etrayamods: (Default)
∎ ETRAYA MODS ∎ ([personal profile] etrayamods) wrote in [community profile] etrayalogs2025-12-19 02:17 pm

december mingle.

❬ ARRIVAL ❭
Welcome to Etraya!

Arrival goes as expected for precisely one man - Leon S Kennedy, who awakens on a hospital bed and is offered an explanation of his situation: that he has arrived in the city of Etraya, and he is his world's only hope. He is welcome to wander the hospital if he would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital.

In the hospital's lobby are several tables set out with winter holiday baked goods and treats: gingerbread cookies, individual slices of yule log cake, peppermint fudge squares, Stollen, and so on. To drink there is hot cocoa, tea, mulled wine— even ice cold milk to go with those cookies and all that fudge. It is a rather impressive display for apparently a single man.

Outside of the hospital continues to carry the winter and festive spirit. Snow covers the ground, enough to play in easily, though the pathways have been neatly maintained by the companion bots. Colorful lights wrap the trees of the plaza outside the hospital and trim the eaves of buildings. From each hangs a variety of ribbon-wrapped, berry and pinecone decorated wreaths in pine, holly, and ivy.

For both those exiting the hospital or those returning through Aurora's portal from Auriel, they will notice the companion bots, hard at work constructing little arts and craft workshop spaces with a modest overhang to help with the lightly falling snow. They will only offer the briefest of explanations for them when asked, for it seems that whatever they are for will be revealed the following day after everyone has gotten settled (or resettled as it the case may be for some) into Etraya properly.
❬ HOLIDAY HORSIN' ❭
As promised, the dawn of the following morning the workshops have been finished. These small shelters made from green lumber can comfortably fit two or three people, depending on their size. They are equipped with various crafting tools, fabrics, baubles, notions, and an assortment of crafting supplies on the far end, while sporting small overhead heaters for warmth, as well as a workbench where one can put all of that to use to decorate their very own horse-skull hobby horse!

These skulls may or may not be real, some seem more real than others, some look more real than they feel, while others feel more real than they look. It is truly almost random what quality of skull one is given, but everyone will be given their very own skull to personalize for the mini-task being assigned! The companion bots will inform the Etrayans that they are to decorate these fine steeds and become them to become Horse Spirits and go and visit others' homes throughout the following week.

They will be instructed (and perhaps compelled by the season) to challenge hosts in a battle of wit and rhyme to convince the host to allow the Horse Spirit inside for hospitality to earn a reward! However, the host is likewise compelled to deny this whimsical Horse Spirit entry, for each time they succeed in winning in a battle of wit and rhyme, they too gain their own reward!

Yet, should the host meet defeat, it need not be so sour. While some may say being a gracious host is its own reward, should one prove themselves worthy of the distinction, one might still gain the reward their defeat otherwise lost them. After all, it is one thing to invite someone inside, it is quite another to feed, share in their company, and come to know them! Earning their equine guest's blessing will likewise earn them their reward.

Summary of Game for Horse Spirits
While carrying your decorated horse skull, knock on homes of Etrayan residents. May we suggest the nearby and densely populated apartment buildings to start?
Engage in your best efforts to rhyme up reasons to be allowed inside to eat your host's food and drink their beverages.


Summary of Game for Hosts
In rhyme, attempt to repel the Horse Spirits with reasons they cannot enter.
If you cannot outmatch the Horse Spirit, you should let them in.
If you let them in, you had better do your best to be a gracious host!


Point Breakdown
Make Your Hobby Horse: 2pt
Defeated the Host, Invited Inside: 1pt
Repelled a Horse Spirit: 1pt
Received the Spirit's Blessing: 1pt


❬ YULEGANS ❭
Since the return of the Etrayans and others from Auriel there seems to been strange things that continue to happen.

One might notice a spoon they were just using has gone missing after they put it down and took their eyes off it. Perhaps they saw someone looking at them through the foggy glass of the window—but when they looked more directly nothing was there. A door slams in the middle of the night, yet upon investigation, no culprit can be found.

Sausages go missing without explanation, but only one at a time and only when no one is looking. One might hear sniffing and snuffling by a door, but when they open it, nothing is there. One might also find a bite taken out of any candles they have, but any made from actual animal product will be missing entirely.

Small and strange inconveniences continue at random, though mostly when one least expects it. Nothing terrible or dangerous, but certainly inexplicable and annoying. As if one's periphery is playing a trick on them, or maybe it's just their memory failing them. It might as well be the wind for as elusive as it proves to be. That, or maybe a fellow Etrayan is causing this bit of mischief... There is no explanation to be found. Could they be going mad?

To top it all off, occasionally one may run across a single, utterly solitary cat's paw print in the snow outside, though enormous in size. It shows up in only a few locations at once, but soon they fill and fade with the falling of the snow. However, at each sunset, fresh ones can be found by a person's home or anywhere people dwell.

Ominous, but inscrutable.

There is one thing that seems to be spared whatever mysterious mischief has been plaguing everyone else, and that is a giant straw goat that the companion bots have put together. It stands proud and tall not far from the main hub of Alcyone's Wake. Of course, while mysterious, trouble-making forces see fit to leave this straw goat be, that does not mean that it is truly impervious. But, who would ever want to destroy such a cute and flammable decoration?

Who would want to crush the heart of its hardworking artisans? Maybe someone who has lost one too many spoons, and consequently, their mind. Who could blame them, really?

Though, perhaps others might think enough has been lost, and maybe they will protect this goat and what it stands for. What, exactly, does it stand for? Well, that is up to the viewer, the companion bots will explain with misplaced sagacity, even if they weren't asked. Which is to say, they don't know, they just wanted to make a cute goat.
❬ MINGLE NOTES ❭
📌 — Welcome to Etraya and Happy Holidays! Please enjoy the silly festivities of the mingle!

📌 — As stated above, characters can earn 5 points total by taking part in these activities. These points count towards your monthly total. You do not need to turn in or have a full thread of every instance, but it is preferred if you do at least play some of these threads out. After all, it's about mingling!

📌 — If you wish to defend the Yule Goat, comment 🛡️HERE!

If you wish for a chance to be the one to destroy the Yule Goat, comment 🔪HERE.

Which ever side has more will be the one who wins out, and then we will RNG who of the two sides were the last ones standing, as well as who was the one that either got to be the destroyer of the goat, or its most ardent guardian. Maybe this will result in a future prize...

📌 — For all questions relating to this mingle, please refer to the mingle queries comment on this post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
choirmaster: (Missa Gaudeamus)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2025-12-29 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't think it's true?

[Sunday shifts on the box and holds his hands clasped against the small of his back.]

May I ask why not? I have spoken with people who have been here far longer than I, and they've seen the brink. They walked in a world torn asunder by calamity. They seem to find little reason for doubt.

Whether or not Echo's judgment is sound is arguable, but the threat they are warning us about appears to be real.
levelshift: (spelling it out)

[personal profile] levelshift 2025-12-30 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been here a really fucking long time. [One of the longest, in fact. That's why he sounds exasperated.] We've never been able to speak to Echo, and it was only recently that we were able to go to a universe that supposedly couldn't be saved. There hasn't been much in the way of direct proof, so naturally people are skeptical.

[That skepticism even extends to people like Aurora, which in Accelerator's view isn't warranted.]

In the last couple months we've gotten some diary entries from Echo. That shit is looking promising, but I've only seen a couple pages so far.
choirmaster: (Didone abbandonata)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2025-12-30 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sunday's wings twitch back as the boy speaks.]

...I think if there is even a chance that the multiverse is in peril, we should take our presence here seriously. [He didn't build the scaffolding of paradise just to lose it all. If something truly is threatening his life's work, then he must stop it. He must.

The last couple of sentences Accelerator speaks catch Sunday's interest. His golden eyes widen slightly and he elegantly steps down from the crate, deigning, in his mind, to walk on even ground with his audience.]


...Please tell me more about these diary entries. A few weeks ago, one of the robots handed me a paper that...I was unable to make sense of. It was written by someone in great distress who was pushing their power out into the cosmos.
levelshift: (???)

[personal profile] levelshift 2025-12-31 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Accelerator can't disagree with that sentiment. His responsibility to all the students back home (his students) means that he can't risk anything that may put them in danger.

But that's put on the backburner at the mention of that paper. His eyes widen in surprise at this new information, and he abruptly steps forward to try and grab the guy's arm.]


Do you still have it?? It has a bunch of math formulas on the other side.
choirmaster: (Candlelights)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2026-01-01 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Sunday's wings flap in alarm when his arm is grabbed, sending a small flurry of silver feathers up around his face.]

I do not carry it around with me. [His voice has an edge of "stop touching me" to it. He aggressively tugs his arm free, but calms seeing the urgency in the boy's eyes.]

It has equations on it, yes. I keep it in my nightstand.

Please, tell me what you know.
levelshift: (grr)

[personal profile] levelshift 2026-01-01 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fortunately, Accelerator notices the shift in tone and the bizarre appearance of more feathers, and releases Sunday's arm when he pulls back. Unfortunately, he still retains some amount of aggression, and just gets in his personal space instead.

Fuck, another diary entry. This is so important!]


That math might provide proof of all this universe-ending bullshit. Have you shared it out?

[He's gotten his hands on one or two of them, but there are more out there and he isn't sure who has what and which pages have been made available to everyone.]
choirmaster: (Kyrie in F)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2026-01-01 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I have not. [He admits.]

Please understand it was not my intention to keep it a secret. I didn't know what it was, and before I had a chance to investigate the matter, we were taken to Auriel.

[With a sigh, he lifts his chin and looks in the direction of the Apartments.]

I would be honored to share whatever information it has, but where would I do that? I assume you must have collated the pages found so far.

levelshift: (hey LISTEN)

[personal profile] levelshift 2026-01-01 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
It's fine.

[As long as he isn't planning on keeping it to himself, Accelerator isn't worried. In fact, he relaxes a little.]

You've got options to share it with everyone. The 7-Eleven has a photocopier for physical copies, and you can take pictures of it using your earpiece for digital ones. We don't have a central data repository for the digital copies yet, since this is all still new.
choirmaster: (Fantasy No. 1 with Fugue in C major)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2026-01-05 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Sunday blinks slowly and flexes in wings as he considers this.]

I can do both, I don't mind.

A "central data repository" might be a good thing to pursue at this point, though. You don't want to need one later, when there are more pages, right? For all we know, there could be hundreds of them.
levelshift: https://twitter.com/oyaumi_zzz/status/1309491560606658560 (:\)

[personal profile] levelshift 2026-01-05 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, good point. [He's only come across a couple pages so far, but given the math he's seen it wouldn't surprise him if it ended up spanning dozens or hundreds of them. It's come complicated stuff!] I can talk to Aurora about it, see what she thinks.
choirmaster: (Devil's Trill Sonata)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2026-01-06 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Please.

[He says with a grin. The idea of a project seems nice about now. After Auriel, maybe the Etrayans would find some relaxing sense of purpose working together toward a concrete, easily understood goal.]

Should you need any assistance, I am happy to help. I have a good mind for organizing information.
levelshift: (listening)

[personal profile] levelshift 2026-01-06 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah? [Oh, hey, maybe he can rope this guy into doing the work. It would save him from doing it himself!] You'd be okay with that? Most people would think organizing data is pretty fucking boring.
choirmaster: (Mélodie on a Theme of Rachmaninoff)

[personal profile] choirmaster 2026-01-11 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
That's true. [He admits.]

It may not be the most exciting work, but it's important. I don't mind.

[Besides, access to information about Etraya, Aurora, and Echo, seems valuable. Maybe many people have seen it all already, but he hasn't, and he burns with so many questions he hardly knows which ones to ask.]

levelshift: <user name=patch-robots site=livejournal.com> (neutralish)

[personal profile] levelshift 2026-01-11 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Good to hear he's taking this seriously! Accelerator nods, convinced.]

Okay, I'll take that into account.