let's set d o w n some (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
groundrules) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
westwhere2021-12-02 07:00 pm
groundrules) wrote in westwhere2021-12-02 07:00 pm
Entry tags:
- 2ha: chu wanning,
- avatar: zuko,
- harry potter: hermione granger,
- harry potter: lily evans,
- kingdom of the wicked: wrath,
- mo dao zu shi: xiao xingchen,
- mo dao zu shi: xue yang,
- oh! my emperor: beitang moran,
- persona 5: akira,
- star wars: slick,
- taravast,
- tian guan ci fu: xie lian,
- warcraft: anduin wrynn,
- warcraft: wrathion,
- watch_dogs: wrench
the coup
Hello to our last Big Event of the year, covering 2-22 December and also subbing as our test drive.
Current players can play here or make separate logs & network posts. TDM tourists are confined to this playground, but can include network prompts in their top levels.
If you’re trialling a character, you can apply them until 21 December without a game invite. TDM characters can participate in the sign-up quests without taking up a slot, but cannot vote for event outcomes.
Taravast’s civilians take to spirited protests and seize the Palace of the Doxe. They intend to redirect Doxe Bonaccorso Spina’s attention and resources to his people, livelihoods suffered in recent undead attacks. The Merchant sends ‘help’ to oust the Doxe.
Amid the chaos, Vannozza Spina seeks to apprehend her grandfather. Her cousin Macaluso, Bonaccorso’s prisoner, can be liberated. Outgunned, outmanned and outnumbered, Bonaccorso orders the city burned down.
TDM TOURISTS: THE BARREN BONES
You wake up in shallow water, other supine bodies beside you. The nearby occupants of a desert outpost greet you with a coarse translation and communication device and introduce you to their leader, the Merchant. He rescues otherworlders who were summoned to serve as weapons for warring undead factions, sending them east — where forgotten beacons can return them home.
A. A FRIEND IN NEED
Unconscious new arrivals are delivered every few days, recovered from the dunes. They are submerged in oasis waters. Some characters wake weaker of body and mind, struggling to focus their thoughts or their supernatural abilities — effects that recede within one-three days. Others are plagued by a drowning sensation for one-two days.
- ■ Help fellow newcomers as they regain their strength with sparring, a calming voice or a warm meal.
■ Newcomers must share tents and carry out camp tasks: hold the night watch, man fires, kill viper nests and excessively large scorpions or, fate help everyone if you’re related to Xie Lian, cooking.
B. A FRIEND IN DEED
Soon enough, the Merchant reveals more otherworlders are assigned in the nearby magical citadel of Taravast, which is on the brink of civil uprising against the ruling Doxe Bonaccorso Spina. Your fellows need you, cavalry.
The Merchant sends the fresh conscripts on a three-day journey to Taravast across a desert canyon, granting supplies, horses or seats in shared carts.
- ■ Fresh horses wait at specific landmarks, but some suppliers trade steeds for the better coin of rich merchants evacuating Taravast. If you end up stranded, find help.
■ Weather forecast: frequent, cruel sand storms that challenge even expert riders. Collect anyone who gets lost in the dunes — particularly near wild cougars.
■ Some Taravast refugees crowd or pretend accidents to loot your horses. A select few diplomatic convoys offer assistance, or try to confiscate your rides.
OLD TIMERS: THE STREETS, RALLYING
Dissenting necromancers, healers and civilians begrudge Doxe Bonaccorso’s failure to ensure their safety and distribute repairs funds fairly. Many believe that Bonaccorso has been manipulated by Macaluso and Vannozza.
The initially peaceful protests exacerbate into after several days: demonstrators frequently come to blows with city guards around the 20:00 evening curfew. Protesters carry sharp and blunt weapons, small explosive talismans or banners. Some are ghost-summoning necromancers, others are sorcerers who command a small array of elemental spells.
- ■ Protesters try to enthusiastically conscript passers-by to their cause. Some assume characters leaving the Doxe Palace are nobility and try to kidnap and ransom them for an audience with Bonaccorso.
■ Merchants and the last few of Macaluso’s foreign suitors begin their exodus from Taravast and ask you to serve as escort in exchange for compensation.
■ Palace guards retaliate with disproportionate violence when they catch crowds without magic users or experienced combatants. Rescue some demonstrators — but prepare to run — or scout the streets so they can escape.
■ The clashes separate some Taravast residents from food, commodities and healers. Be a friend.
■ In rare good news, protesters share with Wrathion and Slick their battle and coordination signs and passcodes.
■ Some crowd contingents are less spirited about this endeavour — try talking them out of this revolution business.
■ Characters without powers or weapons can resort to the arsenal Wrench and Aang recovered from looters: daggers, maces, swords, bows and five-six man-sized water serpents, who heed those who first summon them out of theirPokeballs.
ALL TOGETHER NOW: THE BARRICADES
Within a week of the first demonstrations, the protesters and Doxe Bonaccorso’s guards have devolved into vicious and regular violence. Civilian demonstrators have been joined by many necromancers wielding fresh corpses, minor sorcerers, healers and a handful of expert combatants, assigned by sympathetic gentry. Bonaccorso’s men conduct regular inspections and arrests. The demonstrators meanwhile set traps of magical ice and explosives.
Led by the lawyer Giacomo Zanardo and the healer Sebastiano Bianchi, the mob seeks to storm the Palace of the Doxe and persuade Bonaccorso back to his senses, which have surely been corrupted by his absent nephew Macaluso and niece Vannozza.
RISE ONE, RISE ALL
Existing characters are soon joined by fresh reinforcements. Everyone receives the Merchant’s transmission:
”It has emerged, vocally, that Doxe Bonaccorso Spina no longer serves the interests of his city, his people or our contingent. The most efficient recourse is to depose him. How, and whether you choose to instate one of his successors, is of no consequence to me. I send a wave of our new otherworldly associates to assist you. Fair fortune.”
- ■ Zanardo and Bianchi organise a last bout of midnight merrymaking before the Palace attack at dawns. Meet your reinforcements at a… large, cold, rudimentarily decorated warehouse in one of Taravast’s dodgiest district. Close your eyes and smell the salted fish.
■ Old and new characters can collect further plain weapons from rioters. Slick receives command of five NPC protesters.
■ Pacifists can scout the Palace of the Doxe to report back the watch patterns, or try to persuade servants to open the gates.
■ Come dawns, protesters seize the Palace, meeting fresh waves of Bonaccorso’s guards in the gardens before advancing inside.
■ The Merchant informs Eleven and Shen Qingqiu they are required back in Taravast. He cuts a deal with local warlord Anurr, who supplies two transporters orbs that will transport the duo immediately.
Because of overlapping timelines, your character can only be signed up for one of the three following missions. Each quest will be capped at 15 characters: first come, first served. You can vote on game polls irrespective of what mission your character pursues.
NOTE: TDM tourists can participate in the quests and do not need to sign up. They can include prompts for one of the parallel quests in their top-level prompts, or can tag around. However, TDM tourists don't qualify for the NPC RNG draw and cannot vote on Bonaccorso's fate.
A. LET IT BUUUUUURN, LET IT BURN
Counting the last hours of his reign, Doxe Bonaccorso Spina takes to the great balcony of his Palace to address the masses:
”My people, my loved ones. Twenty-two years ago, I came before you, a man ruined: my son and my daughter taken from me. Is there any pain greater than burying your children? Only today: to see the blood of your blood and the blood of your nation, united against you. To know your nephew made weapon of a blade and your niece of her gold, and your people are indiscriminate in their arsenal. You tear down my doors, sirs! You bloody my halls! And when you stand against your Doxe, you stand against Taravast. And why? Because I turned my eye from you for scant moments. Spoiled! Shameless! All I ever intended were more years in your service. For we must strike a permanent truce with the dead. To survive. Know that even now, I see you: you are strong, gifted, beautiful. How it breaks my heart to know I must bury my children again.”
After this, Bonaccorso orders the 20 court witches of Bessis currently at the Palace rain down fire from the northern and southern towers, unto the masses.
- ■ Current Bessis leader Margherita Moretti is instructed to call her sister witches to Taravast’s greater walls, where they might direct further fire upon all who oppose Bonaccorso.
■ Ten witches will climb each Palace tower, targeting protesters. Sign up and discuss how characters can slip the witches sleeping herbs with their water, kill them, feign fresh orders from Moretti, etc.
■ The witches of Bessis have historically received the patronage of the imprisoned Macaluso. Many recently retreated from court, embittered by Bonaccorso’s support for the rival Attaryl. Moretti is reasonable, if loyal, and possesses a conscience. She rides out to bring further Bessis assistance.
■ Team up, pursue and capture Moretti down the chaotic streets of Taravast. Two characters — chosen on 10 December through RNG draw from the signed-up crew — can participate in a NPC thread to talk her down.
B. OFF WITH THE OLD MAN’S HEAD
Informed by Wrath and Wen Qing’s faction that her grandfather prepared to possess her body, Vannozza Spina moves to apprehend Bonaccorso.
Following his speech, the Doxe holes up in his quarters, guarded by several dozen Attaryl witches — masters of illusions, telekinesis and mind control. They will try to briefly steal or dim characters’ senses, thrall them into seeing their allies as enemies and crumble walls and statues upon them. The witches are easily defeated through physical means.
- ■ Characters can charge in militarily or infiltrate by presenting as palace staff or Attaryl reinforcements. Those who previously assisted servants can receive spare uniforms and directions. Sign up here.
■ In-game characters can vote until 15 December to decide Bonaccorso’s fate. Two characters drawn via RNG can share a NPC thread for a short discussion with him. Wen Qing and Wrath can optionally have a separate talk thread, given their participation in Vannozza’s plotline.
C. SAVE THE HIMBO, SAVE THE WORLD
Macaluso Spina’s attempt to persuade his Doxe grandfather of the merits of retirement condemned him to house arrest, awaiting trial on charges of assassination. He is secluded in his wing of the Palace of the Doxe, guarded by two dozens of Bonaccorso’s men and by illusion traps devised by Attaryl witches.
Characters can hear footsteps, men giving chase, the muffled voices of Macaluso or their companions, all unseen. A mirrored hall leads you back to its beginning, as your reflection mocks you — until you break a mirror.
- ■ Characters who have helped Palace servants can receive tips on guard numbers and locations, or corridor shortcuts.
■ Sign up here. Two characters picked via RNG draw on 10 December can share a NPC thread to discuss Macaluso’s next steps. Alina Starkov can have an optional separate thread, for her involvement in Macaluso’s plot so far.
QUESTIONS
OLD TIMERS
no subject
[Which she hated to see, but she was well aware existed. She needed only to look back to her own arrival and how quickly others used and manipulated her for their own ends. All to make a bit of coin.
At the very least, the woman wasn't hurt and she still had her horse. She also seemed confident enough that it didn't seem likely she would be easily overpowered. It was hard to say what sort of fighter she might be, but there would be a fight of some sort.]
It runs similarly to most uprisings. The people don't feel heard, a popular figure was jailed and could be executed. Those in power are desperate to keep it and mean to resort to cruel acts to intimidate compliance. The people fight on despite this.
[Which was vague, but they all ran the same.]
I would give direct names, but I suspect they will mean nothing to you?
no subject
[ Somehow she knew the answer before the other woman even explained. Or leaders falling short of their promises to protect the people who voted them in. But then there was always a much deeper reason for it all to happen.
She looks at the woman riding beside her. ]
It doesn't matter much if the names mean nothing to me. I'm here now and without a way to get back to the war currently going on in my world, I might as well know who's who.
no subject
[But she had never fully probed the reason, only falling into place with it. There were some things that were better kept to themselves ultimately. Any little shred that they could keep and carry, all the better for their comfort.]
Bonaccorso Spina is the current leader, but there has been a power struggle between his nephew and niece, Macaluso and Vannozza. Macaluso has been imprisoned and it seems that Bonaccorso was trying to possess his niece's body to continue living.
In the meanwhile, the people have been ignored and their cries for aid have been dismissed, so they are rising up. The group of witches called the Bessis have not acted yet, but their leader is loyal to Bonaccorso. It's possible they will attack the people.
no subject
The information is gathered and stored, though her interest is left off her face until the woman mentions the witches and suddenly, she realized this place wasn't so different and there was a feeling of being back in Aretuza attending the Conclave of Northern Mages again, bickering over helping Cintra. ]
It sounds like Bonaccorso is reaching levels of desperation. Has he always been cruel? Or do the niece and nephew have something on him? Uncles don't often imprison or possess their family unless there is something they know that they do not wish anyone else to know.
no subject
I think it might be desperation. He is dying, I believe and seeks to retain his power rather than choose a true successor.
[This was as much as she was able to glean. Rather than immerse herself with politics, she had preferred to be in the city, rebuilding the homes and shops, feeding the people. It was better than the game that the powerful played.]
You've come at a dangerous time. If you wish to rest and regroup, I have set up a safe house nearby.
no subject
[ There was still more to the story, that much Yennefer knew. She had spent enough time in royal courts to be privy to the inner workings. And in her opinion, a leader who knew he was dying made preparations for his successor to take over the ruling.
The young woman was indeed young, but then at first glance, Yennefer comes across as not being much older, carrying a level of confidence that would rival anyone she came into contact with. ]
Likely no more dangerous than what I've already been exposed to.
[ A knowing smile spreads lifts at the corners of her mouth. ]
But I wouldn't be opposed to something to drink if you have something.
no subject
[But she will say no more. Was she not willing to do the same? Had she not put herself in the middle of the conflict at great risk to herself? This woman was no different. They seemed to share the same bravery and the same drive.]
Come, follow me. It's in the healer's district.
[She steered her horse around, suddenly hearing a shriek in the distance. She stopped, turning suddenly, worry etched on her face. A dark shape loomed closer over the horizon, flying at great speed. Red eyes would be seen first before the sheen of black and red scales.
Dany clutched the whip at her side and hopped from her horse.]
Go back, Drogon! [She pulled the whip out, brandishing it, but not attacking him.] Jikagon arlī!
[The dragon swooped, shrieking again as he tried to near Daenerys. The sight of the whip was enough and he circled back around, heading towards the canyon. Once she was certain he would not return, Dany remounted her horse.]
This way.
no subject
[ The statement came out more like a murmur as she turns distractedly and watches the woman with what appears, at first, to be a very big bird. It's not until it gets closer and she can see its features that she can see what it is.
It isn't the first time she's seen one. In fact, it hadn't even been a month since the dragon they had been hunting was found dead, her body still wrapped around her egg and Borch revealed himself as a rare golden dragon.
Yennefer hardly reacts as she continues to follow. ]
They keep dragons as pets here?
no subject
Dany glanced back over her shoulder. He was almost out of sight now, soaring quickly back to the canyon.]
He is mine. No pet, but more than that.
no subject
Yennefer's brow pinches in both curiosity and confusion. ]
More, how, exactly?
[ She's almost afraid to ask. ]
no subject
Dragons were gone from my lands, but Drogon and his brothers were hatched from stone. I have raised them, fed them with my milk and meat. He is more because I believe he and his brothers are my children. I know they are.
[She glanced towards Yen, curious what she might make of this.]
no subject
You have birthed dragons?
[ Her expression schools back into a neutral face. In her world, nothing is impossible. If a male dragon can take on the form of a man, then why not a woman? ]
Is this your real form?
no subject
[This seemed to be the common response here, so it was less of a surprise now when others questioned her this way.]
The eggs I was given were stone, but I hatched them in fire.