BURNING BRIDGES, PART ONE

[asgardmods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: The The BURNING BRIDGES Mingle Log (Part One of Two)
When: Days 421-422 (March 21-24)
Where: All over the city.
Rating: PG-13. Anything higher than that should be taken to a private log, please!

Day 421 ( Mar. 21/22 )

All throughout the day, the inhabitants of the Holy City will occasionally hear low rumbling sounds not unlike the beginnings of an earthquake, but nothing shakes or stirs beyond the quiet trickle of rain for most of the day. However, as the rain picks up and blots out the sunset, the rumbling grows louder just before a rift opens in the ground. Though it's not terribly deep, the split is two feet across at its widest and travels several hundred yards, starting from beneath the city wall at the corner of the Thor district and moving quickly into Loki's district. The ground nearby shifts somewhat with it and any buildings unfortunate to be affected will start to sink into the gap.

Any shouts of surprise or cries for help from this tear in the earth will be short lived, however, as large shards of ice begin to rip through the wall in various places throughout Sigyn and Hel's districts, piercing holes into anything - and anyone - in their path before shattering or melting. These are not directed or precise by any means; they fly in random places at random times. It may very well seem like the least coordinated attack ever and the Giants have really lost their game, but as the rumbling reaches its loudest peak, a burst of flame far outside the city wall may hint that it is not an attack at all. At least, not one intended for the Travellers.

To the east of the city, not nearly far enough from the thick wall that separates Asgard from the rest of Yggdrasil, a massive battle between the Frost Giants and the Fire Giants is being waged. What splinters off and reaches the city is purely by accident; collateral damage, as it were.

The shattering of rock and the splintering ice as well as bursts of flame and cracking of trees can be heard all throughout the night as more debris and stray projectiles find their way over the city wall. This can be anything from more needles of ice and much smaller cracks in the ground to flaming stones and sheets of hail. For now, these will remain small things that come over the wall rather than through it, but feel free to play around with what exactly comes your way.

Day 422 ( Mar. 23/24 )

The battle continues on into the next day, and by early morning, the city guard will ride through the city to alert everyone as to what's happening beyond the gates. From what they can see, Thiazi's army is pushing Surt's back and away as the Fire Giants attempt to encroach forward. They know of little else, but the battle is coming closer and closer to the city, which means the collateral damage will continue to worsen.

This is where the decision whether or not to fight will come in! The decision will be left to the Travellers in whether they ride out to force the Giants out of Asgard's land or simply bunker down and wait out the war. All action and inaction comes with a list of pros and cons, so consider it carefully before settling on your decision today.

[ OOC NOTES: This is the mingle log for the first half of the Burning Bridges event, leading up to the decision on how the Travelers will react to the battle. The poll, though closed, is located HERE for reference! The mingle log for the second half of this event will be going up soon, and a link will be provided here when it is.

A Special Note: As of the beginning of this event, god-given powers will now work outside of the Asgard. More information on this OOCly is forthcoming, and characters involved in the plot please be on the lookout for contact from us! Please feel free to assume that all Travelers have been made ICly aware of the fact that they can now use their powers outside of the city now.

Please put [OPEN/CLOSED] in the title of your comment, along with the time and location. Let us know if you have any questions! ]

Comments

[bythewaves]

Maglor frowns and his eyes flash dangerously, but it isn't directed at her.

"Strange indeed is this power! Foolish also, to seek to bind one of the Feanorionnath and bend us to their will."

He shakes his head and casts a worried look back towards the dark-haired child who is ignoring them both as he moodily stares across the lake.

"And me with more pressing concerns" he sighs. "What then can you tell me of this place then, Lady Kate? And of the current situation?"

[scienceleads]

She glanced over at the child, hoping he was alright. Though staring at the lake didn't seem to be doing him any harm, though it was obvious he was sulking.

Children were children everywhere.

"What do you wish to know? This place is most strange. Have you been told we are at war here?"

[bythewaves]

Elrond is ignoring them both, which Maglor prefers to the angry arguments, or the tears, really.

"The war I think is rather obvious" he observes wryly. "But anything you can tell me of our enemy would be helpful."

[scienceleads]

"Alas I am relatively new here, so I don't know any awful lot about our enemy, other than it seems that the very earth is against us at times," she admitted with a sad expression.

[bythewaves]

That garners a bitter soundibg laugh.

"So! Just like Beleriand then. We,too, are from a time and place where the Powers of the world go to war and the earth shudders in sympathy. It seems there will be no rest for me whereso'er I go."

[scienceleads]

"I don't know what Beleriand is, but I'm sorry that you've come here to this," she said, genuinely meaning it. She knew what it was like when she arrived, and things were calmer than they are now.

[bythewaves]

"Ah, my apologies - tis the name of the land we are from. Are you from a place far distant then?" There's that curiosity she remembers, its just... a bit subdued.

"But no, I suppose we have little time for pleasantries." He shoots another look back towards Elrond. "I will have enough trouble keeping that one out of the fighting. I do not know what aid I will be for our hosts."

[scienceleads]

"I'm from a world called Earth, in a nation called England," she said with a faint smile.

She glanced over at the boy, frowning ever so slightly. "Your son?"

[bythewaves]

"I fear those names are unfamiliar to me, lady." He tips his head a little apologetically. Looking back towards Elrond he hesitates then shakes his head.

"No. I am... I suppose you could say I am his caretaker." His captor. "He only has me, right now, little though he may like it."

[scienceleads]

"No matter. There are a fair few here not from Earth, I've noticed. I suppose it only makes sense to those who know it." Or if you were the Doctor.

[bythewaves]

"Earth?" He notes the name with some curiosity. "Are there so many worlds out there then? Tis a fine thing."

[scienceleads]

"To hear a friend of mine talk, many billions," she said wistfully. "Though he hasn't seen them all."

[bythewaves]

There is something that lights in his eyes to equal hers, at that. "Billions... ah, such a marvel that must be. Fortunate is your friend, if he gets to explore them. Would you go as well, Lady Kate?"

[scienceleads]

It was a questions she'd never been asked, and it honestly took her a few seconds to think of her answer. "I'm torn," she admitted. "Part of me would love to, to see what is out there, but then I realise what I'd leave behind on Earth, and so I think, no. I'd most likely stay."

[bythewaves]

"It can be difficult to leave behind the world you knew." Maglor nods "But there is much to say for seeing new lands as well. Have you much to lose then, by going?"

[scienceleads]

"My son. My husband. My work." In whatever order she chose. "They are all important to me."

[bythewaves]

"A family." Maglor nods. "Good enough reason, and better than many. They would not come with you?"

[scienceleads]

"I'm not sure I would ask them," she admitted. "I know how dangerous it can be out there, and you can blame a selfish desire to protect them for not wanting to take them out to see the universe."

[bythewaves]

"It can be, aye - but there are wonders too. Perhaps all worlds are the same - where beauty is the more lovely for the peril dared to see it. But I can understand why you would spare them that, if you could."

He cannot save Elrond, Maglor knows. For now, the peredhel obeys, but he grows too swiftly for one of the Eldar, though still slower than the children of Men. Soon, he will be adult in body as well as mind, and Maglor will have to let him go.

[scienceleads]

"Hence the feeling torn. I want to do both - see these places, and also stay and do what I do at home." Because she was good at it, she knew. An inheritance from her father.

[bythewaves]

A crooked smile. "Ah, the curse of two conflicting loyalties." How familiar

"I hope that you will find a way to satisfy both desires then, Lady."

[scienceleads]

"Well, with the friends I have, I do in a way. I see things, and do things most mere mortals never would." And it was satisfying in a way she could never fully explain.

[bythewaves]

"That is fortunate then." Maglor nods. "Good friends are often rare and all the more precious when they may enjoy the same."

[scienceleads]

"This is true. And I do consider you a friend, Lord Maglor, though you do not know it at the moment." Sometimes this place was cruel, it seemed.

[bythewaves]

The look she gets is surprised, a little flattered, a little guarded, a little disbelieving.

"You will forgive me my surprise, Lady Kate, for my dealings with Men have not been always been kind, or pleasant. Yet, this I will say - if more had dealt with me as you have, I might have thought differently."