❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM.

[natha]

OVERFLOW

You have spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Perhaps you’ve made some friends (or maybe an enemy or two). Either way, you aren’t expected to spend all of your time on the Station. El Nysa needs you, after all, and you promised you’d help the planet thrive. Are you ready? Submit any AC eligible thread of participating in this log's prompts for Two (2) Olympia REP points HERE. TRAVEL LIGHT     You're really lucky, new refugee. Because of the efforts of those that came before you, your own descent into El Nysa will be quick and relatively painless. You get to reap the benefits of others' experience. Those that came before you are all well-versed in the art of teleportation now, and descending into El Nysa is simply a concentrated thought away. A teleporter has been placed in the common areas to help the new refugees descend, but for this first time, you're going to need a little guidance. You're going to need to take the hand of someone who has been on El Nysa for a while now and learn the ropes. Hold on tight, Refugee, and don't be afraid when the blinding light hits you. The actual journey will feel like a sudden whiplash— painless, but sudden, and maybe a little nauseating. Keeping your balance may be difficult, and it’s possible you might end up toppling onto your poor partner. Hopefully you’re at least thankful. You have landed in a back alley in the Residential District of Olympia. HOME SWEET HOME     Immediately, you notice that everything you've been told about El Nysa is true. There are people of all races here, and although no one bats an eye at your appearance as you enter the district, a member of the Royal Guard asks for your passport. They have a keen eye, and can tell that although you may be a new refugee to their city, they've never seen you before. Certain rumors of an outside force making preparations to do some major damage has them particularly on edge. It's a good thing the Orbiters made sure you have an Olympian passport ready to go. You present it, and with a small nod, the Guard says nothing more and slaps a patch on your chest; to your surprise, it reads: Hello! My name is ________________! I am in House #___! Are you my housemate? ... No matter how much you try, there's no removing this sticker. "It'll come off tomorrow," says the guardkeep. "Lots of refugees here, limited housing. It's an easy way to get to know the people you're living with. Though, if you ask me, why are we accepting so many foreigners when so many want to watch this city burn? Well, I don’t give the orders." If someone greets you, the message on the patch will magically change: Secretly, I _____, _____, and _____! What are yours? There's no telling how they'd known these things, but it likely has to do with Zasere. AGAIN. It may be a good idea to get situated in your new home and set down some ground rules with your roommates. There is also, of course, much of Olympia to explore. FLONA COVE     Word around the city is that one very cute and enthusiastic Olympian, You Watanabe, has been asking around earnestly for the nearest place to find some coastal fun. It didn't take long before a few locals pointed her in the direction of Flona Cove. Maybe it’s a good idea to check out the area. There are only a few more days left of summer, after all. Even if you're not the beach type, exploring a new area certainly can't hurt your understanding of El Nysa. Flona Cove is just a quick train ride away. BEACH PARTY: Chances are, you've heard about the beach party being organized by You Watanabe, whether it be from her directly or someone who knows her. A lot of careful planning has gone into it, and it looks like a great time, so why not check it out? Full speed ahead towards a great time! There's plenty of food for everyone, and plenty of watermelons that need splitting! 1. Various food vendors from around Flona Cove have agreed to offer free food for the new refugees, and they line the shoreline near the harbor, enthusiastically offering goodies such as seafood kabobs, ice cream, fresh fruit (including whole watermelons!), and hot dogs. You Watanabe herself has a grill where she’s cheerfully serving up her trademark "Niceoodles" yakisoba as well as other Japanese food like takoyaki and rice. What makes her noodles so nice? It’s obviously the cheerful smiley-face sun drawn on the omelette. In exchange, the chefs and vendors only ask that you spread the word, though most of them have buckets for donations if you want to help chip back in. After the party is all done, however, there seem to be plenty of dishes that need doing, all in a big pile. You herself is working on getting through the mountain of dishes, but maybe you could lend a hand? 2. It's just not a beach party without the traditional watermelon splitting! For those of you who don't come from modern Japan on Earth, it might be perplexing at first seeing the literal mountain of watermelons grown with the help of Keyleth, another recent Olympian. If the bat-like sticks and blindfolds next to them don’t explain the purpose, though, you might just sit back and watch as a brave competitor sets a watermelon on the sand, ties a blindfold around their eyes, and has people start yelling at them which way to go. They consider the shouts of the crowd, take a swing... and strike nothing but sand. Perhaps you can do better? There are beach activities galore. Now's the time to build the sandcastle of your dreams or play a game of beach volleyball. Maybe you're brave enough to surf the waves, or you’d just like to enjoy a swim. Mom friends who just want to lounge in the sun and read a book while working on their tan are welcome too, of course. BENEATH THE SURFACE: 1. Diving beneath the waters in Flona Cove yield a whole new world on its own. Rent a scuba suit and take a trip to explore the corals, and you may even be lucky enough to run into a playful school of dolphins. Be careful-- they tend to get carried away and will happily drag swimmers for a wild ride. 2. You might want a boat for this scuba adventure, unless you're a strong swimmer. Venture deeper into the ocean, farther away from the coast, and adventurers will find some interesting stuff. Two miles southwest of the harbor, deep, deep into the watery abyss, lies a shipwreck. Exploring through the various rooms of the ship yields a few knick-knacks here and there-- rusted spare parts, cracked tea sets... a surprisingly well-preserved pin-up painting of Koralle? The real treasure awaits for those who have the courage to swim beneath the ship's hull. Here, covered in algae and debris, lies the skeletal corpse of a winged, fanged, clawed beast. This is only a distant memory of its former glory, as nothing but bones are left, but something— something brilliant, catches your eye. Those hundreds of teeth are not bone, but a material so lustrous and pure, it nearly blinds. It will take some work, but with persistence and strength, it is possible to extract a tooth. Those that work in Simwe Institute or The Sanctuary may find it beneficial to take an extra for their boss— this is definitely something that is of interest to study. 3. Olympians love their luxury. There's nothing more luxurious than a secluded lagoon, the water at just the perfect temperature and pristine. This is one of the most sought-after spots for the natives, but when you come across it, it is completely peaceful and empty. For the tourists? Well, this place simply gets overlooked due to its distance from the main beaches. It's also relatively hidden. Soon you start feeling oddly friendly? Cupid’s Pool is also described by the people of Olympia as the touchy-feely pool. It has an inherent property that makes those who soak in it crave physical affection. Chances are you probably wanted to know this before you decided to take a dip, huh? (Please warn for threads appropriately) EARN SOME SILVER     1. While many of the locals came together to offer their hands to provide a bit of entertainment for the surge in tourism, that isn’t to state that they’re fully staffed. Have a few hours to spare? They're willing to pay for your help. Maybe you’re just the cooking champ they needed? The lifeguard who showed up just in time? Or the star salesman at their humble accessory shop so desired? 2. The man who approaches you is even offering more than most of the vendors down the street. Sure, the guy and his entourage look kind of shady, but money is money, isn't it? If you accept, he’ll shove a strange swimsuit or two your way and lead you to the dressing room. What kind of job is this? Modeling, he says. Hopefully you aren’t camera shy! Hey there, hot stuff. I like your look. Or maybe it's your... aura? Either way, I like what you're working with. How about you flaunt what you've got for some fat silver stacks? He also wants to be able to test your charm, and is willing to pay a whopping 400 silver in exchange. He may even ask you to go "talk" (did you hear him say "hit on"?) to a couple of people, and “sell” yourself. Whatever that means... Incidentally, he says he’ll give you a signal once you get a pass. Feels like forever, doesn’t it? 3. Once night begins to fall and the people gradually begin to clear out, you’ll notice something... odd. There are some shady looking people around, and maybe you’ve been hearing whispers all day about a certain "fight club." Initially, no one will tell you a time or location, but if you are persistent, your efforts will pay off. Perhaps in light of helping a vendor clear out their stall or assisting that one Olympian native in distress, they’re willing to tell you a few things about this exclusive club. They explain to you that it’s been a long-standing tradition of Olympia. Secret fight clubs. A place for people to stretch their wings and their fists. Moreover, the pay off seems to be pretty good! Though, they warn you that there are some aggressive competitors out there this time around. Things have been tough politically for a while now, and there is much unrest among the people. What better way to blow off some steam than to beat someone up and make a bit of bank! Fights are not to the death, simply until a knock out, but accidents (and "accidents") do happen. Finding the crowd of people will take some searching, even with directions. They meet along the northern coast of Flona, by following a path leading underground, well away from any civilization. Once you’re there, why not participate? You may find yourself facing off against a fellow refugee. OOC     An AC-eligible thread for 2 OLYMPIAN REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE by OCTOBER 15 11:59 PM EST. In the event of CAPTCHA, we will be providing an overflow. In the event of a second CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. 1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

percival de rolo / critical role

[decisions]

→ O N E / TRAVEL LIGHT (CLOSED TO GORO AKECHI)

[ the teleportation device is a marvel to percy, among several things aboard the ship. getting to witness these in action is a sight that he hasn't gotten tired of. he lingers in the entryway for a bit, watching people pair off, some of them having the whole process explained to them before they all disappear in a great flash of light while others are simply dragged in with hands grudgingly snatched up before they flash away. when the room empties from time to time between teleportation rounds, percy gets in a little closer, hand on the device, crouching down at its base as if he can maybe figure it out just by observation alone.

there's clearly no magic here, at least, that he can feel. there's a particular sensation to magic, like keyleth's (all acrid and fiery, the comfort of a bonfire) or scanlan's (strong and suffocating almost, an over-whelming whiff of some distant cologne) or pike's (like the sun on the sea, salt crusting on your knuckles, an ocean breeze filling your lungs). this isn't like any of that--bearing some kind of metallic tang to it he can't place.

he glances up at the entryway to the common area where the device has been laid out for use. ]

Fascinating... [ percy figures he may as well ask. ] If you're already on your way down, would you mind showing me how this all works?

→ T W O / HOME SWEET HOME

[ this sticker is stupid. it's absolutely stupid. it's all lies. don't believe any of it. except for the second thing. you can believe that. he doesn't really care much about that. percy fusses with his shirt quite a bit, giving the guard a very blame-filled glower before moving on down the street. he supposes his could be worse. maybe. no. these are bad. very bad. ]

Hello! My name is
Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III!

Secretly, I am full of self loathing, leak smoke from my body, and flirt with grass!
What are yours?

[ he scowls especially at that last bit: ] It was just the once! And I'd barely have called it flirting...

→ T H R E E / EARN SOME SILVER (OPT. 2)

[ 400 sounds like a lot.

in percy's experience it is a lot if it's silver (and he's fairly certain silver is as silver does no matter where you go).

though, in percy's experience, he's never had to do anything quite like this to get it.

which is the only reason he's standing here now like a squinty rifle pin up model, hands on his hips, bad news with its barrel holstered carefully and slung over his shoulder. he's wearing a pair of shorts that cling in precisely all of the right places, all for 400 silver, the amount of which he intends to have in his coat pockets by the end of this damn trial. if this shady prick thinks he's going to scam him, he can think again because bitch he won't hesitate to bring his firstborn son barrel first to get his due payment when it's due.

he's done a fairly decent job so far, even though literally everyone has been an absolute blur to him thanks to the fact that his glasses were tucked into his pocket as he was changing and taken... somewhere. damn it all. he's almost done, though right? right?

help a guy out... maybe he'll actually buy you a drink when this is all thought. ]



( for any other plotting shenanigans, you can hit me up on discord @ charlie#2350 or plurk @ shibes )

one; i'm coming for that hand

[jurisdick]

[ at least he appears to be a more reliable adult than junpei. akechi doesn't need another hot mess in his life; he's at capacity.

still, he doesn't make it a habit coming to the station. really, there's only so much good side-eying certain vessels can do. it's more of a weekly thing. today, he's probably here at the behest of his roommate, and he's probably just tagged along with her just to see what the commotion was about. gathering intel, so on and so forth. he hadn't expected the myriad of doe-eyed and confused newcomers. those awakened from pods. so it is possible. it wasn't just hot air.

-- but oh. this guy's talking to him, which deeply cuts through his wandering thoughts. at once, a pleasant smile takes shape on akechi's face and he looks between the teleporter and the stranger. might as well? gain some favor? or something? ]

Of course. It's fair easier than it looks, though I imagine it is a bit of a shock if you've just awoken?

oh my u///u

[decisions]

[ what you don't know can't hurt you, akechi.

percy stands up, adjusting bad news' holster along his shoulders and leaning against the machine just slightly, a hand resting on it. it is somewhat of a shock. percy will admit that much just by the slump of his shoulders and the slightly withering smile that goes to his eyes. ]

You've no idea. There's nothing like this back home. You're either lucky enough to have someone in your party who knows Plane Shift or you walk.

[jurisdick]

[ ... excuse him? plane shift? is this some otherworldly mumbo jumbo crap again?

he'll table that for now and simply nod politely. what the hell else is he supposed to do in response? still, he cants his head to the side and gently clasps his fingers along his chin. he looks thoughtful. as if he's truly mulling over what he's going to say next. ]

I don't suppose bikes exist in your world? [ what a joke! anyway, the mirth hasn't quite reached his eyes and he lets his hand fall to his side. ]

Thankfully, the surface is far less technical than this.

three.

[trickfoot]

[Oh blessed Sarenrae, she was not seeing what she was seeing.

Hands over her mouth, she's desperately trying not to laugh at her friend, because Percy looks like he's been dared to do something by either Vax or Scanlan and only the gods know why he even agreed to do it in the first place.

Instead of a laugh though, Percy's reward with one drawn out whistle, like she's definitely approving of the sight. Hey. He and Vex may be married, but Pike can appreciate the finer things in life.]

Oh Percy...

[decisions]

[ he did it for money, okay pike? he did it for vex's love of cash dollar you guys. be grateful. not that you need to know that. percy is minding his own business looking the other way when he hears the whistle and glances in its general vicinity, finding a rather short blurry shape there. the voice only confirms his suspicions and almost immediately his ears go red. thankfully, that's about it.

he folds his arms over his chest. ]

I'm wounded, Pike. Whistling at me like I'm some piece of meat on the side of the road. A nice hello, Percy, you're looking quite fetching would do rather nicely.

[ oh god why. ]

[trickfoot]

[She tries her best to imitate him.] Hello, Percy. You're looking quite fetching.

[Which ends up with her laughing, but only for a few moments! Not at him of course. Percy never does anything without good reason, so she'd never judge him for anything he'd do. she loves him and she knows everyone makes bad or questionable choices every once in a while.]

It's good to see you. All of you. [Omg that's not what she means.]

Two.

[ofobedience]

[In truth, he isn't especially interested in the newcomers, has no particular impetus to engage with them, would prefer to keep out of the way and go about his business with as minimal interpersonal contact as possible. But every now and then his eyes are drawn to the nametags he sees dotted around the city, quite despite himself, one or two of them even catching at his attention for long enough to draw a remark.

This particular newcomer falls into the latter category. And it isn't the mouthful of a name he's sporting, nor the bizarre statement that he flirts with grass. No, it's the second point that has Giovanni's head canting like a curious dog, pulls him up sharp.

They have something in common, it seems.]

Leaking smoke...care to elaborate?

[Never mind that you probably don't.]

[decisions]

[ he hates these name tags. hates them. so when it comes time for someone to finally catch sight of one of the three ridiculous things on it, he glances down with a somewhat suffering sound. the smoke is a stain, that much percy knows, a taint, a remnant, and something he'll likely never lose at this point.

it's hardly a secret, rather, it's something percy barely even acknowledges much anymore when it happens. ]

It would only take a moment, I suppose, [ and with that, smoke rather abruptly begins to bloom a little at his collar. it doesn't stray far, however, seeming to cling and wrap around him instead, remaining close. most smoke billows out, but this. it practically oozes.

near giovanni's feet, a pile of gilt coins sit, neatly stacked. ]

[ofobedience]

[Well, in truth, this isn't what he expected. It's quite different from his own experiences with such things, the smoke that rises from his body as wounds race to stitch themselves shut, caused - he supposes - by the fierce burst of kinetic energy required for injuries to right themselves in a matter of moments.

This is...well. He doesn't know what this is, aside from another jarring reminder that he's in an alien place full of alien people he can't ever hope to fully understand. The thought unsettles him, leaves him feeling strangely cold and abruptly he pushes it back, forces it down. Focuses on the newcomer, instead.

It's only once he's cleared his head like this that he notices the coins.]

Whatever causes that?

[He says, as he prods the small pile of coins with the toe of one expensive leather shoe.]

3 lmk is this is ok!!

[rhygret]

[ 400 silver is a lot of money. Maybe not enough to have Rhys do exactly what Percy's gone and done but there's a lot of other stuff he'd do for it? Like if he had to kill someone who was a bit of a dick for 400 silver he could probably...manage it. Seventy percent chance of success there, maybe sixty. So he can't really judge Percy for his employment choices.

What he can do though is notice that there is a a guy standing in the middle of the boardwalk who seems to be squinting a little more than your average person and who looks a little cold in the chest...area...and Rhys winds up clearing his throat a little to try and catch his attention. ]

Hey man, you uh...want a shirt or a jacket or something? The sun's starting to head down now.

3 - Before Jenga

[moneytwin]

[ She'd encountered a similar individual when walking the streets after her arrival, and every last scrap of survival instinct had made refusing an offer of 400 silver so very incredibly difficult. (That's 40g, right there!) But instinct said no, and Vex grew up scraping by, learning the ins and outs of city patter and shady merchants. She knew when to avoid a deal that seemed too good to be true.

..but apparently others have not, even those quite dear to her, even after all this time. Which means that Vex'ahlia gets to at least reap some reward out of the endeavour.

Weaving between the crowds along the boardwalk, there's something ever so familiar about the pale profile up ahead, and her pace slows considerably as she takes in features she knows so well. In spite of the virtual simulation up on the station, Vex'ahlia had failed to find Perival afterwards, and it's hard to ignore how relieved she feels to see him. Whole and in one piece! ...In more ways that one, wow wow wow. Perhaps she'll have to thank that shady salesman, since his goods are now showing off things her imagination had..well, actively conjured its own interpretations of.

Folding one arm across her chest, hand props up the other elbow as she lifts a hand to her mouth, lips idly pressed around her pinkie figure as she enjoys the view. She really can't help but admire the, well, the whole package.

Eventually, she starts edging closer step by step. Unnoticed, at least to start, if only because she knows how terrible Percy's vision is much of the time. Time to see how close she can get before he notices. ]

[decisions]

[ continued here bc i'm lame. ]

two;

[verflair]

[ X'rhun has sure seen some things on people's name tags today, some of which he wishes he didn't, but he hasn't caught a glimpse of anything quite so... uh, eclectic until just now. ]

Dare I ask why you were flirting with grass? Even if it was barely so.

[decisions]

[ percy was half hoping no one would care much for flirting with grass. like right??? come on??? who cares about... how you woo grass........ ]

We, ah... Well, it was feeling just a bit fussy. It needed some smoothing over. With a few compliments here and there.

[verflair]

That raises more questions than it answers, but I'll not pry. I've noticed these notes tend to share things that most would not want shared.

[ And he is most certainly not going to touch on those other two things at all. ]

X'rhun Tia is my name. A pleasure.

three; everyone wants to gawk at his sad pale body

[beatupgrass]

[...Or laugh at him. This is the best day. The locals are already trolling the poor newbies, and Rocket appreciates every bit of it.]

I mean at least the dudes you lost that bet to let you keep your gun.

[decisions]

[ gawk at it over here, mr. furry roadside bandit. ]

two

[cacoethical]

[Dirk has had his own run-in with the stickers. His too had been less than flattering, doing its level best to frame him as a wanton arsonist, as well as a bit of a sad sack. He's more than willing, therefore, to take any of the newcomers' with a grain of salt. This still doesn't quite prepare him for what he reads when Percy's mumbling attracts his attention.

No, not the list of secrets. Those all seem fairly normal, to be honest. Or, well, not normal, but not as startling as they probably should be.]

That is an incredible name.

[Like... wow. Dirk holds out his hand.]

Mine's Dirk Gently. And don't worry about those things; I've started to suspect they're deliberately rather rude. Mine listed 'crying' as one of my hobbies.

[Which is only half incorrect.]

[decisions]

[ moved to overflow over here ]

home sweet home;

[adelphoi]

[ alisaie isn't terribly fond of large crowds even on the best of days, but she's growing used to it the longer she's here, and discomfort aside she feels.. obligated to help fellow refugees in need. she remembers how disorienting it was trying to assimilate, the unease and uncertainty.

which is exactly why she stops in front of percy with her arms loosely folded, eyeballing his nametag and teasing him like the kind, sensitive soul she is. ]

Is that a name, or a sneeze?

[decisions]

[ truth be told, percy and crowds aren't the best either. he'd much prefer the solitude of his workshop, or the camaraderie of vox machina, so when someone approaches him, she narrows down his line of sight. it helps the disorientation he's still dealing with from touching down.

he chuckles a little bit at the remark, a hand resting lightly on his hip. ]

If you could fit my entire name within the breadth of a sneeze, I would be incredibly impressed.

[adelphoi]

Mayhap a series of sneezes.

[ not that her name is any better.. it's not as long, but it's no less a mouthful, these dang french elves. ]

I'd be remiss if I didn't introduce myself in return, however - Alisaie Leveilleur, it's a pleasure. You're recently awoken, I take it?

three.

[ask]

[ the discomfort is all too palpable. it almost seems to radiate off this being. hence, it's only natural that rai pays it in tune with a quiet hint of sympathy. no, in all honesty, he feels the dark energy exuded here may imply that this man may be struggling.

he wonders if this was one of those shady jobs he had been warned about at one point since his awakening. he seems to deliberate over this. the times have truly changed. in the olden days of war, there was normally far more strife involved in a situation where a man appeared to be losing all semblance of freedom. this man looks as if he's lost that and yet...

it's inherently different. it's why rai walks up to him and simply places a hand on his shoulder. he's heard this was a form of providing comfort. this is doubly the case as earlier ... they had to hold hands to travel down. maybe, he could will them elsewhere with this.

except, this isn't on the station and this scenario probably doesn't call for this in the least. ] ...

[ why are they going nowhere. moreover, why doesn't this feel like it's helping him?? ]

three!

[rememberher]

[ Most of the memories she has of her time in stasis, she just chalks up to strange hallucinations. Unless she actually meets someone she encountered there (she hasn't yet), then she'll cross that bridge when she comes to it. But for now, she's happy to believe that any and all embarrassing encounters she might have had during that time were imaginary.

Because seriously, getting stuck in the mountains like that? A Crownguard is always prepared! What would they say back home if anyone found out? If there was anyone to find out at least; she hadn't actually gone to check.

So color her surprised when she sees him there—and, erm, a few shades other than surprised, because those are some well-fitted shorts. Sir, the way you're posing is indecent. For a moment it doesn't actually register that, wait, this is someone she somewhat knows.

(She might be way too focused at suddenly looking very intensely at the ground, it's very interesting you see!)

But she does recognize him, and that actually makes it even worse because one, he's real and knows her shame, indifference or not. And two, because why is he posing like some kind of Calvin Klein underwear model in the middle of the street? ]

So this is what you do when you aren't stuck in the frozen wilderness.

[ BEING TOTALLY 100% SERIOUS HERE. Look, she's not going to judge, but is taking off your clothes just a thing for you Percy or??? ]