player plot: the warden of the wind 🌪️

[garudas]

Hello fellow riftfarers! I come bearing... a player plot!

In the late morning of the 4th of May, storm clouds and dark skies will loom over Nogard, Eltrut, and other nearby islands, and the winds will be stronger than what can be considered even remotely normal. Strong enough that it can tear the land off the leviathan's backs, rip apart ships and carry them away, and create dangerous riptides. This is all because Benedikta Harman has primed into the full might of her Eikon, the winged harpy, Garuda. Her only goal is to wreak havoc, strike fear in anyone who might encounter her, and destroy everything in her path.

Nogard, Eltrut, and surrounding areas will be affected the most, though it is possible for her magic to spread further. As for what people can look forward to on the day of:

🍃 Storms and wind damage. Tornadoes and wind tunnels that are strong enough to pick up people and small boats will need to be avoided, and those on the open seas must weather the tremendously violent storms. If any crews or ships are out there, they will run the risk of their ships being destroyed in the chaos if they do not know what they are doing. High tides will also cause damage to the leviathans and the surrounding wildlife in the water, so they will need the help of riftfarers in keeping safe and repairing their homes in the aftermath.

🍃 Birds and Birdfolk. The birds residing on these islands will be especially aggressive, attacking people for seemingly no reason at all. Even the Birdfolk are unusually hostile, willing to fight just about anyone they make eye contact with. Larger birds will swoop in to snatch people and take them back to the forests on Eltrut where others will need to rescue them, fighting through large, tangle nests and terrifying eldritch-like terrors to get there. The birds will be especially aggressive to those who are more attuned to lightning.

🍃 Gryphons. For those who are part of Cid's crew, The Hideaway, the gryphons on the crew's island will be in an uproar. With the Matriarch leading the cause, the females will be fighting the males in an attempt to kick them out of their nests and will also cause chaos down on the ground and on the ship, and will need to be subdued. The males, however, will fly off to help anyone who is attempting to take down Garuda by allowing people to ride them.

🍃 Wind Egis/Elementals. Garuda will be summoning winged avatars that resemble her sisters, Chirada and Suparna, that will spawn across the affected locations. They will be attacking anyone they come across, but the more extreme ones will try to lure men out to sea to drown them, while kidnapping women to take them to safety. People will have to fight them off to escape them. As with the birds, they will be especially hostile towards lightning users, but they will also be weak to lightning.

These effects will last from the late morning for several hours into the afternoon before she is stopped, and even then, some of the magic may still linger, and the local wildlife and people will need help repairing in the days after.

Last but not least, there will be a chance for Garuda encounters. Some people may not be so lucky to avoid encountering the Eikon herself. While she will swoop in to scare people just for fun before flying off, she might not be feeling so benevolent for others. While it may be difficult to get in a hit, and her aether allows her to rapidly regenerate, it is not impossible, and managing to weaken her will, in turn, weaken her magic.

🍃 How to fight her. She can be attacked from the ground/ships with cannons and anti-magic devices, or in the air on the back of a gryphon. There will also be devices that can capture her magic and be used to gain temporary flight. While Garuda may be big, being small still has its perks. NPCs may also be utilized to assist in the encounters to provide support or serve as a distraction. People can try to reason with her and talk her down, but because Benedikta has lost control over Garuda, it will only anger her further. She will be more prone to lightning attacks.

🍃 Landing a hit. The attacks from her Egis and the birds will be weakened, and some may even vanish. The birdfolk will be snapped out of their spell, leaving them disoriented and confused. The storms and winds will weaken as well. Those with wind or animal powers will be given an opening to better control them.

🍃 Memories and Thoughts. Anyone who has a relationship with Benedikta may hear her current thoughts or see flashes of memories from her past, and present, with the possibility of some more memorable ones pertaining to the character she is encountering being shown. This option will only be available to those who have CR with Benedikta.

🍃 Note: Garuda cannot be killed or severely injured, and will escape any encounter before she can be, as it will take the strength of another Eikon to take her down.....

Please use the sign-up form below if you would like your character to encounter Garuda, and what sort of encounter you would like (a fight in the air, at sea versus a ship/crew, kidnapping, etc.) and if your character will be sustaining any injuries (please note what kind), and we can plot out the thread properly. Let me know what Garuda can do for YOU. For my own sanity, I will be limiting it to seven (7) threads, and I am willing to do one (1) three-way thread with two characters. If I end up with more than that, I'll RNG. I will also be keeping the threads fairly brief (I will get them to minimum AC length at the very least, but probably won't be more than 20 comments, if that), and I ask that we skip lead up/filler and get right to the main focus of the thread.

Another note: players do not need to sign up to interact with the egis/Benedikta's sisters, they will be free rein for anyone to do what they like with them on the log!

Signups closed.

The log will be set up as an open log where players can make their own top levels/threads, plus a top level for starters for the Garuda confrontations, and there will also be some residual things on May's open log. New characters will be free to tag into the log as well, as it takes place after they have arrived in April.

Questions can be asked here.

Comments

SIGNUP & PLOTTING

[garudas]

Player name:
Character name:
Type of encounter: Do you wanna fight her? On the sea? In the sky? On land? Try to reason with her? Any strategies that you would like your character to utilize? Do you want her to include Chirada and Suparna, too? Do you want memories/thoughts?
Injuries: Do you want your character to sustain any injuries from this? If so, please list what kind/level of injury and we can figure something out.
Questions: Any questions you might have.

<B>Player name:</B> <B>Character name:</B> <B>Type of encounter:</B> Do you wanna fight her? On the sea? In the sky? On land? Try to reason with her? Any strategies that you would like your character to utilize? <B>Injuries:</B> Do you want your character to sustain any injuries from this? If so, please list what kind/level of injury and we can figure something out. <B>Questions:</B> Any questions you might have.

[empyrean_mirror]

Player name: Clover
Character name: Kaveh
Type of encounter: Kidnapped because he's a little too Gender. He will probably try to talk to Garuda. May involve a rescue attempt via Alhaitham.
Injuries: EMOTIONAL DAMAGE. Maybe somewhat scuffed up (cuts and scratches) but we're really here for the emotional anguish.
Questions: hehehe

[garudas]

I can do emotional damage and kidnapping. She'll take him somewhere on Eltrut probably, to one of the nests that the Egis have made for themselves in the forests. :D As for the cuts and scratches, I'll likely just have them be from wind damage more than anything. Lots of dust and debris flying around.

The question I have for you (and I will pose the question to Taso as well) is if you two would like a memory at all? In particular, I was thinking a cidbenna memory that might make Kaveh and Alhaitham think about themselves a little... 👀 You know, help them work out a few things. YOU DON'T HAVE TO but I figured I would put that out there, and ask where they are at in their relationship right now.

[indispensable]

Player name: taso
Character name: Alhaitham
Type of encounter: CHASING AFTER KAVEH WHO GETS KIDNAPPED. Most likely a three way thread is that happens, but alternatively if solo he'd probably figure out it's her and try to seek answers
Injuries: A broken arm or leg most likely :D
Questions: Time to talk about their married men and why they make them so sad

[garudas]

YES I am thinking a three-way thread might work better for all of this, I can start us out with Garuda and Kaveh and then Alhaitham can come in after the kidnapping/trying to reason with the harpy takes place? Then the two of them can try to talk it out, and she'll try to communicate with him through her memories and thoughts... It'll just be up to him to try and figure them out LOL.

And I'm just going to copy/paste the same thing I asked Clover: if you two would like a memory at all? In particular, I was thinking a cidbenna memory that might make Kaveh and Alhaitham think about themselves a little... 👀 You know, help them work out a few things. YOU DON'T HAVE TO but I figured I would put that out there, and ask where they are at in their relationship right now.

[afflatusexarch]

Player name: Ser
Character name: Raha
Type of encounter: Honestly he would try to reason with her. He does think of her as a friend and would want to know what had triggered this.
Injuries: My standard rules apply - no permanent disfigurement. Pretty much anything/everything else is on the table.
Questions: I wish only to hear your words, share your feelings, and know your thoughts.

[garudas]

Good luck trying to reason with her, G'raha—

Would he try to fight her/defend himself against her at all? Because the likelihood of her lashing out against him is pretty high.

And any specific sort of thoughts/memories you might have him interested in? 👀

[netherese]

Player name: Chris
Character name: Gale Dekarios
Type of encounter: I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT HER IN THE SKY, gonna wrangle a gryphon. Gale is a new member of the Hideaway but will recognize there is a very personal element to the already urgent nature of this mission for people is he is friendly with. His interest will be in subduing Garuda; as a wizard he has access to a lot of high-level magic including being able to summon a lightning elemental to fight alongside him. It's unlikely that he would be able to do any serious damage to Garuda at her full power— and he wouldn't want to— but he has plenty of lightning to sling around and some crowd control options to try and at least slow her down with the intent of giving someone else (especially Cid) an opportunity to do what they need to do.
Injuries: Please, FUCK HIM UP. He has the armor class of a paper bag and can only shield and protect himself for so long. He's overdue for a good maiming, something that might even jostle the magic bomb inside of him and destabilize it a bit. 👀
Questions: I'm just so happy to be here...

[garudas]

Oh this is good!!! She'll be weak to lightning attacks, so Gale already has an advantage, along with wrangling a chocobo gryphon! Might even clip a wing or two with it, if you want! And anger her more so that she can poke him back, because they'll just end up regenerating anyway.

But also, I am open to Gale hearing her thoughts/seeing some memories, so I don't know if you have any preferences as to what they could be pertaining to? Definitely something they can touch on later once she's feeling better.

But do tell me more about this magic bomb? 👀

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Player name: Ant
Character name: Darin Altway
Type of encounter: The second Darin sees a giant bird monster attack Eltrut he's probably going to try and escape because he's trying to maintain that he's just a normal human man and not a shounen protagonist with any ability. It'd be rad if he gets swept up by Garuda/Chirada and Suparna because in the air, Darin is more likely to abandon his guise and fight back by trying to climb up onto her back and steer her out to sea. Epic battle can ensue and conclude with one or both of them slamming into the water! I'm open to anything!
Injuries: Bloody this man up. He's a lot more resilient than a normal human so he'll absolutely survive but I'm not against it looking bad for him. Broken bones or just lots of cuts and gashes work fine for me.
Questions: No questions but if you want to talk more about Darin's abilities so we can figure out a direction for the fight to make it easier on you, please feel free to hit me up!

[garudas]

Yes! I would like to hear more about his abilities because I am intrigued. 👀

There probably won't be any steering her to the water or anything because she's just kind of doing whatever the heck she wants to break things, BUT I can definitely work it in and get them out to the water somehow. Maybe an attempt to drown him? Probably with the help of her sisters. And he can definitely try to fight on her back if he can manage to hold on LOL.

But yes, do tell me more about what Darin can do and I can see how to work them all in. It'll probably be easier that way for me to work out how they might be able to clash.

Re: SIGNUP & PLOTTING

[moremystyle]

Player name: Bryo
Character name: Faris Scherwiz
Type of encounter: Faris would try to reason with her but accept the necessity of battle pretty quickly. Faris will be using Dragoon skills a bunch in this, so probably a combination of water/aerial (Faris has a seahorse so will be pretty nimble in the water).
Injuries: Not grievously wounded, but enough of a big cut that he'll be put out of the fight.
Questions: I would be open to having some Gender stuff come up with Faris and/or them end up talking about it afterwards!

[garudas]

Do we want a water surface fight or an aerial fight? Because Faris is more than welcome to utilize the gryphons as well during it!

As for the gender stuff, what sorts of things do you have in mind? 👀 I'm not sure if I have any memories in mind that could trigger it at all, but I'm def open to the idea!

EDIT: SORRY as I just realized when waking up this morning that I literally have a mechanic for this with the egis LMAO. Did you want to do something with them? (that will show me to respond to these right before bed)

[activatingcombatmode]

Player name: Mich
Character name: Zack Fair
Type of encounter: I'd like for Zack to encounter her and possibly attempt to fight her. Maybe he doesn't recognize that it's Benedikta at first because he actually doesn't know about her eikon? He'd try to honest to goodness take her down and then feel guilty when he realizes it's her. I also want her to step on him so hard so hard oh baby.
Injuries: Maybe this step on him moment will break his shoulder? Also maybe Zack lands a few bad hits on her? I figure Zack's strength is somewhere between being able to solo a summoned version of Bahamut (like in crisis core) but not strong enough to go up against Sephiroth alone. So I think he'd do pretty good against her.
Questions: He's still gonna think she's smokin' hot???

[garudas]

Oh... he should cut off one of her wings. That'll piss her off real good, enough for her to try and step on him with her sharp feets. :D

Do you want this to be on the ground? Up in the air? On the water?

QUESTIONS

[garudas]

Any questions? Ask 'em here!

[treebornekettlegirl]

Just to check so I'm not mistaken. Is the above thread solely for Garudas encounters, or does it include the other prompts like Wind Egis encounters? Just wanted to double check.

[legendofthelion]

What's the same place that Egis are kidnapping ladies to? Something specific or just wherever is just away from any fighting?

[crystalrepose]

I have a question regarding Miriam's abilities! In her canon material, whenever Miriam defeats a demonic/supernatural foe, she sometimes absorbs a Shard of their power into herself (she gets stabbed with it! Fun) essentially letting her copy one of their abilities or summon the creature briefly. It isn't something she does willingly (it just Happens to Shardbinders) or often, as absorbing too many Shards at once will kill her. There have also been instances where something she gets a Shard from doesn't die and just reappears elsewhere after the mild inconvenience of getting smacked a lot with her sword.

With that set up, my question is: can she get a Shard from one of the Elementals, and if so, what form should it take (brief summon, elemental ability, a spell etc)?

Miriam can also remove Shards some...how the game never explains but clearly still happens, she could also feasibly give it back.

[ramuhs]

💕?

[garudas]

🗡️!!!





💕

[fullgauntlet]

Izuku's crew has been talking that they want to get into some trouble against the Wind Egis/Elementals (possibly try and go toe to toe with the sisters) and maybe the bird folk too, some fighting and injuries as they try and get the situation under control. It's okay for us to thread our stuff out on the main log for this, yes? Just making sure!!

[garudas]

YES OMG absolutely, I'm so excited yall are doing stuff with your crew...

You guys can use the wind egis and her sisters however you like!! And I know you know the mechanics and stuff that Chirada and Suparna have so HAVE FUN WITH THEM.

[vermilloci]

commenting here to say that after all this rem will visit bene after the fact ;;

[garudas]

AWWW REM ;_;

I will have a closed thing for CR/crewmates to visit/see her up in June for post-Garuda stuff. <3