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theunrivaled2017-07-31 07:05 pm
musoumods) wrote in theunrivaled2017-07-31 07:05 pm
Entry tags:
Open Log - Welcome to the Main Camp
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.
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.
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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.]
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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?
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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.]
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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.
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The places you mentioned...Chengdu and Hefei... are they part of your kingdom of your ally's?
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[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.]
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[Hopefully that's not too obvious. But choosing not to "cheat" with magic is completely different than not being able to use it all.]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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
Perhaps it is to balance the fact that you say humans are able to slay demons without their assistance.
damn right
[he will, however, gladly whip out the 'I told you so's after she first encounters demon soldiers]
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[She'll just hit him back that those aren't demons...demons are worse.]
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A wise course of action, my lady.
Has weapons training come with your general education in tactics and war?
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[Have a surprised eyebrow raise at the question. She has never heard a man ask that of a woman. Ever. Especially so casually. The last time a woman showed up in armor it was shocking enough to get half the world to follow after her...and that was after the Alorn kings stopped freaking out.]
...No. I've never had the need.
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It may become a thing of necessity here. That is, if you intend to venture out without a unit of soldiers around you.
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I have no doubts that you will.
Is there anything else I may provide to you, my lady? Before I go and deliver orders to my men.
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No, you have been kind to answer all of my questions today.
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[he raises his cup to her]
It has been my pleasure, Lady Polgara. Should you find yourself in need of entertainment and enjoy a philosophical discussion, I will be around. The soldiers know which command tent is mine.
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