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Step 1: Keep the door propped open
Step 2: Grab the kits
Step 3: RUNNN

Name of Event: [EVENT] Run Red (open!)The curios confined to the cramped control room erupt into a panic. Some grab hold of Pete and Gregor while others start to move towards the exit. It’s Sev who stops them. “We can’t go back up.” “We can’t stay down here!” a Undyre counters. “No. You don’t understand. Even now the upper levels are going to start shutting down and try to evacuate. Every floor has a specific set of protocols. If you don’t believe me, look here. You can see for yourself.” Sev pulls up a display on the monitor. A diagram displays the different levels and a quick wall of scrolling text indicates the orders to quarantine each level being issued. “We still have control over the systems. Maybe…” Alph leans over to try and issue a counter command only for a pop up to appear and deny him permission. He tries again to the same results.“The Controller is starting to gain control over the systems. How is it doing this?” Sev turns to look at the monitor showing the monster below their paws in its transparent prison. Tav has turned on the lights, but despite the pain the AI maintains its focus on breaking into the Hive. “Can you destroy it?” Pete asks even as a fellow mainlander holds him with his arms behind his back. “No… It’s not like your average AI. It has endured for thousands of years intact. Nothing we’ve thrown at it has caused it more than temporary pain which was enough for our purposes. Recontaining it… Maybe. But we don’t have the supplies,” Sev thinks to himself out loud. Alph runs his paws through his hair, “Not on this floor…“ Booms reverberate throughout the Hive, shaking all the way down to the Level 5. It takes everyone a second to realize it’s come from above. Sev exchanges a wide eyed look with his brother before checking to see if they still have a connection to the cameras topside. The monitor switches over to the above ground feeds and to their horror they see explosions detonating one after another, sending sand plumes shooting hundreds of feet into the air. There are no signs that something on the surface set them off. The detonation order has come from inside the Hive. “The defenses are being set off... Why is the AI setting off the above ground defense?” Sev mutters. The bombs had been placed in the event mutants attempted to congregate above. They have no impact on the Hive itself besides giving them a good aftershock. Alph has switched to another camera feed on a hunch. It shows a field of solar panels on a rugged hillside on the fringes of the Hive’s grounds. “The solar panels… look… they’re just… moving. It keeps adjusting them ” Alph narrows his eyes only to snap them wide open the next second. “No! Shit! It’s trying to give away our location and lure them in!” “Lure what-“ But the question is answered before Pete can finish the sentence. A thin figure lopes into view. Its emaciated frame belies its danger to the unfamiliar, but as it makes its way to the center frame only to be followed by several more of its kind, doom is spelled out plain for the Ankuri. The mutants scourge is upon them.“It’s going to let them into the Hive,” Sev breathes. He points to a notification on the screen, “It’s luring them into the cargo dock.” “That’s where we came in when we first got here,” an Eisgar confirms to her companion. “Sev, there’s no saving this place. We need to leave,” Alph says suddenly. Sev’s head jerks up. He stares at his brother in disbelief. “You want to abandon the Hive to the mutants?” “We have no choice.” It’s Tav who answers him. She emerges from the lower chamber with Nine tucked under her arm, her face drawn with worry. “I’ve rigged the lights to stay on for as long as possible, but I don’t know how long my fix will last. I don’t understand how that AI operates. It’s doing things it just shouldn’t be able to do…” Nine’s artificial voice sounds uncharacteristically small and weak and her little robotic limbs hang limply at her sides.All the while Alph has begun to remove panels from one of the walls revealing what looks like a curio sized canister inlaid into the wall. He flips a few switches as the canister opens to reveal a padded interior. It becomes clear that it is an escape pod as Tav hands Nine off to Alph and steps inside. The pod reseals itself with a hiss. Without a word Alph launches the pod. It shoots off at high speeds and a second pod rises up to take its place. “Sev, get in,” Alph commands. “Hold on, we need to talk about who is taking the fourth pod.” He looks over the crowd around him to try to figure out who is the most qualified to take the final pod. “Everyone stay calm. If the Eisgar could please step to the side so I can see the Undyre and Mainlanders present- “ Sev begins without fully realizing the others have put two and two together about what this means for them. There are only four escape pods on their level and three are spoken for. Not everyone is going to be leaving the Hive. Chaos breaks out. A few try to organize the panicking group while others make a beeline for the escape pop. Alph draws something from his suit and fires at a monitor, blasting it to pieces. Everyone freezes as they realize he’s armed with Ancient adjacent tech. It was just a low powered warning shot. “Sev, get in the pod.” “Alph, we need to help these people.” Alph punches a button and the second pod launches. Empty. “Get in, Sev.” “What have you done?” Sev stares wide eyed at his brother, like he’s seeing him for the first time. Rage twists Alph’s face into something nearly unrecognizable to his twin. He can see Alph’s hand is shaking as he lifts a finger and points it at Sev. “Traitor. You’re putting them before your people. I’ve watched you soften to them and it’s blinded you to the reality of the situation. They doomed us all and we’re just trying to salvage what we can of the Ankuri before the Ancients return and wipe us all out. If you keep trying to get these animals to do something they can’t physically do you’ll waste what little time left we have. Please. See some sense. We have a job to do, Sev. No matter what the outcome is, let us at least have each other.” Alph is begging now. The tension is suffocating.Sev refuses to look up as he answers. “No. I can’t leave them here to die. Nine is right, they’re not different from us. If we’re going to save the Ankuri we need their help too.” Sev raises his gaze to meet Alph’s, challenging him for the first time in their lives. Alph sneers as he says, “That was always your problem, Sev. You always wanted to be more like me, but you never had brains, the guts, or the grit to follow through. Our whole life you've pushed every hard decision off onto me. Now it’s time to make the most important decision of your life and you’re still coming up short.” Alph venomous words bite deep. Sev fires back, “That’s your problem, Alph! I never wanted to be more like you! I just wanted to be more like me! This is it. This is my decision.” He stands with the outsiders.Alph slams his fist into the launch button and the third pod fires empty. In a flash he steps into the final pod, a countdown flashing on the control panel revealing that the final pod will automatically launch in a matter of seconds. Dazed Nine realizes what’s about to happen too late. She struggles in Alph’s grasp. “Leave me with them! Stop-“ Alph keeps her restrained as she flails, discarding his gun at Sev’s feet in one last act of brotherly love. The door shuts and the final pod launches leaving an empty space in the wall before them.The stunned group of curios stand in silence. The red lights bear down on them while the silent monitors display the horrors taking place above as the mutants invade. The unprepared Hive tries to carry out their evacuation plans as chaos takes hold. The intercom booms with the gleeful laughter of the Controller as it finally begins to take its long awaited revenge. Sev speaks first. “Okay. Let’s get our things together, we’re getting out of here.” “How?” Gregor snaps. They’re locked as far underground as they could possibly be with nothing but their wits and one blaster between them.Sev picks up the gun, sets it to max power output before replying, “Any fucking way we can.” -music drop- ,,,Level 5 In the depth of the Hive the menace responsible for all this chaos lurks.The strange alien AI known as the Controller has been kept secret from most of the Hive until this very moment. The AI has been the source of the Hive’s most impressive advancements as the Ankuri top brass have extracted information from it through decades of torture. When two of the newcomers to the Hive made an innocent mistake, they unwittingly unleashed the monster into the Hive’s control systems. While there are protections in place preventing an immediate take over, the AI has quickly been bypassing security and creating mass confusion in the Hive. All attempts to destroy it have proved futile and it has been determined the only way to survive is to escape and rally from the outside. Easier said than done. However, it must be noted that while the AI is setting up traps and hindering curios escaping, it is not trying to completely destroy the Hive or even quickly kill curios. It seems to fear for its own long term survival. In order to be rescued one day by the Ancients it cannot totally destroy the Hive. Furthermore, it seeks revenge against the Ankuri who held it captive all these years. A swift demise simply will not do when the Controller can draw out their suffering. The curios can only hope that its inefficient approach will provide a window for escape. It has left the tech touched curios alone, uninterested in controlling them. It has more effective tools at its disposal. Besides… how can zombies know true terror?Level 4As the most precious of the Hive's levels, this area's tight security doesn't hesitate. Escape means are limited, and anyone assigned to work down here has already accepted their fate, willing to lay down their lives if it means stopping intruders from entering restricted areas. Ignore what your visitor's map suggests: if you see a security badge, run before they see you.On the plus side, both labs and training areas offer a selection of dangerous materials and prototypes that would make great weapons. And maybe if you can best some of your opponents down here, you can convince them to put themselves first and head back to the surface.... possibly even by showing you the secret tunnels that go further up.Level 3The sprawling greenery of the third level turns ominous in red emergency lighting. Malfunctioning infrastructure has left both the hydroponic tanks and local pool violently overflowing. The resident hospital still has lights on, but automated quarantine systems have brought the blast doors down throughout the building; and across the gardens, the grade school has suffered a similar fate in the middle of class, with teachers desperately trying to corral their panicked students in the chaos.Due to ongoing maintenance, footpaths up to higher levels are closed off, if not outright inaccessible. Climbing the pod-tram tunnels will be your best bet, assuming you can avoid mechanical hazards.Level 2Apartment blocks and shopping corridors have already started closing off prematurely, and guards and citizens alike attempt to force the doors back open by any means necessary. The manufacturing zones have also been shut down as huge machines begin going haywire. A few brave souls have stayed to control fires that have broken out from exploding wiring. The sick and elderly on this level have been attempting to help each other towards the library to take shelter, but few able-bodied curios have been around to help them, and without outside assistance they will surely not make it to the surface.Level 2 features a variety of tram and pedestrian routes to travel upwards, but also has the thickest quarantine doors to keep out the visiting riff raff on the level above. You'll need to get those open if you want to get out.Level 1The visitor level has always been the busiest in the Hive, and today is no exception as it erupts into pure chaos. A concert happening in the arena has been abandoned; the market stalls have closed in a hurry, although some unscrupulous individuals have decided to take advantage of the situation and grab some treats on the way out. Some efforts at coordination are coming from the visitor medical station where leadership is congregating, but it's hard to be heard over the roar of the crowds.Lines and waiting lists have devolved completely as residents and visitors alike clamor to escape to the surface. The guards, however, are fighting to contain everyone and corral them towards designated shelters. You could try and slip past them to escape, but the mutant scourge prowling above will make quick work of anyone careless enough to burst out and start running. However, the mutants that have found they were into the Hive proper are starting on Level 1 and working their way down. ,For this event curios may be depicted rising through the levels, getting stuck in/overcoming traps set by the Controller, and helping those around them. You may also depict your curio battling the mutant scourge which will allow you to gain a special upgrade and perk that will last the duration of the event! See below for more on that system. *Your curio may be on any level at the beginning of the story, and you may move between levels freely in your entries. In game, the event will take place over the course of 24 hours. Mutant Scourge - details here Pete - height 5'1Sev & Alph - height 5‘10Gregor - height 4’9,Rescue, Aid & Support The four different groups on the four levels can be aided and lead to safety. Each milestone reached will lock further progression in the story where one of these groups is saved. Failure to unlock each update will impact the future story and put players at a disadvantage.ALL ENTRIES COUNT TOWARDS SUPPORT!The groups will be unlocked in the following fixed order:,Location: Level 4While these staunch defenders of the laws of the Hive are a hindrance, they are only trying to preserve the Hive made advancements for future generations. They are willing to lay down their lives to prevent a total reset of Ankuri progress… something that has happened one too many times before. The key with them is to prove that this plan to escape isn’t just for the short term benefit of survival, but the path to ensure there is a future at all. Once won over they can become invaluable allies. They have unparalleled knowledge of the Hive and their mutant adversaries. ,Location: Level 3Despite being frightened, a young Ankuri is still an Ankuri. These kits know safety protocols well and once they’ve got an adult to lead the way they are quite capable of keeping up and staying out of trouble. Occasionally fear can get the better of them and they must be cajoled into continuing, but overall they’re no more difficult to deal with than any other survivor. But first they must be rescued from their lockdowned school. When the blast door triggered before they could leave, it locked them in. Rescuers must get to the, before the predatory mutants break in first.,Location: Level 2The high volume of malfunctions and security breaches at this level have disrupted typical escape procedures, leaving the elderly and sickly to fend for themselves. They are doing their best to take shelter, but they know unless rescue comes they will not make it out of the Hive. And they know that rescue is not likely to come… The most important step in protecting these vulnerable individuals is to clear a path for them before leading them from their shelter. They’ve all experienced danger in the past and are very capable of lying low, it’s just that they need a way out from where they've been cornered. It might be wise to pick their brains about strategies or mutant behavior before making any plans. ,Location: Level 1The vast majority of visitors left in the lurch are able bodied adults capable of fighting back, however there isn’t much they can do against the mutants as unarmed foreigners in the Hive. Given their visitor status they also lack any in-depth knowledge of escape procedure, and they certainly aren’t top priority to the Hive higher ups.The best way to rescue these unlucky individuals is to arm them and use all the knowledge gained on previous levels to lead the charge out of the Hive and to safety. They have family waiting for them on the other side. Current Points: 130/130All a player must do to show support is to MAKE AN ENTRY. All entries for this event will progress they story.Each participating person counts as 1 point of support. (Two collaborators = 2 points, three collaborators = 3 points, four collaborators = 4 points) *Updates are locked behind hitting certain support point milestones. See the Live Broadcast section below to see what numbers must be met to unlock all the updates and save the survivors from certain destruction. ,Weapons System & Unlockable PerkAll curios have been unarmed and their weapon levels reduced to 0! However, the Hive is full of objects that can be weaponized. If a player completes 3 attack entries they may claim the Ankuri Switch Module permanently. Players that complete all three entries will also receive a perk* for the duration of this event.What Qualifies As An Attack Entry:-Mutant must be partially visible (minimum of 20% or 40% present in a literature piece)-Curio must be attacking, setting a trap, or otherwise directly engaged with the mutant(s)-Weapons can be anything (fists, claws, metal pipes, abandoned weapons etc)Other Info:-You can only earn one upgrade - The upgrade can remain in your inventory until you decide which curio to attach it to- The upgrade can be traded- You can use a different curio for all of your attack entries - You may collab on attack entries but the perk* will not stack. It will count as 2 support entries *Perk: The third attack entry and every subsequent entry made by the player will count as x2 support! Just put a x2 in your support point tally (present in the submission form) to double the amount of support you’re earning for the Hive.The perk does not multiply support points earned in collab pieces. If you do a collab entry (even if both players have the upgrade perk) the entry will only give as many support points as their collaborators. (Two collaborators = 2 points, three collaborators = 3 points, four collaborators = 4 points) The perk is attached to the player for the duration of the event. The upgrade does not need to be applied to activate the perk. The perk applies to all of the player's curios. Claim FormFirst Attack: link the entry Second Attack: link the entry Third Attack: link the entry Comment here to submit the form: https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/965097786/5062770493If a player fails to make three entries the upgrade cannot be claimed. It will be available later as a craftable upgrade.,Live BroadcastAs the situation unfolds keep an ear out for announcements on the intercom system:Score: 130/130Location - Level 4: As conflict sparks between security and the curios trying to make it up to Level 3, the dark presence beneath their feet has been observing. Level 4 has been more of less impenetrable to the mutants flooding in from the higher Levels. To put it simply they’re getting in the way of the Controller’s plan. It can’t have that, now can it? The comms system crackles to life and the thrumming inhuman voice of the Controller rings throughout the Hive. “I’ve been watching you closely, O loyal defenders of the Hive. Let me teach you a lesson from my world. The greatest threats come from within.” With that it flips the switch on several cages located deep within the lab. Tentatively, the occupants venture out, shaking off the drugs that had been continuously pumped into their enclosures to keep them docile. A guard spots them and just barely alerts the others before he is torn to shreds. “The mutants are loose!” And so they are. Four adult mutants stalk out of the heart of the lab and make their way to their next set of victims. -Update Unlocked-Location - Level 4, Main Exit: As Sev begs with the guards that have taken them hostage to let them out, a radio crackles at the hip of one of the guards. It’s the first such transmission they’ve received since the lights went red so they stop Sev and respond. “Level 4 security. Who are you?” The voice on the other end comes in at a whisper and sounds feminine. “I’m a teacher on Level 3. Jasper ID- Uh, never mind. We need help. The system malfunctioned and we’re trapped in the school. None of us were able to carry out our evacuation procedure. Please, we need help-“ “Can’t do that. We have to defend Level 4,” the guard’s voice waivers as he replies and he makes eye contact with his subordinate officer. “I’ve got kids up there,” they say. All the guards in the unit had been operating under the assumption the evacuation had gone mostly as planned up above. This one officer wasn’t the only one who had kids, and now a long shadow of doubt was being cast on whether or not anyone’s family had been able to make it to safety. Sev sees an opportunity. “The Controller has already released mutants on this Level. We need to change tactics and start trying to save who we can. Let us through, and help us fight our way out of here!” The guard holds the radio up to his mouth to speak and the crowd looks on in pained anticipation. “Hold tight… we’re on our way.” Location - Level 3 A security camera turns its black eye towards the exterior of the middle grade school building. The steel doors have dropped into place making entry through any of the doors or windows nearly impossible for curios, though a determined mutant would most likely find its way in in due time. A group of curios have found a blast door that failed to come down all the way and are busy making the gap wide enough that the Ankuri kits and their teachers can slip out. The mechanical eye holds on them until it sees the first kits emerging from the newly formed gap. The comm system crackles to life and an unwelcome voice addresses the rescue team. “Ah, ah, ah! That will not do!” The Controller activates the nearby sprinkler system on the playground lawn and the noisy hissing contraptions go off in a chain reaction. The distant shrike of a mutant lets the group know they’ve been found out. They redouble their efforts to move the kits along. They need to get to safety fast.-Update Unlocked-Location - Level 3, Drain Pipe With the walkable paths under maintenance, the group is forced to find another way up to Level 2. Someone hastily suggests walking the drain pipe up. It’s large enough to fit an Eisgar and sloped to be walkable until they hit switchbacks with metal maintenance ladders built into the concrete. It’s doable for the young curios among them as well. It is agreed upon and the group wades through the swelling hydroponics fields and surreptitiously removes the grate from the entrance of the drain. One by one, the group enters and starts their upwards climb. The water flowing through the pipe is only a trickle under their paws. “It’s mostly for redirecting water when we get our rare desert storms,” a teacher explains to a curious visitor. They get pretty far without interference until… “What's that noise?” Sev asks. A dull roar reverberates around the concrete tunnel. It’s too low to be a mutant… “Holy shit! Hold on!” A curio at the front of the line screams as a torrent of water comes rushing down the pipe. Many of the group are pulled off their feet. The Eisgar brace themselves and try to hold on to the smaller curios around them. Even seconds of the deluge feels like eternity as water fills up the lungs of the unfortunate and muscles scream as they start to lose their grip on whatever is holding them in place. But there is a boom, just loud enough to be heard over the roar of the water. Just as suddenly as the water started, it comes to a stop. The curios are soaked, coughing, and exhausted… but alive. Sev’s radio crackles at his hip and he answers between coughs. “You guys alright? I knew something was going on when the water tanks in the factory started draining all of a sudden! Whoever has taken control of the system must have tried to flush you out.” “It almost did,” Sev coughs. “We could use your help up here if you think you can make it. Mutants everywhere… How many of you are there?” The voice on the other end asks. “A hundred plus, I think.” The voice on the other end goes silent before letting out a low whistle. “That many…? Well, we’ll need all of you. There’s a war going on up here.” Location - Level 2, The Green Their contact on the other end insists that they need to head to the recreational grounds on Level 2. The few factory workers left had blown up the water pipe in the factory to save them from drowning. While the factory’s main floor had been their original destination given it was the safer place to surface, now it was now covered in electrified water that would fry a curio without the proper equipment. The residential park is the only alternative. After taking a few extra turns, the group emerges on the very exposed park lawn via a drain. Sev surfaces first only to see a pack of mutants in the distance. There are more mutants here than any other level they’ve encountered so far. The radio crackles to life and Sev has to duck back into the sewer with his paw over the device to answer. Their contact seems to know the danger they’re in so he speaks softly. “We sure could use your help but there’s a bunch of old and not too well off folks in the library. Without you, they don’t stand a chance… So forget about us and you take care of them.” “We’re not leaving anyone,” Sev assures the Ankuri on the other line, “We will swing by once we secure the library.” As if the Controller has heard (which was a real possibility as it claimed control over more and more Hive systems) it speaks over the comm, “I hope you don’t think you’re going to make it out of here alive, do you?” The mutants turn their heads up to look for the source of the noise. There are so many… Sev feels something small tap him with and looks down to see Tipton raising a tiny hand in solidarity. Every curio looking up at him has the same determined look. That damn AI was going to eat crow, whether it knew it or not. Sev speaks into his communicator, ”Library first, then we’re coming your way.” -Update Unlocked-Location - Level 2, Library The old and sickly Ankuri staked out in the library are shaken and afraid, but give the group a warm welcome when they finally manage to sneak their way in. They share their meager supplies to help replenish the strength of the kits and the injured among the group even though it means they will have nothing left over for themselves. The charitable act fuels the group. They’re ready to take on the mutants beyond the walls. Gregor stands by a shuttered window, gazing out through a gap in the metal made by a mutant claw. From there he can see the manufacturing plant. “Thinking about running?” a curio growls. Gregor’s transgression hasn’t been forgotten. “No. Too late for that. But I did think it would be nice to kill two linnies with one stone,” Gregor says. Sev takes notice. “What do you mean?” “You want to save those factory workers too, don’t you? I was just thinking that a few thousand volts would disagree with a mutant. Hell, a dozen mutants. All at once.” Sev makes the connection and starts to call upon any of the hunters and security members of their group while Gregor stays stationed at the window. After all they’ve been through, Gregor muses, it would be a pleasure to watch a few mutants fry. Location - Level 2, Factory Floor They sprint for their lives. A few outfitted in rubber workman coveralls and others just harnessed by a rope extending up to the paws of their compatriots on the catwalk above. The flock of mutants is so close to nipping at their heels, the only thing stopping them is how they trip over one another on the smooth factory floor. At the last moment the curios in harnesses are hoisted up and out of the way. As they dangle in the air just out of reach, they shout to the remaining runners below. Go! Go! GO! The runners hit the thin layer of electrified water and brace themselves in the event their calculations are wrong and they’re about to suffer a horrible death… But they are fine! They don’t break their stride as they run for safety on the other side of the water. The mutants behind them aren’t so lucky. The monsters hit the water and go stiff. Those running behind them collide and are thrown forward only to suffer the same fate. The ones in the back of the ranks try to escape electrocution by clamoring over the backs of their dying brethren only to fall into the water and perish the same way. The group gathers together, unable to pause and celebrate their victory. The factory workers have used their equipment to open up a passage to Level 1. Half the group breaks off to go to collect the old and infirm Ankuri now that the coast is temporarily clear. The others push ahead to scope out the situation above. The Hive residents are shocked to see Level 1 of their metropolis reduced to shambles by the mutant invasion. Claw marks, carnage, and debris mix to create a field of destruction. It’s almost too easy to assume that they’re too late. Their assent has taken hours after all. Sev reluctantly tries the radio, expecting the worst. “Hello? Anyone there? We’re here to assist any survivors-“ “Took you long enough! We’ve been listening to you guys since Level 4! Guess our signal wasn’t getting through… Your tech guys sell absolute shit radios- But ever mind that. We’re all hunkered down by the security station… Oh! We’ve got your weapons. What the heck do you mainlanders use these giant swords for anyhow-“ A voice on the other end cuts off the chatterbox by exclaiming in an exasperated whisper, “For the sake of the First, shut up Chlor! There are mutants everywhere.” “We’ll be there soon,” Sev ends the transmission before turning to the curios behind him. “You guys want your weapons back?” An Eisgar turns to her Undyre companion indignantly and whispers, “I thought that's what we bothered coming up here for!” Sev chuckles to himself. He is taking that as a strong yes. -Update Locked-Location - Level 1, Security Station Sev and Pete work together to distribute all the weapons stashed in the security locker. The Eisgar are reunited with their treasured heirlooms and the Undyre are being entrusted with Ankuri tech they can operate intuitively. The mainlanders are entrusted with anything in between. The security officers from Level 4 are stepping up to ensure those unable to fight are moved to where they can be easily defended while others map out the best passage out once they have an opening to make a run for it. Sev steps aside and takes a moment to radio for Tav or Alph. They have to be close enough now that he can reach them... His heart soars as he hears Tav’s voice come through on the other side. “Where are you?” “Level 1. We’re almost out. If you can send assistance we can make it-“ “How much do the others know?” Sev feels his excitement wither in his chest. “Know about what’s going on…? The AI has been blasting over the comm system for hours. They know everything.” “Sev, you know it’s against protocol for us to sink resources into going back into the Hive. You’ll need to fend for yourself. I’m sorry. I truly am-“ “Save it for when you can say that to my face, Mayor Tav. You’ll get your chance,” Sav says between clenched teeth. Tav is so quiet he thinks he’s lost signal but at length she replies, “Of course, Sev. Be strong. May the First guide you all.” Then the line goes dead. He’s never heard words more hollow. Pete notices Sev sitting in a daze and steps aside to give his shoulder a shake. “What’s happening?” Sev speaks loudly, on the verge of histiarics as he says, “They want us to die here! I could almost understand why they couldn’t deal with outsiders leaving, but what about the rest of us!? What’s her grand reasoning for why her precious Ankuri must die?” A somber silence sets in. Ankuri and foreigners alike feel the sharp sting of abandonment. Sev stands and throws the radio on the ground, crushing it under his paw. “Like hell I’m going to go quietly. If we have to burn this place to the ground to get out, so be it. Gregor, you know something about explosives?” Gregor grimaces, “I might. Depends on if you want to blow this place up with us in it or not. Rumor is it’s not a pleasant way to go and I’d rather take my chances with the mutants.” Sev stands tall. “I said we’re getting out of here no matter what. See what you can whip up for us. I’ve got a plan.”,Prizes, ⋄Sanwa⋄There is a 15% chance of dropping a Sanwa!⋄MYO Raffle Ticket⋄There is a 40% chance of dropping a Raffle Ticket for one of two uncommon Ankuri MYO Slots!,⋄Event Stamp⋄All participants receive the Event Stamp! This can be displayed wherever you wish.⋄Grand and Secret Prizes⋄Completing at least one entry for all three summer events (May, June, July) will enter you into a raffle for a grand prize!In addition, all players who complete at least one entry for all three summer events will receive an exclusive participation prize!,PayoutsEvents pay out both Tokens and EXP, according to the level of finish of your entry. Please use the guide below to calculate your earnings, and be sure to include them in the provided form!EXP and Token Payout GuideRules and Guidelines⋄ You may enter once per 24 hours.⋄ If an event features a pet or mount as a prize drop it can be counted towards a bonus if it follows the guidelines below⋄Drawn entries:- must be flat coloured and have a simple background at minimum. - 75% of the participating character must be visible. - 50% of guest characters, pets, and mounts must be visible. - For comics: at least one panel must meet the minimum requirements for the prompt. any bonus requirements met in other panels (ie guest, pet, mount) will count towards your total.⋄Written entries:- must be 900 words at minimum. - guest characters, pets, and mounts must be mentioned evenly throughout the story. - All entries must adhere to group rules. If you don't yet have your own curio, you're welcome to use the Community Curio. In the description of your entry, please add the following: Name of Event: [List the event title] Focus Curio: [name of focus character, link to reg sheet] Guest Curios: [link to reg sheets] EXP Tally: [use the table above!] Token Tally: [use the table above!]Weapon Perk?: [must have made 3 attack entries and been confirmed first!]⋄⋄⋄Once your entry is complete, please submit it to the [appropriate folder] and we will roll your rewards!⋄⋄⋄ If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to note the group or comment below.Event Ends June 30th, 11:59pm EST
Focus Curio: [Curio] Kissi Registration
Guest Curios: [SI] Harvey Registration & Archer - Curio Registration

EXP Tally:
Shaded fullbody - 6EXP
Simple background - 4EXP
Guest bonus - 5EXP
Total: 15EXP
Token Tally:
Shaded fullbody - 12T
Simple background - 8T
Guest bonus - 8T
Total: 28T

Thank you & for letting me borrow your Curios!

Description

Step 1: Keep the door propped open
Step 2: Grab the kits
Step 3: RUNNN

Name of Event: [EVENT] Run Red (open!)The curios confined to the cramped control room erupt into a panic. Some grab hold of Pete and Gregor while others start to move towards the exit. It’s Sev who stops them. “We can’t go back up.” “We can’t stay down here!” a Undyre counters. “No. You don’t understand. Even now the upper levels are going to start shutting down and try to evacuate. Every floor has a specific set of protocols. If you don’t believe me, look here. You can see for yourself.” Sev pulls up a display on the monitor. A diagram displays the different levels and a quick wall of scrolling text indicates the orders to quarantine each level being issued. “We still have control over the systems. Maybe…” Alph leans over to try and issue a counter command only for a pop up to appear and deny him permission. He tries again to the same results.“The Controller is starting to gain control over the systems. How is it doing this?” Sev turns to look at the monitor showing the monster below their paws in its transparent prison. Tav has turned on the lights, but despite the pain the AI maintains its focus on breaking into the Hive. “Can you destroy it?” Pete asks even as a fellow mainlander holds him with his arms behind his back. “No… It’s not like your average AI. It has endured for thousands of years intact. Nothing we’ve thrown at it has caused it more than temporary pain which was enough for our purposes. Recontaining it… Maybe. But we don’t have the supplies,” Sev thinks to himself out loud. Alph runs his paws through his hair, “Not on this floor…“ Booms reverberate throughout the Hive, shaking all the way down to the Level 5. It takes everyone a second to realize it’s come from above. Sev exchanges a wide eyed look with his brother before checking to see if they still have a connection to the cameras topside. The monitor switches over to the above ground feeds and to their horror they see explosions detonating one after another, sending sand plumes shooting hundreds of feet into the air. There are no signs that something on the surface set them off. The detonation order has come from inside the Hive. “The defenses are being set off... Why is the AI setting off the above ground defense?” Sev mutters. The bombs had been placed in the event mutants attempted to congregate above. They have no impact on the Hive itself besides giving them a good aftershock. Alph has switched to another camera feed on a hunch. It shows a field of solar panels on a rugged hillside on the fringes of the Hive’s grounds. “The solar panels… look… they’re just… moving. It keeps adjusting them ” Alph narrows his eyes only to snap them wide open the next second. “No! Shit! It’s trying to give away our location and lure them in!” “Lure what-“ But the question is answered before Pete can finish the sentence. A thin figure lopes into view. Its emaciated frame belies its danger to the unfamiliar, but as it makes its way to the center frame only to be followed by several more of its kind, doom is spelled out plain for the Ankuri. The mutants scourge is upon them.“It’s going to let them into the Hive,” Sev breathes. He points to a notification on the screen, “It’s luring them into the cargo dock.” “That’s where we came in when we first got here,” an Eisgar confirms to her companion. “Sev, there’s no saving this place. We need to leave,” Alph says suddenly. Sev’s head jerks up. He stares at his brother in disbelief. “You want to abandon the Hive to the mutants?” “We have no choice.” It’s Tav who answers him. She emerges from the lower chamber with Nine tucked under her arm, her face drawn with worry. “I’ve rigged the lights to stay on for as long as possible, but I don’t know how long my fix will last. I don’t understand how that AI operates. It’s doing things it just shouldn’t be able to do…” Nine’s artificial voice sounds uncharacteristically small and weak and her little robotic limbs hang limply at her sides.All the while Alph has begun to remove panels from one of the walls revealing what looks like a curio sized canister inlaid into the wall. He flips a few switches as the canister opens to reveal a padded interior. It becomes clear that it is an escape pod as Tav hands Nine off to Alph and steps inside. The pod reseals itself with a hiss. Without a word Alph launches the pod. It shoots off at high speeds and a second pod rises up to take its place. “Sev, get in,” Alph commands. “Hold on, we need to talk about who is taking the fourth pod.” He looks over the crowd around him to try to figure out who is the most qualified to take the final pod. “Everyone stay calm. If the Eisgar could please step to the side so I can see the Undyre and Mainlanders present- “ Sev begins without fully realizing the others have put two and two together about what this means for them. There are only four escape pods on their level and three are spoken for. Not everyone is going to be leaving the Hive. Chaos breaks out. A few try to organize the panicking group while others make a beeline for the escape pop. Alph draws something from his suit and fires at a monitor, blasting it to pieces. Everyone freezes as they realize he’s armed with Ancient adjacent tech. It was just a low powered warning shot. “Sev, get in the pod.” “Alph, we need to help these people.” Alph punches a button and the second pod launches. Empty. “Get in, Sev.” “What have you done?” Sev stares wide eyed at his brother, like he’s seeing him for the first time. Rage twists Alph’s face into something nearly unrecognizable to his twin. He can see Alph’s hand is shaking as he lifts a finger and points it at Sev. “Traitor. You’re putting them before your people. I’ve watched you soften to them and it’s blinded you to the reality of the situation. They doomed us all and we’re just trying to salvage what we can of the Ankuri before the Ancients return and wipe us all out. If you keep trying to get these animals to do something they can’t physically do you’ll waste what little time left we have. Please. See some sense. We have a job to do, Sev. No matter what the outcome is, let us at least have each other.” Alph is begging now. The tension is suffocating.Sev refuses to look up as he answers. “No. I can’t leave them here to die. Nine is right, they’re not different from us. If we’re going to save the Ankuri we need their help too.” Sev raises his gaze to meet Alph’s, challenging him for the first time in their lives. Alph sneers as he says, “That was always your problem, Sev. You always wanted to be more like me, but you never had brains, the guts, or the grit to follow through. Our whole life you've pushed every hard decision off onto me. Now it’s time to make the most important decision of your life and you’re still coming up short.” Alph venomous words bite deep. Sev fires back, “That’s your problem, Alph! I never wanted to be more like you! I just wanted to be more like me! This is it. This is my decision.” He stands with the outsiders.Alph slams his fist into the launch button and the third pod fires empty. In a flash he steps into the final pod, a countdown flashing on the control panel revealing that the final pod will automatically launch in a matter of seconds. Dazed Nine realizes what’s about to happen too late. She struggles in Alph’s grasp. “Leave me with them! Stop-“ Alph keeps her restrained as she flails, discarding his gun at Sev’s feet in one last act of brotherly love. The door shuts and the final pod launches leaving an empty space in the wall before them.The stunned group of curios stand in silence. The red lights bear down on them while the silent monitors display the horrors taking place above as the mutants invade. The unprepared Hive tries to carry out their evacuation plans as chaos takes hold. The intercom booms with the gleeful laughter of the Controller as it finally begins to take its long awaited revenge. Sev speaks first. “Okay. Let’s get our things together, we’re getting out of here.” “How?” Gregor snaps. They’re locked as far underground as they could possibly be with nothing but their wits and one blaster between them.Sev picks up the gun, sets it to max power output before replying, “Any fucking way we can.” -music drop- ,,,Level 5 In the depth of the Hive the menace responsible for all this chaos lurks.The strange alien AI known as the Controller has been kept secret from most of the Hive until this very moment. The AI has been the source of the Hive’s most impressive advancements as the Ankuri top brass have extracted information from it through decades of torture. When two of the newcomers to the Hive made an innocent mistake, they unwittingly unleashed the monster into the Hive’s control systems. While there are protections in place preventing an immediate take over, the AI has quickly been bypassing security and creating mass confusion in the Hive. All attempts to destroy it have proved futile and it has been determined the only way to survive is to escape and rally from the outside. Easier said than done. However, it must be noted that while the AI is setting up traps and hindering curios escaping, it is not trying to completely destroy the Hive or even quickly kill curios. It seems to fear for its own long term survival. In order to be rescued one day by the Ancients it cannot totally destroy the Hive. Furthermore, it seeks revenge against the Ankuri who held it captive all these years. A swift demise simply will not do when the Controller can draw out their suffering. The curios can only hope that its inefficient approach will provide a window for escape. It has left the tech touched curios alone, uninterested in controlling them. It has more effective tools at its disposal. Besides… how can zombies know true terror?Level 4As the most precious of the Hive's levels, this area's tight security doesn't hesitate. Escape means are limited, and anyone assigned to work down here has already accepted their fate, willing to lay down their lives if it means stopping intruders from entering restricted areas. Ignore what your visitor's map suggests: if you see a security badge, run before they see you.On the plus side, both labs and training areas offer a selection of dangerous materials and prototypes that would make great weapons. And maybe if you can best some of your opponents down here, you can convince them to put themselves first and head back to the surface.... possibly even by showing you the secret tunnels that go further up.Level 3The sprawling greenery of the third level turns ominous in red emergency lighting. Malfunctioning infrastructure has left both the hydroponic tanks and local pool violently overflowing. The resident hospital still has lights on, but automated quarantine systems have brought the blast doors down throughout the building; and across the gardens, the grade school has suffered a similar fate in the middle of class, with teachers desperately trying to corral their panicked students in the chaos.Due to ongoing maintenance, footpaths up to higher levels are closed off, if not outright inaccessible. Climbing the pod-tram tunnels will be your best bet, assuming you can avoid mechanical hazards.Level 2Apartment blocks and shopping corridors have already started closing off prematurely, and guards and citizens alike attempt to force the doors back open by any means necessary. The manufacturing zones have also been shut down as huge machines begin going haywire. A few brave souls have stayed to control fires that have broken out from exploding wiring. The sick and elderly on this level have been attempting to help each other towards the library to take shelter, but few able-bodied curios have been around to help them, and without outside assistance they will surely not make it to the surface.Level 2 features a variety of tram and pedestrian routes to travel upwards, but also has the thickest quarantine doors to keep out the visiting riff raff on the level above. You'll need to get those open if you want to get out.Level 1The visitor level has always been the busiest in the Hive, and today is no exception as it erupts into pure chaos. A concert happening in the arena has been abandoned; the market stalls have closed in a hurry, although some unscrupulous individuals have decided to take advantage of the situation and grab some treats on the way out. Some efforts at coordination are coming from the visitor medical station where leadership is congregating, but it's hard to be heard over the roar of the crowds.Lines and waiting lists have devolved completely as residents and visitors alike clamor to escape to the surface. The guards, however, are fighting to contain everyone and corral them towards designated shelters. You could try and slip past them to escape, but the mutant scourge prowling above will make quick work of anyone careless enough to burst out and start running. However, the mutants that have found they were into the Hive proper are starting on Level 1 and working their way down. ,For this event curios may be depicted rising through the levels, getting stuck in/overcoming traps set by the Controller, and helping those around them. You may also depict your curio battling the mutant scourge which will allow you to gain a special upgrade and perk that will last the duration of the event! See below for more on that system. *Your curio may be on any level at the beginning of the story, and you may move between levels freely in your entries. In game, the event will take place over the course of 24 hours. Mutant Scourge - details here Pete - height 5'1Sev & Alph - height 5‘10Gregor - height 4’9,Rescue, Aid & Support The four different groups on the four levels can be aided and lead to safety. Each milestone reached will lock further progression in the story where one of these groups is saved. Failure to unlock each update will impact the future story and put players at a disadvantage.ALL ENTRIES COUNT TOWARDS SUPPORT!The groups will be unlocked in the following fixed order:,Location: Level 4While these staunch defenders of the laws of the Hive are a hindrance, they are only trying to preserve the Hive made advancements for future generations. They are willing to lay down their lives to prevent a total reset of Ankuri progress… something that has happened one too many times before. The key with them is to prove that this plan to escape isn’t just for the short term benefit of survival, but the path to ensure there is a future at all. Once won over they can become invaluable allies. They have unparalleled knowledge of the Hive and their mutant adversaries. ,Location: Level 3Despite being frightened, a young Ankuri is still an Ankuri. These kits know safety protocols well and once they’ve got an adult to lead the way they are quite capable of keeping up and staying out of trouble. Occasionally fear can get the better of them and they must be cajoled into continuing, but overall they’re no more difficult to deal with than any other survivor. But first they must be rescued from their lockdowned school. When the blast door triggered before they could leave, it locked them in. Rescuers must get to the, before the predatory mutants break in first.,Location: Level 2The high volume of malfunctions and security breaches at this level have disrupted typical escape procedures, leaving the elderly and sickly to fend for themselves. They are doing their best to take shelter, but they know unless rescue comes they will not make it out of the Hive. And they know that rescue is not likely to come… The most important step in protecting these vulnerable individuals is to clear a path for them before leading them from their shelter. They’ve all experienced danger in the past and are very capable of lying low, it’s just that they need a way out from where they've been cornered. It might be wise to pick their brains about strategies or mutant behavior before making any plans. ,Location: Level 1The vast majority of visitors left in the lurch are able bodied adults capable of fighting back, however there isn’t much they can do against the mutants as unarmed foreigners in the Hive. Given their visitor status they also lack any in-depth knowledge of escape procedure, and they certainly aren’t top priority to the Hive higher ups.The best way to rescue these unlucky individuals is to arm them and use all the knowledge gained on previous levels to lead the charge out of the Hive and to safety. They have family waiting for them on the other side. Current Points: 130/130All a player must do to show support is to MAKE AN ENTRY. All entries for this event will progress they story.Each participating person counts as 1 point of support. (Two collaborators = 2 points, three collaborators = 3 points, four collaborators = 4 points) *Updates are locked behind hitting certain support point milestones. See the Live Broadcast section below to see what numbers must be met to unlock all the updates and save the survivors from certain destruction. ,Weapons System & Unlockable PerkAll curios have been unarmed and their weapon levels reduced to 0! However, the Hive is full of objects that can be weaponized. If a player completes 3 attack entries they may claim the Ankuri Switch Module permanently. Players that complete all three entries will also receive a perk* for the duration of this event.What Qualifies As An Attack Entry:-Mutant must be partially visible (minimum of 20% or 40% present in a literature piece)-Curio must be attacking, setting a trap, or otherwise directly engaged with the mutant(s)-Weapons can be anything (fists, claws, metal pipes, abandoned weapons etc)Other Info:-You can only earn one upgrade - The upgrade can remain in your inventory until you decide which curio to attach it to- The upgrade can be traded- You can use a different curio for all of your attack entries - You may collab on attack entries but the perk* will not stack. It will count as 2 support entries *Perk: The third attack entry and every subsequent entry made by the player will count as x2 support! Just put a x2 in your support point tally (present in the submission form) to double the amount of support you’re earning for the Hive.The perk does not multiply support points earned in collab pieces. If you do a collab entry (even if both players have the upgrade perk) the entry will only give as many support points as their collaborators. (Two collaborators = 2 points, three collaborators = 3 points, four collaborators = 4 points) The perk is attached to the player for the duration of the event. The upgrade does not need to be applied to activate the perk. The perk applies to all of the player's curios. Claim FormFirst Attack: link the entry Second Attack: link the entry Third Attack: link the entry Comment here to submit the form: https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/965097786/5062770493If a player fails to make three entries the upgrade cannot be claimed. It will be available later as a craftable upgrade.,Live BroadcastAs the situation unfolds keep an ear out for announcements on the intercom system:Score: 130/130Location - Level 4: As conflict sparks between security and the curios trying to make it up to Level 3, the dark presence beneath their feet has been observing. Level 4 has been more of less impenetrable to the mutants flooding in from the higher Levels. To put it simply they’re getting in the way of the Controller’s plan. It can’t have that, now can it? The comms system crackles to life and the thrumming inhuman voice of the Controller rings throughout the Hive. “I’ve been watching you closely, O loyal defenders of the Hive. Let me teach you a lesson from my world. The greatest threats come from within.” With that it flips the switch on several cages located deep within the lab. Tentatively, the occupants venture out, shaking off the drugs that had been continuously pumped into their enclosures to keep them docile. A guard spots them and just barely alerts the others before he is torn to shreds. “The mutants are loose!” And so they are. Four adult mutants stalk out of the heart of the lab and make their way to their next set of victims. -Update Unlocked-Location - Level 4, Main Exit: As Sev begs with the guards that have taken them hostage to let them out, a radio crackles at the hip of one of the guards. It’s the first such transmission they’ve received since the lights went red so they stop Sev and respond. “Level 4 security. Who are you?” The voice on the other end comes in at a whisper and sounds feminine. “I’m a teacher on Level 3. Jasper ID- Uh, never mind. We need help. The system malfunctioned and we’re trapped in the school. None of us were able to carry out our evacuation procedure. Please, we need help-“ “Can’t do that. We have to defend Level 4,” the guard’s voice waivers as he replies and he makes eye contact with his subordinate officer. “I’ve got kids up there,” they say. All the guards in the unit had been operating under the assumption the evacuation had gone mostly as planned up above. This one officer wasn’t the only one who had kids, and now a long shadow of doubt was being cast on whether or not anyone’s family had been able to make it to safety. Sev sees an opportunity. “The Controller has already released mutants on this Level. We need to change tactics and start trying to save who we can. Let us through, and help us fight our way out of here!” The guard holds the radio up to his mouth to speak and the crowd looks on in pained anticipation. “Hold tight… we’re on our way.” Location - Level 3 A security camera turns its black eye towards the exterior of the middle grade school building. The steel doors have dropped into place making entry through any of the doors or windows nearly impossible for curios, though a determined mutant would most likely find its way in in due time. A group of curios have found a blast door that failed to come down all the way and are busy making the gap wide enough that the Ankuri kits and their teachers can slip out. The mechanical eye holds on them until it sees the first kits emerging from the newly formed gap. The comm system crackles to life and an unwelcome voice addresses the rescue team. “Ah, ah, ah! That will not do!” The Controller activates the nearby sprinkler system on the playground lawn and the noisy hissing contraptions go off in a chain reaction. The distant shrike of a mutant lets the group know they’ve been found out. They redouble their efforts to move the kits along. They need to get to safety fast.-Update Unlocked-Location - Level 3, Drain Pipe With the walkable paths under maintenance, the group is forced to find another way up to Level 2. Someone hastily suggests walking the drain pipe up. It’s large enough to fit an Eisgar and sloped to be walkable until they hit switchbacks with metal maintenance ladders built into the concrete. It’s doable for the young curios among them as well. It is agreed upon and the group wades through the swelling hydroponics fields and surreptitiously removes the grate from the entrance of the drain. One by one, the group enters and starts their upwards climb. The water flowing through the pipe is only a trickle under their paws. “It’s mostly for redirecting water when we get our rare desert storms,” a teacher explains to a curious visitor. They get pretty far without interference until… “What's that noise?” Sev asks. A dull roar reverberates around the concrete tunnel. It’s too low to be a mutant… “Holy shit! Hold on!” A curio at the front of the line screams as a torrent of water comes rushing down the pipe. Many of the group are pulled off their feet. The Eisgar brace themselves and try to hold on to the smaller curios around them. Even seconds of the deluge feels like eternity as water fills up the lungs of the unfortunate and muscles scream as they start to lose their grip on whatever is holding them in place. But there is a boom, just loud enough to be heard over the roar of the water. Just as suddenly as the water started, it comes to a stop. The curios are soaked, coughing, and exhausted… but alive. Sev’s radio crackles at his hip and he answers between coughs. “You guys alright? I knew something was going on when the water tanks in the factory started draining all of a sudden! Whoever has taken control of the system must have tried to flush you out.” “It almost did,” Sev coughs. “We could use your help up here if you think you can make it. Mutants everywhere… How many of you are there?” The voice on the other end asks. “A hundred plus, I think.” The voice on the other end goes silent before letting out a low whistle. “That many…? Well, we’ll need all of you. There’s a war going on up here.” Location - Level 2, The Green Their contact on the other end insists that they need to head to the recreational grounds on Level 2. The few factory workers left had blown up the water pipe in the factory to save them from drowning. While the factory’s main floor had been their original destination given it was the safer place to surface, now it was now covered in electrified water that would fry a curio without the proper equipment. The residential park is the only alternative. After taking a few extra turns, the group emerges on the very exposed park lawn via a drain. Sev surfaces first only to see a pack of mutants in the distance. There are more mutants here than any other level they’ve encountered so far. The radio crackles to life and Sev has to duck back into the sewer with his paw over the device to answer. Their contact seems to know the danger they’re in so he speaks softly. “We sure could use your help but there’s a bunch of old and not too well off folks in the library. Without you, they don’t stand a chance… So forget about us and you take care of them.” “We’re not leaving anyone,” Sev assures the Ankuri on the other line, “We will swing by once we secure the library.” As if the Controller has heard (which was a real possibility as it claimed control over more and more Hive systems) it speaks over the comm, “I hope you don’t think you’re going to make it out of here alive, do you?” The mutants turn their heads up to look for the source of the noise. There are so many… Sev feels something small tap him with and looks down to see Tipton raising a tiny hand in solidarity. Every curio looking up at him has the same determined look. That damn AI was going to eat crow, whether it knew it or not. Sev speaks into his communicator, ”Library first, then we’re coming your way.” -Update Unlocked-Location - Level 2, Library The old and sickly Ankuri staked out in the library are shaken and afraid, but give the group a warm welcome when they finally manage to sneak their way in. They share their meager supplies to help replenish the strength of the kits and the injured among the group even though it means they will have nothing left over for themselves. The charitable act fuels the group. They’re ready to take on the mutants beyond the walls. Gregor stands by a shuttered window, gazing out through a gap in the metal made by a mutant claw. From there he can see the manufacturing plant. “Thinking about running?” a curio growls. Gregor’s transgression hasn’t been forgotten. “No. Too late for that. But I did think it would be nice to kill two linnies with one stone,” Gregor says. Sev takes notice. “What do you mean?” “You want to save those factory workers too, don’t you? I was just thinking that a few thousand volts would disagree with a mutant. Hell, a dozen mutants. All at once.” Sev makes the connection and starts to call upon any of the hunters and security members of their group while Gregor stays stationed at the window. After all they’ve been through, Gregor muses, it would be a pleasure to watch a few mutants fry. Location - Level 2, Factory Floor They sprint for their lives. A few outfitted in rubber workman coveralls and others just harnessed by a rope extending up to the paws of their compatriots on the catwalk above. The flock of mutants is so close to nipping at their heels, the only thing stopping them is how they trip over one another on the smooth factory floor. At the last moment the curios in harnesses are hoisted up and out of the way. As they dangle in the air just out of reach, they shout to the remaining runners below. Go! Go! GO! The runners hit the thin layer of electrified water and brace themselves in the event their calculations are wrong and they’re about to suffer a horrible death… But they are fine! They don’t break their stride as they run for safety on the other side of the water. The mutants behind them aren’t so lucky. The monsters hit the water and go stiff. Those running behind them collide and are thrown forward only to suffer the same fate. The ones in the back of the ranks try to escape electrocution by clamoring over the backs of their dying brethren only to fall into the water and perish the same way. The group gathers together, unable to pause and celebrate their victory. The factory workers have used their equipment to open up a passage to Level 1. Half the group breaks off to go to collect the old and infirm Ankuri now that the coast is temporarily clear. The others push ahead to scope out the situation above. The Hive residents are shocked to see Level 1 of their metropolis reduced to shambles by the mutant invasion. Claw marks, carnage, and debris mix to create a field of destruction. It’s almost too easy to assume that they’re too late. Their assent has taken hours after all. Sev reluctantly tries the radio, expecting the worst. “Hello? Anyone there? We’re here to assist any survivors-“ “Took you long enough! We’ve been listening to you guys since Level 4! Guess our signal wasn’t getting through… Your tech guys sell absolute shit radios- But ever mind that. We’re all hunkered down by the security station… Oh! We’ve got your weapons. What the heck do you mainlanders use these giant swords for anyhow-“ A voice on the other end cuts off the chatterbox by exclaiming in an exasperated whisper, “For the sake of the First, shut up Chlor! There are mutants everywhere.” “We’ll be there soon,” Sev ends the transmission before turning to the curios behind him. “You guys want your weapons back?” An Eisgar turns to her Undyre companion indignantly and whispers, “I thought that's what we bothered coming up here for!” Sev chuckles to himself. He is taking that as a strong yes. -Update Locked-Location - Level 1, Security Station Sev and Pete work together to distribute all the weapons stashed in the security locker. The Eisgar are reunited with their treasured heirlooms and the Undyre are being entrusted with Ankuri tech they can operate intuitively. The mainlanders are entrusted with anything in between. The security officers from Level 4 are stepping up to ensure those unable to fight are moved to where they can be easily defended while others map out the best passage out once they have an opening to make a run for it. Sev steps aside and takes a moment to radio for Tav or Alph. They have to be close enough now that he can reach them... His heart soars as he hears Tav’s voice come through on the other side. “Where are you?” “Level 1. We’re almost out. If you can send assistance we can make it-“ “How much do the others know?” Sev feels his excitement wither in his chest. “Know about what’s going on…? The AI has been blasting over the comm system for hours. They know everything.” “Sev, you know it’s against protocol for us to sink resources into going back into the Hive. You’ll need to fend for yourself. I’m sorry. I truly am-“ “Save it for when you can say that to my face, Mayor Tav. You’ll get your chance,” Sav says between clenched teeth. Tav is so quiet he thinks he’s lost signal but at length she replies, “Of course, Sev. Be strong. May the First guide you all.” Then the line goes dead. He’s never heard words more hollow. Pete notices Sev sitting in a daze and steps aside to give his shoulder a shake. “What’s happening?” Sev speaks loudly, on the verge of histiarics as he says, “They want us to die here! I could almost understand why they couldn’t deal with outsiders leaving, but what about the rest of us!? What’s her grand reasoning for why her precious Ankuri must die?” A somber silence sets in. Ankuri and foreigners alike feel the sharp sting of abandonment. Sev stands and throws the radio on the ground, crushing it under his paw. “Like hell I’m going to go quietly. If we have to burn this place to the ground to get out, so be it. Gregor, you know something about explosives?” Gregor grimaces, “I might. Depends on if you want to blow this place up with us in it or not. Rumor is it’s not a pleasant way to go and I’d rather take my chances with the mutants.” Sev stands tall. “I said we’re getting out of here no matter what. See what you can whip up for us. I’ve got a plan.”,Prizes, ⋄Sanwa⋄There is a 15% chance of dropping a Sanwa!⋄MYO Raffle Ticket⋄There is a 40% chance of dropping a Raffle Ticket for one of two uncommon Ankuri MYO Slots!,⋄Event Stamp⋄All participants receive the Event Stamp! This can be displayed wherever you wish.⋄Grand and Secret Prizes⋄Completing at least one entry for all three summer events (May, June, July) will enter you into a raffle for a grand prize!In addition, all players who complete at least one entry for all three summer events will receive an exclusive participation prize!,PayoutsEvents pay out both Tokens and EXP, according to the level of finish of your entry. Please use the guide below to calculate your earnings, and be sure to include them in the provided form!EXP and Token Payout GuideRules and Guidelines⋄ You may enter once per 24 hours.⋄ If an event features a pet or mount as a prize drop it can be counted towards a bonus if it follows the guidelines below⋄Drawn entries:- must be flat coloured and have a simple background at minimum. - 75% of the participating character must be visible. - 50% of guest characters, pets, and mounts must be visible. - For comics: at least one panel must meet the minimum requirements for the prompt. any bonus requirements met in other panels (ie guest, pet, mount) will count towards your total.⋄Written entries:- must be 900 words at minimum. - guest characters, pets, and mounts must be mentioned evenly throughout the story. - All entries must adhere to group rules. If you don't yet have your own curio, you're welcome to use the Community Curio. In the description of your entry, please add the following: Name of Event: [List the event title] Focus Curio: [name of focus character, link to reg sheet] Guest Curios: [link to reg sheets] EXP Tally: [use the table above!] Token Tally: [use the table above!]Weapon Perk?: [must have made 3 attack entries and been confirmed first!]⋄⋄⋄Once your entry is complete, please submit it to the [appropriate folder] and we will roll your rewards!⋄⋄⋄ If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to note the group or comment below.Event Ends June 30th, 11:59pm EST
Focus Curio: [Curio] Kissi Registration
Guest Curios: [SI] Harvey Registration & Archer - Curio Registration

EXP Tally:
Shaded fullbody - 6EXP
Simple background - 4EXP
Guest bonus - 5EXP
Total: 15EXP
Token Tally:
Shaded fullbody - 12T
Simple background - 8T
Guest bonus - 8T
Total: 28T

Thank you & for letting me borrow your Curios!