The Storm, 1936 to 39
Major Event 6, EOCC, Oxford, March 22nd
Outside in the Dream, a huge army is gathering. At the very furthest end, the pinnacle, the very Source of The River, emerging from beyond the floodgates, comes a colossal dark wave… millions upon millions of black and filth clad Butchers swarm out, flowing viscously like some terrible ooze… they sweep unrelentingly in two directions… half towards the Shade, intent on consuming the Ministry of Truth at the heart of the Mourning Veil… and all around it... the other half flows towards the Dirt City of Lonaricago, aiming at something in its’ walls...
The Parliament is gathered in the Storm, under the huge silhouettes of three Raptor Castles. The mechanical Locos, adorned with Owl symbolism. The senatorial city of House Aquilla, with gold eagles on red banners. Most recognisable, the lightning streaked Schloss Wittgenstein, protected by the huge statues of fallen heroes Hans, Torstig & Angernon, the ancient Tower D’Bubos, and above it the crackling storm clouds obscuring the silhouette of the imperious Gryphon. The long shadow of some huge, incredibly fast flyer occasionally streaks the Lost-horde-laden ground...
Pahl’Munn opens the Parliament, aided by his ally Jacko. Imploring the gathered Coteries to be careful in their infringements of the newly redesigned Laws, Pahl’Munn seems to be determined to make sure rules are followed carefully… even if his reading differs to others, clashing with the Raptors. Pahl’Munn assigns two Bailiffs to aid the Jurors in generally being observant of the Parliament’s laws - Benny the Gull and King Gustav Wittgenstein.
The winning Conductor is the returned and somewhat broken Lord Ezra Lovelorn, who shows an unstoppable ongoing dedication to the protection of the Mourning Veil and enforcement of the Parliament’s rules. The Best Overture Award goes to the Wavefarers.
Melody Harmony, the Moorhen of The Glorious Imperium, seems to be trying to recruit for a new Cotery… somewhere between the needs of the River and the ambitions of the Dirt… this seems to have something to do with the many silver tributaries and beautiful shining visions recently attributed to the River and its swelling banks once the floodgates of Desire opened…
Previously claimed for the Parliament by Elector Ferdinand, The Mirror found inside The River’s Source is inspected by many of the Parliament. It appears to be fractured many times over, only reflecting certain people, and displaying strange dark and glowing figures. Many try interacting in different ways, some contemplating to destroy it, some trying to steal it… until after a long period of time Caroline the Loon manages to repair it. The images vanish, the cracks fade, and the Mirror becomes little but a strange, alien artifact...
Beta, a Jackdaw Rep at MINITru Lodge Alpha comes to help the Mourning Veil, asking for a confidential meeting regarding MINITru’s future… and the fact its existence threatens the mortality of the entire Mourning Veil...
Pippi, a Shag Berserker, comes looking for Pablo, demanding a rematch… considering he previously shot her with a cannon. He wins easily… and almost instantly proposes a marriage, seemingly swiftly over his whirlwind romance with The Great Ress.
The Wavefarers meet with the First Wavefarer, The Mariner Hesperonis, who offers them an ultimatum. With the decision riding on Captain StubbleJaw, the choice is made... the Mariner instead seems delighted at the choices made. With his help, the Wavefarers are ready to explore the innards of The Great Kraken Davey Jones, the Wavefarers’ Archnemesis, in search of a Great Evil...
An Agent Of The Above offers aid with a small price...
Two Dreamers, Alan & Julius, appear to discuss the Cage. Alan sees it as a puzzle that can always be solved, and Julius sees the prize within as something that can be claimed and controlled, no matter its’ destructive payload or tenacity to explode…
Razia, servant of Brufus of The Under-Barrier, comes looking for Pablo to pay back the gift she gave him in the fight against K T L U - seems the Under Barrier has been under threat from a group of dangerous insurgents… who should never have existed, cryptids created by the Barrier Crimson’s life-giving properties altered by the Ningen’s assault. Like the Ningen, the Cryptids were attempting to escape past the Barrier into the Waking World. The group learn much about the Under-Barrier, the Founders, and the Cryptids, whose feathered Saurian leader would rather commit suicide than speak…
Of note amongst the Cryptids are two winged, a devilish succubic Owl capable of breathing fire, and a glowing majestic Peacock composed of blue light… also, an armoured Piscid named the Coelacanth who had already ventured into the Waking World and not returned...
Two creatures, named Gore and Bile, supposedly summoned by the Red attack the Red & Wavefarers…
Secundus and Tertia of House Aquilla meet with the Raptors et al to discuss The Guide and his growing power. More must be done - bigger and more powerful than before, more of the same is not enough. As will be seen later, this is seemingly a success...
The Dirt have difficulty reaching their Patron…
A mixed group of White Hand White-Pigeon Monks and Pillars of Light Cultists from come to thank the Dirt for saving them from a nasty situation in Lonaricago, something the Dirt are utterly unaware of… They come to an agreement, the Dirt obtaining a relic from the White-Hand’s Science Monks in exchange for something else...
A creature of The Above recruits The Raptors to destroy a clean energy source for The Dreamers, resulting in destroying a Dreamer airship…
Bostonikov’s ally Tes comes with an ultimatum and an offer...
A Swan-Shaped-Artefact comes looking for the Riverstates, taking them on a Jaunt to the Source, where the fate of Donafon is revealed and the terrifying truth behind the Above & Below is witnessed…
Out of nowhere, a Dirt scientist from Lonaricago appears to recruit Bostonikov in a mission of great importance - a time anomaly has prevented the correct turn of events in Lonaricago unfurling, creating a paradox. The Dirt of Bostonikov have to go to Lonaricago to save the Doves they have already made a deal with… before they make a deal with them… brains are hurt and gangsters are defeated...
MINITru reps from Lodge Alpha come to talk to the Mourning Veil - due to limited Availability, only King Kwan of House Tearfall is available. He deftly puts all of MINITru’s worries to rest, and with no other option but to sacrifice the life of every living being in the Mourning Veil, the MINITru is disbanded and every Jackdaw is recruited into House Tearfall. Kwan is warned this will displease the Highfather, the head of MINITru Lodge Alpha, greatly…
Kutter, a “Used Lantern Salesman” from Lonaricago is selling “honestly sourced” wares. When the legitimacy of his goods is questionned, he uses a Lobster Artefact to escape amidst terror and confusion. Stalwart Goose Maverick Lionheart chases him down, but Kutter gets away…
The Great Beast Crowley returns, spreading talk of Peace and Bliss, aided by his kind and compassionate ally Austin…
As the Below’s Butchers start to amass and flood into the Mourning Veil, an opportunity presents itself to enter the fabled MINITru Lodge Zero. Artefacts are reclaimed…
The Wavefarers explore the insides of the Kraken, discovering that it is infact an artificial creature made of millions of Souls, merged together and bloated on Adventure. The Kraken’s Dark Heart, a black orb crackling with dark lightning, is liberated through the efforts of Dekker and his allies, though they are forced to kill fleshy duplicates of the Wavefarer Martyr Bloodreaver and the recurring evil of Nook Ceta, the brain behind the Ningen’s slaughter. The Dark Heart escapes into the sky, bouncing repeatedly into MINITru’s huge gates, trying hard to enter the Colour Abyss…
As a result of the Kraken’s death and the heart’s liberation, all Krakens have been seen fleeing or exploding into Souls... and the Mariner’s hearty laugh rippling over the stormy sea...
The Butchers of The Below fall on the Mourning Veil, determined to destroy the MINITru, as agreed… however almost in the blink of an eye, the MINITru lodges vanish, dissolving into the darkness of The Shade’s cities… which soon join them, fading into shadow… confused and aimless, the Butchers are forced to back away and join the armies attacking the Dirt…
For a moment, the Mourning Veil claim they can see two enormous figures in the sky… twin Ravens… a surly male in black, and a cheery woman in white, holding hands… before vanishing like the MINITru before them… The Shade itself turns bright, and soon the entirety of the Shade is untraceable on any map, unfindable by any eye...
A random Winged attends, and suddenly attacks with a knife proclaiming himself a Cuckoo of the “Red Hand”. He is soon killed by Pokatua...
Madame Aveophage, Voice of The Below arrives with Butchers in tow, to arrange the next three peoples to die in the Below’s Great Consumption. Only one faction is agreed - Cats, and the Below are happy to do this. Pablo attempts to stab and kill Aveophage, but she vanishes before he has the chance - she returns a moment later, demanding payment from Ezra Lovelorn for the assassination attempt. Ezra has nothing to give… but his “son”, Brick (supposedly a baby Gargoyle), and amongst tears, tragically hands over the “child”...
Alissa, a Dreamer thinker, spreads the idea of Objectivism to Eduardo & friends…
Hue & Ment, two allies of Chroma and members of the mysterious Xenos “Aurora”, come looking for Eduardo. They leave disgruntled…
Out of nowhere comes a facsimile, or perhaps a revenant, of Great Albatross Hero Bloodreaver, who laments his death, violently. His soul is no longer intact. A fight breaks out, and he is silenced.
Titus demands a duel with Hood of the Red for the attempt against her life previously - Pokatua takes Hood’s place, and Baron Albrecht Titus’. Despite his rage, Pokatua is killed, upsetting many. He returns through Pahl’Munn’s power, only long enough to say his goodbyes…
After many attempts to rescue the Soul of Gull-turned-Crow Dawn, Maggis aided by Dekker & Captain Captain are finally successful! They are able to turn a Crow back into a living Winged!
Ernst, The Guide’s chosen expert on both The Winged and Exploration, has a strange metal statue. He trades it in exchange for being introduced to many, many kinds of Winged, their habitat and behaviours…
The Baronet of Ancoats, ally to both The Guide & The Duke, two powerful Dreamers, leads a group of fascist warriors in an attempt to assess Parliament. His intense hate angered Pablo, and resulted in a fight, with Ancoats stabbed by Pablo.
Crowley & Austin return, preaching Bliss…
Suddenly, far above the Parliament, the Gate blocking off The Colour Spiral explodes. Some claim that the Dark Heart of the Kraken blasted its way through. Others claim Wavefarer ships were seen firing upon it. Others describe a huge image appeared amongst a colossal blue explosion, like a white and blue bird-creature with a stupidly happy face…
Now it is no longer obscured, the Colour Spiral can be clearly seen… and it is shocking to behold. Much, much bigger than before, the Spiral is not only brighter and bigger, but closer. The swirls of colour have begun to separate, and in the centre of the coloured orb is a colossal shape, golden light occasionally blaring through the cracks between coloured swirls...
Soon after, some claim to have seen a (relatively) small shape escaping the Cage in flight… until there is a sudden explosion of green flames. Half the Cage is consumed, exploding rapidly, before the flying shape too is consumed...
Others claim to have seen a giant monkey, but that’s dumb.
The huge Below army, now numbering millions, charge in attack on the Dirt city of Lonaricago… or would do, if the City didn’t suddenly glow alight with burning white light, pinning the Below in utter shock and surprise, as they are pinned between Lonaricago and another circling Dirt city, presumably the much smaller Bostonikov. The newcomer city suddenly unfurls a colossal weapon, an impossibly tall and long glittering metal cannon. With a deafening explosion of electrical discharge, the cannon fires, briefly filling the sky with blissful twinkling lights… before suddenly every Below stranger is knocked back by a wave of force, ripped apart and torn into pieces. The Butcher army is annihilated. As swiftly as the cannon appeared, the smoking shaking cannon is gone, the city speeds away, Lonaricago’s blinding light vanishes, and the wounded remnants of the Butchers retreat in fear...
The Parliament is suddenly graced with the presence of Highfather Prime himself, an ancient Crow who ran MINITru, flanked by his Crow entourage. Devastated, angry and seething at his creation’s destruction, he takes his rage out on the Mourning Veil, revealing his madness and fury. Baron Albrecht fights the monster to the Death, brought close to dying in the process.
With the Highfather’s death, the Parliament begins to fade & close...
From the Source of the River come more armies. Another massive Below army of Butchers, even bigger than before, meet up and subsume the Lonaricago remnants, marching and swarming back at the Dirt cities. Troops not seen before join them: huge Butcher giants dripping and toppling like waves of oil carry executioners’ axes, winged demonic gargoyles made of both black slop and stone screeching into the sky, their heads replaced with gleaming bird skulls. And at their centre, a huge construct resembling something between a factory, a cathedral, a tank and a huge beetle, its many towers, parapets, spires and chimneys belching darkness into the sky. It scuttles on many metal and stone legs, leaving a slick trail of black oil, its many cannons firing plumes of dark flame into the sky, a single huge red glass eye illuminating the brickwork that makes most of its huge lumbering frame. The Factothedral and its army marches on the Dirt, seemingly searching for Bostonikov… shots and plumes of black fire at the escaping city… the companion city of The Lisfaenn torn to pieces, raining down into the Dream’s scape… hundreds of militant Pigeons murdered, many more homeless and sent scattered into the world...
New, silvery shapes emerge from the Source - floating, spinning discs lined with blue lights, tall silvery rockets hanging at angles, ready to fire, and tri-eyed tripods spewing silver smoke. Glowing white, angelic silver figures march in their thousands, floating above the River’s reflecting surface, walking on air. They gather around the Frozen Vale, the home of the reformed Articana, many blue lights and white explosions aimed within before a terrifying calm. Witha horrid bone-splitting crack, the Vale breaks like an egg, before being obscured in a silvery dome. The Above army waits, unmoved. The first rockets and lights fire, streaking reflections across the River’s surface… at the Glorious Imperium. They connect, and once the silent, heavenly light fades… the Imperium’s sister Cotery of Moldwyr Court is nothing but a crater in the broken metallic surface of the River, the ancient home of the Kingfishers utterly wiped away, hundreds killed. Many are rescued, both the Kingfishers of Moldwyr and Lost fleeing from the Vale.
A third army, amalgamated of both Above & Below, emerges from The Source, ready to siege another Cotery… however, some observers note how they exit in smaller and smaller numbers… along with some rumours about the Mirror, many think these may be the very last of the Above & Below... for now…
As the armies travel, more and more rumours are heard. Despite the fact it cannot be found, some people say that the adventurous and extreme Choughs have returned to the Mourning Veil. Talks also spread of burly blacksmith corvids travelling from Cotery to Cotery selling weapons and goods… apparently answering to the title of ...Crows. Living, breathing… Crows…
Outspoken Bishops of the White hand have stated that the White Hand sees itself no different to its cousins in the Dirt - as do the cultist Pillars of Faith, who thank the threatened Bostonikov for saving them. As a result, many more Pillars and Hand are seen amongst the Dirt cities, claiming they are one Cotery now… Many show confusion, displeasure and anger at this - many don’t trust the Pillars, most Hand consider the Dirt too violent, and many Dirt think the Hand too cowardly…
From the Mists of the River come hordes of feudal villages, led by… Kingfishers? No, greater than that… Kingfisher Kings… Noble leaders and seekers of truth… Fisherkings. Allied with many runaway Moorhens and gypsy storks & Herons, they join the Glorious Imperium. Also, a number of Gooses show admiration for the Goose heroes Carla & Pablo, and return to the Goose College of Lambda Lambda Lambda to train as Goosanders, Goose Bishops.
Rumours spread of the rapidly expanded Colour Spiral… there was a great uprising against the Gates in the Colour Spiral. In the Silver Bazaar, riots have broken out, with many of the more militant Xenos trying to take control. The Parrot Intelliogocracy has declared itself incharge, and started a great wave of technological and archaeological missions, originally in search of something to break the Winged’s Gates. The Intelligocracy has taken things into its own hand - any Xenos not showing signs of “Advanced Wisdom” is deemed useless and forced into manual labour.
Many of the indigenous civilizations have been uprooted and forced out of their habitats - the Hummingbirds and Quetzals, once ancient enemies, have become necessary allies in order to keep the Parrots out of their Bronze Hedron Cities - apparently there are secrets there the Parrots want. A lone City has become rogue, supposedly run by the child-like Potoo.
The “Unwise” are attempting to fight defensive guerilla battles against the Intelligocracy’s Cassowary enforcers, but it will only be time before the Unwise fall. There is also a mysterious fourth side, a shadowy organization known only as the surprisingly unthreatening “Aurora”, supposedly a coalition of rich underworlders using crime and resources to manipulate all other sides.
And to top all this, all eyes turn to the Waking World, beyond the Barrier Crimson, where the sky is filled with fire, man no longer stopped in their search for flight by The Gates. The sound of explosions and gunfire is deafening, and increasing...
