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 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.

[Otto's eyes narrow a little. An artificial being...he doesn't look at the actuators, but the claw on one clacks lightly and turns to look up at him.]

Not a religious figure, you mean?

Exactly. I have no relation to what others have referred to. The god with no other name isn't familiar to me.

[ The creator god of his world is an absentee dragon that split himself in two. ]

I'm not much of a church-goer anyway.

[He prefers it this way.]

Who did create you, then? Or is that impolite to ask?

I don't find it impolite. [ He's only asking for facts, after all. ] My world's Lucifer was tasked with my creation. I'm the only one of our kind he made by himself.

[ Privately, he's grateful for that. He'd be drastically different if any Astral were involved. ]

[well now hold on]

Lucifer is real? Just not - any of the rest of it?

No, we merely share names. The Lucifer I know was made, as I am, but by Astral scientists. Most like me were.

[ And so, his mention of being an exception. ]

He watched over our world and its evolution. Nature fascinated him. I have known no other being as benevolent as him.

I see.

[A claw taps thoughtfully against the ground. The AI in the actuators - they're more developed now than Otto ever imagined they would become, but they're still certainly not at the level of personhood. They were never meant to be. The idea of deliberately creating something so intelligent...]

That's - what these scientists created you all for?

For the study of various aspects of the world and regulating them, in short. Primal beasts, which are more numerous and less powerful than primarchs, were also used to subjugate mortals.

[ You know, as an invading race of immortals deeming themselves superior is wont to do. ]

However, in being treated as weapons, they were forcibly denied agency. Eventually, they sided with mortals and rebelled.

That makes sense to me.

[Good for them!]

Now, most live alongside mortals. Some are viewed as guardian deities, others like me usually work behind the scenery.

[ He's...still working on phrasing... ]

[Really, there's enough going on here that phrasing isn't top-of-mind for Otto either.]

Do you like your work?

I haven't thought about it that way, I suppose.

[ He inherited his role from Lucifer, so his feelings on the matter are mixed. ]

But I wish to protect my world, so it's necessary.

...it's good of you to take on that responsibility, but you should still be able to do some things for yourself.

[He's thought, in the days since, about the things he said to Peter in ignorance, back when they first met.]

Worry not. I intend to open a cafe, eventually.

[ Said with absolute conviction. He has very earnestly researched and prepared for this: his aspiration. ]

Oh, yes?

[Well! That's actually rather delightful!]

Good for you! Everyone loves a good cafe.

That's what I've observed as well.

[ The right atmosphere can lift the spirits, he knows. ]

I've spent some time studying established cafes, especially the ones with good reputations.

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