(no subject)

[savmods]

Who: Everyone
When: July 1 and onward. See this post for info.
Where: Kauto + Chioni + Ingress Complex
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label warn-worthy content in your subject headers.

There's a burst of light in the sky when the Ingress breaks, a final flare followed by a shuddering that only those in the facility can feel. A flurry of panicked activity in the complex follows, ushering new arrivals to where they need to go in a hurry, with little time to give them the needed information, much less answer questions. The lights remain on, but dimmer now, life functions still operating but little else. On Kauto and Chioni below, the sky fades into an early twilight, followed by night, and day does not come again.

nerds save the world

Before the end of the day, all TABs receive an emergency broadcast notification outlining the situation. The speaker, a lead Savriite Ingress technician, does not invite panic but nor does he mince words. The Ingress is broken; their best efforts have failed to restore it. The time has come to turn to anyone who can help: scientists, engineers, those who have worked with advanced technology on any world. Formal qualifications don't matter when it could be the end of everything.

"Help us. Before it is too late."

Those who come will have the run of the complex and full access to the Ingress, as well as whatever tools are available and as much coffee as they can drink. People are encouraged to work in groups and share ideas, and a small number of young and nervous technical assistants will be on hand.

the land below

As Thisavrou is denied light and warmth, the weather becomes brisk and descends into bitter cold. Chioni is evacuated due to the effects on the already-harsh weather cycles there, although a skeleton crew of scientists remain behind. On Kauto, the arboreal Region Three and pastoral Region Two suffer the most from the temperatures and the snow that eventually begins to fall. Many crops are frozen over, and refugee citizens are driven from their homes to the Regions One and Five, where stored energy will keep dwellings warm. Save for those who choose to leave the underwater facilities, Region Four remains largely unchanged, but there are unverified accounts of strange aquatic animal behavior near the surface.

Overcrowding, limited supplies and a pervasive fear presents the opportunity for both heroism and foul deeds. Many come together to share resources, supplies and fellowship in what could be the end of worlds, while others take what they can from the unwilling or exploit the desperate. Sentient evacuees are followed by fauna from Region Three and unsettled lands beyond, in search of warmth or food or merely confused by the change in habitat. Some are unthreatening herbivores, while tanglesnakes and clownbees are more troublesome. Others are poisonous hunters, while still others are small, but dangerous when faced as a pack.

Just when all seems lost, light returns to the sky. The Ingress begins to function once more.

the coming days

As the temperatures rise, many demand answers, but most turn to the rebuilding of their lives first. Damage has been done that isn't so easily fixed, and even in the least-affected areas, remnants of the crisis show in the lack of fresh food, in the increased signs of criminal activity. Those who can help others through their own efforts of by organizing assistance are needed, but those with impure intentions are more likely to go unnoticed.

Eavesdropping on the streets may reveal a desire for vengeance. "Those intruders from last week. They're responsible for this, aren't they? What's being done?" But don't listen too closely, or a suspicious eye may be turned on you. "Aren't you one of the refugees from the Midway Hub? You should return to where you came from! All the trouble began when your people showed up!"

Life goes on. But life does not go on unchanged.

[quick ooc note: the Region 4 search & retrieval mission/RNG fight will be posted in a separate log.]

Comments

[cockade]

[There is a definite familiarity when he turns away from Arno- and Arno can't help but pause and listen as Lavellan tries to speak with the Savrii. The unrest reminds him of home, and of the Drabwurld; both places had their hostility at different times and for different reasons. It doesn't surprise him that this has happened in Thisavrou now, as well.

Arno stops himself from making any distasteful statements before offering his own resources as well.]

My café doesn't have much, but I can offer what I have to help.

[Instead, all he gets is scorn. Another of the natives looks absolutely livid. You think we want your money? He spits at the Frenchman. Keep it, it's probably just as much trouble as any of your lot is. Arno huffs a little at the gesture, but he doesn't budge from where he is. Though it doesn't escape him that some of the group looks a little more unhinged compared to the rest.]

[lavelly]

[It only barely doesn't escalate to violence, and Lavellan's nerves are still jangling when they finally disperse.

There's still nothing to say that Arno remembers who he is, and it would be easy enough for Lavellan to leave without another word, and let this be just another incident. Another symptom of the unrest from this disaster, meaning nothing, letting them both remain anonymous.

It would be easy, but it wouldn't be right. So Lavellan stays, even though he has no thought of where to go from here.]

I'm--sorry about all of that.

Did they damage your store at all?

[cockade]

[It's almost like a memory of Paris replaying out in front of him, a haunting reminder that there's still work that he has to do, and fix back home. While it doesn't come to violence, it comes close, and Arno finds himself recalling how eerily similar it is to the towns that held anti-shard bearer sentiment. Still, he shakes his head at Lavellan's apology.]

It's fine. You're not hurt and neither am I, so I'd say it went well. [He's joking about the last part. It takes a second, but he crosses his arms and shrugs.]

My café is alright. A few overturned chairs can easily be righted. [He snorts in amusement.] I would've prevented any outright damage if it came to that.

[There is a distinct pause, however.] Your side seems to have recovered, at least. [A beat. He remembers Lavellan.] Have you been alright since then?

[lavelly]

[Of course, Lavellan couldn't be that lucky. He puts a hand on the side that was injured, as if reminding himself.]

Yes. Thank you.

[Well, might as well go all the way. Isn't he trying to be a better person now? Who said these things had an expiration?]

You treated me very well, and I was only rude to you. I'm sorry.

[cockade]

De rien.

[The words are said with a bit of surprise to them, and he blinks, uncertain. Then, the apology comes, and Arno goes to open his mouth, thinks better of it, and shuts it promptly.

This is definitely not what he was expecting. He's not sure he's completely sure he wants it- not with how this is a complete contrast to their first meeting. It's almost a little unnerving.]

I... are you feeling well at all?

[lavelly]

[Is he? No, honestly, but it's nothing that Arno can help with. Or should help with.

He shakes his head, seeming miles away.]

As well as I can be.

[Then, well... he has to ask.]

How have you been holding up with... all of this?

[cockade]

[The fact that he brushes aside the question reminds Arno a little of the stubbornness Lavellan has, but this isn't the same. He's not there when he says it, and that's mildly concerning.]

I see. [No, he doesn't. This whole thing is super weird.]

The cold or the people? [He's joking, though.] I've been through worse and this isn't my first time where something has gone wrong in the blink of an eye. [He shrugs.] Even the hostility is familiar, I'm sad to say.

[lavelly]

[Lavellan nods tiredly.]

I see. I'm sorry that people have given you trouble. I...

[He shakes his head. So much is happening that shouldn't be, to people who don't deserve it. Even if they try to shrug it off like Arno. He wants to tell all the Savrii to direct their anger at himself instead, but he doesn't even know where to start.]

They're angry at the wrong people.

[cockade]

You don't need to apologize to me.

[He finds this behavior of Lavellan's so odd, and he's trying not to show it while trying to discern what's causing it. The fact that he's here and openly apologizing compared to when they first met is absolutely boggling him.]

Even if they are, that doesn't change much, does it? [He pauses, before a hand gestures up to the sky.] In the Drabwurld, we were split into two sides of a war based on what our beliefs were. You had no choice in who you sided with- you were simply brought there and forced to fight. People were angry; angry at shardbearers, angry at natives, angry at the rulers- there was anger everywhere.

[He sighs.] Je suis desole. What I mean to say is- the anger directed at whatever side, regardless of their affiliation, did little in the long run. It didn't help other people, it didn't save lives. What did was the actions done afterwards.

[lavelly]

[Lavellan's quiet as Arno goes on. It's a nice story, what he's saying. He wishes it helped.

Because this situation is different. All of this can still be traced back to one person, who bears the fault. Him.

As far as he's concerned, people are being punished on his behalf, while he makes out unscathed.]

And what about the person responsible for this?

[cockade]

[To Arno, even if he knew about Lavellan's involvement, the answer would be the same.]

What about them? [He crosses his arms and raises a brow.] Anger brought against them doesn't fix the problem, monsieur.