APRIL MINGLE

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[oblige]

[ There is something uniquely bizarre about walking in on Odin doing something so mundanely harmless. It's so unexpected, so uncanny to Dion that he freezes on the spot and does no more than stare back at him, as though he'll see through some strange illusion if only he's patient enough. Yet the vision of Barnabas feeding chocobos remains, just as absurd to his eyes as it was moments ago.

For what nefarious purposes could Barnabas be currying the favor of a pack of chocobos? Dion can't convince himself that the man would do anything that does not serve an end of some kind. The King of Waloed surely does not go about feeding fluffy creatures simply because it pleases him to do so.

Yet here Dion is, gawking, which does little to unravel the mystery of his erstwhile enemy. He has all but forgotten his satchel loaded with greens. ]

How unexpected, that I should find you here.

[ Here with chocobos, no less. There are things Dion could say, but bearing in mind that their methods of achieving a goal are forcibly aligned at this time, he will be civil...for now. ]

[odinpusrex]

[It is so odd, so very, very odd, and perhaps a weaker man more susceptible to the sway of emotions might have a larger reaction to it, but Barnabas is no such man. Instead, he simply keeps his gaze leveled at the young prince, unblinking in his observation.

However, Bahamut chooses peace, and Odin sees little reason to choose war despite his usual inclinations.

As such, he turns his attention back to the birds, one had taken the greens from his hand, though it regards Dion with similar suspicion as the colorful male does. Who of which lets out another annoyed sound. Feathers puffed in some sort of display, wings open as if to frighten the new man off—but then Barnabas reaches into the bag at his side and retrieves more gyshal, offering it to the testy male.

The bird debates for a moment, but then acquiesces to the offering.]

Imagined me elsewhere? Perhaps staining a battlefield with red, than feeding chocobos with greens?

[His voice is calm and measured as it always is. Whisper-like, yet clear and audible all the same. There's a hollowness to it, no anger or emotion clinging to the words, just utter neutrality.]

This is not Valisthea.

[oblige]

On the contrary, I may have expected you to brood in your keep.

[ Dion may be polite, but he isn't dishonest. It would avail him little to try, knowing as he does that his expression betrays him even if he stays his tongue.

There would be little point to waging war in this place, from what Dion understands of it. The evident impermanence of death in and of itself would render felling an opponent fruitless, unless one endeavored to foment a grudge.

He eyes the chocobos briefly but remains where he is, aware enough that he could provoke them and shatter the oddly peaceful reality that is his old foe feeding birds by hand. It's very nearly pastoral, though Dion can hardly imagine Odin with a farm. ]

That structure in the northwest is yours, is it not?

[ Dion's outward calm differs from Barnabas', something stiff and restrictive like ill-fitted clothing one has shouldered into regardless. It may be impossible to entirely deny his unease with all of this — and especially Odin himself — but he soldiers on. If nothing else, Dion is good at pressing on despite reservations. ]

[odinpusrex]

[It is a reasonable assumption, seeing as Barnabas does favor brooding in his keep over integrating himself with the masses. Most he finds to be contemptible and tedious bores unworthy of his time, let alone his words. For all their rivalry, though his end of it was not quite as earnest as it needed to appear, Bahamut is among those more worthy of words.

He is a Dominant, after all.]

Indeed, it is Stonhyrr.

[One of the brown chocobos slowly approaches Dion from the side, eyeing him with caution, as if it could discern his threat level if it stared hard enough.]

Is it your hope that I remain within its stony walls? Or simply your foolish belief you can predict Odin?

[Taking out some more greens seeing as the last handful was pecked and pilfered from his hand, he turns to Dion this time. Without a word he hands them over. The birds raise their head in interest, the one closest to Dion especially.]

[oblige]

[ Is it foolish? Dion very nearly asks, because he does know more than Barnabas is aware of, but he's reluctant to tip his hand. He does not yet know what Odin would do if confronted with his own previous demise. The man may doubt, but he knew well enough that Dion was neither one for deceit nor would he be very capable were he to try.

Others have read Dion easily enough that he knows this of himself. Shrewd as Odin is, it's impossible to think that such would elude him.

It might be convenient for Dion were it otherwise.

All he yields at first is a frown at the greens in his hand, too pensive for the object of his apparent focus. ]

What would be the point in hoping such a thing?

[ It's half-question, half-rebuttal, as the nearest chocobo makes its demands known with a prompting kweh. He holds the greens out and they all but vanish from his hand in a feathered flurry. ]

Chocobos simply do not seem to befit your tastes.

[ Horses. He means horses. ]

[odinpusrex]

Forgotten Waloed's cavalry, have you?

[After all, they had the quickest birds, and their cavalry was the pride of their nation. Their flag emphasizing that fact, though it bore not the likeness of birds, of course. Would that Waloed could have naught but horses, but chocobos served all the same.

Only Odin had a horse. The only horse for the only Odin.

As for the other question, the one about hope, Barnabas does not answer. He doesn't need to. It should be obvious that one should hope their enemy would crawl into their domain and never return again, and while the prince is not known for his vindictiveness and cruelty, he is but a man.

All of them are vindictive and cruel eventually. An inevitability that will not be denied, so long as their corruption festers. So long as they hold onto that abhorrent will.

One of the brown chocobos noses (beaks?) at Barnabas' bag, clearly overtaken by greed. Yet, despite the unruly behavior, Barnabas gently (yet firmly) directs the bird away from the bag with a hand; his expression placid as always. He uses his other hand to retrieve some portion of what's left of his stores—these voracious eaters have nearly bled him dry!]

Take you grievance with me and the chocobos?

[Not that he cares, he's just trying to see what Dion's commentary is about.]

[oblige]

[ Matters of practicality and preference differ, but Dion lets the thought pass. Stonhyrr itself was a testament to the latter, what with statues of a certain horse. Even at a glance, Odin's bias was abundantly clear to an observer. So indeed he would think that Barnabas would have little personal interest in bonding with chocobos, aloof man that he is.

The second question, however, makes Dion regret forgoing answering the first. Dealing with his old foe outside of a battlefield is, in its way, more difficult than on one. That was familiar ground, for all its challenges. This is not. ]

It comes as a surprise, that is all.

[ As much had been overtly clear, he's certain, upon sighting the man. ]

But you are a man of purpose [ While Dion has historically not agreed with the man's methods, he acknowledges this. ] so this must also serve.

[ What cause Barnabas has to ingratiate himself with chocobos is unclear, but Dion could flip a coin and have equal odds of getting an answer as guessing which side it would land on. So instead he opens his own satchel and offers the nearest bird yet more greens, unsurprised when it descends upon them with the same ravenous enthusiasm any chocobo would. ]