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

ok i swear this one is a real tag now

[ascarylady]

[ Sevika will take one look at the eye on that sign later and shake her head, man. Shake her head. But for now, she looks up briefly from fiddling with the HUD from her earpiece as Silco walks in. She's been trying to pick up on how to use it as fast as possible, but...

She sets it down next to the pack of smokes. It's been giving her a headache, anyway. ]

Should be.

[ Nothing but idle grumbling while she turns on the stool to see what's racked into the bar's shelves behind her. It doesn't take too long to find a whiskey. She'll snag that and a lowball glass as she turns back to set both down on the bartop. ]

Where'd you find those?

[zauneyete]

Thank you.

[ He says with the tired exhaustion of a man who desperately needs a proper drink right now. He reached out to pour the whiskey, it sloshed slightly, before he reached out for a very, very grateful moment in which he takes a long drink. ]

Just like you've been resourceful, so have I.

[ He tapped his fingers against them. ]

They have something called a "convenience store". [ A scoff. ] Very convenient, when they turn their backs for long enough to pilfer proper smokes.

[ascarylady]

[ Sevika won't say anything about that until she's cracked open that pack and lit a cigarette. She'll take a long drag off of it before pointing the cigarette at Silco. ]

It's even more convenient since they don't use money here. You can just take anything, Silco. You didn't need to wait for them to look away.

[ Just saying. My man. ]

[zauneyete]

Hm.

[ He says, with a shrug. ]

That takes all the fun out of it.

At least let me live a bit of my youth, hm? They're asking us to save the world, I may as well get back into old habits.

[ Another drink.

Ah, it feels good to be back with liquor and a smoke. Calms his nerves, at least. ]

[ascarylady]

Mmhm.

[ It was a noncommital agreement from around the cigarette between her lips. Far from enthusiastic, though he might be able to let that slide, it's been a strange few days. She'll enjoy the cigarette in silence until she pulls one of the bartop's little glass ashtrays over to set it down on, saving the rest for later as it slowly smolders away.

She finished her beer before taking the whiskey bottle to pour some right into the same glass. Pour, and pour, way more than one might usually want from hard liquor, but it wasn't like there wouldn't be enough for Silco to refill his glass later. ]

So. [ A very heavy-sounding so right there. ] Were you ever going to tell me about your meeting with Talis?

[zauneyete]

[ His fingers tightened around his cigarillo so hard it very nearly snapped. ]

I didn't have the opportunity after.

[ He says, tightly.

There had been bullet holes in his clothing. A stab wound too, but that was fresh, from Vander. The bullet holes were telling, weren't they? About what happened.

His jaw clenched, and he looked down at the glass, before he downed the rest of it. Maybe he'd be refilling it sooner, rather than later. ]

It didn't got the way I had hoped.

[ What an understatement. ]

[ascarylady]

Yeah, I know. Got an excuse for not telling me before, too?

[ Sevika asks back, words sharp and bitter. He never told her. He never told her. ]

[zauneyete]

[ A sigh. He reached out, and grabbed the bottle, and started pouring. ]

I didn't trust it was real.

[ Simply. ]

Worse, I thought it would be an opportunity to take me out. Or that they would ask for something irregular. He asked me to come alone, so I did.

[ A twitch of his lips. ]

I didn't want to get our hopes up, and it's a good thing I didn't. It was a bad deal, Sevika.

[ It had been a good deal, save for one thing. ]

[ascarylady]

[ Saying all of that without saying a damn thing. Amazing. Sevika lets him take the bottle, but as soon as he's done pouring, she surges forward to grab him by the vest and yank him close. ]

He told me the deal, Silco.

[ Everything they wanted for Jinx. Everything. ]

Every excuse you just gave me is bullshit, and you know it. Since when do we meet anyone alone?! Especially if they ask! You were going to cut me out of it! Because she was involved! That's what it was, wasn't it?!

[zauneyete]

[ A hiss of surprise when she grabbed him by the vest. ]

I didn't know until I got there!

[ He slammed a fist down on the bar as he said it. ] You think I wouldn't have just killed him on sight if he put that in writing?

[ He stared at her, reaching out to tug at her hand, trying to pull himself free. Sevika is strong enough that he can't really do much, but he's already half off the seat from her muscle. ]

I knew they were going to want something! I wanted to negotiate with him, give him what he wanted. Getting rid of shimmer was nothing, practically a requirement once we built up, but —

[ He wouldn't even take him. ] But they wouldn't take anyone but her. I never told him I would take it.

[ They both knew he wouldn't. Not if Jinx was involved. ]

[ascarylady]

I don't care! You should have brought me along! We could have figured something out! I could have protected you! You wouldn't have died and left me holding the fucking bag!

[ He'll feel the tremble of rage through her arm. Her lips peel back in a snarl, right up in his face. Leaving her there, alone, to deal with it. All of it. Dealing with Jinx. Dealing with the chem-barons. With Piltover. With Zaun! ]

[zauneyete]

I didn't intend to die, Sevika!

[ He can feel it, but his eyes dart back and forth. Taking her fury in, then looking away. Then back to her. Holding the Bag? He supposed she had, but... It was better that she was doing the work, instead of someone else. If any of the greedy fucks in the council of Chem-Barons had gotten ahold of it, he's certain it would have gone poorly.

Sure, Renni could be directed. Sevika could have handled her. But... anyone else? Probably not. ]

I didn't even get a chance, I —

[ No, he couldn't sell out Jinx. He certainly couldn't tell her where he went. Would she understand? What it was to seek out the memory of the only person who understood?

How much it angered him, that it's where he went? ]

[ascarylady]

But you did! You did...

[ Sevika let him go with a shove and sat back down behind the bar. She seethed, but Silco wouldn't get another beating, no matter how much he deserved it. ]

...and you didn't even have the decency to leave a copy of whatever the golden boy gave you. We could have worked out a plan. One that didn't involve handing Jinx over.

[zauneyete]

It was in my jacket, wherever that ended up.

[ Probably wherever his body ended up. He assumed it would be the river. If it wasn't symbolic, it was... necessary. That's where they all ended up in the end. Little more than waste for the river. Little more than just another Trencher, dead. They could call him Industrialist, but Silco knew. There would be nothing for him.

Especially not with Jinx in the state she was.

He just hoped she disposed of the body. ]

Look — [ he reached up, and ran a hand through his hair, putting it back in place. ] — It had been my intention to come back.

Imagine having everything we've worked our whole lives in hand. Everything. All for a price I won't pay.

[ He would give up the shimmer. Or rather — he would ostensibly give up the shimmer. He would give back the gemstone.

Jinx? Never. Not in a million years. ] I needed to sit with it.

I unfortunately sat too long with it.

s2 spoilers

[ascarylady]

[ In his coat, which is missing. Similarly, she suspects it's gone into the river, same as everyone and everything else that's dead and gone. Figured. That was the luck Zaun had. If she had a copy, maybe she could still push it through, and then there'd be no need for her to sit on a council that didn't want her there.

Was there a copy in the Council's records? Could she go digging for it without anyone raising a fuss? Not that it matters, here and now. If she ever even sees either city again— ]

That's the way it always is, isn't it? They dangle the prize just out of reach.

[ Sevika muttered before lifting her beer glass of whiskey to drink. ]

[zauneyete]

That's the way they have always been with us.

[ He sneered, reaching for his glass. ]

Then we look unreasonable when we don't take it, and they continue to appear to be the reasonable ones. Always looking correct, while we're the unruly upstarts.

[ A bite in his tone. Silco had always hated them. It's a lucky thing they didn't extend this offer to him, he would have spat in their faces.

It's good that Sevika keeps it from him. He would have raged. ]

Typical.

[ascarylady]

Not that any of this matters now. I still don't know if we can trust what they're saying, but if it is true, Zaun won't even exist anymore if we fuck this up.

[ And given their track record recently? Sevika isn't feeling great about this. The cards are stacked against them, again, like always. ]

[zauneyete]

I don't know either.

[ A snide look on his face, before he covered it with another puff of the smoke. ]

I'm inclined not to trust it, but what would be the point of having us here otherwise? To see how we react? To see how angry we can be?

They will get what they want from us, then, considering who they have brought from our world.

[ Between he and Vander... well. There was always going to be a guaranteed fight, if anyone asked him. ]

[ascarylady]

[ That's the problem. He's right. There's no other reason to have them here, not that they know of. It makes her more inclined to believe the tripe about deciding what worlds get to keep existing and which get binned, but even then, it's insane.

She can't wrap her head around something that vast. How many worlds could there even be? How could they be running out of space? Is that how it is? Is that how it works? Maybe she'll swallow her pride and ask Piltover's golden boy. He's the well-read one here. Maybe he has a few ideas, but this is another thought she won't share with Silco.

Though that isn't the person from their world that she's concerned with, not in regard to Silco. She puts her glass down and points at him. ]

We aren't going to get angry because you are going to stay away from him. [ "We" because if Silco is angry, then Sevika has problems, which in turn makes her angry. It works. ] If he bothers you, tell me. I'll deal with it.

[ meanwhile in vander and silco's egg thread ]

[zauneyete]

I can take care of myself, Sevika.

[ He says, but it is token. They both knew how well Silco could take care of himself when it came to him, didn't they? Silco wore the scar of what Vander could do on his face, splitting him wide-open like a melon, the eye that gave him his monicker and his imagery only a gift someone like Vander could have given him. ]

No, no. Don't worry. I don't want anything to do with him. [ says a liar ] In fact, if you feel like killing him, please. Don't wait on me to encourage you.

[ascarylady]

[ Sevika's face when she's being lied to by a lying liar who lies is... well, frankly, it's precisely the same as it always is, but she doesn't bother calling Silco out. It won't make any difference. At some point, she has to trust he won't get himself killed (again). ]

...sure. I'll keep that in mind.

[ She won't. Instead, she moves on to business. All the personal problems and anger have left a bad taste in her mouth, and it's best to leave it behind. ]

Anyway. I got a quick rundown of what's happened in this place before we showed up. We'll have to chase people down if we want further details, but it's a good place to start. Although I'll warn you now, it still sounds like a whole lot of nonsense to me.

[zauneyete]

[ Unfortunately for Sevika, she's a Zaunite, which means that by proxy she has been collateral for a decades-long divorce proceeding that has turned the entire undercity into two different versions of their city, and neither of which were the ideal. Also unfortunately for Sevika, she is Silco's right-hand woman, and he actually trusts her.

As much as a man like him can trust, anyway. ]

What I learned from the machine sounded ludicrous to start. Anything new that you've gotten beyond that?

Who are we chasing down, and what to we know about them already, if anything?

Or are we going to be starting from the ground up?

[ As always.

At least when redirected like this, Silco's focus narrows to what his purpose was. Running a tight ship (except for Jinx) that can change the very fate of a city. Maybe even a world this time? Unlikely, but they would start moving, regardless. ]

[ascarylady]

[ Being trusted doesn't necessarily mean he'll only ever tell her the truth, although that problem commonly only sprang up when Jinx was involved. Would that change if Silco understood she'd finally accepted that brat was important? That she cared?

It wasn't going to be what they discussed today, however. Sevika preferred business, and that's what she would happily (well, not happily, but...) dive into. ]

Not sure who'll be the best bet to question yet. There's this Rin kid who might be a good option; it sounded like she's been here since the start. I got a list of happenings from a man called Ivan, though the list itself is from some other kid.

[ Lots of kids here— or more like "people who are younger than they are", anyway. ]

Aurora is only the face of the setup. Something called Echo is what actually runs the show. We aren't the only city, either. They've encountered another one previously, called Moorecroft. Something crossed over from there that spread an infection across the city, so I'm going to go with us not trusting any other cities we come across in the future. If anything, we should consider them enemies.

[ If Aurora was being truthful, the fewer other cities and worlds they're up against, the better. ]

Other than that, the "missions" the AI here hands out seem... frankly? Insane. Random.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco deeply appreciated that Sevika was already doing the legwork. She'd always been proactive, and that made this easier. Not that it didn't help that Silco had been nursing a side wound and trying to nurse his also equally dire... emotional injuries. (No)

He tapped his fingers on the table as she listed it off, nodding as he did so. He'd need to start amassing supplies, paper, boards, work. If they were going to be "saving the world", as they so readily proclaimed, he's going to need to start putting together a plan. Possibly more than a plan.

They'd need to learn more about what it means, too. If it's true. ]

Other cities. It's possible we are in competition with them. They may be trying to eradicate us. Did they say if they were able to take the battle to this Moorecroft? Is it still an active threat?

[ Silco, of course, would be interested in the most direct option every time. ]

Is the Echo something we can reach? I don't believe the story they told us, but the fact of the matter is, we have nothing else to go on. It's possible they're lying, it's also possible they're telling the truth. We've got Jinx to build weapons, but we're going to need more than that, especially if we're going on... these "missions".

How random did people say they were?

[ascarylady]

They did go over to Moorecraft, but from what I can tell, it was only to take a look around. We may want to operate on the belief that no one else here considers the other cities that way, but if we're being realistic? Yeah, I would say we're competing with them.

[ Why else have different cities at all? Why separate people laboring under the same belief that their worlds are in jeopardy? To pit them against each other, of course. It's the only thing that made sense to her. ]

So, yes. Still an active threat. Wouldn't be able to tell you how to reach Echo, though. We may have to dig for that ourselves or find others already working towards that goal. I can't believe there won't be anyone else thinking the same way we are.

[ Moving on... ]

And when I say random, I mean random. Apparently, the latest thing they had to do was a race, just between themselves. Before that, they had to do something with a... spaceship? [ She isn't sure what that is? Hm. ] There's been a labyrinth that messed with their heads. Killer clowns. Like I said, random.