"It's a few hours' hike once we enter the Rift." He paused, then added, "I had cards written out with the rules of the Rift for any of you who are new, or may have forgotten. Can't teleport in the Rift, for example." Most of the recruits were quite new, however — teleportation wasn't in their scope of abilities.
Maybe they'll survive and learn a deep appreciation for that magic upon promotion.
"Kamacite's team will enter the Scar at the basin. Prepare to be confronted by a large number of youma. Jet and Aquamarine's team will hike up to the cliffs, where they will track the youma. My team will explore the tunnels carved into the uppermost cliff faces. Each team, except for Kamacite's, is on standby to assist the other teams in addition to their assignment. Like Jet said, we're trespassing. Try not to let anyone die to home defense."
Faustite's pacing slowed to a halt. "Floor's open to questions. If you have none, grab a backpack." He turned to the side, gestured to the table behind them. "We've a couple hours before we begin."
Quote:
Please feel free to have your characters ask questions, but this is the end of the plot-moving updates in this thread! If your character does not have any questions, they can grab a backpack in their exit post.
For the next part of the event, please read this info thread. Once you're comfortable with that information, please proceed to the team threads to begin posting! While there's no RP covering the trek there, you can set up a PRP or solo about approaching the location if you wanted.
Lopezite glanced at the Captain who approached him and welcomed her with a smile “Must be,” he agreed, but any introduction was halted with further information. He listened to Jet and Kamacite with unwavering focus; the information so far had been straightforward, and he had little time to develop questions if only because everything had been more than adequately prepared so far.
He waited while they addressed the group, and it was only when Faustite seemed to be finished speaking that he offered the Captain a hand and introduced, “Lopezite. Have you been in the Rift before?”
He didn’t speak loudly enough to garner attention outside of his private conversation, and he kept an ear out for any questions in case someone thought to ask about anything else that might have been useful to know.
Can't teleport in the Rift. Great. So if a youma decided that perhaps she would be a good snack or even a toothpick to pick their teeth with, Nembus was stuck using nothing but her feet to run away. That was great.
Fantastic, even.
Admittedly, Nembus didn't know many of the rules of The Rift other than corrupted senshi like her were typically supposed to stay out. Rules were made to be bent, though, she supposed, and she found herself confronting the reality of having to go into The Rift, into the Scar, into the tunnels carved into the uppermost cliff faces. The only fortune was that she wouldn't have to join the team she imagined the majority of the corrupted senshi found themselves assigned to.
She had no interest in marching right into the maw of the beast.
Quietly, she walked up, scooped up a backpack, hauled it onto her back, nodded to Faustite, and then returned to the mushroom risotto for the moment.
Nembus swung the backpack to the front of her body, plucked out the rules and guidelines of entering the Rift, and familiarized herself with every part of Faustite's words until she was able to relate them to a few different books and webcomics she read, twisting them into her own knowledge of the Negaverse, and was able to successfully tuck them into how she would proceed when she entered.
She'd stay by the savory food until it seemed unreasonable for her to keep eating, and then she'd leave to take a brief nap before their descent into hell.
Ransomite was surprised that someone was actually talking to him. "I'd rather be at home in bed, to be quite honest with you. Beyond that, I guess I don't really care." Any option was liable to have its own pain points. He doubted any of them were actually objectively easier than the others.
He did, however, appreciate the primer cards. He walked forward to grab his backpack as others did the same.
At home in bed. Honestly, that would be nice. The concept of spending two days down in the Rift sounded like a ******** death trap, even for someone who was as typically impulsive and daring as he was. Perhaps it was just because he at least had some sense -- for one, he was a corrupt senshi. No matter how strong he was, the residents of the Rift would still see him as nothing more than an invader salad with some fancy energy dressing and a sparkling starseed crouton tantalizingly stuck in the middle.
"Same. Gonna take a damn long nap after this."
Well, provided he didn't need to take any shifts at the shop.
He followed the lieutenant to the backpacks, picking one up and throwing it onto his back. He was sure the primer cards were important. He'd read it later. (Probably. Hopefully. The generals could probably just hope he actually bothered to read it.)
"Same to you, lieutenant." Fulgurite plucked a muffin off his plate and took a large bite out of it with hardly another thought. "Don't let yourself become youma s**t."
And with that, he took his heaping plate of food and strolled out to let the food absorb into his system for a few hours. Well. Once he finished eating it.
Atheneite listened as another General stepped up to talk, seemingly one of the ones also leading this mission. He gave an opportunity for anyone who wanted to leave now. Atheneite paid special attention now, she wanted to see if anyone was truly coward enough to take the offered out. If they were then they should be noted and watched closely, that kind of cowardice in the face of danger could easily turn into out right treason, and if she would be damned if she let a coward pull one over on her.
She rolled her eyes at the general's demand that they only fight back as a last resort, she despised that kind of thinking especially when they knew the youma would just respawn. But she also understood that he and his fellows were in charge and if those were the rules of this particular game then she would play by them. But any youma that didn't heed her command would for sure meet her spear.
Atheneite listened to the other leaders speak before leaning over and whispering to the general. "Once, I went with Axenite's big group to find that lost lieutenant. You?" She inquired. "We should stick together down there, you watch my back I watch yours and what not." She offered, she was trying to work on that whole team work thing Axenite wanted her to be better about, even if it went against all of her instincts.
Prehnite narrowed his eyes slightly as the trio of generals spoke. Half of them would be bait; regrettable work for the poor senshis. Which meant those that remained in the separate groups were handling the rest - backup groups to support the backup groups located on different levels. A veritable witch hunt of wounded dangerous fair.
It would've been simpler he felt, if they were to hunt the thing without agitating the whole of the rest of the Rift by setting off the fire alarm of all dinner bells upon their arrival.
Prehnite levied himself from his shadowed perch and swiftly snagged one of the available satchels the second the generals were finished speaking. Watched the crowd filter in, around, and out - noted only a sensible few seemed to be going through the items prior to taking off. Especially a blue haired one.
Prehnite made a mental tally of what he found inadequate within the backpack, went over the lists and goods within, then repacked the whole of it. Snatched a few muffins on his way out to chew on before using the few hours they'd been granted wisely. The med kit of the thing was wholly inadequate for his liking, knowing they'd likely need more if the senshi that would make up their center mass were dependent on them for protection. Even if it was only for two days.
Arseno let the General walk away without saying anything back before he let out a soft sigh. He continued to keep his eyes closed, at least for now. But it did appear that the General was part of this whole operation so he was doing something after all. It was why Arseno kept his thoughts to himself. Saying them out loud in a place like this was practically suicide.
And expect others to save him? The only one he thought may do it, if they were on the same team even, would be Benitoite. The rest of them? He was pretty sure they would stab someone in the back just because another General told them to. There was no loyalty in the Negaverse, especially when it came to the higher-ups. You did what you were told, and if that was to go and kill another General because a General-King/Queen told you so, then you did it.
He listened carefully to what Faustite was saying. The Rift was no place to underestimate. He had been there a few times himself, but most of those were exploration missions. He wondered why these last two missions surrounded Youma. Well, the Feldspar one had been a search, but it still ended up with a large Youma battle. It seemed that the Negaverse were more interested in taking advantage of the chaos-corrupted creatures that they had let roam free in the Rift for so long.
When all was done he lazily opened his eyes and got up to go and get a backpack himself, before heading over to the food table and grabbing some food from there. He shouldn't go on an empty stomach, but he would have to go and meet his team soon which was... Kamacite's? At least it wasn't with that other General. And then he would make sure to go and add his own supplies that he thought would be needed for a mission such as this.
Eveite nodded. "Yes... perhaps they should have given us some to-go containers. I'm not sure if the Rift is like Earth, but I don't think plastic would be as much of a concern." The General had a point though, better to eat as much as you could, without exploding, before going there. Even the mission with Feldspar had been long. This one was going to be over 24 hours.
When Faustite started to speak Eveite listened as well. And it appeared that the yelling General was a part of the leaders of the mission. Maybe he could control his emotions there. The Rift might make one feel different than on Earth after all.
The Youma sounded tough and she couldn't help but think that any Lieutenants or Basics were going to be used more as fodder than anything else. At least Basics had some magic, but Youma didn't like them. Lieutenants didn't even have weapons so they were basically unable to defend themselves unless they were given something or found something on the way.
Great.
She really needed to get past this stage then.
She turned to the General when the speeches were finally over. "Let's stay here and eat for now. We have a couple of hours. I'd rather be too full than not full enough."
Lopezite nodded a bit. “Oh, I was there for that. I thought you looked a bit familiar. I’ve been a bit, but I think that might have been the most exciting time. I can’t say that any time has been like the last, so it’s probably wise to have this many people going in together.”
He’d heard whispers of horror stories, and there was safety in numbers.
He wasn’t afraid of the Rift, but he respected that it was dangerous, and it was part of the Negaverse but it wasn’t their domain.
“You can stick with me,” he assured. He’d seen Lavendulan across the room but he didn’t know what they had planned for her. If he’d had his way, he probably would have wanted to keep her with him so he could make sure she was alright, but--she was a Captain. She was effective. They would make sure she was where she could be of the most use. He drew out his tablet pen and opened it up, offering a quick, apologetic smile to Atheneite. “Do you have a team here, or your General? Or are you just out here on your own?”
He drew up his messages and selected Lavendulan, typing quickly, ‘Proud of you for signing up. I look forward to seeing what you bring to your team. If we wind up apart, take care of yourself. I’ll keep an eye out for you. I have the utmost faith in you, Lav.’
He sent the message, closed the tablet, and pocketed the pen promptly.
Aurelius0815
Shanyume
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 4:49 pm
Haymitch
If Albite was concerned about Haymitch suddenly becoming a human, he'd find it wasn't going to happen. Haymitch knew, kinda, that some cats could become human - that's how they got thumbs after all - but Haymitch did not have that ability. He was just a tiny mail carrying cat. But he wanted thumbs. Maybe he'd find Albite again when he had thumbs! Who knows.
Haymitch did eye the other cat - a hairless gremlin of a cat - with apprehension. He seemed very angry, and very displeased to be here, and probably would take a swipe at Haymitch if he got to close. Not a very friendly one, and Haymitch didn't want to get swiped at! He wanted friends!
"You can relax ya know. I don't bite!" he said to Albite, before falling silent to listen to Fausite and the Generals. Tracking, huh? He could do that! seems easy enough after all. Haymitch did not grab a back pack - the packs were larger than he was, and he'd hidden some food in his hat! - but simply nuzzled Albite's leg and wandered off. "Be safe!
Shiningamisgirl
[ Haymitch Exit to The Cliffs ]
a-disgruntled-dragon
Offline
a-disgruntled-dragon
Offline
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 5:14 pm
Lt. Leifite
More people filed in - another cat even - and a rather interesting half dragon- lizard general. Plus just a whole skull faced youma. She did not, however, see many she recognized outside of that. In particular, she did not see her General. Brows furrowed, she made a mental note of his absence. Leifite did not always keep in contact, that was true, but this was a mission from a General Sovereign. How could you even refuse that sort of mission? They were on par with Metallia herself in that regard!
If he even possibly thought of leaving the ranks for that cursed senshi... She'd hunt him down herself.
Fausite was speaking about the mission. Finding a transforming youma who was currently some sort of giant serpent thing? She wondered what the scales were for, though that wasn't really her place to ask. The Rift wasn't completely foreign to Leif, but she'd only been in the Arena and the surrounding areas before. This would be the first time she was traveling deep into the Rift. It jazzed her, honestly.
She could track if necessary. She would do her good deeds for Metallia, and stay alive.
Bloodstone listened intently as the Generals spoke. An elusive youma with the ability to shape shift was concerning. While they had the basic idea of it’s last known transformation, they really had no idea what they were going to find when they got there.
He’d been to the Rift only a handful of times, and while he couldn’t say he wanted to spend two days there, he knew that this would be a good way to show the General King what they were capable of. Too bad he wasn’t already a General. He doubted anyone would follow him into the Rift for a dangerous mission, but some of the other Generals were… questionable with their abilities or attention span or even their shitty attitudes.
It was unfortunate that Roselite was there. Carnallite could handle herself in the Rift. She’d done so before. But Roselite had already had a panic attack just being near a monster. What was he going to do when he was around a bunch of youma?
It wasn’t long until it seemed as though the meeting was over. While Carnallite was distracted by cats, Bloodstone paused by Roselite. “Meet me out in the hall when you’re done here.”
Roselite listened, and jotted down notes, and tried not to let his nerves get the best of him.
He would prove himself during this mission. Somehow. He wasn’t entirely sure how yet, but… after what happened with the wisp creature, and his embarrassing reaction, he couldn’t afford to sit out and spend all of his time on paperwork.
What if Captain Bloodstone decided he was wrong about Roselite’s potential? What if General King Axinite decided he made a mistake by allowing him a place in the Negaverse?
Roselite couldn’t bear that. The Negaverse was his one chance to do something meaningful with his life — the only such chance anyone had ever given him.
When the meeting was over, and Roselite’s tangle of thoughts would not allow space for any questions, he nodded to Bloodstone and stood from his chair. If he thought of questions before they all descended upon the Hall of Shadows, he would find Faustite and ask him.
Before he left, Roselite collected their plates to properly dispose of them. He approached the front of the room to grab a couple of backpacks, one for himself, and one for Captain Bloodstone.
On his way out, he made a mental note to grab a couple of insulated thermoses from Bloodstone’s office.
Carnallite had no questions pertaining to the mission. (Requesting a cat companion for their team did not seem pertinent.) Instead, she watched Bloodstone leave with his glorified secretary and rolled her eyes, then got up to snag one of the beef wellingtons on her way to the front of the room, grabbing a backpack before she left.
If she was going to be working with these people in the Rift for two days, she needed some silence and solitude first.
Cymophane pouted over having to cut his hair. He sort of liked it this long. It was actually pretty like this, and the style made him look a bit less unfortunate.
Well… he didn’t have to cut it, it was just a suggestion, but Cymophane tended to listen when Kamacite had a suggestion. He was, after all, the more experienced Senshi.
When all the information had been disclosed (or all that Faustite, Jet, and Kamacite deemed relevant; Aquamarine clearly didn’t care), Cymophane shifted closer to Kamacite again. After speaking up in front of so many people, he suspected Kamacite was looking for a way out.
“Want to help me cut my hair so it doesn’t look like a jagged mess?” he asked, holding up the plate of food Kamacite barely touched. “You should eat, too; you don’t want to go into the Rift on an empty stomach. Come on, we’ll find a quiet corner somewhere so you can destress. Unless you have to stay to answer questions. You know what? It doesn’t matter. You’re not about to put yourself in danger without getting some peace and quiet first.”
Glancing around, Cymophane sought out Reidite and called to him, “Hey, Reid! We’re gonna dip for a few minutes. Grab some backpacks for us on your way out, yeah?”
If Kamacite was needed here, someone would call him back. Until then…
