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

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.)

Works for me!

[allthepowersofhell]

As Maleficent strolls the streets of Vindess, a raven comes to land on her shoulder. It caws into her ear.

"Oh? Our wayward servant is here?" She says. The raven caws. "What a pleasant surprise. Let's go have a conversation, shall we?"

And with a signal for her imperial guard to keep pace behind her, she follows the raven. It guides her through the little streets and alleyways of Vidness...until she enters the one in which a black and white cat currently resides.

"Why, what a curious feline!" she exclaims, as she steps forward to garb Ilphyl by the ruff. Despite her words, it is not an expression of surprise.

Re: Works for me!

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl can read tone well enough. They try to twist out of the grasp and bite -- the longer they stay in wildshape, the longer they delay answering questions, and they have to guess that the guards are prepared for a shapeshifter.

At least they can wait for an opening to get access to their own spells, without being dogpiled. (Ironic choice of words for someone who is currently a cat)

[allthepowersofhell]

Maleficent's grip tightens. Her nails dig into fur, and she seems utterly unconcerned by Ilphyl's ferocious scratching.

"Oh? So you are a vicious beast?" she says lightly. "And here I thought this was a meek, dedicated and obedient servant of the Empire...but it seems I am mistaken."

[spacetogrow]

Right. Well, he was out of options for the cat form, and clearly they were spotted, so time to shift back and hope the change in weight from a 10-20 pound feline to a 100+ pound elf creates an opening so Ilphyl can get clear enough to cast a spell.

At this point, they aren't sure if they can get away -- stupid idea going to Vindess, really, even in disguise -- but if they can create enough ruckus, it will alert other Corsairs that Ilphyl was captured. They are guessing that they won't be killed immediately. Even if a rescue isn't possible, at least the Corsairs will know they have been compromised.

[allthepowersofhell]

Perhaps if Maleficent did not have an excellent understanding of shapeshifting herself - and perhaps if she did not have prior knowledge that Ilphyl possessed this particular ability - this sudden shift would have created the opening they desired.

But Maleficent, it seems, was prepared for this - and her grip remains as tight as ever. Now her nails dig into Ilphyl's elven neck, as she leans in closer.

"Why, what a lovely face I see before me. But what a pity...for this is the face of a loyal, dutiful servant of the Empire. And yet it is worn by a treacherous beast."

[spacetogrow]

Ilphyl recognized that they weren't going to talk their way out of this, and that either the woman was talking for her own benefit, or as a show to the guards. And that whatever was going to happen was probably already decided on.

"Your Empire were the ones who brought me here. If you take something out of its native environment, you shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't behave how you expect."

Look, Ilphyl tended to like animals better than people, because they understood them. People who were surprised when an animal lashed out were just not observant.

[allthepowersofhell]

Ilphyl was right about one thing; what was to happen had indeed already been decided on.

"And what a poor guest you have been. But if you prefer to align yourself with common animals, rather than embrace the gifts the Empire has given you...then very well."

The crystal-topped staff there is raised high in her other hand, as the crystal begins to grow a bright, sickly green. Electricity crackles through the air, as she gathers what is clearly immense power.

"A beast you are, and thus a beast you shall remain. Never again shall your true form give you peace or comfort; for it shall be anathema to you."

And as she speaks - as the curse settles deep within Ilphyl's bones - they will find that their form is shifting. They are transforming into wildshape, and yet it is a transformation not of their own choosing.

At the end, Ilphyl is once again a small, black and white cat.

[spacetogrow]

Magic to forcibly transform someone existed in Faerun. Ilphyl could tell this was not that because they still had their mind -- a polymorph spell usually left someone's personality intact, but it was hard to think like a human in the brain of an animal. But wildshaping was different magic -- Ilphyl might have some feline instincts guiding them, but they still could reason.

Their reasoning told them that whatever happened, best to get out of here before the guards realized how easy it was to cage a cat, even a cat who could think like an elf. They bolted for the nearest climbable surface, following the feline instinct to get off the ground.

[allthepowersofhell]

As they run and flee, Maleficent makes no moves to stop them. Her soliders do nothing to stand in Ilphyl's way.

But as they run, they will hear the sound of her laughter echoing behind them.