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

[rudelanguage]

[Pending makes a face. they weren't going to eat on the floor!

they were going to eat outside. sitting on the ground. or, if inspiration struck, while walking. gosh!

of course, their expression hits at relax, so it looks more like they're offended at being told to chill out, which...yes. they're a little offended at that, but more at the animal insinuation! damn, do humans think orc-types don't know what chairs are or something where she's from?

they linger at the exit of the counter while she's putting stuff away or whatever it is sandwich gurus do, looking skeptical.]

You run a spy-network? [sandwiches and consultations? what, she got divination magic packed into one of those hairnets?]

[ingestion]

A spy-network?

( oh she was this close to nearly slamming the sandwiches down onto the counter and telling them to get out. with a more annoyed expression on her face, she began to walk closer to them and took one look up at them.

clearly they were just as awkward as gorgug but had none of his funny wit and charm. )

Hey who do you think you are? I'm giving you free food and offering you a place to sit and you call me a spy? That's so....so rude! Didn't your parents teach you any manners?

[rudelanguage]

[to Knife, the hostility comes out of left field (they're not that self-reflective), prompting a bristle and straightening of their posture as they gawk down at this angry short person.

confusion.png:] We...don't like spies here? [did they do a bad? fucking how? next time they breathe someone's going to arrest them, holy shit.]

[ingestion]

That's not the issue! I'm not spying on anyone or taking notes of people's problems to be weird about it. I'm offering my heart out to people who need help and don't have anyone else to turn to.

( she's this close to taking the sandwich and shoving it in their arms, pushing them out the door even if they are almost three times her size. despite that, she simply shook her head and calmed down a bit.

what would her father do or say in this situation? wouldn't he tell her to try and understand where knife was coming from? to win friends over with peace rather than assumptions?

so she sighed a bit, placing a hand to her temple before she peered back up and took a more neutral tone of voice. )

Don't you come from a world where people care for each other? Help each other during difficult times?

[rudelanguage]

[the passion being thrown at them is baffling and, weirdly, scary? like, this girl's brandishing a sandwich, not a sword or a wand, but it must be that...weird, teenage passion that's giving them the feeling of being held at knifepoint.

the whiplash from the outburst to a relenting sigh leaves the orcish shape frozen in place, breath held, expecting a second shoe to drop.

at the ask, their expression scrunches; one corner of their lip twitches over a tusk.]

Uh, maybe? [they don't even sound sure.] Other people? [but not them. Soliton's an outlier, there's...history there.

where's the history here? simple courtesies without the expectation of payout doesn't make sense in the context of Knife's life.

Knife has no idea what answer this girl wants, so they default to:] Sorry? [people like apologies, right? that...fixes shit?]

[ingestion]

( with the air still heavy between the two, heather gave knife one last intense glare before she finally turned around to retrieve the sandwiches she had set aside. she lifted up his plate and handed it to him before pointing her head towards the direction of the door.

in her time here she had been on a mostly positive journey, shedding behind the negativity that same with being hunted by a cult for nearly two decades and the surrounding after math of being drawn into that town. she had met wonderful people here who encouraged her growth and encouraged her to do this sort of thing for other. a man from her world even told her that she had saved his life by offering him her listening service.

so it didn't quite dawn on heather that something like that would be a true mystery to someone new and while she was somewhat justified in being annoyed at being accused of having ulterior motives, all she could do was give up.

she wasn't in the best mood to deal with this given claudia's arrival after all. so she gave knife their plate and waved her hand a bit. )

It's fine, don't worry about it. Just go eat your sandwich outside or whatever. Enjoy, it's on the house.

[rudelanguage]

Uh... Okay...

[flummoxed, Knife takes the plate, standing in place for a beat half-expecting a 180 demand to not fucking move. after enough space is given between themself and the unhappy girl, Pending steps backward two paces before feeling safe enough to turn around and make for the door.

What the hell was that about?

they blink, then grimace into the daylight outside.

Wait a second... "On the house?" Bullshit! I got served sandwich with GUILT! Why do I have to feel bad for breathing?!



the sandwich winds up being tasty, at least.]