etrayalogs | 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

Depends on what you mean. Didn't take me long to seize control of Gotham's most powerful drug dealers. Dealt some pretty heavy blows to the biggest trafficker around too. I wanted my Bruce's attention and I got it.

[Jason's body tightens just slightly as he continues to recollect some of his darkest days]

In the end, I nearly killed myself, him, and the Joker. I tried to make him choose. What happened instead was he took a third option.

[ There's a quiet part of him that doesn't really know what to think about any of this. Jason's story so closely mirrored Tim's - at least their encounters with the Joker - that he feels that twinge guilt, that measure of responsibility all over again. Even if it hadn't been this Bruce specifically. It had been a Bruce and he should have known better. They both should have known better.

The third option, Bruce could only guess at, based on what he would have done. Forcing an impossible choice on him would always have him seeking a way out or at the very least the lesser evil of the two. It's not ideal.

But there's nothing ideal about being a vigilante. ]

The Joker is still alive you said. And so are you.

[ But ultimately, that doesn't mean Bruce chose Jason over the Joker. He just found a way to make the choice less distasteful. ]

[Jason nods. He still wants the Joker dead but he was still alive at least. The whole family works in varying shades of moral gray. There are no easy choices]

He found a different way. After that, I had to retreat and recover and still fought him in other ways. It took a while before we could reconcile. Our relationship still has its issues but it's... better than when I first returned to Gotham.

[Though some days Jason's thoughts go dark and he questions if he's truly redeemed himself]

[ A different way that Jason did not specify. And considering it took a while to reconcile, that they were still fighting before that reconciliation happened, whatever Bruce chose had been dire.

He could think of a couple of things. All of them distasteful, but maybe completely necessary. ]

Clearly he cares about you very much.

We all do. We're family by choice. Most of us were bought together by him. We all love each other.

[Jason fidgets a little with the batarang]

We also all have our traumas and aren't the greatest at dealing with them at times. We either go into ourselves or lash out. You get a manor full of people like that and there are bound to be fights.

But... in the end, we all still love each other and still try to make things work.

[ There'd been a time when Bruce's home had been filled with that kind of warmth. He missed it. Missed it terribly. He doesn't say anything for a moment then he glances at Jason. ]

Good.

[ That's it. That's all he has to say. ]

[Jason is aware of how different his world is compared to the other worlds the BatFamily members of Etraya come from. That sense of being an abnormality was further reinforced after talking with Barbara. Jason also finds it a bit depressing]

There's always a chance somehow, even if it's not obvious.

[ It's optimism Bruce doesn't share. He'd have to actually talk to his family for a chance to change things can happen. As it is, nothing will change. ]

Your family seems much larger than mine. Who else is in it?

[Jason recognizes the topic change and he'll let it go for now. That's a lot of talking about emotions for any Bruce Wayne. At Bruce's question, Jason huffs]

At last count and besides me and my Bruce? Officially in the family are Alfred, Dick, Tim, Cass, Damian, Duke, and Kate. Then you also got Babs, Stephanie, Harper, Helena, Luke and Jean-Paul. And I guess Selina counts most of the time. And there's also Lucius since he's Luke's dad, knows about all of us, and is one of the people who helps out with the gear.

Don't even get me started on all the pets.

[ Bruce...really doesn't know what to say. That is. That's a lot of people. He's not sure he entirely approves of letting so many in. Could they all be counted on not to be liabilities?

Best not to comment on that. ]

He's Lucius Junior where I'm from. When Lucius left Wayne Enterprises and formed Foxteca, he became CEO.

[Jason slightly raises his eyebrow. It's odd to hear as Jason is used to the Foxes being loyal to Bruce and Wayne Enterprises]

What happened?

[ Bruce seems resigned. ]

Wayne Industries was, for a time, merged with Powers Technology. A man named Derek Powers was CEO. He fired Lucius.

[The news hits Jason harder than he expected. Wayne Enterprises was... is a part of the Wayne legacy, something Jason's Bruce is diligent about preserving. Hearing the company getting taken and then removing someone who had been incredibly loyal to Bruce is very telling to how extensive this Bruce's isolation is]

Why was it merged?

[Maybe this Derek Powers did some slimeball tactics to steal the company and Bruce couldn't legally stop it]

Because I did not stop it.

[ Bruce's health was poor. He hadn't been seen in public in months. He'd tried to stop it, but in the end, it wasn't enough. ]

Things were that bad for you?

[Jason had assumed the company was still attached to him even if he was retired]

[ Well it certainly wasn't good. ]

It was twenty years before I met Terry.

So for over twenty years you were alone? Not including Ace.

[That... is a depressing amount of time]

[ Bruce doesn't answer. But the silence is probably enough of an answer. ]

APRIL MINGLE

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