ironwood: (MISC / people)
ɪʀᴏɴᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴇsʜᴀɪ ([personal profile] ironwood) wrote in [community profile] tushanshu_ooc2015-08-01 02:00 pm
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GAME ITINERARY | AUGUST 2015

Hello chelonauts, here is a fresh new itinerary post! Previous months can be found under this tag.

Here's what we've got lined up for August:

Weather

Look out folks, this month's a real scorcher!

The contingent of kedan who reliably track Tu Vishan's movements using various methods have informed everyone that the turtle is drifting in an area called Zhausing's Well, which is located slightly north of the equator. It's named for the story of a kedan who was supposedly swept out to sea during a fishing trip and thought dead, only to turn up several years later on Tu Vishan's shores, babbling about living on an island in the middle of the sea where the wind blew in circles, wrecking every attempt he'd made to escape the region.

The sea floor is deep here, marking some kind of trench between the Zeshoran and Siaxhian continents, with Tavimbi to the north, although its waters are unclaimed. The wind doesn't blow in circles, but it does change direction frequently, and firmly. It will blow from the south for a few hours, and then abruptly switch to the east as if someone has thrown a switch. Based on consistent observations of the stars, it is determined that Tu Vishan is circling around in the Well without going anywhere, instead of drifting in a constant direction as he has been.

Because of this, the temperatures through the whole month of August are going to be extremely high. There aren't going to be many days which are less than over 100°F, or over 40°C. Even the nights don't provide much relief, and only cool by around ten degrees or so. The only good news is that the constant breezes do keep the humidity down quite well, so it's a drier heat than it was in July, which will make it slightly more tolerable.

There also isn't much rain to be had this month, and through the latter part of the month, there will be some concern raised for the crops in the fields, which will lead to water restrictions being put into effect during the latter part of the month (see the Local Events secton, below).


Kedan/Foreigner Relations

The effort by the Foreigners to discover the state of Tu Vishan once and for all, and the subsequent revelation that he is alive has spread throughout the city and is met with widespread relief and gratitude on the behalf of the kedan. Whatever issues they may have personally with the Foreigners, it pales to the easement of their worries over the future state of the turtle, and it's not something the kedan could have done on their own. Throughout August, the Foreigners (regardless of whether they were involved in the magic ritual or not) will experience a boost of goodwill while interacting with the kedan, whether in the form of (slightly) lower prices when shopping, pay raises if they work for kedan employers, increased interest in becoming patrons of Foreigner-run businesses, and other such small tokens of gratitude.

These displays of thanksgiving don't come without expectation, however. Despite the good news about Tu Vishan's life, the turtle itself is still sinking. A live turtle on the bottom of the ocean is about as helpful to them as a dead turtle on the bottom of the ocean, now that there is no barrier to protect them should Tu Vishan slip beneath the waves permanently. Many kedan will follow up their notes of appreciation with the conversational equivalent of, "so what are you going to do about it?"

However, not every kedan is currently pleased with the Foreigners, as it turns out that the major NPCs also received Valdis' vision of Malicant killing the baby turtles, in addition to all the Foreigners. While the general kedan citizenry are blissfully ignorant of having seen that, it has left the NPCs with understandable suspicion as to how such a scene, seemingly lifted from Malicant's memory, had been accessible to them in the first place...


Local Events

MYSTERY GAMES - August 12th-26th

This month, the city is hosting a charity event put on by a local performing troupe, the Rhythm Fevers, and sponsored by the Merchant's Guild. A spin on a dinner theater type murder mystery, the event will feature several fake crimes that must be "solved" by participating teams. Multiple teams will work on the same "crime", creating competition, and there will be prizes at a closing ceremony after the games close. Both kedan and Foreigners are equally welcome to participate, on the stipulation that the teams will all be randomized together, and that excluding any member of a team from the investigations will result in the whole team being disqualified.

Clues to follow up on will be delivered throughout the two weeks, giving each team new angles to investigate, and new suspects to track down. The suspects, witnesses, and other non-players in question are volunteer kedan who've been hired by the troupe beforehand, so you'll have to forgive them if they forget their lines sometimes!

The closing ceremony will be held on Friday, August 28th.

An OOC post detailing the crimes to be solved, and the makeup of the teams, will be posted on Saturday, August 8th 10th.

Log Note: The mystery games will have two mod-posted event logs: one for the mystery games and playing out the following up on the clues, and a separate log for the closing ceremony and awards.


WATER RATIONING

The lack of rain and extremely high temperatures are putting a severe strain on the water system, both in Keeliai and around the shell. The Woodsmen report that several sections of the aquifer system are completely dry, and the water levels in the city canals drop steadily throughout the month. With less water flowing through them, they also start developing algae, which many kedan take to harvesting (or will pay others to harvest) because it turns out that it can be dried and used as pseudo-tobacco, burning with an almost nauseously sticky-sweet scent.

In the latter half of the month, city-wide water rationing will be put into effect, limiting the amount of water accessible through the public water system (the one that supplies all the shops, housing, etc). A certain amount has to be held in reserve to support the ever-expanding farming fields that the Woodsmen keep, and those found to be flagrantly using too much water this month will be subject to the Woodsmen's authority -- no one's questioning their domain over whether or not the city gets fed.

There will also be a call for Foreigners who have any ability, whether magical or technological, to move large quantities of water from the shell's edge into the city. In the same vein, the College has been putting considerable effort into developing a large scale version of desalination technology. They have it on a small scale, but it's not feasible to supply a city the size of Keeliai, let alone outlying areas which will also eventually need it. They will welcome Foreigner input on this, so long as it's something that the kedan can replicate by themselves -- a magic spell, for example, isn't going to help them in the long run if the person later disappears.

Log Note: The water rationing will not have a mod-posted event log; work for the Woodsmen can be either handwaved or logged at player preference.


NPCs & Families

This month the main families are working together in small but important ways -- which is very much a response to the Chihuelan Grand Justicar’s message.

TU YUNXU
Though Yunxu himself no longer calls Heojin a coward, the rest of the Snakes are becoming more and more aggressive in their insults of the head Woodsman, especially in the wake of the Chihuelan Grand Justicar’s hack. It’s pretty obvious to anyone taking a stroll past Yunxu’s mansion that the largest of Keeliai’s three Families is fully expecting another war, and fully expecting the support of the rest of the city - including the Foreigners. In fact, after being blindsided by Seto Kaiba and only later discovering Kaiba’s intro post on the console network, Yunxu is back to monitoring Foreigner transmissions. He’s not a fan of being blindsided.

During the last two weeks of August, Meisheng’s public appearances will come to an abrupt halt. Rumours will spread like wildfire among the Snakes, and anyone in the city with an ear to the ground will hear that the Snakes are pretty damn sure Meisheng’s pregnant - and that she didn’t tell Yunxu about it.


ZANRU/XUIYU
Xuiyu is SI’s public figure this month, and has been ever since the SI changeover last month. Already she has shown an interest in encouraging Foreigner-run industry, approaching Foreigners with tech-related experience and supporting the College’s public research moves. Stark Industries seems much more relaxed these days, at least when it comes to its internal security.

The contact from the Chihuelan Grand Justicar, however, has put the Metalworkers at large on edge. Like the Snakes, the Metalworkers are preparing for invasion. Securing the consoles from further hacks is one of their primary concerns, but so are enhancing the personal shields Tony traded to them, developing handheld communications similar to the ones the Foreigners hold, securing the completed tram-lines and shoring up the city walls. Where the Snakes are focussing on offence, the Metalworkers are focussed on defence.

There is no sign of Zanru, though if asked any Metalworker will be certain that Xuiyu has attempted to make contact. In Zanru’s absence, Xuiyu is unanimously the family head, being the invasion veteran with the most experience in the family.


HEOJIN
Like the other families, contact from the Chihuelan Grand Justicar has the Woodsmen in a flutter … but it isn’t the only thing that has them in a flutter. While they’re also preparing for invasion, their preparations are combined with a low-grade delight which puts a zest in all their interactions. Apparently they’ve been hearing the same rumours about Meisheng which the Snakes have, and apparently they think they know who the father is.

Heojin is in greater view this month, and despite his supposed illness in the past two months he looks healthy and happy -- if a touch wild-eyed at times. Lin is much less in attendance, though this is because he’s been sent out to try and find Celaunn and the other Chihuelan raiders -- whether to warn them or turn them over is unknown. He is occasionally visible in the city this month, looking harassed and rushed, but Foreigners are more likely to get an audience with Heojin himself at this point.

Ran is the one arranging for the invasion. Not alone; he can be frequently seen passing orders by Heojin and an older dark-haired kedan with a cane by the name of Feng, a veteran of the last invasion who is stationed in the city to keep an eye on proceedings there.

The most obvious preparation is the stockpiling of food and water; the Woodsmen have commandeered the majority of warehouses and silos, and with the heat and the expected attack the Woodsmen are busiest making sure the city has supplies in all sectors. They’re also securing their tech and their farms, and although the producing of crops never stops, there’s a definite focus on long-lasting produce.


MILYN
Milyn's back to her usual bubbly self this month, having kicked the last lingering effects of the zhyris infection she'd contracted. There continue to be a steady stream of cases, during which she continues to work in conjunction with the Healer's Guild to keep contained. She'll be once again asking for Foreigner's blood samples if they can stop by her clinic in the morning (she does her rounds of the city in the afternoon) and maintaining that she feels she's making good progress on a proper vaccine.

Which, of course, will need people to test it. If anyone wants to be purposely infected, she's adamant she can make it worth their time!

Milyn also has a number of housekeeping errands that she'd like to take care of this month, and will be venturing out of the city to several places around the turtle's shell via kirin cart. She's been so busy the last couple months with everything that's going on, that she hasn't had a chance to replenish some of the harder to find supplies. She'll gladly welcome any Foreigners who are interested in joining her, especially since a couple of specimens she's after are rather hard to get by oneself.

In regards to the Chihuelan message, Milyn seems among the least troubled of the figureheads in the city. She will profess confidence in the three Family heads to do what's best for the city.


AROYAN
The Merchant's Guild is doing well this month, and Aroyan is in high spirits when he's seen around the city. He's always courteous to the Foreigners and seems eager to business with them, if approached. He's especially keen on helping Foreigners open their own shops and stores, if that's what pleases them! It's not a solely altruistic thing; if the Foreigners are invested in their lives here, they're more likely to protect Keeliai and Tu Vishan by extension. It's really not dissimilar to the reasoning Eshai used when she brought them here, although of course, he knows better than to point that out. But despite the little bit of self-serving interest there, his desire to help the Foreigners more completely integrate into the native population is genuine. Happy Foreigners are happy customers!

He's still seeking an assistant (or two) to help with the day to day paperwork and discussions, and is particularly interested in hiring Foreigners with some kind of diplomatic sensibility, but anyone who expresses interest will be considered.

If he's asked about the Justicar's message, he will be pensive, and say that a wait and see approach is best. Despite the brusqueness of the message, it's only a single point of contact, and reserving judgment until they actually meet in person with the Chihuelans is advisable.

A few times throughout the month, Aroyan can be seen meeting with an elderly kedan woman at a cafe in the Fire Sector. He always seems respectful to her -- pulling out her chair, refilling her drink, etc. Their conversations are spirited and (particularly on his side) seemingly passionate about the topic, and if managed to be overheard, are regarding various business dealings within the city.


Economy

In spite of the furor caused by contact with the Chihuelans, the economy has remained stable. Produce this month will focus on short-lived foodstuffs, while produce with a long shelf-life is being hoarded for the heat and the Chihuelans’ arrival.

Water will be a commodity this month and many stalls can be seen selling gourds of water -- the kedanese version of bottled water. Prices are high, though the Merchant’s Guild and Woodsmen will accept trades and barter in exchange for water to avoid the unscrupulous from making a profit by playing with people’s lives. Though the water is being rationed, no one in authority wants citizens to to drop dead from dehydration, and though the gourds are convenient, both parties are watching carefully to make sure the water rationing isn’t being abused by sellers.

Industry economy is on the low side, due to SI’s pulling in. It’s still trying to recover from being slightly over-extended under Zanru’s tenure, and preparing for the Chihuelans’ arrival isn’t helping, but the industry is at least stable.

Construction of Sky Sector is still proceeding, but more slowly to account for the preparations of an attack.


Crime

The heat has driven even the crooks inside this month, and crime rates are down in every Sector. That, combined with the general goodwill of the kedan toward the Foreigners this month, records this as the safest month to date since the Foreigners' return to Keeliai. Even the gangs in the city seem to have calmed down a little, although they've also taken it upon themselves to be "water vigilantes", and seem keen to pay visits to anyone not respecting the water rationing before the Woodsmen have a chance.

Regarding the gangs, there are also rumours that some of the smaller groups have been slowly amalgamating into two larger ones: one based in the Fire Sector going by the Thornbacks, and one in Earth, calling themselves the Salt Kings. Not much is known about either faction just yet, including what their goals or allegiances are, but it's something that could be gleaned from hanging out in the wrong places at the right times.


Technology

Technology is driven this month, primarily due to the Metalworkers’ preparations. The tram-line has essentially been completed, but some areas are going through security upgrades and it won’t be uncommon for the carriages to be used to haul produce and water from sector to sector.

Otherwise the focus will be on defensive and offensive capabilities. Some Metalworkers can be seen at the Yunxu’s mansion on an exchange for aid, while others are put into parties with Woodsmen to secure the radio stations across the shell. The radios are right now the most stable means of fast communication the city has, and although the Metalworkers are looking into handheld radios, in lieu of that there are some quick and mobile towers being developed around the city to account for radio transmissions in the event the consoles are hacked again -- albeit still relying on the consoles as the transmission medium.

Meanwhile, on the walls of the city some Metalworker teams are experimenting with Stark’s shield generators, trying to enlarge their field to account for more than one person -- or even the whole city. While the latter is a pipedream with the timeframe they have, there’s been some success shielding groups.

Though the College’s public-research facility isn’t completely done, it’s already being put to use. While the Metalworkers are focussing on actually building things, they seem to be willing to leave the theory and calculations to the College, and though this does result in some sniping and miscommunication, for the most part tempers remain leashed.


International

CHIHUELO

Following a long-range transmission that appeared via hijacking of the consoles, the Grand Justicar has announced her intentions and demands to the city of Keeliai, as well as a timeframe for her arrival. In a surprising bit of information, she has also made reference to the fact that she and Celaunn are from the same sect, although how that relationship is parsed is yet a mystery.


OOC Information

MYSTERY GAMES SIGNUPS

If you'd like your characters to participate in the mystery games, please comment here with their names! Players can sign up more than one character from their roster if they'd like, since this isn't an event with limited slots. Please only sign up your characters if you'll have time to thread with them doing the investigating during the month, however, since they will be joint threads and thus affecting other players.

Signups close at 11:59PM EST, Wed August 5th. Teams will be fully randomized by the mods, so no signing up in pairs/trios/etc, and the teams announced along with the crime scenarios on Saturday, August 8th.


So that's our outline for the month of August! If you have any questions about these happenings, please use the Questions comment below. Otherwise, this post is free space for monthly OOC plotting.
oceantier: (small smile)

[personal profile] oceantier 2015-08-01 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
Lapis will begin looking for escape routes above and below the Turtle, because this is what she does. ^^; She'll want to confirm it for herself. I don't expect her to find one, but one, can she dive under the Turtle, and two, would she potentially find any useful information down there on his underside?
oceantier: (to smile)

[personal profile] oceantier 2015-08-01 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
XD! Unfortunately this won't occur to her at the time because she doesn't eat, but . . . useful to know for the future!
wintershepherd: (Default)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] wintershepherd 2015-08-01 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Jack Frost ([personal profile] wintershepherd)
gathersnomoss: (Default)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2015-08-01 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
Let's sign up Zelgadis/[personal profile] gathersnomoss
purered: Poised, Combat (Git good)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] purered 2015-08-01 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Klaus Reinherz / [personal profile] purered
wrathfulkhan: (Mocking // chatvert)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] wrathfulkhan 2015-08-01 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
sign me the FUCK up 👌👀👌👀👌👀👌👀👌👀 good shit go౦ԁ sHit👌 thats ✔ some good👌👌shit right👌👌th 👌 ere👌👌👌 right✔there ✔✔if i do ƽaү so my self 💯 i say so 💯 thats what im talking about right there right there (chorus: ʳᶦᵍʰᵗ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ) mMMMMᎷМ💯 👌👌 👌НO0ОଠOOOOOОଠଠOoooᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒᵒ👌 👌👌 👌 💯 👌 👀 👀 👀 👌👌Good shit

...I mean, Gene Khan ([personal profile] wrathfulkhan), please!
lasergrenades: (Default)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] lasergrenades 2015-08-03 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Pepper Potts is so here for this 8D lasergrenades
stubbornlittleshit: (Default)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] stubbornlittleshit 2015-08-03 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Arno Dorian [personal profile] stubbornlittleshit
Edited 2015-08-03 19:34 (UTC)
bigdamnhiro: art @ <user name="ask-hamadahiro" site="tumblr.com"> (hey hey hey but look)

[personal profile] bigdamnhiro 2015-08-05 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Hiro Hamada ([personal profile] bigdamnhiro)
redlightgreenlight: (Default)

Re: MYSTERY GAMES SIGN-UPS

[personal profile] redlightgreenlight 2015-08-05 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
looksfine: (I pilot dis ship)

[personal profile] looksfine 2015-08-06 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
Aya ([personal profile] looksfine) & Midii Une ([personal profile] unetrustworthy)

I solemnly swear I am up to no good to keep up with two different investigations this month.
ruinsprofessor: (approval)

[personal profile] ruinsprofessor 2015-08-06 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
I would like to sign up both Raine Sage ([personal profile] ruinsprofessor) and China Sorrows ([personal profile] inkulcation), if that's all right.
Edited (y'know, makari, it really helps when you close your html) 2015-08-06 03:07 (UTC)