etrayalogs | SOLMARA

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SOLMARA

⏵ LEAVING ETRAYA ⏴

Whilst most individuals will be making their way to Camp Etraya, the select few that have volunteered (and those who Aurora chose to be the fifteen she could support travel for) will be directed to come to the hospital, where a portal made of a swirling purple energy awaits. Aurora will meet them beside it, several backpacks placed by her feet by companion bots on their way out to their camp duties.

"I'm sorry I cannot be of more assistance," Her voice is soft, hesitant in a way Aurora generally is not. "I would send my back up in this body to accompany you, but I am... using an extensive amount of my own resources just to keep this portal open, and I want to ensure our city is safe, too." Each name has a name on it, or a symbol that represents the character it has been brought for. For those who do not recognize their packs, Aurora will lift them and offer them out herself. They all contain basic survival needs, including breather masks, modular tool kits, hydration capsules, thermal cloaks, solar-charged lanterns, ration packets, medkits, as well as items specific to them that they may require - medication they may require, sunscreen, anything Aurora could think of that they may need that she could pack away.

Once they've all gathered their packs, she raises a hand to gesture them towards the portal.

"Your earpieces will continue to function, but will not be able to reach outside of their protective barrier. I understand some of you may have the means to communicate over long distances without the assistance of technology or magic," her eyes linger on Nate Grey momentarily, before she addresses the group as a whole once more, "And I would, if you can, lean on that to reach out to those who remain behind. While they may be on their own mission, I have left it... open, as best as I am able to. I wish all of you the best of luck. And please do be careful - I cannot guarantee your return from death should anything happen to you on Solmara."

Lips press together tightly. Aurora hesitates, before offering, "I would, if you could, keep a look out for Ithaqua. He is still registering as one of mine, but I have not been able to find him within Etraya."

The portal awaits them. Aurora will still be beside it to answer any further questions as best as she can, but she cannot step through alongside them.

⏵ OUTSKIRTS ⏴

Once they've stepped through the portal, they will find themselves in a small forested area full of barren trees called the Mirkwood Strip. Even the air in Solmara smells different: stale, and musty, despite how dry the environment around them looks. Where Etraya was covered in greenery, Solmara is covered in sand. It's a ruin of torn up roads, steel skeletons where buildings had once been, and jury-rigged machinery can be found throughout the city bubble. Scorched earth beneath a blood-orange sky, it barely feels habitable, let alone like a place for those competing to save their own worlds. Its outskirts are near-empty, full of those who have left Alrys' good graces and a few patrols to keep the half-starved deserters from rising up against her.

There are a few individuals wandering among old buildings who may look a little less torn up: city bubbles are initially designed to suit those who will be arriving, after all, and some of these citizens look at home in sands and heat, even if the lack of nutrition is less than ideal. Some don't require it, but are fed by the bright light in the sky itself.

Everyone outside the large barrier Alyrs has put up around the hospital and the numerous buildings around it are either fighters, scavengers, or left over torn-apart corpses, waiting to be revived or worse: too torn apart to be revived in their original bodies. Either way: most this far out will know they aren't meant to be here if they blend in well enough: Alrys may have eyes on the hospital to look for any new arrivals, but outside of her scouts, who would know?

If they wander closer to the barrier surrounding the city, they may find small cracks in the shell that protects them from the planet's hostile environment - not quite big enough to fit an entire body, but big enough to pry open so one could make it out. Perhaps this is where the warning of the incoming Solmarans had come from: someone slipping out and trekking across the planet to leave behind the banner.

Where Etraya has wildlife, Solmara has predators. Large creatures hide amongst the dunes, in the trees, the caves, and mountains, just waiting for the opportunity to get a nice-sized bite out of an unfortunate traveler.

⏵ SOLMARA ⏴

But they didn't arrive here as tourists: the Etrayans came with a mission: figure out what's wrong with Borealis, and free the citizens of Alrys' control. And do so so - they'll need to get passed Alrys' defenses, break through the gates she and her people have put around the main buildings, and infiltrate the hospital.

This is where her defenses are strongest, where they will find multiple groups of her soldiers ready to take them on, if they aren't careful to avoid them. And just like Etraya: they have a varied bunch. Some are strong, powerful. Some may be able to see the Etrayans moves two steps before they decide to make them, may be able to easily remove them from the equation.

But the further they get, the more hesitant her forces may seem. Those who had been on Solmara previously will note: this isn't normal. Something's wrong here, different.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

This log is only for the characters chosen to visit Solmara, as discussed with Aurora.

Please feel free to reference Ashlee's map, as this is what we will be using to guide characters through Solmara!

As mentioned previously, we mods will be watching this post closely and will be guiding characters along to assist them in getting to their goal. Our intention will be to boomerang tags back as quickly as possible, until this mission is finished. To this end, we ask that any tag that you want the mods to respond to directly have "@mods" in the subject line, so we don't step in when it's not our time yet, and don't miss anything directed our way.

Feel free to respond to this log in any format that works for you! We would recommend breaking up into smaller teams to make navigating the city easier, but do ask that you keep to at least teams of two or more, to make it easier for us mods and allow your character to have interactions that aren't just against NPCs/mod tags providing guidance on moving forward.

If an OOC thread of what happens as characters move forward is easier for your group, please begin that in the mod queries comment on the Solmara Plotting Post. We'll get back to these threads as quickly as possible, too. This can be used to ask a question such as "What if Accelerator sneaks in passed the barrier and tries to blend in as a guard, what could he find?", "What monster is outside of Murkwood and how would they respond to intruders?", or something like "Max will be going up to some of Alrys' guard and reporting he was able to successfully complete the mission, how will they respond and can he get to Alrys directly like this?"

For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the Solmara Plotting Post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

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[ For the moment, Hernan's been keeping an eye on the camp's perimeter until it's time to put things in motion. Patrols never take him very long, since he can cover the entire area and a few miles beyond in the span of a breath.

It's from above that he spots Vander returning to the camp and after he circles around for another sweep, he returns to camp, landing nearby and approaching Vander in a few short strides. ]

Plans have not changed for me at least. Were the locals friendly today?

[Sometimes he caught sight of Hernan making the rounds and guarding the camp, and he still marveled at the other man's ability to fly. It seemed both frightening and freeing at the same time, especially for one who had lived almost the entirety of their life underground or in the desperate smog of an industrialized city where the sky was questionable at times.

He lifted a hand to greet Hernan as the other man landed nearby, and he put a smile on his lips despite looking tired and dirty from wandering the desert. He shifted his pack on his shoulders and nodded at the confirmation. They would all be infiltrating together at least.]

Some were, others where suspicious. It depends on the topic of conversation, but there are a few that now recognize me and know I have items to trade. They don't seem to care where I came from at least.

[He looked around camp.] Uneventful rounds from above today?

[ If Vander ever voiced his admiration of Hernan's ability to fly, Herna wouldn't hesitate to invite the other man up with him. Especially after being appropriately flattered. The news did not surprise him. People were people no matter the dimension it seemed - suspicious of the unknown, but willing to set it aside if it meant their continued survival. ]

You look tired. I'll carry your bag.

[ And him if he needed it. Hernan didn't mind. He holds a hand out for it if Vander is willing to hand it to him, and nods at his question. ]

Mm. I want to see these monsters we were promised. I want to punch at least one before we go back. [ He's kidding. Sort of. ]

[He tilted his head as he regarded Hernan, curious of the offer. He wasn't willing to look too deeply into it, yet it caused a little smile on his lips as he shrugged off his backpack and offered it out to the other man.]

Ah well, I don't sleep out there. It's not safe, so I'll get a few hours of shut-eye here.

[He gestured his head towards where there were tents set up for people, and he was aiming for one in the middle of all the hubbub. The cacophony of noise of people going about their business was comforting.]

Oh yeah? Have you picked on that you're going to punch? Maybe you can take me with you so I can attest to this adventure. Though, I figure you'll be punching your way through entire defenses soon enough.

[ He slings the bag over his shoulder without a second thought, the weight of it negligible and follows Vander to the set up of tents. ]

I will go with you if you want to stop and rest outside of camp. [ He offers Vander a grin ] I won't let anything happen to you.

[ There's a moment of silence as he considers the creatures they were shown prior to this mission's start. ]

At least the scorpion. Scorpions are punchable.

[He glanced over at Hernan for the offer. Their relationship had been flirty and tense, them having a constant push and pull to have control in a sense. He wondered if Kirk had spoken to Hernan.]

Careful there, Hernan, I might start to have the impression you want to hang out with me. [And make good on the flirting, went unspoken on his part.] You won't, huh? Is that because Kirk asked you to keep an eye on me?

[He nodded his head as he pulled the flap on a tent to see if it was occupied. It was. He moved on to the next and it was free. He eased himself to sit on the tent edge without going inside.]

Surprised you aren't going for the challenge of the one underground. Can you see them even if they are covered?

[ Kirk did speak to him and for the most part, Hernan's agreeable to get along with Vander. But if he's asked about his personal feelings? He'd admit he's still feeling mostly ambivalent about Vander. It's one thing to flirt - Hernan will flirt with anyone. But to extend trust is dangerous. He's been disappointed enough by humans. He'd rather keep his distance until Vander proves he's not a threat. Magnus played the long game, after all. He may not trust Vander fully, but he does trust Kirk and that's a point in his favor.

Still, he smiles and shrugs the shoulder the pack dangles from. ]

I am always careful, amigo. Kirk did not ask me to, but you mean something to him and he means something to me. So I should at least make sure you get back with your limbs attached.

[ Once Vander finds himself a tent, Hernan eases the pack off his shoulder and sets it just inside the entrance. He debates on how to answer the question. The only thing he cannot see through is lead. Does he want Vander knowing that? ]

Yes, I can see them. They're not that clever. They're on my list too.

[ Looks like he does not. ]

Edited 2025-05-25 23:06 (UTC)

[Vander inclined his head as if he wasn't certain if Hernan was being truthful. If what he had seen at the Tower was any indication, careful was not a word that he would associate much with the other man. Still, they remained agreeable enough with each other, and it was clear that they were feeling each other out. Flirting was just their weapon of choice for the time being.]

So I have the friend's benefit protection, do I? I'm tougher than most give me credit for.

[He also wasn't one to study a gift too closely. It was a rare novelty to feel like someone was protecting him and not the other way around. He actually hadn't determined if he liked it or it grated on him. Hernan had proven himself strong and able to protect if nothing else.]

Your list is flying around punching the native populations, is it? I suppose just flying would become drab if you could do it all the time, right? We only have airships where I'm from, and I could never afford to ride one.

[ His idea of careful runs an entirely different gamut than most other people's. Hernan liked sowing chaos and discord and watching it unfold and then throwing himself in the middle of it, because more often than not, he walked out of it unscathed. His arrogance isn't wholly unearned. When you're nigh indestructible, you tend to throw caution to the wind. ]

Then I will pick up the rest, how does that sound?

[ Able and willing. He thought highly of himself but he thought of others too. That he owed to his mother and sister. They knew what kind of man Hernan could be - dark and angry and dangerous - and they never diminished that part of him. Just told him to use it for the benefit of others. The world - any world - could be dark place and it needed someone who understood that darkness.

He smiles wryly. ]

You're welcome to fly with me then. First flight will be free.

[He smiled and shook his head. He'd heard that kind of talk before, though he supposed that Hernan's big talk came with big action from what he had seen. He sometimes wondered if Hernan grew bored with a lack of challenge sometimes.]

It sounds too good to be true. I'm sure you'll do your best to prove me wrong, of course.

[Vander knew that arrogant people - earned or no - could be nudged along based on their ego. He had no particular skin in the game except to do what he could here, and it was honestly better than the idea of a summer camp. Besides, maybe he would learn something about their own situation.

He glanced up at the sky like he was expecting it to land on him.]

Me? Flying? It feels like you'd drop me for fun and catch me at the last minute. [It wasn't a no, of course. Flight came in brief moments in his youth, also known as falling on purpose.]

[ Hernan thinks of his fight with Imperiex. Odds that should have kept him down, but he promised that monstrosity he would tear it to pieces and that is what he did. Kirk and Bekka were there too. But Hernan did a lot of the heavy lifting.

He didn't think this would be much different. He's not afraid of a challenge. He reveled in it. Etraya has been a challenge of a different kind - a testing of his patience and his mortality and how he viewed the value of people outside of his circle. It wasn't boring necessarily but it did make him uncomfortable. ]

Of course, my friend, of course. I can't have you thinking I'm not a man of my word.

[ His grin broadens into a smile, wide and amused. ]

Yes, you. I wouldn't invite you if I didn't intend to keep you safe. Just hold tight to me and you won't have to worry about a thing.

[Vander had to smile at that, knowing that there was plenty that he did not know about Hernan. Their interactions were interesting, and he had no doubt that Hernan had plenty of stories to tell about his life and adventures just as Kirk did.

He expected that this place would showcase some of what Hernan was truly capable of. He was curious to see it.]

You think so highly of me that you want me to trust you, hmm?

[Ah there was the keeping him safe line again. Gosh, he hadn't had anyone commit to keeping him safe in a long time. Though, perhaps if he thought about it, Vi and the kids had pledged that too, but... well, that had not ended well for half of them.]

Is that so? Is there a risk of us being seen and attacked up there? I'm so used to my feet being on the ground these days.

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SOLMARA

Home Sweet Home

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sorry for the delay

No worries <3

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