#I need to make a taglist a masterpost and a story breakdown

[not-a-space-alien]

Desperate Daybreak Chapter 9

In this chapter: The gang manages to make some progress despite Valen's increasing neuroticism.

MMSS masterpost

DD masterpost

On AO3

PS it's been a while since this story had a chapter update so if anyone wants to be added to or taken off the taglist don't be shy about asking!! <3

***

Valen's hands shook as he dialed and listened to the ring.

“Director Griswald's office, this is Jenny speaking, how can I help you?”

“Jenny, this is Valen. Please pass me on to the director.”

“Hi, Valen!  Of course, one moment.”

His heart thudded at the wait music.

“Valen,” the director's voice said amicably.  “What can I do for you?”

“Hello directly-”  Ah yes, God forbid Valen not stutter over his nerves every time he talked to a vampire hunter.  “Director hunter-”

“Good to see you, too, Valen.  How are things over there?  I assume you’ve already put things into motion to free whoever you can?”

“Yes, Director, I have.  We have to delay, though.  That’s actually what I was hoping to talk to you about-”

“Delay?”

“Yes, Director, we can’t free the humans in the processing facilities until-”

“Valen, you understand these are people’s lives we’re talking about here?  Human lives, missed by their family and friends?  With just as much humanity as you?”

A pit formed in Valen’s stomach, anxiety constricting his chest.  “I understand, Director, believe me I do.  But we have to be practical-”

“You don’t think vampires have the right to keep those humans, do you?”

“Of course not!  But-”

“Then why delay anything?”

“If you would just let me talk,” Valen exploded.  “I would explain why!”

The director was silent.  Heat rose to Valen’s cheeks.  He slunk into the nearby sitting chair and twirled the cord in his finger.  “Ahm.  Director Griswald, we need to set up an alternate blood supply before pulling the plug on the mass blood processing facilities.  Otherwise the enclave will be left without food.”

“You vampires’ right to eat does not supersede our humans’ right to live.  I thought you understood that.  I thought you were different.”

Valen’s heart thudded as his mind raced, spiraled right down into the pits where he always got tangled and scared.  “I know, Director,” he squeaked out.

“Then you would understand what an incredible violation it is to keep those people for even one second longer than they already have been.  You’ve been given the legal rights to them.  You’re responsible for them.”

The phone shook in Valen’s hand as tears started to well in his eyes.  “I know, Director.”

“You’ll figure something out, I’m sure.”

Valen white-knuckled the phone, staring straight down at the carpet, floating above his body.

Tessie appeared, hair whipping with the speed of her arrival.  Her hand flew to the phone instantly.  “Give me the phone, sweetie.”

Valen wordlessly let her take it.

“Director,” Tessie said.  “Give us a few minutes.  We’ll have to call you back to discuss at a later time.”

“What?  Who is this?  Tell V-”

Tessie hung up.  Valen burst into tears, sinking to the floor.  “He’s right.  I’m responsible for them.  I need to figure something out.”

There was the sound of metal jingling as Lex and Ari rushed to catch up.  “No,” Ari huffed.  “Come on, Valen.”

“But he’s right.”

Lex came over and pulled Valen up off the floor.  “Come on.  We already had this breakdown.  We don’t need to have it again.”

Valen flushed deep red and hid his face in Lex’s shoulder.

“I guess I should have expected it from the director of the vampire hunters,” Tessie said.  “But I’m still disappointed.”

“Did it not go well?” Lex asked.

Ah, right, she wouldn’t have been able to hear like Tessie could have.  “No.  He was being–very aggressive on releasing all the humans immediately.”

“It makes sense,” Lex said.  “I can’t blame him.”

“But we still need to be practical,” Ari said.  “We just had that whole discussion already.  He’s gotta know that, right?”

Tessie tapped her chin.  “If we can maneuver the Director into a position where he’s willing to help us meet him halfway, that would be way easier than not having him on our side.  We’re trying to get him to set up voluntary blood draw clinics here, right?”

Valen nodded.

“All right.  Call him up, let me do the talking.”

Valen dejectedly dialed the number and handed the phone to Tessie.

“Hi, Director Griswald?  Hello, we haven’t met yet, but you can call me Tessie.  I’m a lawyer that’s been working with the Kithrara estate and-”

“Put Valen back on the phone, please, sir.”

“I was hoping to speak to you on his behalf.”

“Valen is able to speak on his own behalf.  Put him on the phone.”

Tessie glanced at Valen, who flushed and sunk down in his chair.  “I understand why you’d prefer to speak to Valen directly, but he’s listening and can be involved in the conversation as much as he wants.  For now, he’d like me to speak with you as I’m more knowledgeable about handling logistics and legal matters.”

The director sat in stormy silence.  Valen developed a pit in his stomach.

“Fine,” the director finally said.  “What do you want to speak about?”

Tessie did a happy little leg pop, then continued with her voice no less serious: “Well, director, I hear you about trying to get all the humans on this side of the border back home, but we’re juggling a lot of practical considerations as well as the ethical ones.  We could expedite that process quite a lot if we had a steady alternate supply of blood.  We were hoping to work with you to set up a volunteer harvest web on your side of the border.”

There was a very, very long pause.  Valen could practically hear the director scowling when he said: 

“Fine.  I don’t suppose there’s any reason why we can’t do that.  Let me make some calls and get back to you.”

***

“We don’t even need the director’s stupid help.”

Tessie held the flask up to the light skeptically.

“See?” Lex continued.  “Valen’s such a super genius that he can just make fake blood for everyone to drink.  Problem solved!”

Tessie wafted the flask to smell it, and her nose crinkled.

“Go ahead and give it a taste,” Ari encouraged. 

Tessie’s eyes bounced from her to Valen, who watched while wringing his hands.

Tessie lifted the bottle to her lips and took a sip.  Her face immediately soured.

“That bad, huh?” Valen said with a grimace.

Tessie tactfully spit the fluid back into the vial.  “Valen, I know you’re super smart and all, but-”

“It’s bad, isn’t it?  Oh, I knew it was going to be bad.  I’ve been the only one drinking it, and-”

“It’s just not finished, Valen,” Lex said, with a comforting rub on his arm.  “You can keep working on it.”

“It’s a great start,” Tessie said diplomatically.  “With enough time, I’m sure you can work it into something drinkable.”

Valen sunk down onto the couch and sprawled out.  “It tastes really bad, doesn’t it?”

“... Like I said, I’m sure you can work it into something drinkable.  With enough time.”

Valen groaned and tipped his head back over the couch.  Which put Edwin, standing in the doorway, squarely in his field of view.

He startled.  “Edwin!  I didn’t realize you were there waiting for me.”

Edwin bowed.  “I was merely waiting for you to finish your important conversation, Valen.”

“Well, consider it finished.  Are they here, then?”

“Yes.”

“Ooooh, okay, okay, all right.”  Valen dashed over to the mirror to straighten out his outfit, then remembered they were doing a radio spot and no one would be able to see him, then fussed over his outfit anyway for the crew.  “Did you know radio broadcasts don’t even have to be live these days?  They can record it for later playback.  Technology is such a marvel!  If I had to do this live, I think I would faint out of nerves.”

Lex and Ari looked at each other.

“All right,” Tessie said, coming over and helping Valen with his tie.  ��Remember.  Just keep your cool and stick to the script.”

Valen was acutely aware that Tessie was speaking to him like soothing a nervous horse before a race.  “All right.  I will.”

He led everyone out into the sitting room, where two vampires sat among a bunch of recording equipment, mics and tapes and headphones.  One of them was setting up some sort of noise-cancelling baffling.

“Thank you for coming,” Valen said graciously.  He took his seat at the head of the room, while Lex and Ari fanned out behind him.  Good.  He was in control here.  “I am fascinated by your equipment, but I’ll stow my curiosity for a more appropriate occasion.  I want to make sure we have enough time to get this right.”

“Uh-huh.”  One of the recording crew handed Valen a pair of headphones and a mic.  “Put these on and we’ll get started.”

***

“It’s coming on, it’s coming on!”  Tessie crowded closer to the radio and turned the volume knob up.

Whatever swanky music had been playing cut off as they went to a  break.  And Valen’s voice came on the radio next:  “Hello, my fellow vampires.  This is Valen Kithrara, coming to you from the seat of power in the Kithrara estate.”

Valen blushed and hid his face.  Did he really sound like that?  Everyone was hearing this!

“I wanted to address some concerns circulating recently about the Kithrara estate, and the infrastructure that supplies all of us with nourishment, changing hands.  I assure everyone that I am dedicated to maintaining a steady supply of blood for the entire country and will not be downsizing any aspect of the blood harvest web, or the blood processing facilities, until sufficient alternatives are in place to maintain the supply.  I am a compassionate countryman above all else, and I know how hard the families in our enclave work to feed their young ones.  I would never threaten or jeopardize the livelihood of all you fine, hardworking people.  I’m Valen Kithrara, and I approve this message.”

Tessie turned down the radio as the commercials came on.  Was that really the entire thing?  It felt like it’d taken hours to record the whole thing, just for the spot to be over in what, thirty seconds?  “That was convincing, right?” Valen ventured.  “The nobles are more worried about the cultural aspect of their lifestyle, but everyday folks just want a steady supply of blood.”

“You did great, Valen,” Tessie assured.  Most of the time spent in recording had been Tessie wrangling Valen like the nervous-horse-handler she was to produce this usable thirty seconds of stutter-free recording.

Lex patted his shoulder.  “That’ll hopefully buy some public goodwill to give us more time for-”

“Wait.”  Tessie interrupted her and turned the knob on the radio back up.  “What the fuck is this?”“-respectable vampires,” said the commercial spot.  “Tired of the monopoly?  Tired of not having a choice?  Tired of having your freedom and dignity, your stance as an apex predator questioned, threatened, and denied by backwards, mentally ill scoundrels and cheats?  Then you need to shop Landon Blood!  We’ve been working tirelessly to get operations up and running and starting today, find it on shelves everywhere!  No gimmicks, no nonsense, just pure, plentiful blood!  When supply runs out, think Landon!”

***

Taglist

@tomato-whump @dragonfireridge @taterswhump @whump-cravings

@scoundrelwithboba @pigeonwhumps @whumpsday @whumpy-writings @fuzzydarkpebble

@melodicnommer @thecyrulik @snake462 @gt-daboss @appelsiinilight

@star-rott @mottinthemainpot @corvidat @melancholy-in-the-morning @whumplr-reader

@honeycollectswhump @dragonqueenslayer6 @whumpycries @starfields08000 @scumashling

@demetercabingreen-thumb @bacillusinfection

[unrealistic-ideas-for-writers]

Beneath the Sands: Play Guide!

pt. 2 of the Plot Overview!

This is more for the writers to understand how the "game" will work? I touched on it briefly in a previous post about how this would be structured.

So here is a more thorough breakdown! Narration/ Rover post:

will contain setting, Rover based interaction, plot that drives story and OC interaction

It will also occasionally contain choices for OCs!

I've decided the polling method is ineffective unless the party moves as a group

So I'll probably link wheels to spin with random things like: Go [insert direct], [Discover x clue], and [Fight/sneak past x enemy] for individualized game play

May also contain puzzles! I love Wuthering Waves' puzzles, so I'll try and include lots of visuals!

OC Reblog/Post:

Can include dialogue, tag other OCs for specific interactions, decisions made, visuals, whatever you want honestly

The goal is to have everyone get their main response to the Narration post out before lots of mini interactions spring off of it

How long between Narration posts?

It may vary, life can get busy

But I think two weeks is a satisfactory start for everyone??? That way you all have time to interact with the main plot and each other's OCs because this is supposed to be fun and not totally pre-structured

What if I want to include lore details my character wouldn't know or I don't know?

I can always respond again with another Rover post that isn't a main plot point, but helps keep the story flowing easily

Also it's fun :3

Other Info:

Once we're done with a Narration post, it will be added to a story section of the Beneath the Sands masterpost, linked on my pinned post as of now.

So if you ever need to go back and reference prior information or want to build off a concept, you can do so there.

Some Questions for you guys!

Since Tumblr has this wonderful "Yes, And-" culture, I don't think we'll have problems building off each other's posts-

However, it might be difficult to get very connected responses? Just because you post yours, someone else post theirs, and your two first responses may feel very disconnected?

Not sure how to handle this other than have a randomly generated response order????

But that still feels clunky to me so I dunno

Any ideas for that issue is appreciated!

And finally, the best part:

I've been making some trial maps and visuals for the quest already, so here's one:

Taglist:

@uncreative-cryptid

@hobbysognodilibri

@yupuffin

@marmartheyarn

@crypticrainbowmoss

@captainsounddisaster

[purplexing-writing-and-concepts]

{Am I…a God? Neat}

-Chapter Two: Emergence Day & Cryo Therapy-

Polaris was concerned for its creator. Sure they had finally mustered up the energy to summon them home, but maybe it was a mistake. Watching (Y/n) float about the void space looking through screens and observing everything was a sight the creature thought they wouldn’t see again. It had been eons since the creator’s fall. Since that last horrific fight the remnants of it can still be seen in the worlds of creation.

The gelatinous creature hovered over (Y/n) shoulder noticing that they’d stopped to stare at one screen in particular. A warped jingle sounded from them as they noticed it was of Teyvat. (Y/n) hummed at them but said nothing. The current scene was of the twins being separated, playing on loop. Polaris knew of the twins separation but didn’t feel a need to worry as because of the divine’s blessing they’d always find each other again.

But it was worried about what could happen while the twins were separated. The creature knew that the twins were the only being keeping the cosmos and the worlds of creation stable since the Void’s death. If their powers were sealed away and them separated who knows what would happen to everything their creator made, including their beloved children.

This was the reasoning Polaris and a few other screen guardian creatures banded together to summon the divine once more. It was risky and resulted in casualties, the screen guardian of Teyvat was the only survivor. “Polaris dear…its not your fault…you did what was right…you all did…and for that I could not be prouder of my creations…Know you do not bear this burden alone little one..”

A hand was placed on top of Polaris’s body as a gentle and comforting warm embraced them. The aura of the divine was always something Polaris missed in the time it had to spend alone. A soft jingle rung out from it as it nuzzled into its creator’s hand. “I’m back now…but I am still weak…even so I must act now…I fear what damage this… Celestia has done is almost irreparable…”

A sigh could be heard from (Y/n) has they placed a hand on their chin to think,’ I need to reunite with my children but…if I don’t do so quitely I fear another Divine war will break out…I’m too weak to fight on that scale again for now…’ Thoughts ran through their head as they contemplated the best way to get rid of the parasite.

“Too think while I was away another one formed…and succeeded in conquering a world at that…well this world is still in its infantile stage so its no wonder Tevyat couldn’t defend against its invasion.” Polaris jingled at the thought. It’d lost contact with the Tevyat world guardian during the summoning but the last it’d heard from it was that it had secured a location for the creator to enter undetected.

“Oh well you are indeed a tactile screen guardian…hmm a form will suit you better..you have earned a metamorphosis…”

If Polaris could cry it would be. The last metamorphosis it had occurred ages before the Void's fall. When Teyvat was in its early stages of creation. Upon the world's basic finish in the sandbox Polaris was gifted with a new form, the one it is in currently. "Let's get started them well head to this location you mentioned.." Polaris released a series of jingles in excitement and gratitude.

A golden glow slowly began to take over the creature's form much like when it first reappeared after the Divine One's return. The light began to mold its body to be larger. It even felt new appendages growing. As the light dimmed the once duosion looking seelie looked like a Reuniclus-seelie hybrid. Smiling at Polaris (Y/n) removed their hand and floated smoothly towards the screen displaying Teyvat.

"Come now Polaris it is time we return the true natural order..." Letting out a warble sound Polaris glided over to its creator in glee attaching itself to their back as they both melted through the screen.

Their surrounding became distorted and fuzzy before the glaze faded from their eyes. (Y/n) hummed in approval noticing they were on the summit of Dragonspine. The area was chilly at best, odd that the sheer cold didn't affect them. It also seemed as though the area was still sealed off. The Skyfrost Nail sat in the middle of a ruin. A few ruin guards could be seen from their place. "I sense a few lifeforms around.. Polaris would you be a dear and gather everyone for me..."

Said creature floated off their creator's back and moved in front of them before doing its best salute and speed off to gather the creator's of Teyvat that were around the summit. Watching the young screen guardian gather the slimes, hillichurls, and their large frost Lawachurl (Y/n) couldn't help but smile sadly. This world was in disarray because of their absence.

While yes, they were technically dead, that didn't mean they didn't blame themselves for what has become of one of their precious worlds. Not to mention their children also got caught up in this chaos doesn't soothe them either. A sigh left them as they floated upwards towards the platform where Polaris had gathered the creatures. It was a rather adorable sight if (Y/n) would say.

The lawachurl sat behind all the other creatures with most of the hillichurls sitting in its lap with the cryo-slimes seemingly bouncing in excitement. Holding back a laugh at the display (Y/n) smiled. "Hello everyone...I've been away for while haven't I..." A grunt could be heard from the frost lawachurl. "Yes I know it was sudden...and I'm aware of the situation regarding Celestia..."

The group of creatures seemed to start buzzing with various displays of anger or disapproval hearing (Y/n) mention Celestia. "Trust that it displeases me just as much if not more than all of you of their intrusion.. for now I will need you all to help me prepare the grounds...I plan to make this my reside here alongside you all but I'd like for everyone to feel comfortable and at home."

As they finished the lawachurl stood to its full height, some of the hillichurls scrambling to do the same, before bowing. The other hillichurls followed suit with the slimes doing their own attempted bow. "Oh there's no need to bow..hehe I may be divine but that doesn't mean you are below me.." At their words the creatures relaxed and waited. "I'll be sending out Polaris to gather the other Churlenas and slimes of the mountain and have him lead them here..." With that the gelatinous creature once again saluted before speeding off the cliff of the mountain in a glide.

Continuing the speech (Y/n) softly floated to the side to show the ruins "I will ensure everyone's safety and make sure to rid of any unwanted visitors...in the meantime could you all, except the slimes I have a special task for you in a moment, help with clearing the rubble and moving the ruin guards." Receiving an array of nods and puffs of agreement they couldn't help the large smile that appeared on their face. "While you all do that..if the slimes are able, I'd like for you all to attempt freezing me for as long as you can..."

The group of slimes seemed confused before (Y/n) chuckled as they explained," I need to get back in touch with world's elements and this is the best way I can think that doesn't involve me getting involved with the archons and celestia..." At this the slimes bounced happily. (Y/n) could tell the creatures felt honors that their divine creator wanted their help getting touch with the elements. "Alright then let's get started yeah..."

Floating towards the slime as they made a circle around them, the lawachurl and hillichurls began moving about removing rubble and pilling it up near the Skyfrost Nail. Taking a deep breathe before taking a meditative position with their hands clasped in their lap, (Y/n) then spoke," Let's begin.." With their signal given the slimes began to blow cryo infused frost onto them as a small slime bounced itself into (Y/n)'s lap producing a frosty mist.

This went on for a while before a soft ice blue aura began to form around (Y/n)'s head like a circlet before it spiked outwards like sharp teeth. The aura then shattered like glass before turning into a cloud of mist sinking into (Y/n)'s forehead. With a gasp they opened their eyes quickly feeling a subtle cooling sensation around their body before it faded away. "So this is cryo...it feels different...than I remember.."

The small slime in their lap wiggled before it bounced onto their head making a noise that can only be compared to as purring, but it sounded like glass on glass, as it practically snuggled until it was comfortable. Its actions sent a smile to (Y/n)’s face as they moved themselves into a standing position, not that their feet were touching the ground.

They took a deep breathe before exhaling, a frosty mist expelling from their mouth as the tips of their hair glowed a fluorescent ice blue. “It kind of tickles….” They said as they softly twirled ensuring the little slime was safe before they stopped in their original position.

The other larger slimes gave warped chirps as cheers of excitement. (Y/n) turned as they heard of grunt from the Lawachurl. It was standing a but behind them holding four deactivated ruin guards. The hillichurls were still piling small rubble into piles, though the larger pieces were accounted for.

“Oh place them here I have an idea of what to do with them…” Gesturing to the open space in front of them as they moved aside for the Lawachurl to pass and put down the ruin guards. Said creature then lugged the old machines to the designated spot and dropped them unceremoniously.

Looking over the machine they noticed that they all each were missing a part that the others had. “How intriguing….but as they are now they won’t really protect much if anything…” Floating around the machines inspecting them each in more detail. “I have an idea.” Reaching a hand into the first guard’s eye socket (Y/n) rummaged around before grabbing its core.

They repeated the process for the other three guards. The cores were blackened in their deactivated state, with a small pulse of their divine aura the devices lit up a bright (Favorite Color) before floating from their hands back into the eyes of the guards. The aura then spread throughout the ruin guards’ bodies as it encased them like a liquid.

It seemed to condense the machines bodies into the cores before each color melded together into a diamond shape. Floating over to the newly formed core (Y/n) grabbed it and all but excitedly zoomed towards the Skyfrost Nail. Looking at it with a barely hidden smirk they placed the core onto it.

At first nothing seemed to happen, but then the glow from the core seemed to be transferring into structure. This caused bright cracked to appear on it as the bright blue ice broke away in unassuming chunks together. “Now to finish the job…”

Gliding towards the chunks of ice like crystal they moved them into the desired position. Then (y/n) moved back grabbing the core again, and all but yanking it out of the nail, as the nail collapsed in on itself. Smiling at they saw the Domain’s entrance light up they moved back towards their “Ice-sculpture” placing the core in its center.

Tapping the four cores (Y/n) formed 3 and placed them near the other four. All seven cores were now forming a ··⋮·· symbol. Nodding at the work they smiled before switching to a more serious expression.

“Okay…this is the hard part…” Taking a deep breathe they infused their hands with cryo before placing them on the core once more. Focusing on it as the ice chunks melded together they made sure the cores were bonded to the ice structure before removing their hand and floating backwards a bit.

“If I’ve done this right I should hear a—“ As (Y/n) tried to finish their sentence a loud,”Du…dU…gi…ccceEE” sounded out through the area. The seven cores in the face of the structure blinked in a peculiar pattern ad they all then blinked in unison. The ice sculpture then proceeded to float upwards off the ground and stay there.

“Let’s welcome our newest protector of Dragonspine…” The ice construct released another series of beeps before flying off like Polaris did. “It will make sure that any unwanted guests stay out of Dragonspine…fortunately it’s programmed not to kill..” Hearing this the slime all gave a cheer of happiness. The hillichurls cheered as well and the Lawachurl giving a gruff hum of approval.

Smiling at them (Y/n) nodded their head before a sharp pain shot through their head and flashes of scenes and people’s faces flooded their vision before suddenly stopping. “So…I’m still connected to my earth consciousness….this will be helpful..they seem to still be playing the game…what a wondrous way to tell the future…”

Rubbed their forehead as the headache subsided they sighed in exhaustion. They told the creatures they were going to rest for a bit, making sure the small slime was back with the others for its safety. They then moved to a cliff edge of the ruin that was up high facing the border of Liyue and Mondstadt as they took a meditative position.

“I’ll rest here for a hours and try to contact Paimon…the little fairy should have felt my arrival…and I can only hope she’ll help Aether reach the summit soon…” They then closed their eyes letting the tiredness over take them as they fell a dreamlike state, though they were still aware of their surroundings incase their attention was needed.

“Just a bit more….then we will reunite my dears…”