« player event » 🌪️ the eye of the storm

[seaboards]

Who: Garuda & YOU.
Status: Open log.
Where: Eltrut, Nogard.
What: Benedikta Harman has primed into Garuda, and is wreaking havoc on the Leviathans.
Warnings: Violence, Final Fantasy XVI spoilers.

"The Warden of the Wind. She takes the form of a fearful harpy, summoning storms and tearing into the flesh of her prey with hawklike talons. Such is the Eikon's frenzy for destruction that even allies of the Dominant of the day are wont to begin fleeing the battlefield when dark clouds gather overhead."

The morning of May the 4th starts out like any other: calm waters, clear blue skies, ships coming and going from their ports. However, all of that is about to change—and abruptly—as Benedikta Harman soars over the ocean after learning the painful truth about the fate of Cidolfus, and of herself. Her wrath now unbound and unmatched, all coming to a head as her aether bursts at the seams, a storm gathers on the horizon. With every angry beat of her wings, the skies turn a dark, eerie green, the winds grow stronger, and Garuda's voice is louder as laughter rings clearer for the first time since that one fateful dawn...

Benedikta & Garuda's Wrath (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)

Her wings are tired, her face stings with the burn of sharp tears and sharper winds that follow after her, but she does not stop. She cannot. Any other day, she would never make it this far, but her body and the air are dense with her aether that she can fly farther and faster than she has ever managed—in no particular direction, so long as it is a direction away from him. Away from the place where she thought home could be. How naive she was to think that anywhere could be; how ignorant of her to have lit even the smallest spark of hope that things could be any different than before.

Reckless to think that trusting anyone, especially after a whole life of never affording to, would end in anything but deceit.

They all leave. They always leave.

Just like they had then, six years ago on that fateful night in Stonhyrr, those claws of betrayal coil tight around her throat and sink deep into flesh. Only this time, who is there to catch her?

The thought of that wide, open freedom that always followed Cidolfus wheresoever he went frightened her to no end. To her, it meant the unknown that came with running away, being whisked on the back of the winds, to a place where she would not know if, when next she landed, there would be a ground beneath her feet. His betrayal left her on her back once before, and she had been fool enough to take that risk again. Six years in an empty pursuit in his absence, chasing what she thought to be stability, power, and even love in another—her king, touch-starved and hunting any warmth that she could find, is what had her listening to the promises he whispered into her ear again. It is what made her take that plunge into that vast unknown, made her lean into his easy-going benevolence...

And look at where it has led her.

Back then, she had King Barnabas to pull her back on her feet. He would show her a better world, through what they both knew to be empty platitudes, and hearts that did not belong to the other, but she would be loyal. She would be good. She would be everything that Cid could not be. She would do his bidding to prove to him—and most importantly, to the rest of the world, and to herself—that she could be valuable. Powerful. Yet, what she thought was love, she realised in hindsight, was nothing more than a passion for his insurmountable power. A stable place above all the rest who thought they could cut her down. And it was his power that gripped her like a vise—she feared him, and yet, she was still loyal.

Look at what trust and loyalty have wrought.

Destined to loneliness and desperation.

Falling, falling...

Alone and afraid, a wrath now unbound as she soars over the bone dragon's head. Fumbling in the dark, she is trying to catch the pieces of herself that have shattered and are now being scattered into the wind—how the fuck is she supposed to put herself back together now?

A tool for love. A way to atone for his past sins. A way to "save her" where he could not before, and to fulfill a promise he could not uphold the first time. To make up for past mistakes so that he may now live with himself. Because that was all she was, wasn't she? A remnant, a ghost of a broken past that haunted him.

A tool for war. Even in death, she was nothing more than that. The king that she pledged her utmost fealty to then saw fit to use her however he wanted. Her body was desecrated and turned into an instrument to fuel the war between cruel men and crueler gods. Nothing more than a vessel for power. Nothing more than Garuda.

Falling...

So why does she refuse her? Why has she been so afraid of her? She should embrace her Eikon again. Become one with her once more, all fangs and no mercy, because that was all she was ever seen as: a source of power, of redemption, but they were not her own. They were never to be her own.

Tighter, the claws squeeze, and Benedikta screams and screams until she can no longer breathe. Until it is no longer her own screams, but Garuda's.

This wretched world... With wretched people...

Liars. Maggots. All of them. They all knew, and they lied.

She is afraid, but she is angry, and she has learned that it is easier to let in the rage than it is the fear. It was at Garuda's hand that she had died before, but that would not happen this time, that voice promises her. Garuda will protect her, swathe her in her comforting winds and rip apart everything that has and could hurt her.

The sky above Nogard falls dark, almost black. The waters rage as the wind abruptly picks up, lightning cracks, and a violent, swirling gale descends, only growing.

Let me help you. Let us show them what happens when they hurt you. Again and again...

If only Barnabas could see her now in all her strength. All power coursing through her pulsing aether, not an ounce of humanity left. This is what he wanted, isn't it?

She can at least take solace in the fact that Cidolfus is here. He could not keep his promise, could not save her, and instead, he lied to her, deceived her. In return, she will hate and hurt with all her love. She will let the fury take her. She will tear it all apart, and he will have to watch, knowing that he did this.

So much for your fucking redemption now.

DIE, DIE... DIE...

And from that whirling gale, she emerges. No longer is it Benedikta at the eye of the storm, but the true Warden of the Wind, the Eikon, Garuda, a reckless harpy with four wings wider than any bird's, claws that could split a man open in a single swipe, and fangs that could rip flesh from bone. With them all bared, her laughter echoes across the sea and sky.

Freedom. She is untethered, let out of the cage that Benedikta chained her in for so long.

And she will ravage this world in her name. Now fall...

WEATHERING THE STORMS

The moment that Nogard senses that something is amiss, its flesh will reform to protect itself and the villages within from the worst of the storms. While the Leviathan does get battered and the winds persist even after its body takes shape, Fang and its docks will be saved from the tidal surges that are bound to come and, upon seeing Garuda take off in the direction of Eltrut, the dragon will follow after her, roaring across the seas to send a signal of warning to the others to either flee or shield.

Heeding its call, the Naughtilust and Norhpip will retreat while Elah comes to their aid. Paladins will be encouraged by Elah to assist with rescue efforts—brave the storms and head out to sea to help. Those who do not wish to face the harpy's wrath can take refuge on the whale's back. But it will be Eltrut that will receive the brunt of Garuda's attacks, and where her magic will be most potent, the build-up of her aether coming to a head when she lands on the turtle's back.

Harsh, hurricane-like winds will assault Eltrut, and with them, a sense of dread and trickles of sadness fall upon the Leviathan. With Eltrut docked at an island, it's easier to see what is about to happen: the tide recedes, and on the horizon, the shadow of a giant tsunami wave guided by the wind approaches. While Eltrut can shield itself with its bubble, it will still need some help!

Using whatever magic is available—and necessary—everyone will have to work together to help Eltrut withstand the worst of it and, when the tide hits, it's best to be holding onto something, or someone, as Eltrut will be knocked around a bit before stabilising. Unfortunately, with the water's far too choppy to swim in, everyone will have to wait it out and work together to reduce the magic, and hope that someone comes along soon to take care of the harpy that keeps tearing through its shields.

🏝️ On Land. For those stuck on Eltrut or Nogard, the storms are just as fierce. With winds strong enough to rip the trees from their roots, shatter glass, and throw large objects around, it is imperative that people help each other find shelter and safety, and those with shielding magic use it, especially around the docks. Help the locals, assist the merfolk that have been washed up back into the water. There are weaponsmiths asking anyone with a set of hands to help craft things like harpoons and arrows that will be useful against the creatures that now roam the Leviathans.

🌊 Out at Sea. Crews will need to batten down the hatches and work together to weather the storms as well as rescue anyone else, including locals, who might be out there. Though, it is recommended that people try to outrun them as that is one big wave that is heading for Eltrut. Thanks to Garuda's magic, some of the wildlife have grown wings, and sharks are chomping down on boats and even leaping onto decks in search of a good meal.

☁️ In the Air. Male gryphons from The Hideaway's island will arrive to aid those who wish to take to the skies for search and rescue efforts. They are still wary and a bit erratic from being attacked earlier on the island, so working together to earn their trust will be imperative. Offering them food or small gifts such as feathers or beads will appease them, as well as protecting them from oncoming attacks from their fellow birdkin. Once in the air, riding on gryphon-back will take some getting used to, as they will always travel in pairs, and will employ tactical maneuvers to dodge the debris and any creatures that attack.

With their homes partially destroyed by the massive wave, some of the merfolk have come to aid not only their own that have been washed up onto land, but those who hope to alleviate the stress on the Leviathans, whether it be rescue efforts or fighting off the birds and winged sharks. They have offered their herd of seahorses for people to ride on, but they are a bit temperamental, especially with all the chaos, so they will need to be calmed first before they can be ridden.

All threads will be worth 4 points.

( Bonus ♫ )

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

It isn't just the violent skies and seas that pose a problem. Garuda's magic has somehow affected all of the birdkin and bird folk alike across Nogard and Eltrut. What once were peaceful, friendly creatures have now turned on others, as well as each other, and will be attacking and fighting on the streets.

More than that, while some birds have transformed into menacing beasts large enough to pick up a whole person—sometimes two—there are also dozens and dozens of Wind Elementals that have spawned all around the Leviathans, all of them under the command of Benedikta's sisters, Chirada and Suparna, the strongest of them. They hardly ever leave one another's side, but when they are provoked, they will not hesitate to attack. To make matters worse, when threatened, they will tether their aether to each other to make themselves more immune and to regenerate. They are fast, agile, with wide wingspans and talons that will rip anyone apart if they manage to catch them. They are weak to lightning magic and can be held off by the plumes found throughout the forest, and destroying them will buy time for those fighting the smaller Egis to defeat them... However, be warned, they will only respawn again elsewhere, and will keep doing so until Garuda is chased away. (Note: this video of their boss fight can be referred to if needed.)

🐦 Birds and Birdfolk. Beware of feathered friends! Garuda's magic has made both the birds of the islands and the bird folk particularly aggressive. Bird folk will be quick to anger, and those caught up in the worst of the effects will attack anyone unprovoked for so much as looking at them. The only cure for this is taking out the Wind Elementals that have spawned, as they are what sustains Garuda's magic. In the meantime, until they can be destroyed, luring them further away and outside of town or finding a humane way to knock them out for the time being will work to help alleviate the threats at the eye of the storm. Cats will also be effective against them. Be careful, however—the birds are capable of stealing the breath of anyone who wanders too close, strangling them through lack of air.

🌪️ Wind Elementals. Minions of Garuda herself, these Wind Egis will indiscriminately pick out anyone they find to assault with their large wings, sharpened talons, and powerful wind magic. Men will be carried out to sea where they will attempt to drown them, while women will be carried to "safety" in the nests that the birds have built within the forests. Defeating them is the key to weakening Garuda's magic, so take them out by any means necessary. Note: Players are free to use and control the Egis however they want.

🪹 Within the Nest. For those caught in the nest, escaping on the ground will be the only way out as horrific winged beasts and Egis guard the skies. Beneath the trees, people will need to carve out a path through the messy vines and thorns. It will be safer with a partner, as all sorts of horrors lurk. Eldritch hummingbirds, cassowary, magpies, human-sized hawkmoths, guineafowl, pelicans, and a strange breed of geese that are prepared to feed on or tear apart anyone who might threaten their nest.

There will occasionally be white plumes that will flutter down from the skies. These feathers are from Garuda's wings, and gathering them will provide a ward to protect one from harm for a short period of time. They can shield against one hit or act as a repellent to the birds and the Egis before they are destroyed. Search for them in the treetops and the vines, gather them, and they should be shared so that everyone can make it out of the forest safely. If anyone is able to collect enough of them, they will have healing wind properties that can mend small wounds and cuts.

For those at The Roost (the Hideaway crew's island), the gryphons will be up in arms, not only because one of their nests has been destroyed, but because Benedikta's uncontrollable magic has bled into them, too. The female gryphons, led by the Matriarch, will attack the males, and a fight will break out among them. The males will flee down into the Roost to seek help, but the females will surely soon follow. Killing the gryphons is not an option, and anyone who threatens the lives of the females will have to get through the males in spite of this war, so they will need to be chased off for now. In return, the males will allow anyone to ride on their backs and carry them to Eltrut should they wish to help there.

All threads will be worth 4 points.

( Bonus ♫ )

THE LADY OF THE WIND

For those few who are brave enough to encounter Garuda and live to tell the tale, and those fewer who are daring enough to chase her down seeking to clip the vengeful harpy's wings, they will likely not have to look very far. Garuda is a mischievous and wicked Eikon, chaotic, as if she were made of the winds and storms herself, and through all of the destruction she brings, she also finds enjoyment in taunting others, sometimes swooping down or over one's head just to toy with those on the ground before flying off again.

If she is feeling particularly naughty, she may even kidnap a few, scooping them up in her claws and flying them off someplace else... just for fun. Whether it is the nest, into the sky, out to sea, who knows, but one thing is for certain... one does not want to be engaged with her for long, lest they wish to feel just how sharp her claws and fangs truly are...

Try as they might, however, it will take the might of another full Eikon to take her down, and the battles will end as Ramuh, the Warden of Thunder, makes his appearance and chases her away from Eltrut, and they will face off against one another over the ocean.

Note: This portion of the log is closed to those who signed up for an encounter with Garuda. Please leave a starter at your designated top level down below! They will be worth 6 points.

( Bonus ♫ )

This is the designated log for a player-run (garudas) mini-event. After revelations came about surrounding her fate, Benedikta Harman primed into her full Eikon, Garuda, and she is now ravaging the seas, skies, and land.

Players are free to make their own top levels and tag around, and those who have signed up to face Garuda can leave their starters beneath their designated top levels. Information can be found on the OOC post and please direct any questions here. New players/characters are free to tag into this as well, as this is all occurring after their arrival.

The event and its effects will last less than one day ICly and will have a resolution, so there will be no bearing on anything afterward. Any post-Garuda events will be on the main monthly log that will be going up, including Leviathan clean-up and helping the mermaids after parts of their underwater dwelling were ruined by the wave that hit Eltrut.

Comments

[apothecarry]

[Well, Cid's not carrying himself much differently than what Alfyn would expect, from someone in his condition.

As for the potions - glad he asked. Alfyn pulls a bag out of his satchel, and then pulls a little bottle out of the bag. A nifty nozzle is attached to the open end of the bottle.]

Would you believe me if I said you push this bit here, and the potion comes out like a mist and it helps the wounds close? [He says this with his own audible disbelief.] I'd have a hard time if I hadn't seen it myself.

[Not that Alfyn has never seen a concoction that encourages healing. He has several of them memorized himself! But nothing quite so potent in such a comparatively small amount.]

If you're willing to give it a try, I think it might help you, too. Wouldn't make you good-as-new, but it...really didn't seem to have any downsides.

[ramuhs]

[His eyes shoot up upon hearing that.]

A mist that helps wound close? That's a first for me.

[He looks at the potion bottle with some intrigue before looking back up at Alfyn.]

But if you vouch for it, I'm willing to try. Do you know how it works or is this some sort of magical property?

[apothecarry]

It's a first for me too! But I was right there, just a few inches away, watchin' it happen.

[In practice, it wasn't too different from certain healing spells his friends know. The impressive part was the medicine aspect. That, and that the fellow he helped with it didn't seem to have any lingering effects at all.]

I don't know the ingredients or anything, but I'm real eager to find out. I only heard about it in the first place from one of those requests for help. But now, I've got half a mind to go back and sit that fella down and ask him how he did it. 'Course, if it's magical, then it might not be anythin' I can reproduce.

[ramuhs]

Hmm, might depend what kind of magic. But I'd certainly be curious to hear what you find later, especially if this proves as effective as they claim.

Hopefully it's not a scam and tomorrow morning I don't wake up to a pig's nose or some odd sort.

[apothecarry]

[In the moment it takes to picture it, Alfyn snorts and shakes his head.

He's been carrying around a whole lot of guilt, for letting Cid run back out into the storm when he shouldn't even have been standing. The state he came back in only made it clear how much of a mistake it was.

(But he did try, and Cid was adamant, and was it really his call to make? But he also knew better. There's always more to say to try to get someone to do what's best for their health.)

Cid's demeanor and good humor are just...nice. To be around. Even on a slow walk back to his room while he's ginger with his sore injuries and Alfyn keeps resisting offering an arm to lean on.]

If that happens, I'll march right back over and find an antidote.

[ramuhs]

You better, or I'd have to keelhaul you.

[And then a laugh and grin.]

A joke, of course.

[...It would be Benedikta Alfyn would have to worry about—]

[apothecarry]

First, you'd have to be healed up enough to catch me.

[He wags his finger gently in Cid's general direction - a return joke, but also a warning.]

Besides, if you got rid of me, what would you do with all those herbs once they're done growin'?

[ramuhs]

[Another wry chuckle.]

Fair enough. Even if we harvested them we wouldn't know what to do with them—unless I found a replacement.

[WHICH HE WON'T Alfyn is pretty good.]

[apothecarry]

[Given that it's possible he might not be around when they need his ingredients, Alfyn is keeping notes of what goes where and for what reason.

But he laughs aloud anyway.]

I suppose that's your right as captain of your crew. ...Isn't it?

[He has known exactly one captain. That fella was formerly a pirate, and so his idea of 'rules' about such things...well. They were pirate rules. Fair, but not guarantees if something else was more fair.]

Can't see who you'd replace me with, though. Everyone else around here seems real keen on runnin' themselves into the ground every few days.

[With how much work he's been doing for the injured, Alfyn fits right in, really. He does eat and sleep. He's been out to the tavern. ...He just can't shake responsibilities.]

[ramuhs]

Aye, looks like you found yourself in a much needed position.

[He does eye him, however, upon hearing that.]

That said, we can't have one our main medics running himself ragged. I know Rem has her healing magic, Joshua, too, but I'd rather he didn't use it too much. So rather than a replacement, perhaps you need an assistant. Or two.

[Or three—]

[apothecarry]

[Oh-! He's heard about Joshua's healing by now, but he didn't know someone else could do it too. That's good to know, he'll have to meet her one day. (They're in agreement over Joshua not pushing himself, at least.)

For now he runs a hand along his wayward hair and then down over his face.]

I'd never say no to good help. [He would probably still have to direct said help, but extra hands with good intentions can be hard to come by.] A friend of mine from home's here, and I think if I asked him, he'd help out where he could, even though he's not an apothecary by trade. But, more than that...

[He sighs. Adjusts the strap of the satchel where it sits across his chest and shoulder.]

I'm no stranger to unusual things happening, or to fightin' something that just plain got out of control. But does this, [he motions to the air, generally, the sky and the island and the sea. To the memory of raging wind.] happen a lot here?

[ramuhs]

[Oh, a friend from home? He's curious, but Alfyn's real question gets his attention and clearly requires an answer. And answer that he just...kind of wryly chuckles to.]

From us? No. That's a first and hopefully the last. But there have been similar situations from elsewhere around the world, so you'd best be prepared.

[apothecarry]

[Alfyn lets out a long, heavy breath that whistles a bit.]

I guess...everybody's got their big problems, same as back home. Or small ones growin' into big ones.

[But! Since, now, they are sort of on the subject.]

How's your lady friend?

[ramuhs]

[Honestly he expects Alfyn to ask a few questions, so he won't mind them even if they were more direct. But there will be a faint smile, something a little more wistful in his demeanor before he answers.]

Doing about as well as one can expect.

[apothecarry]

Yeah? So you've...talked to her?

[For days, he has based his vague assumption of what Cid's Harpy Benedikta's injuries would entail on what Cid's are like. It isn't a pretty picture he's painted himself. Really, he just hoped she was doing okay; it was kind of refreshing, to have so many people in this crew just...have no hard feelings about it. Even while it was happening.

So he's inclined to back them up, for now, because of it.

But also, "as well as one can expect" isn't exactly registering for him as doing well. Yet Cid is smiling for some reason.]

I've been...thinkin' on everythin' you told us about what happened.

[ramuhs]

Aye, been keeping contact and I've seen her as well. I was worse off.

[A wry grin. He can guess what Alfyn is worried about, so he tries to reassure him slightly. Not that Benedikta came out unscathed, but... Not so badly that he couldn't tend to her instead and give what she needed for those first few days.

But here's where he thought it was going.]

And what are your thoughts? With you just recently joining, I'm sure it was quite a lot to take.

[apothecarry]

Well, I'd already heard some of it - from Joshua, the night after the storm. Askin' about his injuries was more complicated than I thought.

[In case Cid might think Alfyn just went around pressing people for information. (Truly, most people seem naturally inclined to tell him things without a lot of wheedling.)]

It was all a shock anyway, make no mistake. But...what's really on my mind is this business about turning to stone.

[If Cid's looking, Alfyn isn't wearing the sort of despairing expression one might expect of a fellow who's just been told his new friends are slowly dying. He looks like he's puzzling something out, rather.]

Back home, we...there was a...shucks, this is complicated too. But I reckon the point is we've got a remedy that kept people from turnin' to stone, in the circumstances where it was happening. They're different from yours, but...I can't stop thinkin' about it.

[ramuhs]

[...Oh? It certainly wasn't a direction he was expecting, and he looks at Alfyn with some curious interest.]

Well then, why not try talking about it instead?

[A somewhat playful grin.]

Tell me more about how it was.

[apothecarry]

[How can he best lay all this out without having to explain a lot of things to Cid that just won't make much sense?]

There was a fella who was...under a different sort of curse. He'd...

[Oh. This is...hard to talk about. Harder than he expected; it's the first he's tried since finding out the truth about Redeye.]

He'd lost his family, went on a quest to get 'em back, I guess. [Alfyn swallows.] Got fooled into bein' cursed by dark magic. He turned into- a shadow creature. An abomination, really. One that'd turn a man to stone.

[ramuhs]

[...Oh, this is clearly a difficult topic, and while Alfyn gets far, Cid's brows will be furrowing.

Turned into a shadow creature...]

If this is too difficult for you to talk about, we can always have it later.

[apothecarry]

No, it's - well, all right, it is a little hard, but I ain't against talkin' about hard things.

[Thus resolved! Alfyn nods once, for his own benefit.]

Anyway. He'd turned a good friend's master to stone, not to mention a bunch of soldiers from a city in the desert who went to fight him. But we came prepared with this medicine, in case it started happening to one of us. It worked, too!

[So he rubs his chin again, and puts his hands in his pockets.]

So I'm wonderin' if that's an idea. There're problems with it, though, the biggest one bein' I don't have any of the main ingredient, and it was all kinds of hard to get our hands on the first time.

[ramuhs]

[Well no wonder it was hard—it's certainly a heavy topic, but at least it had a better ending.

It does have him wonder. Most other remedies for stone curses didn't work due to how the petrification worked for magic users. But who's to say they can't still try? Perhaps something from another world could work where others failed.]

What were they? Perhaps an alternative could be found here, if they can't be retrieved from the rifts directly.

[apothecarry]

Somethin' called herb-of-grace. A friend of a friend concocted the potion from it for us, though.

[Alfyn scratches his head a bit - in a leading way. In the way that suggests he just hasn't heard something right.]

Sorry, did you say "retrieved from the rifts" just then?

[ramuhs]

[Herb-of-grace... He'll have to keep an eye out for that, perhaps get some of his men out to see if they can't look into it.]

Aye, bit of a sport for the locals it seems.

[A wry grin.]

While we can't come or go as we please through the rifts, it seems in the attempts from those who came before us, they managed to devise a way to connect through the rifts somehow and retrieve items. Not always a guarantee, and there are limits to what they can try to retrieve, but they seem to have a high rating of success.

Actually requested a few small things myself, and it worked.

[apothecarry]

[A slow, low whistle. A muttered, "Well I'll be." Alfyn realizes he's stopped walking and he speeds himself back up. Not that Cid is winning any races at the pace he's going.]

Guess I'll have to work out makin' a request. I think...I think it might be worth a try. Now that I've thought of it, I don't know if I'll be able to let the thought go, and I sure as hell ain't sitting around waiting for you to freeze up into a statue.

[As hard as it is for Alfyn to think about, it has to be ten times harder, or more, for Cid and Joshua and the others like them, who have to live through it.]

Mind if I ask...if it's happenin' to you right now?