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

[godsandbats]

[Now it was Kirk’s turn to ask questions about what his alternate self is like. Damian recognized him because some version of Kirk Langstrom exists in the kid’s world. But Kirk doesn’t know if that was a positive or negative recognition since it was in the middle of Damian demonstrating how Kryptonite affects Hernan.

But here in the middle of the night in a seemingly calmer environment, it seems like a better time to ask questions. So far he and Bruce are being civil with each other and Ace is just silently guarding and watching]

How and why so? What was his specialty?

[knightowl]

[ Bruce takes a moment to answer, while he decides how much to give up. What a civilian would reasonably know. ]

Forgive me, my memory's a little fuzzy. Let's see, he was into genetics. DNA splicing, I think.

[godsandbats]

[There’s a pause as Kirk considers the implications of that. He imagines how the work could be considered fraught and dubious]

Splicing DNA in what way?

[knightowl]

There used to be a flying bat creature in Gotham. I always assumed it was Dr. Langstrom, since I remember his work favored bats. But I never knew for sure. He never spoke about his work in detail with me.

[ He glances at Kirk to gauge his reaction. ]

[godsandbats]

[Ah… Manipulating the human body by mixing in bat traits. Kirk is quiet as he takes in the information. He’s not sure what he was expecting when he asked about the other Dr. Langstrom but it wasn’t that.

Kirk suppose it was fitting that another version of him would still be deeply linked to bats. Even more so that it would be like a curse too. It seems this Dr. Langstrom’s transformation was more overtly monstrous than the vampiric one.

Kirk masks his discomfort and disappointment with a neutral expression and monotone]

I see. My deep dive into chiropterology directed me in a different way.

Was he able to change back into human?

[knightowl]

[ Despite Kirk's neutrality, Bruce imagines he must be having some kind of emotional reaction to this. It must be disquieting to hear a near total stranger describe the fate of another version of yourself. He certainly felt something like it listening to Kirk describe the Bruce Wayne he knew as an airhead. ]

I'm afraid I lost touch with Dr. Langstrom. I don't know.

[ He lies. Like a liar. ]

[godsandbats]

[There’s something about the elderly man that makes Kirk suspect he knows more than he lets on. So many Gothamites in Etraya seem connected to each other in some way or another, particularly through vigilantism. This Bruce Wayne wouldn’t be much different as far as Kirk knows.

But Kirk treads carefully for now. He’d rather remain civil as they share information]

I see. He must’ve made quite the impression on Gotham.

[And maybe like him, seen as just a monster]

[knightowl]

[ Whatever Bruce may or may not know he keeps to himself now. He thinks he's got a pretty good understanding of Kirk. Much like the man he knew, his fascination with bats led to a series of unfortunate events. Kirk's transformation just seems less drastic. At least in appearance. And the why of it all still eludes him.

He won't push it for now. ]

He did, yes. But I guess you could say that about a lot of people in Gotham.

[godsandbats]

Gotham seems to attract colorful characters.

[For better or for worse]

I've met a few others from some version of Gotham as well.

[knightowl]

Have you? How interesting. What were they like?

[ He sounds sincere, but he's already trying to figure out how hostile they were to Kirk. And if Damian's involved? Very hostile. ]

[godsandbats]

[At that question, very slightly furrows his brow underneath his helmet]

Unfortunately, aggressive. The other Batman called me a copycat. And a kid threatened someone from my world with a knife.

[knightowl]

[ Bruce spares Kirk only a brief glance. ]

That sounds dreadful. I hope your friend wasn't hurt.

[ Probably that unhinged Superman on the network and if Damian's attacked him, he must have had a good reason. ]

[godsandbats]

No permanent damage but it's made me wary of most other Gothamites here.

[Though at least this conversation has been civil so far]

Are you familiar with a Dr. Crane?

[knightowl]

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

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

[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. ]

[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]

[knightowl]

[ Bruce doesn't react. ]

That's too bad. Damian seemed like such an...interesting young man.

[ he's not going to say polite. Not even Bruce could keep a straight face with that lie. ]

[godsandbats]

[Kirk noticed that hesitation and phrasing. He nods]

Well trained and unusually experienced for someone his age.

[knightowl]

[ Kirk is obviously alluding to something and that finally gets Bruce to stop. They're near the fire anyway and eases himself down onto one of the logs. ]

What are you implying, Dr. Langstrom?

[godsandbats]

[Calmly and still keeping his body language neutral]

By my world's standards, it seems very unusual for there to be a child involved in vigilantism. But we both agree, Gotham has a way of attracting unique characters.

[knightowl]

[ Bruce reaches a hand out and pets Ace's head. ]

I agree. A child has no place being involved in that life.

[ Even though there's no change in his voice, it's a regret he feels deeply. ]

[godsandbats]

[Over the last few months, Kirk had been quietly filing away information and trying to put pieces together. It was in case they became relevant later on. Plus, there was just an inane curiosity Kirk had to these other Gothamites. What did he and they have in common? What were all the connections?

Something about this particular conversation is making the picture clearer]

Dangerous work, an alarming lack of caution, and excessive confidence. The moniker seems unusual too.