etrayalogs | MISSION 009

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MISSION 009

⏵ 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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He comtemplates for a moment whether to answer or just ignore her. Then again, there isn't much to say.]

I just can. [It was one of the first things he learned he could do when he woke up on Earth, much to the panic of all the humans in the room at the time. Much like everything else about himself, it was a mystery how he could. All he knows is that it just comes to him naturally like breathing air. The scientists can only connect it to chaos energy and that doesn't really tell him the how.

His gaze falls. Thinking about himself always puts him in a sour mood. Cause there's so little he knows about himself, other than he came from somewhere up there. Shaking his head, he looks back up at the stars. He doesn't want to be thinking about this right now.]

[ After a short pause: ]

...Oh, okay.

[ She's a curious girl, who would ask more questions when possible. It doesn't sound like he knows much else though. How some things work remains a mystery. The Cage was a bit like that... and she would accept its strangeness with stride. Even her own existence can be confusing and she doesn't know if she fully understands it.

Her eyes follow his gaze towards the night sky, wondering what's on his mind. Troubling thoughts, probably. Or maybe he's curious about what's beyond the sky. It's interesting to think about. Only until she arrived in Etraya did she learn of "outer space", despite having awareness of the moon, sun, and stars. While they aren't on Earth, there's similarities. Like Etraya having its own moon and sun.

In awkward silence, Fio continues standing next to the tree, in debate whether she should watch him from the ground.

Stepping away, she moves to a different tree right next to his. With a hop, she grabs onto the lowest tree branch, dangling and wriggling her legs. She falls back to the ground with a thud. After a tumble, she pops right back up. Again, she jumps at the branch. Her physical strength is lacking, but she'll stubbornly go at it until she can finally pull herself up... ]

[He would have continued to ignore her, if it were for the sudden thud he heard. His ear twitch to the sound. A tree creaking and the leaves shaking as she tries to get onto it again. He sighs, turning his head to watch her.]

Do you really have to get into a tree? [If anything, his plan to stay in a tree is proving effective. She struggles just to climb up and get onto a lower branch that's more accessible to her.]

[ There's another failed attempt that sends her clumsily tumbling back into the grass. ]

Um... yes! [ Sitting up, she huffs and puffs, having quickly exhausted herself. Leaves, grass, and dirt stain her clothing from all the failed tries. Despite all the struggle, she puts on a smile. ] 'Cause I wanna sit across from you and I'll get to be closer to the moon.

[What if he doesn't want you to be sitting across from him?? A huff. Getting up from his comfortable spot, he looks to the tree she's trying to get into. He hops over to it, coming down slightly so he's closer to her.

If she tries again, she'll find his hand extended to her to help her get up and onto the branch.]

[ Too bad for him because she refuses to stop until she can sit on that branch. So of course she's trying again. She's not one to quit easily. What would likely make stop her relentless efforts is when her legs can no longer function or if Shadow decides to disappear somewhere else too far for her to reach like last time.

Standing, Fio brushes some grassy residue off her clothing and charges at the tree once again with a running start. ]

...Dusky? [ As she uses her foot to push herself off the trunk, she catches sight of his hand and reaches to grab it. This is probably just for this moment, isn't it? Well, she won't mind if he decides to retreat back to the comfort of his own tree afterward. ]

[He takes hold of her hand, pulling slightly as she climbs to keep her from falling again. His grip is gentle but firm. Too many things are frail under his strength, remembering he had to learn that control around the scientists. This human child is no different.

Once she's gotten onto that one branch that she had sought after, he'll let go when he's sure she isn't going to stumble. And as she suspected, he isn't going to stay in the same tree with her. In fact, it doesn't look he's going back to his tree. Staying on the ground, he's walking back towards the clearing. After a glance to be sure he's still in her view, he proceeds to lay on his back in the grass, what he initially wanted to do to watch the stars.]

[ The helpful gesture surprises her, since she had been politely trying to give him some space. (And yet, she continues to remain nearby enough that it irritates him.) It's surprisingly gentle and perhaps a little unexpected of someone who shows so much anger and frustration on his face. In the short moment they're both up in the tree, she gives the hedgehog a small smile as a silent thanks.

But of course, he doesn't stay, which is expected. From up in the branches, she can still see him and be allowed to continue her serious counselor duties by monitoring him.

...

...

For only about a minute or so, he'll be left to stargaze in peace and quiet. In the silence of the night, the sound of a body ungracefully landing upon the ground is difficult to ignore. After all that effort to climb onto a single branch... Fio continues to follow. She isn't exhausted enough to stop moving, so it's fine. She had jumped back down, barely landing on her feet. Shadow won't have to sit up to see her coming, because her little feet noisily march through the clearing.

Though she has been trying to keep a few feet gap between them previously, she moves even closer to shrink that distance. Fio suddenly flops down in the grass right next to him. ]

[He thought for a moment, there was nothing more that needed to be done. She got into her tree, he gets to lay in the grass. Look at the stars in peace.

...

But then came the approaching footsteps, ears turning to the sound as he closes his eyes and lets out a long tired sigh. The grass rustles as he scoots himself away once she's laying down as well. Can she just take a hint, ugh.]

What happened to being closer to the moon?

[ She remains laying on her back, stifling a giggle. Turning her head, she watches as he scoots away. Only watching for now instead of trying to scoot after him. She might decide to just pop back up again if he moves too far... ]

I got to be closer to the moon. Thank you, Dusky. And now I'm back down here.

[Why is she thanking him? He shakes his head, tired of her games. His eyes turn upwards, ignoring her. To the best of his abilities anyway. It's unfortunate he can't fully relax and look at the stars while knowing someone is there with him. Someone that isn't her.

It was one of those rare moments when he could away from the cold confines of the base, be outside. Even when knowing it was forbidden for him to leave. Having Maria there, it felt like the rules didn't matter. He could be wherever she was. Except...when he no longer could. His expression turns pensive, thinking of all the things they talked about. Where stars come from, the vastness of the universe, who he is. What he could be, and where they could go on Earth. Things he didn't really put much thought, when he didn't know if he'd ever leave that base.

And now this is his present, left on his own to navigate the world out, practically a whole other universe. Still questioning himself once more. He look to the stars in hopes to find answers. Although, these aren't the same ones from home. Just strangers to him like everyone else.]

[ Shifting around to lay on her back, her eyes turn upward towards the night sky. While Shadow looks at the stars, Fio can't resist fixing her gaze on the moon. While not her moon, not the same one that houses the server and the myriad of humanity's memories and possibilities within, its appearance is a reminder of where she came from and of the precious friend that saved her. Her first friend and the one she chose to leave behind to go to Earth.

...She didn't get a chance to see much of it before being summoned by Echo, but she knows her Earth's present is different from the time period she's familiar with. She wonders if the stars even look the same in the sky with how the Earth currently is. ...Actually, does the sun set anymore so that she would still be able to see them, like now? She never had the chance to pause and think about that. What else is even left there? ]

...

[ The playful grin Fio's been wearing falls, fading into a thoughtful, longing gaze. No reason to expend so much effort to smile while Shadow has his attention on the stars anyway. To distract herself from her own sadness, she wonders what he's thinking about, but she remains quiet. For once, it doesn't sound like she's going to disrupt his peace, give him longer time to his own thoughts. The silence stretches out for a long while. ]

[It's not hard to miss how quiet his unwanted companion is. Used to her talking so often that it was strange not to hear any lip from her during the long span of time spent looking up at the sky. She may as well not be there while he's lost in his thoughts. The silence will continue to stretch. These moments becoming more precious the longer he's in this place. Nothing is spoken, nothing needs to be. Did Fio understood that?

Eventually, there will be movement from Shadow as he sits back up. His eyes are distant, closing them for a moment. When he opens them again, he'll glance in Fio's direction. Normally he'd start to make his trip back to the campsite now, but someone had to follow him tonight.]

[ Though Fio is definitely a chatterbox, sitting in silence in the cold air of the night just to think is a position she's been in numerous times. On more difficult days when she couldn't stand being in her own house. Nowadays in Etraya, she usually retreats to the comfort of her apartment. The bed is nice... she's never had a nice cozy bed before. In this case, it's a cabin. Maybe she should consider sitting underneath the night sky more often, to make sure her memory of the moon and stars remain fresh in her mind.

At some point throughout the quiet, she has closed her eyes, with hands clasped together over her chest. She's spent too much time mulling over concerns about the Earth she can't reach and now she just wants to lay quietly, with a clear mind. Only resting her eyes, in a moment that would have been a good time for the hedgehog to just up and vanish. She's not asleep, even though this is the hour that a child should be sleeping. She takes her counselor duties seriously. Or tries to.

The movement in the grass nearby is the signal for her to open her eyes. And she pushes herself up to sit, giving him a gentle smile. ]

...Ready to go back?

[If the opportunity was there for him to leave, he will choose to stay. Not because he wanted to, but because it felt necessary. That frown of his stays on his face, even when she smiles at him. Troublesome child that shouldn't have been given the role of counselor. Smiling at people or threats isn't going to always work.

...At least she didn't say anything while he looked at the stars, letting his mind wander.

Letting out a sigh, he shifts to stand. He faces in the direction where the campsite was and--...wait. He blinks, head turning to see lake instead. Was he seeing things? He thought there was something strange floating above the lake for a moment.]

[ Does she look like the kind of person to treat him with hostility? Of course she's going to smile. She continues to be friendly until it runs her completely ragged, to the point where she's far too broken that she can't do it anymore. Kindness doesn't always work and yet she continues to try.

She pushes herself up to stand, dusting off her clothing. While stargazing had been in complete silence, it may have only been for that moment. How can she not be curious about what's on his mind? Lucky for him, Shadow might be temporarily spared from an attempt to strike a conversation on that matter. She notices his gaze, realizing he's looking at something that isn't in the direction of the camp. The lake? ]

Did you see something?

[...He wants to go down and investigate, but seeing Fio is still with him. He doesn't know what they'd find down there, if anything.]

Are you not tired? [He can keep going all night, but Fio is not built the same way. Who knows how much time has already passed while they've been stargazing.]

[ Tired that she probably could have drifted off to sleep if she kept laying in the grass a few minutes longer. Not tired enough that she's unable to keep moving. Children her age really should have be in bed much earlier instead of going along with counselor duties. But as if Fio would let him go investigate on his own. ]

...I'm not tired yet. [ She frowns. ] You wanna check the lake, don't you?

[He does, but not at the expense of someone else potentially getting unnecessarily hurt.]

...We're going back. [And to demonstrate he means it, he's turning his back to the lake, and heading in the direction back towards the campsite. There will be other nights he can sneak out to visit the lake. Fio can't catch him every time.]

...Huh? Um... okay then.

[ It seems like he's not interested in whatever's over there after all, which is a relief. Towards the direction of the lake, Fio tilts her head curiously, giving it one last look before turning back around.

She trails along behind him for a moment, almost like before. Then she picks up the pace, closing the distance until she falls into step beside him. ]

Which one's your cabin?

[Late night trips to the lake is not for good boys and girls.]

It's near the entrance to the campsite, one of them. [He's lying. She probably wants to know so she can keep tabs on him. His assign cabin is further back, a good enough distance that they'll avoid each other easily if she listens to him.]

...I see.

[ Of course, she believes him. Figures he would give a vague answer. As a counselor, she believes she's accompanying him back to his cabin, since he's the camper. Which is why she asked in the first place. She should be easily avoidable for someone as powerful as Shadow that it's probably not necessary to lie to her...

...

...Just a bit of walking along in silence before she speaks again. ]

Can we head to my cabin first? There's something I made that I wanna show you. [ A gift. (No, it's not a rock... sorry.) Though reluctant, she forces on a smile regardless, even though she's bracing for the possibility of rejection. ] I'm with the Giraffes. It's close to the shower house.

[He stops, looking to her. His expression a cross between "what now?" annoyed and confusion. Giraffes. Noted on her location. After a moment's consideration, he turns and continues back into the campsite. Rather than return to his cabin though, he stops once more. He looks to her, waiting expectantly. She can take lead.]

[ As usual, his visible annoyance is met with Fio's polite smile. The cabin for the Giraffes is further beyond where he indicated his cabin supposedly is. This means there's some additional walking time, which also means there's some time for Fio to strike up a conversation before they actually get there.

It doesn't take long for her to understand that she needs to take the lead and she does, walking a few paces ahead. There is a bit of silence before she starts talking again to fill the silence: ]

So did the stars look like the ones back home? The moon looks a little like Earth's moon, I think? [ Maybe there's differences, but she's unable to observe too closely to figure that out. A beat, realizing not everyone may know what "Earth" is. ] ...Have you heard of Earth, Dusky?

[Would have been nice if they just kept walking in silence until they went their separate ways, but we unfortunately can't always have what we want.]

...I know of an Earth. [There's some bitterness in his voice. The world meant to be his home, but it never felt like one to him.] It's not the same. [The stars are not the same ones he knows. They are placed differently in the sky, so he wouldn't be able to use them to navigate until he had a star map or more information about them. The moon, well, until recently when his moon got sliced, they would have been the similiar enough.]

MISSION 009

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it took them 20+ replies to finally stargaze 👍

Sounds about right

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