Palace Raid (August 15th) Plot Post!

[aenseidhe]

I HAVE SOME NEWS. So. I was a fucktard last month and didn't get AC for Iorveth 8| And I can't put him back in the game until September l o l, BUT HE IS DEF COMING BACK, JUST CONSIDER THIS A HIATUS. And along with that, the Palace Raid plot is still happening, the only difference being: It's now ICly being led by Vanessa and Una. I'm still doing the OOC organization, so if you have any questions about it, please ask me about them. You guys can reach me at Wuzzafuzzle on AIM and Plurk. THAT SAID, HERE WE GO - PLOTTANS:

As we talked about in the last Malicant Investigation team plotty thing and ICly in the A.S.S. (gdi roy) meeting log, Iorveth's wanting to take the team of people collecting info on Malicant/preparing for Malicant and do an raid on the palace to get into some forbidden areas to see what they can dig up - as he knows Eshai's hiding stuff. We've been given mod permission to go into some of the normally blocked off wings of the palace as well as the dungeons, and the mods will be letting us search out some info with this little mini plot thinger. Iorveth would have already decided the schematics of the raid, he was just waiting on a good time to pull it off, and with this landfall event, that's what he's going for. The actual raid will be happening on August 15th. Like I said before, he'd have talked it out with the rest of the investigation group at the meeting, so mostly it will just be handwaved that Una and Vanessa have gone around delivering the message of WE'RE GOING NOW, GET READY. SO. Here's how we're going to do this --

There are going to be THREE SNEAKING GROUPS and THREE DISTRACTION GROUPS. For people that'll be portaling others in and what not, they'll be tacked into the sneaking groups as well. There's a good number of us, so I'm going to have you guys fill out this form right HERE:

<b>Character Name:</b> <b>Skills:</b> What kind of skills/powers do they have that might be relevant to the raid? This would include any ability that would help them to INFORMATION GATHERING. For instance, Sabriel was gifted the ability to read ancient kedan, so she'll be wanted to go in a sneaking group. But other abilities would apply as well, like Vanessa's invisibility or Damian's stealth or Quilby's portals, etc. <b>Sneaking group or distraction group?:</b> We may ask you to change depending on how people are fitting in where, like if we get too many sneaking and not enough distraction, but I think it can probably work out fine. Just let me know which you'd rather have your dude in. <b>(Optional) Request ONE other person:</b> You can ask to be in the group with one other person for the sake of it making sense, but at the same time Iorveth wouldn't have really cared who your bff is - he'd just be sticking you in whatever group makes sense, in terms of balancing powers. So please only request one other person and only if you think you really need to to have it make sense ICly.

And we'll be taking that and put you guys into groups of equal size and hopefully not huge size for the sake of keeping threading this non-chaotic. After we have it decided who wants to do sneaking/distraction/portaling, I'm going to be setting these groups up closest to what Iorveth would have done to make a balanced, well-rounded kind of team. We might not have enough people involved to be able to really do that well, but for the most part, I'll look at group they want to be in first (sneaking/distraction), then I'll look at what skills they have, and if it doesn't matter otherwise, they'll be plugged in at random. Does that sound cool? I know some characters, icly, wouldn't want to do anything without someone they know, so I'm giving you guys the option to request one other character for yours to be in a group with. The rule on this, though, is, the character you request must also use their request to be with your character as well. So if Vanessa wants to be with Catty and Catty wants to be with Annabeth, I'll be tagging you guys back to ask you to only make one pair - not Team CattyNessaBeth. But beyond that, it'll be either randomized or what makes sense based on skills (like two people with healing powers on one team and another with no healer would be pretty dumb, you feel me bros?). So for example: Say, after randomizing, if there's a group with two healers and one person who shoots fire out of their ass, and there's this other group over here with 3 people who shoot fire out of their ass and no healer, then one of those healers will be traded out to go in the other group. That kind of thing. SAVVY?

In 4 days, on August 12th, I'll be closing the sign ups at NOON CST, and setting up the groups. Once that's done, I'll edit this post with the organized groups as well as the info from the mods on what each group will be finding in the area they investigate. Then I'll tag your form submission to let you guys know which group you're in, and a link to the plotting subthread I'll set up for each team. The actual IC plot mass log will be going up August 15th.

On the actual log, we'll have subheaders for preperation for the raid, aftermath of the raid, as well as subthreads for each of the individual groups. We'll be giving you guys the results of what you'll find (as far as the sneaking groups go) in the plot posts before the log goes up, when we give you guys your groups, but the distraction groups can do whatever the hell their little hearts desire - it's completely up to you guys how you want to be distracting.

On another note - how many of you would be up for maybe being arrested, with temporary containment? They'd be questioned more on suspicion than actual evidence, given how busy the palace agents were during the landfall. It would be something that happened after the raid was over, so not immediately important, but if you'd be up for it, we can see if that can happen mebbe.

AWESOME. So, there's a subthread below for QUESTIONS and a subthread for SIGN UPS. Please comment in the appropriate space /o/

Comments

QUESTIONS

[aenseidhe]

Re: QUESTIONS

[solo_patria]

This is more discussion but...I'd be up for Enjolras being detained since that was a discussion issue. I feel like he's been pushing his luck a lot lately, with regards to everything that's gone on since he woke up on the turtle, and getting caught/in trouble is certainly something that he subconsciously seems to WANT at this point if that makes sense. I could also see him, post Malicant, accidentally leaving something behind/causing some sort of scene that would GET him noticed somehow. It's easy to imagine him making that sort of mistake at this venture so I'd find it reasonable for him to be detained.

Re: QUESTIONS

[saisamour]

So about that blood writing on the lantern! Is it written in some form of Kedan language, and would Marius be able to read it? He kind of knows whatever Temeraire's taught him, but obviously he can't if the writings are like ~ancient lost kedan language~ or in an entirely different language or something :3

Re: QUESTIONS

[una_persson]

For the post-raid stuff? Una would want to compile some kind of dossier of everyone's findings (which will then be handily presentable to Iorveth when he reappears). Would this be kosher?

I'm on vacation from plurk at the moment, so if you could sorta field this question to the other raiders, that would be super-cool and I would be hugely grateful.

TEAM SIGN UPS

[aenseidhe]

Gimmer ur fooooormsssss

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[insecrets]

Character Name: Vanessa Cleveland
Skills: IT WAS USED IN THE EXAMPLE
i mean she can turn invisible and make objects invisible too
Sneaking group or distraction group?: sneaking
Request ONE other person: idk catty

Una

[una_persson]

Character Name: Una Persson
Skills: Mundane (non-magic, non-powered) sneaking/espionage/covert action skills, hand to hand combat, marksmanship. All the sorts of things you figure would go along with being a meddler/soldier/spy.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: Either's good!
Request ONE other person: TBD pending other signups.

[amonfire]

Character Name: Amon
Skills: Amon has Batman-levels of sneaking ability particularly when it comes to popping up and disappearing the eff out of nowhere. He is familiar and fully capable of organizing and executing small to large scale operations that work like this. Dude did manage to hide and operate a massive underground movement for years.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: FUCK YEAH SNEA KING
(Optional) Request ONE other person:
NAH IM GOOD

[saisamour]

Character Name: Marius Pontmercy
Skills: Mairus has been super sekritly learning the Kedan language from Temeraire! Aside from that he's like a sharpshooter?? So maybe that's important too lmao idk. Oh and he can create fire because of his lessons with Sabriel but not very well. >.>
Sneaking group or distraction group?: Sneaking, preferably!
(Optional) Request ONE other person: Enjolras please!

CAN WE DO TWO CHARACTERS? Because I remember Leo being involved too sob

Character Name: Leo Valdez
Skills: Godmode machinery powers. Everything and all that is of the machine type he can make it. He can also create fire! And sense traps and figure out how to work machines (like he knew how to pilot a helicopter once because of ~pure intuition~)
Sneaking group or distraction group?: Distraction seems better? But he can be in the sneaking group too because of his ability to sense traps
(Optional) Request ONE other person: Nah I'm cool with anyone

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[solo_patria]

Character Name: Enjolras
Skills: Enjolras lead that thing on the barricade and he's also done things in the way of factory infiltration and sneaking around at home. He doesn't have any supernatural skills or anything particularly pertinent, but he's seen a lot of action in the past, and he can be subtle about things. He was part of a secret government overthrowing society and managed to run that, and its activities so...

Sneaking group or distraction group?: I am good with either. I think he'd be better with the sneaking group but he can certainly be a distraction if needed.

(Optional) Request ONE other person: Marius!

I got so excited I put this in the wrong heading!

[depicted]

Character Name:
Skills: Perfect memory for everything experienced so it's like a living camcorder!, temporary boost in strength/senses to vampire levels (probably will only last first 30-60 minutes), absolutely impossible to kill, normal human level combat/sneakity sneak covert skills once the vampire boost wears off. VERY PRETTY that's a skill isn't it?
Sneaking group or distraction group?: Put him where most useful and in need of people.
(Optional) Request ONE other person: Nah it's cool.

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[demon_brat]

Character Name: Damian Wayne

Skills: He's a NINJA. He doesn't kill and will make note of anyone who does, but he's sneaky and fast, and really good at what he does. Also, he knows a slew of earth languages as well as kedan dialects to read. So, yeah, basically stealth, fighting, and language. Also, Bat!utility belt. Those things have anything.
ALSO last audience, Eshai showed him around part of the palace.

Sneaking group or distraction group?: Basically, I'm good with either, but - language probably makes him a better fit for sneaking.

(Optional) Request ONE other person: No preference at this point. :)

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[bindsthedead]

Character Name: Sabriel
Skills: Reading the kedan language and *magic* including silencing spells and sleeping spells.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: Sneaking!
(Optional) Request ONE other person: I'm fine with anyone!

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[gathersnomoss]

Character Name: Zelgadis Graywords
Skills: Magic. Aside from explosions, Zel can do some minor healing, unlock doors, cast sleep spells, make light and darkness. Zel also knows how to pick locks mundanely, and has a crystal he enchanted to look for hidden passages. He also carries a sword, and makes a nice shield for traps (hide behind the guy who can break blades on his skin). He also has spent a lot of time in places he wasn't supposed to be.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: I'm cool with either. it looks like you need more distractors, and Zel would be willing (albeit grumpy*) to be the one obviously going for something while the sneaking teams head in other directions sneakily.
(Optional) Request ONE other person: n/a

* This is a default state for Zelgadis.

[inseine]

Character Name: Javert
Skills: Javert has Charter Magic, but unless you recognize the rune on his forehead, he is not completely forward about this.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: ... Can I be that part of the group that catches wind of this and keeps an eye out because he doesn't trust any of you assholes
(Optional) Request ONE other person: Javert has like no friends. He's out to watch everyone and either put them on a shit list or be convinced otherwise that this is not all bad X(

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[stagethreeclinger]

Character Name: Roy Harper
Skills: Rara computers rara robots rara trick arrows
Sneaking group or distraction group?: distraaactiioooon
(Optional) Request ONE other person: nah brah im good

[kelpful]

Character Name: Percy Jackson
Skills: Water. He can control all of it and asplode shit
Sneaking group or distraction group?: distractioooooooooon
(Optional) Request ONE other person: annabeeeeeeeeeeeeeeth

Re: TEAM SIGN UPS

[sophos]

Character Name: Annabeth Chase
Skills: SHE HAS A HAT THAT MAKES HER GO INVISIBLE. Also she's got like ten years of combat training and is the daughter of the goddess of warfare; and her brain is like godmode smart with basically a photographic memory.
Sneaking group or distraction group?: LMAO Annabeth is more suited to sneaking but there's tons of sneaking people already, so she can easily go into distraction, too. someone needs to have brains for this part i guess
(Optional) Request ONE other person: percy i guess though if told to she'd go elsewhere

Sneaking Group #1: Marius, Enjolras, Damian & Zel

[aenseidhe]

Sneaking Group # 01:
There exists a narrow passageway at a the northwest tower of the palace with so narrow the sliver of an entrance that few notice it is even there. Slipping through it reveals a narrow corridor and a spiralling of stairs which lead into a very strange room. No taller than three feet, it stretches the width of the tower itself and those of a keen mind for architecture may realise that this "floor" is secreted beneath the second and fourth stories -- for there is no clearcut third in this tower. The floor and ceiling here emit an iridescent glow akin to the shell of the turtle for they have been treated with a fine varnish into which powdered pieces of shell have been incorporated. This provides sufficient light to see a series of think gold and silver chains criss-crossed about the room in intricate patterns, forming a 'cell' of sorts around a plain, red paper lantern that is suspended in the middle.

The chains connect to this lantern and to access it, one must break them down strand-by-strand -- for attempts to phase through them are met with malfunction, abilities cancelling out when the chain is phased but a quarter inch into the skin. Painful, perhaps, but an old defense mechanism that triggers ringing of three soft, rusted out bells. Worry not, team, for no guard comes running at such disturbances and there is time sufficient to reach the lantern.

Here, it can be noted that the "plain" of the lantern is a lie, for the red paper bears the marks of thousands of tiny characters written in a brown ink that once shone crimson and brighter when first bled from the palms of the writers. Blood writing covers every available scrap of the paper and does not smudge or fade at any attempts to brush at it. Contact with the lantern, though it glows with a faint light, results in a cold shiver heading down one's back and the whisper of Malicant's name running through the mind.

The lantern itself can be removed from this floor, but an unease will follow any that carry or store it henceforth. It feels as though something watches and waits for it, yet cannot reach out and take it. Attempts to burn or cut open the lantern would be met with failure, for something incredibly strong holds it together and may even be holding something in...

[saisamour]

SO WHAT'S UP BROTHAS

QUESTION

[demon_brat]

OKAY belated question but

Can the trap of chains be reproduced once they have taken the lantern out? Would, say, Green Lantern constructs with the same pattern have the same effect?

Sneaking Group #2: Vanessa, Catty, Dorian, (Javert also maybe)

[aenseidhe]

Sneaking Group # 02:
This team makes it deep into the palace, crossing the central courtyard and entering an immaculately maintained wing with spartan decor. Weapons of the finest crafting line the walls, each found to be a delicate recreation rather than the true deadly implement which it imitates. Silver cast in the role of steel and gold in that of bronze makes each a work of art and fortune on its own. Few jewels however, grace the settings; they were removed long ago for the sake of paying wages to an army that has long since been buried in memory and body.

The rooms here bear complex locks that defy even the greatest of skills and there is evidence that sentries have recently been posted along the halls to protect whatever it is that is contained here. Scuff marks show the common path of patrol, yet there are none currently stationed in the area. This allows the team some freedom to explore

One lock yields where others deny them and the door which is freed by this slides open to a grand marble room, carved and polished with equal degrees of elegance and function. Inspection yields that this is a bathing chamber -- but not just any. This happens to be the personal bathing chamber of the Ironwood Emperor herself, as there are three different sets of attire laid out on wire mannequins on the far wall which have each been seen in audience or appearances made by Eshai since the arrival of the Foreigners. There is also a simply vanity upon which iridescent black hair comb and a small variety of hair clips reside. Near the the concave bathing pool are a variety of fragrant oils that can and have been added to the waters in the past to enhance them. Also there rests a thin, leatherbound copy of the Art of War -- it appears that the Emperor has acquired some strategic texts from the Earth cultures and may have indulged in them.

The far door to the chamber leads into the Emperor's own chambers, but this door does not yield to technology nor magic. Attempts to force it trigger a shrill alarm that will send guards to this location within five minutes. There are no tomes of information here and only a small tray of sweet mints to offer as reward for the risks taken entering this sacred space.

[fatedchaos]

WHAT'S UP, GUYS!!!!!!!!

Sneaking Group #3: Una, Amon, Sabriel

[aenseidhe]

Sneaking Group #3:
The library so oft remains beyond the reach of others, access granted only during the monthly audiences and only when Eshai fancies it. This team takes advantage of their freedom in the palace to adventure here, finding a key in an office three halls away that permits them to slip in -- however, this key disintegrates in the lock once they are inside, its purpose spent. Silence permeates the air and the heavy scent of dust hangs about each tome upon the shelves. These books are no different than they were in any other visit, but should the team look deeper they may find a solitary bookcase near the back of the library, hidden behind stacks upon stacks of scrolls. A push and a nudge reveals a door behind it, the lock of which can be navigated with a rudimentary lockpick skill (no need to roll a twenty here).

This door opens into a small room -- an alcove, really. Dust lays thickly upon all surfaces, with the exception of a thin layering atop a smoked-glass-and-iron case bolted to the wall. Magic protects the glass from damage, but there is a tiny combination lock that plays a faint tune rather than turning to specific numbers. Searching the room may uncover the chords of an old, old lullaby once sung to the Ironwood Emperor a hundred lifecycles in the past. Turning the lock to hit these notes will break the seal and the case can be opened.

Within lies a single, thin journal with pages that have aged beyond recognition in some areas. But a few passages remain legible, starting first with this neat script:

"We know now the secret behind the thousands of lights that keep shadows at bay. Souls, all of them glittering and brilliant, lie within her reach. One brightens on arrival, one fades on departure; we see now how she creates the anchor that drew us like fish to the hook. Impossible to ignore the draw and impossible to be free. She fears it, with all her power, and we fear that it may follow us if we force her to dim each one to return us home. We will help eradicate it."

Then, six pages of worn and eradicated text, there is a more hesitantly written passage that betrays a quiver in the hand of the writer by the way the letters waver on the page:

"Our alliance is purpose and Alderwood thrives. Ironwood dictates, but her words are clipped. Worry spreads and it is well founded. We all watched Bysaliat fall; our mightiest torn to ribbons at an idle dalliance."

The final page of the journal is a mess of writing, excitement spilling ink upon the paper and creating great splotches across the words. What can be made out is scribbled with a note of haste -- and one of hope:

"An idea. Whittle the stick and eventually nothing will remain. Ironwood's magic and our bindings may do it. We will do that here. We will shred Malicant as he shredded Bysaliat. Seal him in light and let it burn eternal. One day, he may be destroyed."

The ink dwindles towards the end, the pot mayhaps emptied; below, it changes to dark crimson lettering that outlines a complex equation -- but not one of physics or science. To touch the letters along would raise the hairs upon the back of one's neck, suggesting an ancient magic invoked in them. A spell of sorts, but one which casts at great cost.

Re: Sneaking Group #3: Una, Amon, Sabriel

[amonfire]

ok seeing as amon is Token Douchebag who should actually be in charge

Distraction Group: Leo, Roy, Percy, Annabeth

[aenseidhe]

SO, since we only had Leo for distraction, I added in Roy Harper (my other kiddo), because he has a lot of the same hacking technology skills, but also he makes things explode a lot and also makes little roybots robots that he can send to go cause mayhem around the palace lalala. So I'm pretty sure the two of them together will be plenty of a distraction for everyone :'D IS THIS COOL WITH YOU?

JK, THIS IS NOW TEAM DEMIGODS AND................. ROY :'| SOB. So, how would you guys like to go around causing havoc? :3

[fotia]

Traps! Robots! Things that go boom! Stuff!