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

...Dusky...

[ sounds almost unbelievable as he resigns to having no feelings about the name presented to him. shadow fails to hear the fluffier part because he's rotating in his head how the other has found himself in this predicament.

what a fool, he couldn't even avoid a simple nickname. however, in shadow's case, he didn't really care, he's been called millions of things so this is just another name added to the pile on top when he hears "darkie". ]

No. I don't see.

[ it's a rock.

what's he supposed to do with it, he's even using his index finger to flip it over on the back to give a good look at both sides. ]

Give it to the other one, he'd want the silent company.

[ this is not a joke. ]

[ Flipping the rock over will just reveal the lovingly painted single red streak on the back. If this were the other Shadow, it would have been two streaks of red paint to indicate more quills (and fluffiness)!

Pouting, Fio thinks he's just being a grumpy hedgehog that's pretending he just doesn't know. How does the Ultimate Lifeform not see his face? Her hand remains outstretched, refusing to put away the gift until he takes it. Of course she also has "Dusky" in mind when it comes to gift giving, but this rock... it is a carefully painted rock with this Shadow in mind. ]

I can't give this to Dusky... I know he doesn't like being mistaken for you. I know you two aren't the same.

[ dusky.

it sounds so stupid, so... childish. ]

...

[ she's smart, even knowing that there's two, but it's not like the other hedgehog doesn't throw a tantrum when compared. shadow does as well, only because he finds the other incompetent in certain actions. though, he is stronger in situations like this, relationships with others is where shadow fails. ]

Then you have confused our interests.

[ that is something the other would like. ]

[ Darkie and Dusky. She's very proud of herself coming up with that second nickname. The two names sound good together too! But she doubts any of the two would like to hear that. ]

I already made something for him too. Just... nothing like this.

[ Not a rock with a face painted on it, unfortunately. Something different because they are different. However, she's not sure if "Dusky" will allow her to get close enough to actually hand over anything. Frowning with disappointment, Fio slowly brings the gift close to her chest, seeming to have accepted defeat. For now. Painting on a second stripe shouldn't take long, but it really was intended for this Shadow.

...You gotta tell me what kind of things you like.

[ and if he said he didn't like anything, would she see that coming. he watches as she brings the rock to her chest, why are her responses always as though she cares what he thinks. it's like she's sensitive, affected by what shadow says, and it's why he holds out his hand with a frown. ]

...

[ as much as he doesn't want it, he'll give the rock a proper look at least. make it worth his time since she has went out of her way to bring it to him. ]

I cannot.

[ there's something holding him back, perhaps his lifestyle, or maybe because of who he is. it's a sort of weakness but also, he's nothing but trouble when it comes to it. ]

You shouldn't concern yourself about things like that when it comes to me.

Why can't you? Is it 'cause you're not sure what your favorite things are yet?

[ Besides little painted rocks, there's other things that she can try making! Would he have preferred some of her dried flowers? She wants to figure out what sort of gift would get him to genuinely feel joy. If Shadow told her that he didn't like anything, of course it would be expected. Yet, she would continue to believe that it's a mystery that requires solving, in the same way that she's trying to figure out why he keeps rejecting the power of friendship.

At he extends his hand, she visibly lights up, a faint hopeful smile returning to her face. She's grown strangely fond of the hedgehog, so of course she cares what he thinks. ]

It's okay. I like giving gifts to the people that I like!

[ Like friends. The rock is placed in his hand, on the side with the painted face staring right back at him... ]

[ as soon as the rock is placed in his hand, the hedgehog looks it over instead of placing his attention on her. does it have his likeness? no. it's too cartoonish, he doesn't think he has a playful face like this at all. it's staring back at him though, a familiar grumpy expression that he's never seen in his life, and even the look in its eyes... yeah, he doesn't do that. ]

This world isn't capable of offering what I enjoy.

[ the way he says it sounds true. besides, isn't everything here an incentive to make them save their own world? if he wants something he likes then he'll find it back home, but here, there's nothing that could amount to that.

nothing. ]

Don't waste your time on me again.

[ because there's so much more for her to do than make little trinkets like this for him, but it's not like he's given it back yet. ]

Who has been watching over you as you played counselor?

[ maybe he should give it back, this thing can keep... watch over her. ]

[ Is it because his favorite things are back in his home world? That just makes her think she needs to keep working hard on missions to protect their worlds, so that Shadow has a place to go back to with all the things that he enjoys. ]

Making something for someone you care about isn't a waste of time.

[ She tucks her arms behind her back. This is just a normal posture for her when she doesn't know what else to do with her hands while standing around for a long period of time... it might appear like she's trying to avoid taking back the gift... she really would like for Shadow to keep it. ]

...Hm? Others watched me when I was learning new things. Blazey, Scott, Wade...

[ To name a few people. There's more. It was mostly during activities. ]

[ he's still holding this rock, don't worry, it remains in his palm as he looks to her and back to it, then back to her and back to...

with a sigh, the hedgehog should meet her gift with something. anything really that holds the same weight (ha!) as this thing that he has. hasn't he given her enough, too much and he'll start leaving an impression on the girl. he's already done that, but he tries not to think too hard about it. ]

Then who will watch you now if you give me this?

[ he's referring to the rock version of him, it appears that it did a good job sitting around and keeping her safe. especially with how much care she put into making it... did she make this here? with people around?

...

please don't tell him people saw her make this. ]

[ Fio really isn't expecting anything in return and she would feel content enough if he simply keeps the gift. In a way, the little rock really did do a good job in keeping her out of trouble by being the subject of her attention. Hours spent painting rocks and doing other crafts have managed to keep her in a single area for a long period of time.

It's possible others have seen her working on it. Or he can hope that others were too busy with their own projects to even notice. The arts and crafts area is a pretty popular spot! ]

Watch... me? [ That sounds like a joke, even if Shadow doesn't look like the type to be telling jokes. But she also recalls being told how she shouldn't be going off to places alone. ] Are you worried about me, Darkie? If I'm ever in really big trouble, I've got the earpiece that Miss Aurora gave me. I know how to use it.

[ ...She hardly uses it, but she knows how it works for the most part in case of an emergency. ]

[ he doesn't expect her to be able to make it on her own, but she grimaces at her question. it's not worry, he only knows that she pushes herself to the point where she has to regret it. she's thinking about too many people around her than herself, she's not as selfish as she should be. ]

No.

[ now why would that the case. ]

If you make stupid decisions, it'll cause issues in the long run of things.

[ this is to say that he knows what's best, and if anything, he could protect her from that. imagine if she fell and then the whole world shattered or something, it's not that simple, but with how aurora is running this place, he would never know what could happen.

especially with a girl like her who is easily influenced. ]

I don't use it. Make sure you stay out of trouble.

[ as for the rock, he hasn't given it back, but he throws up and it disappears right before her eyes. ]

I'll be careful. I won't be a lie ability. [ Though she says that, she won't stop trying to reach out to help others if she thinks she can do something. And she's already exhausted herself multiple times... ] You don't use earpiece 'cause you don't trust Miss Aurora, is that why?

[ A slight look of surprise as she watches the rock simply vanish into thin air, followed by a curious tilt of her head. He wouldn't be cruel enough to discard it in front of her face, would he? She wonders if it's stored elsewhere. Residents of the Cage are capable of doing something similar. Fio as well, but it's not doable with just any regular object. ]

...Did you put Rockie somewhere safe?

[ Like Darkie... ]

...

[ she's so simple it hurts, he even thinks to correct her, but she's just a child. ]

I use it sparingly. She shouldn't hear certain conversations.

[ as much as people tend to call out for one another on them, shadow doesn't see himself going out of his way to use it anymore than he has to.

only if he has to, if there's mo other choice. ]

You must trust her.

[ foolish, and this is why he must watch after her to make sure she doesn't make any careless mistakes. he lifts one hand, the aforementioned rock appears out of nowhere, floating in his palm before dropping in place. ]

If there's a safe space, that's with you. Do you want it back?

I trust her. I wanna trust her... I don't really know what else I can do. [ Especially with the little information they have. If she doesn't go along with the missions, if she suddenly stops trying to complete their objectives—she fears that she might accidentally doom the multiverse. ]

I'm worried about my friends back home. I really wish there was some way to see if what we're doing is really helping.

[ Now Fio's really just keeping her arms tucked behind her back to show she has no interest in retrieving the rock. She shakes her head. ]

Rockie is my gift to you. Keep it as a good luck charm.

You want to trust her?

[ she doesn't have to do that, it feels almost cruel to make a child have to trust one person against her will. unlike others who have grown accustomed to aurora, and became a friend, they might have found happiness in this place or maybe they believe their actions mean something. ]

Hm.

[ thinking it over, if shadow didn't care about his own world, he could use himself as an example. put his world up on the chopping block to see if aurora is truly a woman of her word, but he isn't sure what counts as messing up her plans of saying them, and he feels as though even attempting to do so... is against everything maria stands for.

shadow clicks his tongue. ]

I don't trust her, I've seen no progress.

[ because she won't take the rock, shadow causes it to disappear again as though he has no use for it. ] Do not push yourself no matter what she requests of you, and if it is too much, you will ask me.

...Thank you, Darkie.

[ He makes it sound like she has no other choice but to go to him. She appreciates it though, knowing that she has someone to go to. Sometimes she needs to hear it, just to remember that she doesn't need to push herself doing everything on her own. At this point, she's made plenty of friends and allies that would help her. ]

But how do you know there's no progress?

[ And how do they know that there is... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

MISSION 009

and she wont get upset :)!?!?

she's already upset!

thats not fair!! he didnt do anything... yet!

he's doing something right now!

this doesn't count because it's just a rock and doesn't have feelings

it has feelings... look at it frown

why does it have hate and hell in its heart

deep down it is loving... it was painted by a pure heart...

that is true... that means it has happiness and love and shouldn't be mistreated...

i think he should hit someone with it (fio does not)

dont worry... rockadow will learn to bask in the blood of his enemies

the most humiliating way to die...

he'll beat the other shadow to death with rockie... symbolic!!

shadow stop hitting yourself with yourself!!! also happy late fathers day shadow-

if i kill him itll be ok bc its me and sometimes there can only be one.... i have one daughter 😭

happy belated birthday shadow- ... also sorry for these late/spotty tags i've been burned out...