ximilialog | MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 2

MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 2

● ● ● M I S S I O N 4 . 2

INTRO • THE DREAM DEFERRED • YOUR WAKE UP CALL • FYI

// INTRO. WELFORD BRANSON  

It is barely past twilight in Scorpion’s Bend, the twin suns having just set, taking their light with them — but the moons delay, and so darkness lingers over the town as Lan Xichen’s conversation with one Welford Branson comes to an abrupt end. At the same time, all around the town, the team will notice the town natives around them stilling — some freezing in the middle of a sentence, a man with a fork in the air, a woman mid-step on the street, some youngsters with their mouths open in laughter. All of them become statues in less than a heartbeat; still, eyes vacant, like everything that made them seem alive has been taken away.

And then — a reverberating sigh, echoing heavily in the ears of all the Orbers. What follows are words, spoken by a chorusing voice now familiar to most of the team —

“Well now you’ve done it.”

The orb’s echoing sound is filled with disappointment, even annoyance.

Some may see that amidst all the frozen townspeople, an old man runs, clawing at his thinning hair. Some of you may hear his words, muttered, desperate:

“I don't understand, I thought 'twas just a bad dream, everyone was fine, don't understand, what in the name of the Eight could've done somethin' like this —”

The disbelieving mumbles trail at his wake, making it clear he does not know what is going on at all — in fact, you may have a better idea as to what has happened than he does. But as you turn to follow him, open your mouth to yell at him to stop... everything around you shatters.

The lights in the buildings grow dim and break; the smell of food disappears; the horses in the stables simply fade away. You notice that if you were wearing or carrying something you bought while here, it too disappears, your clothes turning to those you had on upon arrival, all equipment shimmering away slowly.

But perhaps most importantly… the frozen statues of people crumble into ash right in front of you. It may fill the floors of the now-silent, dusty and worn-down houses, or it may blow away with the harsh desert wind — whichever it is, sans the team, the town of Scorpion’s Bend is now devoid of people.

TOP

// PART I.THE DREAM DEFERRED  

The town that now surrounds the team is very different from the one it used to be — the houses are quiet, filled with sand and dust; doors broken, tables turned over, drawers open and mostly empty, aside from anything not valuable. The beds in Thornbush Inn are ragged, insects of various sizes skittering along the floors. The Saloon is dusty, furniture broken, and a lone piano stands in the corner, half its keys having crumbled away. The door to the Mayor’s office is ajar, a banging sound repeating as it hits the wall in time with the wind.

1.0 In the corners of the Sheriff’s office, the school and the church, the embera slither along, searching for food; owl-shrews hide from the Orbers on the streets, while feathered coyotes howl at the five moons now lending their light to see the town’s destruction better. The team may be the only living humanoids, but they are not the only living beings in the town anymore; in the absence of people, animals have made the town their home. And coexist they must, now, to survive the rapidly dropping temperature of the night that has fallen upon them.

2.0 The next morning, as the moons disappear underneath the horizon and let the two suns bring out their scorching rays once more, the team wakes up to the reality of having to survive Scorpion’s Bend… with very little supplies. So search the empty houses, for they still stand; the fire that has burned away the people has not touched the buildings… but they have not been immune to the passing of time, or the harsh weather in the desert. You may find clothing, basic equipment, pots and pans left on a now-cold stove; but no valuables, no money, no gems, no jewelry, no weapons.

But amidst your search through the town, remember that what you need, first and foremost, is to find water and something to eat — it will not be long until the suns are high in the sky, and some of you are already in desperate need of proper nourishment, without being left to endure the scorching temperatures the days on the planet of Badrock bring.

3.0 But should you want to brave the heat, you’ll find it is now possible to leave the town and venture out into the desert. Out there, the rock dragons search for prey, while bald vultures circle above your head in groups of three or four, their shrieks growing in volume the farther you walk. If you show weakness, any weakness, they strike — and the dragons, sensing their chance, are not far behind.

And when you least expect it, the ground underneath you trembles, like a small earthquake is approaching you… and then you see it: from the sand, a whale surges up, then another, and another, arcing through the air like suspended there, before the sand swallows them once more. Should you get too close, you too may be swallowed underneath the sand; unless you’re very, very careful, or have in your arsenal something else that may help you to deal with these near-immortal giants that have swam across the deserts for hundreds of thousands of years.

TOP

// PART II.YOUR WAKE UP CALL  

Time passes at a snail’s pace without the comforts of the town you were used to. Scorpion’s Bend is now a wasteland you must survive, and it clearly isn’t easy. Some of you might question whether retrieving the orb is still an endeavour worth pursuing after all of this, but the rest of you know that it is. That you’ve come this far and you’re nearly there; you just need to band together and form a gameplan.

As the suns begin to set over the horizon on yet another grueling day of scorching heat and rough, dry sand in the ghost town of Scorpion’s Bend, you might begin to hear a distant thunder that has nothing to do with an oncoming desert storm or otherwise. It rattles at the already weakened structures of the old Saloon and the General Store, bits of broken glass and debris vibrating with the raucous sound of clattering hooves, feet, and paws. And as the sound of the invasion grows louder – you’ll hear the unmistakable manic howling and bellowing in accompaniment: these are the Bouldersnakes that some of you have already heard much of.

4.0 The Bouldersnakes are not a group to be taken lightly, and have garnered the fearsome reputation that they now hold for a reason. Kicking up dust, they arrive like a cloud of chaos in different sizes, shapes, and forms. Some have the ability to shrink and grow in size to match their opponents in physical size and weight. Other Bouldersnakes are agile and quick; and others yet are superhumanly strong and robust – either way, they make for formidable opponents when you, yourself, have been weakened from weeks of a lack of proper nutrition and sleep. The individual members of the Bouldersnakes are like a band of bloodthirsty brothers: from all walks of life and all colours and creeds, with a severe and mean streak to them, who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

What goals, you ask? Should you listen carefully, their leader, riding a winged lizard-like creature, shouts to their underlings:

“Find it! This is where it told us to come to. We missed it last time, but no more! I don't care what we have to do, we're getting our hands on that thing!”

As it so happens, you are not the only crew in search of that elusive orb; the Bouldersnakes have been tracking down the whereabouts of this mysterious and all-powerful object themselves, burning through towns – quite literally – to get it. News that Scorpion’s Bend has seen a resurgence of life and might still be the resting place of the orb has the bandits seeking out the town again. Their first round through Scorpion's Bend about a year ago had them coming up empty-handed (save for a few bits and baubles), but this time they are determined to find what they've come here to find. Though if there’s anything left here to salvage... they’ll ransack as they please.

Whether you confront them head-on or they catch you in hiding, they won’t easily back down from a fight. It will be best to keep your distance if you can manage it, and hope that they’ll pass you by. But the Bouldersnakes have their weaknesses too: once maimed, they still bleed, and none of them are immortal, though they are notoriously difficult to kill based on their talents alone... and when they carry weapons, too, well — those not accustomed to battles may find it best to hide. And even for those with fighting experience under your belt, teaming up with your fellow Orbers and combining your shared skills will be your best chance at survival.

5.0 By the time the suns have disappeared and the moons have risen, the Bouldersnakes invasion will make the bandit attack from the other night seem like a childish tussle. The Bouldersnakes don’t play nice and have adapted to the harsh lands as ruthless survivors. They arrive like a wave, many equipped with weapons: guns, sabers, pistols and small knives. A few others have engineered their own specially crafted weapons made of metal and magic (in the shape of guns, blow-torches, and blades) that wield a special element harnessed from mined ore called ‘pulsefire’. It is this pulsefire, glowing a deep blue (like the hottest colour of flame), that has the capability to destroy all living beings and allows the bandits to systematically ravage unsuspecting towns down to ash, reap its benefits (either for the town’s riches and wealth, or and especially: for any supply of ore), and then leave without a trace.

The best way to fight against pulsefire is to acquire weapons of pulsefire of your own and best a Bouldersnake before they best you. (Think high stakes, noon-time duels of the pistol.) Of course, this is a very risky and very dangerous affair as one shot by pulsefire could mean your untimely demise and the element itself isn't easy to put out either, so it might be best to work in teams to strategically disarm and swipe a pulsefire weapon to use before they manage to overwhelm you.

NOTE: If your character is alive, your character will be vulnerable to the effects of pulsefire. Unliving things such as buildings and infrastructure will not be affected. Pulsefire has a slow spread-rate over unliving things, but its effects on the living are instant. Once in contact with the element, pulsefire quickly consumes the living body and spirit until it is turned to ash. Putting pulsefire out over unliving things is relatively easy, but once pulsefire has touched the living, there's little to no chance of making it out in one piece.

All through this, you must still remember your goal — it is not to stay in Scorpion's Bend, or even fight the Bouldersnakes, but to find the orb... and that means finding Welford Branson. How will you convince him to give you the orb, when all signs point to him not even knowing what it is, or what it has done? That is what you must decide... if you survive the Bouldersnakes in one piece, of course.

TOP

F Y I

• The events in this log take place ICly right after the end of the NPC thread.

• The voting for how to get the orb is now open! Please head HERE to submit your idea for how the team should proceed to get the orb, or +1 others’ ideas.

• The conclusion of the mission and the return to the station will be posted on February 13.

• If you have questions about anything in this log, please direct them HERE.

• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪

TOP

▶ NAV

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Those stems over there, pass them to me?

[ While they still don't have much, they've been able to hunt new game and figure out what of the little plantlife that exists is edible. So also there helping out the others with his fantastic cooking skills that he's absolutely boasted about at some point during this is Yzak himself.

He's working at the moment with some of the hunted meat and what else he can add to that. Yzak's mind is pretty focused on it, trying to figure out how to get the most out smaller pieces while utilizing everything that they have that can be considered nutritious, without over or under-doing it. He's also making sure he doesn't add something to it that makes it too sweet. You know, for reasons. ]

[this change in circumstances, at least, has Yzak in noticeably high spirits about their collective condition, and Blue's grateful for that. he's sitting on his knees not far away when the ask comes, prompting him to look for that 'over there' indicated and pick up the wanted stems.]

Here. [he holds them out in open palms for the taking as he pleases.]

Thank you.

[ He leans in and reaches for all of them offered with a nod of gratitude, figuring it's better to work with more than less as he gets to work starting to grind them down while the meat simmers. He pauses every couple of minutes from doing that to reach over and stir one of the hastily made makeshift pots that the Orbers have set up for those prepping things. Multitasking!

Doing this does appear to have a good impact on Yzak, his mind is noticeably calmer while he works on it. Still Yzak, so never completely calm, especially not in this situation, but ya know.

... and even though this whole circumstance is absolutely rough, dirty survival, Yzak somehow managed to find a smock apron while scavenging and has that on while he cooks. (look, getting food on his clothes would be bad with these coyotes running around) ]

[Blue is doing his very best to not make any observations that might throw Yzak off his game, because he already knows if he were to remark that Yzak seems pleased with his progress, that he has a charming air about him...he'd fluster in a very characteristic way, huffing and puffing and explaining how it's only natural that he have some cooking expertise, as it's part of a well-rounded education.

so instead, he'll just wear that endeared, patient expression and go with a tamer, easier observation:] It smells quite good. Is it progressing as you wish?

[ Good call Blue, there will be no spaghetti in this cooking thread. ]

I think so. —It better be!

[ He gives a look down to the stems that he's grinding down, as if threatening them that they better mix and work as intended, or else. ]

I'm just going off of what we were able to learn over the last few days about half these things.

[ He's gingerly working with any sharp objects, since his vision is still half-hindered. But he's still pretty quick to finish up that job, toss that finely ground powder into the pot with the meat (owl-shrew, as it's the softest of the wildlife), along with a couple of other things (three or four leaves, a pinch of something that might?? resemble whatever this world's equivalent is of pepper). He's reaching into the pot with a pair of tongs to flip whatever's in there back and forth. ]

Which I'm hoping is enough.

[Blue relaxes back against the wall.]

It should be...more than enough. Given what everyone has been eating...unknowingly.

[ They've been eating basically nothing unknowingly half this time. Which is still something that brings frustration to Yzak at the mere thought of it. Because no matter how much he tries to recall doing it in retrospect, it still didn't feel off aside from the taste. He didn't feel it, couldn't tell that his own body wasn't registering it. And boy does he hate that.

But he's pulled out of that recollection when he finishes up, plating a bunch of bite-sized squares of seasoned owl-shrew meat. It looks, smells fine and less bland than simply heating up the meat at the very least. He pops one into his own mouth to try it out first, eyebrows raising. ]

Hmmmh...

[ And then he nods as he chews and swallows. ] It came out pretty good.

—of course, I'm not shocked by that, [ He waves his hand, because OF COURSE!! ] I know what I'm doing perfectly well, after all!

[Blue watches him assess with interest, noting how even something as simple as tasting can come with a slew of layered assessments. he has lots of memories to pick from, after all.

at his conclusion, Blue smiles, eyes crinkling with some amusement.]

So you've...tamed this wilderness' flavors?

Hmph, naturally. [ Like this could always be expected of him. Yzak looks, sounds, and feels pretty pleased with himself and this end result. And of course, he'll share why as he turns to Blue with the plate. ]

Those owl-shrews are already pretty tender, but it's the stems from those plants that grow near the rock formations that not only make it more palatable, they also serve as an extra source of protein so one wouldn't need to eat so much of it to get what they need out of it.

[ And with that, he pulls a small piece (Blue-sized piece, he probably knows what that looks like by now) off of the plate, and holds it out to him. ]

Here. It doesn't taste like bland shit, but it's not overloaded with too much, either. And it's not sweet.

[ Perhaps in this process Blue was on his mind as much as himself and the rest of the team when considering what would be easy to eat. ]

[the smile wanes as he takes the plate and holds it in his lap. the hesitation is obvious.]

My appetite...hasn't been the same since coming here. I worry...I won't be able to appreciate this the way...it deserves to be...

It's not like it's a five-star meal. [ ... not that Blue would get that, but at least intention with that statement is along the lines of 'it's not trash'. ] Just something simple enough but actually good using what we have here.

[ Yzak inclines his head a bit. Since coming here...? Damn, their "not actually eating" situation probably fucked that up a bit for Blue, huh, he thinks. Stupid fucking orbs.

But to what he says: ] They'll stay for a while, if you don't want it right now. But whenever you do have something, I did make sure it would be what I think you'd opt for.

[he looks up, eyes wincing in the appreciative look he gives him.]

I'll still try. Thank you. Please...save the rest for the others? [he's certain they'll appreciate it better than he can.

in any case, he'll pick at the pieces on the plate and take small bites.]

I intended to. [ At that, he takes another piece for himself, even. ] Making up for what we've missed will be a lot easier when the food is like this. [ Easier to eat, tastier. Small and simple and enough since they're all also moving about.

Once Blue takes a bite, Yzak stares, expectant. As always, he's gotta know if he's done a good job here so his claims of talent can continue as always to not be disputed. ]

[slow, careful chews ensue for a while - long enough that the flavors are gone before he swallows, having to bring a hand to his mouth to hide the smile and stifle a laugh because Yzak's intense focus and expectation...

after a moment:] It tastes...much better than...anything we've had here so far, yes.

[ Hell yes that's exactly what he wants to hear. ]

See? Just as I said, I know what I'm doing! And very well, at that.

[ He can't help but smirk, pleased, like the smug motherfucker that he is when he gets praised and gets to gloat about it. Though with that outward brag comes the natural feeling beneath it; actual delight at accomplishment, the proud fulfillment anybody would feel to be able to do something of use, something good in this kind of bleak scenario. ]

[Blue can already feel things not settling well in his stomach, but he wills himself to have another couple bites for Yzak's sake. for his own sake, even - each piece eaten is him begging his body to give him back this little semblance of normalcy. what is a body that can't eat, after all.

he moves the plate off his lap, resting his hands on his knees and closing his eyes for a few seconds, looking faintly pained before he can take a stabilizing breath and sit up. it's alright. it'll be okay.

he manages to smile again, nodding up at Yzak.] Thank you.

[ Once Yzak gets that ego tingling affirmation, he briefly moves while Blue wills himself to have a little more, setting the rest of what he just made out of the way so others who are dropping by and looking for a bite of something can help themselves.

He turns back to Blue after that, noting his posture before he lifts his head to him again - unawares of what exactly this new issue that's cropped up for him is. There's a flash of concern in Yzak, one he feels a lot, can't help but feel when he notes those things, knowing sometimes Blue simply feels dizzy, or needs a moment. But it's a common, fleeting feeling that he tries to simply let come and go without allowing it to set in, because if it did not only would he start to despair, but Blue would also feel that and he doesn't want the other to feel bad about something that he can't help. ]

You're welcome. [ He replies, still overall pretty relaxed. He nods back to him, then crouches to reach for the plate he put aside and get it out of the way. ]

[Yzak's barely gotten the plate lifted before Blue's posture tenses up. he sits up off his knees, one hand to his mouth, the other reaching and blindly grabbing at Yzak's sleeve, pulling a bit too hard and causing the remaining portion to spill onto the floor.]

I need to get--

[--up and move, but...no. best he can do is double over again as he retches through his fingers, letting Yzak go to catch himself before he can pitch too far forward.]

[ The way Blue suddenly grabs at him that way surprises him, and Yzak jerks forward to just catch himself against the wall with his free hand. Lucky he does, because it ensures that Blue mostly misses him (save for his boots) when he gets sick. ]

—h-hey!

[ Whatever droplet of elation he managed to get moments prior dries up in an instant, replaced by a sudden rush of panicked concern. The plate is dropped back onto the floor with a clang so both arms can shoot out to grab for Blue - one slipping under his chest to support him in case his arm gives out, the other on his back. ]

Shit, [ he whispers, low to himself, unmoving until Blue does what he has to do and is able to properly move again.

Oh, oh no. A jumble of thoughts roll through his mind - was the food bad? No, no he just had some himself, it was fine. So this ... this is Blue? Something just happening to him that's both shocking in this moment but even as the shock runs through Yzak, the realization sets in as well; of course it's happening to him, he's dying, remember?

...

Fuck. ]

[Blue, who is usually very keyed-in and able to keep up with the transitions of Yzak's thoughts and feelings, is still too caught up in his body seizing up and getting sick to assuage any of those mounting fears. there's really not much in him to let out beyond that meal and bile, but that doesn't stop his body from trying for a little longer, and after a few empty heaves, the his body starts to go slack in Yzak's arms, head hanging low in pure exhaustion.

it's humiliating and frustrating, being laid low by his own body, good reason or otherwise. and worse than that:]

Oh, Yzak...I'm so...I'm sorry...

[worse than that is dragging someone he loves down with him. this isn't how it's supposed to be. he was Soldier, the one who could raise up others, and now?]

[ Once he's through and Yzak feels more of that weight against his hold, he adjusts to it to keep Blue upright. The apology claws at his heart, because he knows why he hears it, why anyone would be inclined to it like this. But that it's Blue, that it's now happening like this... ]

Are you kidding me? What the hell are you saying sorry for?

[ Words brusque, but tone lacking any traits of it, low and soft instead. Like he could help this?

This, this concerning ... whatever it is. ]

Was it the food? Or, are you just not feeling well? Here— take my arm.

[ Carefully, he'll shift and offer himself for Blue to brace on, if only to move him a small ways away so he can sit down somewhere. ]

[just being so rapidly drained and laid low like this has Blue so defeated, and he can only be grateful for once that his feelings can't be so easily conveyed: there will be no good coming from being shown for how weak he feels inside when he's so plainly weak on the outside. and when one feels bad, it takes that much more strength to keep one's chin up.

this was easier to bear when this level of sickness came upon him alone, but having someone bear witness to it makes the weight almost too much, and it brings frustrated tears to his eyes.

he brooks no resistance to being moved, but he's also not in a state to help at all, not even moving to take the arm as asked. dead weight. i'm becoming...]

[ Blue's lack of ... any kind of response, by mouth or through mind, is worrisome. But he needs a moment to recover, and Yzak can compartmentalize enough to not let the worry impact his own immediate goal.

In that case, he opts to the nearest door of the schoolhouse's cooking area, which is a couple of feet away, just to at least get out of the room and away from all that. If Blue doesn't make any move to take his arm or otherwise, he'll do what he always does, just easily (so easily, too easily) pick him up and bring him into his arms. The small break room adjacent to it has a couple of places to relax for the former staff - dilapidated and gross now, but something is better than a cold, hard, floor, right? He sets Blue down on one of the smaller lounge sofas, ripped and sagging. He's otherwise quiet, waiting for him to recover. ]

[he's as light and easy to carry as ever - it's just the logistics of sitting him upright that's a little tricky when he's not making any effort on his own. that said, being in Yzak's arms brings him closer to the heart of that worry; Yzak can solider all he wants to complete a task, but the Mu can feel what drives him.

that's a good thing, really: it motivates Blue to actually try. once he's set down, he does actually sit up, putting a hand on Yzak's elbow to keep him from getting too far away if he thinks go. even so, his head is still tilted down, eyes downcast, bangs obscuring the trail of frustrated tears streaking his face.]

I'm sorry. You worked so hard. And it really did...taste good...

[ He feels that hand on his elbow. Light and easily breakable as that touch actually is, it wouldn't seem that way as it does as intended and keeps Yzak anchored there, close as he mirrors the action and hooks his own hand under Blue's elbow in turn. ]

Stop saying that! It's fine! You think I give a shit about that at all, right now!?

[ Sure, he'll come back around to it later and feel good about that little detail, but right now? Right now he has one pressing concern, and that's Blue. Yzak crouches to kneel, leveling with him. ]

More importantly, are you okay?

● ● ● M I S S I O N 4 . 2

F Y I

slams in here FOOD cw emetophobia etc

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw emeto

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject