Hades 💀 Plot 1 - Execution Phase

[blessmefather]

Who: Open to all Corsair characters
What: Evacuating a village and prepping for a landslide. Then the landslide.
Where: A small hidden village in the forest at the foot of a mountain
When: Backdated to the 4th of March


Surveying the Area

Those who have influence over the elements, or know how to calculate a way to divert some of the impending landslide will want to explore the village layout and the area around it. The village is a humble circle of stone and wood buildings surrounded on all sides by old, towering trees, with a few trees in between some buildings. The ground of the village has been leveled, but upon reaching the edge of the village on the mountain side, the ground makes a steep incline. An old stone wall a little taller than the nearest hut was assembled on this side of the village to divert falling rock or water, but there's no saying something only so tall and worn with age will stand up to the kind of disaster Matt has been warning of.

Evacuating the Residents

Matt has visited this village before during his travels and has good relationship with the elders. It will take some pleading, but the elders will eventually agree to evacuate on the off chance the disaster really comes. Most of the villagers follow their leaders' words, and start packing some supplies and cherished belongings. While it's a small village, some people unintentionally slow the process. Some have pets or livestock to wrangle, others have mobility issues, and there are those who just can't decide what to bring and are having trouble thinking clearly due to panic.

Convincing the Stubborn

A few intentional stragglers insist on staying in their homes. Their neighbors plead with them to come, but they insist that the village wall will hold. One or two might even believe the Imperial propaganda that that Corsairs are up to no good. Do the Corsairs trust their plans to protect the village will protect the stubborn, or do they try to convince them? Or do they take different measures to get them out?

The Landslide

Matt warns all the Corsairs of the time arriving. Within the next ten minutes, there's an unmistakable crash of rocks up the mountain, and the avalanche begins. Any last evacuations must be completed and those using magic or tools to protect the village must hurry to wherever they deem most fitting for their part. Sure enough, a massive wave of rock and dirt tosses up dust as a frightening chunk of the mountain gives way above.

Note: Due to the scale of the challenge, this is being treated like an event, and players may tag each other and post top levels instead of just interacting with Matt's top levels.

Comments

[blessmefather]

Speaking with the Elders

"Matthias, it's been a while! What brings you back?" One of the village elders, an old halfling woman, greets him when he leads the way for the other Corsairs into the village hall where the elders normally meet to discuss concerns. Her chest is covered in numerous beaded necklaces that clink when she moves. Other elders wear similar necklaces but none quite as exquisite. It would seem that she is the leader among them.

Matt smiles and steps forward. "Hello, Gisela. I wish I was here to catch up, but I come with a warning instead."

"I had a bad feeling when I saw all those airships hovering in the sky. What's going on?" Gisela asks, eyes narrowing.

"We don't have much time, so I'll get right to it," Matt replies. He tells the elders about his foresight and the landslide, that it will happen later today, and that the scale is large enough to wipe out the village.

"Our village has stood safe for centuries," Gisela insists, "We have fortified the mountainside with a wall that has kept us safe. Why would this time be different?"

Matt lets out a quiet sigh that the Corsairs standing near him can hear. He might have to give his full story about the Will of Hades after all, unless someone can convince them with another approach.

The Landslide

For Matt, his effort to protect the village itself comes down to the raw power of his new abilities. He hadn't been much of a spellcaster in his first life outside religious ceremonies and first aid in a group effort, but he's determined to try. Dark plumes burst from the ground around his feet as he starts to summon forth the power of Hades, and he sprints for the mountainside edge of the village, cane left behind.

The old wall that had protected the village from old avalanches will only do so much, but it makes a good marker for his senses of where the village edge is and how wide. He raises his arms and wills a barrier of magic energy to begin forming from somewhere under the ground up, as if the underworld below was leaking energy up into the living world.

Speaking with the Elders

[spacetogrow]

"Um, ma'am?" Ilphyl is willing to kneel so they can make eye contact with the woman rather than talk down on her. "We can double-check the slope again, but it looks like it's been eroding bad. Especially farther up. If something starts up there, by the time it hits the lower slopes, it will have enough power to just scoop them up, and crest the wall. It's a lot easier to see by air than it is by ground, I'm afraid."

[blessmefather]

The elders exchange looks. Gisela sighs. "I can't ask the entire village to pack up their belongings on a whim. Are you really sure the risk is beyond what our wall can handle?" she asks.

"I'm positive," Matt insists. "It's a long story, but if you need proof now, perhaps we can show you? We have the airships and armor to fly you closer to see."

"I can't say any of us have been... fans of flying... Is that really the only way to show us?" Gisela wonders. The elders all look uneasy at the idea.

Landslide

[heaven_rooted]

Matt plies his powers to fortifications, and Tau, to the very trees of the woods. It's been tiring work, and there are simply too many trees to 'bless' but he offers a touch to the oldest and some of the younger, strengthening roots so that they can hold firmer. Trees that will be at the forefront, trees that will support them, roots intertwining deep beneath the surface.

Branchlike horns have sprouted from his brow, a sure sign he's been pushing himself as his guise has started to slip. He rests his hands against the large trunk of another tree as he hears the rumblings from above.

The strange energies from beneath make him shiver, even if they're the echoes of something happening elsewhere, and he turns his head towards the direction of that release point.

[blessmefather]

The rumbling from the mountain grows louder and closer, dust rising in the air. Matt's barrier of energy continues to grow, reaching higher and passing beyond the top of the old wall. "Everyone, brace for impact!" he shouts, though it should be clear to anyone in the area that the first of the rock and earth sliding down the mountain is about to make contact with the barrier.

He's faintly aware of Tau's energy nearby, but he has to commit his concentration to their task. Lucky (?) for Tau, Matt cannot simply turn and see the horns that have appeared on his head.

Surveying the Area

[heaven_rooted]

He'll leave the negotiating and whatnot to people who actually like talking to people. Tau knows where his specialties lie, and he has, in a way, his own people to address.

There may not be such spirits as himself here, but the forest still has its voices. It's just that not many can hear it.

"Oi, I know it's not much, but they've been good to you, haven't they? Better than those Imperial bastards."

Whoever else might out surveying may just come across him or...well, he's not being very quiet about it. But who's he talking to...?

"Oh, don't give me that, old man. Your roots probably go deeper than most. Bet you've felt it, this mountain's older than you. And it's not going to hold up long. You've probably never thought you'd have to see battle, but this is as close as it'll come."

He's...addressing the trees. And what might be stranger, you get this odd feeling that something may actually be listening. There's a stillness to the air, and then the gentle susurrus of thousands of leaves stirred by the faintest of breezes.

Re: Surveying the Area

[spacetogrow]

Look, talking to plants is perfectly normal, though Ilphyl would need to prepare a spell to be understood and have an actual conversation. And Ilphyl does have a sense that the forest is... well, awake is the best word they can come up with. They have the sense of a being that is normally content to just let time flow, but at the moment is having to focus on some tiny detail.

They wait for what seems like a lull in the conversation rather than the party that Ilphyl can't currently hear talking, and speak up. "How is the negotiation going?"

[heaven_rooted]

"Tch. They're crusty old guys but they're stubborn too," Tau snorts. "And it's not like they have much options, but they won't let themselves be mowed down without a fight. I know they're only so strong though, so it's still a big ask, but they're already stretching, digging in."

For all his seeming annoyance, he still smiles fondly at the forest surrounding them.

"I'll give them what I can. But only so much can be done if the very mountain is going to be against us."

[newmemorywhodis]

Tau's not the only one who's avoiding talking to people. Link too is out surveying the landscape - something which often involves climbing up trees and other high places.

Link hadn't been expecting someone to start talking to the tree he was using as a vantage point. But he's met the Deku tree, so it doesn't strike him as that odd. Though he can't remember spotting any face on this one before he climbed it.

Not inclined to interrupt someone else's conversation - even one with a tree - Link just waits. And listens, of course. Eventually, the man will probably notice that Link's here. He's not hiding.

[heaven_rooted]

There's no obvious response. The green-haired kid below might just as well be crazy. He at least has a reputation of throwing people overboard back on Flotsam.

After the breeze seems to die down, Tau nods.

"I know it'll be tough. You won't be alone. I'll give you what I can." He pauses, head lifting. "Mm? Oh. I'm sure he's not thinking of nesting."

His eyes skim the branches before fixing on Link directly. "You're just up there for the view, right?"

[spacetogrow]

Surveying the Village
Ilphyl is regarding the incline. "That's definitely too steep for trees to help stabilize the ground. Some kind of ground cover might work. Or stone walls." It doesn't have to hold for long, but buying time to do a better evacuation means the villagers can take more supplies and precious possessions with them.

Evacuating the Residents
Ilphyl's ability to talk to animals (or, failing that, to charm them) means they are helping with pets and livestock. You might see them having a seemingly one-sided conversation with a cow or a rooster about why they need to follow Ilphyl and the humanoid residents of the village to somewhere unfamiliar.

Landslide
Ilphyl has cast a levitation spell -- they don't have true flight, but they can at least get to a few spots marked to set up some breaks designed to redirect the earth. They don't have enough magic to do more than a few -- so had to wait to confirm which spots would be best -- but they will be working until there's nothing to be done.

Evacuating

[redprayer]

Well Rezo doesn't exactly see Ilphyl having a one-sided conversation with a cow, but he does overhear it.

He's immediately a little concerned about Ilphyl being involved in this, even though he knows Ilphyl isn't exactly injured. They're still Rezo's sort-of patient, however, and healer-y habits die hard.

So he'll be detouring Ilphyl's way just to check in.

"Ilphyl? Is everything alright here?"

Re: Evacuating

[spacetogrow]

"Just trying to reassure the cows so they'll get on the airship, even though it's a new experience for them." Ilphyl paused, considering what they just said. "I have magic to be understood and to understand them better. "

Surveying the Village.

[bearsperminute]

"Let me get a feel for that retaining wall..." She hums, closing her eyes and extending her senses as she walks along the wall. What's going on in there...?

After all, if it were just a bad landslide, chances were, there'd be something to do about it. Simple reinforcement, or raw power where nothing less would do.

And so, here she is, walking the wall, touching it with one hand, tracing it, trying to feel as deep into the earth as she can. "... Wish I still had my Custom..."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link is, of course, on the wall. He always likes to be up high, if he can. He pauses in his own surveying to watch Kanna.

And makes a faintly puzzled, inquisitive noise when she speaks. What's her 'Custom'?

[bearsperminute]

"My last Walker-Armor was a lot fancier," she explained. "It was made custom for my abilities. In this case, I'm missing a dowsing array which would tell me immediately if the wall's been undermined by water erosion."

Landslide

[newmemorywhodis]

Link - irritatingly devoid of any abilities which would be able to protect the village itself - is ushering out the last few evacuees. If he's lucky, he'll get them out of the danger zone before the landslide hits.

He's not lucky.

The first thing that grabs his attention is the sound. The rocks and dirt thunder as they slide down, and the cacophony is deafening. It's almost overwhelming.

The second thing that grabs his attention is the massive boulder that is heading right for them.

For weeks now, Link has been throwing his arm at random objects, hoping that Ultrahand would return. But it's only now - as the massive boulder is about to flatten them all, and he instinctively throws his arm up - that it finally works.

The landslide continues to fall, but the boulder hangs in mid air - held aloft by a beam light - as Link's right arm glows and transforms in appearance.

Re: Landslide

[bearsperminute]

Kanna's been busy getting the last people through, and was just about to start to try and interrupt the landslide itself when Link got out the telekinesis.

"What--" No time to really think about it, and it's not even the weirdest Ether power she's ever seen (thank you, Iris). Kanna swings through one rock, stopping it and tossing it towards another free-flying boulder, bringing them both to a stop. "C'mon, forest boy, we don't have time to stare!"

Re: Landslide

[newmemorywhodis]

A quick glance towards Kanna - Link has absolutely not been standing around just staring, thank you very much - but he doesn't voice any annoyance.

Instead, he just moves the captured boulder in the air, over towards the ones Kanna just stopped. Once they boulders are next to each other, a green glue-like substance appears between them - and suddenly, all three boulders are now stuck to each other.

Lifting them up once more, he holds the boulders up in-between the still incoming landslide, and the civilians. Now at least there's a barrier, which should help keep them all a little safer.

It's going to keep Link busy, though. So Kanna's going to need to keep on top of anything that might get past the boulder barrier.

Evacuating the Residents

[theriflespiral]

Surprisingly, there is one boat in particular that keeps making the run up to the island's shore-- the sea sloop Humboldt, registered to Penguin Logistics.

When it arrives, it carries food, and Elysians, and news of the world-- not just food, but hot food; anyone who accepts helping deliver supplies, and any refugee from the village, is treated to pancakes and watercress and stuffed blin at the camp they've set up.

When it leaves, it is carrying evacuees or Corsairs rotating through.

For now, however, it is moored, because her captain's captain has decided to arrive today-- not least because she has learned that there are people who need a hand with herding animals.

It's been years since she's done herding, but she has help from the villagers and probably from other Corsairs.

Is anyone else working to move these animals?

[blessmefather]

Matt has been busy collecting information via his senses and from those surveying the area, and reassuring the Elders, but he has a moment to breathe near where Natalia is helping to herd the animals.

He's no animal expert himself; certainly nothing compared to the druid on their team, but a stubborn goat catches his attention. While most of the herd is moving along, one of the goats seems loathe to move from its pen. Matt tilts his head, silent at first as he concentrates on the straggler.

"Ah," he murmurs, nodding to himself. He turns towards Natalia and gestures back at the goat. "She's pregnant."

[theriflespiral]

She mutters a curse. Her first instinct is to leave her-- the goats will survive-- but... no. Goats remember. "How far?"

She walks up to the dam, slowly, without waiting for the answer. "You're all right, you're all right..."

[redprayer]

Surveying the Area

The stone wall that is intended as a bulwark captures Rezo's interest in particular, and he can be found among the Corsairs examining it. He traces his hands along the worn stone, feeling out the condition of it and working out the proportions.

"Earth magic could serve to reinforce this," he muses, "But where should the raw material come from?" He doesn't want to dislodge stone and dirt from the wrong place, after all, and hasten the very disaster they're trying to mitigate.

The (Post?)Landslide

Physical reinforcements and evacuations are all handled, and when everyone receives the alert Rezo hurries to the village hall and, aided, by a levitation spell, leaps up onto the roof.

"{Windy Shield!}"

He pours as much energy into the spell as he can spare, growing the shield so that it encompasses not only the building but a bit of the surrounding area, forming a spherical barrier of wind strong enough to repel any stray rocks and rubble that smack against it.

He'll be at this for a while, but when everything is quiet, Rezo drops the spell. He takes a breath- and at that moment he feels himself get hit by a cloud of dust that sets him to coughing.

Damn. Right. The avalanche would have sent up masses of dust. Rezo does his best to hold his breath as he whips off the sash he has tied around his waist and wraps it over his mouth and nose. The effects of the air magic have kept Rezo out of the worst of it, but now there's not much to do but literally let the dust settle.

Post Landslide

[upupatomway]

Atom had been airborne for most of the landslide and got a good view of Rezo's impressive effort to keep rocks from coming crashing through roofs from overhead. Atom had carried some last minute evacuees and materials between the ground and the airships and pushed away rock and falling branches where he could. As the landslide settles, he scans the village and settling earth from overhead, and takes a breath of relief seeing how much damage they had successfully prevented. It looked like most of the villagers would be able to return to their homes later.

He hears coughing below, and realizes the dust is getting the best of some on the ground. Concerned, Atom rushes back up to the airships to ask for a something to cover one's mouth and nose, and he comes flying down to Rezo with an offered up scarf from one of the villagers.

"Mr. Rezo, please, wrap this around your head," he says, holding the scarf out to him.

[redprayer]

Rezo has been able to hear Atom flying around up above, though the sound was more of a background concern to him. He's genuinely surprised when he hears Atom flying towards him, and nearly casts another shielding spell- the sound of rockets headed in his direction is slightly alarming. Fortunately, Atom's control is exemplary.

Rezo holds out his hand when Atom speaks, but pauses as he realizes Atom's intention.

"Thank you, but I'm alright." Rezo lifts his head, as if that will make the green sash he already has wrapped around his face more apparent. "But there may be others dealing with the dust. Who else do you see about?"