etrayalogs | OCTOBER MINGLE

Entry tags:

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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( once she was done getting her 'treat' [a heavy duty flashlight], she immediately turned towards the voice and looked up. the man before her was rather tall, a bit too tall and certainly had a unique appearance but heather wasn't going to stare or be awkward.

no, she was light on her feet as she was with her words. having a father who was a writer taught her to be as such. so with a bright smile, she kept her eyes on his and flipped her hair a bit. )

Thanks! I have a talent for tricks but I kinda wish they'd given me something better.

( she held the flashlight before him and turned it on and off. )

I guess it could be worse!

[ That is a peculiar prize (or treat?), and Gorgug doesn't really get it, but he also hasn't been watching what people have been receiving from the bots--maybe it's more normal with actual context? His eyes twitch with the power of the beam from her light, but it's short, brief, and he gives her an awkward smile. ]

Yeah. I guess it's useful if you plan to go out at night a lot. [ Practical...if you're the type. He glances at the bots, but he doesn't linger too long in their direction. ] Did they say why they were giving them away though? Is something going on?

[ He's kinda been living under a rock.... ]

( normally she would roll her eyes at such a question, pointing out the obvious but being the one to have an answer to a question around here was a nice change.

so she laughed a bit and drifted her hands down her body, shaking her dress a bit. )

Well I just did a 'trick' where I 'transformed' into a hero and got a prize. That's basically what they wanted.

( she paused for a moment, thinking of what to say next. )

I did watch others first though, and it seems pretty harmless.

[ She did a trick, and she got a prize. Because that's a thing that's normal, and maybe it is? He stands there looking no less confused, except he realises that's the entire explanation, and so- ]

Oh. Yeah. Yeah. [ So he's nodding, like he gets it. ] They've never done that before, but, the bots here won't hurt you. They're nice- unless you know that. I've never seen you before.

[ But that doesn't have to mean she hasn't been here a while, so maybe he's treating her newer than she is. ]

( oh he had her pegged all right. she was completely new to this place, and while she wasn't sure who had met vincent [a man from her world], she doubted he was singing her praises to anyone.

with a soft blush on her face, she rubbed the back of her head in a rather apologetic manner. )

Sorry, yeah I'm new. I should have introduced myself first, I'm Heather.

( she held out that same hand to him, looking right up at him. he was a lot taller than she was, no doubt about it. )

[ He isn't expecting the hand, but it's her looking at him that catches him more, makes him skirt his gaze away shyly. But he does reach out, the skin of his hand as green as his face, and it has a thicker texture from normal human skin--firm, though the way he holds her hand isn't. ]

No, hi, it's okay--I'm Gorgug. I haven't been... I've been busy, so I didn't know new people showed up. I guess I missed the get-together, if they had one. We exchanged bracelet beads when I did. In the diner.

[ He isn't still avoiding her eye, black sclera and white pupils blinking back at her, but he's definitely a little avoidant. A little shy. ]

( this person was interesting to say the least and his behavior seemed to indicate that despite his height, they must have been a similar age. at least that's what heather reasoned with how he adverted his gaze but held his hand out to her.

she shook it gently, lingering a bit more than she should as she took in how the texture of it felt. if she were more bold, she would have pressed it against her face out of sheer curiosity. instead she released it and watched as he finally locked eyes with her again. )

Gorgug? That's....unique.

( as if all of him wasn't. )

Diner? Bracelet beads? Where was this when I arrived. I found a weird tray of cookies and before I could even think, I was eating food from the free food trucks and my mind was being messed with hard.

[ Unique? He tilts his head slightly, curious, but doesn't get the opportunity to ask or comment on it. Rather, his brow furrows with some confusions as she mentions food trucks. ]

Food trucks? There were food trucks? [ He's trying to think if he's seen any as of late, but he's grimacing as he's thinking about it, making his tusks protrude more from the lower sides of his mouth. ] I've really been out of it... I didn't know any of that. And they screwed with your head too?

[ He sounds offended for her, because what the hell? After the last couple of months, that's the last thing they need to be going through. Enough heads have been screwed with. ]

( geez, wasn't this guy suppose to be here longer than she had?

she had to wonder just what the hell was happening at this place. the man from her world, vincent, who had arrived a month prior to her did mention something about fears being exploited. she wasn't sure what to make of that but it seemed this place was more of a challenge than she had been expecting. )

Well just be lucky you missed out on it. Free food is never free it seems.

( she didn't want to embarrass herself further by divulging what she had been through. another person to look down on her, pity her, or be worried for her wasn't what she wanted. she wanted to make friends and be normal for once.

a bit ironic considering who she was speaking to. )

Forget about it, I'm fine now. How...how old are you anyways?

[ He frowns deeper, but he doesn't say anything about it; he'll have to ask Fabian if he knows anything about it, put a point of time to it if he could. It was pretty clear this girl didn't want to talk much about it.

(Food trucks though.... really?) ]

Uh, I was seventeen when I showed up here? I haven't been stuck here for a year yet, so.. I guess I'm still that. [ It's an odd thing to say, but Gorgug's noticed the season changing, and it's moving closer to what it was around his birthday. He doesn't know what that would mean for ages, and he doesn't want to think about it, either.

He thinks about her asking instead, and he looks at his hands and then back at her. ]

Am I the first time... am I the first half-orc you've seen? Is that why you asked? [ Or, maybe...he looks at himself again. ] Do I look seventeen?

Um...to be fair you're the first non-human I've seen that isn't trying to kill me...

( the monsters in silent hill were technically monsters, even if vincent had tried to mess with her and imply they were humans.

with a shrug, she simply offered an apologetic expression. she hadn't been trying to insult him or put in in a weird spot. however hearing they were the same age was at least comforting?

if they even aged the same way. )

Uh that's in human years right? You aren't like secretly 1,000 years old or anything?

...I don't know that I can live that long. [ Does he know how long his kind can live, actually? That's another thing he doesn't want to think about, but he's considering what 'human years' means, the bridge of his nose wrinkling. ]

I'm seventeen by the calendar in the world I come from, and we have humans, too. They'd be seventeen when I'm seventeen -- and, I'm half human?

[ He gestures down himself, as if this might make his half human qualities more visible. But it's more that he thinks it has to count for something, right? If she's human and he's human, it's probably the same?

But also, he should probably add: ]

Also, I don't wanna attack you.

[ He voices it as a joke, as reassurance, and just to keep the mood light. He even tries for a smile with it, though the way he pulls his lips and his eyebrows dip makes it more like a pleading expression. Please don't think I'm going to attack you, thanks? ]

( the message was loud and clear, he was being friendly and while she didn't think he would attack her, the reassurance was still appreciated. so much so she couldn't help but laugh at his words. )

I appreciate that, I really do, but if you ever did-

( and in an effort to keep the mood light, she gave a twirl with her cape and held out her hand towards him like a pistol, thumb twitching to mimic a gun going off. )

I can defend myself plenty! Maybe I'd struggle if you sat on me...

[ It's delayed, his voice is too small when he goes "ow!", but Gorgug puts a hand to his chest and attempts to act like he got shot, even if he immediately goes on to say: ]

It's okay, I don't sit on people. People sit on me? --M-my friend, [ he hurries on to say, since, um, oh god, that's weird, right? He's gotta explain: ] my friend's a goblin, he's small-- he, he likes to feel tall.

[ He ducks his head for a second, hand still pressed to the side of his breast because he hasn't thought to lower it. ]

People don't sit on me, [ he tries again. Trying so hard not to sound so uncoool...!! ]

( despite having a conversation with an awkward half-human, half-orc, heather felt happy for the first time in a long time. this was normal despite appearances, they were even joking!

it was cute in an endearing way and a great distraction of all the things that had been happening to her. )

Well people either sit on you or they don't! Don't worry, I won't.

Your friend...is he here too?

Okay, [ he says, slipping it in after the reassurance of no Heathers sitting on him--and it's good that she continues on, because that was definitely about to be a subject that he wouldn't let go about.

Not that thinking about his friend is entirely better, but he nods. ]

Yeah, a--couple of us are here where I'm from. [ A beat. ] You don't know anyone here?

[ It's not unusual, and he's expecting a yes. It's definitely not the first time he's asked this, and gotten confirmation. ]

( his question seemed to draw her back to reality, reminding her of the truth of her situation. she had been pulled from her world at a critical point, making her wonder if it was even still there. if it could be saved or was worth saving.

additionally, she wasn't here alone. the only other person from her world was a man who had spent his entire life following a cult that viewed her as their tool. it was complicated to explain that to a stranger-

so she opted to keep it simple. )

I do actually....he's this man named Vincent, have you met him?

[ Gorgug shakes his head, a crinkle on the bridge of his nose. ]

No... I haven't met a lot of new people. I've been-- sick, [ he lands on, taking a second to get there, and his gaze diverting when he does. ]

If he is new. Is he doing okay?

( unbeknownst to gorgug, that was a rather loaded question. she absolutely could care less how he was at this point-

there was a time where she had empathy for him and wanted to see how he would handle being given a new chance at life. now though? she would lie, something she didn't care to do with someone as nice as the person before her. )

Uh...he's fine.

( she decided to change the topic, turn the attention on him. )

I'm sorry to hear that, are you doing okay now? Should you really be out in this cold?

[ It wasn't a kind of sickness affected by the cold, but he doesn't want to explain it. He looks away for a second, tipping his head aside as, awkwardly: ]

I was heading to the apartments, but, I'm, I'm doing better now. But maybe this cold isn't good for anyone. [ He nods to her, since... ] Do you like the cold? I don't know if the bots will give you another prize if you changed clothes again...

[ Maybe? Maybe not?? He still doesn't know what that was actually about, but he's also not going to, you know, ask. ]

I don't think they will, and yeah I get it. I'm going to head back to the apartments myself soon, now that I got my prize and all.

( really, the excitement of the whole thing made her forget how cold she was and his words seemed to remind her she was dressed rather lightly.

so she wrapped her arms around herself and decided it was time to head out. )

I can walk with you there if you want?

Okay. [ It's an agreement to her offer, Gorgug turning on his foot in the direction that, checking, he can see the apartments some distance from where they are. He's fairly used to this side of Etraya to know where he's going, thankfully, and he tucks his hands away inside the pocket of his hoodie, out of the cold. ]

It's a pretty good prize right now, [ he remarks. ] I should see if they have any at the Kwik Trip. I don't usually stay out this late.

( heather began to follow him, remaining at his side as he spoke. in the meantime, she turned on her flashlight, holding it in front of them and towards the ground. )

I don't mind making a pitstop if you want to go there now, although I'm not sure if it's still open at this hour...

I guess if you ask me nicely, I can lend you my flashlight.

Everything's always open. It's not like... normal shops? Normal for us. [ So he's taking a guess, considering she's bringing up about it being open or not. Still- ]

But it's okay. I can see... it's just the mist. It makes it harder, but your light's good. You should keep it in case anything happens. Missions can be all over the place.

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. )

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cw: simulated gun

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