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

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Happy birthday, Laura!

[ True to her word, Doreen has shown up with about a dozen be-hatted squirrels perched on her shoulders and head. The gang's all here, and they're ready to party! (And when the inevitable 'happy birthday' song is sung, twelve squirrels will chirp along with it in chorus!) ]

Here, I made you this.

[ It's a bracelet with beads that spell out 'U R COOL!' laced onto it! ]

[shoplifter]

[Laura wanders over, having apparently been gifted with a number of party hats -- all of which are strapped to her head, because she thought it was kind of funny. She's surprisingly a little shy at the singing; it's not something she's used to, the idea of being sung at. But it's... nice. In that kind of embarrassing way.]

Thank you, Doreen and squirrel friends. As she holds out her hand to take the bracelet, she smiles softly.] You are very 'cool', too. For coming to the party.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

[ Listen, having a crowd sing 'happy birthday' at you is part embarrassing hazing ritual, part rite of passage. The important thing is that she made it through and there was cake at the end!

Doreen grins, nudging Laura gently in the side (if she'll let her! Wolverines are touchy about personal space, she knows). ]

That means a lot, coming from someone with so many excellent hats!

[shoplifter]

[It's fine, Wolverines are also hideously touch-starved under all the trauma; Laura is fortunate enough to get a chance at that kind of normalcy at a younger age. She adjusts her hats a little and smiles very slightly in return.]

I will have to repay you when it's your birthday. I didn't miss it already, did I?

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Nah, it's not til the end of July, I'm good for a while. Besides, I like being twenty!

[ One of the squirrels has passed their hat on to Doreen, so she is just wearing an extra-tiny party hat! ]

[shoplifter]

[Honestly, the extra-tiny party hat is very fashionable.]

Is there something special about twenty?

[Maybe this is something important for her to note, for when she is older.]

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Not in terms of numbers, no, unless you find even numbers really satisfying. I just like where I am in life at twenty, you know? Like, I'm in a better spot than I was when I was eighteen. But hey, twenty-one might be even better!

[ Not just because she'll be legal drinking age, Doreen hasn't given that much thought! ]

[shoplifter]

I think that would be a good way to live.

[He nods sagely, crossing her arms while covered in squirrels in party hats.]

Every year can be better than the last year.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Yeah! I figure that's a good way to look at it.

[ somehow, this kind of optimism is easier to achieve when covered in squirrels wearing tiny party hats! ]

[shoplifter]

[It's like a weighted blanket. Very fashionable. Smells like tree.]

Then... I hope you will have a better next year, too.

[Because even with the road bumps, this year has been the best of her life, she's pretty sure.]