Eruption of 2012
Beginning in December of 2011, citizens documented strange behavior by the native wildlife; flocks of birds or butterflies riling up and flying through the village in a seeming frantic state. This lead up to minor earthquake activities starting near the end of January, 2012. Gradually increasing in intensity, the earthquakes soon were known to herald the imminent eruption of Inishie-san which occurred on March 17th, lasting through the 18th.
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Unnatural Causes
Unlike the eruption of 2007, evidence quickly pointed to the earthquake and volcanic activity as being unnatural in origin. After the death of the fae Soled, and initially kept quiet by the town council, suspicions that cultists of Inishie were behind the increased activity were solidified when an encounter between the island's Guardians and a few creatures not native to the island lead to the appearance of talismans made of Black Marble sent to the unwary, signaling cultist activities. Concern over the earthquakes and imminent eruption grew, and steps were taken to set up emergency shelters at the Caislean Dubhcoille, Rinkei Gakuen, and Vault 85
Monsters
The populace at large became aware of the supernatural cause of the activity with the appearance of creature dubbed 'Flame Stalker', a headless humanoid magma golem attempting to descend into the village from the north, prompting several of the island's citizenry to take up arms and beat the creature back. Subsequent appearances by the same creature culminated in its destruction outside of Vault 85.
Dinosaurian creatures dubbed 'Lava-darters' were a follow up attack upon the village, again destroyed by the combined efforts of the citizenry, who had at this point, with organizational efforts from the Town Council, created patrols and emergency watch routes, checking critical points around the village for earthquake damage and offering assistance where needed.
Further monster activity came with the appearance of corrupted native animals driven to a Dire form, ferrets, once again repelled by the actions of the citizenry of the village. Several smaller ferrets, corrupted only to the point of changing color, have been taken into the care of Ariah.
An ominous reflection of the eruption of the era before the eruption of 3000 BCE, a creature best described as a 'bone wraith' advanced much further into the forest north of the village, accompanied by a small horde of animated animal skeletons. This group was once again stopped by the citizens.
February 20-March 6th(Est.)
Lilith is found exploring Omalara Valley and the Mt. Inishie by Mikazuki. Lilith(negatively affected by the black marble) foolishly stood her ground, engaging in battle with Mikazuki. When Eimi arrived, Mikazuki convinced her that Lilith had been the one sabotaging her Vulcanogy equipment, leading Eimi to join in the fight. Lilith attempts to flee and is subdued mortally, leading Eimi to fall to keep Lilith from dying of her wounds. Lilith suffers burns to at least half of her body and loses her memory of the events. She believes Temair saved her, and so joins the cultists, acting as a spy for them until March 17th.
March 17th
A heavy uptick in the frequency of the earthquakes lead to the beginnings of the eruption on the early afternoon Saturday, March 17th. Heavy smoke, ash and gases clogged the air while the ground trembled, though the fury of the volcano seemed to be contained; those with a sense of magic were able to see the criss-crossed lines of a 'web' of magic laid over the island, slightly different colors in different regions, a visual representation of the activities of the Guardians and Sentries to protect the island. No more monsters were engaged on this day, but rather the cultists themselves.
Agrona
A native oread identified as Agrona by other natives present appeared within the village limits near to the Crimson Rose and Sword, the oread grown to well above her natural height and swelling with magma and negative energies. She seemed intent upon destroying the already damaged building, interrupted by Kaslin, and quickly engaged by Aedre, Elara, Angela, Serra, Flutter, Ielle and Allya with some assistance by Suika Ibuki, Lianna, Beth and Salix, all braving the dangerous atmosphere from the erupting volcano to protect the town. Attempts were made to talk the woman down from her destructive path, but were unsuccessful, eventually ending with Agrona dead and several injured from the resulting explosion which also damaged the roadway and the front of the Inn.
Eimi - Lilith - Mikazuki
Several hours passed between the confrontation with Agrona at the Rose and Sword before there was another significant bit of activity. Lead by Eimi, who was calling herself Inishie's Sentry, Lilith and Mikazuki attacked Rinkei Gakuen, Eimi seeming intent upon destroying that which she helped build. More citizens came to defend, including those involved in the fight against Agrona save Kaslin, Aedre and Flutter, all too injured in the fight by the Rose and Sword to participate. In addition to those who fought before, John, Brysaihe, Misha, Aelin, Nepeta, Gamzee, Equius, Dirk, Namirra, Talmara, Jubilee and Vriska, some fighting despite being injured, others intent upon stopping the fire started in front of the school to rescue those within who had taken shelter there. After a brief, intense period of fighting in the school yard, Eimi cast a spell to take herself and her two companions to another location, arriving in front of the Yuriba Art Gallery with most of the other combatants in hot pursuit.
Building to a fever pitch, Lilith and Mikazuki yielding the field and retreating, Eimi appeared to cast a massive spell, it's effect not clear. Rae, having witnessed the fight outside of her Gallery, rushed to Eimi's side, begging the woman to stop what she was doing. After intense conversation and uncertainty on the part of those involved in the fight, Eimi seemed to turn away from her dark path, just as the volcano erupted with full fury in the north.
Lava and fire shot into the atmosphere in a great, apocalyptic column that threatened to overwhelm the island with it's destructive fury, though it seems that with Eimi's turning from the evil and the final sacrifice of the last of her energies, the column shuddered and collapsed inward on itself, the lava falling into Omolara Valley and flowing harmlessly into the ocean to the northeast of Inishie-san.
March 18th
The night of the 17th passed with the greatest threat from the volcano having been redirected away from the village, leaving the sky choked with ash and there limited danger from spot fires, the wetness of the winter and early spring keeping the fires largely within check, the greatest damage from the fire contained to the forests to the west of Engetsu-san and north of Yuriba Park. General knowledge indicated there to be at least one cultist left, and no one rested easily on the day leading to the events of the late afternoon and evening of the 18th.
Temair
Though most of the black marble talismans that had been sent about the island to the unsuspecting had been gathered and purified, multiple stones still existed. With a crack and flourish of negative energy, they broke, the energy seeming to head for the smouldering volcano, the valley around it still glowing with the cooling lava. Several of the citizens, many of who had risked life and limb in previous battles over the last month and the day before were quick to rush to the volcano as it seemed at risk of reigniting and erupting again, finding the self proclaimed High Priestess of Inishie, Temair. After a brief confrontation upon the slopes of the mountain, Temair left to attempt her final goal, assassinating the High Priestess of the Lady, Breisleach.
Arriving upon the island within the park that houses the Woodland Retreat, Temair found the High Priestess along with several others, Atara, Merin and Kinuko, breisleach and Merin seeming to have linked their magical energies while Atara and Kinuko stood at guard, having expected Temair's move. Intent upon following the woman, those who engaged her upon the mountain rapidly reached the park and the island, moving with great haste, swelling the forces facing down Temair to significant size; Talmara, Ruriko, Ielle, Serra, Elara, Angela, Iris, Ariah, Galeora, Beth, John, Feanor, Allya, Misha, Jubilee, Tetsuko and Aelin joining the three Guardians and Kinuko.
Temair taking upon an ethereal form and channeling Inishie's strength caused the fight to be very intense, several grave injuries incurred to several of the fighters, with Iris sacrificing herself via a powerful spell to give those fighting a high level of protection. After a long battle, Temair began to show a growing weakness from the barrage of attacks from those defending, and after a final show of strength, Temair was killed. As a last act, similar to how Agrona fell, Temair 'erupted' and exploded, only not in obsidian and magma, but rather with an explosion of intense negative energy, as if a great host of the negatively charged black marble pieces had been destroyed at the same time, sending a wave of negative emotion flowing across the island.
| OOC Notes |
| Several files of logs of the events: |
Aftermath
Several locations about the island received damage from the earthquakes and eruptions, including but not limited to Yuriba Park, the Crimson Rose and Sword, the well known large Hot Spring located at the center of town and the Sakura Keep, which seemed to be completely destroyed. Patrol efforts focused upon the various bridges and notable locations around the island, finding any which needed repair and reporting it to the Town Council. Many of the village defenders received some sort of injury, but there were only two deaths aside from the cultists; Eimi for her sacrifice and Iris for hers as well. No other cultist activity was reported after Temair's death, save for the mostly peaceful surrender of Lilith and Mikazuki.