OCTOBER MINGLE

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[balanced]

[ the tension doesn't seem to ease any lighter with the additional steps back. rather, 6 watches with an indifferent seeming expression as the distance between them grows. any further, and he worries he may have to raise his voice to be heard.

luckily, that seems to be the extent of it. rather, following the question, there's a faint flicker of surprise that passes through 6's expression at the offer to stop speaking at all. a very considerate offer, to be sure, and after accompanying 37 so, he's almost grateful to come across somebody who can "read the air", so to speak.

still, he offers a small shake of his head. ]

I am not against speaking.

[ it's true that, if it were up to his preferences alone, he would remain alone. however, if he's already to interact with another, there's no reason to make it more difficult for either of them. as distant as his behaviour may seem, he closes his eyes for a moment to contemplate what he might offer to reassure the other, considering his words. ]

Is it an uncommon ability, in your world?

[sleepfan]

[ Linhardt sees no reason not to take the man at his word. He had asked and he had received an answer. Each answer would have had its pros and cons: Corresponding via the written word would allow for more complex questions, but it also would have introduced a period of delay into the conversation, and Linhardt wants to ask his questions immediately.

How could he not?

It's a fascinating topic. He smiles for a scant second, a very small quirk of the mouth, before his facial features retreat into carefully maintained neutrality despite his internal restlessness.]

'Uncommon' would be an understatement: While such things have been theorized and I'm aware of beings who can take the shapes of people and forcible transformations, I've never seen or met anyone who could move from one form to another at will when those forms are so different. Such abilities are only spoken of in a handful of stories, and my taking them seriously was considered rather odd.

So seeing you do so felt very vindicating.

Can you assume other forms, or are you limited to that of a bird?

[ If Linhardt were forced to pick a single other form, a bird would be high on the list. It isn't a poor choice at all. If it was a choice. Another question. ]

[balanced]

I see.

[ it must be a very different place than the world he comes from, and particularly the island he calls home, where only rational numbers are given the privilege of joining the school. perhaps it's because it's such a simple, common thing that 6 has overlooked the possibility that it may be interesting to another real number. ]

Only that of the falcon. It would take someone with great talent, or a specific Arcane Skill to take another form.

[ he's heard of such people, but none happened to dwell within the school of apeiron.

the other man's curiosity does give 6 reason for interest, however. a stubborn pursuit of knowledge that few believed in — the arcanists of the outside world whom he maintained contact with were not dissimilar in that nature. ]

You are a real number. Have you no Arcane Skills of your own?

[ perhaps his blood has become thinned with that of the imaginary. ]

[sleepfan]

I understand. It is quite a pleasing form; very complementary to the form of man.

[ But why a falcon? Is that the shape that everyone from this man's world took, or is it unique to the man himself? Does everyone possess a singular shape and the falcon is his? It is always difficult to restrain himself when Linhardt encounters something - or someone - of interest, but he tucks those questions away for later despite the winds of his mind demanding answers. His mind is a rather demanding place; if he were to indulge its every whim he would have nobody to speak with at all.

The other man is sharing, so Linhardt sees no reason not to do likewise. Having encountered some differences in how worlds consider magic, Linhardt opts to share all of his abilities: Both acquired and those he possesses by birth.]

I do, but I cannot change my shape. By training, I know healing, teleportation, and elemental magics. In addition to my learned arts, I also possess innate healing abilities. I have a strong interest in the theory behind all magical and arcane arts, so again, seeing a new form of them was very pleasing to me.

[ There is one thing that the man said that was odd. Real number? Linhardt raises an eyebrow in more open curiosity.]

Can you explain what your meaning is in calling me a 'real number'?

[ Hopefully, he's a good number. Imagine being 5. Or worse, 12 or 60. The pressure would be terrible. Linhardt would quite prefer a quiet number. 14 would be fine. Or perhaps 78. Even, for the symmetry, but not a number that is too important or thought of.]

[balanced]

[ what an eager person he is. 6 almost feels as if he can see the self control the others is extering to express his sentiments clearly and succinctly, and the courtesy is much appreciated, as he is, in fact, very easily overwhelmed by those whose enthusiasm outmatches his own lack thereof.

it is the least he can do to offer his explanation. ]

A real number is one who has been touched by arcanum. As you said, you are capable of casting arcane skills, and thus you are a real number — an integer, it would seem.

[ that alone makes 6 feel slightly more comfortable in the conversation, not that he has enthusiasm to show for it, but it is a comfort to be around those with whom one shares commonalities. this place does not discriminate between the imaginary, the irrational, and the rational, after all. ]

I am 6, and 37 has also come to this place. Though I cannot tell your exact number, I can tell you that an integer is a positive number, possessed of many virtues.

[ discerning the numbers possessed by others is not his talent, but rather, one that belongs to a close friend of his, though he can offer this much. ]

[sleepfan]

I'm pleased that I'm an integer. Imagine if I were 51/354ths. Or 31/1024ths. That would be distressing.

[ The mage knows not the complexities of the numerical system that this man's world uses to categorize magic-users, but he does know that he would much rather be an integer than a messy fraction. Real number or not. Integers are more satisfying in some way that Linhardt feels intuitively. He doubts he could explain his preferences any more than he could articulate why he prefers green to orange.]

6 is a very pleasing number, though I think it would also involve a great deal of pressure. I hope that I am a quieter number. Something such as 52. I would like to be even, I think. Even numbers have a certain symmetry to them that is pleasing.

[Because of course, even in this, Linhardt has preferences. Regardless of the system and its meanings, Linhardt has his own preferences and desires and will not quiet them.]

I have some virtues.

[False humility is only the mirror of ego, and Linhardt has time for neither.]

Hopefully, it does not come with a corresponding responsibility.

[Because that is usually the catch when it comes to systems of power.]

[balanced]

[ it's interesting, this man seems to be making a good effort of inferring the values of the different types of numbers that people may possess. while he is mistaken in one respect, he's correct in that an integer is considered quite an admirable thing to be, by some. many of those who have not yet discovered themselves would long to be one, but that consideration for others and open curiosity seems to come naturally as ever to the other. ]

Fractions are also respected for their talents, though they take more time and a specific understanding to appreciate. On the contrary, it is irrational numbers who introduce an unpredictable lack of morality into a society.

[ though 6 doesn't seem determined to linger on the negatives — or rather, irrationals of this matter. what's important is that he seems happy with this information, if continuously curious. ]

6 does bear a great weight of responsibility, as it fills an important role in the place I come from. However, such can be said of many numbers — all have something valuable to teach us.

[ but, while this man may not know his exact number, he hasn't mentioned his name of phonetic symbols yet either. there's a moment's hesitant pause before: ]

... And you are?

[sleepfan]

They can be perfectly respectable and I can also not want to be one of them. I also would not like to be a blacksmith or a miller, even though both are necessary and respected members of society.

[ Linhardt's personal preferences are that: personal. He does frown, however, at the idea that 'irrational numbers' introduce immorality into society. If he's an integer - a real number - because of his arcane skills, then that would seem to imply that this individuals believes there is a correlation between arcane skill (or talents of other sorts) and morality. Despite his attempt at staying neutral, there is an ever so slight disapproval in Linhardt's voice when he asks his next questions.]

Why is that? What 'immorality' do they introduce?

[ His eyes flicker over 6's shoulder for a moment and he's quiet for a beat longer than he had been in each of their previous verbal exchanges.]

I have nothing to teach you, but my name is Linahrdt.

[ It's best to manage expectations. He will be useless. Do not expect things.]

Do you have a name or would you prefer to be addressed by your number?

[balanced]

[ 6 offers a small nod of understanding as linhardt explains more clearly his meaning, but it seems that his own words have been taken under just as much scrutiny. ]

My number and my name are the same. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Linhardt.

[ still, perceptive as he is, he can sense the slight hint of disapproval in linhardt's voice. it is not his intention to argue over the nature of numbers, nor does he feel that it would be a productive use of their conversation. they are not on the island of apeiron, and there is little weight to the words of their scripture or their beliefs in a place such as this.

6 is not so prideful as to be unable to back down when he finds his footing is unsteady. ]

There are many characteristics of an irrational number that can lend to disorder, but we appear to come from different worlds. I respect that your views may be different, and in the end, they are only numbers.

[ it is better if they harmonize with those who have already made their homes here, working in tandem towards their mutual goal. ]