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[1] overview [2] new players and characters [3] plotline // network // mer [4] plotline // dark arcadia [5] plotline // demonworks [1] overview It's actually on time! Yeah, don't worry, I'm as surprised as you are. It doesn't contain any of Sunday (01 MAY for those reading back on this), though, simply because all major plot sessions haven't completed yet, and I don't want to pre-empt the results awkwardly. [2] new players and characters Kor created the intentional abomination that is Topaz Moonstar. You get to blame her current obsessive fondness of Crimson Feather's second incarnation and the memory of thenSirena. You can blame the same phenomenom for Serenity Moonchilde, Topaz's mum. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure it'll be entertainingly killed with fire. At least that's the plan. ...amirite? [3] plotline // network // mer When we last newslettered about our heroes, they were in the clutches of the Nado Dark Water cult, being offered the Nado Treasure of Rule in exchange for Azur [#240]. The distressing situation ashore was witnessed by Liska as silent tag-along and observer, and Azur was informed of his reveal, prompting musings for a plan B that Azur dismissed in favour of simply going through with the trade while using Adrethyrian as a bodyguard just to make sure fair play was assured [#241]. Unfortunately, Liska's return to the group ashore to assess the gravity of the situation anew prompted her discovery and the dissolution of the deal in favour of 'We take Azur, you don't get the Treasure, just your lives'. When Azur inserted himself into that situation, it threatened to escalate out of control. Or rather, it escalated out of control, and thanks to quirk of fate it was Adrethyrian who would have died first... ...if he wasn't immune to Dark Water due to his sunstone-bound mortality. Needless to say, while a surprised Ezadir was left to live, he was relieved of the third Treasure, and our heroes hurried out of Nado posthaste [#242], albeit not before being 'rescued' by a slightly late one-man-Sirenarmy. Her failure to contribute anything of worth to that quest tips her into fresh self-deprecation and Frederick catches her early the next day trying to 'make up for' the failure by cleaning the entire ship. Obsessively. [#244] She's not the only one with unanswered existential questions, of course. Flustered by the fairly intense relationship the Nado inhabitants seem to have with Azur, MekkaByte confronts their ecomancer guide, prompting him to explain precisely what their issue is [#245]. Five days later, they reach the site of the fourth Treasure, a simple diving quest to the bottom of a shallow portion of ocean. Adrethyrian is abused for this purpose given the reminder that his life depends sorely on the well-being of his Frederick-guarded sunstone, and retrieves it, promptly adopting it as a (fortunately resilient) chew-toy. It is not far from this spot that they run into Rhea, a strange creature that seems to be some medley of swan, bat and wyvern. She has a torn wing and is floating ship-wrecked on the ocean, cast overboard by a pirate captain she cites as Joat [#246]. Azur, Elizabeth and Sirena are chiefly responsible for nursing the creature back to health and she does her best to make herself useful despite the useless wing (which once bandaged also brings her down from four limbs to a mere three). A week later, the Compass has brought the Citizens and their companions to Myragon in search of the fifth Treasure. Their tag-along leads the way, cautiously and bravely probing ahead for any threats on the way, warning of dangerous ground while the Compass points out the general direction. Finally an abandoned town away from a spire that seems to hold the Treasure, the Citizens send out Liska to scout ahead - only to unexpectedly run into Hakumele, who is at first mistaken as part of the sim due to her highly eccentric nature [#254]. [4] plotline // dark arcadia Speaking of 'highly eccentric nature' - Hakumele has introduced herself as a dolphin. Just how literally she means that may not necessarily ever be clear to those trapped on the network, but she well and truly means it, one of a few volunteers of a dolphin pod in Dark Arcadia's Cetacean Communication Project (introduced in a strongly awkward-dated #243 [where awkward-dated = technically-laughable-amounts-of-forward-dated-but-severely-backdated-going-by-log-number]). The CCP is one of many cogs to play a role in one of the most fateful nights in Dark Arcadia's young history, as a terrorist attack on the island is valiantly repelled after they announce their ill intent by opening fire on a friendly dolphin escort, mistaking the CCP as a military project and their appearance as a threat. While the island is still shaken with damage and a few casualties are had, the brunt of the assault is stopped [#248]. The timing of the attack couldn't be worse; it's set several hours after Francisco deliberately sabotages Europe's Mictian Project by freeing Dread, convinced by Gary between the lines of its necessity (Dread's been in isolation for two weeks). The 'how' is almost scathingly easy: The Archon simply abuses his project privileges to literally walk out of the front door [#249]. It does mean that the ploy is quickly discovered, however - just not quick enough to stop it. It does, however, strand Francisco and Dread in Dakar as their second flight to Dark Arcadia is forced to land on the continent, Dark Arcadia'ss airport reporting damage and advising inbound flights either to extreme caution or rerouting. Frightened the two events might be related, Francisco is reluctant to speak to Thomas Bennett, but ultimately forces himself to go online and meet him face to face. It doesn't go well, though at least the coincidence of the timing is assured [interlude: 'Scorn']. On the plus side, the new freedom causes Dread to check on Israel as soon as time permits, apologising for breaking his promise to never let her drown (in her dream) again, all while plotting to [5] plotline // demonworks Credit goes to Kor! This is largehuge because it also covers the sessions from the last (rushed) newsletter in pretteh~ Jaenelle's plotline Last time we saw Jae's old mistress, Jennifer was running from her own birthday, which she feared would be overshadowed by her twin's death and become a rather depressing situation. She dragged her boyfriend Andrew to Vegas [#211] using funds borrowed from Demonworks [#196] - where a drunken night led them to get tattood and accidentally married [#212]. The marriage certificate hit Jaenelle's radar screen big time, as she had routines monitoring various government records for any sign of Jennifer - leading her to think she'd actually meant to get married, and to someone Jae had never met [#221]. However, her drinking leads her to Liz accidentally - who insists that Jaenelle is trying to manipulate her by demanding she cater to her drama, but ends up revealing she'd like a relationship if they could keep things lower-key. They agree to have a date [#222] - only to find that Liz was in major trouble for hitting the DA who had been sexually harassing her at work. This manages to overshadow their date as Jaenelle becomes livid on her behalf and insists that she fight the charges. Another date, this time to help Liz forget her troubles [#225], ends up revealing some of the cop's backstory when an oscarbait movie mirrors her childhood too closely. The next time they see each other, Liz finally asks what Jae's big secret is - and is promptly horrified, jumping to all the wrong conclusions [#226]. Jaenelle shuts herself down, going into a standby mode, unable to cope with the pain of a second abandonment - at least, until Marcus shows up to check on her [#227]. Slowly she begins rebuilding her life, starting to work again more and more, approaching something like normality - and a month later, Liz walks back into her life [#247]. Unfortunately, as soon as they make up, so does Jen. When Jen makes a crass comment about being better in bed than Liz, Jaenelle leaves her again, with some nasty comments. On the plus side, she and Liz seem to be doing well, sharing stories and beginning to trust each other [#253]. On the other hand... Demona's plotline Jen was rather upset at being blown up on by her EI [#247], and rather irritated, demanding to know what she'd done wrong. It seems she's only allowed online for limited periods, and her vitals would be monitored to ensure she doesn't get too angry or upset while online, as she has told her therapist that working at Demonworks is a relaxing and positive outlet for her anger issues, and that it would help her manage them. She continues to show up at Demonworks to get work done, but finds avoiding anger to be challenging at best [#251]. She does, however, manage to get Marcus in bed [#252] - and in return, gives him valuable insight as to her thoughts on the Jae situation. After Crimson mistreats Marcus when Jen asks him to visit [also #252], Jen takes it upon herself to sneak online for some one-on-one talking with her a-life after hours. This goes badly, to put it lightly [interlude: 'Conjugal Visit'], as Jen ends up being tormented by Crimson for hours until Marcus is able to rescue her, which triggers a minor psychotic break [#255]. |