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

Cao Pi - OTA

[pure_havoc]

Wildcard

[About a day after the first arrivals are noticed and welcomed in, a dignitary just happens to ride in by sheer coincidence. He has no idea what's going on or why everything is in such a stir, since he was on the road when everything started. He has no significant officers with him, only a small cadre of Wei soldiers as a bodyguard. All he knows is, if someone is squatting in the officer's tent set aside for Wei use, heads may actually roll.

Once he's collected information from the camp guards on what they've seen, he makes himself a prominent figure in the central area of camp for an announcement. The soldiers who know him stop what they're doing and kneel to listen, so you know he's totally important here...]

Excuse me. Camp residents! If I may have a moment of your attention. I have recently arrived from Xuchang, and I have news. I can confirm the rumors that came to light not long ago - the officers who should have been stationed there are missing. I am the only one of any rank to come from there. As such, I am taking leadership of the Kingdom of Wei until such a time as this mystery can be solved.

It seems we have some new arrivals. To them I will extend a hand in alliance. I am Cao Pi Zihuan, Prince of Wei. I will answer any queries, whether on my report or on this place in general.

Prompt 2

[Both before and after his announcement, Cao Pi roams the main camp with an honor guard usually trailing behind, no more than two or three of his soldiers in indigo just making sure no one accosts the Lord of Wei. He looks into everything - who is crashing in which tent, whether any of them have caused trouble, and what anyone has to say of their experiences. The best place to find him is actually the Teahouse, where he is content to sit and study the newcomers over the rim of his cup. If he identifies someone as Not From Around Here, his ice-blue eyes follow them, his lips usually curled in some kind of smirk as he judges them. That's right, Cao Pi is judging you. Hard. And he makes no secret about it.]

Wildcard

[sorceress_polgara]

[Polgara watches the announcement from the sidelines. In a new world that was capable of limiting her abilities in some locations; caution is the best policy. There were too many ways to interpret a prince using the chaos to suddenly take control of a kingdom, and most were not flattering.

Debating between caution and inaction, Polgara decides to use this man to learn more. She approaches slowly and drops into a graceful curtsy.]

Thank you for the welcome, your highness.

[pure_havoc]

[It is always so nice to find people with manners in such a strange situation. Cao Pi doesn't offer the usual kowtow with fist over heart, but a simple bow from the shoulders instead.]

It is but the smallest thing I can do at this moment, my lady. I take it, then, that you are one of our newest guests in this...place.

[the weight of years of fighting against Orochi only to end up back where they started is loaded into that final word.]

[sorceress_polgara]

Yes. Your people have been very kind to see to our needs.

Did I hear correctly, that people have also disappeared?

[pure_havoc]

[he pauses only to give the effect of thinking about it. He did just say so, no sense in denying it.]

It is true. We have been trapped here for a very long time, leaders and subordinates alike. As of recently, though, many of them have gone missing. My father, my wife, and all of my retainers among them.

[sorceress_polgara]

[Everyone with a potential claim to the throne mysteriously disappears at the same time others mysteriously appear. Good man trying to keep the calm? Corrupt man taking advantage of a situation? Dangerous man behind or in on what's happening? Let's gather more information by gauging his reaction.]

I'm sorry for your loss. I've been separated from my husband as well.

2

[arcadiawanderer]

[ Harlock is the epitome of "Not From Around Here". He is after all a tall space pirate of German decent sitting in an Chinese Tea house. He's not a fan of green tea but he's realized there likely isn't an ounce of coffee to be had. So it's cheap gunpowder green and a complementary sweet bun or caffeine withdrawal from years of drinking coffee that doubles as paint stripper. He's not in the mood to be watched by some smirking local. Harlock has no qualms about staring right back. Cao Pi gets one dark eye glaring at him, the rest of Harlock's face blocked by the oversized collar and unruly hair.]

[pure_havoc]

[oh good, he's got a nibble at his bait]

There is no need to be on your guard here. We are all more or less allies, are we not?

[arcadiawanderer]

[Watch the nibble this fish has spend a good amount of of his shore leave in bars that seems to think its still the 1860s. Which doesn't help with his suspicion these girls don't just serve tea. They keep glancing at him and giggling to each other.]

That remains to be seen.

[Cao Pi, the abundance of skulls on his outfit means pirate. You try not looking at everyone with suspicion after being recently declared an enemy of humanity last month.]

[pure_havoc]

[he's a bit behind the times, pirates where he comes from wear bells and Wu red.]

Perhaps so. What do you think of the tea? It may not be wine, but I've grown to enjoy it. In my time, it was far more rustic and not nearly so elegant.

[maybe the ladies are just giggling at all that shaggy hair. It really is just a teahouse, they don't have the resources for other pursuits when everyone lives in tents]

[arcadiawanderer]

[Harlock does jangle like he's wearing spurs when he walks. The cape is also red lined but likely not shade he's familiar with.]

I don't believe I'll ever get a taste for green tea. [ It's slightly better than the Japanese stuff his friend has stocked the Arcadia with. Any tea he'd encountered before teaming up with the Japanese engineer had been black and Indian in origin.]

Tea wasn't very popular in my homeland. Coffee is was the choice of hot drink. I don't believe China has that, it has a much stronger taste. [Also it was perfectly acceptable to add things like sugar, milk and Bourbon unlike Green tea.]

2

[nyanhat]

[ Ah, the smell of judgment in the morning. It's not at all unfamiliar to Ranulf, so he accepts it with the complete lack of fucks given that it takes a cat to truly master, and keeps sipping his tea for a good several minutes before he finally glances over.

Still quite lazily. Still very much the cat. ]

I'd ask if you've never seen a laguz before, but so far I'm getting the impression that's a stupid question around these parts.

[ He definitely hasn't seen anyone else with animal ears or a tail yet. Everyone smells like perfectly normal human. But perhaps even more tellingly, the looks he's gotten from others around the camp have seemed more quizzical or genuinely curious than contemptuous, as he'd expect from the humans of his own world.

(Well, this guy's got the contempt down, but he clearly doesn't need racial differences to manage that much.) ]

[pure_havoc]

At least you already have some idea of the answer.

[he's only judging a little. Being openly curious puts him at risk of looking like one of the peasants]

But I suppose it would make me a poor scholar to simply ignore new and interesting things I could learn. Laguz. What an unfamiliar language...

[nyanhat]

Sadly, the old tongue doesn't get much use anymore. I understand it a lot better than I speak it.

[ Leanne has never laughed at any attempts he's made to try, though, and that's good enough for him. Given a choice between one or the other, he'd always go with the modern language for sheer utility. ]

[pure_havoc]

Just that one word, then. [as his eyes travel up to the ears again. Yep.] Handy, at least. The old words always are the best for maintaining a sense of identity and heritage.

[blah blah blah Cao Pi and his fancy words]

And what does a laguz do with himself?

[nyanhat]

A laguz, or this laguz in particular? Babysitting our lord doesn't leave me all that much time for anything else, after all.

[ He's not kidding. He's really not kidding. He's the Chen Gong to Skrimir's Lu Bu. Life is pain. ]

And while the Beast Tribe and the Bird Tribe see eye to eye enough that we've got paws in a lot of the same messes, the dragons are another story entirely.

[ There are a lot of kinds of laguz. ]

wildcard

[lendedahand]

[He had been around the camp long enough to be granted the peace of mind in knowing he hadn't been kidnapped by the humans personally, so while still wary of them as a whole, he held less qualms about admitting who he was.]

I am Inquisitor Ladanelan Amelanen'u'vunen Lavellan, head of the Inquisition and former First of Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel of clan Lavellan.

[Fully aware that at least half of that went over the other man's head, but he's a prince. It's best to sound very important in order to give yourself some weight in a conversation, especially as an Elf... and a mage. Still, he did not miss this, and having to sound so self important made him want to gag.]

It would seem that the mystery of our arrival and your missing officers may be related given the convenient timeframe. If you have any more information I would like to hear it, in exchange I will offer whatever information I can.

[And then in stark contrast with how he was holding himself, he gives a one-armed shrug as he admits the next bit in a warmer less authoritative tone.]

Which is admittedly limited to my personal experience, but we've got to start somewhere.

[pure_havoc]

[Goodness, what a title. Cao Pi can't help but be mildly impressed, even though he wouldn't know where to place an Inquisitor in the usual hierarchy. Sounds almost like one of the Emperor's made-up titles, like 'General of the Flying Chariot.'

He bows slightly from the shoulders to receive that introduction]

That is a fair assessment to make, Inquisitor. Two parts of a whole, perhaps. I may be able to answer what questions you have, though given the immensity of the situation, it may be wiser to stick to matters of this world and our place in it. [one eyebrow quirks as if contemplating a private joke] As much as I would enjoy giving a lecture on the history of the Han Dynasty and the political machinations of our kingdoms, it may not be relevant just now.

[lendedahand]

[It was all about phrasing really. Better than "Unwilling leader of some human religious cult, and former second-in-command of a clan of nomads that was wiped out" at least.]

Of course, of course. It's likely figuring out the one will relate to the other. Regretfully, I cannot offer the resources of the Inquisition for obvious reasons, but with any luck my understanding of magic and my knowledge of history, combat, and survival may come in handy.

[Ad maybe his luck in regards to surviving the sheer amount of bad luck that seem to befall him. Probably not worth mentioning that much though.

The mention of political machinations reminded him of the whole ordeal at the Winter Palace, and just... existing in Orlais. He offers the other a laugh though, obviously he was at least aware of how ridiculous politics could be. That was a small comfort.]

Ah, political machinations. Unfortunately I am afraid there's not enough cheap Fereldan ale to burn the taste of overly complex political rituals out of my mouth after. Perhaps if you plan to hold an open discussion, I could offer my insight, or perhaps a simple chat over some tea instead.

[pure_havoc]

[color Cao Pi considerably intrigued on several levels]

In that case, I will make it a point to clear some time in my schedule for tea with a fellow leader. 'Inquisitor' isn't a term common to my people but it seems you may have the kind of insight I should like to explore fully, later.

As for right now, if you have any pressing questions, I will do my best to answer.

[lendedahand]

It's not terribly common term for my lands either. It's more of an... "as needed" thing, and I was the lucky soul put in charge. I'll simply blame it on my charming personality and dashing good looks!

[Jokes aside he did have some questions that may be relevant, things he's dealt with from personal experience.]

I think I can spare us the redundancy of asking who saw who last and where, because nothing is ever that simple. [Ever.] Has there been anything else unusual aside from our arrival? Other disappearances of servants or others who would not be noticed? Or any odd behavior among soldiers?

2 - slides in with a fixed keyboard

[isaz]

[ Ice man, meet ice man.

Which is to say Boreas is making a beeline straight for Cao Pi after his announcement, Bahamut following half a pace behind him. The wyrm is currently at his rideable size, which draws quite a few gazes from the people around. Both of them appear to not notice. ]

What do you know about dimensional travel?

WHY HELLO

[pure_havoc]

[holy all the Chinese swear words in his repertoire that is a dragon. Cao Pi freezes in place, his eyes going wide. Congratulations, Boreas, you have done what few people can do: actually surprised the shit out of him]

What...what dragon is that?

[you're not one of the gods, are you?]

\o/

[isaz]

[ Really, the powers he wields might put him on a god's level - but he shuns that name.

Instead, the dragon takes a few steps forward and cranes his neck down to Cao Pi's level. ]

I am Bahamut. Rest assured, I will not harm you.

[pure_havoc]

[it's not a name he recognizes, so Cao Pi quickly concludes that it isn't a god of their own lands, and smooths down his surcoat to try to pull himself together. Jumping to conclusions like that, what's wrong with him?]

Harm was the least thing to cross my mind. But, you speak...in my understanding such a thing would be characteristic of a god.

[wait, there's a guy standing there. And a question asked of him.]

While this is a different dimension from reality, I cannot say I know anything about traveling between them.