OOC DISCUSSION POST.

[futurologists]

DISCUSSION POST Hello, worldhoppers! For those that haven't read the latest IC post by ALASTAIR, please do so here. In short, the Timeline machine has finally distributed the mission objectives: eliminate the deities of Nalawi to maintain stability of this universe. This means taking out both Ryba, the goddess that lives in the ocean, and Nalanni, the missing volcano goddess. Here's a quick recap of events so far: Pomarr, the last Dakal explains the genocide of her people in detail: Nalanni eliminated them with her powers. Ryba resurrected Pomarr, and she plans to offer Nalanni's powers to Ryba to do the same for her people. This information is available on the network to all recruits. The Nalawi themselves did not participate in the genocide, but they will were at war with the Dakal and celebrate Nalanni's presence. Their numbers are currently suffering as their powers dwindle to nothing. Ryba's cultists are responsible for several deaths on the main island, as well as holding some ALASTAIR recruits hostage, and is gaining traction amongst the desperate population. This OOC post is for discussion on what to do moving forward; we'll be putting up a poll on May 18th and keeping it open for 72 hours, and for fairness' sake we will go with majority rule for the result. Though the NPC is announcing the official ALASTAIR objectives, ultimately characters are allowed to do as they please! Be warned that different results will have different IC consequences, but ALASTAIR will not force characters to follow their objectives. They only guarantee that if both goddesses are eliminated, this world will continue to exist. Note, however, that this planet must have two goddesses or zero. It cannot sustain itself with just one. INDEX Nalanni: Volcano goddess; goddess of the rock (land). Granted the Nalawi powers ("Gifts") in exchange for love and devotion. Defended her volcano from the Dakal by destroying their civilization and wiping them out. Kidnapped by Pomarr; her disappearance has led to powers fading both from the Nalawi and from recruits. If she is killed, the sea goddess must also be destroyed. As Ryba mentioned, the world can only function with two or no goddesses. Nalawi: People of Nalanni. Diminutive deer people who have been at war with the Dakal for centuries, prior to their extinction. Now that they are without Gifts, they don't know how to fend for themselves and are growing desperate. Dakal: An extinct race of technologically advanced cat people who lived to the west of the Nalawi islands. Worshipped no gods. After attacking Nalanni's volcano, they suffered her wrath. Now extinct, their land is at the bottom of the ocean. Pomarr: A Dakal who was a teacher in life. She has been raised from the dead by Ryba in exchange for her soul. Her goal is to siphon Nalanni's power in order for Ryba to have the energy necessary to raise the rest of the Dakal into undeath. She recently held Nalanni captive in the volcano Nalalona but was forced to escape with her prisoner after the recruits meddled too closely. Her existence is linked to Ryba. Ryba, the devouring one: Sea goddess. Raised Pomarr from the dead in exchange for her soul. Requires sacrifice of souls in order to grant power to others. Ate the souls of all lesser gods in this world. If she is killed, another sea goddess must take her place or the volcano goddess must also be destroyed. As Ryba mentioned, the world can only function with two or no goddesses. Feel free to ask us any questions in the subthread below! We will avoid spoiling the outcome, but can clarify minor points that have not been addressed already.

Comments

QUESTIONS.

[futurologists]

ALTERNATE SUGGESTIONS.

[futurologists]

Comment here with any ideas for completing the mission that haven't already been stated!

[babbylon]

Should the game decide to vote on battling the gods (I presume this is one of the options), will a group log be posted to this effect? Will the game be split evenly, half and half fighting each god, or is going to be one big free-for-all? I'd basically just like to know what happens in the event that winds up being the decision, as this is what my character will do regardless.

[respired]

WELL. I think it's pretty clear what Koltira wants to do! He's been hostile to Ryba since he collected that shard depicting her tentacled self as a deity (because he thought of old gods) & outright murderous since he learned of her sacrifice-loving ways (because OLD GODS). Once he watched the recording of the Dakal genocide, he went full on avenging wrath (wait, that's paladins) and he's ready to slaughter them both.

HOWEVER. He would also like to speak to Pomarr again, and hopefully dissuade her from trying to raise her people as undead. Because, as he knows, being undead is not a party.

His ideal sequence of events: Deal with Pomarr > find out where Nalanni is > take her out > take out Ryba > get drunk, probably

SO THEN

TEAM GODKILLER

WHO'S IN

RECRUIT POMARR

[hellshaped]

I'd like to suggest recruiting Pomarr to ALASTAIR! With her people dead, there will be nothing left on this world if she is not allowed to raise the Dakal (which yknow... should be avoided). So, characters could try to persuade Pomarr to join them and give them Ryba and Nalanni's weaknesses (if she knows them), leave this world, and help ALASTAIR stop genocides from happening to other worlds.

[dokyuu]

Well, since Motochika's one hesitation on all this has been cleared up, that's sounding decent to him.

+1 to this

[defenceless]

This is a good idea! I like it!

[digophelia]

You have Alice's knife.

[anti_altruisms]

and Archer's bow

[healplz]

aw that'd be cute ;_; another +1!

[healplz]

AND MY (CURRENTLY SHITTY, USELESS) STAFF

[defenceless]

Would magically-inclined characters be able to detect Pomarr's presence in any way, even with the power loss going around? On the network post, a few characters have expressed a desire to speak with Pomarr for more questions and discussion, or to see if the loss of energy among player characters can be undone.

Sort of related to that, would Rin have been able to pick up anything unusual about her in a magic sense during their meeting?

[babbylon]

[babbylon]

I'm pretty on board with this.

[historiology]

Sakura would prob prefer some other alternative to trying to outright kill them if possible. Same with Sorey. But while both are without their usual power/magic, they would still want to be there to support their friends and allies regardless if the decision goes ahead to fight. Both have their swords at the very least.

[futurologists]

The number of "boss fights" will depend on the outcome of the poll, so we can't say for sure what will happen until the results are up. However, any confrontation will be an open mass log. Characters will be free to make their own teams if they wish.

[respired]

DONE AND DONE!!

i mean hopefully, let's do this

+1

[weirdologist]

stamps approval

[hellshaped]

Hellboy is of the opinion that the safety of humans (or deer people, in this case...) are always more important than supernatural beings. Since the gods of this world have proven to be too meddlesome with the mortals who live here, especially to the point of genocide and overprotectiveness (the Nalawi falling into anarchy without their Gifts), he agrees they need to be destroyed. He's not motivated by revenge or justice, so he's less aggressive about his opinions than others -- however, with the news that this is the only way for the planet to continue, he's much more willing to argue the point.

Rick honestly doesn't care and just wants off the planet. Whatever will get them somewhere else the quickest ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Re: ALTERNATE SUGGESTIONS.

[sengetsu]

Not a true alternate, but Kojuro's gonna ramp up teaching the Nalawi what he can about Doing Stuff Without Magic, now that it looks like they won't be getting their Gifts back.

[beyourrock]

Pearl will be concerned for the well being of the deers and other people on the island, trying to get them to safety first before clashing with the gods. Basically, she's all for destroying the gods, to try and get some sort of level of normalcy with the Nalawi. It seems, to her, that this might be their only alternative in this case, despite having a minor set back from the explosion a few weeks back.

Plus, she'd like to get off this planet asap. Other than that, Pearl's plate is pretty empty so I'm up for jumping into anything. Epic team ups? Helping others to safety? You name it!

[aspearation]

Still (uneasily) calling off-tank. It's gonna happen whether Undyne likes it or not, but she's slightly more willing to participate since they have directions now.

[futurologists]

Not presently, with abilities as low as they currently are. However, we are still shaping the plot direction as per character decision and initiative, so we will let you know if that changes!

Pomarr’s magic would have “read” exactly the same as Ryba’s, if Rin has a way to distinguish that.

[babbylon]

Pretty simple stuff over here: Gilgamesh will be all in for fighting the gods. He was in from the start, even before the orders came down, so that's the route he'll be taking no matter what. He's weakened like everyone else but he's still pretty damn tough, and has anti-divine weaponry on his side so that'll help out some! Do note that even though he doesn't anticipate dissent because this is officially the ALASTAIR-sanctioned outcome, if anyone does attempt to stop him he will employ force. Just something to keep in mind.

I am also open to any and all team-ups; for this fight, Gilgamesh will be allowing his comrades the use of his Gate, as in you'll be able to parkour awesomely in and out of it and pull off SWEET RAVE MOVES. He's going to be in a very good, near jubilant mood moving forward and seeing this through to the very end! tl;dr KILL GODS, GET POWERS, GET GOING.

GET (read: probably FORCE) THE GODDESSES INTO A COMPROMISE

[terrormine]

Edna honestly doesn't care either way, but she has begun bringing up offhandedly the possibility of getting both goddesses to a standstill and to compromise/negotiate, so that they 'share' worship/power/the world.

In practice though, especially taking in account the new ALASTAIR directives (as a spirit elemental/minor deity of sort she sure wasn't naturally inclined to believe killing gods can be a good idea, but whelp), it more translates to "be a hair away from killing both, but offer to spare them on the condition that they will 1. (try to peacefully) coexist, 2. be less entitled selfish bipolar twats, and 3. take better care of not only their people (those who worship them) but their whole world."

~Ideally~ have Nalanni help with potentially bringing the Dakal back, since it's her ragefit that created Pomarr's situation and ultimately caused her capture (and by extension, chaos and death among the Nalawi) in the first place. They can do something poetic like Nalanni rules the day/summer and spring, and Ryba rules the night/winter and fall. War and skirmishes between the people (Nalawi and Dakal, maybe, assuming the Dakal can even be brought back, going out even more on a limb if they can return as NOT!zombies if Nalanni gets involved) may be inevitable, but at least there will be some balance in the world and powers can still be around.

TLDR: 'Pacifist' end, though Edna herself sure isn't going to fight for it, just pitch it to the less bloodthirsty/godkiller-eager recruits.