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

[sodark]

Do you think people like to eat burnt food?

[He reflects the question back at her, as he often does, trying to challenge her thinking a little.

He sure as fuck isn't here to sing, but he will at a minimum, skewer a marshmallow for her. It's also not what he thinks they should be doing, but he's not such a dick that he's going to shit on everyone having a peaceful time.]

Hold it over the coals, not the flames. Sugar burns fast. You want it to melt a little-- don't obliterate it.

[He nags, but he hands the stick to her.]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ That's a thought. Carver mulls it over, considering what he knows of the world. Of different communities. ]

Guess we wouldn't be as fun if we lost our minds and got depressed.

cw: death of a child

[fortitudosalutis]

I doubt it, [ he agrees, though not without some quiet regret. Neither of them are the domestic type. He doesn't know Shadowheart's story or why she does the things she does, but he knows enough to recognize the familiar. She's a fighter. Whatever made her that way won't leave easily.

Even so, he liked having a child. He never will again.

He's quiet for a moment. Then: ]

I had family. My team, they were mine. My brothers and sisters.

[rudelanguage]

[by contrast, Antigone's eyes fix anywhere but Shadow.]

Attacked from jump. She got maybe three words in, disappeared. That's...kind of it.

[rudelanguage]

['touchy' is pretty damn apt; every interaction is a potential threat or betrayal as far as Knife's concerned.

speaking of betrayal: more fucking bird charming. Pending takes a wide step away from the bird, growling under their breath. no fucking respite from the animals in this place!]

It should be. Names are important.

wildcard

[ornithologist]

[ Harold is dressed ridiculously in tie-dye shirt and cargo shorts, much to his own disgruntlement, though at least he's managed to make the shirt more artistic than most. After he'd gone through his own bought of paranoid shyness in needing to get changed -- John to his rescue once again -- his brain had started to kick over and consider other things.

High on his mental list of priorities was making sure Carver wasn't holed up somewhere a hair trigger away from knifing anyone who came too close. Harold remembers Shaw reporting how badly he'd done on the train mission, and the veneer of wholesome normalcy might actually make things worse here, he's not sure. It might feel fake to Carver, where a hostile classist train society at least fits his worldview of threats around every corner.

So he seeks him out, perhaps catches him just as he's leaving his assigned cabin in disgust. Harold hurries, limping awkwardly at higher speed to catch up with him. ]

Mr. Carver. I was just coming to see you.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver, who has never gone to summer camp before in his life, is indeed leaving the cabin in disgust. He's been to training in the summer, which had barracks not dissimilar to these cabins, but there were clear rules and expectations. Nobody had to smile and make crafts.

Even so, he slows his stride so Harold won't be struggling to keep up. ]

You need something?

[ He's wound tight, Carver knows, tension coiling round and round his spine. Living in his shoulders. ]

[ornithologist]

[ Harold's not the best at reading people, but even he can see that tension. He decides on the spot to make this a favor to him rather than a favor he's doing for Carver. ]

Yes. I was hoping to locate a standalone structure we could secure as a private retreat. A safehouse, if you will. There must be a shed around here somewhere no one would mind us taking over.

[ Giving out jobs has always worked for him in the past with dangerous people at their wit's end; why change his strategy now? ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ That stills him. It always helps to have a job. Something concrete that needs to be done, that demands his focus.

Carver scrubs a hand through his hair, missing his gloves. Missing his goddamn gun. He's got a few knives tucked away, on the assumption that those are harder to spot from a distance and get him in trouble. ]

I'll find one. You need it trapped?

[ornithologist]

Oh, I don't know if that will be necessary. It is just summer camp.

[ He reads further into Carver's stress levels from the tell of him running a hand through his hair, and decides it's an opportune time to reveal some of his own capabilities. ]

I wasn't idle while you were all in Aphaia; I've actually come prepared this time. [ Harold has his usual messenger bag with him, innocuous and full of electronics. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver tilts his head. He almost argues the point that anything could happen and it's not actually paranoia if people are out there trying to kill you. Which has happened on previous missions. Harold's not stupid, though; Harold knows that. ]

What've you got?

[ornithologist]

Let's find a suitable location and I'll show you.

[ Harold isn't stupid and he is highly paranoid, he's just also extremely averse to harming anyone unless absolutely necessary. The whole idea of potentially lethal traps in a scenario like this alarms him. Actual literal children are wandering around.

He also vastly prefers to show rather than tell about his skill set. It's easier if other people draw their own conclusions. He can't explain out loud without either lying or admitting how much he could really do if he wanted, both things he dislikes. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver narrows his eyes slightly, then jerks his head toward the tree line. They'll circle around. Find something workable. ]

This way.

[decodex]

( so no one's dead, which is good, but eddie's smile is still on the sad side. one of venom's tendrils fluffs dylan's hair. )

We miss you too, man.

...But, I dunno, I guess we figured you might like this. You know, being around other kids. It's not normal, but it's kinda close.

( it's not fighting people in gladiator rings, or solving mysteries on a train from hell, or being tasked with saving the universe from aliens. )

[decodex]

Clearly.

( please, for the love of god, lighten up. he's begging carver to drink a smoothie and be less intimidating for five seconds. )

Just, you know... going for a stroll. Stretching my legs. You the camp cop or something?

[knightowl]

[ Very. But Bruce isn't going to mention that of course. ]

Somewhat. He was a professor at my son's university.

[ornithologist]

[ They find a rarely-used shed of old canoes that Harold judges good enough. It's off by itself, has clear line of sight in most directions, set back a distance from the lake. He unwinds the bag from over his shoulder and sets it down, glancing over at Carver. ]

How comfortable are you with electronics?

[ He can do this all himself if he needs to, but he doesn't mind a second pair of hands. He'd gotten used to it, truthfully, with Root. ]

[decodex]

( when eddie drops by, he's got two chickens suspended in the air by venom's tendrils, which he sets on the table. bonnie and clyde would be very upset had they missed laura's birthday. venom's made them little birthday hats out of construction paper, and they are here to party.

eddie is also wearing a construction paper birthday hat, which he'd be much more indignant about had this not been a party for an actual child. )

Hey, this looks great, Laura.

( please don't look so worried, birthday girl!! the chickens immediately flock [haha] to her, recognizing a friend when they see one. )

[decodex]

( this guy seems like a bit of a chatterbox, which eddie doesn't object to. now that his unmentionables are properly hidden from view, eddie's able to focus more on what this person with the scars is saying. )

Friendship bracelets? People still make those?

( and sensing there's actual sadness coming from his fellow counselor: )

I mean... we could make some bracelets with you, if you want?

[godsandbats]

Psychology I presume? He seems quite intelligent. It’s been amicable with him so far.

[Also interesting the doctor doesn’t sound like a fan of bats]

[knightowl]

I believe so.

[ Bruce glances at Kirk, but doesn't say anything else. He must not have a Scarecrow in his world. Bruce doesn't feel obligated to warn him just yet. ]

[godsandbats]

[Kirk sees that glance but keeps his expression neutral. Again, he senses there's more to these alternate Gothams than he knows so far]

Would you happen to be related to a Damian Wayne?

[knightowl]

Not before I came here.

[ The answer sounds light, as if he doesn't take it particularly seriously. He doesn't joke, but this is about close as he gets to it. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver snorts. Ew. ]

You’re in my space. I don’t give a fuck if you want to do arts and crafts. What’re you doing here?

[godsandbats]

The multiverse does seem to have a way of complicating family trees.

[For all Kirk knows, Bruce could be telling the truth. The multiverse has a way of complicating a lot of things]

Unfortunately, he was the one who tried to attack my friend. He was in an unusual costume too.

[Kirk is aware he's in an unusual outfit too but it's the middle of the night and most people seem to be asleep. It's as good of a time as any to talk about something more sensitive]