etrayalogs | JUNE MINGLE.

JUNE MINGLE.

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: Late June into Early July
WHERE: On Etraya
WHAT: A mingle log!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A, please note any needed warnings in threads.

⏵ arrival ⏴
Maybe your arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment.

Or perhaps you started in space. Perhaps you were stuck on a space station, trying to escape a black hole for who knows how long. Time isn't consistent there, not like it's meant to be.

And then you're here. Maybe you stepped foot into an odd hallway, which broke off into an escape pod which promptly disappeared entirely and ended up docking on the Southeast part of the city. Perhaps you had been walking through the hallways when suddenly you felt a pull. A tugging sensation in your gut, moments before the floor dropped away and the air was stolen from your lungs. It almost, almost feels like dying - like drowning but without the water. Stars flash before your eyes, and a warm sensation begins spreading from that tug. Right when it feels like it's beginning to get too hot, you're suddenly too cold.

And standing in front of Corrine's Cafe, drenched in fluid that's a little too gooey (don't put it in your mouth, Connor) to be considered water. Maybe don't think about that too hard.

A few companion bots swarm the area before long, bringing towels and apologies for newcomers. This isn't how you're meant to arrive, but at least they got you off that ship! They'll hand over an earpiece, but rather than earpieces that are not yet programmed with names, the companion bots have taken it upon themselves to give names out to the newcomers. Some may be closer to an average name, like "Jimmy Smith", or "Arthur Pendragon" (that's normal, right?), or they may be something a little more nonsensical, like "CHEESE IS DELICIOUS".

If they make their way to the hospital, Aurora will give something closer to her normal spiel. Those who don't may want to ask some of their newfound friends because there's no explanation given by the bots working the cafe or those who have come to help. Maybe the others who have been here longer will have a better explanation.

⏵ friendship bracelets ⏴
On July 1st, Aurora sends out a message to everyone through their ear pieces:

Hello, Citizens of Etraya.

I am glad that you enjoyed your coffee break. Given the success of this previous endeavor, I have opted to try another experiment. This mission is optional, you are not required to complete it. However, the successful completion of this mission may aid in assisting me in assigning similar missions in the future. I would recommend, if you enjoy the task, to make an attempt.

My companion bots will be handing out ten beads to each participant along with a piece of string. You will each receive one red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, pink, silver, and black bead. The goal of this mission will be to assemble a bracelet that is one color, by exchanging beads between participants. You may choose what finished color you would like to aim for. Given the limited quantity of beads, you will want to ensure you are choosing a color that has not already been widely chosen.

I would like to see twenty completed bracelets. Once completed, you may return them to any companion bot. I have set up the Diner to accommodate this, but you may participate from anywhere on Etraya.

If I receive at least twenty bracelets, I will provide two of those who complete theirs the opportunity to assist me in choosing not the next mission, but the one after that.

Thank you,
Aurora

As stated in Aurora's announcement, the Diner has been set up with numerous "friendship" themed party banners. There are cookies and cakes out on the tables, although they may not be to everyone's tastes: some of the flavors are a little outrageous, while others are more generic. Just don't expect that cookie that looks like it has pickles in it instead of chocolate chips to be anything but a pickle cookie. Because it is one.

⏵ nova city ⏴ The Southeast of Etraya had been relatively empty; Wolf Cove has overtaken the southernmost bit of land with its own little environmental set up: instead of the green grass featured in the rest of Etraya, it's covered in snow. But Wolf Cove isn't the only new addition: Nova City has overtaken a large portion of two massive islands. Numerous skyscrapers stand tall enough that their rooftops almost hit the atmospheric bubble Etraya has surrounded itself in.

The buildings themselves, however, are empty. There is no furniture, no signs of life, no dust, even. These facilities were not put here to use the insides of the buildings, but for the sake of having buildings.

But like with all new additions to Etraya, new buildings also mean an array of new creatures. Birds of all shapes and sizes flock to the empty city, enjoying standing on top of street lamps, stray cats wander through alleyways, rodents of all shapes have begun appearing and making themselves comfortable. But those aren't the issue.

It's the massive snakes that take up almost entire alleyways as they make their way between buildings, attempting to devour any creature small enough to fit into their mouths that happen to come across them. The green dragon that has built a nest on one of the taller buildings, and has a habit of swatting at anyone who comes near her - or worse yet, when she's particularly in a foul mood, breathes fire on them.

Aurora has asked for those capable, to try and handle at least the snakes. They're fine while they're in the city, but there is no guarantee they will stay there. The dragon at least seems content staying right where she is.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

To report a completed bracelet, please reply to the bracelet turn-in comment. Given the fifth mission is scheduled in September, we will continue to accept submissions for this through the beginning of August, at which point we will randomly select two characters.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply to our mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ In Sandalphon's case, it's the curious sight of the man lingering outside that draws his curiosity. He observes from within the diner these mechanical appendages the man has, notes how he uses them and how they move. They seem sophisticated, inasmuch as someone like him can gauge such a thing.

Soon enough, he exits the building for closer observation, only to be greeted with that question. He pauses, giving his bracelet a brief, assessing glance. ]

I do have red. Is that the color you require?

[ Having chosen violet, he has no objections. ]

Sure.

[Whatever, he'll commit. It might end up being a common pick, but Otto already has multiple red beads, more than any other color. He glances over at the other's bracelet, though behind his dark glasses it's not necessarily easy to see his eyes.]

What're you looking for?

I have selected violet.

[ It was the color that Sandalphon had begun with the greatest quantity of, so it should theoretically give him a strong start. ]

Though I don't object to a different color if you have none.

[ Multiple completed collections were called for, so he sees no reason not to assist others. ]

I've got...two. Here you go...

[He has one of the actuators do that, too, watching while the little claws sift through the pile and select the right beads. He's letting them drive, just for this; there's no way they can possibly murder someone with beads. When it's done, he nods silently, and the claw spins once. Yay, it did it!]

Does she do little competitions like this often?

[ Such sophisticated technology isn't remotely common in Sandalphon's world, and as a result he finds himself briefly transfixed by the intricacies of the man's mechanical appendages. Did even Moondwellers have something capable of such small, precise movements?

So much of what he's heard Cassius speak of was weaponry. Blunt instruments. There is instead an artistry in this, he thinks...

Then the question draws him back to the present moment, spurs him to tend to his own string of beads. ]

Unfortunately, yes. Always peculiar selections, at that.

[ He offers his red beads with an open palm, a total of three. The mismatched count doesn't concern him, seeing as they're collectively expected to complete multiple bracelets. ]

I couldn't say just why that is.

Some sort of power play?

[He shrugs a little; he's just spitballing.]

I haven't had much contact with her myself. Only got here recently.

[ Fair enough, newness means there's some catching up to do. Sandalphon understands this.

On the other hand— ]

...How does one play with power, exactly?

Forcing people to play silly games for your amusement?

[It's far from the worst he can imagine, but it's still annoying if that's what's going on.]

Oh, so it's the same as "toying with people".

[ He nods, understanding. There are so many turns of phrase to pick up, but he thinks he gets this one. ]

Some exercises are less...benign than this.

...like what? If you're willing to talk about it, of course.

[Peter mentioned some things sort of vaguely, but Otto's a little less likely to push him for details.]

It's best you know what manner of challenges we've faced.

[ Those brought here should be primed for it. ]

This last time, we were given stuffed toys. Some were instructed to destroy them, as I was, as they were dangerous. However, we were somehow prevented from disclosing the warning to others. Those who kept their toy found it became monstrous, twisting into forms suited to torment them.

That seems...almost cartoonish.

[What a weird way to go about tormenting people! Maybe Otto just lacks that impulse, and that's why he didn't think to make a funny mask to hide behind like Norman.]

I'm unfamiliar with that term.

[ Pardon this ancient shut-in. ]

.....silly? Petty?

[He's tried not to make specific cultural references, but he hadn't thought that much about his vocabulary.]

Ah, now I understand. It was cruel, in my opinion, tormenting people with their own negative emotions.

[ It's his understanding of what it was, at least. When the burden of his guilt had suddenly been taken from him, he'd been disturbed. He'd sought out someone to destroy the thing.

Others had embraced it, only for everything they'd shed to be coalesced into something greater and worse come back to haunt them. ]

It served no productive end.

Of course not.

[Being cartoonish and cruel are hardly mutually exclusive. Just look at Otto.]

It's all just playing games with peoples' lives.

I find it to be a forming trend, though it has only been a short while.

[ Maybe it will change for the better, but Sandalphon isn't a sunny optimist. ]

My first mission was a labyrinth. One chamber bound me and someone else to chairs with large drills rigged to approach us, only to halt when making contact with us both... He refused to allow me to take the brunt of it alone, and evidently that was the test.

[ The two of them learned they could both regenerate, but still. ]

God.

[Well that's just a Saw movie.]

Why? Did she offer any kind of justification? Or is it all just that "worthiness" nonsense?

[As if one universe full of people could be any more worthy than another. As if one single person could prove that.]

[ He absolutely considers it nonsense. ]

Ostensibly for the sake of fostering teamwork. Some obstacles required cooperation, some tested our willingness or unwillingness to potentially sabotage others...sometimes it was monsters trying to eat us.

[ Or bots feigning injury using ketchup, ugh. ]

I see.

[Otto nods, jaw tight. There's not much any of them can do about it either, hm?]

I spoke with someone I know who's been here a little while already, but I think he may have undersold it a little.

Our perspectives may differ on the experience as well... But the risk to mortals concerns me.

[ He's been surrounded by so many in recent times, and their terrible fragility worries him. ]

I'd advise vigilance, in case we're subject to more such tests.

...mortals?

[You can't just put something like that out there and expect him not to ask!]

Yes. Humans, for instance.

[ Humans are a broad umbrella of races with wildly different traits where he comes from, though. Some are waist-high when fully mature, some have horns with dramatic degrees of sexual dimorphism, some have fluffy animal ears... ]

In contrast, I'm a primal being.

Yes, I noticed.

[HE HAS INDEED OBSERVED THE MORTALITY OF HUMAN BEINGS THANK YOU KINDLY]

And what does that mean? Primal being?

Artificial beings made of elemental energy, generally created with a specific role or purpose in mind. We neither age nor die of natural causes.

[ He rattles that off so easily. ]

In particular, I'm a primarch. [ Ah, right, no one knows the term. ] An archangel, but not the kind people here think of.

beads

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