MISSION: SALT THE EARTH

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 17 - October 23
Location: Southwest Russia, 1223 CE
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Initiative sends all of the Transports on a mission to fight troops of the Golden Horde.
Warnings: war, violence, npc death (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

It is a warm day when the Transports arrive, a breeze blowing and sparse clouds in the sky. Before them is an expanse of flat land interspersed with some short, rolling hills. There are sparse trees, but for the most part it is grassland. It would be ideal for farming, but has not been utilized as such yet. Several miles in the distance is a small town, and the troops of the Golden Horde have made their camp just outside of it. There are about a thousand soldiers present, and the mission is simple: send a message that this land cannot be claimed. They will do this by defeating these warriors who are feared throughout the medieval world. They will then punctuate this statement by ensuring that this land cannot be farmed for centuries.

It is a small expanse of land that the Initiative has their eyes on, no more than ten miles in diameter. But for some reason, they have deemed it to be of a deep strategic importance.

The Transports arrive in the early morning, escorted by several Initiative officers, whose presence is meant primarily to keep things organized while the actual battle is to be left to the Transports. Under the guidance of these Initiative officers, the first order of business for the Transports is to set up a camp of their own. The battle will commence in the late afternoon, six hours after their initial arrival.

The battle will take place halfway between each side's respective camps. Many of the Mongolians will fall in combat. On the fifth day, the remaining soldiers will retreat, surrendering the area. Once the region has been secured, the second portion of the mission will commense, in which the Initiative will oversee the dispersement of a chemical agent over the land to ensure that no crops may be grown there. It will be harmless to all humans and animal life, and some weeds may even be able to take root, but the grain farming that would have otherwise taken place on this land will not be able to be undertaken. The land outside of this ten mile radius will be unharmed, but this small region will be barren, seen as cursed when the legend of the defeat of the soldiers of the Golden Horde is passed on.

A week after the mission's commencement, the Transports will be sent back to Exsilium. Their mission will have been a success. But the fallout of it will remain to be seen...

Comments

[moralperil]

[Smile darn it. D:]

Or like a kitten in a bath towel?

[healplz]

Or something very similar, I'm sure.

[ Okay, fine, a smile. But it fades back into a neutral when he glances away from Mahdi again and back out toward the camp. ]

Are you ready?

[moralperil]

[Mahdi follows Ashraf's gaze, echoing his pensive gaze.] I can't shake that this is wrong, but I want to protect you. I'll always be ready to do that.

[healplz]

[ That is so strange to hear. Not only is he usually regarded as the one protecting people, but from Mahdi. Tiny, fragile-looking Mahdi. ]

I'm sorry it's a necessity, but thank you nonetheless.

[moralperil]

[Tiny and fragile though he may be, Mahdi is extremely determined. His delicate fingers are curled into fists.] I can't be useless this time around. My heart couldn't take it.

[healplz]

[ aw no. :c It's basically impossible here not to reach over and ruffle Mahdi's hair gently. ]

You won't be useless. You assitance will be valuable and appreciated, I feel sure of it.

[moralperil]

Thank you. Thank you for letting me help. I promise I won't get in the way.

[Mahdi snorts a little at having his hair ruffled.] Hey! [It's an affectionate protest, though, and he's coming in for a hug in 3, 2, 1...!]

[healplz]

[ One of these days, Mahdi, he's going to put up a Kyrie Eleison shield between him and that hug just for the fun of it— but today isn't that day. Today he just sighs and drops an arm around Mahdi's shoulder with a small smile, as his version of returning the hug. ]

[moralperil]

[A one-armed hug is definitely better than no hug at all. Mahdi leans into it, eyes closed for a moment. This is nice, actually. He has the sudden thought of I could get used to this ♥ which causes him to quickly pull away.]

...Have you eaten?

[healplz]

[ That pull-back is slightly worrisome, but... Mahdi doesn't look particularly unhappy, so it goes without comment. He only drops his arm again and nods. ]

This morning. [ And it's... what, late afternoon? Eh, that'll do. ] Have you?

[moralperil]

I'm too excited to eat. But you should eat, you need to get your strength up! [Mahdi tries to give Ashraf a hearty pat on the back, but, well, even in that manner he's not very good at hitting people.]

[healplz]

[ That gets what could possibly classify as a wry smile. ]

Doesn't the same go for you?

[moralperil]

I guess I am getting a little tired out from giving out these blessings... [Mahdi has his arm looped around Ashraf's, tugging him toward the mess tent.]

[healplz]

[ Well, if it gets Mahdi to eat... he follows along willingly enough, even content enough to leave his arm to Mahdi. Although he does pause for just long enough to cast agility over both of them— walking slow is for chumps. ]

Speaking of, I don't believe I've gotten one yet. [ That with a quirk of one brow. come on man where's his blessing, huh. ]

[moralperil]

I'm sorry! I wasn't sure if my blessings might interfere with yours... but I guess there shouldn't be any reason for it to. [Mahdi pauses their quick pace, looks up into Ashraf's face and snaps his fingers. Actually there's really no need for even that amount of showmanship, but people appreciate it, and doing it helps Mahdi focus.]

There. Now there's a little bubble of good fortune around you, good for about a day's time. I'll refresh it once it wears out, don't worry.

[It may or not feel different, the ever-so-slight alteration of reality.]

[healplz]

[ He's happy to pause, and considers that. It doesn't feel much different. There's no immediate physical difference, like there is with his own blessings, and those of the other holy men and women of the Church. But... there might be something there.

He smiles, nods a thanks to Mahdi. ]

I appreciate that, thank you. [ And he lifts a hand, palm resting lightly on Mahdi's forehead as he casts a blessing of his own. The movement is entirely theatrical, but as long as Mahdi is standing within range... ] And now we're even.

[moralperil]

Ooh, tingly! Thank you, Ashraf! [Normally Mahdi would object to being patted on the head, but since it seems to be part of the blessing, he'll allow it just this once. He gives Ashraf another brief hug before grabbing his arm again and continuing their way to the mess tent.]