MISSION HYRYPIA: STAGE ONE

[onemind]

PILGRIMAGE: STAGE ONE

On DAY :012 (August 6th-8th) after the meal, one of those long sonorous horns blasts a note across the processional camp. In each dining tent, e member of the Basittia family rises to welcome the guests to the Great Flats and to congratulate them on their diligence learning to master the Elin. Tomorrow, say the members of Basittia House, a friendly competition will be staged to test your skills. A glass is raised. "A toast to our good fortune, to cleverness and skill - may they serve us well for what we will face."

There's some suggestion that this is one of a few upcoming 'event' days, culminating in some kind of ultimate test (though it's unclear what that test might be). This post will be updated to reflect the stages of the competition and the details of the final event.

Please be aware that to participate in the final event, characters must have competed and earned enough points in at least one of the five earlier events that takes place either on DAY :013 or DAY :016.

What this means OOCly is that to have your character participate in the finale of the Pilgrimage's first stage is that you must sign them up for an event and complete at least one thread pertaining to it in an event log prior to the beginning of the final competition. This thread doesn't have to be an action thread (it can be preparation or the aftermath - but please be aware that in a team event if you all decide to do a big group thread that others will be relying on your participation!), but it must in some way be directly tied to the event the character has signed up for. Anyone who does this can assume their character earned enough points to qualify for the final event.

RIDING PROWESS - DAY :013

There will be three different mounted challenges. Every event has limited space for participation and most diplomatic envoys select only a few of their number to represent them in each round.

EVENT ONE - The first event is meant to test skills in herding, wrangling, and roping - abilities key in managing the Gryer that have helped assure the success and survival of the Hyrypians for countless centuries. This event involves small teams of three individuals working together to separate and wrangle simple mechanical facsimiles of Gryer. Each member will start from one of three entrances of a large fenced arena filled with metal Gryer milling about in the center. After a short period three of the automaton Gryer will light up to signal the ones which need to be cut from the herd and wrangled into a small pen on one end of the arena. Competitors will have access to rope as well as the long crooked sticks used to herd Gryer forward. They will have to work together to get the targets out of the herd and into the pens as quickly as possible.

EVENT TWO - The second event tests speed, accuracy, and balance. It positions teams of four individuals staged along different points of a relay race. Each team will be responsible for a scroll which must be carried by a single individual along the length of a course, filled with obstacles and jumps before they pass it to the next member of the team, who will then carry it through their portion of the course. The scroll will be passed along like this until it gets to the last member who will carry the scroll the last quarter of the course to the finish line.

EVENT THREE - The third and final mounted skill event is also the most difficult and the most dangerous. It's also the only solo event worth the most individual points. It takes place at the face of the cliffs on the 'safe' side of the technomagical barrier in a single canyon pocket separated from the rest of the Finger Maze. It is a relatively narrow passage surrounded on either side by the breathtakingly tall cliffs that tower over the Graze and filled with the bone-like coral growth that is endemic of the Finger Maze. This long stretch of canyon has a number of pitfalls including narrow bridges across shallow gulches, fallen coral formations, and low overhangings of stone which will need to be jumped, dodged, and ducked under for any rider passing through. All of the competitors will begin at the comparatively wide entrance of the canyon. With a horn signal, they will race each other approximately 3 miles through the route studded with obstacles to a clearing at the end of the pocket canyon. If the riders are lucky or skilled, this can be done in approximately ten minutes. Points will be awarded based on finishing position.

MOUNTED HUNTING - DAY :016

There will be two different hunting challenges. Every event has limited space for participation and most diplomatic envoys select only a few of their number to represent them in each round.

EVENT ONE - The first of the two events divides the riders into large teams with a healthy mix between the envoys; it's perfectly possible to be working alongside non-Carbauschians. --Maybe even a few of the riders you snubbed or sabotaged a few days ago (whoops). Riders will be equipped with spears and slings and expected to work together to take down technomnaced Gryer substitutes in a large herd. Points are only allocated for striking the marked targets and there's an elaborate point system depending on the positioning of the hit. (ooc note: while these hunting parties are oocly meant to be from six to ten individuals, we encourage you to be selective about how many players you fold into a single thread simply to reduce the possibility of dropped or very slow threads)

EVENT TWO - The second event of the day individually based. Mounted hunters return to the same canyon pocket as the third event from the previous competition day. Today the canyon pocket contains a number of technomanced targets of varying size and speed (anywhere from a wandering Gryer and bulky boar-like Marbils to rabbit sized Ilons). The targets are designed to go into a standby mode if struck. Each hunter must track and 'kill' one of these technomanced targets be considered successful. Individuals may work together, but be aware that you must have captured a technomanced creature to score points in this event.... and that there are significantly fewer 'animals' than there are competitors.

THE BARITHIAN HUNTERS - DAY :018

"Ranged in the order a great hunt should have, They soon between the trunks espy the cave." - Unknown

ON DAY :017, A MESSENGER ARRIVES at the tent housing each qualifying participants from the previous days' competitions. They carry a formal invitation to join tomorrow's hunt. Hunting what? one might be forgiven of asking. "For the barithian of the finger maze. My mistress," says the messenger, likely referring to the head of House Basittia. "Wants to be clear that it may be a dangerous undertaking and that there's no shame in declining the invitation."

THE HORN WAILS BEFORE DAWN to stir the encampment from sleep on this, the final day of bloodletting. All qualifying participants of the previous days' competitions are fed light, energizing breakfasts and asked to meet down the Elin string. There they're greeted by the Elinmaster and a number of assistants, clearly kitted out for the day's work. For the first time, a handful of Hrypians from the Major Houses are there as well - young, able bodied, and (perhaps pointedly) not the immediate offspring of anyone incredibly important. The Elinmaster warns those in attendance that the barithian is dangerous by day and fatal by night and stresses the importance of following direction during the hunt. If you doubt yourself, stay here. If your courage fails in the Finger Maze, fall back. And don't be caught near the barithian's head.

"I look forward to celebrating with you after this," says the Elinmaster as he climbs onto the back of his mount.

"Don't worry," cheerfully remarks a Meradan under as she swings her Elin around. "I'm sure this is perfectly safe unless we do something terribly wrong."

Lavellan will not return from the Finger Maze alive.

A log will be posted for each of these competition days. There are are seven comment threads below, one for each of the events with available slots. Events which are not yet posted will have sign-up details when they are. You must post to a thread to sign up for the competition it is linked to. Everyone who wishes to sign up for the finale event when it becomes available must have signed up for at least one of the previous six events.

Questions? If they're specific to the events here, ask them in the Questions thread below. If they're concerning wider reaching Mission: Hyrypia details, please ask them HERE.

NAVIGATION • PREMISE • FAQ • RULES • GLOSSARY • SYMBIOTIC SKILLS • ABILITY POINTS

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

EVENT SIGN-UPS

[onemind]

Want to sign up to participate in one of the events? See each subthread for a description of the event and instructions on how to get involved.

RIDING PROWESS - EVENT ONE - DAY: 013

[onemind]

This event focuses on team work and the fine control of the Elin mount. Participants must have a full team of three individuals to compete in this event. Please note that in order to participate in the finale event, you must complete at least one thread pertaining to this event - if you and your team would rather focus on small threads that don't involve a group thread, please make sure to communicate with your team early!

There are slots for four teams (for a total of up to twelve Hosts). Please copy paste the fully filled out form to this thread comment here to sign up for this event - make sure to either list your desired team members or indicate if you'd like to be randomized onto a team.

Don't have a full team of three? We'll pad it out with an NPC/Lavellan if needed.

<b>CHARACTER NAME:</b> <b>DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS:</b> (If Any) <b>RANDOMIZE ME?:</b> Yes/No (Please note that if you choose 'No' you must already have a full team of three characters)

[shiro2hero]

CHARACTER NAME: Shiro
DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS: Any
RANDOMIZE ME?: Yes

[aluminumandash]

CHARACTER NAME: Rust Cohle
DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS: People who deserve it Any
RANDOMIZE ME?: Yes

RIDING PROWESS - EVENT TWO - DAY: 013

[onemind]

This event focuses on speed, agility, and team work. Participants must have a full team of four individuals to complete in this event. Please note that in order to participate in the finale event, you must complete at least one thread pertaining to this event - if you and your team would rather focus on small threads that don't involve a group thread, please make sure to communicate with your team early!

There are slots for three teams (for a total of up to twelve Hosts). Please copy paste the fully filled out form to this thread comment here to sign up for this event - make sure to either list your desired team members or indicate if you'd like to be randomized onto a team.

Don't have a full team of four? We'll pad it out with an NPC/Lavellan if needed.

<b>CHARACTER NAME:</b> <b>DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS:</b> (If Any) <b>RANDOMIZE ME?:</b> Yes/No (Please note that if you choose 'No' you must already have a full team of four characters)

TEAM THREE LADIES AND THE DARKLING

[miscreant]

CHARACTER NAME: Seviilia Brightwing
DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS: Seviilia, Asuka, The Darkling, and Lakshmi
RANDOMIZE ME?: N

TEAM THREE LADIES AND THE DARKLING

[shri]

CHARACTER NAME: Lakshmi
DESIRED TEAM MEMBERS: Points at Serviilia
RANDOMIZE ME?: No

RIDING PROWESS - EVENT THREE - DAY: 013

[onemind]

This event focus on speed, bravery and cunning use of the terrain. Participants compete individually against one another.

There are up to ten individual slots available for this event. Please comment here to sign up!

[somnifacient]

Signing up Noctis for this event!

MOUNTED HUNTING - EVENT ONE - DAY: 016

[onemind]

This event focuses on speed, agility, and team work. Participants will be among large hunting parties of up to ten. These hunting parties may include envoys from other diplomatic groups.

Comment here to sign up to participate in the group hunt!

MOUNTED HUNTING - EVENT TWO - DAY: 016

[onemind]

This event focuses on patience, cleverness, and accuracy. Participants compete individually to capture a target automaton. While it's within the rules to team up, each individual must claim their own prize to win points. Choose your allies wisely...

Comment here to sign up to participate in the individual event.

THE BARITHIAN HUNTERS - FINAL EVENT - DAY: 018

[onemind]

Please comment here to sign up for the barithian hunt. Anyone participating in the hunt must have successfully completed one of the prior competition events. Please comment here with a link to your completed (or nearly completed) event thread to sign up.

QUESTIONS?

[onemind]

[ryohji]

kaji will not offer his talents for competing but will be VERY interested in sabotaging their competition to give team carbauschian an advantage and/or ensure their win. he could be persuaded to team up with one or two others who possess considerable spy/saboteur prowess (including rhan), but his first instinct is to fly solo dolo to avoid dectection and keep the risk of cover blowing to an acceptable minimum. is this feasible? how far can he go, especially with rhan's go-ahead or help?

ALSO! editing this with tenuous plans of perhaps messing with the elin/mechanical gyers if it is something that can be hacked into, or more simply dissembled and put back together for maximum hijinks. failing that, kaji will also be willing to scope the obstacle course and fuck with it, in a timely and surreptitious manner, to rig the race.

[greentech]

Bouncing off of the sabotage question from Kaji, could Pidge sneak out amongst the Elin the night prior and do a bit of "modification" to ensure that their team has a better chance of winning?

[aluminumandash]

Would any of the factions be open to gambling on the events, and if so, what would they be likely to bet?

[wille]

this is probably trivial but what does that "note in an ancient looking tome" in the third event say if misato were to hand it over to any of the four agents to check out/would they be able to decipher anything from it? aside from congratulations ofc

[deployed]

i'm also bouncing off the question from kaji: would bellamy be able to poison any of the riders from the other team if his gloves were doctored accordingly? i'd imagine he would only be able to do it once, considering his blowback, so if it were possible for him to be pointed at one of the strongest riders and make them very ill?

[shiro2hero]

For the Pursuit event in the second set, would it be all right to assume the NPC competitors might be looking for ways to knock out the PCs involved in the event? Or might do so accidentally?

BASICALLY are there ways they might get thrown off their "horse" beyond falling off? I hope that makes sense.

[sizeofyourbaggage]

Would any of the envoys that are participating in the final hunt be amenable to a "my guys in the hunt will look out for your guys in the hunt if your guys watch my guys' backs" kind of arrangement if Sam brought it up, particularly either the ones he's been making friends with or the Major Houses with offspring now participating?

If so, would any of them honor it or would any of them go back on it? Would it depend on which of the other characters participating in the hunt are part of it?

(I'm gonna recruit on plurk to see if anyone is interested if this is something we could go for, for no other reason than I think it might be fun.)

[wille]

a necessarily macabre question, will the hosts be required to safeguard and bring back lavellan's body to secure their disguise and if so how difficult would that be to do?

[wrackful]

Is information on what a barithian is readily available? If not, would waylaying the messenger or in general casually asking around glean anything?

Also, would it be at all possible to get up on top of the cliffs and find some kind of vantage point to attempt to observe the hunt?

[ryohji]

are there a group of technomagicians in charge of overseeing barrier maintenance? is it all possible that barrier maintenance/engineers and/or other hyrypians with the adequate knowledge are around to take questions from a very curious kaji + co? he may try to use lavellan's death as an excuse to ask more of their hosts than what politeness may otherwise mandate, after all, one of their own is dead and there are rumors flying around of Big Scary Monsters lurking behind the barrier!

[sizeofyourbaggage]

Bringing back the Annie goo for spying round two!

Sam's going to have the idea of packing up Annie goo into something see through and using Lavellan's death as an excuse to get them in closer to those higher up in the envoys. Essentially, he and Annie + whoever else will claim it's a mourning ritual to honor their fallen brother lost in battle, and present the Major Houses as well as the leaders of the envoys (or their representatives if they can't get to them) with the goo token.

Would this be something that the other envoys would buy? If so can it be an excuse to thread/plot clearly well thought out mourning ritual accompaniments that are not at all put together on the fly?

...also if so I will come back to this after I see who if anyone else is interested in contributing to the ritual and if they'd like threading versus infodump from Annie spy cam or a combo of it.

[aluminumandash]

A few unrelated questions (but you can pretend they're related, it's highly entertaining).

1. Is there any other wildlife in the maze?

2. Can the Barithian smell blood/would it react to it in any way/what quantity would be necessary?

3. After the hunt, would it be possible for Rust to get his hands on...basically ALIEN HARD ALCOHOL? If so, would it have any kind of unexpected effects?