MISSION 009

[etrayamods]

⏵ CAMP ETRAYA ⏴ On May 16th, Aurora and the companion bots direct those not heading off to Solmara to make their way to Camp Etraya. Nestled away from everything else in a large clearing full of wildflowers and redwoods, Camp Etraya is a nostalgic summer camp experience put together just for it's residents! Cabins are assigned, scary stories are told around campfires, gossiping happens among friends on the trails surrounding the cabins - and don't be surprised when something goes awry. After all, this is still Etraya. While the rest of Etraya is still accessible and will not be blocked off, characters are discouraged from venturing far from camp for too long: Aurora will specify that they are on a mission, and that missions do require participation, but she has intentionally left them the freedom to wander. Not sleeping in their assigned cabins, not participating in events, and staying away from Camp Etraya will end with her having to take more extensive security measures, so please be on your best behavior! The last thing she wants to do is start enforcing boundaries, but she will if she has to. Camp is set up much like your generic summer camp! Each cabin is named, housing is assigned to characters as they arrive, there are camp counselors, and rotating daily tasks and chores. There are also multiple activities that characters are expected to participate in, and each activity is worth points that goes toward their camp graduation score. This score will be visible on their earpiece, and follows the A-F grading system. We are not be monitoring this, and are leaving character scores up to players. We do, however, ask that you please report your characters' camp grade HERE for rewards and demerits to be handed out after the mission itself. Cabin assignments can be found here, which also has their roles, and chores assigned to that cabin. Those who are participating in Solmara have received an assigned cabin, too, but their absence toward the beginning will not harm the cabin's ability to compete given how spread out their assignments are. ⏵ WELCOME TO CAMP ⏴ Camp life is meant to instill a sense of belonging, connection with nature, encouragement towards the creative, all on top of a firm foundation of responsibility. Upon arriving, campers will be escorted towards a table of white t-shirts and countless buckets of dye! Each Etrayan will be invited to make three Tie-Dyed shirts- as well as required to wear one as part of their summer uniform. Camp counselors must wear 80s basketball shorts or cut-off jeans. Campers may wear cargo shorts or a skort. For those with physical limitations to what they can wear, accommodations will be provided. Here, bonding is the camp runners' priority. They will be pushed into various ice-breaker activities, such as trust falls, two truths and a lie, and Never have I Ever. As the sun goes down, there will be weenies roasting over the bonfire, followed by s’mores and a sing-a-long! With the stars well-visible, it’s off to bed with campers. Each day after will start much the same: with the ringing of the bell and raising of the flag (Aurora, while unfamiliar with flag designs but an understanding of the concept, has chosen a rainbow flag for the camp. Rainbows make people happy, right?), followed by a meal at the Great Hall, morning assembly, activities with counselors, chores, free time, and then an evening winding down by the great fire. An hour after sun down, campers will be escorted back to their cabins for curfew. Camp Counselors are expected to keep track of their campers, and ensure they're all within their cabins for bedtime. This is part of their grade, too! Curfew lifts an hour before the first bell. ⏵ CAMP ACTIVITIES ⏴ As with most summer camps, Camp Etraya offers a wide variety of activities to participate in. While some of these activities may be mandatory, others are optional. We'll be leaving this up to individual player discretion: perhaps Viktor is mandated to report to arts and crafts, whilst it's optional for Silco to show. Silco, on the other hand, may be mandated to report to the archery contest. Characters are encouraged to participate in a minimum of one camp activity per day. Below is a non-exhaustive list of camp activities. Three-Legged Race - You and a partner are tied together at your ankles, and you must race others to the finish line. Those with abilities that would give them an advantage will find that the rope that ties them together hinders those abilities from functioning. Archery - This can be more traditional, magical, or include moving targets! If you're particularly unlucky, your target may even shoot back. Softball - What instills a sense of camaraderie better than a bit of team sports? Games will be held on Wednesdays, the field is otherwise available for practice. Dodge Ball - Standing diametrically opposed to Softball is dodge ball, the bully’s sport. This is a great opportunity to claim dominance or be sent to the Nurse’s Office. Obstacle Course - You are directed into a large maze with multiple obstacles for them to overcome, such as rock climbing walls, ramps, tires, and nets. Capture the Flag - Small teams are put together in order to take the flag from a particular bot, whose entire goal is to avoid being caught. Canoe Race - Canoes are placed into the rivers just off of the camp, and characters must race to the finish line. Chocobo Riding - Learn how to care for and ride these magnificent birds! Newbies will be taken around the corral, whereas more experienced riders can take the trail around the lake. Arts and Crafts - Make friendship bracelets, bead lizards, paint rocks, learn origami! Or perhaps you're tasked with putting together an enchanted necklace. Don't know how to do enchantments? Now is as good of a time as any to learn. Campfire stories - Share scary stories amongst yourselves around the campfire late into the night. If you're particularly unlucky, you may just hear the thing you were just warning others about.. ⏵ NIGHT TIME ⏴ Once campers have been put to bed, the counselors can still stay up. Unwind with hidden beers and the strumming of a guitar. Don’t get too comfortable, though, since without supervision, no one is keeping the campers in bed. After dark, should campers evade their counselors, they can go exploring in the dark. Eerie lights glimmer from the lake. There’s rumors of a headless spectre walking from the archery field to the edge of the forest. Should you behave, you still might hear a scratching at your bunk house window. And on the very last night of camp, there will be a talent show. Show off your hidden talent and bask in the excitement of wowing your fellow campers! ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Welcome to Camp Etraya! Please enjoy the s'mores and campfire songs. :) Camp will last approximately two weeks, going from May 16th to May 30th. For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug watches as Doreen comes down, and his expression isn't sad, for what it's worth. It's a past that he's reflected on over the past couple of years, maybe always knew on some level. Even in a multicultural world like his, people aren't fan of the green guys.

So he nods at her assessment, and thinking about jerks... ]

No one's threatened you here? I heard there was a guy around who hates orcs. I haven't met him-- but, people are, they've kinda been okay with me not looking human.

[ ...

He's looking at her. ]

You look a lot more human than me.

[ And he wonders, does that help...? What's that like? ]

[sodark]

You wouldn't be a problem for me now or when you're drunk.

[Cable points out, matter of factly. That princess carry to bed does not require Hank's consent when you're a big strong guy.]

One. Better enjoy it.

[futuremessiah]

[In typical teen fashion, Hope rolls her eyes at the admonishment.

She then looks at the s'more, then Cable. It doesn't look like anything special. Graham cracker, chocolate, toasted marshmallow...okay? She doesn't see the big deal. Then she takes a bite. Her eyes go wide with excitement.

Around mouthfuls of sugary goodness, she talks.]

This is good. Like ice cream good, but hot and gooey instead of cold. And sweet. So sweet.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Oh. Carver hesitates a moment, then takes them. He chews slowly on the chocolate. ]

You think we're actually making progress here? I mean with the whole game. Representing our worlds instead of just spinning our heels.

[cactusy]

[Oof, tough question. Shaw finishes off her s'more in one bite, then chews slowly, twiddling the now empty stick in her hands.]

I think... that even if we assume this place is what it says it is on the tin, we're never going to be able to answer that question.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Pfft, looking human is overrated. I hid my tail down my pants for twenty years trying to hide who I was, and being authentically myself feels way better.

... and listen, if anyone starts hassling you, you tell me and I'll go and have a conversation with them.

[ NOBODY IS BULLYING GORGUG ON HER WATCH!! ]

[tinflower]

[ They're learning so much about their worlds...! Though, Gorgug isn't sure if he's understanding completely immediately, the imagery helps. Regardless, he wishes he could help to show an image of a centaur, fingers itching with the desire, and Gorgug looks around as he takes an amount of inspiration from Kaeya. ]

Uh, well, we have dragons... there's one or two that go to my school, and, I guess, they just live their normal lives? [ He pauses, his attention focused now on Kaeya, though he points to the iced sculpture of the long-necked bird. ]

That kind of looks like those big birds everywhere now. [ Oh. Wait. He pulls back his pointing finger, a hint of an apologetic tone as: ] That's not the guardian spirit?

[ He wasn't just accidentally rude, was he? ]

[hexcope]

Oh, I know red bull!

[He might be a little addicted to it, actually. With little-to-no hesitation, he reaches his hand into the briefcase and pulls out the six-pack. With eyebrows raised as far as they'll go, he's grinning like crazy.]

That's amazing!!

[hyphanated]

Yes, but... [Ugh, words are hard—] What I mean is, if I took your blood—for example—wouldn't that be causing you pain, too?

[Just as an example! As he quietly glosses over what happened to the rest of An Ze. Not important!]

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug's nodding way more than he really needs to about boulders, but-- ] Didn't we wanna find boulders to punch?

[ Didn't they talk about boulders once? Was that a dream? Or nightmare?

Regardless, Gorgug's walking! ...still with the oversized chocobo spit in his hand. ]

[tinflower]

[ His confusion continues, deepens, and it turns to something lost as he looks at the crafts, his brain attempting to process what's been said. No... report? ]

Then... do we just draw a duck and leave?

[ Is that it?

Is that all they're supposed to do?? ]

[oblige]

[ He is but a medieval man, An Zhe. But he will give this some due consideration. ]

I suppose that would depend on whether I was already bleeding to begin with, or how much blood.

[ That being said, however... ]

If it were to help someone, I do not mind hurting. I am a soldier, after all.

[fourthwalled]

Probably. Usually, I'm at least getting stabbed. Here, I only got a paper cut at the craft table. Maybe it's like... the calm before the storm?

[Shit. He winces, apologetic.] Sorry? I shouldn't have said that. For sure, jinxed it. [They are all going to die in the next one.]

[fourthwalled]

My skills are honed, I'll have you know. I'm a well oiled, coked up machine! [He snaps a balloon with emphasis, and he starts taking a pile over to the water to fill up.

It's not entirely a lie, many people underestimated Wade because he acted like and was an idiot. He's dangerous and a skilled killer and got the job done when he felt like it mattered.]

[copsormasks]

Been lucky?

[Jason's deflecting. Big time.]

[shadowsincryo]

It's not. That's a Saurian. [He points to the regal-looking dragon looming over the tower.] Dvalin is the guardian. Dragons are a bit of a special case for us. It's said they once had a grand civilization long before the cataclysm. But that's just a story. Supposedly.

[He looks at the long necked bird and thinks. Then flicks his fingers. A ice sculpture of a Chocobo in mid-leap.] They do look somewhat alike. They're about the same size too.

[shadowsincryo]

They do. When I have something new that I haven't seen others share, I'll do the same. [He sighs, shaking his head a little.]

So far, we're all hitting the same walls. It's a little irritating. [He smiles, but there's an edge to it. It's a lot irritating and he can't hide that even with his usual smile.] Still, I'd love to have the leverage to ask those wizards what they know. Have we ever returned to somewhere we've been before?

[shadowsincryo]

No. Not unless you say something. Of course, the network is vast. You'll likely only find so much information. It's all happening in real time. [It's fine. It's like walking through a city in his eye.]

[rudelanguage]

[that's...not the worst.

if it's true.

for all the fear Knife has of little voices getting into their head, they sure do struggle with the anxious ones with their assumed own good in mind.

the tones of those voices change, too; it's not like they have a voice of their own.

another soft, dubious grunt escapes Pending's throat as they rub the back of their neck.]

So you...you're fine with that. Playing with that stuff? [doesn't necessarily make it okay for them, but--but. butbut...

augh!!! they can feel their stomach starting to clench up with a spike of dread, and honestly? not the fucking time! in broad fucking unknown daylight? really?

hastily:] Okay.

[and, just as abruptly, they start walking, eyes darting around, posture stiff. nothing here is recognizable as safe, but...trees? maybe? usable. that way.]

[shadowsincryo]

[Frida seems to sense the tension and lifts her head. She coos softly. Kaeya can tell there's something up but he's learned to be careful and patient. That seems to be when Knife says anything.] Consider it like walking around a city. You pick up pieces of conversations. But if you stay and listen, you hear more.

It's odd. But I'm getting used to it. We don't have anything like it at home. Not in Mondstadt.

[rudelanguage]

Okay.

[Like that's a fucking good thing! Change isn't always a good thing - I should fucking know!

but it's not always bad either. but it's never clear when it's good!!!

their latest step hitches, seemingly staggered to stay put but still compelled to move. one scuffed step, then a few hasty more. trees trees trees.

the closer the trees get, the more robots converge and Pending is compelled to halt abruptly once more, agitated, growling in the back of the throat.

This is just another fucking cage!]

[shadowsincryo]

[Knife has to figure this out on his own. Frida however, coos again, she is concerned for them. Kaeya watches, arms crossed. He's seen people get sent back over and over again.] They are being quite aggressive about keeping us here.

But, they can be dodged if you decide to. Up to you.

[rudelanguage]

[it takes a few seconds, but Pending's head turns enough so they can fix a furtive glance back toward him.]

...Not gonna stop me?

What about...your "job"-?

[shadowsincryo]

My job is to protect everyone. If this is what makes you feel safe, who am I to bar you from freedom? [Frida stands up and watches him, but her cooing calls are like a bird calling to a chick. She and Kaeya stay where they are.]

Security is up to us to interpret.

[mysophobic]

[ Jayce, buddy, you don't even know the half of it!!! Shigeru sighs as his shoulders sag even more.

But Jayce stepping closer makes Shigeru twitch, and he replies in kind by moving backwards just a little. ]

Um! W-Well...yes it-it's very new. I. [ Hm, he'll just give a very short version of his disastrous life right now. No sense in telling a complete stranger that he's turned into an eldritch god and has two gods fused into his soul!! ] I-I came into some new powers back home, and I didn't really realize how hard they would be to control! Most of the time, they're just not there?? But I can just conjure them up from dark places, like my shadow or other people's shadows. It's more like my powers are the ability to manipulate darkness and stuff.