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

[bubblegumheart]

[In terms of stall tactics, watching the last log in the fire pit being slowly consumed is probably one of the more peaceful options.]

Not really. Cid's probably around here somewhere, but I don't think you need a babysitter.

[She also has her hands full with the campers she's been assigned to.]

[copsormasks]

[Better than taking the archery range for some late night practice.]

What about a friend?

[Jason looks up at Chrissy, a measure of uncertainty in his face.]

[bubblegumheart]

I think... anyone who's actually paying attention can see that that's what you need.

[Chrissy just happens to be better at paying attention than most people give her credit for. When he looks up, she gives him a soft, encouraging smile.]

[copsormasks]

[Jason frowns at first before nodding, clenching his jaw as he looks into the fire. Molly was maybe his last friend and he shooed her away like everyone else.]

It'd be nice. [Maybe someone determined to stick around someone who can survive Jason's anger.]

[bubblegumheart]

Some people just aren't very good at that, but it doesn't mean they don't care.

[And some people just won't ever care enough to try. She's kind of hoping the people he knows fall into the former camp, but there's really no way to tell.]

I made you something.

[copsormasks]

Yeah, same actually.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an expertly knotted leather bracelet. He holds it out for her in the flat of his palm.]

I know you can't really see it in the dark. Sorry.

[bubblegumheart]

That's really nice of you. Thank you.

[As it turns out, supervising the arts and crafts involves a lot more doing nothing than she'd anticipated, and so she'd taken advantage of that to make a handful of bracelets for people, hoping to surprise them. Instead of taking the offered bracelet right away, she unwinds one from around her wrist and swaps it out for the one in his hand.]

That's okay. I can see it later.

[copsormasks]

[Jason looks down at the bracelet in his hand. He smiles slowly as his fingers trace the color patterns. This is the first gift he's been given in a very, very long time.]

I... thanks. Really.

[He ties it around his wrist and his face scrunches up as he tries to hide how much the gesture means to him.]

[bubblegumheart]

You're welcome. Really.

[Mostly, she'd just been hoping that he wouldn't think it was lame. And she certainly hadn't been expecting him to make her something in return. As far as Chrissy is concerned, this has worked out so much better than she could have anticipated. So she puts her bracelet on and runs her thumb over one of the knots.]

Wanna go for a walk?

[copsormasks]

[It takes Jason a moment to swallow down his emotions, but finally he nods.]

Yeah, yeah let's go on a walk.

[bubblegumheart]

Great!

[Maybe it's not the best idea to go this close to curfew, but honestly. Chrissy had spent her entire life doing what she was told, and in the end it hadn't mattered at all.

She stands, and it's her turn to reach for the bucket. If he doesn't stop her, she'll douse the fire and set the bucket back down.]

We probably shouldn't stay out too long, but I'm going to be up for a while either way.

[copsormasks]

[Jason pockets his hands as he gets up, watching as she douses the fire.]

Me too. [He's still having nightmares and is not about to start explaining them to bunkmates of anything. He wonders if she does too.]

Is it 'cause of what happened to you?

[bubblegumheart]

Well, I've been staying up until everyone in my cabin is in bed because there's an old guy with a dog that likes to sneak out.

[Somehow, that's still the most surprising thing about this place. He's not too far off the mark, though.]

Kind of. I was having trouble sleeping at home and it hasn't really gotten any easier since then.

[copsormasks]

Bruce. [Jason rolls his eyes. Of course the old man is also sneaking out.]

Yeah, same. [Jason nods as he looks back to the doused fire pit.] Not getting a whole lot of sleep.

[bubblegumheart]

I suppose if I was my grandpa's age, I wouldn't want to deal with the camp beds either.

[Is she making assumptions about Bruce solely based on behavior? Absolutely.]

I'm sorry. Did something happen?

[copsormasks]

Guess not. [It makes some sense, he supposes. If he were to give any Bruce the benefit of the doubt.

Which he is loathe to do.

Jason keeps his gaze focused on the ground and tries to determine if he can trust Chrissy.]

You could say that.

[bubblegumheart]

The apartment beds are a lot nicer. [None of them are as nice as the bed she'd had at home, but she hadn't been sleeping much there, either, so it obviously doesn't matter.]

Do you think talking about it would help?

[copsormasks]

[Jason doesn't stick around long enough at a single apartment to really care about the comfiness of their beds.]

Already tried that and it just made shit worse.

[bubblegumheart]

Well... I don't want to make things worse.

[There's no guarantee that talking would help at all. Talking to Ms. Kelley had worked out well enough for her, considering that she was never completely honest about what was going on.]

[copsormasks]

[Jason pauses in his walk, biting the inside of his cheek as he considers Chrissy, the level of trust they built, and what he's comfortable admitting.]

I fell. I fell a really long way. Thought I was going to die.

[bubblegumheart]

Oh. That's horrible. It feels kind of dumb to ask if you're okay... but are you?

[Unlikely as it is, she's hoping so. He doesn't look like someone that fell a really long way, but she has no way of knowing how long ago it happened or how bad off he was- and she likes to think she knows enough about him by this point to realize that he's not very good at admitting weakness, real or otherwise.]

I'm glad you didn't die.

[copsormasks]

[Jason sighs.] Honestly? I don't know. Been having nightmares. Keeping seeing it windows.

[He did survive the fall, with the help of Conner, but the fallout was still playing out.]

Yeah? I don't know. Maybe I was supposed to. My life has been one shitfest after another since.

[bubblegumheart]

It's kind of the same for me. I was having nightmares before it happened, but it feels like they've gotten worse recently.

[It's just incredibly unfair that the nightmares are the easiest to remember.]

Yea. I used to believe that everything happened for a reason. [Dying has way of shifting one's perspective, though. Or at least it had for her.] Maybe you survived because you're supposed to be here.

[Or maybe he just got lucky. Chrissy is inclined to believe the former, but she's not exactly unbiased.]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Has it been any better since you got here?

[copsormasks]

[This is a bit deeper of a conversation than Jason is used to. He exhales thickly and shakes his head.] Not really. 's why I came out here. Don't want my bunkmates hearing me.

[He blows out a breath again and looks over at her.] Thanks for talking with me, by the way. I don't really do this with anyone else.

[bubblegumheart]

[It is a bit surprising. She's been away from Hawkins for almost two years now, and there's no need to keep up appearances here, but this is still more direct honesty than she's given anyone else.] Oh. Do you think they'd give you a hard time about it?

[She hopes not.] You don't have to thank me, you know. I like talking to you.