etrayalogs | OCTOBER MINGLE

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OCTOBER MINGLE

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: October 25th - Early November
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, and some holiday fun!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Supernatural elements, temporary physical alterations, mild horror and jump scares, spooky scary skeleton robots, mild suggestion of compulsion or loss of control, mild body horror.

⏵ arrival ⏴
Welcome to Etraya! Everything is fine now. 😊

Arrival goes expected - or it does for the most part. Aurora greets newcomers in the hospital as they awaken, offers a brief explanation and gives them their earpiece so they can communicate with one another.

Around the hospital and outside of it, Companion Bots are hard at work decorating the city for Halloween—complete with festive touches like pumpkins, cobwebs, and glowing ghost decorations. The atmosphere is fun, light-hearted, and maybe just a little spooky. 🎃👻

Some carry buckets of candy, and offer those they come across a trick or treat. Except both options are, in fact, treats. 🍬 Tricks are treats specifically wrapped in a green wrapper that very clearly declares that they are tricks. Treats are wrapped in orange, and labeled with treat! Companion bots will recommend that those who do want to take a trick take them when they're beside their friends. There won't be any permanent effects from these, nor will they be terrible tricks - just fun ones! All effects last roughly 24 hours.

Giggle Drops cause uncontrollable giggling that bubbles up randomly, even during serious conversations.
Beasty Bites cause characters to grow small fangs, and they will begin craving red foods - apples, cherries, etc.
Bat Gummies cause small, bat-like shadows to follow characters around wherever they wander. These shadows are harmless, and super cute.
Pumpkin Puff is a cotton-candy-like treat, that causes their voices to change dramatically. Either becoming significantly deeper or perhaps very high-pitched, as if they've recently inhaled helium.
Floating Fudge gives characters the ability to float in the air! Just a few feet off the ground, but it's still fun. Right?

⏵ getting spooky! ⏴
Etraya is embracing the season - and maybe even going a little overboard.

Around the hospital, a few small pop-up shops are manned by festively dressed companion bots. They offer samples to everyone - although sampling isn't really necessary. After all, everything here is free!

Candy Shops: Perfect for stocking up on sweets and treats for the upcoming trick-or-treating event. These will not stock the tricks the companion bots offer around Etraya, but instead only carry harmless sweets. They do take custom requests, too, and are happy to create the treats others want!

Costume Shops: Find the perfect costume for Halloween! But beware... rumor has it, if you wear a costume, you might become whatever you dressed up as for a few hours. Those who put on vampire costumes may find themselves suddenly craving blood and growing fangs - those with werewolf costumes may find themselves feeling a little wolfish. These effects may last a few hours, up to a few days.

⏵ masquerade ⏴

In the spirit of mystery, Etraya will be hosting a Masquerade Ball outside the hospital through the nights of October 26th and 27th. Dance anonymously with other attendees and make new friends under the cover of your disguise. Everyone receives a single rose they can exchange with someone else throughout the evening. At the stroke of midnight, the roses will reveal the true identities of your masked dance partners. 🌹

⏵ all hallow's eve ⏴

On October 31st, multiple companion bots set up shop along one of the walkways through the larger island towards the center. With chairs and small booths set up, they offer candies out to trick-or-treaters who wander around through the first part of the night. Some of them will request trick-or-treaters to do a trick for them, to earn a bigger treat! They may ask characters to dance, sing, or show a talent unique to them. Can your character bend themselves into a pretzel? They want to see it, and will offer them a nice bracelet in exchange! Can they whistle super loud? Maybe they'll get a nice piece of kevlar armor after showing off. This can be anything within reason - bike parts, small weaponry, armor pieces, toys, canvases for painting. Please request these items HERE.

Not everything is as light-hearted as it seems, however. Aurora issues a warning to the citizens of Etraya: Do not stay outside after midnight. Strange happenings have been reported, and those who disobey may start seeing visions of past loved ones. The visions are compelling—guiding people away from the safety of the buildings and into the mysterious mist surrounding the outskirts.

But be careful, these spirits may not be as friendly as they seem.

If you come into contact with these ghosts, you’ll feel a chilling cold, leading to hypothermia-like symptoms. The longer you’re exposed, the worse it gets. Treatment? You’ll need to be warmed up quickly.

⏵ skellys! ⏴

The Companion Bots wanted to join in on the fun, so they painted themselves with glow-in-the-dark paint to look like skeletons. But in the dead of night, for those already suffering from the chilling touch of the ghosts, seeing glowing skeletons approach from the darkness might not be the most comforting sight. 🤖💀

Stay safe, warm up, and enjoy the festivities!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

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A lot has changed in Loki’s life, but that has never really affected his manners. At least not when he’s in full control of his faculties. It also might have a bit to do with wanting to impress Hob. He’s been so nice to him, even when he wasn’t being himself. It makes him want to be on his best behaviour.

Loki feels rather pleased when Hob clearly likes his choice in wine. Somehow any time he manages to do something that Hob likes makes him feel rather pleasant.

“Humble too? My oh my, what have I done to make friends with someone as lovely as you?” His smile widens. Was he flirting? He might be flirting.

"Not exactly, but several months at least."

Hob thought he might be the only normal person here. Even those without powers seem to have incredible skill. Of course, he's normal in most ways except the part where he never dies, but what does that do for his world, exactly? It only ever mattered to him, and he can't save a universe with it.

"Yes, I suppose so, but what chance do ordinary folk have against those with super powers?"

Meanwhile, Rosie was used to a more breakneck pace of life. Things in Etraya often felt too slow for her tastes but... Maybe someday she'll appreciate taking a bit more time now and again. Maybe. Hopefully.

"Oh!" she exclaims, realizing that she hadn't asked either. "You can call me..." Oh, right. The masks. Anonymity was the fun of all this, wasn't it? To that end, the woman provides an alias: "Thorn! But don't worry, I only prick those that deserve it."

He hasn't ever cooked for Harold before, because Harold wouldn't be presumptuous enough to ask something like that of an employee, or honestly even a friend. He is conscientious that there is a disparity between him and John, and he tries not to overstep it. Here, in Etraya, it seems like it would do more harm than good to stick to his usual rigorous boundaries quite so steadfastly.

The offer garners a slight smile from Harold in acknowledgement, but he lets John push on past the personal subject. He accepts it as it is and will take him up on it later.

"Not entirely. There's a real theoretical debate about how our perception of the world impacts our understanding of it. Not that I'm the biggest student of philosophy, but it has implications for how to train a computer to recognize its environment. Something as simple as recognizing this as a plate, with food on it, is not trivial to a computer, which necessarily raises questions about how our own cognition is accomplishing the task."

Harold pauses again, realizing he's going on at length.

"It's immensely complicated. The short version is that it is about math inasmuch as any religion is actually about its stated subject."

Wait, is that really the short version? It is to Harold. He resumes eating.

[He shrugs. Not as new as some people, but he's been here less than a year. He's fairly certain this place hasn't existed for that long.]

....... I think they really like holidays.

[It'd explain their enthusiasm over Halloween......]

It's not my name, it's the name of my ability. You know what particle accelerators are?

John listens to Harold but finds himself falling short on understanding. This is not a rare occurrence, but he likes asking these questions and hearing Harold's answers anyways. He feels some part of his mind relaxing ever so slightly as Harold speaks, some tension leave his shoulders. He's still eating the pasta mechanically but finds he doesn't have to focus on each step; listening to Harold is a much better distraction.

"So math is applicable to our perception of reality in terms of how it applies to computers, but doesn't have anything to do with 37's religion?" That's sort of what he got out of the topic.

[ That sounds horrible, and it doesn't help Vax understand any of this at all. ]

So we just... go along with being toyed with by some deity or something?

[ Vax tries to figure out what that means. It sounds like they're living outside of time or something. With things that have happened or are yet to happen, or maybe not happen at all. He doesn't really like the idea of limbo, even if he gets a sense it may be in his future. ]

No, the Matron maintains the transition of souls, not their planes of existance.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I cannot believe she approves of me being trapped here.

"I see. Still unfortunate..."

He wonders if perhaps she did something to prove herself not a worthy candidate for her world. Could these questions be prompted to Aurora? However, if that were put on the table, it would cause undo panic so -- he doesn't expect to get an answer. There's enough panic as is, isn't there? Quietly bubbling under the surface of everything.

"Very little." He offers a smile but his words have a bitter sound to them. "The most we can do is remind them that ordinary people exist, hm? It is something people can forget when they have power."

[ The teenager huffs again at that statement. ]

Of course I could.

[ His expression turns into a frown, though it doesn't really seem to be aimed directly at Rufus. If anything, Fabian is definitely turning to side-eye the companion bots much more instead when his expression changes to it, and definitely when he adds: ]

It's just that I don't care about doing it for them. Why did you?

What can I say?

[He asked in an almost blase fashion as he held still for Linhardt to work.]

I see a mage falling from the sky, I move to catch them. We can't have people getting hurt!

[So much of what he had done was a matter of instinct. He would have done the same for Lysithea or Marianne or anyone else.]

Edited 2024-11-12 14:15 (UTC)

[ Gorgug, for his part, does pay attention to Hyrilis when he makes further comment on the cold. That it isn't normal, it's different. There's reason to do so with how Etraya's been as of late, or was... so he's thinking about it as he follows to make sure that he can lead the man, or at least keep in step with him. Wanting to ask about what he's been seeing, but- ]

I was coming from my workshop in a different place. It's near the river to the north-- I have a bed there, but my friends stay in the apartments. I thought I'd go back.

[ Instead of sticking to his lab, even though it's easier. He's doing it for them, isn't sure if he's doing it for himself, but that isn't something he bothers to think about.

He's got a lot of half-hearted thoughts collecting these past couple of weeks. ]

Are you a vampire, or something? Are you another human?

[ But also, a current thought: this guy is pretty pale and likes the dark. Therefore: creature of the night? ]

Being there for Loki when this place is messing with their heads is the least Hob thinks he can do as a friend. And he believes Loki would do the same for him.

Is Hob picking up on that flirtatious tone? Maybe. He's not entirely sure if Loki is flirting or if he's just reading into it. Loki does joke around a bit, so that could be all it is? Either way, Hob does laugh sheepishly.

"I'm not sure what I ever did to be friends with a god. Especially one as impressive as Loki of Asgard." He's going to imbibe more liquid courage.

[Manny nods as he saw the structure from the distance. It was certainty a lot bigger than he thought, especially when he'd gotten closer and closer to it.

At first he was bemused at what Gorgug was doing when he approached the wall. But he quickly deduced why once the entrance had started to open up. There’s certainly a lot more open space inside than he'd anticipated.]

Okay, this should be good enough for me to stay.

Honestly, not a bad thing. Good for the teenagers and kids that like to celebrate it. ... Also for me, because I like candy.

[oho. The conversation switching to magic makes his curiosity perk up, and he waves the robot away with the candy so he can have his full focus on this his new companion. Even more so, as he's never heard of that particular ability.]

Nope, but I'm wondering if it's what augmentation magic is back at home. Care to explain to this old dude?

Another thing not to trust.

[He frowns at that, before glancing down at the girl next to him. Well, if she's only been here for a few weeks, there's not much else she may know that he does not.

That doesn't mean he isn't going to ask her, however. He'll build to that.]

You'd think they'd make it less obvious that this place just showed up.

[Even if he's a bit worried that someone else is out here, he's grateful that his new companion is leading the way. It made him feel uneasy; seeing the things that he's seen out here. It definitely made him wary, which is a feeling that he isn't used to. Usually just a casual person that didn't mind the small stuff, or really, the big stuff, but there was just something about being haunted by a ghost that shouldn't exist that makes him just a bitttt creeped out.]

Workshop? Are you a scientist or something similar to that?

[It was nice to just keep up a good, and light conversation. He didn't mind his company, and actually found it nice to be around. His demeanor and speech surprisingly gentle on his soul after being so shook up. Although, he can't help but laugh a bit when his question comes out, and he stops in place.

Sure, he looked like a human now, but he figured he could show Gorgug what he actually was. Which, at a snap of the finger, the facade disappears momentarily, and he appears to have very long elf ears instead of human ears. As for his other features, there seems to be a few more things underneath his clothes, like a tail. But he rarely showed that, if at all.]

Nah, I'm an ori. I don't know what you'd call that back in your world, but we just have really long, pointy ears. I just have to mask my appearance because some crazy old lady is out to get me, but I don't think anyone here is trying to kill me. At least, er... Not yet anyway. But! Definitely not a vampire though.

[A pause, and his finger taps against his chin.]

And you're... Huh, well I don't want to assume so you can tell me what you are.

[Orcs are rare in his world, only a couple hundreds of them walk his planet but he knew them not to be malicious but friendly and kind race. BUT AGAIN, HE DOESN'T WANT TO ASSUME WHAT HE IS, so better to just ask.]

[ Illusionary magic--it's not the first that Gorgug's seen of it, but it does surprise him nonetheless, because who expects it? Not a guy like Gorgug. His mind does first think elf?, but then he does catch the tail--and then he doesn't know where to go from there. A race he doesn't know about is even on the table: and actually, that seems to be the case.

Who knows what an ori is. This guy, apparently.

There's a small hum he lets out in all that, a huh, particularly about a murderous old lady being able the guy. Some small acknowledgement that it's something unusual, but Gorgug's expression doesn't exactly change...mainly because the guy himself doesn't seem too concerned immediately. Not yet, anyway, as he says. ]

I'm a half-orc. [ He points to himself, as unnecessary as it is. ] Half-orc, half-human. Lots of humans here don't have us-- I don't know if they'd have an ori. Except in stories. We come up in those, apparently.

[ Perhaps he's experienced that already, but he's giving him a heads up, even if it may be meaningless. Especially if the guy wants to keep a low profile, mingling with humans who have no clue what an ori is, is maybe the best way to keep that low profile... ]

But, I'm an artificer. Do you know what that is?

[ He could also not know what an orc is, but... people know what an orc is more than an artificer.

(He is absolutely getting distracted from the mist problem.) ]

[ Oh no.

Fabian's one weakness: women who are more headstrong than he is. It's the reason she can easily put that onesie into his hands, despite the fact that he's clearly protesting the whole idea. It's the reason he's not dropping it, despite the fact that it would be so easy to do that and just leave the shop altogether.

He's not doing that though. Instead he's standing there and holding it for her, looking more confused and unsure with each passing moment - yes still going along with 37 all the same. ]

Wait, no-- you also shouldn't be wearing a costume! No one should be wearing a costume! [ Fabian may be sweating by now. ] Y-You don't understand..!

[ Phew, well, that's a good first impression. Although: ]

Sorry that there isn't anything except the ground. I don't know what you sleep with. [ Sticks? Leaves? ] Did you still want me to show you how to work the network? I'm coming back here tomorrow. I can show up in the morning.

[ So, either now or later... ]

I slept on the ground before, so I can manage with this. And yeah, that would be helpful if you can show me now.

As someone who had spent a good chunk of time hiding from people with ill intents towards her, she could recognize when someone was doing their best to obscure who they really were. Not that Heather would judge her, but if things went well and they became friends...

Well it would make that lie rather tricky wouldn't it? Still that didn't stop her from wanting to engage in such a 'fun' endeavor. So as they began to dance to the music playing, she simply laughed at Rosie's joke and held her hands out to the other, to give her a spin.

"I guess..you can call me Cheryl. I'll make sure not to get those thorns of yours out then!"

You're right about that, I guess. It sounds like you've been through quite a few of them yourself now, is that right?

( maybe he has some sage advice for her, or a clue as to what to expect. as of right now, it seemed this place was strange-

one minute it messed with your mind in unique ways, and then they had things like this, where something silly like a 'trick' landed a reward. it was confusing for heather, who had become used to being surprised with monsters and terrifying visuals. )

( for now she'll make her way into the changing room and get fitted into the costume, feeling a nice sense of happiness from all the sadness and stress she had been feeling before. it felt like a nice change, to have someone like chrollo here almost like a friend.

at the very least, what he's shown to her so far made her feel like she could trust him. eventually though, she does walk out and gave him a silly twirl before laughing. )

There, hope I don't look too dorky?

[ He counts off some fingers, though even as he does: ] I've been through--three? I haven't been around as long as some people. There were two other missions before I showed up. That's what I remember being told.

[ Just from thinking off the top of his head. He rolls his shoulders, his hoodie decent in the chilly weather, but he can still feel a nip through the fabric. ]

The first time I heard anything about Etraya, I was on a spaceship. [ He pauses, then looks at Heather. ] Do you know what a spaceship is?

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OCTOBER MINGLE

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