Wilderlands Mods (
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wilderlogs2018-03-07 06:14 pm
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THE SQUAD DOES AN INTRO - [modplot] [event]

THE SQUAD DOES AN INTRO
In their homeworlds, they suddenly hear water flowing over stone, the wind through the leaves, and the gentle rattling of Kodama. The hushed sound of treetops waving in the breeze lull them to sleep whether they want it to or not, and in what seems like a dream they fall through a tunnel that passes through layers of dirt and roots and then through seemingly endless boughs of trees.
During this impossibly long fall, spirits whisper in their ears. They tell them that they must save the Wilderlands and the Green. They tell them that they will be given the power or weapons to do it - or that they're already strong enough as they are. They tell them that in the times they're not needed, they may find themselves trapped in the faerie realm known as the Brugh, but that the mirrors will let them speak, and the mirrors will let them see.
And they tell them that they're about to become lost in the forest and that there are others like them, just as lost.
When they wake up, they find themselves in the ruins of an abandoned city; the forest has overtaken it, threading new life through the decay, but the green of the leaves and vines pales in contrast with the broken buildings and streets. Every single building in this city was once a vibrant shade of emerald, and even now, after the slow ravages of time, the green ruins glimmer like they're hewn from precious gems.
The only things that aren't that bright shade of emerald are the statues. Countless statues are scattered through the abandoned city, shaped like men and women and children and pets, all dressed in 1900s era Earth-style finery. These figures are extremely intricate, almost too detailed to be believably carved by a human hand. Many of them are smashed and broken.
Some of the statues don't look human. Among the humans are little beings shaped like china dolls that are made of stone like the rest, instead of porcelain. And in the middle of the city, standing near each other are three strange petrified figures: an axe-wielding man that looks like he was made of metal before being petrified, a man who looks like a human-lion hybrid, and a living scarecrow. All three have expressions of surprise or anger on their faces.
When the characters are brought into this place, the magic that brought them in seems to have trouble getting them all in the same place at first. They find themselves spending brief amounts of time in one spot (sometimes just minutes, sometimes longer) before they're teleported again. Each time they teleport they find themselves near someone new, someone just as lost as them. Those that don't speak the same language may find some difficulties communicating, but over time, the magic of the Wilderlands will kick in, and plant a whole new language in their heads. This magic works faster the more they emotionally connect with other and find understanding without words.
The teleportation keeps zapping them in different places all over the city -- and sometimes outside it, where they can see an abandoned road made of yellow brick that trails off into the distance. Fortunately, the people they keep getting paired off with seem like normal people just like them, and beyond that, they're entirely alone in the ruins.
Probably.
✦ Post in actionspam format. Plots and mod-run events in the game are meant to be in actionspam format to keep a brisk pace.
✦ Please see the OOC post linked up top for more information about the event.
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This person's outsides are...weird. His face looks kinda damaged? Phos can only assume, anyway. Whatever he is, it's clearly nothing like what they're used to, even if the general shape appears similar. Y'know, vaguely. The weirdness is more disconcerting than the similarities are comforting.
The translation magic is apparently working, but Phos...still looks confused. They frown, brows knitting together while they take a cautious step back, keeping a careful eye on the...person.]
They're what?
[Maybe the translation magic isn't working all the way for them yet? Or...maybe that's just not a word they've ever heard before.]
no subject
[Not that all statues are weird, but all these petrified people are definitely on the creepy, disturbing, unsettling, just plain why-would-you-make-this part of the art scale. Especially the ones with decapitations or faces that have chunks taken out or noses scraped off. Goddamn.
Dixon kicks over one of the little rock-china dolls with his foot as he heads over. It doesn't break, and that kind of annoys him. He kicks it a little harder then gives up.]
You think you could have dressed a little better for this?
no subject
Hey! You could break them!
[They don't know what's wrong with the still white figures, but they doubt additional damage will help matters. Phos darts forward, planting themself between this new person and the fallen statue. Said new person doesn't seem openly hostile, but jesus, that's a level of dickishness even Bortz doesn't hit.
Their hand is halfway to their sword hilt, almost expecting a fight or something. What they weren't expecting is a jab at their uniform. They pause, looking down at themself for some issue. Nothing's ripped or anything...?]
What's wrong with it?
no subject
[Dixon makes a motion with his head like his chin's retreating into his neck- combined with the way he squints his eyes, it's a very clear "why should I care?".
But then he sees the hand moving towards the sword hilt and instantly brings his shield up, with a sort of reflexive grace that surprises him. It's been a heavy thing to lug around until right now, and in a way it's almost like the shield itself is as hungry for combat as Dixon is for someone to berate.]
Get your hand away from the sword. [He barks it like a command, completely ignoring that Phos' attention has moved towards the state of his outfit.]
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Right, 'cause I'm totally gonna just do whatever you say. [Even at 301 years old, that still manages to sound like pure teenage sass.] You're the one threatening to break people!
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[There's absolutely no recognition that Phos is talking about the statues, but Dixon doesn't like where this is going. He doesn't like that he doesn't have his gun or nightstick and is with an unfamiliar weapon, even if the shield does somehow feel strangely natural on his arm.
He squares his shoulders and steps forward. He can be fairly intimidating when he wants, although he has no idea how Phos will take it.]
You fucking blind? What goddamn people? Put down the sword!
no subject
[Whatever that sheet of metal is meant for, it's being wielded like a weapon. Phos narrows their eyes at the stranger. They can't imagine why he thought just making demands would work, but it sure as hell is not convincing them of anything. They draw their sword in a smooth motion, the obsidian blade slipping out of the sheath with a metallic shing, the edge sharp and gleaming.
They set themself firmly in front of the fallen statue, sword brandished before them in a defensive stance.]
no subject
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And quite suddenly, the smooth metallic surface of that golden arm ripples and shifts, expanding with more mass than seemed to be in the arm itself to smother the shield's blow. Tongues of gold wrap around the shield's edges, gripping it tight to prevent another attack.]
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It was one thing when that one woman threw him on his back when he grabbed her. That was embarrassing. This is something else entirely - alarming, frightening, unpredictable, unknown. Dixon tries to yank the shield back and it, trapped in the gold mass, just succeeds in ripping up the skin on his forearm against the leather straps.
So this time he kicks, trying to hit Phos in the arm to get that sword away - but with the shield incapacitated suddenly Dixon's unusual combat proficiency seems to evaporate entirely.]
no subject
Still, they can deal with it if nothing else. Frowning perplexedly, they twist their arm to put the sword further out of reach. Where the foot connects with their elbow, it feels like it's hitting a solid metal surface, just for a moment. Then that middle part of their arm melts just like the other, the surface going soft and liquidy under Dixon's foot and then suddenly deforming to encase it in shifting, rippling alloy.
Keeping their grip on both sides, Phos simply pulls the shield down while yanking the foot up in an attempt to pull the man's legs out from under him.]
no subject
What a stupid way to die. Dixon's not even sure how he got into this. He tries to push himself up with the one arm that isn't occupied.
That's when there's a chiming sound, like a bell being tolled but stretched out over several seconds, and very quickly Dixon doesn't feel the pain of hitting the ground or his ripped arm or his preexisting injuries. The shield, still wrapped up in golden alloy, is shining as if lit from within.
He tries to squirm away from Phos, thrashing his leg to try and free his foot in a way that would likely snap his ankle if it weren't protected by the magic shield's power. With that strengthening him, he may stand a chance at wriggling free and putting a few feet of distance between them.]
no subject
So they practically toss the person away, alloy arms melting together into a solid mass that spreads before them into something of an impromptu shield of their own.]
no subject
He also suddenly feels like he just downed a few shots of whiskey, but that's an afterthought compared to the bizarre figure before him, this strange being that looks human but moves more like liquid, and has already assembled a weapon to match his.]
Don't get any closer! I don't know what the hell other people you were talking about!
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Who do you think?!
[Their tone is incredulous and angry, but they do nudge the fallen statue with their foot indicatively -- gently, of course.]
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[Clearly, he's arguing with a complete lunatic, and that's absolutely no comfort. Nutjobs are unpredictable, and unpredictability in a fight's scary. Dixon's taking hits in bar fights in his time; it's not that he's scared of pain. And given that he nearly pulled the trigger on himself last night, it's not even that he's scared of death.
But there's no illusion of control here, because he has no idea what's happening or who or what he's up against. So he doesn't try to aggravate his opponent further, even though he super wants to kick another rock to make his point.]