Open Log - Welcome to the Main Camp

[musoumods]

Moments ago, there was an earthquake. You might not have felt it, but it definitely happened. The collapsed tents and spooked horses serve as evidence that something unsettling shook the main camp not that long ago. The soldiers and citizens don't seem terribly frightened, as if they've gotten used to the ground trembling by now, but more than one stops to look toward the tall spires of rock separating the comfortable and well-ordered areas of the camp from a deserted battlefield. It's as if they wonder to themselves whether something deep in the pit on the other side might have caused it...again...

And then they realize that something else has happened.

You are here – or near here.

Prompt 1:

Immediately after the latest quake, people simply appear in and around the main camp. The residents don't actually see it happen, but they turn around to find a person where there wasn't one a moment ago. You might be that person! You might wake up inside a canvas tent, perhaps even lucky enough to be resting comfortably on an unoccupied cot. You might wake up on the open ground outside with an awful lot of gawkers standing around you. Or, you might wake up about ten meters down the road from the gates of the camp, in clear sight of the guards and the tents just beyond them. This is definitely the time and place to start grabbing strangers and asking them where you are, why you're there, and what the hell is going on.

Prompt 2:

Maybe it's not so right-away, but you've woken up all the same and had a look around. Maybe some of the soldiers have done their best to answer your burning questions. At least one thing is clear: the natives all dress in simple robes and tunics, the soldiers in similar plate or mail armor, making anyone in other garb stick out like a sore thumb. The women who run the Teahouse have noticed this first, and are doing a fine job offering the utmost in hospitality to the strangers in the off chance that they're allied with one of the lords of the land. They'll make sure you have a place to sleep, a good meal, and the best tea the Han Dynasty can provide. It may be a bit rustic for some, but it's comfortable and pleasant. Can it be worth settling down here for a while? Or is this place missing something crucial – like the ability to use your magic?

Prompt 3:

There's a lot to explore in and around the Main Camp. The various tents set up on different levels overlooking the middle area are open to be claimed, and some of them look a lot more fancy than others. As long as there's no famous lord laying his head there, why shouldn't you? The central ground of the camp contains the Merchant's stall, the Teahouse, and the Armory, as well as the stocks for the misbehaving. The bathing area is downstream from everything else, where the river passes under the rocks and empties out onto the plain beyond. There's a few areas of interest outside the camp perimeter, too, and none of the guards are stopping you from going out there. The main road looks well-traveled and vanishes eastward into the distance across rolling plains. On the west side there are high cliffs of cooled lava separating the camp from the former battleground where the Hydra was destroyed. It's rocky and perilous ground, but the adventurous can climb down winding, crumbling paths into a deep crevasse. There doesn't appear to be anything down here, but those of a magical or mystical inclination will sense the lingering aftereffects of great power.

If one were to travel a short distance northward, they'll find the Wuzhang Plains standing quiet and empty, the fortifications left in whatever half-damaged state they were in from the last battle waged here. There is also a temple along the southern ridge, looking decidedly like it doesn't belong there with more traces of mystical energy at its center. Here, the wayward traveler will be beset by small units of spindly, gray-skinned soldiers bearing spears and swords, no more than half a dozen at a time.

Prompt 4: Wildcard

Whatever floats your boat or isn't covered above! Refer to the Arrival page for details of what is and isn't to be found in the Main Camp.

In time, the Merchant makes an announcement. Not long after the Great Cataclysm, some of the mystic soldiers now guarding the main camp arrived with mirrors they claim to have enchanted so that the scattered warlords can speak to each other from a distance. He is under obligation to give one to anyone who asks, and suggests that they may try it out whenever they have the courage to do so.

Comments

[sorceress_polgara]

[Strange occurences but no sense of direction. For someone who'd been following detailed (if crypitc) instructions left in a prophecy her entire life, this was very disconcerting...maybe instructions were still coming?]

A disaster on that level probably isn't a coincidence. But more likely an after-effect than a cause.

[Looks at him sharply, putting more pieces together]
It all happened that nearby? Have you sent anyone to investigate yet?

[pure_havoc]

Personally? No. [he's got a lot on his plate after all] I came to the main camp to look into it, hoping that some of our allies would be here. However, aside from the low-ranking soldiers, it doesn't appear any of the other lords have come, yet.

[and then, a slight change in topic, if only because he can't help his observations] You have a keen grasp of the situation, Lady Polgara. Have you been trained in strategy, or are you simply a dabbler in the scholarly arts?

[sorceress_polgara]

[Oh little boy, you have no idea.]

I've had to deal with a few situations in my time.

[And you're not distracting her when she has a train of thought.]

Can't you trust some low-ranking soldiers to do a preliminary search? At the very least they can let you know if anything has changed.

[pure_havoc]

You've anticipated my mind. I plan to. [because he's not Ma Chao or something, he's not going climbing in the crater if he doesn't have to] You've caught me before I could actually arrange it. I thought to speak to the camp at large to let them know I am still available, first, before attending to other plans.

[and now here they are sipping tea, before he can get anything accomplished. One thing at a time.]

[sorceress_polgara]

[So now it's her fault nothing is getting done. She sees what you did there.]

How thoughtful to look to our comfort first. Will you be leading the expedition yourself then? That would explain why you did not send them out on your way into town.

[Tea sip.]

[pure_havoc]

[OH SNAP. It's not often he's caught out, nice work Polgara.

Which calls for a little huff under his breath and a lowering of his eyes, a nonverbal "touche" of sorts]

It was a long ride from Xuchang, perhaps I placed my priorities in a certain order because of it.

That said, if the only immediate concern is the arrival of newcomers in the main camp, such investigations no longer have to be urgently conducted. I would rather take my time if there isn't an emergency.

[sorceress_polgara]

[As the Alorns would say "One for her side." Since he's aware he was caught, she'll give him a peace offering.]

And of course your men need to be rested before they can start anything. If they were tired from the journey they might miss something important.

[pure_havoc]

Ah, yes. That is important to always keep in mind. [sure we'll go with that] Particularly if I'm not personally supervising the effort, at risk to having no one with a brain in the party.

Either way, I do plan to stay here in the camp for some time, until things can be sorted out. If need be I will send messages to Chengdu and Hefei to consult with the others.

[sorceress_polgara]

I would be most interested their findings. As we're all allies here, I'm sure you'll be willing to share.

[pure_havoc]

Oh? [back the truck up there, Polgara. Still smirking as he do] I don't recall forming an alliance with...what did you say your duchy's name was? Then again, I suppose Lord Liu Bei or Lord Sun Jian would gladly spill information regardless, so perhaps we could skip past formalities and do as they would.

[sorceress_polgara]

[Oh you are not getting out of this.]

Did you not extend your hand in alliance with the entire camp earlier? And are we not all allies against the same formidable foe?

You're being inconsistent.

[Polgara uses conversations from 3,000 years ago to give her father a hard time...everything you say to her can and will be used against you.]

[pure_havoc]

[semantics!]

There are allies and there are allies. [with him, "allies" sometimes means "subordinates" and he's not ashamed of that, sipping calmly at his tea.] Surely you are well-acquainted with the need for a lord to keep things close to his chest rather than gossip with the enlisted men, at times?

[sorceress_polgara]

[Eyes turn a little more gray and cold. It's best to clear up the misunderstanding that she's in any way subordinate to him early.]

As I am not an enlisted man, that is hardly an issue.

Now, you mentioned several names of people and places. Can you tell me more about them?

[The challenge to try to out manuveur her again is obvious from the cold eyes and sweet smile. Your choice if we're friends or not Cao Pi.]

[pure_havoc]

[jury's still out on that, but he's enjoying the give and take]

Point taken, my lady. The names - Lord Liu Bei of Shu, and Lord Sun Jian of Wu. They rule their people in this land. There are others as well, but my mind does not tend to go to them first, as Shu and Wu are, like Wei, from my own time.

[sorceress_polgara]

[Oh good, he's decided to be a good boy. Have a smile.]

The places you mentioned...Chengdu and Hefei... are they part of your kingdom of your ally's?

[pure_havoc]

Shu and Wu, respectively. Those are their main seats of leadership, as of the last time our armies worked together.

[it's only then that he realizes that catching newcomers up to speed is going to be a lot of work. The handful they found here and there during the terror of the Hydra got a crash course in Orochi by simply hanging around, but with no conflict at the moment, it looks like it'll fall to actual teaching. Whee.]

[sorceress_polgara]

I see. Are all of these cities similarly protected as this camp? This suppression that keeps the demons out?

[Hopefully that's not too obvious. But choosing not to "cheat" with magic is completely different than not being able to use it all.]

[pure_havoc]

You wish me to divulge the nature of security taken at fortresses and capital cities? [oh Polgara...

He smirks over his tea for a moment, letting her wait before giving enough of an answer.]

If you mean the mystic soldiers, I have neither employed them nor seen them anywhere except in the direct company of the gods. As for the rest, I have no reason to expect that Lord Sun Jian or Lord Liu Bei would leave their headquarters vulnerable to attack, any more than I would Xuchang.

[sorceress_polgara]

[Too subtle, and clearly she's pushed him a little too far. Time to pull it back, and offer some information in exchange for what he's given]

I would never expect you to give information that might endanger your people. We don't know each other well enough for you to trust me, but my only concern is the demons. It's everyone's problem when they escape from Hell.

I was merely asking how wide spread the Gods protection was. I know they can be forbidden from involving themselves too much.

[pure_havoc]

[Cao Pi tips his head slightly in acknowledgement] Yes, I suppose that would be an important detail. In my experience, it is less a prohibition and more whether they feel like it - our gods can be capricious and disinterested in the affairs of humans.

Here, though, they have some limitations. For example, no matter how powerful our creator-gods may be, they cannot free us from Orochi's world and send us back. It is somewhat distressing to consider if you put any stock in the gods being competent. [which, given the dry, dry tone of his voice, he doesn't] But, on the other hand, most of the demons roaming abroad can be slain with a very basic sword, so there's that.

[sorceress_polgara]

[While she doesn't know these gods, she's the disciple of one and been in the presence of many others. Torn between amusement at a human who clearly doesn't understand and the desire to correct him.]

They may be limited by greater forces. It can be hard to understand the challenges and battles the gods fight. Gods may completely ignore whole wars, but protect a simple farmstead because in the larger scheme that farmstead is more important than the entire kingdom.

[Goes with correcting him. He seems smart enough to be worth the trouble.]

[pure_havoc]

[he takes it in stride and gives it right back, a little smirk on his lips]

Your gods sound far more invested in the affairs of humans than mine.

[oh no, out of tea. Might as well stir up another cup.]

All of this is of no consequence when the core matter is, the mystics are no better or worse at protecting an encampment or a city than mere humans, at least around here. The nature of the enemy averages against the nature of the protectors.

This Conversation = When two people both think they're smarter than the other

[sorceress_polgara]

As you say, the rules for the gods may be different in this world than in my own.

Perhaps it is to balance the fact that you say humans are able to slay demons without their assistance.

damn right

[pure_havoc]

Perhaps. Although, at the moment you have but my word - and that of any of the rank and file here who have fought in the many battles against Orochi's forces. I would not wish to send you into a fight just to prove a point.

[he will, however, gladly whip out the 'I told you so's after she first encounters demon soldiers]

[sorceress_polgara]

I plan to have much more information before getting into any situation like that.

[She'll just hit him back that those aren't demons...demons are worse.]