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

[Oh.

Claudia's demeanor shift is incredibly subtle. She straightens up a little, but otherwise doesn't outwardly react. She notices the coldness in Maria's voice, but doesn't seem entirely bothered.]

I do.

[It's all she says, but it's obvious she's on something rather like high alert despite the terse response.]

[Maria doesn't know why but something about her pities Claudia. this was the woman who hurt Heather, and Maria could never forgive her for that, but something about her just comes off as sad. it's a similar thing to Vincent, she thinks. members of this damn cult. they all come off the same, so broken. no matter what Vincent says.

she sighs and sits down next to her.]

You should know the score around here. I love Heather. I'd do anything for her. You hear that? Anything. And whatever you or your religion thinks about her is wrong. [she could be a little ruder but well, she was trying to play nice in regards to The Order. mostly play nice with Vincent. as Maria told many people, it was easier to get along with Vincent, and insulting the damn cult wasn't going to get her anywhere.]

So that's that in regards to her. But you should know about me before Vincent goes telling you his ideas. [though she assumes they might have a similar thought process anyway.] Ready for a story?

[Claudia, to her credit, listens quietly without interruption. Outsiders insulting the Order is not something that particularly bothers her. She assumes it's the same for Vincent.

She's already told Alessa that she'll leave her alone. It bothers Claudia a great deal to have to do something like that, but she's willing to do it.

But as for this story, she cocks her head curiously.]

I'm listening.

I was born from Silent Hill. [she just comes out with it. better to get it over with. just say it outright.] But it's different than you or Vincent. You know how people are drawn to the town. One man came to Silent Hill due to his guilt and so the town created me for him. He missed his wife and so it made me. For him. To punish him.

[she looks to Claudia seriously.]

Am I making sense?

[By the wide-eyed look Claudia gives her, she understands. She understands completely. She clasps her hands together in a prayer.]

In all my years, I have never heard of such a thing happening before.

[that's a concerning reaction. but no worse than Vincent's.]

I have no plans on pushing any of your agenda. Here, I can be my own person. Not anything that town expects me to be.

You are a miracle from God.

[Claudia is, absolutely, a priestess of the Order.]

For you to have a mind of your own is God's will. I wouldn't dream to interfere.

[this is aggravating! the idea that any part of her is still not a choice of hers but just someone else's will. how absolutely frustrating. but what else could she have expected from this damn cult?]

And what if I spoke against the Order? Is that still God's will? [Heather mentioning her father comes to Maria and she smiles coldly.] Would your father agree, do you think?

[Her head tips as she considers the question. The cruelty registers, of course it does, but even if this woman is a miracle, she's obviously an unbeliever.]

God works in mysterious ways.

[That's a yes, in other words.]

She created you to have your own mind. I would not interfere with something like that.

[yeah, this plan to psychologically torment Claudia wasn't going to work. Maria doesn't know enough about her to move forward with that tactic.]

I was created to torment one man. Hardly anything so noble and great.

God would not have willed it had it not been necessary.

[She doesn't know the single thing about this man she was created for, nor does Claudia care to know, but she does believe the man needed it.]

That man is not here, is he?

No. He was for a bit. We came here together but he's gone now. I've stayed behind. Which is strange because I know in the town, I wouldn't exist without him. Here we are.

[she gives Claudia a smile.]

You think that has to do with your god?

[She's silent for a moment, apparently thinking better of saying that she does. The statements don't seem to be bringing any comfort to Maria, anyway.]

I have never heard of a person being created before.

[So she doesn't know the rules that were involved, beyond being the sort to chalk everything up to Gods will.]

So I cannot say what rules you might be bound by.

Lucky me. One of a kind.

[sometimes when Vincent spoke of his religion, Maria found herself growing angry. for them to talk about the powers that be as some miracle, as if what she went through was a miracle.]

Only he could see me. James, that is. The man I was created for. He couldn't care less about me but I was always forced to be with him. Do what was needed for him. I've lost count of how many times I've died. Though killed is a better word for it. That was hell. Being forced to relive that same day again and again, James hating me a little more each time, and all I could do was take it.

Real shitty miracle, don't you think?

Edited 2025-05-11 14:05 (UTC)

[It's obvious at once that she finds the description to be horrible. Claudia doesn't emote much, but the disgust on her face is obvious.]

He rejected you?

[No member of the Order would even consider doing such a thing to a person brought into the world by an act of God. The very idea is offensive.]

I don't know why I can see you, why others can see you.

[Because she believes Maria, when she says she could only be seen by this man.]

...but I know you exist now, without his influence.

[there's something very laughable at Claudia's offense. she knew Vincent had been appalled in his way as well.]

Aurora took me and apparently, I'm tied to her now. We all are. She said I have nothing tying me to that man at this point. Your friend Vincent thinks this is amazing. A sign that your god created somebody so real that even Aurora saw me. I'm not real, though. But who's to complain? I'm having fun here.

And yes, he did reject me. Again and again. I don't think he saw me as much of a gift. Can't blame him. I don't see it that way either.

[There's no outward indication of how she feels about Maria calling Vincent her "friend". Claudia doesn't comment on it, still focused on Maria's fascinating, and terrible, origin.]

He's correct. Aurora saw you, she was able to bring you here. Everyone here can see you.

[Claudia is always serious, but her expression is almost grave.]

You're free, no longer bound to that man's whims.

I am, aren't I?

[she smiles to Claudia.]

Do you think it's what I deserve? To be free from the man I was created for?

Yes.

[She's ever faithful. If God created Maria for a man who rejected her, then clearly she is loved very, very much to be able to exist without him.]

You can now live a life you wish.

[In some ways, Claudia is now in the same situation. She'd died, and been brought here to live once more.]

[and there's the opening.]

Then someone like Heather should be owed her own life here as well. It's your god's wishes.

[Her head dips in acknowledgement.]

It was unfair of me to involve her from the beginning. I won't do anything to her here. You have my assurance.

[Maria looks at her for a moment. as if studying her. how she positions herself and talks. views things.

Heather cannot find closure in vengeance with this woman. Maria can see that.]

Do you regret what you did?

I regret involving her.

[She doesn't regret trying to bring God before Her time, because the world was still a hopelessly broken place full of horrors.]

And what of her father?

[that was the crux of the matter, now wasn't it?]

His death was regrettable.

[It's the closest she can get to a true apology, as she still sees the man as a kidnapper who took Alessa from her. But she never should have involved Alessa in the first place, which means that Harry Mason should have lived.]

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