video

[aspearation]

[ Undyne had said she wanted more guidance from ALASTAIR. Here she is, with more guidance, and she doesn’t know if she likes it. Looking more ragged than ever, she’s standing with Pearl, with the volcano Nalalona in the background. ]

Alright chumps, listen up, it’s time for some teamwork! ALASTAIR has some ideas about what we can do to get the volcano going again, so everyone can get their powers back. ...it’s going to involve a bomb.

[Pearl clears her throat, despite the fact her body is flickering in and out of view at some points during the video. The Gem stands tall as she gestures back to the volcano.]

This is correct. ALASTAIR has entrusted us with schematics of creating a bomb and a catapult. It’s up to us to gather the necessary supplies and assemble them.

They have observed a high level of tectonic plate activity here, near the Nalalona volcano. With enough force -- the bomb in this case -- we can possibly trigger an eruption and restore the natives’ Gifts, along with our own magical abilities. The volcano’s opening is large enough for us to hit our mark with the bomb. It’s up to us to put it all together.

We can’t afford to not try. Look around you, half our team relies on magic just to exist. This isn’t just about helping the natives use magic anymore, this about saving ourselves. If you don’t use magic, good for you, but if you have a heart, you’ll understand why this is important, and why if I catch anyone slacking off, they’ll be answering to my spear about why they don't think it's important. Got it?!

[Pearl glances to Undyne and offers her a weak smile. The situation they were all facing was quite dire. She faces the feed again.]

I know we have the ability to make this work. And we will, if we all work together on this. Every little bit helps!

[ OOC note: There will be a mod-posted mass log on the 16th for gathering/construction/etc. Pearl and Undyne will be around, and feel free to use this post to chat among each other as well! ]

[ OOC edit: The NPCs Crowley and Cherenkov speak! ]

Comments

Re: video

[beyourrock]

Very... limited experience.

Like we've said, this is all ALASTAIR's information. We have schematics and everything.

video

[anteil]

And you'll follow that order blindly? Based on schematics you have no previous experience with?

| A pause. | I know the situation is dire. More so for you. But the risks...

[beyourrock]

This is the first time in which ALASTAIR offered their help to us. They have experience.

[She knows this is risky. Pearl swallows thickly as she looks at the feed tiredly.]

Is there anything else we can do? Many of us are struggling. The natives are struggling to keep their own society up and running.

[Though, her opinion on the small deers is debatable at this time.]

[anteil]

The higher up someone is in the food chain, the less the deaths of one or two or twenty individuals from below mean to them. ALASTAIR might well not give a damn about our safety if it helps them make ends meet.

| God, she's no diplomat. But she's been there – well, at the more... ALASTAIR end of things. |

Pearl, you heard what Ryba said about the natives. Odds are they are reaping what they sowed, and us messing with it is all but sane. If ALASTAIR cared, they would haul us out of here.

| She gives the ingredients list another read. It's the third time now, but she's still not over it. |

This isn't even a bomb. If we do this, we're doing something that we absolutely don't understand.

[beyourrock]

This place used to be full of magic. What's to say that the volcano has some kind of property to in order to make the bomb go off? There's a lot we don't know, but we can't sit around. Ryba isn't bothering to help us.

[She pauses.]

However, one of the ingredients I substituted when I spoke of them. I would say we use fish hearts but...

[Pearl rubs at her arms and looks away.]

They listed Nawali hearts.

[anteil]

| She nods at the mention of magic – it's true that the volcano might well be something other than just that, and she hadn't considered it so far for the purpose of the discussion. She agrees, too, that they can't sit and wait, the number of team members depending on magic was high and they weren't many to begin with. Every single one of them was needed, one way or another.

When Pearl confesses to the true ingredient, Helga exhales audibly. |

We should consider the volcano's potential properties. | First things first. | But the innkeep told me there are other gods beside Nalanni, Ryba proves that, and she was only willing to intervene if we sacrificed something. We refused. What if ALASTAIR wants to make that choice for us, this time?

[beyourrock]

We don't know what will happen, Helga.

[She says sadly, but she lifts her head, looking at the feed with more confidence.] I wish I knew the answers myself. If we don't do this, people will continue to suffer. It's either we do it, or we don't. We can't sit around and think about the 'what ifs'.

[anteil]

I agree. It's the only real plan we have. That makes thinking about it twice as important, because you don't want to end up with a crew yelling mutiny when the doing's been done to less than ideal, but predictable results.

| She doesn't avert her eyes, not even once. |

Which leads us to the risk of substitutions.

[beyourrock]

It might be a step in the right direction. If we don't do something now, we may lose over half of our team.

[Her gaze falters, just for a moment, but her gem glows softly.]

If people get mad, then so be it. I don't want anyone to think that I'm not taking into consideration of other's well being here. If there are natives that are too close to the volcano before we launch, we'll need to get them a safe distance away.

[anteil]

| She nods, thinking. |

It's worth a try. We need to coordinate our forces as soon as possible, nonetheless. Evacuation is easy, the lava tunnels will do the rest. A bigger issue is the hearts. Even if we settle for a substitute | and her tone suggests that is a bad idea | this needs to be kept far away from the Nalawi. You heard Ryba, they aren't as peaceful as they look, and I doubt they would hesitate to use their powers against us, whether or not we restored them.

| She scowls. |

ALASTAIR hasn't exactly presented us with a peacebringer's alternative.

[beyourrock]

[That's something she hadn't considered. What if the Nawali were to turn on them? Pearl considers it for a moment before she shakes her head.]

If the Nawali come at us, well. At least we'll be on an even playing field, magic-wise. This team is strong, I've seen it. Everyone here is possible of great thing, even greater things when working in a group. We restored a sun. We can restore our powers.

[A small sigh escapes her.]

It's not the best alternative, but it's something to work off of. It has to at least lead us somewhere.