DECEMBER MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: December 21st - Early January
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: Newcomers, a surprise gift from Tatianna, and a visitor!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. The lobby is filled to the brim with tables of freshly baked goods. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" banners are taped to the walls, and several other typical birthday decorations can be found in this area. A few of the baked goods tables are lined with massive cakes covered in unlit candles, just waiting for someone to grab a lighter and sing off-key. Is it anyone's birthday? Who knows! The companion bots seem to believe it's every new arrival's birthday and will greet them as such - with friendly waves and cheers as they make their way to the lobby. A coat rack is situated by the doors leading out of the hospital, covered in warm clothing that fits the new arrivals just right - whether it's to their preferred style or not is something else entirely. Some of them appear normal enough. Others? Well. They can't all be perfect, now can they? Outside the windows, the grass is covered in a couple of inches of loosely packed snow. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ an unexpected gift ⏴ Out by the hospital stands a tall, decorated tree covered in candles and golden pinecones with a handsome, red velveteen tree skirt. In front of it are a few oversized wrapped gifts for show- and atop one of those sits a familiar woman. Or unfamiliar, if this is your first time. It's Tatianna in a slutty Santa outfit with a big ol’ burlap sack. “Hey, I got something for you,” she says, digging into the bag and rummaging for a moment. She produces a painted egg and holds it aloft. “It’s your Winter Solstice Egg! This is the egg holiday, right? Wait, shit. I’m mixing them up, aren’t I? ...Well. It’s a little late to change it. Here you go!” How one treats their egg is fully up to themselves. They can choose to ignore it entirely, or destroy it and leave the yolk and innards to rot on the ground. They can hand it over to someone else or care for it as if it were something precious. No one will prevent them from doing whatever they please with it! ⏵ naughty or nice ⏴However, how they treat the egg will define how the egg treats them in return. Those who keep the egg and tend to it will get the benefit of being able to watch it hatch seven days after they are handed the egg. Eggs that are treated with attention and love may yield a loyal companion, or a weapon of choice that always returns to its owner, while neglected eggs may yield a curious, cursed trinket or an animal who treats its new owner very much the same way its owner had treated it before it was born. Please submit an egg request below for what items you would like your character's eggs to hatch into! Please note that these cannot be things that would be applicable in the game. Those whose eggs are destroyed or forgotten will simply get the gift of... nothing! ⏵ free your spirit ⏴ With the winter chill gripping the air, a mysterious figure makes their presence known in Etraya - a towering, horned creature dragging a massive sack behind them. 𝓐 𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖘𝖊 𝖇𝖚𝖎𝖑𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝖑𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖆 𝖜𝖊𝖆𝓴 𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓. Regardless of a character's strengths or weaknesses, they will find that when Krampus raises his massive sack over their head, they are powerless to stop him from catching them. Those capable of great magical feats or other supernatural abilities will sense something... otherworldly about Krampus, but will not be able to place the source of that sensation. Once within Krampus' sack, they are welcome to fight, but escape is impossible. It will feel as if Krampus is dragging them over every rock possible, dragging the sack in through the rivers to the point it soaks through and drenches them - potentially almost drowning them. When the sack opens, they will find themselves in an impossibly dark space. Around them are others who have also been captured and dragged here by Krampus, trapped in small cages hanging from a massive, wiry tree. Krampus will return often, banging clawed hands and birch rods on the walls of the cages and knocking them into one another. 𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖋𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖘𝖘𝖘𝖘𝖘. The whisper resonates through the darkened area, regardless of Krampus' presence. Confess your secrets, and be freed. Otherwise? You'd better hope someone figures out where Krampus has set up base; those who refuse to confess may find themselves stuck here forever. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Krampus' base is under Etraya! Deep within the catacombs, he has set up multiple cages to capture those who inhabit Etraya to punish them for their naughty habits. Fighting him is possible! Defeating him by means of combat is not, however, possible. Think of it like fighting a god: Krampus creates the rules in the space around him, including who can use what ability. 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

[levelshift]

[Vincent might be the most childish adult he's ever met....]

Or I could go take a nap and leave you to fend for yourself. That seems really fucking appealing right now.

[banworthy]

fine
sleep and die

[levelshift]

Wowwww. Isn't that what you should be worrying about? I'm not the one who's sick, after all. You shithead.

[banworthy]

i wont die from a cold
who does
shut up

[levelshift]

Loads of people do. All kinds of complications can arise from what seems to you like a common cold. Even if you don't have any underlying conditions that can exacerbate things the viruses that cause colds can cause viral pneumonia. And if it turns out it isn't a cold, it could be something more serious like influenza or adenovirus. Those kill hundreds of thousands of people every year. Have you even been to a doctor?

[banworthy]

shut up
what are yu
twelve
are you doctor
got froma book
huh
go take your stupid nap

[levelshift]

I'm not a doctor, this is basic stuff.

[No it isn't, he's just being a jerk.]

What are your symptoms?

[banworthy]

wtver

eatm e
tjose are the
symptoms
and a cough

[levelshift]

[God, he almost feels bad for him. At least, these messages seem bad enough that if he leaves Vincent alone there's a chance the idiot could up and die from the flu or whatever. Then he'd be blamed, and it would be annoying.]

What apartment are you in?

[banworthy]

apartment
you think
i'd
stay
with those
outsidders
for
the duration ofdsthis time?

[levelshift]

Yes? Where the fuck else would you live?

[banworthy]

that
opprsive
plae
with heathcliff
that cat on the brdige

[levelshift]

I have no idea what cat you're talking about.

You owe me for this.

[Because not only is he going to get some somewhat normal-looking baked goods from the hospital, but he's going to grab a few bottles of water, medicine, tissues and a digital forehead thermometer as well before heading out to "that oppressive place." There are a couple of those around, so it's taking him a bit before he finds the right one.

Being the lazy shit that he is, he's using his esper powers to fly over, landing at the entrance to Stonhyrr before using his earpiece again.]

Okay where the fuck are you.

[banworthy]

I OOWYE NTHING
I DIDNT'SASK FOR ANYTHING
SO THIS
IS FOR YOUR OWN
BENEFIT
GOTIT

I'LL say nothingTIL THAT'S AGREED

[levelshift]

Too late to negotiate, bastard. Even if you don't tell me I have about a dozen different ways I can track you. It's just easier if you tell me.

If you don't, I won't hesitate to start breaking down walls.

1/2

[banworthy]

think
i'll
let
you

[banworthy]

[ With a blanket wrapped around him, hunched over, he shuffles himself out of his citadel - looking around for the white head. Thankfully, with everything so dark and gloomy, it's easy to find him.

He's scooping down to pick up rocks to toss weakly in Accelerator's direction. ]

Get ... out. I didn't... ask... for anything!

[levelshift]

[Accelerator sighs, glancing around and wondering where to start. He seriously is expecting Vincent to continue to be stubborn, so when he hobbles out from a doorway he's quietly glad he doesn't need to go breaking the whole place apart. He could, but this is a lot easier.

The rocks, though....

He just stands there for a few moments before walking over. Since his reflection is working, any rocks that get within a few centimeters of himself will automatically ricochet off into the sky or embed themselves into a nearby stone wall.

He lets out a squeaky chuckle.]

Shit, this is even more pathetic in person.

[banworthy]

It seems like rocks enjoy failing me.

[ His voice comes out in wheezing gasps, but it still has the same bite as ever. The issue is, of course, presentation with him hunched over with a blanket wrapped around him. Not to mention his glasses sliding down his nose as he peers at him from just over the top of the frames. ]

Are Espers immune to colds?

[ Seems like he's planning on coughing on him if he gets closer. ]

[levelshift]

[Accelerator isn't deterred in the least by the question. He walks right on over, not needing to use his crutch since he's manipulating his own vectors for extra strength.]

I am. I can automatically reflect subatomic particles, and viruses are made up of that shit. I'm not gonna breathe in anything I don't want to.

[Once in front of Vincent he's stopping and holding the bag of medicine and baked goods out.]

There's acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, and dextromethorphan. There's also a thermometer, if you have a fever fucking call Aurora so the bots can hospitalize you.

[banworthy]

[ Clicking his tongue, he looks irritated at the news that he can't get him sick. His eyes narrow behind his glasses as they slip further down his nose. Irritation builds up in the back of his throat and he thinks of saying something unkind, but he's in front of him, and he notes everything he's being given. ]

I'm not going to call them to hospitalize me! [ But he does take the bag with as much force as he can muster. And then he adjusts how his blanket is resting on his shoulders. ] I'll tend to myself and die in my citadel if I must.

[ Another wheezing cough. ] What do I owe you, then?

[levelshift]

[Accelerator drops his hand as soon as Vincent takes the bag, then steps back, a reflexive movement that comes with years of experience with his reflection. It's tempting to say that dying here isn't worth it thanks to the price it takes to bring you back, but somehow, he feels that information would fall on deaf ears.]

I don't know. Figure it out when you're not sick.

[He personally doesn't mind an IOU, though he's guessing Vincent will take offense to it. Oh well, he gets to deal with it.]

[banworthy]

[ Clicking his tongue, he opens the bag to look over the items that he has been given. Like he doesn't trust Accelerator to be truthful in what he said he gave him. His expression seems to sour more that it is exactly as what the teen described. ]

Both you and him. It's a small debt but still a debt.

[ Vincent can't even say that due to being ill he's making a mountain out of a molehill. This is the same reaction that he had when he realized he owed Barnabas some small favor due to telling him about the companion bots coming to this place every so often.

He clicks his tongue again. It's another debt - another favor - if he keeps speaking but: ]

Don't tell anyone I'm here.

[levelshift]

[The most Vincent gets out of him is a raised eyebrow. Accelerator isn't sure who 'him' is, and it doesn't really matter to him. More important is that apparently the guy really has issues with being indebted to other people, even for dumb, inconsequential stuff like retrieving medicine from the hospital.

He can understand not liking it, he supposes. Being indebted to people back home usually meant they were going to take advantage of you in some way, or outright blackmail. The latter was the reason he ended up having to work for scumbags, and he's lived with a lack of agency for most of his life. It's frustrating, having no power.]

............

[Wait, is he sympathizing with Vincent? Gross. His face briefly contorts into an expression of disgust, and his response to what Vincent says is more aggressive than necessary.]

Whatever. Who the fuck would I even tell? It's not like I'm talking about you to other people.

[banworthy]

[ Vincent takes note of the look of disgust and makes one back at Accelerator. Excuse you! ]

Good. Why would anyone talk about me?

[ As far as he's concerned, he's a very average person. Honestly, he'd be surprised if people didn't find him boring with how normal and dull he presents himself to be.

Sniffling loudly, he pauses to hack something onto the stones.

Ugh. Mucus build-up is the worst, but it's not his fault the teen had to see that! If he kept his nose out of his business, he wouldn't have seen anything. ]

All right. Glad you're an Esper so Heathcliff won't kill you. Although kind of wish he did so I wouldn't have had to accept this care package. [ He turns his head away yet again to wheeze out a laugh. ]