EVENT LOG: LOCUSTS!

[asgardmods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: the LOCUSTS! mingle log
When: Days 431-434 ( Apr. 10-17 )
Where: all across the city
Rating: PG-13. Anything higher than that should be taken to a private log, please!

Day 431 ( Apr. 10/11 )

Any early risers that head outdoors as the sun is rising will find a somewhat strange sight: hundreds of earthworms, scattered all across any available loose earth, squirming around on the ground. What caused them all to dig their way to the surface isn't clear just yet, but they aren't the only creatures behaving a bit strangely today.

Just as the sun breaks the horizon around 7AM, a single stag will come charging through the city coming from the north and heading straight through the Gate of Frost. Mere minutes after that, a whole herd of deer will follow his lead and stampede their way south without care for anyone or anything that might get in their way. Smaller animals like wolves, foxes, rabbits, and the likes will follow at their feet, birds flying overhead in great flocks - all headed the same direction. Any pets or animals within the city will be irritable and anxious, some trying to escape and follow the same path outside and away from Asgard.

In the midst of the mass exodus, the bracelet's SOS function will blare loudly as one of the gods summons the Travellers to the castle.

The Travellers will have less than an hour to get themselves to the heart of the city where natives will already be ushering people indoors with a nervous calm. The whole of the city will be rushing their way through the barrier, and it will be made obvious fairly early on that not everyone can fit inside the castle. Jockey for a safe position and keep a strong hold on your loved ones so that you don't get separated in the chaos, but be fast about it.

After that hour mark, a wave of water will come crashing through the city from the north, flooding the streets at a height of approximately 10ft / 300cm. Anyone not within the castle barrier by that point will either drown or be swept away in a violent current that will carry send their bodies into whatever solid objects might stand in their way. Those safely within the barrier will see Heimdall at the front gate with his hands raised as though pressed against an invisible wall; if they look closely, they will be able to make out all city structures glowing with a faint shimmer - either royal blue, pale green, or amber - before their view is obscured by the water pounding against the barrier. The dome over the castle will be made visible by the flood encapsulating it as it washes anything that wasn't rooted down through the streets. It will be an awesome sight, though grim enough, as nature takes its course through the city.

The flooding will continue for several hours, during which time the Travellers will be largely left to their own devices as they wait out the worst of it. Sigyn, Freyr, and Freya will be going around with castle maids to make sure that no one in harmed and to try to keep people relatively calm. Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungand will be doing their level best to intimidate people into compliance by coordinating the immediate relief efforts that will take place as soon as they are able to leave. This means that, for the few hours it takes for the flood to die down, the castle will be largely unmonitored as the gods try to minimise the damage.

After the worst of the flooding passes, the residents of Asgard will be free to return to their homes. There will still be a foot of water to wade through, but it will be slow moving and relatively harmless. Thanks to Thor, Baldr, and Loki's protection spells, all buildings will still be structurally sound, if not wholly intact. Glass panes may be shattered and wooden doors may be splintered; anything that wasn't firmly tied down may be displaced somewhere down the road or otherwise destroyed. But for the most part, the damage is minimal. Now just to do something about this pesky water ...

Day 432 ( Apr. 12/13 )

By now, the floodwater has lowered to a scant inch or two, leaving the city streets littered with debris but otherwise safe for travel. Natives will be setting up booths to help coordinate the return of lost possessions or missing pets, reporting any property damage, and recovering any bodies of those that might not've made it to the castle in time. Travellers are welcome and encouraged to assist in the relief efforts. There will be district clean-up sign-ups below, but these are not mandatory to get involved, they're more of a way to see who will be in your district to make plotting easier.

Later in the day, while everyone is still trying to rid the streets of the lingering water and put everything back to rights, the first survivors of the flood will begin trickling into the waterlogged city. Outlying villages and encampments were destroyed in the disaster and are now seeking refuge with their gods in the capitol. Despite the stress Asgard is already under with the supply shortage and the damage from the flood, the Prince Regent will not deny his citizens the aid they require and will welcome them into the city until they can revive the land to health.

Days 433-434 ( Apr. 14-17 )

Relief efforts will now be split into two different areas: recovering the city and creating space for the new arrivals. The natives will need help setting up temporary housing, like filtering families into unused housing and setting up tents for the remaining numbers. They will need to ration out food and general camping supplies, and when Asgard is currently in a supply shortage, making ends meet will be a bit of a struggle. We would really love to see some player created groups banding together to do this! Things like donation collections or fostering an NPC or anything at all, you guys should work together to help facilitate the arrival of these refugees and their temporary(?) stay within the city. There are some player projects already up here if you’d like to take a look and get involved!

On the other side of relief efforts will be cleaning up the streets, boarding up broken windows, things like that. Sigyn will be working to rebuild the wall and could use some assistance in not only construction but the magic of her barrier as well. More player coordination here will help put things back to rights, so if your character has an idea of what they can do to help, please comment below to start up some relief projects! It'll basically be two days of everyone trying to dig themselves out of the mess and get settled again.

[ OOC NOTES: This is the mingle log for the LOCUSTS! event. All of the gods ( except Odin and Frigg, naturally ) will be out and about during the first day of this event, so if you’d like to plot with any of them, please contact either the NPC handler or the mods and we’ll help facilitate some plotting for you. As a reminder, all deaths during this event count towards your death consequences. Please put [OPEN/CLOSED] along with the time/location of your character in the title of your comment. Let us know if you have any questions! ]

Comments

[standsonhigh]

I don't recall offer it, I think that's the kind of thing you make clear. For credit or clarity [He's not exactly Mister helpful on days like this. Hell, just a few moments earlier he shoved an Asgardian family out of his way to get a better position in the evacuated line. He really didn't have much of a love for others, especially not when he was in danger.

He really hadn't meant to slip up, the moron behind him had kicked the back of his shoe and he mostly used Malekith as a way to keep balancing. Unfortunately, it did seem rather like he was trying to pull Malekith towards safety or something. But when acting to prevent a fall, he didn't think that much ahead. He didn't fancy being trampled, not matter how much to loathed touching others.]

If it makes you feel any better, if a time comes when help is a thing that could be needed, I'll make special note to ignore you.

[theaccursed]

[For the briefest of moments, the tension is almost tangible. To be spoken to so belligerently, with such disregard...

And when Malekith turns, it's in fury, painting on his face an in his eyes. But-

... Harry Saxon. [-this is no stranger, and though that does not cause the frown to leave Malekith's face, there's a pause from him to straighten his posture, to compose himself.]

Do I congratulate you on your ability to survive? I will not say I am relieved to see you well, but that is not a sentiment I would give to any soul here. [... Malekith tries.]

Look upon the disorder the Asgardians would have this day. What folly, to try and save so many.

[standsonhigh]

[It was still odd to hear himself being called Harry but he'd sort of accepted it as a price he pays for laying low. Offering a half-hearted look of amusement, he purposefully put his hands in his pockets to avoid accidentally touching anyone again.]

Most do, I have an amazing ability to survive. You have no idea. [He's died nearly eighteen times now. Sort of like an annoying cockroach with morality cheats.] But we don't have to share our mutual happiness at each others continued existence if you don't want to, we'll just quietly appreciate it.

[It's funny, really. Malekith was hardly a social darling. It proved to be comedically perfect.]

I don't care how many they want to save, as long as I'm one of them. The rest can go for a long swim as far as I'm concerned. Still, it's rather pathetic, isn't it? Thinking you can save so many with such poor resources.

[theaccursed]

You speak of Asgardians. They are a people of glamourous effect, but do not mistake their core. It is nothing but pathetic. [He says it so easily, as if it's stated fact, that Asgard is nothing but dirt.]

To gather so many in one place is a guarantee of further death. This will be an enlightening period, Harry Saxon. How many will kill out of greed? Out of fear? It is important to remember the kind of men we are.

Though I may be herded among the masses, I will still look down upon them. It is by fortune that they live this day. It is by necessity that we live.

Will you be making your way to the castle?

[standsonhigh]

[He's gotten rather used to the Asgard hate from this one and he can't really argue it with him, especially since he mostly agrees. But there are definitely issues there.]

Either the castle will be a good fortress but some will get locked out or everyone will get in and asphyxiate together. You'd be shocked how many people can get crushed into one area before they all suffocate together. I think the gate will need people there to keep the excess out.

[It was never a pretty sight and he doubts 'this running to one place' is a good idea but he's sort of running low on escape plans himself. There's little choice really.]

Unfortunately, unless you have a better idea, castle it is. [He slips his hands in his pockets and offers his walking buddy a smile.] We must preserve those who have a purpose to live. And whatever would the world be if it didn't have men like us, hmm? Those who seek to make a change and improve the universe. To our own standards, of course.

[theaccursed]

I do not fear for my life here. [It's true, what the Master says about potential overcrowding. Even outside the castle, the throngs are already thick. But should push come to shove, there will be no hesitation from Malekith to make room - his general glower makes that clear.

Still, his companion's words draw a sideways look from Malekith. Were he the type to grin, menacing and in approval, now would be the moment. Instead, he remains unaffected.]

Admittedly, there are far worse ways to cut a population. Asgardian hospitality may not be one I willingly seek, but shall we take advantage of their generosity? I would watch the masses consume themselves from a balcony. Let us find drink so that we might celebrate their demise.

[standsonhigh]

[The Master has a similar idea should over-crowding become an issue. If he had too, he'd shoved everyone out that gate to survive. He didn't care what happened to anyone else, he just cared for himself.] If you're cunning then you have little to fear.

[Playfully, the Master reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls out a hip flask he'd purchased when his money finally came in. It's not the best scotch and there's not much of it but it's probably better anything they'll get inside. It was the only thing he'd really bothered to bring, he wasn't really one for possessions..]

I've got the drink part covered. And I couldn't agree more, their hospitality is ours for the taking today. All we need to do now is get ourselves a good view and watch the flood sweep the slow and dumb away. A culling of the less worthy, if you will.

[theaccursed]

... A culling. [Yes, it's an adequate word, and where Malekith would tend to wear tension across his brow now rests the vaguest suggestion of satisfaction.]

Were that we were in command of such an event. [And as Malekith speaks, he gives a look sideways, towards the flask.] It would be a fair assumption, I would think, to say that it would take but a fraction of time to order this chaos, and be rid of it.

Have you been privileged enough to have visited the castle before? I do not worry, but I will admit that I voluntarily walk towards a destination unknown. The last I stepped upon Asgardian territory, I had... minimal issue. [-does the Master catch it? The momentary twitch upon Malekith's scarred lips?]

I would find some comfort in knowing what lays before me, none the less.

[standsonhigh]

I think if we were in charge, we wouldn't of even gotten stuck at this point. It would of been sorted swiftly and boldly, moments like this require true leadership and Asgard is sorely lacking it.

[He probably would of just gone right ahead to the castle and locked everyone without a descent use outside. So few people here deserved to live through this, he was shocked to see they even knew how to walk in a straight line to get to the castle.]

Never been, I'm afraid. Not really heard much about it either but castles all tend to be rather similar. [He does catch something, at least. His eyes are on Malekith with such curiosity. Whatever he knew of Asgard or had experienced of had clearly shaped him into whatever he was now. Whenever he spoke of Asgard, there was such hate. It was beautiful, he truly adored that sort of passion.]

I assume your experiences in Asgard were never the most positive? [He pauses slightly, just assessing how to phrase things.] What did you want to achieve from them exactly? If you don't mind me asking.

[theaccursed]

[It's a question that elicits an immediate look from Malekith, and for once, it's not just hatred evident. Malekith's gaze is an ancient one, eyes that have seen history, long and unrecorded.

Eyes that, momentarily, wonder where to start.]

... I have spoken before of seeing Asgard fall, Harry Saxon. When you agreed, was it because you thought me to be speaking metaphorically?

Understand that Asgardians are purveyors of light - light, in any sense you would like to fathom it. Literally, as rays of starlight, physically, as life would grow of it. It is all unnatural. Plagued. And by what merit do I have right to say this? I would say it as Malekith, elf of the darkness, cast from the blessed void upon the moment of creation. [As he speaks, Malekith's words grow increasingly venomous.]

What right does Asgard hold to prevent me from restoring this universe to its proper state? I lived for ages prior to their birth, and yet they would say no. Their only worth is found in their death.

And do you think I misspeak? Would you accept the man who came into your home, altered it, poisoned it, and prevented you from correcting said faults?

[standsonhigh]

[The Master had seen that look before,it's one many Time Lords had worn. After all, they were all older than they should of been. The longer someone lived, the harder things became. Things always fell apart somewhere and the scars started to amass. Age always stood out in the eyes.]

Of course I didn't. I see conviction in your speeches, unlike some I know. I just can't help but wonder if the motives are only enough to drive you so far. Sure, seeing Asgard crumble is a beautiful mental image, it's the after-thought that strikes me as problematic.

[Elf of darkness? Well, that was a new one. But noted in the back of his head as he tries to recall what sparse norse mythology he remembers.]

I've been in yours shoes, in a manner of speaking. Where I'm from, we consider ourselves close to Gods. You couldn't comprehend to power of a true Time Lord, the things we can achieve if we want to. For centuries, we were the be all and end all of the universe. [There's a proud smirk on his face, a certain level of determination buzzing through him. Here at Asgard, he felt considerably more neutralised, they had taken his blood rights away from him and he wouldn't soon forgive them. But regardless, he knew what he was and he was proud.] And yet, we're near extinct now. Two of us left alone in the universe, that's all that remains of our proud race. And do you know what the other one does? Panders to dirty stupid apes. Running around all day with them, helping and meddling. The defender of humanity. That's the legacy he wants to rewrite of our people.

[There's a sneer there, an obvious repulsion.] To crush a planet beneath your feet is a beautiful feeling, one I felt not long ago. I soon put an end to my problems by doing it too. It's once the victory wears off that the real planning begins. I don't doubt what you could or want to achieve, I merely question where you go from there? To rule? Or simply to wipe it all out? At what level of correction are you looking?