Plot Archive

[Kazehana]

April 8, 2013
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"And in other news, it seems as though we have some unexpected clouds over our fair desert region to the North.  While a desert certainly does not need the rain, it should be interesting to see what it does with the overcast.  Meteorologists predict that it will dissipate overnight to leave for a normal, bright sunny afternoon tomorrow."

April 9, 2013
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"Researchers are still looking into the weather in the desert.  It seems to be going strong with no signs of stopping.  This type of natural phenomenon has not occurred in recorded history, and the source of the problem is unknown.  Looking at the map, we can see that the dark region over here is the desert.  It appears to cover the entire desert, which might end up being catastrophic for the life there.  However, the plants and animals that live there see no change in normal activity, and the people seem to be doing just fine with it."

April 11, 2013 
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"Reports of wild sightings have been submitted by many residents living within the desert.  Most claim to have seen very disturbing images off in the distance.  While this cannot be confirmed, several reports from all across the region are being submitted daily.  Professionals speculate that this may be a side effect of prolonged exposure of overcast in the desert, perhaps creating some sort of mirage.  Others think that some hooligans are taking advantage of the situation to scare the area.  However, people always seem to report seeing vastly different things, although no one can quite confirm what they are.  Psychologists are working with the subjects to get a better idea of what's going on."

April 13, 2013
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"Research over the past few days have proved largely inconclusive of the events happening within Agar's desert region.  Looking at the map, meteorologists have confirmed that the overcast seems to only be over the desert and has not changed locations since it was first reported.  No one can confirm why the overcast is restricted to such an area, or how long it will remain.  The sightings of ominous objects seems to be increasing as the days go by, but psychologists still cannot develop a valid conclusion for this mass hysteria."

April 15, 2013; 6:15, late afternoon
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"The desert overcast phenomenon has reached a new update as video footage is released.  As you can see, the video is near the desert shrine.  Two passerby hikers were 'vlogging' their adventure when a loud explosive noise set them off.  The camera then pans to the source where nothing happens for a few seconds.  Then, all of a sudden, a translucent black beam shoots up from where the shrine stands.  It reaches the sky and then releases the overcast from its epicenter.  Experts have since traveled to the shrine and discovered its destruction.  Religious authorities believe that the gods are angry because the shrine has been demolished, which could be why the overcast remains.  Whether of not this is a science or religious matter, the remaining shrines have been fortified to prevent the possible destruction.  If the unthinkable has happened once, it can happen again, and authorities want to be prepared for that possibility. Meteorologists are still no closer to deciphering if the overcast can or will go away in the future.  Psychologists are reporting even more occurrences of strange behaviors in the desert, some even submitting the reports of their own testimonies.  It appears as though people are seeing fairy tale monsters and villains throughout the desert.  Speculations about why this is occurring saw a pause when spectators stepped up and claimed they had never even heard of the stories they were seeing in real life.  Overall, experts are unsure how to proceed with the matter, as nothing even remotely similar has been seen before."

 

[Kazehana]

April 15, 2013; 4:00, Location Unknown
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"We simply cannot let him continue on his little rampage!"  a woman fretted, stopping herself from standing up and leaving right then and there.


"Calm down, my dear.  We still have time yet," the man across from her assured her.  Although clearly vexed, she resigned to her seat once more.  "Have we discerned a reason for the destruction of the shrines?" he pressed, glancing around.  Another man flipped through his portfolio with haste, then slide a stack of papers to the middle of the table.


"It appears as though the long term effects are unknown, but the short term effects are clear."  The other man retrieved the stack and flipped through them.


"We already know that this allows portent to retain full power round the clock, but what about the exposure to the humans?"


"We simply cannot be certain of that outcome.  So far, it has had no direct impact on them, but we cannot control the multitudes of portent exploiting the opportunity.  This threatens to expose the portent to the general public, and we cannot handle that sort of mass hysteria."


The woman returned from her resignation when she could no longer hold it in.  "Why would any portent want that for themselves?  Doesn't he know this puts him in danger too?"


"Of course he does, but that doesn't mean he'll stop because of that.  There has to be a bigger reason I couldn't see in my investigations."  The man began to flip through his findings in frustration, trying to find anything to help their cause.


"Well well, it doesn't much matter the why, but rather the when, no?  Reports clearly indicate his movement towards the mountain shrine, so let's cut him off, yes?"


"It's not quite that simple.  He's already breached the barrier, so we would have to wait for him to finish clearing it.  Even then, we're almost powerless unless he's in the light."  She shifted in her seat in discomfort.  "We might have to consult the oracle," she added hesitantly.


"That would be fine, dear.  Can you go?"


"Me?!" she gasped.  "No way!  He can go, but I won't.  Personally, I'm off to find potential Champions and silence them."  With that, she way on her way out.  The two men watched her go in silence.


"Now, will you go?  I presume you've nothing better to do."


"Fine, fine.  But I need some time to prepare.  If I'm going that far out, I'm going to make it worthwhile."


When the man had left, one was left alone.  He closed his eyes and smiled to himself.  "And so it begins.  I do love a good game - especially when the rules are unclear, and the pieces are invisible."  After his monologue, a distorted bubble expanded out from him, and in turn collapsed, taking the man with it.

April 13, 6:30, The Mountain Shrine
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"Finally, the next shrine."  The man glanced around cautiously, making sure there was no one to speak of.  Fortunately, this shrine was yet another out of the reach of civilization.  Without another word, he lifted a large sledgehammer imbued with a black aura.  Then, he got to work, disrupting the area and sending a black beam into the sky. the rubble of the shrine briefly glowed a bright white, then receded into its center.  The man reached in and pushed a few boards aside, revealing his target.  He remove it from the destruction and placed it into the bag slung over his shoulder.  Without any hesitation, he began his descent down the mountainside to his next target.

Same time, All Human Characters
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"H-hello?  Can anyone hear me?  Help!" a voice shrieked in the mind of the humans.  "Please, can you help me?  Can you even hear me?  The swamp is swallowing me!"  The outskirts of the swamp in question was, of course, just 15 miles northeast of Ether.  It is known to be exceptionally muddy with quicksand-like properties along with a diverse wildlife.  This message is inaudible to anyone that was not targeted.

Shortly after, The Bog
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A woman emerged from the reeds that lined the path in all smiles.  Everything about her seemed contrary to the bog, begging the question if she really belonged there.  "Well, at least i got two of like 50 to come.  Not exactly passing, but anything works."  She paused and glanced between the two.  "And it looks like I got some of the more useful ones.  Now look," she started, her expression dropping to a serious undertone, "someone's going around destroying shrines, as you know.  The next one is likely the mountain shrine, although that one is about as remote as the desert.  I'm sure by now you've heard the stories, but the destruction of these shrines and the removal of their cores releases the darkness to consume their territory.  Each province is - or was - protected by the holy light that banishes darkness.  With these protections gone, the beasts are free to roam to their heart's content.  You're both stalked by beasts, no?  Their part of the same race.  With these divine protections missing, there is no longer anything stopping the beasts from ransacking the entire continent.  There is one man doing all the dirty work, and he's set on destroying every last shrine to take their items.  Everyone seems to be in a panic, and these stories usually seem farfetched to authorities.  You know what they're like, and you know how they think.  We need you to find this man and put a stop to this ludicrous goal."  As she finished, she took a few deep breaths, almost as if the story itself was too hard for her to handle.  She closed her eyes briefly to recompose herself.