Chapter 2

[thenine]

Who: OTA
Where: Quad
When: Week 2, Day 5 - Week 4, Day 6
Summary: Chapter 2 prompts!
Restrictions/Warnings: Violence, blood, et cetera. For anything surpassing 'R' on a rating scale, please create your own log.
Notes: Please title your subject line in the following format -- Open / Closed | Date. OOC event information can be found here.

Quick Navigation
The Nine
The Company
Westies
True Leithians
Leith
Resistance
The RAC

The Nine: Poisoned Well

With the heir delivered and Lady Derrish returning to health, balance has been maintained amongst the Nine. Swift and efficient - and, some would say, unbelievable - medical attention administered may have steadied the Lady's life, but for those in the ruling houses, the atmosphere of tenuous peace only grows thicker. Land Kendry has launched an investigation - with particular focus on Land Hyponia - into the source of the 'attack' on Lady Derrish's health. Of course, that is only the surface, and some suggest, with hushed voices, that there may be more to Land Kendry's goals than to weed out an assailant. Land Hyponia has long since been in support of maintaining the Seventh Generation Accords, which it defends staunchly against any opposition. One of the most agitated among those in disagreement with the Accords is Land Kendry. Now is the perfect opportunity for them to rearrange the pieces in their favor, and with the information they've fabricated, they'll be able to replace the head of Land Hyponia with someone who is - at least hopefully - more pliable to their agenda. The Derrish have their own suspicions, the cure surfacing all too conveniently timed to have been a coincidence. When Land Kendry's investigation procures evidence pointing to Land Hyponia as the culprits, inflaming the crime with implied - yet vague - ties to the resistance, the Derrish publically accept the accusation. Behind closed doors, the solution seemed to have come as uncannily easily as the cure, and suspicions only rise. But for now, the two houses remain allied - ready to use one another for their own interests. For those among the nobility, it's the time to reevaluate alliances, assuring the old and gathering the new. The more support you have, the safer you are - unless, of course, you chose the wrong friend. Some turn to other members of the nobility, some to the RAC for hired guards, some to the Company to mandate investigations unsuitable for Killjoys, and some may even turn to the underbelly of society to accomplish anything necessary to stay on top. Or to simply stay alive.

The Company: Cleaning House

There will be no accolades, and no rest, for the hard working Company officials following the response to the True Leithan attacks. Assignments shift from one thing to the next, moving from bureaucratic nightmare to bureaucratic nightmare. While there’s always busy work to distract from the intrigue behind the scenes, it’s not liable to be any safer. Some officials will be charged with maintaining peace and order on Leith, as the outbreak of a pandemic slowly spreads over the moon. From helping the afflicted find their way to a place of treatment, to safe and efficient body disposal—burning corpses by the hundreds—to attempting to track down the source of the virus, it's best anyone assigned here take heed ‘lest they find themselves falling ill as well. Westerley, on the other hand, is a different kind of headache. With Harvest Week in swing, most company officials will be reaching for a drink of their own at the end of their shifts. Rowdy workers celebrating their time off, spending their hard earned Joy frivolously, and citizens whisked away by the atmosphere of celebration all mingle throughout Old Town. Property damage, fighting, less than subtle illegal activity, and crowding all become more of an issue than they usually are during this time. It's the perfect setting to lay down the law, or to not be noticed by it. On top of it all, each and every member of the Company's workforce can expect to have their documents double and triple-checked. Those with any suspected ties to Leith are likely to undergo a more serious investigation. One-on-one interrogations become common practice, and whether you're trusted or suspect, you may come face to face with a companion in your duties. True Leithan sympathizers are what the Company review is after, but anything else unturned will surely not be ignored. Cover your bases.

Westies: Harvest Week

Harvest week is in full swing throughout Westerley - visa workers have been shuttled back in droves from their time on Leithian farms, many of whom were willing to take some of their observations to information brokers for a price. Most had superficial information to sell (the state of unease on the average farm due to the impending Accords, the increased suspicion that the migrant workers were forced to endure, the fear of retaliation by the rebellion for the True Leithian attacks), others with reports of increased security and weapons caches on the farms of those whose sympathies lie with the “heroes” of the attack in Old Town. Old Town, however, is even more of a chaotic mesh of humanity with the mass influx of returning bodies. Bars stay busy day and night, the hokk and ale flow almost faster than most can keep up, and many Enforcers and Killjoys alike can make a good bit of extra joy (or free drinks) by moonlighting as security at the more popular locations. Despite all of the fun to be had, there is still the undercurrent of unrest, because Company checks have increased even more and Intake has become a revolving door of petty criminals being held for the smallest infractions. Everyone is on edge as the Resistance grumbles and the Nine search the shadows for something or perhaps someone. The unrest only worsens once Leith is placed under quarantine. And through it all, criminal activity is on the rise. Somehow, despite the strict regulation and transport of migrant workers, there is an increased access to Jakk and Bliss. Norn has an ever growing market, and weapons dealers are in high demand both in Eulogy and by private buyers alike. Something is brewing beneath the revelry, and no one wants to be caught unable to defend themselves, it seems. Not that any amount of firepower can defend against disease when P43X shows up on W3D7--but it can certainly make the symptoms worse.

True Leithians: Second Stage

Wounded and pressed to a corner, the beast rears its head and bares a maw of teeth and ruthless pursuit. The True Leithian organization does not take pause to mend wounds left in the wake of last week’s retaliation, no. They do not seek the comfort of safe haven and recovery. Instead they turn their anger and fear inward, sacrificing their own for what they believe to be the greater good. On Week 2, Day 6, three individuals slip into the crowds of Leith, mingling with the revelers and the families celebrating Harvest Week. They share smiles and laughter, they share conversation and drinks, but most importantly, they share infection. Each of the three is responsible for disseminating P43X, a viral bioweapon designed by Zan Nikora on behalf of the military in years past. During its conception, the aim of P43X was simple: to create a weapon which could demoralize and destabilize an entire population within a matter of days. To create madness that builds in the blood and eats into the brain, spreading through every tier of society. And though its use has long been out of commission, its engineer has lingered. Zan Nikora, kidnapped and held under threat of death not to himself but to those he holds dearest, is made to choose between the lives of his family on Westerley or the strangers on Leith. His choice is obvious, though far from easy. Reassembling the buried curse takes time, supplies, and testing. He is provided amply with the last two but scarcely with the first. But still he complies. When his madness maker is complete and his existence becomes a potential loose end, it’s not freedom that Zan Nikora tastes, but the poison of his own medicine. Only once the voices in his head have risen above whispers and turned to screams, when his mind can no longer hold secrets worth sharing, does he see his family again. It takes six days*. Six days and Zan Nikora stumbles through Old Town, eyes unseeing, mind riddled with disease—infection spreading. Mod Note: *W3D6. Cure and vaccines will be developed and disseminated beginning on W4D3, but will not be fully administered to all locations until W4D5.

Leith: Pocket Posies

Harvest Week in Leith marks a period of joy and relief. Bazaars are open longer, the ordinary bustle of the business day replaced with celebration and festivities throughout the evening hours. Vendors offer games for adults and children alike, the sky is a constant wash of soft pinks, purples, and greens from holographic firework shows, and music fills the air from different stages. All walks of life are welcome to join in the merriment, just so long as they have the right to be there. Anyone suspected of an invalid visa or citizenship papers are dealt with harshly, but quietly. Tucked away into the darkness of a holding cell like all of Leith’s more problematic elements. It is a time of peace and relief, this week, and they will not abide disruption. But within the hallowed days of celebration, a sickness grows, incubating. Spreading. First, it begins with an ache deep within the muscles. The body tires too quickly, the flesh burns with a blanket of rising fever. Whispers skirt at the edge of hearing, unintelligible but audible, filling the audio cortex with illusions and lies. Food loses its appeal, though the body yearns dearly for energy it cannot hold, and breathing becomes tighter, harder. Next the tide of high fevers, of lethargy. The brain devolves into paranoia and mania, the mind races with delusions and hallucinations. Pain follows, a pain that seems to emanate from every nerve without relief or pause, seeping through the muscles and aching within the very bones of a person. Some may wish for death, and for many, that wish will be granted in an unending sleep when the fatigue pulls darkness across the mind, plunges the last thoughts of a person into static slumber. But not all will succumb so readily, and therein is the weakness that ultimately shelved P43X during its initial creation. Its impacts are not uniform—while much of the population suffers dearly, most are sustained with timely medical interventions, and many others recover with the prowess of their own immune system. For Leith, bountiful in money and supplies, most of P43X’s more fatal properties are circumvented or delayed. But even in this lush world of affluence and peace, there are the poor, the underprivileged, and the weak. They are not afforded the same haste of care, the same salvation. Instead, they’re given graves of sanitizing fires, and their bodies turn to ash.

Resistance: Sleeping Dogs

The chaos of the festivities that go along with Harvest Week provides the perfect cover for the Resistance to begin moving once again. New cells need to be formed in the wake of so many executions and new members need to be recruited. Info brokers with Resistance-leaning sympathies have an opportunity to make a little extra joy by putting the disconnected sympathizers in contact with one another, aiding the vetting of Company insiders that need new handlers within the organization. For Resistance members already embedded within, they need to work now to find new locations to store what supplies remain and to begin rebuilding the stockpiles of weapons and supplies re-confiscated by the Company. Some may have heard of abandoned mines or facilities that can be retrofitted out in the Badlands while others are needed to track down rumors of Company made fallout shelters located within the under-city tunnels. For this, Company moles are essential - the only hope of accessing these shelters is with long forgotten Company passcodes. And the Scarbacks, well. Everyone’s heard rumors that there are many within their ranks willing to help with recruitment and contraband transportation, though there’s little the Company can do to restrict their movements at this time. Because of this, Scarbacks may also be the only ones that have a chance of getting into Leith once the quarantines go into effect. Those already aligned with the rebellion will be tasked with coordinating supply movements, making a deal or three with the devil on behalf of those unwilling to back down from the promises of the Accords. Caution and purpose should drive their movements because if the True Leithian attack is any indication… those nationalists are not going to let go of their precious land and status without a long, bloody fight.

The RAC: Holding Pattern

Warrants still flow in with a regular consistency - enough to keep the average team or agent quite busy. Every harvest season there are visa jumpers that need to be caught and low-level warrants claiming petty theft from farms by Westie migrants. The increasing number of disturbances and crimes in Old Town guarantee a plethora of local warrants to capture criminals across the moon or those that managed to escape an Enforcer’s arrest. Some, however, have either been requested by Seyah Kendry herself or volentold by their seniors within the RAC to conduct investigations into the attack on the Nine. And not all of these investigations are on the Lady’s behest. Some of the Nine aren’t quite willing to take Land Kendry’s word as law and have quietly requested their own investigations into the attack in Old Town and the Land Derrish misfortunes. (MOD NOTE: There will be a comment thread for teams to sign up for the specialized plot related warrants on the monthly warrant post, located HERE. Once teams have posted for a plot warrant, the mods will give them a location and focused assignment.)

Comments

[fledges]

[Kate can practically see the man drooling as he reaches for the ring automatically, and she swats at his hand, grabbing the ring herself and half shoving it back at Noctis.]

No, we don't.

[She shoots Noctis a look, then pulls one of her acid arrows from her quiver and sets that down on the counter instead.]

Custom made, complete technological marvel. Consider it a down payment.

[Not that she really believes the man will consider it anything of the sort, but it's something, at least, while she figures out how to get the locket. For now, she tries to grab Noctis' wrist and tug him out of the shop.]

[uncrownings]

[This is clearly not a plot twist he was expecting. Noctis startles at the slap of skin on skin, and then turns a wide eyed look to Kate as the ring is shoved back into his hands. It's actually... really thoughtful of her.

Noctis realizes in that moment that she probably thinks that it actually belongs to him. In reality- he'd snagged it from the display of engagement rings in the back of the store on their way up.

They have the benefit of the shopkeeper's attention at least. They still have a chance to make this work.] No- it's okay. [Noctis reaches for the hand clamped over her wrist- she's successfully tugged him away from the counter (he's not exactly a heavyweight) but he's going for a reassuring look and hopes it translates.]

It's okay.

I'm good with the deal. But we're taking that locket- the hat and rod too.

[fledges]

[He catches her eye and she frowns as he grabs her hand, but the look he gives her is enough to convince her to let him lead the way. She sighs, then stomps back to the counter and snatches her arrow and the locket back up. If this is a trick, at least she added some drama to it.]

This is a better deal than you deserve.

[That's to the shopkeeper, snippy and frustrated, but she's mostly playing along now.]

[uncrownings]

Trades don't come with papers.

[The guy more or less grunts the words at him, but he doesn't look unhappy by the exchange. For all his fancy words about the locket, once he has his hands on the ring, the necklace is sent sliding over the counter the way apple cores get discarded.]

Yeah, I figured.

Good. We're square, now get out.

[And to think- people discount Westerley's hospitality.]

[fledges]

[Kate rolls her eyes at the man, but this time, it's not an act. She leads the way out of the shop, locket in hand, and pulls Noctis aside as soon as they're outside.]

Please tell me that wasn't yours or like... your grandmother's or something.

[uncrownings]

[They're barely outside by the time she's rounding on him and Noctis' laugh is a snort under his breath.]

You kidding? That was his. [He thumbs back in the direction of the store.]

He had a whole stack of them back there. I bet he won't even miss it.

[fledges]

[Kate laughs too, half out of surprise.]

Genius. I don't know why I didn't think of that. You're a lifesaver, seriously.

[uncrownings]

Dunno if I'd go that far. You knew he was going to rip us off too.

[His head shakes as they make their way down the street.]

Guess you'd better head back to your friend. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you.

[fledges]

She will, but I told her it would take a while, and I owe you.

[Kate tucks the locket into the pouch on her belt, then readjusts her quiver.]

I'm Kate. Are you hungry?

[uncrownings]

Noctis.

[He's not sure what he expected, but she invites him out as easily as she'd struck up a conversation with him earlier. Like it's perfectly natural to her. In the give and take exchange they've had so far, Noctis seems to falter only when he doesn't have a goal in mind and by extension, this beat of hesitation upholds the pattern.]

And uh- yeah.

[fledges]

Where do you want to go? It's on me.

[She can already feel her wallet screaming at her, but hey. He helped, and she's about to get paid.]

[uncrownings]

Hey, [Noctis is a cheap date, and while he's not one to turn down a free meal, he isn't about to go for broke either.] Your money? Your pick.

I was just along for the ride.
[And the fishing pole, apparently.]

[fledges]

[Kate clicks her tongue, pulling her aviators back down over her eyes, her tone shifting to something teasing.]

You're going to let some girl you just met pick a restaurant on Westerley? You've either got an iron stomach or you're the bravest person I've ever met.

[uncrownings]

[He lets out a short puff of breath, apparently taking the teasing in stride.]

Says "some girl" who just made the exact same offer?

[fledges]

[Kate grins, setting off down the street.]

I've got an iron stomach and an indomitable will. Are you from around here?

[uncrownings]

I'm a merchant. We're from everywhere.

[It sounds like there's a pretty rowdy venue on their left, so Noctis gives it a wide berth as he follows on after her.]

Does that make you a Westie?

[fledges]

Nope. I'm from Leith.

[Kate ducks down an alley, glancing over her shoulder to make sure he's following.]

"Merchant" is pretty vague. What kind of merchant?

[uncrownings]

Weapons, mostly.

[His eyes narrow when she glances back- it isn't a look to be mistaken for real menace, or even real annoyance. Instead this is a look of vague suspicion from a guy who doesn't converse much and isn't very good at it. At all. (He's a little uncomfortable and it manifests in squinting like a ten year old.)]

This feels like an interview for the record.

[fledges]

You can interview me back, for the record.

[But before he can get a chance to ask anything, she powers on.]

You wouldn't happen to run into any cool bows regularly, would you?

[uncrownings]

[Interview me back my ass.

He fumbles, just a little, over the reply.]

It's been- uh, known to happen.

Is it the only thing you use?

[How far away is this place anyway? He has a vague memory of this side street, but that's the thing about Westerley, everything looks the same flavor of miserable.]

[fledges]

Is that a hint of judgment I sense in your voice?

[She mostly teasing, because she's used to it. Kate ducks down another side street and then stops at a small, barely marked building.]

After you.

[uncrownings]

Not at all.

[If it was maybe anyone else, this would be the part where he's inviting a knife (arrow?) in the back. But they're on solid enough footing that he only offers the smallest look over his shoulder before Noctis heads inside.]

Just can't say I've ever used one myself. Isn't it a little hard in close quarters?

[fledges]

[It's just a small, slightly dingy restaurant, and Kate follows him inside before picking out a table to plop down at.]

That's why you punch things in close quarters. A bow and arrow is just more... elegant than anything else I've ever used.

[uncrownings]

[He sinks into the chair opposite, back straight and posture perfect only for his legs to take up too much space beneath the table, sprawled all over.]

And elegance is important when you're a professional......?

[fledges]

Detective. Elegance is always important, right?

[She says it sarcastically. It's an absolute lie, considering some of the falls she's taken and screw ups she's made. As if to punctuate her point, though, she nudges against one of his legs with her shoe.]

Do weapons dealers usually spend their free time fishing, or are you hoping you can convince someone that that thing is some sort of cutting edge super weapon?