, hard work. He wouldn't say his skills in construction are amazing, but he's learned enough on his own and from watching helping around for his time with the Corsairs to produce solid structures and designs.

In true Donnie fashion he tends to become quite hyper-focused on his tasks, losing track of the time rather easily. He's not picky in what task he's given, whether it's cutting pieces of lumber or nailing things together. It's not like working with machinery outright, but precision is still important for these sorts of things, especially if you wanted them to last. Crooked frames are no good for supporting a home or a person.


II. Excavation
Destruction goes hand in hand with creation. Go figure that once Donnie's shooed off from doing one thing, he simply gravitates towards something else to apply himself to. Breaks, what are those? Don't worry, he's taken one. Pretty recently. He thinks...

Anyway!

It's hard to move in specialized equipment without being noticed, so a lot of the excavation work has been done by hand and carefully placed charges, the latter only used when extremely necessary so as not to draw unwanted attention if the activity somehow transmits to the surface levels.

"Hang on, I think I got this," Donnie says, pushing his goggles up from where he'd been eyeing the rock walls before them. There's a few cracks and evidence that there's a hollow on the other side, so it just needs a good push through.

Perhaps what one will not expect is when he conjures up a massive drill, all outlines of vibrant magenta, the overall thing vaguely translucent, a magical construct. The question as to whether it will work or not is quickly answered as the tip begins to spin and tear through the rock before it with disturbing ease.

II

[singlemilletgrain]

"Ah...?"

Shu is shocked. ...Not just because this is the first time Donnie has used magic - or ether - on such a scale. But because she has recently seen something fairly similar. A shiver of gooseflesh raises on her skin. This 'alternate universe' situation... It really was disturbing, in some ways.

"My goodness. When did you learn to do that?"