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tushanshu_ooc2013-01-10 11:29 am
ironwood) wrote in tushanshu_ooc2013-01-10 11:29 am
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Event | Turtle Dive | January 16 - 23, 2013
Happy 2013, Chelonauts! With 2012 safely stowed in our archives, it is time to look ahead to the coming events of 2013 and that means... Time for our first gamewide event of the year!
This event will run from January 16th until January 23rd and will comprise, in the briefest terms, the turtle diving to the ocean floor.Oh, and a side of zombies. Read on for details and a rough schedule of events!
January 16th | Dive, Dive, Dive!
Starting mid-morning of the 16th there will be what feels like a series seismic disturbances ranging between three and four on the Richter scale. These will persist over the course of a few hours as Tu Vishan begins the diving process. Keeliai was built to withstand these stresses and, as such, no structural damage will occur. Unsecured possessions will be rattled about a bit and items on shelves are at risk, but ceilings and walls are safe.
Adding to that will be a slight tilt to the turtle as Tu Vishan angles downwards. Given the scale, the angle will be relatively gentle and apt to affect mainly wheels, balls, or easily shifted materials. All kedan on the turtle are treating this like it's no big deal. Turtle diving? They are old hands at this. Carts have been secured and goods in stores sufficiently braced/shifted to avoid damage or other disruption.
The most significant thing to be noted is the steady rise of water around the turtle as it descends. The barrier around Tu Vishan does more than prevent straying too far from home as it also is impermeable to the ocean water and associated pressure the deeper that they go. In effect, Keeliai and the surrounding countryside will come under the reverse-snowglobe effect, with a breathable atmosphere and surface air pressure maintained within the barrier (up to almost a mile above) and water enveloping all areas beyond the shell.
Characters that can survive underwater can go between the ocean and the atmospheric bubble without much difficulty and may note that the distance that they can go "above" Keeilai has been extended another hundred or so meters before the standard shut-down effect comes into play. It is not recommended that characters stray beyond this barrier, as their bodies may become suspended in the water and unable to be drawn back in. In such a case, the character is considered dead by Tu Shanshu standards and will be found and hauled in near the shell edge in a fashion akin to normal.
January 17th - 19th | Dove, Dove, Dove!
By the early hours of the seventeenth, Tu Vishan will have descended to the ocean floor and continued in its normal ways -- just underwater. Increasingly noticeable during the dive and throughout the remainder of the event will be the lack of sunlight penetrating the ocean water and making it to Keeliai itself. In fact, short of actual fire or light sources (such as the decorations in the Fire Sector), the only natural light on the turtle will come from the glow of the shell during the night hours. We hope everyone is ready for an impromptu night owl existence!
When the shell glow starts up during the night, the only noticeable difference is the low-lying fogs that drift around ground level and with varying density. This is due to the increased moisture seeping into the air from the ocean pressing in on the barrier.
Additionally, the air temperature while the turtle is submerged is significantly lower than on the surface. The kedan are still unconcerned by all this, instead bundling up to counter the almost winterly temperature change. Stores are temporarily open only during "glow" hours and many textiles merchants are taking the opportunity to have a sale on their warmest clothing and materials. Lieuen has obtained some of the rare bonfire permits and imported Wood Sector products into the Fire Sector to hold large bonfires in the hours after the glow fades each morning. He also has arranged a number of merchants to set up stalls nearby with hot ciders (alcoholic and non-alcoholic are available), warm snacks, and blankets for those wishing to enjoy the bonfires.
Characters capable of surviving on the ocean floor are still able to leave the atmospheric bubble by almost two hundred meters now, but will notice the abrupt pressure difference. Pressurised suits that exit the safe zone and return are like to experience severe complications from this pressure adjustment. The important thing to note here is that the deeper Tu Vishan went, the more debris can be found floating in the water. This debris is comprised mainly of corpses in varying stages of decay, from freshly dead to skeletal remains. These bodies are comprised of kedan, humans, and animals. Some artefacts can be found, but they are painfully mundane in nature (snarfblats, dinglehoppers, cutlery, tin cups, that kind of thing). If asked, kedan will explain the bodies as simply being the remains of at-sea burials and will refer further questions to the Emperor.
January 20th | Underwater Visitors...?
Commencing on the twentieth, the outer rim of Tu Vishan's shell will begin collecting visitors in the form of re-animated corpses from the underwater debris surrounding the turtle. These corpses will use whatever means they can to press up against all sides of the barrier, staring in with an expression akin to hunger. Waterlogged and technically without soul, these creatures are unable to penetrate the barrier itself.
Once again, characters capable of withstanding the pressure differences and of surviving underwater can exit the barrier and explore within the two-hundred meter extended zone at this point, but they will be pursued by the re-animated corpses. The dead formerly known as kedan will take on aquatic forms in order to give chase. Warning: They are intelligent and they are fast, moving with the sole purpose to catch and kill anything living in their vicinity.
January 21st - 22nd | Dive of the Living Dead
Creeped out by the underwater audience? Feeling left out compared to those that can survive the ocean and have been chased out and about? Worry not, for the fun will come to you!
While the barrier has held out against the press of bodies until now, there is a limit to what it can do. During the early morning of the 21st, this limit is reached and the animated dead begin to breach it. The first few come from the topmost surface of the barrier, causing it to literally "rain" the dead with a few scattered corpses plummeting to the ground. However, while the fall damages bones, it does not kill them and they will begin to pull themselves about in search of kedan or characters to kill.
Wait, did we say kill? We sure did!
You see, these creatures are inspired by jiangshi lore and act much like a Western zombie with a dash of vampire tossed in. They seek life and will rend it from the living with teeth and hands. Their purpose is to eat flesh and, through that, absorb the life force of their victims in the relentless (and futile) pursuit to permanently reanimate themselves.
They are intelligent in terms of problem-solving and understand how to open doors and, to a limited extent, counter attacks on their person. They are also fast on their feet, which is less of a concern for those that fall from the ceiling of the barrier and more for the ones that, at the same time, penetrate the barrier at the shell edge and begin sprinting for the city. They do not tire and will reach the outer wall within the same or less time than it takes a cart to reach it.
What does this mean?
In essence, this means that Keeliai will be under assault from what starts as a few jiangshi zombies and increasing in count to a maximum density of five thousand scattered about the city. They exist to kill and absorb the life of others, meaning that any signs of life (be it motion or lighting) will draw their attention and bring on the hunt. They are unable to communicate, but given the base nature of their motivation, often they appear to move in small groups (or herds... they do move in herds).
Characters and kedan bit/killed by the jiangshi will die and be reanimated as an NPC jiangshi within a few hours. When asked, the kedan know nothing of a cure for the bite and will speak very little of the jiangshi in general. In the case of bitten/dead player characters, they will respawn as normal, but the kedan helping them through the barrier is assisted for the duration of this event by a formidable police guard to ensure safe retrieval and transport into Keeliai (often in groups, to minimise the spread of their forces).
Eek! Are there any safe zones?
Yes! Characters are welcome to board up all access to their suites and stay safe. Alternately, the police will be making suite calls and general street announcements during the first few hours to advise that the Palace of Landed Sky will be open to the kedan and Foreigner population for the sake of sanctuary. The palace itself will be heavily reinforced with police officers and Evandau himself will be running the patrols/combating any jiangshi that attack.
Will the consoles remain online?
All consoles will remain active during the event, but the console cafes will have increasingly limited access due to zombie infestation.
Can these jiangshi zombies be stopped/destroyed?
Yes, but it takes quite a monumental effort. The force which reanimated the bodies resides in the flesh and even severed parts will continue to move and attack so long as any flesh on the bone remains intact. The only way to truly stop one is to burn or otherwise destroy all flesh attached to the body. Unfortunately, further bonfires have been cancelled due to the risk, though the fire supplies still remain in the Fire Sector...
January 23rd | Rise, Rise, Rise!
By the morning of the twenty-third, Tu Vishan appears to have had enough underwater shenanigans and will begin to surface. The air will slowly warm and the light return the closer that it gets to the surface, with a general reversal of the events that precipitated the descent on the sixteenth.
What about the jiangshi zombies? They remain active during the ascent, but as soon as sunlight begins to penetrate the barrier, their bodies begin to disintegrate completely until they are no more than dust for the kedan to sweep up.
By the time that Tu Vishan hits the surface, all the zombies will be destroyed and life will begin its return to normal here on the turtle. Questions asked of the kedan about the jiangshi will be answered only in the vaguest sense (reflective of the information above) and often will be followed by a referral to the Emperor for more details.
Have any questions? Please refer to the QUESTIONS section of the comments and ask away! We will answer them in as timely a method as possible. Otherwise, feel free to use this post to plot what your character(s) may be up to during the event!
This event will run from January 16th until January 23rd and will comprise, in the briefest terms, the turtle diving to the ocean floor.
January 16th | Dive, Dive, Dive!
Starting mid-morning of the 16th there will be what feels like a series seismic disturbances ranging between three and four on the Richter scale. These will persist over the course of a few hours as Tu Vishan begins the diving process. Keeliai was built to withstand these stresses and, as such, no structural damage will occur. Unsecured possessions will be rattled about a bit and items on shelves are at risk, but ceilings and walls are safe.
Adding to that will be a slight tilt to the turtle as Tu Vishan angles downwards. Given the scale, the angle will be relatively gentle and apt to affect mainly wheels, balls, or easily shifted materials. All kedan on the turtle are treating this like it's no big deal. Turtle diving? They are old hands at this. Carts have been secured and goods in stores sufficiently braced/shifted to avoid damage or other disruption.
The most significant thing to be noted is the steady rise of water around the turtle as it descends. The barrier around Tu Vishan does more than prevent straying too far from home as it also is impermeable to the ocean water and associated pressure the deeper that they go. In effect, Keeliai and the surrounding countryside will come under the reverse-snowglobe effect, with a breathable atmosphere and surface air pressure maintained within the barrier (up to almost a mile above) and water enveloping all areas beyond the shell.
Characters that can survive underwater can go between the ocean and the atmospheric bubble without much difficulty and may note that the distance that they can go "above" Keeilai has been extended another hundred or so meters before the standard shut-down effect comes into play. It is not recommended that characters stray beyond this barrier, as their bodies may become suspended in the water and unable to be drawn back in. In such a case, the character is considered dead by Tu Shanshu standards and will be found and hauled in near the shell edge in a fashion akin to normal.
January 17th - 19th | Dove, Dove, Dove!
By the early hours of the seventeenth, Tu Vishan will have descended to the ocean floor and continued in its normal ways -- just underwater. Increasingly noticeable during the dive and throughout the remainder of the event will be the lack of sunlight penetrating the ocean water and making it to Keeliai itself. In fact, short of actual fire or light sources (such as the decorations in the Fire Sector), the only natural light on the turtle will come from the glow of the shell during the night hours. We hope everyone is ready for an impromptu night owl existence!
When the shell glow starts up during the night, the only noticeable difference is the low-lying fogs that drift around ground level and with varying density. This is due to the increased moisture seeping into the air from the ocean pressing in on the barrier.
Additionally, the air temperature while the turtle is submerged is significantly lower than on the surface. The kedan are still unconcerned by all this, instead bundling up to counter the almost winterly temperature change. Stores are temporarily open only during "glow" hours and many textiles merchants are taking the opportunity to have a sale on their warmest clothing and materials. Lieuen has obtained some of the rare bonfire permits and imported Wood Sector products into the Fire Sector to hold large bonfires in the hours after the glow fades each morning. He also has arranged a number of merchants to set up stalls nearby with hot ciders (alcoholic and non-alcoholic are available), warm snacks, and blankets for those wishing to enjoy the bonfires.
Characters capable of surviving on the ocean floor are still able to leave the atmospheric bubble by almost two hundred meters now, but will notice the abrupt pressure difference. Pressurised suits that exit the safe zone and return are like to experience severe complications from this pressure adjustment. The important thing to note here is that the deeper Tu Vishan went, the more debris can be found floating in the water. This debris is comprised mainly of corpses in varying stages of decay, from freshly dead to skeletal remains. These bodies are comprised of kedan, humans, and animals. Some artefacts can be found, but they are painfully mundane in nature (
January 20th | Underwater Visitors...?
Commencing on the twentieth, the outer rim of Tu Vishan's shell will begin collecting visitors in the form of re-animated corpses from the underwater debris surrounding the turtle. These corpses will use whatever means they can to press up against all sides of the barrier, staring in with an expression akin to hunger. Waterlogged and technically without soul, these creatures are unable to penetrate the barrier itself.
Once again, characters capable of withstanding the pressure differences and of surviving underwater can exit the barrier and explore within the two-hundred meter extended zone at this point, but they will be pursued by the re-animated corpses. The dead formerly known as kedan will take on aquatic forms in order to give chase. Warning: They are intelligent and they are fast, moving with the sole purpose to catch and kill anything living in their vicinity.
January 21st - 22nd | Dive of the Living Dead
Creeped out by the underwater audience? Feeling left out compared to those that can survive the ocean and have been chased out and about? Worry not, for the fun will come to you!
While the barrier has held out against the press of bodies until now, there is a limit to what it can do. During the early morning of the 21st, this limit is reached and the animated dead begin to breach it. The first few come from the topmost surface of the barrier, causing it to literally "rain" the dead with a few scattered corpses plummeting to the ground. However, while the fall damages bones, it does not kill them and they will begin to pull themselves about in search of kedan or characters to kill.
Wait, did we say kill? We sure did!
You see, these creatures are inspired by jiangshi lore and act much like a Western zombie with a dash of vampire tossed in. They seek life and will rend it from the living with teeth and hands. Their purpose is to eat flesh and, through that, absorb the life force of their victims in the relentless (and futile) pursuit to permanently reanimate themselves.
They are intelligent in terms of problem-solving and understand how to open doors and, to a limited extent, counter attacks on their person. They are also fast on their feet, which is less of a concern for those that fall from the ceiling of the barrier and more for the ones that, at the same time, penetrate the barrier at the shell edge and begin sprinting for the city. They do not tire and will reach the outer wall within the same or less time than it takes a cart to reach it.
What does this mean?
In essence, this means that Keeliai will be under assault from what starts as a few jiangshi zombies and increasing in count to a maximum density of five thousand scattered about the city. They exist to kill and absorb the life of others, meaning that any signs of life (be it motion or lighting) will draw their attention and bring on the hunt. They are unable to communicate, but given the base nature of their motivation, often they appear to move in small groups (or herds... they do move in herds).
Characters and kedan bit/killed by the jiangshi will die and be reanimated as an NPC jiangshi within a few hours. When asked, the kedan know nothing of a cure for the bite and will speak very little of the jiangshi in general. In the case of bitten/dead player characters, they will respawn as normal, but the kedan helping them through the barrier is assisted for the duration of this event by a formidable police guard to ensure safe retrieval and transport into Keeliai (often in groups, to minimise the spread of their forces).
Eek! Are there any safe zones?
Yes! Characters are welcome to board up all access to their suites and stay safe. Alternately, the police will be making suite calls and general street announcements during the first few hours to advise that the Palace of Landed Sky will be open to the kedan and Foreigner population for the sake of sanctuary. The palace itself will be heavily reinforced with police officers and Evandau himself will be running the patrols/combating any jiangshi that attack.
Will the consoles remain online?
All consoles will remain active during the event, but the console cafes will have increasingly limited access due to zombie infestation.
Can these jiangshi zombies be stopped/destroyed?
Yes, but it takes quite a monumental effort. The force which reanimated the bodies resides in the flesh and even severed parts will continue to move and attack so long as any flesh on the bone remains intact. The only way to truly stop one is to burn or otherwise destroy all flesh attached to the body. Unfortunately, further bonfires have been cancelled due to the risk, though the fire supplies still remain in the Fire Sector...
January 23rd | Rise, Rise, Rise!
By the morning of the twenty-third, Tu Vishan appears to have had enough underwater shenanigans and will begin to surface. The air will slowly warm and the light return the closer that it gets to the surface, with a general reversal of the events that precipitated the descent on the sixteenth.
What about the jiangshi zombies? They remain active during the ascent, but as soon as sunlight begins to penetrate the barrier, their bodies begin to disintegrate completely until they are no more than dust for the kedan to sweep up.
By the time that Tu Vishan hits the surface, all the zombies will be destroyed and life will begin its return to normal here on the turtle. Questions asked of the kedan about the jiangshi will be answered only in the vaguest sense (reflective of the information above) and often will be followed by a referral to the Emperor for more details.
Have any questions? Please refer to the QUESTIONS section of the comments and ask away! We will answer them in as timely a method as possible. Otherwise, feel free to use this post to plot what your character(s) may be up to during the event!
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