The Shimmer Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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theshimmer2020-07-25 11:52 pm
shimmermods) wrote in theshimmer2020-07-25 11:52 pm
WEEK TWO
SECOND WEEK
A new day dawns bright as you leave the town behind you; the map you've found is simple, easy to follow, and perhaps most importantly it's the only lead you have.
And besides, it takes you closer to the source of the Shimmer's influence; that alone may make it worthwhile.
The through the woods leading up the mountain is one that seems to have been taken before, though it's difficult to tell how long ago; the long grass seems to have been tamed in some ways, tamped down and trod upon, and the presence of odd flowers remains constant. They seem to obey no season, growing out among the grass and the trees high overhead.
Though it's worth noting that you don't seem to be alone here; occasionally there's a silence that sweeps over the area, the sort of dead quiet that accompanied your initial approach to the Shimmer. The sort of silence that implies a predator in the area.
Checking will reveal exactly that.
It seems as though something has been stalking you - cougars from the woods have come down toward the group, and while they keep their distance for now, that may not hold true for the rest of the week...
You hear things in the night.
It sounds like humans screaming.
SUNDAY | MONDAY |
TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY
[OOC: Welcome to the second week of The Shimmer! Unlike the deer and the other wildlife you've seen so far, the cougars that are tracking you are hostile - you are free to interact with them in any way you see fit, but they will react as a cougar would and they are entirely willing to try to attack the group. While we will not be NPCing these encounters, you are welcome to do as you like with regards to their presence, including fighting them off.]
And besides, it takes you closer to the source of the Shimmer's influence; that alone may make it worthwhile.
The through the woods leading up the mountain is one that seems to have been taken before, though it's difficult to tell how long ago; the long grass seems to have been tamed in some ways, tamped down and trod upon, and the presence of odd flowers remains constant. They seem to obey no season, growing out among the grass and the trees high overhead.
Though it's worth noting that you don't seem to be alone here; occasionally there's a silence that sweeps over the area, the sort of dead quiet that accompanied your initial approach to the Shimmer. The sort of silence that implies a predator in the area.
Checking will reveal exactly that.
It seems as though something has been stalking you - cougars from the woods have come down toward the group, and while they keep their distance for now, that may not hold true for the rest of the week...
You hear things in the night.
It sounds like humans screaming.
[OOC: Welcome to the second week of The Shimmer! Unlike the deer and the other wildlife you've seen so far, the cougars that are tracking you are hostile - you are free to interact with them in any way you see fit, but they will react as a cougar would and they are entirely willing to try to attack the group. While we will not be NPCing these encounters, you are welcome to do as you like with regards to their presence, including fighting them off.]
no subject
no subject
It's not as though you'd accept me as your superior, is it?
no subject
Oh, hell no. I've already got one that's kind of like you. You're cuter, though.
no subject
All the more reason to put me into your considerations - it could be an upgrade.
[ But also compliment is compliment. He won't waste time getting offended and making a fool of himself. ]
What kind of war were you fighting, before you came here? I've been curious for a few days now.
no subject
You mean what it was about, that sort of thing? Or how we were doing it?
no subject
[ There is no real need to know, but it's a distraction from their current situation and fascinating besides. ]
no subject
[He does not seem bothered by the morbidity, though - or the prospect of talking about this, for that matter.]
So without getting into the complete history of Why My Country Is Terrible, we annexed another nation at one point. They weren't happy about it. A lot of protests, a lot of civil unrest, so we sent our military in there. This was acceptable until somebody on our side got jumpy and shot someone on theirs. Civil war broke out, the guns weren't doing a good enough job of settling things, so they sent alchemists in to finish it.
Less of a war by the end, more of a massacre. And there you have it.
[He remains perfectly calm throughout; he...sure did just acknowledge that he committed many war crimes but that's fine.]
no subject
He doesn't look particularly horrified by what he hears. War is war is war. ]
It's a thin line. Massacres can be part of warfare.
[ A valid strategy, so to speak. Kind of. Maybe. ]
Though I can't say I don't sympathize with the plight of your opponents. We are in a war of independence ourselves.
no subject
I'm one of the few people that likes what I'm doing out there. Probably because I don't really sympathize with anyone.
[not here for your revolution, babe.]
Our guys, their guys. It's like I've said about everyone else, we all die the same.
no subject
Following orders is the life of a soldier.
[ So if you kill the people you're meant to kill, that's fair. Liking it is... uh. He's just. Making the decision we're not focusing on that part right now. ]
I've subdued riots before. It isn't pretty, but necessary.
[ Massacred civilian protesters with tanks is what he did... ]
no subject
Yeah, it's kind of a trainwreck no matter how civil you try to be about it. In my case...well, they don't really call alchemists in if there's going to be a peaceful resolution. Especially not ones with my kinds of power.
no subject
[ He thought he could get around it but he's a little too confused now. ]
It's an old name for chemist where I'm from, people who try to make gold from other substances and such... Utterly outdated.
no subject
[So he's actually not intentionally fucking with you?]
Alchemy is just the practice of turning one thing into another. Technically a power, I'm not going to argue the difference between what I do and magic, if you want to consider it magic you can go ahead and do that. I could make gold out of lead if I really wanted to - I think that's the usual example - but that's not really good for anything. It'll tank the economy if everyone's doing it, so we don't bother, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal besides.
We also don't bother doing it because it's boring. Kind of a waste of talent, really - if you can make anything, why limit yourself to gold?