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

There's a difference between peace and being bored to the point it sucks your soul out.

[Yes, this is his description of Ohio. Mostly, he just never felt like he fit in that place, not with his family, not with his school. It was awful. Moving to Xavier's and living with the mutants felt like a start of something better...

And now he's back to feeling a little bit of an outcast with the mutants here. He kind of almost resents them for that, though he tries to push that feeling back.]

Besides, New York is peaceful too, just louder.

Your soul...?

[He doesn't know much about the spiritual...but he does understand what Scott means about a city being simultaneously both peaceful and loud, and so he nods along in response.]

What do you need to not be bored, then? Is that something all people need?

Yeah, my soul.

[Just affirming that with no further explanation. This is probably fine. Scott figures that his companion here might take his comment seriously, but... it's fine. What's the worst that can happen?]

Just cool stuff to do. [Scott answers almost immediately, although, he quirks an eyebrow over at An Zhe because that's kind of a weird thing to say??] What about you? Aren't you part of 'people?'

[An Zhe is in fact seriously wondering if boredom can actually suck a person's soul out, and what that would do to them. Would you still be alive? Would you become a different person? What do souls do, exactly?

—Oh wait he's been asked a question.] ...I think...that might depend on what you consider a person. [He, too, does not bother to immediately explain.]

[That's certainly an answer.

His suspicions have only grown as their conversation continued and he's just going to go straight into the matter. He's never really been about tactfully digging into a topic, why do that when you can get the answer you want right away?? Yeah, sounds good to him, get that unnecessary fluff out of here.]

So, you're not human.

[Just bluntly. But he doesn't sound upset or wary, just very matter of fact.]

[Well when he puts it that way...

An Zhe doesn't express any sign of discomfort at getting called out, instead just giving Scott a somewhat probing look.]

Does that bother you?

No? Why would it?

[He deadpans, but at least it doesn't seem like Scott is lying at all about this whole thing bothering him. He's pretty much accepted his non-human status without so much of a blink, just head tilted at An Zhe with a a neutral look.]

It's pretty cool, actually. Being normal is boring and overrated. [...] So, what kind of non-human are you?

Edited 2025-07-08 21:30 (UTC)

[On one hand, that's definitely not the answer he expected...on the other, it's definitely not a bad one. An Zhe's naturally soft demeanor softens just that little bit more as he talks.]

Is being human what you consider normal? I think humans are really interesting, though. [They're so varied, for one thing.] I'm a mushroom— [Wait, is that believable when he's in this form? Uhh what were the science words again—] A...polymorphic...xenogenic mushroom.

[One eyebrow arches hearing that. A mushroom, huh? Not what he expected, but like before, Scott just goes along with it with a simple nod. Look, he's talking to a mushroom that looks like a human and can fully understand him. That's pretty neat.]

Huh, cool. Never met a mushroom like you before. [...] Definitely different than the ones on pizza or mushrooms you find in the forest.

[So observant, this one.]

I did live in the forest before, actually. Is pizza also a place where mushrooms grow?

[He's curious!!]

No, man, pizza is just food and mushrooms are one of the toppings that you can add onto it.

[Jeez, he really is starting from scratch with him. It's like Kurt, but ten times more clueless. Well, guess he shouldn't expect anything else, if he really is a mushroom guy that's lived in a forest and everything.]

Huh. Are you able to eat mushrooms?

[Or is that cannibalism??]

Oh. Does pizza taste good? It's interesting how many different foods you can make.

[As for whether he can eat mushrooms or not:]

......I can.

[Said in a tone that implies he'd rather not.]

Uh, yeah? As long as you don't put shitty toppings on it.

[Although, he hasn't really gotten a chance to have New York pizza... that's something he plans on fixing soon whenever he gets back. He can't live in New York and not have their pizza.]

You can, but you don't want to. [He at least catches his drift easily enough.] Well luckily, mushrooms don't make or break a pizza. It's about the cheese and sauce. Trust me.

Oh. That's good to know then.

[So pizza is a food with cheese and sauce on it...somehow that still tells him nothing. An Zhe casts a glance at the chocobo beside him again, as if it will somehow have the answer for him, before focusing back on Scott.]

I wonder if there will be pizza at the diner.

Trust me, I wouldn't get pizza at the diner, save that for an actual pizzeria. There has to be one somewhere around the city...

[Something to look for another day, but right now, he's still hungry for the diner and maybe a hamburger or milkshake.] Just follow my lead, okay?

[Is diner pizza bad, then? Or maybe it's like how his home-made potato soup is better than the soup at the dining hall? An Zhe, full of questions, nods regardless.]

Okay.

[What kind of food will be at the diner? His curiosity is growing!]

APRIL MINGLE

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