the coup

[groundrules]

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.

DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?

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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 | OLD TIMERS | COMMON: THE COUP | NOTES

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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.

» THE LOUD CROWD

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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 their Poke balls.

» » THE BANNER MUST ADVANCE

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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.

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PARALLEL QUESTS (OPEN TO ALL)

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.

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QUESTIONS

TEST DRIVERS

OLD TIMERS

Comments

[in_theworks]

[he's pretty sure he mentioned only being here a few months, but that was also during the whole Being Flippant About the Man portion of events, and the dude's new beyond that, so. he can forgive him]

[he shrugs, that in mind]

A couple of months? [a beat] There're people who have been here way longer than me, though. Like, I wasn't even here for all of the Fantasy Venice portion of events, and apparently there was Creepy Mountain Path and Even Creepier Frozen City before this, so.

[not as long as some]

[joker_wild]

[Akira laughs softly at Wrench's phrasing.]

Do I want to know what qualifies the city as being creepy-er than the path?

[in_theworks]

Oh, you know. [watch as he ticks them off on his fingers] Zombies. Being cold as balls. Zombie warlords. That kinda thing.

[and while the mask is displaying a (^_^) as he goes through all of that, it's a very fake smile, if his tone is any indication]

[joker_wild]

Oh, that kind of creepy. I've dealt with mummies, but zombies would be new.

[Unless you count the mindless drones they dealt with in Okumura's palace.]

[in_theworks]

[ ... ]

Wait, like, actual mummies?

[joker_wild]

[Akira pauses a beat, too.]

Um... sort of. I mean, they were actually demons that just looked like mummies until we fought them.

[Explaining this to someone who hasn't seen the metaverse is slightly difficult.]

[in_theworks]

Annnnnnd you're not actually from my world. [that's okay, neither is Hermione, technically, but] Things are pretty normal, where I'm from. No magic, no zombies or mummies or whatever, nothing.

[joker_wild]

Probably not? But... [He frowns.] I've never had to explain this to someone who didn't already know about it.

Do you know anything about cognition or.. cognitive science?

[Wrench doesn't look like someone who might know anything about psychology, but he is very well acquainted with the idea that looks can be deceiving.]

[in_theworks]

Like how people perceive themselves and the people and things around them and shit?

[that was more Sitara's thing than his, considering DedSec's brand and how people felt about them fell under her umbrella, but -- yeah, he's at least passingly familiar. surprise! he's a lot smarter than he looks and acts!]

What does that have to do with demon-mummies, though?

[joker_wild]

[Akira nods.] Um, well. This is a lot easier when people have seen it, but. The demon-mummies were in what we call a palace? It's a... metaphysical presentation of someone's cognition. By changing things in there, we can change how things are in reality, and we were trying to help a friend whose palace looked like an Egyptian tomb.

[in_theworks]

Huh.

[he takes a long, surprisingly quiet moment to actually turn that over in his head, the mask running the gamut of expressions as, presumably, his face under it does]

Did she think see herself as, like, a pharaoh or whatever, then?

[that's a little -- self-important, maybe]

[joker_wild]

[Akira flinches a little.] Sort of? But not in a... "I'm better than you" sense, but a... "I'm dead and have been locked in here for all of eternity with no escape" sense. She was... kind of a shut-in because of some stuff that happened after her mother died.

[He feels a little bad for giving away Futaba's secrets, but he doesn't want Wrench to get the wrong idea about his pseudo-sister.]

[in_theworks]

Yikes.

[and right now, the (x_x) on the mask is very deliberate]

Sorry I asked.

[he really didn't meant to pry -- or, well, he meant to pry, he just didn't realize he was prying into someone else's tragedy. he didn't mean for that. he may be an asshole but he's not 100% a dick]

[joker_wild]

[Akira literally waves off the apology. He knows Wrench wasn't trying to be that kind of asshole about it - they wouldn't still be talking if he thought he was.]

It's okay. She's doing a lot better now.

[Honestly, he couldn't be more proud of how well she's doing.]

Sorry if that was too much?

[in_theworks]

No, it's cool.

[he's more hung up on the idea of prying into some else's trauma than things getting a little too horror movie or whatever Akira thinks the problem might actually be. he shrugs, either way]

So, you fought the literal skeletons in her closet, and she got better? [a beat] Or the mummy-demons or whatever.

[joker_wild]

[That's actually what he was apologizing for. Considering what Wrench is wearing, he can't imagine he'd be bothered by something spooky.]

Right. Or, well. She's getting better.

[Sadly, trauma doesn't just go away like that.]

[in_theworks]

[too bad. there are some days he would like his trauma mummy-demoned away]

Cool.

[and since he has no idea what to say, now, he flails a little, before] So, uh. Where were we? [before they got into discussing trauma?]

[joker_wild]

Um. Frozen zombies, I think? And creepy warlords?

[They were talking about the other things that have happened here.]

[in_theworks]

Right! Yes!

[a beat]

So, this place sucks. The rent is too damn high, I'm freezing my balls off, and I had to run from the naked headless horsemen, while hopped up on magic Red Bull, once.

[joker_wild]

[Those... were some words, and even with the translation provided by whatever device they were given, he's not sure he caught all of that.]

Sorry... I don't know whether to ask about the naked horsemen or the magic Red Bull first.

[in_theworks]

Well, horsewoman, but. Long story short? [(?_?)] Some minions of the BBEG showed up, at some point, and one of them was this naked chick, on horseback, who had all these monsters with her, and if she stayed in one place for too long, stuff around her started to die.

[kind of like what's happening in Ellethia-Allayar and Ellethia-Hamsour, when they get there. interesting, no?]

But so, a bunch of us got tasked with kind of running her around forever, so she didn't, like, destroy everything, but despite the fact that I'm young and virile and shit -- [(!_!)] -- I can't actually keep going for hours on end, and neither could anyone else, so they gave us all, like, stamina potions or whatever.

[and boy, had that been something]

[joker_wild]

[Akira can't help but huff out a laugh, because he's pretty sure there was a shadow that was a naked horsewoman. That's beside the point, though, and he tunes back in as Wrench goes on.]

So did you eventually have to fight her or run her off?

[A beat.]

Also, 'BBEG'?

[Another term he doesn't know - though Futaba probably would.]

[in_theworks]

[he'll come back to the ultimate fate of the Huntress here in a minute. first, he has to boggle at Akira. (o_O) you're from his world-ish, dude -- you're supposed to know this shit]

Uh, Big, Bad Evil Guy?

[joker_wild]

[He's also Japanese, Wrench.]

[He blinks at him for the clarification - and then smiles.]

I like that. That's really good.

[He's absolutely going to use that.]

[in_theworks]

[he shrugs]

All yours, dude.

[yes, please use the same slang as him. let's confuse everyone!]