[Plot] COGS OF WAR - The Awakening

Good morning, Hetherev! Below is the beginning of your newest GROUP-WIDE event.

Part 1- The Awakening

Somewhere deep in Morran forest, something groans. Something creaks. Dirt falls in cascades and vines snap like tendons as something rises from the long forgotten junkyard and stretches upwards, upwards, and bellows--an ugly primitive sound. Rusty metal and corroding wires jut from every angle. Ancient wheels and gears and saw blades churn and fit themselves together to form joints and claws and deadly jaws. It towers like a redwood and the birds flee in clouds as it screams again. Ventry shakes.

What once was the peaceful, yet mischievous god of the forest rises as The Graveyard Machine. It turns its head and narrows its shattered, windowed eyes at the horizon where the chimneys of Aspik City smoke. For too long, the precious magic of Morran has been spat at, trampled, locked out of the glistening, arrogant city that dares brush against its woods.

All throughout the forest, contraptions spark into life, cluster together, and create new, savage beings. Aspik loves its machines. They'll give them machines.

Like nimble spiders, The Graveyard Machine's army crawls between the trees, gathering branches and bones. They gather at city's gates and the old god stands at the head of them. It demands the pompous city either allow the magical within the walls or pick up and move itself somewhere else. Like Kobekan. It's nice this time of year. The Graveyard Machine's request is met with nothing but laughter. The laughter does not last long because suddenly the gates bow inward despite the city guard's best efforts and a flood of thinking, angry, magical machines storms the city.

What's happening?

The forest god is angry and has decided to wage war upon technology--or at least those who seem to think it superior to magic. The Graveyard Machine's first attack was eventually able to be beaten back to the city walls with moderate casualties, but by the day, the army grows. Aspik never counted on the vast junkyards that decorate the city's outskirts to ever be used against it. The Graveyard Machine is filled with rage and cannot currently be reasoned with. So far this has been the first and only time Aspik's walls have been breached.

[!]Characters can currently move freely across the world normally so long as they've completed their Mount Challenge. Your character must have completed the Mount Challenge before participating. EDIT 10/7/15: We've lifted this requirement! Your character can now participate so long as your Arrival Challenge has been completed. 

How can I participate?

By submitting all Plot Challenges to the new COGS OF WAR folder!
Part 1 only has two challenges. You do not have to do both of them or do them in order, but you MUST do at least one Part 1 Challenge before submitting Part 2 Challenges.

After the plot ends, no more submissions will be accepted into the plot's folder. That won't be for several months, though!

Plot 1 is due November 30th, 2015!

----------------------------------------------------
PLOT CHALLENGES:
These challenges, unless otherwise stated, must stick to the normal challenge guidelines. They must be fully colored and include a background.  They are worth a whopping 20 points each!

Please use the following form in the description of your submissions:

Character:
Plot: Cogs of War
Challenge: 1: title

(1: The Scream) - Your character has witnessed the arrival of The Graveyard Machine. Were they in the woods having an adventure? Were they sight-seeing in Aspik? If your character wears a lot of technology, they may find themselves singled out and attacked. The Graveyard Soldiers range from as small as a toaster to as big as a bull. They are sturdy but they CAN be defeated! However, if you do not want them putting themselves back together, you have to make sure to scatter the parts far and wide or destroy them completely!

(1: Wake Up Call) - Your character is helping those who were injured in the First Breach. Or perhaps it is they who are injured and are being helped by another character! What a way to make new friends... How does this effect their opinion. Do they side with The Graveyard Machine? Are they angry with Aspik for calling down this blow? Do they want to get the heck out of dodge and go hide in the mountains somewhere?




Feel free to ask questions on this journal! Enjoy the plot!