Unrest

[cyclicalitymods]

A medium-sized group of people have decided to take matters into their own hands. In the middle of the night, they split apart and casually make their way through different parts of the city. And then suddenly, all across the city, homes and apartments catch fire; some buildings, specifically businesses, collapse due to suddenly unstable ground; other areas near water are completely flooded.

It's not long before most, if not all of the suspects are apprehended, but quite a bit of damage has been done. Boroughs 3, 4 and 5 were hit the hardest for what seems to be due to the fact most of the refugees live in those areas. Some parts of the Spirit Wilds also have some damage, but the spirits were quick to chase away the vandals from their home.

For anyone awake at this late hour, word is quickly spreading and the blame is being squarely placed on the shoulders of the refugees. At least, that's why the the vandals claim to have done it. They're taking all the resources...! That... the group just destroyed. Apparently if they can't have them, neither can the refugees. Most of the members of the group seem to be members of the Triads. Apparently they felt the need to be "heroic."

For those not awake, well, they probably will wake up soon. The earth begins to rumble and shake violently all throughout Republic City, much too strong for even a large group of earthbenders. A few more buildings fall victim to damages from debris.

The shaking stops after a solid three minutes or so, but throughout the night, strong aftershocks will shake the city. What's of interest is what happened during the earthquake. On Air Temple Island, a bunch of spiritual energy has gathered. The result of the gathered spirits is a ball of energy that fiercely glows a red color. Sparks of red leap away from the gathered energy and apparently draw in quite the impressive strike of lightning! Hopefully the airbenders won't mind a giant red glowing thing of doom right where the symbol for Tui and La used to be.

Someone could investigate. It's dark and the glow from the ball of energy can be seen for a few miles, although as time goes on the glow will subside a bit, but not completely.

[ Tags from this account will probably come tomorrow. We'll comment back about the red thing of doom, but otherwise let us know if you want us for stuff. Otherwise, feel free to NPC some things. Catch a runaway or two, etc. ]

Comments

about an hour after the ball appears~

[raavashing]

Wan was woken up by the spirits of the wilds when the triads tried to cause problems. Despite no longer having his bending, he was still the Avatar and they knew it. They trusted him to help them scare the troublesome humans away. Of course, once the triads were gone, Wan wasn't exactly able to get back to sleep and he worried about what other damage the gang members had done.

That was what had drawn him out during the middle of the night to try and follow the path of destruction so he could help anyone caught in the middle. So when the earthquake hit and the red light from Air Temple Island started to shine, he headed that way as soon as he could.

Unfortunately, without his bending, the commute through the city and across the bay took him an hour.

When he finally arrived, he only bothered to speak to anyone long enough to make sure the Acolytes were safe. His goal was the giant ball of energy and he didn't hesitate to walk right into it.

[cyclicalitymods]

Wan was one lucky man. Most people would think twice before boldly walking through a glowing red vortex. It could have been instant death; at the very least, it could have left him burnt to a crisp.

The other side of the portal was surprisingly safe. Perhaps even more surprising was the silence and warmth here, particularly for this time of year. The portal had led Wan to the caldera of a volcano that was either dormant or extinct. If it wasn't, people were stupid to build anything here at all.

The buildings appeared to be sturdy, mostly white with red accents, but for such a fancy looking place, it looked like no one lived there. Not anymore. Not even guards were posted to protect this place, even near what appeared to be a palace. Yet if Wan were to follow the pathway out of the caldera and down the volcano, he would find people. People who were unaware that an hour ago, the entire population of a royal plaza just up and disappeared.

Behind Wan, the portal glowed, but it wasn't the fiery red that it was at Air Temple Island. On this side, the portal was white. Perhaps it was a more convenient method of transportation. It probably wasn't that easy, though. Things were never easy.

Open

[streetferret]

That sure was his borough on fire, but Mako didn't have time to worry about what he lost in the fire. First thing he did was get out and help those he could. Escaping the damaged buildings was first priority. Which thankfully was easy since he was one of the few who hadn’t slept that night. Insomnia had been keeping him lately, and for once it actually helped out. After getting into uniform, one of the few sets of clothes he had left, Mako assigned himself and the rest of the detectives of the police department to find the vandals. Easy to do since it seemed too organized to be an accident. Triads was their first guess and lo and behold.

A tired Mako with ash on his face and uniform was looking out to the bay. Mouth agape at what he saw off in the distance.

Whether he's still there staring, already on his motorcycle heading towards the bay, or approaching the island via ferry; Mako's all business.

As usual.

Great minds have the same idea

[lavamylife]

After Bolin had woken up as a result of the tremors, his first thought was to get to Air Temple Island. He didn't know if Opal was there or not, but Jinora and some of the others certainly would, and he wanted desperately to go and help them. Of course, he'd gotten distracted by a certain tigerdillo on the way there... and Bolin had gone to help someone else. But that still didn't mean that Bolin wasn't going to come.

In fact, after seeing what had happened to others, that all but guaranteed that Bolin would be making his way to Yue Bay to figure out how if even there was a way to the island.

"Mako, you here too?" he calls out when he finds his brother there with apparently the same idea.

[truestheart]

Henry had been staying at the Air temple since his whole adventure with magically getting airbending powers only a few days ago. As much as he didn't like the whole all vegetarian diet he'd been living on, it was better than his previous situation. However, he was sure spontaneous glowing balls of energy don't normally turn up n the dead of night.

The bright light had awoken him and he was already racing outside to where the light was. He's not sure what it was, nor why it was there but it had to be something. Any normal child at this point would probably run and hide, but not Henry. Something told him that maybe this would help him and everyone else get home. Or maybe he was death.

But, he was always a bold leaper of faith and this was no exception. He's already moving towards it and has no plans on stopping unless someone tries to intervene.

[cyclicalitymods]

What lay on the other side of the portal wasn't dangerous. In fact, it was rather dead and empty. And warm. If he were to go through the fiery vortex, he would find that the portal would turn a burning hot white color behind him. In front of him, however, would be a grand plaza, rather royal looking with its white foundation and red accents, even an impressive palace in the distance, with all of it nestled safely in the center of a caldera.

There wouldn't be another soul in the entire plaza aside from Henry, though. He could go exploring and surely he would find people outside of the caldera who were completely unaware that the inhabitants of an entire royal plaza vanished into thin air. No guards, no locals and a palace vulnerable to looting... should anyone notice.

Open

[descendsfromshadow]

Chaos is breaking out in the burough. Whatever set this whole thing off, it was clear that the situation had gone entirely out of control. Fires are already burning and people are being attacked in the streets, with the refugees from other worlds being the prime targets apparently. And up above, somebody watches the riot.

Clad in black, armed with a sword and a bladed chain, hooded and with her features obscured by a white mask, Blake moves over the rooftops. She's not foolish enough to take on the whole mob but she can put out some fires here and there, and she does. Wherever she can intervene, whether to protect somebody, get them to safety or possibly put down a smaller group of the rioters she does.

The buroughs are burning, and the White Fang is on the scene.



[OOC: Catch-all for anybody who wants a run-in with a mysterious vigilante. Open for anyone whether that's characters who need saving, backup in a fight, or whatever!]

[wolfstrike]

The White Fang isn't the only vigilante on the loose. Except this one doesn't bother with masks or hiding his identity.

Blake will probably notice a man with long hair and a sword trying to fight off a group of triad members that were attacking people in the streets and burning buildings. With him is his dog, Repede. They're holding their ground, but it's very obvious that they're very outnumbered. The triad group quickly surrounding them.

Open

[lordhotman]

Zuko had planned to leave for the Fire Nation in the morning, but the commotion in the wilds had woken him up too. He had seen Wan run off, but didn't follow him. Instead he followed the spirits to where people were destroying parts of the wilds, setting abandoned buildings and vines on fire.

As the spirits chased off the people, Zuko quickly went to the nearest source of water and did the best he could at putting out the flames. Being able to waterbend wasn't all bad at least. As he started to get the fire under control, that's when the earthquake hit. The tremors throwing him off his feet and causing him to land on the trembling earth hard. The spirits swirling above him in a panic. Buildings began to crumble and vines fell. Zuko tried to get up, but the tremoring, which seemed to go on forever, prevented him from going too far.

It was then that one of the buildings near him began to collapse. In a futile effort to get out of the way, the debris fell with a loud crash, trapping him beneath it.

[phoenixstrut]

Just as Zuko had left immediately for the spirit wilds, Dove was quick to find her way there as well, appalled at the destruction. Her bending had not been tainted, and the moment she arrived she began directing the flames away from the vines, extinguishing them in the air before moving to the next one. Luckily, Maomi was enough to keep most of the people at bay, and those who didn't know their place were quick to get singed.

This wasn't funny.

When the earthquake hit, she clung to the tigerdillo, careful to get as far away from the buildings as she possibly could before both collapsed. The large cat covered her until things had settled enough, and when she had risen to her feet, she looked around, taking inventory with a horrified expression.

Guiding the cat toward the nearest crumbled building, she began to search. Even if they were abandoned, surely it wouldn't have stopped people from trying to live in them, and she didn't want to risk anything by simply walking away.

When Maomi stopped and called out to her, she turned and went, watching as the tigerdillo began shoving large chunks of debris out of the way, digging for whatever--or whoever-- was below it.

"Did you find something?"

Open

[airyopalescent]

Opal had only returned from her trip to Zaofu the night before and her nerves were still on edge. With her mother, father and all of her brothers gone, Zaofu was literally destitute for people to lead it. And Opal was sitting on the edge of a very hard decision to make - abandoning her airbending training to lead Zaofu until a time when her mother or father themselves could be found.

Sleep wasn't coming easily that evening, to say the least. So she was still awake when the rumbling had begun. It seems to fall more focused in Republic City however and in the next moment Opal had been out of her room and into the courtyard where the symbol for Tui and La was. And where a big ball of glowing red now hung, crackling with energy.

... What should she do about it exactly though?

[abitofawildman]

Cautiously Bumi walks over towards where Opal is standing.

"That...that wasn't there when I went to sleep."

Openbending

[savedtheworld]

Aang is normally asleep at this hour; but he's startled awake by the rumbling in the earth. He hops to his feet, just feeling a little pain at realizing his bending is still gone, and afterwards he spends about half an hour checking around the temple to make sure that everyone's okay.

But then, it almost feels like something is drawing him outside. He looks into the red ball of energy as if in a trance. He wonders what it could be or what it could mean.

It's only a matter of time until he sees what happens when he touches it.

[cyclicalitymods]

The air around the red vortex is almost unbearably hot, but it's as if all that hot air is trapped within a one foot radius of the vortex. Despite the heat, it's cool to the touch, so at least Aang won't end up with any burns.

He could take a chance and stick his head through, or maybe just take the plunge and see what's on the other side. There's no darkness or evil energy coming from it. It seems safe, even if it appears towering and dangerous. No one would blame a curious airbender for touching such a portal, especially one that appeared after a huge earthquake!

...Okay, some people might. But that's besides the point. There's a whole other world on the other side, Aang! ...Sort of!

[paishodown]

"Aang!" Asami's just arriving at the island, a bit short of breath and windswept from the boat ride and subsequent run toward the giant... red thing. She calls out the young (old?) Avatar's name upon seeing him, hoping that he might have a clue as to what's going on.

"What's happened?"

Open

[abitofawildman]

After decades in the Navy a little bed rocking is hardly going to be enough to wake Bumi. He can sleep anywhere, anytime, and under almost any condition.

Any condition, that is, save for the ringing of a telephone.
Whoever decided to use that particular pitch of bell on those blasted devices should be sent to the Fog of Lost Souls for their troubles.

Bumi throws on his bathrobe, pads his way down the hallway from where he's crashed for the night in Meelo's room, and into Tenzin's.

"Do you know what time it is? What? Of course we're fine. There's what? Slow down, slow down. Are you sure? Because I'm right there and I don't...."

the phone drops from his hand.

"Rutting badgermoles," he swears, before he runs from the Main House out onto the pavilion for a better view of...whatever that is.

[cyclicalitymods]

It's a giant, flaming, dangerous-looking, spinning vortex. Actually, it's taking up quite a bit of room, the selfish thing! The air around it feels hot, but if Bumi were to actually touch it, it would feel surprisingly cool!

...Still, Air Temple Island's going to need a lot of repair work done after that huge earthquake, glowing vortex of doom aside.

[restoredhonour]

During the initial chaos in the city and the earthquake, Lord Zuko had been confined in City Hall. With the attacks being a political act targeted at the refugees, there was the risk that he, too, would be targeted, for implementing policies to help and protect them. Leaving the security of the building was far too risky.

However, most of the suspected troublecausers were apprehended within a few hours. It's then Zuko travels across the city to Air Temple Island -- albeit more slowly than he otherwise would have, since Druk is missing. Unusual behaviour for the dragon, given he'd always be at Zuko's side in a crisis, but he doesn't have time to dwell on that now. He's sure his companion has a good reason for being absent.

Zuko arrives at Air Temple Island by airship with a deployment of metalbenders, others arriving by boat, both to protect the President and investigate the portal. Once in the temple grounds, Lord Zuko takes a brief look at the portal but doesn't get too close. His priority is to find anyone on the island who can tell him what's going on, and before long, he comes across a familiar face.

"Bumi! What is the situation here?"

Open, during the initial attack

[windfire_donuts]

Though Nezha had no idea what was going on, there was one thing he could be sure of, and that was that the city was in chaos. Now, a sane person would be trying to escape the flames and finding ways to help. Nezha was far from sane.

Nope, instead the youth had grabbed the opportunity to bust some heads, and with spear in hand, he could be found fighting off terrorists not far from the Spirit Wilds. Not for the sake of keeping the peace, mind you, but for the sheer fun of having an excuse to participate in the chaos. At least he's helping?

[redcladidealist]

Even though Nezha is focused on the terrorists right now, disasters have a way of grabbing people's attention - which may be the case when a whole side of a building starts crumbling right into the street. The sound is deafening, temporarily drowning out all else. Once it's over, though, there's definitely the sound of terrified cries inside.

Lloyd's already in motion, jerking away from where he'd been trying to clear rubble. The terrorists Nezha's chasing barely even register because there's a kid crying, this is way more important.

"There's people still in there!" he shouts to anyone listening, sprinting across the street. "We have to get them out!"

Will Nezha keep chasing? Or will he listen to Lloyd's cry for help?

Open, either Borough 3 or around Air Temple Island

[georgeous]

So much for having a home. It had been an alright home, even if not up to the standards he was used to. Having a home had been nice.

George really would have liked this state to last for more than a few weeks. All good things may come to an end, but do they have to so quickly?

In night clothes, hair unbrushed and regrettably without make-up, he is standing on the streets of Borough 3, in front of his house which had thankfully not been destroyed by fire but also not left unharmed. With its side turned to coal, it made for a rather pathetic sight.

George brushes his long, long fringe out of his face for the perceived hundredth time and sighs as he stares up at the ball in the sky miserably.

"Couldn't I have gotten abducted to a slightly more functional world at least? Well, if it falls apart, maybe I'll find a hole to slip home through at least..."

His words aren't meant for anybody to hear, but that doesn't mean people can't.

Later, he can be encountered making his way towards air-temple-island to observe what's going on. Still in nightclothes, with only a coat over - the one item that had been spared from his wardrobe burning down.

OPEN - Borough 4 en route to Air Temple Island

[lavamylife]

Bolin awakens to a lot of fire and quite a lot of earthshaking. He's not going to be sleeping through the night of this one, even if he is a heavy sleeper. He's going to be getting the heck out of the building as fast as he can. But not before realizing that there's some very unfriendly light hovering close to Air Temple Island. He knows Opal went back to Zaofu, but he didn't know exactly when she was going to return. Still, Jinora's there, along with several other friends of his. He's off.

But he's going to get dragged back to help someone along the way. And he's not going to be super happy about it, but so it goes. He's getting dragged to help baby Zuko on the way there. So maybe Bolin will pass by someone else en route to his ACTUAL destination: the ferry dock.

If the ferries are still running, he's going to be on Air Temple Island; he'll definitely run into anyone that's there. It'll take him a while to get there, of course.

[paishodown]

"Bolin!" Asami pulls up in a small speedboat when he finally reaches the bay. She's tugged on her riding suit, and it's clear that she's been out and about throughout the night. After helping with the debris around the city, she's heading for Air Temple Island to see what could possibly be going on.

Open, on the Republic City side

[paybent]

Dick Gumshoe was late to the call - of course he somehow got held up in traffic - and so he wasn't part of the group that initially arrested the suspects. He does eventually arrive at the police station, where he'll ask those around to catch him up on what's happened. Maybe he'll try to question a perp or too!

Otherwise, this Gumshoe's on the beat. He'll be checking all the boroughs that were attacked and looking around for what clues that can be found - and he'll find his own apartment in the Dragon Flats was among those to be burned. Beyond that, he'll be looking around for anyone who needs assistance.

open

[teaspirited]

A few of the spirits had helped to nudge Iroh awake, and just in time too. He watched Wan run off in one direction and Zuko take off after the spirits, only having enough time to shout out "be careful". While he would normally have been hot on his nephew's heels to make sure he'd be alright, staying behind to keep Kiyi safe took precedence. But that didn't mean he wouldn't bend what fires that had spread closer off the vines and houses.

But that earthquake... Spirits have mercy. At the first trace of a tremor, he stopped and ran right back for Kiyi to shelter her, with his own body if necessary. For someone so young, he could only imagine how terrifying this experience must be. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so in awe and--pardon the pun--shaken by the power of nature. A wave of foreboding rushed through him after it passed though. Something wasn't right and he knew he had to go find Zuko to alleviate his worries, but leaving Kiyi behind was out of the question. He'd have to make sure she was calmed down and 100% okay with going to find Zuko too.

Re: open

[emberofhiraa]

Kiyi had never been more terrified in her short life than she had been when the earthquake had begun, not even when Azula had crashed through her roof and interrupted her family's dinner. It had been startling enough to see her 'new' big brother and her new friend run off without her, but having the entire earth shaking below her, without warning, and seemingly without cause, had her screaming and in tears in seconds. When it didn't let up, she buried herself in her 'uncle's arms, clinging to him desperately, even after the tremors had ended. Sobbing, the little girl kept her face buried in the old man's tunic, her doll clutched tightly to her chest and her little body shaking in fear.

shortly after the eartquakes

[paishodown]

In the aftermath of the building cave-ins in the more densely populated parts of town, Asami has hopped into one of Future Industries' newer mecha tanks. Although most models were no longer weaponized, this one was armed with taser wires just in case she ran into one of the vandals along the way.

She joined the police in digging through the rubble, making sure there was nobody trapped underneath.

The City just couldn't catch a break, could it?