etrayalogs | APRIL MINGLE

APRIL MINGLE

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: April 25th - Early May
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, spring activities, and feathered friends!
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.

However, if they are arriving from Aphaia, it's a little different, though mostly through means and familiarity. They will still show up in the hospital of course, but how can vary. Either through Aurora offering a portal for escape, their own demise (however it might have happened), or even a simple blink of their eyes and they're in the hospital. They had been given the briefest explanation last time they were here, but at least Aurora can better answer their questions now. No time constraints nor rushing them off to a dying world, this time!

In the hospital's lobby are several party tables set out with miscellaneous baked goods: croissants, cookies, breads, cake slices, as well as tea and coffee to accompany them - or hot chocolate, for those who are opposed to the other offerings.

Outside the hospital, spring is sprung, it is warm and comfortable. Flowers have bloomed, and everything is in a sharp contrast to Aphaia—there is life within the bubble, and even the myriad wildlife seems to be basking in the glow of it all. Almost as if a celebration of that life itself.

Bees are buzzing, birds are—warking?

⏵ Birds of a Feather ⏴

Etraya has always had its interesting assortment of critters, but there seems to be a particularly colorful array of birds wandering around. Those familiar would know they are named Chocobos, those less so familiar, well, these are some strange looking ostriches, or whatever large bipedal bird equivalent fits. While the birds all seem to be of the same species, there are certainly some variety in their features. Some with friendlier faces and others looking a bit more eagle-like.

They are not particularly congregated in any one spot within Etraya, seeming to stick to groups, while others don't, yet even some are accompanied by newly hatched chicks. The observant might be quick to notice that their colors dictate some level of behavior, or even where their little groups mingle:

Colors	Behavior and habitat
Yellow	Can be found just about anywhere in Etraya, they don't necessarily stick to self-made groups, and typically are more likely to be friendly to people. However, if they are in the company of a newly hatched chick, they can become wary, though easily won over with some greens.
Green	These Chocobos are mostly found in grassy or woodsy areas, almost always in pairs, and sometimes found in the trees themselves. They are more wary than their yellow brethren, though if they see someone struggling or in danger, they are quick to offer assistance in what way they can. Doting like motherhens.
Blue	Most often found by bodies of water, these Chocobo seem content to keep to themselves. Three to a group, they are not so easy to approach without being noticed. Their skill and love of water is clear, however, and it's not unusual to find them flapping about or swimming. Though they may flee to the water if you spook them.
Brown	The most skiddish of the Chocobo, they can be found throughout Etraya, though further away from anything occupied by people. They stick to groups of four, though they have a clear leader who sports blue and green feathers, but seemingly is not of the other two types. Should they catch sight or sound of someone approaching they are like to run off, or they might attempt to defend themselves.
Red	There seems to be only one of these running around. Highly aggressive to anyone who dares to approach it. Best to avoid it. Very likely to hurl comet-like balls of fire your way. Untamable.

The birds all favor these strange cabbage looking plants that can be found out and about in the wilds of Etraya. Some proving a little overeager in their voracity to eat the leafy greens. One should be careful, with those large beaks of theirs.

⏵ Gift Hunt ⏴

It isn't only the birds that have shown up out of nowhere. Small to medium sized boxes, wrapped as if they should be under a tree, and maybe not hidden in a tree, have also appeared. For whatever reason (possibly the same reason eggs were given out over winter) there seems to be gifts hidden all over Etraya! Some in more difficult to find locations (in trees, on top of a roof, on snake island), while others look as though whoever "hid" it gave up halfway through and simply dropped it on the ground and put a leaf over it.

For those who need a little extra help, well, certainly your fellow Etrayans could lend a hand, however there are also perfectly capable birds about for those still left wanting. Certainly that blue chocobo could assist with crossing the river to obtain that perfectly balanced gift on a rock! Or what about that green chocobo roosting in a tree not too far from that gift stuck in the branches because it has entirely too many ribbons?

With that said, there might also be some dangers in trying to take one of the myriad gifts from a chocobo's nest, especially if there's a chick presently sleeping next to it. Perhaps befriending them would be a good idea first, besides, isn't friendship with a big bird the truest gift of all?

On the tag of each and every gift box says the same thing:

To: You
Love: 💋

Each gift has a random assortment within. Some contain candy, others contain alcohol, make-up...maybe even a pair of socks, very perfunctory gifts with very little thought or feeling put into them. However, there is at least one gift that is personally relevant to each character in Etraya. This item will be the equivalent of a 5 point AC reward, and does not have to be found by the person it is intended for.

What better way to break the ice than to give someone their gift which you opened!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

Welcome to Etraya newcomers and happy spring to everyone!

It appears that someone is trying to correct her previous mistake of handing out eggs during the winter holidays, and now there's a hunt for gifts accompanied by a bunch of lovely birds to help out!

Some notes in regard to Chocobos:

-Each color can be tamed except for the red one, he's a free spirit. Should someone wish to harm or attack this chocobo, let us mods know. There is only one of him, after all.

-The others will just take various amounts of work to win over, however, but they are loving and cute companions for those who are willing to put in the effort! And who knows, maybe more colors could arise with time and patience...

-Feel free to pull from all the designs of chocobos throughout the Final Fantasy series. If you fancy FFXII's, for example, there are some that look like that. Variety is the spice of life!

Concerning the personal item, be sure to plot out and get permission when finding someone else's item. This is meant to encourage possible new CR and mingling, but the choice of the item should ultimately be within the hands of the player who is receiving it.

If you are uncertain if your item is appropriate for the reward cost, feel free to ask here!

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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Giving you a sandwich now might mean you have energy to fend off an attack later. All of us are working towards the same objective. [He points out.]

Same reason I let you slap me. Our mission was to survive. [He adjusts the strap on his bag and closes it back up. He’ll reopen it if Knife is still hungry.]

[there's a moment there where Knife nearly eats the thing still wrapped, but catches themself and tears the packaging off with an irate mutter, dropping the litter on the floor and all but shoving the whole thing in their mouth in one go. they eat like a street animal - like someone not very certain where and when meals will come up.

there's an audible gulp to swallowing a bunch of that down. savor? never met her.

exhaling shakily:] Shit... [food of substance! and not just trail mix or whatever the fuck was stowed in a rucksack!]

[He reaches into the bag and takes out another. He holds it out. That little moment told him a great deal.

This is a street kid. When and how, hard to say. But he recognizes it.]

Where'd these come from? [they don't hesitate this time, snatching it and promptly shoving it into his satchel--

trying to. too much shit. they do some hasty moving of some junk into a pillow case to make room for food. gotta save this shit, just in case.] There's no numbers in the sky here, either. So.

Etraya is another world. We don’t have to worry about numbers or entertaining anyone.

This came from the shops. This whole city was built to house anyone tied to Aurora. [He isn’t as tense here. If one were to look they would see he is more relaxed. He leans against the wall, arms crossed.]

[Knife wipes their mouth, licks their fingers as they listen, picking a fingernail on a tusk.

whole city…whole world…

and still nothing familiar.]

…Gotta tap dance for your life here, too?

Different kind of dance?

If you're calling sparring a dance, then yes. We're between missions. [He waves a hand, waving off the jab. He doesn't have to do shit, technically. But he is still providing support to his fellows.] Naturally, not everyone will be supportive but you knew that.

Only noticed...either lots of talking or lots of fighting. [not a lot of in-betweens. but then, Knife didn't really go into things finessing their interactions, did they?

they're not a fucking bard, okay?]

More talking and wandering here. [He pushes away from the wall. He starts walking down the hall with a light step.] Some fighting, I suppose. Allies and enemies can come from our worlds.

But...not with any of our input. Right?

[because otherwise, Soliton would be here. right here. and nothing else would matter.

nothing else...does matter. right? why else did Knife forego eating? or listening to Aurora. or...anything?

...what...are they doing here?

why?

Fuck.

they shadow Kaeya's steps at about a body's length away, their pillowcases of junk rattling with each step. why follow this guy?

who the fuck knows. why do anything.]

None. They pick and choose. Or rather, I suspect Aurora's creator does. [He waves a hand and takes the staircase down to the first floor. Outside the sun is shining and weird giant birds wander about. Gift boxes are littered around like someone tossed them out of a speeding car.

Kaeya takes a look outside, shakes his head, and heads for the door.] For all we know, it could be that who gets picked is random.

[sounds like Knife needs to stake Aurora's creator like a fuckin' vampire, they think.

Maybe if I pretend really hard that I fuckin' hate Soliton, that'll be grounds to try and fuck with me by bringing him here.

...

Yeah, right.

Knife flinches a little in the light, its luminosity starkly different than the bright, florescent interiors of the hospital. nowhere in this place believes in toning it the fuck down.

see? the place is even flooded with giant chickens!

crankily:] Is this normal. [the chickens. the garbage.]

Nope. Probably Aurora trying to bond with us again. [He steps out and the birds look at him from where they wander around. They're not horses. He pays them little mind. They go back to their business.]

Shops are this way.

[Knife hesitates at the threshold.]

...What kinda money is there? [because Knife sure as shit doesn't have it, and will likely have to start working to get it.

fuck. the prospect makes their legs feel like lead. thievery has never been fun, it's just a function they can do to survive; maybe being safe with Soliton and the others got them too out of shape to really feel the pinprickle of necessity they need to stay amped and motivated for more crime.]

There isn't. We earn points, but those are for improving this place. Food is free. [He turns, walking down the street without a pause. He is a bit hungry and might eat a sandwich himself. Maybe.

Once he finds Lumine.]

[incredulous:] Free?

[after the harrowing bullshit they dealt with in Aphasia, it may as well be, but Knife could hardly expect to find it so simple. it can't be that simple.

they gawk at Kaeya's back in bafflement for a beat before they double-take down at the squart, fluffy baby monster chicken making goo-goo eyes up at them.

slowly, they nudge it away with the toe of their boot. go on, scoot. git.

Knife's footsteps tromp heavily a few paces to catch up, but soon fall into step.]

Sure it's not...like a fey thing? [eat the food, become a perpetual prisoner?]

It isn't. [One dark purple bird is following them. She trudges along, following Kaeya like a cat. He ignores the situation as he turns onto the shop street with a lazy hum.]

From the looks of it, she provides us with what food we need so we're fighting fit for any mission. Can't have us in poor shape, now could they?

[Yeah, but she's fine if I went and fucking starved while I was there, Knife thinks grimly, glaring at the purple bird. if this thing tries to gank one of their pillowcases or start some shit...]

Just food is free? [what about.................stuff..........]

Likely the things she gives us, and housing too. In general if it isn’t weapons, likely free. [He waves a hand. The bird has decided to trudge along side Kaeya. Nothing has happened.

Just a bright almost blue bird walking beside a man. Kaeya ever finally reaches out and lightly pats the bird.] You must want a friend, is that it girl?

[The bird keeps following. Well. These birds are a bit like horses.]

[the closer the bird gets, the wider a berth Knife walks at, completely leery of being at risk of sudden lunges or pecking. animals are unpredictable and they don't love that about them.]

That-- [do not look at me, creature.] Really sounds like...fey stuff.

I’m afraid I’m not familiar with it. Aranna and Seelie, yes. Not fey.

[Kaeya walks on, pointing out a cafe with a deli on the side. The bird is now walking at his side. He continues to let the bird follow.]

This is the place. You can pick out ready made sandwiches or ask to have one made to your specifics.

[The bird spots some odd cabbage looking plants and wanders over to hang out near the cafe and have some lunch. Kaeya watches then looks at Knife.] Hm, that explains that. I walked through some of those earlier.

What, grass? [uh, yeah, that shit's everywhere.

anyway, back to the important bits here:] Nobody's going to get mad just taking food? No coin? No jobs? [grimacing:] Oaths?

No one will get upset. And not grass.

[He points to the plants that aren’t grass. The bird is peacefully eating it with gusto.]

Now then, shall we head in?

[what is he, a druid? green leafs on ground is grass. but whatever, Knife doesn't care, let them eat grass.

they hesitate despite this, not hung up on plants but more...going in places they don't know and aren't wholly sure of the rules on.

again, the press:] No oaths? [I'm not swearing fealty to some ghost-lady for a rack of lamb!]

No oaths. You don’t have to make promises to be kept fed. [Something passes across his face (dc: 16).] Give me just a moment.

[He walks slowly over to the birds. They watch him approach but he smells like greens and moves carefully and slow a lot like they. Must be safe then. They let him close in. He kneels down and plucks greens from the ground and offers them.

Right then and there he becomes a friend. He passes them leaves pats their beaks before he rejoins Knife.] All set to head in now?

[The birds resume eating from the ground but cast hopeful looks at him.] I’ll be back in a minute, my dears.

[Feathers are fluffed. A Calvary Captain has to keep his skills sharp.]

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