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

I have heard a few stories like that.

[He's not...exactly sure if he wants his lab, specifically, to turn up. But one in general, absolutely.]

But either way, I'm going to need one. I'm not performing maintenance on these things in my living room. They don't need extensive work all that often, but it's better to be prepared.

We can ask the bots here, the little bots. They help the city-- they gave me an earpiece.

[ Are any around now? He'll have to keep an eye out...! ]

I really miss doing anything.

[Hm, those things. Otto knows he's not being exactly fair in distrusting AI just because of his own circumstances, so he's trying not to let that rule, but.......they sure are some Circumstances, huh.]

I can imagine. Well, you're certainly welcome if my lab happens to show up.

[And obviously if they just make a new one, it wouldn't really be Otto's to claim then.]

Thanks. [ There's a smile, brief, before Gorgug quickly looks towards the glass of the diner and points. ]

Let me get something for you to work with. And-- you want some food and something to drink?

[ Might as well! ]

No, no, don't worry about that.

[If he wants a meal, he'll get it himself, crowded diner or no!]

Okay.

[ Simple enough! Gorgug will go then back inside to chat with a friend, take a minute or so to come back out..

And he's got a small whiteboard, easy enough to hold in one hand, and erasable markers in a variety of colours in their own pack. Wowie. ]

Here, these should work.

Thank you.

[He'll accept that with his actual hands - he's curious how well the actuators could write, actually, but maybe another time.]

I'm Otto, by the way. Otto Octavius.

[ For a second, he blinks, surprised by the apparent introduction--maybe even the fact that they hadn't introduced already, or Gorgug never thought anything about it.

Maybe all of the above. But, even so! ]

I'm Gorgug Thistlespring. But just Gorgug's okay.

[ A beat. ] Is just Otto okay?

[Otto hadn't thought to introduce himself back on the space station, but now that this is obviously going to be a longer-term thing...]

Yes, of course. How long have you been here, Gorgug?

A couple of days ago. I showed up, and-- were you covered in gunk when you showed up? 'Cause I was suddenly here and covered in gunk.

[ Narrow-eyed confused gaze (it's always a look for him when he suddenly thinks of something particularly unsavoury, like he needs glasses, or something). ]

Oh, yes, that definitely happened.

[It was terrifying! Really it's easier to focus on the disgusting goop of it all.]

For some reason, I thought you'd been here longer than me. Are you settling in alright?

[ He does blink, curious about that assumption, but- ]

Yeah, it's alright. Other than the lab. [ Other than the lab. ] My friends are here-- my adventuring friends.

[ A beat. ] There anyone here that you know?

One person. I can't say I know him that well - we only met a few days before I ended up here. I'd been pulled into his dimension, briefly, and I was meant to be on my way home when this all happened.

[But, clearly, he didn't make it. Otto doesn't seem too broken up about it though.]

It's funny - every time I get dragged into another universe, he seems to be right there.

[ Wow, that sounds like... ]

Either he turns out to be the bad guy in your story, or he's gonna show up and reveal what's really been going on before a final showdown.

[ ... he's a teen, of course he's going to go for clichés. At least his voice sounds slightly joking in its seriousness, like yes, Gorgug knows what's going on here. ]

Ha!

[Otto does laugh - the joke's funnier when you know the actual situation between the two of them.]

I'm the one who keeps following him to other dimensions, aren't I? Maybe I'm the villain.

[ It's not much of a serious look, but, glancing between Otto and his actuators... ]

Do you think you could be a good villain?

[ What would be his villain goal? Now Gorgug is also wondering what his villain goal would be...! ]

You know, I think I could.

[This is one of those things where you have to treat it as a joke, so that you don't get very upset!]

Though maybe getting dragged through dimensions at someone else's whim doesn't make for a great villain.

Yeah, in that case, you get to be a hero, I think. You didn't ask to get dragged around.

[ Buddy, he is on your side!! ]

This is my first time. Unless, if Hell's a dimension? I've been to Hell.

......you've been to Hell.

[Okay, that's actually a new dimension of weirdness he hadn't considered!]

My friend's an archdevil--her dad was an archdevil and then she took over. It was a thing.

[ A thing where Gorgug is grimacing with the kind of face that's saying, yeah, it's weird, I know.

And not only makes a face, but: ] That's not normal for most people. But, it could be for some? ...even if some worlds don't even have orcs in them.

[ They have a hell, probably? ]

[Judging from Otto's face: yes! That is extremely weird! But he doesn't say so.]

We just have humans in mine.

[ His face looks. Constipated. In this grimace. Like this isn't the first time he's heard this and doesn't know how to feel. ]

And orcs come from stories?

They do. Fantasy stories, mostly.

[His voice is even; Otto doesn't see that it's worth telling him about the sorts of ways orcs are in stories. Though it sounds like he may have heard a bit already.]

[ His expression doesn't change, though it shifts, like one chewing on an unappetising dish they're not really sure what to make of. This is that dish. ]

...we have humans. They're just--humans, [ he offers, as if it would mean anything other than how odd the situation is, where apparently humans are just...the common element. ] They can do the same as everyone else, so-- it's weird, how many people come from worlds like that.

[ Having an archdevil friend might be weird, but it's about as weird as that human race majority that's present here, for a half-orc. ]

I can see how that'd be strange.

[Imagine if he'd gone to that other dimension, and a whole group of people just...didn't exist?]

Off-putting, even. Maybe there's some sort of bias to how they choose the dimensions to pull from...there's no reason at all humans ought to be the most represented, if it were purely random.

[He hasn't been around long, so that's based more on his perceptions from looking around than any real demographics. But it seems to at least skew very heavily human.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject