MISSION #02 A MAN OF WORTH PLANNING PHASE

[vivalamods]

EVENT #02: A MAN OF WORTH PLANNING PHASE

The time has come to begin preparing to engage and capture the VIP. The knowledge he holds will be imperative to further Corsair operations, and they absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip by.

By a narrow vote, the Corsairs have elected to destroy the escort fleet, deeming a capture operation on the ships far too risky while also attempting to secure a VIP. As such, the Corsairs have two primary duties - discern information on the movement of the troops and prepare heavy munitions to sink the airships.

Since the game’s population is still in flux due to our new status, we are scaling back the people requirements and opening all event logs to everyone. Now, in order for a given log to be complete, we only require that players start logging it out. We’ll continue to assess and refine our mission style as the game continues and we see what works and what doesn’t, please bear with us as we get this all figured out.

CORE MISSIONS

Gather Information: Negotiators will need to connect with the Imperials in Elysium and wring as many details about the upcoming visit as they can. The more the Corsairs know about the timetable, expected escort, and armaments, the higher the chance of success.
Conflicts: A delicate touch will be needed to avoid arousing suspicions. Corsairs will need to be able to justify why it is important for them to have the knowledge, and Imperials tend not to like to give information to staff if they acknowledge they exist at all.
Requirements: To participate in this mission, your thread header should read GATHER INFORMATION.

Gather Munitions:Suppliers will need to start preparing and developing heavy munitions to attack the escort fleet. It is imperative that every airship in the escort sinks beneath the waves, and the crew along with it, and the Corsairs will require a lot of firepower to see it done.
Conflicts: Working with explosives is risky business, and unskilled hands are liable to get blown off. Suppliers will need to be careful with both their preparation and their handling, even moreso if they go out to gather particularly volatile materials from particularly volatile wildlife.
Requirements: To participate in this mission, your thread header should read GATHER MUNITIONS.

SIDE MISSIONS

With Hesaeth captured, the Corsairs will now need to hold it. Players may propose Player Plots to see to its defenses, in the likely event that the Empire attempts to reclaim it in the near future. The below prompts are potential things that may be done, but players are encouraged to think up their own plans and run their own logs if they think of anything. These Plots may be submitted here.
Trap the Mines: Line the mines with explosives so they can be collapsed in the event of an attack.
Undersea Route: Carve an undersea route into the mines so people can be evacuated via submersible.
Rallying Point: Set up a Rallying Point in the Hesaeth wilderness where evacuees can rendezvous for escape in the event of attack.
Defense Systems: Set up cannons to fight back against Imperial Invaders.

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Comments

[relentless_sentinel]

He might have to make her take something fancy or sneak her a thing, honestly...if it were just the Corsairs, that'd be easier to justify for her. Herself? Not so much.

Unfortunately, Nephenee's no better than Link for knowing where things are. At some point, as they search around somewhat blindly, she mutters, "Next time, lessee if we can find house plans..." Assuming they can get an in with someone who deals with that, of course. She takes turns with him searching and keeping watch, meanwhile. So far, though, this floor isn't doing too hot aside from the office. But having items waiting to find buyers on lower floors makes some sense: means less effort to move it.

When they've exhausted the area, she nods towards the stairs. Down they go?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods in agreement; a map would be really appreciated right about now.

Down the go, a slow search on every floor. And it's not until they reach the very bottom floor, that they finally find something promising - a solid metal door, adored with a large heavy lock.

Now, they might be getting somewhere. Link approaches, peering into the lock. How exactly to open it...?

[relentless_sentinel]

Finally; she was starting to wonder where the heck this merchant stored things...

Nephenee looks at the lock for a second as well, thinking, before asking, "...Want Ah should break it or the door? Might cause a ruckus, but...can't pick locks." She's never needed that skill before now...usually she's had someone who can do it nearby or, if not...well,"Nephenee Smash" works most times.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link considers this. Normally, this is the kind of puzzle that would have him hunting throughout the place, searching for secrets or anything else that might help him find a solution.

But then, sometimes he'd also solved problems by throwing bombs at it. Maybe more than sometimes. He didn't see any reason not to try the 'Nephenee Smash' approach.

So Link nods, and steps back to give her room to move.

[relentless_sentinel]

Normally, the Sentinel would just smash through it with a halberd. But metal makes that a bit more difficult. So she knocks around on it quietly, trying to gauge where it might be weakest. Hmm, kind of a solid metal, whatever it is. But the frame seems to not be as sturdy...especially the hinges.

Stepping back, Nephenee lines herself up, and swings her halberd hard on the verticle with both hands behind it. But her halberd isn't as strong as she's used to, and they're showered in shrapnel as it shatters on the second hinge! Being right there in front of it, she takes the brunt of it, and earns herself more than a few cuts to the arms with a sharp hiss of pain. If she hadn't reacted by letting go of the shaft on the bounceback and throwing her hands up, that could've been a lot worse!

Whoops.

[newmemorywhodis]

Oddly enough, Link shows absolutely no surprise at seeing her weapon shatter. It's almost as if he's seen the exact same thing before, many many times.

He does make a sympathetic noise when it happens, though. Having weapons break on you can be irritating sometimes - especially if you haven't got any good backup weapons.

But she hasn't sacrificed we weapon for nothing - because as Link step forward to look at the hinges, and curiously pulls on the door, the entire door just pulls away. It's hinges had shattered too, and now there's nothing keeping the door in place.

Link gives Nephenee a thumbs up. She did good!

[relentless_sentinel]

Unlike Link, Nephenee hasn't had this happen a lot. In fact, wincing as she lowers her arms to check the damage done, she's not sure she's broken a weapon except for, perhaps, at the very beginning... she honestly can't remember. If so, it hadn't been a critical fracturing like that; she hadn't been strong enough then to do this sort of thing.

Well, aside from some cuts across her forearms at haphazard angles, and a few embedded pieces that are carefully plucked out before she bandages them, she's not too bad off. But that halberd head... yeah, it's toast, and she groans quietly. She can probably utilize the shaft like a quarterstaff if she breaks the rest of the head off, but...it's sure not ideal.

The sound of the door giving way gets Nephenee's attention away from applying some very quick battlefield first aid, and she returns Link's gesture with an uneasy smile. Well, they've taken out that obstacle, at least.

"Ya get hit by anythin'?" She's not seeing any blood, at least?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link shakes his head. No, he's fine. Honestly it's a bit strange that she's been cut at all; usually Link doesn't have that problem when his weapons break.

Turns out though that things that shatter can be dangerous. Who knew?

But the door's open, and Link doesn't hesitate to now head on in.

Inside, it looks like your typical storeroom. The room is filled with large warehouse-style shelves, filled with crates and boxes. They're also labelled - each containing the date the items where acquired, and a very short description.

Once again, Link can't read them. He has to resort to opening things at random, and looking inside. But Nephenee might be able to check them quicker.

[relentless_sentinel]

Sorry, Link, she doesn't have Main Protagonist Armour. Who knew, indeed? Satisfied with his answer, she nods with a "Good," and ties off the gauze as they enter.

Well, that sure is a fair few boxes, but at least they're labeled...not that that does the Hylian much good. Nephenee makes a mental note to try to help him learn later, and starts her own search with the bane of all short people's existence: the top shelves.

"Land's sakes, how much are these dastards swipin' from folks..." She mutters, looking over the labels. Lots of different types of goods...too bad the list didn't say exactly where in here that sack was. The merchant probably has a system he's got this sorted by, she reckons.

Actually..."When was ya captured, again? These dates might help."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link briefly pauses in his shameless ransacking of boxes, to rattle off a rough approximation of when he was captured. It's not entirely exact, since Link isn't completely sure of the timeframe. But it's close enough.

In the meantime, he's discovering all sorts of things. Some nice fabrics. Silverware. A crate entirely filled with rather unsettling looking dolls. (That one makes him pause, a little.)

But so far, no pack. And no weapons yet, either.

[relentless_sentinel]

Approximation is good enough for their use, here. "Some o'these look like they're maybe grouped by date?" Also dang it Link, tell her about the fabrics, the woman likes to sew. But she doesn't know he found them, so she can't comment.

"Oh, here's some in that range...ornamental fans, shiny carved stones, cartography supplies..." She mutters some stuff as she reads out loud, then... "Pack holdin' various odd supplies that shouldn't fit in it? Hey, Sir Link, wonder if this is it!" Luckily, the box isn't that heavy, but it is a bit odd getting it down, even with her height...

[newmemorywhodis]

Well, he does leave the fabric crate opened and pulled half-way out into the aisle. So maybe she'll notice it, if she wanders in that direction later.

Right now though, Link perks up at the mention of that pack holding various odd supplies that shouldn't fit in it. He immediately heads over to Neph, and then just starts climbing up the shelves once he sees the one she's pointing too.

Once up there, he opens up the box - leaving it where it is on the shelf. "Ha! he cries, victorious, as he pulls out a small leather pack. He'd recognise it anywhere!

[relentless_sentinel]

Oh, well, alright then. She forgot he's apparently quite the climber, but it's easier for him to do that than her - there's not enough space up there for her if she got up there...

And then a familiar (to Link) jingle plays out of nowhere, and she doesn't know how or why. As Link shows off his reclaimed pack, she blinks at it - it doesn't look particularly fancy, is there really all that much in it?

But, that doesn't matter that much. What matters is he got some of his stuff back, and she's quite happy about that, if her smile and single clap is any indication. "Woo!" Well, they got the pack back! Now... "What's all in there?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link reaches inside. The first thing he reaches for is the Master Sword - and while he's disappointed to find that it's not there...he's not really surprised either. It's what he was expecting.

He can tell all his other weapons are gone too. All his bows and shields. His armours. The only thing left are some of his materials.

And there's an exhale of relief, as his fingers close around the second thing he reaches for.

In his hands is a flower. Delicate stems, five star-shaped blue and white petals. A silent princess.

Zelda's favourite.

He doesn't say anything to Nephenee. He's just looking at the flower, lost in a bittersweet, wistful expression.

[relentless_sentinel]

A...distinct and beautiful flower isn't what Nephenee is expecting to be pulled from the pack, but when she sees his expression...she understands. Not entirely, of course, because he's generally even more private than her, but that's someone's flower. How does she know?

Her mom gets a very similar look when around rowan trees or berries. Her father's name, her father's tree. And he's been gone ten years now.

Did this person die, or is Link missing someone living and very close to him that he can't be with right now? Nephenee doesn't know, but her heart aches all the same seeing that look.

"...That's someone close to ya's flower, ain't it?" She asks him quietly, knowing the basic answer already.

[newmemorywhodis]

Zelda hadn't died. Something Link was forever grateful. He wasn't sure what he'd do, if she died.

The worst part about the Upheaval had been not knowing where she was, or what had happened to her. And then Link did find out...and that became the new worst part. Zelda hadn't been Zelda anymore, and Link hadn't known if she would ever be herself again.

Now she was back. She was herself, and she was home. And...Link was here. Away from her.

All of this goes through his mind, as he answer's Nephenee's question.

"It's Zelda's favourite," he says softly.

[relentless_sentinel]

Yeah, something had told her it was a girl. Maybe just because girls back in Ohma tended to have flowers associated with them (and named for, with some exceptions like 'Meg' or 'Hazel') and boys got other plants, but regardless...

Quickly listening out for anyone that might be coming, she comes up empty, so she can ask what should be an obvious question. "Who's Zelda?" Wife, girlfriend, sister, best friend? At least she has fantastic choice in plants.

[newmemorywhodis]

"She's the princess," Link says softly, confirming at least one of Nephenee's suspicions.

He looks at the flower. Keeps hold of it while he attaches the pack to his wait, and hops down from his position on the top shelf. Then takes the flower, and reaches up behind his head to thread the stem through his ponytail.

[relentless_sentinel]

The Princess, huh? There's...a lot there, she senses. His reaction could just be a faithful knight who loves his leader; she's seen that, and feels love and loyalty towards her own queen, but...there's a small pain as she smacks back something inside her that might’ve hoped for something more, even if her conclusion might not be the correct one.

Ah, well, it isn't the first time. Probably won't be the last. She watches him pensively for a moment while that's going on, and while he's affixing the flower in his hair, and nods with a small, wistful smile of her own. Moving on from her own silliness, now. "She must be a wonderful princess if she's got someone like ya with her. Kinda makes me think o'my Queen Elincia." Except Her Majesty is married and she holds no romantic feelings there, and she isn't super close to her. But Elincia is a queen beyond peer who genuinely cares for her people, and Nephenee would still protect her with her life. If she were here, that is. "She's lucky..."

Thinking for a moment longer as she looks at the bloom, she adds, "If ya have seeds or extras, Ah might be able to grow more o'em, if ya'd like." That'd might help him feel that absence less acutely.

[newmemorywhodis]

"...She is." That Zelda was special was always something Link would agree with. But he doesn't say anything further. Link's never been one for many words, after all. What Zelda meant to him wasn't really something he could say.

But he could put a flower in his hair. And then blink at Nephenee for her offer, before hastily reaching into the pack and pulling out another five flowers and thrusting them towards her.

"From these?" he says. Turns out, Link has lots of extras.

[relentless_sentinel]

Oh! Well then. She accepts the flowers with some surprised blinking, before responding. "Yeah. A lotta plants can be grow from bits of 'em. Ah dunno how it works, jus' that it does."

Not all work like that, but enough do that she might be able to work with them. She looks one flower over, before nodding. "Think it might work, but," She gently, and somewhat reluctantly, hands them back to Link, "Hold onto 'em for me 'til we get outta here, please. Ah don't want 'em to get messed up, an' reckon they're safer in that pack if it can hold all sorts o'stuff without gettin' hurt."

Frankly, she kind of wants one of those bags...that'd be real useful for weapons and other items. "If ya got anythin' else that might can grow, show me after we get outta here. Don't wanna get caught unawares." The farm girl in her hollers to inspect those flowers, and anything else, more, but they need to keep going. It's almost like they've made noises and there's probably some guards somewhere here... Frankly, she's a little surprised no one's shown up yet.

[newmemorywhodis]

Ah. Good point.

Link nods, and puts the flowers back inside the pack. Despite the fact that it really doesn't look like they should all fit, they all disappear inside.

He almost wants to ask about other things she might be able to help grow - but just at that moment, they hear the sound of running footsteps, quickly coming closer.

Turns out, there are guards here - who have apparently finally been alerted to the in-progress break-in.

[relentless_sentinel]

Who does she need to bribe to get a bag like that? Seriously, that's neat.

But that thought is cast aside at the sound of someone approaching. "Aw, horsefeathers," She hisses in much the same way someone might speak an oath or curse. "Ugh, there's gotta be some weapons here, right?" She's pretty sure she can't break the rest of the head off this broken one that fast, and swinging around something with that jagged of an end that's now seriously unbalanced is asking for trouble.

She pulls back to look quickly around the corners of these shelves. "All Ah got is my shield an' a dagger, an' those don't quite go together." More than she had when the portal spat her into the wrong area and she had to flee, but still not ideal! Oh, what she wouldn't give to learn how to fight with just her body as the weapon!

[newmemorywhodis]

Koroks, obviously. Although seeing as there's none of them in this world, that might prove a little difficult to do...

Link pauses, thinking furiously for half a second - had he glimpsed a flash of metal a few aisles back - and then runs for it. Soon, Nephenee will start to hear a clanging of metal on metal as Link starts pulling off boxes and dumping them into the ground - and tossing any weapon that might be useful in her direction.

At that moment, several guards appear at the vault door. "Halt, in the name of the Empire!" one of them demands...as Link just happens to be chucking out what is actually a very familiar weapon to Nephenee...

1/2

[relentless_sentinel]

Dang it, she really needs to learn how to effectively kick people in the face or something. Half of the ones he tosses over aren't ones she's familiar with, and half of those are ones she's never even seen, but a few she might be able to use...

At the very least, maybe she can throw stuff?

The one that Link pulls last is heavier than most, and a lot fancier than the others, but weapons are weapons, so it gets chucked. Nephenee is just about to nab something off the ground, shield readied as the guards come in and bellow their order...when she sees the weapon coming sideways at her out of her peripheral.