Anstarra

REWARDS are finally completed! Be sure to pick up your free invokes, those of you who took part in the final round~

Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Rumor and report would spread fast, especially to there, since it's where the Aetheryte is.

Through storms of violence, glorious victories and agonies of the heart, does the first act of the tale spin to its conclusion. Battered but triumphant, the heroes lick their wounds, share truths unearthed, and look to the future... where, sure as the sun rises, more strife awaits them. But, for now, the curtain falls, and they are given a moment of respite. Before leaving the blood-soaked and boiling desert, for a land as cold as the hearts of those who dwell there... ACT I: BLOODY PRINCE... COMPLETE! EVENT LOGS! RESULTS: The ultimate fate of Master Gegeruju's cousin, Fafaraju Gegeraju, was discovered: death, at the hands of the Falling Stars tribals. The wyrmtear was found, in X'zarann Silverfall Nunh's possession. Overall, the quest cost U'jakata his hand, and Garri, the Echo-bearer, was taken captive by the Nunh. The murderer of two wood wailers and one (drug) peddler has not been conclusively revealed, but may now easily be suspected to have been a Falling Stars tribal. The outpost of the Falling Stars, the new Bloody Prints Sept, has been defeated, demolished and disbanded. Of 20 warriors known to have inhabited the Sept, 11 were slain, 8 taken prisoner by the Immortal Flames (now being transfered to Halatali), and one was made into a clip-tail by her own people. 40 clip-tails, the apparent slave caste of the Falling Stars, were recovered and are currently being kept under observation in an expanding Camp Nowhere. The darkness that had settled on Rock Falls as a result of the massacre there had coalesced into a Voidsent calling herself Starlight; she was routed by Adventurers, and departed, ostensibly for the lands of the Falling Stars... A mighty lieutenant of the Nunh's, X'zam Tia, was defeated, falling to the depths of the earth after the finishing blow. He's surely dead, right..? One adventurer was seduced by the Nunh's powerful charisma, and handed herself over to him... REWARDS: Everyone who participated in any event gets a Minor Milestone! Even if you already had one. As long as they're both spent before your next Event, either mine or anyone else's. - Leanne, Lan, Vael'a and Akiko get a /Large Sack of Gil/ in the post, for having taken part in finding Fafaraju Gegeraju's final fate. It is one invoke for Resources, an Aspect which vanishes at the end of the scene in which its last free invoke it used. - Leanne additionally gains one invoke of /The Master's Considerations/ for being the one to bring the news, and for actually completing the quest she set out on. This may be used for rolls such as Contacts in which having Master Gegeruju put in a good word would be handy. - As mentioned in the event, Zanzan, Arblis, Nihka and Kiht got the /Blessing of the Whiteseer/, one invoke, for showing benevolent intentions, and talking down one of the fanatical Bloody Prints sept huntresses, nonviolently. This may be used for interacting with her, and...???? - Virara, Renaea, Aigiarn and R'shesha got, after the fact, /A Reputation for Badassery/ with one invoke for fighting a trio of huntresses without overwhelming numbers or mage artillery support, and taking them prisoner (after beating a couple of them to an inch of their lives). This is useful for interacting with Grand Company folks, especially the Flames and any PCs affiliated with them. - Nheu'a, Deidre, Kuina and Zaphir also got /A Reputation for Badassery/, as above, with two invokes, for defeating a ridiculous boss encounter. Yes, even Kuina; someone had to suck up the alpha-strike. NEW ACTIONS: Prior to beginning the next Act, all players will be allowed TWO roll-based actions, to prepare or for story purposes. Here I will archive those actions everyone has decided to take. Please use the usual degree of IC/OOC logic in determining whether you could actually be aware of others' actions. In case of doubt, default to no (or ask them/me). At players' options, bonuses/invokes gained by their actions can be made available to others, as normal. Feel free to get in touch with me either by PM, Skype, in-game (mail or otherwise), or on this thread, if you want to take actions! Akiko Nomura: Aigiarn Kha: Arblis Ellhis: Deidre Carpenter: Enju Abbagliato: Leanne Delphium: Nihka Mioni: R'elend Tia: R'shesha Otharn: Renaea Algiernis: Vael'a Ruhne: Zaphir Zurlac:

The Hosts and Hostesses have gathered~

= Public Notice = Just to be clear, events c) and d), like b), are taking place in Rock Falls! The ruined township is half a day's relaxed ride, or four hours of hard pace, from Camp Nowhere. There is no Aetheryte (yet); PCs will need to make sure they can get out there prior to their events. This being said... since there's another RP event today that several PCs are involved in, for tonight's event c) The Final Resting Place of Mister Gegeraju we will be kinda dilating time a little; things will in reality be taking place closer to midnight CST in IC terms, though the event is still at 8 pm CST, unchanged. For tomorrow's event, hopefully all attendees can give themselves a 4 hour period at least before the event proper, in order to have their characters be there~ If not, again, I won't be too picky, we can fudge some time. The goal is not to make things inconvenient, but to foster a measure of investment in the effort it takes to go way the hell out into the desert in order to do good. Or get rich. Or wreak vengeance. Or what-have-you.

After a year gone from FFXIV, welcome back Lan! Er, Crusader :love: HOST CLUB TODAY yay!

Oof. That's not terribly likely. We're liable to begin toward 9 EST or so. I need to check; I know at least Spahro's not gonna be free before then. I myself might even work, dunno my schedule yet.

With the addition of Lan and Damascus to event c) we are now full up! Hype!

A veritable slew of events over the next little while; threads to watch, for those interested!

Brass Blade Bullies on the Horizon! Because screw it, I wanna play around too ;3

NOTICE Stupid scheduling when I'm tired. Only now do I realize I can't run Friday night... I'm moving c) The Final Resting Place of Mister Gegeraju to Saturday night! Tentatively the same starting time, it can be a bit later (though probably not earlier) if people need. I'm really sorry about the inconvenience!

Greetings! Always great to have more people interested ^^ Here is a page of links for resources! https://docs.google.com/document/d/11x8y1AiD--egmknZdldE15_ZKpxUXRkmHyr-9d1vIMY/edit Of particular note is the first one, the rules~ It will tell you how to represent your character in the system. Naturally, we officers (Anstarra Silverain, Nihka Mioni, Orrin Halgren and dear leader Spahro Llorn) are on hand to help with fine-tuning and questions of all sorts. Contact any of us in-game for an LS invite. There's also a Skype group, if you have Skype and want to share details with one of us, go for it~ Hope you have fun!

I shall sign up An, myself~ Gotta keep busy! (Naturally, if someone else wants to have silly fun, I'll make way; these events are great for bringing in new players, or people who've not gotten to play lately)

Auction is today! Hope everyone has fun~

Alas, there is not! Another? At time of posting, there's room in only c).

Specifically for d), it's "I happened to be in the IMMEDIATE VICINITY (i.e someplace with the group in the Rock Falls area) when shit went down". So anyone could qualify!

If Jana heard of this whole affair, which is possible, it's been on Adventurer Guild networks and word-of-mouth to a degree, then she could hear of things, and make the trip out, get attuned, and get involved~ I WILL mention though, that the path to milestones greater than Minor lies through specific character development and event participation~

Yes, it's quite okay!

I had to change the day of b) The Murderous Ones for reasons. I'll be updating the signup list, with priority going to whoever signed up first; then if needed people can reshuffle themselves into events they can make!

A blazing trail into the desert, now spattered with bloody prints. In action and intent, the story moves toward its first climax, as heroes and villains (and many in-between) meet in a clash upon the sands, far from the eyes of the world. The expedition stands ready, or as ready as it shall be. Who will stand with it? Who will follow the trail of their own personal stake to the conclusion? And what new trails wait to spring from there..? ACT I: BLOODY PRINCE SCENE III: Rock Falls, Everybody... a) Sudden Assault! The Battle of Camp Nowhere! (Sunday, May 22, 2016, 5 pm CST) [Mass combat, possible boss fight] Forewarned by Hydaelyn's grace, the defenders of Camp Nowhere stand ready to do battle with savage warriors of a hostile Lynx tribe offshoot: the Bloody Prints of the Falling Stars. How will discipline and courage stand up to the murderous arts of a tribe of born killers..? "They're coming!" "We know, lass, you-" "No, I mean NOW!" "...TO ARMS MEN!! LET'S GIVE THESE SAND-LICKING PUSSIES WHAT FOR!!" 1. Virara 2. Renaea 3. Aigiarn Kha 4. R'shesha Otharn b) The Murderous Ones (Thursday, May 26th, 2016, 8 pm CST) [social, possible combat] Be it pushing ahead alone, or supported by the survivors of the battle, determined Adventurers push on through the last leg of the journey, into the conquered territory of the Bloody Prints, to their sept itself; a onetime outpost and would-be seaport named Rock Falls. Now they must contend with those who remained behind - those unable or unworthy to fight - either in making peace, or wiping them off the edge of the continent... "'Too young to fight' carries a different definition, for the Falling Stars.. it's quite simply literal. Though, too, the crippled and broken, and the clipped-tails, essentially slaves among their own people..." 1. Zanzan Yanzan 2. Arblis Ellhis 3. Nihka Mioni 4. Kiht Jakkya c) The Final Resting Place of Mister Gegeraju (Saturday, May 28th, 2016, 8 pm CST) [Combat, void things] The backing behind this whole expedition having come in large part from gillionaire eccentric Master Gegereju, he remains extremely interested in the fate of his cousin, Fafaraju Gagaraju. He demands proof of his demise, if such exists. In the center of the ruined outpost of Gagaraju's creation, Rock Falls, lies a no-man's land from which radiates a tangible unease. The bones of the slain lie exposed, and there, in the middle, upon a spar of broken rock, dangles a fine-looking hat, which was last seen upon the owner of this place... "Isn't this exactly what you signed up for? Now get in there and try not to catch anything. Like possession." 1. Leanne Delphium 2. Vael'a Ruhne 3. Lan Darklyn 4. Damascus d) BONUS! A Golden Lodestone (Sunday, May 29, 2016, 8pm CST [boss battle, I Hope You Like Pain, Consequences Mitigated] Foiling evil is well and good, as is finding solace for a well-paying sponsor, but some of those out here are upon another mission. The wyrmtear, that deadly relic lost over a year ago, has left a subtle trail. Now it is time to pick it up once more... in Rock Falls, where everybody died. Or almost. "Yes, yes, just let me check-" "SPARKLE, NO!" "MY HAND!!" "Follow that drake!!" 1. Akiko Nomura 2. Deidre Carpenter 3. Zaphir Zurlac 4. Kuina Kusushi 5. Nheu'a Polaali Reserve: 1. Enju Abbagliato 2. V'aleera Lhuil

And done! A new round of events should be appearing soon, keep eyes peeled...

Very well! Unto blazing pain! Attunement is accomplished in good time.

Flame Captain Maximillian Maximus slammed his fist down on the campaign table. It was a solid oak affair, an old companion of his, and no stranger to such love taps; it weathered the blow with aplomb. Nonetheless the sound of it was enough to make everyone in the room jump (and in the adjacent one as well, which, it being an infirmary, prompted a round of resentful - if silent - frowns). "Four of my scouts... gone! Vanished into the dunes! Twelve take this bloody desert!" His words went without reply from the three standing before him. Outside, the winds rose once again as the sandstorm that had besieged the outpost for the past six bells howled its fury. The Captain glared at the door (and the storm, by proxy), and Corporal Joss leaned slightly aside as though concerned that the man's gaze might otherwise impale him. At length, Captain Maximus sat down with a growl. The three that he'd come to privately consider his command staff relaxed, a little. "Mage." U'jakata jumped, blinked. He seemed distracted, but then he always did, of late. The discovery of the fates of the Drake girls - one dead, badly, the other virtually unresponsive - had been a blow to him. Same tribe, hardly a surprise. Probably neighbors, growing up. "Yes, the Captain wishes?" "Too bloody right he does. When is this Twelve-damned sandstorm going to end?" "Ah. Yes, the news is good. The aethereal flux dissipates. Or, no, it changes. The sandstorm ends soon, though it may return, or other manifestations. I could say more if I were to look more closely." "Forget it." He was not having his only on-staff arcane specialist blunder off into that. If the aetheryte broke down they were good as dead out here. "Just keep your ass inside. You can look around when it's over." The mage nodded absently, muttering and looking away. Captain Maximus stifled a sigh. This is what came of dealing with Adventurers. Command ends up assuming you can get by with whatever you can scrounge up. The man WAS effective, if only he could be certain not to wander off to his death. "Corporal." A crisp salute. Joss was just as steady as before; the addition of a chevron of rank to his uniform had been a good call. Ordinarily Brune would be standing in his place, but the sergeant had earned Roof Guard Duty since letting the outpost's resident Firedrake climb onto a roof and gouge out a mess in the planking (sending some harebrained adventurer up after the beast, with a haunch of meat, hadn't helped matters) and that didn't change just because of a little sandstorm. "Sir." "Report." "Supplies are holding steady, sir. Due to provisions brought in via aether, our warehouse could sustain the camp for a sennight before we'd have to withdraw. Morale is also steady. The Adventurers haven't been too big a distraction, aside from that one incident with the drake. There's more than enough water, and I'm told this storm won't change that." He looked to U'jakata for confirmation, who flicked an ear distractedly. "Good. And the objective?" "Preliminary scouting reports confirm the lay of the land to closely approximate the maps you were given, Captain. Unfortunately, we can't more closely confirm, because, ah..." "Yes, the bloody patrol went missing." The Captain cast his glare across the long room, to the farthest corner; there, manacled to her bed by one wrist and ankle, the prisoner laid curled up. Her eyes were open, bright points reflecting candle light. Not for the first time Maximillian wondered if the girl could properly hear them from over there. Most people wouldn't make out enough to listen in, but he'd learned not to underestimate miqo'te ears. The girl disturbed him. Bad enough the enemy - for her presence proved there was an enemy, just like that Syndicate tart had claimed - was using children as fighters. But this one had eyes that did not belong on a girl so young. Bright eyes, yes, but bright with hate and fear, and dark intent. She never seemed to sleep, either, at least not for long. He looked back to the corporal, and nodded. Then, he turned to the last of the trio. "Miss Lorieux." Frances smiled at him, a bit tiredly. "Yes, Captain?" "Status of the infirmary." His civilian liaison-slash-field-commissioned Medical Lieutenant shrugged. "Oh, well. Supplies are adequate, though we could use some more sedatives. Too much conjury-induced repose risks aetherial saturation, as you know.." The girl adjusted her glasses, looking at her notebook. She looked a little older than her sixteen cycles, now; the desert had a way of ageing you. Or maybe it was the things she'd seen. "On that topic, Rienne should be over her illness in another two or three days, which is normal for aethersickness. We're lucky we don't have more cases, with the aetheryte so close, and the persistent wards... Mmm, private Emmis should be able to do light duty with his ankle by tomorrow morning, though I would avoid, um, forced marches or pitched battles." "Teach him to try to kick a bloody firedrake. He's lucky it didn't barbecue his fool arse. Also teach him not to wave that damn gilded scabbard around like that, the ponce. Go on." "Ahah.. yes, um. Miss U'niall attempted to walk today, but... she will need more time. We've erected a curtain between her and miss X'nikka. I wish I could move her to another building, but... she's not well enough to use the aetheryte, either. That is to say... mentally. I.. think she's afraid to go home. Without miss U'khenova." "We don't have the capacity to care for an invalid here. U'odh Nunh has said they're sending out a party to recover her in person. It wasn't outright said, either, but it seems likely that this party will carry a dual purpose." This time, three sets of eyes wandered over to the prisoner. U'jakata still did not look her way, nor at U'niall. He twitched, and looked at nothing, instead. Frances cleared her throat, and continued. "Miss.. X'nikka is still far from healed; her injuries were very extensive, and most people would not be recovering at all. But.. she is. Nonetheless, she cannot walk to any real degree, let alone try to escape." Not for the first time, she gave the Captain a reproving look for his decision to manacle the girl, and not for the first time, he ignored it. This was one subject not open to debate. "Very good. You all have your duties. Dis-" "Ah!!" Heads snapped around, as everyone turned to look at the infirmary's final occupant, who had just started from a doze. Curled up in the corner like she was, of a size with the Lynx tribe teen despite having three years on her, Garri was easy to overlook.. except.. "Th-they.." Frances hiked up her skirts and rushed to Garri's side, helping the smaller girl rise. Despite comparable ages, there was more than a fulm between their full heights. "Garri?" "They're.. coming. They're getting ready. They're gonna come attack." "Who, Garri?" "Them." Her arm flung out, without looking, pointing at X'nikka. The Lynx tribe girl was sitting up now, staring at Garri with those mismatched orange and yellow eyes. The Captain turned, and looked at U'jakata. The miqo'te was also looking at her, intently. "Mage." "Yes, Captain." "Is she.." "An Echo-bearer, yes." The mage seemed calm, almost unnaturally so, as he continued to watch the Keeper girl be helped to a bed by her friend. "I suspected it since hearing of her visions. Dedicated a number of focii to monitor aethereal wavelengths, and.." He produced a tiny crystal from his sleeves. It was glowing bright white, enough to obscure the runes on the surface. "Hydaelyn's light is unmistakable." The Flame Captain narrowed his eyes, and went back to looking at the girl. A gawky, coltish thing, years of being a rat on the cruel streets of his home city not so easily scrubbed off, even by the cares of her friend. Hard to imagine someone less likely to be a chosen of the Mother Crystal. Or maybe not. There was a defiance about her, that he liked. A toughness. And that stunt she pulled with the Amalj'aa... over a score of the damn 'catlizards' dead, and the only casualties a few Adventurers injured. Altogether quite a fine night, despite the trouble. Scrappy girl. Gutsy. And an Echo-bearer. "Alright. So, they're coming for us." It explained the missing scouts. Four days out, said the maps. They would need a wider screen of riders. Reinforcements. Fortifications... He turned to look at Joss, who looked determined, and U'jakata, who looked... vengeful. They met his gaze. Flame Captain Maximillian Maximus smiled, his mustache curling ferociously with it. "Good."

Attuned! Though the next round of events isn't up yet, so, there's no list as of yet. Keep watch! Probably be a week or so before it comes up, and then another week or so before the events.

SCENE II: BLAZING TRAIL had concluded! As a result of player actions: Camp Nowhere has been established! Four buildings encircling a twenty-fulm artificial pond, deep enough to dive into, and at the center of which is an Aetheryte. All players who have participated in this round of events are now attuned. The buildings include two warehouses, one barracks, and one command post/infirmary. The pond is self-refreshing, using a cycling and conversion of local aether to providing clean water to bathe with and drink as desired. 20 regular troops and one Flame Captain Maximillian Maximus are stationed there. In addition, there is a small medical staff, comprised of two healers and one civilian attaché (miss Frances Lorieux). Beyond this, a number of Adventurers can sometimes be found cycling in and out (that's you guys, as you see fit). Thanks to player efforts, morale is fairly high, and there are some protective blessings on the soldiers! Anyone wishing to go and attune to Camp Nowhere must spend a day, sometime, roughly 8 hours straight on chocoback, riding through the trackless far Southern Sagolii to get there. After this, however, you may go back and forth as usual per aether travel, and easily participate in the next round of events. Anyone wishing to attune, leave a note in this thread. Noteworthy NPCs: Military: - Flame Captain Maximillian Maximus, leader of the expedition, a large man with a mighty handlebar mustache - Flame Corporal Joss, a young soldier recently promoted Civilians: - Garri, a Keeper girl from Ul'dah, living in Gridania, who has visions and likes to get in trouble - Frances Lorieux, a young scion of Gridanian nobility, friend to Garri, gentle and skilled at conjury - Rienne, a Wood Wailer on detached duty, assigned to watch over miss Lorieux - U'jakata Tia, a thaumaturge skilled at rituals, seeking an item of power out in the desert - - Minna, his cat Infirmary: - U'niall, a huntress, rescued from tormentors and convalescent - X'nikka Zarann, a junior huntress, convalescent and prisoner **Anyone wanting to interact or visit any of the NPCs let me know, I'll do my best to accommodate!**