etrayalogs | MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: August 9th and going forward
WHERE: Returning to Etraya
WHAT: End of Mission 004 Log
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A

⏵ there's no place like home ⏴
On the morning of August 9th, every Etrayan’s earpiece receives a message from Eos: FAIL or PASS in big, bold letters with no further context. Players are free to choose which response their character gets; if they were able to go through Moorecroft without letting on that they were from Etraya, or another city bubble in general, they will receive a PASS. Those whose identities as Etrayans were spoiled, will get a FAIL. This response has no bearing on whether or not they participated in the midnight breakouts, nor what condition they’ve managed to get themselves into.

It wouldn’t be the first time some kids from Moorecroft tore up the town looking for answers, even if it is the first time in a while they’ve managed to get as far as they had and cause as much damage as they have.

Regardless, any responses sent to Eos will bounce right back to the original sender, with a RECEIVER UNAVAILABLE error: it seems that, shortly after sending through their results, all of those from Etraya have been disconnected from Eos’ network, and reconnected to Aurora’s by the friendly companion bots stepping through another portal in the middle of Moorecroft’s park. They’ll offer waves of their hands, and usher everyone back to Etraya proper. They’ll offer explanations similar to what Aurora would give to newcomers arriving to those who were dropped in with Eos, as well as offer to assist them in getting settled in Etraya.

The companion bots will allow Etrayans to step through the portal with items they can carry, minus the smaller android babies. If they insist, it will be explained to them that, much like the companion bots native to Etraya, these babies are meant to assist newcomers in settling, and they cannot take them from Eos.

Welcome home.

At the very least, everything looks normal on this side.

⏵ whispered secrets of the night ⏴
Or it seems normal enough. While previous excursions outside of Etraya have featured environmental changes, the city bubble now appears exactly as it had before everyone left. Buildings stand as pristine as ever, animals have been fed and cared for, and everyone is invited to return to their homes for a quick rest.

But as you meander through the familiar streets and over bridges, an unsettling stillness clings to the air. The usual sounds of Etraya–the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the chatter from the companion bots– feel slightly off. Shadows stretch a little too long, lingering in the corners of your vision, and the light, although warm, seems to cast an unnatural tint over everything. It’s as if the city itself had been holding its breath in everyone’s absence.

As days pass, the eerie stillness begins to ebb. The animals gradually resume their usual activities, and companion bots return to their routines, chatting with Etrayans as they wander the city and help set up new facilities.

Yet despite the return of normalcy, a sense of unease lingers. The city feels different as if it’s been touched by something while you were away. There are no curfews on Etraya, unlike Moorecroft, but those who wander in the dark may be unable to help but notice that it almost feels as if something is watching you, waiting for you to let your guard down. Etraya appears to be the same, but something has changed, shifted. And it’s only a matter of time before that change reveals itself.

Those who wander outside at night during their first several days back will feel like they are being watched, but will be unable to find what is watching them, regardless of the method they use to try and discern what it is.

⏵ sea la vie ⏴ The unsettling sensation of being watched gradually fades over the next few days. Etraya begins to feel more like the place you remember: slightly empty, but comfortably so. The weather shifts unpredictably, with cool breezes one day and almost stifling warmth the next.

The companion bots, seemingly oblivious to any lingering unease, appear to be in full vacation mode. They spend a significant amount of time on the two small, sandy islands that are just south of the hospital, setting up for what looks like the perfect beach day. Chairs are arranged in neat rows, colorful towels are spread out across the sand, and a small shack has been built just off the side of the bridge that offers swimsuits and any other beach-related item that they could need - or most of them! The narrow river means surfboards are out of the question; instead, the bots provide massive tube floaties, perfect for lazily drifting down the currents.

⏵ polaroid pandemonium ⏴ Everyone receives an invitation to Corrine’s Cafe, along with a table number. The invitation may arrive via a companion bot delivering it to them physically, or as a direct message from Aurora via their earpiece. The invitation instructs them to meet at the cafe at a specific time and sit at a designated table.

At each table, two envelopes sit in front of two chairs, each containing a collection of photos. These images capture significant moments from your history - events you may have forgotten or ones that have shaped who you are. On the back of each envelope, instructions for the task await: discuss the moment featured in the photo with your partner, and share what it means to you. Whether it’s a memory of a terrible ordeal, or one of your happiest times with your loved ones. The choice to participate is yours; however, Aurora and the companion bots make it clear that your place at the table is pre-reserved whether you show up or not - meaning, your photos may still be viewed by others, even if you decide not to show up.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

This log marks the end of their visit to Moorecroft! Characters return to Etraya on August 9th regardless of what shenanigans they were getting up to within the other city bubble. We'll be following up with the mission: breakout threads, as well as continuing to follow through with NPC threads and provide further information for those still participating in plotting.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please use the mod queries thread. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Krouse won't take it as a compliment. He knows the sound of a contingent bare minimum when he hears it. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ His evident cheer doesn't fade. ]

Mind if I get your name, or is that something else you expect people to work for?

[There's a slight upward pull to the corner of his mouth, the ghost of a smirk to those keen enough to notice it.]

You may kneel before Barnabas Tharmr, Warden of Ash and king of Waloed.

[While he radiates a presence of authority, there is something almost detached in how he introduces himself. As if this is merely rehearsed and repetitive for him, than anything truly heartfelt. Even the suggestion to kneel has nothing firm behind it, no true command of action. No expectation of follow through. It is as if he's bored of it.]

And what might you be called?

I think I may not.

[ The refusal has no bite to it, delivered with a casual perfunctoriness not entirely unlike Barnabas' own boredom. A lesser cousin, in a sense, from someone who hasn't managed to get that jaded yet, whatever his personal opinions on his world weariness are.

And he's not unmoved by the air of command, even if he takes steps not to show it. That in and of itself is a tell: he's practised not falling into line. ]

I'm Krouse. No titles.

[ None that Barnabas would find impressive, anyway. ]

Do you have a style of address? Your Majesty? Your Grace? Your Implacableness?

[As one might expect, Barnabas is unbothered by his unwillingness to kneel. While he holds his title, he is also aware that his sovereignty holds no true power here, yet it still is a telling introduction all the same. It speaks of history and experience, crucial points if someone like Krouse wishes to truly take his measure as he claims.]

Those familiar with formalities refer to me as the former, as the second is customary for dukes not kings, and as for the latter...

[Once again he turns his gaze back to the water.]

It is certainly new.

[ The sum total of Krouse's knowledge of formal titles comes from the shaky world of fantasy novels. He'll have to keep the king and duke distinction in mind in case this ever comes up again.

More relevant to the current situation, in his opinion, is that Barnabas has either a fantastic straight face or doesn't really go in for jokes. Or both. Probably both. ]

You can hang onto it, if you want. I come from a democracy, so I'm not going to be getting much use out of it. [ A short beat. ] Have you heard of democracy? It's sort of the hot new thing in my time.

[Barnabas really does have a fantastic straight face, and while he is not entirely bereft of humor, it can be hard to tell if he's playing along with the joke, or simply electing to ignore its humor outright.]

I am aware of it. The nations of my world varied in their forms of government. Democracy among their number.

[He pauses for a beat, thinking on how foolishly idealistic democracy is. As if it were any less susceptible to corruption than anything else.]

Are all your nations democracies?

Nope. We've got our fair share of old-fashioned dictatorships rattling around.

[ On top of a rash of superpowered warlord fiefdoms, but that's a geopolitical clusterfuck Krouse doesn't want to touch with a ten foot pole. ]

Not many monarchies left, though. A few places hung on to their royal families, but that's because they make a great tourist attraction, or so I'm told.

I see.

[He offers flatly. He is not familiar with the concept of tourism, and so the relevance of what he's talking about is slightly lost on him, in truth. Valisthea was never in a situation to truly allow such opulence.]

Are the monarchies utterly bereft of their power?

[He doesn't sound entirely bothered by this concept. While he is the only monarch in Valisthea, his power is earned unlike the other nations. A crown won through strength and skill, not lineage and presumed birthright, unlike Sanbreque or Rosaria. If these monarchs that Krouse is familiar with are more the latter than the former, well, perhaps they deserve their steady decline.]

They're rich. That always counts for something.

[ The intricacies of the remaining power of the crowns in constitutional monarchies are another subject where his knowledge falls short, but he's confident about the influence of inherited fortune. ]

But they're not raising armies to conquer Europe or overthrowing the Catholic church again any time soon, if that's more of what you're talking about. It's mostly turning up to ceremonies and waving at people from bulletproof cars.

They are purely ornamental, then.

[Not how he would do it, considering he sees no real purpose behind keeping them even in a soulless husk of what they once were, but he also does not know the full extent of the circumstances. Though, the mention of bulletproof cars does pique his interest.

He learned what a car is due to their previous mission, and he can play the word association game to figure out what bullets are meant to be, but what interests him is:]

Yet, if they hold no true political sway, why would anyone endeavor to assassinate them?

[ Krouse's smile reignites, one side pulled higher than the other. His eyes are flat and humourless. ]

The prestige.

[ He hooks a thumb into a jean pocket and rocks back on a heel, cocking his head to the other side as he raises his eyebrows. ]

Think about it. You kill a banker, a doctor, a reporter - that's unfortunate, but there are more where they came from. You kill a prince, though? A queen? They just aren't making those like they used to. That gets you on the news. Prime time slot.

Not what I'd want to be known for, but that's the logic.

MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

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